Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-27

Before Thursday -Philadelphia
Pulpits Filled Yesterday.
PHILADELPHIA, May 26.-Commis-
sioners to the General Assembly again
supplied nearly all of the Presbyterian
pulpits and those of several other de-
nominations in this city and vicinity
to-day. Many persons ooh advantage
Of the opportunity to hear the men
whose %eloquence during the past week
held the attention of thousands in Cal
vary church in the discussion Upon the
question of the revision of the confess
sion Of faith. The leaders of the sew
eral parties that have battled for su-
premacy were heard in the prominent
churches. Moderator Minton delivered
two sermons, one in the morning in
Northminster church and the other In
the evening at Olivet church.
Evangelical work and methods were
discussed at a largely attended meeting
OF the evangelistic committee in the
afternoon in Witherspoon hall. The
meeting was held so that commissioners
to the General Assembly could have an
opportunity to ask questions concerning
the work. John H. Converse, of this
city, who has been chairman of the
committee for the past two years, and
who has been reelected to the Office
for the third time, presided. Mr.. Con-
verse gave a short history of the move
ment. In speaking of the evangelical
work in this city, he said the results
had been all that could be desired.
More than $1,000 persons had attended
the meetings held in five tents in this
city last summer.
Other addresses were made by George
B. Stewart, president of Auburn Semi
nary; John Willis Baer, general secre-
tary OF the Christian Endeavor socie-
ties, and the Rev. Hugh K. Walker, OF
Los Angeles.
The debate on the revision of the con-
| fession of faith which took up the whole
of three days last week. will be resumed
tomorrow. and it is believed some dein-
lite action will have been taken before
the Assembly adjourns for the day.
| Much comment has been made by the
commissioners over the high character
of the debate so far as it has gone.
There has been a total absence of harsh
feeling.
The question now before the assembly
is: shall the majority report be adopt
ed in it's entirety" This report, briefly
stated, recommends the appointment Of
a committee to prepare a brief summary
of the reformed faith. bearing the same
relation to the confession which the
shorter catechism bears to the larger
catechism, and formed on the general
model of the concensus creed prepared
for the assembly of 1892, or the articles
of faith of the Presbyterian church of
England. The report also recommends
that this committee prepare amend
ments to several chapters of the confess
sion, either by modification of the text
or by declaratory statement so as more
clearly to express the mind of the
church. The motions to dismiss the
whole matter and to strike out the rec
- 49, ~.as@,- ~
for a brief summary, having been de-
feated, the contest has narrowed down
to a struggle between the advocates of
a new creed and those who desire only
a moderate revision of the confession.
Ii is predicted with considerable show
of confidence that the moderate revi-
sionists will win against the new creed
lists. and that it will then resolve itself
into a contest as to the nature of the
! changes. The two votes already taken
would indicate that the report of the
majority will be adopted without
will not be without a struggle. The
moderate revisionists who voted with
the more extreme members of the
church against dismissal, will o ally
themselves with the dismissalists
| against any radical amendment to the
! report. The sentiment for a declaratory
statement as against a brief summary
is growing. and it is believed that the
final vote may come on these two is
sues.
1t is not likely that the assembly will
| adjourn before Thursday. The Rev. DR..
W. II. Roberts. the stated clerk. gave
out the information that there is still
two days work before the assembly af-
/ ter the question of revision is out of the
way. After the present matter is dis
posed of, the proposition of the estab-
lishment Of a judicial commission will
hold the attention Of the assembly.
Lines are sharply drawn on this matter,
and it may delay somewhat the final ad-
tournament Quite q number Of COM
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