The Lamar register., 1901-05-29
PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY
CONSIDERS CREED REVISION

Rev. DR.. Herrick Johnson of Chicago
presented careful analysis of the con-
fession, showing why certain state
ments should be eliminated and assert
Ing that some truths not contained
therein should be added.
II have no attack to make on tho
creed" said DIR. johnson, in opening
his address. ~ wish calmly and dis
passionntely to investigate what it con-
tains and what it does not contain.
The authors of the creed are not in
fallible. They wrote scme things in
1t which we do not believe to be true.
and failed to write some things which
we hold to be true.
"They wrote of the Pope: That anti
Christ man of sin and perdition.' We
repudiate that belief. and why should
it be allowed to remainf'
Can we afford TO dismiss this ques-
tion when 154 presbyteries ask for n
changer" asked Dr. Johnson. 1t was
the suggestion of General Harrison
that, no matter what was taken out
of the confession, the clause referring
to the Pope must be eliminated. rs
there was no reason why it should re-
main.
The clause referring to the refusal to
take an oath, DIR. johnson also thought
should be stricken out and that some
mention of missions should be made.
Regarding predestination, DIR. johnson
said:
do not arraign the doctrine of
divine election, but to shut mercy up
to the elect is to make away its glory
We want nothing but fidelity to the
truth. There are two sides to the
case. Our confession holds up one side
elegantly. Let us get all the truth on
our side"
Rev. DIR. George r. Purves of New
York spoke against revision. He said
in part:
II am an extremist on this question.
l am NOT one who believes the confess
sion of faith is perfect document
AS for the poor Pope of Rome being
anti Christ. 1 admit that 1t is not the
proper epithet to apply to him, but
bringing up such subjects is picking
flies off the great pillar of the con-
fession.
A forceful address favoring revision,
which noticeably impressed the COM
missioners, was delivered by Rev. Dr.
Samuel j. Niccolls of st. Louis, who
declared that creed is the report or
scriptural knowledge up to date. "Our
fathers, who wrote it. recognized this
fact" asserted DIR. Niccolls. Continu-
ing, he said: Throughout our church
there has been an expression of dis
satisfaction with the statements in our
written confession, and this dissatis-
faction is growing. We do know some
thing that our fathers did not know,
or mt least which they did not write.
1t is unreasonable that the presbyteries
should ask you to consider if you can
not state the truth in such way that
it may be understood. oh. peace.
what strife has been engendered in
your name.
at is my opinion that when docu-
ment does not express your convic-
tons the best way is to change it.
by the third chapter of the confess
sion we do not mean that Gods grace
is not to he preached to all men. Sal
walton is open to all men in the prov
ince of Christ.
"One-third of the human race die in
infancy and the sorrowing mother
comes to the church. Has the church,
as the representatives of the gentle
Jesus. nothing to say to that sorrow
ing mother? That is what we ask In
this connection. Is the unknown will
of God to be the basis of our misglon
work? We want to know that"