The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-28
MOVING STEADILY
TOWARD REVISION
Minority Report Rejected by
the Assembly.
OFFERED AS SUBSTITUTE
DR.. Herrick Johnson Argues Strongly
For Credal Change.
AND HE MAKES SEVERAL CONVERTS
The Vote on the Adoption Of the Majority Re-
port on Revision is Postponed Until
Monday. The Southern AS
Sembly Adiourns.
Sembly Adiourns.
(By the Associated Press.)

Philadelphia, Pa, May 25.-The Pres
byterian General Assembly today took
another step toward revising the con-
fession of faith by rejecting the minority
report, which had been offered as a sub
stitute amendment for the majority re-
port The vote was 271 to 234. The
recommendation is as follows:
"B-We recommend that a committee
be instructed to prepare 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 consensus creed prepared
for the General Assembly of 1892, or the
articles of faith of the Presbyterian
Church of England, both of which docu-
ments are appended to the committees
report and submitted to the assembly,
to be referred to the committee APP
pointed"
With the consent of the Assembly, the
motion was changed SO that the vote was
taken on the question of striking out
the recommendation from the majority
report instead of accepting the minority
report as a substitute. During the dis
cussion of the subject Moderator Minton
gave the gavel to Vice Moderator Pit
cairn, while he addressed the commits
sioners in favor of the amendment. DR..
Minton said the recommendation meant
simply the establishment of new creed.
After the announcement of the vote.
Rev J. d. Moffat, informed the assembly
that on Monday he would present an
amendment with the object of uniting the
commissioners in order that unanimous
recommendation might be sent TO the
presbyteries.
Rev. Dr. Herrick Johnson presented a
logical argument favoring the retention
of the recommendation, Analysing the con-
fession of faith, demonstrating the me-
cessity for changes in certain clauses and
showing the benefits to he derived there
from.
Numerous doubtful commissioners were
| brought over to the ranks of the reYis-
ionists by Dr.. Johnson's address.
An effort was made to postpone the vote
until Monday, but the commissioners were
impatient and insisted on the putting OF
the question. The moderator was unable
to decide by viva voce vote and a divis-
ion being called for, a rising vote was
taken. When the result was announced
the revisionists cheered heartily and
called for a vote on the adoption of the
majority report. On the advice of the
moderator, however, it was decided to
postpone consideration of this important
matter until Monday
SOUTHERN ASSEMBLY ADJOURNS.
Little Rock, Ark, May 25.-After adopt
ing the usual resolution of thanks, the
forty first session of the Presbyterian
General Assembly adjourned sine die at
1890 p. m today. majority of the COM
missioners left on the afternoon trains
At this mornings session of the assem-
bly, the unfinished business of the session
was disposed Of
Rev. DR.. f. r. Beattie made a report
for the committee on publication showing
that the publication plant is worth about
100000. The new hymn book he reported,
is now ready, printed and will soon be on
sale
DR.. S. M. Smith presented a protest
against the action of the assembly in de-
clining the invitation to participate in
Confederate Memorial exercises, but after
the original resolution was read he with
drew his protest. The assembly adopted
the report of the committee on Sabbath
obervance, urging the people to remem-
Der the Sabbath day and keep it holy
and that all ministers preach on Sabbath
observance at least once a wear
In response to an overture from the
Montgomery Presbytery as to the validity
of ordaining a probationer by two min
listers and one elder the assembly de-
clared that an ordination so made is not
strictly regular, yet when sanctifed by
the presbytery is valid
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