The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-05-28
Presbyterian Assembly Declared
for Declaratory Statement With
as Few Changes as Possible.
DECISION WAS UNANIMOUS.
Former Moderator Dickey SAYS
the Final Action Should Grat-
ify the Whole Church
DE Wits Views.

Philadelphia. Pa, May 21-Ry n unani-
nous vote the Presbyterian General As
sembiy to-day adopted the report of the
special Committee on the Revision of the
Confession Of Faith. The debate on this
important question had extended into the
fourth day. and TO the Reverend Doctor
James d. Moffat is due the credit of hay-
Ing brought the Commissioners to such a
Larn:t niouS conclusion.
When recommendation was on Saturday
ADOPTED by comparatively small majority
poctor Moffat announced that in view Of
'ne diverEency of opinion he would to-day
oHer an amendment which he hoped would
meet with the approval of the entire assem-
niy. When Represented this amendment to-
ca! II was instantly accepted by the COM
tniss'oners' and the adoption Of the report
as whole followed with but little delay.
Vote Unanimous.
viva Voce vote was taken, and when $40
YES responded to the question the Commits
Wbnm al drose ss..a. and sang Praise God. from
orator Mtnton ~ '-'''
Inc momentous question of creed revi-
sIon haVing been disposed of, the assembly
proceeded Proceeded to the consideration of unfinished
business The report Of the Special Com
inittee on judicial Commissions was first
cussion. " 1-eA VIC
This report recommended the establish
IN tne,l5 OF permanent Judicial Committee,
mat the Geheral Assembly does not elect
to try before the whole body There Will be
-nittee. Va A' So
During the afternoon session reports Of
various special committees were considered
reno repora aaoPssd OF the among them supplemental
Summaries. which recommended the con-
soluau0n OK the Louisville and Danyille
seminaries.
New York was selected as the meeting
pace Tor the next General Assembly.
N commenting on the action of the as
sembly on the question Of revision, Mod
orator Minton said:
The discussion has developed and dis
played far more clearly the agreement of
the whole assembly upon the Question of
revision than any division or discord. The
for ALL"
DicEey's Opinion.
Doctor Charles A. Dickey of Philadelphia,
who was moderator of the last General AS
semDly and chairman of the special Com
mittee on Greed Revision. whose report.
day. said:
The final action Of the General Assembly
on the question Of revision should crafty
the whole church. 1t means first that the
church may expect peace and progress dur
great blessing could be expected as a result
OF such unanimity and magnanimity. The
dct0n OF the assembly manifested mutual
confidence; Without dissent, the assembly
determined to go forward, and distinctly
marked out the way of the forward move
adopted. "'
The interpreta ton put upon section B by
very few made 1t advisable to state the
reai nts,op purpose Of section with more pre-
arnendment proposed by Doctor Moffaf. and
mis- amendment was promptly accepted by
the committee. because II fully and clearly
expressed the purpose Of the majority OF
the committee. The hearty acceptance Of
the action OF the assembly by those repre-
sented In the minority report was one of
the most significant manifestations OF the
good spirit that controlled the assembly
The amendment offered by Doctor Mof-
| fat means that there is q strong sentiment
| In the church in favor of declaratory
statement and anxious to make as few
changes as possible in the text of the Con-
| fession of Faith.
| Unless the committee should blunder or
despise Its instructions. moderate revision
and statement for Information was as
Sured."
| Professor John De Witt OF Princeton The
| illogical Seminary. a strong advocate Of dis
| missal. said:
| ''Of course. still believe that the best
| thing that the assembly could have done
| to be the dismissal of everything but some
| declaration emphasizing our large liberty
| under the present terms Of subscription.
But to this action the assembly was op-
posed by three to one.
THE second best action Is that actually
taken. and in the circumstances voted for
! 1t with cOrdiality."