New-York tribune., 1901-05-20
PRESBYTERIANS TOBEBUSY
THREE DAYS FOR BUSINESS. AND THEN
THE GREAT CREED DERATE
WILL BEGIN

Philadelphia, May 10 CSpeciaD.-The General As
sembly is not so far along the dawn OF the nev,
week this year it usually IS owing 70 tho d.r
spent in celebrating its glorious history Another
delay has been caused by the Introduction NJ The
Peoria plan Of appointing the standing committees
Ordinarily the papers are in the hands Of all tho
committees by Friday noon This year they did no,
reach the committees until late on Saturday Rut
II the beginning has been little DELAYED the TINA
will be made up in the first three days of the COM
ing week, so that by Thursday morning the routine
work of the assembly will be either finished or On
well in hand that the docket Will be clear for the
debate creed revision.
Tomorrow the boards OF Freedmen Nsi,,s,o-,,
Relief and Education viii report through tbe,r
standing committees; Tuesday the boards Of
Home Missions. Aid for Colleges and Church Free
ton viii be discussed. and "Wednesday the Board
n Foreign Missions. the Board of Publicat and
Sabbath School Work and the committee on
benevolence viii occupy the day The assembly
has also decided 10 hear DIR. John Fox of the
American Rible Society," for ten minutes on Tues
day morning. The only other orders announced
provide for the discussion Of the reports on iu-
dcial commissions on Monday p m. and of
revision OF the Confession of Faith on Thursday
$50 a.
The judicial commissions suggested by the specisr
committee on that subject are 10 be permanent
fixtures OF 3resbyteries. synods and the assembly.
The plan is advocated by many who think that
the larger body is unable properly TO deal with
judicial cases. especially assembly made up OF
more than six hundred and fifty men. most Of whom
are strangers 10 one another, few Of whom are ex-
perts in ecclesiastical law. and all Of whom are
deeply ensrossed with matters nom judicial while
a the assembly.
CHANGES IN THE CONFESSION.
But the most interesting report before the assem-
bly, is that toward which all eyes in the Church
and Of il are turned-the report on the proposed
revision Of the Confession of Faith. The following
are the recommendations. signed by the Rev Drs
Charles A. Dckey. Herrick johnson, Samuel ]
Nccolls Cthree eX-moderators OF the assembly,.
Daniel W. Fisher. president Of Hanover College;
George b. Stewart, president Of Auburn Seminary;
Henry Dyke professor in Princeton University;
Stephen W. Dana and Samuel p. Sprecher and
Justice John NJ. Harlan. Daniel r. Noyes. William
r. Crabbe. John f. Parsons and Elisha E. Fraser:
Sa) We rec9nme29 that committee as pr9Xlded
Section 5. be appointed by this assembly.
structed to prepare a brief summary OF the Re
formed Faith, bearins the same relation TO the
= the Larger Catechism. and formed on the general
semby of iSss or the ATtteS Of FaitR Of the
Presbyterian Church Of England, both Of which
and submitted TO the assembly. TO be referred 10
This summary is not to be q substitute for the
Confession, and is not 10 affect the terms Of sub
OF the Church from all false aspersions and mis-
what is most surely believed among us and is in
sense to impair but rather 10 manifest and
maintain. the integrity Of the Reformed Faith.
(c) We further recommend that this commit
tee be instructed TO prepare amendments ot Chap
ter III: Chapter y Section 3. Chapter XVI. Sec
ZION :: Chapter MIL Section >. and Chapter NXV.
Section 6. OF Confession Of Faith. either by
modification Of the text or by declaratory state
more clearly TO express the mind Of
the Church. with additional statements concern
ing the love Of God for all men. missions the
Holy Spirit. il being understood that the revision
shall in way impair the integrity OF the system
of doctrine SET forth in our Confession and taught
in the Holy Scripture
AGAINST THE PROPOSED SUMMARY.
The minority report. signed by the Rev DR.. VIII
NTcTyF hin rr~7-.fr
with the majority report in recommendations
and c. but says in reference 70 recommendation b:
Your minority believe that this recommendation
Is DOt Identical with what many Of the presby
teries requested in their answers TO question No.
of the committees inquiries and has therefore
considerable element IN the Church which regard il
this time desirable They further believe
that IL is liable nearly dl the objections which
lie against a creed. for thu formulation OF
which but fourteen presbyter!es expressed pref
II erects an additional standard of orthodoxy.
equal in authority with the Shorter Catechism.
which is a standard Of Church. containing.
therefore new statement of the essentials OF the
Confession Of Faith. and determining what the