The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-13
THB PRESBYTERIAN CREED
Important Questions Before the
Coming General Assembly.

Lively Debates Expected on Matters
That Have Long Been Discussed.
The Sessions to BE Held in PhiIa-
Observation-Disclosures for Moderator.
PHILADELPHIA. May 13-The bust
ness sessions of the Presbyterian General
Assembly this year will be held in the
Calvary Presbyterian Church. with popu-
lar meetings in the Academy of Music,
the Wftherspoon Building and many
churches in various parts Of the city and
in the suburbs For two years the expert
meut was tried of meeting in the woods
of Indiana. but one of the greatest pur-
poses of the assembIy-pTOducing an i'm
preston upon the people Of the vicinage
was lost. The viCinage was water and
farmland-ideal for heresy trial but
scarcely adapted for Il meeting Of a body
representing 1910 churches. IS many min
listers. and 100000 members
At this years sessions the progress Of
the church in the new possessions OF the
United States and the perils of the mis-
sionaries in China will be told to sym
pathetic audiences; but of greater inter
est to many who viii attend the assem-
bly, than the routine work Of the church,
important as that is. viii be the battle OF
the giants over the faith once delivered
to the saints The life of the TFestunin-
ster Confession of Faith is Threatened;
there are many voices calling. Give US a
new Standard if they do not desire one
like the denominations about them, they
do seek one that shall not be 50 different
from them as to cause Unfrieudly cTtti-
cism. For centuries the sovereignty Of
Cod and the free will of men have
been battle cries of Christendom; there
IS a demand now that the terms Of stat
ing how that sovereignty IS manifested in
the lives of men shall be modified The
future of a child dying in infancy has
also been a stumbling block 10 many, who
believe that all children who die are saw
ed. The Confession says, Elect infants
dying in infancy are saved Are all dy-
ing infants elect or are there those
who die who are of the ''non-elect,' and
/ are therefore Iost2 These are some OF the
| questions that have disturbed many
minds for long time
a year ago a committee was appointed
1 to consider the question Of revising the
( Confession Of Faith Several shades
are represented on the committee, of
which Dr. Charles \ DiCkey. of this city.
/ is chairman. The PresbyteTics were ask
/ ed what they wanted in the way Of creed
/ change. Some did not reply. indicating
! ItlII they we're SdLt@4lEu WIFI tii- Sistll-
1 dards as they were; others asked the as
/ sembly TO dismiss she whole subject, the
/ New York Presbytery being in that list
! As the majority of those replying OK
/ pressed a desire for some change. either
BY revision. a new creed. n supplemental
/ or decIarat statement the committee
/ has decided 70 make the following report;
That q committee, as provided Tor by
/ the Form of Government. chapter ., sec
ton ;. be appointed by his assembly
/ That this committee ne instructed to
/ prepare a brief summary of the Reformed
( Faith bearing the same relation TO the
Confession which the Shorter CatCcEism
bears TO the Larger CatechisTu. and form
ed on the general model Of the Consensus
Greed prepared for th- Assembly in 1882
or the Articles Of Faith of the Prssbyte-
rIan Church Of England. both Of which
/ documents are appended to the commit
tees report and submitted to the Assem-
/ bly, 10 be preferred 20 the committee that
may be appointed
This summary IS not be j substitute
/ for the Confession and Is not 10 affec'
/ the terms of t5Ie subscription, but 10 vim
! dicate and clear the doctrines of tht
church from all aspeFsions ard Iiscon
! ce0tious. to give better understanding OF
what is most surely believed among US
and Is in no sense TO impaI" but rather Il
manifest and maintain the integrity o
the Reformed Church
That this committee be instructed Z
prepare amendments to chapter .: chaDte
~. section ): chapter y. section :. chap
ter . section , and chapter ., section
8 of cur Confession Of Faith, either b.
modification Of text or by GeClaratOr-
!. statement, 50 as more closely TO express
the view Of The church with the addition
/ al statement concerning the love Of 60
for all men, missions and the HoIy SpIIlt
il being understood that the revision shall
in no way impair the system Of doctTln
set forth in our Confession and taught Il
Holy Scriptures
creed revision while likely to draw on
the most lively Debates IS not the OEl.
subject that viii lead TO discussion o
interest TO the general puG!Tc- 1t IS pro
posed for tho first time 10 nave a CDuT
established TO which all judicial case
shall be sent. Instead Of trying a herse.
] case IN open ASSEMBLY. with six huRdrer
i men prosecuting or defending as the cas-
may be. the man on trial for ms tccle
/ siastical life, and then sitting as judges
! Z z permanent judicial commission IS rec
/ ! commended. Some Of the religious paper
/ have ridicuIed the idea OF having such
/ court. declaring that 1t VIII invite, iEStea
/ Of prevent. judicial cases As the Key
/ Dr.. Birch. Of New York. the prosecute
Of Briggs and MctIIffeTt. IS on the com
/ rnittee which advocates the formation O
4 the court Dr- t5Ts y Of me Interior
4 advises that when established il shall b
/ called the Birch court
This viii be the first year Of The Pee
! ria plan OF choosing standing commit
: I tees. Even in religious gatherings there
sometimes heard the cry Of favOritisn
Men anxious 10 head committees or {
} / have their friends placed whore they ca
serve the church best are likely to thin
; that the moderator has sighted them
( they are not placed. Accordingly Il Dla
has been favored BY men from Peoris
Ill. by which the church is divided int
election districts. each of which decide
who % its members shall be placed o
the several committees. the commission
|, erS after their tl"Slgna ton can ChOOs
their own chairman. thus taking pract
CalIy all the power away from the moo
orator
The assembly viii meet on Thursday
i .. b. Dr. Dickey viii preach the sci
mon from the pulpit where he stood q
pastor for score OF more Of years. III
: f present pastor Is the Rev DR. J SDal
hawk Jones IN the afternoon the ne
; moderator viii be elected and in III
. evening the communion service viii I
= held in The Assembly Church. Dr. Dicke
officiating
= Friday IS usually the first business d..
- OF the assembly. with reports from speci;
committees etc Bot this year the -
I tire daE is 10 be devoted to q celebrate
appropriate to the dawn of the ceutur
! Three sessions each Of two and a ha
/ hours. VIII be occupied with a review
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IL 919 DaTvn GnFn-