Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-05-23
BEGIN NOTABLE DEBATE
Presbyterian General Assembly
Takes Up the Question Of
Creed Revision.
Report Of the Special Committee
Read and Summary Of Find.
inss Submitted.
Calvary Church Crowded Early
to Hear Opening Of the
Great Debate.

Philadelphia, May 23.-The important
question of the revising creed, which for
the past two years has been agitating
the Presbyterian church came before
the general assembly today and
lengthy debate on the subject is ex-
pected Last week the report of the
special committee on revision made the
order for today with the additional con-
dition that discussion should not be in
| terupted by other business until the
commissioners had reached some defin-
lite conclusion. The controversy regard
ing revision has led to the formation
of three groups among the $40 commits
soners to the general assembly. First
| there Is the conservative group COM
posed of those opposed to any change
| whatever in the doctrinal standards of
| thechurch. Then there is the party de-
sirous of setting aside the confession
of faith as not truthfully expressing the
belief Of the church. Between these
| stands the centrists who favor main
| tanning the old confession with few
notifications and who desire the adop-
| tion of clear .declarativep statement,
setting forth the most important doe
trines and laying special emphasis upon
tht. love Of God for mankind and on the
work of the holy spirit.
In answer to the question submitted
to the presbyteries, fifty asked the as
| sembly to dismiss the whole subject, one
was undecided and four said they Meth
| er desired revision nor a supplemental
| statement nor dismissal at present of
| the whole subject and of 233 presbyte-
ries, fifteen in the United States. and
sixteen in foreign lands failed to re-
| spond.
! OF the remaining presbyteries nearly
/ two-thirds of the whole number asked
/ for some change in the creed statement,
| forty-seven desire revision of the con-
| fession, eleven an explanatory state
ment. one revision and explanatory
statement, fifty-two a supplemental
statement. one an explanatory statement
and supplemental statement, fourteen a
substitute creed. one alternative creed
i and six some change. not specified
Fully an hour before the doors OF cav
airy church were opened crowds
! thronged the entrance and when the de-
votional exercises began the galleries
filled to overlooking. After the opening
Kennedy, of Allegheny, Pa, who in
voked divine assistance in consideration
of the momentous question before the
4 assembly. The debate on revision was
4 delayed by the report of the committee
on bills and overtures and other mat
ters of some Importance to the assem-
bly,
Rev. Dr. Fiske. of Washington, offer
1.,t III NJ
i Mckinley upon the prompt recovery
from the apparently fatal illness of Mrs.
/. Mckinley and Offering thanks to God
at the prospect of her early return
3 home. The resolution was unanimously
adopted.
DR.. Roberts stated clerk, announced
there Were still two days business t.
be disposed of after the revision ques-
ton was settled. Rev. DIR. Dickey. chair
man of the special committee on revi-
!. sion. then read the report and was
i, closely followed by all the commissions
ers who held copies
At the request of DR.. Diokey the stated
:. clerk read the minute on the death OF
Gen. Harrison adopted at the last meet.
ing In Pittsburg. 1t was accepted as d
supplemental report and adopted by a
rising vote. Inc 1nlNOIlly report Dy
Rev DR.. McKibben. of Cincinnati. ana
e. w. Humphries. of Louisville. was
read by McKibben. On motion of Rev
DR.. Moffatt. of Washington. Pa, tbs
reports were received. Rev. DR.. Nichols
| of St Louis. moved as the first recon-
mendations in both reports were similar
| that those recommendations be adopted
. Moffatt moved n substitute motion Il
adopt the whole Of the majority report
Several amendments were offered hn
there was so much confusion that Mich
OILS withdrew his motion. Aloffatt thel
/ moved to adopt the majority report. Th'
amendment offered to substitute tn,
\ minority report. Before the last motor
could be put DR. Baker, of Philadelphia
offered resolution that the genera
assembly deems it inexpedient to pro
ceed further in the matter of revision
this time and hereby dismisses the who'll
matter" DIR. Dickey. in speaking on thi
resolution. made an eloquent appeal /,
/, the assembly to settle the question final
lily. He was followed by DR.. McKibbe,
in behalf of the minority report A re
cess was then taken.
! NEWS FROM CAPE NOME.
Tho Town Terrorized by Thieyc,
and Other Criminals.