The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-05-25
HE DEBATE IS CONTINUED
r. Bakers Amendment De- , feated by Decisive Majority
Rev. J. E. Moffatt Appeals for a More Even Balance of Truth. No Danger of Division
 of Church.

l Philadelphia. May 24.-The Presby-
 terian General Assembly by vote
 which showed conclusively that re- | vision of the confession of faith is de- | sired by the church, today defeated the amendment dsmissing the whole suD- | ject offered yesterday by Dr. George
 D. Baker of Philadelphia. The As | sembly decided by an overwhelming majority to continue consideration of the great question. F Great throngs were present when ne | debate on creed revision was resumed by the General Assembly today. After the disposition of aefew minor | matters, Rev. Dr. David s. Kennedy | of Allegheny, Pa, yielded the floor to | MT. F. w. c. Humphrey of Louisville. who signed the minority report with
 pr. McKibben. Mir. Humphrey urged | the elimination from the commuters report of the clause recommending brief summary of the reformed taith bearing the same re.ation l.. the Con l fession which the Shorter Catecdism | bears to the larger catechism ar;i | IuIHlSQ Ou tHc Ct COn- census creed. lie claineA IL meant l practically new creed ana should not I he concurred in as the PresoySeries did not desire new conftssiona. Argument Against Revision. Dr. Kennedy followed with an argu- | ment against reviAlon. The way to break down confession finally, he said, is to keep on making hoies in Il. We stand united on the c0nfession," cor- tinued Dr. Kennedy. Tt is con- structed from beginning to end to be used for scientific purpusts. 1t is the constitution of our church organ. We are not considering a popular uresd, but the fundamental pr.neipie sf orr | organization. The confession has been l charged with falling to truthfuliy pre- sent the belief of the ctunch, No one forced Us to sign that confession. We did not sign it in ignorance. and l. am sure not one of us s.gned it disnonest- ly.
 T repudiate the statement that con- fession does not set forth the man side and personality of the Holy Spirit. This brought Rev. Er. Herrick John- son to his feet. "I beg your pardon" i i1e said, but 1T you refer to me I did not say that"
 Dr. Kennedy replied that while he might have miSundeI stood Rev. Dr. Johnson's words he had received that impression.
 @ Confession Man-Made.
 Rev. Dr. J. E. Moffatt of Cumber- land. Md, appealed for a change that would give a more even balance Of truth. The confession" he said, lis man-made constitution, but is not the word of God. And we are not dis cussing the word of God. If this ques- tion is voted down by this Assembly, 1t will come to the font again until we give the church what it demands. want to see side by side the two great truths: First. the sovereignty of God and above all His election of men, and. secondly, the freedom of man to choose. I believe that God has elected all infants to salvation"
 Dr, John Dewitt of Princeton was next recognized by the Moderator. There was a disposition by some of the commissioners to close the debate. As Dr. Dewitt took the platform there were cries of question"
 Debate on High Ground. The Princeton professor paid a tribute to the high character of the debate which has thus far been en- tirely free from acrimony and sarcasm. He said there was no danger of di- vision in the church. and he wanted 1t to go to the world that no matter how they may differ on the Westmin- ster confession, they stand united on the word of God. He spoke of the con- sistency of the beliefs of the church, which has stuck closer to the doc- trines of the reformation than any other church. Unity" he said, lis the fundamental principle of the church which stands a pyramid" pointing to the sky. without a assure, without crack"
 pr. Dewitt said he belonged to what is known as the fourth party. The first party, he said emphasizes a new summary of the confession. the second emphasizes amendments to certain specific sections. the third wants a declaratory or explanatory statement, the fourth emphasizes "our noble dec- laratory statement which is now Tn our possession. and which will solve the entire question"
 The three elements, orthodoxy, lib- erty and unity of action, Dr. Dewitt said, were never held in better balance than at present in the new school. This was done by throwing emphasis on the present liberal terms of sub scription.
 Not an obstructionist.
 Dr. DeWltt Sald ne Was not an oD' structionist. His proposition was that the Assembly stand on its right and assert the great noble. liberal term of subscription. The speaker in refer ring to the proposed credal statement, said he hoped some one would he given carte blanche to tell us what we are to do without further instruction from the church. He regarded it as the most monstrous proposition ever propounded to a reformed church.
 President J. D. Moffatt of Washing ton and Jefferson University said he belonged, like Dewitt. to the fourth party, yet he was opposed to dismiss ing the entire matter. while Dr. Dewitt WIS In favor of such action He did not know whether he was revisionist or not, because there was no specific proposition before the Assembly. He