New-York tribune., 1901-05-28
CREED REVISION DECREED.
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL AsSEMbhh
ACTS WITH PRACTICAL UNANlAllT1.
DR. MoFFATT INTRODUCES HARMoNIZING
AMENDMENT-TO MEET IN tlF Ia
AVENUE CHURCH NEXT YEAR.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Philadelphia, May 27-AfteT decidlng "lthout
word Of discussion dissenting vote tha' 'iie
next place of meeting should be the rim avenue
PRESBYTERIAN Church in NeW-fork' the GeAeiN
Assembly this morning resumed Its dlscussioH - -
tbe question OF revising lis creed and in an Houf
settled with unanmity-believed TO ne linpo 49,
on Sunday-the question OF revision SO io4 -
Westminster Confession Of Faith Is coioeii' -
a new creedal statement for popular use VI =
&c hundred or more commissioners present anu
voting there were less than dozen hesa'i' =
heard on any recommendation ana Oh s
them not more than two or tiree' 80 W
zion IS practically unanimous 80, d.
Hardly had the moderator aLhouI'eN '
.s,o, before some one started the long mere
Doxology. and the whole audience broke oul @ nv
singing Praise God. from whom All pIeSs'iis
Aovy" II was fitting termination OF one OF TIC
". avo,.,nq debates held in the General Assem-
t, since the reunion of the Old School ana the
New School generation ago
The recommendation OF the committee on re-
vision relative 20 a new creed had divided the as
seuhlv into two camps Of nearly equal proportions.
Just before the hour Of adjournment on suhoaE
Dr lanes D Moffatt, president Of washington
and Jefferson College. announced his intention ol
offering an amendment this morning covering !'ia'
point IN order draw the two wings toselheF'
which he did Dr. Moffatt spoke briefly IN explain
,np his amendment which was supported by the
most conservative and the most liberal leaders IN
the house, not a word being said against It,
BRIEF STATEMENT OF REFORMED FAITH.
The report OF the committee as adopted provides
for A revision committee instructed Ito prepare
and submit 10 the next General Assembly. for such
disposition as may be judged TO be wise. nTlel
statement of the reformed faith. expressed as far
as possible in untechnical terms The said state
rnent is 10 he prepared with a view TO It's oelii6
employed to give information and a better uhaer-
standing of our doctrinal beliefs. and not with
view to becoming substitute for or an dileI"d-
tive of our Confession Of Faith
The committee Is also 10 prepare amendments 'o
chapters g. 1O, l6, - and p of the Confession Oh
Faith relating the DEGREES OF the AInlsllg' N
FAINT salvation the taking of oaths, good WORKS
and the Pope of Rome. and to do this either pE
Modification of the text by declaratory state
rnents but far possible by declaratory state
rnents 10 make additional statements coilceIIli!s
the love of God for all men. missions and me ffoIy
Spirit; this revision in way to impair the integ
rity of the system OF doctrine set forth IN the
Confession of Faith and taught in the Scriptures
NO COMPROMISE: VICTORY FOR ALL
The following statements from leading members
of The assembly show how the action on creed
revision taken to-day is understood by them;
The Rev DR. Henry c. Ainton. moderator OF the
assembly-The assemblys aeL1om SIortu ~ =; no COM
promise No one has forsaken his grouho or r. -
> Victory for no cne but for all The statement OF
the faith OF the Presbyterian Church TO De pre-,
pared by the committee Of twenty-one IS Rol 20
regarded as a new constitutional confesslonal
formula % be Official pronuflcldIntil'o' "
which one however, Is 10 otcidIg IS
ordination vows. 1t is 10 be popularly dldacuc. II
any one wants TO know what the PresbE ltrlah an
Church believes this statement viii answer his In
quiry In addition TO this the committee is 10 pre-
moving difcuIties growing Of infeicitous forms
Ibis method 5f relief be thought insufficient by the
committee it is authorized to report TO the assem-
bly in NeH-York certain changes in the way OF
textual revision Of the confession itself
The Rev. Dr. Charles A Dickey. of Philadelphia
chairman of the Committee Revision
The final action of the assembly should crafty
the whole Church. II means that the Church may
Deefed as result of such magnanimty and una
L;+1it- q The arrion of The assemhiy manifested
mutual confidence. without dissent the assembly
determined TO go forward, and distinctly marked
out the way for the forward movement
DR. Herrck Johnson professor IN Mccormick
Seminary. Chicago:
It must be seen that our Church is formally and
b ~ 5 b 5o3 III 3ri1a "a e nd $40 Tho ~ ,eHt bsttIe
If there is to be a battle. will be in the next
semby. when this committee now appointed and
instructed shall make report Of It's work. On the
whole the action this subject seems 10 TO be.
wise and eminenty commendable. and am heartily
in favor of the same. IL puts US on the road TO
constitutional change by constitutional methods.
II settles for the time being al least agiatng
and kexins ,fi questions. II promises to take some
promises to furnish US a brief, clear statement OF
doctrine that viii make future mlsconstruction less
unanimty Of action And If it issues in success
most confidently and joyfuy believe it will set our
ment 10 a great work Of evangeization and con-
quest for the ground Of and the glory Of
God.
POPULAR STATEMENT TO BE PREPARED.
The Rev. DR.. George T. Purves. OF the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian Church, New-York:
The results reached finally by the assembly con-
serve the Confession Of Faith TO a far greater
tent than the votes Of Friday and Sunday led
many TO fear. The statement OF doctrine which
10 be either a substitute for alternative OF
INTENDED FOR the information Of people. and is not
70 be eiIner substitute for nor an alternative OF
the confession Ine amendments also to the Con-
fession be put far as possible. IN the
form OF a declaratorY statement, that the text
OF the Confession viii be changed in all prOba-
bility, only in a few unimportant points Thus the
final ISSUE Of this great debate is in which
moderate conservatives can unite though
they may have preferred the dismissal of the whole
subject
the leader OF the conservatives:
am content. The brief statement OF the essen
tal doctrines Of the Presbyterian Church for dis
tTibution among the people will great and
growing demand, and the declaratory statement
with reference to some misunderstood and nisn-
terpreted phrases in the Confession OF Faith ought
70, and think Will. set rest disturbed minds
The assembly, in my judgment, has reached in
tne end a most wise conclusion. while still holding
on tenaciously TO the old Westminster symbols.
The assembly transacted q great deal Of routine
business to-day, including the adoption Of over
lures the election OF permanent commissions
the control OF the offerings of women's and young
peoples societies. and sanctioned the consolidation
of the DaHVille Seminary. in Kentucky with the
Louisville Seminary. in the same State, under
the care Of the Southern assembly.
This latter action is considered a step toward
organic union between the two branches Of the
Presbyterian Church.