The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-19
REVISION OF CREED
Committee MAKES REPORT UpoN
ITS WORK.
MAJORITY FAVOR A CHANGE.
MAY NOT BE CONSIDERED UNTIL.
THURSDAY.

nfttee Has Made Careful Canvas
of the Presbyteries and Ascer-
tanned Their views-While the Ma
jority Favor n Change There Is
Little Agreement to the Extent.
The Report Recommends Re-
statment and a Revision of the
Confession A Minority Report
Made.
Philadelphia. May Secondary to ex-
mediation the Presbyterian, General As
sen1bly did not discuss the report of the
Committee on Revision which was to-day
presented to the commissioners. A minor
fly report was also laid before the assem-
DIV. and it is probable that the question
will not come up for consideration until
next Thursday. 1t will be at least de-
layed until subjects of more interests are
out of the way.
The Report Upon the Greed.
The committee upon the revision of the
rredal statements of the church respect
fully reports to the General Assembly
of 1901 that it was appointed by virtue of
action taken by the General Assembly of
1900. and recorded on page 80 of their
minutes in the following resolutions:
First That a committee of fifteen,
eight ministers and seven elders, be now
appointed by the moderator to consider
the whole matter of the restatement of
the doctrines most surely believed among
us, and which are substantially embodied
IN our Confession of Faith.
Second. that this committee be en-
doined diligently to pursue their inquiries,
seeking light and knowledge from every
available source, and to report to the next
assembly what specific action, If any,
should be taken by the church.
Third. That to further the work of
the committee the presbyteries be and
are hereby invited by the assembly 10
take action on this subject at their ap
preaching fall meeting, and through the
assembly's stated clerk to report said ac-
ton to the committee, whether suggest
ing revisional, supplemental, or substitu-
tional changes, or no change at ALL (Hin-
utes 1900, PIP. 10O)
Subsequently the committee provided for
by this action was appointed by the mod
orator, and as named the members were:
Ministers-Herrick Johnson, d. D., Sam
uel j. Niccolls, d. D., Daniel w. Fisher,
d. D., William McKibben, d. D., George
B. Stewart, D. D., stephen w. Dana, d.
D. Samuel P. Sprecher, D. d. Benjamin
8. Warhend, D. D. Elders-Gen. Benja-
min Harrison, Justice John NJ. Harlan,
Daniel R. Noyes, e. w. c. Humphrey,
William R. Crabbe, John E. Parsons and
Elisha A. Fraser. The moderator, Rev.
Charles A. Dickey, D. D., was added to
the committee by direct action of the as
sembly as it's chairman. Rev. DR.. B. B.
Warfeld having declined to serve, the
Rev. Henry Van Dyke, D. D., was APP
pointed 10 fill the vacancy.
In order 10 carry out the directions of
the assembly, the committee met at Sara
toga, n. Y, on Aug. a. 1900, all the men,
bers being present except Rev. S. w.
Dana, D. D., (who was out Of the coun-
try), Gen. Benjamin Harrison and Justice
John NJ. Harlan, and adopted commu-
nication to the Presbyteries. which the
stated clerk of the assembly, as the sec
rotary of the committee, was directed to
transmit to those judicatories. The com
municalion, after stating the appointment
and work of the committee, requested the
Presbyteries to answer certain inquiries
as follows:
Questions to Presbyteries.
"The committee beg leave to ask the
following ques tons, answers to which
will be helpful to a full and clear under
standing Of the mind of the church.
These questions are simply suggestive,
putting upon the presbyteries no restric-
ton whatever, except that it should be
remembered that the committee is not en-
conflict with the system of doctrine taught
in the Holy Scriptures, and contained in
the Confession of Faith:
First Do you desire a revision of our
Confession of Faith? or
Second. Do you desire a supplemental
explanatory statement? or
Third. DO you desire to supplement our
ooctrinai standards with a briefer state"
ment Of the doctrines most surely believed
among n
tne faith Of the church in loyalty to the
system of doctrine contained in Holy
Scripture and held by the reformed
churches? or
Fourth. Do you desire the dismissal
OF the whole subject, so that our doc
trnal standards shall remain as they are,
without any change whatever whether
IeVisional. supplemental or substitutional?
II your preference is for a revisional
action, state In what direction and to
Wnat extent you would have revision I'M
uertaken. The revision reported to the
assembly in 1892 might here be helpful
as basis for judgment.
IL your preference is for an explanatory
statement. indicate what specific points
IN the Confession the explanations should
cover
The committee considers 1t as quite
evident that due regard to the above ques-
'ons and suggestions may be of great
service in contributing TO a better knowl-
euse OF the mind of a church on this i'm
portant matter.
Inc committee also would respectfully
request the presbyteries in reporting
sner action to state the vote In the af-
",nndtVe and IN the negative"
40 the questions contained In the fore
gong communication answers were made
Ny 4p presbyteries, prior to Dec. l. 1900
when were put in printed form and sub
united TO the committee at It's meeting
81 Washington, d. c., Dec. to 8. At
tn's meeting all the members Of the COM
ulittee were present and an examination
Vas made Of the returns from the pres
pyleHes' A tentative report was agreed
upoH at this meeting, but final action
vas postponed to another time.
A third meeting was held at Wash
nston, ID. c., Feb. 10 and IA, 1901, at
Nnch additional answers from the pres
oyterles were presented, and the subject
was further considered.
The Pittsburg Meeting.
several members Of the committee
.ouhd it impossible to attend this Feb
.ua'y meeting and others were COM
eeHed to leave before definite action could
agreed upon. While a majority Of the
nnittee found II feasible to agree up
VA q definite recommendation, a consid-
sraDle minority expressed a desire for