The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1901-05-31
i STANDS FOR REVISION:
PRESBYTERIAN General Assembly
Adopts the Report of the Re-
vision Committee.
FOR CHANGED AN0 SHORTER CREED.
The Session mt Philale phla Also De-
cisles to Hold Assembly Next Year
mt Fifth Avenue Church. New York
Other Important Questions to he
Considered.


Considered.
Philadelphia, May 2s.-The Presby-
terrain general assembly adopted the
re vision committees report ut ll:O@
q. III.
1t was also decided at Monday morn
ings session to hold the assembly next
wear in the Fifth Avenue church, New
York.
impatient to Settle Question.
When the Presbyterian general as
sembly met Monday there appeared to
be a disposition on the part OF the
commissioners to bring the debate on
creed revision to an end as soon as
possible. The majority of the dele
ga ties are impa tent to settle the ques-
ton as far as this assembly is con-
cerned. There is still considera bic
other business of Importance to be
transacted and some of the subjects
are expected to arouse much discus
sion.
Before proceeding to the further
consideration of the question OF revl-
sion the assembly adopted the report
of the committee on the next place OF
meeting, which selected the Fifth Az
enue Presbyterian church, New York,
as the meeting place of the general as
sembly of 1902. An amendment was
offered substituting Los Angeles for
New York, but DR.. Roberts, stated
clerk, announced that the condition OF
the assemblys funds would not war
"a Mt such a selection and the amend
ment was lost. Invitations were also
received from Denver, Milwaukee and
Sa ratoga Springs.
|. The committee recommended to the
next assembly the selection of Los
Angeles for the assembly of 1903.
james D. Moffatt, d. d., president OF
Washington and Jefferson university
who on Saturday gave notice that he
would offer an amendment to the ma
iority report, was then recognized by
the moderator.
DR.. Moffatt explained that he was
moved to offer the amendment to rec
ommendation p because OF the small
majority which on Saturday voted to
fretain the recommendation in the re-
vision committees report. Objection
had been made, he said. to the origin
al recommendation because of am
Fbiguity in certain portions and his OBJ
| iect in amending was to render the
vote Of the assembly unanimous on
whatever action might be taken.
81 hoped to amend recommendation b."
continued Dr.. Moffatt, Ito meet all obJec-
lions and to give it new wording. Many
good men who opposed the original form
were alarmed by the word Summary l
have made simple change, striking out
the word summary and substituting
statement which expresses just what we
have In view. Again, there Is nothing 1r
the original report as to what shall be-
done with the summary. l wish to remove
all ambiguity and have it stated plainly
that the committee to be appointed Will
be required to report TO the next ASSEMBLY
and that recommendation be made to the
next assembly to submit the entire subject
to the presbyterics."
The Amendment.
DR.. Moffatt's amendment is as fol-
lows:
1--WE recommend that this committee be
instructed to prepare and submit to the
| as may be judged to be wise, brief state
ment of the reformed faith, expressed. as
| far as possible, in untechncal terms. The
| said statement Is to be prepared with a
| view to its being employed to give informa-
| ton and better understanding of our
doctrinal beliefs, and not with view to
its becoming substitute for or an alterna-
| tive of our confession of faith
DR.. Niccolls, of St. Louis, a leader of
fv-r rfX- IN nri
heartily seconded the amendment,
which action drew forth considerable
applause Other seconding speeches
were made by DR.. Herrick Johnson, of
| Chicago; former Moderator Charles 4.
Dickey, Of Philadelphia; DR.. William
McKibben, Cincinnati; DR.. George ID.
Baker, Philadelphia; DR.. William c.
Roberts, Pennsylvania, KY; DR.. W. II.
w. Boyle, Pueblo, COL; DR.. ID. J. Saun-
ders, president of Riddle university,
| Charlotte, n. c.; DR.. David a. Gun
| ningham, Washington, Pa, and DR..
David s. Kennedy, Allegheny, Pa.
AS each of the above commissioners,
who represented all shades of opin-
| ion in the assembly. rose to speak for
the amendment wave of appla use
swept over the vast assemblage.
The amendment was adopted by a
viva voce vote, not one voice being
raised in opposition TO it.
Adopted Separately.
The question was then on the adop-
ton of the majority report, and DR..
johnson moved that the three rec
| concentrations contained in the re-
port be taken up seriatim, and the
motion was carried.
| Recommendation A, which calls for
the appointment of a revision COM
mittee, was adopted with only few
voices against it.
Recommendation y, as amended,
went through without sign of oppo-
sition.
| Recommendation G, on motion of DR..
Baker. of Philadelphia, was amended
so tina tthe amendments to be prepared
by the committee for several chapters
of the confession of faith shall be
made "either by modification of the
1 T.. 4