The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-25
THEY DESIRE REVISION.
Motion to Dismiss the whole Sub
ject Overwhe heImingIy Defeated.

Motion to Dismiss the whole Sub
ject Overwhelmingly Defeated.
Philadelphia, May 24.-The Presbyterian
General Assembly, by a vote which show
ed conclusively that a revision of the
Confession of Faith is desired by the
church, to-day defeated the amendment
dismissing the whole subject offered yes
terday by Rev. George d. Baker of Phil
adelphia. The assembly decided by an
overwhelming majority to continue con-
sideration of the great question after two
days of debate, during which leading ex-
ponents of the Presbyterian doctrine
throughout the country thoroughly ana
lyzed the creed and gave their reasons
for their positions regarding the subject
At the opening of the afternoon session
the assembly decided to vote on the
amendment at 4:SO o'clock and speeches
were dimited to Ten minutes. The time,
however, was extended in order to give a
number of commissioners who wished to
be heard an opportunity of speaking.
The principal addresses of the day were
made by Rev. DR.. John Dewitt I'm the
morning and Rev. DR.. Charles A Dickey
closing the debate. DR.. Dewitt favored
dismissal, declaring that though there
might be slight divergence of opinion On
the Confession the church was united on
the word of God.
DR.. Dickey took a decided stand
against dismissal. He said as the ques-
tion of revision was not before the assem-
bly no evil could result from a further
consideration of the committees report.
DR.. w. II. Roberts made a plea for
declarative statement. asserting the SUI
premacy of holy scripture as the only
source of doctrine: that the system of the
Confession is the same as holy scripture
teaches, and that infants are saved by
Gods electng grace.
The discussion at times was lively, but
without bitterness.
In the course of the debate Judge E.
w. c. Humphrey of Louisville urged the
elimination from the committees report
of the clause recommending a brief sum-
mary of the reformed faith, bearing the
same relation to the Confession which
the shorter catechism bears 10 the larger
catechism, and formed on the general
model of the consensus creed. He claimed
IL meant practically a new creed and
should not be concurred in as the presby-
teries did not desire a new Confession.
Orthodoxy, Liberty and Union.
DR.. John Dewitt OF Princeton said:
''The three elements, orthodoxy liberty
and unity of action, were never held In
better balance than at present in the new
school. This was done by throwing em-
phasls on the present liberal terms OF
subscription" DR.. Dewitt said he was
rot an obstructionist. His proposition
was that the assembly stand on its rights
and assert the great noble, liberal term
of subscription.
DR.. W. II. Roberts, stated clerk, de.
clared himself in favor of a declaratory
statement. He said:
II believe al lparties can be united.
We would be wise TO follow the Scotch
churches In what they have done. The
Revision Committee did at one of their
meetings decide TO recommend a declar-
atory act as the best means Of settling
the question but later agreed not to in
clude this recommendation in their report.
The Bible is our supreme rule and stan
dard OF faith. II seems very largely to
have been overlooked during this dis
cussion The whole Bible Is IN our Con-
fession and when you raise the issue on
the Confession you must 80 back TO