Evening star., 1901-05-18
Presbyterian General Assembly Re-
ceives Report of Committee.
DISCUSSION OF IT POSTPONED
Other Reports Received at the
Meeting Today.
VOTES FOR ENDEAVORERS

expectation the Presbyterian general as
sembly did not discuss the report of the
committee on revision, which was today
presented to the commissioners. A minor
ity report was also laid before the assem-
bly,, and it Is probable that the question
will not come up for consideration until
next Thursday. 1t will at least be delayed
until subjects of more interest are out Of
the way.
Today's session was called to order at
$50 o'clock by Moderator Mnton, and after
the usual devotional exercises, reports of
special committees were presented.
Appended to the report of the twentieth
century fund committee were a number of
resolutions which the assembly was asked
to adopt They were follows:
That the general assembly calls upon
every church in the denomination still
burdened with Indebtedness and thus him
dered from giving it's full share to mis-
sions and benevolence to take steps under
the inspiration of this movement to re-
move this Indebtedness within the next
two years.
Plea for the Colleges.
That the general assembly earnestly re-
quest congregations and individual givers
throughout the church to prayerfuly con-
slider the enlarged needs and larger oppor-
oI the pOdTuS OIL the lnSOlOSlcdl
scminaries of the academic, collegiate and
charitable institutions of the church. and
speedily to provide for these greater needs
as the Lord may enable them to do.
THAT the general assembly most ear
nestly calls upon the synodS and the pres
byteries to continue to prosecute this work
curing the ensuing year by organized ef
fort and hearty cooperation with the gen
eTal committee
That in view of the longer time neces-
sary to gather in the full results of this
twentieth century movement the assem-
bly's committee be continued for another
l9o2''
The assembly fixed next Thursday at 10
o'clock m. for the hearing and considera
tion cf the report Of the special committee
OF the revision of the confession of faith.
Thursday and Friday have been set aside
for the discussion of revision, as it is con-
sidered that the debate will consume at
least two days time
The names of the commissioners selected
yesterday by the various districts to serve
members of the standing committees
were read and accepted. The committees
on ministerial relief, freedman and aid for
colleges Immediately retired to elect their
chalrmen, and the remaining committees
We're instructed by the assembly to meet
at noon for the same purpose. On motion
of Rev. DR.. W. II. Roberts the standing
order of business changed and the
presentation of board reports arranged so
mittee on revision could be made the first
order for next Thursday and continued
until the matter was definitely settled. The
revision committees report and those of all
special committees, including the minority
report on revision were then presented.
Report of the Revision Committee.
Following is the report Of the revision
committee:
The committee upon the revision of the
stat of bn
fully reports to the general assembly of
1901 that it was appointed by virtue of ac-
tion taken by the general assembly of 1909,
and recorded on page 80 of their minutes,
In the following resolutions:
i. That a committee of fifteen-eight
ministers and seven elders-be now appoint
ed by the moderator to consider the whole
matter of the restatement of the doctrine
most surely believed among us, and which
are substantially embodied in confess
sion of faith
'"22. That this committee be enjoired dili-
gently 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.
''3. That to further the work of the COM
mttee the presbyteries be and are hereby
invited by the assembly to take action On
this subject at their approaching fall meet
ing, and through the assemblys stated
clerk to report said action to tae commit
tee, whether suggesting reVisio1al, supple
mental or substitutional changes or no
change at ALL (Minutes, 1900, PIP. 30, 1907
Subsequently the committee provided for
by this action was appointed by the mod
orator, and named the members We're:
Ministers-Herrick johnson, DID,; Samuel
]. Niccolls, ID; Daniel w. Fisher, II. D.;
William Mckibben, DID; George B. Stew
art, DID; Stephen w. Dana, DID: Samuel
P. Sprecher. ID; Benjamin b. Wartield.
DID Elders-General Benjamin Harrison
X NnVaS
E. W. C. Humphrey, William r. Crabbe,
John e. Parsons and Elisha A. Fraser. The
moderator, Rev. Charles A. Diciey, DID,,
was added to the committee by direct
ton of the assembly, it's chairman
Rev. DR.. B. B. Warfield having declined to
serve the Rev Henry Van Dyke, d. D.,
was appointed fill the vacancy.
In order to carry out the directions of
the assembly the committee met at Sara
toga Springs, N. Y, on August Il, 1890,
all the members being present except Rev.
s. w. Dana, d. d. tWhO was out of the
country, Gen. Benjamin Harrison and
Justice John M. Harlan, and adopted a
communication to the presbyteries which
the stated clerk of the assembly, as the
secretary of the committee, was directed
to transmit to those judtcatories. The
communication, after stating the appoint
ment and work of the committee, requested
the presbyteries to answer certain inquir-
les as follows:
Questions Formulated by Committee.
The committee beg leave to ask the fol-
lowing questions, answers to which will be
helpful to a full and clear understanding
of the mind of the church. These ques-
tions are simply suggestive, putting upon
the presbyteries no restriction whatever,
except that it should be remembered that
the committee is not empowered to con-
slider any suggestions that conflict with
the system of doctrine taught in the Holy
Scriptures and contained in the confession
of faith:
Il. Do you desire a revision of our con-
fession of faith? or,
- Do you desire a supplemental ex-
planatory statement? or,
%. Do you desire to supplement our doc
trinal standards with brefer statement
of the doctrines most surely believed
among u.s. expressing in simple language
the faith of the church, in loyalty to the
system of doctrine contained in Holy Scrip
ture and held by the Reformed churches?
"A. Do you desire the dismissal of the
whole subject, that our doctrinal stand
ards shall remain as they are, without any
change whatever, whether revisional sup
Elemental substitutional?
IF your preference is for a revisional ac-
tion state in what direction and to what
extent you would have revision undertaken
The revision reported to the assembly In
tsrt,t 1x. 1,4I, f,,l