New-York tribune., 1901-03-05
THREEVIEWSON THE CREED
PRESBYTERIAN UNION LISTENS TO PRO-
FESSORS FROM THEOLOGICAL
SEMINARIES

Members of the Presbyterian Union of WORK
gathered in force in the large paror OF the f1o'ei
Savoy last evening to listen TO addresses on plo-
posed creedal changes The parlor was filled TO It's
utmost seating canacitv There about as
many women as men in the audience. and among
the several prominent presbyterian
clergymen of the city. Three addresses were mace
by professors of theological seminaries, who had
accepted invitations Of the union. the Rev. Dr.
John D. De Witt of Princeton; the Rev. Dr. George
Black Stewart. of Auburn and the Rev Dr. Her
rick johnson. of Chicago. DIR. Carl f. Dunt sang
solos between the addresses.
DR. De Witt had for the plan of his address the
statement: The established standards of the Pres
bvterian Church should In this crisis be reairmed
and left unchanged" He argued that in the pres
ent age of doubt and apologettc attitude When
the Presbyterian Church is more divided than II
was in the last decade. 1t is time to go into the
business of creed making creed mending. He
was understood by many present TO criticise the
Rev. DIR. Dykes book when he said: ut is
gospel for an age of doubt which one Of our own
clergymen eloquently. and with literary grace COM
mends to students about TO begin their ministry
Leading up to statement of the value OF the
Westminster Confession creed for the Church
he said:
Science. philosophy and theology are the three
great modes of organizing the universe into an
intelligent system Science never rises above sec
ond causes. When it does it is longer science.
For philosophy views the universe as a unity, and
the goal it is al~syf % M seeking to to reach is the
cause, the ultimate ground of all Now. the goal
of philosophy is the postuate and point of depart
ure of theology. What philosophy is striving 10
find theology asserts has been found.
The speaker held that a consistent creed must be
formulated the theory that the universe is organ
lied by a living God. Tine Westminster Confession.
he said had given this country religious liberty
and a state without king.
Entirely new standards of belief are demanded
the present time" the thesis which DIR.
Stewart based his address. He said in part:
To defend this thesis II is necessary to assail
the Westminster Confession and Catechsms.
these venerable statements of the faith of
church. They bear the marks of the profound
intellectual and spiritual insight of their authors
Nevertheless. we need a new creed we nave
the right to Surely the Westminster divines
who exercised this privilege themselves would be
the last 10 deny 1t TO others. AS all synods and
councils may err. through the frailty inseparabe
made provision for the amendment OF our doctrinal
standards. The amendment may be by a new
statement throughout. The right TO formulate a
creed carries the right 10 change 1t. Every age
has the right TO state its own faith in its own
way. II wish TO convince the world that we
have faith that has reality and dehniteness, we
must seriously set about formulating it,
The thesis of DR., Johnsons address was; While
it would he nadvlsabe TO discard the established
standards of the Presbyterian Church, the time has
come when they should be modernized in form and
modified in certain statements
The speaker argued for restatement of the
Confession. saying in part:
Across our Confession could Justly be written,
the Gospel for the elect only. say this with the
profoundest respect for the fathers, and in the
fullest appreciation OF the doctrine they wrought
ont But IL was written under the absolute domi-
nance OF idea-the doctrine OF predestination
based in the unconditional sovereignty OF God