Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-05-25
DESIRE|SFORR REVISION
So Shown by an Overwhelming
Vote in the Presbyterian
General Assembly.
ATTEMPT TO DISMISS THE SUBJECT
Has Very Few Supporters-Proposc
DecIaratory Statement-Dr.
Dickey's Views.

| Philadelphia. May 25.-The Presby-
terian general assembly today defeat
ed the minority recommendation ''B''
by a vote of 234 to 271. The majority
and minority reports agreed on every
thing but this recommendation. The
motion for the previous question was
overwhelmingly defeated. The as
sembly adjourned at noon until Mon
day in order to visit Princeton uni
verify.
Philadelphia. May 2;i.-The Presby-
terian general assembly. by vote
which showed conclusively that re-
vision of the confession of faith is de-
sired by the church. yesterday defeat
ed an amendment diSmissing the whole
subject offered by Rev. George ID. Bak
, Cr. of Philadelphia. The assembly de
cided by an overwhelming majority TO
continue consideration of the question.
At the opening OF yesterday after
Moons session the assembly decided
To vote ON the amenS.pent at 4-3O p.
n,, and speeches Were limited to ten
minutes. The time. however, was eX-
tended in order to give a number of
commissioners who wished TO be heard
an opportunity of speaking
Pith of the Principal Talks.
The principal addresses of the day
were made by Rev. DIR. John Dewitt,
in the morning. and Rev. DIR. Charles
y. Dickey. closing the debate. Dr. De
witt favored dismissal. declaring that
though there might be a slight di-
vergencc OF opinion on the confession
the church was united ON the Word
OF God. DIR. Dickey took Il decided
stand against dismissal. He said that
as the question of revision was not
before the assembly no evil could re-
suit from further consideration OF
the committees report. DIR. w. II.
Roberts made a plea for n declarative
statement asserting the supremacy or
Holy Scripture as the only source OF
doctrine.
DIR. johnson Wants to Know.
During the debate in the afternoon
Rev. DR. Robert VI. Patterson. of Penn
sylvania. declared it had been said on
the floor of the assembly that the con-
fession of faith was not believed.
This brought DR. johnson. of Chicago
to his feet with the query: 81 want
to know who says we do not believe
the confession Of faith:- The doctor
was quickly called to order and Loyalty
Cbeyed the call. DR. Patterson con-
cluded his speech with the announce
ment that he was unalterably opposed
to any change in the confession.
DR.. Roberts DecIaratory Statement.
The nub of DIR. Roberts proposed
declaratory statement was that the
scriptures are supreme as the source
of doctrine. and that this church has
always held. and now holds in the
matter of the salvation of infants dy-
ing in infancy and other persons men
tally incapable of faith, that they are
saved by the electing grace of that
and that the terms of sub
Scription to the confession are not
ipSissisima verva, but TO the system
of doctrine taught in Holy Scripture"
Dickey Closes the Debate.
DR.. Dickey closed the debate with
the declaration that the question of
revision is not before the assembly.
Nobody is trying to lead the
church into revolution or blind re-
vision. The clause prohibiting a man
from marrying his dead wife's sister
was repudiated. Is ii more important
whose sister a man should marry. or
that infants are saved? ] believe that
only, elect infants are saved. but / want
it written i'm the confession that all I'M
fants are elect"