The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-24
REVISION OF THE FAITH
BURNING QUESTION UP FOR CON-
SIDE3ATTON BEFORE PRES
BYTERLAN ASSEMBLY
THE DELEGATES ARE DIVIDED
THREB FACTIONS REPRESENT THE
VARYING OPINIONS AMONG
THE PRESBYTERIEs
ARGUMENTS PRO AND CON


PHILADELPHIA, May e3.-With elo-
quence born Of the solemn Importance
OF the question, commissioners to the
Presbyterian general assembly today
| began the debate on the revision of tho
confession of faith. Brilliant Ie4ders
OF the church advanced their views in
q calm, d!spassionate manner and the
entire discussion was devoid Of acr3mony
With a full realization of the great i'm
portance OF the subject the assembly
proceeded to consider and investigate
thoroughly every detail of the proposed
changes in the creed.
Calvary church was not large enough
to accommodate the throngs who clam
ored for admission. Many OF the spec
tators did not leave the church curing
the noon recess. AE5hough frequently re-
! quested to avoid demonstrations the aud
| ience repeatedly aPplauded the speakers.
Among the spectators were many clergy
men of other denominations.
The great question came before tho
assembly with the reading of the re-
port Of the committee on revision by
Rev. DR.. Charles a. Dtckey, chairman
This was followed by the minority report
read by Rev DR.. w. NJ. McKiuben, Of
Cincinnati
rule Of the assembly gives chairmen
| they have been received but before DR..
! Dickey could secure recognition DR..
| Samuel J. Niccolls moved the adoption OF
the first recommendation in Doth reports.
Rev. Dr. James d. Moffat made a SUBJ
| stbute motion TO adopt the majority re-
| port and an amendment was offered sub
! stituting the minority. Rev Dr. George
| D. Baker presented as another amend
| ment resolution to the effect that as
| the vote of the presby teries indicated a
| lack Of unanimity, the entire subject Do
dismissed. DR. Dickey secured the floor
| on this amendment and made a stirring
! address supporting the old confession.
Rev Dr. Herrick Johnson and Rev. DR..
! Samuel J. Niccous aroused the unbound-
| ed enthusiasm of the audience 10y their
brilliant presentations of the revision
factions reasons Sor desiring a change.
! Rev. DR.. George r. Purvcs sokcp against
! revision, as did Rev. DR. George D. Bak-
er. DIR. McIlSben favored modified
/ change. There are go commissioners
committed to dismissal, but they have
/ expressed themselves as open to con-
viction.
A DIVIDED HOUSE.
Last week the report Of the special
| committee on revision, OF which the Rev.
DR.. Charles A. Dicl1ey, Of this city, IS
chairman, was made the order for
o'clock today, with the additional condi-
! ton that the discussion should not be
interrupted by other business until the
! commissioners had reached some definite
! conclusion. The committee was appoint
! ed by the general assembly at st. Louis
| last year.
The controversy regarding revision has
| led to the formation Of three groups
among the $40 commissioners to the gem
! eral assembly. First there is the con-
servatiye group, composed Of those op-
| posed to any change whatever in the doc
trinal standards Of the church Tnen
there is party desirous Of setting aside
! the confession Of faith as not truthfully
expressing the belief Of the church Be
| tween these stands the Centrists, VINO
! favor maintaining the old confession, and
! who desire the adoption Of a clear de
! claratiYe' statement. setting forth the
most important doctrines and laying spe-
| cial emphasis upon the love OF God for
mankind and on the work OF the holy
spirit.
The commissioners have had ample time
I to study the committees report, and
when Moderator Minturn called the as
/ sembly tc order today all were prepared
/ for thorough and intelligent cOnsidera-
/ tion Of the subject In answer TO the
/ questions submitted to the presbyteries,
! fifty asked the assembly to dismiss the
whole subject one was undecided, four
/ a supplemental statement nor the dis
missal of the whole subject, and Of tho
! 233 presbyteres, 10 In the United States
! and 16 in foreign lands failed to re-
! spond. OF the remaining presbyteries,
! nearly two-thirds of the whole number
asking for some change in the credal
| statement, fOrty-seven desire revision
! Of the confession, eleven an explanatory
! statement, one revision and an explana-
-ta ,Tfv al
/ statement, fifteen revision and a sup
/ elemental statement, one an explanatory
| statement and a supplemental statement,
| fourteen a substitute creed one an al
/ ternat tive creed and six come change not
! specified.
| DIR. NICCOLIS' ADDRESS.
/ A forceful address favoring revision,
which noticeably impressed the commits
! sioners, was delivered 10y Rev. DR. Sam
| uel ]. Niccolls, Of st. Louis, who de-
1 clared that creed is the report OF script
! ural knowledge up to date. "Our fathers,
who wrote it, recognized this fact" as
serted Dr. Niccolls.
Continuing, he said:
Throughout our church there has been
/ an expression of dissatisfaction with tho
( statements in our written confession, and
/ this dissatisfaction IS growing. We do
| know something which our fathers did
] not know, or, at least, which they did
not write. Is 1t unreasonable that tho
/ presbyteries should ask you to consider
/ If you cannot state the truth in such
/ way that IT may not be understOod2 Oh,
| peace, what strife has been engendered
! in your name!
"Our presbyteries are seeking aid and
! # relief is granted permanent peace Will
result You may term these questions
which are agitatlng the church little
! things, but little things sometimes cause
! much irritation. How easy II is to raise
the cry that the faith IS assailed. I do
not believe IN beating ecclesiastical
! drums 1t is my opinion that when a
/ document doesn't express your cOnvic-
tions the easiest way is to change It,
/ by the third chapter Of the confes-
/ sion we do not mean that Gods grace Is
/ not to be preached to all men. Saliva
tion is open to all men IN the province
! OF Christ
"One-third OF the human race die in IN
/ fancy, and the sorrowing mother comes
| TO the church. Has the church as the
| representative OF the gentle Jesus moth
ing to say to that sorrOwing mother2
/ That IS what we ask in this connection