Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-05-25
REVISION IS Desired By
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
BY AN OVERWHELMING
VOTE NOT TO
DROP THE WHOLE SUBJECT.
A DAY OF NOTABLE ADDRESSES by
EMINENT MINISTER'S AND
PRESBfTERS.

EMINENT MkNxSB1HS AND
PRESBfTERS.
PHILADELPHIA Pa, May M-The
Presbyterian general assembly by a
vote which showed c~onclasively that a
revision of the confession of faith is
desired by the church, to-day defeated
the amendment dismissing the whole
subject, offered by Rev George D.
Baker, of Philadelphia The assembly
decided by an overwh Ginning majority
to keep up consideration of the great
question.
AT the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion the assembly decided to vote on
the amendment at 4:30 o'clock and
speeches were limited to ten minutes.
The time, however, was extended in
order to give a number of commission
srs who wished to be heard, an oppor-
tunity Of speaking.
The principal addresses Of the day
were made by Rev. DR.. John Dewitt,
in the morning, and Rev. DIR. Charles
A. Dickey, closing the debate. Dr.. De-
Witt favored dismissal, declaring thar
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 qles-
tion of revision was not before the as
sembly no evil could result from a
further consideration of the commit
tees report.
DR.. w. H. Roberts made a plea for a
declarative statement, asserting the su-
premacy Of Holy Scripture as the oaiy
source Of doctrine; that the system Of
the confession is the same as Holy
Scripture teaches and that infants are
saved by Gods electing grace.
AS was the case yesterday Calvary
church was unable to contain thronss
WHO came &c hear the discussion.
After the disposition of a few minor
The Unfinished Business.
OF yesterday. The moderator said he
had found the sentiment of the assem-
bly, in favor of full free and fair pre-
sentation OF the question, but g
ed that the commissioner endeavof as
far as possible to adhere to the rule of
breyity especially as the great ground
had been. staked gut by the able speak
ers of yesterday.
Rev. DR.. David S. Kennedy, of Allie
gheny, Pa, yielded the floor to Judge
f. W. Humphrey, of Louisville, who
signed the minority report with DR.,
McKibben.
Judge Humphrey urged the elimina-
ton from the committees report of the
clause recommending a brief summary
OF the reformed faith bearing the same
relation to the confession which the
shorter catechism bears to the larger
ca5echism and formed on the general
model of the cencensus creed. He
claimed it meant practically a new
creed and should not be ~concurred in.
as the ~presbyteries did not desire a new
confession.
DR.. Kennedy followed with a forceful
argument against revision. The way to
break down the confession finally, he
said, is to go on making holes in it.
I'VE stand united on the confession
continued DR.. Kennedy. 1T is con-
structed from beginning to nj TO be
used for scientific purposes. It is the
constitution Of our church organization.
We are not considering a popular creed,
but the fundamental principle of our
organization. The confession has been
charged with failing to %truthfully pre-
sen the belief of the church. No one
forced Us to sign that confession. We
did not sign it in ignorance, and am
sure not one of us signed it dishonest
".
81 R~epudiate the Statement
that the confession does not set forth
the man side and personality of the
Holy Spirit
This brought Rev. DR.. Herrick john
0 % his feet. Il beg your pardon"
said he, but if you refer TO me, l did
not say that"
DR.. Kennedy replied that while he
might have misunderstood DR.. John
sons words, he had received that m
preston.
In conclusion. DR.. Kennedy said:
Our plea is that now is not the time
for changes while the church is under
hre. We are not living in a constitu-
ton making age. After a fair, delib-
crate and free discussion we find our
sercelves all divided up. Let us wait
until God in His providence brings us
TO the time when we can argree on the
questions at issue"
Rev. Dr.. ]. e. Moffatt, of Cumberland,
Md, became eloquent in his appeal to
the assembly for a change in the confess
sion that would give a more ever bal
ance of truth. THE confession he
said, SIS a man-made constitution, but