The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-24
CREED UNDER FIRE
NnRTHERN PRESBYTERIAN BEGIN
IMPORTANT WORK.
REVISION THEIR THEME.
WARM DISCUSSION OF THE SUB
JECT YESTERDAY.

JECT YESTERDAY.
rreat Interest Shown and the Church
Thronged-The Two Reports Read
and the Fight Promptly Begins.
Dr. Hendrick JohnsOn's Analysis
nj the ConfeSsiOn-Confes Does
Not Express Presbyterian Belief OF
TO-day-NO Longer Believe the
Pope TO BE Anti-Christ.
Philadelphia, May 23-With eloquence
horn Of the solemn Importance of the
ouestion, commissioners to the Presby-
terian General Assembly to-day began
the debate on the revision of the Confess
sion of Faith. Brilliant leaders of the
church advanced their views in calm,
dispassionate manner and the entire dis
cussion was devoid of acrimony. With a
4 full realization of the great Importance of
the subject the assembly proceeded to
consider and investigate thoroughly every
detail of the proposed changes in the
4 creed
Calvary church was not large enough
4 to accommodate the throngs who clamor-
ed for admission. Many of the spectators
did not leave the church during the noon
i recess. Although frequently requested to
avoid demonstrations the audience re-
peatedly applauded the speakers. Among
4 the spectators were many clergymen of
other denominations.
The great question came before the as
sembly with the reading of the report of
the Committee on Revision by Rev. Dr.
Charles A. Dickey, chairman. This was
followed by the minority report read by
Rev. DR.. William McKibben of Cincin-
4 natl.
3 A rule of the assembly gives chairmen
the right to speak on their reports after
they have been received, but before Dr.
Dickey could secure recognition, Rev. Dr.
Samuel J. Niccolls moved the adoption
of the first recommendation in both re-
h ports.
The Discussion Grows Warm.
Rev. DR.. James D. Moffatt made a sub
stitute motion to adopt the majority re-
81 port and an amendment was offered sub
stituting the minority. Rev. DR.. George
d. Baker presented as another amend
ment a resolution to the effect that as
the vote of the presbyteries indicated a
Fl lack of unanimity the entire subject be
dismissed DR.. Dickey secured the floor
f. on this amendment and made a stirring
address, supporting the old Confession.
Rev DR.. Herrick Johnson and Rev Dr.
81 Niccolls aroused the unbounded enthu-
S siam of the audience by their brilliant
# presentations of the revision faction 5
reasons for desiring change.
Fl Kew. DR.. G. T. Purves spoke against re-
vision as did Rev. DIR. George D. Baker
81 Dr. McKibben favored a modified change
Fl There are $50 commissioners committed
so dismissal, but they have expressed
1. themselves as open to conviction.
Human Document.
Rev. DR.. Herrick Johnson of Chicago
II presented a careful analysis of the con-
fession, showing why certain statements
should De eliminated and asserting that
some truths not contained should be add
ed No one would deny, he said, that the
A CONCESSION of Faith was a human docu-
n ment and, therefore. subject to error
have no attack to make on the
creed, said DR.. Johnson in opening his
4 acaress Il wish calmly and dispassion-
ateiy TO investigate it; what ii contains
ana what it does not contain The au-
4 thors OF the creed were not infallibie They
/ wrote some things in it which we do not
oeIIeVe to be true, and failed TO write
H some things which we hold to be true
Ihey wrote of the Pope: That anti
1hrlst, man of sin and son of perdtion
|4 we repudiate that belief and why should
II De allowed to remain? We have had the
cIeed 2oO years, and will be following the
oots'eps of the Westminster divines If
we make new one. The way is open to
#1s 10 do as our Westminster fathers did
lnat liberty had they that we do not
Dr. johnson then quoted a number of
'lSlons which the creed has undergone
luee It's adoption and said that as the
e'alIlng sentiment of the church favor
some change it was the duty of the
#wish.
Not Perfect Document.
rev Dr. George T. Purves, of New
n part
am not an extremist on this ques-
oN. am not one who believes the con-
sS'on OF faith is perfect document. 1
osul2e the fact that it is open to inn
cement This assembly is a deliber-
1--WE and constitutive body not bound
nc presbytery returns. The returns
'h!s case present a hopeless future
any specific plan. AS for the poor
p' OF Rome being anti-Christ I ad-
nat Is not the proper epithet to
py 10 him, but bringing up'such sub
Is picking flies off the great pillar
tne Confession.
You imagine for a moment you
gong TO stop the aspersions of the
.u against Calvsnism? Not for one
et' When the Westminster divines
,T. '' remove these aspersions they
ar Up more highly articulated state
~. vi the doctrine which is just the
70 do N' ca "'"1 10