Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1901-05-30
Debate on the Question of Creed Re.
vision Continued in the Pres
byterian Assembly.
THE FIRST AMENDMENT DISCUSSED.
This would Substitute the Minority
Report for That of the Majority
But II was Finally Defeated, Az
ter - Spirited Debate, Ky n Vote
of 271 to 234.

6ignally defeated inc amendment us
missing the subject of creed revision
from further consideration, Friday,
the Presbyterian general assembly
proceeded to discuss the first amend
ment to the revision committees re-
port, offered by Rev. DR.. James L,
Motfatt, of Cumberland, Md. This
amendment substitutes the minority
report, which agrees with the MAORI
ty report in all but recommendation
b, suggesting the preparation of a
summary of the reformed faith.
Rev. DR.. VIM. McKibben, of Cincin-
natl, who with z. W C. Humphrey, Of
Louisville. submitted the minority re-
port, stated his reasons for disagree
ing with the majority on recon-
mendation b.
"In the minority report" he said,
1--WE have a chapter on missions, a
chapter or the love of God for men, a
chapter on the Holy Spirit; we have
relief in relation OF elect infants, re.
gardiug the pope and the misleading
statements concerning good works. Is
not this the relief which the assembly
asked when the battle for dismissal
was fought?
Can we not get together? We hear
many say that we can not agree on
anything and others say we can agree
on everything. Can we not make
concessons?"
DR.. Mckibben referred to the COM
the members of that committee were
careful to do nothing that would en-
danger the orthodoxy, unity and lib
erty of the church.
George Il, Stewart, president of Au-
burn IN. ~ theological seminary who
is classed as leader of the liberal
party of the church, made a strong
plea for the majority report. He said
he signed the report though it does
not represent his views. He had
signed il because it was a compromise
and was the best he could get. 1t did
not offer the necessary relief. The
sentiment for n new creed, he said, is
growing yearly. He pointed to the
fact that, in 1859, there was not one
voice lifted for a new creed. At the
last assembly there was a marked
sentiment for such a proposition.
President Stewart said he wanted
texture revision. He did not want a
doclaratory statement, but he would
take it if he could get nothing better.
Rev. nr. Marcus A. Brownson, Of
this city, opposed both minority and
majority reports because, he said, the
membership and wealth of the church
had increased under the old confess
sion as he feared it could not were
change made.
"If this assembly is lugged into the
revision movement l will sever my
connection with the Twentieth Cen
fury fund.-" said Dr.. Brownson. This
threat elected reproachful cries of
"Oh," and mo" from the commission.
ers.
Rev. c. +. Hubbard, of Buffalo, ad-
vocated the rejection of the minority
report on the ground that it commits
the assembly to definite position on
the subject of a summary statement
while the majority report merely
asks the assembly to continue consid-
GRAFTON of the subject.
AT this point Vice-Moderator Pit
cairn took the chair and the floor was
given TO Moderator Minton, who
spoke briefly against recommends
ton b of the majority report. He said
the issue before the church to-day
was more important than the one
that has been before the assembly
during the two preceding days, He
maintained that this assembly had
broken all presidents in having elect
ed a moderator who did not know
the difference between the old and
the new school of theology except
what he knew from history. He was
n child, he said, of the reunited
church. For himself, he thought the
movement as outlined in recon-
mendation b is fraught with the ut
most daEger. The errors in the con-
fession OF faith were only incidental
and he believed the minority offered
the relief. He was afraid of the idea
of compromise. There was time for
compromise but he would earnestly
try to get what he wanted before he
would turn to a proposition to COM
promise.
Rev. DIR. Herrick Johnson of Chi
cago, n member of the committee ON
revision, explained the reasons of tho
majority for inserting recommends.
ton Is. He carefully analysed the
confession of faith and showed the
benefits to be derived from short
creed containing the essentials of the
Westminster doctrine.
The assembly, finally defeated the
recommendation by a vote
Of 271 to 2S4.
----=-----=
Under Charges of EmbezxIement.