The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-05-28
DECISION WAS IN
FAVOR OF REVISION
Question Is Settled by Presby-
terrain General Assembly.
ATTEND TO OTHER WORK
NEW YORK Is SELECTED AS
NEXT MEETING PLACE.

sion OF the confession of faith The
debate on this important question had
extended into the fourth day, and to
DR.. James D. 8Ioffat is due the credit
Of having brought the commissioners
to such a harmonious conclusion.
When recommendation b was on sun
day adopted by a compare lively small
majority, DIR. MOffat announced that
in view of the diTergency of opinion
he would today offer an amendment
Which he hoped would meet the ap-
prevail Of the entire assembly. When
he presented this amendment today It
was instantly accepted by the commits
sioners and the adoption of the report
as a whole followed with little delay.
viva voce vote was taken and
when $40 ayes responded to the cues
ton the commissioners sang Praise
God From Whom All Blessings Flow.
which was followed by a prayer Of
Thanksgiving BY Moderator Minton.
The momentOus question of creed re-
vision having been disposed Of, the as
selnbly proceeded to the consideration
of unfinished business. The report of
the special committee on judicial COM
missions was FIRST in order aud was
adopted after a brief discussion. This
report recommended the establishment
of a permanent tribunal commission to
which shall be referred all judicial
cases which the general assembly does
not elect to try before the whole body
There VIII be no appeal from the de-
cisions Of this commission.
During the afternoon session reports
Of various special committees were
considered ana adopted, among them
a supplemental report of the commit
tee on theological seminaries which
recommended he consolidation Of the
Louisville and Danville seminaries.
New York was selected as the meet
ing place for the next general assem-
bly,. An amendment has been offered
substituting Los Angeles for New
York. DR.. Roberts, stated clerk, an
nounced that the condition of the as
sembly's funds would not warrant such
q selection and the amendment was
lost Invitations We're also received
from Denver, Milwaukee and Saratoga
to the next assembly the selection of
Los Angeles fer the assembly Of. 1903.
Advises Against Hasty Action.
When the order of the day-the re-
vision of the confession Of faith-was
reached, the moderator made a few
remarks, advising against any hasty
action today. He said there was
the assembly could adjourn, and he
hoped the commissioners would not get
into a panicISy condition and do some
thing which they might regret he
suggested. however, that All speeches
be limited. and a motion to limit them
TO ten minutes was unanimously car
ried.
James D. Moffat, p. %, president Of
the Washington and Jefferson Univer-
sity, who. on Saturday, gave notice
the majority report, was then recOg-
nized bX the moderator.
Objection had. been made, he said TO
the original recommendation 3 be-
cause Of ambiguity IN certain portions
and his object in amending was to
render the vote of the assembly unan-
iuaouS on whatever action might be
taken.
II hoped to amend recommendation
q, continued Or. Nfoffat, ITO meet all
objections and to give it new wording. 2
Many good men who opposed the orig
inal form were alarmed by the word
summary I have made simple
change striking out the word sum
mary and substituting statement,
which expresses Just what we have in
view. Again there is nothing in the
original report as to what shall be
done with. the summary I wish to re-
move all ambiguity and have It stated
plainly that the committee to be APP
pointed win be required to report 10
the next assembly and that a recon-
mendation be made to the next assem-
bly, TO submit the entire subject to the
presbyteries.
Amendment Is offered
Or. Moffags amendment is as fol-
lows we recommend that this COM
mittee be instructed to prepare and
for such disposition as may be judged
to be wise, a brief statement OF the
reformed faith, expressed as far as
possible in untechnicai terms The
said statement is to be prepared with
a view to its being employed TO give
Information and a better understand
ing Of oUF doctTinal beliefs, and not
with 9. view to us becoming a substi-
tute for, or an alternative Of our con
lesson or faith
DR.. NioeoIIs of st, Louis, a leader of
the minority, in "A brief. speech, heart
lily seconded the amendment. which ac-
ton drew forth considerable applause.
SecOuding speeches were also made oy
DIR, Herrick- Johnson OF Chicago For
mer Moderator Charles A. Diokey,
Philadelphia. DR.. William McKibben,
Cincinnati; DR.. George D. Baker. Phil-
adeiphia, and others
AS commissioners who represented
all shades OF opinion in the assembly
rose to speak for the amendment, ap-
plause swept oyer the vast assem-
blage. The amendment was adopted
by q viva VoCe vote, not one voice
being raised in opposition.
Voting On Majority Report
The question was then on the adop-
ton Of the majority report and Dr.
J johnson moved THAT the three recon-
NJltAcAAAtNlAA LuE LCtlNA
taken UP seriatiIn and the motion was
carried.
recommendation A, which calls for
the appointment Of q revision commit
tee, was adopted WITH only a few
voices against IT,
Recommendation =, as amended. +
went through without a sign Of oppo-
sition
recommendation c, on motion Of Dr. /
Baker of Philadelphia, was so amend
ed that the amendments to- be pre-
pared by the committee for several
CHAPTERS OF the confession Of faith
shall lie made either by modification !
Of tho text or by declaFatory state
ment but SO far as possible by de-
claratory statement This rec0m-
nendation was also adopted with but
little oppCsition-
The Question then recurTed to the
adoption. of the report as a whole. 4
The moderator put the question and
there was one great roar Of Aye
Instantly the assembly rose en- nasse
ana sang the doxology- The an0der-
ator then led in prayer
Tho end to the great discussion
day. came 50 quickly that IL took I
every one by surprise. DR. afofat
who introduced the barrnonizins
aruenament to recoEnnen dati0n i, was
surrounded by q crowd which congrat-
ulated hirn on his, success in bringing
the matter To such o satisfactory con-
eluSion.
Enlaree the Committee