Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-05-31
ENDED N 4 LOVE FEAST.
Presbyterian Assembly Disposes Of
the Question of Greed Revision by
Almost Unanimous Vote.
AMENDMENT TO THE MAJORITY REPORT

Revision Committee Is Continued and In
creased to FL and the Matters at Issue
VIII He Voted ON by Various Presbyte-
ries and Submitted to the Next General
Assembly-Harmonyo Of Sentiment
Philadelphia, May 2s.-When the
Presbyterian general assembly met
Monday there appeared to be q dispo-
sition on the part of the commission
ers to bring the debate on creed re-
vision to an end as soon as possible.
There is still considerable other bust
ness of Importance to be transacted
and some of the subjects are expected
TO arouse much discussion. Among
fsese are the establishment of an &C.
clesiastical supreme court, the over
sight and direction of the collecting
and distributing of benevolent offer
ings, the plan of vacancy and supply
for unemployed ministers and
churches without pastors and a plan
of oversight of the young peoples So
cieties.
It was decided to hold the assembly
next year in the Fifth Avenue church.
New York.
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 to-day. He said there was a
tendency to rush the matters so that
the assembly could adjourn, and he
hoped the commissioners would not
get into a panicky condition and do
something which they might regret.
James D. Moffat, d. D., president of
VNoc Toff
sity, who on Saturday gave motive that
he would offer an amendment to the
majority report, was then recognized
by the moderator. DIR. Moffat then
explained that he was moved to offer
an amendment to recommendation 3
because of the small majority which
on Saturday voted to retain the rec
ommendation in the revision commit
tees report. Objection had been made,
he said, to the original recommended
ton because of ambiguity in certain
portions and his object in amending
was to render the vote of the assem-
bly, unanimous on whatever action
might be taken. ST hope to amend
recommendation B." continued DIR.
Moffatt, ''to meet all objections and
to give it new wording. Many good
men who opposed the original form
were alarmed by the word summary
[ have made simple change, strik-
ing out the word summary and sub
shutting statement which expresses
just what we have in view. Again
there is nothing in the original re-
port as to what shall be done with
the summary. I wish to remove all
ambiguity and have it stated plainly
that the committee to be appointed
will be required to report to the next
assembly and that recommendation
be made to the next assembly to sub
NIT the entire subject to the presby
teries.''
DR.. Niccolls, of ST. Louis, a leader Of
the minority party, in brief speech
heartily seconded the amendment,
which action drew forth considerable
applause. Other seconding speeches
were made by DR.. Herrick johnson, Of
Chicago; Former Moderator Charles
A. Dickey, of Philadelphia, and DR..
William McKibben, of Cincinnati. AS
each of the above commissioners who
represented all shades of opinion in
the assembly rose to speak for the
amendment a wave of applause swept
over the vast assemblage. The amend
ment was adopted by a viva voce vote,
not one voice being raised in opposi-
ton to it.
The question then REQUIRED to the
adoption of the report as a whole.
The moderator put the question, and
then there was great roar of aye"
Instantly the assembly rose en- masse
and sang the .Doxology. The end of
the great discussion which had con-
tinued into the fourth day come so
quickly that it took everyone by sur
prise. After the assembly had again
settled down DIR. Baker offered a res
olution that the present revision COM
mittee be continued, that the COM
lnittee be increased to 81, that Mod
orator Minton be a member thereof
and that he appoint the additional
members. This was also adopted.
The general assembly proceeded to
the consideration of the report of the
special committee on judicial COM
mission. This report recommends the
establishment of court of last re-
sort to be styled the permanent jul
dicial commission of the general as
sembly" for the hearing and final de-
termination of judicial cases. The re-
port was adopted.