Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-05-24
THE DEBATE ON
CREED REVISION
Calvary Church Crowded to Hear
the Discussion,
SOME PRETTY LIVELY TALK
TIT Between DIR. Kennedy and Dr.
johnson DE Win's Able Argument
TO Vo.e on Motion 10 DismIss.

ana Calyery church was ui3plc 10 con-
tain the throngs who came 10 hear the
discussion.
Moderator Mimic said he had found
the sentiment Of the assembly in favor
Of a fun and fair presentation OF the
question, but suggested that the COM
missioners ondeayor as far as possible
TO adhere 10 the rule Of breyity, espec-
tally as the great ground had been
staked out by the able speakers Of yes
terday
Rev, David S. Kennedy of Allegheny,
Pa, yielded the floor TO Judge II. W. G.
Humphrey Of Louisville who signed
the minority report with Dr. Mckib-
ben.
Judge Humphrey urged the elimlna-
tion from the committees report OF the
clause recommending a brief summary
of the reformed faith bearing the same
relation 10 the confession winch the
shorter catheclsm bears to the larger
catechsm and formed on the general
model OF the concensus creed He
claimed it meant practically a new
creed and should not BE- Concurred in
as the pres1ytencs did MOI tesire a new
confession.
Dr. Kennedy followed witch a forceful
argument against revision The way 10
break down the confession finally, he
said, Is to go on making holes In 1t.
I'VE stand united on the confession
continued DE- Kennedy, 1T IS com
structed from beginning 10 end 70 be
used for scientific purposes. II Is the
construction OF our church organiza-
tion. We are not considering a popu-
lar creed but the fundamental princl-
pie Of our organization. The confess
sion has been charged With failing to
ruthfully present the belief Of the
church. No one forced as 10 sign that
confession, We did not slgn II In ig-
n0rancc and ! am sure not one u US
signed II dishonesty.
81 repudiate the statement that the
confession does not SET forth the man
side and personality Of the Holy spirit
This brought Rev. Dr. Herrick John
son to his feet.
~ beg your pardon" he said, but II
you refer TO me, ! did no. gy that
Dr. Kennedy replied shg while he
might have mislnGtistooa' Dr.. John
sons words, he had received that inn
preston
In conclusion DR.. Kennedy said;
"Our plea Is that now Is not the time
for changes while the church IS under
fire. We are not living In constltu-
tlon-makine age After a fair. dellber-
ate and free discussion We find our
selves all divided up Let US walt until
God. in his providence, brings US TO the
time when we can agree on the ques-
tions at issue
Rev. Or. J. T.. Moffat Of Cumberland
Md, became eloquent In his appeal to
the assembly for an appeal In the con-
feggion that would give a more even
balance of truth.
"The Confession he said. SIS a man.
made constitution, but Is not the Word
! OF God. II this question is voted down
by this assembly IL will come TO the
front again until we give the church
what IL demands. ] want TO see side
| by side two great truths. First, the
sovereignty of God and above all HIS
| election of men. and. secondly, the
| freedom OF man 10 choose. ! believe
that God has elected all infants TO sal
| walton.
DR. John Dewitt, OF Princeton uni
| yersitv. was next recognized by the
moderator There was q disposition by
| some of the commissioners TO close de-
| hate. After Or. Dewitt took the pat
| form there were cries Of question.
The Princeton professor paid a high
tribute 20 the high character of the
| debate which has thus far been entire
lv free from acrlm0ny and sarcasm
| He said there was no danger Of a
diyision in the church and he wanted
n 10 go out TO the world that no mat
TOR how thew may differ on the West
mireter confession. they stand united
an The word of God He spoke Of the
consistency OF the beliefs Of the church,
which has stuck closer 20 the doctrines
NJ the Reformation than any other
Unity" he said. as the fundamental
rr,rclnle NJ the church, which stands as
q pvranid pointing to the sky without
n assure, without crack.
mr. Dewitt said he belonged to what ls
known as the fourth party. The hrsr
marty ne said emphasizes a new sum
r,ary ~ the confessions the second em-
,heslzes amendments 10 certain spe-
rIer sections. the third wants declara-
tnyyy or explanatory statement; the
tour,h emphnslzes "our noble declara-
torv statement which is now In our
noseession and which viii solve the en-
tire question. M.
80 ana unity OF action. Dr. Dewitt said,
0,,ye never held IN better balance than
AZ present In the new school, rms
Vas done by throwing emphasis on the
nresent liberal terms OF subscription.
~ DoWitt said ne was not an ohstruc-
Zionist His position was that the as
,a,,blv stand on rs rights and assert
,he great noble. liberal term Of sub
scr,ntion The speaker in referring
to he proposed creed statement. said
tbs committee lr0posed that some one
H. Given carte blanche 20 tell us what
NJ. arc 10 do without further instruc-
| ,io,e from the church. This he re-
,,.rdod os the most mOnstrnus propo-
sitjon ever propounded TO a reformed
vi president sr j. D. Mofatt Of Washing
,o,, ana Jefferson university said he be-
ionged like DR.. Dewitt 20 the fourth
,,a,fv vet he was opposed 90 dismiss
H., tho entire matter while DR.. Dewitt
IS i'm favor OF such action. He did
,,,t know whether he was a revisionist
nr rnt because there was no specific
nropoSition before the assembly He
adyocated the acceptance OF recon-
,nendatlon and until the cimmlttee
makes its report In accordance with
baf recommendation he did not know
y.bere he stood. The recommendation,
ne said asks that another committee
h. appointed and that II be instructed
~ nrenare a brief summary OF the re-
formed faith. II would not be fair, he
aid. 10 the 80 presbyteries who had
oslod FOR some relief II the subject was
dismissed by the assembly.
AZ the afternoon session DIT. ]. W.
Dinsmore Of San Jose, Cal. moved