New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-13
THE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church Will begin its sessions in Philadelphia
on Thursday of this week. The selection of
Philadelphia as the meeting place this year is
especially appropriate. because il is expected
that the assembly will inaugurate a great TWEEN
teth century movement which will most fifty
begin in city so peculiarly linked with the
early history and traditions of American Pres
byterianism. 1t was in 1889 that the Rev. DIR
John WitherspoOn. of the signers Of the
Declaration Of Independence and an honored
name in the Presbyterian Church was elected
Moderator of the first General Assembly held
In Philadelphia Altogether sixty four General
Assemblies have been held in Philadelphia
forty-fve before the division of 1897 nine Old
School and eight New School meetings and two
since the reunion of 1870. Thirteen years ago
the centennial assembly met in Philadelphia.
which was honored by the presence OF Presi-
dent and Mrs Cleveland The Presbyterian
Church has always been strong in Philadelphia
and generally speaking. has been content to
walk in the old paths and hold to the old faith.
Meetings will be held next Friday to set in
motion the new twentieth century movement
which will aim 10 increase the efficiency OF the
educational and missionary agencies Of the
Church so that IL may better prosecute its work
under the complex conditions that obtain to-
day. Addresses on this subject will be made
by such representative men as Drs W. g.
Craig, Of Chicago; Henry c. McCook, of Phila-
delphia; George T. Purves OF this city: Samuel
J. Niccols, OF St Louis, and Mr. Robert f.
Speer, of this city. Generally speaking the
movement looks TO a reform and Improvement
OF the present agencies of the Church and of
course is not at all concerned with any reform
in the theology Of the Church. 1t is felt Ivy
tI,o4
10 it's many opportunities, and that perhaps its
machinery for doing its work has grown too
cumbrOus while the zeal of some of its MEM
bers has not been sufficiently aroused And it
is hoped that as a result Of the coming meet
ings new impulse may be created that will
cause the Church TO keep in step with the life
and progress OF the world.
The question of Greed revision. however. il
the greatest question to come before the assem-
bly,, and there is certain To be "A most earnest
debate on the report of the committee OF re
vision, which recommends some verbal mOdifi-
cations and additions that in no sense affect
the doctrinal integrity of the Westminster Con
fession. But conservative as these recommen-
datiOns are. there will be strong opposition to
them on the part OF the ultra conservatives who
fear that any revision will prove the entering
wedge for more radical changes In the future
On tne Olner ndnu, the demand or the DreSby-
teries for action is general that the assem-
bly, will probably feel compelled to approve
some of the committees recommended tons
Even many conservatives admit that certain
phrases in the Confession might wisely be ex-
planned, II not modified, and that such an ex-
PLANTATION would be relief to many while IL
would not subvert any fundamental doctrine of
the Church. The danger, however, of touching
the Confession at all, from the conservative
point Of view, lies in the fact that II will dis
pei the atmosphere of divine authority that has
for many people enshrined the Confession and
thus weaken their belief in 1t, just as the APP
pearance Of the revised version Of the Bible de-
stroyed for some people the traditional belief
that every word of the Bible was inspired To
present the old Confession so as to make it bet
ter adapted to the needs of the present day,
without disturbing the belief in its final and
binding character, is the problem that the as
sembly has to face, and to solve which wisely
will require large measure of wisdom and
good sense.