The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-05-25
SPIRITED DEBATE JUST
BEFORE VOTE WAS TAKEN.

Philadelphia. May 2i-Whcn the afternoon
session was called to order the Reverend
Doctor John ". Dinsmore of California
moved that the vote OH Doctor Baker 5
amendment. dismissing the whole subject. b.
taken at i:30 O'Clock. and that speeches De
limited to ten minutes Objection was
made by some of the commissioners, VINO
maintained that it was unfair to shut off
debate.
The Reverend Doctor Samuel j. Niccoll.i
OF ST. Louis said the law OF the church
gives the chairmen of committees the right
To make the last argument. and he wanted
to know IL under Doctor Dinsmores mo
tion this rule would prevail
Moderator Minton said strict interprcta-
tion would permit neither Doctor Iickey.
chairman of the Majority Committee. nor
Doctor Mckibben. chairman of the Minor
ny Committee. to speak; but as matter
OF courtesy. the assembly would doubtless
near them. The motion was carried
General Louis Wagner Of this CITY spok,
against revision. He thought it unwise To
occupy the time and disturb the peace ot
the church by matters which did not affec,
the vitality of the faith.
| Doctor johnson Out of Order.
The Reverend Doctor Rober; NJ. Patter-
Son of Pennsylvania declared IL had been
said on the floor of the assembly that the
Confession OF Faith was not believed
This brought Doctor johnson of Chicago
to his feet with the query:
Il want to know who says we do not be-
lieve he Confession of Faith?''
Il call Doctor Johnson to ORDER" said n
voice In the assembly.
doctor Patterson has the floor" an
nounced the moderator
Doctor Patterson concluded his speech
with the announcement that he was unal-
terably opposed to any change in the con-
feSsion.
Doctor W. II. Roberts. stated clerk. de-
clared himself in favor of declaratory
statement He said:
p" lbelieve all parties can he united. We
wouli be wise to follow the Scotch churches
In what they have done. The Revision
Committee did. at one of their meetings, de-
eide to recommend declaratory act. rs the
best means OF settling this question. but
later agreed not to Include this recommend
alton in their report.
Suggested u DeclnratOry Act.
1.-THE Bible is our supreme rule and stand
ard of faith. 1t seems very largely to have
| been overlooked during this discussion. The
whole Bible Is our confession. and wher
you raise the issue the confession you
must go back to Scripture and compare
Scripture with Scripture. / hope We shall
have declaratory act. My idea of the
proper declaratory statement would be
this:
/. We declare the supremacy Of the Holy Scrip
ture as the only source Of our doctrine and th'
infallible rule Of our faith and conduct.
.. The fact that the system OF doctrine in th'
Confession is the system of doctrine taught ir
Scripture cannot contradict Scripture, there car
be no lack OF harmony between the statement.
which set forth the responsibility and freedom o.
man.
3. That this church has always held and nov
holds. in the matter OF the salvation of infant:
dying in infancy and other persons incapable o.
faith. that they saved by the electing grace
| Of that God who is not only sovereign. but
father.
nlariiy. the Holy Scripture as Its supreme rul'
Of saith and conduct. has taught from its es
tablishment the great truth OF the love OF Coz
for the world Of the obligation Of the church Il
carry the gospel to all men. and OF the abso
| lutte necessity of the presence and power of tn
Holy Ghost to make effective all Christian work
further. this church has always given evidence
OF faith by Its work.
S. That the terms OF subscription to the Con
fesston are not ipsissima verba. but to the sys
TEN OF doctrine taught In Holy Scripture
| At the suggestion of Doctor Dickey. {
motion was carried extending the time TO
| debate a half hour. and brief addresses
were made by Doctor Dinsmore, the Rev
erend Doctor ]. J. McCarroll. Pennsylva
mia; the Reverend Doctor Ebenezer Erskine
Charles S. Holt. Illinois; George Taylor
New Jersey. and Judge John X. Ewing
Pennsylvania.
Doctor Dickey closed the debate with
| convincing argument and. during the cours
of his address. his eloquent appeal for
| clearer definition of the clause relating L
elect infants elected a spontaneous burs
Of enthusiasm from the Commissioners
At the conclusion of Doctor Dickey's ad
dress. Doctor Dewitt called for a yea ant
| a rising vote would suffice. '
| The question was then laid before the as
| sembly, and the amendment dismissing th
| subject was lost by an overwhelming ma
| jority The assembly adjourned until to
! morrow.