New-York tribune., 1901-05-27
PRESBYTERIAN REVISION.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF 1901 WILL
TAKE ITS ACTION ON THE SUBJECT
IO-DAY-ADJOURNM PROB
ARIE TO-NOPPOW
ABLE TOMORROW
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rn1pUSE.I

lBE TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNE.l
Philadelphia, May 2s.-While to-day has not
been one calculated to fill churches with fine
feathers and costly apparel it has not rained all
the time, and the audiences in the Presbyterian
churches have been large Especially has that
been the case where men Of note in attendance as
commissioners to the General Assembly have been
the preachers. Not a few pastors availed them
selves of the presence of distinguished men. and
college presidents, seminary professors and metro
politan preachers have occupied nearly all the
Presbyterian pulpits and several in other denomi-
nations
Perhaps the largest audiences have been in Beth
any Church. The attendance at the Sunday school,
of which John Wanamaker is superintendent. was
said TO be $500. Mr.. Wanamaker had charge of the
school, and taught his large class as usual The
rule regarding the closing of the doors at the
stroke OF the hour for opening enforced
strictly though there General As
sernbIy in session in Philadelphia. and leading
doctors OF divinity with their wives and daugh-
ters, peered through the glass doors with feeling
not akin to devotion. The only comfort they re-
ceived from the doorkeepers was. we have our
orders and we dare not break them
Tomorrow morning the contest over revision will
enter upon its fourth day. with the proba bilty
that ii Will be settled without many more speeches
Already eleven hours have been spent in the de-
bate and nothing has been accomplished IN the
way OF positive action. 1t is true that the as
sembly has decided by overwhelming vote that
1t will not dismiss the subject of revision and by
vote Of 271 to 224 that it will not exclude from the
instructions to the committee, when appointed one
authorizing 1T 10 prepare creed for popular use
This does not mean, however, that a new state
ment or even revision, has been ordered yet
though both are likely to come tomorrow morn
ing.
In the early part OF the discussion great care was
| taken TO speak Of the proposed document as
brief statement and explanatory statement
or as A summary of doctrine OF the reformed
faith" but men do not hesitate now TO can II
new creed" out and out is IL always spoken
OF as one which shall contain in terms the GAVIN
istc system of doctrine. though that hmltauon Is
usually observed. President Stewart OF Auburn
Seminary saws plainly that he Is not satished nor
are those behind him satisfied with the report Of
the revision committee limiting the new committee
IN its work He accepts however. what Is offered
they will do simply 4 compromise talIlhs 20
get what he wants ne will De thankful for what ne
can get
The following are the recommendations Of Dr.
Dckey's committee. which will be acted upon to-
morrow. Or. Bakers amendment dismissing the
subject having been voted down on Friday and br-
MoKibbin's killing the new creed, having suHered
a similar fate yesterday:
la) In view Of these facts. We recommend that 4
committee as provided for by the form Of govern
ment. Chapter XXIII Section 3, be appointed by
this assembly
Cb) We recommend that this committee be in
formed faith bearing the same relation to the Con-
of the consensus creed prepared for the assembly OF
Church OF England. both Of which documents are
appended to the committees report and submitted
10 the assembly. &c be referred 10 the committee
that may be appointed. This summary is not 70 be
substitute for the Confession. and is not TO affect
the terms Of subscription but "to vindicate and
clear the doctrines Of the Church from all false
aSpersionS and Tnlsc2nceptions. TO give better
understanding OF what is most surely believed
- manifest and maintain. the integrity of the re-
90 We further recommend that this committee be
5nstrcLed 10 prepare a'ns9dr!ents Q, CRap.er III.
g. y.
s, ot our Confession Of Faith. either by modfca-
as more clearly 10 express the mind OF the Church
With additional statements concerning the love OF
zoo ior an men missions ana the Holy Spirit. II
being understood that the revision shall in no way
Scripture
Dr- James D. Mofat, president OF Washington
and Jefferson College. will offer tomorrow an
amendment 10 recomne endatiou t5l in an effort 10
bring about unanimous action. He has the assur-
ance of leaders in the assembly that they will sup
port his efforts at compromise AS Dr. Monat
favored the new statement his amendment will
doubtless restrict stu further the proposed com
mttee. Although the conservatives have been bad
ly beaten on both test votes, OF them still
fell confident that they defeat revision when
the hnal vote is taken. DR.. r. NJ Patterson. or
this city is understood to be In that number and
he voted yesterday with the majority for retaining
the new creed section, although there is every rea
son 70 believe that he will vote against the new
creed and revision itself when the roll is called
II is significant that nearly hundred and hfty
votes missing yesterday when the teIlers
made their report As the number officially ex-
CuSed Is much below that figure the assumption is
that many did not vote, but they will he heard at
the end As this vote by roll call is published in
the minutes and is read by many members of the
preSbyteries which send the commissioners. well
as the churches which they represent, q some
times votes differently from what he does when
his voice is one OF hundreds when he stands for
a moment with his brethren.
After the creed question Is settled there are a
half dozen subjects stu TO come before the assem-
bly,. any OF which would have been deemed i'm
pOrtaut and caused long discussion had IL
been overshadowed by this greater question Dr.
G. ". F. Birch. Of New-York wants his eccIesias-
deal court established. and Dr. r ;. Holmes. of
Pittsburg wants the Church 10 control its mis-
sionary and benevolent offerings. those col
peoples societies, and Or. w H Roberts the
stated clerk is destrous OF having a plan of over
sight FOR young peoples societies. Or. r. F. Sam
pie. OF New York has plan which he thinks will
solve the problem Of vacant churches and unem-
poyed ministers. and California and New-York
both want the next assembly
All these questions and a score OF others still
the docket. This is the first time many
years that the sessions Of the assembly have
reached beyond the second Sunday. but the hospi-
taty Of Philadelphia Is proverbial and the supply
OF money In the treasury OF the assembly IS sum
cient TO enable the commissioners TO perform their
work without undue haste. and the railroad au-
thorities have extended the time Of the return
tickets o three weeks, why. then. should de
hate be curtaed? But. in spite of all these allure
nents, the assembly will probably adjourn on Tues
day. for the commissioners all men OF
furnish a summer vacation for either clergymen or
aymen.