Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-23
Presbyterian General Assembly Takes
Up This Matter Today.
LIKELY TO Be LIVELY DISCUSSION
Reading Of the Majority and
Minority Reports.
PRELIMINARY Rim G.

| the Presbyterian Church, came before the
| general assembly today. Last week the
| report of the special committee on revision
| of which the Rev. DIR. Charles A. Dickey of
| this city is chairman was made the order
| for o'clock today, with the additional
| condition that the discussion should not be
| interrupted by other business until the
| commissioners had reached some definite
| conclusion. The committee was appointed
| by the general assembly at St. Louis last
| year.
! The controversy regarding revision has
| led to the formation of three groups among
| the $40 commissioners to the general as
| sembly. First, there is the conservative
group composed of those opposed to any
| change whatever in the doctrinaI standards
| of the church. Then there is the party de-
SirOuS of setting aside the confession OF
| faith not truthfully expressing the belief
| of the church Between these stands the
centriStS, who favor maintaining the old
confession with few notifications, and
who desire the adoption of a clear, dec
| larative' statement, setting forth the most
| important doctrines and laying special EN-,
phasiS upon the love of God for manklnd
and on the work of the Holy Spirit.
Commissioners Ready for the Dis
cussiOn.
The commissioners have had ample time
| to study the committees report, and when
Moderator Minton called the assembly to
| order today all were fully prepared for
thorough and intelligent consideration of
the subject.
In answer to the questions submitted to
the presbyteries, fifty asked the assembly
to dismiss the whole subject, one was un-
decided, four said they neither desired
revision nor a supplemental statement, nor
the dismissal of the whole subject, and 6f-
teen in the United States and sixteen in
foreign lands failed to respond. OF the re-
naming presbyteries, nearly two-thirdS of
the whole number asked for some change
in the creedal statement. forty-Seven de-
sire a revision of the confession, eleven an
explanatory statement one revision and an
explanatory statement, ffty-two a supple
mental statement, fifteen revision and a
supplemental statement, one eXplana-
tory statement and a supplemental state
ment, fourteen a substitute creed, one an
alternative creed and six some change not
specified
Fully an hour before the doors of Calvary
Church were opened crowds thronged the
entrance, and when the devotional exer-
cises began the galleries were filled to over
flowing. After the opening hymn, Come,
Thou, Almighty King" prayer was offered
by Rev. DR.. David s. Kennedy of Allie
gheny, Pa, who invoked the divine assist
ance in the consideration of the momentous
question before the assembly.
Debate on Revision Delayed.
the report Of the committee on bills, and
cvertures and other matters Of some i'm
portance to the assembly
Rev Dr. Asa s. Fisk Of Washington,
D. c., offered a resolution congratulating
President Mckinley upon the prompt re-
covery from an apparently fatal illness OF
Mrs Mckinley, and Offering thanks to God
at the prospect of her early return to her
home. The resolution was unanimously
adopted.
DR.. Roberts stated clerk. announced that
there is still two days business to be dis
posed of after the revision question is set
tied.
The order Of the day, the reading Of the
report Of the special committee on revision,
came before the assembly at 10 o'clock.
Rev. DR.. Dickey. chairman Of the COM
mittee, before reading the report, said:
"If it had not been foreordained that
the revision movement was to come to
pass in 1900 you would no doubt be where
l am In 1901. This Is my obligation by no
choice of my own. The last general as
semby, in its kindness, as it thought.
named me chairman of the committee
which ] had already named. l say this
little word that the commissioners may
know l am here by appointment and not
by request"
report and was closely followed by all the
commissioners, who held copies
Reading of the Minority Report.
PHILADELPHIA, May 23-At the re-
quest of DR.. Dickey, DR.. Roberts, the stated
clerk, read the minute on the death Of
General Harrison adopted by the commit
tee at its last meeting in Pittsburg. 1t
was accepted supplemental report and
adopted by a rising vote. The minority re-
port signed by Rev. Dr. William McKfbben
of Cincinnati and e. w. Humphrey OF
Louisville, was read by DR.. Mckibben In
presenting the report DR.. Mchlbben said
he would like to say word regarding the
~l, 1al OF $hn inc of
the committee. He declared that Sensa-
tional reports had appeared In the news
papers which were without one iota Of
truth DR.. McKibben said the meetings Of
the committee were conducted under the
most harmonious conditions.
On motion Of Rev. DIR. James D. Moffat
of Washington, Pa, presbytery the reports
were received.
DR.. Samuel ]. Niccons of St Louis moved
that as the first recommendations in both
reports were similar those recommends
tions be adopted.
DR. Dickey claimed that under the rules
of the assembly he and DR.. McKibben were
entitled to speak on their reports before
any actions were presented.
DR.. Niccons said he made the motion In
the interest of fairness. The main issue, he
said, was the appointment Of a committee
whose Instructions were to come later. and
he believed that by adopting the first rec
ommendation the assembly would have the
whole report in better shape for considera-
ton.
Rev DR. John Dewitt of Princeton sprang
to his feet and, addressing DR.. Niccolls,
said:
How do you know we want to appoint
committee? Suppose we want to dismiss
the matter?'
DR.. MO6at's Substitute.
Dr. Moffat offered a substitute to adopt
the whole of the majority report. Several
amendments were offered, but there was so
much confusion that DR.. Niccolls withdrew
his motion. DR.. Moffat then moved to
adopt the majority report. An amendment
was offered to substitute the minority re-
port.
Before the last motion was put DR.. Geo.
D. Baker of Philadelphia offered the follow
ing:
"Whereas the vote OF the presbyteries
on creedal revision indicates an utter lack
Of unantmity as to what should be done in
the matter, and
Whereas this lack Of unanimity means
a protracted period Of controversy and un-
rest In case the movement for revision be
persisted in. and
Whereas the disturbance Of the confess
sion Of faith would be in the way Of union