Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-05-24
IH[ GREED UNDER FIRE
Brilliant Debate on Question Of
Revision Of Presbyterian
Creed Continued.
Noted Divines Discuss Either
Side Of the Proposition
-.vote Today.
Indications That Whole Matte,
Will Be Submitted to New
Committee.

Philadelphia, May 24.-The debate on
creed revision was continued by the
Presbyterian general assembly today
and as was the case yesterday, Calvary
church was unable to contain the
1 throngs who came to hear the discus
sion.
4 After the disposition of few minor
matters f. X. Mnton called for the un-
| finished business Of yesterday. The
moderator said he had found the senti-
ment of the assembly in favor of full
free and fair presentation of the ques-
tion, hut suggested that the commission
ers endeavor as far ;ts possible to adj
here to the rule of brevity, especially as
great ground had been staked out by the
| able speakers of yesterday
Rev. DIR. David S. Kennedy. of Allie
| ghany. Pa. yielded the floor 10 Judge T.,
w. G. Humphrey of Louisville who
4 signed the minority report with DIR. Nc
4 lSibbcn.
| Judge Humphrey urged the elimina-
/ tion from the committees report of the
clause recommending brief summary
| of the reformed faith, bearing the same
1 relation to the confession which the
shorter catechism bears to the larger
| catechsm. and formed on the general
model and concensus of the creed. He
! claimed 1t meant practically a new
| creed and said ii would not be concurred
In al the presbyteries did not desire a
4 new confession. DIR. Kennedy followed
/ with a forceful argument against -revs-
/ ion. The way to break down the confess
| sion. finally, he said, is to go on making
holes in Ii.
.we stand united on the confession'
4 he continued. 1T is constructed from
! beginning to end to be used for scientific
| purposes 1t is the constitution of our
church organization. We are not con-
! sidering a popular creed, but the funda-
mental principle of our organizations
4 The confession has been charged with
failing truthfully to put the belief OF the
church. No one forced us to sign the
4 confession. We did not sign it In isno-
II dishonestly.'
In conclusion DR.. Kennedy said: "Our
plea is that now is not the time for
4 changes while the church is under fire.
We are not living in a constitution
making age. After fair. deliberate ard
4 free discussion We lind ourselves all di-
\ vded up. Let us wait until God in his
providence brings us to time when We
+ can agree on the questions mt issue"
Rev. DR. Motfatt. of Cumberland, Md,
4 became eloquent in his appeal To the as
sembly for Il change of confession that
would give a more even balance of
truth. The confosson," ne said ..is a
man made constitution. but is not tho
aord Of God. And we are not discussing
the word OF God. If this question is
voted down by this assembly, wan, to
see side by side two great truths: First.
the sovereignty of God and above ali his
election Of men: and. secondly, the free
/ dom of man To choose. believe that
4 God has elected all infants to saliva
4 ton
4 pr. John Dewitt. of Princeton Univer-
sity was next recognized There was /,
/ disposition by some of the commissin,-
4 ers TO close the debate AS DR.. Dewitt
took the platform there we're cries Of
Question The Princeton professor.
d jaid tribute 10 the high character of
the debate. which had thus far been en-
4 tirely free from acrmony and sarcasm.
4 He said there vas no danger of Il dlyis-
i ion in the church and he wanted IL to
4 GO out 70 the world that no matter how
4 they may differ on the Westminster
4 confession, they stand united on the
Word of God. He spoke Of the consist
fency of the beliefs of the church which
1 has stuck closer TO the doctrines OF ref
ormation than any other church
Dewitt said he belonged to what WAS
known as the fourth party. The frs;
i party. he said, emphasizes the new sum
mary of the confession: the second EN-
4 iphasizes the amendments of certain
specific sections, the third wants a de-
4 claratory or explanatory Statements the
4 fourth emphasizes our noble deciara-
tory statement which is now in our pos,-
session and which will solve the the On
tire question"
The three clements. orthodox. liberty
4 ard unity of action We're never held In
better balance than at the present In the
new school. This was done by throwing
emphasis on the present liberal terms
4 Of subscription.
j Dewitt said he was not an obstruc-
ZIONIST. His proposition was that the
assembly stand on its rights TO assert a
great noble. liberal term of subscrip-
i ton. The speaker, in referring to the
z proposed creedal statement. said he
hoped some one would be given carte
blanche to tell us what we are TO do
without further Instructions from the
/ church. He regarded 1t as the mos.
monstrous proposition ever propounded
To the reformed church.
President j. ID. Moffatt, of Washing
ton and jefferson University, said he
belonged, like Dewitt. to the fourth par
ty. Yet he was opposed to dismlssins
i.t-