The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-26
TOWARDS REVISION
NORTHERN PREsBYTERIANs TAKE
ANOTHER STEP.
MINORITY REPORT REJECTED.
DIR. HERRICK JOHNSON'S ABLE
ARGUMENT.

Confession Contains Statements Not
Essential to System of Doctrine,
He says-OnIy One Ground for Di-
vOrce, Not TwO-With "A summary
the system Would BE Better I'm
derstOOd and would BE Invalu-
able on Mission Fields - Would
Disipate Doubt and Relieve the
COnsciences of Good Men.
Philadelphia, May 25.--The Presbyterian
General Assembly to-day look another
step toward revising the Confession OF
Faith by rejecting the minority report
which had been offered as a substitute
amendment for the majority report. The
vote was 271 to 234. The recommendation
is as follows:
1--WE recommend that committee be
instructed to prepare brief summary OF
the reformed faith. bearing the same re-
lation to the Confession which the shorter
catechism bears to the larger catechism
and formed on the general model of the
Consensus Greed prepared for the Cen
eral Assembly of 1892 or the Article of
Faith of the Presbyterian Church of Eng
land, both of which documents are ap-
pended to the committees report and sub
mitted to the assembly. TO be referred to
the committee appointed
With the consent of the assembly the
motion was changed so that the vote was
taken on the question of striking out the
recommendation from the majority report
instead of accepting the minority report
as a substitute During the discussion OF
the subject Moderator Minton gave the
gavel to Vice Moderator Pitcairn while
he addressed the commissioners in favor
of the amendment. DR.. Minton said the
| recommendation meant simply the estab-
lishment of a new creed.
After the announcement of the vote
Rev Dr. j. D. Moffatt informed the as
sembly that on Monday he would present
an amendment with the object of uniting
the commissioners in order that unani-
nous recommendation might be sent to
the Presbyteries.
Rev Dr. Herrick johnson presented a
logical argument favoring the retention
of the recommendation, analyzing the
Confession of Faith, demonstrating the
necessity for changes in certain clauses
and showing the benefits to be derived
therefron
Doubtful Members Come over.
Numerous doubtful commissioners were
| brought over to the ranks of the revi-
| sionist by Dr. Johnson's address.
An effort was made to postpone the
vote until Monday, but the commission
ers were impatient and insisted on the
putting of the question. The moderator
was unable to decide by viva voce vote
and. a division being called for rising
vote was taken. When the result was an
nounced the revisionists cheered heartily
and called for vote on the adoption OF
the majority report. On the advice of the
Moderator, however it was decided to
postpone consideration OF this important
matter until Monday.
DIR. JOhnsOn's Argument.
In the course of his address, DR.. Her
rick Johnson explained the reasons of
the majority for inserting recommenda-
ton b. He carefully analysed the Con-
fession of Faith and showed the benefits
to be derived from a short creed contain
ing the essentials of the Westminster doc
trine. He said:
"The Confession contains statements not
essential 20 our system of doctrine The
form of subscription proves this. We re-
ceive the Confession - containing the
system of doctrine. not as the doctrine
Itself. Specific confession statements
prove the same point. rake
believe that or not without al
fecting his orthodoxy. The Confession
says there are two scriptural grounds for
divorce. l don't believe it, There is only
one. We know what that is. Wilful de-
sertion is not sufficient ground for d.
vorce. We may believe this and our
standing as orthodox Presbyterians Is not
questioned"
pr. Johnson cited the Consensus Greed
of 1892 and the Confession of the Presby-
terian Church of England as examples
of brief systems of doctrine which might
be followed by the assembly.
with summary, DR. johnson said, the
system would be better understood, would
be invaluable on mission fields. Such
creed, he asserted. would dissipate all
doubt regarding the subscription to the
system of doctrine. 1t would also relieve
the conscience of good men now troubled
about ordination vows.