Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1901-05-27
THE MAJORITY REPORT.
ouANDRY OF THE PREsBYTERl.
ANS: ADOPT IT ALL?
Some Delegates Occupied Pulpits
Sunday In Philadelphia and
Vicinity.

Philadelphia, May 27.-C0mmtSs10E
ers TO the general assembly again sup
piled nearly all OF the Presbyterian
puipits and those of several other do
nominations in this city and vicinity
Sunday Many persons took adyant-
age OF the opportunity to hear the
men whose eloquence during the past
week held the attention of thousands
in Calvary church in the discussion
upon the question of the revision OF
the confession of faith. The leaders
Of the several parties that have bat
tied for supremacy We're heard in the
prominent churches. Moderator Min
ton delivered two sermons, one in the
morning in Northminster church, and
the other in the evening at Olivet
church.
Evangelical work and methods
were discussed at a largely attended
meeting of the evangelistic committee
in the afternoon in Witherspoon hall
The meeting was held so that com
missioners to the general assembly
could have an opportunity to ask
questions concerning the work John
II. Converse, of this city, who has
been chairman of the committee for
the past two years, and who has been
time, presided. Mr.. Converse gave a
short history of the movement In
speaking OF the evangelical work in
this city, be said the results had been
all that could be desired. More than
$4,000 persons had attended the
meetings held in five tents ia this
city last summer
Other addresses were made by
George B. Stewart, president of Au-
burn seminary; John Willis Baer, gen
eral secretary of the Christian EN-
deayoI' societies, and the Rev Hugh
X. Walker, of Los Angeles.
The debate on the revision of the
confession of faith which took up the
whole OF three days last week, was
expected to be resumed today, and it
was believed some definite action
would be taken before the assembly
adJourns for the day Much comment
has been made by the commissioners
over the high character of the debate
as far as it has gone. There has been
a total absence of harsh feeling
Shall Full Report Be Adopted?
The question now before the as
sembly is: Shall the majority re.
port be adopted in its entirety?" This
| report, briefly stated, recommends the
appointment of committee to pre-
pare brief summary of the reformed
faith, bearing the same relation to
the confession which the shorter
| catechism bears to the larger cate
chism, and formed on the general
model of the consensus creed pre-
| pared for the assembly of 1892. or the
articles of faith" of the Presbyterian
church of England. The report also
recommends that this committee pre-
pare amendments to several CHAPTERS
OF the confession, either by modifica-
ton OF the text or by declatory state
| ment, so as more clearly to express
the mind of the church. The motions
to dismiss the whole matter and to
stflke out the recommendation in the
! majority report for a brief summary.
having been defeated, the contest has
| narrowed down to a struggle between
the advocates of the new creed and
those who desire only a moderate re-
vison of the confession 1t is pre-
dicted with considerable show of con
/ hdence that the moderate revisionists
will win against the new creedists
and that it will then resolve itself
| into contest as to the nature of the
! changes. The two votes already
taken would indicate that the report
OF the majority will be adopted with.
out amendment, but if that comes
about it will not be without a strue
| gle. The moderate revisionists who
voted with the more extreme mem
| bers Of the church against dismissal
will now ally themselves with the dis.
missaltsts against any radical amend
ments to the report. The sentiment
for declaratory statement as
against brief summary is growing.
and 1t is believed that a final vote
may come on these two issues.
The assembly may not adjourn be-
fore Thursday. The Rev. DR.. w. Fl.
| Roberts. the stated clerk. gave out
the information that there was about
! two days work before the assembly
after the revision question is out of
| The way After the present matter is
disposed Of the proposition of the es-
Enlistment of judicial commission
will hold the attention Of the assem-
bly, Lines are sharply drawn on this
matter. and it may delay somewhat
the final adjournment Quite num-
Der Of commissioners have returned
/ TO their homes.