The age-herald., 1901-05-25
General Assembly Spent Yester- day Discussing a Resolution
 Dismissing the Subject THOSE SAVED BY ELECTION Infants and Persons Mentally Incap- able of Faith Are Saved By the
 Electins Grace of God, Sow
 ereisn and Father.

Philadelphia, May 24.-The Presbyterian general assembly by vote which showed conclusively that a revision of the con- fession of faith is desired by the church, today defeated the amendment dismissing the whole subject offered yesterday by pr. George D. Baker of Philadelphia The as- sembly decided by an overwhelming ma jority to continue consideration of the great question.
 Great throngs were present when the debate on creed revision was resumed by the Presbyterian general assembly today.
 After the disposition of few minor matters, Rev. pr. David s. Kennedy of Allegheny, Pa-, yielded the floor to MT. F. W. c. Humphrey of Louisville, who signed the minority report with Dr. Me- Kibben. MT. Humphrey urged the elmin- ation from the committee's report of tlie clause recommending brief summary of the reformed faith bearing the same re- latfon to the confession which the Shorter catechism bears to the larger catechism and formed on the general model of con- census creed. He claimed It meant prao- IlCdlly u ucW CToeQ anu AOt OC conourred in as the presbyteries did not desire a new confessional
 Against Revision.
 Dr. Kennedy followed with an argument against revision. The way to break down confession finally, he said is to keep on making holes in it. "we stand united on the confession" continued Dr. Kennedy. It Is constructed from beginning to end to be used for scientific purposes. It is the constitution of our church organ. We are not considering a popular creed, but the
 fundamental principle of our organization
 The confession has been charged with failing to truthfully present the belief of
 the church. No one forced us to sign that confession. We did not sign it in ignor- ance, and I am sure not one of us signed 1t dishonestly.
 "I repudiate the statement that confes- sion does not set forth the man side and personality of the Holy Spirit"
 This brought Rev. Dr. Herrick Johnson to his feet "I beg your pardon he said. ''but if you refer to me, did not say that"
 Dr. Kennedy replied that while he might nave mlBunueTSLOOu 1ttN. LIT JO4IlSOH '
 words he had received that impression. Rev. Dr. J. E. Moffatt of Cumberland,
 Md, appealed for a change that would give a more even balance of truth ''The confession" he said, Ifs a man-made constitution, but is not the word of God. And we are not discussing the word of God. If this question is voted down by this assembly 1t will come to the front again until we give the church what 1t demands. I want to see side by side the | two great truths: First, the sovereignty | of God and above all His election of men. | and, secondly, the freedom of man to | choose believe that God has elected all infants to salvation"
 No Danger of Division. Dr. John Dewitt of Princeton was next | recognized by the moderator. There was disposition by some of the commission CTS to close the debate. As Dr. Dewitt took the platform there were cries of question
 The Princeton professor paid a tribute to the high character of the debate.
 which has thus far been entirely free from acrimony and sarcasm. He said there was no danger of division in the church, and he wanted it to go to the world that no matter how they may differ on the Westminster confession, they stand united on the word of God. He
 spoke of the consistency of the beliefs of the church. which has stuck closer to the doctrines of the reformation than any other church. Unity" he said, lis the fundamental principle of the church which stands pyramid" pointing to the sky, without a Assure, without a crack"
 pr. Dewitt said he belonged to what is known as the fourth party. The first party, he said, emphasizes new sum mary of the confession, the second em- phasizes amendments to certain spe- cific sections, the third wants a declara- tory or explanatory statement. the fourth emphasizes "our noble declaratory statement. which is now in our posses
 sion, and which will solve the entire problem. !"
 The three clements orthodoxy, liberty and unity of action. Dr. Dewitt said. were never held in better balance than
 at present in the new school. This was done by throwing emphasis on the pres- ent liberal terms of subscription. Dr. Dewitt said he was not an obstruction ist His proposition was that the assem- bly, stands on it's right and assert the great noble, liberal term of subscription. The speaker in referring to the proposed
 creedal statement, said he hoped some
 one would be given carte blanche to tell
 us what we are to do without further
 
 ed 1t as the most monstrous proposition
 ever propounded to a reformed church.
 Opposed Discussing Matter.
 President J. D. Moffatt of Washington
 and Jefferson University. said he be-
 longed like Dr. Dewitt, to the fourth
 party. yet he was opposed to dismissing
 the entire matter while pr. Dewitt was
 in favor of such action. He did not know
 whether he was a revisiontst or not, be-
 cause there was no specific proposition
 before the assembly. He advocated the
 acceptance of recommendation B, and un-
 til the committee makes it's report in ac-
 cordance to that recommendation. he did
 not know where he stood. The recommen-
 dation, he says. asks that committee be appointed and that 1t be instructed to prepare a brief summary of the re- formed faith. It would not be fair, he said, to the 150 Presbyteries who had asked for some relief if the subject was dismissed by the assembly.
 When the afternoon session was called to order Rev. pr. John W. Dinsmore of California moved that the vote on Dr. = ctx.rr k1@- ~<<I~