Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1901-05-29
DISCUSS THE CREED.
Presbyterian Assembly Takes Up
Question of Revision.
Prominent Divines Lock Horns in
Debate on the Subject, Which Is
Most Important and Far
Reaching.

Philadelphia, May 24.-With elo-
quence born of the solemn Importance
of the question, commissioners to the
Presbyterian general assembly on
Thursday began the debate on the re-
vision of the confession Of faith. Bril-
liant leaders of the church advanced
their views in calm, dispassionate
manner, and the entire discussion was
devoid of acrimony. With full reali-
cation of the great Importance of the
subject, the assembly proceeded to
consider and investigate thoroughly
every detail of the proposed changes
in the creed.
The great question came before the
assembly with the reading of the re-
port of the committee on revision by
Rev. Dr. Charles A. Dickey, chairman.
This was followed by the min GRITTY re-
port, read by Rev. Dr. William McKib-
ben, of Cincinnati. A rule of the as
sembly gives chairmen the right to
speak on their reports after they have
been received, but before DR.. Dickey
could secure recognition Rev. DR.. Sam
uel j. Niccolls moved the adoption of
ports Rev. Dr. James D. Moffatt made
substitute motion to adopt the ma
jority report, and an amendment was
offered subs tituting the minority. Rev.
DR.. George d. Baker presented as an
other amendment a resolution to the
effect that is the vote of the presby-
teries indicated a lack of unanimity
the entire subject be dismissed. DR..
Dickey secured the floor on this
amendment and made a stirring adj
dress supporting the old confession.
Rev. DR.. Herrick Johnson and Rev.
DR.. Samuel J. Niccolls aroused the I'M
bounded enthusiasm of the audience
by their brilliant presenta tions of the
revision factions reasons for desiring
change. Rev. DR.. George T. Purves
spoke against revision, as did Rev. DR..
George D. Baker. DR.. McKibben ia
vored modified change. There are
$50 commissioners committed to dis
missal, but they have expressed them
selves as open to conviction.
Three Groups.
The controversy regarding revision
has led to the formation of three
groups among the $40 commissioners
to the general assembly. First there
is the conservative group composed of
those opposed to any change whatever
in the doctrinal standards of the
church. Then there is a party desir-
Gus of setting aside the confession of
faith as not truthfully expressing the
belief of the church. Between these
stand the centrists who favor main
tanning the old confession with a few
modifica tions, and who desire the adop
ton of a clear declaration state
ment, setting forth the most impor-
tant doctrines and laying special en-
phasis upon the love of God for man
kind. and on the work of the Holy
Spirit.
How the Presbyteries Stand.
In answer to the questions submit
ted to the presbyteries, SO asked the
assembly to dismiss the whole sub
iect, one was undecided, four said they
neither desired a revision nor a sup
elemental statement nor the dismiss
al of the whole subject, and of the 233
presbyteries, Is in the United States
and 16 in foreign lands failed to re-
spond. Of the remaining presbyterles,
nearly two-thirds of the whole num-
Der asking for change in the creedal
statement, AZ desire a revision of the
confession, II an explanatory state
ment, one revision and an explanatory
statement, SO a supplemental state
ment, Is revision and a supplemental
statement, one an explanatory state
ment and supplemental statement, IA
substitute creed, one an alterna tive
creed, and six some change, not speci-
fed.
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