The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-24
TO TALK CREED REVISION
Two Reports VIII Go Before the
Presbyterian Assembly.
The Approaching Conference of the
Church Promises TO BE Full OF IN
terest - Representatives Expected
From All Parts of the World


Church Promises TO BE Full OF IN
terest - Representatives Expected
From All Parts of the World.
The proximity of the General Assembly
Of the Presbyterian Church, which VIII
open in Philadelphia on May IS, is renew
irE interest in the most important ques-
ton which viii come before that body for
consideration-that of creed revision.
There promises to be quite a controversy
on this subject.
At the last General Assembly. Il commit
tee numbering among its members some
of the most prominent ministers and lay
men of the denomination, was appointed
I to ascertain, If possible, the sentiment Of
the Church regarding creed revision The
! committee held two extended meetings at
the New York Avenue Presbyterian
! Church in this city, but no agreement was
reached, and it was decided that both the
majority and the minority should submit
/ reports to the General Assembly The ma
J jorfty of the members Of the committee
favored the adoption of a decorative
statement in lieu of the Confession of
{ Faith. This, they argued, would express
! more clearly the beliefs of the Church
/ The minority put itself on record as IN
1 alterably opposed to revision Of any kind.
! They went further than this, and sug-
! Eested supplemental chapters to the Con-
/ fession of Faith Although those support
| inS the latter stand are in the minority,
! they are resolute and well organized The
| majority favor revision of some kind, but
( are not agreed on all the details.
7 There are really factions within fac
ton The minority, it is claimed, hardly
/ hope to ultimately defeat the creed revis-
/! igr, Increment b11f long no
| revisionists are at variance in their views
a hnal decision OF the question can be de-
| layed. 1t is not improbable, therefore, that
! the matter will be tabled and another
year. at least, pass before definite action
| is taken.
The creed revision movement has at
| tanned greater proportions and creates
! much greater general comment IL other
parts Of the country than it does in the
District of Columbia. Although the reVis-
| sion committee met here last winter,
there was never, outside of their sessions,
any particularly spirited controversy over
the matter. Nearly all the Presbyterian
cIergymen and laymen are, figurativeIy,
/ resting on their oars. awaiting the action
! of the General Assembly on the reports
Of the revision committee.
The commissioners of the Presbytery Of
| the city of Washington viii go to the
/ Assembly uninstTucted in regard to the
| question. The Washington Presbytery
VIII have two ministerial and two elder
/ commissioners. They are the Rev. George
P Wilson. of AssembIy's Church; the Rev.
! Asa P. F'iske. of CfuHton Memorial Tenn
PIE: 7. B. Sergeant of the First Presby-
terrain Church, and H c. KimbaH, OF
/ Western Presbyterian Church
| The sessions of the General Assembly
D
! Dr. Dickey, the presiding pastor Of
Bethany Church, Philadelphia. who is
Moderator THE sessions will take place
/ in Calvary Church. The entire number Of
commissioners is over 500. Most Of these
are from the United States, but commits
sioners viii be present from all parts of
the world
The Presbyterian Church has been act
i've in missionary work ever since il be-
came customary to spread the truth Of
Christianity among she heather Native
representatives of races, among the
members Of which Presbyteries have been
established. viii attend the Assembly and
Will be able TO vote on all questions which
( come up for consideration.
I Probably second in Importance only TO
the creed revision subject viii be the
which promises TO become widespread.
The idea of the OriginaT0rs OF this fund
was to raise a sufficient sum OF money to
discharge the debts Of all Presbyterian
/ churches and other institutions of the
church during the present year The
/ movement has already gained great head
way and through the medium OF the plan
J many churches have uDsaddled their
debts The Washington PTesbyteTy has
/ entered into the plan with avIdity-
! United PTesbyteTianS wifi hold their
! General Assembly in Des MOines next
month and some changes viii probably be
made in their creed. There has been rec
I entity Il change of sentiment. II is said,
{ concerning that chapter of the Confession
/ which forbids marriage with sisters Of
I deceased wives, and also the chapter
1 which deals with the conditions Of mem
1 bership- The chapter regarding marrIag &c
I will doubtless be changed 50 as 10 permit
arriage with the sister of a deceased
{ wife
Most of the Presbyteries are said to be
in favor Of the change. The conditions
Of membership which are alleged to be
/ obnoxious involve membership in secret
societies. The tendency is toward greater
Iiberality in this respect, and it Is prob
able that the old restriction against mem
bers Of secret organizations VIII be abol-
ished-