The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-19
REVISION OF
PRESBYTERIANS.
Some Of the Numerous Changes to
be Submitted to Assembly.
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The phraseology Of this section shall
De changed so that il may be stated
that while the good works of unregen-
crate men DO not make for their eter-
nal salvation they are of moral value,
pleasing to God. and place the unsaved
man on the road to salvation The
original section was adopted by the
westminster convention as protest
against the Catholic doctrine, so per
sistent at the time, that a mans good
works We're means of salvation-the
doctrine of "Supererogation.'
chapter p, section 6. is TO be revised
oy eliminating a portion OF it. The
section reads at present: There is no
other head of the church but the Lord
Jesus Christ. Nor can the pope Of Rome
be in any sense the head thereof, but
- that anti-Christ, that man Of sin and
son Of perdition that exalteth himself
IN the church against Christ and all
that IS called God"
At the time the Westminster con-
tession was adopted the pope Of Rome
was making exceptionally vigorous
pretensions, and this section was Of
value only at that time. The refer
ences TO the pope are to be left out of
the revised confession, the simple
statement There is no other head Of
the church but the Lord Jesus Christ"
being regarded as sufficient in the light
Of modern thought
Another section that is to be adj
mltted is in chapter p, section 3. The
paragraph now reads: 'WhOsoeveT
taketh an oath ought duly to consider
the weightiness Of so solemn an act,
and therein 20 avOuch nothing but
what he is fully persuaded is the
truth. Neither may any man bind
himself by oath to anything but what
Is good and just. and what he believ-
eth so to be, and what he is able and
resolved TO perform. Yet it is a sin to
refuse an oath touching anything that
IS good and just being imposed by law
full authority"
Those members Of the Presbyterian
church who have demanded a radical
revision Of the Westminster confess
sion of faith viii be disappointed at
the report which is to be presented by
the committee on revision when the
general assembly Of the church con-
venes in annual session at the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian church in this
city on May is. The revision which the
committee has decided to recommend
is very mild. and does not touch the
text Of the sections Of the confession
over which there has been most con-
troversy.
II is true that the report makes GER
tain statements in explanation of these
mooted sections, making 1t plain that
the church does not hold to the narrow
interpretations many have insisted
upon as being alone consistent with
the text. Certain obviously antiquated
paragraphs are to be omitted. and two
entirely new sections are to be added.
A statement has also been prepared to
cover the main points of belief held
by the church.
Over the recommendations of this
committee there is likely to be one of
the most stirring debates that ever
engaged the attention of a modern &c
clesiastical body. The question viii be
over altering the creed to which the
denomination has adhered since il was
adopted by the convention at West
minister. some go years ago.
The ablest thinkers and preachers of
the Presbyterian church will be in at
tendance at the general assembly. If,
after their debates, they adopt a re-
vision of the confession, it must then
be Endorsed by two-thirds Of the more
than 253 presbyteries under the juris-
dictiOn Of the general assembly. Those
presbyteries must adopt or reject with
out modification.
The committee on revision has held
a number Of sessions. and it's report
has been adopted only after protracted
discussion. The formal report will be
kept secret until il is presented to the
general assembly by Rev DR.. Henry
C.. Minton of San Anseimo, Cal 1t is
possible at this time, however, to learn
the general substance of the results Of
the committees labors. The resolution
under whose authority the revisionists
worked. as adopted by the general as
sembly held at Philadelphia last year,
was as follows;
"A. We recommend that a commit
tee, as provided for by the form Of
government, chapter XXXIII, section
g, be appointed by the assembly.
"B. We recommend that this com
mittee be instructed to prepare and
submit to the next general assembly
for such disposition as may be judged
to be wise. a brief statement Of the re-
/ formed faith, expressed, as far as pos
sible, in untechnical terms. The said
statement is 10 be prepared with a
view to its being employed to give in
formation and a better understanding
Of our doctrinal beliefs, and not with
view to its becoming a substitute for
o. an alternative Of our confession Of
faith.
&C. We further recommend that this
committee be instructed to prepare
amendments Of chapter II and chapter
y, section 3; chapter XVI, section z;
chapter XXI, section 3, and section
25, and section Of our confession of
faith, either by modification of the text
or by declaratory statement, but so far
as possible by deelaratory statement.
so as more clearly to express the mind
Of the church. with the additional
statements concerning the love Of God
/ for all men, missions and the Holy
I Spirit, IT being understood that the re-
! vision shall in no way impair the in
tegrity of the system of doctrine set
forth in our confession, and taught in
( the holy scriptures"
/ It is considered likely that the "brief
statement OF the reformed faith" Will
excite the greatest discussion in the
general assembly. The report the
committee has prepared includes arti-
I cles upon the following subjects:
| God" Revelation" Eternal Pur-
/ pose, The Creation" THE Sin of
! Man, The Grace Of Cod" Our Lord
Jesus Christ, Faith and Repent
ance, The Holy Spirit" The New
Birth and the New Life. ''The Resur-
reetion and the Life to Come" The
/ Church and the Sacraments." "The
Last Judgment Christian Service"
and The Final Triumph"
II Is pointed out by one Of the lead
1 ing ministers in the Presbyterian
church that this statement takes up
every essential question Of the church's
| creed. While this is specifically not
/ designated as an alternative creed, but
purely as statement to give "infor-
nation and a better understanding" of