Morris tribune., 1902-05-24
ADOPTS REPORT
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEM-
BLY, APPROVES COMMITTEES
CREED REVISION.
ACTION NEARLY UNANIMOUS

Cebate Preceding the Final Vote Is
Very Brief and but Two Delegates
Go on Record in Opposition to Adop-
tion-RcV. DR.. Henry c. Minton,
Chairman C! the Revision Commit
tee, Explains Action of That Body.
New York, May 23.-The general
assembly OF the Presbyterian church
has adopted the report of the commit
tee on creed revision making changes
in the Confession of Faith. This ac-
tiOn, which was practically unanimous,
was taken with little or no debate.
The changes proposed will now go to
the various presbyteries for ratifca-
ton. When the report was presented
last Friday a motion for it's adoption
was made at once, but the vote was
deferred. AS was to be expected the
prospect Of an interesting debate on
rreed revision attracted a crowd which
the doors Of the ground floor were
opened all the seats not reserved for
commissioners were occupied at once
The Rev. Or. Henry Van Dyke, the
moderator, before the hour set for con
sideratiOn, spoke for moment.
Il do not believe that my task as
moderator is TO be a difficult one he
said, but it is delicate one. In this
chair where you have put me | want
to say that | am not member of any
organization or any committee. | am
q plain Presbyterian and your modera-
tOr-yOur servant. | want to plead
that this discussion be carried on in
the spirit Of good fellowship. Have
either rushed through or de
layed The matter before us is q sim
pie proposition. The assembly Of 1901
appointed q committee to Go rarticu-
lar thing What you have to pass OF
is not whether that certain thing
should be done, but whether the com
rittee has done it to your satisfac-
tion." ..-. Il
The Rev. DR.. James D.. Moffat then
moved the adoption Of the eleven over
lures to be sent to the presbyteries.
Chairman Minton Opens Debate.
The Rev. DR.. Henry C. Minton, chair
man of the revision committee, spoke
for the report. He would not, he said,
argue the merits of the whole report,
but would speak Of the especial consid-
erations which Influenced the commit
tee. They were guided in the first
place by the work of the committee of
1892. The presumption, Of course, was
always in favor of the explicit orders
If last years assembly. There were
;Wo elements on the committee, he ex-
Olained. those who preferred to make |
Ill amendments by verbal modifica-
ions, and those who wished to make |
he change by separate declaratory
statements Obviously there had to be |
some yielding and it was not all on one
side
The misapprehensions as to the |
confession" continued Dr.. MintOn, |
have come from two causes, first, the |
statements in the confes- |
ion itself, and, second, unwarranted |
nferences from the confession. In the |
irst cases verbal changes would be |
he remedy. In the second, declama- |
DRY statements were necessary"
Dr. Minton then took up the various
POINTS on which the committee had |
'een asked to pass.
Regarding the pope Of Rome" he |
aid, "the confession distinctly says
he pope is the anti-Christ and the son
f perdition. Now if that was true and
we want to say it-let it stand If |
ot true, or if true and we do not wish
o say it, take it out.
Believes the Pope Is Anti-Christ.
81 may believe that the pope is anti
Thrist on general principles. I am
ute willing to declare in the face Of
he Vatican, or the whole world for
hat matter, that the pope, using the
rown rights of Jesus Christ, is anti
'hrist and the son Of perdition. The
ommittee followed the only proper
curse to pursue by broadening the
Dr.. Minton resented the accusation
rOught that the Presbyterian church
eliered in infant damnatiCn.
"The critics ami enemies of the Pres
yterian church have rolled it under
heir tongues as a sweet morsel that
re believe in infant damnatiO1. We |
9sent the accusation that this chap
7r contenplates any such interpreta-
on"
The Rev. DR.. Moffatt urged the as
ambly, in a brief address, to decide
1e question quickly by a vote to
dort.
The Rev. DR.. R. Russell Booth of this
ity. who has been known as a strong
asked the assembly
} adopt the report unanimously and at
nee.
AS he closed his short remarks there
anne loud cries of question" 'ques-
on" from all over the assembly,
The Rev Fleming G. Bailey of Kis-
mmee, Fla, opposed revision. Il am
gainst the adoption Of the report"
e said. 81 have never found any diff
Guilty with the old standards. I feel
lat this revision is but the entering :
edge and how far it will go no one
an tell" Here the speaker broke