New-York tribune., 1902-05-23
BIG CROWD HEARS DEBATE.
ONLY TWO MEN VOTE AGAINST ADOPT
ING SUGGESTIONS OF COMMITTEE.

ING SUGGESTIONS OF COMMITTEE.
Every seat in the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
Church was filled yesterday morning when the
General Assembly took up the subject of creed
revision. Nearly all the commissioners were in
their places. 1t was noticeable that there was
a larger percentage of men in the galleries than
usual although hundreds of women had gone
to the church early to secure seats there. Some
persons were allowed to stand back of the seats
in the galleries, but hundreds were turned away
from the church because there was no room for
them inside.
|. Many Of the people who attended the morning
session of the General Assembly expected TO
hear a discussion that would partake of the
nature of a conflict. Many OF the commission
ers thought there would be considerable oppos-
ticn to the report of the committee on revision,
although in the six days that had elapsed since
the report was published there had been a
noticeable increase of favor for it among COM
missioners who were supposed TO be opposed to
it al the outset. disposition to have harmony
and united action had been becoming more and
more manifest.
Some routine business disposed Of early
In the session, and it 10 o'clock when DR..
van Dyke, the moderator. called for the opening
Of the discussion. He said he wanted to have
the discussion conducted with courtesy. All the
General Assembly had to do he said, was to say
whether or not it approved OF the work done by
the committee on revision. Many protests were
heard when motion made to limit speeches
to fifteen minutes, but the General Assembly de-
cided to limit them to ten minutes each, after
the Rev DIR. Henry C. Minton, chairman of the
committee on revision. had been heard. The
orderly progress Of the discussion was facili-
tated by the Rev. DIR. James D. Moffat when he
offered the following:
Resolved. That so much of the report as re-
lates TO the eleven overtures be adopted, with a
view to the sending of the overtures to the
presbyteries in due form.
DR.. Minton then began his address, and he
held the audience with him for three quarters Of
an hour, moving it at times to earnest applause
and at times to approving laughter. He said in
part:
DR.. MINTON'S ADDRESS.
In seeking the true principle in this matter it
became evident that the object of this revision for
our doctrine These are of two KINDS those due
to ungguaTded statements and those due TO pnwar-
for the former and the declaratory statement for
clause" Who believes that it is a sin to refuse
Yon a a3 declare ha and Is The m
The TIa e[e mere Sta1ds m "a as PLAIN las as your explanation
the committee recommends that the clause be
TO this same class the committee believed that
the Pope section b belongs II Is plain categorical
ben e it Is # Il Is na not It true want or IL to rns fas or or
untrue. we do want 20 say 1t in our confession
till you have explained it away
son9 stateent 1 Is on one OF exegess 1t may be
say in a doctrinal confession. 1t may be true. on
honor the Pope by mentioning him in our Creed
we may broaden the statement % SO as to cover
crown rights OF Jesus Christ who is the only
head of the Church. It Is not love the
Pope more than we used to, but may be just
as strong and clear by making our declaration
Accordingly, we recommend new verbal form,
satisfy the demand for revision OF this sec
INFERENcEs OF FATALIsM.
Among instances OF unwarranted inrerences the
chapter is charged with differences OF fatalism an
viii to mathematicai hardness anu deciaTatory
statement t simply dscaims all this We affirm that
W refuse 10 be held responsible If the two sides
i is so, also, with the tenth chapter critics
roll it sweet morsel under their tongues that
the word echoes in our ears? We Indignantly dis
tua Calling which is the WorE of the Holy Spirit
in effectuatng the decree Of election. None are
drst two sections tell how elect adults are saved:
grow to ad9thood And SO the third section soeT
on TO treat of that class The FIRST two sections
third section Of elect persons on dying in infancy
infants is not not misleading for It does s'O msiesd lead
SpnIGer We 5 DO # esa Sy
state
m ent what believe. We believe that an who
grounds as the Bibical-not the sentimental only
cor ception OF God. the unity OF the human race
in the first Adam and in the second, the words and
actions of blessed Lord in dealing with little
CT 1ldren while He the earth, and the avail |
ing fulneSs OF redemption in the atonement of
Jesus Christ graciously applied by the Holy Spirit
working when and where and how He peases.
ne of the five points still remains. This is con- |
&c rning the good works of unregenerate This |
fs very diffcult doctrine TO AS the confes
sion stands il tells the truth but somewhat con |
frsingly. We told that the good works OF |
the lnregenerate are good because God commands |
The M: but then told that for specified rea- |
gCod Trhev are good and they not good. Then |
W. are told that while IL is sinful to do them il |
ie more sinful not to do them. This IS all true |
but il takes a sharp eye to thread the maze.
VOTE ON GOOD WORKS DOCTRINE
We voted TO revise this by decIaratory statement.
W. tried form after form and failed. AT last a !
cC mntttee brought in report. When IL was read !
a ,nrhaI revisonist said: That a statement of |
a dootrine itself and not explanation of the
onnfeSsIon We looked at IL and found he was
rssht He added Now, l perfectly willing to
arant that statement precisely It stands If you
Sane nd bv o ne OF those quick and unforeseen
uore, .tn coInmfttee. befo:e il knew IT, had agreed
=, tba ,tboIe question of revision
- tle 49, been unhappy features in our
which troubled sincere spirits and preju-
d,cad 1.orL and interests They should be
will crumbe TO pieces because we drop
1ohIessIonl lsse and bow out the Pope Let us teil
The world we believe IN dods sovereignty and