New-York tribune., 1903-03-06
THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: In Wednesdays paper. under the head of
Call for Prayer I ind the statement: This
appeal for prayer is one phase OF the movement
in opposition to the revision OF the westminster
Confession of Faith"
So far from this being the case. the paper about
which this statement was made strongly urged the
necessity Of such revision. 1t calls attention to
the fact that $50 years have passed since the West
minister Confession given to the world: that
during that time great and marvellous changes
have been wrought, enlarging and widening man
horizon in every direction; that we are living to-
day In the age OF man. of humanity in It's broad
est sense; that for the 1rst time since the
days Of Adam we have a history which embraces
si the kindreds. tongues peoples and nations and
for the first time in al! the ages the entire world
has become the theatre of history: that through
tte marvellous discoveries eff science we look out
upon new heavens and a Lew earth in which the
glory of God Is manifested never before; that
amid such surroundings the Church Of Jesus Christ
is lied upon to rise to consciousness Of her high
calling and from the treasures OF Gods word 10
bring f,h trut h! both and old: that along with
the re, text Of Holy Scripture should be re-
vsed cree more fully unfolding the heights and
depths of tli' power and grace Special attention
is called to three great truths-the Fatherhood or
God the Kingdom of God and the TF1nity-as fur-
nshing themes calling for the exercise OF the high
eet and most de-out scholarship. and promising
grearlv to enrich and strengthen the spiritual life
Of Gods people
The paper then goes to state that. in view "f
its grand record in the past of fidelity to the truth
Of God and 20 the Scriptures as the record of that
truth we are entitled to look to the Calvinistic
branch Of the Church for such revision; that
such hope has been bitterly disappointed that in
~ revision, have reYolutlon-the Scriptures
dethrOned and the Goddess of Reason, or, rather.
Of whim and caprice set Up IN their place.
et two instances suffice For more than a thou
sand years yawning chasm has divided Orient tai
and Occidental Christianity. There is great deal
At talk to-day about Church unity. The Presby-
terian body had a magnificent opportunity to do
it's part to bridge this chasm and hasten the day
when all Christs people shall be one, even as the
rather and Son are one. The question OF duty
was plain In the doctrine OF the procession of
the Holy Ghost. the Greeks stand upon the Word
Of God 'thev accept the definition Of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ, On the other hand the
0ecidentals add to Gods Word and presume TO
correct even Lord Himself What did the
way to indorse the false doctrine. The action on
the question OF death ir infancy IS still more out
rage6us. Here it is allowed on all hands ,t that
there n no Scripture doctrine on the matter What
then. does this committee do but make a doctrine
Of it's own-ona not based upon the rock of Gods
Word. hut upon the shifting sands Of human opin. M
ien-thus destroying the very foundations OF the
Church. needless of christs denuneiation Of those
who teach for doctrines the comma admenes of
men! Are such entitled to the name Of re-
formers? - PETER q. EASION'
Ns9-yOrk, Feb z, 1903