The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-29
Report of the Revision Committee
Unanimously Adopted by the
General Assembly.
SYNOPSIS OF THE CHANGES
TEXT OF THE DECLARATORY STATE
MENT AS AGREED TO.
CoIored Question Referred to a Spe-
cial COmmittee-WOrk of Other
Religious Bodies.

LOS ANGELES, CAL, May 2S.-The
Presbyterian Church of the United States.
In General Assembly. by unanimous vote to-
day adopted the revision of the Confession
of Faith as prepared by the committee ap-
pointed by the General Assembly in 1901.
The Tennessee overture in regard to
separate presbyteries in the same terri
tory which was commonly known as the
"Colored question" of the Presbyterian
church, was referred to a committee, and
the report of the special committee on
divorce and remarriage was adopted.
Several minor reports also were heard
during the day. Protests from Lehigh and
from ST. Cloud Presbyteries were thrown
out by vote.
Dr. Van Dyke then proceeded with the
report OF the revision committee. He read
the detailed vote on each one OF the eleven
overtures, which showed that no one over
ture had received more than ten negative
votes. The overtures were voted on
seriatim and adopted. But one voice In the
negative was heard, and this only on
overtures five, six and seven. A declara-
tory statement which precedes the changes
in the Confession of Faith was read and
adopted by the assembly follows:
while the ordination VOW of ministers,
ruling elders and deacons. as set forth in the
form of government. requires the reception
or adoption of the Confession of Faith only
as containing the system of doctrine taught
in the holy Scriptures, nevertheless, seeing
that the desire has been formally expressed
for a disavowal by the church OF certain
differences drawn from statements in the
,f<I, ov,1 ole n a
ton of certain aspects of revealed truth,
which appear at the present time to call 1or
more explicit statement, therefore. the
Presbyterian Church In the united states
of America does authoriativeiy declare as
Then follows the text of the report. By
the adoption of eleven OvertureS, impor-
tant additions. amplifcations and amend
ments are made to the articles of the Con,
fession of Faith. Infant damnation is ousted
from the creed in the following words:
Christ the doctrine Of Gods eternal de-
cree is held in harmony with the doctrine
of His love to all mankind; tnat IL
is not to be regarded as teaching that any
who die in infancy are lost. We believe
that all dying in infancy are included In
the election of grace and are rsgeneratsd d
and saved by Christ through the Spirit, VINO
works where and how He pleases;"
For Sec. 6, Chapter XIV, of the Confess
sion of Faith, the following is substituted:
1.-The Lord Jesus Christ is the only head of
the church, and the claim of any man to be
the vicar of Christ and the head of the
church Is unscriptural, without warrant In
fact and is a usurpation dishonoring to the
Lord Jesus Christ.
Three additional chapters are added to the
Confession concerning the "love of God for
all men, missions and Holy Spirit
At the conclusion of the reading OF the
report DR.. Van Dyke spoke briefly on the
changes incorporated therein. DR.. Minton,
chairman of the revision committee, spoke
briefly, and was followed by DR.. Charles A.
Dickey, who said that the adoption of this
report was omen of speedy union, or, at
least, speedy unity of all the Presbyterians
in this country and a step toward protest
ant unity.
On the motion Of Moderator Coyle the re-
port Of the revision committee was adopted
by unanimous vote, and the next twenty
minutes was spent in song and prayer.
At the afternoon session the "cOlored ques-
ton was disposed of promptly and without
a furry DIR. Putnam from the committee
on bills and overtures, reported a simple
recommendation that overtures on separate
presbyteries for colored ministers, which
had come up from Tennessee and other
Southern States, be referred to the next
General Assembly. Dr. Roberts moved an
amendment to this resolution giving the
colored element in the church representa-
ton on this committee and increasing the
membership to seven. The amendment was
accepted and the resolution adopted.
James ferance read the report of the
American Tract Society, which was adopt
ed. The report of the board of church cree
ton also was read and adopted.
The report of the special committee on
divorce and remarriage was then taken up
DIR. Charles A. Dickey, chairman, speaking
in support of its recommendations. 1t was
unanimously adopted.
After hearing the report of the commit
tee correspondence the Assembly ad-
journed till tomorrow.