Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-05-23
GOOD AS REVISED
Appears To Be the Situation as
to the Presbyterian Con-
fession of Faith.
VOTE WAS VERY NEAR UNANIMOUS
Only Three Presbyteries Voted Nay
On the General Proposition
of Revision.

Los Angeles, Cal, May 23.-The sec
ond days session of the Presbyterian
general assembly was devoted entire
ly to the hearing of reports by spe-
cial committees appointed by the last
general assembly. One of the most
important of these reports is that of
the committee on evangelical wcrk
The entire afternoon was given to
hearing the report ana listening to ad-
dresses by several of those engaged
in evangelical work. The report had
not been disposed of when the assem-
bly, adjourned for the day, and today
there will be further discussion. Late
in the afternoon the commissioners and
their friends were rendered a recep-
ton at the Chamber of Commerce
building and at night mass meet
ing in the interest of Sunday school
movement was largely attended at En-
manuel church.
Revision of the Confession.
Although the sessions were more of
a business character than ON the open
ing day, and had little of the attrac-
tiveness of the proceedings on that
day. there was no abatement of in
tereSt. Moderator Coyle called the as
sembly TO order, and after music and
prayer stated the regular order of the
assembly to be the report by Stated
Clerk Roberts of the vote ofthe pres
byteries on the amendments to the con-
fession of faith.
Vote Is Nearly Unanimous.
Or. Roberts announced that all the
eleven amendments to the confession
Of faith had been adopted by the pres
byterieS by an almost unanimous vote.
Not Il single overture received less than
19J affirma ti-e votes. nor more than
nine negative votes. Three preSby-
teries voted against the revision as
whole. These are the presbyteries of
HuntindOn, Pa; Lacrosse. Wis. and
Ozark. Mo. As soon as DR.. Roberts
had concluded reading the report Or.
Van Dyke was on his feet and moved
its adoption. y second was promptly
forthcoming and before any one had
thought of discussing the report it had
been adopted.
Adoption . FOregOne Conclusion.
Moderator COyle then appointed a
committee OF five to canvass the vote
of the preSbyterieS on this important
question. and instructed it to report
to the general assembly next Thursday
morning. 1t is 4 foregOne conclusion
that the revision will he adopted. Hav-
ing temporarily disposed of the con-
feSSiOn of faith question the assembly
listened to an earnest appeal by Rev.
Dr. Fox. of brooklyn, secretary Of the
American Bible society, in behalf OF
that Society'S needs in the way of
funds for the distribution of Bibles
i'm foreign lands. Rev. DIR. Mateer.
the venerable missionary. also spoke
on this point. He was warmly greet
cd and listened to with close attention.
DIR. FoN's appeal was referred to the
committee on hills and OvertureS.
Report on Sunday Observance.
The report Of the committee on Sun
day observance. of which James Yer
ance. of New York. is chairman. was
read. The report is a strong appeal
for Sunday observance and contained
strong arguments against ''Seven-Day
Journalism. Rev. DIR. l. w. Hath
away, and Rev. DIR. Ramsdell. of Wash
ington. made stirring addresses in fa-
vOr of the committees recommends