The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1903-06-04
Denial Of Inference of Infant
FataIism is Termed in DecIa-
ratOry Statement to be Only
a Broadening Of Church's
ScripturaI Interpretation.

the confession Of faith as prepared
by the committee appointed by the
general assembly in 1901.
Besides clearing the calendar OF
this impo' tant question the assem-
bly, disposed OF the Tennessee over
ture" in regard to separate Presby-
teries in the same territory" which
was commonly known rs the 'color-
cd question" Of the Presbyterian
church, and the report Of the Special
committee on divorce and remar-
riage.
A declaratory statement which pre-
cedes the changes in the confession
OF faith was read before the assem- bly,
as follows:
DIsAvowAL OF INFERENCEs.
"While the ordination vow of min
listers, ruling elders and deacons, as
set forth in the form OF government,
requires the reception and adoption
OF the confession Of fatty only as
containing the system of doctrine
taught in the Holy Scriptures, never.
theless, seeing that the desire has
been formally expressed for a disa-
vowal by the church OF certain INFER
ences drawn from the statements in
the confession OF faith, and also for a
declaration OF certain aspects OF re-
vealed truth which appear at the
present time to call for more explicit
statements. therefore the Presbyter.
ian church in the United States of
America does authoritatively declare
as follows"
Then follows the text 9th report.
By the adoption of the election
overtures, important additions, am
plifications and amendments are
made to the articles OF the confession
OF faith.
OF these one OF the most vital is
the erection into the church doctrine
OF the belief that all who die in inian-
cy are saved, which is embodied in
the declaratory statement regarding
chapter III Of the confession OF faith
and chapter X. section g.
That concerning those who are
saved in Christ, the doctrine of God 3
eternal decree is held in harmony with
the ioctrine Of his love to all man
kind, His gift of His son to be the
Precipitation for the sins OF the whole
world and His readiness to bestow
His saving grace on all who seek it;
that concerning those who perish,
the doctrine OF Gods eternal decree
is held in harmony with the doctrine
that God desires not the death OF
any sinner, but has provided in
Christ salvation sufficient for all
adapted to all and freely offered in
the gospel to all; that men are fully
responsible for their treatment of
Gods gracious offer; that his decree
hinders no man from accepting that
offer and that no man is condemned
except on the ground Of his sin.
|. Also that it is not 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 regenerated and
saved by Christ through the spirit,
who works where and how he
pleases."
For section 6, chapter XIV, OF the
Confession of Faith, the following is
substitutes:
"The Lord Jesus Christ is the only
head Of the church and the claim Of
any man to be the vicar OF and the
head OF the church is unscriptural
without warrant in fact and is an
usurpation dishonoriDg to the Lord
Jesus Christ"
At the conclusion OF the reading OF
the report DR.. Van Dyke spoke
briefly upon the changes incorporat
ed therein.
| He said be wished to make II clear
to the assembly and especially did
he wish to say to the brethren of the
press "that this revision does not
mean that the Presbyterian church
has changed her base one inch; but
it does mean that she has broadened
and strengthened her foundations.
| uuo, d;v;oo sovoroiUntv shaIl naco-