Arizona republican., 1903-05-29
Presbyterian Church Has
 Brought Itself Up-tO-date
.DAMNATION OF INFANTS
Or Whatever Doubt on That Subject That May Have Arisen Out of the Old Confession Has Been
 Done Away With.

Los Angeles. May 2S-The Preshyter- ian church of the United States tn gen eral assembly today finally disposed og the question of the revision of the creed that has been before the last thre.. general assemblies and which has agi- tated Presbyterian circles for the past fifteen years. The assembly today by a unanimous vote adopted the revision of the confession of faith as prsparted by the committee appointed by the gen eral assembly of 1901.
 Besides clearing the calendar of this important question the assembly dis posed of the Tennessee overture" in regard to separate prebyteries on the same territory" which was commonly known as the -'colOred question of the Presbyterian church. and the report of the special committee on divorce and remarriage.
 Several minor reports were also heard during the day. which on the whole has been the busiest Of the as- sembly's session.
 The fact that creed revision was 10 come up at this mornings session at tracted the largest crowd that has at- tended any meeting since the opening. After dispOsing of some business of minor importance. Moderator Coyle an nounced that Rev. Dr. Henry Van Dyke of Princeton, chairman Of the committee on bills and overtures. would submit the report of the committee On revision. Before reading the report Dr. Van Dyke stated that two protests. one from the presbytery of Lehigh and the other from the St Cloud presbyterV. tending to Obstruct action on the revis- ion question. had come before the com mitttee and it was recommended that the assembly vote to throw them out
 The assembly so ordered. Dr. Van Dyke then proceeded to read the report of the revision committee. He read the detailed vote on each one of the eleven oyertures, which showed that no one overture had received more than ten negative votes. These Overtures were voted upon seriatum and adopted. By the adoption of the eleven Overtures important additions. amplificatiOns and amendments were made To the articles of the confession of faith. or these one Of the most vital Is the incorporation into the church doctrine of the belief that all who die in infancy are saved
 For section $. chapter 25. of the Con fession of Faith, the following is sub stituted. 'The Lord Jesus Christ is the only head of the church. and the claim of any man to be the vicar or Chrisr and the head the church is unscrip- tural, without warrant in fact and is a usurpation, Gishonoring to the Lord Jesus Christi
 Three additional chapters are added ta the confession concerning the Love or God for all men, missions and the the ory of the spirit"
 At the conclusion of the reading of the report Dr. Van Dyke spoke briefly upon the changes incorporated therein His speech was one of the most inn pressive that has been delivered before the assembly and was said by some. of the commissioners to be one of the most notable ever made upon faith re- vision He was frequently interrupted by applause from the commissioner He said he wished to make it clear Go the assembly and especially did he wish to say 70 the brethren of the press that this revision does not mean tha. the Presbyterian church has changed her base one inch. but it does mean that she has broadened and strength ened her foundations. Her divine SOW ereignty shall never be interpreted Co mean fatalism."
 On the coIored question: Ir Put nam. from the committee on bills lnI overtures, reported a simple reCommen- dation that overtures on separate Presbyteries for colOred ministers which had come up from Tennessee and other southern states. be referred to committee of five. this committee to report to the next general assembly. Dr. Roberts moved an amendment, to this resolution giving the cOlored e.e- ment in the church representa- tiOn on this committee and increasing the membership to seven. The amendmel c was accepted and the resolution vas adopted. MT. James Yereance read the report of the American Tract society which was adopted.
 An overture, having for its object change in the rights Of representation of the Presbyteries was voted down