New-York tribune., 1903-05-18
PRESBYTERIAN CREED.
REVISION NOW ASSURED.
General assembly to ApproUe the
Changes 4dopted Year Ago

Los Angeles. May II (SpecIaD-The Presbyterian
Church does not change its constitution often or
easily. 1t safeguards its creed making changes
difficult rather than easy First the question ts
agitated in more presbyteries. then an ap-
peal is made to an assembly asking for the aD-
pointment Of a committee to submit revision OF
specified chapters or sections This report, when
prepared. may be voted down; II It Is adopted.
then it goes to the presbyteries again FOR their
approval and two-thirds Of al the presbyteries
must give it on each change. or revision OF that
section fails Finally. the assembly must take Uo
the subject for third time and enact the changes
approved
All OF these steps except one have been take1
within the last three years When the General
Assembly in New-York a year ago adopted tbs
report of special committees the revision OF
the Westminster Confession Of Faith the vote was
unanimous This indicated practical unaniH1tty
throughout the Presbyterian Church in refe 'encs
to two ponts-the need OF a moderate revision OF
the historic creed OF the Church and practical
agreement with the revision submitted But no
changes In the conditions of the Church can be e.
fected until they have been adopted by one as
senbly. approved by twO-thirds OF all the presby-
teries and enacted by a second assembly.
The Rev DIT. William II Roberts. the stated
clerk Of the assembly, has received returns from
2S of the 81 presbyterie5 the question Of creed
revision Eleven oyertures were sent 10 the pres
oyterie5 by the last General Assembly. OF ths
received lS5 are in favor OF all the over
lures, thirteen are partly c-thrnat1ve. two mega
tive. and three took action This vote ratfeS
the proposition. which required majority OF two
thirds of the presbyteres and practically assures
the adoption of the revised Confession Of Faith by
the General Assembly which meets in Los Angeles
this week.
This action does not mean that there IS TO be
any radical change in the belief held preached
by the ministry OF the Presbyterian Church Ihs
doctrines which have been the backbone OF rhe
Confession. predestinatiOn and infant salvation.
remain intact Instead Of changing either Of them
by the omission Of an iota. d declaratory state
raenc was unanimously adopted last spring and
approved later by the pres0ytertes
The pastor Of the church in which the assembly
is to be hed-the ImmanueL-is the Rev DR. Hugh
h Walker. time pastor in Baltimore
His success in Los Angeles has been wellrdgh
phenomenal In addition to MS extensive pastoral
Iabors and the usual calls incident 10 city pas
torate he is deeply interested in Occidental Col
Iege at this place This Presbyterian institution
has for its head the Rev Dr. Guy W WadsNortn-
one of the leading educators the coast Tbs
press committee OF the assembly is headed by the
Rev. DR.. W S Young. the pastor Of Knox Church
The other committees all made Up OF men
who have given a great deal Of time and Jho}Sac
and money make the coming meeting a success
DE- Henry Dyke, Of Princeton University-
the retiring moderator. will open the assembly on
Thursday with a sermon His election last year
was just tribute his reputation a pastor
and writer. DR.. Dyke was born in German
town, Penn, and graduated rom Princeton
University in 1873 and from Princeton Seminary IN
the same town. four years later Princeton and
Harvard and Yale have each given aim the dssIee
of D. D. lie served as pastor OF The United Con-
gregatonaI Church at Newport from 1873 70 IS3
when he was called 70 the Brick Church. in New
York which he hIed and kept fun until his resig-
nation. three years ago. To accept profess
sorship Princeton
The successor OF Dr. Dyke as moderator VIII
probably be one OF these two the Rev Dr.
William Henry Roberts the stated clerk OF the
assembly. or the Rev Dr. Calvin W Natter. 4
foreign missionary from China Either man would
4r-srF- -llr- me-
serve well from the Church because OF their ser
vice Several other names have also been put for
ward by their friends. and they may be nominated.
but Dr. Roberts Dr. Natter viii probably re-
ceive the coveted prize
The divorce question VIII be up again this year.
1t came to the front year ago when, in response
10 the fraternaI request OF Jhe committee Of the
Protestant Episcopal Church the General Assem-
bly, appointed committee Of five ministers and
four elders. confer with the committee OF tns
Protestant Episcopal Church and with similar COM
rnittees created by other churches. with a view
of securing some concerted opinion and action by
the churches OF America relative 70 divorce and
remarriage. and so to affect public opinion thas
uniform legislation may be enacted by the States
that will conserve the family institution and pre-
serve sanctity Of the marriage bond The fol-
lowing committee was appointed The Rev Drs.
Charles y Dickey. J. y. McIlrai1. ; j Niccci-s.
William J. NIcCaughan and Paul Z S-tphe0. John
E Parsons John " Foster William NJ Lannins
and Samuel p. Harrison The assembly added this
reason for its action
Viewing with sad apprehension the many periis
70 family Hee In our time. the growing and
frequency Of divorce upon grounds trivial and u1-
scripturaI We urge upon aH people the promotion
Of wider reverence Tor the marriage bond. ard
require of ministers that they instruct their
ueople IN public and private Of the sacrednesS OF
this divine institution. and that they exercise due
diligence before the celebration OF a marriage 70
ascertain that there exist inPediments thereto.
as defined in our Confession OF Faith
ALI ed 10
of NIoruonIsrn which viii be forced upon the at
tantiOn OF the commissioners this year IN an Tn
1s1,aI manner, three OF the special trains
reuafn in Salt Lake City to-day When the as
seubIV came West in 1872 real estate Specuiator
gof h0ld OF some OF the commissioners and. under
The plea that his relatives in the East were Pres
he offered TO give the Church or his
fathers "A fine size for a Presbyterian university
The ofer was smitted % the General ASSe N
bIv in Portland toyfuly accepted AMI ratthed WIN
tha Long Metre DOxolOgy- When t1N facts oe-
came public. and the intent Of che "PreSoS-
terian'' who did not know OF the i've points
OF Calvinisu became known. the DoNoiogy was
sung again, but IN meeting the stnserS WeFe
thankful u was worse and that the RresoJ-
terian denomination had not been made the agent
OF a boom" -.
FvaneeIization has claimed the worS os tne
church during the year and Will receive Sreater
TUT fvu-N~Ty-RT