Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-02
IN THE CHURCHES

bly, of the Presbyterian Church will be held
In Los Angeles. Cal. beginning Thursday,
May Il The four commissioners, consist
Ing of two ministers and two elders, elected
at recent meeting Of the presbytery Of
Washington city to represent the churches
OF that denomination in the city and sur
rounding country are as follows: Minis
ters, Rev. DR.. Charles B. Ramsdell of the
North Church and Rev. DR.. J. T. Stone Of
the church in Jamestown. Md; elders, Mr.
Irwin B. Linton of the lexington Church
and Mr.. N. A. Robbins Of the WASHINGTON
Heights Church. All these gentlemen ex-
pect to attend the sessions Of the general
assembly.
Considerable interest attaches to this
meeting Of the assembly in that a most
important matter to the church will be
finally disposed of-the official action on the
revised confession of faith or creed of the
church. The question Of revision of the
creed was first officially brought to the at
tention Of the general assembly of the
church in 1889, and agitation for changes
has been going on in the church ever since.
The assembly of 1900 appointed a commit
tee Of fifteen-eight ministers and seven
elders-to consider the matter Of a restate-
ment of the doctrines Of the denomination.
The final report Of the committee on re-
vision was made to the meeting of the gen.
eral assembly held in New York city in
May of last year. Inc report embodied q
revision Of the confession of faith by modi-
flcation and additional and declaratory
statements and two additional chapters
The report was adopted by the general
assembly and the matter was referred to
the various presbyteries of the United
States for acceptance or rejection, a two
thirds vote Of all the presbyteries under
the jurisdiction of the assembly being nee
essary to its adoption. The presbytery Of
Washington city voted unanimously in favor
of the revised creed and but recently 1t
has been announced from the headquarters
of the church in Philadelphia that two
thirds of the presbyteries in the United
States have taken similar action. 1t is
stated by prominent Presbyterian ministers
of this city that the question has really
been settled by the presbyteries, and that
all that remains for the general assembly
to do in the matter is to formally accept
the revised creed.
The changes in the confession Of faith.
which are regarded as the most important
results of the work of revision, are con-
tanned in declaratory statement in two
parts and three amendments relating to
predestination and Denomination, election
of infants, good works by nom Christians,
the taking of oaths and the head of the
church, respectively. The declaratory state
ment is as follows:
'sFirst-With reference to chapter III of
the confession of faith: that concerning
those who are saved in Christ. the doctrine
of Gods eternal decree is held in harmony
with the doctrine Of His love to all man
kind, His gift of His Son to be the propitia7
ton 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 SIN
ner but has provided in Christ a 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 him
ders no man from accepting that offer, and
that no man is condemned except on the
ground of his sin
"Second-with reference to chapter X,
section 3, of the confession of faith, that
it is not to be regarded 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 when and where and how He
pleases.'
The amendments are as follows:
Chapter XVI, article Works done by
unregenerate men, although for the matter
of them they may be things which God
commands and in themselves praiseworthy
and useful. and although the neglect OF
such things Is sinful and displeaSing unto
God: yet. because they proceed not from
heart purified by faith. nor are done in a
right manner. according to His word, nor
to a right enQ, the glory OF GoQ. tney come
short of what God requires and do not make
any man meet to receive the grace of God.
Chapter xxi. article 3-Whosoever
taketh an oath ought duly to consider the
weightiness of so solemn an act, and there
in to avouch nothing but what he is fully
persuaded is the truth. Neither may any
man bind himself by oath to do anything
but what is good and just. and what he be-
heveth so to be. and what he is able and
resolved to perform
Chapter XIV, article 6-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 un-
scriptura1. without warrant in fact. and is a
usurpation dishonoring to the Lord Jesus
Christ
One of the chapters added to the creed.
and adopted by two-thirds of the presby-