The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-05-26
BASIS OF UNION.
Reported by the Committee to Presby-
terrain General Assembly.

Buffalo. N. Y, May 26.-The proposed
reunion of the Presbyterian church of
the United States and the Cumberland
Presbyterian church which organized
as a separate body in 1910, was the first
order of business in the general assem-
bly, of the Presbyterian church of the
United States today. Not since the day
which the vote was taken in 1901, on
the revision of the confession of faith
of the Presbyterian church, has there
question as that of the proposed re-
union. The discussion promised to be
struggle between President Francis L.
Patton. on one side and President Jas.
D. Monatt on the other a renewal of
the old struggle between the liberal
and conservative elements in the
church. DR. Moffatt is supported by
DR.. r. F. Coyle, DR.. G. A. Dickey, DR.
ton by DIR. Henry c. Minton, DR.. John
Fox and others.
DR.. Patton contends that the confess
sion of faith, as to it's calvinistic doc
trines, is the same as when the Cum
berland church went out. In other
words the revision of three years ago
/ did not revise in the sense of changing
anything. He maintains that the con-
4 LESSONS of the two bodies differ mater
/ tally and that doctrinally the two
churches are so far apart that it
would be dangerous to attempt union
at this time.
Dr. Moffatt and his supporters argue
that the revision did revise in that mis-
understandings were removed. The
ambiguity of the old confession has
/ been taken away and the language of
the present creed is such that it is I'M
! derstood by the members of the Cum
/ berland church and that they accept it
as it is and are ready to unite on the
basis of the revised confession.
The report of the committee declares
that as the basis of union, each of the
/ assemblies must express approval or
| disapproval to the following categorical
question:
do you approve of the reunion and
union of the Presbyterian church in the
United States of America and the Cum
! berland Presbyterian churches, on the
following basis:
The union shall be effected on the
doctTinal basis of the confession of
| faith of the Pres byterian church in the
United States of America as revised in
1 1903, and of it's doctrinal and ecclesias-
| teal standards and the scriptures of
| the Old and New Testament shall be
accepted as the inspired word of God.
the only infallible rule of faith and
practice
The recommendations of the commit
tee are:
First-That such changes be made
Fin the form of the government of the
Presbyterian church in the United
States of America as will allow addi-
tional or separate Presbyteries OF
synods to be organized in exceptional
ritorial bonds of existing presbyteries
or synods respectively for a particular
race or nationality. if desired by such
race or nationality.
Second-That the foregoing basis of
union and concurrent declarations shall
be submitted to the general assembly
and the entire plan of union shall be
cooperative when the basis Of union.
the concurrent declarations and the
first recommendation shall have been
adopted in their entirety
Third-That is it earnestly recon-
mended to the congregations through
out both branches of the church that
they observe Sabbath, September IS
1904 as a day of prayer that He would
grant to US all the spirit of counsel
and might" and in the new relation
now contemplated enable Us to ''keeI
the unity of the spirit in the bond Of
lpeaee.
John B. Davis and Elisha H. Perkiu:
dissent from the report as a whole fol
the following reasons:
because we fear serious contro
versy and loss to the church are like
~ to arise under the proposed adjust
lment of property rights and methods