Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-26
DISCUSSED FORM OF WORSHIP.
Topic of Paramount Issue at winona
Lake TODAY

WINONA LAKE, Ind, May 26.-Whether
the Presbyterian general assembly should
depart from the laws and traditions of the
church in America and adopt a form of wor-
ship, even to the extent of saying the
churches might use this form or not as they
like. was the principal question before the
general assembly here today. That many
speakers would take the floor both for and
against the proposition was indicated when
the time for the report of the special COM
mittee on forms of service arrived and the
stated clerk cleared the way so that the
speakers could use most of the day.
Before the report of the committee was
formally presented to the assembly the re-
port of the finance committee was adopted,
showing the expenses for the general assem-
bly, last year at Buffalo to have been S34,525
with receipts of equal amount. The trus-
tees of the general assembly hold 1904, 900 in
securities. Rev. Francisco Rostan Of Italy
presented a message of greeting from the
Presbyterians of his country. In the report
on church alliances Stated Clerk w. H.
Roberts said the Presbyterian Church in
the United States for years has been in Sc
cret correspondence with the Presbyterian
element made up of 100000 native Rus
slams, who have finally won their religious
freedom.
The report of the committee on forms of
service was read.
Dr. Henry Van Dyke, chairman of the
committee, came Wednesday to do some ac-
tive campaigning in favor of the report, and
he led the forces in favor of 1t on the floor
The printed report of the committee has
been placed In the hands of the commission
ers, and the demand for 1t has been so great
that large edition Is exhausted. Now the
commissioners, who have been against
adopting what they call the Van Dyke
prayer book" admitted that 1t is fine piece
of Presbyterian literature, and hundreds of
copies will go into the libraries of Presby-
terian homes over the United States.
The form of worship which the committee
offered was regarded as mild in tone, and
the opposition to 1t made Its objection on
the general ground that the presbyterian Is
not denomination for rituals, printed pray
ers and fixed forms. Many of the commits
soners objected to the Van Dyke effort for
the reason that If 1t We're approved by the
general assembly 1t might prove In later
years to be stepping stone TO some form
of worship more radical and obligatory.
DR. Van Dyke said he had a hard propo-
sition to meet. There is no ritualism in the
book of prayer, he said, and the report OF
the committee has been misunderstood II
hate rituals and forms of ceremonies, he
declared. I'VE have here a voluntary serv-
ice for those who want it for the common
democracy in the Presbyterian Church. L
cannot bear to have 1t called even a III
urgy If l wanted to commit suicide,
would choose some other way than by try
ing to impose liturgy on the Presbyterian
Church.
This committee has for two years been
trying to do just the other thing. Sixteen
hundred Presbyterian ministers have writ
ten to the committee for book of wor-
ship. Go into Presbyterian church today
and you do not know what is coming next.
OF course, you know the collection is not
coming first Qaughter). How shall we meet
this condition? Shall we let it go?''
He said the report of the committee Is
saturated with the spirit of Presbyterian
ism and is based on careful study true to
every prayer of Presbyterian doctrine. Ia
marriage ceremonies, he said, men do not
marry women with ring, but with prom
ises, and ring is pledge to carry out the
promises. He took up other parts of the
committee report for discussion, and fire.
quently urged that the form of service was
only for those who want to follow it.