Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-05-12
WESTMINSTER
CONFESSION.
Rev. S. T. Carter, a Presbyterian
Minister, Doesn't Believe il
Is Gods Truth.
AN IDOL OF MANS INVENTION.


New York, May 1.-THE question OF
disciplining or Of trying on heresy
charges Rev. Or. Samuel T. Carter
who-several years ago, became proml-
nent I'm an effort 20 have the West
minister confession revised, was taken
up today by the presbytery Of Nassau
Jamaica, i. /. The meeting was called
because of letter in which Or. Carter
declares that he does not believe
the Westminster confession 10 be the
truth OF God, but IAN idol of mans n-
yention as truly as any worshipped in
Delhi, Pckin or Africa"
This letter s addressed 90 the gener-
al assembly of the Presbyterian
church. which meets May rs in Des
Moines. la The writer terms It PRO
test and confession" the letter Is as
follows
Fathers and Brethren:
"The presbytery OF Nassau overturned
the general assembly q year ago asking
that the brief statement Of doctrine be
substituted for the Westminster cunfes.
sion as the confession of our church. BY
Il practically unanimous vote the gem
eral assembly rejected this overture
and retained the Westminster confes.
sion, BY this action of the assembly
many ministers are compelled to de-"
clare their acceptance of confeyion
which they do not heartily believe.
II appeal from this action Of the as
sembly 10 the manliness and honesty of
the ministry ana membership of the
Presbyterian church.
Many years ago when | was or
daincd To the ministry Of the gospel
declared In the most solemn manner
that I believed the Westminster confess
sion to be the truth Of God. | now. in
very solemn manner. declare that
do not believe II to he the truth of
God; that | utterly reject 1t as a setting
forth of the character OF Heavenly
Father
There never was, is not now. and
never will be such God as the West.
minister confession.
TT Is an idol of mans invention as
truly as any Worshipped In Delhi. Pekin
or Africa. | believe hat the great and
true God is infinitely and exqustey
good and gracious: that one thing
that We can neither fully receive MOI
declare Is the buundless love OF God;
that all the noblest exhibitions Of hu-
man love are but bright and beautiful
sparks from That intense and divine
lame--the love that through ages and
generations has been leading men by
the fullest wisdom and most tender
providence to heights Of knowledge,
love and boundless hope that far trans.
cend all human thought. lift up this
overwhelming divine love before my
felow-men. believing that this alone
viii draw all men unto Him,
II believe that the Westminster con-
fession darkens and denies this great
love of God and should not be retained
as q confession by any church today.
and that our church is false TO its
greatest duty Of being a true witness
for God so long as 1t retains this con-
fesslon.
II send this protest and confession to
the clerk Of the general assembly ana
! invoke upon It the blessing Of AL
mighty God and the kindly judgment OF
all honest men"
The letter was sent from Rome, Italy.
Or. Carter has been In the Presbyter-
Ian church for 30 years, but is not now
In charge OF n church. More than a
year ago his views were discussed by
the Nassau presbytery.