The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1906-08-22


union was concluded. Imagine their surprise when
AFTER the noon hour of Saturday, with many commits
sioners out OF the room their way lunch under
hfteen-mlnute extension of time and with a plea
from Dr. Roberts for adoption without debate OH the
ground of Fastening the conclusion business this
resolution was flung upon the Assembly. 1t is more
sweeping and revolutionary than any other in the
whole Cumberland proceedings. Protest was in vain
and it railroaded through the Assembly without
any consideration.
The second paragraph of the resolution is nc fol-
lows
That ministers, ruling elders and deacons in ex.
pressing approval of the Westminster Confession of
Faith, revised in 1903 are required to assent only
10 the system of doctrine contained therein and not
TO every particular statement in it, and inasmuch as
the TWO Assemblies meeting in 1901 did declare that
there was then sufficient agreement between tbe
systems OF doctrine contained in the Confession of the
Two Churches to warrant the union of the Churches
therefore the change of doctrnal standards resulting
from the union involves no change of belief ON the
part OF any who were minister's ruling elders or dea-
cons IN the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Firth
en- this Assembly specifically declares that since the
revision of 1908 by which the Confession of Faith was
amended by change of its text by a declaratorv
statement ana by additions, it is longer allowable
TO interpret our system of doctrine i'm anv fatalisc
sense, nor are we willing to admit that such fatalisc
Interpretation was warranted whatever misap-
prehenson may have existed in the mind of anv ner.
SON."
IL Is dlnicult to conceive of any way by which q
revolutionary declaration could have been more clev
cry covered up by an acceptable introduction and
conclusion than this clause:
therefore the change of doctrinal standards re-
suing from the union involves no change of belief
%" the part OF any who were minister's ruling elders
or deacons in the Cumberland PRESBYTERIAN Church
Does DIR. Mofatt means to assert that the system
OF doctrine in the Westminster Confession is tba sauna
as the system In the Cumberland Confession? Surely
not' or such an assertion is false. The veries tyro
In theology knows that the system of doctrine in be
Westminster Confession is clear cut matured con-
Slstent and comprehensive Calvnism while that in
te cumberland Confession, barring Perseverance OF
the Saints, is un-Calvnistic and at crucial nonts
anti Calvinstic.
Or did he mean to declare that in the PRESBYTERIAN
Church, u D. A, Confessional subscription is a mat
ter OF such indifference that IA minister whose deem
est and most fundamental religious convictions are
those expressed by the Cumberland system NAV with
out chge OF belief soemnly and sacredly subscribe
~ Ine westminster system expressing his hottest
CONVICTIONS OF revealed truth? Does Dr. MofTatt mean
to assert that Cumberland minister with these con-
Nctiohs may thus adopt the Westminster system
which is in absolute contradiction to his convictions
ana Tins kind of subscription is perfectly satisfac-
tory to the Presbyterian Church?
All we desire to say to this is, that whether such
an assertion represents the sentiment of Dr. Mofatt
or not 1T certainly does not represent either the past
or present position of the church. Nor are we ready
TO believe that the loyal Cumberland ministers and
eders nave reached such stage of moral degeneracy
ch"t they are willing to commit religious perjury
Tor the sake of getting into the Presbyterian Church
And i'll view of this bait by which it was proposed
to lure them into the Presbyterian Church. u S. A.
we are moved to inquire: What degree of childish
simplicity have DIR. Molfatt, Roberts ct al attributed
to these loyal Cumberland ministers and elders any
way Have they counted these people so simple as
TO be unable to perceive the hypocrisy in such a
deciarationY Or have they considered them such
knaves as to be willing to stuty conscience for an
apparent temporal gain?