The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1912-05-17
INFANTS
IS OISCUSSEDBY
PRESBYTERIANS

Bristol, Tenn, May 15.-Represen
tatiyes of the Southern Presbyteriaf
church, who have been assembling
here during the week past. will enter
Wednesday upon the actual sessions Of
the SIND General Assembly of the
Church. Again this year the ELECT
Infant" clause Of the Confession ol
Faith. will come before the Assembly
probably in the course of movement
to have the expression Elect Infants
omitted altogether from the Comics.
sion. Six ad interim committees will
make their reports and the standing
executive committees will account to
the church's representatives their do.
ings and accomplishments of the year.
The address of the retiring modera-
tor. the Rev. Russell Cecil, ID. D., of
Richmond, Va, is to be the first OF
the important messages delivered by
leading ministers to the assembly.
The proposed change Of the Elect
Infant clause has been the occasion
for much discussion recently The
Louisville assembly of 1911 approved
and sent down to the Presbyteries for
their advice and consent" this proposed
altered wording of the debatable
clause.
Infants, dying in infancy, are re-
generated and saved by Christ through
the Spirit Who worketh when and
where and how He pleaseth, So also
are all others who are included in the
election of grace and who are incap-
able of being outwardly called by the
ministry of the Word"
1t is said to be probable that a suiil-
cient number of the Presbyteries have
not given their consent to the pro
posed change to make it effective, al
though, to quote from a recent edi-
torial by the Rev. d. NJ. Sweets, OF
Louisville, the Objectionable express
sion Elect Infants has caused great
deal of unreasonable prejudice against
the Presbyterian church. II the amend
ment is defeated, the assembly prob
ably will be asked to omit the express
sion altogether from the Confession
In his contention that the proposed
amendment now is virtually the law
of the church and should be included
in the Confession. the Rev. &. NJ. Nun
rec, .. D., of Milford, Tex, referred
to this resolution, adopted, he affirmed,
by the Assembly of 1902:
I'VE are persuaded that the Holy
Scriptures, when fairly interpreted,
amply warrant us in believing that All
infants who die in infancy are ineiud-
ed in the election of grace and arc
regenerated and saved by Christ
through the Spirit, etc"
II is said to be certain that the re-
vision of this clause in the Confes-
sion will occupy a large part of the
attention of he Assembly.
The ad interim committees whose
reports will be received are that in
marriage and divorce, that charged
with suggesting changed basis Of
representation TO the assembly, that
which sent out pastoral letter on
worldlness in the churches. that to
consider the establishing of great
Presbyterian University in Atlanta or
vicinity, that on the Home and School
at Fredericksburg, Va, and that charg.
ed with considering the growth Of the
Romanistlc church and some practical
methods of meeting it,
In connection with the Womens
Missionary Unions, the assembly will
have to consider at least one aspect
Of the suffrage question, described as
"the loveliest question before the
church just now The women are
asking for the appointment of wo-
man secretary "to labor in conjunction
with all of the four executive commit
tees under the control and direction,
of course. of the church courts and
without in any sense assuming auth
ority outside of the regular establish
ed channels of church authority
Several matters of proposed change
in the book of church order will be
reported on and the committee ap-
pointed to confer with the United
Presbyterians and the Associate Re-
formed Presbyterians regarding or
ganic union WILL it is announced, re-
port progress. To the assembly, also,
as to the Northern and other Presby-
terian assemblies. will be presented an
overture from the Colored Cumberland
Presbyterian assembly, asking that all
Presbyterian assemblies unite in form
ing one Negro Presbyterian assembly.