Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 May 1900 — MEETING OF PRESBYTERIANS. [ARTICLE]

MEETING OF PRESBYTERIANS.

One Hundred and Twelfth Annual As- . aembly Held in St. Louis. The Presbyterian general assembly, the lawmaking body of that church, began its one hundred and twelfth annual meeting Thursday at the Washington and Compton Avenue Presbyterian Church in St. Louis. Nearly 1,000 commissioners and delegates, representing all the Northern and Western States and territories, and many <rf those tn the South, with the synods of Central and South China, North China and India, were in attendance at the opening session. Among them were many eminent divines and prominent laymen. - a Washington and Compton Avenue Presbyterian Church, in which the main deliberations of the body were to be held, had been decorated and fitted with everything that would minister to the comfort and convenience of those in attendance. In the lecture room there was a Presbyterian book store, a postoffice, a telegraph station, telephone connections, writing tables and stationery. Matters of great Importance were stated for consideration during the gathering, and it was thought it would probaHy be two weeks before final adjournment. The Rev. Dr. Charles A. Dickey of Phlladeliiria was elected moderator. His principal competitors were Dr. McKibbin of Cincinnati and Dr. D. W. Fisher of Hanover College. The new Moderator to opposed to the revision of the creed, and his election is considered a victory for the conservatives. Dr. Dickey said he was inclined to regard the agitation as much ado about nothing, that the men who bob up here and there throughout the country with a tirade against the Westminster confession were seeking notoriety or else failed to comprehend the relation between that confession and the presbyterlan church. “The Westminster confession,” he said, “to now and always has been merely a system of doctrine and as such is subscribed to by every minister of the church when he takes his vows. There are many things in the confession of faith that are not subscribed to by ministers at the time of taking their vows and the various preehyteries have allowed great latitude of individual thought and ordained many men holding views apparently at variance with the logical significance of certain clauses, yet in perfect accord with the general doctrinal system It reveals.” The question of revision of the Weatmlnster confession to not a ne'w one. Eleven years ago certain doctrines of tie cretd, notably those concerning election and preterition, were thought too strong, end a committee was appointed to act an their revision, but in 1893 only sixty-seven out of 220 presbyteries appnved any amendments.