SPIRITED DEBATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 264, 7 November 1935, Page 25

SPIRITED DEBATE.

N.Z. PRESBYTERIANS.

EXPRESSION OF BELIEFS.

" MOST DANGEROUS CREED." (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. A report presented to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church to-day by the committee which has been working for some time on a brief statement of the Church's faith gave rise to a spirited debate.

The statement, which was presented by the Rev. Dr. J. Dickie on behalf of the committee, is based to a large extent on one adopted by the Church of Scotland and was submitted to the assembly for final acceptance. Various presbyteries have discussed the statement and, -with the exception of the Wanganui Presbytery, have pronounced favourably.

The Rev. John Paterson, of Wanganui, opposing Dr. Dickie, said the suggested creed was a most dangerous one, as emphasis in it was laid in the wrong places. He also objected to the doctrine of sin in the statement. He said the teaching of this creed on man's future destiny, if not dogmatic universalism, went as close to it as possible, and ignored entirely Jesus' warning as to the eternal danger inherent in our attitudo and conduct in this life.

The Rev. Lloyd Wilkinson, of Wanganui, supported Mr. Paterson on the ground that nothing would do except that Christ accomplished the act of salvation by His death. "I speak as a plain man," said Mr. J. Sutherland, who recalled that as an elder he had accepted certain vows, one of which was that he expressed his belief that the Scriptures were the Word of God. One of the Church's duties was to preserve the simple Scriptures. "On that point I condemn the brief statement of faith." he added. "The brief statement reduces to beggarly subjectiveness vital truth." The Rev. E. T. King, of Taihape, asked what benefit was to be derived from altering the statement which had served the Church faithfully for so many years. Ho said it seemed like catering to the mind of the present age rather than considering the great fundamentals. The debate was not finished to-day, prior business preventing its continuation.