CONFESSION OF FAITH.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18639, 18 May 1932, Page 9

CONFESSION OF FAITH.

SPIRITED DISCUSSION. AT PftESBYTERY MEETING. A remit from the Hawke's Bay Presbytery to the Presbyterian General I Assembly,'' that the Westminster Con- ! fession of Faith, which is required of i elders and deacons when they are inj ducted to their otllces, be deleted and I a question involving belief in the evanI gelical truth as practised in the Pres--1 byterian Church be substituted, was discussed at a meeting of the Christchurch Presbytery, and after a lengthy discussion it was decided to fall from the remit. The question now asked is: “Do you sincerely own and believe the system of doctrine contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith, and do you acknowledge the doctrine as expressing the sense in which you understand the Holy Scriptures, and will you constantly maintain and defend the same in Ihe, purity of worship in accordance therewith?" The remit from tin: Hawke’s Bay Presbytery proposed the. substitution ! of the following: “Do you sincerely j own and receive as in accordance with I the Holy Scriptures the evangelical I truth as taught in this Church?" j Thu ltev. T. Paterson said that many I men look the oath without seeing the Westminster Confession of Faith, and' another member said that it was morel or less a farce if a man lakes a view] tie knows nothing about - it. took »,way the solemnity of Hie proceedings. J

It was moved that the remit be supported. Wide Difference of Opinion. The Rev. L. M. Rogers: There are many people In our Church who have a wide difference of opinion as to what evangelical truth means. Sonic think it means their belief in the second coming of Christ, but the term is too vague. lie moved an amendment that the Presbytery fall from the remit. .Mr W. Ji. Rose, seconding the amendment, said that the question had been the subject of much discussion in Hie Church. It was pointed out that Professor J. Dickie was in control of a committee set up to report on the matter, and a similar committee was working to Lho same end in Scotland; it had been suggested that the matter he held over until the finding of tho Scottish committee was received. Mr Paterson: That’s eternal postponement. Another member of Presbytery said that in Scotland prayers were permitted for the dead, but that was prohibited in the Confession of Faith. If he did that lie would he charged wil.ii heresy, and a tribunal would be sat in by elders and ministers who did not know the meaning of the confession. It. was I lie height of absurdity. The amendment was carried by a large majority.