708 



EEFOEMED CHURCH. 



An amendment which had been proposed to 

 the constitution to allow the formation of Ger- 

 man classes on territory occupied by English 

 classes, was declared adopted, a sufficient 

 number of classes having approved it. The 

 General Synod formally signified its consent 

 to the organization of a German Synod when- 

 ever any four or more adjacent German class- 

 es, having first obtained the consent of the 

 synods to which they belong, may desire to 

 constitute themselves as such. The Eev. Dr. 

 Bausman, who had visited the General Synod 

 of the Eeformed Church in America as a cor- 

 responding delegate from this synod, reported 

 that he had been cordially received by that 

 body, and, in response to his address, they had 

 expressed willingness to cooperate with the 

 Eeformed Church in the United States, in ad- 

 vancing the kingdom of Christ. The Eev. Dr. 

 Pelz appeared as a corresponding delegate 

 from the General Synod of the Eeformed 

 Church in America, and spoke at some length 

 in reference to the relations which the two 

 Churches sustain to each other, especially as 

 regards the subject of Church union. The 

 question of union was referred to a committee, 

 who presented a report, in which they said : 



The subject has been before the mind of the 

 Church for several years, and thoroughly discussed 

 in all its bearings, and the conclusions reached have 

 found utterance in the actions of several Church 

 Courts. The General Assembly at Philadelphia, in 

 1869, had already said that a close union between 

 the two bodies so intimately related in doctrine, 

 cultus, and name, would be both natural and desir- 

 able, so soon as the consummation could be reached 

 with the cordial consent of bath parties. It is be- 

 lieved that the action of our Church courts is not 

 only in harmony with the common feeling of Protes- 

 tant Christendom regarding the necessity for unity 

 in the body of Christ, but it is further held that it is 

 expressive of the sincere desire of the Church which 

 the General Synod represents ; that it would, be a 

 matter for rejoicing throughout its congregation to 

 be brought into the closest relations for which the 

 providence of the great Head of the Church may 

 prepare the way. The union of these two members 

 of the Keformed Church would realize the accom- 

 plishment of a hope long cherished. 



The following resolution was proposed by 

 the committee, and was unanimously adopted 

 by the Synod : 



Resolved, That this General Synod is in full accord 

 with the prevailing sentiment in the Church as it 

 regards the desirableness of Christian unity ; looks 

 forward with pleasure to a union with the Eeformed 

 Church in America that may be accomplished on a 

 basis satisfactory to both Churches. Relieving the 

 time to be at hand when negotiations looking to this 

 end should be initiated, it is resolved by the General 

 Synod to appoint a committee of three from each of 

 the five synods comprising the General Synod, who 

 shall confer with a like committee of the Eeformed 

 Church of America on the proposed union between 

 that Church and our own, and report the results of 

 their conference to the General Synod at the next 

 meeting. 



The several synods were directed to ap- 

 point the committees named in this resolution 

 at their next annual meetings. The Board of 

 Foreign Missions were instructed to select and 



take charge of a suitable foreign field at as 

 early a day as possible. The pastors and con- 

 gregations were advised to cooperate with the 

 German Evangelical Missionary Society of 

 New York, and to pay to it the interest of the 

 foreign mission funds in their hands, until the 

 Church is prepared to commence a mission of 

 its own. A correspondence is to be opened 

 with the Board of Foreign Missions of the Ee- 

 formed Church in America with a view of 

 making arrangements for sending a mission- 

 ary from this Church to India or China, who 

 shall labor in sympathy with the missionaries 

 of that Board already in the field. The Board 

 of Home Missions reported that there were 

 under their charge 76 missions, scattered over 

 seventeen States ; 41 missions were west of 

 the Alleghany Mountains. The appropria- 

 tions for the year were $15,000. Eight mis- 

 sions had become self-supporting during the 

 year. The number of congregations in the 

 missions was 125 ; of members, 7,000 ; of Sun- 

 day-schools, 160; of scholars, 4,000. The 

 committee on the state of the Church pre- 

 sented a report, in which they made especial 

 remark upon its steady progress and growth 

 since the previous meeting of the General 

 Synod : 



The number of ministers has grown from 526 to 

 586, a net increase of 60; the number of classes 

 from 31 to 34, an increase of 3 ; the congregations 

 from 1,179 to 1,312, an increase of 133 ; the member- 

 ship from 117,910 to 130,299, an increase of 12,389 ; 

 the additions by certificate and confirmation from 

 28,962 to 32,809, an increase of 3,874 ; and the con- 

 tributions from $228,817.94, the sum total for the 

 three years ending with November, 1869, to $247,- 

 386.12, the sum total for the three years ending ia 

 1872, the increase being $18,568.18. 



The report refers also, in the following 

 terms, to the diiferences of sentiment concern- 

 ing the forms of worship, and some points of 

 doctrine, which prevail within the Church : 



That there are two tendencies was distinctly rec- 

 ognized by the General Synod of Philadelphia. 

 This division of sentiment has ripened into antag- 

 onism, the adherence of one tendency being arrayed 

 in their practical church-work directly against the 

 adherents of the opposite tendency. While the 

 present state of things exists, there can be no unity, 

 peace, and concord. Instead of concentrating our 

 energies in the way of harmonious action against 

 the common foe 2 much of our time and strength is 

 expended in maintaining the conflict within our own 

 organization, and in seeking to achieve victory over 

 the other. What is to be done The status is ab- 

 normal. We do not report it in order to attempt to 

 solve the problem, but simply as a matter of fact. 



III. EEFORMED CIITJECH or FEANCE. The 

 last meeting of the Eeformed Synod of France, 

 previous to that of 1872, was held in 1659, 

 when King Louis XIV. sent a communication 

 to the body demanding its permanent disso- 

 lution. It is said that he assigned, as a reason 

 for his order, that the synod " cost the state 

 too much money, and wasted too much of the 

 time of its ministers." The Government Lad 

 never granted permission since to hold another 

 synod until 1872. Napoleon III. professed an 



