Body determine to appoint a committee both for the congregations in the State of New York and those in New Jersey, to solicit of the Supreme Magistrates of the respective States the right and privilege, by means of an Act, or change of Act or Acts already passed, to incorporate the Ecclesiastical Societies of the same according to the State and Constitution of the Reformed Dutch Churches, and agreeably to the manner and mode in which some of the same, as those of New York and Albany, Hackensack, New Millstone and others, have already been long actually incorporated. As the committee are appointed, Dr. Eilardus Westerlo, Doct, and Prof. J. H. Livingston, Dr. Is. Blauvelt, Dr. D. Romeyn, and Dr. J. R. Hardenbergh, for the State of New York; Drs. Hermanus Meyer, Solomon Frölich, and Simon Van Arsdalen, for New Jersey. The Rev. Committee are directed to avail themselves of all such means for obtaining the end as they shall judge serviceable thereto.

ARTICLE XVI.

Ad XII. Ordinary, et VI. Extra Meeting.

FRATERNAL CORRESPONDENCE.

The commissioners report that they met the committees of the other two mentioned Synods, and, with them, formed certain rules for the maintenance of mutual correspondence; but, since the minutes of said meeting are not yet drawn, they cannot make a particular report. The commission is continued until the next Synod, and a copy of their Minutes, as well as of those of the Synod, shall be furnished to the respective Classes as soon as possible, at the expense of Synod.

ARTICLE XVII.

Ad VII., Extra Meeting, 1775.

WIDOWS' FUND.

The Rev. Body again take up this weighty subject, and will hereafter endeavor to reduce it to practice.

ARTICLE XVIII.

ENGLISH PSALMS.

The Rev. Body judge, that since in many of our congregations Divine service must be performed in the English language, it will be

necessary hereafter to make some regulations upon this subject, but defer the same for the present.

ARTICLE XIX.

Ad VI., Ordinary Meeting, 1783.

CAUTION FOR THE PRESERVATION OF GOOD order and MORALS.

The Rev. Classis of New Brunswick have this subject in their proceedings, and seem to have done justice to it; all the remaining Classes are directed to keep this in Actis.

ARTICLE XX. AD XXIX.

DEPUTATI.

Dr. Hermanus Meyer is appointed as Deputatus Synodi, in place of Dr. J. R. Hardenbergh, whose term expires.

ARTICLE XXI.

QUESTORSHIP.

Dr. Hermanus Meyer, in a communication placed upon the table of the Rev. Body, gave an account of his Questorship, which having been examined, was approved, and he thanked for his services.

ARTICLE XXII. AD XXX.

RESUMPTION OF ACTS.

Proceedings of each day were read and approved.

ARTICLE XXIII.

NEXT PLACE OF MEETING.

Next yearly Synod shall be held at New York.

ARTICLE XXIV.

PARTING.

After hearty thanksgivings to God for help and assistance granted, the Rev. Brethren separated in love and peace.

Q. T.

EILARDUS WESTERLO, p. t. Prases.

SOLOMON FRÖLICH, p. t. Scriba.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE REVEREND CHRISTIAN SYNOD OF DUTCH REFORMED CHURCHES RESORTING IN THE STATES OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, held AT NEW YORK, OCTOBER 3RD, AND FOLLOWING DAYS, IN THE YEAR 1786.

ARTICLE I.

OPENING OF THE BODY.

The Rev. Brethren having arrived in sufficient numbers, and being assembled in the Consistory Room, the Rev. Body was opened by the Rev. Mr. Eilardus Westerlo, D.D., as last President, with a serious and earnest prayer to God for help and assistance.

ARTICLE II.

DELEGATES TO THE REVEREND BODY.

From credentials presented, it appeared that there were delegated to this Rev. Body:

From the Rev. Classis of New York.-Drs. Reynier Van Nest, V. D. M. in Queens County, and Stephen Voorhees, V. D. M. in Phillipsburgh, &c., with Messrs. Jerem. Remsen and Gerrit Abeel, Elders.

From the Rev. Classis of New Brunswick.-Drs. J. R. Hardenbergh, V. D. M. at New Brunswick, and Benj. Du Bois, V. D. M. at Freehold, with Messrs. Christian Hoagland and Corn. Metselaar, Elders.

From the Rev. Classis of Hackensack.-Drs. Henricus Schoonmaker, V. D. M. at Aquackononck, and Nicolas Lansingh, V. D. M. at Tappan, &c., with Messrs. Jo. E. Vreeland and Resolvert Van Houten, Elders.

From the Rev. Classis of Kingston.-Drs. Is. Rysdyk, V. D. M. at Fishkill, &c., and Stephen Goetschius, V. D. M. at New Paltz; and as Secundus, Dr. Is. Blauvelt, V. D. M. at Fishkill, &c., with Messrs. Jac. Swartwoud and Andr. Rosa, Elders.

From the Rev. Classis of Albany.-Drs. Eilardus Westerlo, S. Theol. D., V. D. M. at Albany, and D. Romeyn, V. D. M. at Schenectady, with Henry Quackenbos and Jo. Roseboom, Elders.

ARTICLE III.

The Moderators chosen were-Dr. J. R. Hardenbergh, Prases; Dr. Benj. Du Bois, Scriba; Dr. Reyn. Van Nest, Secundus; Dr. Dirck Romeyn, Acting Questor.

The Deputati Synodi, Joannes H. Livingston and Hermanus Meyer, were waited upon and escorted into the meeting by the two Clerks; whereupon, an able and animating discourse was delivered in the Old Church by the Rev. Prof., Mr. Jno. H. Livingston, as retiring Deputatus of this Rev. Body, from Zach. 3: 6, 7, for which the President thanked him in the name of this Rev. Body.

ARTICLE V.

READING OF THE MINUTES.

The minutes of the last Synod were read.

ARTICLE VI.

LETTER OF THE REVEREND CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.

There was delivered at the table of this Body, by the Deputatus, J. H. Livingston, a letter from the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, of the 10th January, of this year, with the Acts of the Synod of North Holland, of the years 1784 and 1785. The Rev. Body rejoice in the highest degree in this new token of unbroken union and edifying fellowship, and return their thanks to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam for their continued fraternal care in transmitting the above-mentioned Synodical Acts.

ARTICLE VII.

PRESENTATION OF CALL.

The Rev. Joannes Duryee, S. Min. Cand., appeared, presenting at the table a call made upon him by the congregations at Raritan, &c., and desiring to be admitted to the final examination. The call

being examined, was found in form and approved, and the time for the examination fixed upon the coming Thursday, at 10 o'clock, A. M.

Hackensack and New Brunswick seem already for several years to have discharged this duty. Kingston has not yet been able to bring it into operation. That of Albany has in like manner effected nothing herein, though they have directed their Rev. Visitors to perform it at the earliest possible time.

ARTICLE IX. AD VI.

LICENTIATES AND VACANT CONGREGATIONS.

All the Rev. Classes have this subject in Actis.

ARTICLE X.

PRESENTATION OF A STUDENT.

Mr. J. M. Van Harlingen, S. Th. Stud., appeared, requesting to be admitted to the preparatory examination, and presenting for this purpose his documents; which having been found by the Rev. Body complete, his request was granted, and the time for the examination fixed for Thursday, 10 o'clock, A. M.

ARTICLE XI. AD VII.

PROFESSORSHIP.

Seeing the cost of carrying on the study of Theology under the Rev. Professor in the city of New York is yearly considerably greater than it would be in the country, and some students in these our critical times, on account of the expense inevitably to be incurred in the pursuit of the preparatory studies, find it difficult to meet those higher charges; and, consequently, said students for the most part pursue their theological studies under one and another of the ministers of our communion: therefore, the Rev. Body, having taken the foregoing into calm and mature consideration, are unanimously of opinion, that ministers, however competent otherwise to give theological instruction, are ordinarily so engrossed by parochial cares, that it is not to be supposed that they can give the requisite attention to such students; that