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Th. D., in the place of the Professor, Mr. J. H. Livingston, whose

term expires.

ARTICLE XXVII. AD XXI.

QUÆSTORSHIP.

In relation to this Lemma, nothing came up.

ARTICLE XXVIII. AD XXIII.

EXTRA MEETING.

From circumstances which have occurred, the Rev. Synod judge it necessary to meet at this place in Extra Session, on the first Tuesday of the coming May, 1787.

ARTICLE XXIX. AD XXII.

RESUMPTION.

The proceedings of this Body were read and approved.

ARTICLE XXX. AD XXIII.

CENSURA MORUM.

The members of the Rev. Body have conducted blamelessly throughout the whole Session.

ARTICLE XXXI. AD XXIV.

PARTING.

Finally, this Rev. Ecclesiastical Assembly, having been concluded by the President with hearty thanksgivings to God for assistance and blessing granted, separated in love and peace.

Q. T.

J. R. HARDENBERGH, Prases.

BENJ. DU BOIS, Scriba.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE REVEREND CHRISTIAN SYNOD OF THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCHES RESORTING IN THE STATES OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY, ASSEMBLED IN EXTRA SESSION AT NEW YORK, 1ST MAY, AND FOLLOWING DAYS, 1787, ACCORDING TO THE DECREE OF THE LAST ORDINARY SYNOD, ARTICLE XXVIII.

ARTICLE I.

OPENING OF THE REVEREND BODY.

Some of the Rev. Brethren having arrived, and assembled in the Consistory Room, (the President, Dr. J. R. Hardenbergh, being as yet absent,) the Rev. Body was opened with a solemn and earnest prayer by the Clerk, Benj. Du Bois.

ARTICLE II.

MEMBERS PRESENT.

After the opening of the Meeting, the President, Mr. J. R. Hardenbergh, and the Rev. Mr. Eilardus Westerlo, S. Th. D., having arrived on the second day, the Rev. Body was found to. consist of the following members:

From the Rev. Classis of New Brunswick.-Dr. Jacobus R. Hardenbergh, V. D. M. at New Brunswick, and Dr. Benj. Du Bois, V. D. M. at Freehold, &c., with Messrs. Chr. Hogeland and Math. Harrison, in place of Corn. Metselaar, Elder.

From the Rev. Classis of New York.-Dr. Reynier Van Nest, V. D. M. in Queens County, with Mr. Jeremiah Remse, Elder.

From the Rev. Classis of Hackensack.-Dr. Henricus Schoonmaker, V. D. M. at Aquackononck, and Dr. Nicolas Lansingh, V. D. M. at Tappan, &c., with Jno. E. Vreeland, Elder.

From the Rev. Classis of Kingston.-Dr. Is. Blauvelt, V. D. M. at Fishkill, &c.

From the Rev. Classis of Albany-Dr. Eilardus Westerlo, S. Th. D., V. D. M. at Albany, and Deputatus Synodi.

Also appeared in the Rev. Body the Rev. Mr. Hermanus Meyer, Deputatus Synodi.

ARTICLE III.

DIRECTORS.

Since this Body consists of members of the last Ordinary Synod, the same Directors are continued.

ARTICLE IV.

READING OF THE MINUTES.

The proceedings of the last Synod were read.

ARTICLE V.

APPROVAL OF CALLS.

A call was presented, made by the Dutch Churches of Six Mile Run and N. Millstone, upon Mr. Jno. M. Van Harlingen, S. Min. Cand., which being found in form, was approved. And since an Act of the last Synod relative to the approval of a call has been omitted in the minutes, it is ordained that the same be incorporated in these proceedings, reading as follows:

"A call made by the Dutch Reformed Congregation of the City of New York, upon Dr. William Linn, at present worthy minister of the Word of God in the Presbyterian Church of Elizabeth Town, having been presented, was found in form and approved, but on this positive condition, that the Rev. Mr. Linn shall with his own hand subscribe all our standards, which are subscribed by the ministers in our Reformed Churches, before he can be received into our ecclesiastical communion."

The Rev. Mr. E. Westerlo further on this occasion reported to the Rev. Body, that Dr. William Linn, called minister to New York, in his presence, subscribed the standards according to the Form* appointed for the purpose, and that his own signature as Deputatus Synodi was countersigned upon the call of said congregation.

Post Acta Syn. Dord., 1618, 1619, Sess. 164, Friday, 18th May, P. M., (latter part.)

ARTICLE VI.

PRESENTATION OF LICENTIATE AND STUDENTS.

Mr. Jno. M. Van Harlingen appeared, candidate for the Sacred Ministry, desiring to be admitted to the final examination, as also Messrs. Peter Low and Peter Studdeford, students of Sacred Theology, presenting their documents and desiring to be admitted to the preparatory examination. The request of these gentlemen being granted, the time for the examination was fixed upon Wednesday afternoon, at 3 o'clock.

ARTICLE VII.

FORM OF CALL

Since the Rev. Synod notice that some calls which are presented at this table do not specifically express the subordination of the congregations calling the ministers, and of the ministers called, to the established Classical and Synodic Bodies, which is yet, for weighty reasons, and especially the observance of uniformity in the calls, judged highly necessary, the Rev. Synod decree, that a commission be appointed to frame a general Form for calls, and present it to the next Synod, in accordance with which, when approved, calls shall hereafter be framed. As members of this commission the Rev. Messrs. Eilardus Westerlo, J. H. Livingston, and Hermanus Meyer are appointed.

ARTICLE VIII. AD XIII.

FRATERNAL CORRESPONDENCE.

The Deputati state that, by insurmountable obstacles, they have been prevented from securing copies of the proceedings of the committees of the other Synods, and have therefore been unable to furnish them to the respective Classes; but that they will endeavor, if possible, to effect this object before the next Ordinary Meeting.

ARTICLE IX. AD XVI.

VISITATORES AND APPROBATION OF BOOKS.

There was presented by the very learned Mr. Hermanus Meyer, Lector and Deputatus Synodi, a manuscript composed by himself, being a treatise upon Holy Baptism, for the examination and approval of the Rev. Synod; for which purpose the Rev. Messrs. J. H. Livingston, S. Th. D., et Prof. Eil. Westerlo, S. Th. D., and Henricus Schoonmaker, V. D. M. at Aquackononck, were appointed visitatores.

ARTICLE X.

FUNDS.

This subject, although of great weight, is, by reason of circumstances, deferred.

ARTICLE XI. AD XVIII.

LETTER FROM KINGS COUNTY.

In behalf of the Rev. Classis of New York, it was reported, that at an Extra Meeting of Classis held at New York upon the 2nd November, 1786, the directions of the last Synod in relation to declaring Dr. Van Sinderen, in Kings County, Emeritus, and the dismission of Dr. De Ronde, were complied with. The Acts of said Classis in relation to these subjects were read, and the Classical approbation appearing therefrom, the Rev. Synod rest herein, and regard the subject dismissed.

ARTICLE XII.

EXAMINATION.

Messrs. J. M. Van Harlingen, S. Min. Cand., with Peter Low and Peter Studdeford, students of Sacred Theology, presented well-composed and agreeable exercises upon the trial texts assigned them, which were listened to with pleasure by the Rev. Body. These gentlemen were afterwards carefully examined by the Deputati Synodi in the sacred languages and principal branches of Sacred Theology, which afforded such general satisfaction to the Rev. Body, that they unhesitatingly admitted the licentiate, Mr. Van Harlingen, to the preaching of the holy Gospel and the ministry of the sacred seals of the Covenant; as likewise, received Messrs. Low and Studdeford among the licentiates; and the Clerk was directed to furnish each of the aforesaid gentlemen with an appropriate testimonial. Messrs. J. R. Hardenbergh, Van Harlingen and Duryee, were appointed solemnly to ordain Mr. Van Harlingen in his office, and the time therefor was left to their own determination.

ARTICLE XIII. AD I.

INCORPORATION OF CHURCHES.

The Rev. Synod, having learned from the Rev. Prof. J. H. Livingston, that there has already been presented to the supreme authority of the State of New York a petition for the incorporation of Consistories as Trustees of the property of the churches, in accordance with the

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