ARTICLE XXIX.

RESUMPTION AND CLOSE.

The proceedings of each day were read and approved; whereupon, the Rev. Assembly was concluded by the President with thanksgivings to God for assistance and blessings granted, and separated in love and peace. Q. T.

DIRCK ROMEYN, p. t. Prases.
NICOLAS LANSINGH, p. t. Scriba.

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE REVEREND SYNOD OF REFORMED DUTCH CHURCHES IN NORTH AMERICA, HELD IN NEW YORK, OCTOBER 5TH, AND FOLLOWING DAYS, IN THE YEAR 1790.

ARTICLE I.

OPENING OF THE REVEREND BODY.

The Rev. Brethren having under favorable circumstances arrived, the Rev. Body was opened with earnest prayers to God by the Rev. Mr. Dirck Romeyn, S. S. Th. D., as President of the last Synod.

ARTICLE II.

MEMBERS OF THE REVEREND BODY.

From credentials presented, there were found to be delegated to the Rev. Synod:

From the Rev. Classis of New York.-Drs. Jno. H. Livingston, S. S. Th. D. et V. D. M. at New York, and Petrus Low, V. D. M. in Kings County; Secundi, Dr. Mart. Schoonmaker, V. D. M. in Kings County, and Dr. Gerardus M. Kuypers, V. D. M. at New York. Elders, Francis Basset, Joost Duryee; Secundi, Will. Gilbert and Abr. Voorhees.

From the Rev. Classis of Kingston.-Drs. Is. Blauvelt, V. D. M. at Fishkill, and Moses Fröligh, V. D. M. at Shawangunk, &c. Secundi, Drs. Stephanus Goetschius, V. D. M. at New Paltz, and Petrus De Witt, V. D. M. at Rhinebeck, &c. Elders-Henry Van Weyen and Peter Tappen; Secundi, Dan. Graham and Jno. Jansen.

From the Rev. Classis of Albany.-Drs. Dirck Romeyn, S. S. Th. D. et V. D. M. at Schenectady, and Jeremiah Romeyn, V. D. M. at Manor of Livingston. Elders-Nicolas Veder and Peter Smith.

From the Rev. Classis of Hackensack.-Drs. Henricus Schoonmaker, V. D. M. at Aquackononck, and Petrus Leydt, V. D. M. at Panne,

&c. Secundus, Dr. Sol. Fröligh, V. D. M. at Hackensack, &c. Elders-John Haring and Thomas Post. Secundus, Resolvert Van Houten.

From the Rev. Classis of New Brunswick.-Drs. J. R. Hardenbergh, S. S. Th. D. et V. D. M. at New Brunswick, and Elias Van Bunschoten, V. D. M. at Minisink. Secundi, Drs. Benjamin Du Bois, V. D. M. at Freehold, &c., and Jno. Duryee, V. D. M. at Raritan, &c. Elders-Christopher Hoagland and Reynier Smock.

From those delegated there were found present:

From the Rev. Classis of New York.-Drs. Jno. H. Livingston and Petrus Low. Elders, Francis Basset and Joost Duryee.

From the Rev. Classis of Kingston.-Drs. Is. Blauvelt and Moses Fröligh. Elder, Henry Van Weyen.

From the Rev. Classis of Albany.-Drs. D. Romeyn and Jer. Romeyn Elders, Nich. Veder and Peter Smith.

From the Rev. Classis of Hackensack.-Drs. Hen. Schoonmaker and Petrus Leydt. Elders, Jno. Haring and Th. Post.

From the Rev. Classis of New Brunswick.-Drs. El. Van Bunschoten and Jno. Duryee. Elders, Reynier Smock and Christopher Hoagland.

ARTICLE III. AD III.

MODERATORES.

As Moderators were chosen-Dr. Is. Blauvelt, President; Dr. Moses Fröligh, Clerk; Dr. Petrus Low, Clerk Secundus.

ARTICLE IV. AD IV.

DEPUTATI SYNODI.

The Rev. Deputati Synodi, Dirck Romeyn and Sol. Fröligh, were waited upon and escorted into the Body by the Clerks. The Rev. Mr. Dirck Romeyn, as retiring Deputatus, hereupon delivered a highly suitable discourse upon Rev. 2: 10, for which the Rev. Body heartily thanked him.

ARTICLE V.

AD V.

READING OF MINUTES.

The proceedings of the last meeting were read.

ARTICLE VI. AD VI.

CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE CHURCH OF HOLLAND.

No letter from the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam nor Acts of the Rev.

Synod of North Holland have been received. The Rev. Synod are greatly surprised at this long delay, not comprehending what can be the reason thereof, except that our letters and acts have not been received. The Synod, not being inclined to break off the correspondence, desire the Deputati to prepare a letter of inquiry to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, and lay it before this Synod for approval.

ARTICLE VII. AD VII.

FORM OF CALLS.

The committee upon this subject brought to this table the form of a call, which being read and approved, was delivered by the Rev. Synod to the Committee on Church Order, to be placed by them among the Rules of our Church Government.

ARTICLE VIII. AD VIII.

CHURCH VISITATION.

As regards the visitation of the churches, this subject was, after consideration, given over to the particular care and attention of the Committee on Church Order, to draw up a plan, setting forth the manner in which the same could be most suitably and uniformly carried forward in all the congregations.

ARTICLE IX. AD IX.

LICENTIATES AND VACANT CONGREGATIONS.

All the Classes have this subject in Actis.

ARTICLE X. AD X.

PRESENTATION OF LICENTIATES AND STUDENTS.

The licentiate, John Demarest, presented a call made upon him by the united congregations of Niskayuna and the Boght; and Abr. Van Horne, a call made upon him by the united congregations of Rochester, Wawarsing, and Marbletown, both making request for the approval of the same. After suitable consideration, these calls were approved by the Rev. Synod, although on this condition, relative to the call of Mr. Van Horne, that before his ordination take place, the Consistories of the aforesaid congregations shall acknowledge themselves, with their

congregations, as standing in an ecclesiastical relation to the Rev. Synod, by signing an instrument which shall be drawn up for the purpose. Hereupon, the time for their examination was fixed on Thursday, at 10 o'clock, a. m.

Also, Messrs. Nicholas Van Vranken, Andrew Gray, and Joannes Jackson, students of Sacred Theology, presented honorable certificates, both academical and ecclesiastical, and requested to be admitted to the preparatory examination.. The Rev. Synod, having carefully examined their certificates, granted their request, and appointed the time for their examination to-morrow, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

A call made upon the Rev. Mr. Is. Blauvelt, V. D. M. at Fishkill and Hopewell, by the united congregations of Paramus and Saddle River, was also presented, with a desire for its approval. This call being found in forma, was approved by the Rev. Synod, according to request.

ARTICLE XI. AD XI.

PROFESSORSHIP.

The Rev. Synod decide, for weighty reasons, that the power granted by a former resolution to the respective Classes to permit students to pursue their theological studies under the care of one or more particular ministers, shall henceforth pertain to this Rev. Body.

ARTICLE XII. AD XII.

REGULATION RESPECTING STUDIES.

It was proposed, that in future, instead of conforming to the rule pre'viously established on this subject, the students who desire to present themselves in order to enter upon the study of Sacred Theology, shall be first examined by a committee from this Synod in the studies which are usually taught in the academies, and if they are thought competent, be provided with a testimonial to that effect. The Professor and Lector, with the Deputati Synodi, or any three of them, are appointed a standing committee for the purpose.

ARTICLE XIII. AD XIII.

PREACHING OF STUDENTS.

This regulation is continued, and those Classes which do not have it in their Acts are directed to insert it.