ACTS

OF THE GENERAL SYNOD OF THE REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA, CONVENED AT ALBANY, JUNE 3RD, 1806.

The General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the United States of America met according to adjournment, in the city of Albany, on the 3rd, and following days of June, 1806, and was opened with prayer by Dr. Livingston, President of the last Synod.

From the credentials produced, it appeared that the following persons were duly delegated as members, and they took their seats accordingly, viz.:

FROM THE PARTICULAR SYNOD OF NEW YORK.

From the Classis of New York.-Rev. Dr. John H. Livingston and Rev. Gerardus A. Kuypers. John J. Westervelt, Elder

From the Classis of New Brunswick.-Rev. Messrs. John S. Vredenburgh and Ira Condict. William Van Deusen and Peter Schamp, Elders.

From the Classis of Bergen.-Rev. Messrs. James V. C. Romeyn and John Cornelison. John Demarest and John G. Vreeland, Elders. From the Classis of Paramus.-Rev. Nicholas Lansing. Messrs. Resolvert Van Houten and Garret Duryee, Elders.

From the Classis of Poughkeepsie.-Rev. Jeremiah Romeyn.

FROM THE PARTICULAR SYNOD OF ALBANY.

From the Classis of Albany.-Rev. Messrs. John M. Bradford and Henry Ostrander.

From the Classis of Ulster.-Rev. Messrs. Moses Fröligh and Thomas G. Smith. Messrs. Daniel Broadhead and Ab'm Snyder, Elders.

From the Classis of Rensselaer.-Rev. Messrs. Peter D. Fröligh and Christian Bork. Mr. John Van Woert, Elder.

From the Classis of Montgomery.-Rev. Isaac Labagh. Mr. John M. Brown, Elder.

The brethren of the Presbyterian and Dutch churches who were present, were invited to sit as advisory and corresponding members.

MODERATORS.

Synod proceeded to choose their officers by ballot, when it appeared that the following were chosen: Rev. James V. C. Romeyn, President; Rev. Thomas G. Smith, Adsessor; Rev. Isaac Labagh and John M. Bradford, Clerks.

MINUTES.

The minutes of the last General Synod were taken up and read in part, when Synod adjourned till 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. Concluded with prayer.

WEDNESDAY, June 4th.

Synod met according to adjournment, and was opened with prayer. Messrs. Jacob Snell and John N. Bleecker appeared on the floor of Synod, and took their seats. The Clerk finished reading the minutes of the last General Synod.

RULES.

The rules for the government of Synod in their proceedings were read.

SYNODICAL SERMON.

The Synodical sermon was preached last evening by Rev. Dr. Livingston, President of the last session, from Rom. 10: 14, 15: "How shall they," &c.

Resolved, That the committee appointed at the last session of this Synod to revise and amend the rules for the government of this body be ordered to report during the present session.

Rev. Conrad Ten Eyck, from the Classis of Montgomery, appeared and took his seat.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES.

The following were appointed, viz.:

On Missions.-Rev. Messrs. Moses Fröligh, John Cornelison, Henry Ostrander, Gerardus A. Kuypers, and the Elder, Garret Duryea; and were ordered to take up and investigate all the papers relative to missionary business, and report thereon stante Synodo.

On the Professorate.-Messrs. Christian Bork, Jeremiah Romeyn,

Isaac Labagh, Ira Condict, and the Elder, John N. Bleecker; and ordered to report as soon as practicable during the present session.

On Correspondence.-Rev. Messrs. Thomas G. Smith, Peter D. Fröligh, and Nicholas Lansing; and ordered to report stante Synodo.

On the Minutes of the Particular Synods.-Rev. Messrs. Conrad Ten Eyck, Moses Fröligh, John S. Vredenburgh, and the Elder, William Van Deusen; and ordered to examine the minutes aforesaid, and report whatever they may deem worthy the attention of Synod.

On Gravamina.-Rev. Messrs. Ira Condict, Gerardus A. Kuypers, and John M. Bradford; and ordered to report stante Synodo.

Adjourned till 3 o'clock, P. м.

Concluded with prayer.

Synod met, and was opened with prayer.

3 o'clock, P. M.

Mr. Van Houten obtained leave of absence during the session.

PROFESSORATE.

The Committee on the Professorate brought in the following report, which was read, and made the order of the day for to-morrow:

The Committee on the Professorate beg leave to make to General Synod the following report:

Your committee, impressed with the solemnity and importance of the subject submitted to them, have given it the consideration which the magnitude of the object, as it respects both the best interests and the good faith of the Church, demanded.

Your committee conceive that there can be no difference of opinion respecting, nor any disposition to alter or in any wise depart from, the measures hitherto adopted, as far as they respect the office and the present incumbents, as both are considered under the provisions and safeguard of the constitution. They therefore recommend a steady perseverance in those measures.

They do further recommend the appointment by this Synod of an additional professor or professors for the benefit and convenience of the northern part of our Zion, which is under the auspices of the Synod of Albany.

And, in addition to the plan submitted by the committee of the last General Synod on this subject to the Particular Synod, to which your committee beg leave to refer your Rev. Body, your committee would further recommend that an appointment be made by this Synod of a number of ministers, so distributed throughout the various sections of

the Church as this Synod may think most convenient and practicable, to solicit donations from individuals for this desirable object; and in order to facilitate the attainment of this end, that the minister appointed shall duly notify the several congregations in the district for which he is appointed, of his appointment, and shall, at the time and place specified in his notification, preach and adapt his sermon to the objects embraced by this report; and after sermon, shall open a subscription for the special and exclusive object of the proposed fund. All which is humbly submitted.

(Signed,)

CHRISTIAN BORK, Chairman.

CORRESPONDENCE.

The Committee on Correspondence made the following report, which was adopted:

The committee report,

1st. That the Particular Synod of New York have transmitted an authentic copy of their acts to the Synod of North Holland, but have not received any communication.

2nd. That they learn that the correspondence with the German Church in the United States has been continued on the part of this body. An attested copy of the acts and proceedings of General Synod for this purpose has been forwarded to their highest judicatory, but no intelligence has been received from them since.

(Signed,) THO. G. SMITH, Chairman.

SYNODICAL MINUTES.

The Committee on Synodical Minutes brought in the following report, viz.:

That they find the following particulars on the minutes of the Particular Synods, which are presented for the consideration of this Synod, viz.:

1st. On the minutes of the Particular Synod of Albany, at an extra session held at the city of Albany, October, 1804, we find an appeal from their decision by certain members of the Classis of Albany in behalf of said Classis.

2nd. On the minutes of said Synod, held at Kinderhook, October, 1805, we find an appeal of Rev. Petrus Van Vlierden from their decis ion on an appeal brought by said Van Vlierden from the proceedings of the Classis of Ulster.

3rd. On the said minutes we also find the following question, viz.: What are the powers of the Deputati Synodi ?

4th. On the minutes of said Synod, held at Schenectady, we find a sentiment of the following import, viz.: That no supreme judicature can in any case express an opinion unfavorable to the proceedings of a lower judicature, unless regularly brought before them by appeal or reference. Although your committee do not view it as directly connected with the object of their appointment, yet they beg leave to suggest the propriety of inquiring into the tendency of such a principle.

We find on the minutes of the Particular Synod of New York, of May, 1806, instructions to their delegates to call the attention of this Synod to the establishment of some particular regulations for the admission of ministers of other denominations into the Dutch Church.

(Signed,)

CONRAD TEN EYCK, Chairman.

The committee appointed on Gravamina made a report, which, after some deliberation, was recommitted, and the committee ordered to report again as soon as practicable.

RULES OF SYNOD.

The committee appointed to revise and amend the rules for the government of this Synod report:

That no amendment of the rules adopted in 1800 appears to them to be necessary, except in the first and second rules; which amendment is occasioned by the different Constitution of the General Synod then and at the present time. They beg leave to recommend the first rule to stand thus:

At every stated meeting of the Synod a sermon shall be preached by the last President, either before his opening the session with prayer, or at some time afterwards, which the Synod shall deem most convenient. If the last President and the Adsessor be absent, the eldest minister present shall take his place, and perform the above duties.

The second rule to stand thus:

The President and an Adsessor shall be elected by ballot. Two Clerks shall be elected by the same ballot, and in the same manner. JEREMIAH ROMEYN, Chairman.

(Signed,)

Resolved, That the first, second, and fourth rules for the government of the proceedings of this Synod be expunged from the minutes. Adjourned, to meet to-morrow morning, at 9 o'clock.

Concluded with prayer.