them in the pledge given by the parents to pray for them and to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and is bound to extend her inspection to all the sources of their instruction—the family, the school, and the house of God. So far as your committee have had it in their power to examine, they find that this constitution was recognized in the days of apostolic purity, adopted by the churches of Geneva, France, and Holland, and fully acted upon by the Belgic churches, and expressly recognized by the constitution and explanation thereof by our Reformed churches in America. In conformity to this, it was expressly decreed by the last Synod of Dort, in session 17, that there should be observed a threefold method of catechising, viz.: 1. Domestic, by parents. 2. Scholastic, by schoolmasters. 3. Ecclesiastical, by pastors, elders, readers, or visitors of the sick. And that all whose duty it is to visit and inspect the churches and schools, shall be admonished to make this the first object of their care. To carry this plan into effect so far as respects the second method of instruction, there was made another decree, which comprises the following resolutions: 1. Schools for the education of children and youth shall be established wherever they may be found necessary. 2. Provision shall be made for procuring and maintaining suitable teachers. 3. The children of the poor must be provided for in their schools, or in others expressly for them. 4. No person shall be appointed to the charge of these schools who is not a member of the Reformed Church, furnished with testimonials of his orthodoxy and good morals, and who shall not previously have subscribed the Confession of Faith, the Belgic Catechism, and solemnly promised to instruct the children committed to his care in the principles contained in the Church Standard. 5. They shall, according to the age or capacity of the children, employ two half days in every week, not only in hearing them repeat, but in assisting them to understand their catechism; shall examine them frequently, inculcate upon them the necessity of regular attendance upon the ordinances of religion, accompany them to these ordinances, and promote their benefit from them. 6. To promote fidelity in the teachers and progress in the children, it shall be the duty of the pastors and elders frequently to visit these schools, to direct and encourage the teachers in the method of catechising, to examine the children with mild severity, and to excite them to industry and piety by holy exhortations, by commendations and suitable remarks. Such is the construction which our forefathers put upon the constitution of the Church of Christ; and we must be at a loss whether more to admire their wisdom and fidelity, or to lament our languor and degeneracy in this point. A close adherence to a system like this, so far as means are connected with their end, is calculated to raise the visible Church to as high perfection as this earth admits. It is the system of complete organization which promotes the unity, forms, while it preserves, the habits, combines the efforts, increases the strength, and pours moral health into the fountains of society. In the neglect of this system, it is impossible that any society can so fully preserve the spirit of the body, and preserve its infant members from corruption, indifference, or alienation. Whilst, therefore, it may be dif ficult to carry it into effect, it is surely worthy of the attempt, and your committee would recommend the following resolutions: 1. That it be recommended to each Consistory to divide the congregation into as many districts as there may be schools required, and that respectable and influential men be associated under the direction of the Consistory, as trustees for the school, in each district. 2. That it shall be the duty of these trustees to look out for suitable schoolmasters, and examine the qualifications of such as may apply, and take all proper measures to provide such support and accommodations as will secure for these stations men of sound principles and competent attainments. 3. That the trustees, or a committee of them, visit the school of their district once every month, to carry into effect, as far as circumstances will permit, the sixth article in the preamble to this report, and that they be particularly careful to engage the teacher to instruct his pupils in the doctrines of the Reformation, confining the children of the Reformed Church to their own standard. 4. That the pastor of the congregation be ex officio chairman of each district committee, when he may find it convenient to attend; and that he visit the several district schools in rotation, as frequently as possible; and that at their first meeting they choose a chairman for one year, whose duty it shall be to call them together as often as circumstances require, and to pay special attention to the monthly visitation. EXTRAORDINARY SESSION. Resolved, That if an extraordinary session of Synod should be called before the next ordinary meeting, it be holden in the city of New York. ADJOURNMENT. Resolved, That this Synod do now adjourn, to meet again in the city of Albany, on the first Tuesday in June, 1812. The minutes being read and approved, the Synod was concluded with prayer by the President. NICHOLAS LANSING, President p. t. CORN. D. WESTBROOK, } Clerks. True copy. Attest: JAMES V. C. ROMEYN, Stated Clerk. ACTS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE GENERAL SYNOD OF THE REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA, CONVENED IN THE CITY OF ALBANY, JUNE 2ND, AND FOLLOWING DAYS, IN THE YEAR 1812. MEMBERS PRESENT. FROM THE PARTICULAR SYNOD OF NEW YORK. From the Classis of New York.-The Rev. Messrs. John Schureman and Christian Bork. Elders.-Messrs. Isaac L. Kip and Peter H. Wendover. From the Classis of Bergen.-The Rev. James V. C. Romeyn. From the Classis of Paramus.-The Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge. From the Classis of New Brunswick.-The Rev. James S. Cannon and John L. Zabriskie. The Elder, Peter Wyckoff. From the Classis of Poughkeepsie.-The Rev. Cornelius C. Cuyler and Cornelius D. Westbrook. FROM THE PARTICULAR SYNOD OF ALBANY. From the Classis of Albany.—The Rev. Cornelius Bogardus. Elder, Jacob Switz. From the Classis of Ulster.-The Rev. John Gosman and Henry Ostrander. Elders.-Messrs. Garret Abeel and Peter Elmendorf, Jr. From the Classis of Montgomery.-Elders.-Messrs. Peter Loucks and Henry Voorhees. SYNOD OPENED. The Synod was opened with prayer by the Rev. James V. C. Romeyn, the oldest minister present. A quorum not appearing, Synod adjourned, to meet at 3 o'clock, P. M., Closed with prayer. 3 o'clock, P. M. Synod met pursuant to adjournment, Opened with prayer. Mem ́bers present, the same as before, with the addition of the Rev. Jacob Sickles. Resolved, That expresses be sent for the Elders, Marte Beekman, Leonard Gansevoort, and Storm Van Der Zee. Adjourned, to meet at 9 o'clock to-morrow morning. Closed with prayer. WEDNESDAY MORNING, 3d June, 1812. Met pursuant to adjournment. Opened with prayer The Rev. Messrs. Stephen Ostrander, Ralph A. Westervelt, John P. Spinner, and the Elders, Marte Beckman, John Knickerbacker, and Storm Van Der Zee, appeared on the floor of Synod. A constitutional quorum appearing, Resolved, That we now proceed to business. MODERATORS. Synod proceeded to choose their officers. The Rev. Jacob Sickles was duly elected President; the Rev. James S Cannon, Adsessor; the Rev. Cornelius C. Cuyler, and the Elder, Isaac L. Kip, Clerks. RULES. The rules of the General Synod were read. MINUTES. The minutes of the last stated meeting of General Synod were read. ADVISORY MEMBERS. The Rev. Messrs. John M. Bradford, Jesse Fonda, Moses Fröligh, Gilbert R. Livingston, Andrew N. Kittle, Thomas Romeyn, Harman Vedder, Isaac Labagh, Peter Labagh, Peter A. Overbagh, and Harmanus Van Huysen being present, were invited to sit as advisory members. Rev. Cornelius Bogardus asked leave for those members of the Particular Synod of Albany, who are also members of this body, to be excused from attendance upon this body till the afternoon session. Granted. Resolved, That the President nominate committees. |