ARTICLE III.

Moderators.

Rev. Jacob Schoonmaker was chosen President.

Rev. Robert Bronk was chosen Adsessor.

Rev. Jacob C. Sears, and George H. Fisher were chosen Clerks pro tem.

ARTICLE IV.

Reading of Minutes.

The reading of the Minutes of the last Annual Session of Synod was dispensed with, and those of the Extra Session of Synod in April last, were read.

The following Committees were appointed :

On the Professorate.-Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge, C. C. Cuyler, and John Ludlow, D. D., and the Elders Abraham Van Vechten, and Martin Wyckoff.

On Synodical Minutes.-Rev. R. Bronk, J. D. Fonda, and J. Van Lieuw, and the Elders Andrew Howell, and John De Fræst, Jun.

On Missions.-Rev. Jacob Brodhead, D. D., George Dubois, and Samuel Van Vechten, and the Elders Isaac L. Kip, and Christian Zabriskie.

On the State of Religion.-Rev. Gabriel Ludlow, M. W. Dwight, and William S. Heyer, and the Elders Jacob R. Hardenbergh, and J. M. Schenck.

On Overtures.- Rev. William M Murray D. D.. James Murphy, and Paul Weidman, and the Elders Ephraim Van Giezen, and William P. Heermance.

On Finance.-Rev. Jacob Van Vechten, John Van Lieuw, and the Elders J. R. Hardenbergh, Abraham Van Vechten, and John Schuyler, Jun.

On Correspondence.-Rev. Cornelius Bogardus, J. I. Schultz, and A. I. Switz, and the Elders Samuel Delamater, and John Clark. Rev. J. V. C. Romeyn was afterwards added to said Committee, and appointed its Chairman, by request of its former Chairman.

ARTICLE III.

Communications.

A communication from the Rev. John Knox, D. D., resigning the office of Stated Clerk of General Synod, was received and read; whereupon it was

Resolved, That the resignation of Dr. Knox be and hereby is accepted.

Resolved, That this Synod express their thanks to the Rev. John Knox, D. D., for his faithful services as their Stated Clerk.

Resolved, That the Rev. Benjamin C. Taylor be requested to officiate as Stated Clerk of Synod during the present Session.

Resolved, That the Rev. Thomas M. Strong be and hereby is appointed the Stated Clerk of General Synod.

The following Report of the Board of Superintendents of the Theological Seminary, was received and referred to the Committee on the Professorate.

To the Rev. General Synod, the Board of Superintendents present the following Report,

That pursuant to the resolution of the General Synod, the Board met in the city of New Brunswick on the 11th day of July, 1827. Reports were received from each of the Professors--The reports

represented the following young gentlemen as members of the Theological School.

Senior Class.-John McKelvy, James Stephenson, Edwin Holmes, Leonard B. Van Dyke.

Middle Class.--Robert P. Lee, James E. Quaw, Henry Raymond. Junior Class.-Isaac D. Cole, James Demarest, Henry Mandeville, James Talmage, Cornelius L. Van Dyke, Charles P. Wack, James Beveridge.

Mr. Wack is a member of the German Reformed Church, and has been engaged in study from the commencement of the Theological year. Mr. Beveridge is a member of the Associate Reformed Church, and having entered in the advance of the year, was only examined on such studies as he had attended to.

The several classes were fully examined on three successive days on the subjects of their respective studies during the year, viz: The first class on Didactic, Polemic and Pastoral Theology, Church Government, Ecclesiastical History, the sacred Languages, Biblical Criticism, experimental religion, and their views in entering into the Gospel ministry. Mr. Holmes, according to the terms of the dispensation granted to him, was also examined on certain studies of the first year. They also exhibited public exercises on the evening of the first day of the examination, and specimens in the composition of sermons. The second class was examined on Didactic Theology, Hebrew and Greek Languages, Sacred Geography, Biblical Antiquities, and general principles of interpretation. The third class was examined on the Sacred Languages, Biblical Antiquities, Sacred Geography, and the Canon of Scripture.

The examination of Messrs. McKelvy, Stephenson, and Holmes, members of the first class, was sustained, and they were recommended for professoral certificates. The Board were much gratified with the whole examination. A great amount of labour has been performed by the Professors, and a very laudable proficiency has been made by the several classes, in the respective branches of study to which their attention has been called. The general aspect of the school is highly encouraging.

The Board remembering the sorrowful visitations which excited their grief at their last meetings, cannot fail to consider with no ordinary emotions of gratitude, that God has not permitted the destroyer

to enter the ranks of teachers or taught during the year. Comfortable health and uninterrupted progress have marked the course of the year, except in the case of Mr. Lee who in consequence of ill health has been compelled to refrain from the studies of the last session.

As it appears from the reports of the Professors of Biblical Literature and Ecclesiastical History, &c. that the Students of the Junior Class have not a sufficiency of study to occupy their time by the course which was assigned to them, in the order which has been prescribed, therefore,

Resolved, That it be recommended to General Synod to alter the course of study of the first year or Junior Class, so as to add to the first year the History of the Old Testament, and so much of Pastoral Theology as relates to the composition and delivery of sermons.

Resolved, That General Synod be requested to alter the time of the annual examination of the Theological College from the second Wednesday in July to the Tuesday immediately preceding the Commencement in Rutgers College.

Whereas, it appears on the Minutes of General Synod of June, 1827, that Mr. J. G. Woodward, was represented as a member of this School, and a dispensation was granted to him for the former part of the current year; and whereas, it appears from a conference with the Professors that he has never been a member of the Theological School but has attended merely as an auditor and has withdrawn himself from his attendance at recitations therefore Resolved, That he cannot be considered as entitled to the dispensation of General Synod, until their further order shall be had in the premises.

Whereas, our Theological College is now fully organized according to the original plan. by the appointment of three Professors, therefore Resolved, That General Synod be requested to organize a Theological Faculty for the government of the Theological School.

All which is respectfully submitted.

By order of the Board,

JACOB BRODHEAD, President, p. t.
THOMAS M. STRONG, Secretary.

A communication was received from the Professors of the Theological Seminary, recommending Henry Morris, a student in the

Theological Seminary at New Brunswick for a dispensation from Synod, of one year and two sessions, which was referred to the Committee on the Professorate.

A communication was received from Peter Gordon. praying to be taken under the patronage of General Synod, with a view to his entering into the Gospel ministry, and was referred to a Special Committee, consisting of the Rev. William McMurray, D. D, John I. Christie, and A. Henry Dumont.

A communication was received from Aaron A. Marselus, a student of Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, praying for a dispensation for the first two sessions of the current year, which was referred to the Committee on Professorate.

A communication was received from the Executive Committee of the Education Society of Bergen Classis, recommending Jacob Ennis for aid from the funds of Synod, and referred to the Committee on the Professorate.

A communication was received from Mr. Cornelius Heyer, which was referred to the Board of Direction of the Corporation-to be filed.

ARTICLE IV.

Board of Corporation.

The report of the Board of Direction of the Corporation, accompanied with an abstract of receipts and expenditures and the annual digest, were received and are as follows:

The Board of Direction of the Corporation of the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, respectfully submit to General Synod their annual report, as follows :—viz.,

The Board met for the transaction of business at an early period after their appointment, and have continued to meet monthly or oftener during the year. A Committee of Finance was appointed at their first meeting, in accordance with the fourth article of the By