IX. Cent Societies. Nothing this year; which is much regretted. X. Minutes of General Synod. There has been received for Minutes during the past year, XI. Contingent Fund. Since the last report there has been received on account of this Fund, $46 50 102 55 - $132 82 In concluding this Report, we would bow before the Lord, humbly blessing him for every favour already received; and looking to him by faith, for every thing we yet hope for. New York, June 3, 1829. ISAAC L. KIP, President, pro tem. CORNELIUS HEYER, WM. M.MURRAY, } Directors. ISAAC YOUNG, Treasurer. Resolved, That so much of the Report of the Board of Direction of the Corporation, and accompanying documents, as relates to monied concerns, be referred to the Committee on Accounts, and the remainder to the Committee on the Professorate. Resolved, That so much of the above Report, as relates to the accounts of Synod with Mr. J. R. Hardenbergh, be referred to a special Committee, consisting of Rev. J. L. Zabriskie, Philip Duryea, W. Eltinge, and the Elder S. De Ridder. The Committee reported, and their Report was adopted, and is as follows: "The Committee on the Accounts of Synod with Mr. J. R. Hardenbergh, respectfully submit to Synod the following Report : That they find it impracticable to liquidate the accounts between Mr. Hardenbergh and this body; therefore, wish to refer the subject submitted to them, to the Board of Corporation, in order that the accounts between Mr. Hardenbergh and said Board, be adjusted as soon as practicable, and they, accordingly, recommend to Synod the adoption of such a course. JOHN L. ZABRISKIE, Chairman.” Resolved, That the Rev. James Murphy, and John B. Steele, and the Elder Johannis Remsen, be a Committee to report to Synod a nomination of twice the number of persons, who constitute the Board of Directors under the charter. The Committee reported accordingly, and the Synod proceeded to ballot for a President, three Directors, and a Treasurer of the Corporation when Mr. Henry Rutgers, was chosen President; Messrs. Isaac L. Kip, Cornelius Heyer, and Rev. William McMurray, D. D., Directors, and Mr. Isaac Young, Treasurer. ARTICLE V. Correspondence. The Rev. Gardiner Spring, D. D., and Mr. George Zabriskie, a ruling Elder of the Presbyterian Church, appeared in Synod, and, having produced testimonials of their appointment, by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, took their seats as corresponding members of the Synod. The Rev. C. Knaus, of the German Reformed Church, appeared in Synod, and, having produced testimonials of his appointment, took his seat as a Corresponding member. The following Communication from the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, was received, and referred to a special committee, consisting of the Rev. Peter Labagh, J. M. Mathews, D. D., B. C. Taylor, and the Elders David Cole, and Peter Nevius. "In the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, the 24th of May, A. D. 1827. "The Committee, to whom was recommitted the communication from the Reformed Dutch Synod, in relation to the proceedings of the Presbytery of Columbia, in the case of Leonard B. Van Dyke, made a report, which being read, and amended, was adopted, and is as follows, viz: "That they have given considerable attention to the subject committed to them, and find the facts to be as follows, viz :- -That Leonard B. Van Dyke, was a student of the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Dutch Church, and attached to a Church under the care of the Classis of Albany, belonging to the said Church; that because of doubts entertained by him relative to certain standing articles of faith, of the Reformed Dutch Church, he was refused a Professoral certificate, until his doubts on the points in question should be removed; and, for that purpose, he was advised to continue in the institution, and pay particular attention to the points on which he doubted; that with this advice he did not comply, but offered himself to the Presbytery of Columbia, as a candidate for licensure; and by said Presbytery was received and licensed. Such are the facts in the case, and, in these facts, your Committee are unable to discover any thing, by which the articles of correspondence between this body and an highly respectable sister Church, have been violated. They are, however, of the opinion, that as the change of Church connexions is a serious matter, calculated to affect the peace of the body left, and, therefore, not to be needlessly encouraged; that the Presbytery of Columbia did not exercise due deliberation in the reception and licensure of Mr. Van Dyke; and that they would have acted with more propriety, if, instead of receiving information from a member of the Classis of Albany, and acting upon it, as to Mr. Van Dyke's relation to the Judicatories of the Reformed Dutch Church, they had applied to that Classis itself." "The foregoing is a true extract from the Records of the General Assembly. Attestat, EZRA STILES ELY, Stated Clerk." The Committee to whom the above Communication was referred, reported, and their Report was adopted, and is as follows:-- "The Committee on the Communication from the General Assembly, beg leave to report:- "That they have attentively considered the sentiments expressed in the above Communication, and the decision of that highly respectable body, on which they feel no disposition to animadvert. Yet, in order to prevent the recurrence of similar circumstances, which may be unpleasant in their tendency, and calculated to interrupt the harmony which at present exists between the two Churches, your Committee would recommend the adoption of the following resolution, in order to be communicated to the next General Assembly. "Resolved, (If the General Assembly concur herein,) That the following additional article be added to the article of Correspondence between the two Churches. "That none of the inferior Judicatories, under the care of the Corresponding Churches, shall be at liberty to admit into their respective bodies, or under their care, any Student, or Licentiate, from the sister Church, without a regular dismission from the Ecclesiastical body, or Theological Seminary, to which he is considered as attached. PETER LABAGH, Chairman. The following Report was received from one of the Members, appointed to attend the last meeting of the General Synod of the German Reformed Church : "The undersigned, one of your Delegates, appointed to attend the last stated meeting of the General Synod of the German Reformed Church, respectfully reports— "That he has fulfilled his appointment. His reception by that body, was most cordial and brotherly. He has great pleasure in stating, that he was highly gratified with the state and prospects of that sister Church. She is manifestly progressing in intelligence and piety, and labouring to give more efficiency to her government and institutions. Her sphere of influence and usefulness, is wide, and she is labouring with encouraging success to occupy it. Her feelings toward your reverend body, are those of respect and brotherly kindness, which, if reciprocally cherished, may ripen into a closer union of counsel and effort. Respectfully submitted. Poughkeepsie, 1st June, 1829.” COR'S. C. CUYLER. The following Communication was received from the Rev. Jacob Schoonmaker, the President of the last General Synod. I take pleasure in informing Synod, that a friendly letter of cor respondence with the General Synod of Holland, agreeably to the resolution of our last General Synod, has recently been prepared by the Committee appointed for that purpose, been signed by me as President, and, probably, by this time, is on its way to Holland. J. SCHOONMAKER. The following Report was received from the Delegate to attend the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. The undersigned begs leave to report to General Synod, that he attended the meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, agreeably to his appointment; and was received by that body with much kindness and respect. Respectfully submitted. New York, 3d June, 1829. J. M. MATHEWS. Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee on Correspondence, to report on the expediency of opening a Correspondence with the Reformed Protestant Church of France. The Committee on Correspondence reported, and their Report was adopted, and is as follows: The Committee on Correspondence, after having given due consideration to the several subjects committed to them, beg leave to submit to Synod the following Report:→ In relation to the Church of Holland, your Committee rejoice to inform Synod, that a friendly Letter of Correspondence with the General Synod of Holland, has lately been forwarded by your Standing Committee of Correspondence, to the Mother Church. In regard to your correspondence with the Reformed German Church, it appears, from the Report of your Corresponding Delegate |