Resolved, That the above Committee be continued, and that the Rev. Robert Bronk be substituted in the place of the Rev. G. R. Livingston, who has removed within the bounds of the Particular Synod of New-York. ARTICLE IV. Board of Corporation. The following Report with accompanying documents, was received from the Board of Corporation. To the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church. The Board of direction respectfully submit to General Synod, the following Report of their proceedings during the past year. The usual name and style of this Board, viz: "The Board of Corporation," having grown into use without authority, and the same appearing indefinite as to its meaning; it was thought expedient to assume its true name, as appears by the following resolution of the Board, at a meeting held on the 28th day of July, 1826. "Resolved, That this Board shall hereafter be designated by the name and style of “ THE BOARD OF DIRECTION OF GENERAL SYNOD;" as they are designated at their first institution in June 1819." This Board was requested by a resolution of General Synod, page 57 of the minutes of their last meeting, to appoint agents to proceed to Holland; and to devise ways and means, to defray their expenses on that embassy. In pursuance of this request the Board resolved itself into a committee to ascertain what the probable expense would be, and to obtain every necessary information relative to the same. The committee thus constituted, addressed a letter to His Excellency, the Chevalier C. D. E. J. Baugeman Huygens, Envoyé Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary of His Majesty the King of the Netherlands, &c. &c. resident at the City of Washington; to which communication a complimentary and favourable answer was received; promising the facilities of introduction, advice and correspondence. The Board then proceeded to the election of two agents, and their unanimous choice devolved upon the Rev. James V. C. Romeyn and John Ludlow. These gentlemen however declined accepting the same. About this period a member of the Board had an interview with the Rev. James R. Reily, an agent of the German Reformed Church for the collection of monies, who had just then returned from Europe. This gentleman expressed a willingness to correspond upon the subject. Letters were accordingly addressed to him at Hagerstown in Maryland under date Nov. 27th, 1826; and afterward upon information of his removal, to York in Pennsylvania, under date March 7th, 1827, to which an answer was not received till the 19th instant. In the mean time discouraging accounts having reached the Board, they thought it prudent to let the matter rest till the present meeting of Synod for their further instruction. The letter referred to is herewith communicated, and will aid Synod in the adoption of any further direction to the Board, for which they wait. A deed for the College lot and edifice in New Brunswick, conveying the same to General Synod, has been received from the Trustees of Rutgers College and recorded in the clerk's office of the county of Somerset, N. J. The deed is now in the hands of the Treasurer. Therefore the debt of $2.212 02 due from the Trustees of Rutgers College to General Synod is cancelled by a resolution of Synod in June 1823, as will be shown by the minutes, page 53. The agents appointed to obtain subscriptions to the second and third Professorships, having in many instances paid the amounts collected by them without rendering "a detailed statement of all the monies that have been collected"-either from churches or individuals ;—it is therefore impracticable for this Board to comply with the resolution of Synod contained on the 56th page of their minutes of the last year. In reference to the accounts committed to them, page 30 of the last minutes ;-They have paid for finishing and repairing the east and west wings of the College edifice, together with the Chapel. The cost expended on the east wing and the Chapel amounts to $2,259 09, of which amount there has been received on subscriptions $1,658 75, leaving a balance of $600 34, which has been paid with interest from July 1825 till the day of payment. That on the west wing $2,001 27, on which there has been received $1,195 25, principally out of monies subscribed to the second Professorship, leaving a balance of $806 02, which has been paid without interest. They have effected an insurance on the College edifice with the Eagle Fire Company in New-York," to the amount of $8000, at a premium of $30 for one year from the 17th of November 1826. 66 The Board respectfully recommend to Synod the necessity of revising the By-Laws enacted in 1819 for the government of the President, Directors, and Treasurer of the Corporation; and will submit herewith for their consideration, the views of the Board on that subject. The afflictive hand of the Lord has been heavily upon us during the current year; several of our stated meetings were interrupted by the long continued and dangerous illness of our venerable President. We now bless the Lord for his recovery; he is to us as one restored from the dead. But our bereavement is irreparable. We deeply deplore the loss we have sustained in the death of our late Treasurer, Mr. Isaac Heyer, and while we submit to the dispensation of Providence which has deprived us of an associate who was always wise in counsel, deliberate and judicious in his decisions, ready and liberal in his benefactions, and one who entered into all the plans to advance the great cause committed to their trust with a zeal chastened by prudence, and an enlargement of views dictated by an enlightened benevolence, we would record the high estimation in which we regard his character, and the sincere affection we cherish for his memory. In addition to his unwearied and gratuitous labours during life, he has by his last will devised to the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars. The Board apprehend some difficulty in permanently supplying the place thus vacated; by virtue of the power vested in them by Synod, they have appointed Mr. Cornelius Heyer, their Treasurer, pro. tem. and prevailed upon him to serve till the present meeting. The Treasurer's account which follows will exhibit the state of your finances. RECEIPTS. Statement of Receipts and Payments on account of General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, from 1st June, 1826, to 1st June, 1827. 1826. June 3 By Cash from Church corner Green and Houston Streets, Dlls. C. for Permanent Fund, 1101 Nov. 3" 66 for 6 months interest on S. H. Cox's Bond, 90,00 13 22 1826. Nov. 24" 66 28 66 Dec. 1 " 66 Account continued. By amount brought forward, 22 By Cash from Church at Warwick, Theological College, from Church at Catskill, for Theological College, from Church at Bedminster, Permanent Fund, Dlls. C. 2817 31 466 for dividend on Bergen Turnpike Stock, 500 800 347 74 10 43 700 from Church at Flatbush, Permanent Fund, June 6 By Balance due the Treasurer, (without interest) from Church at Clarkstown, Contingent Fund, months interest from Mrs. and Miss Bull, 25 cents donation, do. 66 from Church at N. Brunswick, 25 cents donation, Reformed Dutch Church, 100 1275 00 23 74 500 1000 368 73 50 231 600 1200 2302 24 7381 70 |