Missionary Society of the Reformed Dutch Church; which may tend more effectually to occupy the Missionary ground, and excite a common interest throughout the congregations belonging to said Church in the cause of Missions.

On the minutes of General Synod, the only subject referred to the present meeting, is the Incest question; contained in the following words:

"Resolved, That so much of the acts of the General Synod, passed in the years 1797 and 1815, recorded on page 264 in the appendix to our Constitution, as directs the churches to exclude from sealing ordinances the persons contemplated by those acts, be, and the same is, hereby repealed."

The above are all the particulars which your Committee have ascertained as requiring the investigation of General Synod.

All which is respectfully submitted.

SAMUEL KISSAM, Chairman.

Resolved, That so much of the report on Synodical Minutes as relates to the reference from the Classis of New-York on the subject of Preaching on the Heidelbergh Catechism be referred to the Rev. Cornelius D. Westbrook, Samuel A. Van Vranken, and John F. Schermerhorn, and the Elders Stephen Van Rensselaer and Abraham Van Nest. (See Art. 11.)

Resolved, That so much of the above report as relates to the reference from the Classis of Albany on the subject of the Revision of the Rules and Articles of Church Government and Discipline, be referred to the Rev. Nicholas I. Marselus, Herman Vedder and Jacob D. Fonda, and the Elders Thomas Letson and John I. Labagh.(See Art. 9.)

Resolved, That so much of the above report as relates to the case of Simon Westfall, be referred to the Trustees of Rutgers College. Resolved, That so much of the above report as relates to the modification in the plan of the organization of the Missionary Society of the Reformed Dutch Church, be referred to the Committee on Missions.

The Committee on Overtures brought in the following report, which was accepted :—

"The Committee of Overtures report, that nothing has come before them, claiming the attention of Synod."

J. D. FONDA, Chairman.

ARTICLE VIII.

Synodical Appeals.

The following appeal, taken by the Classis of New-York from a decision of the Particular Synod of New York, was presented to Synod, viz:

To the General Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church to meet in Philadelphia on the first Wednesday of June, 1827, the Classis of New-York do hereby appeal from certain resolutions of the Particular Synod of New-York, which are in the words following, viz :

"Resolved, That it is expedient to divide the Classis of NewYork.

"Resolved, That Grand-street be the division line between the two Classes.

"Resolved, That the Classis north of said division line shall be known by the name of the Second Classis of New-York; and that said Classis shall meet at the Church in Broome-street on the last Wednesday of May, instant, at 10 o'clock, A. M. for the purpose of being duly organized, and that the Rev. Dr. Brodhead preside and preach on the occasion, and that the Rev. Dr. Gunn be the secundus to the Rev. Dr. Brodhead."

From these resolutions the Classis appeal, and because of the following reasons:

The 31st Art. of Ex. Arts. says, that all Ecclesiastical Assemblies possess a right to judge and determine upon matters within their respective jurisdictions, and which are regularly and in an Ecclesiastical manner brought before them.

In the 36th Art. of Rules of Church Government, the powers of different judicatories are defined,- A Classis hath the same jurisdiction over a Consistory, which a Particular Synod hath over a Classis, and a General Synod over a Particular." And in the 39th Art. of Ex. Art. Classes are invested with the power of forming new Congregations, and determining the boundaries when contested between Congregations already formed; the continuing combinations, or the dissolution, or the change of the same as may be requested by the people, or be judged necessary among the respective Congregations.

I. According to the above quotations from the Constitution of the Church, the Classis deem the above resolutions of Particular Synod to be inconsistent with good order, and with that respect which is due from a higher to a lower judicature in the adoption of a measure in which the lower is so materially concerned.

The Classis of New-York had not deliberated on the question of a division: they had not previously expressed their sentiments on it, as they conceive they had a right to do: it came before the Synod by a report of their own Committee on Synodical Minutes, and ought therefore in courtesy to have been referred to the Classis for their consideration. And as a Particular Synod has no more power over a Classis than a Classis has over a Consistory, and as the only ground upon which a Classis can lawfully form new Congregations or divide those already formed, is an application originating with the people and duly preferred, or a state of controversy respecting boundaries which renders the intervention of their power necessary, the Classis conceive that such a reference of the question to them was proper as a recognition of their right to be heard in relation to it.

From the principles above stated, they conclude that a Synod ought not to divide a Classis, unless application to this effect be duly made, or such a controversy on the subject exists in the Classis as may call for their interference, and as the Classis of New York had not previously agitated the question of a division the Particular Synod have, as they believe, lost sight of a cardinal principle of good order in the power they have exercised.

II. The Classis consider the precedent set by Particular Synod, in the exercise of such power over a lower judicature, without hearing

or consulting with it on a measure of so much importance, as dan. gerous to the best interests of the Church. If the right of a lower judicature to be previously heard on a question in which it has a deep concern, be denied, it is obvious that its interests are put at the mercy of a higher one, or at the mercy of individuals who are disposed to use with it an improper influence. If Particular Synods may divide and subdivide the bodies of which they are composed, without consulting with them, or even giving them a hearing, then Classes may divide and subdivide Congregations at the instance of disaffected individuals, without paying any respect to Consistories with whose interests such measures might materially interfere; without hearing them on the expediency or inexpediency of such measures; without even recognizing their existence. The higher judicatory has no check on the exercise of its power to almost any extent, and the oppressive exercise of it in any instance cannot be corrected but by subsequent appeal, which peculiar circumstances might sometimes render impracticable, while the consequences would be in a high degree ruinous to those immediately interested.

III. The Classis add, that the expediency of any division of their body cannot be fairly determined by the reasons stated by the Synod as the ground of their act. This body in reference simply to the number composing the Classis, and to preserve an equal numerical representation from the Particular Synod, might suppose a division expedient. Upon these grounds they might very properly have referred the matter to Classis, to learn if any thing could be urged to show it inexpedient: but there are other considerations involved in the question of expediency, which certainly deserve some attention, and render it doubtful whether the single advantage of an increase of representation in General Synod, the object designed to be accomplished by the proposed division, would not be more than counterbalanced by some injurious effects resulting from the division, on the influence and prosperity of the Dutch Church in this great and growing city. Of the importance of these considerations, the Classis is perhaps more competent to judge than the Particular Synod, and ought therefore to have been consulted on the question of expediency. Circumstances may exist, which possibly upon mature deliberation would render it expedient to preserve our union in order to

preserve our strength, and to keep pace in our growth with other denominations. Concentrated action, it has been said, is powerful action. The same powers, when applied by a common direction, will produce results impossible to their divided and partial exercise. The respectability of the denomination, the general interests of the Church, would possibly be more effectually promoted by having in the midst of so vast a population and in the midst of so many other denominations, a Classis respectable for its numbers as well as for its talents and piety, than by any increase of representation in General Synod which cannot be obtained but by a division of Classis. For the above reasons, said Classis feeling themselves aggrieved, do now and hereby lay their appeal from the judgment of Particular Synod, as expressed in the afore-cited resolutions before the General Synod, and request that the Rev. George Dubois and the Rev. Dr. Brownlee be heard as Commissioners for the prosecution of the same.

I certify that the above is a true copy of the original, on the Minutes of Classis.

JAMES H. TELLER, Stated Clerk.

A memorial and protest against the above Appeal, signed by three members of the Classis of New-York, was received and read.

The Rev. William C. Brownlee, D. D. and Rev. George Dubois appeared before Synod, and were accredited as Commissioners from the Classis of New-York to prosecute the appeal. The Particular Synod of New-York at its last session were considered as Respondents to the appeal.

The Synod proceeded in the consideration of the said appeal in the following order :

1. The Appeal, and the reasons of the appeal were read.

2. The Documents in relation to the case were read.

3. The Appellants were heard by their Commissioners.

4. The Respondents were heard by their Minutes.

5. The Appellants were heard in reply.