I I

I I

I.

I.',

! I,

l \

Page }

dreae of Rev. ))e

- Jong

AOTS OF' SYNOD

OF THE

OHRISTIAN REFORMED OHUROll.

HELD JUNE 15. ff.. 1904.

AT

MPrnlng •. Junes 15.

Artiole 1.

After the President of the previous Synod, Rev. -·.G. D. De Jong, led in prayer on the evtlining ot June 14, .. in.the ohurch of the Fourteenth St. congregation, at

14th St. ;"Holland, Mich •• Spealdng on Ephesiana 2$22, On the following morming, June 15. at 10s00 A.M., he called the deputioa to order in the Ninth St., Ohurch, the old historic Van aaalte Church. From God's Word he read Psalma 121, 122, lind 12}, and ainging from Plalm 122&1,2. Aftar this he addressed an introductory word, a. tollowus

Page 4

Beloved Brethren in Chriet, Delegatee and Pre-Advieore of Synod!

Grace, mercy, and preace be multiplied unto you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

A. president of the last Synod it is my duty to open this broadest assembly. In the hour of prayer we directed your attention to "The dwelling_plaoe of God in the Spirit.· The King of the Church conde­Bcends to use us office_b88rers as God's co-workers for the completion of hie spiritual temple.

If it i8 a great privilege to have a name and. place in the. kingdom of. he.ven, placed ... living stone in this temple, it il still a greater privilege to concern ourselves in the interests of Christ'e

. Ohurch in its broadest 888embly.

Important questiona face us. Your attention ie requested with respect to the Theological School, Domeetic Misston., Heathen Wi.aione, Church Order. the Baptismal question, and Unions. From thie it ap­pears th.t sooial questione are also to be coneidered.

The Ohurch ie indeed a spiritual institution, b~, clothed with the power of the keye, etanda in cloae relation to natural life.

In the consideration of these questions with respect to Church end School, doctrine and life, wisdom and caution are neceeaary. The uprightness of doves must be accompanied with the caution of ser_ pents. It is neceBBary to bow unoonditionally before the Word of God, given 0..8 a lamp for our feet and a light upon our path, and it 18 aleo necessary to receiva the leading of the Spirit, who leads· in all truth.

It gladdens us to meet the older brethren again. In our oountry socalhd. raunion. are held. Re;la t1v •• long 8eparated by dietanc. come together again} Boldiere, who fought shoulder to shoulder for hearth and altar, shalclt handa. This also talc •• placa when

\

I

I

I

Page 5

Dele­ge. tee to Synod

Synod meete. And as at these reunions we remember with Badness concornin~ those whose place beoame vaoant, eo aleo our joy i8 tempered when '110 remem­ber thoae whom the Lord took from the militant Churoh to the triumphant. The aged brothers H. H.

Dleperink Langereia end J Remein with the atill youthful Theo. Smits are no more. Next to them the following name& a180 appear in the necrology; the brethren J. Schepers, G. Hoeksema, and G. E. Boer, names to whioh partioular DllOlAOrie., are att!lched. Rev. J. Schepers was the fint candidate in our Churchl Rov. G. Hoeksema along with Rev. G. Broene weB the first who grsduated from our Theological SeminarYI ana Rev. G. Eo Boer was the t'irmt prof.seor, and fellow-soldior and worker through whom the Lord riChly blo88@d tho Church and the School. They all rest from.thelr labore, snd their works do follow them. Thoir pauingcal.lm to UII, ~Work while it is day, for the night oometh whon no man.oan work.-

Let U8 thon pray to the Lord for hie bie.sing on our assembly.

Artiole 2.

After the prayer the credentiale are preeented. It.app8llre that the following brethren were present ae delegatess

01a8e1& Grand Rapids East Ministere, Rave. J. B. Hoekstra, J. Groen, T. Vander Ark Elders. S. S. Postma, B. Sevensmo, J. B. Hulet

01aB81s Grand Rapids West Ministers. J. Keizer, J. Noordewier, H. Beets Elders, C. Smitter, ·E. Hekman, H. Vander Ark

GlaBeis Haokensaok Ministers. J. F. Van Houten. K. Poppen, J. A. Westervelt l>lderu J.u. Chrhtj,e, J. C. Van Saun, L. Beeuwkes

OlaBs.h Holla!1d M1nieterof J. Manni, M. Van Veseam, D. R. Drukker Elders, A. Lenning, J. Molhock, G. Moeke

Page 6

Oreden-

Olassie Hudeon Minieteres P. Kosten, K. Van Goor, D. Vander Ploeg ildere. P. Botbyl, P. Pontier, A. Struiok 09;.

Olaseis Illinois Miniatere s H. Vander l(erp, p .• Van Vliet, E. Breen Elderu S. Dekker, U. Dykhuizen. J. Meeter

01ll8s10 Iowa Miniatera. I. Van Dellen, J. Vander Mey, A. Vanden Bok Elders. H. Jager, V. Vos. J. Visser

01as8ts Muskegon Ministers, M. J. Mareusse, R. L. Hean, G. Vestenberg Elders. O. Vlaeman t K. Kniphuizen, T. Agema

0188Si8 Ostfrissland Ministers, H. Ahuis, O. Bode, H. O. Bode Elders. H. O. Peters, O. H. Freriohs, M. Bakker

Artiole ,

tiale The presented oredentials are approved.

Offi_ oera

Deolar_ ation

Article 4.

The following officers were elected. President, Rev. E. Breen; Vioe-President, Rev. J. Groenl Second Olerk, Rev. M. Ven VessSM. The Stated Olerk, Rev. H. Beets, aerves ss first clerk.

Article 5.

After the officers are seated, the nswly elaoted preoident speaks briefly and led in prayer. The Publio Declaration was read, and ths standing dele~te8 pledg­ed with a rOBounding ·yes·.

Article 6.

Pre-ad_ The theological profe88ors are weloomed 8S pre-visors advisors of Synod.

I r ,

I

[

I

Page 7

Work thl!Ough OOIllll1, e of Pre_ advioe

Three Oommit.. tess

Oable.. Gr .... Kampen

Artiel" 7.

The time of the sessions were decided to be from 8$00 to 11150 A.M., and from 2100 to 6100 P.M •• with a break of 15 minute. at 9545 .... M. and 5$50 P.M.

Artiole 8.

Deoided to work through oommiVte"G of Pre.. advice as formerly. The following members were ap_ pointed by the chairman to formulate the oommittees __ one from each 01a8010 __ s Reve. Poppen, Haan, KeiZer, Ahuis, Kosten, Van Dellen, Drukkerl elders Sevenoma

. and Dekker.

Artiole 9.

Oommittee for resolutions of sympathYf Reve. Noordewier, Hoekstra, O. Bode. (Of; Art. 145.)

Oommittee to review the Aots of the previou8 Synod to determine which minutes must be considereds Rev. K. Van Goor and elder H. Jager. (Cf. Art. 152,ff.)

Oolll!1littee to welcome delegatee from correspon­ding ohurchess Rsve. Vander Werp and Drukker.

Artiole 10.

0' fl t l<ampen Sinee the Theological~c~tlOl~ha8 just celebra_ ted ita fiftieth anniversary, Synod decided to Bend S oablegram of congratulations. Committee. RevlI. Van Goor and Drukker.

The following was Bent, Prof. Noordzij, Kampen, Netherlandll ·Oongratulations. God bless your unique inut1_ tution.-

Synod of the Ohristian Reformed Church.

Article 11.

Olosing Devotions,

Afternoon, June 15

Article 12.

Opening Devotions.

Article 15.

Report of Cura­torium

report of the CuratoriUM. Received as information. Deoided to print the report as a supplement. (Suppl~ ment n.)

Artiole 14.

Rpt. Rev. H. Beeta read tha report of the Board of H.M. Heathen Missions. All Above. (Supplement IV.)

Rule oon­cerning Report.. era

Ten Oom... 11\1 t.. t,eee

Artiole 15.

A Rule was adopted that when reporters of boards and oommittees are not delegated to Synod they shall be seated in the oommittees for their buoines8 with

.advisory vote. And also at Synod as long as their re_ ports are being considered.

Artiolo 16.

Rev. Haan reports for the cOlDlllittee on commit.. teeB. (Art. 8.)

1. Heathen Mission Oommittee. Revs. Hoekstra, Beeta, Vander Werpi Elder. Agema, Pontier, Molhoek. Report Thursday at 10.00 A.M.

2. Domestic and Jewish Missiona. Revs. Drukker, Vander Ploeg, Vander Mey, O. Bode, Elders G. Moeke, J. Meeter. Advisor Prof. Heyns. Report Thursday at 2.00 P.M.

~. Theologioal Sohool. Revs. V~n Dellen, Haan, H. O.

4.

5.

Bode, Poppen, Noordewlerj Elders Postma, Dekker, Botbyl, Bakker, Sevenema. Adviaor Rev. De Jong. Report Friday at 8.00 A.M.

Publioation Matters. Revs. Vander Werp, Drukker, Noordewler; ~ldere Hulst, Vlssman. Advleor Rev. A. Keizer. Report Friday at 2.00 P.M.

Baptismal Questions Revs. Kouten, Weetenberg, Ahuis, Van Vliet, Elders Hulst, Knlphuizen. Report Monday at 2.00 P.}!.

6. Church Order, Revs. }{anni, Van Ooor, Van Houten; Elders Hekmlln,

I I, I.

I ';\

I

\

Pag" 9

Jager, Lanning. Advisor Prof. Ten Hoor. Report Tuesday at 8,00 A.M.

1. Unions. Rev. Groen, Keizer, Vander ArK; Elders StruiOK, BeeuwKeB. Dykhuizen. Report Tuesday at 2100 P.M.

8. Vari ... Reve. Mar-cueee, Venden ilok, liept,-orvol t, Ven Routen, Ven V"aseml Eldere Vander Ark, Vie. eer, Petera. Report ~.dneBday. June 22, at 8s00 A .• M.

9. Protests. Reve. Hoekatra, Kosten, Van Vliet, M8~ nil Eldon Smittor. '0'08, I"roricha. Report liednee_ der. June 22, at 2.00 P.M.

10. AppOintments. Rovs. Vander Warp, Groen, Beete, KeiserlEldero Beouwkes and Dekker.

The above report is approved, and it i8 decided to adjourn until Thur~day. 10300 A.M., to give the com­mittees opportunitY'~prepare their reports.

Article 18.

OloBing Devotions.

Forenoon, June 16.

Articla 19.

Opsning Devotions.

Artich 20.

The minutes of June 15 vere read, received, and approved.

Artiole 21.

Rev. Hoekstra reported for the Committee for Heathen RPt'I'U88iona. His report. 1s received lUI information, to be oon­H.M. 8idered point by point.

Page 10

Delegatee fro III Oorrell. ChurcheB

Dr. Oggel

Artiole 22.

Point 1 i8 reject~d. It conoerned a request (Cf. Supplelllont IV, V) for re1mburDem~nt of $100.00 advanoed by the Board for the writer for the De_

. partlllont of MiBeione--frolll 1902 to 1904--upon the ground of Acte 1900, Art. 95. 2, ~. Synod oonsidered that the decision of Synod 1902 (Art. 1,2, 4) elim­inated the co-worker for tha mieeion departmeat.

Point 2 waD adopted. The Board tb!J?lIby reoeived permission to ravise Art. 25 of its Rule. in .uch a manner that the monthly reports be changed to quarterly reports. (Supplement IV. V, 2.)

Article 24.

Olosing Dovotions.

AFTERNOON, JUNE 16.

Article 25.

Opening Devotion ••

Artiol. 26.

The Reo.ption Committee for welcoming delogat.! from Oorre.ponding Ohurchas introduoed to Synod Dr. E. O. Oggol al! representative of the General Synod of the Reformed Church of Amerioa, Bnd the Rev •• Mar­ousson and Lewek of the. Ohioago Hebr.w Mission.

Artich 27.

Dr. E. O. Oggel began hie addrass by bringing greetings from hi" church and prennting varioul

_statistios. He pointed to. various matters where_ in the two Churchee--hie and oure--agree. Furthar, he requeeted Synod to give heed to the word of the Apoetle. -Watch 18, stand fast in the faith, quit you.like man.· There 18

;

Pag" 11

Rev. Marcue .. 80n

Rev. Lewek

Stand­ing Rule -...... ).,

need of thie. He oonoluded by extending the be.t wiah-8. from hie churoh to us. The president replied in fitting worda.

Now Rev. J. W. Marcusson, pastor of the Chioago Hebrew Kiesion, spoke, ae thanked our Ohuroh for the help given this mis8ion. and read a resolution oon­oerning this. ae apoke further about the mission .. among the Jews, ita origin and progress, and stated that he believed that through the Jews the world would ultimately be evangelized. Intercession was requested 88 well a& finanoial support. The pre.1dent alao ad­dressed this brother in an appropriate manner.

Art:l.oh 29.

Rev. Joe. R. Lewek, missionary of the above-named Mi •• ion, then spoke about hiB work in Ohicago. Unbe­lief among many of the Jewg there 1B otrong and bold, hg BaLd. But the mis8ion sometimes bearD fruit. Among others reoently a traveling rabbi was converted to Ohrietianity th~ough the instrumentality of this mission. Brother Lewek was aleo thanked.

Artich ~.

Synod adopted as a Standing Rule that all motion. that are made at Synod are to be translated into Eng_ 11ah for the benefit of our AmericeD brother •• The preaidont will take care of the translation.

Artic 1e ;51.

'!'hit'report of Huath .. n Miuione 1e again con... ,', Heathen ,Bldered. First Point 5. Adopted. Thereby the Board Missione reoeived permieaion to engage a married couple for

work in and around'the Boarding School at Rehoboth.

Point 6. The request of the Board for authority

Page 12

Reho_ both &xpa ..... Ilion

MiB­_io_ ary A. V.nder Wagen

to exp.nd the Boarding School at Rehoboth up to two dozen children, if finance. p~rm1t. The intent 1_ to obtain the meane through epaoial Bouroe. such •• eoeietie., Sunday Sohoole, eta. Adopted.

Article ~~.

Point 1. Permission ia grented to terminate the .tora at Rehoboth, aince the location, ete., makaa the affair unprofitable. Perlllhe10n granted.

Article ~4.

Permia.ion is not granted to •• 11 the property at Fort Defianoe. Point 1 of the Report. (Howavar, .. a Art. 44.)

Artiole ~5.

Oloeing Devotions.

FORENOON, JUNE 17.

Opening Davotions.

Artiole ~7.

Th .. minute. of June 16 .re read. reoeived, .nd approved.

Article ~.

It was d.cidad to meet in Exeoutive Se •• ion to oonsider the c •••. of Brother A. Vander Wa,en, (Sup­plement IV, II, and V.~). Whereby it wee determined that Exeoutive Se.aion did not exolude ministers, eldere, .nd Literary profesBora. Brother", Vander Wagan be at tha diapo8611 of Synod whenevllr it wi_hed to call .nd hear him. Brother Garv.link, tr.a.urer of the Board of ~ .. athanMi.eiona. was neated with adviBory vote, a. long as mat.tau pertsinl.ng to t.his lIIi.eion were being coneidered by Synod. M11_ eionaryL. P. Bri~ wa. oleo eoated a" an advilory m_ber. .

.i

".'

,'I

. I I ,

L I

I l--

C'

Page l}

His­aion­ary A. Van der Wagen

After extensive conaideratlon of this matter Brother Vander Wagen waB heard, who addressed the a808mbly with stimulating worde. The public waa again permitted to attend.

Artl.oh 40.

Since the time of adjournment haderrived, closing devotions wore held.

AFTERNOON. JUNE 17.

Artiole 41.

Opening Devot1one.

Article 42.

~lBeionary L. P. Brink addressed Synod con­cerning this matter, ae did also various other breth­ren.Finally the following amendment and lIlotion Wall

adopteds

, Synod deoides with respeot to brother Vander Wag ens

1. As long ae he has hiB bueine8B or a part there-01', he oannot be aooepted as missionary at a salary of $1,000.00, a8 proposed by th~ Board.

2. That I'lie will be r,elllunerated for whioh he from time to time oan and 18 willing to do for the miSSion.

}. That such work. DIltually will be under the supervision of the Board.

4. A. long as he performs this work he shall do 80 as a missionary aSsistant.

5. If, however, he terminates his bUSiness, the Board receives the right to employ brother Vander Vagen until the next Synod at a aalary of $1,000.00, with the conditions lIlontioned in the aeport of the Board. (Supplement IV, II.)

Page 14

Ohurch at Zuni

Sale of proper_ ty at Fort Defi_ anoa

Z. I. Ranoh

It wae decided to grant the Board permission to build a small ohurch at Zuni. Tha cost ie approx­imately ~500.00.

Artic 18 44.

A motion WSB made to reoonsider Art. }4--con. oarning the eale of the property at Fort Defianoe. This motion wae adopted by the required two.thirds majority of the vote.

Artiole 45.

After a long dieoussion it wae deoided to grant the Board permission to sell the house and the stall at Fort ~efianoe. should there ba a good opportunity. The reaBone for ooming to this deoisions

a. Opposition by the ruling officials there in various ways, so that the work among the Children ia hindered, and among the adult cannot be what it should be.

b. Because only avery other week preaching and oatechizing can take place, beoause tho nearby Roman Mi88ion requested and obtained the right to share the work with us, whioh apparently cannot be ohanged.

c. Beoause the time franted to work with the ohildren is altogether too short to do effective work. (Of. Supplement IV.)

Artiole 46.

Deoided to empower the Board, 1n the event Fort Defiance oan be Bold, which at present seems to be the caee, to purchee the Z. I. Ranch, ten mileo north of Zuni for $2,000.00, there to build an adobe home for the missionary and a emall number of boarding Bohool &tudente, if possible, orphans of the Zunis. The Board deolared it intended to station Rev. Fry­ling there. The reaBons for buying this plaoes

a. This ranch borders the ressrvation of the Zunh, lind

'i)

.~ i

.-

i 1'-'

I r r~ I C L

l I,

r

I I

i

' .....

I "I 1,1 I I, e

Page 15

Bale of To­hat­chi

Minion post at Gallup

yet not on it, whioh ia very desirable for unhindered work.

b. It 11e8 on the highway between Zuni and Gal­lup, BO that many Indiana pass by.

o. It haD two splendid welle, which causee many Indians to go there with their herds, and gives op_ portunity for mission work.

d. Many Navajo Indians live in the vicinity 80 that,brother Fryling can continue to work with thia tribe.

e. Aaoorlng to consensus this ie a desirable miSsion station, DO that another Church has had its eye on it.

f. The price is net considered unreasonable.

Ariiole 47.

Decided to empower the Board to Bull the Tohatchi property. The reasons.

a. Th@ goodwill of tho superintendent of the government sohool is very changeable.

b. The time granted for catechizing 11 far too Bhori. Only a half hour.

o. The classes are of nece88ity, beoause of the limited time, much too large.

d. No adult Indiana live around there. e. Water provision is unoertain and limited.

And at any rate too expensive. f. Missionary Brink said he did not want to stay

there for any length of time beoauRe there is not sufficient opportunity to work among adults a8 voll ao employing qualified interpretera.

Artiolo .1!8.

Docidod to empowor tho Board, provided the property at Tohatchi can bo aold at a reasonable price, to open a minion station lit Gallup, N.M •• if thiD proves to be th~ beet pillce. Preferably firet in a rented home. The Board intend. to place Rev. L. P. Brink har", SOja.onu

Pagl! 16

Exeou­tive Board

Foreign Mission.

a. Many Indians live in Gallup, and many oome there regularly, 10 that there 1s plenty of oppor_ tunity to speak aboutn the one thing nocesllary.

b. One of our covertp and a few tormor catechu­"-men. live there, eo thatw9 can work among thee.

o. There 18 opportunity to hold religiouB .er­vioes there with the Indiana.

d. Thoro is a possibility of starting a amall day Bchool there, if we provide a noon meel.

e. There ia more opportunity to maeter the language, ainee educated Indiana live there.

f. It i8 near Rehoboth, eo that the missionary oan keep an eye an it, and be the spiritual oounselor.

g. A rented home seems bGat to Bave expense. and to learn how well the work will turn out.

h. F1nelly, the traneter of Rev. Brink, a8 a180 Rev. Fryling, promotes the nece •• ary ooncentration of our mis8ionariea, aince they are now too far lIepanted.

Article 49.

Synod rejected Point I of Seotion III of the. Agen­da. ·Synod decide that, tor better and firmer maintenance of the mi •• ion work among the Indians, four members be appointed by Synod B8 Executive Board, under the 8uper­vision of Synod, assisted by a delegate from each Olaeeie.-

Article 50.

Synod alia decided not to consider Point 2 ef Section Ills RSynod oonsider the possibility of ee_ tabllsh1ng a foreign mioBion 8tatio~s

a. Such a mis8ion would be diffioult to control.

b. We have our hand. full with our mis.ion work among the Indians.

c. Our duty first ct all i_ to bri~ the Gospel to the heathen in our own land.

\::

i I I

';J

1-­I i I I

I" L f

I' I' I I

Page 17

Synodi_ oal 001l\lll.

Ref. Church South Afrioa

Article 51.

The Stated Olerk read the Report of the Synodi­cal Committe", It wae reoeived al information to be plaoed in the supplemont •• (Cf. Supplement I.)

Artiole 52.

Pointl!O 1, It, 5 of thb Synodical Report were ap­proved. The letter of Mr. J. B~ Huht .(point ') Wall

given to the Oomm. on Ohurch Order. (Cf.Art. 125.) The letter of Prof. B. KUiper (point 6) was read and' reoeived as information. The communication mentioned in point 1. concerning cooperation with other churches, was placed in the hend of the Comm. on Ohurch Order. The letter of Tree Arroyo. wse given to the Gown. on Homo Missions. .

Tho oommunication from the Reformed Churoh in South Africe waB reoeived with appreCiation, and to be placed in the SuppleMents. The Stated Olerk will reply, The request to Bend a delegate there in the new year of 1901 waa tabled until the next Synod.

Article 54.

Decided to adjourn until Monday, June 20, 2500 P.M. CloBing Devotions.

AFTERNOON, JUNE 20.

Article 55.

Opening Devotiona.

Article 56.

Roll Oall. Eader Mokma was present 88 dele@&te for elder Lanning. Brother P. Heeree a8 alternate for elder Vlasman. Both newly attending member. agreed to thePublio Declantbn. .

Article 57.

The minutes were read, received, and approved.

Page 18

Raport Syn. Treae­ueer

Artiole 58.

An invitation from the three Ohriatian Reformed Oonaietorie. of Holland, Michigan, was accepted with thanks for a steamboat trip for the members of Synod, their gueets and wivea, as well a. all office bearers attending Synod.

Article 59.

Received aD lnforlaationJ a, The greetings ef Rev. J. Robbert, at present in the Netherland •• b. From Rev. E. L. Meinder. of South Holland, Illinoi •• c. A request from the W.O.T.A. to set aside the 4th Sua­day in November aD World Temperance Sunday.

Article 60.

Rav. J. Noordewier reports a. Synodical Treaaurars

REPORT OF THE SYNODIOAL TREASURER

FROM 1902-1904

Balance, June 1902 Received from 5 Ola •• ea

Total DillbureementB, 1902-1904 Shertage, June 1904

• 2·51 .lli..J.§.

$ 724.27 1.036.30 * ~12.0'

Received al information and approved. Rev. Noor­dewier wei oontinued in his funotion.

Article 61.

The treasurer presented a 1ht ooncerning the the expenseu of Synod baaed on l,¢ par femily

Olauis Grand Rapids Eaot $189.54 R Grand Rapid .. We.t 202.28 • Holland 296.02 • Xu.ltogon 199.81 • Ill1noh 19~.44 • Iowa 212.94 • 08tfrieeland 61.10

I I ..

I

I I I I

:>

'.'

1"-'

I I.

Fage 19

Advanc .. to tho Synod. Troaa.

Minis­ter to S. Amor_ iOIl

Olueia R

Hackenollok Hudeon Total

Article 62.

44.59 '. ,121.66

$1,521.;8 Approved.

Deoided that the Treasurer ot the Theological School ahall advanoe to the Treasurer of of the Synodical Fund the nece.mary moni.~ for this Synod, and furthermore any shortage that might oocur between Synods in the Synodical Fund.

Rev. Noord.wier im permitted to piece the exponse of interelt for advanced moniee ainoe the leat Synod under Synodical expenee.

Artiole 6;.

Rev. M. Van Voaaem reed the Report ot the Board of Jewish Mia.iona. Thie report waa acoepted, and will be plaoed in the aupplements. (Supplement III.)

Artiole 64.

Rev. J. Vander Mey for the Comm. pert.alning to matter. ooncerning Domestio end Jewish Mi.liona. This report WbS reoeived, and w111 bo considered point by point.

Point 1 of the l{eport wu approved, ns.mely, tho continuation of Rev. G. D. De Jong aB treaeurer by the Board until tnim Syned. But Point 2 was rejected that in the f.uturo the trol101iUTer of. the Beard be IIp.­pointed by Synod, end also to increa.o the remunera_ tion ot thi3 funotionary.

Artich 66.

Furthermore Rev. Vander Mey reported conoerning the point on the Agenda$ ~Olaa.1. bringe it. corres_ pondence with the Holland Ohristian heformed Church in Argentina before Synod with the urgent reque.t that one of our mini.ters be sent there

.

-

Pago 20.

Ohuroh­e. there

for a poriod ot .ppr.xima~oly eno year, and requ~.t. Synod to designate under which 01aaei8 thi. field of l~bor ehall resort. Of. Aota 1902, p. 51. M

01ao819 Iowa. Th. Report that the following wa. m~ntion.d in

the oorreapondence,

•• Thore aro two congregations, ono at Roeario, and the other at Buenos Airesl both call thoml.lves Chri_tian neformod. ara based on ths Word of God ac­oording to tho conception of our Formulas of Unity, and conduoted according to the Ohurch order of Dordt.

b. They earneotly desire te unite with our de_ nomination, in order to obtain tha benefite and the enlightenment of the broader aa.embliee of our Ohurch, to .trengthon the pod Uoh in their land before the law, to obtain epiritual support, and pOBeiblt finan­cbl.

o. Although moat of them are poor and have to oontend with many diffioulties, they are of no other mind than to remain thero, booau.e the olimate .i8 very fav~rable and have rootod t~om.lvee already 80 that thore ie not a queution of meving to North Amerioa or any othor land.

d. Buide. the two <D,rgBnized ohurch .. , there are other fiolde where it i8 neoo.eary to work. For exam­ple in Tre. Arroy •• thore i8 a .attlement which meet. regularly on Sunday, And in Bueno. Air •• alono thera are 2,000 Hollander •• Sinoe theee brethren have for euoh a lr.mg timo orieds -Help ue, receive ua 1n your denomination, lupport U8 with your word and dood!'. And, whereaa, thoy continue to call, your Oomm. il convinced that a miniatllr .. hould be oent to South Amer_ ica for approximately. year to work among this p •• ple. Adopte~. In connection thorwith it was deoided that tho brother vho goo. there ehall work under the direction of the Board of Domestic .Mi •• ione. Ho.ie mandated to to request the existing oongregations or stationa in South America of like faith and heritage to unite with our denomination, and if this

'!,'

\ .

I

I

P8ge 21

Dom. lUes, to remain with Board

Mission.­ary in G. R.

Salary Home MiBaion­IIIr1lls

MambaI'll Board of Heathan Millsions

request is granted by two or more co~remat1onB. to orga.nize a eepara to Olassie there.

Artiole 67.

Deoided (Point 4 of the Report) to retain rule pertaining to the operation of Domestio Missions by lIIeans of " Board with delegatee from eaoh Oiusle. Two 01868e6 requested that the Miaa10n beoollle 0188_ sloal. (018881111 Grand Rapids Eaet' and Wast.) And

. OlllBe h Iowa had on the Agenda f M Synod make DOilies tio Missions 018881081, deterllline the number of 11118Sion.­arieB for eaoh Olaesia, and pay them from the General Fund. M

In oonnection therewith it wae deoided that the Board oall a missionary-pastor especially for Grand Rapids and vicinity, or, if such oannot be done, to permit the present lIIissionar1es to work in said plaoes tor at least a year.

Artiole 68.

Deoided that the lIIinimUIII salary for home mission­ariee shall henceforth be $700.00 per year. and the maximum $1,000.00. (Of'. flllrther Art. 19 in the Rulae and. Regulations.)

Artiole 69. :. "':"',"

The matter of "Ohurch Comity· 18 postponed until the Report of the Oommittee for Ohurch Oorrespondenoe with the Reformed Ohurch is oonsidered. (Of'. Art. 74., 75. and Supplement IX.)

Article 70. Deoided that the First Olerk cast the ballot for

Synod to elect formally the members of the Mission Board, nominated by the varioue Classes. This was done.

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF HEATHEN MISSIONS.

Obasie • ti

• a

Hackensack, Rev. J. A. Westervelt Hudson, Rev. F. Doezema Grand Rapide East, Rev. J. B. Hoekstra Grand Rapids liest, Rav. H. Baato Muskegon, Rev. H. Walko'tten

Page 22

Members af' the Board of' Domestio. Missionu

Comma

Carr. with the Ruf'ormed Ohurch

Olasslo • u

•

Holland, Rev. J. Post Illinois, Huv. H. Vander Werp Iowa, R~v. I. Van Dellen Oetfrieeland, Rev. O. Bode

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DOMESTIC )IlSSIONS.

01a88ia • Hackensack, Elder James Christie Hudeon, Rav. P. Kosten (Alt. Rev. K. Van Goor) Grand Rapids East, Rev. T. Vander Ark M

• Grand Rapids West, Rev. J. W. Brink • Muskegon, Rev. G. Weetenberg M Holland, Rev. M. Van VeS8Bll1 • .. ••

Illinois, Rev. P. Van Vliet Iowa, Rav. J. ~8nder Key Ostfrieeland, Rev. O. Bode

Article 71.

Olosing Devotions.

FORlmOOll, JUNE 21.

Artiole 72.

Opening Devotions.

Article .".

The minutes of June 20 were read, received, and approved.

Article 74.

Rev. H. Beete reported for the Oommittee on Oor_ respondence with the Raformod Ohuroh of Amerioa. The report was received and approved. To be placed in the supplements. (Supplement IX.)

In oonnection with this report it ·was decideds

1. Although Synad with sadness observes that the General Synod of the Rat~rmsd Ohurch refu6ed our pro­poeal 10 begin oloser oorrespondenoe, yet

.'.\

I l I

I Page 2~

Churoh Comity

Jewish IUeaione

Chicago Hebrew Miseion

. Thanku. to Rev • G. D. De Jong

it decides to oontinue the correspondenoe in the man­ner followed up until the present.

Artioh 75.

Decided not to enter into the proposal of the Reformed Church ooncerning §Church Comity" in tha Homa Mission field.

Rev. J. Vander Mey read the report of Rev. J. I. Plee, seoretary of the Oommittee for Jewish MiB~ siona. It. wu accepted. Deoided to plaae it in the supplements. (Supplement V.)

Rev. Vander Mey now reported concerning msttere of Jewish Miss10ns. The report was accepted to be con­uidered point by point. First of all it w~e deCided to reoommend Rav. E. Breen as member of the Board of the Chicago Hebrew Misslon. Elder S. Dekker io already s member thereof. Further more it was decided to grant the above mission $2.500.00 annually from the fund for Jewish Mi~aiona. providing the fund allows thie.

Artiole 78.

Rev. G. D. De Jon~ expresses his the.~ to Synod, and especially the Board, for the confidenoe placed in

. . him all treasurer of that Board for eo many years. The chairmen thBnkB him. Synod aleo expreRoed its gratitude to the Firat State Bank of Holland for the checking aocount without coat, all well as extending drafts free to the Domestio Minions,

ArtiQle 79.

Rev. R. L. Hean reports for the Committee ooncern­ing mattars pertaining to the Theological Sohool. ·Tha report is accepted to be considered point by point. POint 1 was ap_ .

Page 24

Nation­al OhriBt­ian Ass' n

Offer_ ing for N.O.A.

proved, namely, the propoaal' ·Synod declare that the Ouratorium under the given circumstances acted correot­ly with respect to Prof. B. Kuiper in granting him a three-year leave of absence to oontinue his studies.

Article 80.

Olosing Devotiona.

AP'TERNOON, JUNE 21.

Article 81.

Opening Devotions.

Article 82.

Deoided to have an evening session from 7.15 to 9'}0 O' clook.

Article 8,. Rev. S. H. Swartz addressed as representative

of the National Christian Association. He stated that this association was organized in Plttaburgh, Pa., and in 1874 weB incorporated in the State of Illinois. Furthermore, he spoke of the neocaeary and profitable work of the association agalnB~ seoret societies. Final_ ly, he urged us to stand firm over against thsse power­ful foroes in our land. The president thanked him in a fitting manner.

Artole 84.

Rev. J. Grosn, ae representetive of our Church with the N.C.A. reported. lUll report Ifas aoospted. It was also docided the request our churohes hence_ forth to taks an annual offering for this association.

Article 85.

Rev. O. M. MoLeod Smith filsd hie oredential as dBlsgete of the S~lod the the Reformed Presbyterian

I I 1'--

i

I' I

Page 25

Hules Th"ol. School

Art. 11

Art. 14

Art. 12

German Semin_ ary

Church, and a8 representative of the National Reform Aeeocintion. Received aa infor~tion.

Article 86. I Oontinuation of the Report conoerning matters por-

taining to the Theological Sohool. A raqusat for a more c toal'ly defined rela tionahij' of the Oura toriuUl to ths Ohurch and its oompetence, (Prsssnted by Olas­ai9 Orand Rapida Wast) was not granted, 8incs it oon­Bidars the R~gulntionA conoernsd defin" this suffioi­ontly.

It WaB further decided that Artiole 11 of the Rules and Regulations of the Theologioal School shall bes -theBe Rules and Regulations can only be revised by Synod, or by the Ouratorium with the approbation of Synod. M

Synod aleo declared that it was not burdened by the aotion of the previous Synod, Art. 29. IV, 1. R, Binoe the Ouratorium, conSisting of delegatee frcm the 010e8e8, is the appointed body, to which Synod can mandate the matter.

The advioe of the Oomm. wae also adopted to re­viae the Rulee and Hegulations with respeot to Article 14 ao that ·only ona Sunday in two months- be chan~ad to ~only ona Sunday per month, while Article 12 wae delet~d with the provision that the regulation of preaohing supplies remain with the Rector, and that when a students exhorts too much without permiSSion of the faculty end without the knowledge of the Rector, he will not be permitted to take the examinations.

With respect to the proposal on the A~endae ·Synod help in the organization of a preparatory sohool for German ministere in the West," it was de­cided. ·Synod rejects the organization of a separate seminary for the Germso.element of our Ohurch, but with an 5ye to the D5ede thereof, with special help tron CIaeeis Oetfriealand, to provide for those needs in our own seminary with respeot to training Ger=an ministers.

Pag .. 26

Oollege NaDle

Funds

Re_ formed In,.. etruc­tion

Articl .. 88.

With respect to the matter of the Oollege it wae decideds

a. To approve the work done thu8 far; b. To approve the name John Cavin Junior-Oollege.

Article 89.

Ooncerning the expeneicn of the Literary De_ partment of our achool into a Oollege, it weB decided.

a. The coat thereof will have to be met by separ­ate fundsl

b. That 1n the future theee funds may only be used 1n the interests of the Oollegel

0 •. Thet although in time become more self_sustain­ing, that the Ohurch, nevertheless, shall remain the guarantor that the instruction of Reformed principles shall continue. The Ouretortum is instructed to oon­tinue in the way that has been started.

" ~., "

Article 90

Decided to appoint a fifth professor for the L1terary Department. (Of. Art. 149.)

Artiole 91.

OloBing Devotions.

EVENING SESSION, JUNE 21.

Article 92.

Opening Devotions.

Artiole ~.

Rev. Einink i& Beated e8 alternate for Rov. Breen, and Rov. G. J. Haan 08 alternate for Rev. Drukker. The brethren agreed to the Publio Declaration.

Il

I (, [

I.

I I I

I~ I

Page 21

Oove-nanter Church

Nat'l Reform. 0\88 in

Appl t­ment Dr. Janssen

And Prof. Broene

Article 94.

Rev. MoLeod Smith--of. Art, 85-_addreeeed Synod. He said that hie Ohurch, the old Scotch Oovenanter Church felt l~nk"d to us through the bonds of hiatory anc\ faith. HiAGhurch "ing-li only the Psallllll in i toe worship eervioe. exoludes members of eecret soci.tie., and forbids musical instruments in worship servioe •• It is strongly in favor of temperance, and striot Sabbath observance; no one oan be ordained 11.8 an offioe bearer unlGse he abmtsine from the use of to­bacco. The Oovenanters forbid any of their members to hold political office, or to votG, as long as the Const! tution aoes not reoognize Oluist u King of the nation.

ESpecially through the National Reform As.ocia­tion endeavor to make propaganda for their political ideaa. The OovenantSi' Ohuroh is a Mieelon Ohurch. It.:- '111.11 proapering lIli6Sion-poatSamong the Indiana, the oolored, Jew. and Ohinese in our oountry, •• well as in Syria, Oyprus, and Ohina. It hae a seminary with two profesBore, and a college with ten teachers. Last year revenues for Heathen Miniona w!U $21,000.00, Domestic Missions, ~15.000.001 for all ita work, $222,491.00, almost $2,,00 par m~ber.

The Vioe-President thanked the epesker for his fitting warde.

Article 95.

Deoid"ed to appoint Dr. R. Janemen for 11\ period of two yearl! 11\8 L@ctor in exegetical theology for an annual ealary of $1,'00.00. (Of. Art. 121.)

Artioh 96.

Decided to appoint Prof. A. E. Broene u Literary ProfesBor for a period of two years. Salary, $800.00. (Of. Art. 150.)

Page 28

Artiole 97.

Salary Beoau.e of unuilual oircumstances Prof. Ten HoDI' Frof. Ten will receive a gratuity of $150.00 for tho next two HO'lr yeare.

Leave Prof. Rooka

Prof. A. J. Rooke reoeived a leeve of ab •• noe for a yGaI' (1905-06) to pursue post graduate work.

Artiole 99.

Feneion The peneion of Mrs. G. B. Boer waD established Mrl.Boer at $200.00 per year.

DOl'llli­tory

Mem.­bere Oura­torium

Article 100.

The proposal to empow®r the Ouratorium to bUild a auitable dormitory wa& rejected.

Artich 101.

The First Olerk wee ap~ointed to cast the ballot for Synod to elect the m~mbere of the Ourator1um, wnioh he did. The following brethren were elected.

01as818 Grand Rapids East; 4yoer8' Delegate. Rov. J. Groen; Alt., Rev. T. Vander Ark. 2 years. Delegate, Rev. L. J. HulmtJ Alt., Rev. J. B. Roeketra.

Olamsia Grand Rapids West, 4 yearus Delegate, Rev. J. Noordewier, Alt., Rev. J. Keizer. 2 years. D~l.gate. Rev. P. Ekater; Alt., Rev. J.V. Brink.

Ola.aie Hollands 4 y@ara. Rmv. G.D. De JongJ Alt., Rev. J. Manni. 2 ysaru Rev. A. Keiz@rl Alt., Rev. 1#. De Groot.

01aeei9 Muskegon. 4 yearss Rev. R. L. Haanl Alt., Rev. O. Westenberg. 2 yeara; Rev. R. Walkottenl Alt., Rev. J. X. Flea.

ClaBBia Illinoi81 4 y@ares Rav. K. Kuiper, Alt. Rev. P. Ven Vliet. 2 years. Rev. B. H. Ein1nkl Alt., Rev. E. ·Braen.

[' I.

l I

~ I

Page 29

Oomm. Cleve.­land

Clueh Hudaons 4 yearo! Rev. K. Van GaoI'I Alt., Rev. H. Van Hoogan •

. 2. yearu· Rev. F. Doaz .. mal Alt •• Rev. D. Vander Ploeg. Claesio Hacken.ack,

4Y6aro, Rev. J. 2 yearS! Rev. J.

Olaash Iowu 4 yearsl Rev. 1. 2 y" ... r6 I Rev. J.

01a8B1s Oetfrioelandl 4 yearsl Rev. J. 2 yearss Rov. G.

A. \IIoa terv"lt; Al t... Rev. O. Voorhis; Alt •• Rev. Jo

Ven l.Io11l1nl Alt •• Rev. J. Wyngaarden; .1.1 t., Rtivo J.

H. Sohlll h; Alt., Rev. A. L. Hoerkerj 11.1 t •• Rev. H.

K. Poppen. F. van Routen.

Vandal' Mey •. Smitter.

"'huh. C. Bode.

The brethren J. W. Garvelin and S. S. Postma were also re-appointed ao membero of the Curatorium.

Artiole 102.

The Oomm. for the Theologioal School is also ap_ pOinted to draw up a quota for the Theological School, and make a grose list for the appointment of a fifth Lit.erary professor. (Of. Art.. 9O.)

Article 10;;.

It i8 left to the Ouratorium to appoint eome one to replaoe Prof. Rooke. (Of. Art. 96.)

.Article 104.

Rev. Do Jong reported for the Oomm. ooncerning Oleveland (Art. 89. Act. 1902), where it appears that the matters thera were settled in a peaoeful mannaI'.

Closing Davot.ions.

,.

FORENOON, JUNE 22.

"nich 106.

Opening Devotions.

Ii (:

·f

I I ,-

I

Page 50

Enlarge­TIIent

Dept. for Youth

Adver_ tilling

Artiole 107.

The minutes of June 21 are read, received, and approved.

Article 108.

Elder Postma reports for the Oorom. of Supervision of DeVachter. Hie report 18 received. (Supplement VIII.'

Artiole 109.

Rev. Noordew1er reports for the COmIQ. for Publi­oation mattera. It was received and oonsidered pOint by pOint.

1. A motion and a plan for the enlargement of De . Waohter ie not acoept-ed.

2. Deoided hencef"rth to provide two columns in De Wachter for young people. A permanent co-worker will be epoointed. Turned over to the Oommittee on Appointments. (Of. Art. 159.)

5. The question of advertiSing medicines in De Waohter is left for the Oomm. of Supervision to de_ termine.

An- 4. Synod did not enter into the matters • Synod nouna_ provide that ell announoe(Qents appear early enough in mente De Wachter for the most distant congragationa.-

Bd. of Publi_ cation

Person­nel

5. Nor did Synod enter into the matter (Agenda, p. 24) concerning the advisability of eatablishing a Board of Publication.

6. Decided the Church Newe suoh ae oalle, accept_ ances, declines, etc., in De Wechter be placed with­out oODl,uent.

7. Decided to to continue Rev. A. Kaizer as Edi_ tor-1n-~'hiaf until the next Synod for De Wachter; Rev. G. D. ~e Jong as alternate editorl Kr. H. R. Brink ae BUBineee Manager, and Mr. H. Holkeboer a& printer.

. ) :

I-

t

Pogo ~l

s. S. Out-.linss

Article 110.

Deoided to appoint a Oommittee to devise plana for a suitable list for Sunday Sohool lessons. This Oomm. shall eee if aome influence can be made on the Oo~~. for International Lesaone, whether tho outlines cannot be revised. (For members of this Oom~. Bee Art. 159.)

Article 111.

D~o1dod that every office bearer of our Ohurch Bhall receive a copy of tho Acts cost free. For the

Aote benefit of our American and Oerman.congrogations a Bumwary of the minutes are to be plaoed 1n ~~e Banner and Ref. Bote, with tho usual remuneration, (Acta 1902, Art. 148.)

Motions in the Agenda

Artie 1<3 112.

Oonoerning the article in the Agenda~ -That no motions of a weighty natura booonaidered that have not been previously placed in the Agenda, 80 that Oonsistories and 01a8ses can bsforehand deliberate on them." It ia decided to adopt this a8 a Rule in 80 far aa possible.

Article 11',

Deoided$ The Synod provide the Oomm. for De Waohter a detailed mandate oonoerning ita duties, including a regulation for the contont of De Waohter. The ooncept thoreof Shall be devised by the appointed oommittee. (Ooncerning this ese Art. 1}8.)

Artiole 114.

Olosing Devotions.

AFTERNOON; JUNE 22.

Article 115.

Opening Devotions,

Peg" }2

Quota Theol. School

Nomin.­ation for Lit. Prof.

Sunday School Liter_ ature

Union Report

Artiole 116.

Ooncerning the quota for the following two years was Bet at 60¢ perfamily. Each Olaaeie ahall regulate each year the number of families of each congregation within its oonfin69.

Artiole 117.

The Oomm ad hoo pressnted the following nomina­tion as advice from which to eleot II fifth professor fort-he Literary Department, (Art. 90." Prio. E. S. Seven_ma, A.B.; Mr. Boyd Bodll, Ph.D. I Mr. ~'rank Van Vliet, A.B.1 Mr. Wm. Rinck, A.M. Received aB infor­mation. to be considered later in Executive S~s81on. (Of. Art. 149.)

. Article 118.

The matter of Sunday Sohool literature i& con­sidered. and decided to accept the propoaal of broth_

. ar J. Tanis of Paterson, N. J. to publishs

a. A Quarterly for Sunday Sohool toaohere b, A Leeson Leef for older pupils, weekly. c. A Leason Leaf for yo1nger pupils, weekly.

The Synod to appoint editors for these pub11ca­tiona with the neoessary alternates, whoae honorari­um will be paid by Mr. Tanio. Ap~ointmente to be made by t.he Oommittee on Appointmente. MI'. Tanis promised to pub11eh neat publications and aloo reading material tor young people and articlelfor the Sunday School.

Artiole 119.

Rev. Vander Ark reported for the Oomm1ttee on Unions. It wae received and diecuessd point by point. Finally the following was adopteds

With respect to Unions tho Agenda hae tho fol­lowings

1. "Synod deoid@ end dtermine that metilbera of present Un1onScannot be members of the Church, with grounds. At the Bame time Synod provide a solution for the worlting man. M

'OlaBsiB Illinois

• .'>

"-'

I I

I

I I '-~

I I I \

I I I

I i

2. ·Synod give direction whereby it will be P08-sible for our workers to take fI stand against Unions based upon a revolutionary foundation. M

Olassis Iowa

Concerning this matter your oommittss Bubmits the following to Synod for coneideratior.

, I. In the first place your OOlDlll. judged it neosa __ sary to present to the membere of our Churohs

1. One DUly not d6mand of Ii Christian that he oompht61y iB!llah himself from the ",oaiety of th1B world in the netur~l domain. He would then have to leava this world. Only he operatea from a different principle, and from, that prinoiple he speake and aots differently than the world.

2. The Ohristian laborer may not be & silent witness of all the evil and unrighteousness found in the field of labor. Nor may he withdraw himself 80 that he doee not U6. lie must not eay. -Am I my broth~r'B keeper!" By virtue of hie Christianity he is oalled effectively to arise in order to orevent Bin and remove abuBII; .

~. Alone he cannot accomplish muoh generally. He mUBt unite with othotra, eo that with united strength the goal may be obtained. Thereto hiG Chrietianity calle him. The press of Ciroumstances, over which the laborer has no control, can at times place upon him the necessity to seek and to enter into organic union with 0 ther~. And thus 11. could hsppen tha t. Il Ohrist1an laborer le not able to obtain work or raceive a steady income, while he remains outside s Labor Union. He is looked upon aa being leae quali­fied for the deBired job or alse untrustworthy or illS kel!l miIW8e thereof, because hit is not under the proteotion of tha Union.

4. Undor the present circumatancsa in the.world of labor.~otgan1zmtion 18 the calling of Ohriatians

,. ;

Page .54

.~

in their office. Now. however, the question io. Shall the OhriAtien join a Union, such as it now is and ~triv.to beT Or shall he put forth effQrts to eeub ...

. 11eh a positive Chri"tian organization of workeraf We answers The Chriotien initiatB efforts with otheTe to establish an organization on ~ poaitive Christian bae1e. If a non-Christian organization haa already ac­oomplished 80 much, what could not ~ po~itve Christian organbsUon accompli6hY '!'he Chriatian m.u~Uke a stand for the beet poueible. And that iss local organiza­tion. with po~itive Chrl.l!ltisn llrinciplllle for all work­erll who w111 fight under such a etsndard. There are aweeome drawbacks connected therewith of ~ a manifold nature such ae funde, leaders. etc. Some of the draw­baoks are difficult to remove. Only tha thought 01.' Godle blepainf, and the power of the Ohriatian prinoi­ple give courage. No salt yet 80 salt, no light eo light, no principle eo powerful 88 that of the Reform-

oed. But alao no principle, 80 difficult to apply in everything and to everything oonsistently.

,. Should someone differ with us and believe that a pODit1ve Christian organization is neither desired nor oommanded, while he nevertheless wiehe. to join an 01'_

,ganization; or, if it wee appareentlyneoeeoary to be­coma a member at once, and that he could not wait until

.auoh an organization is established, then he should teet the orgainzation by the Iiord of God. He deo should take into coneideration whether it is a fre., indepen­dent organization, or with othere i& affiliated' with a larger orgainzation. If the latter ie the cae,. then

_ he Bhould hot this highllr organization. And he remain ." outside the Union, if' he h.rp tlult the Union.

a. W.ther an oath or promiee is required for un­conditional obedience to.th@m&jority or to the Soard, with the exclUSion of hiB duty wlth respect to God, the State, the Church, the family, or Whether it main­taine the exclUSive right to diem! •• , hi. membership; whioh 10 ta sin against the ht and 5th cOJD!llll.nd.ent, and also cannot be harmoniud with I Oorinthians 7.2.5 . and Oala til1.nB -'s 1»

b. Officially des@cratem the Sabbath by holding

.-

l '.j

,····'1

.bU/51nen meetingfr or uenctioning the el!1llle, when it. Board or its Committoe doee 101 By holding train ex­oursion., or in any way that is in oontliot '0'1 th the principle of the 4th oommandment end lnpart a180 a_ gainst the law'of th@ State,

o. give the right in ita Rules or deoieions, or in the appointment of pickets to the use of Violence, or in ita strikes and boyootts going in that way which straightway leads to the oocasion to all kinde of deeds of vl01onoe, which are 8ina against the 5th and 6th

. oommandmentsl

d~ forbids ormakea it impossible for a member, wh9. as a Chrilltian to do what he ie commanded to do, or d81118.nds of him to do what he as a Christian I119.Y· not do. This ie an insult to Chriet of the repres_ lllio~'of' the office in t.'le Ohristianj

e. by obtaining funds in a manner and for the purpose whioh are condemned by the Vord of God, for example, dance parties, card parties, gamee, Sunday excursions, eto.,

f. a ritual (a document, whereby religious rites ara regulated) whioh is kept secret for BVery_ one who is not a member.

g. in ita essence is a secret or oathbound 01'_

gani~aticn. If he disoovers that the Union which he wishes to join includes one or all of these, he re­frain from joining until it improves itself.If he does not find these interlocking avila in the local Union, but doss find woakneaseo, it would be permit­ted him to join, providing he ahall reoeive the op_ portunity to take reforming action aocording to his calling. This is spoken of ae permiaeive. The ideal remains, a labor orgBillZation in a pOBtivs Christian spirit. (Which of couree doee not says a Union with a positive Christian confession.)

II. Concerning Churoh Polity, you Comm. advisee that Synod mandata the Ooneistorieswith respeot to the following and consider ae a rule by which to acts

1. that Consistories by means of inveetigation beoome informed ,,1 +"h ma ttere partaining to the in­dustrial field and with

Page ;:;6

prinoiples, eto., of the Unions. Then it will appear that not all Unionn are alike. They are to be divided into two classen. Bome Unions have degenerated and daily prooeed upon the wrong way. Again othere remain more with the orlginsl purpooe and aspirations of the labor movement, ara not thoroughly under the influenoe of the wrong spirit, and do not cooperate with that whioh is to be condemned.However, no aingle Union, insofar aa we have tested them, Bre completely free from abnormalities. According to the knowledge that it poe.esaes, the Consiatory faithfully warn against the oine and dangera found here. The Consistories awaken the believers to a more serious attention to this matter}

2. that the Conahtories tolerate no one in the membership of the Church, who is a ~ember and intends toremsin 80, of an organization against whioh chargee oan be made of the above named injustioes. The.Oon81e­Bletory aot slowly, instructing, but leading to oen­Bura if neoessary. (Of. Ohuroh Order, bottom of p. 421)

,. that the Oonsistories punish thoss members of the Union, who make themselves ~Jilty of violence or other irregularities with or without orders from the Union»

4. that the Consiatory furthermore bear with those, who, throur,h the foras of ciroumstances, belong to a neutral, tolerable Union, but advise everyone to re­Ptain outside tho eo_called neutral Unions as long a8 possible. and admonls~ all who belong to break with it, or better yet! advise all to engaee in establish­ing of a Chriotien organization ao thst the powerful labor movement be led in a 9fter footing, Bnd make it appear that Chrietian1ty haa powerful eav1n~ pcwer.

III. Since thia is all that your Oommittee believes it can do bsforehand, it propoeeo that Synod appoint a Oommittee, whichJ

1. during the next two yeare make a spacial study of the matter of the Union;

2. present the prinoiples and activities of a Ohristians laborers associationl

. =~-

I u. I I

L I. I I

I.

~. Take into consideration the report presented to the last Synod, and aleo the overtures of Olasses Iowa and "rand Rapids;

4. to report to the next Synodl

5. (if Synod gives us ae Oomm. the liberty to propose qualified pereone), shall consist of the g&ntlemen Prof. Schoolland, the Revs. Groen and Brink of Grand Rapids, end tho elders bek.~er from Chicago and P. Stem from Paterson.

Respeotfully aubmi tted,

For the Oomm.,

T. Vander Ark, Heporter

Added to the above the following amendments were added I

1. The Synod grants the Oommittee mentioned in Point III the mandate to con"lult as mUCh'l.8 poasible with othor Churches and organizatione wh~,cy~pathize with us, in order to engage in united action.

2. Thh Oommittee at the sallie time funotion aa a Oommittee of Propaganda to awaken as muoh aa posaible action for the good of the labor movement.

~. The appointed OODlrlll. tt lie 111 granted the right to add othere to their number.

Article 121.

Rev. Van. Goor re&ted for the 001lllll. on Church Order. Section IV. The report i8 received, to be oo~ sldered point by point.

Article 122.

CLOSing Dsvotion9.

Article 12~.

Opening Devotiono.

Page ~6.

Ohurch Order Repcrt

.Prof. of Faith .And the Lord'lI Supper

Article 124.

The m1nut.u of June 22 are read, reoeived, and approv$d. Rev. P. Eketer, alternate for Rev. J. Kei­zer, is aeated after agreeing to the Publio Deolara_ t.ion.

Article 125.

The Oorom. for Ohuroh Order oontinues ita report with Rev. Van Goor reporting. Aftar diecuosion and a few ohanges, the Report waB finally adopted a8 f01-lowu

1. ~Olae8i8 Hackensack .eks. What shall be done with persons applying for full membership of the Ohuroh, who have no intmntion of partaking of the Lord's SupperT Aleol What shall be done with those

. members, who constantly negleot thb ordinance!-

The judgment of your Oomm. i8$

8. Sinoe the Reformed oonoeption is correct that by meane of profession of faith to be admit­ted to the Lord's Supper, and theBe pereon do not have that intention, they naturally cannot be admit-· tedJ

b. that the unbreakable union bet.ween Baptism, making profession of faith, to baptize, and partaking of the Lord1a Supper must constantly be pressnted by meana of preaching, instruction, and urged by per_ Bonal admonition, and if neoessary by church disci­pline, that by unspiritual perseverance in the wrong way ultimately will lead to exolusion from the Churoh, in order to maintain ita stanpoint sacred.

2. 'Synod conSider whether the time 16 not ripe to take etepe, in consultation with other churches, to obtain a basic review of the Ohurch Order. And if no revision is forthooming, that we then obtain and Englieh tranala tion. •

Oonsistory, Legrove Ava., G.R.M.

"

I I

~)

L I

I 1/ I' \ I I I I I I L

fage .59

Re_ vision of the Ohurah Order

OIilUng twice

Ground for Divorce

l41n1o_ tere from other Denom.. ina­ttoM

_~' ,v

Taking into consideration that there i8 ground for revision, but that we as a younger and smaller denomine.t1on cannot do this alone, your Oomm. advises to enter into correspondence with the Gereformesrde Kerken in the Netherlands, with the recommendation to engage in such a revision. (For Oorom. members Bee Art. 159.).

}. fiSynod review Art. 4, Sub. }, No.2, of the Ohurch Order., lind .formulate it fUI 1'01101'188 '!'hat. the oalling of the aame'miniuter twice in· suocession shall not be permitted in the lIIa'lll" vacallcy, at least. not wit.hin a year.-

Ttle Oomm. has no objeotion to granting thiu request.

4. "Synod review the decisioll with respeot to the dissolution of marriag". whioh was taken in 1898 (Acts 1898. Art. 62) and return to the decision of 1~94. Au ground for divoroe be reoognized. willful desertion of an unbeliever, I Oor. 7815.1

Sinoe there is.no conorete oaee, and there is a differenoe of opinion with respeot to the point in question in the enumerated text, your Oomm. advises that a Oommittee be appointed for thie matter, ee_ peoiaily to make an exegetioal etudy. (As members of this Oommittee 98e Art. 159.) .

5. dWhether permitting ministers belonging to a denomination with whloh we are not in correspondenoe

to preaoh in our ohurohss in not in.oonflict with our oooleoiatical rulea,"

A1 though it is not· known to us tha t suoh an ec_ clelliaatioal rule exista and the remainder of the instruotion cono&rning the oharacter of the corresw pondence not being well oircumsoribed, your Comm. judges that nO Ooneietory permit ministerB·outs1de

·ourdenomination to presoh, except that he stands within the Reformed confession.

. ..

) ..

Page 40

Reoep­tion of Members

Super_ vision of Oand. and Emeriti

6. "Synod attempt to bring uniformity in the re­oeiving and tranafe~ing of certifioates of membership with oorresponding ohurcheB.~

Ola8aio Iowa

a. Sinoe there is a difference of opinion in the understanding of the two artioles of the Church Order (pp. 46,47> conoerning ~members from other churches-. your Oomm. advises to delete them.

b. Sinoe it is neceesary to maintain the purity of.the_Lord'a Supper, it follows that all who are transferred to us should be examined whether they are devout in the confeSSions Bnd are in a poaition to partake of the Lord's Supper.

o. The form for reception be left to the 00n8i8_ tories. Only grant the congregation the opportunity to submit objeotions.

7. eSynod make a definite ruling whereby ecole­elastioal sup@rvieion over the oongregational work of candidates and those who formerly served tha ohurch 88 ministeTe be oompetently aeaured.~

Claesia Grand Rapids mast

a. The Comm. judgee that, if our candidates af-ter thr"e years have not receiveSka call and yet de­Dire that their candidature remain in effect, to ad_ dress themselves to their 01aas1a, 80 that it oan deal with them aocording to necessity. Thie would be good as· a guarantee to the Churoh, and by renewal direot -attention to these brothere. (See the am@ndment bOlow.)

. b~ . With T@spect to point b tho th~ht of your Comm. 16 that the offica doee not belong to the per_ Bon but to the organism of the Church, th~ee brothers or emeriti be declared or be the responsibility of the Claaeie. Only in this way is eoaleeiatioal super_ vision guaranteed.

8. ·Olose1s believes the time is ripe to insti­tute Partioular Synods, and requests Synod to divide the ClasseD into Particular Synods."

ClIlIsaie Iowa

"~I

, .

Patie 41

Your Oomm. judges that there are no preponderantrsa&one tor this and thUD cannot recommend it.

9. "018Be1e 18 of the opinion that there should Memor_ be more clarity and development in aiaoonel service, andum and proposes to Synod that ",_pommittee be appointed Viseon- to compose a memorandum of this material for en-ate lighterunent, and report at the next Synod.~.

Hymns

Choirs

Seoond edition Ohurch Order

Your Oomm. endoraGe this request.(For members l18e Artiole 159.)

10. "9ynod exprauly dGolare tnat no uuapproved hymns be used in our Sunday Sohools or Church services, and urge that this be maintained."

01as81s Grand Hapide weat :..

Since the hymns which 01a8e1s Hackensack hsve permitted for the society, although there are no approved hymns, your OOmlll. advises that ~ynod declare that for Churoh services to maintain definitely to the Ohurch Order, Art. 69.

11. ·Synod dieapprov& of chotro at public Church services. W

Olasaie Il11noia Your Oomm. advisee so to do. (Of. the remark

belo.,. )

12. A communioation from Mr. J. B. Hulst oon­cerning a new iasus of the Church Order and other matters arB considered.

As reply your Gomm. propoe8a the followings

•• Since the firet ieeue is scld out, naturally a n~ edition i& needed.

h. To take advantage of a new edition of our Church Order end Gener~l ~ecieion8, a Oommittee be appointed to make the nec@B8ary additions and cor_ rections.

c. Ooncerning the q'lIlstion who ill to pubUllh th1e new edition and upon what conditioner that like the publication of the firut edition, thi8 be placed in the hande of the committee to be ap­point~d. (For Gomm. members 98e Art. 159.)

"

Page 42

Joint Oonf. Pre.b. and Ref. Churohes

Amend_ ment Point 7

Ohoirs

Finally a co_unic .. tion WillS cone id ered by us conoerning cooperation with the -Joint Oonference of Reformed Ohurches Holding the Preebyterlan System. Your Oomm. rGcommend~ not to enter into this matter. Vith beat wiahee aloo for this branch of Synodical work,

For the Oommittee,

K. Van Goor, Reporter

Ooncerning Point. 7a of the Report the following amendment w .. s addedg "A oandidate a8 member is under the supervision of the Oonsistory of the congregation to which he belonge, but ooncerning hie work as can­didate, he is under the supervision of the 018as1s under whioh he re80rte.- '

From the diSCUSSion of Point 11 it appeared that 8 choir W08 not diol>.pproved in 80 far al! it gives guidance in the singing in the congregation, but only when the ohoir singe without the congregation parti_ oipating.

Articlo 126.

Oomm.' A rule waa adopted that all study committee., Reporta who are to report at the next Synod, if po.aible to 6 mo. be- inform tho churohe. at least six months before Synod fore meete. Synod

Emer. Bd. R .... port

Article 127.

A letter from Dr. R. Janseen was read whereby he informilld Synod tha t he had the freedom to accept the appointment as Lector in Exeeetical Theology, (see Art. 95). W1th joy Synod reoeiVed the same lUI

1nf'0I'1lI!I. tion.

Article 128.

Rev. Van Ve8sem read the Report of ths Emeritus Board. It wae received snd will be placed 1n the sup_ plements. ,(Supplement VI.) ,

ArUcle 129.

Rev. Van Vaseam aleo read the Report of the Oomm. for Varia. It was reoeived to be considered point by point.

I)

!

I I~

Page 4}

Varia aapo.rt

Quota Emeri_ tus Fund

Name of tho ))eno_ ina tion

Artiole l}O.

After it Willi deoided to hold an evening union .Synod adjourned with clo~ing devotions.

EVENING SESSION, JUNE 2,.

Artiole l}l.

Opening Devotions.

Artiole 1}2.

The Report of the Oomm. for Varia was diacue8ee item by item, and finally approved 8a followe.

Report of the Oomm. of Pre-advice tor Varia.

Your Oomm. hes examined the provision of the law ae "ell u tho Acts of Incorporation, snd finde noth­ing therein tha t oonfliots: with th .. Word of God nor the good order of tho Churoh,' and therefore sdvhea to approve inoorporation.

Tha Bupplamant presented by the Board .po .... r. to be very acourstel meets the requirements of the required demands with reapect to tb. Fundi Synod ao­oept it unohanged.

Syncd aocept the advioe of the Board to ut e quote of 19~ per family for the EmerituB Fund, whioh totals the Gum of' $:> ...200.00; the number of families in the denomination; 1e 11,826; thiB figure in our· estimation 18 fairly juet. Eaoh 01ass18 regulate the quota eacb year as in Art. 116.

According to the Acta of Incorporation Synod fileat the Board. There must be 5 mombare. residing in Miohigan, for a period of three yearll. '(For the members appOinted aes Art. 159.)

Ooncerning the Point on the ~gende. ·01e1l818 Grand Rapids Vest requeete Synod to determine what actually 1e the official name of our Churoh. Ohris_ tian Reformed Ohurch, Christian Reformed Churoh in North America, or Ohristian Reformed Church in Amer_ ica, Bince varioue documents and articles do not appear .to stat ... definitely ....... ..

"

1'-

Pag" 44

Bash for union with Oiaesis lIaoken,.. sack

what the name ie. N Your Oomm. found the following practleed by the Church, The Agenda and De Waohter, INorth America." The Theologioal School and Miseion Boards, -Amerioa·,

Acoording to Art. 48, the Synod of' leeO the of­fioial name of the Ohurch is IHolland Ohristian Ro­formed Churchw•

In 1892, eee Art. 87. a proposal was made to delete the word -Holland·, this weB followed by a decision of the Synod of 1894, Art. 26, from whioh it 8Kpeare that with th~ deletion of the word -Hol_ land', the denominational name is aotuallys Chriutian Reformud Church.

Your Comm. advises with respeot to this name that it be used with gr8ater accuracy, end advisee that with all future inoorporations to. use thi. name wherever POSsibLe.

~. Nexts aThat the Synod give & ol~r atatement a5 to the basia of union of the Oleeeia of Haoken­eaok with the Christian Reformed Churoh. becaulle of the differenoe between the r0parte of Synod and that of the 01ao&19."

Clue1a lIaokensaoK .

The matter whereever there 10 & differenoe i8 found in the 6~pre8"ion, ass Supplement VII, _, Actn of 1890, where W$ read internal government; Supple­ment VIII the worde • they found no difficulty with internal government of that Church.·

Glaub Hackensack has il "Church ~lanual· dated 1818, and c:leime that at the above mentioned Synod thi~ manual WilB placed in the henda of the GOllllllittea &s their "Internal Government".

Since this cannot be denied, your Call1lll. advioGe that in the future in ell ecolcsiastical actions, the Church overega1nmt Glamaie Hackensack as well

Iv i' I I,

I,

li'ago 45

Divi-Ilion of 010.8_ eie Iowa

Men.. da tfll to the Synod~

:Lcd Comm.

ae in its own circle to abide by this declaration of -internal governmGnt" ae MGIlning "the Ohuroh Manual of 1878. 9 (However, compare the aMendment below).

4. li'oint4J "Synod approve the divieion of 01aooia Iowa 1n twos

eo Olaeeis Iowa to ooneistpf the oongregationa Polla I. Rotterdam, Luctor, Firth, Leighton, Maxwell, Peoria, Sully, Galesburg, Princeton, Pella II, N~der­land, Otley, Fort ~ef1Ilnc@. Harvey, Oskaloosa, Ala­mo.s, Prairie City.

b. A new 01ao@18 (Orange Oity) to coneiot of the remaining 27 congregaticne in the present alaaeie

Ollne is Iowa

Since Olaeeis lows hlle become large and IIspeci­ally widespread, end 01pes18 Itslilf oan belt· judge

. ooncerning such a diviSion, your OOUllll. advisell that the division be approved, and to leave the manner of d1v1aion up to th .. OlauiB •.

5. The following Points 'Synod mandate the Synod_ ioal Oommittee in oasee of general, outstanding ains, especially Sabbath d ... ecrootion, divoroe, and mi.&ulI .. 6f' strong drink, to draw up petitions against the •• me in th. name of the whole Ohuroh. M

OlaasiB Iowa

Your Oomm. advises to aooept thia overture in its totalitys

a. for th .. advancement of the glory of God; b. the oalling of the Church is to fight againat

Illl ain; and o. alllo to fulfil our oalling over against the

large world outeid. the cirelli of the Ohurch.

6. Ooncerning Point 6. wOlaseie requests Synod to give directives oonoerning elders, who hava need of financial re-imburlOElml/nt during th,. tUlill th"r at­tend Synod, how they can obta.in the same.-

Ollllaaia Grend Rapid8 ·W •• t

Your Oomm. is of' the opinion the t if a Oone1a­tory or 01&88is delegatee oomsone, who declaree that he cannot aerv .. becauee h. cannot m188 hi8 daily wags, that if th .. n the 88nding ••••••••

Page lID

Statod Ohrlc let Olerk of Synod

Rillv. L. Berle.., hof

body doe" not excuse him, it will be r8&ponsible for the necessary adjustments. It "dvtmes Synod to accept this idea.

7. Point 71 Clusil Grand Rspida West reqlluts Synod to delete thes® worde, Acta 1902, p. 75$ "And be the First Olerk of Synod. oo

Your Ooma. advisee to delete the words a. requelt-eds

a. beoaun I.t b"lievem that one Synod hu DO

jurisdiction who eh"ll be the off1cere of the fol­lowing Synodl

b. Art. , of the Rules of Order makes au eleo­tion neo".eary. Sinoe this decision has not bean re­viewed, ~her.by " 2/5rde. majority ie neceseary (Cf. Art. ;:;1 of tho Rules of Ord@r,) it mll8t MCOUlIlrlly follow that the deoieion of the previous Syn~d was not in oonf'ormity with ita own Rules.

8. Point 8 of the Report on Va.ria. ·Synod expreu it. disapproval over the thoughtloso action of Rev. L. Berkhof and of the Consistory of the oongregation of Allendele and of Olasoii Srend Ropido Weet with ro_ apect to the aeverance of Rev. L. Serkhof from the congrogetion of Allendale, and requesta that in tha futura Bueh a matt5r doee not taka place again,'

018.e1e Muskegon

Your Comm. 18 of the opinion that tho first mia­toke was a matter of form; it believes that the re­quest for meverence in the first instance should not hevo been acted upon by the Oonsistory alene, but elmo through·the Oonsistory by the congregation; secondly, the Conei.tory of Allendal. woe not sufficiently ore­pared, whereby the decision of the Oonshtory and of the 01a8sie wae don. 1n heate.

Byn~d adviee the congregations to prsvant haete in Similar Situations, and rooommends that for further wtudy • vacation be given but net deoid. for aeverance.

9. Ooncerning Point 9s ·Ol ••• t •••••••

;

Page 47

Em_r. Rave. Schut and Greve

Baptbm of J .11:.

gave prov~.iona1 approval tor the ol1er1tation.Df the Reve. Oreve and Sohut, and reque.ta Synod to endor.e the lame."

01 ... 18 Iowa

Your Oomm. advis •• to grant honorabla emerita­tat10n, 8inoa both the brother. can no longer eorve beoau •• Df phya10al disability.

M. Van V ••• em" Reporter

With re.peot to point 4 the following amendment is added. wA Oommitte. be appointed t. examine the ·Manual· and oompare it with the Church Order of Dordt, in ord.r to come to uniformity &iii much a. ,poaaible. ~i. Oommittee be the .ame a. tho •• appointed to en­ter into oorre.pond.nce with the revi.ion of the Church Order. (Art. 159.) It oonault with Ol ••• i. Bockenaaok, and render it. advica et the next Synod. a.aoon for'appointing ouch. committee •

• , becauBe it concerne a delioRte and .eriouB lI\Ilt.ter,

b. becau •• tbe oontentot the dXanualM 1_ for­eign to the greater majority of the. member •• f Synod, and that therefore it 1. inadv18able to deCide this metter now.

OloBing Devotion ••

'ORENOOH. JUNE 24.

Artiole 1;4.

Opening Deve tion ••

Article 1;5.

The minutes of Junlll 2; are read, reclllived,. and approved.

Article 1;6.

Oonoerning the reqlle.t of Obeah Hudlon to re_ view art. 94 .... ct. 1898. in 80 far th .. t J. K. was valid, it was decided. Since no ground. were

Fage 48

Bap~

t.1am by J. Van den Brock

given for the above mentioned Synodical deaision, . ooneidering that the delegates of Olaasia Hudson can give no satisfactory grounds for revision, there­fore the matter 18 returned to that 01assie and given power to aot aooording to ita just judgment.

The Oomm. ooncerning the Baptismal question (Sectlon V) renders lta Report by Rev. Van Vliet..

1. On the Agenda there waB an instruotion from Olassi& Il11no19~ WSynod declare whether the so­called baptism sdministered by J. Vanden Broek must be considered legal.-

Having obtained all possible infor~tion oonoern­ing this matter, your Oomm. oan states

On the one hand, it is clear that Vanden Broek waS a legal offioe bearer in the Netherlands. and made him­Belf unworthy of the offioe through groBs ungodliness.

On the other hand, it hBS not. besn proved that. 1n our oountry he haa been restored to office by any office bearer, but gathered a group of like-minded, and 1n thoee meetings in hie manner eerved the office and co~ tinuea to do 80.

aoneidering that now Vanden Broek through this a8sembly, like those, only by virtue of civil law, exists a8 a constituted oongregation, and ie aoknow­ledged as the1r peatcr end minister, with official mandate of this assembly, your OOmlll.. could find no Oonfessional declarations whereby it oould rejeot hh office.

Nevertheless your O.Omlll. •• after baving obtained the desired information, 10 of the unsnimoue opinion co~ cerning hie conduot, tha t this case cannot be ranged under one of the knollln.artiolee of the fOl'lller dooleione of the Ref'ol'llled Churches, but the t 1010 must direct Synod to the Word of God.

YOUI' OOmlll.. oomas with the following advioe.

Synod dsolare thst J. Vanden Broek aooording to the Holy Soriptures with respeot to the office, yee even hie membership in the oongregation ••••••

.'

;

l.

(' I l~......-

l I

Page 49

of Christ hae made himself unworthy, and that oona6-quently hie baptism muet be oonsidered illegal, and· 18 nothing elle than a deeeol'8tion of the Saoraments •

. All thh for the following reaeones

1. Because it cannot be proved that he wae legally ordained to ottice.

2. Beoauee in all his -service- he baa revealed hilIlself-·ae an inetlgator of mutiny and 8 sohismatic of the Church of Ohrbt, and the Chrietian Ohurch _y not aoknowledge him as II 1Il8lllber.

,. Because the Word of God apeaks clearly con­cerning keeping eaored the office by the office bearer as the neoeeaary oondition for the legaUty of his Berviee. In Acts 20.28 Paul points to this in addresaing the elders of Ephe8Us, -Take heed unto yourselves, and teall the flook.-

So they themselves by Virtue of their oftioe muat pro·ject thelllllelves as an example.

More clearly Paul pointe to what 18 found in I Tim. ,.1-4 and TituB ls7-9, where it is clearly commanded that a loader, if he 1& to be. recognized by the Church in his office, that he of neoe881ty lIlua.t b8 unimpeachable as God' I!I steward, the husband of one Wife, not greedy of filthy luore, gentle, juet~ -holy, self-controlled •

. YourOollllll. recognizee that this ill directly more sxpressly to ruling slders, but at the 8ame time aleo ~eoogniBe8 that the off10e 1s one and cannot be lIepa~ted.

Therefore that whioh 1& required of a ruling elder to be a worthy ottice-bearer, ehould at least be neces.ary for a t5aoh1ng elder.

Your OOllllll.

Synod accepte this advi~e. (For further matter. conoerning the Baptismal Question eee Art. 1'9. 9, with the amenli,ment ooncerning the samB.)

Article l,s.

The Waohter OOllllll. Bubmlttedthe following a6 Rules

. ~

Waohter OOlllal, Rulee

Pro_ teste

tor the OOmlllittee of 8upervioion for De Wachter, ao­oording to tha I!Iandate in Art. ll~. It wae approved and adopted all tollowss

Rulee for theOoDllllittee of Supervision of De Wachter.

Art. 1. In agreement with Art. 71, Aote 1694, De Wachter has a Oommittee ot Supervieion, cone1eting of three members which are appointed b~ Synod, and meet at least twioe per year with thA sd1tor and the bUSi­ness manager, these two without the right to vote. ,

Art. 2. Their duties are to regulate matter. ,oonoerning De Waohter. In oonneotion herewith the duties of this Oommittee oonsiut of.

a. To serve the editor with advioe a8 often ae be teele need with respeot to placing ot any artiole.

b. To give the Bueiness Manager advioe oonoern­ing advertisements, thoee who do not pey their sub­soriptions, and aleo in everything whioh the BU8inese Kanager believes oan be of aervioe in the spread of our publication, snd to submit to the judgMent of the Oolllmi ttee.

o. To give the editor, the bUSiness manager, the co-worker, and the publisher to sugr.est a8 often and neoeseary in all the matters whiCh the Gomm. deems neoessary, with respect to the financial and intellectual conoerns of the operation.

d. With the unexpected departure through death or other CBuses of t.he genera 1 me.nager. or the co­workers, as ",ell all the publisher, the Golllmittee ahaH act lind appoint lIuoceBBora until the tollowing Synpd.

Art. ~. The Oo!l1lll. ,each yeer examine the books of the Bue1neBB' "'anager, and report eaoh Oyno.n"41 year to the Synod with reepect to the etatuB of the

II fund, Bubmit propossh ooncerning the pewnnel, Bnd present ita advioe.

Article 1'9.

Rev. Manni reporte for the Oomm. of Protests. The reports wall reoeived and approved as follow8$

,; r

(~/ II

\

I

I ,"-' I I,

I I., ,

, ;,

Page 51

Rav. V,R, SlIIidt

Idem.

Report of the Oommittee on Protests

lateemed Brethren.

1. The first matter on which we must report ie the appeal of Rev. W. R. Smidt. This brother appeale to Synod conoorning a deoision of Ols881s Grand Rap_ ida Veet with respeot to an elder who puulioly ao-­oUBed the Ooneietory at a oongregational meeting -that it bed worngfully taken money from the Bene­volent Fund snd placed it in the General fund.' Olsseie dld oondemn the elder. However, Rev. Smidt demande that it be declared -the deeignated elder had no reuon to make. the acculllat10n at any place, and the 8ame be deolared. publlcly.~

The situation is that the General fund oon­etantly borrowed from the Benevolent fund, and that

. then a ohange took plsce with respect to the 001. leottone until the debt wsa aettled, eo that it sp­psare that no oomplete account can be givan, a1-

. though the lIIoney did get into one or the other fund.

Your Comm. is of the opinion that Rev. Smidt demands too muoh, Bnd advises Synod.to abide by the deoision of 01aoe18, conBidering that no ground. could be found whereby it should be publicly announced, and aho that Rev. Smidt givell no grounds for hb fequeet.

2. A seoond appeal by Rav. W. R. SlII1dt againet Olaseia Grand Rapids West •

. In th1e appeal Rov. SlII1dtl1k.ewha addrae.sem a rBqueat to Synod overagainet Olsasia Grand Rapids West. The situation is that a censured member, who for lom8-time had been wandering around, attended a oongrega_ tionsl meating and voted. Thare wae a tie vote, where_ at Rev. Smidt, the chairman of' the meeting, felt con­atrained to make known. the cen"ure, and to deny the member ooncerned the right to vote. Tha matter came to 01Bsei8. Olsssie condemned tha action of the pa.tor.

Page 52

Mr. O. . Vierda

Now. Rev. Smidt requestee -That Synod delll8nd that Olu­Bie retraot thie judgment," The ground adduced by him 1s that it a oensured pereon wou~d coma to the Table of ths Lord, he would be deniod partioipation.

Your Oomm. advisoe that the deoision of 01a8.i8 be upheld. Although a decieion of' the Church .8YII that a oeneured pereon hu no right to vote. but then it itialBo neoeaeary that he be notified in advance, Theref'ore it wau not in order to deny him the right to vote after he had alrGedy voted •. Hence the decl­IIIion of Olaae ill reada au fo11oW88 dCnaesiIiI judge. that Rev. Smidt "laB formally right, but the IIIBnner in Which be netified the meet1ng WGB not 1n order, although underetandable Ln th1a partlcu~8r Situation, becaun by that action the oenaure cam~ the .. oond etep, whioh 11 not pe·rmileible without the approba_ tion of Olaeaia,-

;5. A.ppeal ot Mr. O. \IIbrda of the Grandville Ave. Oongregat1en, Grand Rapid., ·Mich.

The ~ntir~ appoal of Mr. WiGrda come. dOWD to thie, . that he hu to work a fe'll hours on Sunday lUI a guard in Oampau Park, Grand Rapids, in order to maintain or­der, while at the 8am .. time he ie forbidden to enggaae in any work for the upkeep of the Park on Sunday. Tho Oonsistory haa therefore denied him to participate in th .. Lord'a Supper. whioh wal sustained by 01aesi8. Under the oonviotion that both have gon .. too tar in thie, yee, that .it has evon oreated • lot ot talk both within and outside the congregation, according to hie testimony, he requests' Synod to declare, That tho Oonsistory ef the Christian nsf'ormed Church of Grand­villo o\Villnue publicly declare&! that it hall wronged hiDI not only in its method of action, but in the ao­tion i tnlf'.

Your 00I11III. iB of' the opinton that Hr. Wisrdll de_. IIII1nds too much. It cannot eee thBt nooh a delDllnd. . oan in Ilny way be justified. Neverthelese your Ccmm. judges that tho Oonsistory should lift the oensure and restore to full membsrohlp. Upon the ground that the work of Mr, Wierd. fal18 under the workB 01' nec8esitYm.a •••••• G

" i-

[~ I \.

l' [ ,

i " l. [

!

)~.

:'\ ",

'i' , ..

Page 5}

.'iehor lltetion

(Churoh Order, page 4" oonoerning Sabbath Obeervanoe, works of noce •• ity.) (Se. the prot.lt below of elder Hekman ef the Grandville Ave. oongregation.)

4. Protoat of Mr. M. It. Vanden BOBCh of the Firat Ohurch of Grand Haven, Miohigan. Thh protest is aea1net 01a •• l, Muekegon. rna matter ls this' Wlth the eleotion ot Oonsistory member. thero were ~ member. present. Of the ballot. reoeived there were 5 blanke, hence only ,1 votee. Of thOle ,1 votel Vanden Bosoh hae 17. He judged h1mael1' to be legally ohosen. But a new vote wae held, beoauBe the blanks were inoluded with the votee received. Appeeling to 01asBi8 he was nct upheld, whorefore he protested against this aotion.

Your Oomm. 1s of the opinion that Vanden Boaoh io within hia rights. The blank ballots cannot cannot be included. Only the legal votes can be conaiderod. If the blanks were to be inoluded they should rather be included with the majority than the minority.

5. A protest of the oongre~t1on of 'ieher Station sgainst Olaeeia Grand Rapids.East. Tne matter 18 thiel The marriage of a man end a woman was deolared illegal by the Oonsistory of this oongregation, while 010881s deoided not to oppose theae members. The woman wee mar_ ried before, and wae soparated from her former husband. Sefore divorce took place, she waB aocuaed by her hUB_ b8nd before the judge a8 not being qualified for mar­riage while many other trifling matters ot differenoe exi.eted between them. Tne husband Buedtor divorce, however, the wife presented 8 crOSS-bill. whereby the ground for dl.vorce by the husband WIlB nullified,and the wife requested and received the divoroe upon the ground of extremely diffioult treatment.

The husband left the church and later married. After th1B ~oman married while 8he was a member of the congregation of Oommerce St., 'Grand Rapid., Mlohlgan.·1h1~. marriage did not take plaoe before 8he

; .• -. Page 54

received advice from two ministers of O\lr Church, who told her that she hed the righ to re_marry. whereby ahe entered into marriage, the ceremony performed by one of the above ministers.

The Oono1etory of Fieher Station deemn this to be an illegal marriage. It brought the matter to 01as­aill, and 01II1II818 deolared that theBe pereonSshould not be impeded, for whioh 01a8618 gave the following grounds •

. a. The bad treatment she received,

b. OauBe given by the hueband to believe that he engaged in immoral behavior;

o. The advioe given to her by the Ooneietory, whioh she in her aimplicity fOllowedl

d. That he again married without malting any at­tempt. to Uve with hiB legal w1f'e.

Your Oomm. believes that the grounds adduced by 01a8eia contalne nothing whereby the Word of God givel a ground for a le&&1 requsst for divoroe, or that gave her the right to re.marry.

That the ill_treatment ehe reoeived i8 no bibli­oal ground.

Although there weB auepicion concerning the im­morality ot the husband, there wae no proof.

The OoneiAtory hae never advised her to divorce her husband, it did permit a member of the congrega_ tion to grant her protection, when her hueband aued for divorce on talae groundo. The Wife, through her suing for divorce, i8 the causo that her husband could again re-marry.

Your Comm. finds that the Oonsistory of Alpine Ave. went too far to give a member of the congregation the right to help her before the judge, without'the Oonehtory knowing to what lengths this penon ,would go. Oonsequently your Oomm. cannot underetand how the Ooneistory could permit thia woman to continue eO a member, after ahe 8usd for divo,ree by presenting a craBs-bill which was accepted. It also cannot under_ how min1~terB could tell her that she might merry and

L I

I \ \ I···· I

I\...­I

I" I' I i·.·· I

Page 55

B. Van­deI' Heyde

aev. J. De Vries

oould e~age in marriage, ainoo the divoroe took plaoe on no other grounds than -extremely hllll'Bh trea.tmellt.-

Oon8idering that the oause of this wrong ma~rl­age reatu with the Ooneiatory of Alpine Avenue, whioh, (although not directly by advice), yet permitted e

'member to be her protecter, without knowing wherein ·this proteotion would oonsiat, furthermore, that the Ooneiatory resigned itself in what was donel and alBo oo~idering-th.t the Oonsistory gave her a clean oer­tl~icate of membership to another congregation, and ministers had told her Dhe she might enter into mar­riage, your 00I11III.. adviae8 that this woman with her present hUlband be oarried a8 members of the congre­gation, and .that no'lIIOn be demanded of t.hi8 woman than that al\e oonfell. that IIhe erred beoauBe of wrong guidanoe and advice.

6. A OOllmunioation from Mr. B. Vander Heyde of Pella, Iowa, consisting of oharge. against hi. Ocn-81atOry.

Binae this communicaticn comes here without the knowledge of the Gonllatory or the Olaasi.,- it-can-not be received hera, and 80 to inform r~. Vander Meyde.

7. A letter from Rav. J. De Vries, a resident of Grand Rapid., Miohigan. Ha re~uaat.Synod to psy attention to his caBe. oonsidering that Olaeei. Hud­Bon will no longer d8lll1 with his pus on, III though Synod directed him to 01a88i8 Hudeon.

Your Gomm. advisee that we can go no further than wae previously decided. At that time 01a88ia hed no work for him b.oause th.re was not a eingle vaoant oongregation. Th. way 18 "till open to Rev. De Vri •• to address himself to Glaeeis Hudson. He also haa given no raaeon why the 01e88i& with drew it. oOnBideratlon of him.

8. An appeal by R.v. J. N. Trompen of Ramsey, N.w Jersey, in which h. r.quests that Glauh Hack.n­saok be brought to the performanoe of ite duty in executing the deci.ion,'Art. ,sa, Actslpoos 'Synod reprimands Rev. J. N. Trompam and hie oonsistory because they did not app.ar at th ••••••

I'-...J

Page 56

Rav. J. N. Trompan

Third MUllke_ gon

.• pecial meeting of 01a8ei8 Bnd at the following meet­. ing of Olass!., whereupon they were oited, and deoided

they must make ccnte.eion therecf before 01a8.18 Hackensaok, while this OlaaBis on ita part reaall the deposition and make contee.lon for tnie deposition of Rev. J. N. Trompen and hie Oon&l.tory.~

Your Oomm. 1s of the opinion that 01aa8ia must maet ita obl1gation regarding Rev. J. N. Trompen, the more because Rev. Trompan met his obligation with ro­gard to Ol.l.ia, acoording to the deoision ~f Synod.

9. A protest from the Third Church of Muskegon against the Firat Church of Muskegon and against 01a88is with raupect to the Baptismal Question. The oontent of this protest is of such a nature that your Oomm. judged that the protest in it. entirety be plaoed before Synod. Aleo that it cannot present a reoommendation before Synod because of the difficul­tyof the matter, and beaidem that 'your Oomm .. wu il'lo­formed that. it had to deal with the prote.t ineofar .8 it waS protest, and that the Oomm. for Baptismal matters had to deal with it inGofar .. it pertained to the Bapt1alllli queation. Our expectation i& that either the Oomm. for the Baptismal Question or from the diaoulaion in the aeoembly a reoommendation will be forthcoming and adopted, whereby the existing diffioulty will be reBolved. (See below.) .

Respectfully eubmitted. your Oomm. of Pre-advioe.

J. B. Hoekstra, Chairman

J. Manni, Reporter

•••••••••••••••••• Elder Hekman notifies Synod that He wiehes to

Protest regiBter hie protest aga:!.nat the decidon of Synod with respect to ths W19rda caae (point }) •

••••••••••••••••••

Ooncerning the last part of the above report dealing with the Baptismal Question the following reoommendation was received and adopted.

Synod deoides.

1. It 1. not necesBery to give a more elaborate regulation, .a 01a88is Orand Rapids West deSires, with respact to the attitude of the Church conoern­ing the baptism of ••••••

r

,

'-"

I I I

I

. '. , ",':,-.• ,-;

I I, . '--'

I ~ . ,

Page 57

IlapUI. mal ~el_ t:\.on Mlleke­gon

Rev. Jonkman et ale

ohildren of baptized members. (Ct. Art. 56 at the Churoh Order with Note. (Edition 1897, p. ".)

. 2. To appoint a oommittee with thellillndate.

a. lnt-Ite name of Synod to oa11 to the attention of 01a •• la Muskegon the stand of the Church with reap.at to the Bept1emal eyetem.

b. To .el'Ve the Third Church of Muskegon with advioe.

o. To remind the Flr.t Church there to under • •. tend .. itl duty, and if Mcenary, in the MIIUI of Synod, should this Oonaistory continue in it. imple­mented oouree, to bring ita complaint to Ola.lia Muakegon. (For member. at thi. oommittee aee Art. 159.)

Artiole 140.

Ooncerning the prote.ta of Rev. J. B. Jonkman and of the Conebtory of the North St. Church of Zee. land. Michigan, against 01a8si. Holland, atter long dillcueaion. in which Rev. Jonkman wa. permitted to partioipate, it waA decided to appoint a Committee to lnveatlgate theBe mattere in loco to endeavor to bring a .atietactory llonclullion to thelll, and to re. port to the next Synod. (For committee lIIember •• ee Art. 159.)

Olosing Devotions •

. ----------AFTERNOON. JUNE 24.

Artiole 142.

Opening Devotions.

Artich 14,.

It iu decided to hold an evening aU.lion and oontinue to work through to oonclude Synod this w.ek. . .

Article 144. Rev. B. D. De Jong reported for the 001llDl. for

Page 58.

Duth. ot new Prot.

Reaol. of Symp.

the Theological School, trom whioh 1t appeared that the prote •• or to be appointed will b. celled upon to teaoh mathematics end eolenoe.

Synod iDrequeated to teke this in con!lldoration ,when the eleatlon take. place. Thia 18 accepted, even aa the information that neither Prot. Broene ncr the new ,prot •• aor to be appointed ehell replaoe rrot. luiper.

Rev. Hoeketra reed the R •• olutions ot Sympathy. Approved. (Supplement X.)

Artiole llUS.

Atter it Waal deolded to meet in Exeoutive Su_ ,elon.t the beginning' of the evening •••• ion. cloaing devotions were held.

• '1 •

EVENING SESSION, JUNE 24.

Articlo 141.

Opening Devotions.

Artiole 148.

In Executive See.ion Synod acted on the nom1na­Mr. 8... t10n ot tour brethren preeented June 22 (Art. 111), vensma to which wal added the name of' Dr. J. Vand.r Vrin. L1tt. After the vote was taken it mhowed that Dr. Boyd Bode Prof. reoeived 6 vote., ~~. 'Sevensm& and Mr. Rinck emch 20

vote., and Dr. VenDer Vrie. 1 vote. By re-vot. Mr. Sev.nama reoeived 24 votea, ' and waa declared elect.d. Mr. Rinck, who received 22 votes, va. by aoclamation appOinted aa alternsote. The aMud IIdary to be $750·00.

Salary Decided to iucreaBe the salary of Prot. J. G. Prot. VDB VandeD Bouoh to G85O.00.

~.i

I

I'~ r

v I.,

I I:

I

i,

. Page 59

Report Ohuroh Hdp

Hinute. of PreviouB Synod,

Rev. ne Lange

Revi­Ilion of the Psalms

Article 150.

Synod reosived with joy the information that Prof. A. E. Broene accepted the appointment ae profea.or in the Literary uepartment (Art. 96).

Article 151.

Rev. J. Vander Mey read the report of the Oos­mittee for Ohurch Help. It waa approved. and it wae decided to place it in the supplements. (Supplement VII. )

I.l'ticle 152.

The OOllllll1ttee to review the minute., of the last Synod reported a few minute. requiring the attentian 'of Synod. It appeared that moet of these matiers had already been aoted upon by previous decisione.

Artiole 1". , '

Returning to Art. 80, III, and Art. 96. Acta 1902,' it wae decided to acaede to the requ8llt of the Ve'per, Wisoonsin Ohurch to oontinue th. labor of Rev. Th. De Lange until the next Synod upon the conditione made previously.

Artia le 154.

Rav. H. Baets rendered hie report a8 member of the Oommittee for R.viaion of the English Psalm_ in Rhyme. Adopted. He was re-appointed with Rev. H. Van del' Wsrp as alt.rnate. Sinoe the above named Oommit­teehops. in 1905 to present ita preliminary work to the partioipating denominations for inspection, it requeats our church as well as the others to appoint a oommittee to make ouch an investigation, and present its observatioba to the Revision Oommittee. Reve. H. Beeta snd H. Vander Werp were appointed ae oommitt.e with power to add other brethren to ita number. They are to report at the next Synod.

Artie 1e 155.

Oonoerning Art. 128 (Oertificates of Bapt1zed Kembel'S) Synod WQS informed this action,haa already taken place.

,-:i

",. ,

Page 60

Article 156. I

Deoided to publish the Sunday School Leeson in De Waohter tor advanced scholars •

. ..... ... -. -' ~"

Report . ot Dele.. gates to 0011'11'. Church-' ell

Nat'l Ret. An' ;n

Ap­point­mente

Article 157.

Report-ot de1ega~e •.. l1/ho were delegat.ed to'·the .. ' aeeemb11ee ot the o07reeponding churohes, Revs. Noor­dewier and Beets to the Geretormeerde ~erken •. Hether~ landsl Rov. J. Timmermann to the Synod ot the Refor_ med Preabyter1an Ohurchl Rev. J. Westervelt to the General Synod Reformed Preebyterlan Ohuroh, Rev. J. Smitter to the Assooiate Presbyterian Ohurch, and Rev. J. W. Brink to the General Synod of the Reformed Churoh. Thie report reoeived ae information.

Artiole 158. \ 'I'

.. -', '. A motiorr of sympathy waa adopted ooncarning the efforts at the Nat1c~rlaform Association. A letter ~om Rev. S. B. Houaton, delegate from the Ass.

Prsbyterien Church t.o our Synod, who, beoauBe of oiroumstanoes was h~ndered from attending, was receiv_ ad .s information.

Artiole 159 •

.Rev. Vander lferp 'presentsd the Report for the Oomm. on ApPOintments. It was approved as follows.

Your Oommittee for AppOintments takes the liber_ ty to preeent the following Brethren a& member. of the following oommitteese

.1. Treasurer for the Board of Heathen Missions. Hon. J. W. Garvelink.

2. Oommittee for Jewish Mieeions,.Prof. W. Heyne. Revs. E. Breen and J. I. Flee, Elders S. S. Postma snd a. Dekker.

,. Emeritu8 Boerd. Rev. J. B. Hoekstra, &lders S. S. Postma end G. W. Mokma, each for 4 y~rB. Rev. M. Van VeBeam and J. Heeringa, each for 2 yeara.

4. Synodioal Oommittee, Rev. J. Groen, Ge. D. De Jong, and ••••••••

..!

Page 61

I., •

!\"j

1. Kuiper. 'The Stated Olerk 10 member ox officio and seore'to.ry of th1e OODlll!1tUo. (Syn. 1902, Art. 142,1,1..)

5. Ooma. fo~ Ohurch Holp. Revs. I. Van Del1en, J. Vander Key, J. Manni.

6. Delegate to the General Synod of, the Reformed Church (l906h Rev. M. J. BoIIIllll; Alt. Rev. J. A. We8-t.ervelt.

7. Oommittee for Psalm Revision. and for the Re­view of' the Revieion. Rev. B. BeeteJ Rev. H. Vander V.rp, alternate.

e. Representative of our Churoh to the National Chriutian AflllOcill t1on. Rev', J. Groen.

9. '1'b8 apPOintment of delegat,. to the Reformed .Presbyterian Churches, the United Prellbyterle.n and AlBoc.late Presbyterian Ohurohes to be comm1tted to , the Synodicsl OODlll!ittee BO that thoy may appoint dole­gatell aocording to the befit time and travel accomo_ dations.

10. Oommittee for Sunday School Lea BOn" and PlanB, (Art. 110)5 Rovs. Van Vouem. Poppen, and De Jong.

11. De Wachter OoDllll1ttee. Reva. J. Manni, J. W • . Brink, and trof. Schoo11and~ .

12. Writer for the ~epartmont ·For Young People', Rev. H. Vander Werp. Remuneration the lame a8 for the alternate editor.

l}. Delogate to the GerefOTme8re lerken. Nether. lands. No delegate, Since, ae far a8 we know, no pros-8ing metter8 of gen5ral concern will take place at the Synod of 1905.

14. Editors for Su~day School Publicationa. Quarterly for teachere. Rev. J. Vander Hey. alter_ nate, Rev. I. Van Del10n.

Senior LeuBon, Rev. I. Kuiper, al~Brnate. Rev. J. Manni.

Junior Lesson' Rev. J. B. Hoekstra. alter­nate, elder B. 8evensma..(Art. 11t1.)

15. Oommittee for Publi&binr, the 2nd Edition of the Churcb Order, Art. 125,12), Rev. H. Beeta, Proff. Hoyna and Hemkee.

16. Oommittee for Oorrespcndence for Revision of the .otl1lrch Order (Art.125. 2). Prot. ten HoDI', Reve. J. W. Brink and B. BeetB.

\,-

I

Page 62

17. Oommittee for Diaconat~ (Art.125. 9), Reve. I. Van Dellen, P. Eketer, ~nd Prof. W. deyna.

16. Oommittee on Divorce (Art. 125. ~. Prof. W. Heyne. Prof. R. Janssen, Reve. J. Manni" J. Vander Key. and J. Groen.

19. Oommittee for Jonkman et a1 (Art. 140), Prof. '.,. K. Ten Hoor, Prof, \'I. Heyne. Revs. J. B. Hoekstra, P. Bketer, M. J. Boama, and Elder E, Hekman.

20. Oommittee for Muskegon (Art. 1~9)$ Reve. E. Breen, J. Groen, H. Beets, M. Van Veasem.

Articlo 160.

Resolutions of thanks were adopted.

1. To the Graham ~nd Morton Transportstion 00. f,or the pleasant ateamship trip for Synod tln thurSday

ReBo. grllU8. A copyl/ill be published in the newpapus lutiona and to the aforementioned oompany. of thanks

llext Synod

2. To the consistories and oongregations of our Church in Holland for their hospitality during the Bassiona of Synod, and for their rafreshments on board ahip.

~. Tb Rav. Voe for his many yeare or service on the Emeritus Board and otheraervioee. Alao decided to remunerate the oustodian of the Ninth St: Church $10.00 for servioes rendered to Synod.

Article 161.

Deoided that the next meeting again be held in llo11and, Miohlf .. n. ThE! threE! oongregations once again ari!' reqLlested ,to 'convene Synod' and make arrangements.

, Artiole 162.

The Revs. Breen, Groen, Van VeBeam, and the Stil­ted Olerk are appointed to make arrangement., fo'r tile printing of the Acts and related matters.

The minutes of the seSSions of June 24,were read and approved.

.; r

J

~'

I"~ ' II"" , ,

I,' ;

I"

Page 6}

Article 164.

Synod havine completed ito work, the president, Rev. E. Bro'm addreoa .. n the assembly with fitting worda. He pOinted out that weighty mattera were considered and decided. How it appeared that the cause of Ml.~­sions and the School have become more deeply rooted 1n the heart of the Ohurch. How the cause of both were considered 81 a seriouB calling. With satisfaction of heart he might view the work aocomplished. A brother_ ly feeling could oonstantly be felt. Alao our unity. And again it appeared that we still struggle in our Reformed life, but that it 1B already in "ur heart and bloodetream. It appeared that we had Reformed feelers DO that we did not have to consult the Ohurch Order

, constantly. May tho Lord bleBS all that haa been done according to his will. May he graciously cleanse through the blood of Ohrht all that has been wrongfully done. Afterwarde the president thanked the vioe-preeident~ both the olerke, and the pre-advisors. In turn he wae thanked by the vice-president. After eameet prayer by Rev. Breen, and the Singing of Psalm l}}sl, he 91'0-nounced, the benediction, and Synod adjollrned.

E. Breen, President J. Groen, Vice-President Henry Beeta, let Olerk M. Van leBsem, 2nd Olerk

"

. 1

Pagel 64

REPORT OF THE SYNODICAL OOIlJUTTEE

Zetoomod Fathers and Brother~:

During this Synodical year YOllr Synodioal CO!l1!nittee had oomparatively little work to perform. The first matter wae a re.quest from Rev. H. Roether of the Evangelical Free Church in Brealau. Qermany, recommended by the General Synod of the Gereformeerde ~erken of the Netherlands, for help to build a ohuroh. Since there are 80 many noeda in our own country, we believed that this work be left to the good care of the brethren on the other Bide.

Thereafter various letters were received desiring 1nfor­aation ooncerning our own Church, our next Synod, etc., which were answered by our Stated Clerk, who, according to Q deoleion of the last Synod is member ex offioio and funotions al secre­tary of the comml ttee.

Bookdealer J. B. Hulst sent us a communication concerning a new edition of the Church Order which iB worthy of your at­tention and which we oft'er for your oonsideration •

#. request for. recommendation of a oollection 1'or the Oak­dele Park Church of Grand Rapids, which lost ite church build­ing through a tornado, 1n De Wachter was granted. ,

A request from the COllllllittee of the Emeritus Fund that we add two n~w members to the Committee. 8ince the law of incor­poration demands five members besides the preeident and the aecretary, who oannot function al tru~tle8. We apPOinted Rev. A. Keizer and the Hon. J. W. Garvelink, and trust that this w111 meet with your approvd.

A letter was reoeiv~d from Prof. B. Kuiper, which you un­doubtedly will read with great 1ntereet.

"

i-I i I,

I I, Iv

I "

I [ I 1/

I I

. '--'

L. I 1

1'1

I

r, [F,

I

\ .. -./

Page 65

Finally, we place before your honorable aIIlOJ;lbly a letter from the Oonf$rence tor closer cooperation of th$ deformed Ohurche. which hold to the Preebyterian eyetem of Church Polity.

Blnce the member. cf your Synodical Oommittee eerve only from one Synod tc another (Art. 96. Acta 1898), they plaoe thelr mandate again in your hande, thanklng ycu fcr tho confidenoe placed in them.

'. The 8yncdlcal OcllllD1 ttee.

L. J. Hulet 1(. Kuiper H. Van Hoogell

fOSTSORIP'r

Sinoe the above wae already wrltten and .igned letter. of importance were received. namely, the following.

1. An official communication from the Deputie. of the Oor6formeerde lerken in the Netherlande for Oorrespondence with Foraign Church .. requellting U8 to grant eupport to the Holland brethren in Trail Arroyce, Argentina. Since the concern. of thee. brethren in that land will be oona1dared tM. oom­munication eurely oan be entruetlld to the Oommittee adhco.

,2. An official oODlJllunioaUon from the 1tefol'llled Church 01' Sou1bAfrloa, requellt1ng that a delegate be sent to their 1JeneralSynod in 1907. Undoubtltdly you will note tht- with intltr •• t.

H. Beete, S.O.

SUPl'1.SM!£NT II.

REPORT OF THE OIJRATORIUlt Oil' THE TlI&OLIGICAL SOilOOL.

1902 - 1904

Honoreble and H1ghly Esteemed Brother ..

The OuratoriUIII of the Theological achool hall the honor to present the following to Synod.

A. with rlt.pltct to our previous reports, we may begin thi. report with a word of thaJlkjl to the Lord for the lIIIlny token. of Hie

Page 66

unde,erved faith~llneee to us. The Lord hae visibly bleeesd the Sohool for whioh we praiao hie name. ~ith diligenco and devotion the professors and students have labored. Our School continually expande. Ues of 1netructlon is not only employed by the young men and young woman of our own denomination but a180 by those who belong to other denominations. The faoulty was called upon to iSBue s word of warning a couple of time. to 8b~9 students, but no one through misoonduot or through careleeu Btudy wae expelled. Only one student of the Second,Claoa was nat permitted to take examinations beceuBe of hiB failure to attend ctas8ee regularly.

a.'The FaCUlty. The Curetorium hae exeouted the mandate given by the previous Synod. (Aote 1902, Art. 122, e.) From Dr. R. Janeeen, called as professor for Exegeticel Theolcgy, werece1ved 'a reply that he desired to serve our cChool. The Itipulatione of this call are of euch a nature, that the Oura­torium did not think that the ordinary ordination wal eppro­priate, and hae introduced Dr. Janssen with a fitting word of installation. According to information Dr. Janseen 18 a doctor of philosophy. In,preparation for his candidate'a examination in theology, Dr. Janseen haa been granted leave at the end of the achool 1ea~ 1902-1~~ to go abroad.

From Dr. B. Vhlenga we reoeived a reply that he did not feel free to accept the call extended to him by Synod, 80 that Rev. W. Heyne, hie alternate, was called as profosBor for Practical Theology, who also accepted the oall, and with the IIchool year of 1902-19O} waB installed in the CUBtolllllTy manner.

The faculty at present oonsiats of profeaeore G. I. He~ kea, F. M. fen Moor, V. Heyne, and Dr. R. Jenseen in TheologYJ A. J. RoOKe, A.M., K. Schoolland, J. G. Vsnden Boeoh, A.M., and ~. Kuiper, A.B:~rofe880re in the Literary Department. In the eum:J18r of l~/h&UlII,Ulltdned hill candi4ateB'II examina­ti,9A\>at the University of ,Chicago. Au indication that thh you~h­~"ao.e not lack a de. ire to etudy and ambition for study. wnsn he attended the June meeting in 19O~. he requ~8ted a leave of ab.enoe of at leallt two yeare and at moet three y.arp in or­der to obtain hia doctorate abroad, the Curatorium found no objection in grantingth1e request, but was happy and thankful that along the.e Une. to promote th. weltare and the growth of the Ghurch and the SChool. In his plaoe Oand. A. &. Braeno, A.B., waB appointed for one year.

From the Synodical Agenda we obaerve that directly and inciir90tly oommont. are made ooncerning th18. The Curatorium is prepared willingly to IIIhow cau •• , should Synod judge

"

I •

Page 67

euch to be necessary. The Ouratorium allows itself to point out that letter 4 Instruotion Olusio Hudeon, apparently reate upon a misunderstanding. The eo-oalled post-graduate oourse ot Prof. luiper 1& not neoeosary, 8111 Olaasb Hudson appears to ·mean.

Our eeteemed emeritus professor, Rev. O. E. Boer, in the latter part of ~~rch. 1904, waB oalled by the Lord trom hia earthly career to enter into the rost that God haa provided for hie people. The memory of him will continue to be a blessing.

b. The Ourriculum. The ourrlQulum in both departments haa markedly improved, through the addition to the Faoulty of pro­teBeore Heyne and Janeeenj the fi.rst-named gives inetruotion in the Literary lJepartmsnt 1n Biblll Study, Dutch Hietory, and Dutoh Language. The Oollege Preparatory OOUTse in this Department iB divided into· four, Lat1~Greek, Lati~German. Latin-Scientif1c. German.:.Scientific. Three Hundred dollan WIIB prov1ded for the IIXpansion of the laboratory.

o. ExaNinatione. In September 1902, 20.applicanta wer~ ac_ cepted. of which 12 enrolled in the theological_proparatory couree, and e in the teacher or college course. In June 190;i, 6 student. were admitted to Theology, while 6 wore made eligi­ble for a call. In September 190;i, the number of ap?llcante reached 44 (during September th1einoreaaed to 5~,_of whioh 12 left during the achool year), 16 enrolled in the thsologica1-preparatory course and the remainder for the teacher' 8 or 001-

lege oourae. In June 1904, 2 were admitted to theology, and 10 were deolared eligible for a call.

d. Expansion of the Literary Department. The previous Synod (Acta 1902. ;i4. IV, e) gave a mandate to the Ouratorium "to take etepa to establish an endowment fund for the expansion of the LUerary Department, and, if necessary, to appo1nt a per_ son for thia purpose,- This has been done. Successively the ministers J. W. Drink, M. Van Vesaem,.and H. Baeta were ap­pointed as Financial and Educational Agent. None felt free to accept tho appOintment, eo that we aleo because for flnanc1s1 reasons decided not to proceed inappolnting Buch an agent. Thereupon the Ouratorium appOinted a committee to promo to this oaUBe conSisting of Rev. J. Groen. Prof. A. J. Rocke, , Mr. 8. S. Postma. and Mr. J. B. Hulat. This committee is aotive 1n procuring $25,000.00 for an endOWMent fund, which amount will be uufficient for the establiehment of a Junior Colle~e. By ~eans of the Preas and epeaker~ lit has pleaded the college ouass, it has oorresponded with Oonsistories and Olasasa

"

\ .

..

\'-.,./

Page 6e

and various lists of lub8oriptioD8 obtained a 811m ot almost 19,500.00

e. Dormitory. Because of the increase of atudent enrol­ment, and with a view ot the diffioulty to obtain auitable living quarters, the OuratoriUIII decided to establish a etudent dormitory. Two euit~ble dwellings on one plot of ground were rsnted for this purpose. Expenses were advanced from the Fund of the Theological Scho~l to make these ready. The balance from student entranoe tees can cover this advanoe in a couple ot yeare.

f. Finances. Aocording to the bocks of the Treasurer, whioh were found in order, the status of the following funds are as follows.

THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL

Balance, Kay ~l, 1902 Reoeipts

Total DhbuJ'Bementa Balanoe, May ~1, 190~ Reoeiptll

Total D1abursemelltB Balance, May ~l, 1904

GENERAL STUDENT FUND

Balance, May ~l, 1902 Reoeipts

Total Disbursed to the OlaSBes snd

the Theological Sohool Balanoe, May ~l, 190~ Reoeipts ~

Total Diebursed to the Classes Bnd

the Theological School Balance

$ 4.49 , 145'§J 149.

147.00 , 2.96 ~ .' 194.47 • 197.4~

I 197.16

.27

",\' .

l

,{,'

.'

Ii

"

I' I': ~

r:. I I, ./i. ) :;\

[ •...

I ) .

" " ,~

'1·

,

L I

I.

Page 69

LIBRARY

Balanco May }l. 1902 Rece1ptu

Total D1sburselllente Balanoo. May }l, 19O} Receipt.s

Totel Diabure81110nte

Total Interest-boaring Oapit.al Balanco, May }l, 1904

Balllnco, May 31, 1902 . Interest reoeived 1902-1904

S5.961.40 160.96

$6,122.}6 253.00

$5,869.56 274.75

S6. 144. 11 244.65

15.599.46 .. 5,1300.00 $ 99.46

• 26}.oo 65.00

,}l.ee 68.00

26}.00

. Total $ Disbursed to GeniI Student Pund Balance, May }1, 1904 $

DORMITORY

Funda Advanoed frolll Theol. Btudent !ntraneo Fees

Total Rent and Running Expenses

Total Refunded to Theol School Balance. May ,1, 1904

g. Information. With the foregoing the OuratoriUIII adds the following comments. .

1. In Setpembor, 1902, Oand. WIll. Stuart, B.D., waa examined and deolared a candidate.

2. Olassis Hackonsack was not represented at the June, 19O} meetine of the OuratoriUIIII the Ouratorium doomed it necessary to inform Synod concorning the same.

}. In the summer of 1903 painting and repairs .were made at the SQh~ol at a cost of 8440.00.

4. In the place of the late Prof. G. E. Boer, Prof. G. I. Hemkes was appOinted a8 librarian and archivist.

u h. Questions, c9rteouely Synqd 18 reque8ted to glve con-

sideration to the following matters, '

i

, '-/'

, , , 'I

, , ~

. ~~ .. ,;

,',-

, ;, J.

Page 70

1. The appointment of Dr. R. Janseen ae Lector in Exege­tioal Theology fcr two years at an annual salary of $1,200.00.

2. The appointment of Prof. A. E. Broene a& professor in the Litera ry Department for a period oj two y"a rs for an annual BBlary of 1800.00

,. To increaBG the Li terar:y. Department teacher peraonnel by one professor.

4. To grant Prof. F. M. Ten Hoor an honorarium of 1150.00 annually until the next Synod.

5. That during the s'chool year 1905-1906 Prot'. A. J. Rooke be granted a leave of abaenoe to pursue poet-graduate study.

I

year.

" '"

6. To eet the paneion of Mrs. G. B. Boer at *}00.00 per

1. With reepect to ~etabllB~lng a o011e~1

a. To approve the work performed.

b. To e.tablaih the DIllie as John Calvin Junior ,Oollege.

a. A requeet to give directive. for obtaining the neoes­sary funda for establishing ths, aollege.

d. Synod declare.

1') that the further expansion of the Literary Uepart­lIIent be financed by separate funds so that the quota of the 'theological ~chool 1s not inoreased.

2) that theae eeparate Funds ahall only be uBed for the need. of the college.

}, that ehould the ccllegeln the future becolllemore selt_sustaining, it Shall remain under the supervisicn of the Ohurch for the preservetion of a confessional direction at the instruotion given.

e. To empower t.~e OuratoriUIII to buUd a euitable dormitory.

9. To reeoind Art. 12 of ths Rules 'for the Theological School with the stipuLation that the rsgulation of preaching remain with the Rector, and when a student reoeives the privi_ lege of exhorting in a congregation that this ahall not take

,place wl~out the conaent of the faculty and without the know­ledge of the Rector, or he ehall be excluded from examiIllltiona.

The Ouratcrium,

G. D. De Jong. Secretary

,

'-'r

i I r

r~

I )

I I,

Page 71

SUPPLEt~ENT III

REPORT of THE BOARD OF DOMESTIO MISSIONS

Eahemed "a thersand Br!lthronl

Your Board comes to Synod with the assurance that the work among th, dispersed ie regularly pursued and orowned with ble8_ Bing from the Lord.

Sinoe the bst Synod the brethren Hun and Gulker con­tinued to work regularly in their reepeotive fields, while Rev. Schut through illnees and w8akneaa wao neol!""itahd to dhcontlnue hie \~ork.

Not long aft~r your laat meeting Cand. W. Stuart waD oal­led, who aocepted this work , of whioh the flourishing oongre­gltlon of Manhattan, Montana, ie witness.

Rev. A. J. Brink found the freedom to acoept your call to the great lfsstern field, 018 aLBa brothsr J. Dolfin, both of whom work with bleSSing and 8uooees.

In conneotion with brother Dolfin, at the urgent nqueat from the West, although the treallury did not permit, the Board

,believed to call two, but bued "pon II salary of a600.00. From more than one quarter objeotio~Ognwere raised to this. The Board, however, believes thllt it/acoount for its action bofore your assombly.

Although athmp1J were made to Bend a missionary to the German field, thye w~ro eU fruetntod.

V1~p,the departur~ of the esteemed Trellsur9r, Rov. G. D. De Jong, from Olasei. Muskego~ toOlessie Holland, your Board decided to continue him a& treasurer until the next meeting of Synod. ainos it- was cl)nvinced -that he was indiap~n8ibl" through hisqual1f1cetions and long experi.mce. and that IInothsr person would find it diffioult to acqulI1.nt himself with thie work in 10 short a time.

Tne report of tho Troll.urer is a8 follows.

Balllnc& Receipts

D1eburaomenta

Lubben Fund Balllnc~

Total

-Totlll

Reftmd from the Syn. Treae. !lelance

$4,067.lIe . 5.1116.92 S9,254.eo 6,676.50 $2,57e.~0 1.320.15 $1,2~.15

100.00 11,~~.15

Pago 72

June 1905 - June 1904

Balanoe Reoeipt.

DlaburulDents Balance Lubber. Fund

Total

The Board decided that if Synod doea not change ~ it_ ~ormer rule, to edvieo Synod to oontinuo Rev. De Jong a8 freeB­urer _ildto make him a member of the Board, i.t alao add"",,_ that hie honOrarium bo incraesed.

hlmer Pbtte Leota Hoeper Frioeland Hull, ·N. D. Otley Firth MaxwlIll Grand View Farkereburg Renville lanawha O. Friesland 'aaso Baldwin·

Lpdi Rochellter SayviUe x.,t p,.riB Oleve1and Eaet Fisher lOta tion Rm.k Hudeonville Eaetmanville Oaldwell Proeper Reeman

". '.

SUBSIDY FOR 190' - 1904

1100,00 Sheboygan 100:00 01. lllinoiD 125·00 Rusk 75.00 Hudaonv111e

100.00 Fisher St .. tion -'-,a~00 dleveland B.S. 200.00 Iilut t>arill 150·00 Gr • .nd· Rapids il:.

·200.00 rutmanville 125·00 OddwIIU

50·00 aeellllln 100.00 Atwood and 200.00 Ellsworth 158·00 Prollper 125·00 Sayville 75.00 . Rochester

8UBSIDYFOR 1904 - 1905

1100.00 Leota 100.00 Friesland 100.00 H00per 150·00 Harvey 150·00 Doon 50·00 Ebenezer

200.00 Firth 150·00 Palmer 200.00 lanawha 150·00 &lbdon· 50·00 O. Friesland 50·00 Parkoraburg

~ ...

fl00.00 25.00

100.00 . 150.00

50·00 200.00 100.00 '0.00

200.00 150.00 75·00

150.00.

100.00 100.00 100.00

'150.00 100.00 100.00 200.00 150·00 125.00 200.00 100.00 200.00 100.00 125·00 50·00

I-I

,.J!

I'

Page 75

Ell_worth $200.00 Oeorg" $150.00 ~!ue kee;on IV 150·00 Pease 125.00 Englewood II 200.00 Oluuie O. R. East 25.00 • Sheboygan 100.00 Obeeia Iowa and Otley 200.00 Olaanie O. Friesland 200.00

The book. of the Trealurer end Secretary were examined end found in good order.

The worle deserves to bo oontunued with vigor while it br1nge forth good fruit.

The Board frankly would 11ke tc eee the coll~ction" for muione be increased 80 that the Board i8 in a p08ition to caU accord ing to ne"d.

~.y the Lord use thiD Synod for a rich bleasing for miD_ aiOnll may He lead thereto by hiB Holy Spirit.

In the Name of the Board,

H. Van VelBom, Secretary

SUFPLEMENT IV

REPORT OF THii:·BOARl) OF HEATHEU MISSIONS

EDte"mad tathara and Brethren'

According to the Rule8 your Board ogain presents its Re­port to· you, and again under five sectiona, namely, those of ths KiBsion Field, the Missionaries, the Mission Work, the Worle of the Board, and fiJl811y tha Proposals of the Board.

I. The Mission Field. Since the Synod of 1902 the mission field has expanded. Not at Mission Springe as waB proposed ac_ co·rding to t.~edecisicn of Synod. Man proposes but God disposes. It Boon appeared that the spring at that place during the dry eeason dried up, BO that it was inadvioable to build there. Tha IlmaU store built there had .til be moved and another place had to be found for ~round for our feet. The b~ethr8n Breun and Uroen were sent out, and after much ssarching a place waB found 6 m1les aast of Gallup near Zuni Siding, the so-called Smith Ranch, a piece of ground of 160 acres, wh10h Smith had &s squatter's rights. Next to it W811 a homae'tesd of the eame size

• v

Page 74

upon whioh he had the rights. On the first named land, whioh wae eohool land, Smith had a homB, a fine well, a pump with an en­gine, several 'llmall buildings wi ttl fenoes. All of thiB he wan­ted to sell for #1,650.00. Thill offer was aooBpted,the amall e~~E' was immediately moved there, and up until now we are keep_ lngJ ~here for two yure with Mr. Vander Vagen aJII': etorekeeper. Improvlllllent8 were made with respect to the hOllse, which was in:. deed.,neoe88ary, at a c9"t of $150.00. Rev. Fryling took the homeetead at the behest of the Board, and the Santa Fe R. R. 00. promised to give us another eo aorea adjoining ours, providing that our ohuroh build a boarding sOhool there aewell ae indus­try. 6inoe the Synod of 1902 gave permiesion for thiB (01'. Aote p. 95), and trusting the love tor missions by our Church, the Board took steps in that direotion. Mhs Nellie Noordhot, tor­merly trom Zeeland, Michigan, wae engagedae matron, and arrived in February, 190', at this place, whioh meanwhile wae given the significant name of Rehoboth, the Lord has made room for UI. As yet nothing hae OODIS of induBtry, which was soon perceived, since our. converts with whom we hope~ to start, either went to other Bchools or were unwilling to live at Rehoboth. The opening of a daY_Bchool wae also unsuccesstul s1noe not enough In1ans lived nearby and were too scattered. The Board then decided to build a boarding achool. And tha,tllucceeded. In December, 190', we received six Navajo ohildren~ entrusted to ua for a period of six years. Since they did not have good naDl88, we ,named them ae tallows. Albert Gardiner, approximately 11 yearsl Jamea Evane 10 yearsJ Gertrude Alger 6 yearsJ OlarieeaPierson 6 years; John Elliot 6 yearsl and Henry Whipple 5 years. For the needa of Rehoboth a large amount of.household ~ods wae received trom Michigan, with goods tor the store a whole box car worth about _1,000.00, exoluding treight. Moreover $7'0.00 was made avail­able for an adobe building to be used a8 a 'store, and aleo Buit­able tor other purposes. Some liveBtock waB alao purchased &0 that matters are proceeding at Rehoboth, although not yet per-

·tected. '

Besides Rehoboth we continue to have other mission stations at Forth Definace, Ariz., and Tohatchi and Zuni, N. M. For im­provement at Tohatchi $4'0.00 wee expended whioh was highly necessary.

II. The Missionariss. The brethren Fryling and Brink con­tinue to work in their old fields, namely, Fort Defiance and Tohatchi, and continue to work unwearied, although the former not wt.pout hindrance, Be will appear below. Last tall both Rev. Brink and Mra. Fryling Buftered severe illnos8, but the ~rd graciously restored them, tor whioh we .

"

(

Page 75

aleo here we acknowledge the Name of his goodness. Our brother A. Vander Wagan throuch God's mercy hae been complfttely oured and is 88 vigoroue and strong as he waB before. However, Janu­ary 1, 1904, he resigned from his work with the Board. Our brother believed that for the success of the m1ssionwork, it was necesoary for the oocial 8S wall 80 the spiritual progreos of the Indian to eatablieh stores in a Ohristian manner to op­pose the influence of ungodly and indifferent storekeepers with their Sabbath deseoration, aale of liquor, etc. And since there W8S an opportunity to obtain a license as etorekee~er at Zuni, and since he cculd not find another qualified pereon, he believed that he should open a store, with the hope that in, time a qualified Christian from our own people would be found to take over the bueiness. VanderWagen also bought a ranch and store 10 miles north of Zuni, the eo_called Z. I. Ranch. He did thie beoause' he ~earned that the Roman Catholics planned to buy this place beceug~/JBpeoially fit for a miSSion station, and then they would be e hindranoe to UB as they are at Fort Defiance. After muohdelibara Uon the Board mus t agree tha:to there is 8

good deal of truth and virtue in the conviction of our brother that the Indians must aleo be helped sooially, and that a store as planned by him can be a means of winning the Indians to the gospel. The Board also appreciates that although our brother no longer draws a salary, he in many ways continued the work of an ,Evangelist for the benefit of our IUssion. And in our opinion . the whole ~'hurch may well thank him for obtaining the Z.I. Ranch' temporarily. Wha+ espeoially grievod the Board, however, that brother Vander Wagon without Buffioient consultation with the Board resigned from hie pOSition, and did not concern himself with hie work as missionary and language study, because we be­lieve that hie work at Zuni is valuable, and in hiB own time the Lord will crown it with hie bleesing.

To our joy we can inform you that brother Vander Wagen made confession of what he has dane as mentioned above at the last Board meeting. Since in the meantime he hae cade prepara_ tions to turn over hie bUSiness, and in fact has partly done 80, he has offered to serve us again at Zuni ae before for a ealary of $1,000.00 per year even ae the other miSSionaries, since he declared that with hie growing family he could not live on $800.00. With your further approbation the Board did not be­lieve it could do otherwise than to empty him again until the next Synod, but with the stipulation th~t he not only oonfess what was mentioned above, but aleo that he promise in the future to confine himself strictly to spiritual work, and that he dis_ pose of his hueinese, also that he

i

Page 16

apply himself to hie studies to qualify himself for the office cf the ministry, which brother Vander Wagen promisee to do. Finally, we report that whioh was mentioned above that 14.188 Nellie Noordhof is working at Rehoboth, and that Mr. D. Vander Wagen continues there as storekeeper and manager of the small farm, but aSked to be relieved AugUBt 1, which was granted.

111. KiBBion Work.

1. Preaching. Rev. Brink conducts a Sunday avening servioe regulerly in the English language in one of the school rooms in Tohatohi, where hi8 listeners oonsist of a number of govsrnment employees,a few grown Indiens, and ebout fifty of the older children, who, however, are not very convereant in the English language, and whom we fear understand little of what our brother prsachee, and also from the fact that they have not had suffi­cient catechetical instructicn. .Rev. Fryling preaches the Word to a Similar group in a Similar room, but for almost the last two years could do this every other Sunday, since the Roman Catholic priests of St. Kichaele, ten Dlilee fr,om Fort Defiance, where there is a Boarding School whioh cost $60,000.00, demand­ed equal time and received the same. Brother Vander Wagen speake every Sunday evening in a government school room near the town of Zuni having an audience from 25 to 80, consisting of teaehing personnel there, a number of ohildren, end generally an encouraging number ef adult Zunis'. TheAI' addresses are in whole or in part tranSlated into the Indian language,somsthing whioh they will not permit the other brethren to do on other mi88ion stations •

. "" .,"',

2. Oatechism. A8 a rule the three miusionariee teach the Bcheol ohildren enCe e week. At Fort Defiance end Tohatohi they uee Berstius a8 edited by Beeta and Bosma, while brother Vander Wagen uses thecbildren's Oateohism of the Presbyterian Ohurch. This laat named booklet is alao used by Hiss Noord_ hof, who teaches her six pwpils with zeal in the first prinoi­plea of truth, which we hope will bear good fruit. Sinoe her clasB is eo small she csn work much more effectively than in the government schools whers 'the clessee of necessity are muoh too large and the time too limited.

}. Sunday School. Every Sunday morning all our mission­arieB teaoh a Sunday School clas8, and Brink and VAnder Wagen are Buperintendents of the whole Sunday School. The gevernnent employee8 who help them in this work are aupplied with Quarter_ lie8 by the Beard in erder to obtain the best beoks, while the children ara supplied 'with carda by us. And in passing we should remark that the Board also supplies a oouple

.

"

I.

I

Page 77

of dozen -Banners", in order to influenoe the helpers and oon­verts for good.

4. Langu~ge Study. We gather that the brethren Brink and Fryling are makinp; goodprogres8 in learning the difficult Na­vajo language. Rev. Fryling translated Borstiue 1n that language and before long hopes to have this printed after another revi­eion, which surely will be a very desirable step not only for the Indian children but alao the older Indians for effective work under the blessing of God. Our brother aho translated the Lord'a Prayer and the Ten Oommandments, a difficult task. Rav. Brink is busy with editing a Navajo dictionary, a necessary and useful but e diffioult task which will demand much time.He also translated by historical atories of the patriarohe • very fit­ting subjeots for a roving s'1epherd fold ae the Navajo. The parable of the prodigal Bon was translated, and a Marriage Form was alao compiled. Mise Noordhoff has also been busy learning the language as muoh as time permitted. Brother Vander Wagen trllnslatad a part of the Gnepel of Y",rk, the Lordi s Prayer, and a hymn. He appears to speak the Zuni language ~ather flUently.

5. Family Visiting. Family calle were made more or lees reeularly, which is rather difficult beoause of the wanderings of the Navajos an" their inability to understand Christian ideae, while the brethren muat continually struggle to express them­selves in religious terminology_ Itappeare more and more that durtng the first years they will regularly have to make use of aft, interpreter, not only for language study but alao for family ~118.· .

6. Reports. Reports were aent in regularly. They Showed that the work was carried on regularly, although, alas, without muoh visible fruit.

7. Resulte. Although at the last Synod we were able to re­port with JOY of the first fruits on the miSSion field, this time we cannot boast of this, except that a Zuni girl by the name of Nina was baptized, who has since married.

In part we oan ascribe this minimal fruit in the fact that the brethren do not baptize until they Botu-ally oan discorn something of' tho work of the Lord 1n baptiomal candidates, some­thing which 1s commendable. To adorn blown up lists of converts, which we fear takes place at.timee, l~ not pleaSing to God and blinds the Church. Yet this scanty fruit may well urge our con­gregation to mors earnest and pershtent prayer to the Lord of the harvest. The Board, moreover, hse eo~e to a firm conviotion that it would be very wise, since our mioeioneries have gone through the first and difficult period of learning the. language,

i

-,.,' "

\. j .~

Page 76

to follow the example of other Ohurohes on the Indian Field, to empha8ize on Sohool work and our own institutions.

IV. The ~ork of the Board. The Board met ra~llarly eaoh year. The Exeoutive Oommittee met severel times. ~pecially concerning RBhoboth the wnrk increased. Howevor, the work ~B made easier beoause- of the harmony that.', 'lxiBted at these meetings, througll the impression that the work of tile Lord was being performed, and a180 tllat by the gifts f.o,l!; minions the love for miesions

,by God's people was rBvea1ed. Oonoerning finanoes. tile Treaaur­er'. book reves led tile follow1ngs

Balance, May ,1,- 1902 Receipts, June 1902-May ,1, 190', Reoeipts for Industrial Eatabliehment

. Total Dlebu88dments, June 1, 1902 to May ,1,

190' 10.796. 43 Balanoe, May ,1, 190' ._2.584.04 Reoeipts June 1, 19O,-May ,1, 1904 8.441.~'

Total $11,025.9 Diebu8Sdments, June 1. 19O~y '1,1904 7.329.26 Balanoe, May ,1, 1904 • 2,971.68

The excessive disbursementa for tile last two years wal caused by the purchase of furniehlngs for the store at Rehoboth, the purohase of Smith Ranoh, and the establishment of the boarding sohool at Rehoboth. To our sorro,., we must aoktlowledge that with respeot to tile store tllat it wae fer from a sucoess for various rsaeone, espeoially tile wrong looation. Hence we had to deoide to end tne affair. Fortunately weoan use the remaining furnish­ings, aooording to the invoioe of .May 1904, costing 3506.4" as muoh as alt for the boarding Bchool at Rehoboth.

It should be added that with respeot to the aboV'B.tinan.:.. oial report, two notes of $50.00 and $725.00 reBp~ctively for the houee in Graefachap.

TIle tarm pt Smith atter cUltivation, 1n our estimation, will eventually be financially profitable with irrigation and sbeep and .will also be instruotive tor our boya at tile board­ing 80hool.

TIle Boarding 8chool under the supervision of Miss 'Hoord­tlflt'will not be aa oostly as we first estimated. Sinoe the opsning

:i

(

I t

t

Page 79

to the end of April 1904 (5 monthe) the coet for groceries wass

For the children alone For olothing Total Disbursements

*1~4.20 74.!2

$208. 1

The cost of each child waB thus approximately ~~5.00. Per month about $6.00 per child. The email expenditures for cloth­ing i9 to ... great extent our indebtedness to the Youne Ladies' Sooiety of North West St •• lIalamazoo, which sent .. ra ther large amount of clothlnb. ~y many follow this good example. Moreov~r. to our joy we oan report to the honorable Synod the encouraging fact that various societies and sunday Bchoole have ae8u~ed the responsibility to provide for the oxpenseD for tho first years for the nurture of the boarding school children. These expen-ses were currently estimated st ~125.00 annually. The Young Ladies' SOCiety of 14th St., Chicago, haB the honor of taking the re­sponsibili ty of .. specific child (OlariBea 1. 'llieraafter the sun_ day 8chool of 9th St •• 'Holland, took James as their charge; the Young Ladies' MisBion CleBe of Alpine Ave., Grand Rapids, to care for Albert, end the Penny Society of the Misses Rosbach and Remare of Lar,rave Ave., of the 8ema oity assumed the responsi­bility of Gertrude for her nurture. The congregations of CroBby St. and Coldbrook also take collections fo)' this purpoBe. and with oncouraging reaulte, without having chosen a spacific child. From other sunday schools and 8001eties we have more or lesa speoifio promisee. And should it appear 1n the future that our estimate of $125.00 ie too hlghfor each year, then Buraly others will follow for whom the sum is too much. The Lord grant thie, and cause many prayers to accompany the gift of love, so that the good work of our own Bchools may be expanded.

We add that Rev. Fryling, because of weakness and family cirou~atance9. did not feel free to continue as Principal, whereat the Board appointed Rev. 'Brink ae pro tem.

!be secretary according to instructions visited the Com­missioner of Indian Affaire at Washington, D. C., at which time our Church lind our people received the honor by' means of an invitation extended to the secretary to attend a aeesion of the Houee of Representatives and open with prayer, whiCh was

,done. 1ba vommiasioner wae very oourteous and promised to give preference to our people for employment in the echoola near our mission Btationerrovlded thsy can Buetain Oivil Service exam­inations

,,--".'

I Iv

Page 80

to teach. Alal~ various attempts by means ot contacts proved uneuCllesaf'ul.

This. time the brethren Walkotten and Beeta went to iMpeot the mission field, and we believe, not entirely in vain.

We muet also report that the Inoorporation of the Board took plaoe in 1902,.a8 permitted by Synod. The property at Graaf_ Bohap waB finally sold for a good prioe.

V. Proposals and Requests of the Board.

1. The Board requests Synod to instruot the Wachter COmlll. henoeforth to pay the editor for the Mission Department ap­pOinted by the Board ~50.00 annually as formerly decided (Aots 1900, Art. 94, 2_~). And also to remit to the Board the honorarium advanced. ($100.00).

2. Permission to revise Art. 25 of the pre.ent Rule. to file reports ·every four IIIOnthe instead of IIIOnthly, sinoe dietanDe. make a IIIOnthly report unworkable.

~. Permission to oall brother VanderWagen on a .alary of $1,000.00.

4. To be empowered to build. emall·ohuroh on our property at Zuni. Cost figured at $500.00.

5. Approval of the deciSion of the Board to engage a married couple to work in and around the Boarding School.

6.&npowar~d to expand the Boarding'Sohool at Rehoboth provided that tha finanoial meane, to ue obtained from spsoial Bouroes. permit, to two dozen, prefarablyorphans from among the NavajOIl.

7. PermiSSion to cl08e the store. ,

e. PermiSsion to 8all the house and the barn at Fort De­fianoe providing there is a good opportunity. which app~rs to be the oa8S at present.

9. Should this materialize to 8IIIpower the Board to pur_ obue the z.r. Ro.nch for $2,000.00, and to build an adobe buildine for the missionary and a small nUlllber.of ecbool ohild_ ren, if possible orphans from Zuni. Intentions are to plaoe Rev. Fryling there. .

10. To be granted permission to diep08e of the holdings at Tohatchi, if there is a fitting opportunity.

11. Should this ocour, permiSSion to open a misllion lltation " at Gallup (if this appaers to be de8irable), prefersbly first ~ in a ren ed house. Intentione are to ulace Rev. Brink there.

"

l

Page 51

12. Approbation Qf the following delegatee to the Board 8.

eleated by the respeotive 01a8a8e. Rev. J. A. \~"etervelt for 010881s Haokeneaok. Hev. F. Doezema for OlasBiB Hudson. Rev. J. B. Hoekstra for Olaseis Grand Rapids Emit. Rev. H. Beets for 01ese1s ~and Rapids Weet. Rev. H. Walkotten for Ohasia 14uakegon. Rev. J. Post for Oisesis Holland. Rev. Ho' Vender Verp for 01aosis Illinois. Rev. 1. Van Dellen for 01Bos1s Iowa. Rev. O. Bode for OlaBsis Ost Friesland.

ReuI'octt'ully I1IUbllli tted,

Henry Beets, Secretary

SUPPLJi)lENT V.

REPORT OF THE BOARD FOR JEWISH MISSIONS.

EeteeQed Brethren,

·Praiee the Lord, 0 Illy soul, and forget not any of his benefits." With theae very meaningful words of David, your com­mittee mey at this time bring a report concerning ite work. The Lord our Goa hae bleseed us above expectation8. Permit ue to bring a somewhat more expanded report than we usually do. Your committee has fulfilled ita teek as carefully a8 poesible. It wae instruoted.

1. To lead the Jewish Mission in Chioago into an eoolesias­tical ohannel.

2. To get one of our members on the Executive Committee.

In May of 19Q} your oommittee visited the Chicago Hebrew K!eeion. It wee II red pleaeure to be there, although it cau8ed Borrow that Prof. Heyne could not be present because of other duties lind brother Dekker beoause of illnsss. We were received in a friendly manner, and were given an insight in all things pertaining to the miSsion. We cannot judge otherwise than that the brothers and siaters, who aro engaged in the work here, do eo with warmth lind zeal. It atill thrills

Page 82

our h .. rt with joy, when we think of how the young people 8nd ohildren are instructed in the Word of life and are direoted to Ohrist, the Anointed One. How those young Jews and Jewesles could sing about the ~8v10r, the H1gh Priest, Dun and their Redeemer. Furthermore, we believe that the finances handled carefully and wieely. As far a8 we know, all aTB ohurch people. Prof. Soott, D.D., i& president of the mission, end Rev. Lewek, the minister, is 8 member of the Oongregational Church. Rev. Mereu.Ben i8 a veteran of the Presbyterian Ohurch and orthodoxl he 1s superintendent of the minion. Mre. HOWland, secretary, is 11 member of the Reformed Ohurch. Mrs." Rounds, the treasurer. 18 a~ember of the Oongregational Ohurch, and Mr. Blackstone is a traveling miniRter at hLa own expense. We believe that they all are sincere. gedly people. We have a fairly firm footing in this miSSion. It 18 certain, a8 we continue, gain more in­fluence. YeB, we believe that we Bee the morning red of' the beautiful morning, whereby this mission comes under our con­tr.ol. Oynod must also exert ita influence. There should be 8

second member from Chicago on the Board to work with brother Dek~r and to support one another. Our treasurer i8 alao a mem­berof the Board but cannot attend the meetings. Of necessity aOmBOM dee should take hh plaoe. Brother Dekker h a mlllllber of the Exeoutive Oommitt.e, this 1s acoording to the deaire of' the Synod of' 1902. Your Oomm. believes that it oannot do other_ wise than with all modesty yet with all eernestnesa to r~com-mend to the generosity of Synod that the Hebrew M188ion at Chicago reoeive an annual sum of $2,000.00, alwaya with the understand_ ing that 80 muoh is received, although there ean be no objection to thiS, since our people have clearly shown that thie branch of labor in Oed's Kingdom is favorably received.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Balance, May }l. 1902 Receipts, June 1, 1902 to May }1, 19O}

Total

Diebureemantu" Chicago Hebrew Mission Jewhh Mission, G,nef'.- Churches, Netherlands Sootoh MiF~ion. AmBt~rdam Heb. Miss. and Tract A8s l n, New York Oity Ohr. Hebrew Miseion, Brooklyn, N. Y. Hebrew Mission, Oleveland. Ohio Hebrew Mi8810n. St. LoUiS, Mo.

• 4e1.9} 2.159.M

32,641.7}

11,400.00 100.00 100.00

50·00 50.00 50·00 50.00

l

II t

Page 8;

Traveling Expense, Btsmp", poetcardB, eto. Total

Balance, May ;1, 1903 Reoei~tB. June 1, 1903-May ;1, 1904

Total Die burB ementB S

Chioago Hebrew IUs don Hebrew Mise ion, New York.

• • Brooklyn • • St. Louie • ~ Oleveland

Sootoh MisBion Ohurch Jewish Mission, Geraformeerde Karken

Total Traveling Expenses, mailings, etc.

Total Balance, May 31, 1904

• 41.62 1,841.62

$ 800.11 2.670.20

$;,470.;1

2,000.00 50.00 50·00 50·00 50·00

100.00 100.00

&2,400.00 25.85

$2,425·85 $1,044.46

The receipts, disbursements, and vouchers, and all that per_ tains thereto were examined by the Oommittee, compared with the Oontroller's book, and found in good order in June 1903 Bnd in May 31, 1904, ae aleo in the former yearB Bince 1894. It i8 now ten years ago that Synod aPPointed 8 oommittee to interest it­self in the miB8ion of Israel, GOdlB people of old. The emall sprout has grown, has become a omall tree that beare fruit. Our deBire and prayer iB that this small tree become B Palmtree oaBttng shade, under the protection and bleeeing of Jehovah, the God of Isrsel. Your Oomm. had r~aeon to begin with RBleoe the Lord.' The people ehow a favorable di~poeal for the .mission among the people chosen by God from all the nations of the world. And now broken off through unbelief, it 18 not rejected. The deorees of heaven still remain in their place. And ae long a. God's witnesses faithfully stand to shine in our ey~., 80 lon~ they okll to us, "Jehovah has not rejected the Beed of Jaoob. Jer. 35s19-26.

Yet a few worda conoerning the distribution of money, ex­cept that whioh has been ~romi.ed to the Chicago Hebrew Mission.

The New York City Hebrew Mission is the oldest in our coun­try, and onG of the oldest in the world in this work. It began

"

Page 84

1n the Reformed Church 1n 1866 in Rivingto~t., New York, and still has ite headquarters there, where it ie connected with tract distribution. In Rev. Bernhard Angel it has a worthy and zealous preacher of the gospel among the Jews. Brooklyn is aleo a worthy field whioh is worked by the youthful and zealous Spievague with bleesing. In St. Louis the gcspel i6 preaohed by the well-known Rev. Mark Lev, who has earned hie kn1ght1 e spurs in the war for hie Savior and King. At Oleveland the work began on a good footing, but hae been orippled by the leave­taking of Rev. Lev. The Oommittee, which consisted of three ministers and two other men, has JUBt about disappeared because of moving. 'l'ne evangelist, Mr. a.Denning, carries on the work, and Rev. Hospars faithfully supervises the work. We also hope that our two ministers there, Revs. Bolt and Nagel also interest themselves in this work. Then the money sent to the Netherlands. Sometimes the treasurer receives gifts with the request. This 18 for the mission among the Jews in the Netherlands. Then again a ohange with the requeat. this money to be sent to the home of inquirlngJewa in Amsterdam. Firat theae gift were sent separ_ ately, but this became too bothersome and oostly. Therefore the Oomm. deoided to Bend each $100.00. And they are happy and thank­ful for it. And we are too. God, the Lord, bleBS all the ohurches, ,and aleo all the young people's, ladies', and monlo SOCieties, yes, all who have eo feithfully supported us with their gifts and beet wlohes eo well within ae outSide our Ohurch. And we oontinue to reoowaend this work a8 a work of the Lord. Let no one forget that we owe a great debt to this people of old, and that throu~h this work we pay baok part of this great debt. Yes, we surely believe th~t 1f Ohristian churches not only want to grow but alao flourish, they Shall reach that goal if they noi...fcr­get this people of old, from whom salvation come8. ,Let ue pray and work in this with zeal until our Deliverer of Zion ehall purge Jacob from its transgressions. For this is for them a covenant from me, saye the Lord. when I shall be merciful to thdr sine.

S. S. Postma. President W. Heyne, Secretary J. L. Ples, Treasurer S. Dekksr

Page 85

SUPPLEMENT VI.

REPORT OF THE EMERITUS BOARD

Esteemod Fathers and Brethren.

This time the Board comos to Synod with a feeling of joy and gratitude. It was in a position, even when ex~enees increae_ ad with the death of beloved brethren, to pay in full each quarterly during the past two years, Qomething which could not be done in pant yeare. It could also, according to the instruc_ tion of , Synod, pay in full all arrearagea •. The goodwill of the ohurohes and the faLthfulcare exeroized made possible by this, should also cause the Church to rejoice and thank the Lord. Given the mandate to incorporate the Emeritus Fund, such has been done, and the Incorporation awaits the approval of Synod. Should this take plaoe, the Board then reminds Synod, that at this. Synod the members must be appOinted in conformity with the decision a.S app",ars in the Acts. the nominations of which will be presented by the Board. The Books of the Treasuerer and the Secretary were examined and found in good order.

TREASURER'S REPORT

1902-190.5 • Receipts 12.590.54 D1Bbursemente 2.261·22 Balance • ;28.99

The Lubbers Legaoy $1,;18.86

190;'1904 - Receipte 12,250.;4 Disbursements 2.11~·2Q Balanc" 1 16.44

The Lubbers Legacy 11,;81.42

The Board kindly requesta Synod to approve the following allowanceu

Rev. lie H. Frieling • 200.00 Mre. H. Temple ;00.00 Mrs. O. Stuit 250·00 Mrs. S. Broekstra 250.00 Mrs. E. R. Ilsan 200.00 Mrs. J. Stadt 150.00 Mrs. O. Vorst 150.00 Mro, 111. Veenstra 200.00 lOre. J. Re;neyn 200.00 Mrs. D. Langereh 100.00

Total 12,200.00

f'-'''--

"

Page 86

The Board advisee that in making up the budget there be a quota of 19~ per family since the allowanoe had to be in­oreased, and no more arrearage. oan be exepeoted uinoe the Olas_ 8es have ae muoh ae met them.

With thanks to the Churoh for the confidence nlaoed in the Board, it hopeeand truets that ths Church will perllevere in love and fai thfuln,s8 ae it hall shown since the last Synod.

, " May the Lord btl present with hill Spirit in all the deliber_

ations of Synod, and oause its work to be to the glory of hie Name.

In the Name of the Board,

K. Van Vessem, Seoly.

SUPPLEMENT VII.

REPORT OF THE OOMMITTgg FOR OHUROH HELP.

leteemed Brethren.

Churoh Help might again perform its work for two years and aotually be of help to some oongregations. The Btatull of the Fund is as followe, In· these two years pa~ent of notes in the amount of 1290.00 WBS reoeived. Interest amounted to 884.60, and oolleotions amounted to $1,559.69. A total of 1l,9~4.29.

In our Report to the previous Synod there WBS a balanoe of 1257.45. With thia amount wethu8 had a total of a2.191.74.

Yet with a minor exception. Of the $257.45 which was in the treasury at the last Synod, the Bum of $161.49 was depOSi_ ted in the .Hospers Bank of ';erange Oity. Thie bank went bank.­rupt, and i·t was feared tl. .. t we would not get our money back. First, however, ; waa returned and later another i. a total

. of ~9O. 74. l!ihether there is any hope of obtaining the remain­ing '~9O. 75, we do not know.

110 were ablo to grant help to the following oongregationsl

Edgerton Oak Harbor Byron Center ICenoeha Harvey

3250.00 Rusk 275.00 Oak Harbor 200.00 'Hudsonville 200.00 Lebanon 100.00 Rllsworth

Total

$100.00 100.00 ~.OO 200.00 200.00

*1,925.00

I

I I: 1"­i.

t ..

I c

I.

• ,

Page 87

\lith aome expense for administration added to the dis_ bursements the tolaldiebureementa are $1,931.00. This leaves a balance of $260.74.

The following churches pa id on the ir not"s,

Sun 350·00 IUddelburg i75·00 Maxwell Oity 25·00 Sun 50.00 Sullivan 15.00 Sayville 50·00 Sully 25·00

We have 1n our possession at the present time the 1'01-lowinc notes.

NoordelooB $ ,0.00 Plette 3 200.00 Plat.t.s 92.00 Atwood 200.00 Rock '1alley 75·00 Oaldwell 200.00 Oaldwell 100.00 Kanawha 200.00 Rock Valley 50.00 Rudyard 100.00 Hull, la. 50·00 ·Maxwell '01 ty 100.00 Sully . 25·00 Rudyard 50·00 Peese 100.00 Ellsworth 100.00 Hosper 200.00 Lynden '00.00 Pella II 90.00 Harvey 250.00 Sully 50·00 Edgerton 250.00 Leota l'O.OO Oak Harbor 275.00 Hull, Ia. 100.00 Byron Center 200.00 George 125·00 Kenosha 200.00 Vesper 100.00 Harvey 100.00 IUddelburg 125·00 Rusk 100.00 Sullivan 50·00 Oak Harbor 100.00 Fa 111ler 150·00 Hudsonville '00.00 Sayville 100.00 Lebanon 200.00 Leota 125.00 Ellsworth 200.00 Hull, la. 100.00 Total $5.592.00

From th~ee dry yet inf'ormst1ve figures we can add that the Church Help Fund Oommittee was incorporated, and thuB be_ fore the law has judicial standing.

As,one can aee the reoeipts for this Synodical year were sbout the same as the last. JI.any congr5p:atione w'are very faith­ful in collcetions, but alaa, other, even financially strong congre~tione. did not Bend in a single collection. At fann-er Synods there were oomplaints about this with favorable re­eul ts. Increasingly the idea is beine establiShed tha t Church Help haD an indisp,msable place in our eoolesiastical. life and for domestic missions offers powerful help.

Let us, however, cooperate in pointing to congregations who are remise their duty, 80 that in the future no complaints need b5 made concerning their failure·in this matter. "

Pago 88

Ohurch Help belongs to our ohurches, does thIS work of the ohuroheo, and s~rv"s not to forget not to forg"t any on" ohuroh.

Our tha,nke for thIS oonfld"no" plaoed in UB,

,

The oommittee for Churoh Help.

i. Breen, President J. Timmermann, Seoretary J. Vander'Mey, Treasurer

SUPPLEMENT YIII.

REPORT OF THE CO!blITTEE FOR THE SUPERVISION OF D3 WACHTER.

Eateemed Fathers and Brethren.

Prom the approved books of the administration the status ot tl\e Treasury 18 8B followBI

1902 - 19O;S

Balanoe, June ,1, 1902 Il,l"l.;SO Receipts 4.~42·24

Total 86,074.24 Dl8bursemente 2111~·1l Balance, June 1, 19O;S j 894.5;S

19O;S - 1904

Balance. June 1, 190" 3 894.5' Reoeipts i.:!§O.2,2

Total 16,255.48 Dl8bursementa 2.~~·46 Balanoe. June 1, 1904 $ 952·0lI

From June 1, 1902 to June 1, 1904, turned over to the Theologioal School Fund the total of 42.950.00.

Besides the above financial report your Comm. requests that Bynod coneider the proposals in the Agenda for expansion of De Wachter, and advises Synod 80 to do.

We have a180 baan requeated by the proponents for tha concerns of the Sunday School to recommend to Synod the

I.

(

I ... ,-,

l

I

Pl\ge 89

publication of Sunday School lessons. One for the older and one for th~ ~'ounger pupils; aleo a quarterly for teaohers. This also appears on the Agenda.

With respect to the personnel of De Wachter your Comm. advises to oontinue.

Rev. A. iCBizer as Ed i tor-in-Chief Rav. G. D. De Jong as alternate editor Mr. H. R. Brink as BuelnesE Manager Mr. H. Holkeboor ae Publisher

Your Oomm. could oontinue on a cooperative baoie with the personnel with no conflicts. Concerning the Oomm. itslef, it thanke Synod for the confidence plaoed in it, that without expense we might servs the Ohuroh in this work.

One of your members, Rev. H. Van Hoogen, because of leav_ ing for Patel'son, N. J., could no longer serve in the recent past, and thus at present there are only two of the older brethren who kept this matter running. We did the best we could.

Respectfully Bubmitted,

J. Noordew1er. H. Van Hoogen, S. S. Postma,

StlPPLJiMENT IX.

President Secretary

REPORT OF TH~ COMl·\ITTEi£ OF CORRESPOND'!NCE WITH THEREFORWm CHURCH OF AMERICA.

Esteemed Fathers and Brethren,

•

Your Committee appointed by tho last Synod to answar for the present the missive sent by the General Synod of the Reformed Church Rddressed to our Synod (Cf. Art. 1~7. Act~ 1902), has completed ita taak in a communication, a copy of !1hich we place in your hand •• Thereupon a letter was received from the Stated Olerk dated Auguet 1, 190" which we aleo present to you, and from which we cite certain mat­tere below. Your Con~1ttee haa aleo according to instruction aleo ~de a reply, which also will follow.

1. Firat of all we had to formulate an answer concern­ing the answer of the General Synod with respect to the quea_ tlon...cl <Jur delegate (Acto 1900, Art. 85) made at the G"neral Synod of 1901' .

J, ~, "-',

~, '

Page 90

~That our Christian Reformed Church would like to have more information of the attitude of the Reformed Church conoerning eeorot and oathbound 80cieties, and whether it definitely de­eiroe to wage war ~nd continue to do so, yea or no,- Aocord­ing to the Aots of our Synod of 1902, Art. 1;7. p. 7;, the Reformed· Church anewered, -that the Synod of the Reformed Church continue~ to maintain itsp081tion ae before, namely, that major assembliea with respect to eoclesiastical disci­pline are only appellant bodies, and that therefore the re­sponsibility of such a question ena proceed from a eoneietory but not from aynod.·

From thiB answer it thuB appears that our Church in the judgment of the R~ormed Church was out of order to address this question to it, becauBe of Reformed Church Polity it ie not qualified to answer this question. Since this ~ives the appearance thet with respeot to this matter our Synod wtJO not eware of Neformed Church Polity, it 1R therefore neoessary to mali: ... plain that our Synod was not out of order, and that the lIynod of the Reformed Church according to .Church Polity wae dutibound to answer ua.

The claim that Olaesie and Synod with reepect to ec­cleSiastical diecipline are appellan~ bodiee ie formally cor­rect. Yet at its Synod of 18BO it was epeoifically thie ques­tion of secret oathbound societies wes or was not D mattar of discipline. As lcne a8 the Synod does not make a declara­tion, it 1e impossible for a Oonuietory to ccneider a ccncrete caas, eincd it hae no objective and for the Church & general binding rule which it can apply.

What then! .We must eimply keep in mind that 01asse8 and Synods are more than appellant bodies with res~ect to disci_ pline. The OcnBitution of the Reformed Church also acknowledges this. Acoording to Art. 5. Sect. 2, Synod has the right to deal with matters that have reference to congre~tionB or ~ th6ringa in general. In Art. 9. Sect. 4, it is stateds -To the General Synod belongs the right ... to have a general over­eight with rserect to the spiritual concerne and matters of the entire Church.- This seme right is expressed in Art. 7, Sect. 2, for 01as8i8, and in Art. 8, Sect. 2, of Particular Synods. Moreover it is stated in Art. 5. Sect. 6. ·The Olas_ sis bee the same authority over a Consistcry, which a Parti­cular Synod hae over a Claseis, end a General Synod over a Particular Synod."

Moreover the Church possesses ~ot o~ly ·pcteetaB ruber­nandi·or power to rule, but alao t,lloteates docendi a or the power to teach, that is, the right/form ite confeSSions, ex­plain them, and to teet ell errore with resp'!lct t.hereto. And the locel congregetion cannot perf~rm this task nor the Oon­sistory, but all the oongregations united 1n a danominaticn by m&ans ofite Synod fully represented.

" i

(

I I

I

Page 91

old Reformed Ohurches of the 16th and 17th oenturies. In their Confessions and Ohuroh Order they therefore have not expressed themselv~8 either.

While theee 9~o1~tie8 are for the Church a newly risen phenomenon, while they etand 1n relationship to the confession­sl, rel~giou8 and ethionl life of the Ohurch. and, finally, while they not only exist outside of the Ohuroh, but many of its best and most orthodox ministers and members era Free Masons (Of. the artiole of Dr. Paul D. Van Oleef, delegate from the Synod ,to Netherlands, Acts 1882, Art. 82, p. 6;5), and that it thus 18 a general phenomenon in the Ohurch and not an ocoasional co~ gregation, 80 that it is the duty of the Synod to declare of­fieally and clearly, it it oonsiders this phenomenon to be or not to be in conflict with the Word of God and the Reformed Oonfeseions.

The contention that only a Oonsistory could answer the question of our Synod from the Dtendpoint of the Reformed Ohurch itself cannot be seriously meant, since it i8 in confliot. with ita own Oonstitution. Matters that concern the Church in gener­al. thus alao the appearance of aecrst societieB, may not be determined by an cccaeioanl Oonsietory. This 1e Indepftndentiem, but not 1n harmonr with Reformed Church government, which mai~ ta ine the t a local CcnaiBtorr eha 11 not determine a ma tter ths t parteine to all the churches.

Beeidefl the contention that the Synod ie cnly an appellant body in matters of diacipline upon the ground the Synod claims to havtl no rie;ht to make a deolaration with respect. to secret aocietiee, Ie not maintained in the same metter, aince the Synod factually has declared the memberShip 1n oecret societies are not in conflict with the OonfeeEiona and the Word of God. Th1e already appears in the statement (Acta and Proceedings of the General ~ynod 1880, pp. 5;55-5;56), -That this Synod also advieee coneietoriec ~nd Ol.epes of the Ohurch to be very kind and for­beartne and ~trictly constitutionsl in their dealinge with indi­viduals on this subject, Bnd that they be and are hersey af­fectionately Cautioned against setting up any new or unauthor_ ized teate of cOmQunion in the Ohrietian Ohurch."

!'hat the'"intent of' the Synod with thltse words is todeclllre that secret societies are notin conflict with member.hip snd con­feesion of tho Ohurch is sbunaantly appsrent~ln the official cOllllllunic ... tion of Dr. Van Oleef, delega te of the Roformed Ohurch to the Rynod in Netherlands 1n le82. (Of. Acts of that Synod, 1882). He eayss ·Cur SynOd oannot proceed to actions which would lead to banbrothere from our fellowship; who, in their office are useful and appear to be honored by God

.

" .\ , ;: 'i:, "

v· ,',

Page 92

'!lha t. God hath cleanBOd IJIaka not. thou oOlDlllon. R When Free Masone adorn t.heir confession w1 t.h a godly life, even as othere Ohriat­iana, we ,as Synod oannot deny them admittanoe to the Church."

Herewith it is pointed out clearly what a Oonsistory would answer UB, should WEI come to it with our.queetion. It would de­clare i teelf unqualified and inoompetent •. or would have to de­clare that because of a lack of a goneral rule to deal with suoh cases. And should a Oonsistory or member of the congregationln auoh a case appeal to 018ssia, Partioular, or GenerAL Synod, then t.hey know by the above mentioned d~ai8ion beforehand that it ie futile, .yea, that th .. Svnod oonaidere that member·shlp in eeoret .oathbound sooieties .11 not in oonflict with lIIemberehio in the Ohurch. The Synod deobres that in the matter of Beore;' sooie­t.ies, whlchftocording to it, comes undsr the mattera of disci­pline,. 18 only an appellant bodYI but at the same time makes 8 deo18ion whereby every appeal in this· mat.ter 18 totelly irapoB­Bible and frultle~8.

II. Oonoerni~ the seoond pOint, namely, our question fcr . more information why the Rejection of Errore of ths Remon.trante

I! re not inc luded in the Standards of the Reformed "'hurch of America, an elaborate answer i8 given. The main po~nt is thisl It wae not neoestiary to t~ke over the Rejeotion~ beoause the ecclesiaatical state of affsire in Amerioa in 1192, when the Oonstitution was adopted, were entirely different than thoee in the .Ietherlande in the 17th oentury. At tha t time in the Nether­lande they had to oontend with the organized attempt of anti­reformed pow':rB who Bought a plaoe in the Reformed Ohurohes. Here, however, although at that time. there were Remonstrante, they did not knock on the door of the Refo~ed Ohuroh of America in an or~anized capacity to receive recognition and to make pro­poganda. These entirely different oiroumetsncee made it unneces_ sar, for the Reformed Ohurch in America to repeat in negative form whioh was alr·esdy pronounced with ade~ul!te fullness and emphasis in the positive article of faith. We should add that according t~ Articlee 9 and 2~ of the Minutes of the Synod of 1791 (.Iay 4.ft.) the omission of this and other matters took place dthat it may not only form en unnecessarily large volume, but alpo not to perplex the English reader. d

In answer to the above your oODll".11ttee wiehas first and aDove all to point out to point out that the Reformed Ohurch haa olearly failed to understand· .. ,. our objection. And what is that' The Reformed Oonfeesions are to be coneldered ae a hsritege, which belong ~olntly to the churchee sprung from the same root and to be jo~ntly aCknowledged. By virtue of t~is communion and unit.y in oonfession there exists

Page 9;>

per 8e a bond between theee Ohurohes, and they ehould in aotions of communal confessions. act communally. ~at speake of iteelf. It is to our sorrow th&t we muat state that such a natural and generally acknowledged faot is completely nsgated by the Re~ tormed Ohurch of America.

And ooncerning the reasons given for the omieaion, we be­lieve thoy are far from oonvinoing. That the book conoerned would beoome too large by adding the Rejection· of Errora is leee than 8ati8fy1n&~hst obj~otion i8 there to a tew pag.e more or lessT That it would coofu~e the inglieh reader is likewise inconsistent. It would be very necessary to enlightwn them con­oorniy\?' th .. finer· and . yet more important pointe of' doctrine in order that they might distinguish between the falae and the true. 'rho more bacause it is e well known fact, established by ohuroh history that in the laat part of the 18th o~ntury we were surrounded on all Bides by 4rminianism. 4nd if we would agree for argument!o sake that at that time there were no Re­monetrante in the Reformed Church all an organized group-aeeking admission, even then it would have a precarious Side to omit the Rejection of Errors. A Confession 10 not made only with respect to errors in the church but sleo without the ohurch. And eocording to this pretended rule we would with the Same right omit certain section from the Gonfession end the ~te­ohism. This last alone iu certainly suffioient enough to show the groundless and dangerous reeeon. Besides by the omission of the Rejection of Errors is not without confessional signi­ficance, because by meens of the negative formulation, ths errore are brought in sharper tocue and more clearly presented in con­trast to the unadulterated truth. Teking everything together the entiu oontention ot tha Anawer ie, According to the oon_ eidered judgment of your oom~itt~e, unsatisfaotory end without principle.

III. The third point upon which we believe wa should dir~ct your attention ie the decision of the General Synod of 1905 of the Reform~d Ohurch concerning our propoaal with respect to Church Correspondence. Aocording to the decision of our Synod of 1898 (Art. 68, I) we understand under Church Correspondence the followin~ four matterss

1. Sending delegatee to each others major aeeembliee with advisory vote;

2. That we attend to esch othdr that we neither in doctrine nor in eervico or d1ecipline depart from Reformad prine iples;

;. Mutual conSideration how to daal with a third party; 4. To eerv." one another with ISnlight .. runent, ellndcially

when th"re is consideration of revision of the Goofeseione, Church Polity, or Liturgy.

Our delegate to the General Synod of 1901 clearly preeen­ted to the ae~lS;nbly tha tit weS auch a kind of' correspondence

j.

" ,

that it desired, Bince the mere exchange of greetings did'nnt fulfill the purpose, especially fcr Ohurches 80 closely united ae oure., (Of. Sup~lement IX, Minutee of the Synod of 1902, p. 105). The an~wer to our Synod in 1902 did not mention a word concerninr thie, for which rea eon in our letter of june, 190~. to the General Synod W8 once again reminded it of this emphati­oally. Last August a reply was received from the Stl'lted Olerk, the Bame as can be read in tho minutu of the General Synod' of 19O~. pp. ~94 ff. Therein we are informed. MThatthe Reformed Churoh in America will be hap?y to correspond with the Ohristian Reformed Ohurch upon the Gamut condi. tion of friendship and mutual trust and brotherly kindness which form the ground of our oorreepondenoe with IlI8ny nth<tr rel1gioue bodies. It doea not appellr to be_wise that one of UD should taka en official advienry po!ition over against the other in ecclasiaetiaal eeee$;Liee, or thet one of uS ehould teke upon itself IIny re­eponil,ibllity for the dootrinal purity, liturgical oorrectness, or .disoiplinary strictnese of the other body. ~ch one mu~t for itself, a8 alone responsible to tne. groat-Head 6fthe Ohuroh, decide What position it must take concerning other ecolesias_ tical bodies. liBch must assume ruponeibility for itself with rcepeot to revh!.on of or maint!ining unnviesd its Oonf&8eion, Church Order, or Liturgy." ,

From the above to our sorrow it 18 abundantly clearl 1. That the General Synod of the Reformed Church doee

net appear tc have any conception of the eolidaritythat ex­iete between the Churches of the Reformation. It coneiders them to bo completely independent from one another; aleo with r~epect to the Biblical admonition to consider one an-

, other (lIeh, 10,21.), even 'with respect to the mutual docull'ell­tariee lnh~r1ted from the Fathers,

2. It placee us, who ere so oloslIly related to it, ap­parently in thellame category u, ae it oalle it ·other eo­oloeiatltioal bodies; and

~. Refus~8 in no uncertain terme to enter into s closer lind more meanlnful correepond~nc!ll than what ie cllPtomary in our country by sending gre.tings, complim8nta, etc. Surely a refusal which we DlUet acknowledge with sorrow lind to the accountability of the General Synod.

When your.Oolll!ll. now, finally, takes the Uberty to BUm­

marize one thing lind another, and by way of advice to con..­clude, then we beli<ove that we ollm Bnd m~et do the followings

Since our Churoh doee not accept aB members thoee who belong to oeeret. oathbound societies, of "hich thore 1e auch en abundance in our country, nor tolerate such, because it. is convincedtha t the Word 'of God forbids suehl

~ -' r

I.

[

. '-.--

Sineo tho Reformed Ohuroh doo. admit them and bear w1th them, and apparentLY 101111 continue to hold thi8 point of v10w 1 nth" futurO! I

Since Church Oorrespondence, which we des1re to do acoord_ ing to the R .. for:ned conoeption, which inoludes aClcnowlegement of mutual diecipline, whioh under the.e oiroumstanoe. i8 im­p088ible.

Since the given reaDone for omitting the Rejeotion of Er­rore of the rtemonetrante from the St9nderde are far from satis­faotory, &Inc) Btill continua. to ba a prfllOlllJtionary Signl

Sino.,· finally, the General Synod reject. our propos,,) of Oorreapondence accordine to the Reform~d conoeption, aocording to our ooneidered judgment, cannot oonclude oth&rwlee than that a8 long a8 the Reformed Ohurch of America pereieto in going this way, that it is unjuat1fiable,and by the declaration of thia Church in ita broad.at aes9mbly, makes it impossible to enter into a closer relationehip a8 commanded 1n God's Word.

May the Lord, the God of our Fathere, himself eoon oeua. a change for the good •

Respectfully submitted to your assembly,

'Lbanking you for your. . .'06i1f'ldenoe 'in, UB,

Your Oom;niUe.,

F. M. Ten 1l00r,Prea1dent J. W. Brink Henry ae.ts, Secretary

p. S. Since the matter of Oomity will come to your Synod anyway by meane of the 01ase10al way. we believed that we could inform your assembly that the Genersl Synod did not balieve that thore waB any need to alert the churches ae our Synod had re_ quosted. (Of. Minutes of our Synod of 1902, Art. 157, 2. 75. and Y.inutee of the General Synod, pp • .595-.596. of the year 1903.)

SUPPLEMENT X.

MPoRT OF THE OOl-IMITTEll: ~'OR RESOLUTIONS OF SYl/.PI\THY.

Eateemed F.there end er,threnJ

Vith Borrow and grief we remomber six brethren who ,were taken away by death from us and their families

"

/

I .

'age 96

8inoe the 1ut Synod, and we hope and truet have been trana­lated by the Lord from the militant to the triumphant Church •

. , Rev. J. Sohepare wa. tha first of tha.e nix to be taken

away, oinoa he died in Augult 1902, at the ega of' 65 yeare, ~4 y~lIrB of whioh ha might labor in Godle kingdom in the fol­lowing churches respeotively. Ohicago. Lafayette, Aokley, and Vogel Center, aarving in tht!! last place for 20 y,*r8.

Rev. G. Hoakeema died in September of that y~r at the age of 60 y.ar8, 25 yeare of' which hll might serve in God's kingdolll in the churches of Zeeland, Holland, Muegegon, and Oakland~ In the 1aai church he wae permitted to aerve 15 yeare.

aev. Theodore Smits died in March 19O~ at tht ~g. of ~~ Yeare. He might labor aocording to h1a hellrtle desire in th. Goepel for only 4 yeare in the ohurchlll of Luotor and Grand View, now Ebenezer, S.D.

Rev. H. H. D. Lang.reia wae called from hie labor in June 19O~. having reached the age of 7} yeare, 2~ years of which he might earve a8 minister of the Word, partly in the Nethsrlanda, and partly in our ccuntry in the congregations of Pa tereon, Bell v"rdam, and is lalllSzoo. . .. . .... .. J

Rev. J. M. Remein died in July 190', at the age of 6, yoar£, 22 year8 of which he served 118 minister of the Word in Netherlands and Amerioa, since 1891 in the congregation of Roche.ter, N. Y.

And finally to thle list must b. added tbe unf'orgetable ProfeaBor, Rov. G. E. Boer, who died eo unexpeotedlY in ).!aroh 1904, a t the age of 72 years. In 1865 he wall ordained aa mi~ieter of the Word at Seppam.er, Netherlande, and in 1868 ha went to Niezyl, and through God's guiding hand he became minister in Grand Rapids in 187}. In 1876 he waeap­pointed proteeaor, and served until 1902. when he reoeived hie honorableemerltatlon.

So the name. of theae eLx brethren hed to be added to . to the already rather long n~orological liet of our denomina_

tion. They sre no longer among us, but we trust they went where they received the rewerd of the faithful. Their going oalla to uS who Btill labor and fights ·Watch, b. Bober, have your 101na girt, and oandlu burn:l.ng, lind thus await the Mutert~

The God of all comfort strengthen and Buetain th. be_ reaved. and grant them hie grec ••

The Oommittee,

J. B.Hoetutra, Report"r

! i

l

I 1-,-

Page 97

SUPPLEMENT XI.

oro THE CHRISTIAN REFORM:ID CHURCH OF NORTH AMERICA.

Highly Eet""med Brethnan of our Lord ,,"aeus Christ,

The Synod of the Reformed Church of South Africa, in .ession at Middelburg, Cape Colony, on·April 11, ff., 1904, hae given IIl8ture considerat'ion whether or not it would be desirable and profitable to Bend· a del!9gate to the next Synod of the Christian Reformed Churoh.

However muoh all the members of the Assembly continued to be convinced of the great importance of this matter, t.l1is heart's desire could not be executed for the reason of finan­cisl dearth.

For this reason the idea was uttered in our Bynod whether your churches would be found to be prep~red to send a delegate from your midst to our forthcoming Svnod to be held in April

. 1907, whereby the desire was aleo expressed that such a dele­gate might leave America early enough to attend the General Assem.bliee of Cape Colony, Orangia, and Tranvaal, which will iAeet ono after the other. which are to meet shortly before' Synod, which wpuld provide an excellent opportunity to become acquainted with the oonditions in the Church.

Thie idea found unanimous approval by our entire assembly. Henoe it ia our pleasant task to acquaint you of this decision end with fraternal. urgenoy present this request to you •

. This delegate would find the best opportunity to attend the above mentioned meetings if he could arrive in Oapetown prior to New ~ear 1907.

We Bend this invitation to you the more readily taking into oonsideration the many tokens of oonoern and the genuin~ fraternal feithfulness of the Christien Reformed Chu,roh shown to UB, espeoially during the 'difficult Btruggle . our Nation and our Church experienced.

It 1e unde.rstandable that mutual need is felt for the atrengthenine of the bond of love which unites your and our Church, and we believe that closer mutual acquaintance to be the best neans. to bring thiB bond closer.

We add this information t!tet an identical invitation was extended to the Gereforme"rde Kerken of the~etherlandB, and we have the honor to be.

With highly esteemed and hearty fraternal greetings,

P. Postma, President of Synod J. D. DuToit. Olerk of Synod.