The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-30
Ecclessastical Trial I'm the Reformed Dutch
Church.


of New York convened in extra seFson at the con
sistory roo Fulton street, to adjudicate upon the
appeal Of the church of North Branch, New Jersey,
being complaint of the consstory against proceedings
Of the Classs Of New Brunswick, November IA and
Is, 1854; and appeal by the consistory from the
action OF Chassis November 80, 1854; moreover, a
complaint of John Runk against the action Of Chassis Of
February 49, 1885, and respecting the prosecution Of
which the PresdsLt of the Chassis alleges that due
tice was not given.
The synod opened with prayer by the Rev. Thomas
&C. Strong the president of the last Particular Synod
From the credentials produced it appeared that the
Following persons duly delegated they took their
eeats accordingly
From the CIdssis Of Neau York-Rev. John Knox, D.
|D , and Rev Dr.. Comstock.
Fyom the South CIassis of Ne,o York.-Rev. Mancus
3. Hutton, D. D., and Elder W H. Van Dalson
Adssics, d, D.. and s. M. Woodbridge Elder, James
Taylor
Rev. s.e e..so1s ss.' and d.a Ga1rs:ou
From the Classis of ParamHs Rev. Isaac Cole.
From he South Cassis Of Long Aland.-Rev. ]. N.
From the North Class's OF Long Istand.-Rev. Thomas
q Strong. Elder George B. Brnkerhof and Abraham
From The Cyassis Of Passaic.-Rev. John @. Cruick.
shank, Elders James Van Ness and John Gasson.
From the Chassis Of Hudson-Rsv William Lyan and
From the Chassis Of Westchester.-Rev. Philip Phelps
DUN.
Rev Thomas c. Strong presided, the Rev. Nicholas E.
smth assessor, and the Rev. j. Pascal strong clerk
The PRESIDENT then presented to the Synod the rsqu
tion on which he had called the special meeting being
communication from the committee appointed to in
estisste the complaints stating that after patient
ndsavor they had not succeeded in conciliatng the
parties at variance and that they had mutually insisted
bn a trial of the appeal
The business of the session being special the minutes
bf the last meeting were not read
The Stated Clerk desired and obtained permission pre-
Bent communication relative to the establishment of
the Chassis of Milwaukee, with view to its immediate
reference to the Committee of Overtures The letter
makes the following statement in reference to the
tonstitutionAlity Of the Classis:-
! observe that Casss has not been rightfully
anzed. This has not happened by design but jerome
Davenport being in mld st. submitted it all to
must be recognized the formation Of classes. But
simplcty proceeded TO the work as necessary
mpcrt TO the church here in the West is Of
tsef principal reason why Dominic Ypma and myself
left Michigan to labor here in Illinois and Wscon
in apc in the formation OF Chassis 1t has all taken
ace with the advice consent Of Casss Of Mch
gan, to which We have previously belonged
Rev. Dr.. KNOX then presented on behalf Of the COM
ttse the following report in reference to the question
u issue and ordered trial -
To THE PARTICULAR SYNOD OF NEW YORK.
DEAR BRETHREN-The committee appointed to endea-
or to adjust the difference unhappily existing in the
hurch Of North Branch, under the of the assis
II New Brunswick respectfully report That in prose
ution of the object of their appointment they visited
be church OF North Branch the 18th Of May nstant
M the members Of the committee being present, except
he Elder, William B. Crosby, who was prevented by i'll
eess
After devotional service and the delivery Of
n appropriate discourse by one Of the COM
ttee in presence Of respectable and interested
CATION the committee, with prayerful earnsstness
patient spent almost the entire day
nd evening, and exerted their best skill in efforts to
estore harmony among the parties at variance. They
adj In the first instance full and free conference with
ach OF the parties claiming the consstory sepa-
atey heard their respective proposals. and gave chem
heir best advice. They then conferred with them to
ether and lastly with all the members Of the church,
rho s remained present, 1t grieves them to say with
ut success. No platform could be found on which ali
rere wiling to meet. The only thing in which they al
the Synod may be tried. detailed and parttcu
unnecessary and in view OF the pending trial.
b. o ans rep
ommttee were not, however, entirely fruitless, the
Immttee believing that good feeling has bssn
esulted in the promotion Of the firm intention Of the
oneregaton contending copsistories and the Chassis
be governed by the decision Of this court.
Rev. DR.. KNOX then moved, seconded by Dr. HUTTON,
hat the report be accepted, which was agrssd to.
Rev DR.. KNOX then made molten calling upon the
ned TO now pr oceed to trial. which was also carried
The President them in accordance With the rule OF
church. announced that the Synod is t, proceed
judicial business and that the members had by unani
ous vote assumed the character OF judges Of OF
oe courts OF the eccesa stca body, ana that during
40 session all legislative business would be ruled out
order.
The various minutes Of proceedings were then read
tending to the elucidaton Of the question, some
nstasned discussion arising the priety Of the
e the complaint Of the consistory and the order for
40 change OF the method OF the election Of church
fHcers, this being the matter actually in dispute.
The latter Is the order Of the casss of New Bruos
lex to exclude female members Of the church from
oting, the former being the appeal from the
sion-hrt, because the consistory had already made
heir nominations second because the order Is in de-
ance Of the constitution; and third because it mill
ties to the dishonor Of the church.
Several other papers and extracts were read but they
brow no further light upon the subjsct
The Court consented that the Rev. william Brush and
A. h. Cornell be recognized as commissioner for the
,ssis Of New Brunswick and the Revs James K Camp
The Commissioners for appellants then procs eded to
the document on which the action Of the asss
I'd been based. The meeting at which the psttton-
IN the on psrssn
ovemsnt were or could be present, and with them 1t
rs family matter. One member then present was at
under censure and he believed several others
the predicament Some others we're actually
appended from the communion of the church; one
Ds. another n0' thsr. @ I exists ' no evidence Of Ii.
cepton into the church, stil another was not nor Is
member Of the church, that Is the sort OF persons
whom this church governing meeting, was composed.
DO church is thus to BE- tramped under foot
ere end to all liberty. He believed that the
Or1gtnAted OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
uences brought forward for the disruption OF the
iurch body He believed that II is the preroga
We Of the femsle members OF the church to vote at
ese elections, and he knew OF under the cons
ton where they had exercised that right. He was
nited in his remarks or he would throw some light
pom the nature OF the causes bearing upon the out
eak-they not entirely free from guile. He knew
mewbat Of the character Of the people amongst whom
had bored for fourteen years, and he feared they
ouid hardly be content even with the action OF this
oard upon the matter in dispute; the outsiders will
allow them TO be satisfied rest The question had
EN- in the shape of lawsuit, which pre-
,nted members from being willing to act as church
Hcers, and this had prevented nominations from being
ade, or when made, accepted. He felt assured that
best way TO leave the matter alone at its pre-.
at stsge for the present Had this been taken
the outset much Of the trouble would have been
poded.
fev Mr.. WOODBRIDGE followed on the same side. He
,oke review wing the documents presented, and con-
pdng that the appeal Of the consstory should have
aged the action Of the casss. Now there is the
"a visiting of two ord aimed con