The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-02
GERMAN REFORMED SYNOD.
Meeting Of the General synod Of the Re-
formed Church Ina the United states-Icfghth n
nay,s Proccedings-The Contested seats of

DAYS Procee ss-The Contestcd scats or
The Synod Of the Reformed Church in the United
states Yesterday afternoon took mp the report OF ths
C9mmluee on memorials, IL was discussed and
The report OF The Committee on Overtures was
presented, and was considered item by Item In the
evening tne report was adopted as O whole. n mo-
ton was made requesting the late Treasurer to pay
the present incumbent all bonds in his hands be-
longing to this body. The report OF the committee
on the contested seats OF Rev. G. Cort and Rev. Mr.
Reale, presented majority and minority reports. The
Hscusslon on the majority report continued untt the
This morning the majority report was laid on the
tanie, anu tmat OF tue minority was ,P t3ken up ,
Rev. Mr., Mulmeyer offered the following resolu-
tions;-
naueh as the credentials Of both sets Of deleg1tes Of
documents presented and tho heard % to
seat in this synod and further -, ,,.;. s,,,b,e
Ro'red That All the mopbers OF ioTs UlassIs M oss9%p9 %
NJ Wheatlapd the second IhurSuay OF Rp,,I,
lsc elect their officers and transact thor regular
William Baer, ESD, delegate to the synod VINO
is practcing attorney from SomerseS @ m e
which of the sets of delegates came mere accorosng @
TO the constitution. 1t was not necessary i E' q, aS M
body of lawyers, quibbling about little pOhts lhs
assembly should have the whole interest," OF Tue
Church nc heart and should deneah l'seh WIN nioIe
DR.. Good gave history of the two meetings which
had sent the rival delegates, as ne UNDERSTOOD IT,
One party had met at the time and place which had
been legally appointed. The other party claim that
the President of the classis had changed the time
and place of meeting which, by the constitution, he
had the power to do. one of the members Of the
classs which met ag Brandon said TO he under
suspension. This question should be discussed be-
fore the Ohio Synod, to which he belonged, before he
was entitled TO seat in the Classls III he is inya-
Dated that meeting is illegal, because there not
a'Qu2rum. There were only three ministers present
at this meeting from classs of twelve members.
The larger body met at Wheatland, which sent the
other set Of delegates. This is the body in which
there is an irregularity in the time of meeting But
in the discussion Of the great question, the little ire
gularity should be overlooked The speaker said he
would not like to mention the secret mannuvrngs
which had accompanied the meeting OF the first
Chassis. 1t would not alter the decision of Synod 1t
was sufficient to hint at them.
DR.. Kierer hoped the resolutions would be voted
down as unconstitutional
Rev. Nr. Kuling discussed the question at some
length in German.
DR.. Neyin moved that the subject for the present
be laid the table to make room for other business
which is OF far greater interest at present. the
question of the final organization OF the General
Synod is Of primary Importance and should BE-
attended to now while the house is iul not put OF
to. tile last This motion was adopted.
Dr. Nevin then moved that the Committee on the
Revised Constitution Of the Church be instructed to
recommend inF their forthcoming report that this
end SO as to make room for more important and
better working organization
DIR. BOmbergCr thought II would he better to look
at the results before taking such a step He would
like to know what is over the Drink before he put
his body into post on to fall over the precpice. He
wanted to know what the movers or the resolution
imagined would be the next thing after the resolu-
Dr. Neyin said he would only speak for himself.
II the sense Of the body was that new constitution
was required, then the committee could go to WORK
and the classes could take steps towards the reOr-
gauzatiOn Of the Church. He was not willing that
this present meeting should come to an end with
out having faced THIS subject openly and honOfaby.
Rev. Dr. Miller thought that one step more and we
would be ON the precplce. Some OF the members
might feel themselves constrained to walk out OF the
house: but he seconded DR.. Ncvins resolution with
all his heart, because of its great importance.
Rev. 5. II. Fisher said that it should go through
the regular process There such thing as
ton.
creature Of the classes. If they said so the Synod
could dissolve and reorganze, but not otherwise.
Ii was question whether this mode OF procedure
would reach the matter.
1t was moved to lay on the table. Lost.
DR.. Nevn said that he never supposed that this
method would he unconstitutional. lie not
able to that this body mad no constitutional
power to dissolve. What other possible course is
go down to the classes? lie said however, that it
was only his intention TO get the sense Of the
Rev s. r. Fisher said that If that was the object
he had no objection, But the language should be
changed lest it should convey an idea of dissolution
lie could not what the end to which the
motion leaned The Church is good enough as it is.
The General Synod for him was the highest authO-
Iity. The EpiscOpacy was no higher than the Gene
raj Synod. The General Synod of the Presbyterian
Church is the highest authority II change is
A cOngre gational form OF government is not good.
There must be something before the minds OF those
who have Recommended this measure. lie would
like TO know what tn II something might be, though
he supposed he had no right to know But still he
would ask what that thing is which is to come in
place Of the present system, which is considered so
much better in tie minds OF the movers to require
this aClion.
Dr. Nevn said that the change mainly referred to
the relation of the German to the English Churches.
He, however offered a modification OF the resolu-
tOp, which was accepted. 1t read as foows;-
Resolced That the Special Committee to whom has
been referred the action of the Danville Synod on
the organization of the General Synod he instructed
to recommend movement looking to reconstruc-
ton Of the existing organization OF the Church, so
far as the General Synod is concerned with the view
TO bring about an organization under some new and
better folm.
Rev. Dr. Higbee said that the Constitution had
come down from time immenlorial, and should be re-
| spected. The subject could be reached by amend
nents to the Constitution, not by total dissolution
and reorganization. BY this latter method it would
be thrown upon the Church at large but 1t would be
| kept within more reasonable and more manageable
| limits.
Dr. Nevns resolution was lost by vote OF IS
| 10 81.
| Rev Dr. Humphries, delegate from the Presby-
terian Church in America addressed the Synod. He
referred TO the recent union OF the two branches of
! the Presbyterian Church He believed that this was
day for union, and 1t was gratifying TO know that
motion had been introduced into this body looking
| to union Of the German Reformed Church with a
church very nearly related to It, The difference be-
| tween lerent branches OF the Protestant Church
| was less than It was made out TO be. A certain
| divine had once said the difference between the
former Old and New School branches OF the Presby-
! terian Church was thiS:-
| the other that all sinned in Adam. lie hoped
! the Synod would elect and send delegate TO the
General Assembly OF the Presbyterian Ghqrch,
took place some thirty years ago. The presbyterian
| as wen as the German Reformed Church had in
scribed on lts banner that great motto OF Luther,
kind wishes and greetings to all brethren in Christ
The President replied TO the delegate in an earnest
and appropriate manner. He congratulated him on
tha appot mil Nuh hfnI htC hurah hoo ODD ITu