New-York tribune., 1874-11-20
THE REFORMED CHURCHES

IN SOME or THE GERMAN CHURCHEs-PINA
ACTION AND ApJoURNMENr-REpoRr TO TIL
sYNODs
lSKoA THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 19.-The conference be-
tween tho committees representing the Reforme,
IN the United States tGerman Reformed) and thu
heiotmed Church Of North America Dutch Reformed,
"on ooean In this city yesterday closed to-day with
ou' na''nR accomplished Its purpose of effecting
organic nnion The of the failure to accomplish
wna appears to large majority OF clergy and Iaity
OF oo'h scots as highly desirable object as far as
was considered proper TO state them formalv and oa
ciay' win DO found In the report TO tho Synods given
ooow Ihe most serious stumbling gblock In the way OF
.he proposed union is. however. rather hinted al
tnan dennitely pointed out in this document.
inS Ss'uhphngblock was the rituastio teachings and
pracces which prevail to considerable extent In the
oernah Church and spring from what Is known as the
Mercersourg theology, from its prom ulgation by the
cohoeo vi tnat name at Lancaster Penn. Though not
sahcuohed by the Church O body. and strenuou sly
resiseu ny large numbers OF Its minister's these doc.
trhes' ana especially that concerning the actual pres
ence OF Christ In the elements the Communion are
su0'enoy widespread TO be a cause OF good deal of
d'cofa ana apprehension threatening the unity OF the
| DENOMINATION. Tue Committee of the Dutch Church
0aioiuy informed themselves OF the extent to which
tnis corruption OF the fath they deemed IL, had
gone IN the sister church. made up their minds be-
iore tney separated that join hands with their Ger
|
ih'oVeu 10 family quarrel. aud therefore unde-
siraDe Having como to this conclusion they stuck 70
IL Win characteristic Dutch pertinacity The Germans
Oh 'ho'r part were moro desirous Of eectng the
sohdatloh The dOcrinal obstacle which stood I'm their
way inc rigid adherence Of the Dutch TO the Belgc
confession and the Canons Of bort they thought could
DO overcome, and In commendable spirit Of compro-
mise onered plan Of organic union the following
basis: Inc Heidelberg Catechism to bo the common
standard; tho Belgic Confession and the Articles OF
10 De considered OF great Importance and Of author
ity next TO the Heidelberg Cstechism general synod
with Its powers limited and defined.
Ihe Dutch committeeman much too considerate
10 mention In public speeches the dssensiOns Of their
brethren In regard to High Churchism. bat they ad
hered to their position that q consolidation was for the
present impracticabe and the German Reormers read
lily understood what In their minds When the two
Committees assembled in Joint conference this morning
there was look OF sadness nearly all faces, which
was the expression Of feeling that noble purpose OF
CHRISTIAN union had failed Of accomplishment. II any
one was satisfied with the affairs had taken it
was the Ritualists among the German delegates They
had naturally looked with apprehension upon the pros
peci OF coaescng with a body so sterny opposed to
High Church notions and ceremonies the Dutch Re-
formed Church.
The Joint Committee of six appointed yesterday COM
posed on the part of the Dutch Church OF the Rev. Dr
Ganse, Van Zindt and Taylor. and the part OF the
German Church OF the Rev. Drs. Gerhardt, Miller. and
Bornberger. made the following report, and recon-
mended that 1t be made to the General Synods OF the
two churches as the result of the conference:
The Committees OF Conference appointed by the Gen.
eral Synods OF the Reformed Church In the United
States and the Reformed Church IN America met In
Philadelphia on the morning OF Nov. 49, 1874 and spent
IN joint sessions the greater part Of that and the
ceeding day After very free and brOtherly inter-
symbols. docrinaI sentiments and usages OF the two
the Committees agreed upon the follow
i. Such large aud obvious elements OF likeness and
very plainly to some ultimate union between them
They are almost Identical In name. as In origin aud In
nomenclature of copsstory cassis, nod aud general
synod, are substantially the same. One venerable sym
boil the Heidelberg Caechlsm Is held In common by the
two denominations The body OF doctrine which either
Church derives from this common symbol OF necessity
have close and fundamental resemblances Tie Com
mttee have found moreover. perfect unity OF method
and spirit in the devotional acts which they have per-
maed I1psd tns% OF the I
fa WHO % are SO %eYS disr6ned over the parts
Of m, WIN these and t0 sa, points SaSSo OF Soa
believe that they will abide apart.
g. The Committees have further found with gratifca-
tion that some elements OF seeming difference between
their two denominations have upon fuller information
tance In particular. the usage of confirmation pre-
walls in the Reformed Church in the United States and
is unknown in the Reformed Church in North America,
but interpreted in the constitution Of the first
named church, 1t Is plin that 1t may fully consist with
the principles and methods by which the other church
admits her blptzed youth to full communion. IL does
not therefore that tic continuance OF that usage
on Que side or tue abstinence from on ane otnr ogn
70 tos1 10 rcIioons dav in the R.I"rmed Cnnrcb In the
iInited states tbop very general Is not enoined and
& U. n 40 30 80, ,no m 1,,I,no win the ,ne
ns preyis thougb TO less exent in the
Reformed Church in America. Even such dlvergences
may exist In the matter o services 50 long
they might not be seen 20 turn upon important DINER
enccs a "a 1he ramnitIe ,ned have Iite dount that
ali the minor elements OF difference which have grown
up in the two churches during taer separate ie oPqd
Ie,ept artempt to bring these Reformed churches
under singc banner.
g. Inc oommile.s. noWe'en. arc r 70 h ~ ie:,
that some other obstacles 10 unton seem 70 10 ol eSs
the fact that while both OF these
Esfo n