New-York tribune., 1874-11-19
CHURCH CONFERENCE.


MEETING OF THK COMMITTEES APPOINTED BY TWO
sEcTs-THE DoCTRINAL OBSTACLES TO UNION
FOUND TO BE GREATER THAN AT FIRST SUPPOSED
A DESIRE MANIFESTED BY BOTH BODIES TO
MAKE CONCESSIONS.
lrRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRTBuSE.l
PHuAprLPHIA, Nov. 1S.-The Committees
by the Reformed Church in the United States
and the Reformed Church In America to confer on the
subject OF uniting these sister denominations, met in
the Race Street Church in this city this morning. The
Did name of the first German Reformed. and OF
The last Reformed Dutch. These are still the popular
designations and for brevity will used in this letter
The German Church II79 congregations in this
country, divided into five 6ynOds. and has menu
bership lSO 900 II strongest in Pennsylvania ana
Ohio. The Dutch Church is composed OF four Synods'
ass churches. and 69149 communicates The churches
chiefly in the States OF Ne"-fork ana Ne"Jersey,
but there are few in Illinois, Michigan. Wisconsin, and
Pennsylvania. The former denomination Is OF German
prigin. but includes large number or Engilsh-
Xpeaklng members the latter. its name indicates
originated In Holland. and was transp inted to TINS
rountry hy the Dutch settlers Of Amsterdam Botn
date hack to the Reformation The Pdatinate and the
Low Countries in sixteenth century. There Is no
material differ in the religious faith OF the TWO
DENOMINATIONS Both accept the Heidelberg Cdechism
ms their Creed but this the Dutch Church adds the
Articles OF the synod Of and what known the
Belgic Confession The German Church maintains the
spirit of CongregatOnalsm in its government moreithan
the Dutch Church. though the form Of government OF
both bodies is Presbyterianism, both having District
synods and a General synod. which answers to the
General Assembly Of tue PrcsOyterans. The organiza-
ton CORES pOnding Presbytery is called in both
a Chassis. The General Synod of the German Church
meets every three years that OF the Dutch Church
every year.
In both churches any proposition for union agreed
upon by the Committees first be presented to the
General Synod II each and by them sent down TO the
Chassis the ratification Of majority of which would
ar rIaa ar.lan nAsirn for
been felt IN both several years. and there has
been a growing belief that there were no substantial
differences of faith keep them apart AT the General
Synod OF the Dutch formed Church, held in Albany
In 1872. commie were appointed on the question OF
union with TIE Presbyterian Church North. The Presby
teran Church South, ami the German Reformed Church
delegate 10 the General Syaod of the latter
body held IN Cincinnati the year. and the result
the adoption Of a resolution for the appointment
Of committee by the five SynOds represented there TO
take action the subject At the General synod OF the
Dutch Church. held at Poughkeepsle last June, the
project uniting with the Presbyterian Church North
was abandoned but ihe Committee on Union with the
Southern brauch Of that denomination and with the
sister Reformed Church continued. This commit
agreed with the committee representing the Ger
man sect upon the conference held here to-day The
following The committee on the part OF the Reformed
Church in the United States German Reformedl:
The Rev Dr. Emanuel Gelhart, Lancaster. Penn. the
Rev. Dr. l. VI FiGCh, OtI-yIle, Penn tne Rev. Dr j. H.
RetPr MlaullSnufg lle Il v. Dr tlDLtl mcdst,
Cincinnati, ONO tnc Rev Dr Geo w Willard l1ihn,
ONO; the kev. D., ernan J: .etr.ck CieveIahI,
Ohio: the " 5. y. l. X -sser, Ro.syc Ind; the Rev
DR. Gecrge B. Russell Pltls0dFg4 PeIl t1e Il " @ S1nn
J. swander. LatIO5e Feu"; t1e hey +. j. van Pits
the Rev L. K. E.clo4cn FgedcIicA, I'D; Elder Israel
Lindis York, Penn.
On the pars of TIE Reformed Church North Amer
ica (DgtcA L form D. ,Av following is the Committee;
The Rsl DR.. a B. Vsn z,Idt, Now Brlns wick, N. J.;
the Rev. Dr.. " L. GJrlOn o;laaienblrg n. j.;
the R-v Dr.. Pnn Pilyz S.w-Paiz y j.; tne Rev Dr. p
(.af L . le i IL .K lpr
Newark, y. J; he Rsy. Dr E. : Porter. BfOokiyl, n
III. Rev. Dr. j. Enendorf Poa.iI tpsie 4 Y; the Rev
Or. Wm. Oriaisoa, eW-HOtk -ty; ihe H.g u. Il; D.
diSS schsScciaoy. A y: E1cr F. D. F.eIasnaysen Sew
arr n dr. : I; v. & Xs1thi Ns%4rA' ~ o.; EieF
New-Yors; Ea,r v J. Bacon Uica' " u Elder L. L.
PruJD AGau!, n Y
The attendance from both Committees tins morning
was nearly fun. TIE Rev. Dr. Ganse of the Dutch
Church and the Rov. GerAardt Of the German were
chosen Joint Chairmen A friendly discussion took
place the tones ana forms Of worship OF the two
denominations. from which it appeared that the only
dOctrina obstacle union tie attachment OF the
Dutch Church 70 ;he Canons Of BORT and the Belgc
Confession which place an Interpretation upon the
Heidelberg CatcchI.m rather strictly Clvinistc
thin most of German Reformed ministers are will
iuG to accept clergyman IN the latter denomination
han simply 70 subscribe to the Heidelberg Caechism
and considerable auule as 10 its interpreta-
tiol but one Of the former sect must not only
subscr be 20 the CatecnisID. but must declare his
belief In the explanation OF il furnished ny the bort
CAnOns and ;Ae B. sc Comic ssion. II follows that,
whereas Dutch Reformed minister would be entirely
acceptable Is doctrine concerned 70 German
Reformed Church, German clergyman could not
minister 20 Dutch congregation without drst subscrb
ing d formula, which miEht not be willing 70 do.
proper ior the Information Of theOogans,
the Dutch Church nterpres tne Caechisn by tue
CanOns bort The suLlspsarian and not the super
lapsarsr plou. Tlis stuDOng-blOck. encountered at
the outset IL by allowing each Classis Of
the United Church TO require adhesion TO the bort
Canons on the part Of its ministers not, as 1t may
SOC M As the two churches rarely overlap each other
GeograplicalY, this plan would Be feasible.
The two sects a.ree u main IN their cultus the
chief difference icing in the reception Of members.
The Dutch require an examination by the elders OF
candidate been baptized ii infancy or subse
Quenty and TINS examination is satisfactory they are
received sftec tae OF their names from
the pulpt, without any public ceremony The Germans
administer form rite OF Confirmation by laying
OF hands the presence OF the congregation. Before
this is done the Instructed cate
chetcay by the minister for months care
fully examined by the elders. Tho forn Of Sun.
day worship and of the Communion is similar
in both sects and both practice infant baptism. to
the observance Of festival days. such Christmas
Easter there is difference. l, is matter OF
observed by congregations and not by others In
the GerInan Church a tendency toward High Church
practices has manifested OF late in quarters
but IL has gone the extent that Ritualsm has
gone In the English Church.
After three hours conference the Committees
separated o'clock hold separate meetings. and
mature II possible some plan for union.
When the Committees of the two denominations came
together this evening after their separate sessions it
became evident that the obstacles in the OF
tdation we're serious than many had supposed
the beginning of the conference, and that if they
finally overcoma IL would have be by a spirit OF