The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-25
REFORMED DUTCH PURITANS.
THE ELDERS FIND PASTOR TooRHIs
or HACRENS4CR TOO LIBERAL


| Music ne Collection Time-Ai-o 10 Went
| TO n Pony show and to the Music Hail
In New York-Itts Course Sustained.
Tho True reformed Dutch Church was ore
| ranizcd In Hackcnsnck seventy years ago 10
| ia branch Topped of the parent trunk Of the
Reformed Dutch Church In America. and 1t
came into existence amid earnest contentious
that sprang from small differences Of opinion
as to church government. Tho original Church
fathers frownod upon music and other sun
shine in their Worship. They considered re-
ligion pure only when covered with pail. and
believed that Satan walked with oil outside
the shadow.
For half n century the Church moved along
without material growth. Its preachers and
its pcoplo would not enter tho portals OF
church that boro any designation other tIan
TRUE Reformed" their reG!cGs lifo being ~
exclusive rs their social existence. During the
past decade great changes havo boon wrought
In some of the congregations and last year tho
name OF tho body was changed in tho Dyes Of
tho world To tho s. Christian reformed Church,"
although tho Official designation In tho articles
Of incorporation still Is "Truc Reformed"
This concession is said to havo been malc to
prevent u rupture in tho Official relations of The
several churches forming tho general body.
The Rov. John Calvin Voorhs. who has been
pastor OF the original church In llackeEsack
for half q dozen years. was largely instru-
mental in changing tho nnme and removing
ns %heS had e L m
separation from the original Eeform ;a nuteh
progressive. He is an architect whose SIKH Is
seen In his own new church. which he was in
~ In h"yng Esf on 9d err tn ar
Ho is a good preacher. and has stood well with
Recently 1t came to tho cars Of Pastor .voor-
his that several members ~ his consisiory
wero talking about him among memners OF
was too liberal. that no catered 70 the young
element to tho neglect Of tho elder. th9t he
that ho made TOO many INNOVATIONS. AMI was
especially obnoxious on the subject Of music.
Steal poriion Of the service in lis church from
time to ttns until now 1t forms + s9nsniGuoGs
the w1 Of
churches whore religion has agreeable access
nGw the Ss%ala Wi Of
sack has taken II prominent place rs grow
- Elders David Van Horn. Tunis p,oscrt;; Isaac
Marsh ars to Is til the Es"smen wh
music. The pa.ior latest innoSSlon in the
DO played before tho service. ami that II selcc-
ton DO perlormnSsd while Tie g., COLLECTION was
officers that ,hev were loud in protest; and
even declared Pastor Noorhis to be guilty OF
The Rev. JI. Noorhis is sensitive man. and.
smartinG under tho vnEne stories which came
to his ears. he prepared a rnprr o:nhoiyinE
what he had heard. Last Sun day morning hs
read II to his rcoplc. concluding with tho dec
laratiOn TINT no was rpn iy to resign. and ask
ing that those VINO wished him to stay with
them should rise. All save three persons stood
UP in answer to this request.
Now tho matter is generally talked OF n the
town. some members Of the church who IA
vor Pastor Noorhs declare that hc magniiod
tho stories. and might better hGvo remained
quiet. Others say he acted iudiciously.
One OF the elders above named said to q re-
porter that Pastor Nooihis was not discreet:
that he went into places where minister
Innovations. Among other things. this cider
said. with look OF piOus horror. that Mr..
Noorhis had been seen going to public pony
show wi h his little adopted child paying %
cents admittance abecc. and that he also
attended matinee in New DIRK ut tho Music
glrgated to sing worldly music.
tell YOU" the elder continued. teachers
OF the Word must hear themselves so thnt the
Word will not be deti!ed IN heir n ouths."
But tho worst offence OF tho pastor seems to
have been tho Introduction Of music curing
to he particularly obnoxIo us to n few who con-
tnued their sermon maps until after the plate
had pass cd their way.
The old elders also claim that Mr. Voorhis
has constituted himself boss Of tho Church,
allowing nobody else TO hnrn anything to say
In regard to tho management OF affairs. spirit
ual or temporal
The young and progressive element arc de-
sirous of having the differences healed. md
with this object In view they arc going to ask
for u congregational meeting to consider oil
matters relating to worship in the church.