The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-12
SOUTH BERGEN CHASSIS.
Discussing the Proposition for
Federal Union-The Idea
Finds Favor.

AT nalt-p0sc Two O'CLOCK yesteruay a.
t~ernoon, after partaking of a dinner pre-
pared BY the wives of the Consistory
Board, and served by four Of Bergen's
fairest daughters, the members OF the
South Bergen Chassis. met in spring ses-
sion at the Bergen Reformed Cnurcn'
and resumed the business OF the session..
An accoun of the morning session was
published in the JERSEY CITY NEWS OF
yesterday.
The first business after dinner was the
adoption of the present OF
the rules of the Chassis.
This was followed by the reading OF the
reports of the Committees or Accounts
and Minutes. Four O'Clock was set as
the hour for the discussion of Federal
Union.
The Committee on Church Extension
allowed the Free Reformed Church S4Uu
| to aid them in their work and the flrst
Evangelical Church $3.50, the interest on
their church debt OF 5000 for one year.
Van Cleef and Knox and Elders Carrlgan
and Imbrie delivered addresses and the
| eryices closed with singing and prayers.
After the service the following extract
| from page SIS of the minutes OF the gem
| eral synod of 1892, as follows
Chassis are requested by. the General SYNOD
| to report to next General Synod, either their
| approval or disapproval of the Federal Union
| between the Reformed Church of America and
the Reformed Church Of the United STATES. Inc
The Rev. w. w. Knox disapproved IL
| and the Rev. P. u. Van elect argued for
| its approval. Mr.. Knox traced the his
| tory of the two churches back TO the
advent of both in America. told how they
had divided years ago and spoke OF the
| opposition of former synods to the
union.
COULD BE REPEALED.
MFR. Van CIeef said that he didn't think
| that there would be SO much trouble II
| the union was consummated as some
| anticipated. 1t could be repealed II i6
didn't prove satisfactory, and. nesiqss. ~
| could not affect the policy Of the Dutch
| Church in the least.
"Let us go on and form a Federal Union
| of these two reformed churches" said
| Mr.. Van Cleef, sand then other churches
| may come In and form part of il"
Mr.. Van Cleef argued at some length
| for the union and then the Rev. L. J.
Kommers took the floor and argued
| against it. He said that he has looked
| for good reasons for this union and can
| fnd none and that they could DO better
at this time han to enter on this union.
Rev. W. P. Bruce, next argued very
ably for it. He said that the only reason
that he could see why the union should
| not be formed was that the Germans were
| too good for the Dutch Reformed. They
4 bad knocked at their doors q humbly
| asked for admission time and time again
| aud had been repulsed, and that II they
were again repulsed he thought That
nothing could make them unite at any
| future time. Mr.. kommers replied 10
| Mr.. Bruce's arguments.
Mr.. Knox then took the floor and said
that it would be better for che Reformed
| Church 1T large that they wait.
Even II we should pass resolutions TO
| unite" he said, 1.-THE German Church
| could not adopt them for over two years,
as their General Synod meets only once
in three years"
Mr.. Bruce then took the chair and Dr.
Brett spoke. He said:-"I am in favor OF
union with the German Reformed Church
today. / believe that it will help, rather
| than hinder the larger union" Continu-
| ing be stated that the plan for the larger
| union was not introduced until 1t was In
troduced to defeat the union with the
German Church.
ORIGIN OF THE MOVEMENT.
The movement for a Federal Union
with the Germans originated In Pnila-
delphia. five years ago while the larger
union was spoken of for the first time, at
the General Synod. in 1891.
The German and Dutch Reformed
| Churches are of one denomination. Their
names are almost identical; both use the
Heidelberg catechism and they should be
one.
Mr.. Kommers said that he had heard
no good reasons Tor union as yet. and
that he would be pleased to hear some.
MIR. MeurY said that the German
church would show that they can be just
as good Christians as the other churcnes.
Mr. Audreae observed that il our Lord
prayed for Christian unity in the high
Priest Prayer, be didn't see but what u
was the duty OF every church to do all IN
its power to further this end. Nj. kom-
mers said that it was not a question Of
Christian unity but purely a business
partnership. Mr.. Knox also showed that
1t was no argument.
OBJECTIONS REMov Ell
Mr.. Van Cleef moved that the following
| resolutions be adopted In place OF tnose
of Mr.. Knox
sThe General Synod at its last session, by the
adoption Of certain amendments in the plan of
| Union with the Reformed Church in the United
states, as found in the minutes OF le9: page 5ss,
moved objections which had been made to the
Resolved, That this Chassis approve the plan
of union as that explained and sent down for
the action of the Chassis.
A ballot was cast, showing IL to 4 in
favor OF union. Elder Corrigan said that
he could not vote, as he had come to no
decision on the subject. The motion
of Mr.. Van Cleef was adopted.
STATE OF
The Committee on the State of Churches
reported as follows:-Number of families,
1851: received IN confession, 191; re-
ceiyed on certificate, 119; dismissed, 90;
suspended, 1; deaths, 60; total in commu-
MON. 3,097; baptized infants, 319; baptized
adults, "a; plumber baptized, but not
\ communicates, 1857; catechumens, 1878;
number of Sunday schools, Is, and en-
rolIment of Sunday schools, 1885. The
constitutional offerings were as follows:
Contribution for UNCONVENTIONAL objects,
IS. 375. rs; other objects. s.. 024 60; congre-
| aatiopal contributions. $47, $50. 46.
TN names of the delegates to the
General Synod which Is to meet at Asbury
park. and TO the Particular Synod which
meets at Hackensack IN May were next
read. The delegates appointed to the
General Synod Were:-The Rev. Cornelius
Brett ID. D., the Rev. w, D. Grant and
the Rev. Il. +. Kommers and Elders ). I.
Toffey, w. NJ. Inbrie n James Van
DELEGATES APPOINTED.
The delegates appointed TO them meeting
of the Particular Synod were:-The Revs.
Wick. Meury, Inglis and Bruce and
Elders Westervelr, Rose, Oliver and Van
deveer.
Various reports were read and adopted,
l and q vote of thanks was rendered to the
ladies for their hospitality, and The meet
ing adjourned till Tuesday. May "a. at
the Wayne Street Reformed Church OF
Jersey City.
DR.. Brett. The ladies who so royalty en-
+ortafuad fha ministers were Mrs. Brett.