The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-03-02

JOSEPH HENRY DUBFs, ONE OF THE
LEADERS OF THE REFORMED CHURCH.
century. An ecciesiastical organiza-
ton called tho cntus was effected in
1747, but the powers of this body were
purely advisory, and all its acts were
subject to revision by the authorities in
Europe. The advancement Of the
church IN America having rendered an
independent organization necessary,
at Philadelphia April 81, 1923 The hun
dredth anniversary of this occasion will
be observed throughout the land, and
there win be special celebration at
the meeting of general synod at Read
ing, Pa, In May. Among those who
will be present are such distinguished
men as Rev. DIR. James J. Good, Rev.
DIR. j. o. Miller. Rev. r. X. Levan, Rev.
Ellis N. Kremer, Rev. j. ii. Duffs S-,d
Rev. George w, willard, ID. d., LII. D.,
who writes the following sketch of the
church's work aud prophecy of its fu-
ture:
The Reformed church In the United
States, having reached the one hun
dredth yearof fitsindependent existence
in America, has taken measures TO COM
memorate the event by having special
services in all the congregations Of
which II is composed, acknowledging
thereby the goodness of God vouchsafed
to US as q church.
The first German ministers sent from
Europe to this country came under tho
81 ~. 80 Il - Il. \.
of North America, the two churches
working together until 1893, when the
German branch assumed an independent
existence by the side Of its sister with
whom we are all now trying TO form a
federal union, hoping thereby 70 ad-
vance the cause of Christ more effectu-
ally. Our growth during these hundred
years has been such as to occasion graft
tude. We have now a membership Of
about 225, 900, found largely in Pennsyl-
sania, Maryland and Ohio, and in lesser
proportion in Virginia, North Carolina,
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Minnesota, Iowa and Kansas. There
were in 1890, according to the statistics
Of the general synod, s35 ministers, s
synods, So classes, 1854 congregations,
200, ,49S communicate members, 1918
Sunday schools, 13s,616 Sunday school
scholars, 2s5 students for the ministry
and over $3.50, 900 raised for benevolent
purposes.
The transition from the German to
che English language has been very
rapid within the last quarter of the
century, so that there are now only
Few exclusively German congregations
outside OF the cities, making us sub
stantially an English-spealSing church.
The main literary and theological in
stitutions arc Franklin and Marshal
college at Lancaster, Pa, Heidelberg
university at Tiffin, o., Ursinus college
at Collegeville, Pa, and the Mission
house Mt Franklin, Wis, with a num-
ber OF literary institutions such as
Catawoa college, Newton, n. c.; Wichi-
IN university, Wichita, Kan, and Cal
win college, Cleveland, o.
The Reformed church is Presbyterian
In it's form Of government, holding as 1t
does, TO the parity of its ministers with
the following judicatories: the consis-
tory, the classis, the district synods and
general synod. II gives prominence TO
the practice of catechization, by which
II hopes to instruct and prepare its bap-
tized members for admission to all the
privileges of tho church at an early
period in life
The Heidelberg catechism, prepared
by Zacharias Ursinus and Casper
oleviamus In 1563--the confessional
standard of the church-is highly es-
teemed and priced by the Reformed
church for its concise and clear state
ment Of the fundamental doctrines OF
Christianity and for its simplicity, deep
toned piety, irenical and catholic
spirit While some other churches
have felt the necessity of rejecting
their confessional standards in view OF
tho advanced position which Christiani-
" occupies, there is with us such gen.
eral satisfaction with the teaching of
the Heidelberg catechism that nothing
Is heard of desire for a revision.
The heated and animated discussion
that prevailed among us for period of
some twenty years, from about 1850
80 1870, over what was called "thc
Liturgical question" which so dis
turbed the peace and quiet Of the
church "a TO awaken fears in the minds
of some that Il might result I'm such
alienation and party feeling as would
lead to disintegration, happily passed
s- and in the providence of God be.