The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-26
ITO BE CONTINUED.
a CHURCa's CENTENNIAL
It's Career in America Reviewed By
"a Leader.
(Copurfqht. ~

I
a Leader.
Copyright 1897
New YORK, Feb. Prom almost a
thousand pulpits in this country on April
30 prayers Of thanksgiving will ascend be-
cause it has pleased God to bless the Re-
formed church in the United States during
the hundred years which will then have
been measured since its first synod met on
this side of the Atlantic. The church,
which is in a special sense that Of Calvin
und Zwingli and UrsiDus, must always be
interesting to all Christians, as its spirit is
venerated by its communicates.
1t is historically derived from the Re-
formed church of Germany and Switzer-
land. Its establishment in this country
dates from the first quarter OF the last cen
tury- An ecclesiastical organization called
the COetus was effected In l747, but the pow
ers 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, the
CGtus resolved itself into a synod at Phila-
delphlR April u, 1913. The Tooth ami
verssry of this occasion will be observed
throughout the land, and there will be
special celebration at the meeting of gen
eral synod at Reading Pa, in May. Among
those who will be present are such distin-
Ruished men as the Rev. DR.. James j.
Good. the Rev. Dr. j. O. Miller, the Rev.
II. K. Levan, the Rev. Ellis N. Kremer, the
Rev. j. h. Dutfs aud the Rev. George w.
Willard. d. D., LII. D., who writes the fol-
lowing sketch OF the church's work and
prophecy of ITS future:
The Reformed church in the United
States, having reached the Tooth year Of It's
independent existence in America, has
taken measures to commemorate the event
by having special services in all the congre-
cations of which 1t ia composed, acknowl-
edging thereby the goodness of God
vouchsafed to US as a church.
The first German ministers sent from
Europe to this country came under the
auspices of the Reformed Dutch church OF
North America, the two churches working
together until 1898, when, the German
branch assumed an independent existence
by the side of its sister with whom we are all
now trying TO form federal union, hoping
thereby tn advance the cause of Christ
more eifectually. Our growth during these
hundred years has been such as to occasion
gratitude. We have now O membership Of
about 25, 900. found largely in Pennsylva-
MIA, Maryland and Ohio and in lesser pro-
portion in Virginia, North Carolina, In
diana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Min
nesota, Iowa and Kansas. There were in
1890, according to the statistics Of the gem
eral synod, 1876 ministers, synods, So
classes, 1854 congregations, 200, 49S CONS
munieant members, l ,5l3 Sunday schools,
1885 Sunday school scholars, 2S5 students
for the ministry and over $4,000 raised
for benevolent purposes.
The transition from the German to the
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 substantially an English-speakinR
church. The main literary and theological
institutions are Franklin and Marshal Col
lege at Lancaster, Pa, Heidelberg Univer-
sity at Tiffin, O., Ursinus College at College,
Vile, Pa, and the Mission House at Frank
lin, Wis, with a number of literary institu
tions such as Catawon College, Newton,
N. c.. Wichita University, Wichita, Kan.
and Calvin College, Cleveland, o.
The Reformed church is Presbyterian in
its form of government, holding as it does
TO the parity of its ministers with the fol-
lowing judicatorieS: The consistory, the
classes, the district synods and general sy-
nod. 1t gives prominence to the practice
of catechization. by which it hopes TO in
struct and prepare its baptized members for
admission to all the privileges of the church
at an early period In life.
The Heidelberg catechism, prepared by
ZachRrias Ursinus and Casper Olevisnus in
l563-the confessional standard OF the
ohurch-is highly esteemed and priced by
the Reformed church for its concise and
clear statement Of the fundamental
doctrines Of Christianity aud for its SIM
phcity, deep-toned piety and catholic
spirit. While some other churches have
felt the necessity Of rejec ting their confess
sional standards in view of the advanced
position which Christianity occupies, there
is with US such general satisfaction with
the teaching Of the Heidelberg catechism
that nothing is heard of a desire for re-
vision.
The heated and animated discussion that
prevailed among us for period OF some
twenty years, from about 1850 to 1870, over
what was called "the liturgical question"
which so disturbed the peace and quiet Of
the church as to awaken fears in the minds
of some that 1t might result in such aliena-
ton and party feeling as would lead to
disintegrationj happily passed by and in the
providence OF tod became the occasion of
good to the church in that it led to more
thorough understanding Of its doctrines,
cultuS and mission, and at the same time
so aroused it from its slumbers and
lethargy as to prepare the way for the won
derful change that has since taken place in
every department of Christian work. In
consequence of this there is reason to be-
lieve that no denomination has exhibited
greater signs of growth ana of intellectual
and theological activity than we have. Our
ministers aud people have been led to take
deeper interest in all the great questions
OF the day, and are now standing shoulder
to shoulder with the sacramental host of
Gods elect in Fastening the conquest of the
world for Christ And while there Is still
some diversity of views among us as to the
great questions discussed, there is suoh har-
mOny and good feeling that no serious fears
are entertained for the future. As to the
use of the liturgy, the general feeling is op-
posed TO a ritualistic service, while liturgy
for special forms and occasions Is generally
used.
There has been with us, as with the other
denominations Of the land, a great revival
Of the missionary spirit as it respects both
foreign and domestic missions. The rapid
increase Of our population both in the cities
and rural districts has been 30 great as to
create the necessity for the establishment
of missions east and west, with the pre-
ponderance at first in the west, where the
demand seemed the greatest in consequence
Of the rapid emigration III that direction in
the settlement of the states and territories.
OF late years, however, the demand for
missionary work has been almost as great
In the east as in the west The growth of
many Of our cities both east and west,
which have become the great centers Of our
DODulntiOp and also of OOrrupfiOD and