New-York tribune., 1903-06-04
SYNOD ELECTS DIR. WELLS.
Reformed Church Continues Its SeS-
sion at 4sbmy Park.
WORK IN FOREIGN MISSION FIELDS.

Asburv Park ~ j. June S-Ministerial and lay
delegates from New-York. New-Jersey. Pennsyl-
vania Illinois, Michigan, Iowa. Dakota ana MOI
tana poured into Asbury Park to-day to take part
in the initial meeting of the seventh regular ses-
sion of the General Synod OF the Reformed Church
in America which was held in the Grand Avenue
Reformed Church. The church was crowded "heh
President Abbott F. Kittredge pastor Of the Mad1-
son Avenue Reformed Church, NeW-1ork Cll!'
called the synod to order.
A nominating ballot taken for president. Inns
preliminary skirnish brought out twenty cahu-
dates, with the Rev. DR.. Cornelius L. Wells OF
Brooklyn; the Rev. Albert Oltmans, Of Saga Japan
the Rev Dr. Matthew Koyn, of Grand Rapids
Mich, and the Rev. Dr. David j. Burrell OF New
York, leading in the contest in the order halheu
The first regular ballot gave Dr. Wells seventy
votes DR.. Oltmans thirty-nne and Dr. kolyn III
teen. 1t requires a majority vote to eject SO
third ballot was taken. This resulted In the cleo
tion of DR.. Wells DR.. Oltmans was then mace tne
vice president by unanimous vote. The othec ON
GERS are: Permanent clerk, the Rev. Dr. William n
Ten Eyck, Of NewYork; stated clerk the ffeV- bi
William H. DeHart. of Raritan, N j.; clerks pro
tenn, Edgar I. McCuly, of Germantown N u
and Gerrit Kooiker. OF Britton Mich; press CLERK
the Rev. Henry Lockwood OF East Milestone, N j.
The new president DR.. Wells. is pastor of the
Flatbush Church, Brooklyn, the second Oldest Re-
formed church in America. He comes from fam
lily of noted divines. his great-grandfather having
been president of the General Synod OF the Re-
formed Church In America for four terms back IN
Revolutionary days. His father was also the pre-
siding officer of the synod for one year
Vice-President Oltmans is missionary In Japan
At the present time he IS enjoying needed vaca-
ton in America. The retiring president, Dr. Kit
tredge, indicted his into office. He told
Dr. Wells that the Reformed Church was now in a
prosperous condition and that constant prayer and
the aid the Holy Spirit would cause 1t to advance
still further. President Wells thanked the dele
gates for the honor conferred him and asked
prayers to help him properly to per-
form his new and responsible duties. An hour OF
devotion followed, when fervent prayers were Of
fered for the of the annual gathering This
evening. in the Grand Avenue Reformed Church,
DR. Kittredge preached the annual synodcal ser
mon TO a large congregation from the text. ''Ihe
founda ton of the Lord Standeth here
The business sessions of the synod VIII be re-
sumed at a. m tomorrow in the Beach Auditor
um. it being demonstrated that the church building
IS not large enough comfortably to accommodate
the delegates visitors. The first business to be
considered will the annual reports the hnan-
cial condition of the New-B brunswick theological
In the evening the sacrament of the Lords Supper
will be observed
The Board Of Foreign Missions of the Reformed
Church in America is in the seventy
year of its existence and the forty-sxth of sepa-
and independent action. During the nrst
twenty-five years of its existence 1t operated
through the American Board of Commissioners
for Foreign Missions. The first missionary from
the Reformed Church. although never under the
of its board, was the Rev John Scudder. VINO
board in 1919. The whole number of missionaries
appointed and sent out by the board from the De,
ginning is 23 of whom S5 were men, 73 wives ana
44 unmarried women.