New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-06-06
LITURGY REVISION DAY.
SYNOD BEGINS CHANGES.
Reformed Church amending It's
Time HOnOred Forms.

Asbury Park y j.. June 5.-Delegates TO the
General Synod of the Reformed Church in America
little time devote to pleasure to-day. for i'm
portant questions came up before the body in rapid
succession and compelled President Wells TO ask for
a extension OF time for the morning session
The most important business considered was the
report of the committee appointed BY the General
Synod Of 1892 TO prepare revision Of the hturgical
forms OF the Church This document submitted
yesterday by the Rev. DIT. Mancius Fl. Hutton. OF
w-Brunswick, the chairman Of the revision com
mttee. and came up for action at to-days session
DIT. HUtton's report to the General Synod is pre-
faced in part. follows:
There are those who cling TO our ancient forms
with an undyins affection and whose Impulse = 70
pressing for entirely liturgy. VINO would
IKE % CROP ne ancient IorIls polly ano axe an
haps, are those who. cherishing the old assOcia.
and If those could be eliminated would be entireiJ
satisfied Now. continual agtation these matters
obvious that ali three plans cannot be carried out
at
OPPOSITION TO REVISION.
Opposition to the report Of the revision commit
tee led by the Rev Or. George 5. Bishop OF
Newark. who pleaded with '-the fathers and breth-
rem long and earnestly keep their hands or
the sacred forms Of the Church they loved well
You should lightly change the phraseoloey OF
forms that have been used long" he said and
in which Reformation principles are Incorporated
The proposed changes serve to weaken the Church
doctrine and also eliminate apt scripturaI quota
lions" DIT Bishop his voice trembling with emo
ton. urged the synod to retain in the form for
infant baptism the words conceived and BORN in
sin He said these words came from the Holy
Spirit. and that would never do TO cut them
out Of the form. the report proposed. since the
quotation serves as a perpetual reminder OF mans
/ original depravity- The venerable preacher like
wise urged the retention OF the words. obey him
in the brides response in the marriage form He
declared that Christian would object
70 promising to obey her future husband since the
Gospel directed her 70 do so.
The Rev DIT James l. Vance. of Newark. well
as others said there demand for the revision
OF the form used in the Sacrament OF the
LORDS Supper He objected what he designated
paraphrasing OF the Ten Commandments IN
this forr2. and said that the language contained
therein was not appropriate for con gresatons made
up Of decent people
COMPLETE REVISION DEFERRED.
( Final action on the complete revision OF the lit
urgy was deferred. The revised section relating TO
infant baptism adopted unanimously The
form for the recognition OF adults adopted
after an unimportant amendment had been agreed
to- A battle royal viii ensUe tomorrow. when the
communion form and the remainder OF the liturgy
is considered.
At the afternoon session visiting delegates from
sister church organizations and representatives OF
benevolent institutions were, introduced These in
Church of the United states the Rev Dr. William
York. representing the Presbyterian church. North.
. and the Rev. DIT Edward r lnSeFSol. OF Ll5
American Bible Society. Doctors Cort and Richards
! both expressed the hope that the various Presby-
terrain churches might soon be consolidated. and
President Wells humOrOusy replied that the Re
formed Church in America stood ready and willing
take the various Presbyterian denominations
under its wing
The committee on Sunday schools and young
peoples societies reported through the Rev DR.
W IT. BOocOck The report showed that there
are 925 Sunday schools and 525 Christian Endeavor
and Young Peoples societies connected with the
General Synod.
Chairman ABBOTT f. Kittredge. of New-Yorl. Of
the committee the of religion. reported a.
follows: Church membership. U2-II3, gain OF 29ea
! new churches ;. a gain of l; contributions for
foreign missions. S5757; contributions to ali church
I objects 1893. S43
There are 81 vacant pupits throughout the coun-
try distributed as follows: Particular synod or
. Albany %: Chicago 80: New-YOrk. 10. New-BrJns-
! wick 13 The particular synod of Chicago gained
four churches during the year and New Brunswick
b one The report states that there has been great
advance in the spiritual work Of the Church during
( benehCenCeS-
Late in the afternoon the synod took nominal -
ing ballot I'LL the vacant chair of h!storcaI the
[ olOgy in the Western Theological seminary, at
. Holland Mich. There were twelve candidates for
the honor but the three high candidates Wers
I the Rev. DR.. N NJ Steffens. OF Dubuque Iowa; the
Rev. DR. James r. Zwener. of Holland. Mich, anu
the Rev. Or. A H Huiznga. OF Ftshttll y y :.
regular ballot will be taken tomorrow. and one o.
these three candidates will be chosen.