New-York tribune., 1907-06-22
CHURCH AND RELIGIOUS NEWS AND NOTES
REFORM CHURCH ADOPTS CHANGE IN GOVEBN.1EvT
r THANK OFFERING OF EPIsCOPALIANS

NShoo OF the Reformed Church in
-ssI+,' "'-'0H mas Just been held in Albany in
aoolton TO Its routine business passad oo soIouaI
Important matters affecting the organization os
lhe Shurch Of interest not ONLY, +o ,,or,,,. = 4,
iiieo Church but to those of other denon,;pa-
'0' aS well Among these was the establish
'A' "a commission Of religious educatio, e.
N.iec' tle churches IN the religious instr,ct;o 80
I'ie-r ch4Ioren' and also a change in tba ,,ro+
~ u selecting ministers for vacant churches
o1o, .,tS INC doctrines OF the Reformed the
0Sy' LIS CnuTch maintains the Freshvter;o,, e.
OF church government But the o,o, --0 'oi'h
- sal6 70 be rather departure from tht t o,eo
A. e6,tor4I Ian InteAigencer" in commenting upon
r ~ an, al me churches of the Presbyterian order
S win the rest there is a confessad ,,faIioit'
getber vacart ssS, IN the method of bringing to-
Sbei- - -, cnurches and ministers adapted 10
@1 I-eeo. theoretically the Presbyterv or ClasstS
Vet r7racco71 ~ lne oversight OF vacant churcn
srd 80 me church is left TO its own devices
anu o1IeA 10 discover that the man Of tber cIa,oo
q $3.50. .t Hlsut For the minister seeking
. N-iai sc tue present system of candidating is SO
Iepugilaht 10 many that We have known aP1a b,,t
seLsIuNe men 70 abandon the ministry or take
-etuse ~ lhe Episcopal Church where a bishon
acts as the intermediary between the ministry ND
sI4e churches The evil IS a real one but ren1edT
- Aot easily found under the Presbvtertap systa,
as II exists. with churches sensitive as 70 tbe IN
oepenoence and the higher bodies venturinp ~,
little beyond advisory powers A stem in the Iiebt
direction was taken by this synod I'm nronosGrg
that each Chassis should designate minister 70
tSsiIe tt a. me consistorial meetings of a vacant
cHGfCE' should the Chassis act wisely in the as
slgnnent of the ministers for this dutv ard tbo
chnrcneS accept the suggestion many mistakes
promoted" e''' 'O'' 'e
The commission OF religious education. which
Was cfeated at the General Synod, Will consist or
s, eren MINISTER'S and three laymen. Its principal
1uhcuon VIII be 70 place before the churches the
ssiIosI approved sunday school methods and plans
-or Cle extension OF the school work. The General
synod also empowered the commission TO prepare
ana publish when necessary all supplementary
DOCKS Whlcn may be needed for training teachers
for the Sunday schools and for tbs young people s
Aoclenes. Another part OF the work of the COM
mission viii be the preparation OF a conprehensiye
plan OF study for the young both IN TIE school
user and IN the various societies which are al
ready organized. The secretary ~ +ba cor,raes,or
WI! he the ex ofticio editor of this work which
VIII include Biblical historical doctrinaI and mis-
sioh8ry subjects. Two members Of this commits
sion nave already been selected, but the secretary
mas not yet been named. The members so far are
President Denarest OF Rutgers College and Pro
Seminary.
What is said TO have been the most radical legis-
4aton OF the synod is a change IN the selection OF
Professors Tor the theological seminares OF the
church. Up 10 the present. it seems the task not
only OF eectng these professors but also Of pick
Ing them out and nominating them, has rested
upon the synod Last year, II Is said a perplexinR
number OF candidates came before the synod for a
aCe--t clalT u one OF the seminar1es and great
deal Of the time OF the synod was taken up in
selecting the right The plan which was
adopted last week by the synod preserves the cleo
ton cf professors and the fun control Of the semi
nartes 70 the General Synod, but throws the re-
sponsibity OF nominating candidate upon the
various boards of superintendents
The Reformed Church is said TO be the Oldest
evangelical church IN the Western Hemisphere It's
first church was IN the fort on Manhattan Island.
near what is now known the Bowling Green"
This church VAS organizeI in 162S one wear pre-
v-ous 70 the installation of the first minister IN
Plymouth. Mass, and had practical control of re-
Ieious affairs on Manhattan Island until the Eng
iish occupation IN 1854. The Church IN the Fort
Is now known as the Collegiate Re1Drrned Church
Of New York City. In connection with this church
collegiate school, is carried on, which Is one
Of the Oldest institutions Of learning IN America
having been organized IN 1888
The leading theological seminary of the Re-
formed Church is at New Brunswick. y. J. This
begun in 17S4. and IS believed TO be the first
seminary Of the kind In the United States. The
Church has other seninaries. one In this coun-
~ Holland. Mich, and the other at Arcot
India. Rutgers College, IN New Brunswick, Is
also closely allied with the Church. Missions are
conducted in China Japan, India and Arabia, con-
nected with which are the names of such mission
aries as the Scudders, the Chamberlain the Tai
IMAGES the Zwemers and Guido Verbeck. the
founder Of missions in Japan. In America the
Church likewise carries missionary work, not
onlv among the native Americans, but among the
foreign immigrants who daily coming to this
country.