This request is simply, that these brethren who have been prepared at a Seminary of a sister Church be allowed to present themselves to the Classis of New York, and that the Classis be allowed to examine them, upon their presentation of the usual certificate of the Professors under whom they have studied instead of one from our own Professors. Your Committee recommend the following resolution:

Resolved, That upon their presentation of the usual certificate from the Professors of Union Theological Seminary, certifying to their attainments, and recommending them for examination with a view to the gospel ministry, that Messrs. R. Strok and A. J. Beekman shall be entitled to an examination for licensure by the Classis of New York.

2. An application from the Classis of Montgomery for a dispensa tion from the prescribed course of theological study in favor of Mr. Sharply. The Classis plead the following reasons:

"(1.) It is impossible for Mr. Sharply to follow the regular course of study. He is a student under the care of Classis, as to whose piety and abilities the Classis is satisfied, but who from the fact that he is thirty-four years of age, and has a wife and four children dependent upon him, is unable to prosecute the usual course of collegiate and theological study.

(2.) The success with which his ministrations are attended. For the past fifteen years, during which he has had the ministry in view, he has been engaged with unusual success in evangelical labor. He had charge of a preaching service at different times in England, under the supervision of a settled pastor; and since his coming to this country, a year and a half ago, in addition to his labor as school teacher, has been almost continuously engaged in preaching with remarkable acceptance and spiritual profit to his hearers, making the Classis, from his usefulness in the past, to hope that an abundant harvest awaits his ingathering in the future.

(3.) The desire and need of the Mapleton charge, that he became their pastor.

His particular relation to this Church enforces this petition. This is a weak Church, and one which seemed likely but a little while ago to become first permanently vacant, and then extinct. Mr. Sharpley has, however, been laboring in their midst, preaching the

Gospel to them with the effect of greatly strengthening the Church and making its future to be full of promise, provided that their desire that he be ordained and settled as their pastor be speedily granted. (4.) The attainments of Mr. Sharpley.

The attainments of Mr. Sharpley in the branches of study on which an examination for licensure shall be had, are very respectable. He is a graduate of Homerton College, London; has, in addition to a proficiency in the ordinary branches, a good knowledge of French, Latin, and Greek, was for more than three years engaged in biblical and theological study under the direction of Rev. James Bedell, Manchester, England; and has, during a number of years past devoted much time and labor to fitting himself to the gospel ministry, and heartily accepts the faith, approves the polity, and enters into the spirit of our denomination.

The petition closes with the following paragraph: "While the Classis is most strenuous in maintaining a high standard of scholarship in its licentiates, from its hearty agreement with the policy and practice of the Church in insisting upon a learned ministry, they do unanimously petition your reverend body that a dispensation be granted in this case;" therefore,

Resolved, That a dispensation from the prescribed requirements of the Constitution, in this case be granted.

3. A memorial from the Classis of Westchester, asking General Synod to provide a column in the table of Statistical Reports, for the report of funds given to congregational and benevolent purposes, out of the income of charitable bequests, or other invested funds, committed in trust to the care of the Churches. Such a report is regarded by this Classis as necessary, in order to give adequate and honorable expression to the benevolent spirit of Christianity, especially as manifested by the sainted dead. Or if it be deemed more advisable by the General Synod, that that body be requested to rescind the resolution prohibiting the Churches from reporting congregational and benevolent appropriations out of the income of charitable bequests or other funds intrusted to their care. In regard to this matter, your Committee think on the one hand that the benevolent spirit of Christianity, especially as manifested by the sainted dead, will not be dishonored by the omission of such a column as above indicated; nor will it disturb the sainted dead,

who have ceased to manifest it on earth; and, on the other, they think that the reasons given by the Classis for the alteration proposed are not enough to justify the alteration, either way, as proposed by the Classis. Your Committee propose the following: Resolved, That the Classis of Westchester be respectfully informed that General Synod deems it inexpedient to authorize any alteration in the Statistical Tables, either by omission or addition, as suggested by Classis.

4. An application from the South Classis of Long Island, "in behalf of Norman F. Nickerson" who, having "pursued his theolo gical studies at the Union Theological Seminary, in the City of New York, desires that he may commence his ministerial life in the Reformed Church." The Classis asks relief from the rule requiring a professorial certificate from New Brunswick, and that Classis be permitted to examine him for licensure and ordination. Your Committee recommend the following:

Resolved, That the request of the South Classis of Long Island De granted.

5. An application from the Classis of Holland, dated April 1st and 2d, to dispense with the requirement of Hebrew and Greek in the case of Mr. Hasenberg, theological student at Hope College, and for permission to examine him for licensure.

Resolved, That the request be granted.

6. An overture from the Classis of Poughkeepsie, respecting Hymn Books.

"The Classis of Poughkeepsie beg leave respectfully to inform General Synod that some of the Churches within the bounds of Classis, having at heart the promotion of the spirit and utterance of praise, in their congregations, do earnestly desire a larger liberty of selection in the matter of Hymn and Tune Books. Preference has been expressed by some for the book entitled 'Songs of the Sanctuary;' and by others, for that entitled 'The Church Hymn Book.' Classis can see no good reason why the liberty to use either of them in public worship should be withheld from such Churches as desire it. The Classis therefore respectfully requests the Synod, at its approaching session, to approve and recommend the collections of hymns and tunes respectively entitled Songs of the Sanctuary and 'The Church Hymn Book,' to the end that such of our Churches as wish so to do, may, in accordance with the Constitution, employ the said collections in public worship."

Your Committee are somewhat surprised at this request. The Church has already and recently been liberally supplied with hymns and tunes to the amount of hundreds, and surely there can be no reasonable want in this respect unsupplied. While possibly there might be "the promotion of the spirit and utterance of praise," in one Church, there probably would be the promotion of ultimate distraction in regard to our hymnology throughout the denomination, should this policy of a larger liberty be adopted. Besides, if Synod now grant the use of the books referred to, how can they refuse two others, equally good, and perhaps better, just to satisfy the "desire of larger liberty of selection," for the following year, and so on, until we absorb every hymn book found on the Continent? We think this request untimely, and cannot but believe the use of the above-named books would tend still more to break up that uniformity of worship which once more happily characterized our Church. Your Committee recommend the following:

Resolved, That General Synod deem it unwise and inexpedient to authorize in the Churches of our denomination the two books aforesaid, as specified by the Classis of Poughkeepsie.

Respectfully submitted,

W. R. GORDON, Chairman.

ARTICLE VIII.

SYNODICAL APPEALS

The Committee on Judicial business respectfully report, that two complaints have been referred to them for examination.

The first is the complaint of Mr. J. W. Goosen against the action. of the Consistory of the Church of Zeeland, Mich. He complains that said Consistory suspended him from its communion because of his connection with the Masonic fraternity; this complaint your Committee find to be irregular and defective-irregular, as the Constitution defines that greater assemblies shall take cognizance of such matters alone as cannot be determined in a less, and he should have gone to Classis; defective, in that it presents no authenticated copy of the proceedings of the Consistory, and no evidence that Consistory have any notice of this complaint. And as our Constitution provides that all parties who feel aggrieved by the action of Consistories, may appeal to the Classis, your Committee recommend

that this communication be returned to Mr. Goosen, with the advice that if he has any cause for complaint, he should seek redress by going to Classis in the proper constitutional way.

The second complaint referred to us by Synod is that of Elders Elting and Westbrook, of the Church of Deer Park, against the Consistory of said Church, and also against the Classis of Orange. This complaint involves the right of the Deacons to vote on a certain question, defining what part the choir and organ shall take in the order of divine worship.

Your Committee, in examining the papers placed in their hands, find that this case of complaint has not been properly notified to the Classis; the President of Classis not having received any notification before the 30th day of May, only three or four days before the meeting of this Synod.

It is furthermore irregular in that the proper course for it is to go to Particular Synod. According to the direction of the Constitution, the matters complained of cannot be received here unless they should be of such a nature as to affect the interest of all the Churches under the care of this body in such a way as to require immediate action.

The question of the Deacons voting in this particular case, which is the grievance in this complaint, is so involved in all the proceed. ings, both of the Consistory and of the Classis, that it cannot be reached by this body without a review of all the proceedings. And as Particular Synod is the proper court of review in this case, your Committee do not feel it to be their duty to recommend any action by General Synod on the case.

Respectfully,

J. SIMONSON, Chairman.

ARTICLE IX.

CHURCH GOVERNMENT.

The action of the Classes on the Revised Constitution was received, and referred to a Special Committee, consisting of Rev. J. L. Amerman, Rev. H. E. Decker, and Elder Lawrence Van Der

veer.

The Committee subsequently presented the following report, which was accepted and adopted: