Your Special Committee, to whom were referred the papers containing the action of the Classes, in the matter of the Revised Constitution, respectfully report, that they have received and examined such papers from thirty-one (31) of the thirty four (34) Classes which compose the Church. The vote of these Classes is as follows:

For the adoption of the Revised Constitution as a whole, with the exception of the four (4) sections upon which the Synod asked for separate action, Nineteen. (19 )

Against its adoption, Eight, (8.)

It appears that several Classes, misapprehending the matter presented for their consideration, have taken separate action upon the two (2) amendments to the Revised Constitution, made by the Synod of last year, (See Acts and Proceedings of General Synod 1873, page 722,) and three (3) of these voting adversly to one or both of said amendments, make void their vote upon the adoption of the Revised Constitution as a whole. While this lessens the majority in favor of the Revised Constitution, it does not affect the result.

The report of one Classis shows no record of action upon the Revised Constitution as a whole.

Upon Art. VII, Sec. 4, and Art. VIII, Sec. 4 of the Deputatus Synodi, nine, (9) Classes vote in favor of their adoption, and twentyone (21) against their adoption. One report shows no record of

action on these sections.

Upon Art. VII, Sec. 8, the second question in reference to the Heidelberg Catechism, eighteen (18) Classes vote in favor of its adoption, and twelve (12) against its adoption. One report shows

no record of action on this section.

Upon Art. X, Sec. 4, in reference to the order of worship, twentytwo (22) Classes vote in favor of its adoption, and five (5) against its adoption. Four (4) reports have no record of action upon this section.

Your Committee recommend the adoption of the following:

Whereas, The Synod of 1873 submitted to the Classes a Revised Constitution, with its recommendation that they adopt it, excepting four (4) specified sections, and submitted these four (4) specified sections, with like recommendation, asking that separate action should be taken upon each of them, and,

Whereas, The Constitution of the Church, Chap. IV, Art. IV, Sec. 15, provides, in reference to the four chapters of the Constitution, that no alteration shall be made "but by previous recommendation from the General Synod to the respective Classes, and the consent of a majority of the same to such proposed alteration, together with the final determination and resolution of the General Synod for the time being," and,

Whereas, The consent of the majority of the Classes has been obtained to the adoption of the Revised Constitution as a whole, excepting Art. VII, Sec. 4, Art. VIII, Sec 4, Art. VII, Sec. 8 and Art. X, Sec. 4, and,

Whereas, The consent of a majority of the Classes has been refused to Art VII, Sec. 4 and Art. VIII, Sec 4, and has been obtained to Art. VII, Sec. 8 and Art. X, Sec 4, therefore,

Resolved, That this General Synod of the Reformed Church in America, now convened in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., determine and resolve, that the said Revised Constitution, is and shall be, from the day of the final adjournment of this session of the Synod, the Constitution of the Reformed Church in America, excepting only Art. VII, Sec. 4 and Art. VIII, Sec. 4.

Your Committee further report, that the paper received from the Classis of Kingston contains a recommendation that General Synod "propose an amendment permitting some discretion to the officiating Minister in the afternoon and evening service."

Also that the paper received from the Classis of Montgomery contains the statement that said Classis has expressed its preference "to have the form of worship prescribed as a recommendation."

In view of the fact that the form or order of service has already the attention of this Synod, as a part of the Liturgy, your Committee deem it unnecessary to make any suggestions in the matter.

Respectfully submitted,

JAS. L. AMERMAN,

HENRY E. DECKER,

LAWRENCE VANDERVEER.

Special Committee.

The Committee on Revision of the Constitution reported in relation to the Lemmata, and recommend no change for the present.

ARTICLE X.

DOCTRINES AND MORALS.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That this Synod heartily sympathize with the earnest efforts being made by the Christian public in behalf of the cause of temperance; and so far as the means used are scriptural, would endorse the popular movement, and urge upon ministers and consistories of our Churches the great importance of giving all possible aid and counsel to the earnest workers in this good cause.

ARTICLE XI.

CUSTOMS AND USAGES.

The Committe on the Revision of the Liturgy presented the fol lowing report, which was accepted:

The Committee on the Revision of the Litury beg leave respectfully to report, that in obedience to the direction of the General Synod of last year, they have caused to be printed and sent to each Consistory a copy of the revised Liturgy; and in compliance with the same direction, they present it to this General Synod.

Respectfully submitted,

MANCIUS S. HUTTON, Chairman.

After a full discussion of the whole subject of the revision of the Liturgy, the following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That this Synod approve of so much of the Liturgy reported by the Committee as is not inconsistent with, or forbidden by the Constitution, and give permission to use the same, this resolution not sanctioning any change in the Baptismal form, or the form for the Administration of the Lord's Supper.

The Ayes and Nays having been called for on the adoption of the above resolution, they were taken and recorded, and are as follows:

Ayes-T. S. Dusinberre, D. S. Wright, J. W. Schenck, Augustus Blauvelt, J. F. Harris, D. S. Schoonmaker, J. B. Alliger, J. M. Wagner, D. V. Weeks, D. S. Sutphen, C. R. Blauvelt, E. P. Ingersoll, J. R. Bennett, C. N. Sampson, D. Vanderveer, A. R.

Thompson, A. F. Todd, A. S. Schoonmaker, C. W. Fritts, A. P. Peeke, Edwin Hill, Walter Brett, John Simonson, L. H. Van Dyck, R. H. Pruyn, G. H. Peeke, W. J. Bacon, J. W. Patterson, W. W. Brush, A. M. Mann, J. Whitbeck, G. S. Wyckoff, A. F. Munn, O. Lampman, P. T. Deyo, A. Hees, F. Vedder, J. B. Drury. A. H. Brush, J. S. Hare, H. Van De Carr, J. G. Smart, S. T Cole, G. I. Taylor, A Marshall, J. C. Viele, W. W. Letson, A. Dorn, W. M. Brink, A. H. Van Vranken, M. A. Mareness, A. Thompson, H. E. Decker, P. S. Brokaw, J. Mayo, E Van der Hart, M. Kiekintveld, F. Van Driele, W. R. Gordon, J. H. Suydam, R. Voorhees, P. Van Buskirk, W. R. Duryee, J. L. Amerman, L. H. Van Doren, C. S. Hageman, E. P. Terhune, S. R. W. Heath, W. H. Kirk, L. Vanderveer, G. Talmage, J. H. Duryea, H. V. Voorhees, J. H. Whitehead, T. F. Chambers, F. F. Wilson, W. B. Voorhees, DS Jones, J. Van Zandt.-Total, 79.

Nays:-P. Van Wyck, P. Peltz, A McKelvey, H. D. Ganse, R. Wells, J. Sturges, J. Wood, A. C. Wood, J. B. Steele, J. F. Shaw, J. Lyon, A. P. Van Gieson, R. Walsh, A. D. Campbell, R. F. Stanbrough, A. J. Hageman, J. C. Lowe, W. H. Phraner, N. Vischer, E. Miller, S. H. Cobb, J. H. Freligh, C. Rhynsburger, F. E. Schlieder, A. Buursma, W. H. Van Doren, Wm. Reiley, S. W. Jones, G. Abeel, R. H. Steele, A. McWilliam, E. T. Corwin, J. Foster, J. Conover, J. W. Ferdon, J. I. Ackerman, J. Collier, W. Pitcher, T. F. Corneli.-Total, 39.

Rev. Charles H. Pool, and Elders John Rodman and Rynier H. Veghte, having been absent when the vote was taken, requested to be recorded as desiring to vote in the affirmative, and the Rev. H. Uiterwyk and W. Moerdyk in the negative. The request was granted.

The Committee on revision of the "Hymns of the Church," presented the following report, which was accepted and adopted: The Committee "appointed to unite with the present Committee on Hymnology to revise the music and Hymns of the book entitled Hymns of the Church, and endeavor to secure, if possible, its publication at a lower price," respectfully report, that they have conferred with the Committee on Hymnology, and with the following results, viz:

1. So far as the Hymns are concerned, it has been unadvisable and impracticable to admit any change.

2. In the department of Music, important changes have been unanimously agreed upon. Many tunes, which, although excellent as specimens of musical composition, have been proven by experience, to be ill-adapted to congregational singing, have been withdrawn, and others, more simple or more familiar, have been substituted in their place.

3. In accordance with these views and conclusions, a new edition of the Hymns of the Church" has been published, and is now ready for the supply of the Churches. In this new edition the Hymns stand precisely as they stood in the original edition. The only alteration consists in the displacement of a number of the tunes by others which were deemed more available for congregational use.

4 The Committee regret that they are compelled to add that there has been, thus far, no reduction in the retail price of the book in the plain style of binding, which is in most general use. On examining the list recently received from the publishers, it appears that of the special edition, containing the Liturgy of the Reformed Church in America, the introductory price has been reduced from $2 00 to $1 80. The retail price also of the book in the more expensive styles of binding, has been reduced in about the same proportion. In the plainer style of binding however, the retail price still remains $3 00. Your Committee feel therefore that

in their endeavor to secure the "publication at a lower price," they have met with but small success.

The Committee recommend the adoption of the following resolution, viz:

Resolved, That the revised edition of the book entitled "Hymns of the Church," be, and hereby is approved and recommended to the Churches.

A. P, VAN GIESON, Chairman.

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ARTICLE XII.

SCHOOLS AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.

The Forty-second Annual Report of the Board of Education was received and referred to the Committee on Education, with the ex