the Presbyterian Churches do not mean to separate from other Churches which hold by Christ, but will be ready to join such in Christian fellowship, and in promoting the cause of the Redeemer.

ARTICLES.

1. DESIGNATION.-This Alliance shall be called The Confederation of the Reformed Churches, holding to the Presbyterian System.'

2. BOND OF UNION.-The Bond of Union is Christ, and the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

3. MEMBERSHIP.-Any Church, whose creed is in accordance with the consensus of the Reformed Churches-such only being admissible, may, on expressing by its Supreme Court, a wish to join the Confederation, be admitted into membership therein, by a vote of the General Council.

4. THE COUNCIL.

Its Constituency.-The Council shall consist of Delegates appointed by the Churches forming the Confederation; the number from each Church being regulated by a plan sanctioned by the Council, and proceeding on the principle of the number of congregations in the Churches; the Delegates, moreover, from each Church, always consisting of an equal number of ministers and elders. The Council may, on the recommendation of a Committee on Overtures, choose Associates not Delegates, and invite them to sit and to deliberate, to offer suggestions, to deliver addresses, and to read papers.

2. Its Powers. The Council, while it has the power to determine what Presbyterian Churches shall be allowed to join the Confederation, shall not interfere with the internal order or discipline of any Church. It shall take up only such evangelistic subjects as have been committed to the Church by her great Head. Topics may be brought before it by any Church which is a member of the Confederation, or by members of the Council, on being transmitted by the Committee on Overtures. The decisions and recommendations of the Council, shall be transmitted to the Supreme Courts of the several Churches, and be entitled to receive from these a respectful and prayerful consideration.

3. Its Objects.-The Council shall seek to help all weak and struggling Churches, to promote freedom of Church action, to gather and disseminate information concerning the Church at large, to commend the Presbyterian system as combining simplicity, efficiency, and adaptation to all times and conditions, and shall entertain all subjects that are directly concerned with the work of evangelization, as the following: The peace of the Churches; the distribution of Mission work; the combination of Church energies-especially in reference to our great cities and destitute districts; the religious Instruction of the Young; the sanctification of the Sabbath; the suppression of Intemperance and other great prevailing vices; Systematic Beneficence; and the overthrow of Infidelity and Romanism.

4. Its Methods.-The Council shall seek to guide and stimulate public sentiment by papers read, by addresses delivered, by publishing and circulating information about the state of the Churches and of Missions, and by the exposition of sound Scriptural Principles and Defenses of the truth.

5. CHANGE OF CONSTUTITION.

This Constitution shall not be changed, except on a motion made at one meeting of Council, and carried by a two-thirds vote at the next meeting."

At this meeting the following Resolution was also unanimously adopted, viz. "That we recommend the Committees of the various Churches, to nominate Delegates to attend the Conference, in the college of the Presbyterian Church, Queen's Square, London, on Wednesday, the 21st day July, 1875, and to submit the names of these Delegates, to their respective Supreme Church Courts, for their special approval."

In accordance with this recommendation, your Committee beg leave to nominate Rev. Dr. Thomas E. Vermilye and Mr. Gamaliel G. Smith, now in Europe, Rev. E. P. Rogers and Rev. Philip Peltz, whom they hope might be, thereby, induced to go. Your Committee would also suggest that General Synod add to this list the names of others, (especially of Elders,) who might possibly attend. All of which is respectfully submitted,

NEW YORK, June 4th, 1875,

M. S. HUTTON, Chairman.

On the question of adopting the foregoing report, Elder Theodore F. Cornell, at his request, was permitted to record his name as voting in the negative. The same privilege was accorded to all who dissented from the action of the Synod.

On motion it was Resolved, That Rev. Dr. Hutton, chairman of the Committee on the Ecumenical Council, be authorized to recommend any minister or elder of the Reformed Church, as an additional delegate to the Ecumenical Council, and that the Stated Clerk furnish said delegate with the necessary credentials.

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

The Committee on Correspondence respectfully report:

There have been received reports from the following delegates to Corresponding Bodies: From Rev. J. A. De Baun to the Reformed (German) Church in U. S.; from Rev. Isaac Riley to the Reformed Presbyterian Church; from Rev. M. S. Hutton to the Presbyterian Church (North); from Rev. J. McClelland Holmes to the Evangelical Lutheran Church; from Rev. A. T. Stewart to the Presbyterian Church (South) in 1874; from Rev. H. D. Ganse to the Presbyterian Church (South) in 1875; from Rev. A. R. Thompson to the Reformed Episcopal Church.

There has also been placed in our hands a letter in the Holland language, with a translation of the same by Rev. A. R. Van Raalte, accompanied by a letter from him, from the Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands. Your Committee recommend:

Resolved, That Rev. Prof. Charles Scott, President of this Synod and Rev. A. C. Van Raalte be a Committee with power to prepare and forward a suitable reply, in the name of the Synod.

Resolved, That the Stated Clerk of Synod be authorized to forward a copy of the Minutes of this Synod to said Church.

There has likewise been received a communication from the Rev. John M. King, conveying the Christian salutations, and the grateful acknowledgments of the Canada Presbyterian Church, relative to the appointment of a delegate from this body; and announcing likewise the union of the several branches of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, soon to be consummated, and requesting the presence of a delegate from this body on the interesting occasion. The Synod of last year anticipated this request, and appointed Rev. W. Ormiston to this agreeable duty.

A communication has also been received from the Third Council of the Reformed Episcopal Church, announcing the adoption of a resolution to appoint annually a Corresponding Delegate to this Synod, in accordance with the action of the Synod of last year. Your Committee recommend:

Resolved, That a Corresponding Delegate, Primarius and Secundus, be elected, at this and each succeeding General Synod, to the Council of the Reformed Episcopal Church.

With respect to the matters introduced by the Rev. R. P. Du Clos. Delegate of the French Evangelical Church of Canada, your Committee recommend:

Resolved, That Rev. David Inglis and Rev. E. P. Ingersoll be a Committee with power to prepare and forward a suitable reply to said Church, expressive of the fraternal sympathy of this Synod with this devoted band of believers in their important work.

Resolved, That this French Evangelical Church of Canada, composed of converts from the Roman Catholic Church, be commended to the liberality of the friends of a pure Gospel in our Zion, that has through centuries contended "earnestly for the faith."

Resolved, That any moneys so contributed be paid into the Treasury of the Board of Foreign Missions, and that its Treasurer be authorized to pay such moneys to the above Church.

Your Committee have also received the credentials of the several delegates from corresponding bodies who have appeared on the floor of the Synod. On these no action is required.

Respectfully submitted.

G. HENRY MANDEVILLE,

Chairman.

On motion, the name of Elder D. P. Ingraham was substituted for that of Jonathan Sturges, deceased, on the Committee of Conference with the Presbyterian Church.

The Elder John A. Lott was elected as an additional Delegate Primarius, and Elder Jacob B. Jewett Secundus, to the (Ecumenical Council.

DELEGATES TO CORRESPONDING BODIES.

The following were appointed:

To the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America :-Rev. Prof. S. M. Woodbridge, Primarius; Rev. E. A. Collier, Secundus.

To the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States (South):-Rev. G. Henry Mandeville, Primarius; Rev. Wm. H. Clark, Secundus.

To the General Assembly of the Reformed Presbyterian Church :Rev. E. W Bentley, Primarius; Rev. D. K. Bartlett, Secundus. To the General Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church :— Rev. N. D. Williamson, Primarius; Rev. Elbert Nevius, Secundus. To the General Council of the Reformed Episcopal Church :Rev. W. H. Ten Eyck, Primarius; Rev. E. S. Fairchild, Secundus. To the General Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church:Rev. C. I. Shepard, Primarius; Rev. J. C. F. Hoes, Secundus.

ARTICLE VI.

SYNODICAL REPORT.

The Committee on the State of Religion presented the following report, which was accepted and adopted:

Your Committee rejoice in the evidence of progress in our beloved Zion. During the last quarter of a century, God has enabled us to do more than keep pace with some of our brethren who march under kindred colors. Taking the Presbyterian Church "regular," as it is called in the U. S. Census, we find that the Old and New School Churches of 1851, as represented in the Re-union Church and Presbyterian Church, South, of 1874, made a gain, 1851-1874, of 57.73 per cent. in churches, and 71.69 per cent. in communicants. The Reformed Church in America during the same period, 1851-1874, made a gain of 65.57 per cent. in churches, and of 99.29 per cent. in communicants. This gives the Reformed Church the advantage of 13 per cent. greater proportional gain in churches, and 38 per cent. greater proportional gain in communicants.

One of the main elements of a satisfactory Report on the State of Religion is that it tells of many saved souls taking their place in the Church below, as the vestibule of the Church above. In this