Reports from several Classes were presented containing their action in reference to printing certain forms (p. 501) in the Liturgy, and referred to a special committee, consisting of Rev. John Steele, Rev. E. P. Livingston and Elder P. S. Danforth.

The Committee presented the following report which was accepted and adopted.

Your Special Committee on the printing of certain liturgical forms present the following report:

That answers have been received from fourteen Classes, twelve, viz:-the Classis of Bergen, South Bergen, Geneva, Kingston, South Classis of Long Island, Montgomery, New York, Poughkeepsie, Passaic, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Westchester have consented to the printing of the proposed forms in connection with our standards. The Classis of Holland withholds its consent, and the Classis of Ulster makes no recommendation on the subject.

From nineteen Classes no reports have been received, viz: Classis of Raritan, Cayuga, New Brunswick, Paramus, Hudson, Michigan, Newark, North Classis of Long Island, Philadelphia, Schoharie, Wisconsin, Illinois, Grand River, Albany, Greene, Orange, Monmouth, Schenectady and Arcot.

Inasmuch as the Constitution requires, in order to such addition as is now proposed, the approval of a majority of the Classes, the matter as it seems to your Committee cannot be finally disposed of at the present session of Synod.

The Committee therefore recommends that it be enjoined. upon the Classes, which have not taken action in the case, (or

have not forwarded to this Synod the result of their action), to do so, and report to the Stated Clerk of General Synod.

JNO. STEELE,

Chairman of Committee.

ARTICLE XII.

SCHOOLS AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION.

The Forty-fourth Annual report of the Board of Education was received and referred to the Committee on Education, except so much as relates to vacancies, which was referred to the Committee on Nominations.

The Annual Report of the Treasurer of the Board of Education was received and referred to the same Committee.

The Committee on Education presented the following Report, which was accepted and adopted:

The Committee on Education present the following:

We have before us the Annual Report of the "Board of Education" for the year ending April 30, 1877. The record of the year is presented under five (5) topics:

1. Students for the ministry.

2. Hope College.

3. Parochial Schools.

4. Funds.

5. Membership.

With gratitude to God, the Board reports an increased number of young men under its care, in training for the work of preaching the everlasting Gospel.

We find that at the close of the year there were sixty-eight receiving aid from the funds administered by them. The number received during the year was fourteen. Since the close of the year twelve have finished their theological course at New Brunswick and two at Holland. We believe that nearly every one of these are either already laboring in the ministry, or have prospect of speedy settlement. The report bears testimony to the "diligence in study," and "consistency in deportment" of those under its care, and expresses the confidence that they will not disappoint the expectations of the Church.

We cannot but express our gratification at the state

、ment.

We conceive the work of the Board to be not merely the raising of funds, but the supervision of the young men who are aided, as well as the exercise of due care in the selection of those who shall receive the help of the Church. The time has come, in the Providence of God, when the Church can select the best out of the material offered. It does not follow that because a young man has a warm heart, and is in the first flush of his faith, full of zeal, and desires the work of the ministry, that therefore he is fit to be educated by the Church. What we most desire in those the Church undertakes to train is the union of the warm heart and Christlike devotion with the vigorous intellect and power of thought. Let us strive to secure the best for the Lord's service.

2. HOPE COLLEGE.-As all matters pertaining to this institution have been referred to a special committee, we do not feel called upon to offer any suggestions concerning it.

3. PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS.-The Report shows that seven (7) Churches have received aid in maintaining such schools, to the amount of $718.75. The Board speaks encouragingly of its work in this department.

4. FUNDS.-The Treasurer's Report, submitted in connection with this Report, shows that there has been received from Churches, including the special account with the Western Holland Classis," $12,263.59. The amount is less than last year, and yet, in view of the universal depression in business. the discrepancy is not so large as might have been expected; on the other hand, there is ground for encouragement in the financial condition of the Board. The debt has been somewhat diminished, the permanent funds increased by a bequest of five thousand dollars, ($5,000), and the expenses of the Board materially reduced.

5. MEMBERSHIP.-The Board record the death of one of their members, Mr. John H. Browning, expressing their sense of the loss sustained, and paying a fitting tribute to his Christian worth and manly devotion to the cause of Christ.

Your Committee have also placed in their hands the resignation of Rev. B. C. Taylor, for many years a member of the Board of Education. In consequence of bodily infirmities, our beloved brother and father in Christ feels that he is unable to fulfill the duties of the position. We are glad to embrace this

opportunity to bear our testimony to the valuable services that Dr Taylor has rendered the Church, not only in the Board of Education, but in all the work of the ministry, and the influence he has exerted, as a man of God, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.

Resolved, That the resignation of Dr. Taylor be and hereby is accepted, and that Rev. D. K. Bartlett be and hereby is appointed as a member of the Board of Education, to serve during the unexpired term of Rev. B. C. Taylor.

In view of the record thus presented, the Board of Education has every reason for congratulation and gratitude to God. This work is of paramount importance, and ought to be carried on with the greatest care. We only say that which is self-evident when we declare that a well-trained, cultured ministry is now a most potent instrument in the work of the Church. God is answering our prayers. The men are ready; the responsibility rests upon the Church. The field is the world. The harvest waves, the reapers wait; shall they go forth and put in the sickle? It is for the Churches to say. Let every minister and every Consistory keep continually before the people the great importance of this work.

Your Committee present the following Resolutions:

1. That in review of the work of the Board during the past year, we greatfully recognize the Divine favor.

2. That we enjoin upon Classes and Consistories the greatest care in recommending young men for aid from educational funds, and upon the Board itself the continued exercise of the careful oversight of those entrusted to its charge.

3. That the Board of Education take special measures to inform Pastors and Consistories concerning its indebtedness, and the pressing need of its speedy liquidation.

4. That the work of the Board of Education be earnestly urged upon the attention of the Churches: That Pastors and Consistories are recommended to endeavor, in every way, to increase the contributions of the people.

5. That we urge upon those to whom God has given wealth, the endowment of scholarships, reminding all that a donation. of three thousand dollars ($3,000) will meet the appropriation for one student in each year for all the future.

6. That the last Thursday in January be set apart as a day of prayer for colleges and seminaries of learning; and that the subject of the need of the Church and the world for an educated ministry be presented on that day.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

C. L. WELLS, Chairman.

The following persons were elected to fill vacancies in the

In place of Rev. B. C. Taylor, D.D., resigned, Rev. D. K.

Bartlett, for one year.

ARTICLE XIII.

CHURCH

COLLEGES.

The Eleventh Annual Report of the Council of Hope College was received, read, and referred to the Committee on the Professorate. It was as follows:

THE ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL OF HOPE COLLEGE.

The Council of Hope College beg leave respectfully to present this, their Eleventh Annual Report, to the General Synod.

The College year, now closing, has, by the blessing of God, been marked by an unusual degree of spiritual prosperity, and by the fact, that in these times, which bring disaster to so many homes and organizations, the work of the institution was allowed to go on. We feel confident, that the Lord, who has so signally manifested His presence, will not permit the shadow to go back on the dial.

The institution has, during the year, sustained a sad loss in the death of two worthy fathers, Rev. Cornelius Van Der Meulen and Dr. Alburtus C. Van Raalte, who, from the beginning were identified with our educational and religious