The following persons were chosen to fill vacancies in the Board of Foreign Missions: The following persons were elected to fill vacancies in the Board of Domestic Missions : WIDOWS' AND DISABLED MINISTERS' FUNDS. The Committee on the Widows' and Disabled Ministers' Funds, presented the following report, which was accepted and adopted: Report of Committee on Widows' and Disabled Ministers' Funds: The usual documents containing the details of the two separate Funds were placed in the hands of your Committee. These having been previously examined by vouchers, and found correct, your Committee would express their hearty approval of the clear and satisfactory manner in which the Treasurer's accounts are kept. Widows' Fund : Total amount of funds now invested... An increase the past year of Paid to annuitants.... Paid the past year to annuitants entitled to full an nuity..... Disabled Ministers' Fund: Total amount of invested funds..... Increase past year by Legacy of Alida Pruyn... $46,919 14 1,559 01 2,537 46 178 25 $18,750 500 4,475 Further details may be found in the Report of the Board of Direction, in the printed Minutes of General Synod. The growing interest in behalf of these Funds, on the part of ministers and churches, is a matter of rejoicing. These Boards ought to enlist universal sympathy, and call forth contributions from all the churches. What is more needful than for the Church to make provision for those who have devoted their lives to her interests? Nothing would do more more to enlist the services of young men, whose attention is turned toward the ministry, than to know that in case of sickness or disability, or death, they and their families would be cared for; and nothing would tend more to cheer and comfort the hearts of those who are in the ministry, than to feel that provision is made for them and their families in a time of need. This is the best policy of Life Insurance; ergo, Resolved, That the claims of these separate Boards be pressed upon the attention of members of Synod, and that pastors of churches be requested to lay the matter before their respective Consistories. Your Committee would suggest the importance of great caution on the part of Classes, in the recommendation of applicants to these funds. All of which is respectfully submitted, M. V. SCHOONMAKER, A. M. QUICK, GARRETT VAN FLEET, ARTICLE XX. PUBLICATION. The Twenty-third Annual Report of the Board of Publication was received, and referred to the Committee on Publication, except so much as relates to vacancies, which was referred to the Committee on Nominations. The Annual Report of the Treasurer was also received, and referred to the same Committee. The Committee on the Board of Publication presented the following Report, which was accepted and adopted: REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATION. The Committee on Publication, beg leave to present the following report: Your Committee have had referred to them, 1. The Annual Report of the Board of Publication, and 2. A translation of the Constitution of the Reformed Church in America, into the Holland language, with a request from the churches of our denomination using that language, that it be published. In connection with the Report of the Board of Publication, your Committee makes note, with pleasure, of the following facts: 1. That there has been a reduction of expenses in the conduct of the affairs of the Board during the year that is past. 2. That there has been a noticeable advance in the amount of their sales. 3. That in tabulating their assets, the Board have wisely reduced the valuation of their stereotype plates, wood cuts, and depository furniture, &c., so that the assets as now given, may be supposed to represent the money value, rather than the original cost of those articles, and thus enable the Synod and the Church to understand the real financial condition of the Board, which your Committee consider to be thoroughly satisfactory. Your Committee has also learned with pleasure, that the Board are endeavoring to effect a further reduction in their running expenses, in order to bring them down to the lowest effective limit. These expenses are now less than $3,000 per year. Your Committee would recommend the Board to consider whether it is not practicable to combine the office of Treasurer with that of Bookkeeper, and thus effect a further saving. It seems to your Committee that the Board have so earnestly and wisely endeavored to carry out the wishes and action of the General Synod, in matters where there had been a difference of opinion and many complaints, that they are entitled to, and ought to receive the warm approbation and confidence, and support of the Synod and the Church. Your Committee would call attention to the following clause in the Report of the Board. (P. 3.) "We have our arrangement now so complete for the accommodation of those who may favor us with their patronage, that clergymen and laymen can have their wishes fully met in regard to any book, American or Foreign, at the regular discount prices, and at the shortest possible notice. May we not then ask the Synod to recommend to all our churches the sustentation of its own Board as a duty to the denomination, no less than as a facility excelled by no other for their accommodation as aforesaid? We surely may ask our Churches to stand by us and not to deal with strangers, when they can be as easily, as readily, and as cheaply served as by any other agency of a similiar kind in this City of New York or elsewhere. We need their support, and promise to make it their interest to give it." This seems to your Committee eminently just. Our Board of Publication is not a voluntary association extorting from the General Synod an unwilling endorsement. It is a body of the Synod's own creation. If the Synod lays its hand on these brethren, and appoints them to do this work, the least the Church can do is to heartily sustain them in the performance of their work. The Board, through their efficient Business Agent, is able to serve all our ministers, our churches, and our Sabbath-schools, in their purchases of books, fully as well as they can be served by other booksellers. Why then should not the Church support its own Board in this way, and thus strengthen their hands for their benevolent work? Your Committee would recommend the following Resolutions : Resolved, That the Board of Publication be, and hereby is heartily commended to the confidence and support of all our churches. Resolved, That our churches be earnestly requested to support the Synod's Board of Publication, both by contributions to aid in its benevolent department, and by throwing their patronage, as far as practicable, in the purchase of books into the hands of the Board. With reference to the translation of the Constitution of the Church into the Holland language. Your Committee would remark : 1. That, at their request, one of their number, Rev. James Huyssoon, has critically examined it, and finds it to be a careful and exact translation. 2. That it seems to your Committee of no small importance that those consistories in our Church, who understand only the Holland language, should have the Constitution of the Church in their hands, in that language. Your committee would recommend the adoption of the following resolution : Resolved, That the publication of the Constitution of the Reformed Church in the Holland language, be referred to the Board of Publication with power. Respectfully submitted, JACOB CHAMBERLAIN, JAMES HUYSSOON, JOHN DORRANCE. The following persons were elected to fill vacancies in the Board of Publication : Rev. W. R. Gordon, D.D., "W. H. Clark, 66 G. S. Bishop, 66 J. W. Geyer, Mr. Maurice E. Viele, William F. Jobbins, The Committee appointed by the last General Synod to prepare a critical edition of the Heidelberg Catechism reported as follows. Their report was accepted, and the Committee continued: The Committee appointed at the last meeting of the General Synod "to prepare a critical edition of the Heidelberg Catechism, and report to the next General Synod," respectfully report: The first meeting of the Committee was held at the house of Dr. James Anderson, in the City of New York, November 14, 1876. All the members were present, except the Rev. Dr. |