401 religious encyclopedia nationalism

,New York City, in their name, to ordain John Philip Boehme for service among the Germans in Penn­sylvania; while Haeghoort and Erickson were per­mitted to ordain John Schuyler for service in Scho­harie County, New York. Several ordinations which were deemed irregular also occurred, to satisfy the great demand for ministers. The Frelinghuysens therefore proposed that some sort of ecclesias­tical assembly should be established in America, and also urged the necessity of institutions in which to prepare young men for the ministry. In 1737, accordingly, the first formal move was made to or­ganize an assembly, which they styled a cmtus. There were three times as many churches as pas­tors. Three fourths of a century had passed since the English conquest, and the ties which bound them to the Fatherland were becoming weakened. In 1738 the plan of a coetus was sent to Holland for approval. Differences of opinion prevailed on each side of the ocean, and a long delay ensued. Meantime the Classis of Amsterdam was honorably engaged in correspondence, seeking to bind together the Dutch, the Germans of Pennsylvania, and the Presbyterians, 1743, in one ecclesiastical assembly, but the effort was not successful. At length, when the appeal of the German churches was answered by the Synods of North and South Holland in the send­ing over of Rev. Michael Schlatter, 1746, with sev­eral ministers to organize the Pennsylvania Germans into a coetus, the Classis of Amsterdam could no longer resist the appeal of the Dutch of New York and New Jersey, and a coetus of each body was or­ganized in 1747. About forty ministers began their labors during this period, and about forty four new churches were organized.

5. Fourth Period, 1747 1792: This was the period of organization and ecclesiastical independence. The desired results, however, were only attained after considerable debate and strife, and all the plans were modified in their development by the entire change wrought in civil affairs by the Revo­lution. During the seven years of the undivided coetus, 1747 54, efforts were made to supply the churches with ministers. Only three, however, were ordained by the coetus, while six passed by that body, and went to Holland for ordination. Eight ministers were sent from Europe. Nine new churches were organized. It was, therefore, soon discovered that the coetus, as constituted, was an inefficient body. It could not license or ordain without special permission in each case, and the classis now appeared to be jealous of its own pre­rogative. Neither could the coetus finally deter­mine cases of discipline. Appeals could be carried to Holland. This caused endless delays and vexa­tions. Hence in 1753 the coetus proposed to trans­form itself into a classis and assume all the author ity of the same. This was accomplished in the following year. But with this transaction a secession of some of the more conservative members took place, who styled themselves a Conferentie, but claimed to be the true and original coetus. They also had possession of the records. The principal points of discussion were the right and propriety of independent American ecclesiastical bodies and American institutions of learning. The personal

ambition of one of the members of the Conferentie led that body finally to become willing to unite with King's (Columbia) College, to secure educational advantages therefrom; but the American classis feared the influence of an Episcopal college, and moreover could not approve the means by wbich that institution had obtained its charter is 1754, and especially of the manner in which a professor­ship of divinity for the Dutch in that institution had been secured in 1755 (Eccl. Records of New York, vol. v.; many documents and letters between pages 3338 and 3526, cf. summaries of same in Table of Contents, vol. v., pages xiv. xxvii.). Ten years later, in 1764, the Conferentie formally or­ganized into an " Assembly Surbordinate to the Classis of Amsterdam." The American classis, after several ineffectual attempts, secured a charter from the governor of New Jersey, 1766, for Queen's Col­lege, to be located in that state. An amended char­ter was secured in 1770. This, with several amend­ments, is the present charter of Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J. In 1771 the two parties united on certain articles of union, which granted substantially, but in somewhat obscure terms, all that the American classis of 1754 had contended for, including the organization of a general body (equivalent to a particular synod in most respects), and five special bodies (equivalent to classes in most respects). The power of licensing and ordain­ing was now given to this general body. A happy and speedy consummation seemed within reach, as brethren on each side gave up many cherished con­victions for the sake of peace. A theological pro­fessor would have been quickly appointed, when the breaking out of the Revolution delayed eyery­thing for a decade. The Dutch churches suffered especially during the war, which was largely on their territory; but with peace and civil liberty came to all denominations ecclesiastical autonomy, with all that it involved independent organiza­tions, a new sense of responsibility, literary and theological institutions, with benevolent boards for the increase of Christ's kingdom at home and its dissemination to the ends of the earth. In 1784 the names of synods and classes, denied before, were assumed by the bodies constituted in 1771 without further ceremony, and the Classis of Amsterdam was simply informed of the fact. In 1788, at a general convention, it was declared that the con­stitution of a church must contain its standards of doctrine, its modes of worship, and its forms of gov­ernment. A committee was appointed to translate into English the standards of doctrine, the liturgy, and the rules of church order of the Church of Hol­land, omitting all that belonged in government to a state church; and to add explanatory articles to adapt the former rules to American circumstances. This was accomplished in 1792, and the volume containing all this was issued in 1793. Thus was the. organization of the church completed. During this period, 1754 to 1792, there were added to the church ninety one ministers and sixty six churches.

8. Fifth Period, the Independent American Church, 1798 1910: As to the  constitution, the standards of doctrine have remained unchanged. As to the liturgy: additional offices have from

Reformed (Dutch) Church THE NEW SCHAFF HERZOG 482

time to time been added, but these, with much else in the liturgy, are considered only as speci­mens, and are optional as to use. Only 1. The the sacramental and ordination forms

Constitu  are obligatory. Abridgments of the

sacramental forms were adopted in

1905, and the use of either the longer or shorter

forms is permitted. Revised ordination forms were

adopted in 1906. As to the rules of church gov­

ernment, the original articles of 1619 and the explan­

atory articles of 1792 were fused together in 1833,

with such additions as the experience of forty

years suggested. In 1867, after a prolonged dis­

cussion, the name or title of the Church was

amended from " The Reformed Protestant Dutch

Church in North America " to " The Reformed

Church in America." In 1874, the rules of church

government, popularly known as the constitution,

were again revised, and various amendments to

them have been adopted since.

The rules of 1792 provided for a general synod. This body held its first session in June, 1794. Tri­ennial sessions were held until 1812, when they were made annual. At first, all the minis 

8. EOClesi  tem and an elder from each church astioal formed its constituency; but in 1812 Bodies:

Now it became a representative body. In

1819 it was incorporated under the

Growth.. laws of New York, and is the legal trustee for all endowments for theological profes­sorships and the real estate pertaining to its theo­logical seminaries; also for the moneys of the " Widows' Fund "; of the " Disabled Ministers' Fund "; of some of the scholarships, and of some of the missionary moneys of the Church. These funds and other properties are managed by a board of direction, whose memters are appointed by the general synod. The income of the synod was lim­ited in 1819 to $10,000; in 1869 an act was passed allowing $15,000 more; and in 1889, by a general act, all corporations organized for benevolent pur­poses are permitted to hold property to the amount of $2,000,000. The provisional general body of 1771, which assumed the name of Synod in 1784, became a particular synod in 1793, under the new constitution. This body was divided into the two particular synods of New York and Albany in 1800, to which were added the particular synod of Chi­cago in 1856, and the particular synod of New Brunswick in 1869. The classes have increased from 5 in 1792 to 36 in 1910; the churches from about 100 in 1792 to 700 in 1910. The number of ministers did not equal the number of churches until 1845, when there were 375 of each. In 1846 began a new Dutch immigration which settled in the Mid­dle West, but is now penetrating even to the Pa­cific coast and to Texas. Most of these newcomers came into the fold of the old Dutch Church, and there are now about 250 churches from this source, and as many ministers. In 1910 the Reformed Church in America reports about 700 churches, 740 ministers, 65,000 families, and 117,000 communi­cants, with about the same number of children in the Sunday schools. Nearly half a million dollars are reported as given to benevolent objects, and more than a million and a half for congregational

purposes. Churches exist in New York, New JerL sey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, In­diana, Illinois, the two Dakotas, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Washington. The denomination has beer espe­cially successful on the foreign mission field, in India, China, Japan, and Arabia, having sent out about 225 missionaries, male and female. In 1902 the wonderfully successful Classis of Arcot, India, with 25 regularly organized churches, many of them having native pastors, was formally trans­ferred in the interests of church union to the synod, of South India, of the South Indian United Church. The missions in China and Japan are working in hearty union with the missions of other denomina­tions.

The history of Rutgers College at New Bruns­wick, N. J., has often been written. First chartered in 1766, it received an amended char

8. Educa  ter in 1770. In 1825 its name was

~t~   changed from Queen's to Rutgers Col­

lege, in connection with which is a

scientific school leading to the degree of bachelor

of science. On the 4th of April of the same year,

New Jersey made it " The State College for the

Benefit of Agriculture and the Mcchanic Arts." By

an act of Mar. 2, 1888, the United States associated

with such state college a department known as " The

Agricultural Experiment Station." A theological

seminary also exists at New Brunswick dating back

to 1784. Its history was elaborately written at its

centennial in 12384. It is well equipped in all de­

partments. Its Sage Library contains about 50,000

volumes. Hope College and the Western Theolog­

ical Seminary are located at Holland, Mich.

7. The True Reformed Dutch Church: This in­

stitution was formed by the secession of Rev. Sol­

omon Froeligh with four suspended ministers in

1822, giving as their reasons, " errors in doctrine

and looseness of discipline." It was in fact the cul­

mination of an old feud that had started two or

three generations before. In 1830 they attained to

the number of 30 congregations and 10 ministers.

By 1860 the congregations had decreased to 16,

and in 1890 the feeble remnant joined " The Chris­

tian Reformed Church" (see RzrroxmED CHURCH,

CHRISTIAN). E. T. Coawrrt.

III. In South Africa. 1. Dutch Reforhnad Church is Cape Colour: This is the oldest and largest of the Protestant denominations in South Africa. It was founded practically when the Dutch East In­dia Company formed its first permanent settlement at Capetown under Commander J. A. Van Riebeek, Apr. 6, 1652, though the first regular minister was Rev. Johan van Arckel, who arrived in 1665 [in 1685 another was placed at what is now Stellen­beach]. In 1688, 200 Huguenot refugees sent by the Netherland authorities considerably strengthened the settlement and church [a grant of land being made at Drachenatein and the locality becoming known as " French Mountain "]. The French fel­low believers after one or two generations thoroughly assimilated with the Dutch. A few new congrega­tions were formed in the vicinity of Capetown. The pastors of these struggling churches were paid and practically controlled by the company, although

433 RELIGIOUS ENCYCLOPEDIA Reformed (Dutch) Church

they were under the ecclesiastical supervision of the Clams of Amsterdam, which ordained and sent the ministers. The creed was of oquree the same as that of the mother church. At first the Psalms were sung exclusively, but since the beginning of the nineteenth century the Dutch " Evangelical hymns " are used. From 1795 until 1802 and again since .1806 the English took the place of the Dutch East India Company and controlled the church. About 1822 several Scotch ministers came to help the Hol­land churches, which at that time were fourteen in number. The first synod met in 1824, but this body was entirely dependent upon the government until 1842, when more liberty was obtained. In 1849 the official organ of the Dutch Reformed Church, De Kerkbode, was started. In 1859 the Theological Seminary at Stellenbosch opened its doors, its pur­pose being to prevent the entrance of rationalistic ministers from the Dutch universities, who for a season threatened the orthodoxy of the church. At present it has a faculty of four professors. Through the labors of Rev. Andrew Murray the Cape Colony church extended beyond the Orange and Vaal rivers among the kinsmen who had moved northward with the " great trek " of 1836. But in 1862 objections made against the representation of the Free State and Transvaal congregations in synod led to a legal decision which compelled these latter to assume a separate existence (see below). At present the Cape Colony church numbers about 150 congrega­tions, some of them in Rhodesia and Mashonaland, with 116,000 members and 270,000 adherents. These churches are grouped in thirteen " rings " or pres­byteries. The highest church court, the synod, is composed of the pastors and one elder from each congregation, and meets triennially in Capetown.

Mission work is carried on among the natives of Cape Colony and the South African protectorates; ever fifty " mission churches " have been organ­ized, most of which have been grouped into " rings " and also form a synod. The actions of these bodies are controlled by the Home Mission Committee of the Cape church. In Wellington and Worcester are training schools for missionaries and other Christian workers. The Capetown School of the Dutch Re­formed Church was opened in 1878 for the educa­tion of teachers. An institution for the mute and blind, also denominational, is located in Worcester. Several other philanthropic societies are supported and a number of Bible societies are actively at work. Nearly every congregation has a Christian Endeavor Society. The church is imbibing much of the spirit of the British churches, although trying to remain Calvinistic.

a. The Dutch Reformed Church in the Orange Free State: This organization became independ­ent in 1862. It now numbers forty two churches, forming five "rings." The synod meets triennially in Bloemfontein. There are nearly 100,000 adher­ents, and 45,000 communicants. It carries on a fine home mission work in ten mission churches and supports flouriahing stations in Nyassaland and northeastern Rhodesia.

8. United Dutch Reformed Church in Tram evasi

This denomination is likewise an offshoot of the Cape Colony chur h, and originated under similar I%.  28

circumstances as the Orange Free State sister body. Originally called The Dutch Reformed Church, it took its present name " Nether Dutch Hervormd or Reformed Church," from a union consummated in 1885 with 8 number of congregations of the Dutch " Hervormde " Church of Transvaal (see below). It is composed of five " rings," and its synod meets triennially in Pretoria. It numbers 42 congrega­tions, 85,000 adherents, and 38,000 members. Con­nected with it are 8 mission churches among the natives. The official organ is De Vereeniging.

4. Dutch Reformed Church of Natal: This is the smallest of the Dutch Reformed churches in South Africa. It has but one higher church court, the General Church Assembly, composed of the ministers and two delegates from each consiatory. Its history is very much the same as that of its sister churches in Transvaal and the Orange. River Col­ony. It numbers 4,258 adherents and 2,052 mem­bers, forming 5 congregations.

The Dutch Reformed Churches mentioned above formed in 1906 a federal council, which is bringing them nearer again to their original united condi­tion. This council is composed of the four officers of the Cape Colony synod and ten other members, sad the general Synodical committees of the other bodies. In 1909 it decided to unite the four churches of Cape Colony, Free State, Transvaal, and Natal in one general synod composed of all ministers in active service and one elder from each congregation. The number of the clergymen of these four churches is nearly 300; ordained missionaries, 100; 240 con­gregations, and about 220,000 members. The in­ternal government is regulated by Wetten en Be­palingen, in eleven chapters.

5. The Reformed Church in South Africa: This denomination originated on Feb. 10, 1859, in Rus­tenburg in Transvaal. It is composed of the most conservative of the Dutch Boers, frequently called " doppers," a corruption of the Dutch word domper, " a man intellectually behind the times." These conservatives lived in the outlying districts of the Cape Colony, and many of them formed the " great trek." Rev. D. Postma was sent to them by the Christian Reformed Church of the Netherlands in 1858. Under his guidance they left the Dutch Re­formed Church, mainly because of their opposition to the use of the evangelical hymns, and also be­cause of the liberal spirit of some of the Dutch Re­formed pastors at the time. Postma organized con­gregations in Transvaal, the Orange State, and the Cape Colony.

The statistics for 1909 are as follows: in the Transvaal 24 churches with 11 ministers, 7,400 com­municants, 8,233 baptized members, 15,633 adher­ents. In the Orange Free State 12 churches, with 7 ministers, 2,934 communicants; 3,051 baptized mem­bers, 5,985 adherents. In Cape Colony 17 churches with 13 ministers, 4,853 communicants, 5,204 bap­tized members, 10,057 adherents. Most churches having a pastor have two services on Sabbath; dur­ing one of these services a Lord's Day of the Hei­delberg Catechism is explained. Vacant charges usually meet on one Sunday of each month, and every quarter they have services led by ministers. Every Sunday, except during the quarterly com 

8Aforrmmeed ) ash

munion services, those.who live too far away from the church hold meetings in private homes, led by the elders of the several districts. The church is supported by voluntary contributions of the mem­bers. The official organ of the church is Het Kerk­blad, a monthly. The spirit of the denomination is strictly Calvinistic, in harmony with the three doc­trinal standards of all Reformed Churches of Holland origin. The leaders of this church are largely influ­enced by the writings of Drs. Kuyper and Bavinck of the Netherland Reformed churches. The theo­logical school of the denomination was opened in 1869 in Burgheradorp, Cape Colony, and since 1905 is located in Potchefstroom. Its faculty consists of four professors. This church more and more real­izes the need of mission work, and is carrying it on in a few places within and without its domain. The Church Order of Dordrecht forms the basis of the church government.

8. "Hervoamde" Church of the Trsn®vaal: This church is composed of Reformed Dutch people who followed Rev. D. Van der Hoff, who at first, in 1856, had joined the Dutch Reformed Church of the Cape Colony, but later on seceded because he considered that church too rigidly Calvinistic. The Hervormde Church is very much akin to the State Church in the Netherlands, being quite rationalistic in its doc­trines and loose in its discipline. It numbers 21 churches, with about 10,000 members. Its general assembly is composed of the ministers, one half of the eldership of each congregation, and two deacons of each consistory, and meets biennially.

HENRY BEETS.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: For the Netherlands consult: I. Le Long, Kort h%etoriach Verhaal van de 0oraprung der Ned. Gere­Jormeerde Kerken onder 't Cruia, Amsterdam, 1751; J. J. Altmeyer, Lea Pr6euraeura de la riforme aux Pays Bas, 2 vole., Paris, 1856; C. Hooijer, Oude Kerkordeninpen der Ned. Hero. Gemeenten (1665 IB88). Zaltbommel, 1865; J. Knappert, De nederlandeche Hervormde Kerk, Leyden, 1883; M. G. Hansen, Reformed Church in the Netherlands; New York, 1884; J. Gloel, Hollanda kirchlichea Leben. Wittenberg, 1885; H. J. M. Evens, Onze Ke'ken, 'a Bosch­Zwoller, 1887; H. G. Kleyn, Alpemeene Kerk en Plaat­adijke Gemeente, Dordrecht, 1888; W. H. de S. Lohman, De Kerkgebouuren van de Gerejormarde Hersormde Kerk, Amsterdam, 1888; J. I. Good, Rambles round Reformed Lands, Reading, Pa., 1889; J. H. Gunning, Hot Protes­tantache Nederland onzer dapen, Groningen, 1889; F. L. Rutgers, Ads van do Nod. Synoden der zeatiende Beuu, The Hague, 1889; idem, De Geldipheid van do oude Ker kenordeninp der Ned. Gerejormeerde Kerken, Amsterdam, 1890; J. H. Gunning. Opmerking en over hot lituogiache Element in den Gereformeerden Cultua, Groningen, 1890; BOBbl, Prolegomena voor eene pereformeerde Dopmatiek, Amsterdam, 1892; P. J. Muller, Handbook der dopmatiok, ten diende der Ned. Hervormde Kerk, Groningen, 1895; W. E. Griffis, Brave Little Holland and What she Taught us, Boston, 1894; and the literature under HOLLAND.

For the church in America as sources consult: Minutes of the Codua, 1757 71, of the Provisional Synod, 1771­1798, of the General Synod. 178.¢ aqq. (official); Constau­tion of as Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, New York, 1793 (republished as needed); Documentary History of New York, 4 vols., Albany, 1850 51; Documents Relating to the Colonial Hilt. of Nom York, 14 vole., Albany, 1856­1883; Magazine of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, 4 vole.. 1827 30; A. Gunn, Memoir of Rev. John X. Livingston, New York, 1829, 2d ed.. 1856; J. K. Brod­head. Hint. of the State of Nera York. 2 vobs., New York, 1853 71; E. B. O'Callaghan. Note Netherland, 2 vobr., New York, 1855; Ecclesiastical Records of the State of Nero York, 6 vole., Albany. 1901 05. On the history consult: D. D. Demarest, Hid. and Characteristics of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, New York, 1856, 2d

THE NEW SCHAFF HERZOG