relinquish to the church the power which | they possessed; and the Reformed Cantons still retain that ecclesiastical polity which they received from the hands of Zwingli. In Germany, as well as in Switzerland, the supreme authority in the church resides in the civil government. The immediate administration of church power is vested in a consistory or ecclesiastical council, (kirchenrath,*) which is a mixed body of clergy and statesmen. The clergy of a given district constitute a chapter or classis, and at the head of each of these bodies is an inspector or superintendent, whose office is somewhat similar to that of a bishop in Episcopal churches.† Several chapters or classes compose a synod; and two or more particular synods may form a general synod; which may either consist of delegates from the lower judicatories, or embrace all the clergy of the Reformed Church in the same country, or in several contiguous countries. In Switzerland, the clergy of the two cantons of Zurich and Thurgau, and of the Rhinethal, now included in the canton of St. Gall, constitute one synod, at the head of which is the pastor primarius of the Great-Minister in Zurich, who bears the title of Antistes. The Reformed Churches of Germany have elders and deacons, who are chosen for limited periods. The elders constitute a presbytery, who, in conjunction with the pastor, administer the spiritual government of the congregation. The deacons are charged with the temporal affairs, particularly with the care of the poor; but where the number of elders is small, the deacons take part with them in the spiritual administration. The inspectors exercise a supervision over the clergy, the congregations and the schools of their respective districts, and report to the consistory, whose decision is final, if not arrested by the act of the supreme civil authority. In some countries, as in the principality of Nassau, whose ecclesiastical constitution was taken from that of Holland, classes and synods have legislative authority. In others, as in the Or Consistorium county of Lippe, their meetings are held only for their own improvement in Christian knowledge and piety. In the Re. formed German part of Switzerland, the congregations are without elders and deacons. What are there called deacons are preachers who assist the principal pastor in the larger churches. The absence of the presbytery or body of elders, is compensated for by the Kirchen-Stillstande, a sort of sub-consistories, whose duty it is to watch over the morals of the church members, and to correct abuses in the conduct of life. The ecclesiastical assemblies of this country are composed of the clergy only. The same is the case in Germany, except in those countries, as in the principality of Nassau, whose church polity is derived from Holland or Geneva. Admission to the privilege of full communion in the church is obtained by the rite of confirmation, which is preceded by a course of instruction in Christian doctrine. The catechumens solemnly devote themselves to the service of God by a public profession in the presence of the congregation, and are thereupon received by the imposition of hands and prayer. In the case of unbaptized adults, baptism immediately precedes the imposition of hands. The use of this rite rests upon expediency, no divine authority is claimed for it; still less is it viewed by the Reformed Church, as it is by the Church of Rome, in the light of a sacrament. The doctrinal system of the German Reformed Church is contained in the Heidelberg Catechism-so called from Heidelberg, the capital of the Lower Palatinate, or Palatinate of the Rhine, where it was first published, in the reign of the Elector Frederick III., in the year 1563. It was adopted, as a symbolical book, soon after its publication, by almost all the Reformed Churches in Europe, and became particu larly the symbolical book of the Reformed in Germany. This formulary observes a singular moderation on some points upon which the several parties in the Protestant churches differed, or respecting which good men might entertain different opinions. The wise elector selected for the composi tion of this work two men, of whom one, + In Switzerland the chapter has at its head Zacharias Ursinus, was a disciple of Me the decanus or dean. lancthon; and the other, Caspar Olevianus, In Germany the decrees of the Synod of Dort were never received in some of the states, as Brandenburg, Anhalt, and Bremen; in others they have long since lost their binding authority; and the German Reformed Church is now, in relation to the doctrine of absolute election, where Zwingli left it. Calvinism is again reviving in the church, both in Europe and America; but the doctrine of Melancthon, or, what is essentially the same, the doc. trine of Arminius, on this point, is predominant, and the theory of absolute predestination is generally regarded, by the laity at least, with horror. a disciple of Calvin; and having himself | long; after many conflicts it fell before embraced the doctrine of Zwingli, he pre- the influence of the French and the Ger sided in their deliberations. The result man schools about the year 1722, when was, what all moderate men desired, a subscription to it ceased to be required. compromise. The catechism presented to (See Schrock's Kirch. Gesch. vol. viii. p. all these parties a common ground of union. 661, &c.) The doctrine of election is placed in the background, and presented in a form which the Philipist as well as the Calvinist could easily receive. On the Lord's Supper it unites the theories of Zwingli and of Calvin, with the latter of whom Melancthon was essentially agreed. It is silent about the imputation of Adam's sin to his posterity, but leaves an open door for the introduction of that theory. The atonement is made general where it says that Christ bore the wrath of God against the sins of all mankind; but nothing is said to forbid a limitation of it to the elect in its actual effect. It asserts the total inability of the unregenerate to do any good until he is regenerated by the Spirit of God; but it leaves room for the Philipist to say, that when the Holy Spirit would regenerate us, the human will may resist or assent to his operation. If it were objected, that assenting before regeneration would be a good work, he might reply that it was not in the proper sense good; or that it was not completed before regeneration was complete; and this answer was sufficient for the object contemplated, if it satisfied himself. Though the theory of Calvin on the Lord's Supper was generally received in the church, that of Zwingli always had many friends; it has been many years gaining ground, and, if we be not greatly mistaken, is now predominant, at least in the United States. The doctrine of absolute predestination to eternal life has never been fully established as an article of faith in the German Reformed Church. In different sections of the church it has from time to time been variously modified, and in some wholly rejected. Though constituted an article of faith in Switzerland, by the consensus of 1554, and confirmed by the Synod of Dort, in 1618-19: it was, nevertheless, so far supplanted by the opposing theories in 1675, that a necessity was deemed to exist for a new Formula Consensus of the Swiss divines to sustain it. Nor did this new Confession maintain its authority very The German Reformed Church in the United States was founded by emigrants from Germany and Switzerland. Her origin may be dated about the year 1720. The principal seat of the church in her infancy was eastern Pennsylvania; though settlements were made also, and congre gations formed, at an early period, in other states, particularly in the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. Her doctrinal system is derived from Germany and Switzerland; but her ecclesiastical polity is formed after the model of the Reformed Dutch Church of Holland, by whom she was nurtured and protected in her infant state, and to whom she owes a large debt of gratitude. The Heidelberg Catechism is the only symbolical book of the church in the United States, though both in Germany and Switzerland she has others besides; and, in the first named country, adopts also the Lutheran Confession of Augsburg, as altered by Melancthon, in the tenth article, relating to the Lord's Supper, in the later editions that were published under his direction. Subscription to the catechism, by candidates for the ministry, is not required at their ordination; a verbal profession of the doctrine of the church being deemed sufficient. A professor of theology is required, at his ordination, to affirm to the following declaration : "You, N. N., professor elect of the Theological Seminary of the German Reformed Church in the United States, acknowledge sincerely, before God and this assembly, that the holy scriptures of the Old and New Testament, which are called the canonical scriptures, are genuine, authentic, inspired, and therefore divine scriptures; that they contain all things that relate to the faith, the practice, and the hope of the righteous, and are the only rule of faith and practice in the church of God; that, consequently, no traditions, as they are called, and no mere conclusions of reason, that are contrary to the clear testimony of these scriptures, can be received as rules of faith or of life. You acknowledge, farther, that the doctrine contained in the Heidelberg Catechism, as to its substance, is the doctrine of the holy scriptures, and must, therefore, be received as divinely revealed truth. You declare sincerely that, in the office you are about to assume, you will make the inviolable divine authority of the holy scriptures, and the truth of the doctrine contained in the Heidelberg Catechism, as to its substance, the basis of all your instructions. You declare, finally, that you will labor according to the ability which God may grant you, that, with the divine blessing, the students entrusted to your care may be come enlightened, pious, faithful, and zealous ministers of the gospel, who shall be sound in the faith." * * The government of the church is Presbyterian. All ordained ministers are equal in rank and authority. Licentiates are not pastors, or ministers, but candidates for the ministry; they cannot administer the sacraments, nor be delegates to synod, and have no vote in the classical assemblies. Each congregation is governed by its consistory or vestry, which is usually composed of elders and deacons, and of which the pastor of the church may, or may not, be a member. In chartered congregations the consistory is a legal corporation, with which the charter often joins others, besides elders and deacons, as counsellors, or trustees; and all these usually vote by The clause, as to its substance, is stricken out in the revised constitution. custom, and by authority of the charter, on every question that comes before the body. The clergy residing within certain bounds constitute a classis, which must consist of at least three ministers. A classis meets statedly once a year, and may resolve, or be called by its president, to hold a special meeting, as often as urgent business may demand it. The president is elected annually, and presides in the meeting of classis, for the maintenance of order, as primus inter pares. Every pastoral charge is entitled to a lay delegate, who must be an elder, and has the same right to deliberate and vote in the classis as the clerical member. A majority of the whole number, of which at least one half must be ministers, constitute a quorum; and every question is decided by a majority of those actually assembled. The synod is composed of the clerical and lay delegates appointed by the classes. It meets statedly once a year, and may assemble in special meetings by its own appointment, or by the call of its presi dent. The president of synod is in like manner elected annually. A classis consisting of not more than six ministers, is entitled to one minister and one lay delegate to represent it in synod. A classis having more than six, and not more than twelve ministers, may be represented by two ministers and two lay delegates; and in the same ratio increasing for any larger number. Six ministers and six elders, from a majority of the classes, may constitute a quorum, as the constitution now provides. A general convention of all the ministers and lay delegates of the whole church can be authorized by an act of synod, and not otherwise. An appeal can be taken from the consistory to the classis, and from the classis to the synod, whose decision is final. The German Reformed Church in this country is now spread over the whole of Pennsylvania and Ohio, and over portions. of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and New York. There is a church in the city of New Orleans; others formerly subsisted in New Jersey, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Kentucky; and some members are still scattered over the several states of and salubrious. The college bears the the Union. This church is divided into two bodies, which maintain a friendly correspondence, but are wholly indenpendent of one another. Each is governed by a synod and its lower judicatories. The eastern portion of the church is the original and parent body; and its synod, existing before the other, bears the title of "The Synod of the German Reformed Church in the United States." Its territory extends in Pennsylvania westward to the Alleghany mountains; northward it includes portions of New York; and on the south, Maryland, Virginia and Carolina. It has under its jurisdiction ten classes, viz: Philadelphia, Goshenhoppen, East Pennsylvania, Lebanon, Susquehanna, Zion, Mercersburg, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The number of ministers and licentiates, in connexion with this synod, was, in 1842, agreeably to the statistical report of that year, one hundred and forty-one.* Of this number thirty-two were without a pastoral charge; and of these, sixteen were disqualified by age or other causes; eight were engaged in the service of the church as teachers, editors, or agents; and eight were expectants, or otherwise employed. The number of congregations reported, was four hundred aud sixty-six. From six pastoral stations the number was not reported. The whole may be estimated at five hundred. This synod has under its care, or patronage, a theological seminary, founded in 1825; a grammar school, commenced in 1832; and a college, established in 1836. All these institutions are now located permanently at Mercersburg, a pleasant village, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and are in a flourishing state under able professors and teachers. Two spacious edifices have been erected for the seminary and grammar school, the former of which is occupied also by the students of college. Measures are in progress for the erection of a suitable college edifice. The site chosen for it, as well as the situations of the other buildings, is picturesque * In 1846 one hundred and sixty-nine. In 1846 four hundred and ninety-five. name of Marshall College, as a mark of respect for the memory of the late John Marshall, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. It is governed by a board of trustees, a majority of whom are ministers or members of the German Reformed Church. Subordinate to this synod are a board of foreign missions, a board of domestic missions, and a board of education, which is also the board of visitors of the theological seminary; but these institutions are yet in their infancy. The Board of Foreign Missions, which is of quite recent origin, has under its care but one mission, with a single station, and one missionary family. The mission is at Broosa, in Asia Minor, the same which was lately under the care of the Newcas tle Presbytery in the Presbyterian Church. The missionary family are the Rev. Benjamin Schneider and his wife. The business of foreign missions is transacted through the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, with whom a connexion for that object has been formed. The Board of Domestic Missions have hitherto done but little in their appropriate office; but they have created a printing establishment, which is rendering very important service to their church. In addition to other printing, they publish_two religious newspapers: the "Weekly Mes senger of the German Reformed Church," a weekly paper of large size, in the English language, of which about 3000 copies are issued every week; and the "Christliche Zeitschrift," a semi-monthly in the German language, of which upwards of 1700 copies are issued every fortnight. The establishment is located at Chambersburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, where a convenient edifice has been purchased for its accommodation. It is under the immediate control of the executive committee of the board, whose locality is in the same place.* The Board of Education are charged with the care of beneficiary students, who are in a course of preparation for the gospel ministry in the church. They have under their patronage about thirty beneficiaries. * It is now (1847) a separate establishment. The western part of the church is located principally in Ohio and Pennsylvania, but extends also into the adjoining states, and has for its field the entire valley of the Mississippi. About the year 1810 or 1812, the Rev. Jacob William Dechaut was sent by the synod as a missionary to the State of Ohio, and located himself at Miamisburg, in Montgomery county. He was followed by the Rev. Thomas Winters, George Weis, and others, who were willing to cultivate that long neglected soil. Prior to their settlement there was in all that region only one German Reformed minister, the Rev. J. Larose, who was not then in connexion with any ecclesiastical judicatory. In 1819 the Classis of Ohio was formed, and in 1823 or 1824, the majority of the classis separated from the parent body, and formed themselves into an independent judicatory, under the title of "The Synod of Ohio." In 1836 the Classis of Western Pennsylvania, obtained permission to unite with the Synod of Ohio, which now bore the title of "The Synod of Ohio, and the adjoining States;" and by a late act, this synod, which had previously been subdivided into three district synods, received a new organization agreeably to the plan of the constitution of the eastern church. The western church is now divided into classes, and its synod is a delegated body composed of the representa tives of the classes.* The Classes (in 1846) were those of Miami, Lancaster, Columbiana, Sandusky, Westmoreland and Erie. The statistical tables of 1842, published as an appendix to the minutes of the eastern church of the same year, states the number of German Reformed ministers in the west to be fifty-one.* The congrega. tions reported were in number two hundred and fourteen. Nine pastoral stations had made no report. If these stations average four congregations each, the whole number will be two hundred and fiity. Some of the ministers preach to from eight to twelve congregations; only two limit their labors each to one; and only five others do not exceed three. This synod has long contemplated the establishment of a theological seminary in the west. An institution of this kind was actually commenced some years ago; but after a very brief experiment it failed. It will, however, doubtless be revived at no distant day. The western church needs an institution nearer home than Mercersburg, and will feel the want of it more and more, as her numbers increase and her borders are enlarged. It will be impossible without it, to keep pace, in the supply of ministers, with the rapid increase of population in the west; and it will be equally impossible, without a thorough education of her ministers, to maintain the dignity of the pulpit in her communion, amidst the growth of knowledge and refinement in the community. In 1845 it is given at seventy-two. In 1845 two hundred and fifty-four. From six pastoral stations no report had been received. |