gefted by the Deputati; which bufinefs, and no other
whatever, fhall then be transacted.

ART. L.

The particular Synods fhall continue to exchange.
every year a copy of their Acts with the Synod of
of North-Holland, and expreís in their letters the
defire of the reformed Church in America, to pre-
ferve a connection and cultivate a correspondence,
which they highly efteem and have found to be
beneficial.

IV.

GENERAL SYNOD.

ART. LI.

General Synod reprefents the whole body.

Aft is the higheft judicatory, and the laft refort

in all questions, which relate to the government,
peace, and unity of the Church. To this is commit-
ted the fuperintending the interefts of religion, the
maintaining harmony, and faithfully preferving the
Churches in the principles and practice of their holy
religion,

ART. LII.

To the general Synod alone fhall appertain the power of nominating and appointing profeffors of Theology; of constituting them emeriti, and declaring their places vacant; of calling them to an account for their doctrines or conduct, and when found guilty, of punishing them by admonition, fufpenfion or total removal, as the case may require.

To the general Synod is referred the right of correfponding with other Churches; and particularly of fuperintending and preserving the correspondence which has long been maintained between the reformed Church in the Netherlands and this Church. For which purpose a copy of the Letters fent by the particular Synod, and thofe received by them with the state of the correspondence fince the last recefs of every general Synod, fhall be reported by the particular Synod, at every ordinary feffion of the general Synod.

To the general Synod belongs the receiving and iffuing all appeals from particular Synods; and proceeding and determining in all references which are regularly brought, agreeably to such regulations and restrictions, as fhall for that purpose be made and determined.

Finally, To the general Synod belongs the forming of new particular Synods, and properly organF f

izing the fame; of afcertaining their bounderies, and judging and determining all difputes that may arife at any time, refpecting fuch boundaries.

ART. LIII.

As the holding a general Synod (agreeably to Art. 50. of the Church Orders) has been found to be inconvenient in the Netherlands, and the Churches there have adopted a mutual correfpondence from the particular Synods as a substitute; fo the fituation and particular circumstances of the reformed Dutch Church in America, render an alternative in the organization of a general Synod, equally neceffary. It is, therefore, refolved that, Instead of being compofed of Delegates from the particular Synods, the general Synod fhall continue as heretofore, to confift of all the .Minifters, with cach an Elder, and alfo, an Elder from every vacant congregation. This mode of conftituting a general Synod fhall remain until fome other fubftitute, or the obtaining a fufficient number of Delegates from particular Synods fhall be found practicable, and by a formal refolution of the general Synod for the time being fhall be regularly adopted. And all the powers and rights before recited are and shall continue to be vested in the general Synod organized agreeably to the pre font form.

ART. LIV.

The general Synod fhall affemble once every three years, on fuch days, either in the months of May or Juue, and at fuch place as fhall, at every preceding ordinary general Synod be determined. Any ten minifters, and ten elders or more, from a majority of the feveral claffes being met on the day, and at the place appointed, fhall be deemed fufficient to form a general Synod and proceed upon bufinefs.

ART. LV.

The general Synod shall keep a regular and distin& record of all its proceedings; and may adjourn or make fuch regulations from time to time, for calling an extraordinary feffion as fhall be judged convenient and necessary.

f II.

OF

USAGES AND CUSTOMS.

THE

ARTICLE LVI.

HE zeal of the reformed Church, for initiating children early in the truth, [expreffed, Art. 54th of the Church Orders, where care is taken that fchoolmasters fhall be of the reformed religion] cannot be evidenced in the fame manner in America, where many denominations of Chriftians, and fome who do not even profefs the chriftian religion, inhabit promifcuously; and where fchool mafters can feldom be found who are members of the church. In fuch a fituation, it is recommended to parents to be peculiarly attentive to the religious education of their children, not only by instructing them, and daily praying with them at home, but by never employing schoolmafters whofe characters are unascertained or fufpicious, and especially none who fcoff at the holy fcriptures or whofe conduct is immoral.