Reformed Church (Religious body in the United)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

a religious body in the United States, whose designation has been changed from that of its progenitor, the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, which arose in the Netherlands early in the 16th century and attained its form and organization during the struggle against Philip II. under the leadership of the princes of Orange. The Church was introduced into America early in that century. Public worship was commenced at New Amsterdam in 1643. After the surrender of New Amsterdam to the English in 1664 the growth of the Church was slow. The Dutch language was used exclusively in worship down to 1763. About the middle of the 18th century arose the noted coetus and conferentie controversy, which turned on the question of dependence of the Church of Holland. An independent Church organization was effected in 1771. From 1817 to 1857 the Reformed Church co-operated with other bodies in supporting foreign missions; and from 1836 with the American Board. In 1857 an amicable separation from the latter was effected, and the missions of Amoy and Arcot were transferred to the Reformed Church. The doctrinal standards of the Church are: (1) the Belgic confession of faith; (2) the Heidelberg catechism; (3) the canons of the Synod of Dort. The synod of 1874 adopted a revised liturgy, the use of which is optional. The government of the Church is according to the Genevan model. The officers are ministers, elders, and deacons, who compose the consi consistory, to which the government of the individual church belongs. The classis, consisting of the ministers within a certain district and one elder delegated from each church, corresponds to the presbytery in the Presbyterian Church. The particular synods, of which there are four, New York, Albany, New Brunswick, and Chicago, are delegated bodies composed of four ministers and four elders from each classis within the bounds of each synod. These are courts of appeal from the decisions of the classis. The general synod is the highest court of appeal, and exercises a general supervisory power over the Church. It is composed of three ministers and three elders from each classis. In 1867 the word "Dutch" was dropped from the corporate name of the body. "The Christian Intelligencer," a pouy weekly journal devoted to the interests of the Church, was established in New York, 1828. There are two theological seminaries, one at New Brunswick, N. J., the other in connection with Hope College, at Holland, Mich. Statistics, 1919: Churches, 708; ministers, 756; members, 144,166. REFORMED CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES, formerly German Reformed Church in the United States of America, an off-shoot of the Reformed Church of Germany. The first minister was the Rev. George Michael Weiss, who emigrated with about 400 people of of the Palatinate in 1727, and settled in Pennsylvania, E. of the Susquehanna. In 1746 the Rev. Michael Schlatter was commissioned by the synods of north and south Holland to visit their German missions in America, and regulate their relations. He assembled in Philadelphia the first synod or coetus of the German Reformed Church, 1747. The German Reformed coetus continued under the jurisdiction of the Church of Holland till 1793, when an independent synod was formed. It increased rapidly in membership and congregations. The first triennial general synod, with jurisdiction over the whole Church, met in Pittsburgh, 1863. The general synod of 1869 resolved to drop the word "German" from the title of the Church. The Heidelberg catechism is the only standard of doctrine. The worship of the Church is liturgical; its government is presbyterian. Reception into the full communion of the Church takes place by the rite of confirmation. Christmas, Good Friday, Easter, and Whitsunday are observed with much solemnity. Eleven English and five German papers are published in the interest of the Church; and there are 16 theological and literary institutions under its control. Statistics, 1919: Churches, 1,731; ministers, 1,242; members, 340,671.