I 4022 [35 ■py 1 BV 4S22 ,E35 Copy 1 THE CONSTITUTION AND ADDRESS ON THE FORMATION OF AN mifutattow statutist FOR THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, i LONG-ISLAND. Instituted May, 1828. BROOKLYN: ALDEN SPOOLER, PRI5TER. v OFFICERS OP THE LONG-ISLAND EDUCATION SOCIETY Gen. JEREMIAH JOHNSON, President. JOHN L. LEFFERTS, Ret. S. N. MEEKER. Rev. JOHN BEATTIE, Secretary. ABRAHAM VANDERVEER, Treasurer. Vice Pres'dlSi I DIRECTORS. From New-Utrecht. J. I. Cowenhoven, i)r. J Carpenter. Gravesend. Flatlands. Flatbush. New-Lots. Brooklyn. Bushwick. Newtown* Jamaica. North Hempstead. Oyslerbay. John Terhune, John S. Gerritson. Abraham Terhune, Johannes Remsen. Dr. Adrian Vanderveer* Michael Schoonmaker. John Williamson, John Vanderveer. Neheniiah Denton, John Skiiltnan. Abraham Meserole, Nicholas N. Wyckoff Abraham Polhemus, Abraham Remsen. James Hendrickson. Isaac Lefferts. Singleton Mitchell, Manuel Onderdonk, Joseph Hageraan* James Luvster. 1 ^ CONSTITUTION. Article 1. This Society shall be called the Ed- ucation Society of the Reformed Dutch Church on Long-Island. Article 2. The object of this Society shall be to aid indigent, pious young men of the Reformed Dutch Church, who shall prepare to enter the gos- pel ministry at our own Theological School. Article 3. The Officers of this Society to be an- nually chosen by ballot, shall be a President; two Vice Presidents ; a Secretary ; a Treasurer ; and 22 Directors, who shall constitute a Board for the trans- action of business, and shall continue in office till others are chosen in their stead. It shall be their duty to receive benefactions — to take measures fo r the raising of funds — to examine and receive bene- ficiaries — to make appropriations, and generally to t conduct all the interests and concerns of the Soci- ety. Provided nevertheless, that all the ministers of the Classis of L. I. shall be members ex-officio of the Board. They shall annually submit a Re- port of their proceedings to the Society* Any nine of them regularly convened, shall be a quorum for the transaction of business. Article 4. It shall be within the power of the Board of Directors, should they deem it necessary > to appoint an execative Committee to attend to the interests of the Society during the recess of the Board; provided however, that said Committee shall not be less than five, of which the President^ Secretary and Treasurer, shall be members ex~ ' officio, and shall annually report all their proceed- ings to the Board of Directors, and be subject to their supervision and control- Article 5. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all meetings of the Society or of the Board of Directors, or in case of his absence, one of the Vice Presidents shall officiate. The Secre- tary shall keep all minutes and transact all corres- pondences of the Board and of the Society, The Treasurer shall have the custody of all the funds belonging to the same, and shall make such appro- priations as shall from time to time be ordered by the Board of Directors, or their executive commit- tee; provided nevertheless, that every draft shall be signed by the presiding officer of the Board at such time as the same shall have been agreed upon, and shall not exceed the sum of thirty dollars per quar- ter, for any one beneficiary. Article 6. Any person shall be a member of this Society by paying into its treasury the annual sum of one dollar or more ; and any person who shall pay twenty-five dollars at one time, or forty- dollars within five years of the time of subscribing, shall be a member for life. Any person paying into the treasury the sum of seventy-five dollars, shall be an Honorary Director, and entitled to all the privileges of a member of the Board. Article 7. The Society may elect from time to time, such number of Honorary Vice Presidents as they may judge expedient; and all vacancies oc- curring in the offices of the Society, may be filled by the Directors until there is opportunity for them to be filled by the Society at a regular meeting. Article 8. Qualified candidates may be aided in each stage of preparatory education for the min- istry; but except in very singular cases, no appli- cant shall be assisted even in the first stage, who shall not produce to a standing committee of this 6 board, to be composed of all the clerical members oftheclassis of Long Island, unequivocal testimo- nials of hopeful piety, promising talents and real indigence ; nor shall any person be continued on this foundation, whose instructor or instructors, ex- cept in very special cases, shall not annually exhibit to the Directors satisfactory evidence, that in point of genius, diligence, literary progress, morals and piety, he is a proper character to receive aid from these sacred funds ; in addition to which, each ben- eficiary, after his admission into any college, shall annually exhibit to the Directors, a written declara- tion, that it continues to be his serious purpose to devote his life to the gospel ministry. Every ben- eficiary shall be guided by the wishes of the Board in the course of study which he pursues, and the 'place where he pursues it. Every beneficiary shall give his written note, or pledge, to the Treasurer, on receiving all monies, that he will refund one half of what he receives without interest if he con- tinues in the Reformed Dutch Church, or should connect himself with any of the churches with whom the General Synod hold correspondence; and the whole if he should settle within the bounds of any other denomination, and the same with the ad- dition of lawful interest, should he not devote him. self to the gospel ministry, whenever the directors shall demand it. Article 9. An annual meeting of the Society shall be held on the Wednesday succeeding the 2d Tuesday of April, for the choice of officers for hear- ing the Report of the Directors, and for any other purposes which the Society or Board of Direc- tors shall think proper. Special meetings may be called by the Board at any time when in their view the interests of the Society shall demand the same. Article 10. Alterations, of this Constitution shall not be made except on the recommendation of the Board of Directors, and by the votes of three fourths of the members present at an annual meet- ing, or unless the pioposed alterations shall have been submitted to the Society at a previous meeting ADDRESS. The above Constitution of an Education Socie- ty was formed at a meeting of the members of the Reformed Dutch Church, of Long-Island, held agreeably to a resolution oftheclassis on Long- Island, on the 29th of May last. At a subsequent meeting of the Board of Directors, the undersigned were appointed to address the community of our church on the above subject. We trust brethren you are all fully aware of the importance of the ministry of reconciliation. It js an institution established by our Lord Jesus Christ as the King and Head of his church. Hav- ing completed the work of redemption on the earth, he ascended to heaven, and thence gave gifts to the children of men. Among the most valued of these ascension mercies of our Lord, wa,s the ministry ef 9 the word. "He gave some apostles and some proph- ets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry; for the edifying of the body of Christ. This institution so pregnant with mercies to the souls of men, was intended by our Lord to be a permanent blessing to his church, for calling sinners to his communion, and building up his peo- pie in their most holy faith. We might indeed dwell long upon the importance of this institution, in the promotion of morality, and the advancement of the best interest of immortal man; but it would occupy more room than the present sheet would afford. The principal subjects on which we design at present to address you, relate to the qualifications of the ministry, and the means of their perpetuity in the church. The first ministers of the N. Testament Church, were taught by the infallible inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and were furnished with miraculous gifts. They possessed extraordinary authori- ty, and committed to writing what was designed ol the Lord to be the perpetual and unchangeable record of truth. But the ministry of Christ who have succeeded to ihese primitive heralds of the cross have no warrant to expect immediate and super- natural inspiration, or any extraordinary gifts (ox 10 the discharge of their respective and all -important duties. Yet they have ever felt the necessity of due qualifications for the high and responsible services to which they are called. Piety indeed, is of es- sential importance among the furniture of the mip- Istry. No individual should venture upon work like this, so intimately connected with the glory of God, without a burning zeal for the honor of his Redeemer, and a fervent love to the souls of men* Far be it from us, to derogate from this qualifica- tion of the Gospel ministry. Yet the church well knows that piety without learning, is of itself insuf- ficient. The holy oracles of God, which furnish the great subjects of instruction to the people, re- quire the aid of human learning in their research. No one can be apt to teach that which he does not himself understand. An ignorant ministry leads to error, enthusiasm, and licentiousness. The neces- sity of educating and fully preparing pious young men for the ministry, is so obvious, that the people of God in every age have been convinced of their duty respecting this interesting object. Hence it was that Old Testament saints established their schools of the prophets. The primitive christians practiced the same important duty. It was urged by the reformers from Papal superstition, and from this glorious era Protestants of almost every denoixv* li ination have felt the importance of this object, hav£ established their Theological Schools, and furnish- ed means for the preparation of a learned ministry. The present age has awakened to a more lively sense of this most worthy subject of christian enter- prise. The church has begun to feel something of the force and obligation of the divine command " go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Casting her eye abroad over the human family- she has discovered in nominally christian lands, thousands careless, ignorant, and unconcerned, and in lands never visited with the rays of the sun of righteousness, no less than 600,000,000 of our race, groping in moral darkness, and ripen- ing for destruction. And thanks to our God that he has enabled christians to view this awful moral desolation with deep solicitude. He has in this day of enterprise, raised up in his church a redeeming spirit. While she has for ages been comparatively slumbering over the moral destinies of the world, and been contented with a supply for her present exigencies, it has been reserved for Christians of the present time, to arouse from this supine lethar- gy, and to put forth a spirit of active and efficient benevolence. Hence the formation of institutions for the spread of the Bible, the circulation of reft- 12 glous Tracts, and the sending forth of living teach- ers to misssonate among the destitute. But while these operations have been going on, the cry has been heard from almost every quarter of our hab- itable globe "come over and help us." Our mis- sionary societies, domestic and foreign, have en- deavored to answer the call. But alas, labourers are not to be found. They have called again and again for heralds of the cross to proclaim to their fellow men the mysteries of pardoning love. But they have in too great a degree called in vain. And whence, we would ask, shall we obtain labourers for these fields already white for the harvest ? Shall we find them among those now in the ministry? There are not enough of these to supply even the present exigencies of the church ; or shall we send out among our fellow immortals, men who are igno- rant and unqualified for the work of the ministry ? Would not this be rendering their condition still more deplorable? These blind leaders of the blind would but increase their darkness and aggravate their misery. Shall we look for these servants among the sons of the rich and affluent who have the means of education within their own reach ? How seldom do we discover among such, men who are ready to undergo the trials and toils of the ser- vice referred to. But among the poorer classes i 13 of society, many have been found longing with eager desire to enter the ministry, and blessed with gifts and grace which give promise of eminent usefulness, who have, however, not been furnished in the providence of God, with means to secure the necessary attainments of human learning. Hence the necessity and importance of establishing Edu- cation Societies, for the encouragement of the pious but indigent candidates for the gospel minis- try. In this way multitudes of some of the most valuable and efficient ministers of Christ, have been prepared for the service of God and his people, Inured from youth to the endurance of toil and of trial, they have come to the work with a vigour of constitution, a strength of nerve and of muscle, and above all with a fervour of devotedness which have resulted in the most blessed consequences to the souls of men. If we examine the lists of those who are now in the ministry, we shall find among the settled pastors of Christ's flock, multitudes who have been thus brought forth, and among the Missiona- ries of the cross now labouring in foreign lands, a still greater proportion. In our own church wo have been enabled to rear up by the blessing of God, a most respectable and nourishing theological school. Nurtured by the liberality and tire prayers of our people, we trust it 14 will long continue to be a fountain from wheuce shall " issue streams to make glad the city of our God.' 5 But there are multitudes to be found among the youth of our church, who burn with a holy zeal to be engaged in this blessed work, who feel their obligation to covenant love, and long to de* vote themselves to the glory of their God, in the min- istry of his Son, yet have not the means to prepare themselves for the suitable discharge of ministerial functions. And ought not such to be encouraged? Ought not the church to regard such with special interest, and provide Coy them the requisite means of education, and especially so when the cry for ministers is so loud and so extensive ? Without any disparagement to others, we may venture the assertion, that other things being equal, we may calculate on the greatest usefulness from those who are brought forward from the ranks of poverty.— They are more inured to hardships; have generally speaking, been longer tried in their christian course ; are more deeply acquainted with the varying shades of human character; and more prepared to undergo the trials, the self denial, and the conflicts of the ministry, than those who have been nurtured in the lap of ease and of affluence. Our Lord seems indeed to have forewarned us of this truth. He se- lected his apostles, with one exception, not from 15 the ranks of wealth and of learning, but from those who had before held an humble, and even despica- ble station among their feliow creatures. . And doubtless this course was dictated by his own in- finite wisdom, as best adapted to secure the most efficient labourers in his vineyard. And does not this example of Christ speak volumes in support of the duty we are urging — the necessity of encour- aging poor and pious youth in their attempts to pre- pare themselves for the ministry of reconciliation ? It will be perceived from the constitution which has been formed, that the Society have adopted the system of partial loans. It was thought that this course would secure a greater amount of personal exertion on the part of beneficiaries, remove from them the odium of charity subjects, and at the same time preserve sacred the principal bestowed by ben- efactors for the education of not only one, but of many, for the work of the ministry. At the same time it has been judged advisable to favor the youth of our own church. With this view, the constitu- tion provides that from such only the half of the sum expended in their education be demanded in return. This system it is thought will best secure the great interest of education and encourage many to draw from these sacred funds. 16 That there are multitudes to be found who are anxious to be engaged in the work of the ministry, but who are destitute of the means requisite for pre- paration, there can be no doubt. Recent investi- gation, have found numbers of this description. It is to the honor of the present age, so preeminent for benevolent operations, that these have not been suffered to cry in vain for help. Many have come forward with a holy zeal, and have tendered to them the requisite aid This cause has of late, particularly engaged the Christian community, and we are happy to find that the friends of our Reformed Zion, have begun to feel the importance of this subject, and have devised measures foi 1 the advancement of this holy charity. It is indeed to be hoped that the members of the R. D. Church on Long-Island, will not be behind their brethren in other sections, in the promotion of this most blessed cause. Little, comparatively, has as yet been done by us as a community for the support of our Theological In- stitutions ; but now an opportunity is furnished, by which all who have but a competence of this world's goods, can be instrumental in rearing up an able, faithful and useful ministry for our church. And truly when we reflect upon the many destitute parts of our own church — the ravages which disease and 17 death are continually making among those already in the ministry — the increasing want of laborers to supply our wide spread country, at this moment in need of nearly 7000 educated ministers, and the many millions of our fellow men who have never heard the sound of the gospel — we cannot deny the necessity for vigorous, active and persevering exer- tion in this work of benevolence. And who can cal- culate the amount of good which in this way may be effected ? By raising up one faithful herald of the cross, we may be the means of the conversion of thousands; he may prove a link in the happy chain of covenant blessings to the family of men, the im- portance of which, eternity alone can develope. — What light and blessings to mankind, have been diffused by the labors of such men as Fuller, Carey, Scott, Buchanan, Brainard, and others of similar spirit who have sprung from humble life ! And how, we would ask, are such choice laborers to be called forth and qualified for their office, unless by the aid of education societies ? The work then, to which we urge you, is one intimately connected with the glory of God ; the honor of our Redeemer ; the best good ofour fellow men; the salvation of immor- tal souls; the extension of our church; the preserva- tion ofour civil and religious privileges as a nation and the advancement of our Redeemer's kingdom 18 throughout the world. And we would ask, shall a cause so holy, so blessed, so pregnant with the hap- piest consequence to the church, to the nation and to the world; be regarded with indifference by any r We trust not, but that he who has taught us to pray that he would send forth laborers into his harvest, will animate us by his holy spirit with burning zeal for the advancement of this work, and enable us with united strength and effort, to "Come i\p to the help of the Lord, against the mighty. 33 ABRAHAM VANDERVEER. ) THOMAS S. STRONG, > committee. JOHN TERHUNEo S I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 022 168 744 ?j # I f \ II il llll' I'M II 022 168 744 9,