(3) Increased Dutch Emigration. In 1346 began a new Dutch emigration from Holland, which made the state of Michigan the chief center of its settlements and operations. The Holland ers in New York at the English conquest were only about ten thousand. This recent immigra tion to the \Vest during the past fifty years must have considerably exceeded one hundred thousand. The increase in this country has also been very large, and has occasioned overflow into the neigh boring states. Most of these immigrants, at first, fell naturally into the fold of the old Dutch Church, and these are now represented by more than one hundred congregations. But there is also another body, identical in faith and government, among these recent Hollanders, called the Chris tian Reformed Church, composed also of about one hundred congregations. Those connected with the Reformed Church in America have Hope Col lege and a Theological Seminary at Holland, Michigan, which arc becoming well endowed, and the germs of other similar institutions, at Orange City, Iowa.
(4) Foreign Missions. In the work of for eign missions the Reformed Church in America has been remarkably successful. Her operations began in 1819, when the Rev. John Scudder, M. D.. went to India as a physician, but was soon ordained by a union of Methodist, Baptist and Congregationalist ministers in Ceylon. She has now flourishing missions in Arcot, India; in Amoy, China; and in various parts of Japan; while a new mission has recently been started in Arabia. More than one hundred thousand dol lars are raised annually for these missionary en terprises.
(5) Evangelical in Character. This Church has always been noted for its steadfast adherence to what is known as Evangelical Religion. This has led not a few ministers of other denomina tions, when dissatisfied with certain modern tend encies, to seek admission into her fold. About one-half of her ministry, during the present cen tury, have been trained in other institutions than her own; yet no attempt has ever been made to amend her doctrinal standards. Attempts to change her liturgy have never succeeded beyond the correction of grammatical errors, although a few additional forms have been added to meet new necessities, but all the liturgical forms, ex cept the sacramental, arc optional as to use. Yet the Church is far from being illiberal. She has always been a pioneer in the movement of all the great union societies, and a liberal friend in supporting them in the spread of evangelical truth.
(6) Attempted Church Union or Federa tion. Repeated efforts have been made for more than a century by this Church to effect union or closer relations with other churches of our land. Indeed, as early as 1743, while the efforts above alluded to, to organize some sort of an eccle siastical assembly for self-government, were pend ing, the Classis of Amsterdam sought to effect a union of the Dutch Church with the German and Presbyterian Churches in America, but the effort did not succeed. In 1764, the Coetus party in the
Church invited the German Church to unite with them and form a new and independent body; but the Germans then felt under too great obligations to the Classis of Amsterdam to cast off their au thority. In 1794 further suggestions of union were made; and frequent allusions to the same subject occur for a half century, but none of them developed into practical form. In 1848 a complete plan of union was drawn up, and was on the point of consummation, when certain cir cumstances suddenly brought about its failure. In 1886, again, every arrangement had been made for union, when certain technical errors in the report ing of the classical votes necessitated the delay of the matter for a year, when it was defeated.
Efforts to unite more or less closely with the Associate Reformed (Scotch) and the Presby terian Churches were begun in 1785; were re newed in 1800, and were on the point of consum mation in 1816, when a trivial difference of opin ion on a minor point, caused one of the parties to withdraw. In 1822 special articles of fraternity were entered into with the Presbyterian Church and delegates have been exchanged almost yearly ever since. But it was in 1873 that the most com prehensive effort for unity was made by the Dutch Reformed, the German Reformed, and the two Presbyterian bodies, North and South. Large committees were appointed and meetings were held extending over two years. But again a cir cumstance occurred which defeated the scheme.
The Reformed Church in America has held cor respondence during the past century with more than thirty different denominations, including a few in Europe. While decided in her attachment to evangelical truth, she recognizes the impor tance of closer unity among the different branches of the Church of Christ in order to secure the con quest of the world for Him. And we firmly be lieve that when the time comes for a simpler creed —one not forged in the furnace of polemics and under the shadows of state churchism—she will stand shoulder to shoulder with the other evan gelical churches of our land and of the world in framing a confession having for its starting point Divine Love, yet not ignoring the holiness and Justice of God. She has long been ready for some wise plan of federation, and we trust the day is not far distant when God will raise up some genius capable of being the successful advocate of such a scheme. E. T. C.