Last time we gave a rather complete report of the main business of Synod and that which consumed most of the time of meeting. Besides the items mentioned in our last report there were various miscellaneous matters treated and decided upon.

As you may know our Churches are working towards the compilation of a completely new manual of praise for use in our worship. This new book will be a revision of our present Psalter with various changes and additions. Two committees have been appointed and have been busy with this task for the past several years. The Liturgy Committee, composed of the Revs. P. De Boer and L. Doezema has for its task “to check the translations of our adopted Forms of Unity, together with the Forms for the Lord’s Supper, etc., with a view to obtaining a more correct translation than we now have in our Psalters.” This committee has already completed a large amount of its task which is now being studied by the various Consistories of our Churches. Since its task is not yet completed the Committee was continued.

The second committee working on this project is called the Psalter Revision Committee and is constituted of various ministers and individuals, with musical and poetical ability, from in and around Grand Rapids. The report of this committee expresses its task as follows: “The committee meets on the first Friday evening of each month. We have begun our work with the first number of the Psalter, carefully checking to see if it measures up to the following requirements: a. That the versification is as close to the language of the Psalm as possible, and that the Psalm is fully covered, b. That there are no doctrinal errors in the versification, c. That the tune fits the words of the song, prayerful when the Psalm is a prayer, joyful when the Psalm is a song of praise, d. That the tune is singable, especially for a congregation. . . . The Psalter committee also comes to Synod with the request for permission to work on versifications, as literal as possible, of Scripture passages dealing with Christ’s birth, crucifixion, resurrection, Pentecost, etc., and incorporate it in the new Psalter.” Thus far the report of the Psalter Committee.

The committee of pre-advice which treated this report brought the following advice to the floor of Synod. “We advise Synod to grant the permission requested, namely, to work on the versification of other passages of Scripture. Further to advise the committee to search the field of existing hymns for doctrinally sound hymns for special occasions.” Without a great deal of hesitation, a motion to adopt this advice was defeated on the floor of Synod.

For the past few years our Churches have been sending representatives to the meetings of Classis Eureka of the Reformed Church in the U.S.A. (German Reformed Church). On occasion one of their brethren has also been present at the meetings of our Synod and brought greetings, but this has been very irregular on their part. Last year our Synod appointed the Revs. J. Blankespoor and A. Petter to bring our greetings while visiting the meetings of Classis Eureka. They were also instructed to inform the gathering that they could not expect us to continue to send representatives unless they would also be present at our meetings. Our men carried out their visit and mandate but again no return delegation was present at our Synod. Therefore, our Synod of this year decided not to send any representatives to their meetings; which implies that we have broken off any relations we may have had with the Reformed Church in the U.S.A.

The Board of the Society for Protestant Reformed Education of Grand Rapids brought a very interesting request to Synod. They had placed it before the Theological School Committee, which in turn, presented it to Synod. We quote from their letter. “We realize that our greatest need is for teachers, able and equipped, to teach our children the required subjects permeated by the Protestant Reformed life view. For these teachers to do this we feel that they should receive a specific course of instruction…. As you know, some work has been done along this line by our Teachers’ Club. The Board, however, deems it necessary that we should have a regular normal course where our prospective teachers would receive their final training. This we feel is very essential in order that our school may indeed reflect the truth as we know and love it. This is not only of local importance, for we also have other Protestant Reformed Schools and plans are being made to open more. We come, therefore, to your body with the request that, if at all feasible, a normal course be added to the curriculum of our Theological School this coming year. If, for various reasons, you do not see your way clear to do this, kindly forward this request to synod with or without your recommendations.”

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An overture from Randolph also dealt with this matter and read as follows: “The Consistory of Randolph advises Classis to overture Synod to consider ways and means of establishing our own Normal Training School to train prospective teachers to teach in our own Christian Schools.” Synod followed the advice of its committee of pre-advice in this matter “to place this matter before the Faculty and the Theological School Committee for study and possible execution.”

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The various subsidies for the needy churches were granted as follows: Doon—$450; Orange City—$2800; Pella—$1000; Oak Lawn—$1500; Randolph—$1500; Grand Haven—$2000; Hamilton—$8500. This year the Congregation of Sioux Center informed Synod it would no longer need support and expressed gratitude for the aid received in the past.

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An annual appropriation of 25 cents per family per year was granted to the Theological School for the purpose of library expansion.

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Synod again decided to publish a year-book of our Churches which will be incorporated with the Acts of Synod. This year there will also be added a Seminary year-book, included in the book above. They will be sold for $1.00 per copy and should be purchased by every family, that we may live along with our Churches in their work and activities.

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The Theological School Committee was instructed to make the necessary arrangements for the installation of our Professors if and when the new appointee accepts the charge.

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Synod decided that the Churches should be informed that Mr. H. C. Hoeksema is now in a position to consider a call. Since Mr. Hoeksema has been serving the Churches during the past two years, Synod decided to continue his salary for six months or until he accepts a call, whichever may first occur.

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Hull, Iowa was appointed as calling Church for the Synod of 1950 which will meet, the Lord willing, beginning June 7, 1950.

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Since the Synod closed its sessions the Calling Consistory has made the following trio for a third Holland-speaking missionary: The Revs. A. Cammenga, J. De Jong and H. Veldman.

W. Hofman