Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1929

76 MINUTES OF THE SYNOD OF THEcomplete the rewriting of the Historical Part of the Testimony,"that it might be made "the setting and groundwork for aChildren's Handbook," and another Committee to "prepare andarrange additional material," such as a Handbook of the kindshould contain. To the Synod of 1926 it was reported that thework was "but partially done." The most of what had beendone had been printed in the Christian Nation. To a Committee,then appointed to report to that Synod, the work donewas submitted for review. This Committee reported that it didnot have "either the time or the opportunity to study thesesample chapters," but was of the opinion, from the surveygiven, that "the portion published" served the purpose "fairlywell." The Committee, however, was ordered to complete thework. In 1927 the completed manuscript was submitted toSynod, and a committee "of one minister and one elder fromeach Presbytery" was named to pass upon its merits. Thiscommittee of twenty-two reported that the work "of reviewingand judging the material prepared for the Handbook" was "toogreat" to be done in the time then at its command, and recommendedits publication in the Appendix to the Minutes. It alsorecommended that another Committee be appointed to "study"the work in connection with the Historical Part as printed inthe Appendix of the Minutes of 1926, "with a view to determiningthe suitableness of the whole to form the contents of theproposed book." This committee reported last year, and proposed"an entirely new draft to take the place of the' originalreport published in the .Appendix of the Minutes of 1927."Synod's action on this report left your present committee freeto continue and complete its work without the necessity ofany further adjustments to the work of other committees.This, in brief, is the process through which your committee'swork has passed up to the present time.During the discussions on the floor of Synod many suggestionsand friendly criticisms have been made. Chief amongthe objections perhaps was the opinion that in certain places thematter was a trifle too intricate and ought to be simplified.Also the view was expressed by a few that parts of the workwere somewhat more elaborate than they needed to be. Oneminister objected to a statement made in explaining the secondsignificant act in administering the Lord's Supper. No exceptions,so far as your committee is aware, were taken atany time to the doctrinal and practical positions assumed orexpounded in the book. Here at least we all seem to be ofone mind and heart. The views set forth are the views of theChurch.With respect to the differences every effort has been madeto take account of them all. Much has been done toward simplification.The material has been cut up into shorter paragraphsWords with which the young people might not be familiar areeither easily class Wherever statements of replaced intelligible. young he had by people. were to others Your explain not The plain chairman or to else ages the enough, are ranged older tested so and explained ones, the from modified matter he eight concluded as to them out to be fifteen. with made until that a