Classis Hackensack and the CRC: The Early Years

John Hall

Classis Hackensack, formerly Classis Hackensack of the True Reformed Protestant Dutch Church (TRPDC), merged with the Hollandsche Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerk (HCGK) to form the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in 1890. It remains a classis within the CRC. The majority of its member churches left the denomination in 1908, but in 1924 the three churches that still remained in the separated classis rejoined the CRC.

The TRPDC formed in 1822 after a number of churches, starting in 1821, seceded from the Dutch Reformed Church (Now Reformed Church in America) over teaching of Samuel Hopkins’ “New Divinity”. These churches formed into two classes: Classis Hackensack in northern New Jersey and southern New York; and Classis Union spanning upstate New York from Albany to the Finger Lakes region.

In 1869, two representatives of Classis Hackensack appeared at a general classis meeting of the HCGK (then, and until 1880 called the Ware Hollandsche Gereformeerde Kerk) and requested permission to be present. The minutes explain their motive: “feeling a unity of heart with the church, they wish to meet with the brothers and assembly, and to meet with [us] so that they can convince themselves in person and bring a report to their church, possibly to arrange for a union.” The suggestion is positively received. The following year, the HCGK classis received an invitation to send representatives to the TRPDC classis meeting “so that we might get to know each other better and thus strengthen the bonds of unity.” The subsequent General Assembly sent two ministers as a “committee of inquiry” to see whether the customs and beliefs of the TRPDC are in fact compatible with those of the HCGK. At the General Assembly of the following year (1871), the committee reported differences in baptismal practice and “a wider choice of Psalms and more hymns” in use among the TRPDC. Nevertheless, the General Assembly decided to open negotiations for a union and unanimously decided to open the pulpits of the HCGK to TRPDC ministers, and to regularly send representatives to each other’s assemblies to continue discussing union.

The two denominations continued to send and receive each other’s delegates. In 1877, the TRPDC delegates arrived at the HCGK general assembly with a proposal:

1. That certificates of church membership be mutually exchanged; 2. That privileges be mutually granted in the administration and partaking of the sacraments in each other’s churches; 3. That the delegates which shall be mutually chosen as representatives to each other's assemblies may have a deciding vote in all matters before the respective meetings.

The HCGK agreed on the condition that “There must be an improvement in their church music as well as putting into practice Holy Baptism.” The following year, the General Assembly founded Classis Hudson in New Jersey, and the unity with the TRPDC is mentioned as a point favoring the success of this new classis, since the TRPDC churches could support it.

The two denominations continued to feel each other out. The TRPDC delegate informed the HCGK Synod of 1880 that the language barrier and distance were the two factors impeding getting to know each other better, but expressed hope that the HCGK missionary working among them would increase familiarity. The same Synod inquired into the TRPDC stance on Free Masons, and was pleased to hear that membership in the society had been banned since 1826. In 1882, the TRPDC was helping the HCGK evangelize the English-speaking areas of Grand Rapids. Talk of Union continued. At the Synod of 1884, the TRPDC expressed a desire to join the HCGK, and HCGK encouraged its delegates to give it serious thought; in 1886, however, it was the TRPDC that requested more time for their churches to become familiar with the HCGK.

Synod 1888 brought the matter to a head by adopting a motion that “Delegates from Sister Churches and guests who are members of the Chr. Ref. Church may be permitted to give advice.” The TRPDC delegates point out that this would deprive them of their current right to cast the deciding vote in Synod. As a result, Synod mandates Classis Hudson, the nearest HCGK classis to the TRPDC, “to complete the union with Classis Hackensack as soon as possible”.

The negotiations between Classis Hudson and the TRPDC identified three differences which would require reconciliation. Classis Hudson felt that the differences in church government were easily reconciled. The TRPDC also requested that the HCGK would change its name, dropping “Hollandsche” and translating the rest into English. Classis Hudson felt itself authorized to agree, and just like that the HCGK became the Christian Reformed Church (CRC). Differences in worship style were not so easily settled. The TRPDC had a songbook of 52 non-biblical songs, one for each of the 52 Sundays of the Heidelberg Catechism, which they were unwilling to give up. Many constituencies of the HCGK, however, understood Article 69 of the Church Order of Dordt to preclude singing non-biblical songs. Classis Hudson did not feel that it had the authority to interpret Article 69 on behalf of its denomination, so it referred the matter to the upcoming Synod of 1890. For its part, the TRPDC voted 10-7 in favor of union.

Notwithstanding the close vote, the TRPDC delegate to the Synod of the CRC in June of 1890 urged that the CRC accept the union. Synod’s study committee strongly endorsed permitting the TRPDC to continue to sing their songs as a classis of the CRC, pointing out the value of these songs and that the CRC itself did not adhere strictly to Art.69, since the denomination’s Psalm book contained some non-Biblical songs, and La Grave Avenue CRC already employed a similar style of worship. Synod acceded to the committee’s recommendation, but not without controversy. Articles 44, 46, and 49 of the 1890 Acts of Synod are all continuations of the discussion. The motion passed, but Spring Street Church in Grand Rapids entered a signed protest, arguing that the denomination had admitted singing of non-biblical songs by the back door.

Its first years in the CRC do not appear to have gone smoothly for Classis Hackensack. There were a number of issues that must have strained the relationship. The songs continued to be an issue, with Classis Orange City overturing Synod to eliminate those songs in 1906 and a second time, joined by Classis Grand Rapids East and Classis Illinois, in 1908. Synod 1908 decides upon the irenic course of discussing with Classis Hackensack whether it would be willing to voluntarily renounce the privilege granted to it. The language barrier was also a consideration. Synod 1892 and 1898 both affirm the necessity of translation. The 1892 motion was for translation on the floor of synod, while in 1898 Synod decided to publish a translation of the essentials from the Acts of Synod in the Banner of Truth. Translating Synodical documents for Classis Hackensack was mentioned again in 1902. There was also a misunderstanding regarding Hackensack’s use of its own church polity. Acts of Synod 1900 records that Hackensack’s delegates insisted that Synod 1890 had agreed to their continued use of their own church polity book, but the Synod Study Committee points out that there is no record of this agreement in the minutes of the 1890 Synod. Synod appears to have set this matter to rest in 1904 when it reaffirmed Classis Hacksack’s use of its 1878 “Church Manual” for internal government. Additionally, the name of the denomination seems to have remained an issue. Classis Hudson felt entitled to agree to the name change on behalf of the denomination, but the change does not seem to have been officially completed with the 1890 merger. Synod 1894 discussed a proposal to remove the word “Holland” from the official name of the denomination. Classis Hackensack insisted that this must already be the case, since the name change had been one of their stipulations for union with the CRC. Synod explained that it was difficult to make the change official, since in order to change the name, state laws require disbanding the denomination and then re-organizing it in all states where there are churches. This appears to placate Classis Hackensack, and Classis Hackensack does not appear to be alone in its concern about the irresolution on the issue of the name of the denomination: a decade later, Classis Grand Rapids West overtured Synod to make a statement about what was the name of the denomination. Finally, Classis Hackensack also seems to have found it difficult to meet its financial obligations in its new denomination. In 1898, it did not contribute any of its assessed share to the Theological School or to the Church Help Fund. In 1900 it appealed to return to the method of assessing each Classis’ financial obligations that was used in 1896, rather than the new one from 1898, but that appeal was rejected. Subsequent Synods document no further failures of Classis Hackensack to fulfill its financial obligations. All of these issues seem to have been successfully resolved, but residual strain from them may have contributed to the departure of Hackensack churches from the CRC.

Secret societies seems to have been another chronic concern for Classis Hackensack, although the Classis appears content with the CRC stance. In 1880, the HCGK was already concerned about Hackensack’s view of secret societies, and its official policy was all that the CRC could wish. Nevertheless, there appears to have been dissent within the classis. In 1898, Hackensack wanted to know whether the “Odd Fellows” qualified as a sacred society, and at the next synod, Hackensack asked synod to “unequivocably declare its disapproval concerning” secret societies. It obliged in no uncertain terms, but Synod 1906 records that Classis Hackensack had ordained a former Free Mason who had resigned his membership in the masons to comply with CRC rules, but did not think there was anything wrong with freemasonry. While this pastor, Charles Van Houten, seems to have commanded the loyalty of his congregation (after separation from the CRC in 1908, this congregation followed Van Houten into the Presbyterian Church in the USA, which permitted FreeMasonry), it does not seem that disagreement over membership in secret societies accounts for the departure of Hackensack churches from the CRC. On the contrary, Classis Hackensack’s repeated appeals to Synod suggest that the Classis desires definitive statements to request compliance from unconforming members. The dispute over Secret Societies is instead indicative of a deeper problem in the form of tension within the Classis.

Tension within the Classis and with the neighboring Classis Hudson, still Hackensack’s primary interface with the rest of the CRC, was another irritant in Hackensack’s relationship with the CRC. In both the dispute over Van Houten’s call and in an earlier dispute in 1900 between a pastor Rev. Trompen and the classis, Hudson was involved. In the Trompen case, Classis Hackensack filed nine objections against Classis Hudson, which are not detailed in the Acts of Synod because Synod ruled them “not acceptable” on the grounds that Hackensack should have approached Hudson directly with these charges before bringing them to Synod. It is unclear why Hudson would have become involved in this dispute, and suggests officiousness. Classis Hackensack and Rev. Trompen are each asked to confess to specific mistakes and to reconcile. Four years later, Trompen tells Synod that he has made his confession, but the Classis has not yet restored him. In the Van Houten case, it is Classis Hudson that is rebuked for bringing their concern about Van Houten’s Freemason membership directly to Synod instead of to Classis Hackensack first. Synod sends the whole case back to the two classes to work out between themselves. Classis Hudson filed a protest, claiming that their delegate who brought the charge directly to Synod did so in his capacity as a synodical deputee, not as a delegate from Classis, and that he was therefore supposed to go straight to Synod. In this case, Classis Hudson evidently felt that it had a right to be officious about the internal operations of Classis Hackensack. The strain between Hudson and Hackensack, not to mention between the strong personalities that refused to reconcile with Trompen, contrary to Synod’s orders, must have been a major contributor to the strains that caused much of Classis Hackensack to leave the denomination.

Whatever the reason, Synod 1908 was informed that seven congregations of Classis Hackensack had chosen to leave the denomination, and only three chose to remained with the CRC denomination.

Footnotes

CRCNA, "1890 Acts of Synod (English translation)" (1890). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 45. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/45, Supplement VII, pp. 43-45.

“1890 Acts of Synod," Supplement VIII, pp. 45-46.

“1890 Acts of Synod," Art.56, pp.19-20.

CRCNA, "1869 Classis Minutes" (1869). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 17. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/17, Art.4, p.209.

William Nawyn, “History of the New York Bank Street CRC,” in Origins 23.2 (2005), 18-25, esp.18. The two classes appear to have become alienated from each other from an early date. See W. Aardsma, “A History of the True Dutch Reformed Church," https://dutch-reformed.fandom.com/wiki/A_History_of_the_True_Dutch_Reformed_Church.

CRCNA, "1870 Classis Minutes" (1870). Agendas and Acts of Synod. p.19. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/19, Art.11, p.222.

Apparently, the TRPDC baptized only the children of professing members, not of baptized members. “1871 General Assembly Minutes," Art.16, p.283.

CRCNA, "1870 General Assembly Minutes" (1870). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 20. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/20, Art.28, p.278.

"1871 General Assembly Minutes," Art.34, p.286.

"1871 General Assembly Minutes," Art.35, p.287.

"1871 General Assembly Minutes," Art.37, p.287.

CRCNA, "1877 General Assembly Minutes" (1877). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 27. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/27, Art.25, pp.405-406.

“1877 General Assembly Minutes," Act.26, p.407.

CRCNA, "1880 Acts of Synod" (1880). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 30. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/30, Art. 40, p.472.

“1880 Acts of Synod," Art. 40, p.473.

CRCNA, "1886 Acts of Synod (English translation)" (1886). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 40. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/40, Supplement 1, p.40-41.

CRCNA, "1884 Acts of Synod (English translation)" (1884). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 38. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/38, Art.81, p.29.

CRCNA, "1888 Acts of Synod (English translation)" (1888). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 42. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/42, Art.8(b), p.6.

"1888 Acts of Synod," Art.48(2), p.17.

Nawyn, “History of the New York Bank Street CRC,” p.21.

CRCNA, "1906 Acts of Synod (English translation)" (1906). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 69. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/69, Art.35.8b, p.18.

CRCNA, "1908 Acts of Synod (English translation)" (1908). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 72. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/72, Art.70, p.47-49.

CRCNA, "1892 Acts of Synod (English translation)" (1892). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 48. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/48, art.9, p.8

CRCNA, "1898 Acts of Synod (English translation)" (1898). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 57. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/57, Art.60.5, p.46.

CRCNA, "1900 Acts of Synod (English translation)" (1900). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 60. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/60, Art.35, p.25.

CRCNA, "1902 Acts of Synod (English translation)" (1902). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 63. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/63, Art.148b, p.79

“1904 Acts of Synod," Art.132.3, p.44-45.

CRCNA, "1894 Acts of Synod (English translation)" (1894). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 51. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/51, Art.26, p.13.

CRCNA, "1904 Acts of Synod (English translation)" (1904). Agendas and Acts of Synod. 66. https://digitalcommons.calvin.edu/crcna_synod-agendas/66, Art.132.2, p.44

“1898 Acts of Synod," Art.42.9, p.33.

“1898 Acts of Synod," Report 4, p.98.

“1900 Acts of Synod” Art.99, p.59-61.

“1898 Acts of Synod," Art.84.1, p.65.

“1900 Acts of Synod” Art.93, p.56-57.

Aardsma, “A History of the True Dutch Reformed Church”

“1906 Acts of Synod," Art.43.4, p.24-26.

"1900 Acts of Synod," Art.35, p.24, 27, and Art.38, p.28.

“1904 Acts of Synod," Art.139.8, p.55-56.

“1906 Acts of Syond," Art.98, p.56-58.

“1906 Acts of Synod," Art.43.4, p.24-26.

"1908 Acts of Synod," Art.67.3, p.45-46. Aardsma disputes these numbers, without citing evidence, saying that one of the seven that seceded was a legal fiction, while two additional churches that had formerly been part of TRPDC’s Classis Union had remained in the CRC’s Classis Hackensack; so his numbers are 6 seceding churches and 5 remaining ones. Aardsma, “A History of the True Dutch Reformed Church”. Nevetheless, 7 and 3 are the numbers in the Acts of Synod.