USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Bergen > Annals of the classis of Bergen, of the Reformed Dutch Church, and of the churches under its care: including, the civil history of the ancient township of Bergen, in New Jersey > Part 12
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mental religion, family worship, and prayer-meetings, and that the ancient Cœtus ministers dwelt much on these spiritual subjects, and were hated and ridiculed on account of it."* Another writer says, "It seems at least to be certain, that in some sections of the Church, whatever the ostensible pretences may have been, the great contest of Cœtus and Conferentie was, in fact, a struggle of formalism against vital godli- ness-of the law of progress, against the inertia engen- dered by an admiration of the past. It was the spirit of this age and of this land, fighting for liberty, when the attempt was made to bind it down by forms, customs, and veneration for the fatherland; and it conquered then, as it always will conquer, in any future struggles."+
The controversy continued until 1772. " So divided, and embittered against each other, were many on this subject, that the different parties would not worship together, nor even speak to each other; and when meeting on the road, would not turn out for each other."}
This terrible state of things, had doubtless been urged to its heighth, in consequence of a recommen- dation of the Cœtus, in 1753, that, the Cœtus be changed into a regular classis. Some of those most zealous in opposing the plan of an independent orga- nization in this country, met in the year 1755, and Rev. Mr. Curtenius was one of the number, who form- ed the Conferentie party. This body sent letters to
* C. T. Demarest, p. 60 of his Lamentation over Dr. S. Fræligh.
+ Dr. A. Messler, in his Pastor's Memorial, p. 43.
# Dr. Strong's History of Flatbush, p. 91.
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the Classis of Amsterdam, complaining of the efforts making in this country to cast off their authority. They sent letters on this subject in 1755-56, and in 1760-61 .* Thus we ascertain that Curtenius, with the Conferentie party, and Goetschius, with the Cœtus, the terrible rent was made in Hackensack and Schraa- lenbergh just about the time of Curtenius being called to Flatbush. Of course the peace of the congregations was broken. And so fierce was the controversy in these congregations, that although the people were intermarried, families were divided among themselves -the husband against the wife-parents against the children. Many indignities were heaped upon one another, and in public, as well as private intercourse, painful scenes frequently occurred.
A distinct organization, in each place, was effected. The Rev. Gerardus Haughevoort officiating on these occasions at the ordination of the elders and deacons of the new churches. In 1756, the Rev. John Schuyler, who had also joined the Conferentie party, was called to succeed Mr. Curtenius, but as pastor of the second Church in each place. He, as appears by a letter of Rev. Barnardus Freeman, to the Classis of Amster- dam, under date of 23d of April, 1741,+ had shortly (probably in 1737 or 1738), before that time been or- dained to the ministry, by Rev. Messrs. Erickson and Haughevoort, by virtue of instructions from the Clas- sis of Amsterdam. In 1738, April 27th, he was present at the Cœtus, in New York, as representing the Church
* Christian Magazine, vol. 2, p. 9.
t See Christian Intelligencer of April 24, 1856.
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of Schoharie, of which he was then pastor. But all we can ascertain, is the continuance of his labors, as successor of Curtenius, until about 1759. His name is recorded in the " Naamregister der Predikanten," for 1758, as the minister of Hakkingsac, &c., settled in 1756 ; while in the same, the name of Johannes Hen- ricus Goetschius appears, as minister of Hakkingsack and Schraalenberg, settled in 1748 .*
The totally distinct form in which their names are here presented, taken in connection with the fact of subsequent separate action, of the Churches at both places, renders it certain that about this time, the Church at Hackensack became two bands, and that at Schraalenbergh, in like manner, became two, thus making four churches and congregations, in these two districts of country. There was, however, only one church edifice in each place, the respective congrega- tions alternating in the use of these houses of worship, on alternate Sabbaths.
The people of Hackensack, under the pastoral charge of Mr. Goetschius, following him to Schraalen- bergh, and those of Schraalenbergh doing the same, when he officiated in Hackensack, while the people under the charge of Mr. Schuyler pursued a similar course. This seems to have long continued, under the successive pastors of the respective congregations. Messrs. Goetschins and Schuyler were cotemporaneous in this extended field of labor. Mr. Schuyler's labors appear to have ended in 1759.
The Rev. Cornelius Blauw, who came from Holland,
* O'Callaghan's Documentary History of N. Y., vol. 1, p. 625.
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succeeded Mr. Schuyler, in 1768, and served these congregations for at least three years, having his resi- residence at Schraalenbergh.
The Rev. Warmoldus Kuypers,* who came to this country from the Island of Curacoa, about 1768 or 1769, was present, with the Elder, G. De Murray, in October, 1771, at the Convention, when the Articles of Union were adopted, and the Rev. John Henry Goetschius, with the Elder, P. Zabriskie, represented their respective charges at Hackensack and Schraalen- bergh, so that Mr. Kuypers must have been, for some time previous to 1771, the successor of Mr. Blauw. It is to be regretted that the exact date of his settlement cannot be ascertained, yet it must have been within a few years after his arrival in this country. For a brief period, he was cotemporaneous with Mr. Goets- chius, whose labors ended with his death, November 14th, 1774. The Rev. Dirck Romeyn, then pastor at Marbletown, in New York, was called to succeed Mr. Goetschius, in 1775.
In the year 1772, when the Articles of Union were confirmed by the Classis of Amsterdam, as we have . seen heretofore, these Churches became a constituent part of the Classis of Hackensack and as the records of that Classis, from 1776, are well preserved, we learn far more accurately the future proceedings of all four of these Churches. All of them, with their pastors, were identified with the interests, and watch and care of that judicatory.
While Mr. Romeyn was constant in attendance on
* See Dr. Knox's Sermon on the death of Rev. Gerardus A. Kuypers, n. D., p, 13.
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this reverend judicatory, and evidently bore a promi- nent and noble part in its transactions, it appears, from frequent appointments of committees to visit and confer with Mr. Kuypers and his Consistories, that there was an unwillingness to attend the sessions of the Classis. This was unquestionably attributable to the painful controversies then prevailing, and especial- ly as these Churches were so deeply involved in them. There were personal strifes among the people. The views and feelings of both ministers and people were distasteful to each other, and it was indeed hard to reconcile them; nor did any delegate appear in Classis, from the Churches of Mr. Kuypers, during the whole term of the ministry of Mr. Romeyn, which was for ten years.
Mr. Romeyn was a native of Hackensack, and graduated at the College of New Jersey, at Princeton, in 1765, and was honored by Queen's, now Rutgers College, with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, in 1789. An eminently pious and devoted Christian minister, he was greatly esteemed in the Churches, as · a man of sound practical judgment, and an able min- ister of the New Testament.
In 1784 he accepted the call presented to him by the Reformed Dutch Church at Schenectady, and was dismissed by the Classis of Hackensack, on the 3d of May, 1785. He continued his labors there, until his Master called him to his reward. His death occurred in April, 1804. In the year 1797, he was one of the two additional Professors of Theology, chosen by the General Synod. This high office in the Church of Christ, he filled with distinguished reputation for
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seven years. His memory is yet fragrant, especially with the few very aged men in the Church who linger among us.
The controversies of their day, most unquestionably greatly marred the usefulness and comfort of these servants of God. Their trials were neither few nor small. There is no evidence of the measure of success in their labors, so far as accessions to the communion of their respective Churches may indicate it. They were partakers in the sorrows and trials of the Ameri- can Revolution, and so much were the people scattered abroad during the invasion of the British army, that in 1780, each Church was required to make a special report to the Classis, of the melancholy state of the Churches, and in particular of the numerous fugitives from their homes, as far as the same could be ascer- tained.
As this revolutionary struggle was going on, it proved an occasion of increased trouble in the congre- gations of Hackensack and Schraalenbergh. "Some few were traitorous-some indifferent; others entered not as warmly into the cause, as might have been ex- pected ; others again, with enlightened patriotism, urged on the cause of their country, as the cause of God. A few, no doubt, were excessive in profession of patriotism, and used it to cloak their love of plun- der, and their individual resentments. Then came the strong political controversies, under the · early years of our constitution. All these causes constantly agitated the community composing these congrega- tions. Then it was rare, indeed, to hear terms of moderation in any of the contests in church or state.
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Society was unhinged-resentments were indulged in. The congregations followed their respective ministers, on alternate Sabbaths, meeting like two angry waves. Private friendships, with many, were broken up. Poli- tics were largely intermingled in the discussions of the pulpit, and the result was, for a long time, that all, or nearly all who belonged to one communion, were of one political creed, and all, or nearly all who were of the other communion, were on the opposite side in politics."*
For about a year after the removal of the Rev. Dirck Romeyn from Hackensack, Mr. Kuypers was the only minister to these congregations. Although, the probabilities are, that the people who had been served by Mr. Romeyn, were seeking for a pastor.
The records of the Classis of Hackensack show, that at the session of that body, on 23d of May, 1786, the Rev. Warmoldus Kuypers, with the Elder, Yan Ro- meyn, took their seats in Classis, for the first time. Fourteen years had now elapsed since the Articles of Union had been adopted, and so unhappy had been the continuance of these local strifes, that Mr. Kuy- pers' people had not before been even represented in the Classis. At this time, also, a committee previously appointed, was continued, with instructions to en- deavor to effect peace between the respective con- gregations.
With this opening prospect of a better state of af- fairs, there was another matter of moment presented to the Classis, at the same session. A call had been made,
* Rev. James Romeyn, in a manuscript Memoir of his Father, Rev. J. V. C. Romeyn.
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by the people to whom Mr. Romeyn had ministered, upon the Rev. Solomon Fræligh, then pastor of the Reformed Dutch Churches of Millstone and Neshan- ick. This was approved, and the Rev. Benjamin Vanderlinden appointed to install him as pastor thereof.
In 1787, in the month of May, the Classis, finding their efforts to reconcile the difficulties of these con- gregations unavailing, referred the whole matter to the Synod, for their good offices, in endeavors to bring them to a termination. In 1788, (May 27th), the re- solutions of the Synod were reported to the Classis, and received the concurrence of the Consistories of the Churches of Mr. Fræligh. But no tidings on the subject came to hand from those of Mr. Kuypers, and they were required to report on the subject at the next meeting of the Classis. In April, 1789, by the Elder, Abraham Kip; the refusal of the Churches under Dominie Kuypers was announced, unless "the well known Charter" was repealed .* Hereupon the committee appointed in 1785, were continued, and directed to renew their efforts for reconciliation. This effort proved in a measure available. During this year the difficulties were adjusted, a plan of union having been adopted at a meeting of a commission of Synod, so that on 25th of May, 1790, the Articles of Union between the two, which had been agreed upon with a solemn declaration of adherence, and a formal subscription, were presented to the Classis, examined and approved ; and the Classis recorded in their min-
* The Charter, most probably, which had been obtained without the concurrence of Mr. Kuypers' people.
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utes their great joy. Thus, difficulties, engendered not less than forty years previous, and which had been, by various circumstances, most unhappily fostered, were silenced. A new era, it was hoped, had come. People who before were widely separated, for a season, could now co-operate with each other. That this re-union, so long sought for, and after such protracted efforts effected, should summon the energies of the people for vigorous action, was no marvel. At Hackensack, the old stone octagonal church, with its belfry sur- mounting the centre of the roof, and its inconvenient internal arrangements, now requiring to be remodeled or rebuilt, was an object of special attention, awakens no surprise. It had served them, for sacred uses, for sixty-three years, and this amid their contentions and strifes ; and now a bright spot in their history appears. There is an amusing tradition, in reference to this mat- ter, of which the author has recently been advised, by the present pastor. The story is, that the united con- gregations were to assemble on a given day, to exam- ine the building, and determine what should be done; · some deeming it best only to repair it somewhat- others to rebuild. The young people, however, were anxious to secure the erection of a new church, and an early hour of the day was fixed on for the meeting. But hours before that designated for the congregation to assemble, they had taken possession of the house, torn down the old pews around the wall, removed the chairs and benches from the center of the floor, and with other fixtures, taken them all out of the house on to the green, or public square. When, therefore, the congregation convened, and saw the desolation of the
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place, they found that, practically, the youngsters had pre-determined the whole matter. They had only to vote to re-build-which they promptly did according to the following :-
"PLAN FOR RE-BUILDING THE CHURCH AT HACKENSACK, A. D., 1790.
" Whereas, the Dutch Reformed Congregation of Hackensack, in the County of Bergen, and State of New Jersey, have long seen the necessity of re-build- ing their church, but have been prevented by the troubles of the late war, and particularly by a divided state of the congregation :
" And whereas it hath pleased the omniscient Dis- poser of human events, to bless the land with peace, and the congregation with a happy re-union, friend- ship and harmony ; said congregation have determin- ed, by the advice of their Ministers, Elders, and Deacons, in the fear of the Lord, to proceed to the re-building of said church, according to the following plan :-
"I. The old church shall be broke down, and all right and title thereto, by former proprietors, shall be deemed totally void; and upon the same ground the new one shall be erected, and of the following dimen- sions, viz: forty-eight by sixty feet, with two gal- leries.
"II. The following persons shall be appointed managers, whose business it shall be to engage labor- ers, procure materials, superintend the work, and do every thing necessary to promote it. The managers are, Messrs. John Earle, George Doremus, Henry
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Berry, Casparus Westervelt, Jacobus Poulissen, and Isaac Vanderbeck, Junr.
"III. The corporation shall immediately take in voluntary subscriptions, in order to defray the ex- penses of building ; the money to be subscribed, to be paid in three equal payments, viz : the first moiety at the time of subscribing ; the second, immediately after the roof of the new church is laid; the third, at the finishing of the building.
"IV. The inside of the church shall be furnished with pews, without making any distinction between men's and women's pews.
"V. After the church is completed, the pews shall be divided into convenient seats, except, as many free seats, for strangers, as the managers shall think proper-an elders' and a deacons' pew-a pew for ministers' families, (also a magistrate's pew ; the lat- ter shall be particularly constructed, and have a canopy over it). Said seats shall, after due notice given, at an appointed time and place, be disposed of at public auction to the highest bidder, and the sub- scribers shall have credit, on the purchase of the seats, for such sum or sums of money as they shall have subscribed.
" VI. If any person shall become heir to, or shall purchase from another any of said seats, and shall not apply within one year and one day after such pur- chase, or the obtaining of such right of legacy, to have such seats transcribed, they shall be deemed the pro- perty of the congregation, and the church-masters have a right to sell them. The price for transcribing shall be four shillings, New York currency.
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, HACKENSACK, N. J. Erected 1791. Enlarged 1847.
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"We, the subscribers, approving of the above plan for re-building the church at Hackensack, do, for the promotion thereof, promise to pay, or cause to be paid, to the Minister, Elders, and Deacons of the Dutch Reformed congregation, of Hackensack, in the County of Bergen, in the State of New Jersey, or their order, in gold or silver, or the value thereof, in paper currency, at the rate of eight shillings to one Spanish milled dollar, the sums annexed to our re- spective names, and according to the division of pay- ments specified in the plan.
" As witness our hands, this day of one thousand seven hundred and ninety ; being at liberty to pay one-third in necessary materials, at such price as the managers choose to agree for-ex- cept the first payment, which shall be in cash only."
One hundred and thirty-two signatures follow, of which forty-nine are attached to a copy in the English language, and eighty-three to one in the Dutch. The whole amount of the subscriptions being £328. 9s. 0d. The largest amounts of individual subscriptions, are those of Peter Zabriskie £40; Messrs. Isaac Van Gie- son, Archibald Campbell, and John Powelson, each £15; Nehemiah Wade, and Henry Berry, each £12; Adam Boyd, Adolph Waldron, John Zabriskie, Divid Anderson, John Varick, Elias Brevoort, Abraham Kipp, Richard Terhune, John Earle, Peter Kipp, Jacob Terhune, Jacobus Huysman, Albert J. Voor- hase, Samuel Berry, Nicausie Terhune, and Albert C. Zabriskie, each £10.
Now the people had a mind to work. They brought together the stones and the timber, and the other
9
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building materials, and, (in 1791), reared a house for God. There it stands, to this day, a neat, substantial edifice, in which the messages of salvation have been proclaimed for sixty-five years.
Over the entrance way there was placed an inscrip- tion stone, with the motto " Een dracht maakt macht"': " Union makes strength." As in the former house, stones were laid with the initials of the prominent in- dividuals indented thereon, so in this house, which was not completed until 1792, there are in the front wall such stones, having cut in them, the full names of such persons. They are George Doremus ; Albert C. Zabrisky; Henry Berry, 1791; John Paulison ; Peter Zabrisky, 1791; Margaret Houseman ; Isaac Van Gieson; Nickase Terhune; Jacob Brinkerhoff, 1792.
In this sanctuary the Rev. Messrs. Kuypers and Fræligh alternately officiated, until the former was laid aside by bodily infirmities.
But we may not prematurely rejoice over this union work. Only five years did the reign of peace prevail. The elements of strife were not removed, however subdued their power had for a season become. On the 11th of August, 1795, a petition was presented to the Classis of Hackensack, from members of the old congregations of dominie Fræligh, at Hackensack and Schraalenbergh, requesting a dissolution of the union existing between the Churches of dominies Kuypers and Fræligh, and that they be declared separate Churches. Whereupon the Classis were grieved to learn this, and on account of the difficulties giving rise to it, and judged that since "the union was ef-
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fected in the presence of a synodical committee, the Classis had no jurisdiction in the case, but refers it to the Particular Synod."*
Another long period of strife and unhappiness now begins. And as Mr. Fræligh seems to have borne a prominent part in effecting the union, we are willing to let his intimate friend and biographert narrate the story of the separation, and the part Dr. F. acted in the matter. Of Dr. Fræligh, he says :-
"He marked the distinction between the precious and the vile, and taught the Lord's people the differ- ence between the clean and unclean. When this servant of the Lord first came to Hackensack and Schraalenbergh, in 1786, he found each of the con- gregations rent in two pieces ; two manner of people dwelling there. Not exactly understanding the ground of the separation, or supposing, like others, that the breach might and ought to be healed, he set himself diligently to work, and succeeded in effecting a kind of union, in 1789. Some of the praying people who had been in the former wars, and understood the case, better than others, disapproved of the measures pur- sued, and of the union effected ; would never accede to the union, nor acknowledge the schismatics, as brethren in the Lord ; and forewarned their pastor of the mischief that would ensue. One, in particular, had a remarkable dream, which he related to his pas- tor. He dreamed that he saw his minister against the side of a high hill, where was a smith's fire and anvil, busily engaged in endeavoring to weld two
* See Minutes of the Classis, of August 11th, 1795.
+ Rev. O. T. Demarest.
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pieces of iron together. He put them in the fire, and when sufficiently heated, he hammered them well. 'Now I have it,' says he. He held up the welded pieces, and they parted in sunder. He tried it again and again, with much earnestness, anxiety, and toil, but always with the same result. It grieved him that he could not make them adhere. His friend, who stood looking on, exclaimed, 'Sir, there must be wind, or they will never unite.' And, indeed, such is the difference between light and darkness, unless the WIND, that bloweth where it listeth, blow there, in regenerating those who are in darkness, no union can ever be expected.
" Mr. Fræligh, ere long, saw the sad effects of the fatal union, and the Lord, in a remarkable manner, brought him back again to himself, and to the truth. In a dream or vision, the Bible was opened to him, and his eyes directed to certain passages, which made a deep impression on his mind. He treated the mat- ter as a dream, and the subject passed from his thoughts. In looking for a text or subject for the en- suing Sabbath, a few days after this occurrence, he opened the Bible at the identical page, and his eyes fell on the very words which had impressed him so much in his dream. They came now with such light and power, that he laid before the people what the Lord had laid before him. The words are these : 'Therefore thus saith the Lord, if thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me; and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth : let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. And I will
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make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall; and they shall fight against thee; for I am with thee to save thee, and to deliver thee, saith the Lord. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.' Jer. 15: 19-21.
"The division line was drawn in Paradise, by the Lord himself: 'I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.' Gen. 3: 15. It was clearly revealed to Jeremiah, and by that same word made known to his faithful servant, who after this, in all his preachings, kept close to that line, which the Lord had stretched over these congre- gations. Soon after this, he preached from Psalm 119 : 176, ' I have gone astray like a lost sheep : seek thy servant ; for I do not forget thy commandments,' to the great satisfaction of all the godly throughout the congregations."*
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