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 9
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From this time Mr. C.'s labors were confined to the congregation at Bergen. By his call, he was now obligated to perform his public services, one half in the Dutch, and the other half in the English language, using the respective languages on every alternate Sabbath. The proportion of the former, gradually decreased.
The people, being of one nationality, and pursuing the even tenor of their way; and their pastor, in his various relations, identified in feeling with them, well understood their peculiarities, customs, and usages, and knew how to meet their spiritual wants. He was every way at home with them ; and loving, as he did, most truly and fervently, the doctrines and gov- ernment of the Church of his fathers, and of his own affections, he preached Christ to them, with earnest- ness and success. He did much in the way of cate- chising the children and youth, and felt deeply, for the colored people, who were very numerous in his day-many of them held as slaves. He opened for them a special service in his own house; formed them into classes ; taught several of them to read, and aided them in attaining a knowledge of gospel truth. He catechised them faithfully, using the Compendium of our holy religion, in the course of instruction he gave them. Several of them were admitted to the
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communion of the Church, and although some sad defections occurred, most of them held on to the faith of the gospel. It has been the privilege of the author to witness the triumphant death of some of these col- ored people. Only one of those admitted under the ministry of Mr. Cornelison, now survives in the com- munion of the Church.
This man of God ever cherished a love for the literary and theological institutions of the Reformed Dutch Church. The subject of the professorate en- dowment, was repeatedly before both the Classes of Hackensack and Bergen. Through their counsels, it was repeatedly brought before the Consistories and congregations. The records of the Church of Bergen, show that the Consistory often acted on it. It was long, in this matter, a day of small things, but in 1823, a committee of the General Synod, to raise funds for the endowment of the second professorship, presented themselves at the door of the parsonage, quite unexpectedly to the good dominie, on a Sabbath morning, just as the bell for service was ringing,.
What could he do on this emergency, with such a host in influence, as Dr. John Ludlow, Abraham Van Nest, Isaac Heyer, and Jacob R. Hardenbergh? They stated their purpose. The Consistory were sent for, to repair immediately to the parsonage. They came. The sanctuary service was delayed, for a little season. Consent was readily accorded, for the pulpit to be oc- cupied by Professor Ludlow, and that the subject should be presented to the congregation. This secured, they all devoutly entered the sanctuary. The Profes- sor preached. The people heard. The request was
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announced for the entire congregation to remain, after the benediction should have been pronounced. They complied. The people were called on, to express their views on the great subject. For some little time all was silence. Presently, an aged man broke the silence, by putting the question direct : "Will the committee of the General Synod please to tell us, exactly what they want from this congregation ?" Quickly, that noble hearted man who started the project, Mr. Har- denbergh, arose, and bowing reverently, to the aged inquirer, replied : "I thank that father in this Israel, for that plain question. I will answer it. We want a subscription, for the Professorship, from this congre- gation, before we leave this house, for one thousand dollars. The key note was struck. An answer follow- ed. "Put my name down for two hundred and fifty dollars," was the word from a liberal heart, and six- teen others immediately pledged themselves in writing, for the remaining seven hundred and fifty dollars. The sum asked for was thus secured, and the commit- tee went onward, until, in a comparatively few congre- gations, twenty-five thousand dollars were subscribed.
Nobly was the subscription in Bergen met. In due time the honored pastor paid over the whole sum. Subsequently, that generous first subscriber of two hundred and fifty dollars, Mr. Richard Cadmus, be- queathed to the Synod a scholarship of two thousand dollars, the interest of which has been, ever since its endowment, appropriated to the education of a succession of poor and pious youth, for the gospel ministry.
The history of Mr. Cornelison's ministry, is that of
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progressive increase, in the success with which it was attended, without many special circumstances requir- ing comment. The year 1818, was, however, one of rich blessing to this Church. The Holy Spirit de- scended with great power, and the people were revived. Zion prayed -- God heard and answered, and there were added unto the Church, in that year, fifty-nine persons, on confession of their faith. There were fruits of this revival, also, in 1819. The following account of it was communicated by Mr. C., to the Christian Herald, under date of 20th of January, 1819.
"The late revival of religion, in the congregation of Bergen, has been such as to warm the hearts, and excite the gratitude of the pious.
" An unusual attention to the means of grace has been manifested, for three or four years past. Some have been added to the church every communion sea- son, of such as continue to adorn, and warmly support, the cause they have espoused.
"In the months of May, June, and July last, we have every reason to believe, the Holy Spirit was poured down in copious showers, dropping as the rain, distilling as the dew, or as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass. It arrested and affected every rank and class of hearers, and afforded a strong hope, that it was the Lord's. work. It has not ceased. It progresses. Let the glory be ascribed to the Lord.
" Although the convictions were deep, and the ex- pressions of sorrow great, in many instances, yet as these were not accompanied with noise and confusion,
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a reasonable hope is cherished, that this revival has not been the mere effect of animal feeling, and sym- pathetic excitement, nor the work of an earthen vessel: but the Lord has been pleased to bless his own institutions, and to make it obvious, that the excellen- cy of the power is not of man, but of God.
"This hope, is also strengthened, by the attention that is paid to family religion ; to female, male, and juvenile prayer-meetings ; to the monthly concert for prayer; to the ordinances and worship of the sanctu- ary ; and to the support of religious institutions.
" On the 12th of July last, there were added to the Church forty-five members, three of whom were re- ceived on certificate ; and the whole number of mem- bers added, not reported in the last annual statistical report of the Classis of Bergen, is eighty-two."
For nine years, subsequent to this precious work of God's grace, Mr. C. watched over these precious souls, with those who before and afterwards were welcomed by him, to the fellowship of saints and of the house- hold of faith. He fostered the instrumentalities for their growth in grace-cared for the lambs of the fold, as well as for the sheep, and ever rejoiced in instruct- ing all the flock, and in leading them beside the still waters, and into the green pastures God had provided for them. He proclaimed aloud the cardinal doctrines of the gospel of God, as presented in the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms of the Reformed Dutch Church, prominently holding forth the total depravity of man-his utter inability to repent of sin and turn unto the Lord, until God enabled him-the justifica- tion of the soul of man by faith alone, but not for
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faith-the meritorious righteousness of Jesus Christ, as God's eternally begotten and only Son, co-equal and co-eternal God with the Father and the Holy Ghost-the eternal sovereignty of God, in his electing love, and the constant performance of good works, as the fruits of faith, exhibited in holy living unto the Lord.
Mr. C. labored to introduce and sustain a well di- gested system of discipline in the Church, which for many years prior to his settlement, had been greatly needed. In the review of the exercise of that disci- pline, it is evident that it was both necessary and useful. Several, on whom it had to be exercised, sub- sequently sought and received restoration to church fellowship, owning freely the salutary influence of the discipline of God's house.
Until within a few years before his death, seldom indeed was any other herald of the cross of Christ heard in this township, except in interchange of pul- pits, with brethren of the same precious faith and holy order ; but in 1826, his extensive pastoral charge was invaded by one, whom he deemed preaching another gospel. Some defections, to the Armenian ranks oc- curred. They were comparatively few, who fell from the faith of their first love. Some of them assumed an attitude of defiance, to the counsels and discipline of the Church, yet that very discipline, under God, ultimately availed to their spiritual good.
One very remarkable case of this character was presented, years after this servant of God had gone to his heavenly rest. The individual had, after her defection, removed from the place. Subsequently,
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having been under God's blessing brought to repent- ance, and in heart returned to the faith she had first espoused, had no peace of mind until she made a long and then tedious journey, to seek of the rulers in God's house an opportunity to testify her godly sor- rows, and her return, and to crave restoration to the favor of this Church, as she hoped she had returned to God and found favor in his sight. New men were then in office. To the new minister, and to some of the eldership, she was, if not wholly unknown, yet as one out of their remembrance. Her own circumstan- ces had also changed. She had become a wife and a mother. Her husband had become a new creature in Christ Jesus, and she had long felt her soul so burdened, on account of her past offence, by which she had wounded Christ in the house of his friends, that her soul longed to be restored to the fellowship of the Church, on which she had before insultingly turned her back. That was to her, and to the eldership of this Church, a happy day, when this wanderer return- ed ;- a practical exemplification of the beneficial in- fluence of an honest and judicious use of the keys of the kingdom, in Christ's name.
While these defections pained the anxious pastor, we see his fidelity rewarded. The upholding of his hands, and strengthening of his heart, by his elder- ship, shews they were at the post of duty, and ready to perform it.
Some others of those who were gathered into the fold during the revival, have indeed gone back from God, and walk no more with him. Some have been turned aside to see strange sights, and some have in-
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curred the discipline of the Church, for open sin; and yet, even of these, some have been richly blessed, with that very discipline.
A most affecting instance occurred, in which an aged man had been sadly tempted, and led into the sin of intemperance, and had afterwards repeated his transgression. His own soul became burdened there- by. God would not let him rest. He waited not for some accuser to precede him to the council of the Church, but craved an interview with his pastor, and in firm, but tender manner, begged the discipline of the Church, on his own confession of grievous sin. At his own instance, the eldership was summoned; his request granted, because of the criminalty ; and then thanking them for their fidelity to him, he begged their fervent and unceasing prayers for his forgiveness from God, and for his reformation and return to Christ. Years rolled away, ere he could venture, afresh, pub- licly to renew his covenant with God. When passed his four-score years, and having long ceased from the evil, for which he had been dealt with, he came totter- ing on his staff, to tell of Christ's pardoning love, and afresh to ask permission to set to his seal that God is true. Joyfully was the aged wanderer welcomed back to his place at the table of the Lord.
During the ministry of Mr. Cornelison, the church was, (in 1826), thoroughly repaired, and its interior more comfortably arranged, with a neat and then modern pulpit, and with family pews. The cost of this was about two thousand dollars. The pews were promptly sold, to cover the expense, and brought nearly four thousand dollars. All owners of a single
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sitting, or of any number of sittings, in the church as before arranged, were repaid the original valuation.
This servant of Christ continued in the work given him to do, until laid aside by the afflicting hand of God. His health began to decline about the close of the year 1827, and disease gradually wasted him away. On the 20th of March, 1828, he yielded up his spirit to the God who gave it, aged fifty-eight years and nine months. Thus he closed a ministry in this Church, during which he had been permitted to welcome, as hopeful seals to his ministry, two hundred and forty- four persons to communion at the Lord's table on con- fession of their faith, and twenty-three others, on certificate from sister churches. During the double pastoral charge with English Neighborhood, there were admitted to the communion of that Church, thirty persons on confession, and eleveu on certificate. The whole of these admissions, in the two Churches, were two hundred and seventy-four on confession, and thirty- four on certificate-in all three hundred and eight.
The mortal remains of this honored ambassador for Christ, rest in blessed hope, in the family vault, in what is well known in Bergen, as the "Old Grave- Yard," and on the site, as tradition informs us, of the log church, in which the worship of God was for years conducted.
A neat marble wall plate, commemorative of this devoted pastor, is inserted in the wall of the church, not far from the elder's pew ; a just tribute of affection for one, who for nearly thirty-five years, went in and out before this people, testifying the gospel of the kingdom. On this tablet is the inscription --
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Commemorative of the
Rev. John Cornelison, A. M.,
who died March 20th, A. D. 1828, In the 59th year of his age, and 35th of his ministry as Pastor of this Church.
In Life, Active, amiable, judicious, and pious, He was useful, respected, and beloved. In Death, He triumphed, through faith in Jesus; As the Eternal God.
"REMEMBER THEM WHO HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU THE WORD OF GOD." HEB: 13-7.
On the 26th day of May, A. D., 1828, the congre- gation having been previously notified from the pul- pit, duly assembled, to take measures for calling a pastor. The Consistory, having nominated the Rev. Benjamin C. Taylor, then pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at Acquackanonck, in Essex County, the sense of the congregation was taken, on that nomination, and by a vote of ninety to three, it was approved. On the same day, the Consistory, at a sub- sequent hour, met and invited the Rev. James V. C. Romeyn, of Hackensack, to meet with them, on the 29th of that month, to moderate the call upon the pastor elect. To give the more general satisfaction, they immediately visited the congregation, to take
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their votes, ascertaining thereby, their approval of the stipulations of the call, which were fully confirm- ed, by a vote of one hundred and sixteen to six.
On the 29th of that month, the call was executed by the Consistory, moderated and signed by Rev. J. V. C. Romeyn, and having been afterwards approved by the Classis of Bergen, it was accepted. On the first Sabbath in July, Mr. Taylor commenced his labors, and on the 24th day of that month, was installed pas- tor of the Church, by the Rev. James V. C. Romeyn, Peter Stryker, and James G. Ogilvie, as a committee appointed by the Classis. The sermon, by Mr. Ogil- vie, was on I. Corinthians, 4: 10. "As poor, yet making many rich."
The charge to the pastor, by Rev. Mr. Romeyn, and that to the people, by Rev. Mr. Stryker, were peculiarly happy, and such as might be expected from those fathers, in the Church both venerable men, and long tried in the services of the pastoral relation.
I shall long remember the emotions experienced when I first rose in the pulpit to address the congre- gation, as their pastor. The comeliness and neatness of the sanctuary, as to its internal arrangements, (hav- ing been but recently remodeled) ; the appearance of the worshipers in their plain apparel of domestic manufacture ; a large number of the females with the ancient black silk bonnet, resembling in shape those worn by nuns or sisters of charity, which, being laid off during the service, showed the neat, plain, and snow white caps, in every part of the house, (only the young females venturing to wear a leghorn or straw). The presence, in almost every pew, of one or more of
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those venerable forms, whose hoary heads admonished mne of the responsibility I had assumed, prompted the inquiry, how can I presume to teach so many whose age and experience bid me sit at their feet and learn? But remembering the Saviour's promise, "Lo, I am with you," I took courage and said, " I will trust, and not be afraid."
Twenty-nine years have nearly rolled away, since my installation, during which, almost a generation has passed off this stage of action. Of the one hun- dred and sixty-five families, constituting the congrega- tion at the commencement of that period, only forty- five remain. Several of these have been bereaved of the husband and father. Of the one hundred and ninety-six communicants of that day, only fifty-three survive, and of these, a few do not now reside in this community. Of the entire pastoral charge, I have followed to the grave eight hundred and fifty.
It was not my design to extend the history of this particular Church, to a later date than that of the be- ginning of my pastorate. A few prominent facts are, however, of such importance, as to induce me to place them on record, as a pastor's memorial, and to meet the wishes of many of my pastoral charge.
While the ministrations of the sanctuary were, for the first half of my ministry, usually well attended, and God raised up witnesses for the truth, there was no special manifestation of the power of the Spirit of God, until the years 1841 and 1842. This Church, notwithstanding new churches were springing up all around her, and to some considerable extent formed of her members, scarcely realised a loss at any period,
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so gradual, though constant, were the changes. Occa- sionally, the number of communicants was somewhat reduced. The vacant places were, however, soon supplied, and then an onward growth succeeded, until we were summoned by the force of circumstances, to meet the exigency which that growth occasioned.
On the 5th of April, 1841, three petitions were presented to the Consistory, signed by thirty-seven persons, nearly all of whom were heads of families, praying for enlarged accommodations in the church, and representing their own destitution, as having no seats for their families.
These petitions having been read, arrangements were made for a meeting of the Great Consistory, which was held on the 19th of April. At that meet- ing the petitions, with the signatures increased to fifty-six, were read. As the appended names were announced, many a father heard an appeal from one or more of his own sons, saying, " Give us room where we may dwell in the house of the Lord;" and the so- lemnity which pervaded many, told what anxiety was affecting the bosom. As a measure of prudence, the Great Consistory resolved to adjourn, until the third of May, and extend an invitation to the pew holders at large, to meet with them, and consult on the mo- mentous subject of these petitions. The fact of over fifty families seeking church accommodation, was too big with import to be slighted. The day came which was to settle the question. It was a large meeting Various proposals, or suggestions, for the enlargement of the existing house, were made, but negatived. At one time, a proposal to build a new and more commo-
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dious house, was also negatived, by a small majority, and there was reason to apprehend a sad division. At length, the following resolution was adopted :
" Resolved, That the Consistory of this Church be recommended to cause a plan of a church to be made, and the pews numbered, and estimate what the building will cost, and sell the pews according to said plan, to the highest bidders, before the present build- ing be taken down."
The vote for the above resolution, was unquestion- ably that of those who had previously voted not to build. The opponents of the proposition viewed it as an impracticable or unavailing scheme. Neverthe- less, the Consistory took the advice-procured the needed plan-and offered the pews for sale. In a few days after the first sale, the adjourned sales swell- ed the amount to nine thousand nine hundred and five dollars. On the 22d of July, contracts were executed with Messrs. William H. Kirk & Co., and Clark & Van Nest, of Newark, N. J., for the erection of the church.
Arrangements had been made for discontinuing services in the old church, and on Sabbath, the 25th of July, 1841, the last public exercises were rendered in that holy house, in which, for sixty-eight years, God had been worshiped, and on the site of which, successive generations had praised his holy name, for one hundred and sixty-one years.
In the morning service of that memorable Sabbath, the pastor announced his text, Isaiah 54: 2, 3. "En- large the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations : spare not, lengthen
7
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thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes: for thou shalt break forth, on the right hand and on the left ; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles."
The afternoon discourse was on Psalm 137 : 5, 6. " If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand for- get her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth ; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy."
Many anxieties were exercised that day, for the future issues of the work then undertaken; and the remembrance of past joys and sorrows, experienced in that sacred house, affected many. The work was arduous and expensive. Many questioned its expe- diency-some indulged forebodings of ill. God's providence pointed onward, and confidence in him, blended with holy prayer, and pious activity, could and would avail.
Under the superintendence of an excellent building committee, consisting of Messrs. Jacob D. Van Winkle, Garrit Sip, and Abraham Vreeland, the work was be- gun on the next day, (26th July). The old sanctuary was demolished in a few days. The stones of it, so precious, were to be re-incorporated in the new edi- fice, and as fast as needed, were conveyed to the new site, whereon was demolished, at the same time, the first parsonage house, in which the first pastor lived and died.
LAYING OF THE CORNER STONE.
On the 26th day of August, 1841, the corner stone of the new church was laid, with appropriate solemni- ties, by the Rev. Benjamin C. Taylor, the pastor of
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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, BERGEN, N. J.
Erected 1841.
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the Church. The site is very commanding and beau- tiful. The edifice, sixty-four feet in width, by eighty- four feet in depth, with a portico of ten feet in front, is of stone, excepting only the front and columns of the portico, which are of brick, coated with stucco. It is surmounted with a cupola of due proportions. The whole, suitably ornamental and convenient. There are one hundred and forty-four pews on the floor, and seventy-eight on the galleries-capable of seating comfortably twelve hundred persons.
On this occasion, about a thousand persons were present, a considerable number of whom were from New York and Newark. Among them was the aged widow of the former pastor, Rev. John Cornelison, and two other mothers in Israel, who were received into the communion of the Church, during the minis- try of its first pastor, the Rev. William Jackson, and who had continued in its communion more than half a century.
Two appropriate hymns, written for the occasion, by Mrs. Anna R. Taylor, and an Anthem were sung by the choir. The Rev. Thomas De Witt, D. D., of New York, delivered an address in the Dutch lan- guage ; and although it was the first public exercise ever attempted by him in that language, it was spoken with entire fluency, was well understood by very many of his auditors, to whom it was particularly gratifying, and was pronounced, by competent judges, very accurate, both in substance and enunciation.
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