USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > New Brunswick > Historical discourse delivered at the celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the First Reformed Dutch Church, New Brunswick, N.J., October 1, 1867 > Part 15
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form of worship, made the forests and glens of Scotland vocal with their psalms of praise. And how often are we pointed to that exhibition of faith and devotion in the history of the pilgrims of New-England, who, after a long and boisterous passage, disembarked from the storm-beaten Mayflower in the midst of a northern winter, waded through the surf to the icy shore, bowed in worship on the snow-covered rock of Ply- mouth, and there, finding what they had sought in this new world-liberty and a home-made that December sky echo with their songs of praise and voice of prayer.
Grand as are these associations-and we acknowledge it all- is it not also worthy of remembrance that the church of our faith and order had its origin in that Dutch republic whose territory was rescued from the ocean by artificial embank- ments; a republic that gave slielter to the persecuted of all other nations, receiving the Pilgrims and Huguenots when hunted by civil and ecclesiastical intolerance from their own land ; a republic, whose noble constitution gave origin to our own form of government, and which stood so long as a rock against the in-rolling tide of Catholic dominion and prelatical and intolerant usurpation ? Our history, as a branch of the American church, is worthy of preservation, and I trust that God will make me thankful that I have a home, by birth and education and ministerial life, in a church which hails from sturdy Holland.
Let me now suggest, as an appropriate close to my dis- course, some lessons which the prayer of our text teaches.
1. Our gratitude is due to God for the gift of the fathers.
A noble ancestry is a ground of gratitude unto God, and no one can tell how much he is indebted for the bestowment of such an inheritance. The exhibition of their virtues and the power of their example has been sending down through suc- cessive generations the most healthful and beneficent influ- ence. God selected these agents as the pioneers of his Gospel in this region, and they have been made by Providence the instruments of conferring upon us and upon the world count- less blessings. These patriarchal men have stood before us during our exercises strong in faith, fervent in prayer, earnest in work for Christ, and exemplary in life. And on the divine
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faithfulness in the fulfillment of his precious promises we also will rely. "Know, therefore, that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations."
2. We should foster and strengthen all those institutions which the fathers established.
The policy and wisdom of the fathers was to establish, first, the church with all its necessary appointments-the outward edifice very simple and unadorned in its construction, but, for the times, convenient and ample, and not contrasting in an unfavorable way with their own private dwellings. The ori- ginal house of worship, in Burnet street, was erected from the scanty means which the first settlers, in their poverty, conse- crated to the Lord. The second, built on this very site, of the inore enduring stone, was a clear expression of the advancing spirit and liberal views of the congregation. This noble edi- fice, which has now stood in its massive proportions for more than half a century, on a still broader scale displayed the large-hearted liberality of those men who saw the need of such an edifice as this to adorn our city and invite generations to crowd its gates. The sad scene connected with its erection adds interest to this place of worship. The beloved pastor, who had ministered here for seventeen years, saw the impor- tance of this enterprise, and upon the threshold of the work God took him. It was a day of mourning when the congre- gation gathered around his grave, beneath the walls of the old building now in process of demolition. Yonder is his monu- ment, and around this venerable church are resting hundreds to whom he preached, and the record of the sainted Condict is still precious to the people of the Lord.
We shall show our appreciation of the work of the fathers by cherishing the institutions which they established. Are increased facilities demanded ? let us arise and build. Have we schools and colleges and seminaries ? let us see that these are maintained with vigor in our midst, and learn wisdom, by occupying important posts in the growing West, that we may do our part in providing means of intellectual, moral, and reli- gious culture for the whole land.
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3. Let us imitate the excellences of the fathers.
I have not represented them as perfect characters. They had their faults. But they were the faults of the age. And while we spread the mantle of charity over their failings, let us walk in the footsteps of their piety. It will be well for us to remember that the whole benefit of the past will be lost upon us if we so rely upon it as to make it a ground of repose, as if no further exertion was demanded. Do not let us, then, so rest upon the works of the fathers that we shall attempt no further progress. Let us arise and work for God, and pray, labor, toil for that gracious baptism of the Holy Ghost which would be such a crown of glory to our anniversary, and fill heaven with joy. We will prove ourselves worthy of our his- tory if we do the great work to which the providence of God surely points us.
Let us, then, most fervently offer unto God the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the Temple, " The Lord our God be with us as he was with our fathers." Was God graciously present with the former pastors of this church, rendering them faithful in labors and successful in winning souls to Christ ? So may He be with him who now serves his Master and this church of Christ in the ministry of the Gospel. May He make me a faithful ambassador for God, a diligent worker in the vineyard, and a true leader of the people. Was God with the officers of the church, teaching them to rule well in the house of the Lord ? So may He be with these elders and deacons, rendering them efficient co-laborers with the pastor, and watchful over the interests of Zion. Was God with the young men of this church, giving them wisdom to consecrate themselves to Him in the work of the ministry? So may He raise up and send forth from this communion many who shall devote their talents to the blessed work of the ministry of re- conciliation. We remember the fathers, and how God was with them. But where are they? They have all passed away. Man dies, but God lives. Ministers, elders, members of this church are gone. Their bodies rest in hope in the ad- joining churchyard, while their spirits have long been with the Saviour in the land of the blessed.
One hundred years ago, the spot on which we worship was
13
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consecrated to the God of Bethel. When the next one hun- dred years are added, what changes shall then have taken place ! It will, without doubt, be observed. But not one of us will be living to share in the succeeding anniversary. Long before that time, we will all have passed away. The church will be here, worshiping in this or in some future sanctuary. This beautiful river, with a name so redolent of the tribes who darted their swift canoes along its tide, will still flow onward to the ocean. These fields, so verdant, will still slope down to the river margin, yielding the finest of the wheat. All these institutions of religion and learning which give honor to our city will abide, we trust, more vigorous with the increase of years. But we will not be of the number who make up the great congregation on that occasion.
" Who'll pass along our city street A hundred years to come ? Who'll tread this church with willing feet A hundred years to come ? Pale, trembling age, and fiery youth, And childhood, with its brow of truth ; The rich and poor, on land and sea -- Where will the mighty millions be A hundred years to come ?
" We all within our graves will sleep A hundred years to come ; No willing soul for us will weep A hundred years to come. But other men our lands will till, And others then our streets will fill, And others words will sing as gay, And bright the sun shine as to-day, A hundred years to come."
. PART THIRD.
APPENDIX.
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH, 1867.
Pastor. REV. RICHARD H. STEELE.
+
Elders.
ISAAC VOORHEES, JESSE F. HAGEMAN, JOHN BEEKMAN,
FERDINAND S. CORTELYOU, LEWIS APPLEGATE, GEORGE BUTTLER.
HENRY K. HOW, GILBERT S. VAN PELT, V. M. W. SUYDAM,
Deacons. NICHOLAS W. PARSELL, JOHN V. H. VAN CLEEF, JOHN STEWART.
Treasurer. IRA CONDICT VOORHEES.
APPENDIX.
I.
THE lands west of the Raritan lots, extending back to the Millstone river, and as far up said river as Rocky Hill, (taking in nearly all of Franklin township, and a strip in addition on the south of the Six Mile Run Turn- pike,) were originally divided into four large plots, which may be in general thus described : The plot of Daniel Cox began at the north-west corner of Inians's two plots, near the Two Mile Run Tavern ; thence in a straight line south-west five miles, to a point a mile and a quarter south of Six Mile Run church; thence west-south-west three and one tenth miles to the road lead- ing from Ten Mile Run to Little Rocky Hill, being to a point on said road about one mile directly south of Ten Mile Run; thence in a straight line north-north-east eight miles and thirty chains, striking and following what is known as the Middlebush road, (which is a remnant of this eight-mile line,) to a point on the Raritan lots, (either Jones's or Clement's lot, and now the farm of J. V. L. Van Doren,) and thence along the rear of the Raritan lots two and a half miles, plus ten chains, to the point of beginning, con- taining 7540 acres. (Amboy Records, Lib. G, p. 314; also, Lib. E, p. 365.) The proprietors sold this tract to one of their fellow proprietors, Daniel Cox, of London, September 1st, 1694. Signed Andrew Hamilton, David Mudie, Andrew Bowne, James Dundas, L. Morris, John Inians, Thomas Warne, George Willocks, Thomas Gordon, John Reid, John Barclay.
The second plot begins at a point on Millstone River, opposite Rocky Hill, and runs east-south-east two miles, minus twelve chains, to the southern end of the eight-mile line before alluded to; thence along said line three miles, minus six chains, and thence west-north-west two miles, to the Mill- stone River, where the Ten Mile Run brook empties into the same; thence up the Millstone to the place of beginning, containing 5000 acres. John Harrison and George Willocks bought this tract, as well as the adjoining tract, of Daniel Cox, already described, in the year 1700. (Amboy Records, Lib. E, p. 365.)
The third plot, bought by the same parties, begins at the mouth of Ten Mile Run brook, and runs two miles south-easterly to the eight-mile line (or the Middlebush road ;) thence along said line four miles and a half, minus
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six chains, to a point half a mile north-east of Middlebush church, and thence west-north-west three miles and eight chains to the Millstone river, at the mouth of a little brook called Ledging brook, (this is one or other of the small streams within a mile south of East-Millstone ;) the fourth plot lying north of the last, and between it and the Raritan lots, (now known as the Cedar Grove District,) appears to have been taken pos- session of by William Dockwra, who owned neighboring lands on the Raritan and Millstone. At any rate, a portion of this land, sold by Richard Salter (Dockwra's agent) to Christian Van Doren, in 1723, had to be re- purchased as late as 1760, upon the representation that Salter had no right to sell it. There were several conflicting claims to this portion of Frank- lin township. (See Millstone Centennial, pp. 13, 14, 16, 19, and 21.)
II.
LIST OF FAMILIES IN THE CONGREGATION-1732-35.
Jan Aeten, Jan Aeten, Jr., Thomas Aeten,
Gerardus Banker, Jacob Buys,
James Bennet, Jan Bennet, Elias Barger, Andrew Blaew, Cornelius Bennet, Hendrick Blaew, Aerie Bennet, John Buys,
Francis Costigin, Cornelius Cornell, Peter Cochran, Jacobus Cornell, Gerrit De Graw, John De Witt,
G. De Peyster, Frans Dilden, Hendrick Dally, Gideon De Camp,
Philip French, Charles Fontyn, Hendrick Fisher, Abraham Fontyn, Folkert Folkers, Jacob Fontyn, Jaques Fontyn, Johannes Folkers, Isack Fontyn,
Johannes Fontyn, Reyner Fontyn,
John Guest, Gerrit Gerritsen, John Gedeman,
James Hude, Abraham Heyer, Daniel Hendrickson,
Isaac Jansen,
Peter Kemble,
Paul Le Boyton, Cornelius Low,
Teunis Montague, Johannes Messeler, Paul Miller, Johannes Meyer, Peter Metselaer, Peter Moon, Samuel Mulford, Paul Miller,
Andrew Norwood, Roelef Nevius,
Frederick Outgelt, Jacob Ouke, Abraham Ouke, William Ouke,
Jan Probasco,
Christofel Probasco,
Dirck Schuyler, Jacobus Schureman, Cornelius Suydam, Hendrick Schenck, Roelef Seebring, Petrus Sleght, Abraham Schuyler, Gerrit Stoothof, Johannes Seebring, Lucas Smack, Aaron Sutfin,
John Ten Broeck,
Isaac Van Noordstrand, Dirck Van Arsdalen, Hendrick Van Deursen, Folkert Van Noorstrand, Jeremiah Van Derbilt, Hendrick Van Derbilt, Aris Van Arsdalen, Jan Van Buren, Dirck Van Veghten, Dirck Van Allen, Johannes Martinus Van Harlingen, Benjamin Van Cleef Aris Van Derbilt, Abraham Van Deursen, Abraham Van Doren, Aris Van Cleef, Minnie Van Voorhees, Peter Voorhees, Lucas Voorhees,
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Johannes Van Norden, Jan Van Nuys,
Christofel Van Doren,
Roelef Voorhees,
Frederick Van Lieuwen,
Frans Van Dyck,
Dirck Van Norstrand,
Hendrick Van Derbilt,
Nicolas Van Dyck,
William Van Der Rype,
William Williamson,
Court Van Voorhees,
Jacob Van End,
Lawrence Williamson,
Christian Van Doren,
Matys Van Der Rype,
Leffert Waldron,
Philip Young.
III.
Hendrick Van Lieuwen, Johannes Voorhees,
Gerrit Voorhees,
CHARTER OF THE FIVE CHURCHES, NEW-BRUNSWICK, RARI- TAN, SIX MILE RUN, MILLSTONE, AND NORTH BRANCH, GRANTED JUNE 7TH, 1753 :
GEORGE THE SECOND, By the grace of God, of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc., To all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Whereas, diverse and sundries of our loving subjects inhabiting within the several counties of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Middle- sex, in our Province of New-Jersey, in behalf of themselves and others, being of the Dutch Protestant Reformed Church, by their humble petition presented to our trusty and well-beloved Jonathan Belcher, Esq., Captain- General and Governor-in-Chief in and over our Province of New-Jersey and territories thereon depending in America, Chancellor and Vice-Admiral in the same etc., setting forth that the petitioners are very numerous and daily increasing, and consist of five Churches and Congregations, to wit, The Church and Congregation of Raritan, the Church and Congregation of North-Branch, the Church and Congregation of New-Brunswick, the Church and Congregation of Six Mile Run, the Church and Congregation of Millstone; That the most advantageous support of religion among them, requires that some persons among them should be incorporated as trustees for the community, that they may take grants of lands and chattels, thereby to enable the petitioners to erect and repair public build- ings, for the worship of God, school-houses and alms-houses, and for the maintenance of the ministry and poor, and that the same trustees may plead and may be impleaded in any suit touching the promises, and have. perpetual succession ; and we having nothing more at heart than to see the Protestant Religion in a flourishing condition throughout all our domin- ions, and being graciously pleased to give all due encouragement to such of our loving subjects, who are zealously attached to our person, govern- ment and the Protestant succession, in our royal house, and to grant the request of the petitioners in this behalf: Know ye, that we of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, have willed, ordained, consti- tuted, and granted, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, do will, ordain, constitute, and appoint, that the Rev. John Light, John Frelinghouse, Ministers, John Van Middlesworth, Peter Williams, Peter Van Ess, Andrew Ten Eyck, Daniel Ceybyrn, Peter Mountfort, Hendrick Fisher, Cornelius Bennet, William Williams, Luke Voorhees, David
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Nevius, Simon Van Arsdalen, John Stricker, Reynior Vechten, Elders, and Frans Cusart, Andrew Monton, John Broca, Harman Lean, Cornelius Wyckoff, Peter Schamp, Hendrick Van Deursen, John Messelaer, Abra- ham Hize, Christopher Hoglan, Rem Garretsen, Cornelius Van Arsdalen, Andrew Hagaman, Abraham Hagaman, and James Van Arsdalen, Deacons of the Dutch Reformed Congregations above-named, and the counties aforesaid, and their successors hereafter, the minister or ministers, Elders and Deacons of the respective Churches or Congregations, which at or any time hereafter, be duly chosen or appointed, shall be and remain one body politick and corporate in deed and fact, by the name of the trustees of the Dutch Reformed Church of Raritan, North-Branch, New-Brunswick, Six Mile Run, and Millstone in the counties aforesaid, and that all and every one, the ministers, Elders and Deacons before herein expressed, shall be the first trustees of the said churches and congregations now by these presents constituted and made one body politick by the name of the trustees of the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church, and shall so remain until others are duly called, chosen, and put into their respective place or places, and that they, the said body politick and corporate shall have perpetual succession in deed, fact, and name, to be known and distinguished by the name of The Trustees of the Dutch Reformed Church; and all deeds, grants, bargains, sales, leases, evidences, or otherwise, whatsoever which may anywise relate or concern the corporation, and also that they and their successors, by the name of The Trustees of the Dutch Reformed Church of Raritan, North-Branch, New-Brunswick, Six Mile Run, and Millstone, in the counties aforesaid, be and forever hereafter shall be, persons able in law to purchase, take, hold, or enjoy, any messuages, houses, buildings, lands, tenements, rents, or whatsoever in fee and forever, or for time of life, or lives, or in any other manner, so as the same exceed not at any time in the yearly value of seven hundred pounds sterling, per annum, beyond and above all charges, and reprizes, the statute of mortmain, or any other law to the con- trary notwithstanding, and also goods, chattels, and all other things to what kind soever, and also that they and their successors, by the name of The Trustees of the Dutch Reformed Church, shall and may give, grant, demise, or otherwise dispose of all or any of the messuages, houses, buildings, lands, tenements, rents and all other things as to them shall seem meet, at their own will and pleasure; and also that they and their successors, be and forever hereafter shall be, persons able in law to sue and be sued, plea and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be de- fended in all Courts and places, before us our heirs and successors, and before us, or any of the judges, officers, or ministers of us our heirs and successors, in all and all manner of actions, suits, complaints, pleas, causes matters, and demands, whatsoever; and also that the same trustees of the Dutch Reformed Churches, above-named for the time being, and their successors shall and may forever hereafter have and use a common seal with such device or devices, as they shall think proper for sealing all and singular deeds, grants, conveyances, contracts, bonds, articles of
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agreement, and all and singular their affairs touching or concerning the said corporation. And we do further ordain, will, or grant, that all and every such lands, tenements, and hereditaments corporeal or incorporeal, money, goods, and chattels, which at any time before or after the date of these our letters patent, have been, or shall be, devised, given, or granted, to all or any of the particular churches above-named, within the said seve- ral counties of Hunterdon, Somerset, and Middlesex, or to any person or persons, in trust for them, shall be and remain in the peaceable and quiet possession of the corporation, according to the true intent or meaning of such devise or devises, gift or gifts, grant or grants : We do further will, ordain, give, and grant, that the trustees by these presents appointed, shall continue and remain the trustees of the Dutch Reformed Churches of Raritan, North-Branch, New-Brunswick, Six Mile Run, and Millstone, in the counties aforesaid, until others shall be called and chosen according to the manner, customs and methods now in use among the said Protestant Dutch Reformed Churches, which persons so called, elected, and chosen, shall have all the powers and authorities of the above-named trustees, and all and every such person or persons so newly called, elected, and chosen, as aforesaid, shall remain until other fit persons in like manner be called, elected, and chosen, in their respective rooms and places, and so toties quoties. And we do further ordain, give, and grant, that there be a meeting of the several trustees of the churches aforesaid, at the Raritan public place of worship, in the County of Somerset, on the first Tuesday of August next, after the date of these our letters patent, and thereafter at such time or times, place or places, within the said counties as to them or the major part of them, shall seem meet and convenient, and then and there by plu- rality of votes choose a president out of them, for the time being, who shall have the custody of the seal or seals of the said corporation, and all books, charters, deeds, and writings, any way relating to the said corporation, and shall have power from time to time, and all times hereafter, as occasion shall require, to call a meeting of the said trustees, at such place within the said counties as he shall think convenient, for the execution of all or any of the powers hereby given and granted, and in case of sickness, removal, or death of the president, all the powers by these presents granted to the president shall remain on the senior trustee upon record, until the re- covery of the president or until a new president be chosen as aforesaid : And we do further will, ordain, give, or grant, that every act and order of the major part of the said trustees, consented or agreed to, at such meet- ing as aforesaid, shall be good, valid, and effectual to all intent and pur- poses, as if the said number of the whole trustees had consented and agreed thereto : And we do further will and ordain, that all the acts of the said trustees, or any of them, shall from time to time be fairly entered in a book or books to be kept for that purpose by the president of the trus- tees, for the time being, which book or books to be kept for that pur- pose by the president of the trustees, together with the seal of the said corporation, and all charters, deeds, and writings whatsoever, any way be-
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longing to the said corporation, shall be delivered over by the former pre- sident, to the president of the said trustees newly elected, as such pre- sident shall hereafter successively from time to time be chosen: And we do further of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, for us, our heirs and successors, by these presents give and grant unto the said trustees of the Dutch Reformed Church, the ministers, elders, and deacons above-named, and their successors forever, that they and their successors all and singular, the rights, privileges, powers, benefits, emolu- ments, and advantages, to be hereby granted, shall and may forever here- after, have, hold, enjoy, and use without hindrance or impediment of us, our heirs or successors, or of any of the justices, sheriffs, escheators, coro- ners, bailiffs, or other officers and ministers, whatsoever, of us, our heirs or successors, and that these our letters, being entered upon record in our secretary's office of New-Jersey, and the record and the enrollment thereof and either of them, and all and every thing therein contained from time to time and at all times hereafter be and shall be firm, valid, good, sufficient, and effectual in law towards and against us, our heirs and successors, ac- cording to the true intent and meaning hereof, and in and through all things, shall be construed and taken and expounded most benignly and in favor for the greatest advantage and profit of the trustees of the said Dutch Reformed Church of Raritan, North-Branch, New-Brunswick, Six Mile Run, and Millstone, in the counties aforesaid, and their successors forever, notwithstanding any defect, default, or imperfection may be found therein, or any other cause or thing whatsoever. In testimony whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent, and the great seal of our Province to be hereunto affixed, and the same to be entered of record in our Secretary's office of said Province of New-Jersey, in one of the books of record therein remaining, witness our well-beloved and trusty Jonathan Belcher, Esq., our Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief, in and over our said Province of New-Jersey, Chancellor and Vice-Admiral of the same, by and with the advice and consent of our council of our said Province, at Burlington, the seventh day of June, and in the twenty-sixth year of our reign.
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