USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > Millstone in Monmouth County > Historical discourse on occasion of the centennial anniversary of the Reformed Dutch Church of Millstone > Part 6
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* Son of Rev. Thos. Romeyn, who had married Margaret Freling- huysen.
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in Passaic County, where Ire died about thirty years ago ; and at the opening of the century the excellent Vredenburgh had begun his labors at Somerville, and whose wondrous fruits appeared after his death. Old Dr. Studdiford with his forty years of service, (1787-1826,) yet remembered by many, had succeeded the short ministry of Van Arsdale at Read- ington, (1783-1787,) who like the second Frelinghuysen and Romeyn in the same localities had so early been called to rest. Old Dominie Van Harlingen, who gave name to one of his congregations after his death, a native originally of our own village, and a brother of our active elder Ernes- tus, having labored for a generation (1761-1795,) in Father Ludlow's and Brother Gardner's churches, preaching only in the Dutch, and having for a time at Nechanic a colleague in our own Froeligh received a year or two before his death, (1794,) an English colleague, in Rev. Wm. R. Smith, the brother of President Smith of Princeton College. And he in turn, after burying his venerable father in the ministry in 1795, received three years later the Rev. Henry Polhe- mus, as his colleague, a native of Harlingen, who labored with him for ten years. So that in the year 1800 we have laboring in the Dutch churches of the Raritan and its branches, and as companions of the yet youthful and after- ward eminent Cannon, the sainted Vredenburgh and Stud- diford, Polhemus and Smith, Duryee and Condict, and Van Harlingen without charge in this village, and an attendant on young Cannon's ministry. Here were nine Dutch churches, and eight ministers, (seven settled,) where a little more than a-half century before, there had been but one ambassador of Christ to cultivate this extended field."
* See appendix, Note 4, where the main data of the history of these and the later Dutch churches of the Raritan Valley are carried down to the present time.
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The old church in this year again received a thorough re- pairing, and the seats were taxed to defray the expenses. Four years later the music of a church bell first resounded over these fields. It was made to order, in New Haven, and cost £16.12s. and 9d, or a little more than $40, and about $20 more for transportation. But Mr. Cannon's field, with the increase of population, was becoming too large for one man. Each of the churches also began to feel able to sup- port a preacher alone. He lived moreover remote from Millstone, which often proved very inconvenient. These, and other reasons not necessary to be specified, induced Mr. Cannon early in 1807, after ten years of labor, to resign his call to Millstone, and our ecclesiastical relation with Six Mile Run was at the same time dissolved, the latter church calling Mr. Cannon alone. He has left a list of the actual number of communicants for the year 1801, whence it appears that this church then had seventy members. But another list in his own hand in 1806,* reports only fifty-five, not one-fifth the present number. He received during the first six and-a-half years of his ministry here, thirty-seven on profession, and sixteen by certificate. During the last year and-a-half, none. He was eminently a pastor, as his excel- lent work on Pastoral Theology, adopted in many institu- tions of our land, abundantly proves. With the close of his ministry among you, ended your collegiate connections with other congregations, about sixty years ago. During the first eight years, being without a pastor, and dependent upon the neighboring ministers for supply ; and then after Foering's four and-a-half years ministry here alone, for twenty-seven years you had shared your Sabbath services with Nechanic and Six Mile Run. Henceforth, you deter-
* See appendix, Note 5
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mined to meet every Sabbath in your own sanctuary, to enjoy the privileges of the Gospel.
Mr. Cannon, after about twenty years of service at Six Mile Run, was in 1826, elected as Professor of Ecclesiastical History and Church Government, as successor to the lament- ed Woodhull, in the Seminary at New Brunswick. He became then colleague of Rev. Dr. John De Witt, (the father of the present Professor of the same name,) and of Rev. Dr. Milledoler, the successor of Dr. Livingston. Here for a quarter of a century he labored for his Master, till He called him to a higher sphere of duties above. He died on Sab- bath, July 25th, 1852.
Rev. John Schureman became the fifth pastor of this church. He was called on April 20th, 1807, from the church of Bedminster, and began his duties here soon after. He was born October 19th, 1778, near New Brunswick. He graduated from the college in that place in 1795, and after pursuing his theological studies under Dr. Livingston, he was licensed to preach in 1800. The next year he settled at Bedminster, where he remained for six years. He was probably a descendant of the schoolmaster Schureman, who came to America in 1719 with Mr. Frelinghuysen, and set- tled with him at Three Mile Run.
The Consistory, having no parsonage, having sold out their interest in their last property to Six Mile Run church, Mr. Sehnreman lived on the place now occupied by Mr. Jacob Van Cleeve, near Blackwell's Mills. During his ministry, an important reformation in the management of the finances of the church was attempted, and partly suc- ceeded. Many of the pew-holders gave up their old deeds to the Consistory, and received new ones in return, in which the pews were made directly assessable for all the expenses of the church. But his short pastorate here pre-
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vented the plan from being carried out fully, and in 1828, at the rebuilding of the church, unfortunately, it was not established. This is now a change eminently desirable, for the interests and character of the church. It should not be longer delayed.
In the fall of 1809 (Nov. 17) the Consistory agreed to his request to dissolve their relations, he having accepted a call to the Collegiate church in New York. During the two years and a half of his ministry here, he received into the church, on profession, seventeen, and by certificate, ten, in all twenty-seven.
Mr. Schureman was not of strong constitution. His health soon failed him in New York, and in two years after he left this church, (viz., in 1811,) he removed to New Brunswick, having been chosen Vice-President of the Col- lege, as successor to Dr. Condict .* But the College was at this time almost dead. He received, meanwhile, successive calls from the church of New Brunswick, and in the spring of 1813, was installed as its pastor. But his poor health in three months compelled him to give up this charge. In 1815, the church, realizing his abilities, appointed him Pro- fessor of History and Church Government. But in May, 1818, he died. Dr. Livingston writes concerning him : " He was mild and pleasant ; discerning and firm ; stead- fast, but not obstinate ; zealous, but not assuming. The frequent hemorrhage of his lungs, and the habitual weak- ness of his constitution, prevented him from close and intense studies ; yet he was a good Belle-lettres scholar. His style was correct and pure ; and he made such progress in the official branches of his professorship, that his lectures upon ecclesiastical history and pastoral theology were highly
* See Gunn's Livingston, p. 289. Dr. Condict died June 1st, 1811.
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acceptable and very useful. The suavity of his manners, and the propriety of his conduct, endeared him to the stu- dents, and recommended him to the respect and affection of all who knew him. He was growing into extensive use- fulness, and had he lived and progressed, as he begun, would have become a treasure to the Theological College."
We have now come down to a time within the memory of many yet living, viz., the beginning of Rev. John L. Zabriskie's ministry, a man who served this church nearly half of its term of existence.
Mr. Zabriskie was of Polish extraction, having descended from Albert Saboroweski, who arrived in this country in the ship Fox, in 1662, settling at once at Hackensack. This Albert had studied for the Lutheran ministry, it is said,* but was in some way impressed into the army, and at length availed himself of an opportunity which offered, to come to this country. He bought a large tract of land of the Indians, called Paramus, where his children mostly settled, and whence the family have spread abroad. Rev. Mr. Zabriskie was the son of John, and of the fourth generation in this country, having been born March 4th, 1779, three weeks before your first pastor's death.
He graduated at Union College in 1798, being a member of the first class in that institution, and was licensed to preach in 1801 by the Classis of Rensselaer. He first settled over the united churches of Greenbush and Wynants- kill, succeeding Rev. J. V. C. Romeyn, and where he con- tinned for about eight years. Hle preached here for the first in the month of February, 1810, and moved to Mill- stone in May, 1811,+ fifty-five years ago, and was installed by Rev. Mr. Cannon.
* Winfield's Historical Sermon at Paramus.
+ Minutes of Classis of New Brunswick, vol. ii., pp. 14 56.
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The church at the time of his settlement had not more than about seventy members, and eighty-four families. This may appear strange, since there were about as many signatures to the first petition for a church, nearly half a century before. But it must be remembered that not all of these were allowed to join the new congregation then, and many families had been broken up during the Revolution, and the country much impoverished. The church of Mill- stone was, at the beginning of Mr. Zabriskie's ministry, among the weakest on the Raritan and its branches ; while now, as far as members go, and ability, it is among the strongest. His ministry began about the time when the incipient steps were in progress, of all those great union associations of piety, philanthropy, and benevolence, which have since so greatly blessed, and are still blessing, our world. He was among the earliest friends of the New Jersey Bible Society, the first of those State societies which, when their numbers had increased, merged themselves into the one grand American Bible Society. It was a grand and hitherto unequalled privilege to begin life with this - century, and in this new and freed country, amid all the rapidly developing plans of Providence, for the progress of His church, and the elevation of mankind ;- to live in an age when wonder succeeded wonder in the physical, and scientific and moral worlds; and with each succeding decade, the privileges and blessings and causes of adoration still increasing. It is now a blessed privilege for the Christian to appreciate and help on these works of Provi- dence. It seems to have been Mr. Zabriskie's work to build up this church to strength and numbers through the Spirit's influence, that she might then take an active and important, yea, a prominent part in these great plans of God. Let us not fail, as ancient Israel so often did, to understand our duty.
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Shortly after Mr. Zabriskie's settlement here, early in 1812, the Consistory again provided a parsonage property for themselves. They bought the plot# now occupied by Dr. Fred. Blackwell, of Dan. Disborough, for $1,250, and imme- diate repairs bestowed, swelled this amount to $2,232. But this place was only occupied three or four years, when Mr. Zabriskie purchased a property of his own on the hill, where he resided till his death. And the Consistory sold their parsonage to Dr. Win. MeKissack.
During the first eighteen years of his ministry here, he preached in the old church, reminding them still of early times, of poverty and strife and victory, in freedom's con- flict. But it had long been felt that this church was too small for the growing congregation, and repeated efforts had been made to remedy the evil. The building had re- ceived a slight repairing during the Revolution, and a more considerable one in 1783, when money had been solicited abroad. Again in 1800, it was very thoroughly renovated, and the pews re-arranged and sold anew to pay expenses, In 1805, they agitated the matter of putting a gallery in the church, to increase the accommodation, but failed of suc- cess ; and again in 1816, $800 were subscribed for this ob- ject, but without result. The old building continued to bé occupied till April 22d, 1828, the subject of re-building hav- ing been agitated, (says Dominie Zabriskie, in a certain paper,) for twenty-five years, without being able to agree on the best course. But on May 26th, 1827, a memorial was presented to the Consistory, signed by eighty persons,
* Beginning at the end of a large flat stone, on the road leading from John Bayard's, to Wm. Blackwell's Mills, on the N. side of a small brook, thence along the road S. 3º W. 1 ch. 38 links, thence N. 8714° E. along Van Doren's land, 6 ch. 22 links, N. 3º E. 1 ch. 38 links, N. 212° W. 3 chains, S. 8714° W. 6 chains to said road, and along said road to place of beginning, containing 2 4-10 acres.
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respectfully requesting the Consistory to call a meeting of the congregation, to devise means for enlarging or rebuild- ing the church. Frequent meetings were held, and at last the Consistory determined that in conformity with the wishes of a large portion of the congregation, a new church should be erected. $1,000 were allowed to the pew-holders in the old church, to be properly credited between them, to go toward the purchase of pews in the new church, and John Sutphen, Farrington, Barcaloo, and Abraham Beek- man were appointed a Committee, to appraise the value of the old pews. The edifice was to be built after the model of the new church at Six Mile Run. They had built their second edifice in the same year that our church had been or- ganized,* (1766,) and now a year or two before, and probably stimulating this congregation to the work, they had built the edifice which they now use. Their second building, and our first, both stood for just sixty years, and the present buildings of both congregations are identical in size, being 70x55 feet.
The building committee consisted of Stephen Garretson, Dan. H. Disborough, and Ab. Beekman, subject to the direction of the Consistory. They contracted with Joachim G. Quick for $5,000, including the old church material. Extra expenses accrued, amounting to $317. The corner stone was laid on June 8th, 1828, and an address delivered by the Pastor from Gen. xxviii : 22. " And this stone which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house ; and of all that Thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto Thee,"-important and suggestive words. Prayer was also offered for God's blessing on the undertaking. A committee was then appointed, consisting of James B. Elmendorf, Ab. Staats, and John Sutphen, to appraize the pews, the aggre- gate sum to amount to $6,500. The church was dedicated
Early records at New Brunswick.
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on Christmas Sabbath, 1828, the pastor preaching from Ex. xx : 24, " An altar of earth thou shalt make unto Me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings and thy peace of- ferings, thy sheep, and thine oxen ; in all places where I record My name, I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee." The following Thursday the pews were sold, and $7689 were realized, leaving a considerable surplus in the hands of Consistory.
Mr. Zabriskie's ministry had been quite successful respect- ing additions to the church, during the time that they worshiped in the old building. Up to the year they demo- lished their house, he had received 210 members,* of whom 166, had been on profession of their faith. In this same year, (1827) he reports 100 families, and about 200 commu- nicants. The membership had therefore more than doubled during his ministry in the old edifice. But they had now built a large and spacious house, much larger than many supposed to be necessary, and the Lord soon filled it. They had made room for a blessing, and it came. God rewarded, as He ever will, their largeness of spirit, and liberality to Zion. Thirty new families are at once found reported as attend- ants, and in 1831, the Spirit of grace was most richly pour- ed out on this congregation. t There had been a considera- ble number of accessions in certain former years; in 1822, and in 1823, twenty-five and fifteen respectively professed the faith; in 1817 and 1818, twenty-eight and sixteen respectively had acknowledged Christ before men ; but at this time it averaged nearly one out of every family. In the fall of 1831, 108 were received at a single communion,
* We have the names of only 197, but in a report to Classis for 1813, he states that he had received since his settlement here thirteen on profession.
t The revival of this year was universal through the country.
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by far the greater proportion of whom are no longer with us. It was indeed a rich blessing from heaven, such as we might again well desire. It remains on record as God's tes- timony to us, of His fidelity to His promises, and of His love. And let us never forget that by repentance and faith and prayer, He may show us even greater things than these, that we may marvel. On three subsequent occasions, under Father Zabriskie's ministry, viz. in 1837,1838, and 1843, he received respectively, nineteen, seventeen, and twenty- five, in single years. During his whole ministry in the new church of twenty-two years, he received 280 on profession of faith, and 118 by certificates from other churches, and during his whole pastorate of forty years, the total number received were 446 by profession, and 162 by certificate, or 608 in all. His last report to Classis in the spring of 1850, makes the church membership to be then 291, and 176 fami- lies." The congregation was indeed built up to great strength in numbers during his long pastorate here. The member- ship had nearly trebled, the families had increased by three- fourthis. What a power for good might such an army of Christ become if directing their energies into great, Chris- tian, philanthropic, world-wide, yea divine efforts! This is indeed what our Lord Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us by His own blood, now calls upon us to do.
Father Zabriskie died August 15th, 1850, at the age of 71 years. His dust lies in the adjoining church yard, where his memorial monument reminds the passer-by of the vene-
* It must also be remembered in considering this statement, that during his ministry, several new churches had been formed, in the bounds, or in the outskirts of his congregation, which frequently de- creased the number of his families and church members. Middlebush, Raritan 2nd, Greggstone, Bound Brook, and Raritan 3rd, (Dutch,) were thus formed, besides some Methodist Churches.
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rable " Minister of God," of more than half a century's ser- vice.
The congregation had for some time before his death thought of calling a colleague, but did not do so till the spring of 1850, when Rev. John DeWitt was invited to such position. His call was approved on June 25th, and the time of his installation fixed for August 20th. But five days before the time fixed for the installation, Mr. Zabriskie died.
The following year the Consistory provided the present parsonage property, consisting of a little more than three acres of land, which they bought of John Van Doren, for $755 .* They immediately built the pleasant and substantial house, which now adorns the plot, using for this purpose certain legacies which had been left by members, for the support of the Gospel at Millstone. They considered that this was putting those legacies in a permanent shape.t
During Dr. De Witt's ministry here, the church building having reached more than a quarter of a century of age, was thoroughly repaired, and the pews and pulpit modified to their present neat and beautiful appearance, and the walls
* Beginning at south-west corner of Dr. Wm. McKissack's land, in the road, thence running south 8714° east, 6 ch. 23 links, north 2º west, 1 ch. 38 links, south 88° east, 4 ch. 52 links, to west bank of the Mill- stone, thence up said river south 914° east, 1 ch. 78 links, south 7934º west, 3 ch. 51 links, south 1912° east, 1 ch. 95 links, north 7014° west, 7 ch. 96 links, to middle of the road, down which, north 434° west, 2 ch. 79 links, to place of beginning, containing 3 2-100 acres.
+ Hendrick Wilson, who died about 1800, left about $1,000, (it is said,) to the Consistory ; and Rynier Smock, a few years later, left $375, and Peter Voorhees $500, though this last did not become avail- able till a number of years after his death. (Search by Ferd. H. Wilson, Esq.) Possibly there were others, which have not come to the writer's knowledge. These with other moneys which had accumulated, amounted in 1850 to more than $4,000.
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frescoed. He received, during his ministry here, two hun- dred and one on profession of their faith, and seventy-nine by certificate, in all two hundred and eighty, almost the same number as he found to be communicants, at his settle- ment .* Dr. DeWitt's last report made the church to con- tain two hundred and ninety-nine members in full com- munion. His connection with this church ceased on Sept. 1st, 1863, he having accepted the Professorship of Oriental languages and Biblical Exegesis, in our Theological Semi- nary at New Brunswick, to which he had been elected by General Synod the preceding June. But a short vacancy ensued. Rev. Chs. Stitt was first called, but declined, and your present servant for Jesus' sake was installed, Dec. 29th of the same year. Twenty-eight by profession, and thirty- seven by certificate, in all sixty-five, have been received into the communion of this church during your present relations. Our last report to Classis made three hundred and eleven communicants.
As we look back over our church's history, it is certainly a remarkable fact, and worthy of being mentioned, that five of the seven preceding pastors of this church, were called sooner or later to a professorship in our Theological Seminary, viz., Froeligh, Van Harlingen, Cannon, Schure- man, and DeWitt. The other two-Messrs. Foering and Zabriskie-died in the exercise of their pastoral office here.t It is doubtful whether many other churches can show a similar record.
There have been received in this church during the cen- tury, eight hundred and eighteen persons on profession, and
* The church of East Millstone, organized in 1855, took a number of families and sixteen members, besides the Methodists, some. Branch- ville, also organized in 1855, probably affected the church of Millstone to some extent.
t See Appendix, Note 6, for Pastors and Officers.
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three hundred and twenty-nine by certificates from other churches, in all, eleven hundred and forty-seven. But making allowance for the loss of the records of four years, and possibly of the accidental omission of some names, (which we have good reason to suppose to have been the case,) the actual number of communicants in this church has been about twelve hundred,* of which a little more than two-thirds were received by profession of faith. Not that this, indeed, is the actual amount of good done by this church, during all this time. There have been undoubtedly other unnumbered, silent influences, whose results can never be gathered up in figures and in history. Many a truth here dropped from the pulpit or from the faithful Christian, may have lain buried in the recesses of the heart for years, and at last, and in other places, blossomed and have borne fruit unto eternal life, perhaps when its pos- sessor stood on the very borders of the grave. Other influ- ences likewise have gone forth, as far as we have helped to send the Gospel through other agencies, to our own western and to foreign lands, and to sustain the institutions of edu- cation and religion in their various forms. In faith, some- thing has thus been accomplished, though we cannot point out the definite, specific fruits, for our benevolence was thrown in a common treasury with that of the church in general. The records on high will show what we have done in these respects, how little or how much. But as far as we can ascertain by our records, eight hundred and eighteen in these courts, have been brought to the acknow- ledgment of Jesus Christ as their only and all sufficient Savior. This, in our own homes, has visibly been our century's work,-a fraction more than eight a year. And while in many respects it may be an unfair comparison, to
* See Appendix-Note 7.
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average the ostensible success of the respective pastors, yet when done in a proper spirit, and properly understood, it is certainly interesting and perhaps may not be unprofitable for reflection. During the vacancy before the first pastor, of eight years, ten were received on profession, or at the rate of one and a quarter a year; and the number received on profession under the respective pastors, per year on an average, is as follows :- Under Foering, four; under Froe- liglı, seven ; under Van Harlingen, four ; under Cannon, three and three-quarters; under Schureman, eight and a half; under Zabriskie, ten and three-quarters; under DeWitt, sixteen and three-quarters; and since his departure, the additions, by profession, have averaged, a little more than eleven a year. We should resolve and pray that these numbers, with each advancing decade, may be vastly increased. What a glorious thing, if on an average, for successive terms of years, each week could witness at least one brought to Christ. Let us set this standard, high as it now appears, before us, until having reached it, we may displace it for something better. Let us remember that each church represents the kingdom of heaven on earth, and that it should be our unceasing effort, by means direct and indirect, in public and in private, at home and abroad, to advance the interests of that kingdom. Let us pray that we may begin this century with a new and higher, and advance with an ever-increasing, life. Let us henceforth seek to have definite results to show in the foreign field as well as at home. Yea, let each succeeding year, till the Saviour's promise of the universal triumph of his kingdom, be completely realized, witness an ever accelerating pro- gress in piety and philanthropy, which two are the fulfilling of the Law,-the realization, and the exhibition of the restored image of a perfect and divine LOVE.
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