USA > New York > Kings County > New Utrecht > Historical discourse : delivered on the 18th of October, 1877, at the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the Reformed Dutch Church of New Utrecht, L.I. > Part 1
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M. LA
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01126 0145
E
2770
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE,
Delibered on the ISth of October, 1877, at the
CELEBRATION
OF THE
TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH
OF NEW UTRECHT, L. I.,
BY REV. DAVID S. SUTPHEN, PASTOR OF THE CHURCH ;
AND AN
HISTORICAL ADDRESS,
BY HON. TEUNIS G. BERGEN.
.
WITH AN APPENDIX,
CONTAINING THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ELDERS AND DEACONS.
PUBLISIIED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CONSISTORY, FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION.
1877.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historicaldiscou00sutp
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INTRODUCTION.
THURSDAY, October 18th, 1877, was the day set apart for the celebration of the Two HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH OF NEW UTRECHIT. The day was bright and cheerful. The church had been gracefully decorated by the young people, with fresh evergreens wrought in wreaths and trained in festoons upon the galleries and walls. Flowers appeared among the evergreens, and greatly heightened their effect. Numerous flags waved from every part of the auditorium. The pulpit, and all the space about it, were radiant with rare hot-house plants and cut flowers. Vines and flowers twined about the chandeliers. A gilt dove, which formerly surmounted the "sounding- board over the pulpit in the first church, and which has been preserved by Mr. JOHN LOTT, was on the reading-desk. Near it lay a Dutch Bible, musty with the mould of two centuries. Curious tablets, indicating the hymns that were sung in the olden times, were suspended at either side of the pulpit. An hour-glass, wherewith the preachers, in days long gone by, regulated their discourses, now in the possession of Mr. R. BENSON, and a black velvet pouch in which the deacons took their collections, were on the platform. A large number of people from this and the adjoining towns filled the edifice. Many clergymen were present. On each side of the pulpit were Sabbath-school banners-one bearing the date of 1826.
The morning exercises, at which the pastor presided, commenced at 10.15 A. M. by a voluntary on the organ by Mr. JOHN CURRIE, the organist of the church, and the singing by the whole congregation of the Long Metre Doxology, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." This was followed by the reading of the Ten Com- mandments in Dutch, by Hon. TEUNIS G. BERGEN, from the Bible in use in the first church, printed in 1672. A portion of Scripture was read also from the Bible first used in the new church, by Rev. GEORGE S. BISHOP, D. D., of Orange N. J .; and Rev. WILLIAM H. DE HART, of Jamaica, L. I., offered prayer. The 559th hymn, "I love Thy kingdom, Lord," was sung; after which the historical dis- course contained in the following pages was delivered by the pastor. The sermon was followed by the 924th hymn, "Our God our help in ages past," which was sung by the whole congregation, led by the chorister, without the organ. After the hymn, Rev. C. L. WELLS made an address. " He presented the congratula- tions of the venerable church of Flatbush, and endeavored to lead the audience to resolve to make some suitable memorial of the day, and suggested that they who had received and inherited so many blessings through the gospel of Christ, might with great propriety now send that gospel to those who are without it." The Apos- tolic benediction was pronounced by Rev. A. P. STOCKWELL, of Gravesend.
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INTRODUCTION.
Rev. CHARLES H. POOL said : "Child of the Church !" I feel proud of the title. I feel prouder still to speak here. Memory has been very busy with me to- day, but no great change is apparent. The church is changed. How I remember the good old pastor from whom I and my brother ran and hid when he visited our house, but to whom I was glad to come, in after years, for comfort and advice ! I also remember, with glad emotions, my Sunday-school teacher, Dr. Carpenter, to whose faithful instruction I owe so much, and who sent me on my mission with words of cheer.
Rev. CHARLES S. WRIGHT was then introduced, and spoke eloquently and feelingly. He took sides with the Puritans, spoken of by Hon. T. G. Bergen, and believed that to them we owed a great deal, even here. He said everything told the story to-day. The pastor had preached it powerfully, all the speakers had portrayed it eloquently, the music had given it sweetly, the flowers had told it tastefully, and it remained but for him to re-echo the same sentiment.
Rev. J. M. VAN BUREN, formerly of New Lots, made a few remarks on tem- perance, alluding to the difference in the social customs of the old times and new.
Rev. A. R. THOMPSON, D. D., who, as President of the South Classis of Long Island, had conducted the exercises of the afternoon to the entire satisfaction of all present, in an eloquent closing address, alluded to the instructions of the past, and spoke of the covenant faithfulness of God, who according to his promise had blessed children and children's children, on this very spot, for two hundred years.
The singing was conducted by the chorister, Mr. ANDREW HEGEMAN.
The benediction was pronounced by Rev. E. P. ROGERS, D. D., of New York. Thus ended a day that cannot be forgotten by those present-a day when were gathered up the mercies of the days of the years of the right hand of the Most High.
Among the clergymen present were Rev. O. E. COBB, Rev. CHARLES I. SHEP- HERD, Rev. E. S. FAIRCHILD, Rev. H. A. FRIEDEL, Rev. U. D. GULICK, Rev. Dr. E. P. INGERSOLL, Rev. Dr. J. M. FERRIS, Rev. R. G. STRONG, and Rev. DANIEL RAPELYE, Missionary to China.
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DISCOURSE.
IN the Forty-eighth Psalm, twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth verses, we find these words :
"Walk about Zion, and go round about her : tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her paluces ; that ye may tell it to the generation follow- ing. For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death."
One of the beautiful and distinguishing features of God's ancient people was the love they bore for Jerusalem. It was their joy and glory, the centre of all the endearments of life. The stones in her streets were objects of affection, while her gates and walls and towers were the themes of conversation, and the subjects of their songs. Toward that loved place they turned when they prayed, and they breathed out their love in the earnest supplication, "Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces." Yet not all portions of Jerusalem were held of equal importance by the Jew. One portion was lifted higher than the rest in their affections. It really caused the whole city to be beloved. It was Zion.
Mount Zion, technically, was the southernmost hill, and the highest on which the city was built, and was both the stronghold and orna- ment of Jerusalem. The hill rose perpendicularly from the valleys on the west and south, and was therefore naturally very strong, and art had contributed to render it stronger. Toit the inhabitants fled when King David came from Hebron to Jerusalem, and they boasted that so long as any were left to defend it, though they were the lame and the blind, no enemy could effect its capture. But David conquered it, and made it his capital. This mount, together with Mount Moriah and Ophel, David enclosed within his first wall; and to this ancient portion the term Zion was frequently applied. This contained the magnificent palaces of Solomon, and was strongly fortified by citadels and towers.
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TWO HUNDREDTHI ANNIVERSARY,
" Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion. God is known in her palaces for a refuge. The kings of the earth were assembled; they passed by together. They saw it, and so they marvelled ; they were troubled, and hasted away." Because this was the defense of Jerusalem, it was the object of the tenderest affection of the Jew.
But it was not alone, or chiefly, these things-her wealth or mag- nificence or impregnability-that rendered the place so dear. It was something better than these. It was because the sanctuary, in which every Jew loved to worship, was there. The beautiful and holy tem- ple was reckoned as a part of Zion. Hence it was loved most of all by the Jew ; and when endangered, it awakened the deepest anxiety of the nation. Against this temple and the surrounding walls and towers frequent battles were waged ; yet because of her position and strength, when the conflict ended, almost always Zion stood beautiful in vic- tory.
It is thought that the writer of the Forty-eighth Psalm composed it to celebrate some remarkable victory or preservation vouchsafed unto her by the Lord, from her powerful assailants. Some interpreters think that it was on the occasion of Jehoshaphat's victory over the children of Ammon and Moab. Others think that it was a song of thanksgiving after the defeat and destruction of Sennacherib's army, who came up against the citadel and temple, and, with an host of 185,000 men, besieged the city, and in the morning were all dead corpses. Whichever view is the correct one, whether preservation or triumph it may have been, the writer invites those who loved Zion, and were employed in her defence, to walk around her walls and ob- serve the deliverance that God had wrought for them ; to go count her towers and bulwarks, and observe that they were uninjured ; that her palaces remained in beauty and unharmed; and he farther direct- ed them to recount to generations following the wonderful instances of God's care and preservation ; that Zion still retained her beauty and glory and impregnability, and that amid her enemies she had neither been ruined nor destroyed.
But the towers of that Zion have long since been overthrown, and the temple, with its unrivalled splendors, is gone, and her palaces, as Calvin says the very words intimate, have crumbled into dust. But there is a Zion of which this was the type, still beloved by the mem- bers of the true Israel, whose towers are still beautiful, and whose bulwarks shall never be overthrown. It is the Church of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, of which CHRIST JESUS is
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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, NEW UTRECHT, L. I.
the chief corner-stone. Through the assaults of enemies and the changes of centuries this Zion stands still impregnable. No other place on earth is so precious. No other can awaken so many pre- cious memories, or inspire such joyful hopes, as the Church of Christ.
If it was a good thing for the Israelite to walk about and observe the beauty and defence of Zion in his day, it is also a good thing for us and a thing calculated to promote our love, and hope, and joy, to re- count the trials and triumphs, the crosses and conquests of two hun- dred years : to observe her towers and bulwarks guarded by Him who neither slumbers nor sleeps ; to observe her precious ordinances as palaces, her glorious promises as bulwarks, that we may tell to the generations following, the glory and beauty of the Zion which God has given us, in order that future generations may make her God their guide, may espouse her interests, and cleave unto them forever. I find in these words the authority and the motive for what we under- take on this occasion. The same God who was the guide of the Psalmist and Israel in their way, and whose omnipotent hand was over them. for their protection and preservation, has been the God and guide of this church from its organization until now. And it seems fitting that those who compose the church at this time should review - as well as we can - the past, tracing the facts of our history, and treasur- ing them as the children of God and this Church, as memorials of His great goodness. We shall endeavor, so far as the brevity of a single discourse will allow, to do this-to trace the history and blessings and encouragements of this Church of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We belong to that branch of the Church of Christ which is known as the Reformed Dutch Church of North America. The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Europe and America has for more than three centuries been recognized as a church of pure faith and scrip- tural polity. Her history is a part of the record of the struggle of man for civil and religious freedom; for the conflict in the Nether- lands of the Church under the Cross was for liberty of thought, and be- lief, and worship. Upon that long and fearful but successful conflict we shall not now speak. Motley, in his matchless histories, recounts the privations our fathers endured, the difficulties they encountered, the battles they won in their contest with Charles V. and his son Philip II., with an eloquence that is thrilling, yet by no means inappropriate. The historian tells us that against the encroachments of Rome and her persecutions, our fathers tenaciously maintained-though at a fearful cost of blood and treasure - their right of freedom to worship God. They held, and strove to implant in every heart, the three
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TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY,
grand ideas - First, that all men are created equal. Second, that the Bible, or Sacred Scriptures, is the only rule of faith and practice. Third, that converts to the faith are not to be compelled, but to be won.
Memorable in history is the union of the seven Northern provinces, in which evangelical religion prevailed, called the Union of Utrecht. In the city of that name in Holland, renowned for its excellent schools and University, which gave us Dr. Livingston, men perished at the stake rather than give up their faith. And the Church was noted for the loyalty and love, the courage and devotion to her doctrines and customs, of all who embraced her ordinances. As early as 1625, Dutch agricultural settlers arrived in this country. They came not like the Pil- grims, forced by religious persecution from home, but as Holland was a mercantile nation, many of her inhabitants came hither for purposes of trade. They gave names to their settlements similar to those in the old country. Those who landed at New York gave to the settle- »ment the name of New Amsterdam. Those who settled on Long Island gave to their settlements the names of Amersfoort, Breukelen, Midwoud, New Utrecht, Gravesande. The town of New Utrecht was established as early as 1657. With their habits of industry and order, our fathers also brought their principles and faith ; and they introduced on the shores of their adopted country the same high principles of re- ligious culture in which they had so carefully been reared at home. Our ancestors trusted in God. Jehovah was acknowledged and wor- shipped by them. As soon as they had formed a settlement they sought to organize a church and erect a building wherein they might worship God.
At first the inhabitants of Long Island crossed over the East River and attended divine service in New York, until the year 1654, when Reformed Dutch churches were organized on Long Island, at Flatbush and Flatlands. Rev. Mr. Megapolensis, a minister of New York, and a committee, were sent over to Midwoud (Flatbush) and organized a church, February 9th, 1654.
The first Dutch minister settled on Long Island was Rev. Johan- nes Theodorus Polhemus. He had formerly labored as a missionary in Brazil; but arriving in this country and manifesting a zeal in the cause by organizing a church in New Amstel, Del., he was author- ized by Governor Stuyvesant to preach in Flatbush, Flatlands, and Brooklyn. While he was the pastor of the Kings County churches, the first Dutch church on Long Island was erected, at Flatbush. It was in the form of a cross, sixty feet long and twenty-eight feet
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REFORMED DUTCH CHIURCII, NEW UTRECHT, L. I.
wide. Governor Stuyvesant, in 1660, appointed Kev. Mr. Megapolen- sis, John Snediger and John Stryker, as commissioners to build this church, and ordered the people to assist. It was completed in the following year. Those having charge of the work reported that the building cost 4,637 guilders, or about 1,800 dollars. This amount was contributed by the inhabitants of the towns, and the salary of the minister-$416 per year-was raised by tax. In 1656, the Gov ernor ordered that the minister should preach every Sabbath morn- ing in Flatbush, and in the afternoons alternately in Flatlands and in Brooklyn. Dominie Polhemus enjoyed a long pastorate of 22 years. He died June 9th, 1676, deeply lamented, and was buried in the Brooklyn church, in front of the baptistery. The Consistory said: In recording the death of their worthy and beloved pastor, they de- plored the loss of his pious instructions, godly example, and edifying preaching. Under him a church was built in Flatlands in 1662, and in the town of Brooklyn in 1666.
On February 16th, 1660, the Rev. Henricus Selyns-one of the most prominent and devoted ministers of his day-was called as the minister of the church of Brooklyn. On September 7th, 1660, he met with his church, and on September 12th, received a list of members from Rev. Mr. Polhemus, containing thirty-seven names. The first services were held in a barn. Mr. Selyns afterwards preached on Sab- bath mornings in the church of Brooklyn, and at the Governor's bow- eric, or farm, in the afternoon. Few men have exerted a more bene- ficent and extensive influence. It is acknowledged that his eloquence was unsurpassed, while his devotion to his calling endeared him to all. He was a poet as well as preacher. He married his wife in New Utrecht. In 1664, July 22nd, he returned to Holland, from whence he was called to New York in 1682, and was pastor until 1700.
For several years the inhabitants of the town of New Utrecht form- ed a part of and worshipped with the congregations of Flatbush, Flat- lands, and Brooklyn, and contributed proportionably for the support of these churches. Previous to 1677, during the pastorate of Rev Johannes T. Polhemus, and while Rev. Henricus Selyns was pastor of Brooklyn, religious services were held in New Utrecht, in the school- house, if they had any; if not, in a private building. The church records of collections show that five public services were held prior to the date of the organization of the church.
The Reformed Protestant Dutch church of New Utrecht was or- ganized in the year 1677. The service was conducted by Rev. Cas_ parus Van Zuuren, who had been installed five months before, as
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TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY,
pastor of the Dutch churches of Flatbush, Flatlands, and Brooklyn. The church of New Utrecht was composed of twenty-seven members, whose names have been preserved; four of whom were selected and ordained to form the first Consistory.
The names of the first elders were Jan Guysbertsz and Myndert Korten. The names of the first deacons were Arian Willemtsz (Ben- nett) and Jan Hansen (Van Noostrand) .* The names of their succes- sors have been kept, and can be given, as an interesting item of history, in an almost unbroken chain, untill the present.
Thus our church is an organized body two hundred years old this month, the first election of officers having occurred in October. Heaven smiled upon the effort. The labors of our fathers, begun with faith in God and earnest prayers, God has crowned with abundant success. The church thus planted has grown and prospered.
The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was first administered in New Utrecht by Rev. Mr. Van Zuuren on the 23rd day of December, 1677- Flatlands and New Utrecht communing together. On that occasion he preached from Hebrews 13 : 8-" Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." In the following year the sacrament was administered on the 14th of July, when he preached from Romans 12 : 9 ; and again on the 12th of December. In 1679 it was administered in July ; in 1680, in January, June, and December; in 168, in July; in 1682, in January, June, and December; in 1683, in June and De- cember ; in 1684, in June ; in 1685, on April 17th-on which occasion the services were conducted by Rev. Peter Teschenmaker, minister on Staten Island.
This church formed a part of the collegiate system of churches known as the Dutch Churches of Kings County. From the time of the organization of this church Mr. Van Zuuren's charge consisted of the congregations of Flatbush, Brooklyn, Flatlands, and New Utrecht, to whom he preached alternately, and who erected a parsonage for his use at Flatbush. Each congregation had a consistory of two elders and two deacons, and the business of the churches was transacted at union meetings of all the consistories. These were the only Dutch churches on Long Island during Mr. Van Zuuren's ministry, of whose existence we have any present authentic record. The Flatbush church records (the oldest on the island) give during Mr. Van Zuuren's min- istry the names of the elders and deacons chosen in Flatbush, Flat-
* The writer would thank Hon. TEUNIS G. BERGEN, Rev. E. T. CORWIN, D. D., and H. ONDERDONK, JR., for interesting items.
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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, NEW UTRECHT, L. I.
lands, Brooklyn, and New Utrecht, from 1677 to 1684. No other consistories nor church organizations are mentioned. While the church in New York was vacant, Mr. Van Zuuren, by invitation, preached therein every Wednesday. He also preached occasionally in the destitute church of Bergen. Dominie Van Zuuren labored faithfully and acceptably until the year 1685. On May 6th, he preach- ed his farewell sermon, from Numbers 6: 23-27. On May 18th, with his wife and child, he sailed for Holland, where he accepted a call, and died in the year 1685. He was an able man. He prepared his sermons for the Sabbath with great care, while in pastoral work he displayed the excellent qualities of energy, tact, and affection. He was instrumental in greatly advancing the interests of religion on Long Island.
After the departure of Dominie Van Zuuren, at a meeting of the congregations, held May roth, 1685, it wasresolved, by a vote of eighty- three in favor and seven against, to apply to the Classis of Amster- dam for another minister .. In the mean time Rev. Henry Selyns, of New York, and Rev. Peter Teschenmaker, of Staten Island, preach- ed occasionally in the churches, and administered the sacraments. About the middle of June, 1685, Rev. Rudolphus Varick came from Holland and was installed as pastor, and preached in all the churches. During his pastorship, as they had been previous to it, civil affairs in the colony were in a bad and entangled condition. The temporary surrender by the Dutch to the English greatly embarrassed the Dutch churches. The frequent changes of Governors also wrought injury. In 1689, when Leisler usurped the office of Governor, and demand- ed that all should recognize and submit to his authority, Dominie Varick, who was a very bold man, remained patient as long as he could; but finally, for his high handed proceedings, he felt con- strained openly to denounce him as a usurper. This awoke the wrath of Leisler, and he was charged with speaking treasonable words, and with being cognizant of a design to rescue the fort from Leisler. He was dragged by a force of armed men from his home and confined within the fort for six months, and was sentenced by La Noy, a pretended judge, to pay a fine of £80, to be deposed from his ministerial functions, and kept in prison until the fine was paid.
Rev. Henricus Selyns, of New York -to whom probably more than to any other man the church owed its preservation and liberty during the colonial period - sought to secure his release. He offered himself and his property as bail. The offer was refused, and he was
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TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY,
informed that, unless he discontinued his efforts, he would be impris- oned himself. How long Dominie Varick remained in prison we can- not tell. He was ultimately released, but his ill-treatment hastened his death. Leisler, his persecutor, not long after, was deposed and executed. Dominie Varick died, greatly lamented, May 7th, 1695.
As the minister preached in four churches, it follows that he was necessarily absent from each church many services during a month. On the Sabbaths he was unable to be present, services were conduct- ed by the voor-lezer, or clerk. This person was probably the village schoolmaster. His duties were to keep the church clean, and ring the bell three times before the sermon ; between the second and third ringings to read a chapter from the Bible; in the morning ser- vices, to read the Ten Commandments and the Twelve Articles of belief after the third ringing. In the afternoon service he read a short Psalm. He also led in all the singing. When the minister was not present, he read a sermon from a book called "House Hom- ilies," at the morning service, and a sermon on the Heidelberg Cat- echism in the afternoon. He was also required, on these Sabbaths, to hear the children recite the catechism. He provided water at baptisms, and discharged the duties of grave-yard sexton.
In 1695, Rev. Wilhelmus Lupardus came over from Holland, and became the minister of the churches of Flatbush, Brooklyn, Flatlands, and New Utrecht, and continued until his death, February, 1702. His family consisted of a wife and seven children. The connection between civil and ecclesiastical affairs appears to have been very close in those days : the deacons of the church were the Overseers of the Poor in the town, and the elders were the Commissioners of Educa- tion. Some histories mention the name of Rev. James Clark as a minister of the Kings County churches from the year 1685 to 1695. His name is not found in our records.
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