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THE RECORD ofa
entury
18º4 19º4
REFORMED CHURCH
WARWICK.MY.
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 03122 0111
Gc 974.702 W268r
The Record of a century of church life of the Reformed.
THE REFORMED CHURCH OF WARWICK. ERECTED 1890.
180+ -
- 1904
THE RECORD
OF A
CENTURY
OF
07010
censtarb
maakt
DATE MICROFILMED
MAR 26 1996
ITEM # 21
PROJECT and G. S.
ROLL # CALL #
XL1B 7-102 3914 : 1698213
CHURCH LIFE
OF
THE REFORMED CHURCH.
WARWICK, N. Y.
Alen County Public Linea 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270
PUBLICATION COMMITTEE.
Taber Knox, Chairman. Samuel Pelton. Ferdinand Van Derveer Sanford. Clinton Wheeler Wisner. Rensselaer Armstrong Demarest.
ut הלואין THE WARWICK VALLEY DISPATCH. 1004.
FOREWORD.
HE Warwick Reformed Church passed the line of its first century of life on the eighth of Janu- ary, 1904, the oldest church organization saving one in the Village of Warwick. For the past, with its blessings and the service of its saints, for the present with its prosperity and enlarging usefulness, for the future, with its holy hope and glorious oppor- tunity, we ascribe glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. It is a delight to call to remem- brance the things of the past, to record the labors and trials and the achievements of those whose works are our heritage to-day, while it spurs us on to better things for the days that lie before us.
In taking up the work in hand we find the history of the Church of Presbyterian Order and Reformed Faith in Warwick one that is altogether unique. While our Reformed Church organization dates back only to Janu- uary, 1804, when the Classis of Paramus organized the church at the request of forty-four persons, the organi- zation then effected was in a sense only a transfer of ecclesiastical relationship from the Presbytery of Hud- son. Unfortunately, in consequence of the loss by fire of the records of the Presbytery of New York, with which the church was first connected, and the absence of proper records of the local society, the history of the Presbyterian body is obscure. Unquestionably, how- ever, a congregation of the Presbyterian order was in ex- istence in Warwick as long ago as 1750, as is proved by the records of pastors serving the church from that date
FOREWORD.
conjointly with the Presbyterian Church at Florida, N. Y. The property where the church stands to-day was deeded originally to the "Trustees of the Presby- terian Church of Warwick," and by a curious arrange- ment continued in the control of such trustees and their successors of the "Presbyterian Church of Warwick" until the eighteenth of March, 1890, or eighty-six years after any worshipping body bearing such a name had existed. Then the trustees took action by which the management of the property legally passed into the hands of the Consistory of the Reformed Church.
Manifestly a very large part of the historical matter that must be of essential interest in connection with our church, lies behind the century of Reformed connection in the earlier days of Presbyterian attachment. Our historical narrative therefore opens with the carefully prepared history of the earlier Presbyterian body writ- ten by the former pastor, the Rev. Vernon B. Carroll, in 1887, and published at that time in the Warwick Ad- vertiser. This history is the result of most painstak- ing examination, with true historical spirit, of all avail- able material, and may be accepted as thoroughly accurate. The history of the century and of the eight auxiliary organizations connected with the church at the time of our centennial celebration follow.
May the perusal of the record thus made as a loving tribute to the past, bring renown to the great Head of the Church, who from the beginning saw to-day and the days to come of our children and our children's children.
TABER KNOX, SAMUEL PELTON, F. V. SANFORD, C. W. WISNER, R. A. DEMAREST.
INTERIOR VIEW OF CHURCH 1890.
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION.
T HIS IS TO CERTIFY that we, the undersigned, the Minister, Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Dutch Church and Congre- gation of Warwick, in the Town of Warwick, County of Orange and State of New York, in and by virtue of the act entitled, "An Act to Provide for the Incorporation of Religious Societies," passed March 27, 1801, do, on this day, incorporate ourselves in conformity to said act, and shall henceforth consider ourselves as a body politic to be known and distinguished by the name of the "Consistory of the Reformed Pro- testant Dutch Church and Congregation of Warwick."
Witness our hands and seals this 18th day of March, 1807.
CHARLES HARDENBURGH, Minister. [L.s.] ELDERS-
CORNELIUS DEMAREST, [L.S.]
JOHN PELTON, [L.S.]
EDMOND E. ECKERSON, [L.S.]
JOHN G. ACKERSON. [L. S.]
DEACONS-
DAVID C. DEMAREST, [L.S.]
ANDREW ONDERDONK, [L.S.]
ISAAC HALSTEAD, [L.S.]
JAMES MURRAY. [L.S.]
Orange County, ss. :
Be it remembered that on this eighteenth day of March, one thous- and eight hundred and seven, personally appeared before me John Wheeler, one of the Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas for said county, Charles Hardenburgh, minister, and Cornelius Demarest, John Pelton, Edward P. Ackerson, John G. Ackerson, David C. Demarest, Andrew Onderdonk, Isaac Halstead and James Murray, being members of the Consistory of the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church in Warwick, all came personally well known and acknowledged that they executed the within instrument of writing for the purposes therein contained. I having inspected the same do allow it to be recorded.
JOHN WHEELER.
A true record entered March 24, 1836, at 11 o'clock a. m., by
LEBBEUS L. VAIL, Clerk.
THE ORGANIZATION.
Presbyterian Organization 1 about 1750
Incorporation of the Presbyterian Church
- 1791
Reformed Dutch Organization
1804
Date of Incorporation - 1807
THE BUILDINGS.
First Church Building begun
- 1773
Second Church built 1812
Third Church built
1848
Present Church built
1890
THE PASTORS.
Jonathan Elmer, - 1750-1754
Samuel Parkhurst, 1762-1768
Amzi Lewis,
1772-1777
John Joline,
1795-1802
Charles Hardenbergh,
1804-1807
John I. Christie,
1812-1835
Benjamin Van Keuren,
1836-1837
James Stewart,
1838-1842
Ferdinand H. Van Derveer,
1842-1876
Vernon Bond Carroll, -
1876-1886
Peter Crispell,
1887-1894
Taber Knox,
1894-
WARWICK
or
CO.
CORPORATE SEAL.
A HISTORY OF THE PRESBYTERIAN ORGANIZATION WHICH PRECEDED THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH OF WARWICK. 1750-1804.
FOR many of the details in the following article the writer was indebted to the Rev. Henry A. Harlow, at the time Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of Hudson. Other sources of information are indicated in the notes.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WARWICK
BY THE LATE REV. VERNON BOND CARROLL.
HE Reformed Church of Warwick was organized by a committee from the Classis of Paramus, January, 1804. (a) For more than a half cen- tury previous to this date, however, religious services had been maintained in Warwick under the direction of Presbyterian pastors and Presbyteries. (h)
The date of the first ecclesiastical organization cannot be discovered. Ruttenber & Clark's History of Orange County places it at 1764-5; but upon what data this statement is founded it is impossible to tell. (b) It is probable that the church was organized by the Presby- tery of New York, and was officially connected with this Presbytery until the organization of the Presbytery of Hudson in 1795.
Most unfortunately, the minutes of the Presbytery of New York, previous to 1775, are lost. (c) We find a memorandum-the source of which we are unable, at present, to discover-to the effect that on Oct. 22, 1784, the "Presbyterian Church and Congregation of Warwick was organized (under act of April 6, 1784,) by John Wheeler, Francis Baird and John Dennison, themselves being the first trustees, no minister, elders or deacons existing." (d) This does not seem to have been the proper ecclesiastical organization which was, as above suggested, of much earlier date. Apparently it was the creation of a corporate body for the purpose of holding
8
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
the church property which, as we shall see, had been in possession of the church, in part, as early, at least, as 1770 (e); and in other part, since 1773-4. (f) This in- corporation was legally effected in 1791, the certificate of incorporation being dated Oct. 24 of that year. (g) But though we can find no official statement concerning the organization of the Presbyterian Church of War- wick, the record of certain pastors connected with this church remains. Thus we learn that the Rev. Jonathan Elmer was pastor over the Presbyterian Churches of Florida and Warwick 1750-1754. (h) After his departure the church seems to have been shepherdless for eight years (i); for it was not until June 13, 1762, that the Rev. Samuel Parkhurst became pastor of the same two churches. He ministered to these churches until his death, which occurred March 8, 1768. (j) Then follows an interval of four years, during which the flock was again without a leader. (i) Rev. Amzi Lewis was or- dained and settled as pastor of Florida and Warwick April 9, 1772. "In 1777 Mr. Lewis left these places with the consent of the church." (j) It was in 1770, just previous to his settlement, that two acres of land were given to the church for burial purposes, and "for the use and benefit of the said Presbyterian Church of Warwick." (e) This gift, and the settlement of a pas- tor, are indications of a revived interest in church mat- ters. This interest is further declared by the erection of a house of worship during the pastorate of Mr. Lewis. (f) Nevertheless the ecclesiastical relation, which lasted five years, does not seem to have been altogether satis- factory or peaceful. The Presbytery of New York, under date of May 8, 1776, has this record: (k) "Mr. Amzi Lewis having laid before the Presbytery a letter to him from the Committee of the Congregation of Warwick,
9
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WARWICK.
and asked advice respecting its contents, the Presbytery having duly considered the matter, appoint Mr. Thomas Lewis, Mr. Hart, Mr. Close, Mr. Chapman and the Moderator, with each an elder, a committee to meet at Warwick on Tuesday, the 2nd of July next, at 2 p. m., to inquire into the state of that congregation and to do everything in their judgment necessary to overcome, if possible, the difficulties at present subsisting among that people; or if it shall appear necessary, to dissolve Mr. Lewis' pastoral relation to them. Mr. Chapman to open the committee with a sermon."
The report of the committee, May 6, 1777, nearly a year later, was at first deemed by the Presbytery to be incomplete. "But upon due inquiry of the members of the committee now present, the Presbytery are satisfied that due pains were taken, and that the deficit is only in their records; and accordingly their judgment is con- firmed." This judgment was, no doubt, in favor of the dissolution of the pastoral relationship between Mr. Lewis and the church of Warwick. Notwithstanding this action the troubles in the congregation do not seem to have been removed. The next minute-the final notice in the records of the Presbytery of New York, concerning Warwick-is under date of June 10, 1777, at a meeting held at Wallkill: (k) "As the congre- gation of Warwick is at present destitute of a min- ister, and has made no application to us of any kind since Mr. Lewis' dismission, we think it our in- dispensible duty, from a tender concern for their wel- fare, to inquire into their present state; and do appoint Mr. Close to preach there the first Sabbath in Septem- ber, to take proper measures to inform himself of the circumstances of that congregation, and to report at our next stated Presbytery. Mr. Kerr is appointed to
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THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
preach there the fourth Sabbath of June, and Mr. King the first Sabbath of August."
After this there is no record of pastoral or Presby- terial care over Warwick for a period of eighteen years (1777-1795.) During this interval occurred the organi- zation by trustees (1784) mentioned above (see text for note d) and the legal incorporation of the church in 1791. This incorporation seems to have been the condi- tion upon which the church received the quit-claim deeds of the real estate formally granted to the church in 1793, by William Wickham and the heirs of John Morin Scott. (e) It is expressly declared in these deeds -"And whereas the proprietors and inhabitants be- longing to said church have incorporated the same, as is by law directed, by certificate of incorporation dated October 24, 1791, &c., and a survey thereof being made, by Richard Edsall, surveyor, on August 16, 1791, &c. - this indenture witnesseth, &c."
The next step was an effort to repair the church edifice which had been left unfinished since the dismission of Mr. Lewis, and during the succeeding years of the Revolu- tionary war. (f) Accordingly, we find that a subscrip- tion paper, which still remains, (l) was circulated through the congregation in order to raise the necessary funds. This paper opens with the preamble-"Whereas the Presbyterian Church of Warwick has been for a long time destitute of a stated pastor, to administer the word and ordinances amongst them, by reason of which the meeting house has gone much out of repair," &c. No doubt the hope of obtaining the ministrations of the word was a cheering one to the people after their long deprivation from religious privileges. But though the house was finished in 1792-3, ( f ) no pastor seems to have settled until 1795. (m) In this year Rev. John Joline
11
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WARWICK.
began his labors in Florida and Warwick, giving two- thirds of his time to the former place. His installation was delayed, for some reason, until 1797. The service was held at Florida. (n) Mr. Joline was dismissed in 1802 and died December 13 of the same year. (o) His pastorate had thus covered a period of seven years.
We have a copy of an inventory of the property held by the church of Warwick, about this time, which is of some importance as well as interest. It reads- "An account and inventory of all the estate, both real and personal, belonging to the Presbyterian congrega- tion of Warwick, taken this 30th day of March, 1796, by the trustees appointed by law, to have care and management of the temporalities of said congregation, viz .: two acres of land, on which there is erected a meeting house, from which no annual revenue doth arise." (Signed by trustees.) From this it would ap- pear that interests other than temporal doubtless ex- isted, i. e., spiritual interests; in other words, a church, and a session having care and management of said spiritual interests; also, that, presumably during the life of the donors of the land, and therefore with their full knowledge and consent, a church building had been erected on this land. This plainly shows that it was not the intention to limit the use of the land to burial pur- poses alone, but to employ it more generally, as the quit- claim deeds suggest, "for the use and benefit of the said Presbyterian Church." (e p.)
The next reference to the church of Warwick in the minutes of the Presbytery of Hudson, is under date of April 20, 1802. "The congregations of Warwick and Pittsburgh (q) which are within our bounds, but for some time past have made no application for supplies, (r) de- sired to be considered under our care, and have supplies
12
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
afforded them. The Presbytery agreed to comply with their request." (s) In the same connection we read: (t) "An application from the churches of Amity and War- wick was made requesting that Mr. Benjamin Prime might be ordained at large, and continued as a supply with them. Mr. Prime joined in the request. Presby- tery unanimously agreed that such a proceeding was contrary to their rules and practice, and therefore could not grant their request." "Mr. Prime was appointed supply at Warwick for one-half his time till next stated meeting of Presbytery"-i. e. till September of the same year.
"September, 1802, supplies were appointed for War- wick. Mr. Prime all his time at Deerpark." (u) (Port Jervis.)
"April, 1803, supplies appointed for Warwick."
"September, 1803," do (v).
"April, 25, 1804." do.
"September, 4, 1804, Presbytery was informed that the church of Warwick had chosen a candidate to preach for them without proceeding agreeably to the rules of Presbytery; whereupon Messrs. King and Baldwin were appointed to draught a letter upon the subject to be sent to the church of Warwick." (w)
Evidently ecclesiastical restraints had sat lightly upon the people of Warwick. It is equally evident that news traveled very slowly in those days. During the year beginning April, 1803, the Presbytery of Hudson had thrice granted pulpit supplies for Warwick, as above noted. But a Reformed Dutch Church was organized three months before the close of this period, (in January, 1804,) and negotiations looking toward such organization had been in progress since Feb. 23, 1803. (x)
Here, then, we begin to look for our historical informa-
13
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WARWICK.
tion concerning the early church of Warwick, no longer to the records of the Presbytery of Hudson, but to those of the Classis of Paramus of the Reformed Dutch Church. The Stated Clerk of said Classis has kindly loaned us to copy, the original petition of the people of Warwick (y) addressed to this Classis, and presented, if not originally drafted, also, by the Rev. Mr. Eltinge of Paramus. This petition, bearing date of Feb. 23, 1803, was received by Classis May 19, 1803. The record is as follows:
"The following petition of 44 subscribers, supposed heads of families from Warwick, dated Feb. 23, 1803, was presented to Classis by the Rev. W. E. Eltinge, re- questing this Classis to furnish them, from time to time, with preaching and catechizing, and to organize them in due time into a congregation.
Resolved, That the request be granted, and that they be furnished with preaching and catechizing.
Resolved, Further, that either of the above ministers (supplies) with an elder, be hereby authorized to organ- ize the above petitioners into a congregation, whenever it may be done consistently with the rules of the church and the wishes of the petitioners." (z)
Pending the organization of the church under the care of Classis, the people of Warwick sent a duly qualified delegate to Classis to ask for supplies. The wording of the certificate is curious, as manifesting a want of ac- quaintance with ecclesiastical laws, and it is valuable as confirming the statement of Mr. Henry Pelton, in his "Recollections," (page 5,) that it was the design of the congregation to organize as the "Reformed and Presby- terian Church and Congregation of Warwick." (+)
The certificate reads as follows: "At a meeting of the heads of families of the Reformed and Presbyterian
14
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
Church and Congregation of Warwick, held on Tuesday, the 27th day of September, instant, it was unanimously agreed that Cornelius Demarest and John G. Ackerson, or either of them, should wait on the Classis of Paramus at their next session, for the purpose of applying to said Classis for obtaining supplies for said church and con- gregation. F. BAIRD, Clerk."
Dated 27th Sept., 1803.
The action of Classis on this petition was taken Oct. 5, 1803. "An application from the people of Warwick was laid on the table requesting supplies for the ensuing year."
"Resolved, That their request be granted, and that any minister belonging to this Classis, with an elder, be authorized to organize the people of Warwick into a con- gregation, whenever, in their opinion, a proper oppor- tunity offers." (z)
Accordingly, within three months after this action, the organization was effected, January, 1804, as appears from the Record of the Consistory of the Reformed Church of Warwick, and from the following classical minute: "April 4, 1804. Upon request from the people of Warwick, and according to a former resolution of Classis, the people of Warwick were, on the second Sab- bath of January last, organized into a congregation, by the name of the Congregation of Warwick. Signed.
W. ELTINGE, (+) V. D. M. STEPHEN HOPPER, Elder.
"Andrew Ackerman was the first delegate admitted to Classis of Paramus." (2)
The final minute of Classis concerning this new Re- formed Church is under date of Oct. 2, 1804. "Mr. Charles Hardenbergh, a candidate for the ministry un-
15
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WARWICK.
der care of this Classis, presented a call made on him by the Consistory of the congregation of Warwick, in the county of Orange, which call being approved by Classis, he then declared his acceptance thereof, and requested to be admitted to examination."
"After satisfactory examination his ordination was ordered to take place on the second Sabbath of Novem- ber next, in the church at Warwick. Committee: Revs. Solomon Freleigh, N. Lansing, W. Eltinge, Primarii; N. Schoonmaker, G. G. Brinkerhoff, Secundi. To preach the sermon-Primarius, Rev. Solomon Freleigh. ($) Se- cundus, Rev. N. Lansing." (Z)
Under Mr. Hardenbergh's pastorate, the church was incorporated by the law of March 27, 1801, under the title of the "Consistory of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church and Congregation of Warwick." (") The date of the certificate of incorporation is March 18, 1807. It is signed by Charles Hardenbergh, Minister; Cornelius Demarest, John Pelton, Edward P. Eckerson, John G. Ackerson, Elders; David C. Demarest, Andrew Onderdonk, Isaac Halstead, James Murray, Deacons.
It was witnessed before John Wheeler, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Orange. The record was entered "March 24, 1836, at 11 o'clock a. m., by Lebbeus L. Vail, Clerk."
The subsequent history is written in the Records of the Consistory of the "Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Warwick," though, unfortunately, these records are quite meager in their reference to the early years of the church.
a. See "Minutes of Classis of Paramus." "Consistorial Record of Reformed Church of Warwick."
b "R. & C. History of Orange Co., 1881."-Page 131. See same date in "Samuel Eager's History of Orange Co., 1846."-Page 435. Per-
16
THE RECORD OF A CENTURY.
haps it is confounded with the date of the origin of the Baptist Church of Warwick, now Old School.
c. So we learn from the Rev. Dr. Alexander, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of New York, who also informs us that the last reference to Warwick on the books of that Presbytery is 1777. Warwick was "not in the official list of ministers and congregations in the Synod of New York and Philadelphia, 1788."-H. A. Harlow. The period from 1777 to 1795 was one of confusion, and all church records are imperfect. Dr. Alexander raises the question-"did Warwick secede, with its pastor and other ministers, to form the Morris Independent Presbytery in 1779 ?" This is not probable.
d. "As to the organization by trustees even before the existence of elders and deacons, I would account for it in this way. Through the colonial period. dissenters, led chiefly by Presbyterian lawyers, had since 1720 earnestly and repeatedly asked from the colonial government and from Parliament, incorporation-corporate rights-but always in vain. When independence was secured, it was not to be wondered at that the idea prevailed that corporate rights was the principal thing. and if secured, all other matters would follow as a matter of course."- Rev. H. A. Harlow, who refers to "Civil Status of Presbyterianism in the Province of New York," by Charles W. Baird, D. D.
But seven years before this, i. e, in 1777, the Presbyterian Church of Warwick was an ecclesiastical organization, subject to the superintend- ing control of the Presbytery of New York. At this date, 1784, it had apparently been seven years without a pastor, and so remained desti- tute till 1795. During the troublous times of the Revolution the church was thus measurably disorganized, but scarcely could have been extinct. Immediately after the close of the war, this quasi organization-or re- organization-was effected. (1784.)
e. Quit-claim deeds of William Wickham and of the heirs of John Morin Scott, dated respectively April 23, 1793. and January 18, 1793. Each deed conveys to Francis Baird, John Simson and George Vance, Trustees of the Presbyterian Church of Warwick and their successors forever, one acre of ground. These acres had been expressly reserved from two larger and apparently contiguous portions of land sold to William Wisner by said Scott and Wickham at that date, 1770, the said two acres being then reserved "for a burial ground for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian Church aforesaid."
f. "Recollections of Warwick," by Henry Pelton, Esq., a valuable pamphlet concerning the early history of the village. This states on pages that in 1773-4, a rude house of worship had been enclosed, the completion of which was hindered by the Revolutionary troubles till 1792-3.
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