USA > New York > New York City > A discourse delivered in the North Reformed Dutch Church (Collegiate) : in the city of New-York, on the last Sabbath in August, 1856 > Part 8
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There are doors leading from the ground floor and galleries of the main building into the lecture-room and school-rooms. The lecture-room has an arched ceiling, neatly corniced and finished, with pendants. It contains pews capable of seating three hundred persons, is well-lighted and ventilated, and has a pulpit neatly panelled and moulded. The school-rooms are fitted with all the usual accessories of the most approved construction. There are two school-rooms, divided with a sliding partition, so as to be thrown into one room when required.
There is a cellar under the entire building, in which are situated the fur- naces, six in number, and affording room for coals.
The building is well supplied with gas lights, the fixtures for which were made from designs furnished by the architect, in keeping with the general style of the works, and are all finished in rich artistic bronze.
The interior of the building, contrary to usual practice, is finished in plain white, the only exceptions being the upholstery, pew rails, and gas fixtures, and the effect is exceedingly light and pleasing.
It is proper to remark that all the various works are executed in a man- ner far superior to what is customary in churches, no pains having been spared to render every thing complete and perfect in its kind, and great credit is due to the contractors and others engaged in the construction of the building, for the skill, ingenuity, and care manifested throughout their many and sometimes difficult operations.
The height of the spire on the main tower is 215 feet from the ground. To the ball, weather-points, and vane, it is 230 feet in height.
The plot of ground belonging to the church is 98 feet 6 inches wide on the Avenue, and 150 feet on Twenty-ninth street.
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Description of the North Reformed Dutch Church,
FULTON STREET.
Prepared by S. A. Warner, Architect.
THE North Dutch Church is situated in William street, and, with the grounds on both sides, occupies the entire front of the block between Fulton and Ann streets, the whole being elevated above the streets, and surrounded by a stone-coped wall and substantial iron railings. It is a well-built struc- ture of the Roman style. Its massive walls speak of permanence and durability, and there is much to admire in its well-proportioned and well- executed details, more particularly in those of its interior. Its dimensions are seventy feet in width, and one hundred feet in depth. The tower rises from the ground, projecting from the front of the main building. The prin- cipal entrance is in the tower, through a very fine Corinthian door-way, with fluted columns and pilasters, surmounted by an entablature, and open pediment, bearing in its centre a shield, on which are inscribed the date of the commencement and completion of the building. There is also a side entrance, from each street, having rustic architraves, and surmounted by angular pediments.
The main body of the building is two stories in height, the stories separ- ated by a plain fascia, the windows in each having rusticated architraves, with segment-shaped heads, plain sills, and moulded corbels. A handsome moulded base runs around the entire building. All the external angles are finished with rustic quoins. The cornice is plain, and of rather light pro- portions, and terminates against the sides of the tower on the front.
The tower above the main roof is in four sections, the first of which is a square pedestal, with a plane base and Dorie cornice, with the characteris- tic modillions, and its frieze ornamented with tryglyphs and guttæ.
The clock section has a modillioned cornice, pedimented on each of its faces, supported by consoles, and the angles surmounted by ornamental vases. The belfry is of octagonal form, and has the angles ornamented with pilasters, standing on pedestals, and is crowned by a handsome cor- nice. In each face is a window, with circular head, and neatly finished with moulded archibolts, key-stones, and imposts. The tower terminates in a dome-shaped roof, sustaining a ball and weather-vane.
The main walls are constructed of uncut stone, stuccoed and painted. The door and window dressings and mouldings are of freestone, neatly wrought, but in many places damaged by the rough usage through which the building has passed during its existence.
The interior of the building is divided into three unequal parts, by a range of four columns, and two pilasters on each side, of the Corinthian order, fluted and reeded, standing on pedestals raised to the height of the pews, and each column and pilaster sustaining a detached entablature of full proportions, all finely carved and finished, and on their friczes rendered
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conspicuous by gilding the initials of the generous contributors towards the erection of the church. From the entablatures rises a semi-circular ceiling, which covers the centre portion or nave of the church, and pierced traversely by semi-circular arches reaching from column to column. Arches of similar form are also thrown from the columns to the north and south walls, and are received on entablatures like those over the columns sustained by consoles, and are attached to the walls. Circular coved ceilings and spandrils, neatly paneled and enriched, fill the spaces be- tween the arches over the galleries. The pulpit is at the termination of the nave, at the westerly end, and is situated wholly within the body of the building. The wall behind it is handsomely decorated with Corinthian pilasters and arches. The whole is of neat and tasty design, in keeping with the remainder of the interior.
Above the pulpit is placed the coat of arms of the church's early patron and friend, whose liberality supplied the ground on which this edifice stands, together with other, now the chief source of the church's revenue. His motto, " Dando Conservat," has been literally conformed to. His gift, under the Church's stewardship, not only preserved but increased largely in value.
The area of the building is fitted up with pews of more recent construc- tion than other portions, all with neatly paneled ends and doors, the tops finished with mahogany railings and scrolls. The aisles are spacious, and used, as is customary in the Dutch Church, for administering the Lord's Supper. They are handsomely carpeted, and the pews carpeted and cushioned. Galleries extend around three sides of the building, supported by columns, all well fitted with pews, and having neatly paneled fronts.
At the easterly end facing the pulpit is placed the organ, a fine piece of workmanship, of imposing proportions ; the rich-colored mahogany, dark- ened by age, contrasting well with the gilded pipes and carvings.
The galleries are approached by staircases, from the vestibule at the easterly end, whose well-worn steps are now covered by matting.
The windows internally, owing to the thickness of the walls, have deep- splayed jambs, otherwise they are plainly finished.
ADDITIONAL NOTE.
One or two items have been suggested since the Appendix was prepared.
The Bell on the Old Middle Church.
This bell was presented to the church by Col. Abraham De Pey- ster, a prominent citizen of New-York, and an influential member of the Reformed Dutch Church. He died in 1728, while the church was in the process of being built, and directed in his will that a bell should be procured at his expense from Holland for the new edifice. It was made at Amsterdam in 1731, and it is said that a number of citizens of that place cast in quantities of silver coin in the preparation of the bell metal. The following is the inscription on the bell :
Me fecerunt De Grava et N. Muller, Amsterdam, Anno 1731.
Abraham De Peyster, geboren (born) den 8 July, 1657, gestorven (died) den 8 Augustus, 1728.
Een legaat aan de Nederduytsche Kerke Nieuw York.
(A legacy to the Low Dutch Church at New-York.)
This bell continued with the church in Nassau street till it was closed in 1844 for religious uses, and leased to the United States Gov- ernment for the City Post-Office. It was then removed to the church on Ninth street, near Broadway, where it remained till 1855, when that church was relinquished to a new and distinct church organiza- tion. It was then placed on the church on Lafayette Place, where it will remain sounding its silver tones, which have been sounded in this city for more than a century and a quarter.
John Oothout, Esq., of this city, states an interesting fact in rela- tion to this bell. He remarks, in a letter to Frederic De Peyster, Esq., that early in the Revolutionary War, when the British converted the Middle Church into a riding-school for their dragoons by removing the pulpit, gallery, pews, and flooring, HIS FATHER obtained from the commander-in-chief, Lord Howe, permission to take down the bell. This he stored in a secure and secret place, where it remained some
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years after the British army evacuated the city. When the church was repaired and reopened, he brought forth the old bell from its hiding-place, and restored it to its rightful position.
John Oothout, (the father,) here referred to, was one of the most active and efficient members and officers of our church, and his name is worthily perpetuated in his son.
The Old South Church in Garden street, opened in 1693.
We are indebted to Mr. George B. Rapelje, of this city, for the sketch of this church, from which the plate accompanying this Discourse is taken. He has also kindly communicated the following in reference to this church, and particularly the original bell :
" When the church was opened in 1693, the pulpit, bell, and several escuteheons were removed from the church in the fort, and placed in this edifice. On the bell was inscribed DULCIOR E NOSTRIS TINNITIBUS RESONAT AER. P. HEMONY ME FECIT, 1674. This bell was placed on the church erected in 1807, on the spot where the old church stood. It was suggested by several that the bell was too small, and that a larger one should be substituted in its place. Judge Benson at this time was an elder, and insisted that the bell should remain where it was ; that it came from Holland, and was the first of the kind used in the city ; that its silver tones had struck with admiration the ears of the native Indians, and, for antiquity's sake, ought not to be substi- tuted for modern castings. These arguments prevailed-the bell re- mained in its place ; but afterwards shared the fate of that church, and was consumed in the memorable conflagration in December, 1835.
Mr. R. also states that probably the first organ used in the city of New-York was brought over by Governor Burnet in 1720. When, in 1728, he was assigned to New-England, he gave the organ to this church. The organ used at the commencement of the Revolution, at the close of it was not to be found, and no traces of it were ever dis- covered. It is supposed that it was taken to England, in the same manner as the pulpit of the North Church, referred to in the Discourse.
SILVER BAPTISMAL BASIN IN THE OLD SOUTH, IN GARDEN STREET.
In 1694, the year succeeding the erection of the church, a silver baptismal basin was procured, on which was engraved around its bor- der a verse in poetry, written by Domine Selyns, then the only pas-
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tor. It is believed to be still used in the church on the Fifth avenue, corner of Twenty-first street, under the pastoral care of the Rev. Dr. McAuley, in which the corporate title of the South Reformed Dutch Church is handed down. A few years since, I saw the basin and the inscription referred to. In the original book of baptisms belonging to our church, then kept by Domine Selyns, there is inserted in the midst of the record this verse, occupying a distinct page. We insert the original, which may gratify those among us who yet retain the knowledge of the Low Dutch language :
OP'T HIET SILVER DOOP BEEKEN ONSER KERKE.
Op't bloote water stelt geen hoop T'was beter nooyt geboren Maer ziet iets meerder in de doop, (Zoo gaet men noyt verloren ;) IIoe Christus met zyn dierbaer bloedt, My reinigt van myn zonden,
En door zyn geest my leven doet En wast myn vuyle wonden.
HENRICUS SELYNS, Ecclesiastes Neo Eboracensis.
He states below this the cost of the basin, which was " twenty sil- ver ducats, or sixty-three Holland gilders," or twenty-five dollars of our current money.
Without furnishing a translation of the verse, we only give the sen- timent conveyed in it.
On the mere water (or external ordinance) hope of freedom from condemnation can not rest. But on carefully considering the nature and uses of baptism, faith apprehends that Christ, by his precious blood, cleanses us from the guilt and malady of sin, and causes us to live unto God by his Spirit.
This sentiment, embraced in the verse, contains and teaches a most important truth.
It was intended in the Discourse and Appendix only to give a gen eral and concise outline of the history of the Collegiate Reformed Dutch Church, without entering into detail. It would have been easy to have enlarged, by amplifying some of the points stated, and adducing others, but it was thought best to confine the small volume or pamphlet to a narrow compass for popular use. Perhaps some interest would have been imparted by referring to some of the pecu-
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liarities of olden time, in the customs and manners prevailing among our Dutch ancestors, and which were peculiar in a great measure to the times generally, and also to the ecclesiastical forms of conducting public worship, which have been in some regards changed. But these have not entered within the design of the present publication.
In retracing the history of this church, and looking over the record of her officers and members in succession, I have found the ancestry of the leading families of this city, etc., down to the present century, and of men who in civil stations have sustained a prominent position, and exerted a salutary influence. It would be easy to illustrate this by names in this city, to which may be added those of Dutch ancestry in Albany, Ulster county, New-Jersey. During the far greater part of the last century, the descendants of the Hollanders were predomi- nant in numbers, and, it is believed, influence. By intermarriages, the line of descent branched out more widely; and, while it became modified in its course, the spirit of the Dutch character became dif- fused, and was blended with those of other ancestry in happy combi- nation. The character of the church has been, throughout her history, conservative and catholic, steadfastly adhering to her faith and order, and dwelling in quietness and kindness by the side of other evangeli- cal denominations. The history of our State shows the pervading spirit of patriotism among her members, in adherence to popular rights and civil liberty, throughout the colonial annals and the revo- lutionary contest. The following tribute by Chancellor Kent, in his address before the New-York Historical Society in 1828, to the early Dutch settlers of this State, will be found characteristic and just : " The Dutch discoverers of New Netherland were grave, temperate, firm, persevering men, who brought with them the industry, the econ- omy, the simplicity, the integrity, and the bravery of their Belgic sires, and with those virtues they also imported the lights of the Roman civil law and the purity of the Protestant faith. To that period we are to look with chastened awe and respect for the begin- nings of our city, and the works of our primitive fathers-our ' Albani patres, atque alte mania Roma.' "
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ـونيو
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