A discourse delivered on the 12th of September, 1866, at the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the First Reformed Dutch Church, Fishkill : with an appendix, furnishing a brief historical sketch of the associated churches of Hopewell, New Hackensack, Fishkill Landing, and Glenham, Part 4

Author: Kip, Francis M. (Francis Marschalk), 1808-1888
Publication date: 1866
Publisher: New York : Press of Wynkoop & Hallenbeck
Number of Pages: 84


USA > New York > Dutchess County > Fishkill > A discourse delivered on the 12th of September, 1866, at the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the First Reformed Dutch Church, Fishkill : with an appendix, furnishing a brief historical sketch of the associated churches of Hopewell, New Hackensack, Fishkill Landing, and Glenham > Part 4


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4


The Rev. Dr. THOMAS DE WITT was the next pastor. He was born at Kingston, graduated from Union College in 1808, and entering the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick was one of the first class of graduates from that institution in the year 1812. In the same year, when just about twenty-one years of age. he was ordained to the Gospel minis- try, and installed pastor of the United Churches. the Rev. Dr. CUYLER preaching the ordination sermon and the Rev. Dr. WESTBROOK giving the charge to the pastor. It being thought advisable to dissolve the connection between the two churches, Dr. DE WITT resigned his charge in February, 1826. Imme- diately receiving a call from Hopewell he was in- stalled pastor of that church : but this connection was terminated in 1827 by his acceptance of a call from the Collegiate Reformed Dutch Church in New York. There he continues to labor, still bring- ing forth fruit in old age.


The Rev. CHARLES WHITEHEAD, who prosecuted his theological studies in the seminary of our church,


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and was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1826, suc- ceeded Dr. DE WITT, being installed in June, 1828. During his pastorate the old church was taken down and the present edifice erected. In 1835 Mr. WHITEHEAD accepted a call from the Second Re- formed Dutch Church of Somerville, N. J. After a few years of useful labor ill health compelled his resignation of his office. He has subsequently oc- cupied important positions in the church, and at present is engaged as chaplain of the New York Hospital in ministering the consolations of the Gos- pel to the sick and suffering.


In October, 1835, the Rev. Dr. ABRAHAM POL- HEMUS was installed pastor of this church. He was born in Astoria, N. Y .. in 1812, graduated from Rut- gers College in 1831, and from the Theological Sem- inary in 1835. In 1857, being called to take charge of the North Dutch Church just organized in New- ark, N. J., he, after a season of much mental conflict. decided it to be his duty to accept the call: and to the great grief of the congregation at Hopewell, while his own heart was filled with sorrow in view of the separation, resigned his charge in April of that year. He entered on his new field of labor with the bright- est prospects of success : but in August of the same year, while on a visit to his friends at Newburgh, he was prostrated by violent disease, which, after many weeks of great suffering, terminated his valuable life on the 28th of October, 1857, being twenty-two years to a day from the period of his ordination and installation at Hopewell.


Dr. POLHEMUS was one whom it was my privilege


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and happiness to call my friend. It was about the same time we assumed the pastorates of our two con- tiguous churches, and for a little more than twenty. one years in intimate association with our beloved brother, Rev. Dr. VAN CLEEF, of New Hackensack, we labored together, having one heart and one mind : no division of sentiment even for a moment clouding the pleasure of a most delightful intercourse, hereat- ter, we trust, to be renewed in Heaven. If ever there was a man worthy to be loved, such a man was Dr. POLHEMUS. I have often thought, when I looked on his noble frame and frank and lovely countenance, that in his case the outer was the symbol of the in- ward man. For in the present state of our nature there could not be a man more entirely free from every spot of meanness or selfishness. Nature had done much for him-grace did much more. It was not strange that his congregation cherished the most tender affection for him: it would have been strange if they had not. A sympathizing friend in affliction : one who ever mingled his tears with those who wept: a genial companion, while he never lowered the dig- nity of the ministerial office : a powerful and elo- quent, while a faithful and earnest, preacher ; a pastor during whose ministry two hundred and twenty-five members were added to the church on confession and certificate ; one who knew not the fear of man, and was ever ready for every good word and work; we cannot wonder that his people wept when they were told that he must leave them, and wept still more bitterly a few months after when they gazed upon his lifeless body. At his request I presided over the


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Consistorial meeting called to unite with him in an application to Classis for a dissolution of the connec- tion subsisting between him and the church. It was a meeting of the deepest feeling. His past services were spoken of. and his continued and present useful- ness, while the utter unwillingness of his people to part with him was forcibly expressed. Said one of his elders, " the beloved physician " who about two years since rejoined his pastor in heaven : " There is not a person in the church or out of the church who does not wish him to continue with us." Said another : " If Dr. POLHEMUS has decided that it is his duty to go. and will say so. I will concur with him in the application to Classis; but never will I move for his dismission :" and this was the sentiment of all, so that we were compelled to adjourn without having accomplished the purpose for which we had con- vened. Subsequently. Dr. POLHEMUS having stated to Consistory that he was decided in his convictions of duty to take charge of the church at Newark, they consented, though very reluctantly, to the dis- solution of the connection.


THE Rev. OLIVER E. COBB succeeded Dr. POL- HEMUS. He graduated from Yale College in 1853. and from the Union Theological Seminary in 1857, and was ordained and installed September 1 of the same year.


The first church edifice at New Hackensack was erected in this place in 1766. This was taken down and the present building reared in 1834.


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After the dissolution of the connection between this church and that at Hopewell, in the year 1826, the Rev. Dr. MAURICE W. DWIGHT was called to be the pastor of this church. Dr. DWIGHT. after gradu- ating from Columbia College, N. Y., pursued his theological course in our seminary, from which he graduated in 1821. After a pastorate of about four years at Waterford he entered on his labors among this people, being installed December 13. 1826. Here he continued to discharge the duties of his ministry till the spring of 1833, when he accepted a call from the First Reformed Dutch Church, Brooklyn, L. I. In 1855 he resigned this charge. but continued to re- side at Brooklyn till his decease, about the close of the year 1859.


Rev. Dr. VAN CLEEF says, in a note to me : " I be- came his successor in the fall of 1833. I knew him quite intimately previously to this. and considered him a man of more than ordinary taste and refine- ment : but I esteemed him more highly when I en- tered into his labors. He did a good work here, and embalmed his memory in the hearts of this people, who always spoke of him with great respect and af- fection. As far as I have been able to judge he was a faithful, conscientious, and painstaking pastor, looking well to the interests of his charge. He was a diligent student, and prepared his sermons with great care ; and as to style and finish, they were no common productions. I think that his character was remarkable for purity and loveliness, and withal it was very symmetrical. Dr. DWIGHT as a preacher and a pastor had few superiors, while his genial spirit and


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social qualifications were such as to endear him to a large circle of friends."


The Rev. Dr. CORNELIUS VAN CLEEF, a graduate of Dickinson College, and also, in 1826, of our Theo- logical Seminary, who had previously been settled in the Reformed Dutch Church at Athens, N. Y., for about six years, succeeded Dr. DWIGHT in the autumn of 1833, and now has almost completed a pastorate of thirty-three years.


"D."


The first pastor of the church at the Landing after its separation from Fishkill was the Rev. WILLIAM S. HEYER. Mr. HEYER was born and educated in New York. graduating from Columbia College in 1815. He pursued his theological studies in the seminary in New York, under the direction of the late Rev. Dr. JOHN M. MASON, and after receiving license to preach was called to the care of the church at the Landing, and ordained and installed in 1823. Of Mr. HEYER it could with truth be said that he feared the Lord from his youth. From the com- mencement of his Christian course to the end of his days he walked with God. living to glorify Him who had bought him with His blood. He was a man of fine natural talents, cultivated by a careful and ex- tended education. His sermons were characterized by force of argument, clearness of style, and tender- ness of persuasion. As a pastor he was truly faithful. and many are the seals of his ministry. During the whole period of his ministerial life Mr. HEYER suf- fered from bodily infirmities, and when he resigned his


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call in 1851, it was without the intention of ever tak- ing another settlement. Removing to Newburgh he occupied his time, so long as his strength permitted, in visits of mercy to the prisoners in jail and the poor and neglected in the neighborhood. In Janu- ary, 1866, after a very brief illness, he gently passed away from earth, to be for ever with that blessed Saviour whom he had so long loved and so faithfully served.


September 4, 1851, the Rev. Dr. D. McL. QUACK- ENBUSH, a graduate of Columbia College, and of the Theological Seminary of our church, was installed as the pastor of the church. In 1855 he resigned to take charge of a new enterprise at Brooklyn. He is now, as he has been for several years past, pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at Yorkville.


He was succeeded by the Rev. JOHN H. SUYDAM, who, after graduating from our Theological Semin- ary in 1859, was on the 17th of June ordained to the ministry and installed pastor of the church. He resigned his charge November, 1862, having received a call from the First Reformed Dutch Church, Philadelphia.


The Rev. Dr. JOSEPH KIMBALL, of the Presbyterian Church, was called to succeed Mr. SUYDAM, and was installed in April. 1863. In October, 1865, he re- signed to take the pastoral care of the First Reformed Dutch Church, Brooklyn, L. I.


In January, 1866, the Rev. MARTIN L. BERGER, a graduate of Union Theological Seminary, and pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at Millstone, ac- cepted a call from this church, and entered on his labors.


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" E."


On the 28th of February. 1840. the church built at Glenham was dedicated to the worship of the Triune God.


The Rev. JOHN G. JOHNSON, a graduate of Rut- gers College. and of the Theological Class of 1839. immediately after leaving the seminary commenced his labors in the ministry at Glenham, and in May of the following year was ordained and installed. The church and congregation grew continually during Mr. JOHNSON's pastorate. which was continued till 1845. when he assumed the charge he still retains of the Reformed Dutch Church at Red Hook.


He was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. WILLIAM A. MILLER, who, on the 20th of May. 1846. was or- dained and installed pastor of the church. Dr. MIT .- LER graduated from Union College with the honors of the institution in 1842. and prosecuted the full course of theological study in our seminary at New Brunswick. His ministerial labors at Glenham were highly appreciated and very useful. But God in his all-wise providence soon laid his afflictive hand upon him, and in 1849. after three years of pastoral labor. he was compelled by loss of health to resign his call. From 1849 to 1856 he occupied the positions for which his talents and attainments eminently qualified him, first. of Professor of Languages in the Albany Academy. and then of Principal of that institution. His duties were discharged with great ability and to the entire satisfaction both of the Trustees and the community. During this period Dr. MILLER was still actively engaged in promoting the glory of his Master, occupying almost every Sabbath his health


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permitted in preaching the riches of the grace of Christ. His health being apparently restored, in 1856 he accepted a call from the Reformed Dutch Church in Rhinebeck, and was welcomed with the utmost cordiality by his parishioners. But his health soon again failed. A violent cold taken while offi- ciating at a funeral settled on his lungs. With the hope of regaining health he sailed for Europe, and returned in about six months with strength in some measure restored, but, as events proved, not estab- lished. After continuing for some time, though under much physical weakness, to discharge the duties of his office, he was constrained by his own sense of the hopelessness of his recovery. in 1859, to resign his call. after a pastorate of three years. He removed to Albany, his native city, where he re- mained, gradually declining, until on the 5th of No- vember. 1863, in the fortieth year of his age. he slept in Jesus. A brother in the ministry, his class-mate in the seminary ( Rev. Dr. T. C. STRONG), thus speaks of him : " In every position which he has occupied he discharged the duties with fidelity, energy, and success. Gifted with a mind well balanced and thor- oughly cultivated, he was qualified for wide-spread usefulness. As a scholar he was accurate. well read. and fully equal to the standard of modern criticism. As a teacher he was thorough, analytical, and instruc- tive. As a preacher he was sound in the faith, clear in his presentation of truth, logical in his reasoning, practical in exposition, and forcible in his appeals. As a Christian he was meek in spirit, ardent in his piety, and earnest in his endeavors to secure the sal- vation of souls. In the varied and tender relations


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of the home he was all that the loving heart could desire or duty might require. Hence his name and memory will ever be as ointment poured forth to the wide circle of friends and loved ones who now mourn his departure."


The Rev. ISAAC G. DURYEA, previously pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church at Fallsburgh, succeeded Dr. MILLER, being installed in 1851. In October, 1852, he resigned the call to take charge of the Second Reformed Dutch Church at Schenectady. Mr. DURYEA was a laborious, devoted minister of Christ-abundant in labors-but his health was feeble, and in 1858 he resigned his charge. During the late war he was a chaplain in the army, and discharged his duties with great fidelity and effi- ciency. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged and returned to Schenectady, but only to die. His death occurred early in this present year.


On the 16th of June, 1853. the Rev. JOHN H. BEVIER was installed pastor of the church. Mr. BEVIER was a graduate of our Theological Seminary, and had been previously settled in the Reformed Dutch Churches of Shawangunk and Fordham : having also for some years been the editor of the " Christian In- telligencer." In 1860, Mr. BEVIER having accepted a call from the Reformed Dutch Church at Newtonville, resigned his charge. He is now the pastor of the Re- formed Dutch Church at Rosendale, Ulster county.


From 1860 to 1865 the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. EDWIN HOLMES, to the great acceptance of the congregation.


In November, 1865, Rev. FRANCIS A. HORTON, a graduate of Rutgers College and our Theological Seminary, was ordained and installed in the pastorate.


HECKMAN


BINDERY, INC. Bound-To-Please"


NOV 00


N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962





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