USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > A historical discourse on the Reformed Prot. Dutch Church of Albany, delivered on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1857, in the North Dutch Church > Part 2
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side of the pulpit, in sight of the congregation. The seats in the body of the house were oc- cupied by the females, and the large galleries, which extended on three sides of the edifice, were appropriated to the younger male mem- bers of the congregation. It was the custom in those days for the minister to enter during the singing, and before ascending to the pulpit to stand a moment at the foot of the stairs in silent prayer, a custom which was certainly highly appropriate. In front of the desk of the pulpit was placed the hour glass, and our fathers would hardly have thought that the domine gave them good measure if he closed his dis- course till the last sands had fallen. It is not often in these days that our hearers complain of the brevity of our discourses.
For ninety-one years the old stone Church stood as the centre of devotion, and place of worship for the Church of Christ in Albany. There your pious parents loved to go to worship God in simplicity and godly sincerity. There they listened with reverent attention to the preaching of the Word. There they sat down at the sacramental table, and commemorated the love of their blessed Saviour. There they carried their children to receive the rite of bap-
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tism in the name of the adorable Trinity. From that temple they were called to the purer and nobler worship of heaven. Fifty-one years have rolled away since that old building was taken down. There are but few left who were familiar with the venerable and time honored structure. It is fast becoming only a thing of tradition. Very soon the last of the smiling babes, who received baptism at its font, will be borne a gray haired man, to the silent grave. But the results of what transpired within its walls for nearly a century, will last as long as the eternal throne of God endures.
During the ministry of Mr. Van Driessen, a petition was presented to the Hon. Peter Schuy- ler, president, and the rest of his majesty's council of the province of New York, for an act of incorporation. The petition is dated 3d day of August, 1720, and is signed by Petrus Van Driessen, minister; Johannes Cuyler, Johannes Roseboom, Hendrik Van Rensselaer and Wil- liam Jacobse Van Deusen, elders ; and Rut- gert Bleecker, Volkert Van Veghten, Myndert Roseboom and Dirk Ten Broek, deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Congregation in the city of Albany .*
* Sce Appendix, Note F.
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The petition was successful, and an act of incorporation was granted to the Church under the title of the "Minister, Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the city of Albany," bearing date August 10th, 1720.
Mr. Van Driessen continued in the pastoral charge of the congregation till his death, which occurred about February 1st, 1738, having labored with zeal and fidelity for a period of twenty-six years. The Church at Kinderhook was organized by him in 1712, and the Church at Claverack in 1716.
In 1733, five years prior to the death of Do- mine Van Driessen, the Rev. Cornelius Van Schie was settled as his colleague. Mr. Van Schie had previously labored in Poughkeepsie and Fishkill. He survived his colleague but six years, and died August 15th, 1744, aged 41 years. His last sermon was from Rev. ii, 10 : "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
The next pastor was the Rev. Theodorus Frelinghuysen. He entered upon his labors about 1745. He was the son of the Rev. Jaco- bus Theodorus Frelinghuysen, a native of West Friesland, who came to this country in 1720,
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and settled in New Jersey about three miles west of New Brunswick. He was a man of sound evangelical views, and a bold and earnest preacher. He had five sons, all of whom be- came ministers; and two daughters, both of whom became the wives of ministers. His second son, Johannes, succeeded his father at Raritan, in 1750, but died in 1754, in the 28th year of his age. He was the grandfather of the Hon. Theodore Frelinghuysen, president of Rutgers College. His oldest son, Theodorus, was the pastor of the Church at Albany. He is said to have been a man of more than ordinary excellence. His temper was ardent and his manners frank and popular. In the pulpit his preaching was earnest and eloquent, while his pure and spotless life, when out of it, illustrated and enforced his teachings. For fif- teen years he labored beloved and respected by all, and probably no pastor was ever more deeply seated in the confidence and affections of his flock.
About this time, a regiment of royal troops was stationed in Albany, whose gay and youth- ful officers introduced quite a new order of things into the staid and quiet circles of the city. Parties, balls, and theatrical entertain- 4
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versity, he decided to accept it. He was ac- cordingly examined and approved, and in March, 1760, was installed in Holland as min- ister of this Church. He arrived here and entered upon his duties in the autumn of that year, and soon had reason to believe, that in removing to this city he had chosen the path of duty.
Dr. Westerlo was a man of more than ordi- nary religious feeling. About eight years after the commencement of his labors, he fell into a state of great despondency and fear as to his personal hopes. After a time of severe self-ex- amination and earnest prayer, he obtained re- newed hope and peace. He always considered himself to have undergone a great change at this time, and frequently spoke of it as a most interesting and eventful period of his life. He was on very intimate and friendly terms with several distinguished ministers and private Christians, and derived much edification and enjoyment from correspondence and fellowship with them. Among these were the Rev. Drs. Livingston, Laidlie, Rodgers and Mason, of New York; and Dr. Meyer, pastor of the Church at Esopus, and afterward of New Jer-
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sey ; also Mrs. Livingston, mother of the late Chancellor Livingston, and other pious indi- viduals in humbler life.
In 1775 he was married to the widow of Stephen Van Rensselaer, then Patroon of the Manor of Renssalaerswyck. She had three sons, Stephen, whose memory is still precious in this Church and city ; Philip, who was for seventeen years mayor of Albany ; and Eliza- beth, who married for her first husband, John, a son of Gen. Philip Schuyler, and afterwards the late John Bleecker. From the time of his marriage till 1784, he resided at the Manor House. At that time he removed to the par- sonage which stood in Broadway, on the site now occupied by the building known as Bleecker Hall.
Dr. Westerlo was decidedly in favor of dis- solving the ecclesiastical connection which at that time bound the Dutch Church in this country to the jurisdiction of the ecclesiastical courts in Holland, and of an independent organization, by which the training, ordination and installation of ministers, and other church business could be transacted here, by our own ecclesiastical courts. In the discussion of this question, which agitated the whole Church
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deeply, and which was debated with earnest- ness if not with acrimony for several years, he took a prominent part. The separation was finally made in 1772 .*
Dr. Westerlo was also a warm patriot. During the Revolution, he took strong ground on the side of independence, and at that cri- tical period just prior to the surrender of Bur- goyne, he held special religious services in the Church daily for a week, imploring the inter- position of God in behalf of our army, and ani- mating and encouraging the people by his prayers and exhortations. He was assisted in these services by his distinguished friend, Dr. John H. Livingston, who was also his brother- in-law,; and who spent much time in Albany and its vicinity during the progress of the war.
Up to this time all the religious services in the Church were in the Dutch language. The importance of introducing the English, was however more and more felt, and in 1780, Dr. 1 Livingston was called as colleague to preach in that language, but declined the invitation. In 1782, Dr. Westerlo began to preach half the day in English.
* See Appendix, Note F.
+ They married sisters.
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In this year General Washington visited Albany and had a public reception. An address on that occasion was delivered by Dr. Westerlo as the minister of the Church, and president of the consistory. The last sermon which Dr. Westerlo preached was from the 65th Psalm, 4th verse : "Blessed is the man, whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple."
He died on the 26th December, 1790, in the 53d year of his age. The event was somewhat sudden, though his health for some time had not been good. It excited the deepest feeling throughout the congregation. A letter written by Dr. Livingston to Dr. Meyer soon after, says : " His disease at first affected his mind, and rendered him very melancholy, but it pleased the Lord to remove all his fears and distresses ; his mind became serene, and he was cheerful, established, and rejoicing in the Lord till his last moments. His house was filled with his people, who came from all parts of the city to see him, and he left them with his blessing in such a solemn manner, that it is thought he did as much good in his death as in his life.
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Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord ! O that we may die the death of the righteous, and our last end be like his."
Dr. Westerlo left two children, a son Rens- salaer, who was at one time a member of congress, and a daughter Catherine, who mar- ried the Hon. John Woodworth, who still survives her.
He was a man of solid learning, especially in the classics, of imposing presence, and gentle and dignified manners. Few ministers have maintained a higher standing in the Church, or a deeper place in the affections of
the people. The late Harmanus Bleecker, in a sketch for Rev. Dr. Sprague's work, which I have been kindly permitted to see, and from which much of the foregoing account of Dr. Westerlo has been derived, says in closing the sketch : " Indeed so omnipresent was his religion, so engrossing his piety, that his ha- bitual state of mind seemed to be one continued prayer, and his life an unbroken offering of praise."
In 1787, the Rev. John Bassett was settled as colleague pastor with Dr. Westerlo. He was born in Bushwick, L. I., October 1, 1764, and educated in Columbia College, N. Y. His
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theological studies were pursued under Dr. Livingston, and he was ordained and installed here, November 25, 1787. In December, 1804, he retired from his pastoral charge to the Boght, and afterwards to his native place on Long Island, where he died, September 4, 1824, in the 60th year of his age. He left five children, four of whom still survive. Upon his retirement from this Church, the consistory voted to pay him an annuity of $562.50 for the term of his natural life.
Mr. Bassett was a man of extraordinary eru- dition. He was an excellent Hebrew scholar, and excelled in classical learning. He always had several young men in his family, and under his instruction. He was a sound and edifying preacher, though not gifted with great vividness of imagination or eloquence. He had many warm friends in the congregation, who deeply regretted his departure.
The congregation at this time, as might be supposed, had grown to be very large and power- ful. The population of the city was about 5,000. The Church having been in existence for nearly 150 years, the members of the congregation could not be accommodated in the old stone building, and it was decided to build a new 5
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one. The corner stone of this edifice was laid June 12, 1797. It was solemnly dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, January 27, 1799. The dedicatory discourses, on the occasion, were preached by the two pastors; Rev. Mr. Bassett, in the morning, from the 84th Psalm, 1st and 2d verses; and the Rev. Mr. Johnson, in the afternoon, from the 4th verse of the same Psalm. At that time this street presented a very different aspect from that which it wears at present. From State street, the unpaved and grassy road was lined with the ancient Dutch dwellings, with their gable ends and weathercocks, very different from the fine modern residences, which are now the homes of some of our most respectable citizens. Conspi- cuous among the old buildings, was the Vander Heyden palace, which stood about where the Baptist Church now stands. It was built in 1725, and taken down in 1833, and was one of the most imposing buildings of its day. But this Church edifice was in striking contrast to the buildings which then surrounded it. It rose in its massive and commanding proportions, the finest specimen of ecclesiastical architect- ure then in the city, and still the largest protest- ant house of worship, and showing, after sixty
1051870
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years, how faithfully it was constructed. It will now outlast many of the more showy edifices, which are at this day rising through our country} Its interior has been twice modified ; once in 1820, when this pulpit was erected, and again in 1850.
In 1796, the Rev. John Barent Johnson was called to become colleague pastor with Mr. Bassett. He was born at Brooklyn, L. I., March 3, 1769. His father's name was Barent Johnson, of Dutch descent, a farmer in pros- perous circumstances. His mother was Maria Guest, daughter of Capt. John Guest, of New Brunswick, who commanded a vessel which sailed from New York to Antigua. He lost both his parents before he was nine years old, and was brought up by a cousin, who was his father's executor. In his 17th year, while attending school at Flatbush, he became acquainted with the Rev. Dr. John H. Livingston, who was spending the summer there. Dr. L. discovering that he was a youth of much more than ordi- nary talents, encouraged him to commence a course of liberal studies, and kindly offered to receive him into his own family, and superin- tend his education. This offer was gratefully accepted, and he was soon prepared to enter
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college. In 1788 he entered Columbia College, and in the same year became a communicant in the Reformed Dutch Church. After his graduation he studied theology with Dr. Liv- ingston; was licensed by the classis of New York, April 21, 1795, and preached his first sermon on the succeeding sabbath in that city for the Rev. Dr. Kuypers.
On the 5th of June, 1796, Mr. Johnson was ordained to the work of the ministry, and settled as colleague pastor with Mr. Bassett over this Church. His ordination sermon was preached by Mr. Bassett.
In 1802, Mr. Johnson was called to the Re- formed Dutch Church in Schenectady, and also to that in Brooklyn. He decided to remove to the latter place. He preached his farewell sermon to this Church, on the 26th of Septem- ber, 1802, and was installed in Brooklyn, on
the 24th of the following October.
Among
other marked features of this sermon, which was a very able, earnest and eloquent dis- course, is a fine tribute to the Heidelberg catechism, and a plea for its faithful and re- gular exposition in our churches. His health, which was much impaired before his removal from Albany, now began to fail rapidly, and the
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death of his wife, which occured in March, 1803, contributed to hasten his own. He died at the house of his brother-in-law, Peter Rosevelt, Esq., in Newtown, August 29, 1803. He left three children, two of whom still survive, in the ministry of the Episcopal Church; one at Jamaica, L. I., and another a professor in the Episcopal Theological Seminary in New York.
From a sketch of Mr. Johnson, from the pen of Hon. Teunis Van Vechten, for Rev. Dr. Sprague's work on the American Pulpit, we learn, that he was a man of unusually prepos- sessing personal appearance, and easy and graceful manners. " His countenance had an expression of great benignity, united with high intelligence. His manners were bland and court- eous, and predisposed every one who saw him to be his friend; and his countenance and manners were a faithful index to his disposition. He was acknowledged, on all hands, to possess an uncommonly amiable and generous spirit. He had the reputation of an excellent pastor. He mingled freely and to great acceptance with all classes of people. He was particularly attentive to the young, and had the faculty of making himself exceedingly pleasant to them ; this I know from personal experience.
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As a preacher he was undoubtedly one of the most popular in the Dutch Church at that day. Of his manner in the pulpit, I retain a very distinct recollection. His voice was a melodious one, and though not of remarkable compass, yet loud enough to be heard with ease in a large church. His gesture was natu- ral and effective, and sometimes he reached, what I should think, a high pitch of pulpit oratory."
At the death of General Washington the legislature of the state, then in session, requested of the consistory the use of this Church for the celebration of appropriate fune- ral services, and invited Mr. Johnson to deliver the eulogy on that occasion. The service was accordingly held Feb. 22d, 1800, and as might be supposed, was one of unusual interest and solemnity. The Church was hung with black, and crowded by a mourning people. The oration by Mr. Johnson was a masterly effort, and produced a great sensation. It was pub- lished by vote of both houses, Hon. Stephen Van Renssalaer, being then president of the senate, and Hon. Dirck Ten Broeck, speaker of the house. Mr. Van Vechten says of it: " The exordium was spoken of at the time, as
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a rare specimen of eloquence, and the whole performance was of a very high order. I speak with confidence concerning this, as it was published, and I have had the opportunity of reading it, since I have been more competent to judge of its merits than I was when it was delivered."
Mr. Van Vechten closes his sketch of Mr. Johnson in these words : "He left an excel- lent name behind him, and the few who still remember him, cherish gratefully the recollec- tion of both his gifts, and his graces."
After the removal of Mr. Johnson, the Church made two unsuccessful attempts to secure a suc- cessor in the pastoral office. In Sept., 1802, a call was sent to the Rev. Henry Kollock, of Elizabethtown, and in Dec., 1802, to the Rev. Philip Milledoler, of Philadelphia, both of which were declined. In 1803, Rev. William Linn, was engaged as temporary supply, and con- tinued to serve the Church for several years.
At the removal of Mr. Bassett in 1804, the Church was left entirely without a pastor. In the meantime it had grown to be one of the largest and most influential congregations in the state. In Feb., 1805, a call was sent to Rev. Edward D. Griffin to become the pastor,
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which was declined. A meeting of the Great Consistory was called afterwards, to deliberate upon its interests and to consider the subject of calling a pastor. They met on the 27th of May, 1805. Forty-nine members were present. The names of all of them are on record, and it is worthy of remark that of these forty-nine names, there are only six names which may not now be found in the congregation, although only one of the individuals who composed the meeting yet survives .* At this meeting it was decided to call the Rev. John Melancthon Bradford to the pastorate of the Church. He was required to preach but once on each sab- bath during the first year of his settlement, and in case of his marriage was to receive an addition to his salary.
Mr. Bradford was born in Danbury, Conn., May 15, 1781. He was the son of the Rev. Ebenezer Bradford, then pastor of the Congre- gational Church in Danbury. His collegiate education was received at Brown University, R. I., where he graduated with honor. He then pursued his theological studies with the Rev. Dr. Green of Philadelphia, one of the most distinguished ministers of the Presbyterian
* The venerable Jacob Ten Eyck, Esq., of Whitehall.
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Church, who was his maternal uncle. He was called to the pastoral charge of the Church in May, 1805, and having accepted the call was ordained to the office of the ministry, and installed pastor of the Church. The ordination sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Linn of New York.
Dr. Bradford continued in the pastoral charge about fifteen years. He was a man of fine appearance, and dignified manners, and an eloquent and impressive preacher. Few men have been better fitted by natural endow- ments for the position of a public speaker. His voice was uncommonly melodious, and his gesticulation dignified and graceful. His style was rich and yet chaste, and his sermons were compositions of a high order. For years he commanded large audiences, and was ranked among the distinguished pulpit orators of the day.
He died in 1827, leaving a widow and seve- ral children who yet survive. One of these, Alexander W. Bradford, now holds the office of surrogate of New York, and is a gentleman of high standing in his profession.
As early as 1799, the project of building another new church, began to receive some 6
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attention, but it was not finally decided upon till 1805. In that year the site of the old stone Church in State street was sold to the corpora- tion of the city for $5,000, and in the spring of 1806, the venerable building, which had been oc- cupied by the congregation for nearly a century, was taken down. For one hundred and fifty years that spot had been occupied as the site of a place of worship, and there were many sacred and touching associations connected with it. It was not strange that many hearts should feel emotions of sadness when at last it was given up to the crowd and bustle of business. The corner stone of the noble edifice now occupied by the Second Reformed Dutch Church, on Beaver street, was laid April 30th, 1806, by Rev. Dr. Bradford, and the building after several delays in the prosecution of the work was finally completed in 1810. It is one of the finest specimens of ecclesiastical architecture in this city. Indeed there are few superior to it, in our country.
In 1813, the Rev. John De Witt was called as colleague pastor with Dr. Bradford. He was a native of Catskill, the son of a farmer, who desired him to enter the profession of law. With this object he spent several years in
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MIDDLE DUTCH CHURCH.
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study, and graduated at Nassau Hall, in Prince- ton, in 1809. He then commenced the study of law in Kinderhook, but his mind having at this time been brought under deep religious impressions, he felt that it was his duty to devote himself to the work of the Christian ministry. He accordingly commenced the study of theology with the Rev. Dr. Porter of Cats- kill, and was first settled in the ministry in Lanesboro, Mass., in 1811. From thence he was called to become collegiate pastor with Dr. Bradford. In 1815, it was deemed advisa- ble that the collegiate form of the Church should be abandoned, and that two distinct and independent congregations should be formed each with its own church edifice, pastor and consistory. This was carried into effect in an amicable spirit. An equitable division was made of the Church property, the two pastors drew lots for the church edifices, and the congregations connected themselves with one or the other, according to their individual choice, or convictions of duty. Dr. De Witt became the pastor of the Second or South Church. Dr. Bradford remained with the old Church, which was thereafter popularly known as the North Dutch Church.
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Dr. De Witt remained pastor of the South or Second Church till September, 1823, when he was elected to the professorship of Biblical criticism, ecclesiastical history, and pastoral theology in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, at New Brunswick. In this honorable and useful position he remained till his death, which oc- curred on the 11th of October, 1831, in the 42d year of his age.
Dr. De Witt was a man of frank, joyous, and generous nature, yet of accute and tender sensibilities. His piety was deep and ardent, and his preaching eminently plain, evangelical and earnest. His manner in the pulpit was unaffectedly dignified and serious, his voice clear and strong, and his enunciation distinct and deliberate. No man could listen to him without pleasure and instruction. As a pastor he enjoyed in a high degree the confidence and affection of his people, and his separation from them was an event deeply regretted by them all.
In October, 1824, Rev. Isaac Ferris was in- stalled as pastor of the Second Church, and continued in that office, greatly esteemed and beloved by his people until the year 1836, when
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