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 7
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In 1818 he was elected to congress, and at the expiration of his term of office was re-elected. Under President Monroe he was appointed postmaster of Albany, and held this office under Adams and Jackson. In 1839, he was a delegate to the national convention at Harrisburgh, which nominated Gen. Harrison for the presidency. From President Harrison he received again the appoint- ment of postmaster at Albany. The last years of his life were spent in the bosom of his affectionate family at Cherry Hill, where he died April 23d, 1852, in the 78th year of his age, leaving behind him the memory of a gallant soldier, a true patriot, and a faithful servant of his country.
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ABRAHAM G. LANSING, EsQ.
The estimation in which Mr. Lansing was held by the public may be well inferred from the following . obituary notice from the pen of his distinguished friend, Abraham Van Vechten, Esq., which appeared in the Albany Argus, September, 1834.
" It is due to the memory of those who have well performed their part on the stage of life, that their example should be held forth for imitation after their departure hence ; for in this way it furnishes a useful lesson to their survivors. The recent death of Abraham G. Lansing, Esq., at the advanced age of 77 years, affords such a lesson.
" Mr. Lansing was a native of this city, and a zealous and active supporter of the liberties of our country during the American Revolution. His merit and patri- otism at an early period attracted the attention and engaged the confidence of our distinguished leaders in that arduous contest, who confided to him several im- portant offices, the duties of which he discharged with faithfulness and ability. After the war of our independ- ence was ended, Mr. Lansing received appointments to various responsible public offices, from the United States, as well as from this state, in all of which he merited and preserved the undiminished confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. Happy in his domestic relations, with an amiable and interesting family, who delighted to minister to his comfort and happiness, he led a life of benevolence and usefulness, and died in the faith and hope of a humble Christian, and is buried in the affec- tions of his bereaved wife, children, and friends."
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HON. CHARLES E. DUDLEY.
The name of Mr. Dudley, already distinguished by his own character and public services, has been ren- dered still more extensively so, by the noble monument, which the affection and munificence of his widow has reared to his memory, and on which she has inscribed his name in letters as bright as the stars to which it points.
Descended from one of the most ancient of the noble families of England, Mr. Dudley was thoroughly and deeply attached to this country, the land of his adop- tion, and of his life and labors. After engaging for years in the honorable and useful pursuits of commer- cial life, in which he was very successful, he retired to Albany, and became happily connected in marriage with one of its most ancient and respectable families. He was soon called to preside over the municipal government of the city; thence he was transferred to the senate of the state, where "he identified his name with beneficent measures, which have contributed largely to the intellectual progress and material prosperity of the state." He was afterward elected to the senate of the United States, and in that body, which was then illuminated by those brilliant stars, Clay, Webster, and Calhoun, and Silas Wright, his distinguished colleague, he shone with no ordinary lustre. Intelligence, candor, patriotism, and independence, characterized his course as a statesman, no less than his character as a man.
"It was his fortune," says Gov. Hunt, in his address at the inauguration of the Dudley Observatory, "to act a prominent part on the stage of public events in times of intense political excitement. Though decided in his opinions, adhering always to his avowed princi- ples with unyielding firmness, party spirit never ven- tured to assail the integrity of his conduct, or to ques-
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tion the purity of his intentions. He cherished warm political attachments, yet he was no partisan, in the ordinary sense. If he loved Cæsar much, he loved Rome more, and regarded the welfare of his country as paramount to the interests of any party." His long acquaintance with commerce, and knowledge of the laws of trade, gave him peculiar advantages on ques- tions which related to the commercial interests of the country ; and his views on these subjects always com- manded a larger measure of consideration.
From the period of his marriage, Mr. Dudley was a regular worshiper in the Dutch Church, in connection with which he remained during the remainder of his life. He was a man who had a sincere reverence for the institutions of religion, and his moral character was above reproach. He professed his faith in Christ in his last illness, and the hopes of the gospel cheered him in his dying hours. He was dignified and courteous in his manners, and commanded the respect of the public as truly as he won the affection of his friends.
He died in Albany in 1841. His affectionate widow still survives him, herself the descendant of one of the first magistrates of the city, and one of the oldest mem- bers of the Dutch Church of Albany. Through her lamented husband and herself, the name of Dudley will be rendered memorable, when centuries hence, the as- tronomer shall watch the stars which look down upon their graves in silent and solemn beauty.
15
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REV. WILLIAM J. POHLMAN.
Mr. Pohlman was born in Albany February 17th, 1812. He was trained up by pious parents in the nurture, and admonition of the Lord, and was the sub- ject of deep religious impressions from his earliest years. When he was about 16 years of age he became a decided Christian, and eighteen months after, he con- nected himself with this Church. Feeling then an ardent desire to devote himself to the Gospel ministry, he commenced a course of preparatory study, passed through Rutgers College and the theological seminary, and was duly licensed to preach by the Rev. Classis of Albany, July 27th, 1837. He now determined to devote himself to the foreign missionary work, and applied to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to be employed by them on heathen ground. His application was cordially granted, and in April, 1838, he was ordained in this Church to the work of the ministry. On the 20th of May, 1838, he was solemnly set apart to the work of foreign missions, and immedi- ately left for the island of Borneo, which was designated as the field of his labors. In 1844, he was transferred to the mission at Amoy, in China, where he labored with zeal and fidelity for about five years. In January 1849, while passing from Hong Kong to Amoy, the vessel in which he sailed encountered a severe storm, in which she foundered, and Mr. Pohlman was among the lost.
The Rev. Dr. Kennedy, who was at that time pastor of this Church, and who knew Mr. Pohlman well, in a discourse delivered in his memory in May, 1849, says of him, that he " possessed elements of character, that fitted him for extended usefulness among the heathen. His piety took the form of a deep controlling principle. It governed him in every thing he did. Were I to
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select what seems to me to have been the prominent feature of his mental constitution, I would say it was perseverance. And the union of these two elements, deep piety, and unwearying perseverance, gave a cast to the entire character, and fitted him in an eminent degree for the toils and trials of the missionary life. Difficul- ties never discouraged him. Obstacles only nerved him to greater exertions. He was cheerful in duty, prudent in counsel, amiable in disposition, and cordial and firm in his friendships."
LIST OF THE PASTORS
OF
THE CHURCH AT ALBANY.
Rev. Johannes Megapolensis,
1642 to 1649,
" Gideon Schaats,. 1652 to 1683,
66 Niewenhuysen, . 1675 to -
66
Godfreidus Dellius,.
1683 to 1699,
66 Johannes Petrus Nucella, 1699 to 1702,
66
Johannes Lydius, .
1703 to 1709,
66
Petrus Van Driessen,
1712 to 1739,
Cornelius Van Schie,. 1733 to 1744,
66
Theodorus Frelinghuysen,
1746 to 1760,
66
Eilardus Westerlo,.
1760 to 1790,
66
John Bassett,
1787 to 1805,
66 John B. Johnson,. 1796 to 1802,
66
John M. Bradford,.
1805 to 1820,
"6
John DeWitt,.
1813 to 1815,
66 John Ludlow,. 1823 to 1833,
66 Thomas E. Vermilye,. 1835 to 1839,
Duncan Kennedy,. 1841 to 1855,
66
Ebenezer P. Rogers,
1856.
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH, FOR 1858.
Pastor, REV. EBENEZER P. ROGERS, D. D.
Elders,
John Q. Wilson, Philip Ford,
Stephen Van Rensselaer,* Edmund S. Herrick.t
Deacons,
David Newland, Edward Dunscomb,
Maurice E. Viele,ţ William Seymour.§
Trustees,
Jacob H. Ten Eyck,
Peter Gansevoort,
Alfred Van Santvoord, John H. Reynolds,
Lansing Pruyn, Henry Lansing,
Robert H. Pruyn, S. Oakley Vanderpoel, Henry T. Buell.
Treasurer, Richard Van Rensselaer.
* In place of Wm. McElroy, Elder, 1856-7. + do Timothy Seymour, do.
do Jacob J. DeForest, Deacon, 1856-7.
do David McMicken, do.
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AN ACT
IN RELATION TO THE MINISTER, ELDERS AND DEACONS OF THE REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH IN THE CITY OF ALBANY.
Passed February 4th, 1857.
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows :
SECTION 1. The corporation known as the minister, elders and deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the City of Albany, shall hereafter be known and styled as the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of Albany.
§ 2. The proceedings of said Church, pursuant to the provisions of chapter ninety, of the laws of eighteen hundred and thirty-five, entitled "An act to amend the charter of the minister, elders and deacons of the Second Protestant Reformed Dutch Church in the City of Albany," to vest the property of said corporation in a board of trustees, are hereby confirmed.
§ 3. Jacob H. Ten Eyck, Peter Gansevoort, Robert H. Pruyn, John H. Reynolds, Lansing Pruyn, Alfred Van Sanford, S. Oakley Vanderpoel, S. Visscher Talcott, Henry S. Lansing, the trustees of said Church, elected in the month of January, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, are hereby declared to be the first trustees of said corporation, to hold their offices for the term of one, two and three years, from the first Monday of March, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six, agree- ably to the classification into three classes made imme- diately after their said election, in pursuance of law.
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And on the first Monday of March, in each and every year, an election shall be held for three trustees of said corporation, in place of those whose term shall then expire, and at the same time to fill any vacancies which may not have been filled by said trustees, and also elect three inspectors of election. At least one week's notice of the time and place of holding said election shall be given by notice from the pulpit of said Church, or by affixing a written notice on the outer door thereof. Said trustees shall appoint three persons to hold said election on the first Monday of March next, and shall have power to fill any vacancies which may exist there- after, for any reason whatever. And in the event of such election not being held in any year, the trustees whose term shall expire in that year, shall hold office until their successors shall be elected, and it shall be the duty of the trustees, within three months thereafter, to fix the time and place of holding said election, and to give notice thereof as aforesaid.
§ 4. The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of Albany shall be entitled to receive and collect all rents reserved in and by any and all leases of pews in the Church, belonging to said corporation, heretofore made by the minister, elders and deacons of the Re- formed Protestant Dutch Church in the City of Albany, as fully as if their corporate name had not been changed as hereinbefore provided.
§ 5. But nothing herein shall be construed to affect any action now pending in favor of or against the said corporation ; and in case any suit shall be hereafter commenced against the said corporation in this state, or elsewhere, by any person or party not knowing the change of the corporate name of said corporation, it shall not be authorized to plead a misnomer, but shall answer or plead to the merits of the action, stating in such answer the true name of said corporation ; and
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such action shall proceed against it, in either name, according to the practice of the court in which such action shall be pending ; and any judgment recovered therein shall be as valid as if the action had been com- menced and conducted against the said corporation by its true name.
§ 6. This act shall take effect immediately.
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