A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 26

Author: Ross, Peter. cn
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1188

USA > New York > A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 26

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These people gladly contributed to the erection of a larger house of worship, rejoic- ing that such was needed. They may have talked over the matter as did their fathers in 1642, when they built the church in New York. "It is a shame," said they at that time, "that the English should see when they pass nothing but a mean barn in which public worship is performed. The first thing they did in New England when they raised some dwellings was to build a fine church; we ought to.do the same."

As, according to the old proverb, actions speak louder than words, we may certainly credit them with an alacrity in collecting funds for the new church, which speaks well for their interest in the matter. A subscription was taken up, amounting to what would be in our money about $6,291.20. This is certainly a large sum in view of the few from whom it was collected, for there is no record this time of calling for outside help to liquidate the debts left upon the church, and there is no appeal made to other settlements for assist- ance. The people who worshipped there built the church and paid for it.

We copy from Rev. Dr. Strong's History the following description of this building: "It was located on the spot on which the first church stood. It was a stone edifice, fronting the east, with a large arched double door in the centre. It had a steep, four-sided roof, coming nearly together at the top, on which was erected a small steeple. The building was wider in front than in depth, being about sixty- five feet north and south and about fifty feet east and west. The roof rested on the walls and was partly supported by them and partly by two large oak columns standing in a line within the building in a northerly and souther- ly direction. The two columns supported a plate in the centre of a lofty arched, planked ceiling, the north and south ends of which rested on the wall. In consequence of this, the

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RELIGIOUS PROGRESS IN KINGS COUNTY.

north: and south walls of the building were con- siderably higher than those of the east and west. There were two large and broad braces extending from each column to the plate. The roof appeared to be badly constructed, for its pressure on the walls was so great that in process of time the upper part of the northerly wall was .pressed out more than a foot over the foundation, and the four braces, attached to the columns within the building were con- siderably bent from the weight and pressure above. The pulpit was placed in the center of the west side of the building, having the elders' bench on the right and the deacons' bench on the left. The male part of the congregation were seated in a continuous pew, all along the wall, which was divided into twenty compart- ments with a sufficient number of doors for en- trance ; each family had one or more seats here. The rest of the interior of the building was for the accommodation of the females of the con- gregation, who were seated on chairs; these were arranged in seven different rows or blocks, and each family had one or more chairs in some one of these blocks. Each chair was marked on the back by a number, or by the name of the person or the family to whom it belonged. The windows of this church were formed of small panes of glass ; those on either side of the pulpit were painted or ornamented and set in lead."

As the minister's family had previously lived in the extension of the first church, it is probable that, when it was pulled down, a par- sonage was built south of and adjoining the new church, upon the property on which the present parsonage stands.

There is no record of changes made in this building from 1698 until 1775. Then the seats were remodeled and pews were substituted for chairs. With the consent of the congregation sixty-four pews, to hold six persons each, were placed in the church. Two short galleries di- vided by the door were built on the easterly side ; one was occupied, probably, by those who were too poor to pay for seats in the body of the church ; the other was given for the use of the colored people, there being at this time a large colored population in this town. There were two seats more conspicuous than the rest, the one for the minister's wife and family, the other for any notable person who happened to be present. (The wife of the minister was al- ways called the Yeffrouw; the minister was known as the Dominie.)

A board, on which were placed the num- bers of the Psalms to be sung during service, was hung in a conspicuous position, for all the members of the congregation were expected to take part in the singing. These curious old Psalm books had silver corners and clasps. There were also small silver rings on them; through these were cords or long silver chains, by means of which they were hung on the backs of the chairs when chairs were used in- stead of pews. We look with interest at the quaint, four-sided notes printed on the bars, for each Psalm was set to music, and we won- der how they sang in those days; slowly, of course, for there are no short notes. The New Testament and Psalms were bound together, and these were carried to church every Sun- day.

It is probable that all the Dutch families own one or more of these books still. Some of them were published at Dordrecht, 1758, others in Amsterdam, 1728; there may be oth- ers of a still earlier date. The title page is as follows :

Het NIEUWE TESTAMENT ofte alle Boeken Des Nieuwen Verbondts ouzes HEEREN JESU CHRISTI door last van de H. M. Heeren Staten General · der Vereenigde Nederlangen en volgens het besluit von de Sinode Nationale gehoudin in de Jaren 1618 en de 1619 tot Dordrecht 1758.

Below the date of the copy from which the above was taken there is a lion holding a sword, encircled with the motto "Een dracht maakt macht." A picture of a city facing the North Sea finishes the page. Most of the books which have been preserved in the fam- ilies of the Dutch are of a religious character, and we cannot but feel that they were a relig- ious people. Although the Psalms only were sung in the churches, they were fond of sacred poetry. In a time-stained book entitled "Find- ing the Way to Heaven," published at Nyme- gen, 1752, which seems to have kept its place beside the Dutch Bible, we find an old hymn to which the well-worn volume opens at once, as if to some favorite page :

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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

Den Hemel zelf, Dat schoon gewelf, Daar 't dag is zonder'nachten : Is 't hoog vertrek daar 't Engelen choor, Al zingend ous verwachten. O zalig ! zalig Zinken ! O zalig te verdrinken ! In 't eenwig zalig ligt.

We infer from this that the Dutch people were not lacking in that religious fervor which finds expression in hymns of love and faith.

The church, erected in 1698, was still stand- ing at the time of the American Revolution. As the steeple rose from the centre of the build- ing, the bell rope, by which the bell in the tower was tolled, was easy of access as it hung to the floor in the middle of the church. For that reason it was used to give alarm in case of attack. When the British landed, while they were yet some distance from the village, this bell gave the first warning note of their ap- proach. Long and loud the bell resounded over the quiet village. It did not this time ring out a call to assemble and hear the nies- sage of peace on earth, good will to men. It was now an alarm, the clangor of war and the announcement of carnage and bloodshed soon to come.

After the battle of Long Island, the wound- ed soldiers were carried into this church, and it was temporarily used as a hospital. After- ward, when other provision was made for the sick and wounded, it was taken possession of by the British troops, who thoroughly ran- sacked it; some artillery men even stabled their horses in the pews and fed them there. It outlasted this desecration, however, and was in use as a place of worship until near the close of the century.

At this period the school and the Dutch church were united in one common interest. The doctrines which were taught in the church were also taught in the village school. The Town Clerk was both schoolmaster during the week and the minister's assistant on Sun- day. He stood up in front of the pulpit and read the Commandments before the morning service and the Apostles' Creed in the after- noon. Until 1790 this was in the Dutch lan- guage. He also led the congregation in sing- ing. To these duties he added the work of sex- ton, for he rang the bell and kept the church in order. He had not the care of heating the church, like the sexton of the present day, for

that was not required. We can only wonder how they could sit all through a freezing win- ter's morning in a stone church and not take cold !

After the death of the Rev. Wilhelmus Lu- pardus in 1701, the Rev. Bernardus Freeman was called to succeed him, and was installed in the Church of New Utrecht in 1705. This was the beginning of a long and serious dis- turbance in the churches of the colony. Those who were opposed to Domine Freeman made application to the Classis of Amsterdam, and in response the Rev. Vincentius Antonides was sent from the Fatherland and was installed in the Church of Flatbush. A long and bitter controversy followed, which continued to agi- tate the church until 1714.

Two parties sprung up, one of which seems to have held the opinion that the English Gov- ernor of the Provinces should be consulted in the matter ; the other party asserted that they had the right within themselves to choose their own pastor. To use their own words, they "do reject this Position That all the Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiccon of the Dutch Churches in this Province is wholly in the Power of the Gov- ernor according to his will & pleasure." The Dutch love of law and order seems, however, to assert itself; "that yet nevertheless all parties do firmly own that the Dutch churches in this Province are accountable to the Gov't for their peaceable & good behaviour in their Doctrin, Disciplin and Church Government." Once more the independent spirit of these old fathers shows that willing as they are to sub- mit to law, it must be consistent with their religious rights, for these were descendants of the old Hollanders who drove out the Duke of Alva and worshipped God according to their own faith even in sight of the Inquisition. Thus they continue: "that is to say as farr as it does consist with the Rules and Constitucons of their own national Church always enjoyed at New York, as well as they have the right and privilege to be protected by the Civill Gov't in the free exercise of their religion according to their own Constitution."

The first party alluded to favored calling the Rev. Bernardus Freeman, of Schenectady ; the latter desired to send to Holland for the Rev. Vincentius Antonides. The congrega- tion at Schenectady seem a little vexed at this interference with their minister, but they re- gard it rather as a matter of pecuniary loss than of personal regret, for they say in a petition on the subject to her Majesty's Gov-

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ernor, that for the expenses of his passage and other charges they have disbursed the "valiable summe of near upon eighty pounds." On account of this "valiable summe," they seem unwilling to part with Mr. Freeman, who does not, however, seem equally unwilling to part with them. As we know that no Dutch- man can consistently give up what he con- siders to be his rights, so in this case neither party being disposed to yield, both ministers were called, and the consequent disturbance agitated the whole country.

His Excellency, Viscount Cornbury, Cap- tain General and Governor in Chief of Her Majesty's Provinces of New York and New Jersey, and Vice Admiral of the same, was not silent for want of information on the sub- ject, for each party besieged him alternately with petitions. We are sorry to say, for the literary credit of Domine Freeman's party, that their .first petition was returned to them by Col. Beekman, who, they say, "writt us a letter that said petition was not well penned, and that there was some ffaults therein." The Viscount finally issues a warrant appointing Bernardus Freeman as minister, ordering Mr. Antonides, the "pretended minister," as he calls him, with his "pretended" elders and deacons, to give up all possession of house, land, stock and books in their possession or answer the contrary at their peril.

On January 2Ist, 1709, the friends of Mr. Antonides petition his excellency, Lord Love- lace, Baron of Hurley, the next Governor in chief. The Baron of Hurley calls a meeting to inquire into the difficulties of "ye Dutch Reformed Protestant churches of ye Towns of fflatbush, fflatlands, Brookland, New Utrecht and Bushwick." Of course Domine Freeman's friends again send in another peti- tion, in which they again express themselves to the effect that they are "humbly of oppinion that all Ecclesiastical affairs And the Deter- mination of all things relating thereto in this Province lie solely before your Lord- ship." The result was that in order to put an end to "ye dispute," these ministers were ap- pointed to act in concert, alternately preaching in the churchies, each one to choose his own consistory. But "ye dispute" cannot be easily settled : we are a people who cling to our opinions with wonderful tenacity, particularly upon church matters. The friends of Domine Antonides would not look with complacency upon the admirers of Domine Freeman, and vice versa,-and no fiat of a Baron of Hurley

could remove the difficulty. There are more meetings and petitions, and minority reports, and majority reports, and petitions again. We can imagine the hum it occasioned through the towns, the discussions in front of the church at the gathering of the congregation and the excitement of the younger people. Yet we must feel that this bit of human nature brings us nearer to these old worthies who seem more real to us than when their names only appear in old deeds and wills and dry records.

Next the Hon. Richard Ingoldsby, Gov- ernor and Commander-in-Chief of her Maj- esty's Province, is vigorously petitioned by both sides; and he finally orders that Mr. Freeman and Mr. Antonides shall "preach at all ye sd churches in Kings Co., alternately, and divide all ye profits equally, share and share alike, and to avoid all farther dis- puets between the said ministers, Mr. ffree- man shall preach ye next Sunday at fflatbush, & ye Sunday following Mr. Antonides shall preach at fflatbush; if either of them refuses to comply with this order, to be dismissed."

Domine Antonides, notwithstanding the threat, refuses to comply with the order, and again resorts to a petition, but Lord Lovelace has had enough of petitioning, and curtly says that he "has already determined. the matter; he will hear nothing further thereon."

On one occasion, Col. Girardus Beekman, President of her Majesty's Council in "ye City of New York," met one of the elders of the church at the ferryboat. Crossing the river was probably in those days a work of time, and on landing they went into the ferry house together. Of course, during all this time, they had been discussing the engrossing subject as to who was the rightful minister, and the good elder so far forgot himself as to get angry in the dispute, and as he owns, he told Col. Beekman he had a good mind to knock him off his horse, both at that time getting upon their horses to go home. But like a warm hearted man, quick to speak, he is equally quick to admit his error, for he says : "I could wish that these last words had been kept in."

We cited this as showing how generally this matter interested the whole communty and was the subject of discussion among those who met even on ordinary business. The trouble was finally settled in 1714, by having both ministers preach alternately in the dif- ferent Dutch towns. They certainly had

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ample space to discharge their several duties without interfering with each other. Both of these ministers resided in Flatbush. In re- gard to the communion, it was arranged that Bushwick, Brooklyn and Flatbush should com- mune together, and that Flatlands, Gravesend and New Utrecht should join together in the same service. A new church which had at this time been formed at Jamaica, had separate communion.

The rotation in preaching was as follows: one minister preached on one Sabbath in Bushwick, and the other at New Utrecht; on the next Sabbath, one in Brooklyn and the other in Flatlands; on the third Sabbath, one in Flatbush and the other in Jamaica.

Domine Freeman died soon after 1741. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. Arondeus, who until the death of Domine Antonides in 1744 remained his colleague; but he was subse- quently deposed. Rev. Ulpianus Von Sinder- en was called to take the place made vacant and he entered upon his duties in 1746.

The Classis of Amsterdam speak of Rev. Vincentius Antonides as "a man of great learning and fine talents," and the Rev. Bern- ardus Freeman was said to be "a very learned divine."

Levity of any kind was very rare in the pulpit of the Dutch church. The ministers were men of learning, ability and dignity of manner.

However, while Domine Van Sinderen was a very learned and excellent man, he was also very eccentric; this was a drawback to his usefulness. It is said that he would in- troduce the occurrences of the week in his discourse on the Sabbath, which was some- thing more unusual then than it is now. On one occasion, upon being checked by one of his consistory for this, he became indignant, and invited the elder who had interfered to come up in the pulpit and try if he could preach any better! On another occasion he attempted to draw the outlines of the Ark, in order to illustrate a sermon on the subject; it is needless to say that this did not meet the approval of his consistory. The old people used to say that he did not hesitate to call the attention of the whole congregation to any member who, being dilatory, entered after the service had been opened.

In a letter on the state of religion from Domine Megapolensis to the Classis of Am- sterdam dated August 5, 1657, he reflects very severely upon a "parson," fortunately not a

minister of the Reformed Dutch church, of whom he says: "He is a man of godless and scandalous life, a rolling, rollicking unseemly carl, who is more inclined to look in the wine-can than to pore over the Bible and would rather drink a can of brandy for two hours than preach one, and when the sap is in the wood then his hands itch and he be- comes excessively inclined to fight whomso- ever he meets," which shows us that even from the earliest days of the settlement when a rude state of things prevailed the Dutch were very quick to observe and condemn any- thing in the behavior of the minister which might bring reproach to the church.

Upon the deposition from office of Mr. Arondeus, the Rev. Antonius Curtenius was called to be the colleague of Mr. Van Sinderen, but he died within the year.

Rev. Johannes Casparus Rubel was ap- pointed to fill this place, and these two min- isters officiated during the war of the Revolu- tion. Rubel had not only strong Tory pro- clivities, but his character and actions were inconsistent with the office he held and he was deposed.

Domine Van Sinderen and Domine Rubel were the last ministers called from Holland.

The writer has in possession an English translation of Domine Rubel's call. The coarse yellow paper upon which it is written and the antiquated penmanship attests its gen- tineness, had proof been needed, but the value of the papers among which it was found, like the company which a man keeps, is a testi- monial to its accuracy. It was addressed to the Reverend and Pious Do. Joh's Caparus Rubel at present High Dutch Minister in the Church of J. C. in the Camp and Rhinebeck, from the Elders and Deputies of the five united townships of Kings Co., on Long Island, viz. : Flatbush, Brooklyn, Bushwick, Flatlands and New Utrecht for a second Low Dutch Min- ister with Do. Ulpianus Van Sinderen, at their meeting held in the church at Flatbush, the 20th of June, 1759.

As it is God who out of the riches of his all-sufficiency fulfills the wants of his Crea- tures, So he does such in a particular manner to his people and chosen ones, whom he blesses above all earthly blessing with the Revelation of his precious Will, by the means of which to assemble his Elect, to confirm and to strengthen them, and that by the services of them who bear the Riches of God's Secrets

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RELIGIOUS PROGRESS IN KINGS COUNTY.

in their Earthly Vessels, to the Glory of God and to the Salvation of his Elect. In full con- fidence of which, we have thro' the Grace of God been enabled to bring matters so far as to have fallen upon ways and means, by the union of Love again to join and thus be in a condition to make up a sufficient Support for two Ministers. Our choice is then fallen upon you, Reverend Sir, as on one of whose good report in the services of the Gospel, both in your present and former congregations, there is full evidence ; So are we in expectation that thro' the grace and goodness of God your services amongst us we must have. That which we shall expect from you generally is that you should do and perform all the Duties incumbent on a faithful Servant of the Gospel and worthy of God's approbation in the pro- mulgation of the Gospel doctrines, the Ad- ministration of the Sacraments; making use of the Discipline of the Church, together with the other Church officers according to the Word of God and the Constitution of the Church of Netherland, established in the Synod of Dort in the years 1618 and 1619; in particular, that you shall preach twice on each Lord's Day, as also on each Fast or Thanksgiving Day; on the usual holidays of Christmas, Easter, and Whitsuntide; a sermon shall be preached on the second day, as also on New Year's and Ascension days ; as also a proof of Preparation sermon at the place where the sacrament of the Lord's Supper is to be administered, which shall be celebrated four times a year, with necessary visitation of the Communicants; the taking on of mem- bers, and Instructing the Congregation by Catechising in the foundation of the pure re- formed Religion.

On our parts, Reverend Sir, we promise to pay you for your yearly salary the sum of One hundred and Seven pounds, New York money. N. B .- The sum of 107 pounds is thus to be divided :

Flatbush shall give .. £29

Brooklyn

Flatlands 16.10.0

New Utrecht. 16.10.0

Bushwick

16.10.0

Ist. Each half year punctually to pay the Just one half part thereof.

2d. A free and proper dwelling in the Town of Flatbush, with an orchard, some pas-

ture land with pasturage for one cow and horse and other conveniences thereto annexed.

3d. Free Firewood is to be delivered at the Dwelling House of the Minister.

4th. It has been the custom when the Min- ister preached out of Flatbush that he was fetched and brought back and at such place was provided with Victuals, Drink and Lodg- ing, which having proved very inconvenient both for the Minister and the Congregation, it is therefore determined upon, as you keep your own horse and carriage, to pay you yearly for making use of your own carriage, But you are to be provided with house room and vic- tuals and drink gratis.

We, underwritten, the Deputies of our Congregations, Sign this Call as our own act in order faithfully to fulfill all that is herein expressed and mentioned; and so shall our Successors who may from time to time be chosen in our stead also do.

Gerret Van Duyn, Jan Couenhoven, Jac. Sebring, Willem Van Nuys, Rutgert Van Brunt, Jan Lott, Roulof Voorhees, Jan Van der Bilt, Laurenz Ditmars, Abraham Bloom, Barent Andriese, Jeremias Van der Bilt, Cor- nelis Coerte, Stephen Schenk, Johannes Lott, Joost de Bevois, Jeremias Remsen, Andreas Stockholm, Daniel Bodet, Jacobus Coljer, Fol- kert Folkertson, Abrm. Schenk.

Thus done and concluded in our presence on the 20th and 25th of June, 1759.

Johannes Ritzema V. D. M. in New York. Ulpianus Van Sinderin. V. D. M. in K. County.

The congregation of Gravesend was form- ally added to the combination of Kings County churches in 1785. In that year a call had been made upon the Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker, and in 1787 Rev. Peter Lowe was ordained as his colleague. These two ministers preach- ed alternately in the church at Flatbush until the second building was taken down in 1794.

About the year 1750 the church was great- ly agitated in reference to certain difficulties in the church between two parties known as the Coetus and Conferentie. The difference between these lay chiefly in the exercise of church authority and the right of ordination.

The Coetus party contended that there should be regular organization of the churches into Classes and Synods, and that these should have all the rights and privileges belonging

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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.

to such ecclesiastical bodies in Holland. The Conferentie party maintained that all minis- ters should be ordained in Holland and sent to the churches here by the Classis of Ani- sterdam. This controversy caused trouble in the church until 1772.

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A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time, Part 26

Author: Ross, Peter. cn Publication date: 1902 Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1188

Author: Ross, Peter. cn
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York ; Chicago : The Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1188