USA > New York > Dutchess County > Poughkeepsie > Anniversary discourse and history of the First Reformed church of Poughkeepsie > Part 2
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The opposing party sent a call for a minister from Holland, and in response to it came Rev. Isaac Rysdyk, who, in 1765, was installed pastor of the churches, not only of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill, but also of Hope- well and New Hackensack. Thus the church was split into two contending factions, headed by two rival pastors. It was many years before the factions became reconciled, and many more years before the injury wrought by the contention was repaired.
Not far from 1774 the union between the churches of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill was dissolved, and each church sought a pastor for itself alone. The succession
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Discourse.
in this church was Rev. Stephen Van Voorhis (1773-6), Rev. Solomon Froeligh (1776-80) Rev. John H. Living- ston (1781-3), Rev. Andrew Gray (1790-3), Rev. Cornelius Brouwer (1794-1807). During all these years the church was weak, and there is every reason to believe that the weakness was in a great measure the result of the bitter contentions to which reference has been made. The word of Scripture was verified that where strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. Let that sorrowful fact which stands out in the history of this church in the past be a solemn warning for all future time.
But God, in his mercy, had better things in store for this part of His heritage, and a new and brighter era dawned upon it when a call was extended to Rev. Cor- nelius Cuyler, and was accepted by him in the year 1808. He was installed as pastor on the 2d of January, 1809, and continued with this people until December 17th, 1833, a period of 24 years and 112 months. This was his first charge, and to him this church probably owes more than to any other one of its long line of pastors. He, under God, was its restorer to vigor and prosperity. When he came, although there were 250 families in the congrega- tion, there were only 43 members of the church in full communion. During his pastorate, the attendance on the church services so increased that it was necessary to tear down the old church edifice and build a new one with larger accommodations. The word of the Lord had free course and was glorified in the conversion of many. Revival followed after revival. There were two years in which the accessions to the church, mostly on confession of faith, amounted to 96 in each year. The total of ac- cessions during the pastorate was 732, and at the end of it the church was strong, united, active, and with a mem- bership of 462. Another grand feature of the same no- table pastorate was the establishment of the Sunday
24
Twenty-fifth Anniversary.
School concerning which I shall have a little more to say presently. Before taking leave of this pastorate which ended, as has been said, in 1833, I cannot help announc- ing that it is our privilege to have still with us, as mem- bers of the church, two of those who united with it sixty- two years ago under the faithful and successful ministry of Dr. Cuyler, and that probably they are both present with us, and participating with us in the rejoicings and thanksgivings of this day.
The next pastor was the Rev. Samuel A. Van Vranken, who remained but three years, (1834-7), at the end of which he accepted a call to the Broome Street Church in New York.
He was succeeded by Rev. Alexander M. Mann, who was pastor of the church a little more than nineteen years, (1838-57), and is still gratefully remembered by many among us. He is now the oldest living minister in our denomination, is afflicted with total blindness, but nevertheless is cheerful, alike in the remembrance of past mercies, and in the prospect of the not distant time when his eyes will be opened to behold the light that shall never fade away. The most notable event of his pastor- ate here was the dismission in 1850 of 27 members from this church that they might organize the Second Re- formed Church of this city, between which and the mother church there has always existed the warmest af- fection, and the members of which have testified their affection by omitting their own service and joining with us in the service of this morning. I beg leave to say to the members of the Second Church, not only for myself but also in behalf of all my people, that we heartily ap- preciate and thank them for this their fraternal courtesy, and can only hope, as they also hope, that we may have opportunity to reciprocate it at the twenty-fifth anniver- sary of the settlement of their present pastor. If the op-
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Discourse.
portunity be afforded us, we will try to improve it as graciously and as gracefully as our friends of the Second Church have improved the opportunity which has come to them to-day ; and more than that we could not hope to do, nor could they reasonably desire.
Dr. Mann was succeeded by Rev. George M. McEckron, who was installed September 7, 1858, and resigned February 18, 1867.
The present pastor began his work here on the first Sunday in October, 1867, but was not formally installed until the regular meeting of Classis which was held here on Tuesday the 15th of the same month.
The Consistory then was composed as follows :-
Elders-David C. Foster, Henry D. Varick, Charles M. Pelton, Daniel R. Thompson, Elvy Deyo and John R. Mathews.
Deacons-Charles Carman, John Van Keuren, John K. Mandeville, Lewis D. Barnes, C. S. Van Wyck and David B. Lent.
Six of these, one-half of the whole number, have since passed from the earthly service to the heavenly reward ; and every one of them has left behind him the memory of the just which is blessed. Of the remaining six, three have removed to distant churches, one has resigned on account of impaired health, and two, David C. Foster and Daniel R. Thompson, still remain in active service. David C. Foster has been in almost continuous service as deacon and elder for 50 years, and Daniel R. Thompson, for 37 years. May it please God long to spare to us their cheerful presence and wise counsel.
During the past twenty-five years, the Sunday-school has been superintended, first by John R. Mathews, and then by Milton A. Fowler, and under their efficient superintendence and the instruction of faithful teachers it has been indeed the nursery of the church.
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Twenty-fifth Anniversary.
The Young People's Alliance was formally organized December 14, 1887, and was the outgrowth from a young people's prayer meeting which was established in March, 1874, and since then has never once missed being held, . whatsoever might be the weather or the season of the year.
The women, like those spoken of in the Scriptures, have laboured faithfully in the Lord, and, through their several organizations, have contributed greatly to the prosperity and usefulness of the church.
During the whole twenty-five years we have been blessed with peace and concord. There has been no dis- sension. Pastor and Consistory, and people and choir and sexton have wrought together in harmony.
As I look back over these years, I cannot find words to express my thanks to the members of the Consistory for their uniform kindness and efficient support.
Nor can I find words to express my thanks to you, my people, who are my joy and my crown, for all the kind- ness you have lavished upon me. I can only pray, as I do constantly pray, that God may abundantly reward you, by supplying all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Most of all should our thanksgiving be rendered to God, from whom cometh down every good and every perfect gift. And while we thank Him, the sense of his mercies in the past should incite us to new consecration for the present and future. May this day of gladness then be all the more glad through being one of new and glad consecration to the blessed service of the blessed Lord ! O, that you who have never done it before might consecrate yourselves to Him this day, and so make it a day not only of joy to yourselves, but also of joy in the presence of the angels of God ! And, O, that we who have done it before might this day consecrate ourselves
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Discourse.
to him anew, and more unreservedly ; and may all the prosperity which God has bestowed in the past on this Church of his own planting be but as the first fruits of a greater harvest of prosperity which He will bestow upon it in the years which are to come ; and to Him, the only wise God, Our Fathers' God, and our God, who will be our guide even unto death, and will then receive us to glory, be ascribed, as is most due, all praise, and majesty and might, and dominion, both now and forever more. Amen.
HISTORY
OF THE
FIRST REFORMED CHURCH
OF POUGHKEEPSIE.
TOPICALLY ARRANGED.
HISTORY.
Under the following topical arrangement is given a History of "The Reformed Dutch Church of Pough- keepsie," popularly known as the "First Reformed Church of Poughkeepsie," more extended than time would permit in the prefixed Anniversary Discourse. Where the authorities on which the statements are made are other than those found in the records and documents in possession of the church, they are either mentioned in the text, or indicated by references at the foot of the page.
ORGANIZATION, 1716.
The church was organized October 10, 1716. The records show that on that day Rev. Petrus Vas, who was then pastor of the church of Kingston, installed Machiel Parmentier and Pieter du Bois as elders, and Elias van Benschoten and Pieter Parmentier as deacons. Like all the Low Dutch Reformed churches then exist- ing in this country, the church thus organized in Pough- keepsie acknowledged ecclesiastical subordination to the Classis of Amsterdam, in Holland.
INCORPORATION, 1789.
For more than sixty years the church existed without charter or incorporation. In the minutes of Consistory for 1774 there is record of an application for a charter which is as follows, viz :
.
32
History.
"At a meeting of the Reformed Low Dutch Church at Poughkeepsie, held at the house of Clear Everitt, the 22d day of March, A. D. 1774, it was conceived advisable to petition his Excellency William Tryon, Esq., for a charter of Incorporation of said church, etc., and for that purpose have prepared a petition, and dele- gated the Rev. Stephen Van Voorhees one of the Min- isters, and Gilbert Livingston, one of the Elders of said congregation, to wait upon His Excellency, and present the same ; and the said Consistory do hereby desire the said Minister and Elder to apply to the Consistory of the Reformed Low Dutch Congregation at New York in order to obtain their favor and assistance in the prem- ises."
The records give no farther information concerning this petition. The presumption is that, even if it was presented, it was not granted, for there is a document which shows that the church became incorporated at a later date, under the General Act of Incorporation first passed by the Legislature of the State, April 6, 1784, and amended March 7, 1788. This document, which is still in possession of the church, reads as fol- lows :
"We, the subscribers, being Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Church of Poughkeepsie, in Dutch- ess County, and being incorporated by virtue of an Act of the Legislature of the State of New York, entitled An Act making such alterations in the Act for incorporating Religious Societies as to render the same more conven- ient to the Reformed Protestant Dutch Congregations passed the 7th of March, 1788, and having assembled to- gether at Poughkeepsie aforesaid on the 22d day of October in the year of our Lord 1789, pursuant to the direction of the said Act, do hereby certify unto all whome it may concern that ' The Reformed Dutch
33
Seal, 1793.
Church of Poughkeepsie' shall be, and hereby is de- clared to be the Name, Style, and Title by which the Trustees of the church aforesaid and their successors forever shall be called, distinguished, and known.
In Witness whereof we have hereunto respectively set our hands and seals at Poughkeepsie aforesaid, the seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord 1789."
Sealed and delivered
HENRY HEGEMAN, [SEAL]
in the presence of
PETER TAPPEN, [SEAL]
WILLIAM BAILEY,
ISAAC ROMINE, [SEAL]
CHARLES PLATT.
JOHN FREAR, [SEAL]
MYNDERT VAN KLEECK, [SEAL]
HENRY LIVINGSTON, JR.,
[SEAL]
ABM. FORT, [SEAL]
BENJAMIN WESTERVELT, [SEAL]
On the reverse of the document is an acknowledgment signed by Zepha. Platt, and a certification of Record as follows, viz :
"Dutchess County ss. Recorded in Book No. 1 of Church Certificates, page 18 and 19, this 28th day of September, 1790."
ROBERT H. LIVINGSTON.
SEAL, 1793.
At a meeting of the Consistory held Sept. 4, 1793, under the Presidency of Rev. Andrew Gray, who was then pastor of the church, the following action was taken, viz :
" A Seal was laid before the Trustees having this de- vice, a Star cornuted flamant, Motto, Reformed Dutch Church Poughkeepsie, (as in the annexed impression), which seal was adopted by the unamimous concurrence
34
History.
of said Trustees, and to be by them used, and to be dis- tinguished by the name of the Seal of the Corporation of the Reformed Dutch Church in Poughkeepsie."
The Seal thus adopted is still in possession of the church, and is affixed to calls and other documents of importance.
UNION OF THE CHURCHES OF POUGHKEEPSIE AND FISHKILL. 1730-1774.
The two churches of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill were organized by the same minister, Rev. Petrus Vas of Kingston, and in the same year, 1716. The congregations of both were few in number, had but slender resources, and were for several years without a pastor. In 1730 they united in calling a pastor for both, and in the call the two congregations " obliged themselves by signature that the union between Poughkeepsie and Fishkill should not be dissolved in other than an ecclesiastical manner, and under the approbation of the most Rev. Classis of Amsterdam."
The union thus formed continued a little more than forty years, and seems to have been dissolved gradually. At the time of the dissolution, each of the two churches was divided into two parties, of which one favored the Conferentie, and the other the Coetus, and each of the two parties had its own minister. The minister of the Conferentie party in both churches was Rev. Isaac Rysdyck, and as it appears from the Minutes of General Synod that he was in 1772 dismissed from his charge in Poughkeepsie, and still retained that of Fishkill, the process of dissolution may be regarded as then having begun.
The minister of the Coetus party in both churches was Rev. Henricus Schoonmaker, and as he was dismissed at
35
Succession of Ministers.
a joint meeting of the two consistories held June 15th, 1774, and after that date there is no record of joint ac- tion by the consistories or churches, the dissolution may be regarded as then made complete. The approbation of the Classis of Amsterdam was not sought because the churches in this country had then become ecclesiastically independent.
SUCCESSION OF MINISTERS.
- 1. CORNELIUS VAN SCHIE, 1731-3.
The first pastor of the united churches of Poughkeep- sie and Fishkill was the Rev. Cornelius Van Schie, who was a native of Holland, and was born 1703. He was twenty-eight years old when he came to this country, and the churches of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill were his first pastoral charge. In defraying the expense of bring- ing him to America, the two churches were aided by the people of Albany ; as appears from a memorandum still existing and dated April 2, 1734, which speaks " of the money of the Albany people given to us for our Min- ister's coming from holand."
The call in response to which Mr. Van Schie came was addressed, not to him (for he was unknown to the churches), but to four clergymen of repute in Holland, and empowered them to select some person who, in their judgment, would be suitable, and on his acceptance of the call, to install him as pastor of the united churches and send him to this country.
The following is a translation of the call as it appears in the Dutch language on the records of both churches :
" Copy of the Power of Attorney Call to the Very Reverend Messrs. Herm. Van de Wal, Joh. Hagelis, Leonard Beels, and Tibs. Reytsma for a preacher for Poughkeepsie and the Fishkill."
As the inhabitants of this beautiful and fruitful region under God's goodness are still daily increasing in number, and
36
History.
in particular the descendants of those who several years since coming out one after another from Holland chose this country for their dwelling place, and avowed themselves to be members of the Low Dutch Reformed Church ;
So also the congregations of Poughkeepsie and the Fishkill (lying along the North River on the east side, the southernmost part consisting of the Fishkill about twelve, and the northern- most of Poughkeepsie, sixteen Dutch miles from New York), are under God's providence so increased that they constitute a reasonable number of church members (howbeit still very few in number, particularly at the Fishkill), who on each Lord's Day attend the public worship of God under the reading of a sermon, etc., hitherto established at either village, while one and another neighboring Low Dutch Reformed minister, thereto invited by us at certain times in the year, administer the Holy Sacraments.
But earnestly desiring that we, like other congregations, may be able to enjoy the blessedness of the preaching of the Word of God and what appertains thereto by a pastor and teacher settled among us, to the end that thereby both old and young may be better advanced in the right knowledge of the pure doctrine of the gospel, that we may more regularly observe our becoming worship, and that the more zealous confirmation of the true faith in Christ with true godliness may be encour- aged, &c., which, above all, is among us in the highest degree necessary, because they are so many who are as sheep having no Shepherd :
Therefore all the members of the congregations of Pough- keepsie and the Fishkill have agreed with each other to call from Holland a preacher for both congregations. Likewise they have thereto authorized us, the undersigned Elders and Deacons of Poughkeepsie and the Fishkill, for the forwarding of this pious work ; and we to this end, from every one of the aforesaid members and other residents joined with us, have re- ceived a voluntary subscription for a certain sum for the mak- ing up of a sufficient yearly salary for a Low Dutch Reformed minister, according to our small ability ; but in the goodness of God they are now so increasing that it seems to us that it will in a short time be much greater.
Accordingly, after taking counsel and advice from several ministers of the Low Dutch Reformed Church in this land, we, in our ecclesiastical assembly, after calling on the name of God, have resolved to convey to you, very Rev. Sirs, Herm. Van de Wal, John Hagelis, Leonard Beels and Tib Reitsima, these
37
Succession of Ministers.
presents of authority for the calling of a Low Dutch Reformed minister for our congregations. We therefore also with these our presents of authority do convey to you, very Rev. Sirs, Herm. Van de Wal, John Hagelis, Leonard Beels, and Tib. Reitsima, all requisite authority, right, and power, that as wholly representing us for the Low Dutch Reformed congrega- tions of Poughkeepsie and the Fishkill in the province of New York under the crown of Great Britain in America, you, either unanimously or by a majority of your whole number, may call an orthodox, suitable and edifying Low Dutch Reformed ordained pastor and preacher to undertake among us the preach- ing of the gospel, the catechetical instruction, and the admin- istration of the Holy Sacraments according to the institution of Christ, and jointly with the officers of the Churches to exercise diligently and prudently the Church discipline, and further to do all that is required by and appertains to the office of a faith- ful servant of Jesus Christ, according to God's Holy Word, and the good order of the Church, after the manner of the Synod of Dort, Anno 1618 and 1619, and the custom prevailing in the Low Dutch Reformed churches in this country. And in par- ticular, in order to a somewhat more exact definition of his service with us, the preacher who, through you, Rev. Sirs, shall thus be called for our congregations, shall, health per- mitting :-
1st. On each Lord's Day preach twice, and in the afternoon treat a catechetical subject according to the Heidelberg Catechism.
2nd. His Reverence shall on the first Sunday preach at Poughkeepsie, and on the next at the Fishkill, and so shall continue by turns.
N. B. The two Churches are situated about two and a half Dutch miles distant from each other.
3rd. In the winter time, from the first Sunday in November to the first Sunday in March, on account of the wide dispersion of the people and their dwellings, there shall be preaching only once on each Lord's Day ; and also, according to custom, on the first and second days of Christmas time, likewise on the New Year and Ascension Day and on Easter and Whitsunday.
4th. At least six months in the year his Reverence shall every week catechise in the neighborhood in which there was preach- ing on Sundays, at such time and place as may be most agree- able to him.
5th. The Lord's Supper shall be administered four times a year, equally for both congregations, to wit :- twice in Pough-
38
History.
keepsie and twice in the Fishkill, or oftener, as the Consistories and the preacher may deem advisable.
6th. The preparatory service is as often to be held on Thurs- days before the Lord's Supper, and the Thanksgiving service in the afternoons following the mornings on which the Lord's Supper shall be administered.
7th. The pastoral visiting shall be attended to at least twice a year, once for each village, at the most suitable time decreed by the consistories.
That now you, Rev. Sirs, may seek out for our congregations such a suitable man (being a person either married or unmar- ried and not more than thirty-two years old) and move him to the undertaking of this service, we thus promise his Reverence :-
1st. The sum of seventy pounds, New York money, each year for the first five successive years, and then from the sixth year eighty pounds, New York money, a year.
2nd. These sums shall be paid to his Reverence during his faithful ministry among us by the Elders and Deacons, or their order, the just half to be promptly paid each half year.
3rd. The time of his salary shall begin with the lifting of the anchor of the ship on which he shall sail hither from Amsterdam.
4th. Furthermore his Reverence with his family shall also enjoy free passage.
5th. He shall reside either in Poughkeepsie or in Fishkill, or thereabout, as shall be found most fit and to his best satisfac- tion, and in such place both congregations shall, at the first opportunity, build for him a suitable dwelling and from time to time shall keep it in good repair.
6th. The congregation with whom he chooses to live shall furnish him sufficient firewood for summer and winter from year to year, to be piled by his house.
7th. The congregations shall at his coming present him with a suitable horse,* bridle and saddle, but afterwards, he shall provide himself with a horse for all necessary going about in his ministry among his people. Therefore shall the congregations
* The color of the horse bought in fulfillment of this promise is known from this receipt which is still preserved.
DUTCHESS COUNTY, September the 2th, An. Dom: 1733.
I Underwriten Hendrick Phillips own to have Received by the hands of Mr. Henry Vanderburgh, Deacon of the Reformed Prodestant Church at Poeghkeepsink, the sum of four pounds & Teen shillings In full for our half of a Certain Brown Horse Bought by the Elders & Deacons of me the Said Hendrick Phillips for the Reverend Doct. Cornelius Van Schij Minister then of Poeghkeepsink & fish Kill. I say Received pr me.
The mark HP of Hendrick Phillips.
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Succession of Ministers.
present his Reverence from year to year three pounds additional money, three morgens of pasture, also a garden in suitable fence, and at the first opportunity shall plant an orchard with a hundred fruit trees.
8th. Also, whenever he preaches or renders any other service in that portion where he is not residing, he shall be provided with free lodging and board for the time being.
All this, we, the undersigned Elders and Deacons of Pough- keepsie and the Fishkill promise to his Reverence :-
(A.) According to the written subscription and the voluntary obligation of the members of both congregations and of other residents with us being sufficient for the full making up of the aforesaid salary.
(B.) And for the prompt fulfillment of all these we oblige and bind ourselves " qualitate qua," i. e., as present Elders and Deacons, likewise that the same shall be done by all and every one who after us from time to time shall be called to be Elders and Deacons of our congregations, and that before that they shall be installed in their respective offices, to wit, by subscribing also this instrument of calling (according to the custom usual here in several congregations in these parts,) in pursuance of the action taken by all who among us have ever been invested with the office of Elder and Deacon.
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