USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume I > Part 19
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3. Article 20. Of children baptized by Siecken-Troosters. 4. Article 21. Of ministers and Siecken-Troosters; also to send a French minister. xx. 141.
Report to the Assembly of the XIX.
1645, July 24th.
At the resumption of the preceding Acta, report was ren- dered by Mourcourtius and Prudentius. In compliance with the commission laid upon them by the Rev. Classis, they had appeared before the Assembly of the XIX at the West India House, (on Rapenburg; building still standing;) and re- quested for the churches of Brazil seven ministers and a few Siecken-Troosters. In regard to this request the Hon. Directors desired to see the said request put in writing. This the Brethren did, and received as a reply, that the Assembly of the XIX have referred this request, by means of a circular letter, to the next meeting of the XIX, in Zeeland. xx. 141.
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Extract about Indian Affairs for the Synod.
1645, July 24th.
Further, it was resolved to ascertain from the Classis how far the Deputies should go, in laying Indian affairs before the Synod. Meantime the Rev. Mourcourtius was directed to make a short extract (memorandum) thereof, for the consideration of the next meeting of the Classis.
Extract of the East and West India affairs since the last Synod at Alkmaar, 1644. xx. 141.
SYNOD OF NORTH HOLLAND, AT HAARLEM.
1645, Aug. 8 et seq.
Art. 20. East and West India Affairs.
Regarding the 28th Article referring to the East and West India Affairs: Inasmuch as the Rev. Synods of Gelderland, Utrecht and Overyssel have not yet accepted the Plan as to this business; therefore after an exhibition of the difficulties which arise from disagreement on this matter, it was resolved, in order to secure some good result, earnestly to request the Rev. Cor- respondents to make the said Plan acceptable to their principals. At the same time it was resolved to order the Rev. Deputati of our Synod to insist earnestly that the objecting Synods accept this Plan.
The question having been put, whether the Classes where there are Chambers did not have something to report about the state of the churches in the East and West Indies, the Rev. Delegates from the Classis of Amsterdam read this following:
Extracts concerning the state of the churches in the East and West Indies, as this has been made known to us since the last Synod held at Alkmaer, 1644.
1. Of the East Indies.
(Four pages, relating to Batavia, Coromandel; and Formosa, where fifty nine hundred had been baptized, etc.)
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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2. Of the West Indies.
From the churches of the West Indies we have nothing in par- ticular, except that the instruction of the Brazilians progresses very well; that they have found a school teacher for the Negros, of whom they have good hopes of success.
That also some children of the Tapoyers will be brought to the Aldeen, to be educated, even as the same have requested.
But they complain much of the scarcity of ministers, inasmuch as Jacobus Cralingius has died there, and many others have re- cently left for the Fatherland, namely: Rev. Joachim Soler, Franciscus Planter, Rev. Kettelius. These are on the point of being followed by still others. Wherefore those few who are still there, must in the meantime scatter themselves, and repair to the other places to help supply them, not without injury to their own churches. They have need of at least seven more ministers in other places, which they name.
For which reason they also earnestly request that at the earliest opportunity some good and pious ministers may be sent to them, as otherwise they would have to take up with the material which they have there. These are mostly of foreign nations, English, Spanish, and such others as present themselves. Work has begun with some of these, to promote them in time to the ministry; but from them it is to be feared that nothing but great disorder in the church will come.
The Classis of Amsterdam has made an effort with the Directors of the West India Company, to get them to send ministers and Siekentroosters thither. They have also pressed this matter upon the Assembly of the XIX, lately met at Amsterdam, and earnestly recommended the request of the churches of Brazil. Thereupon they received for an answer, that said Assembly had admonished those Chambers which were behind hand, to send their preachers; and further had referred this request as one of the points, in the notice for the next meeting of the XIX to be held in Zeeland.
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And so also not more than one siekentrooster has been sent to Guinea, namely, Jacob Cornelissen.
The Rev. Brethren of the Classis of Hoorn reported nothing more than that Rev. Sixtus à Besten was sent out as minister to the East Indies.
The Rev. Brethren of the Classis of Enckhuysen also reported that there were sent out to the East Indies, Rev. Isaac Schipio as preacher, and John Pietersen as siekentrooster; and to Guinea, Albers Elbersen, and Adrian Lourentse Kuysterman, as sieken- troosters.
Art. 52. Plan of the Synod of England.
It appears from the Acta of the Synod of South Holland, that the Rev. Synod of England had agreed upon a certain Plan of Church Government, practically the same in most points as that of the Reformed Church of this country, and has laid the same before the Parliament of England, with the request for the ap- proval thereof.
This was heard by the entire Assembly with great gladness and with singular satisfaction, with the assurance that between the English Church and our Church there should be effected a similar form of government .*
Council Minute. Proclamation to be issued ordering a Day of Thanksgiving to be observed on account of the Peace with the Indians.
The 31st of August (1645).
It has been resolved in Council, to issue a proclamation for a day of general thanksgiving, which shall take place on the 6th of September next in all the Dutch and English churches within the limits of New Netherland. The proclamation reads as follows.
As it has pleased the Almighty God in his infinite mercy and clemency in addition to many previous blessings, to allow us to obtain the long desired peace with the savages, we have found it necessary to announce it to all the people of New Nether- land, in order that in all places, where Dutch and English churches are established, the Almighty God may be especially thanked, lauded and blessed next Wednesday, the 6th of September, the text taken to be appropriate and the sermon applicable thereto. You will please to announce this matter to the congregation next Sunday, that they may know it .- Col. Docs. N. Y. xiii. 19.
* This refers to the great Westminster Assembly and the adoption of Presby- terianism by the Commonwealth under Cromwell.
P
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
193 1645
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE XIX, IN REGARD TO NEW NETHERLAND.
1645, Sept. 21.
Extracts from the Resolutions of the Assembly of the XIX. of the West India Company, holden at Middleburg, from the 9th of September to the 16th of October, 1645, as far as they relate to the affairs of New Netherland.
Tuesday, the 21st September, 1645.
The opinion of the before mentioned deputies being heard, it is, after divers discourses between the members from Amsterdam and other Chambers, concluded and resolved; inasmuch as some Clergymen are about to return home from Brazil, that they be permitted to return, and that the number of those who shall re- main there be limited to nine persons, to wit: one for each ninth part, to be distributed by the President and Supreme Council among the principal places where the hearers are most numerous, and their services shall be most advantageous.
And that the smaller places shall be served by precentors, com- forters of the sick, and schoolmasters, who shall offer up public prayers, read aloud from the old and new testament, from printed sermons; and tune the psalms.
But inasmuch as the Amsterdam Chamber maintains, at its charge, seven of the aforesaid clergymen, besides one in Curacao, one in New Netherland and one in Loando, making ten in all; on the other hand, Zealand and the Maese have only one; Zealand and North Holland is to send one, and Stadt en Landen* hath sent one by the last ship; it is resolved that the Supreme Government in Brazil shall be bound herein to make an equal re-partition of those who are to remain in the service or are sent out, in order that
* In 1594, Prince Maurice reduced the city of Groningen and united the Omme- landen, or surrounding rural districts, to it as one province. Martinet. Beschryving der Nederlanden, ii, 148. The province of Groningen was hence sometimes called " Stadt en Landen "; city and country .- Ed.
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thus the nine parts hereafter to be borne by the members, be equally charged .- Col. Doc. N. Y. i. 163-4.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Acts of the Deputies. Commission of Classis to the Deputies. 1646, May 28th.
Inasmuch as at the last Classis the Deputies ad res Indicas were commissioned to consider the desolate state of the churches in Brazil, and to give information of the same to the Hon. Directors: it was resolved, that inasmuch as the XIX do not assemble here, but at The Hague, to refer this matter again to Classis, and to ask in what manner the Deputies shall act in this business. XX. 152, 153.
Minister to New Netherland.
Whereas the Brethren Deputies, charged with calling a minister to New Netherland, had, to this end, written to Rev. Aemilius van der Poel and Rev. Nicholas Ketelius, and requested that they would either personally appear here, to speak with them orally; or to make known to us their disposition in writing before June 11; and inasmuch as neither they themselves nor any communi- cations from them have been received; it was resolved, since there is need of haste in the matter, to write once more to one of them, and to request a speedy reply. The clerk will do this. xx. 153.
Extracts from the Acta of the Classis of Brazil.
Whereas the Brethren Deputies have shown to our Classis their extracts from the Acta of the Classis of Brazil, and have asked advice, as to whether, and how, this same matter shall be laid before, (lit. remonstrated to; but this has not that force, as in English), the Messrs XIX; the Classis recommends this to the discretion of the Deputies. They, in order to ward off their have noted down what affairs ought to be laid before
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. .
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the XIX, and have written to the churches, and having considered the said extracts, they have
1. Resolved: As to the setting aside of the Commissaries of the church of Brazil, to stir them up (animate them) to oppose their money
2. As to the licensing of the Jews: About this much com- plaint has been made in Brazil; that the XIX shall be requested - inasmuch as Judaism is in direct conflict with Christianity and therefore can particularly hinder the course of the Gospel there - that the Hon. Directors would seriously heed such complaints and not permit them such liberty.
3. As to the boldness of the Papists: the session resolved to me- morialize the XIX earnestly, and to give them to understand that it grieves us to hear that liberty has been heretofore granted them, al- though under some limitation; but misfortunes have arisen there- from. Therefore their Honors may deduce that the Papacy is not to be limited; and they are to be requested to deprive them of such liberty hereafter.
4. As to the correspondence with all the Synods of the Prov- inces : They are seriously to advise the Messrs. XIX against this.
5. As they complain that no answer has been written them, in regard to those baptized by Siecken-Troosters - how this should be regarded: the resolution of Synod shall be forwarded to them. 6. Inasmuch as such sad betrayals have revealed themselves in the West Indies: That this be laid before the Messrs. XIX, and they be asked, in accordance with the desire of the church there, that henceforth no high officials be appointed for the civil government there, except such as are of the Reformed Religion, and also church members.
7. As to gentlemen restoring the state there: That all Popery be turned out.
S. To maintain capable schoolmasters and schoolmistresses, for the very young (young youth) who now run idle in many places.
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9. In the union of the Classes: to seek help of the XIX.
10. As they complain that for five years no ministers have been sent them: they shall be told who is to blame therefor.
11. Our request of the Messrs. XIX for six or seven minis- ters, to be renewed.
12. To Art. 52: that we have received their Acta of the year '44, (1644,) through Rev. Kesterius.
13. As the Classis has granted them the Acta of the year 1640 and subsequent years: These shall be sent to them, pro- vided the company will bear the expense, which shall be asked of it .- xx. 153, 154.
New Netherland.
i
1646, June 5th.
The Rev. Deputati ad res Indicas reported, that the Directors of the West India Company have need of a minister and school- master in New Netherland; also another minister was needed in Brazil. And whereas Revs. Cornelius van der Poel and Nicolas Ketelius have come home from that locality, it was resolved to make an effort to induce them to go thither (to New Netherland). For this business the said Rev. Deputati ad res Indicas, were authorized. iv. 389; xxxix. 140.
THE CASE OF DOMINIE BOGARDUS.
Summons to the Rev. E. Bogardus to appear before the Council and answer charges against him, and further proceedings. [June 11, 1646.]
In the name of the Lord, Amen. Anno 1646 in New Netherland. The Hon. Director and Council to the Reverend Everardus Bogardus, minister here.
Although we are informed of your proceedings in the time of the Honorable Wouter van Twiller, the former Director, and were also warned to be on our guard, yet were we unwilling to pay any attention thereto, believing that no man that preached the Word of the Lord would so far forget himself, notwithstanding we have letters in your own hand, among others, one dated 17th June 1634, wherein you do not appear to be moved by the spirit of the Lord, but on the contrary by a feeling becoming heathens, let alone Christians, much less a preacher of the Gospel. You there berate your magistrate, placed over you by God, as a child of the Devil, an incarnate villain, whose buck goats are better than he, and promise him that you would so pitch into him from the pulpit on the following Sunday, that both you . and his bulwarks would tremble. And many other such like insults, which we re- frain from mentioning, out of the respect we entertain for that gentleman.
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
You have indulged no less in scattering abuse during our administration. Scarcely a person in the entire land have you spared; not even your own wife, or her sister, particularly when you were in good company and jolly. Still mixing up your human passion with the chain of truth, which has continued from time to time, you asso- ciated with the greatest criminals in the country, taking their part and defending them. You refused to obey the order to administer the Sacrament of the Lord and did not dare to partake of it yourself. And in order that you may not plead igno- rance, a few out of many instances shall be cited for you, as follows:
On the 25th of September 1639, having celebrated the Lord's Supper, observing afterwards in the evening a bright fire in the Director's house, whilst you were at Jacob van Curler's, being thoroughly drunk, you grossly abused the Director and Jochim Pietersen, with whom you were angry, because the Director had asked something of you for said Jochim Pietersen which you refused. (See affidavit in our possession.)
Since that time many acts have been committed by you, which no clergyman would think of doing. In the hope that you would at least demean yourself in your office in a christianlike manner, we have over looked those things until March 1643, when one Maryn Adriaensen came into the Director's room with predetermined pur- pose to murder him. He was prevented and put in irons. Taking up the criminal's cause, you drew up his writings and defended him. He, notwithstanding, was sent to Holland in chains against your will. Whereupon you fulminated terribly for about fourteen days and desecrated even the pupit by your passion. In what man- ner you conducted yourself every evening during this time is known to your imme- diate neighbors. Finally, you made up friends with the Director, and things became quiet.
In the year 1644, one Laurens Cornelissen being here - a man who committed perjury; once openly took a false oath and was guilty of theft - he immediately found a patron in you, because he bespattered the Director with lies and you were daily making good cheer with him. In the summer of the same year, when min- ister Douthey administered the Lord's Supper in the morning, you came drunk into the pulpit in the afternoon; also on the Friday before Christmas of the same year, when you preached the sermon calling to repentance.
In the beginning of the year 1645, being at supper at the Fiscal's where you ar- rived drunk, you commenced as is your custom, to scold your deacons and the Secre- tary, abusing among the rest deacon Oloff Stevensen as a thief, although he did not utter an ill word against you; whereupon the Director, being present, suggested to you in a kind manner, that it was not the place to use such language. As you did not desist, the Director finally said, that when you were drunk, you did nothing but abuse, and that you had been drunk on Friday when you went into the pulpit; that it did not become a minister to lead such a life, and to give scandal to the worthy congregation.
Some days after, the Director not being able to attend church in consequence of indisposition, to wit on the 22nd January 1645, you abused him violently from the pulpit, saying " What else are the greatest in the land but vessels of wrath and fountains of evil, etc. Men aim at nothing but to rob one another of his property, to dismiss, banish and transport ". For this reason the Director absented himself from church, in order to avoid greater scandal; as he will maintain that he never coveted any man's property, or took it away, or acted unjustly, or banished any one who had not deserved three times severer punishment. Whomever he dis- missed was discharged because such was his prerogative, and he will vindicate his act in the proper quarter. It is none of your business.
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On the 21st March 1645, being at a wedding feast at Adam Brouwer's and pretty drunk, you commenced scolding the Fiscal and Secretary then present, censuring also the Director not a little, giving as your reason that he had called your wife a -, though he said there that it was not true and that he never entertained such a thought, and it never could be proved. Wherefore on the 23rd March, we being moved by motives of mercy, and on account of the respect attached to your office instead of prosecuting you, sent you a Christian admonition under seal, which you twice refused to receive. (See Report of the Messenger.)
You administered the Lord's Supper at Easter and Whitsuntide without partak. ing of it yourself, setting yourself as a partisan; assuming that the Director had sent the Yoncker* and one Iottho, meaning Lysbet the midwife, to you in order to seek a reconciliation, but that you would think twice before making peace with him; using similar language also to the Yoncker and Anthony de Hooges, as shall appear by credible witnesses. At the making of the peace, many words and means were used to break it off. Good effect was expected from the order which was sent to you to offer up prayers to the Lord, but instead of a prayer, people heard an in- vective, the tendency whereof was of dangerous consequences. Peace being con- cluded with the Indians, an extract from the order of the Lords States was sent to your Reverence, to return thanks to God on the 6th of September therefor. Your Reverence preached well and gave a good sermon, but throughout not a word was uttered about the peace, and though the day was appointed specially for that pur- pose, you offered no thanks to God for it, as the other clergymen who dwell within our limits have done with great zeal. By this, people can estimate your disposition towards the Company, by whom you are paid, and the welfare of the country; which disposition is also manifested by favoring those who have grossly defrauded and injured the Company; the conventicles and gatherings held and still daily con- tinued in reference thereto.
On the 22nd of December, you said publicly, in the course of the sermon on re- pentance, that you have frequently administered the Lord's Supper, without par- taking of it yourself, and wished that those who are the cause of the trouble were dismissed, and when families are visited, they cannot give a reason, why they ab- sent themselves. Your bad tongue is in our opinion, the sole cause, and your stiff- neckedness, and those who encourage you in your evil course, the cause of its con- tinuance. We know no one but only you who has refused to make peace. When you make a visitation you do not enquire the reason of such absence if it be demanded.
On the 24th of the same month, you remarked in your sermon, that in Africa, in consequence of the excessive heat, different wild animals copulate together, whereby many monsters are generated. But in this temperate climate, you knew not, you said, whence these monsters of men proceeded. They are the mighty but they ought to be made unmighty, who have many fathers and place their trust in the arm of the flesh, and not in the Lord.
Children can tell to whom you here alluded. These and many similar sermons which you have often preached, have obliged us to remain away from church.
Seeing that all this tends to the general ruin of the land, both in ecclesiastical and civil matters, to the disparagement of authority which your Reverence is bound by duty and also by your oath to support; to the stirring up of mutiny among the people, already split into factions; to schism and contention in the church, created by novel and unheard of customs, and to rendering us contemptible in the eyes of our neighbors, which things cannot be tolerated, when justice is accustomed to be maintained, therefore our bounden duty obliges us to provide therein, and by virtue
* Adrian van der Donck.
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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of our commission from their High Mightinesses, His Highness, and the Lords Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, to proceed against you for- mally; and in order that the same may be done more regularly, we have commanded that a copy of this our Acte be delivered to you, to be answered in fourteen days, protesting that your Reverence shall be treated in as Christian and civil a manner as our conscience and the welfare of Church and State will permit. The 2nd of January 1646.
1646, 4th of January.
We have seen the writing dated third January last sent us by Everardus Bogardus through the messenger, and found it futile and absurd and not an answer to the extract dated 2nd of January 1646, sent to said Bogardus. It is therefore ordered that said Bogardus shall give a pertinent answer to the contents of said extract, either affirmatively or negatively within the time therein mentioned, on pain of being prosecuted in court as a rebel and contumacious.
Thus done in Council at Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland on the above date.
On the 1dwu of January.
We have seen a certain writing of Domine Bogardus sent us by the messenger, full of vain subterfuge, calumny, insult and profanation of God's holy word, to the disparagement of justice and his lawful superior, which he uses, as is his custom, to vent his passion and to cover up the truth, and is in no wise an answer to our charges and order sent him on the 2nd and 4th of January last. Therefore we order him a second time to answer it formally within fourteen days either negatively or affirmatively on pain as above.
On the first of February Anno 1646.
Having seen the slanderous writing of Domine Bogardus purporting to be an an- swer to our charges, wherein he affirms some and denies other points thereof, and demands proof,
Ordered that the Fiscal shall give said Bogardus satisfaction as his party.
On the 8th of March, 1646.
Having seen the answer of Everardus Bogardus, minister, dated 8th of March, Ordered, if he has anything more to allege either against the witnesses or other- wise in the remainder of the suit, that he produce it within eight days, and at the same time specify the reason which the Honorable Director and Council gave him for abusing them from the chair of truth, and refusing to obey their order; in de- fault whereof the suit shall be proceeded with to proof, notwithstanding his subter- fuges. The 8th of March 1646.
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