USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume I > Part 71
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N. B. It is settled by And. Teller and for six Beavers and six cans of wine.
* This is explained by the following testimony in another case - " Hans Dreper further says that Gabriel's wife stated that Domine Schaets said at her house that whoever taught that Christ died alike for all men, taught a false and devilish Doctrine ".
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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1680
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
1680, April 2nd.
Acts of the Deputies and their Correspondence.
The Classis of Amsterdam to the Dutch Ministers in America. xxvii. 137.
Most Worthy and Reverend Brethren and Co-laborers :-
Having further considered the occurrence of the appointment of the Rev. Teschenmaker as pastor on the South River, we can- not judge otherwise than that your Reverences have acted legally, wisely and well in that matter, even as the present need and ser- vice of the church demanded. We cordially and fully assent to all that was done, and gratefully acknowledge that the same has been communicated to us so circumstantially, clearly and with so well cut a quill. We heartily desire that the commendable cor- respondence may continue, and that all the excellent orders, cus- tomary in our Fatherland churches, may be fully observed, unto greater unity and the best interests of God's Church.
Herewith, Reverend Brethren, we desire the blessing of the Most High upon your services, yourselves and your families. May he spare you, with health of soul and body, to the increase of his dearly bought church, and to the glory of his great Name; while we remain,
Your Reverences Obedient and Affectionate Brethren and Fel- low Laborers, of the Classis of Amsterdam. In the name of all : Peter Schaack,
Dep. ad res Maritimas, p.t. Praeses. Zegerus van Zan,
Collegii Dep. ad res Maritimas, p.t., Scriba. A Wolphus Ducher, Dep. ad res Maritimas.
Amsterdam April
2, 1680.
740
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1680
Acts of the Deputies and their Correspondence.
1680, April 2nd.
Classis of Amsterdam to the Churches of Long Island. xxvii. 138. Most Worthy and Dearly Beloved Brethren, Elders and Support- ers of the Reformed Netherland Churches on Long Island :-
Grace and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
With an opportunity of writing, we are unwilling to omit send- ing you our friendly greetings, and to exhort you fraternally re- garding a matter touching yourselves as well as the Rev. Casparus Van Zuuren your pastor.
Most Worthy Brethren, we learn from other parties that his stipulated salary is not promptly paid to him, and that he re- ceives three hundred guilders less, in Dutch currency, annually, than was promised him, besides the perquisite of free fuel; also that the building of a parsonage for him has hitherto been hin- dered by strifes, by which a neutral third party, although inno- cent, always suffers. Such occurrences a pastor has especially to fear, for they are of a kind from which he can expect nothing but loss and trouble. Yea, he may be subjected even to scandal, the heaviest of all burdens; because some have not the discretion to understand that a pastor, being subject to bodily wants, as well as others, must also support and defend his family. In the mean- time, such care and domestic anxiety lead to the injury of his ministerial services, grieves his spirit, quenches his gifts, or at least darkens and beclouds them; and as the aspostle saith, it re- dounds to the detriment of the church, if he must perform his duties with sighs.
If also we examine God's commands in relation to such things, we find that he exhorts the church to due regard for him who cares for their souls, which are most precious. What an excel- Vent support he provided in the Old Testament, not only for the priests, but also for the common Levites, as well as for those who
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
only closed a door or lighted a candle in the temple at Jerusalem. In the New Testament, also, the Apostle teaches that it is as un- lawful to withhold his compensation from a pastor, who serves, as it was, under the Old Testament, to muzzle an ox which was threshing out the corn; that there is nothing more equitable than that they should reap, of our carnal things, who sow to us in spiritual things.
For these and other reasons, it is our desire, that our brother, Rev. Van Zuuren, should be comforted by your acknowledgement and observance of the obligations made respecting the support of his household, that his mind may be relieved. He left his Father- land for service among you. All those who leave their Father- land, for service in the churches in the Indies, without exception, draw larger salaries than they do who serve in the churches at home; but your pastor, even if he received his full promised com- pensation, would draw no more, considering the last increase of salaries of pastors here. But Rev. Van Zuuren left the Father- land for a less salary, even on so small a one that it is insufficient for his support. You are too reasonable yourselves not to see the unreasonableness of this situation. We hope also that such good order may be established among you, that our brother Van Zuuren shall have no cause of complaint. May he fulfill his duties among you with satisfaction and joy; that the church may be edified, and mutual satisfaction may prevail in your congrega- tions.
Relying on the accomplishment of this, we wish to you all, as well as to all connected with your church, the rich blessing of the Lord. We wish this upon your own selves, your families and homes; that fruits of righteousness and peace may abound, and the kingdom of God be extended to the glory of his great Name.
Your obedient and affectionate brethren and servants, of the Classis of Amsterdam. In the name of all.
Amsterdam,
April 2, 1680.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
Acts of the Deputies and their Correspondence.
1680, April 21st.
The Classis of Amsterdam to the Rev. Casparus Van Zuuren. xxvii. 139.
Most Worthy Brother :-
It is with dissatisfaction, and sorrow in your behalf, that we learned from your letter of October 30th 1678, that your salary is not in accordance with your expectations, nor the dignity of your office. In evidence that the Classis takes your discomfort and injustice to heart, she has written to your churches with the hope that the business may be quickly arranged to your benefit.
Nevertheless, worthy brother, the Classis also hopes you will maintain a patient disposition under your injustice. Many diffi- culties are overcome, by this grace, in the charges in the Father- land. We are not insensible to your loss, and understand well that it is hard for the provider of his family to see himself de- frauded; but here also, in the Fatherland, everything is not per- fect. In several of our provinces there are churches whose pas- tors do not receive the half of their salaries. Even in our own Classis, there is an example of a pastor, who, if he should wait for the payment of his salary, in order to live on that, would not be able to live at all. It is true that the misery of others cannot make you happy; still you may therefrom discover that by returning to the Fatherland, your necessities would not with certainty be overcome. It is also to be hoped that the hard headedness of your people may finally yield under the fiery coals laid by you upon their heads. Surely God, who is very liberal in rewarding, and who recognizes no service as more acceptable than that of him who is ready and willing to labor in his cause, will not, in his providence, always leave matters thus. In his own unsearchable ways he is able to place you above loss and complaint.
If you follow our counsel in this matter, we will have cause to
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hold your memory in blessing, your name in honor, and your pro- motion in favor.
Meantime, we wish the blessing of the Most High upon you, upon your service, and upon your family. Commending you to God and the word of his grace, we remain, with hearty greetings, Your obedient brethren of the Classis of Amsterdam. In the name of all.
Amsterdam, April 21, 1680.
PROPOSALS TO RAISE FUNDS TO ERECT A NEW DUTCH CHURCH.
New York 31 June 1680.
At a meeting at the house of Mr. Olave Stevens, of the Ministers, Elders, Church- masters and Deacons, Mr. Fredr. Phillips, Mr: Cortlandt and Secr. of the Councell, Mr. Mayor, Mr. Beeckman, and Mr. Jacobs, Aldermen.
To consider of the best way to raise money for the building of the New Church recommended by the Gov .-
Free will or Guift :-
Mr. Ffredrick Philips
Mr. Stephen v. Cortlandt
Mr. Olave Stephens
Mr. Mayor
Mr. Beeckman
Mr. Jacobs
Mr. Coenraet
Mr. P. Bayard
De Newenhuysen
Mr. Woolly.
A publick tax: Mr. Nicholas Bayard Mr. Van Vleck Mr. John Darvall.
If this way shall not be effectual to raise a competent summe - That some other way be considred of which referred to the Governor.
How to give notice - house by house or otherwise.
To bee appointed to meete at certaine times at the towne hall, to give in their subscriptions
The severall streets,- the Inhabitants to appeare upon notice, one after another- The Country people at the Bowery, Harlem, etc. upon the Isl. to have notice, and bee spoken to, by their Officers, Const. Overseers, etc.
With dimensions.
The Church in the ffort fifty four foot wood measure without - about fifty within - in breadth.
Proposed to be somewhat longer and broader, but more in length.
A quartr. pt .- Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 244.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1680
PETITION OF QUAKERS AGAINST BEING FINED FOR SOLEMNIZING MARRIAGES ACCORDING TO THEIR OWN RITES.
To the Governor, And his Councell at New York.
The address of Henry Willis and John Bowne, conserning the proceedings of a Court Seshons against us who said they fined us ten pounds apeece for suffering our daughters to marrie contrary to their law, which proceedings we are satisfied is without precedent, and we can count it no less, but either a mistake or hasty over- sight, and though we have endeavoured for its removall yet Execution is eishoed forth and Jos. Lee under shiref hath seases Hen. Willis' barne of corn and since taken from Jo. Bowne five good milch cowes and drove them away by night and kept them pownded from foode moste of two nights one day and part of a day that neighbours was generally troubled at it. Now in simplissity we doe seriously in- treat all that may be conserned here in seriously to consider it and in the coolness of your spirits without anger or hard thoughts truly to waye it in the ballance of Equity where the wittness of God may arise in every contience to testifie, whether if such things should goe on and be proceeded in it would not be to the rewenating of families and to the kindling of God's anger against a place or poeple which we truly desire may be prevented, by taking away ye ocation, whereof we make our address to the Chiefe in authority knowing that Magistrates authority is to pre- serve men's persons and Estates, but ye perrogative of the conscience that belongs to God and we dare not but yeald obedience thereunto as God hath perswaded our harts and we doe not act (as sometimes resented) in stubborness obstaincy or con- tempt of authority, but in simplissity, having God's fear in our hearts that we may keepe our consciences clear before him from whom we receive strength to uphould us in tryalls and exercise and we earnestly desire ye Lord may perswade your hearts unto whome we are now concerned, that ye may remove ye cause of this our address, and open that eye in you that can see us as we are, who can pray for those that's in authority that under them we may live a peaceable holy and godlike life.
Henry Willis John Bowne.
Ye 4th of ye 7th mo. 1680 .- Doc. Hist. N. Y. iii. 605, 606.
CERTIFICATE FOR REV. CHARLES WOLLEY .*
1680, July 15.
A Certificate to Mr. Charles Wolley to go for England in the Hopewell.
Sr. Edmund Andros, Knt. etc. Whereas Mr. Charles Wolley (a minister of the Church of England,) came over into these parts in the month of August, 1678, and hath officiated accordingly as Chaplain under his Royall Highness during the time of his abode here. Now upon applicacon for leave to return for England, in order to some promocon in the Church to which he is presented, hee having liberty to proceed on his voyage, These are to certify the above, and that the said Mr. Wolley hath in this place comported himself unblameable in his life and conversacon. In testimony whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal of the Province in New Yorke this 15th day of July, in the 32nd yeare of His Majestyes Raigne, Annoq. Domine, 1680.
Examined by mee, M. N. Secr .- Perry's Hist. Am. Epis. Ch. 152; Dix's Hist. Trinity Ch. i. 53.
* There was a Charles Wolley admitted a freeman of New York, 1702.
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