USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume II > Part 50
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* In the answer of the Consistory, before given, we have this proverb thus: " De kool is het zap niet waert ". As quoted here in retort, it is: " Het sop de kool wel deegelijck waert is." Compare -" The game is not worth the candle."
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Dr. John Kerfbijl, dated the 12th of November past, against the Rev. Consistory of our Dutch Church, or against Henricus Selyns, our minister and teacher, but more especially against him than against ourselves and our Consistorial resolutions : therefore, we, as well as all those who have been present during these occurrences, do declare and protest, that we are deeply grieved, and are under obligations, in the interests of truth, to declare those things of which we are sure. And we say that whatsoever was done or resolved on, in our last meeting, date as above, (Nov. 11, 1698,) is truth, without any prevarication.
Moreover, what we have done in behalf of the Church of God, is known to God and to the Messrs. Protesters, and to the con- gregation ; and it remains with his Royal Majesty, (William III.), and with the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam to give judgement concern- ing it. We also complain that our teacher is charged with unen- durable bossiness and tyranny, but we testify that we found it so; but that everything was done by consultation, and advice was received from the Consistory. Other matters touched upon in this Protest are not worthy of being answered, except this one: That we and our Teacher should have hoodwinked, yea, should have deceived the Rev. Classis. This is too false, and would better have been omitted than written. We pray God to forgive them this ; and we pray the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam to esteem us as something better than deceivers.
Pieter Jacobsn Marius, Johannes Kip, Jan Harberdinck, Theunis de Keij,
J. V. Cortlandt, Boele Roeleffs,
S. V. Cortlandt, B. Baijard, Brandt Schuyler,
Jacob Boelens, Isaac de Forest.
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Compared and found to accord with the original. New York, Dec. 10, 1698. Henricus Selyns, Ecclesiastes Neo-Eboracensis. Done at New York, Nov. 19, 1698.
From Archives of the London Dutch Church, Austin Friars: Ecclesiae Londina - Batavae Archivum, Vol. iii., Part Second, pages 2710-2716.
BELLOMONT TO THE LORDS OF TRADE.
1698, Nov. 12.
The second thing is (which I shall remark to your Lordships) some of the sub- scribers of the flattering addresse from the people at Albany (a copy whereof I formerly sent your Lordships) wherein they applaud his (Fletcher's) great care and inimitable conduct in preserving the frontiers from the enemy, owned to me in plain termes when I was at Albany, that they were heartily ashamed of setting their hands to so lying an Address which they said they were prevailed with to doe, partly by the importunity of Mr. Dellius the Dutch Minister and the dread the said minister had instilled into them how Colonel Fletcher would revenge it upon them if they refused to pay him that complement.
There goes also with this a copy of a charter granted by Colonel Fletcher to the Dutch Church here, which I think very extraordinary, for it is setting up a petty jurisdiction to fly in the face of the government, as I have found it in my own experience; for being told that Colonel Fletcher had a bribe for passing this charter, I sent to the Church-Masters (so-called by the Dutch) which I suppose are equiva- lent to our Church-Wardens, for a sight of their Church-Book, wherein I was told I should find an entry made of the said bribe. The Church-Masters said they could not consent to my seeing the book till they had spoken to the minister Mr. Selynus; then I sent them to Mr. Selynus to desire he would let me have a sight of it; to which he returned answer he could not do it, till he had called a Consistory. This behaviour of theirs I confesse provoked me, and I did resolve to have a sight of the booke, tho' I should send a constable with my warrant to bring it by force; but I thought it best to try fair means, and I sent to speak with Mr. Selynus, and by speaking him fair, I did prevail to see the Church-Book, out of which I have copied the entry of the said present; the Charter goes (No. 8) and the extract out of the Church-Book is (No. 9). This is much such an institution as Colonel Fletcher made yonder at West Chester; that citty consists of about twenty houses, and have greater priviledges than any town in America, as the choosing of their own Mayor, and the power of life and death, and the like; and the major part of the inhabitants are felons upon record. A copy of this Charter Mr. Weaver the Agent took home with him to show your Lordships .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 426.
THE MINISTERS AND ELDERS OF THE DUTCH CHURCH OF NEW YORK TO THE MINISTERS AND CONSISTORY OF THE LONDON DUTCH CHURCH, Nov. 27, 1698. (N. S.)
New York, Nov. 27, 1698.
Sirs, and Brethren in Christ Jesus :-
From our letter of Oct. 18, (1698), you can see what we have done, at the request of our Church, towards the call of a second
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minister for the service and greater benefit of our Church. Never- theless we will again explain everything to your Reverences and to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam. With us, your Reverences will be greatly surprised that things have gone with us as they have. The gentlemen who brought about this state of things, it is said, have written to your Assembly without the knowledge of our Consistory, and in ridicule of our ecclesiastical election, and, with the exception of Kingston, in opposition to so many appro- bations (as we have received) from the churches; for this is the usual method with us, in place of the action of a Classis; (when there is no Classis.) In that way we secured the signatures and approval of eight Provincial Dutch Churches, or forty one ecclesi- astical persons, to our Call. Everything was done, as far as possi- ble, according to the custom and Church-Order of the Netherlands Churches.
These gentlemen, few in number, hardly ten, if so many, advised certain ones to sign against the Call, or to contribute towards the same, almost nothing. Many of these were not members. Others were excommunicated, or strangers, or profane, or altogether out- side of our Church. All this was done in support of human passion.
But we, on the other hand, made this Call in the fear of God and for the best welfare of the Church .- At least (their zeal) was thus judged, by the character of their subscriptions.
They have since then sought to injure us with his Excellency, my lord, the Earl of Bellomont, our Governor, but to whom we are ready to manifest all possible honor, and to show obedience to the best of our ability. It is proclaimed that when we had no charter, we did more than the French churches. Now, priviledged under the Charter, and possessed of power to call one or more ministers, is it possible that we cannot do this except with the consent of the government ? Shall this call, therefore, pious and praiseworthy as it is in every respect, be interfered with and
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given up ? Your Reverences will please to inform us what your Reverences are accustomed to do, as to notifying or not notifying (the government.) We would like to know the fact, and to con- form to your ecclesiastical customs. If any one ought to have been notified, after we had received the Charter, it should have been the Hon. Col. Fletcher, who was then Governor. For then, the Call having been decided upon, were the subscriptions (for the salary) made by the congregation, which these same gentle- men refused to deliver to the Consistory. Now, because Quakers do not engage pastors, they thus chaffer to the danger of smashing the Charter and the Church.
It is too bad to trouble your Reverences with so many com- plaints and unpleasant grievances. We and our entire congrega- tion thought of calling our second minister from Holland. These other gentlemen, who had also sought to do this very thing, now had contrary notions, and tried to spoil our work, laying plans to produce an open rupture, and which will be a cause of trouble for many years to come. They not being inclined to maintain peace with us, sought to hinder and frustrate the Call, by speaking against the choice of an elder and the church-masters, although chosen according to custom. Our votes lay between Mr. William Beekman and Captain Jacobus van Cortlant. Beekman was more than seventy years old, and had earnestly sought to be excused (from serving.) Cortlandt was younger, and he had been fre- quently nominated for the eldership. The decision rested with our minister, whether lots should be drawn, or, which was more usual, the choice should be made by the presiding officer by a cast- ing vote. By this latter means Capt. Kortlant was chosen, and coming within, he was welcomed by the whole Consistory. In this same way, three years before, the Hon. Col. Kortlant a high Coun- sellor of his Majesty, was chosen for elder, and Mr. Isaac de Riemer for deacon. All this was done without the slightest opposi- tion. Now it is spoken against, and the Protests are enclosed here- with.
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*What relates to our Church-masters, chosen jointly by the Con- sistory and the (old) Church-masters, it is not worth while to speak. We have said enough in our ecclesiastical defence, and in behalf of our resolutions. And now, in conclusion, Gentlemen and Brothers in Christ Jesus, behold, how these men, who play the master in politics, try also to play the master in the Church. They aim not only to manage the Consistory, but that through the Church-masters, everything should fall into their hands and there remain according to their pleasure, that they may pay the min- isters, or not, as they please. But may God forbid all this. To Him, we entrust and commend your Reverences persons and Church, and may He upbuild both our Churches. Farewell.
Your obedient servants and brethren in the Lord,
Henricus Selyns, Minister. Johannes Kip, Jan Harberdinck, Boele Roelefs, Elders.
J. V. Cortlandt. .
Document 4011, in " Ecclesiae Londono-Batava Archivum; or Documents in the Archives of the Dutch Church of London, Vol. iii, Second Part, pp. 2716-2718.
HEADS OF COMPLAINT AGAINST COLONEL FLETCHER.
Heads of Complaints relating to Col. Fletcher's conduct in the Government of New Yorke: delivered to him at the Board the 28th November, (1698) and are as follows.
That Col. Fletcher did during his Administration grant away vast tracts of land, not laid out by exact measure of acres but computed in the lump by miles, without laying any obligation upon the grantees to improve the same or taking care to prosecute any persons, by any law of the Province for the non improvement thereof: and this allso under very small and inconsiderable Quit-Rents. 1
That some of the said grants being of a great part of the Mohack's country (without their consent duly obtained) did tend to the disobliging of them and the
* By the side of this paragraph, there is written on the margin: It is proposed to the Brethren, whether, by an ecclesiastical address to his Royal Majesty, they may not, in our name, petition and find out a way, to settle this difficulty; and that full power may be given us that the calls which we make out may be pre- sented and executed, and that through the prudence and brotherly love of your Reverences, our church may be saved from factions, and that in place of unity of heart and soul we may not be turned upside down.
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exposing the frontiers of New Yorke to the attempts of the French; that others and particularly those of some part of the King's garden and a farm called the King's Farme, did take away much of the necessary conveniences of future Governours; that all of them tended to obstruct the peopleing and cultivating of the Country; and (there being now no land left fit for settlement) they have taken away from his Majesty the possibility of rewarding for the future with guiftes of land, the services of those that may deserve it, either in warr or peace .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 433, 434.
REV. HENRICUS SELYNS TO THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM, DEC. 15, 1698.
(This letter is considerably mutilated where it has been folded, but it has been mounted on fine cambric. The lines which have been rendered illegible, are supplied from collateral docu- ments bearing on the same subject.)
New York, Dec. 15, 1698.
To the Very Reverend Classis of Amsterdam,
Sirs and Brethren in Christ Jesus :-
Hitherto we have been, and are still, yours, and desire to be yours, and ever to remain so. But we again approach you, per- chance to detain and hinder you in your weighty affairs, and to trouble you with some more lines and a few more documents. We hope that our letters of May 4 and Sept. 14, last, (1698,) have duly arrived and been delivered to your Reverences. They were sent in duplicate, with an Indian Bible (Eliot's) and a list of sixty five children, who have recited all the Psalms without missing, on the ships of skippers Claes Gerritszen and Van Balen.
You have also learned from these letters that we have done all that we could in reference to the call of a second minister for our Church of New York. We would have been very happy, [if this could have been done without having produced so much disturb- ance and trouble, but we are forced,] to bring before the Classis things which will astonish it, as may be seen in the enclosed docu- ments - Nos. 14 and 16.
There are, at the most, only eight persons, who incited others, and who still continue to do so, endeavoring to frustrate our call
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and create divisions. This is a sad state of affairs, and it grieves us to the death. We have therefore sought encouragement by writing to, and seeking the opinion of the Dutch Church at London [England]; and especially by writing to our greatly beloved Assembly, [the Classis of Amsterdam].
We have accordingly drawn up, as, indeed, we were under obli- gations to do, a full account, [Aug. 19, 1697,- Nov. 19, 1698] and have determined to send it over and place it on the table of Classis. This includes all documents, extracts and ecclesiastical resolutions; protests and counter-certificates, and whatever else properly belongs to this business; and we make also the earnest request that all things may be fully considered by the Classis; and we doubt not but that you will have satisfaction, and be able to make such suggestions as shall serve for our peace.
And although our Church now stands under the jurisdiction of his Royal Majesty of Great Britain, [William III.] nevertheless we are not cut off from the Church of your Reverences, nor from ecclesiastical correspondence. Even our very opponents, as ap- pears from document No. 18, refer themselves to the judgement of the Classis, as their competent judge. We also, as well as they, will accept of your judgement in order to maintain peace.
Meantime the Rev. Classis has now more reasons than formerly, especially since the condition of our Church is so very deplorable, to write to his Royal Majesty [William III] even as you have already written to the Hon. Deputies, the Messrs. Westerhoft and Smits under date of April 20, 1699 [1698?], in order, being now better informed, to communicate to his said Majesty, an account of these matters, and to explain to him all the circumstances as they are at present; and earnestly to petition him, in this second communication, that in his pity for us, he would use his Royal Authority and guardianship, (Savagarde) that we might be brought again into a condition of Christian love and peace.
How is it possible that any one could have thought that we had hoodwinked your Reverences and deceived you, because we made
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out our call without the consent, or any communication with my lord Bellomont, our present Governor? and that for such reasons, they should have tried to blacken [denigreeren] us before his Excellency, in order simply to frustrate our call? yea, even to [destroy] our individual Church, built by private means, as it was, and chartered by a special charter, so that we were made capable of holding and possessing houses and lands; of receiving legacies; of calling and maintaining and paying one or more min- isters; for we are now qualified to do all this, as a special Cor- poration.
Our opponents, on the contrary, seek to destroy ; to subject this our Church, to the [civil] government [and patronage; so that we should possess no power nor right to call and support our own min- isters : ] but all these privileges are now ours, through the benefit of our said Charter. [Nevertheless, our said Governor was not offended at not having been consulted with reference to the said Call ( ?) ] But thus they sought to cast odium on us.
But inasmuch as they made complaint - for they are a fret- some people - concerning the choice of an elder by a casting vote [of the Chairmen], the vote being a tie; and also complained of the choice of Churchmasters, by the joint vote of the Consistory and Churchmasters - but we fear to trouble [schreumen - schromen ] your Reverences with such trifles and bagatelles ; - nevertheless we do it in order to help our church unity, [among the members], although such things never should be quarreled over or disputed about.
Now it so happened, (No. 13,) that, after these gentlemen, the' Elders and Deacons [just elected] were called in, we must choose Churchmasters. But two votes having been in doubt about the Eldership, viz., between Messrs. William Beekman, Sr., and Capt. Jacobus van Cortlandt, our minister, presiding gave his casting vote for the latter [Van Cortlandt]; because the first, [Beekman] was old and feeble, and almost refused to serve the last time [he was elected,] and only accepted as a final [term]. But, on the
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contrary, in this second he stood rather only in the nomination of the Eldership.
It happened, (to repeat), that a person who was already a Churchmaster, was chosen, by the Consistory and Churchmasters (conjointly). Now ought this to have been protested against, and thereby God's Church to have been disquieted, and our peace to have been banished? Even in this manner Col. Stephen van Cort- landt, for elder, and Isaac de Riemer, for deacon, were chosen for several successive years, by one honorable (vereerende) vote; and would any one deny that thus they were (lawfully ?) appointed ? Thus it was done in the beginning, and was the custom of other churches. That they were entitled to the office and respect, [is evident] serving as they did without any other compensation. And are not such even more worthy to vote by our side, although only for Churchmasters, (than some others,) doing it inexpen- sively (in connection with) the election of elders and deacons ? And this is just what we did and have done for the better unity and peace of our Church.
It is asked whether we have, indeed, done all this? This has all been done, after invoking God's name; viz., we have held our church meetings, listened to friendly requests, adopted resolutions, given new instructions, secured subscriptions from pious members; obtained eight approbations among our Dutch churches (to our new Call), and secured the approbations and ratifications of our old and ruling Consistories; and have also done whatever else was necessary for the purpose of getting a second minister here, with- out regard to cost.
The request is whether we, or our ministers should (be believed against) eight (members,) after (they have made such statements) as, 1, that they or we have done (2) that we, peace . loving persons, as we are fully persuaded, have (unjustly) opposed them; 3, that we called and permitted opponents in our Consistory; 4, that we had deceived the Rev. Classis at Amster- dam; 5,, that we had employed most unworthy means; 6, that we
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had presented a writing full of falsehoods, deceptions, and mere pretences of peace; and finally, (that) our preachers were (men) of unendurable bossiness and tyranny in the churches.
In reference to those items which belong to the first articles: we declare that they are not worthy to be answered; and in reference to the last article (we can only say) that our teacher does not act, except after consultation with, and the approbation of the Consistory. It is therefore our duty to defend him against these most wicked slanders, of tyranny, and of unendurable bossi- ness in the Church. And we also beg that your Reverences will not be hoodwinked by irresponsible men, and that for the sake of Christ, you will do those things for us which are in harmony with Christ; so that our Church-Ship, kept afloat already so long, and increased in her membership by preaching and catechizing, shall not now go to the bottom.
We commend you to God and the Word of his grace. Proceed with our Call for a second minister, in the fear of the Lord; and be assured that we will ever recognize your Reverences and be duly grateful. Valete.
Your obedient and affectionate servants and brethren in the Lord,
Henricus Selyns, Minister. Johannes Kip,
Jan Harbending, Elders. a
Boele Roeloffsen,
Stephen Van Cortlandt,
COLONEL FLETCHER'S ANSWER, IN PART, TO THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST HIM. Dec. 24, 1698. 1 I C
To what your Lordships mention in particular of some parts of the King's Garden granted away I thus remember that in the beginning of the year of 1696, Colonel Caleb Heathcote did petition that he might have liberty to erect a wood wharfe (as a thing of publick convenience) on a wast peice of ground lying west- ward of the Stockadoes of the King's Garden, and so down to the low water marke, about one hundred and twenty foot in front. There was a committee of the Council appointed to survey the ground and upon their report a lease was granted him for forty one years at four shillings rent and one shilling quit-rent; I never saw or did know that this spott was reputed any part of the King's
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Garden, or that it could be of necessary use to any Governour. I am sure it lay in the wast I found as to me.
For the land mentioned called the King's Farme I did indeed grant a lease of the same, and the case was thus. When Sir Edmund Andros was there Governour and managed for the Duke of Yorke, he granted a lease of that Farme for twenty years, and under the yearly rent of sixty bushels of wheat. The term expired in the year 1697. I was offered two hundred pounds for a lease, and I refused it. But inasmuch as a church was then building for the English part of the Colony and of which it was destitute before my time; I did, for encouragement of that worke grant a lease thereof to the Church Wardens; it was without fine, at the old reserved rent, and only for seaven years. But if building churches be a crime, I shall take warning how I build any more. I will only add that as I never took one acre of the land for myself or children, so had I never any reward for any that was granted .- Col. Docs. N. Y. iv. 448.
REPLY OF MR. WEAVER TO COL. FLETCHER'S ANSWER.
1698, [1699] Jan. 9.
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Attorny Generall's Me- Ranslaers grants. morial about grants of land.
Patents of King's Farm and King's Garden.
Prooved by
The plat of lands and lists of grants: Mohacks, Henry, Jo- s eph, & Interpre- tress's depositions :
Charter of Dutch Church. No. 7, referred in letter 21st of October 1698.
The Plat of the Privince, and the list of the lands granted by Col. Fletcher, will demonstrate that it is apparently untrue that almost all the valuable lands of New Yorke were granted away before his entring on that government.
It is likewise incredible that Colonel Fletcher did not know that the grant to Colonel Heathcote was part of the King's garden; for that the words of the grant are, Part of Our Garden.
The deceit used by Mr. Dellius, in the grant of the Mohacks lands, is discovered, in the depositions of Henry and Joseph, Indians, and the Interpretress, all Christians, and in the printed conference of the Indians with the Earl of Bellomont.
The king's farm was leased out by Colonel Fletcher, even when my Lord Bellomont was known to be on his voyage for New Yorke; as most of the other great grants were, after the Earl's designation
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to the government. Colonel Fletcher assumes the glory of build- ing churches, which never was imputed to him as a crime, if it was true; but the Church of New Yorke (Trinity) was not built by him, but by a contribution of severall, even of the French and Dutch Churches, as well as English; and an allowance of one hun- dred pounds per annum given to an English Minister by an act of the country, which is levied, a greater part of it, on Dutch and French inhabitants. Therefore there was no necessity to lease this farm to the Church Wardens, nor to call this lease a building of churches, and make that the pretence of hindring a succeeding Governour from the beneficial use of the farme for the con- veniency of his family.
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