USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume IV > Part 56
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Although the danger of the sea in itself, (however exaggerated by fear), is not very great, for vessels from Europe usually make their voyages here, from time to time, in entire safety, neverthe- less, the fear of the enemy in time of war, is, we confess, by no means groundless. But the merchants can fully prescribe what is the most prudent way of traveling, whether by the way of Eng- land or by a ship-of-war; and we entrust the whole matter to their judgment.
As to the prompt payment of the salary there need not be the least doubt. None of the ministers here have ever had reason to complain on that score. In reference to the case of domine Santvoort, on Staten Island, domine (Peter) Du Bois (of Amster- dam) can give you further information.
Meanwhile we can assure the one who may be inclined to come over to us as our minister, as we herewith do assure him, that carrying himself, according to his office, before the congregation, he may be certain of receiving true love and kind treatment.
As we rejoice over your special interest in our congregation, as well as in the general prosperity of God's Zion in these provinces, even remembering us in your prayers : so we doubt not your con- tinuing thus to do. For nothing lies nearer our hearts than to
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use every means to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace; to maintain the truth in love so as to grow up in Him who is the Head.
Meanwhile, we entreat in your behalf all temporal and spirit- ual blessings, from the favor of God in Christ, as well as upon the other brethren. May these blessings rest upon your persons and your work, and upon all of you, although personally unknown to most of us. And so, with all due respect, we conclude, assur- ing you that we are,
Rev. and Esteemed Sir, Your humble servants, In the name, etc., G. Du Bois, President.
P. S. This is our answer to your missive, but before the Con- sistory signed it, Mr. Banker showed us a letter from Mr. P. De Wolff to him. From this we learned to our joy that you and the other gentlemen had called Mr. Carp to be our minister, and that he expected to come here by the first opportunity in the Spring. This puts us under new obligations to you for your con- stant care. Meanwhile we shall anxiously expect our minister, and we pray God for his safe arrival. Again, as before, with all good wishes, we remain, etc.
New York, May 18, 1743.
Lib. B. 165-7.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Correspondence from America.
The Consistories of Queens County - Jamaica, Hempstead, Newtown and Oyster Bay, to the Classis of Amsterdam, May 21, 1743. (Favorable review of the ordination of Rev. J. H. Goetschius. )
Portfolio " New York ", Vol. i.
Copy of a Petition which the Churches of Queens County sent with Reverend Dorsius to Holland.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA.
The Churches of Queens County to the Classis of Amsterdam. May 23, 1743. (In opposition to Goetschius).
Portfolio "New York ", Vol. i. Allusions, xxii. 618.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Acts of the Deputies and their Correspondence. The Classis of Amsterdam to Rev. George Weiss, June 18, 1743.
No. 46.
To Mr. Weys.
Rev. Sir and Brother in Christ: We learn with much satisfaction from your last, that you continue in your work, and that you are zealous to bring over that waste and wild heathendom of the district in which you find yourself, to the sheepfold of the Great Shepherd of the sheep, the meek Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord in every way bless these your endeavors to his glory and the good of those savage souls. The account of the savages in North America, composed by you, greatly pleased us, and we thank you for it. We shall be pleased, if in the future we receive fur- ther information about these people. We also heartily wish to learn that you find yourself in good condition and are blessed of the Lord with strength of both body and soul. Our congregations have occasionally the misfortune to be robbed of their pastors. Last year two ministers of the Gospel were taken away, viz., Rev. Messrs. Cauzius and Reytsma, and on the 10th of January death also took away Rev. Mr. Bakker. The Lord grant that we may conduct ourselves faithfully and prudently, in his strength, in the work to which we are appointed, that when He comes he may find us doing his will, and may place us over all he has. Wishing the same, also, in the name of the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, we sign ourselves, etc., etc.
Caspar Gors, praeses. William Schiphout, scriba.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Correspondence from America. Three Elders of Newtown, Long Island, to Reverend Classis of Amsterdam, June 22, 1743.
Portfolio " New York ", Vol. i. Extracts xxiii. 4, 5. CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
Acts of Synod Received. Call of a New Minister.
New York, July 5, 1743.
The members of Consistory having assembled, Montgue (Mon- tagne?) was asked what domine Boel, the present President, had
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said to him. He said that domine Boel, on account of indisposi- tion, could not attend, and that he wished domine Du Bois alone to direct the meeting. Thereupon the Consistory was opened with prayer.
1. Domine Du Bois produced a letter from Holland to the Consistory. This was opened, and proved to be from the Classis of Amsterdam. It contained the Acts of the Synod (of North Holland) for the year 1742. The letter was then read.
2. It further appeared that the minister Carp who had been called, could not get the consent of his parents to come over here.
3. It also appeared from certain writings from the persons en- trusted with " Power to Call ", that we should give order for the discharge of all such expenses as they should find necessary, in ar- ranging for a Call in our behalf.
4. In consequence of domine Boel's indisposition, domine Du Bois was requested to prepare the draught of a reply to these gentlemen concerning their request, and submit it to the Con- sistory as soon as possible.
Lib. B. 169.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Slaves, etc., in Suriname.
1743, July 22nd. Art. 6. When mention was made of sending Krankbesoekers (Visitors of the Sick), or rather Catechetical teachers, to Suriname, it was suggested whether, in order to pro- mote the (unimpeded) conversion of slaves, male and female, in that colony, a declaration ought not to be asked for, that the said slaves, male and female, do not obtain their freedom by accept- ing Christianity. This was left to the prudent treatment of the Deputati. xii. 47, 48.
STATEMENT BY THE CONSISTORIES OF KINGSTON AND NEIGHBOR- ING CHURCHES, AUGUST 1, 1743. Portfolio " New York ", Vol. i.
We the Consistories of Kingston, etc., have noticed in a letter written by Mr. Fryenmoet to Rev. Mancius, that among other expressions, the following words are used: "That Rev. Dorsius had with him more than forty certificates, among
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which there is one also from Rochester, asserting that the ministers in general took no pains to organize and plant churches, but were rather a hindrance to such a work."
We, therefore, feel ourselves in duty bound, for the preservation of the good name of our ministers, and especially from a love of truth, to declare in all sin- cerity, as we hereby do, that, if a report like the above is spread about Niclaas de Peise (?), or any one else, whoever he may be, such a report is with regard to our ministers not in accordance with the truth, but entirely untrue and false.
That we may bear witness to the truth, we put our signatures to the above statement.
Elders. Teunis Swart, Dirk Wynkoop, Petrus Bogardus, Johannes De Lametter (or Maitre?).
Deacons. Johannes Du Bois, Cornelis Persen, Anthonie Hoffman, Benjamin Sleght.
Done in Kingston, August 1st, 1743.
[See Document of Aug. 9, 1743.]
CHURCH OF NEW YORK. Election of a new Clerk.
New York, August 5, 1743.
Consistory held. After calling on God's name, it was de- termined, since Mr. Gerrit Van Wagenen, clerk in our Old Church, had died, to ask Mr. Isaac Stoutenberg if he was willing to undertake, provisionally, the duty of clerk and recorder of baptisms in the Old Church. The conditions and profits should be the same as those of Mr. Van Wagenen, until the Consistory should appoint some one in Mr. Van Wagenen's place. This offer was presented to Mr. Van Wagenen in the name of the Con- sistory, and he accepted the same.
Lib. B. 169.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Correspondence from America.
Revs. Boel and Mancius to the Classis of Amsterdam, August 9, 1743. Portfolio "New York ", Vol. i. Extracts, xxiii. 2, 3. No. 2.
Most Worthy Classis of Amsterdam:
Very Rev., Godly and Learned Sirs, Fathers and Brethren in Christ :-
We hope that our letter of the 14-25 April, 1743, in answer to your High Revs. missive of Nov., 1739, has already been re-
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ceived, and that this one may meet with the same experience. Since our first was sent, Rev. (John Bartholomaus) Rieger came to see me- Rev. Boel. He stated that on the invitation of Prof. Hobbinger, he was going to Amsterdam and Heidelberg, in order to give information concerning church matters and to get ministers from that place for Pennsylvania. Inasmuch as Prof. Hobbinger had been requested to do this by the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, Rev. Rieger would also confer with Classis on that subject. Another object is to get a Superintendent appointed and sent to the Pennsylvania churches. But the latter proposition I disapproved as being contrary to the rights of the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, and as likely to lead to greater confusion in Pennsyl- vania. This will plainly appear from the acts of Revs. Dorsius and Frelinghuysen. It would also be perilous in case such a sole Superintendent should happen to be an errorist, or become an enthusiast, as is well known of that (John Peter) Miller. Also, the subordination must remain as it is - to your High Revs .- as the nearest and most convenient for correspondence.
I have, therefore, advised Rev. Rieger to keep himself solely to your Revs., and not to undertake anything at Heidelberg or elsewhere, except what has your Revs. consent. This Rev. Rieger has promised me.
Rev. Dorsius also called on me before his departure to Hol- land; and although well aware of the fact that I publicly repudi- ated the ordinations made by him, as illegal, he did not say a word to me about them. But everywhere else, he let himself out boldly enough against your Revs., and declared that he would be able well enough to defend himself in Synod.
Whether, as report goes, he got a number to sign a statement to the effect that We, ministers, neglected, and even hindered the planting and extension of churches, and the sending of calls to Holland; and that, therefore, the Revs. Dorsius and Freling- huizen, had, for the good of the churches, gone to work to per- form ordinations; and what other similar stories may have come
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
to your knowledge, we do not know. We enclose herewith a Statement from the Rev. Consistory of Kingston, and trust that, in case Rev. Dorsius should undertake something like that, your Revs. will have the goodness to testify to the truth in our behalf, and to see to it that Rev. Dorsius has justice done him.
Although his Rev. took with him Maurits, the brother of Mr. (J. H.) Goetschius; and also a son of Rev. Frelinghuizen, (Theo- dore) to further his design, that young lad (borst) at his de- parture, told me - Rev. Boel - in his simplicity that he was going to finish his studies in Holland, and become an ordained minister there. This looks very strange, inasmuch as, in huis printed Preface (to a sermon of Goetschius) of which we made mention to you in our former letter, Rev. T. J. Frelinghuizen maintains the legality of the ordination of Mr. Goetschius per- formed over here, and yet does not make arrangements for it with Rev. Dorsius in behalf of his own son.
The following also, bearing on the correspondence, we con- sider it our duty to let your Revs. know.
The people of Minisink, together with Mr. Fryenmoet, have asked me - Rev. Manchius and my colleague, Rev. Vas, and subsequently also Rev. Boel of New York, for certain advice in their affairs. This was accordingly given them. Our advice was that they should submit the whole business to your Revs. and bind themselves to full compliance with your ecclesiastical de- cision in Classis. We were abundantly confident that this coming from you, would be such as to be most conducive to the honor of God and the welfare of our churches. Whereupon they asked us to send to you the enclosed document, together with Mr. Fryenmoet's " Confession of Faith " - his Rev. having freely and gladly consented to this .- This with all due submission, we here- by do. We are in hopes that, with the blessing of the Lord, your Revs'. decision, when it shall become known here, will, by its reasonableness, overcome the movements started by one and an- other, to uphold Rev. Dorsius' pretended authority for perform-
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ing ordinations. Upon the receipt of your much desired Classi- cal instructions, we shall, with God's help, do our best for the welfare of the Church.
To that end, and, at the same time, for our own proper de- fense against further partisan action, it would help us to have, and continue to receive, the yearly Acts of the Synod of North Holland.
The Acts of the year 1737, which Rev. Du Bois received from you in 1740, I, Rev. Boel, had the privilege of seeing, but for a short time, returning them as soon as Rev. Du Bois asked for them. After a time I asked for them again, but did not get them. And neither to us, Mancius, nor to Muzelius, has a single copy ever been sent, even up to this day. Recently, in the begin- ning of July, those of 1742 were for a few days allowed me - Rev. Boel, by the Rev. Elders, when, as their Revs. well knew, I had little or no time to read them through. On their early de- mand for them, they received them back again from me, with my request to have them again; but they are still withheld from me.
More than once letters also, and other writings, sent to the Consistory, have been refused me for personal inspection. Even when presiding in my turn, I am not allowed to read them be- fore the Consistory; or if allowed, they are again taken away from me, and at once shut up; with the explanation, that it does not belong to the ministers, but to the Consistory, to have such writ- ings or Church Minutes in their keeping. I showed them that ministers in service must needs have a " Memoria localis ", and hence the opportunity for reading over the documents and Acts of Consistory, in order to give information to others, if need be, and especially to the new members of Consistory as occasion may require. But I must leave it to their good pleasure what I may take therefrom and what not.
So also that letter of the Rev. Mr. Schelluyne, as one of the Commissioners for calling another minister for New York, was,
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
after I had read it before the meeting, taken from me and locked up. It was also kept off the Minutes; and, as Rev. Du Bois in his own hand writing testifies, only the answer of Consistory was entered on the Minutes. Therein also occur the following words: " As also we have learned to our satisfaction, that the Rev. Classis unanimously approved of our conduct, as regular and ecclesiastical, in commissioning the celebrated gentlemen."
Very Worthy Classis, it is questionable to us, whether you would unanimously approve of their conduct, in commissioning, etc., as regular and ecclesiastical, if that conduct were known to you in its true nature and circumstances. For example, this one small item may serve,-The drawing up of those two papers - the letter of authorization and that of instruction was by a Con- sistorial Act, committed to Rev. Du Bois alone and kept from my knowledge until they were read before the Consistory. The " authorized commissioners ", nevertheless had it, that everything was drawn up, in every particular, with the consent of both the ministers, regardless of the fact that I had not been consulted in anything. I also kindly urged that to merchants should be com- mitted mercantile matters, and to ministers, ministerial matters, especially such weighty matters as the making out of Calls. For many years also, Rev. Du Bois has maintained the same thing. He did this especially in opposition to that slander, carried to you by certain correspondence some time ago, namely, that it was said, that the Amsterdam ministers sent over here only their cousins and nephews, and the matter (of Calls) had, therefore, better be entrusted to merchants; since by keeping it out of the hands of the ministers, it left the latter in a condition to act con- scientiously, and so forth.
Being therefore asked my opinion, I gave my voice to author- ize only ministers at Amsterdam as Commissioners (to make Calls.) Rev. Du Bois said that he had but a single intimate ac- quaintance there, Rev. Beels. He, however, by reason of ill health, was in no condition to take trouble in such a matter. At
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Leiden he had a nephew, (or cousin - neef) Rev. Du Bois. I replied there were ministers enough to attend to this business at Amsterdam. To go outside of them was not courteous. And the more widely Commissioners were separated, the more labor, trouble and time it would take for the execution of the Commis- sion. I held in all due respect the merchants and the outside ministers, but, in this matter, I remained firmly in favor of only Amsterdam ministers.
And, Most Worthy Sirs, was not this the only regular and ecclesiastical proposition in which your Revs. could unanimously approve? And yet, two merchants and Rev. Du Bois of Leiden were chosen to act as Commissioners and I was allowed to nomi- nate one minister. Whereupon I gave my vote for Rev. van Schelluyne and made it a condition of signing the Commission, of choosing only ministers at Amsterdam.
Nevertheless, after what had occurred, Rev. Du Bois writes in the "Letter of Instruction " as follows: " that it was with the unanimous consent and approval (N.B.), that the authorization should be sent to two ministers and two merchants, N.B.) in Hol- land; that our ministers (N.B.) had for that purpose nominated Revs. Schelluyne and Du Bois, as men in whom,- reserving their esteem for others - they reposed full confidence, etc .; and that we fully approve of that report of our ministers, (N.B.) concern- ing your Revs." And although I refused to sign this document as it stood, as being contrary to what all in the Consistory well knew to be the truth of my declaration, they were not willing to change it. But I insisted upon making a point of my condition, which also I did.
We find now also that the precise words of which a former letter of ours made mention, and in which we asked for your Revs. Classical decision, are these:
" That in the Church Records nothing shall be written by President or Scribe, that has not first been read before the meet- ing of Consistory, and (N.B.) approved by a majority vote; that
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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whenever any matter shall be presented in an ecclesiastical man- ner by a member of the Church through the president to the Con- sistory; or any matter shall be proposed by a member of Con- sistory, in his turn, (N.B.); those members of the meeting who may have objections to make, shall modestly state their reasons therefor to the meeting for its consideration; and that whatever (N.B.) the majority approves shall be held to be valid and conclusive ".
For what is the benefit of reason and modesty, if certain ones will not submit to the majority, but will go on in their own way anyhow? Is such conduct in accordance with our National Church Order? or, with the Acts of the Synod of North Holland?
If, however, your Revs. think fit to withhold them (the Acts of the Synod) from us, and to continue to send them only to those other gentlemen, then we humbly request that your Revs. will at least have the kindness to have copies made of the Minutes of Synod of 1742 and of all subsequent years, and to deliver the same to our Correspondent, Abraham Marinus Van Arssen, at Amsterdam, whom we have requested to settle for them; for bo- sides the other expenses of our Correspondence, we are willing to burden ourselves with this expense also, so as to supply what our churches so much need for their information from time to time, etc.
We have been asked by the Rev. Brethren, the Elders at New- town, who remain loyal to our Church Order, to send over to you also the enclosed paper, at the same time we desire to assure you that they are bearing testimony to the truth.
Among other things, this is to be noted: that the gentlemen who are in favor of a Coetus are acting in an ecclesiastical man- ner, and in accordance with due subordination (to the Classis), and that we are satisfied to confide in their Coetus, etc .; never- theless, we are informed from a trustworthy source, that the power of appointing a candidate is insisted on by them, and that they are determined that none shall hinder it.
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We regret that, from a lack of opportunity, we have been obliged so long to delay sending certain things which we had ready. We refer especially to your Revs. letter to us, dated 9th of April, 1743, made known to us in July, in which you state that you have received no letters from us for a long time. We have been hindered in this, to our sorrow, by the distance of our re- spective localities, so that we could not commune together at any time, as we desire. Now, we wrote to your Revs. in April. And, besides the reasons therein mentioned, which urged us to write, we feel ourselves especially aroused to correspondence by your Revs. continued assurance of your interest in the churches of these distant regions; as well as your very generous offer of serv- ice in our behalf, in reference to anything in which we may need your Revs. help and instruction, and that we can, at our pleas- ure, avail ourselves of them. O friendly invitation! We have only to notify your Revs! And then - whatever is in our power (you say) we will provide! - Amen!
Most Worthy Sirs, Fathers and Brethren in Christ. We reply to this with our most earnest longings to realize the fulfillment, in their most precious form, of the promise which your Revs. so liberally unbosom to us .- Only to notify your Reverences! and thus humbly to ask for instruction in whatever we deem to be necessary! We do then thus confidently look for that which, with the blessing of the Lord, it is in your power to do, in order to help us and the Church! We are thus assured of a favorable consideration.
We pray that the Great Giver of all good may abundantly enrich your Revs. with his blessings, and enable you to make and exhibit that active provision for the good of the Catholic, the True, the Christian Reformed Church, both at home and in other foreign parts, as well as here. Of this you have now assured us anew; and that you will fulfill the reasonable expectations of all those who are well disposed toward the Church, and who know
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how to appreciate what is the character of the Classis of Amster- dam, in very deed and truth.
May the Lord God of all Grace, to his own eternal glory, give to us at some time the long wished for enlargement, and cause us to rejoice over the prosperity of God's House, through your in- strumentality, Most worthy Sirs and Fathers in Christ!"
Your Revs. often anxious, and needy, and therefore burdened, but faithful servants in the Lord.
Henricus Boel, Georgius Wilhelmus Mancius.
New York, August 9th, 1743.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Package of Letters from Ceylon and New Netherland.
1743, Sept. 2nd. Art. 7. There was laid upon the table a letter, with documents from Ceylon. These were placed in the hands of the Messrs. Deputies ad res Exteras, to furnish a report thereon; also certain letters from New Netherland. In regard to these also, further report shall be made at the next Classis. xii. 54.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
New York, Sept. 14, 1743.
Consistory held, at the request of the sureties on the bond of Sonnemans, etc., for some abatement, since they purposed to pay the bond in full. It was unanimously Resolved, That the Con- sistory will be satisfied with six per cent; so that the total, up to Sept. 8, 1743, amounts to three hundred and forty-three pounds two shillings. It was also approved that domine Du Bois should apply the seal to the assignment of the bond to the sureties, or any one else, when it is paid, in the presence of elders Rutgers, Van Wyck or Banker, or any one of them.
Lib. B. 169.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
REV. MR. COLGAN TO THE SECRETARY OF SOCIETY FOR PROPAGAT- ING THE GOSPEL.
Jamaica September 29th, 1743.
Reverend Sir: Our Church here was never in so thriving a way as at this time - for it has increased both in number & esteem with those who are without her pale, these eight or ten years last past more than it did thirty years before being one of the oldest Missions from the Society - This must be an argument with them, that under the benign influence of Heaven and their pious Care & bounty, my faithful endeavours have not been wanting to promote and answer the end & design of my Mission to this place I would further acquaint the Venerable Society that since my last accounts I have baptized seventeen persons belonging to three families in this parish, consisting of Men Women & children who be- fore were tainted with the corruptions of Anabaptism & Quakerism & have now before me a fair prospect of doing the like good office for others in a little time
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