USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume IV > Part 72
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Wishing the Rev. Classis God's choicest blessings, I remain respectfully,
Your Revs. Obedient Servant and Brother,
Gerard Haeghoort.
Second River, August 8th, 1747.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Correspondence from America.
Benjamin Van der Linde to the Classis of Amsterdam, Aug. 8, 1747.
Portfolio "New York ", Vol. ii. Extracts xxiii. 73.
No. 24.
Rev. and Much Respected Sirs :- Your Rev.'s esteemed letter of October 3rd, (1746) came speedily to hand. It was received with deep interest, because it showed your Rev.'s strong disposition to do favors to the Church of God in these distant lands, by providing them with lawful and properly tried and duly qualified pastors.
As to my particular matter: We have perceived from your Rev.'s letter that the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam has, in reference thereto, given their full consent to my being qualified in the name of the Classis, and by their authority; first, that I may be preparatorily, examined (for licensure), by a lawful Coetus, called for that purpose; and subsequently, when I have received a Call, be finally exam- ined (for ordination). I feel myself, therefore, obliged to express to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam my hearty thanks therefor.
Some time ago I was fully resolved to go to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, and put myself under its care. But I was dissuaded from doing so by friends, acquaintances, and especially by my parents, because of the many sad casualties on the sea, caused by vessels of war. I therefore, finally put myself under the instruction of the Rev. Mr. Haeghoort. I also persuaded him, with the Rev. Mr. Curtenius and Rev. Mr. Erickson, to write for me to the Rev. Classis of Amster- dam, that I might thus attain my object in these distant lands.
I have accepted with profound gratitude your Rev.'s decision, viz., that I apply to the Coetus of this land for examination, and that I be guided, so far as is practicable, by its regulations.
We have also understood from your Revs. letter that it seemed somewhat strange to the Rev. Classis that I did not myself present my request to your Rev. Assembly.
This objection, it seems to me, can be easily removed. The simple reason is, I did not know that it was customary. All other difficulties, I think, will be removed by the communication of Mr. Haeghoort.
With this I close. I wish for all prosperity and blessing on your persons, upon your sacred ministries, and upon your families.
Rev. and Much respected Sirs, Your Rev.'s obedient servant,
B. Van der Linde.
Hackensack, Aug. 8th, 1747.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
Manor of Fordham. Garden st. Church.
New York, Aug. 10, 1747.
Consistory held. Mr. Hardenbroek informed the meeting,
1. That some of the tenants on the Manor had told him, that Peter de Lancey, by his people, had cut and carried away from the Manor, thirty oak trees, to build a house; whereupon, Mr. F. Van Tearling, J. Rozevelt, M. Baiard and Chs. Banker were ap- pointed a committee to enquire what right Mr. de Lancey had to do this and to ask him to show it. If he refused, then he was to be requested to have the matter settled at law by a jury taken from Westchester county, if agreeable to him.
2. That the schoolmaster at the Manor complains of the decay of the school-house in which he lives. Thereupon the Consis- tory signified to Mr. Hardenbroek to say to Vredenburg that he should repair and improve his house and keep it in repair, keeping an exact account thereof; and that Mr. Hardenbroek shall pay out of the church's money half the cost of the necessary work that is done.
3. That the Church Masters make a new gate as soon as pos- sible on the west side of the Old Church, for convenience of re- moving bodies when they are buried in the church lot.
G. Du Bois, p. t. President.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
Baptisms in Private Houses.
New York, Aug. 20, 1747.
Consistory held of Ministers and Elders. Present, all the ministers, domines Du Bois, Boel and Ritzema and all the elders, F. Van Tearling, J. Roseveld, N. Bayard, C. Banker, G. Ver- plank and Abrm. de Peyster.
I. A paper was read by domine Ritzema containing the follow-
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ing: Some time ago, when the subject of baptizing sick children, separate from a church-meeting or preaching service, on the earnest request of persons so situated, was presented in our Consistory of ministers and elders, it was provisionally ordered that, when such cases occur, the minister, assisted by an elder, should act according to the necessities of the case. Whether baptism should be administered on such a plan (in cases of so- called necessity), needs to be brought to formal resolution.
This has not yet been done. At various times some of the elders have asked why the provisional order was not made abso- lute. They also, at the same time, requested that it should be, stating some reasons for considering it not unlawful but rather necessary for our congregations. The following is therefore sub- mitted to the consideration of the Consistory.
1. Although we, in common with the entire Reformed Church, deny that there is a necessity of baptism for salvation, yet we con- sider it the duty of all who are in covenant with God to have that ordinance administered to their children, because it is a solemn dedication of their seed to God as their Covenant God.
2. God's Word fixes no place where that ordinance must be administered; and although the church, as the place where the congregation commonly met, is the most proper place; neverthe- less, there are many examples of its having been administered elsewhere. The proposed practice, therefore, conflicts neither with God's Word nor with the usages of the early church.
3. Even the Synod of Dort, 1618-19, proposes different courses in the POST-ACTA, session 175, private baptism is mentioned, which is left to the liberty and discretion of Consistories, etc. Therefore some, outside the Fatherland, yet still subject to the Classis of Amsterdam, as we are, have made such use, as to bap- tize privately even healthy children.
Therefore, we are now to regard,
1. The state of mind of certain ones in our congregation. These, on account of their own weakness and the tenderness of
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their consciences, cannot bear to have their children deprived of baptism; and, therefore, must either see them die unbaptized, or have the ordinance administered by other persons, as several times has been the case.
2. The custom of the Church of England in this country, is, indifferently, to administer private baptism where it is desired; and they are followed in this practice by the Presbyterians, in order to keep their congregations together.
3. The close connection by marriage of many of our people with those of other churches. If they are denied (private) bap- tism, they threaten to leave our church and go to the others. Indeed, their language (English) is ever more natural to our inhabitants and even to the members of our congregation than the Dutch. Going elsewhere is also often done for less reasons.
These considerations, among many others which might be urged, I have thought to be the chiefest ones to be laid before you for further consideration, in behalf of the welfare and edification of our congregation.
John Ritzema.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
Baptizing sick children at home.
New York, August 27, 1747.
1. The above paper (Aug. 20, 1747) was unanimously approved by all the elders.
2. Domines Du Bois and Ritzema and all the elders adopted the following formal Resolution, as proper and necessary for our congregation in view of the arguments in the paper of domine Ritzema, namely:
That when any parents ask one of the ministers, (domine Boel still adhering to baptism only in the church), to baptize their sick children in the house, he, with at least one elder, on being satisfied of the dangerous illness of the child, shall administer the ordinance, but receive no compensation whatever for the
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
same; but the usual fee for recording shall be paid to one of the clerks, and the parents and witnesses shall, in remembrance of the poor, hand over their gifts to the deacons.
II. The elders, Van Tearling and Banker were appointed to attend the Coetus in September, (1747), together with domines Du Bois and Ritzema. Domine Boel declared that he would still stand aloof.
III. The elders also agreed to examine the books in reference to the Church Resolutions, and report to the Consistory which of them, in their judgment, should be annulled, or amended, or passed anew.
G. Du Bois, p. t. President.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Foreign Letters.
1747, Sept. 4th. Art. 1. Two letters from Rev. (Anthony) Curtenius, of Hackensack, were placed in the hands of the Com- mittee ad res Exteras, to furnish the Assembly with a report. xii. 135.
Foreign Letters.
Art. 6. Rev. Kulenkamp read a letter from Rev. Hoedemaker, touching some Pennsylvania matters, of which mention is also made in the Acta of Synod. This letter was referred to the Messrs. Deputati, with the request that they would be so kind as to examine, on the receipt of said Acta, whether the matters re- ferred to in this letter, merit any further consideration by us, and to furnish us with pre-advice. xii. 136, 137.
Hoevenberg.
In the case of Rev. Hoevenberg, the Deputies have already begun to exert themselves with individual Directors, and they will seek, as soon as possible, to stand within the room of the Assembly itself, (to make report.) xii. 138.
2973 1747
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
Letters from Abroad.
Art. 6. A letter arrived from New York, written by six min- isters [of May 21, 1747]. This was accompanied by a letter from Rev. (Gualterus) du Bois, and a copy of a (circular) letter from the Consistory of New York to all the churches of those regions. This related principally to the erection of a Coetus, with reference to which good progress had already been made. Rev. Muzelius, however, minister at Tappan, made it appear that the erection of a Coetus went against the grain with him. The Deputies are requested to write to the ministers who are zealous for the Coetus, and particularly to Rev. du Bois, and to praise their zeal in this matter, and exhort them to continue therein. They shall also write to Rev. Muzelius, with the request that he will please submit himself to the judgment of this Classis, and to put no hinderance in the way of the erection of a Coetus.
Rev. Schlatter of Philadelphia requested that he and his Col- leagues may become fellow members of the said Coetus. But cer- tain objections to this course occurred to us; mainly, because Rev. Schlatter was not commissioned by our Classis, but by the Deputies of the two Holland Synods. He therefore cannot prop- erly be subordinated to us. This request also appeared some- what premature, because the churches themselves in Pennsylvania are not yet organized, etc. Therefore no final resolution on this subject was adopted. Nevertheless the matter itself shall not be laid aside, but more time shall be taken to come to a proper conclusion about it. xii. 138.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Correspondence from America.
Proceedings of the First Coetus, Sept. 8, & 9, 1747.
(Acts of Deputies, Classis of Amsterdam, xxiii. 95.) Members Present.
According to previous summons, there appeared in the Con- sistory Chamber at New York :
Domine R. Erickson, with his Elder, Matthew Petersen,
G. Haeghoort,
J. Ritzema,
Hendrik Jacobson.
Christopher Bancker.
B. Meinema,
" Hendrik Van Den Berg.
V. Van Sinderen,
Abraham Lott.
The Rev. Mr. Du Bois was prevented by sickness; and Mr. Curtenius had not yet arrived.
In order that the meeting might result in furthering the wel- fare of God's Church here, Domine J. Ritzema, in the lack of a president, was requested to open the meeting with prayer.
Officers.
Whereupon the election of a President and Clerk for the gov- ernment of the Assembly and the necessary Minutes was im- mediately entered into. Domine R. Erickson was unanimously chosen President, and Domine J. Ritzema, Clerk.
Then, on account of the lapse of time, the Assembly separated until two o'clock in the afternoon.
Afternoon Session - Two o'Clock.
Besides the above-named persons, F. Van Taerling, an elder from New York, appeared. The meeting was solemnly opened with prayer by the Rev. President, and then proceeded to busi- nesg.
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1. Review of Former Proceedings .- All the old Articles which had been made from time to time in reference to the Coetus were examined and read, in order that all the brethren who have since come into the country might have an insight into matters, and all groundless prejudices be removed. Especially the XI. Articles which had been sanctioned by the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam were further considered, and, without the least alteration, unani- mously approved.
2. Letters from Absent Members .- The letters sent by the absent brethren were read, viz. : from the Rev. Messrs. Van Sant- voord, Mancius, Mutzelius, and Frelinghuysen, [T. J.]
3. Disposal of them .- It was directed that the substance of these should be recorded by the Clerk, and also sent to the Rev. Classis.
The meeting then separated till to-morrow morning.
September 9th-10 o'clock, A. M.
Domine Du Bois, and also Domine Curtenius, with his Elder, Adrian De Groot, appeared this morning. The President, as before, opened the meeting with prayer, and the proceedings of the previous day were read.
1. Request for Examination .- The student, B. Van Der Linde, having something to propose to the Coetus, asked liberty to come in; which being granted, he proposed that he should be admitted to the preparatory examination by the Rev. Coetus next spring, according to the permission granted to him by the Rev. Classis. The President stated, in the name of the Coetus, that an answer would be returned this afternoon; the ground of the request must appear more fully to the Assembly.
2. The Request Granted .- Hereupon, the Rev. Messrs. Erick- son and Haeghoort read a letter to the Assembly from the Rev. Classis, dated October 3, 1746, from which it appeared that the Rev. Classis allowed this young man the preparatory examina- tion, and after he should receive a call, the final examination,
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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by the Coetus lawfully called for that purpose, all the members appearing, together with all the ministers, nomine Classis; and that thus his request must be granted. Accordingly, the Rev. Messrs. Erickson and Ritzema were unanimously chosen exam- iners.
3. Fees for Examination .- The meeting proceeded to consider the matters pertaining to examinations nomine Classis; and determined :
(1.) That henceforward, in all these cases, a student shall pay for his preparatory examination eight pounds, New York money; four of which must be paid before he is allowed to appear, (in order to prevent any one from coming rashly before us, and putting the Coetus to needless expense in case of his unfitness,) and the remainder when he shall be approved. The final exam-, ination shall be at the expense of the congregation which calls the candidate; and they shall pay twenty pounds, New York cur- rency, in order that they may not, merely out of a so-called economy, be driven to the preferring of those who pursue their studies in this country.
(2.) That no student shall undergo the preparatory examina- tion except in a regular, systematic manner, not only upon the- ology, but also upon the original languages of the Bible, as is commonly done in the Rev. Classis of the Netherlands.
4. Next Meeting .- It was concluded, in the case of Van Der Linde, that the Coetus should sit next spring, on the last Tuesday in April, at 9 o'clock, A. M., in the Consistory Room at New York.
The meeting separated until half-past two o'clock.
Afternoon Session.
The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. President.
1. Van Der Linde .- The student, Van Der Linde, was in- formed of the granting of his request, according to the conclu- sion arrived at in the morning, in order that he might, by the
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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1747
last Tuesday in April, prepare himself well to be examined by the appointed examiners.
2. The Same .- That if he, in the mean time, should, as was already probable, receive a lawful call, he should be admitted to the final examination on the following day of our meeting.
3. Students' Preaching .- Henceforth no student shall under- take to preach in any congregation, be it in church, barn, or house, without the presence of a minister; under penalty, after he has been warned by a member of this body, of never being admitted to an examination before us. And each minister and elder is charged to make this known to the students.
4. Coetus alone to seek Ordaining Power from the Classis .- Henceforth no preacher nor preachers, apart from the Coetus, shall undertake, on behalf of any student, to solicit from the Rev. Classis authority or power to qualify him; but this shall pertain to the Coetus, before whom the student shall present himself, with sufficient testimonials from his teacher, in order to ask the Coetus itself to write for him to the Rev. Classis.
5. Questions Proposed .- The following questions were pro- posed for the consideration of the meeting :
(1.) Whether it would not be advisable to appoint one mem- ber of this body to prepare some rules by which the members should be governed, so that everything might be done in order and to edification; the member to report at the next meeting?
(2.) Whether there is anything, in place of the Church Visita- tion, which can take place here before the Coetus?
(3.) Whether the Coetus can determine anything concerning the transfer of ministers?
Whereupon, the meeting separated until to-morrow, at 9 A. M.
September 10th -9 o'clock, A. M.
The meeting was opened with prayer by the President; where- upon, the proceedings of the preceding day were read, and the questions of yesterday afternoon considered.
1747
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1. The Transfer of Ministers .- In considering the last ques- tion, respecting the translation of ministers, the tenth Article of the Synod of Dort was examined, and it was concluded, that all should conform to that Article so far as it can be applied in this country; as shall be further expressed in the rule.
2. Church Visitation .- As to the second point, the church visitation shall take place here: nevertheless, no elder shall bring a charge against the minister unless authorized by the Consistory.
3. Rules of Order .- The first question is entirely approved, and the Rev. Mr. Haeghoort is appointed to the work.
4. The Circles .- As the seventh fundamental Article of the Coetus shall be divided into Circles for the consideration of cases which cannot be settled in particular congregations, the following division was made:
(1.) The New York Circle, embracing the ministers of the city, Long Island, and Poughkeepsie.
(2.) The Jersey Circle, embracing the ministers of Navesink, Second River, and Hackensack.
(3.) The Albany Circle, embracing the ministers of Schenec- tady and Schoharie.
5. Preaching of Strangers .- The following inquiry was sub- mitted: Can a Consistory without the knowledge, or against the will of a minister, introduce any one into his pulpit? This was taken ad referendum.
6. Letters from the absent .- Concerning the letters, it was concluded :
(1.) That the request of the Rev. Mr. Santvoord be so far granted as that the Clerk shall send to him the principal pro- ceedings.
(2.) As to the other letters, see the conclusion of this session.
7. Finally, the Clerk, together with the Rev. Messrs. Du Bois and Van Sinderen, shall prepare a letter to the Rev. Classis, to inform them of that portion of our proceedings which needs to
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
be made known to them. Yet, it shall not be sent until it has been approved by the Coetus, in its next session.
Whereon, the assembly, well satisfied, separated in love and peace, to meet again, God willing, on the appointed day in the next spring .*
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Acts of the Deputies, about 1747?
A letter from Johannes Ritzema, without day or year, (but in the spring of 1747); signed also by R. Erickson. [Reception of this letter must have been delayed.]
In this are found briefly these following matters:
1. Although he cannot meddle with the particulars of the dis- putes between Rev. (John H.) Goetschius and his opponents, as not having any part in the sitting of the committee appointed by the Classis, he wishes to give Classis some information of the
of which he himself was an eye and ear witness; and to which he was more than once invited by both parties.
2. Further: he states that the Rev. Classis, from the writings both of the Rev. Goetschius and of the Rev. Committee, will readily be able to comprehend,- and he desires not that it should be otherwise - that the two parties are diametrically opposed to each other.
3. Although he does not wish to blame the committee, nor to justify Rev. Goetschius - whom he declares to have been impru- dent in many respects, and in many circumstances - nevertheless he seems favorably inclined to the side of Rev. Goetschius,- which is, as it appears to him, and as he declares, according to the truth.
4. He makes known, that although he has never heard Rev. Goetschius preach, neither would he, stante casu, dare to let him
[* These minutes were not mailed to the Classis of Amsterdam until Ap. 26, 1748, when for the first, a letter was completed and sent also. See said letter under Ap. 26, 1748.]
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preach for him; yet that having met him socially, and from what others say, who had heard him, he has remarked in Goetschius a zeal in the cause of God. He hopes for his retention, through the good favor of Rev. Classis; for since his ordination has al- ready been legalized by the Classis, he might be useful, if not in his present charge, yet among other congregations which also earnestly desire him.
5. Further he gives a complete description of the deplorable situation of Rev. Goetschius, both in the beginning and now. He thinks that the ground for the hatred of his opponents lay in his earnest and faithful ministry. He says in addition, that as an im- partial person, who wishes to tell the real facts of the case, and which if necessary, could be confirmed by testimony, he found himself obliged to make such a statement to Classis.
6. He finally concludes this letter with the prayer, that not only all troubles and schisms may be taken away, and that, through the excellent care of the Classis, a well ordered and subordinate Coetus may be created; but also that it may go well with the Netherland Zion, and the Rev. Classis, in all respects. Was signed,
John Ritzema, Eccles. in New York. Reinhart Erickson, Eccles. at Neverzink. xxiii. 56, 57.
In a Postscript, it is announced:
1. That Rev. Haagoort had made known to them, by letter, his inclination to the pushing on of the matter of a Coetus; but was not able to be present with them now, on account of being too busy.
2. That Mr. Erickson had communicated to them the letter of Rev. Classis to Revs. Erickson and Haagoort, declaring that they subjected themselves to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, and that „they would act accordingly.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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In this letter was also enclosed an Addendum, from Rev. Du Bois. In this it is made known:
1. That Rev. Muzelius was opposed to the Coetus.
2. That Rev. Du Bois, as far as possible, would comply with the aim of the Classis of Amsterdam; and that to this end, a second letter was despatched, containing a friendly request that each minister, with an Elder, would be pleased to meet with them, as a Coetus for the first time, at New York, on the second Thurg- day of September, 1747.
3. That Rev. Slatter (Schlatter) of Philadelphia, at the time of the said fraternal gathering, had come to them;
(1) That he repeated his commission to them, and communi- cated to them, the execution of the same, and the blessed progress thereof.
(2) He asked their advice and approval of certain matters.
(3) He made known his desire, that he and the German preachers in Pennsylvania should also be admitted to this Coetus, and that it should be considered as one body for all. He was an- swered on this point: That the Coetus was subordinate to the Classis of Amsterdam; that it could, therefore, do nothing in this matter without the consent of the same; but that he might present his proposition at the next meeting.
(4) This addendum was then concluded, and signed,
G. Du Bois.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Acts of the Deputies. [Fall of 1747.]
A letter was read from the Consistory of New York, to the Churches, of May 12, 1747.
1. In this the churches are informed:
(1) That the Rev. Consistory, through the Rev. Ulpianus van Sinderen, had received on April 10, (1747), a letter from the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam. It was addressed: To the Reverend Gen-
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