USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume IV > Part 85
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It was further concluded to make this known to Domine van Hoevenberg In the name of the Consistory by David Abeel and Peter Marschalk, and to give him, for his support and travelling expenses a present of twenty five pounds.
The recording of the foregoing having been neglected hitherto, the Consistory on August 24, 1752, resolved that it should be inserted here.
Witness, in the name of all,
Joannes Ritzema, Pres. p. t. Lib. A. 311, 312.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Correspondence from America.
The Coetus to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, Oct. 18, 1749.
Rev. and Highly Honored Assembly: I have the honor to present to you the Minutes of the last Coetus, held on the 12th of September, and following days, prepared as well as I could, without the notes of Domine Haaghoort which I have written for, to fill up therewith the final draft of this, but have not yet received them.
It was my duty to send you a letter for a further statement of the condition of the congregations, but this would tell you of very little alteration. It was three days after the rising of the Coetus when I first became possessed of the missive from the Classis with the Acta Synodi, because Domine Boel did not sooner re- ceive his box which contained the letter. Yet other letters had been in hand for some days already; for which reason, the re- quest is made that the address of the letters to the Coetus be made directly to me, or to my colleague, Ritzema. Neverthe- less, as some of the ministers were still in the city, the letter was opened and read. While I have immediately sent away the inclosures, we heartily thank the Classis for their remarkable letters, and the evidence of their continued kindness in the ac- companying Acta.
In consequence of the letter, it was judged necessary to appoint
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an Extraordinary Coetus on the first Tuesday of November next, which I immediately did in their name. An answer has been re- ceived from Domine Arondeus, a copy of which accompanies this. Nothing in writing has been heard from Muzelius, but the report runs that he will come before us as little as Arondeus did.
The Rev. Assembly will please to observe that whereas we have been warned not henceforth to make the least request for permission to examine any one for the ministry, (although the Coetus felt itself bound to make application for Peter De Wint, the candidate, whose testimonials from the church and the Classis are sent herewith,) we acquiesce entirely therein. But the Coe- tus of Pennsylvania has written to the Synod of South Holland on behalf of an excellent student, prudent and skilled in the languages, and famed for his gifts as a preacher, at Aquackon- onck, which desires never to have any union with Second River, as two of the principal persons at Aquackononck have said to me.
Before I close, I am compelled to say that a violent storm arose very suddenly and unexpectedly in the congregation of New York. Three of the congregation, acting in name of all, gave the Consistory to understand that the most of the people were inclined, on account of the old age of Domine Du Bois, to call the minister, Eggo Tonkens Van Hoevenberg, who had come here from Surinam, on his way to Holland. The thing might possibly have succeeded, but that he was unwilling to be bound by his call to belong to the Coetus, and spoke very injuriously of it to an elder, and charged me with intriguing in the congregation, and said that he would not have any reverence for me, were I even as old as Methuselah, etc. My colleague, Ritzema, he ca- luminated as a Judas, merely on the ground of an untruth in- vented by himself, as was afterwards proven. The result was, that his bustling quelled the storm at once; the desire of the mass was turned in the opposite direction, and the enterprise com- pletely overthrown. Larger still, and yet very concise, is my
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narrative of this affair to the Messrs. Schelluine, to which we ap- peal, if it be necessary.
This, I hope, shall at least satisfy the Rev. Assembly. While I heartily thank you for your affectionate inclinations towards me, and your approval of my ecclesiastical conduct, the few moments which still remain to me, under God's help, shall, so far as is in me, be devoted to the best interests of the congrega- tions in these provinces. And so, wishing you all health and blessing from God in Christ, I conclude with all honor and esteem for your Rev. Assembly.
Honored sirs, Your obedient servant,
G. DU BOIS, Clerk Extraor. New York, October 18, 1749.
LAWRENCE HOFF TO REV. JOHN RITZEMA, OCTOBER 22ND, 1749.
Portfolio, "New York ", Vol. i.
Was addressed - To be delivered to Rev. Ritzema, minister in New York.
To be read to the Coetus, which pretends to have a care that our Dutch churches should flourish and be built up, with all the congregation belonging to them, in order to bring forth fruit to the honor and glory of God's Holy Name, here in Queens County, and particularly at Oyster Bay.
You, the Rev. Du Bois, and the Rev. Ritzema, what have you ever contributed to that end? It may, indeed, be said, that you, with your adherents have been the means of bringing our churches into a state of confusion; and your eyes and my eyes must now see, that the longer you continue in such doings, the further you lead them towards destruction. I fear that neither you nor your adherents are at all possessed of true charity; but that you are tainted with the spirit of the rich young man, (in the Gospel.) We might still have been able to have our religious services conducted by one, the Rev. (John H.) Goetschius - a young Timothy indeed. I am sure that if you had felt concerned about the salvation of your own souls, you would also have had compassion on our poor souls, and not have driven that minister of God's Word away from us, seeing that it was little enough anyhow, that we had, when he could be away from his own church. Is it not a sad thing that there are Reformed ministers among us so willing to bring to naught the means of grace, as to cause our church, with the larger part of the congregations, to go to ruin? And apparently only for the reason, that a few of the church have separated from us, and have until now not been willing to unite with us in listening to Rev. Goetschius, although you had installed him as our legal minister? This (ordination of his) is the only sting in their hearts; and the whole reason for their burden of hatred and envy, so that they cannot bear to hear Rev. Goetschius conduct service among us. If this is not the reason, why do they not come to hear him? And, if you encourage them in their position, then you encourage evil and give place to wrath, and cannot answer for it by the Word of God.
Moreover, those who have separated themselves from us have their wish (by his departure); and now we, with our dear children and our gray haired sires, have to go without any religious service, as you have closed the church. But woe unto you! I take to witness against you the Word of God. You have cast our churches on
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the rocks, and we wander about like lost sheep. If, then, the wolves catch some of us, and destroy us, God will demand the blood of each soul at your hands. And how, can you expect that a church thus distracted will have peace? What reason can you give for acting thus? Wherefore are you placed as watchmen on the walls of Zion? Do you expect to build up God's church with hatred and envy? So long as the separatists are not willing to be reconciled with Rev. Goetschius, so as again to enter our church, and with us to listen to him, you can make no true peace among us, according to the Word of God, nor bring the church into a right condition again. How can you expect a true peace, when hatred and envy are cherished against a lawful minister, and his opponents will not be reconciled so as to come and hear him? How can you expect that the Lord's Supper can be celebrated? You would make the church to be a public nuisance; and it will be a hard thing to enter the house of God with such as are all the time bringing forth bitter gall and wormwood.
And now Rev. gentlemen, I inform you that I am not yet a member of the church; nor could I unite with you, so long as you thus deal with the church. I should prefer to go over to the English Presbyterians, and so would multitudes of others with me. I pray you let me ask, whether you cannot bring the church into order again, now that you have led it so far into disorder. Consider what you have done against Rev. Goetschlus and his church. Has anything come forth from all this to the honor and glory of God's Holy Name, and to make the church to flourish? I am afraid not. If this be so, how then can you expect to endure the Savior's question in the Day of Judgement, " What gain have ye made with my talents?" Is it not to be feared that you will have to say, " We buried your talents in the earth, for we thought you were a hard master." Is that to be so? Then your case will, indeed, be a sad one. Possibly you will hear the sentence, "Take them, bind them hand and foot, and cast them into eternal darkness." You may then attempt to excuse yourselves, by saying, "Have we not taught in thy streets? Have we not eaten and drunk in thy Name? And what will the Savior say then, except -" Depart from me ye cursed - I never knew you - into the fire which is prepared for the Devil and his angels." Who can keep silent? If we should keep silent, the very stones would cry out. Nothing more at present. And so I remain,
Oyster Bay, Oct. 22nd, 1749.
[See action of Coetus on this letter, Nov. 9, 1749.]
Your friend, Lawrence Hoff.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Acts of the Deputies, 1749, Oct. ?
Letter from Rev. Lambertus de Ronde, of Paramaribo, (Suri- name), to the Rev. Visscher, dated May 26, 1749, with three inclosures.
He gives reasons why he despatches this to Rev. Visscher. He laments the combination of the French and Dutch consistories, and the distastefulness of the manner of the installation of Rev. E. T. van Hoevenberg, as well as the manner of the presentation of the same before the church of Paramaribo. In this, he had been interfered with by Rev. Peter Yver, for which he still asks satisfaction, and submits some considerations in regard to it, even as he had also addressed him- self to the court. And although the position of Rev. van Hoevenberg had not yet been determined, and, therefore, the presentation of him by Rev. Yver, and all that the consistory had resolved upon and done in that business, was de- clared to be null, and of no validity; and it had been wished that Rev. van Hoevenberg had been first presented by me; nevertheless the consistory had pro- tested against this Resolution of the Court; and Rev. Hoevenberg had made his entrance without any further presentation at all.
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Further, Rev. De Ronde gives a full relation of the unseemly conduct of Rev. Hoevenberg in reference to his Excellency, the Governor, who had treated him in a very friendly manner; but he was treated in bad faith by Rev. Hoevenberg in return and slandered, both in the consistory and before the Government. 'Therefore his Excellency was compelled to take notice of it, before the court, which condemned Rev. E. T. van Hoevenberg to tear in pieces his Impertinent papers before the bailiff, and to ask pardon; but he was already pardoned by his Excellency, the Governor, who also ordered Rev. Hoevenberg to keep the peace; but that this had very little success, Rev. De Ronde complains of the wretched state of the Suriname church. He takes into consideration whether he ought not to return to the Fatherland, unless Classis knows of some means to restore peace, and to waken up all the well-meaning ones. He concludes with salutations.
The first enclosure was a notification, in the name of the consistory of Para- maribo, dated May 10, 1749, to Rev. Lambertus de Ronde, by Plonteau Pieterz, that it was not necessary that Rev. Hoevenberg should be further presented.
The second enclosure was a Latin letter, (copied) from Rev. E. T. van Hoven- berg, to his Excellency J. J. Mauricius, Governor of Suriname, wherein is to be found much evidence, not only of Rev. Van Hoevenberg's insolence, but also of his lack of good sense.
The third enclosure contains the same translated into Dutch. xxiii. 144.
PETITION OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH IN NEW YORK, OCT. 29, 1749.
To his Excellency the Honourable George Clinton Captain General and Governour In Chief of the Province of New York, and Territories thereon depending in America Vice Admiral of the Same and Admiral of the White Squadron in His Majesty's Fleet.
Humbly Sheweth
That a Petition the 11th of May a. c. being brought in, from your Excellency's petitioner Michael Christian Knoll and his Consistory, in Cause and for five hun- dred Acres of Land for a Glebe at Quassaik Creek in the Highlands.
That your Excellency had been pleased; more points of Declaration should be laid before Your Excellency
In Obedience of which we lay down
Litra. A. Shewing the proper terms of his Majestys most gracious Letters Pat- ents concerning those five hundred Acres.
Litra. B. In what manner our Ministers of New York have observed the Service of Worship from time to time.
Litra. C. By what authority our Ministers are gone to Serve at Quassaik namely, 1. By Indulgence of our Honourable Governours
2. By Corporation of the Trustees there, with our Church in New York
Litra. D. An Extract of Circumstances, in what Manner, they now there (upon the two thousand one hundred and ninety Acres of Land) living Inhabitants, Eng- dish Presbyterian and Dutch Reformed have taken Possession of the Church and the Church Land there.
Whereof it appears, that Birgert Myndert, our one Trustee having sold his Land too, he being the last of they, there settled Lutheran Inhabitants on the two thousand one hundred and ninety Acres, and he being removed at the Walenkill, and our second Lutheran Trustee being one of our Tenants upon the Glebe, the new Inhabitants think to be master of the Glebe, and have lockt up the Church there, meaning that your most humble petitioner, nor the said old Trustees, not have any right at the Glebe, for want of Lutheran settled Inhabitants upon the two thousand one hundred and ninety Acres, although there live as Tenants upon the Glebe and there about, on both sides of the River, more than thirty Families of our protestant Confession, and higher at Bachwaik a thirty Families more. 'Therefore as in the former Petition Your Excellencies ordering and Will is humbly prayed for, that the said five hundred Acres of Land may be granted unto our Church in New York for the Use Benefit and Behoof of the Families round about Quassaik, although they are not settled Inhabitants upon the two thousand one hundred and ninety Acres, that they may there Congregate at Quassaik Glebeland or upon any convenient Place, and may have their old and own Trustees under them in Corporation with the Church of New York, in the End they may perform their Sacred Service without Envy Hatred and Scandal. And we shall ever pray
Michael Christian Knoll, Protestant Lutheran Minister in New York.
Charel Beekman, George Petterson, Johann David Wolff. New York ye 5th of October, 1749.
1749 October 29. Read & Council of opinion that nothing can be done on this petition. - Doc. Hist. N. Y. Vol. iii. p. 352.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Correspondence from America.
Rev. E. T. Van Hoevenberg to Mr. B. (Brouwer) a member of the Classis of Amsterdam, Nov. 1, 1749. (N. S.)
Portfolio " New York ", Vol. i.
Very Rev. and Learned Sir, Dear Sir, and Highly Esteemed Brother :---
For two reasons I find myself under the necessity of sending your Rev. this letter, hoping and expecting - since on your advice I went to Suriname - to get your ear, as a brother who is well-meaning, and whom I have always found well disposed toward me. The first concerns my case in Suriname; the second, some- thing that has occurred at New York - which I ask your Rev., as one of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, to lay before the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam.
1. My case in Suriname was this :- The Governor, after some difference with me about ecclesiastical affairs, in which he meddled altogether too much: and about some civil matters, affecting a minister as a shepherd of souls, and relating to. that gentleman's evil conduct; as appeared from his own hand-writing, in the hands of Madame Duvoisin :- the Governor made peace with me by letter whereby the past was to be forgotten. But on my coming out of church at a certain time, having been conducting a prayer-meeting, his adjutant, Henschel by name, called out after me, "God damn it, the fellow is crazy." Were I allowed, I could at an expense of about two hundred and ten guilders, prove this under oath, by three or four witnesses. This affair was passed over by the Governor and his military court, without the least punishment; although I declare most positively, that if they gave me no satisfaction, they must not be surprised, if, by the law of nature I myself took satisfaction. I meant by this nothing else than that I would obtain justice. For this reason, I was chased as a rebel out of the colony, as appears from extracts from the court. One in particular refers to me as being crazy, in explanation of a later one. These are enclosed herewith.
My request is, that the brethren would bring this matter before the Supreme Authority; in order that the Governor, with his creatures, or I myself according . to the demands of the case, may be punished. For, if I was crazy, then was I treated too harshly - insanenti eum lex scripta. If I was not crazy, and it was correctly reported that I preached rebellion, then I was treated too leniently. But I have with me a certificate from the consistory which clears me of all that, and which I did not want to trust to the sea. N. B. By the last edict of the court I was forbidden even to write to the consistory, and forbidden, though not under censure, to preach. For the Governor, as the President Mr. Duvoisin told me, wanted to force the consistory to put me under censure as a rebellious minister. He sent a soldier to my door to carry me as a prisoner, to the fort, in case I should dare to set a foot outside. I was treated in the harshest manner, and chased out of the country a scoundrel - I, who, as a citizen, sought the good of the colony, and, as a minister, like another Jereboam, sought the salvation of the souls of the congregation; for the Governor, as well as the meanest member of the church had been confided to my care.
It must therefore, be plain to your Rev. It was my fear which has led me to expose the matter more than once to Mr. Kulenkamp and to your Rev. Was not all this calculated to drive a man of delicate brain to insanity, unless God protected him? God be praised! Never did I experience more confidence and peace with him by faith in Jesus Christ, than at present; and I hope that by his spirit, he may comfort me always until the day of eternal joy in glory.
Arrived at New York, I was obliged to stay over there for more than six weeks. I was asked to preach. The ministers there are generous enough in that regard. The church was so greatly pleased with me that they wished that I might be with them on a Friday, to let the ship go, which was to sail on Tuesday. This I
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did in order not to be disobedient to the voice of the Lord. By a unanimous vote, I was then called. The president was authorized, in the name of the consistory, to present me the Cali, and to write it out formally for signature the next day.
But before that was done, the elder Van Wyk, with the Church-Master, Ciopper, came to show me an extract touching the Coetus. They wanted to force me to join this Body, by my signature, only having a clause put into the Call to that effect. They threatened me, that if I were not willing to sign, the Cali would not be allowed to stand. To which I replied that I would have nothing to do with the intrigues of Backer and Du Bois, even if the latter, who is ever appeal- ing to his great age, were as old as Mathuselah. This was judged to be a suffi- cient reason for dropping the Call, although Rev. Du Bois had said more than once in full consistory, that such a thing ought not to prevent a Call. Neverthe- less, the consistory declared it void for reasons which they dared not give me; for the names of subscribers had been scratched out, and there was not enough money to pay me.
Therefore I send to your Rev. these two quaeriturs, with the earnest request that you yourself will please to hand them to the Classis and urge it to a de- cision, so that I may know how I am to regulate myself. After a prayer for a blessing upon you, and the offer of my service, I have the honor to sign myself, with all fraternal regard,
Very Rev. and Learned Sir, Your Revs. obedient servant and brother in Christ, Eggo Tonkens V. Hoevenberg. New York, Nov. 1, 1749.
P. S. It should be noticed that, after the Call had been destroyed in con- sistory, a committee of two presented me twenty five pounds, in New York money.
THE TWO QUERITURS OF REV. EGGO TONKENS VAN HOEVENBERG, Nov. 7, 1749.
Portfolio, " New York ", Vol. i.
Very Rev. and Learned Sir, Mr. B. Brouwer, faithful and highly respected min- ister of Jesus Christ and his Church at Amsterdam:
QUAERITUR.
Delivered by Eggo Tonkens Van Hoevenberg, minister at Paramaribo, in the province of Suriname. To the very Rev. Classis of Amsterdam held in the year, (1750.)
I. The minister Van Hoevenberg asks the very Rev. Classis of Amsterdam how he is to conduct himself in this matter pertaining to Suriname.
1. How he is to obtain satisfaction for the ill treatment received from the Governor and his adjutant, Henschel.
2. Whether pay is not due him, seeing that, without church censure, he was violently driven away, permission first having been granted him to remain or to go as he might choose.
II. Whether in the matter of New York,
1. He is to be considered as a legally called minister.
2. Whether the consistory has power, when it has legally made out a Cali, to nullify the same, when no reasons for deposing a minister can be adduced. Was signed by
E. Tonkens V. Hoevenberg.
At New York, Nov. 7, 1749. (O. S.) Under cover of
Mr. J. Guerin, No. 2.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FIFTH COETUS, BEGUN IN NEW YORK, NOV. 7,1749.
[Vol. xxiii. 194 seq.]
Forenoon Session
The Extraordinary Coetus assembled, and was opened by Domine Erickson with an impressive prayer.
Members Present.
Dom. Du Bois, with his Elder,
Peter Marschalk.
Ritzema
Abraham Lefferts.
Erickson
Tunis Swart.
Curtenius,
Absent.
Haaghoort,
Jacob Stoutenberg.
Meinema,
Abraham Lott.
Van Sinderen,
Jacob Feck.
Goetschius,
Henry Fisher.
Leydt,
Albert Zabriskie.
Van Der Linde.
The Elders, Cornelius Kuyper and Cornelius Alofsen.
Domine Ritzema was chosen President, and Domine Du Bois Clerk, in conse- quence of the absence of Domine Van Santvoord. The Minutes, and the letter of the previous Coetus to the Classis, were read and approved, as also were the pro- ceedings of the Extraordinary Clerk in the name of the Coetus. Then the letter of the Rev. Classis was read.
1. Arondeus .- Domine Arondeus having gone to Raritan, a letter was written to him, of which the following is a copy:
New York, 7th November, 1749.
Dom. Joannes Arondeus:
Dear Sir :-
The Coetus has considered your letter of the 4th of October last, but found no satisfaction at all in it. Yet according to the tenor of the letter of the Rev. Classis to the Coetus, the Coetus is fully empowered to cite you before it, as it hereby does; but your journey to the Raritan now delays it. The Coetus, con- sidering the consequences resulting from the journey and service, warn you of the consequences which must follow therefrom, by reason of your neglect of this. And the Coetus expects you to appear before their Assembly next Thursday afternoon. The purport of this has also been sent to your Consistory, that they may appear at the same time before the Coetus.
With the usual greetings, I remain.
A similar letter was written to his Consistory.
Afternoon Session.
1. Dom. Fryenmoet's Letter .- The meeting, according to custom, was opened with prayer. Domine Du Bois delivered a letter from Domine Fryenmoet, the substance of which was, that he was willing to join the Coetus. The Extraor- dinary Clerk was directed to send to him the Fundamental Articles and Rules of the Coetus.
2. The Paltz .- The Coetus has thought proper to write word to the Consistory of the Paltz, whenever the Coetus shall sit, since, according to information of Domine Goetschius, that Consistory is inclined to join us.
1749
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3. Jamaica .- The committee on the case of the congregation of Jamaica reported that Domine Ritzema had preached there, and had chosen and ordained a Con- sistory; wherein the Coetus rests content.
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