USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume IV > Part 91
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2. A New Circle .- Further, the Assembly saw fit to constitute a new Circle In Orange and Ulster Counties, to embrace Domine Fryenmoet and Domine Verbryck, who, in weighty matters, might call in the aid of a neighboring Circle.
3. Letter of Domine Mancius .- Domine Ritzema now presented a letter from Domine Mancius concerning the congregation of the Paltz, which was read. It was concluded to give the same to Domine Fryenmoet, that the congregation might answer for themselves, and that he, if the congregation appeared to stand alone and not bound to Domine Mancius, should provide it with a lawful Consistory; and that a copy of this should be given to Domine Fryenmoet; which was accord- ingly done.
4. Censura Morum .- Finally, the Censura Morum was held. No grievances were presented against any one, and after especial inquiry to-day, nothing appeared. And so the Assembly, after a hearty thanksgiving to God by the President, separated in peace and friendship.
Johannes Ritzema, Scribe. G. DuBois, Extraordinary Seribe.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Correspondence from America.
The Coetus to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam. Sept. 14, 1750.
Reverend, Pious, and Learned Sirs:
Honored Fathers and Beloved Associates :-- Herewith the Coetus has the pleas- ure to present, with respect and submission to the Rev. Classis, their proceedings, begun on the 11th of September, 1750. Meanwhile, we long to hear, by fit occa- sion, that they are acceptable to your Rev. Body, when we shall have the happi- ness to be honored with your attentive remarks thereon.
The Coetus rests in its dispatch of the 14th of September last to the Rev. Classis, which we hope has already come to hand. With it, we had at first thought of sending only these Minutes. Yet it is considered an appropriate and fitting thing to send in reply to your highly esteemed letters the following friendly communication, according to the third Article in the Journal of September 11. A. M., concerning the wide separation of the dwellings of our members, who could not tarry longer here.
To what was said in ours of September 11th concerning Kings County matters, we add this: Even if Domine Van Sinderen has been misconducting, how can we receive for adjudication charges by Arondeus's party, since they do not recog- nize the Coetus, and it is their scoff, " What is the Coetus? The Rev. Classis have no right to constitute a Coetus here." Therefore, they will allow no charges against them to be decided by the Coetus. And the more plainly is their recog- nizing the Classis alone a mere pretence, since they acknowledge no other author- ity in the Church than what pleases them, saying that they are in a free country. Therefore, they make no distinction between a call made according to the consti- tution of the Low Dutch Church, and one made by private individuals, according to their own judgement.
It were to be wished that your exhortations in favor of the Coetus should have influence upon those who still stand out, but all endeavors upon our opposers are fruitless. Their only aim is to undermine us here with lies and slanders, and in
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Holland with the charge that we have sought, against the order of the Rev. Classis, to qualify persons for the ministry, whereas the opposite appears from our former letters and from our minutes. But the slander born of envy will make itself heard as long as it lives. The Coetus does not fear to justify itself before the Rev. Classis against any charges, and it dreads the least appearance of in- dependence. The Rev. Classis need not be anxious lest our meetings of the Coetus or the Circles should be frequent; rather is there need to exhort the members not to neglect the yearly gatherings, since our distance from each other is great, and the pains and expense of traveling are considerable, and the desire of being absent so long from one's family is small. Domine Fryenmoet lives ninety Eng- lish miles away, and Domine Schuyler full one hundred and eighty; other men- bers live eight, ten, fourteen, and more Dutch miles from New York, and Domine Van Sandvoord full forty.
The Rev. Assembly has now seen by experience our ready and respectful com- pliance with their absolute direction to attempt no request for authority to license and ordain any one here, whoever he may be. Yet with respect to the candidate De Wint, many thought that there was abundant enough reason to incite us to make an earnest request on his behalf, and they made a discreet reply to the reasons of those opposed. At least several were sorry that the poor De Wint (generally esteemed edifying and peaceful in his deportment, and greatly desired by the farmers at Flatlands (?) for his preaching gifts) should be required to leave wife and children, and cross the sea at risk of his life, In order to meet the Rev. Classis; since it is unanimously believed that it was mere simple-heartedness which prevented him from presenting himself to Classis be- fore his departure from Holland, when he went, not to New York, but to St. Thomas. And there is considerable difference between a candidate, and a youth who has not yet begun to study Latin.
As to John Van Driessen, it appears to the Coetus that the Rev. Deputati ad Res Externas must have some knowledge of him. For the Classical Minutes. twenty five years ago, (less or more), it is said, show that the Rev. Classis warned all the ministers here against him; but the history is too long to be repeated. It was not a mere mistake, but a deliberate deception on his part, when he sought thus to mislead the country people: besides that he never once belonged to our Church, and his extraordinary conduct up to this day is now already known.
The union of Second River with Aquackononck appears Impossible. The reasons of this are many, and it would be tedious and useless to repeat them. The begin- ning of the trouble will not be unknown to the Rev. Classis, if they will please read anew the circumstantial complaints against Second River, made by Domine Koens, [Coens,] once minister of these congregations.
While this is a respectful reply to your two epistles of the 7th of April last, we hope ere long to receive the deliberate judgement of your Rev. Body respect- ing our decision upon Arondeus, and also, if it may be, upon those who so unjustly cling to him; since all means of reconciling them have proved vain, and even this one, with the rest, viz .: to have a lawful call made upon Arondeus, so that both he and Van Sinderen should pursue their ministry as regularly-appointed teachers. But to this they would not listen, nor would they bind themselves in writing to conduct themselves regularly according to the Church Orders, as sufficiently appears from the statements in the letter of Arondeus.
Our prayer to God in Christ is, that the spirit of stiffneckedness and confusion may no longer rule among them, but that the Lord, by his powerful grace, may soften their hearts and bring them together in love, so that the frightful scandals they have given to all men may be removed; and that, by mutual study of the truth in love, God's name may no longer be profaned, but honored and magni- fied among them.
Our heart's inmost wish is, that the Most High would more and more build up the walls of his spiritual Zion, both in all Europe, and especially the dear Nether- lands, and in these far-off provinces. Here we conclude, with earnest invocation of Jehovah's gracious blessing upon your beloved persons and your important work in the Gospel, while with all due respect we subscribe ourselves,
Reverend and Honored Fathers, and beloved fellow-laborers. Your obedient servant, In the name of the Coetus, G. DU BOIS, Extraor. Clerk.
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CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Correspondence from America.
President and Clerk of Coetus to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, 14th of September, 1750. [Supplementary. ]
Reverend Sirs, etc .:- By the happy arrival (though after a long journey) of the Rer. John Frelinghuysen, we find ourselves honored with the long-desired letters of the Rev. Classis, especially in reference to the affairs of Long Island, men- tioned in the letters to the Coetus, and also particularly in those to Domine Du Bois and Domine Ritzema. Over these we rejoice in the highest degree, and offer our humble and bounden thanks, both for the Acts of the Synod of North Holland, and for the document against the Herrenhutters.
Were we at once favored with the decision of the Rev. Body, how happy should we be, and how would hope of restoration arise in our hearts! We conceive that we have given such clear, minute, and manifest advices on our part, that not the least scruple remains, while the other side for the most part have picked up nothing but trifles to bring before the Rev. Assembly, as appears from their very complaints to us. Still, the present members find by the letters that this work, which extends so far before them, must fall to the charge of the Coetus. From the same, it appears, among other things, that the complainants against Domine Van Sinderen are enjoined to apply to the Coetus. We wonder whether these great boasters (blazers) about their subordination to the Classis will now be obedient.
Domine Ritzema, having taken the freedom to send to Arondeus the following few lines, (see ante), was finally informed that nothing was less in their minds than submission; yes, that Arondeus himself again chose to be quarrelsome. On the 11th inst., being the first day of the session, the following answer was received. (See ante).
It behooved, then, the Coetus, according to the express command of the Rev. Classis, to finish the affair, since it could scarcely be that Arondeus and his party would be induced, by hearing and rehearing, to act with the Coetus either now or hereafter. We have, after mature deliberation and long delay, and without the least partiality or strain of conscience, made this decision, declaring Domine Ulp. Van Sinderen, for the present, the only lawful minister in Kings County, and Domine Arondeus unlawful. The reasons of this decision we need not mention, since they are minutely set forth in previous letters. The sentence, however, has this limitation, that although real, it is not to be given under the hand and seal of the Coetus until it has been ratified by the Rev. Classis, in order that the Coetus may be free from the consequences which may follow, and that thus the severity of the sentence may weigh more on the minds of the silly persons who, carried away with their leaders, have made the Coetus the subject of their derision, and that because of the long delay of this decision.
We here, also, suggest whether it may not be strictly necessary (for reasons which we need not mention, since they are notorious) that the Rev. Classis should completely silence Arondeus in the Dutch Church; since he is truly the troubler of our Israel, and, finding the matter finished here, may begin, without contradic- tion, the same in another congregation. At the same time, let there be a judgement concerning the Consistory whom Arondeus introduced, and who thereupon acted with him, as being the original cause of these mischiefs.
As to other matters, they will appear from the Minutes, when we have an opportunity to send them, especially the examination of Domine Verbryck, which gave much satisfaction. He has been sent to the congregation at Tappan.
Provision is made for the Emeritus, Muzelius; and so, in a word, the whole matter is finished with extreme satisfaction, and, as we hope, to the desired ad- Vantage of the Church.
Since we do not doubt that the sentence pronounced, both with deliberation and
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in the fear of the Lord, for the upholding of the rights of the Church and the furthering of her welfare, will be confirmed by the Rev. Classis, we request that this confirmation be sent to us as a separate document, signed by the President and Clerk, with the seal of the Rev. Classis affixed; and the sooner the better, without regard to expense, either by way of England, or direct from Amsterdam, or by Curacoa, or, which is best, both ways. Necessity demands this. The fac- tion grows by lapse of time; Van Sinderen is deprived of his salary in a great part, having two years had none from Brooklyn, and very little from N. Utrecht; Queens County also remains the longer divided, and all our efforts are fruitless.
With this we end our letter, and pray the God of all grace to pour out richly his enduring blessing upon your persons and your weighty charge; and also, especially to shine upon our Rev. Assembly, for the welfare of Zion in these foreign provinces, to the good of us and ours.
Learned and godly sirs, and highly esteemed fellow-laborers, Your servants and fellow-laborers, The members of the Rev. Coetus, at New York, In the name of all,
G. DU BOIS, loco Praesidis. J. Ritzema, Clerk.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Report about Dorsius.
1750, Oct. 5th. Art. 2. The Rev. Depp. ad res Exteras give notice that they have been assured that Rev. Dorsius, on account of continued drunkenness and offensive conduct, particularly in the abandoning of his wife and three children, was censured by his consistory in Bux counti (Bucks County, Pa.). This was also reported to the Rev. Depp. Synodi S. Holl. and Dorsius hearing of it, he had kept away from The Hague. The Depp. of South Holland did not know where he had gone to. The Classis thanked the Depp. for this report, and those gentlemen were requested to communicate this to the Messrs. Directors of the West India Company. Quod factum. xii. 222.
Letter to the Coetus of New York.
Art. 4. The Messrs. Depp. ad res Exteras read a reply to the question of the Coetus of New York, which the Assembly ap- proved, with thanks to those gentlemen. The reply shall be sent off. xii. 223.
Letter from Rev. Hagoor, (Hagoort.)
Art. 5. The Rev. Depp. ad res Exteras also read an answer to Rev. Hagoor, [Haeghoort] which in like manner was approved and will be sent off. xii. 223.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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No writing received as yet from Suriname.
Art. 6. The Rev. Depp. ad res Exteras report that as yet they have received no communication from the Conventus of Suri- name, nor from the Consistory of Parimaribo. xii. 223.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Acts of the Deputies and their Correspondence.
The Classis of Amsterdam to Rev. Hagoord of Second River, Oct. 5, 1750. Vol. 30, page 191. No. 113. To Rev. Hagoord, pastor at Second River.
Rev. Sir and Brother :- Yours of May 1st 1750, to our Assembly came safely to hand. We learn with satisfaction that our advice that you should remain with your congregation, was pleasing to you. It would have given additional satisfaction if we had learned that the reasons which made you so earnestly desire a change of settlement, had been taken away. Our letter of May 5th, 1749, written to your church at the same time as the one addressed to you, was written with that design. Therein we exhorted your people not to withhold from you proper affec- tion and a necessary maintenance for your household wants. We are sorry that no good results were thereby accomplished in your behalf; but we cannot hide from you that we were greatly offended at the expressions in your letter about that letter of ours (to your people.) Our words were gentle and friendly. Thus we thought we ought to deal with people, who were not so thoroughly in subor- dination to us that ye had power to command them, especially in matters of such a nature. Moreover, we are of opinion that harsh words, strong expressions and threats, however much you might have liked to see them, would rather have embit- tered them, and not bettered matters at all, but have done more harm than good. At least we did not anticipate that you would have been so displeased at our communication, that even that brother who had prepared that letter and read it to us, and whose love of peace and uprightness of character are thoroughly known among us, should have been mentioned by name in your letter. You wrote as if the expressions in our letters were marks of weakness or negligence. But we gladly cover this with the mantle of charity. We know that the circum- stances in which you are placed are very trying and that this must have been the reasons why the terms of your letter were not chosen with more calmness and gentleness. That the desired union of Second River and Acquackononck has not come to a successful issue, grieves us. We will gladly assist you in any way in our power toward such a union. This may be done through the Coetus and our instructions to the same. We will also, hereafter, use all precautions to prevent ministers who are sent thither, from getting into similar difficulties to those in which you find yourself. We make no further remarks on your letter, but con- clude with hearty and sincere prayers for your welfare. We commend you to God and the Word of his Grace, while we remain,
Rev. Sir and Brother, Your Brethren to command, In the name of all, John Temmink, Depp. Cl. p. t. Praeses. John Van der Vorm, Depp. Cl. p. t. Scriba.
Amsterdam, October 5, 1750.
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CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Acts of the Deputies and their Correspondence.
The Classis of Amsterdam to the Coetus of New York, Oct. 5, 1750. Vol. 30, page 192, No. 114. To the Rev. Coetus of New York.
Rev. Sirs and Brethren :- The letter of Rev. Du Bois, dated the first of May, with the Minutes of the Coetus of November 7th, 1749, came safely to hand last July. We heartily thank you for your brotherly conduct in sending us a copy of the Acts of your Coetus, and as we have done heretofore, so we still hope to show you, how glad we are to reciprocate your friendly spirit, and to do every- thing in order to promote a correspondence between us. It was very gratifying to learn therefrom that the Coetus still thrives among you, and that a larger num- ber of the brethren are interested in it, and are disposed to join themselves to it. If all the Rev. Brethren could be induced to unite themselves therewith, we would expect much good from such gatherings. The Acts of such a body would be very useful in removing all causes of difficulty in the Church, and in helping to build up the same in love. We wish to tell you how gratified we are with the treatment of matters in general, in your Coetus.
We notice, especially, and with pleasure, that the student Verbryck gave good satisfaction in his examination, and that in the name of the Assembly you re- ceived him among the number of candidates. So also we are pleased at your action concerning the censure of Rev. Muzelius, and your removal of it when he Improved in his manner of life. We trust that this well-deserved act of discipline will be beneficial to him and tend to the upbuilding of the church. It also seems entirely proper that no one shall be permitted permanently to minister to any congregation before he has been regularly called to the ministry of the same, and has appeared before the Coetus, or the Circuit of the neighborhood; for it is certainly the duty of an Ecclesiastical Assembly to take care that no one intrude into the ministry without a just and legal call thereto.
Since you have endorsed the book of Rev. Frelinghuysen, in the manner sug- gested by us, we are fully satisfied therein. But we are very sorry that your Christian endeavors to reconcile the two ministers, Arondeus and Van Sinderen, and their respective adherents, and thereby promote the peace, so much needed on Long Island, have hitherto been in vain, and that Rev. Arondeus and his friends have refused to appear before the Coetus. If they had any respect for our Classis, as they profess to have, they should submit to its decision, which was, for reasons before given, that the case of the differing brethren be brought before the Coetus, and be there adjudged. We hope that your efforts may have better success in the future, and that we may, sometime, be permitted to rejoice with you over a happily accomplished peace. Let not your hands grow slack in this matter, Rev. Sirs, knowing that the , the peaceful ones and the peacemakers are declared by our great God and Saviour to be the blessed ones.
We commend also to your loving interest the case of Rev. Hagoord, who com- plains to us of the gentleness of our terms in our letter to his congregation, not without some signs of displeasure, and says that his difficulties and evil treatment continue. We wish we were able to remove these things, but see no way to do it. We think that harsh terms and threats would give no hope of any better results. Let his Reverence, therefore, in his trials, be the object of your increasing love; while at the same time, if possible, secure the long desired, but hitherto fruitlessly attempted union of Aquigenogk (Acquackononck) with Second River.
In our letter of April 7th of this year, (1750) you have already learned our reply to both letters alluded to by Rev. Father Du Bois in his letter to us. We refer especially to the suspicions which our Rev. Assembly entertains, and our objections, therefore to the peremptoir examination of the candidate De Wind, before your Rev. Coetus. We hold ourselves to the reply before given.
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But we must yet allude to your request, asking to know the reason urged by Rev. Frielinghuyzen why it would be dangerous to permit examinations by the Coetus. In friendly reply, we say, that he, having written to us on August 15, 1748, requesting our permission to allow the examination of the candidate, Ver- bryck, before the Coetus, Rev. Frielinghuyzen did not, indeed, enlarge, in that letter, as to the evil consequences which arise, should such a thing occur fre- quently; yet we thought, without attempting to give you a transcript of just the words he used, that he implied this. But we may well present for your consid- eration this thought: Whether, while you are subject to a Foreign government there may not sometimes arise unpleasant complications, should the examinations and ordinations of candidates and students be made too frequent and easy in that country. We judge, Rev. Sirs and Brethren, that a Church, in a country that was originally colonized by Hollanders is safest in expecting to receive its over- seers from that land wherefrom it originally emigrated. We hope, therefore, that you will not take offence at our being unwilling to allow examinations, such as are alluded to, in your Ecclesiastical Assemblies. We think also that we can defend this view before our higher Ecclesiastical Assemblies. The granting permission to examine ought never to be allowed except in cases of absolute necessity, and only then, when we are perfectly convinced of the commendable characters of the parties under consideration.
With this we close, with hearty prayers that He would keep you safely under His blessed care. May He be a support to you all and especially to the aged gentleman among you, upon whom the gray hairs have come. May He give great success to the Gospel through your instrumentality, and hereafter honor you with the great reward of His grace promised to His faithful servants.
Signed as before
Amsterdam, Oct. 5, 1751.
CHURCH OF NEW PALTZ, VS. THE CHURCH OF KINGSTON.
Testimony of Samuel Bevier and Daniel Hasbrouck as to the In- dependence of the Church of New Paltz from the Church of Kingston; and the consequent legality of a certain Consistory. Oct. 18, 1750.
On the 18th of October, 1750, in the congregation of New Paltz Egbert De Witt and Samuel Bevier, Elders of Wawarsing and New Paltz, respectively, being present, there were read to the Rev. Consistory of New Paltz the instructions of the Rev. Coetus, and the letter of Rev. Mancius. In answer to these they make the following statements:
· In reference to the first article of Rev. Mancius' letter, they say: That Samuel Bevier, at present elder at the Paltz, is willing, together with many other witnesses, to testify, if necessary, under oath, that he and several others saw Andries Le Fever and others swear before a magistrate, that, the Paltz, as a French Reformed Church, had always been accustomed to be provided with a minis- ter and consistory of its own; but as they were now vacant, how-
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ever, they were willing to promise to unite with Kingston for the support of a minister from Europe; but with this understanding, that whenever they could have a minister of their own again, they might then consider themselves released from this promise.
On the second article, they say: That it was, indeed, true that several of the people of the Paltz had been received as members at Kingston; but the reason for this was, not only because that in accordance with the said promise, the Paltz people were still pay- ing salary with Kingston; but especially because the Paltz at the time did not yet have a minister of their own. It was true, in- deed, that some had returned to Kingston but they knew not what declaration they had made to the Kingston Consistory, as to the known or unknown illegality of Mr. John Van Driessen's ministry at the Paltz. That circumstance, however, could be no reason why the Paltz should belong to Kingston, inasmuch as those church- members might just as well have connected themselves with some other church. And finally, we do admit that a few of our mem- bers were received by Rev. Mancius; but that was only because Mr. John Van Driessen was with us, in opposition to the wishes of the Kingston Consistory; and we could not therefore prevent some of the adherents of that party from being received also on confession there when we did not have a minister of our own.
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