USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume V > Part 16
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The reason of my present communication to your Revs. is, that I have been informed of the fact that the gentlemen of New York, (to whose satisfaction every- thing, at first, resolved upon by the Coetus concerning Arondeus had been done, but more lately they have failed to carry their points), had sent private reports to the Rev. Classis; that they were unwilling to let the justly complaining church of Van Sinderen have a special Coetus called before they had received, as they expect to, next July, an answer from the Rev. Classis to their reports. They carry this so far that they told the (delegates of the) church to refuse to attend, and to see to it, that all whom they could influence, should not attend, if a meeting should be called.
Such action can not be said to be only "influencing", but be called by a harder name. It is not, My Dear Sirs, that I am in favor of sending your Revs. the min- utes of the Rev. Coetus, because I myself like to do it so well; no, it is because it it for the advantage of our Assembly. I frankly confess, however, to your Revs., that I am afraid I made objection to every one of their acts. And, if I had not feared to grieve (pleceren) the Assembly, I would have done, what possibly it was my duty to do, I would have shown by protests my aversion to those acts.
However, be it known to the Rev. Classis that I was not one of them; nor was I a member of that Assembly which unanimously passed sentence against Arondeus, and who were so zealous in demanding satisfaction that they imposed on him an absolute silence. No; but when I heard of it, I thought that they had gone too far; for that man had not then gone as far astray as he has now done, nor had all the documents appeared in such clear light as they do now. I do not now ask the Rev. Assembly to pay attention to my communication; but only not to be in a hurry to do anything before the reports from the Coetus itself come to hand. And, then, I leave it frankly and openly to your judgment, whether the argued protest of the church against calling Arondeus ought (or ought not) to have been heeded. I send a copy of this protest, if perchance, as I agree to prove, and by arguments, (first
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without my having them recorded, and later as recorded, but left unanswered), did prove, that that might yet be the way most likely to lead to peace. The Coetus wanted to know if we had not heard enough from the church, as well as from Arondeus himself, to decide that it would be inexpedient to reinstate him in those churches.
It grieved me that, after the great step of his yielding had been taken, effort was still made to bring Arondeus to such a degree of humiliation, by requiring of him a special confession of some of his sins. This appears from the herewith enclosed copy, for the preparation of which the Assembly appointed myself and Mr. de Ronde. Arondeus again promised, as he had already done, to conduct himself according to its contents. Then, two men who had no business to meddle in the matter, and in spite of solemn remonstrances-the Assembly having not yet considered his answer- congratulated him, as Arondeus says, by presenting him with the call from Long Island; and later they pushed it through. The Assembly acquiesced in the answer of Arondeus. I myself was absent, and Goetschius made a counter-protest, which, by the will of God, was caused to turn out for the best. It was not at all to my liking, that, after the resolution obliged Arondeus to make public confession, I, with de Ronde, was appointed to prepare a prescribed form (of confession). Then, also in our absence, followed the resolution ordering that Van Sinderen, too, should preach a (penitential) confession sermon according to the following prescribed form, given to him :-
Copy of Form prescribed for Ulpianus Van Sinderen :
That he shall humbly ask his congregation cordially to forgive him the wrong which he did them, even as he, on his part, calls upon God for forgiveness therefor; and, in particular, that he shall restrain himself, and not bring into the pulpit any violent expressions or things relating to personal quarrels; in short, that he shall promise to conduct himself in future like a gospel minister.
Quod Attestor,
Joh. Ritzema.
That requirement of solemnly preaching a Confession Sermon, and to have judge- ment passed upon it by six commissioners, etc., looked more like oppression than justice. I was shocked when the information was read to me, that those members of the legal consistory of Van Sinderen, who had stood by their minister, and who had been chosen and installed before he entered upon his services, were now set on a line with the disaffected ones of Arondeus. I dreaded the result of such a pro- ceeding. Every dissatisfied elder, then, right or wrong, might break away as he liked. I confess, that I then uttered some forcible words. I was alarmed that such a sentence should be passed against the consistory, as, no accusation had been brought against that body; it had had no chance to hear what had been charged against it, much less, to defend itself. "How, my dear Sirs", I asked, "Can the minister be the lawful minister and the entire consistory unlawful? Why? Because one of its members has a seat in your Assembly? Because it has stood by its law- ful minister? Because it has been obedient to you and to the Rev. Classis? No! Reward it rather for its faithfulness. Give each one of the old members, who stood by their minister, two votes, etc.
To reinstate, as their minister, Arondeus, whom it had declared to be an intruder, looked to me ridiculous; that it was contrary to our former action, and to your decision; and because, for four weeks, he had shown himself out of sorts with all regulations of justice; yea, he had exposed us to pitiful mockeries. For we had obliged the man to make humble confession, and to promise improvement, among other things, in the matter of his illegal intrusion into Van Sinderen's churches, and the disturbances thereby created. The thought, no doubt, actuated him, that-if he once confessed that he was sorry for such things, especially as the Rev. Coetus had been so pious as to oblige him to make such a public confession, yea, had even forced him into it-he could expect that its piety would induce it voluntarily to make itself a similar confession from the same pulpit.
These things, my dear Sirs, I frankly confess, went against the grain with me, as well as the rejection of Van Sinderen's complaint against bis accusers. My reflec- tions on them and on the source from which they sprung made me walk my path in tears. But the consideration of God, and of his government, whereby he makes
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crooked ways straight, to his own honor, quieted my soul, and made me lament the restlessness of my unbelief. Nevertheless, I praised the Lord, and it is still a matter of gratitude to me, that, even in that Assembly he had kindly kept me from becom- ing guilty of helping a godless and hostile man force himself in, against the wishes of a few upright and most respectable people in the Church of Long Island. These things, your Revs. will come to know from the minutes, as also the absolute cause of the great change in our Coetus; for it now recognizes the very man whom it last year declared to be utterly worthless, and who now, more than every before, must seem to it to be so; yet now it works for him as zealously as it had every worked against him.
Furthermore, three ministers. each with an elder, were chosen to go and hear the Confession-Sermons of the Long Island gentlemen, on the 26th of November. By unanimous vote I was appointed one of them. And so I went. But I constantly prayed, and had the united prayers of a few godly people of my own church, and trusted that God would take care of his church. Fearing that the inexperience of my youth might lead me astray, I chose as my elder, a wise, calm, prudent and pious man, who is still occupying a prominent civil position, by the name of Hendrik Visser (Fisher).
I was on hand at the time appointed: After the Confession-Sermons had been heard, the Committee came to the unanimous conclusion that the one preached by Arondeus was not satisfactory. Every one could perceive, well enough, that he shoved the blame from himself on the church. He also not obscurely accused the Coetus on one of the points laid down, and accepted by him. He used the New York ministers very badly. Rev. Ritzema asked him: "Why do you not make com- fession in your sermon of your prevarication and deceit, for these are the cause of all this discord?" He (Arondeus) further threatened to prosecute him according to English law; so that I had to take the matter in hand and make him stop.
Van Sinderen confessed more than was required of him, and satisfied even his enemies. Many friends were deeply moved as he stood there making confession and weeping. The people were bound to bring Arondeus to penitence. They asked for the sermon which from the pulpit he declared was written word for word, to see if in that he had possibly made more of a confession. Bue he said that he had confessed more than he was obliged to, and refused to produce the sermon. Then they proceeded to propose a second Confession Sermon. Indignantly I set myself against that, because it went beyond our commission; giving also other reasons, which, while they were convincing, did not bring them over to my side, so that I was over ruled. But I got the act so changed that the Assembly could conscien- tiously do no more than ask him for a catagorical answer to the question, whether or not he would give satisfaction, in a second Confession Sermon. Arondeus refused the proposition with solemn asseverations according to his usual manner of speech. But he was labored with from two o'clock until nine, in the evening. Then the speaker, contrary to the action taken, wanted to give him more time to consider, even until the next morning. Still he refused, until in the night his friends, by using strong reasons, such, at any rate, as made a deep impression upon his mind, got him to yield, and informed us that he was convinced and willing to give satis- faction on the points proposed to him in a Confession Sermon. He did not, however, show himself to us.
Readily believing all that was good, we allowed the hearing of a second Confession Sermon six weeks later, although, I confess, I resisted this very strongly. Van Sinderen's Consistory was then called and had now for the first time the opportunity of presenting its side of the case. It requested
(1) That the arrears on the salary should be paid before the Committee should resolve that Arondeus was entitled to a call. They also protested aney against his being called, out of fear that the judgement of God would descend upon the Con- sistory and the Church, if a man, so well known to them and to the Coetus (for evil character) as Arondeus, were called. The Committee, moved by the power of the truth and the finger of God, considered their protest just, and left them room for protesting against him at any time in the future.
(2) It requested that he should not again be permitted to ascend the pulpit to preach a Confession Sermon. The Committee resolved to ask him not to preach during the six weeks. This request he at first complied with, as your Revs. will see from reading the minutes.
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As the week was far gone, I remained on Long Island and preached, twice on Sunday; in the morning, from Ps. 120:5-7; "Wo is me that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war." In the afternoon on the Article of the Creed, "The Communion of saints." On Monday I preached from 1 Tim. 6:7; "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out!" After this I returned home. I learned, meanwhile that advices were being received in a very irregular way. This led me to take counsel with the president of our last Coetus, Rev. John Leydt, a godly and upright man. I wish to let you know his answer, which I here write down:
COPY.
My Brother: I received your letter. A little while before, I received one from Rev. Ritzema, containing, in part, the same request which you now make, and mentioning both matters which your letter contains. I, therefore, verbally com- municate what has reference thereto. But I am awaiting your Rev's. answer, to the request I made, concerning the account, made from memory by myself and elders, of the submission of Van Sinderen and Lott, to the measures decided upon in the last Coetus. I had my own serious doubts, whether taking or receiving such advice would just now be timely and necessary. Yet if there seems to be any good in it, I will yield; although my elder will not be able to learn anything about it, because he went home and did not return. Whether he went home because his father-in-law lay at the point of death; or because his soul was grieved at the impiety of (some of) our ministers: (for to my deep chagrin, I must confess, that in our Coetus, there is well nigh nothing that is less noticeable than piety); or whether he left for some other reason, he himself will be best able to say. As for myself, the things of which I spoke in my former letter stay by me almost day and night, and some of them lie very fresh in my memory.
I think, I know this much very well: namely, that neither of the parties came any- where near submitting itself, (to the action proposed), or, in other matters did they act as they ought to have done; that Van Sinderen did, at last, personally submit himself to the Assembly; yet, in parting, Lott remarked that they would abide by the propositions they had handed in-the reasons, namely, for not calling Arondeus. I feel myself also in conscience bound to give answer to the same effect. From that time forth, I believed the Committee to be, useless and of no value. For, after all, every- thing was done by compulsion of those men, entirely against their will and inclina- tion, if not against their conscience, and this refers to both sides. Then, I also thought, what could it have mattered, had they submitted to the Coetus? seeing that the Committee had left them room for making protests? It mattered nothing! For, under such circumstances, the whole concern broke down, and the going of a second Committee is good for nothing. I stood wondering by what precedent, or by what rule of justice, the Committee went to work to require a second Confession Sermon; notwithstanding the fact that a general Committee might be given a special commission, with the understanding always that its special commission, or instruc- tion, is not to be departed from a hair's breadth, if a safe (acceptable) report is to be made, and good reasons are to be given therefor, according to Art. 6 of the Post Acta. (Arts. IV to VI.)
It is in that light that I must look upon the Committee in the Dutch County, and particularly upon the Confession Sermon of Arondeus, who was indeed decitum profundi medium, as far as his own person was concerned. It was the aim of the Coetus that, if he gave satisfaction, and everything went in well thereafter, the way should be opened to calling him. The aim of the Classis, too, was to give him one more trial. Naturally, if he did not make a confession satisfactory to Long Island, si non sic stultus ratiocinandi, what else can be the effect, except that it make him more bold and angry, as the long delay must give occasion for untimely depreca- tions? Wherefore, of set purpose, I have restrained myself, although, as President, I had a right to speak. I wanted to see the child born before I took account of con- sequences. Brother, has your Rev. not had and seen enough of his distainful action and illtreatment? What must become of such a scamp? (verwogen). My heart beats (turns about) with aversion and compassion. Are you not yourself a witness? and did you not say that he had cursed himself too seriously to appear before the Coetus?
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Therefore, besides otbers, that curse is lying upon him. I dread to speak of it. Oh! that he might yet be succoured and saved!
One particular, omitted in my last, I want to mention now; namely, that we can never answer for having condemned those members of Van Sinderen's consistory that remained firm. My Dear Sir, make allowance for me, in that I did only what was wanted of me. If the aim be evil, the sin is mine. Therefore tell him, (nota bene) of the motives of the letter of Rev. Ritzema, in relation to the submission of Lott and Van Sinderen to the resolution which the Committee was instructed to carry out. If, perchance, the Committee was not so instructed, then it was nil, and of no value.
So far writes that upright Brother, my Colleague or nearest neighbor,
Joh. Leydt, Minister at New Brunswick.
Dec. 20th, 1751.
[Continuation of Frelinghuysen's letter.]
March, 1752.
N. B. I did not consider the Committee as nil, since Arondeus had to be first qualified for a call by us; and it would be very wrong of the Church if it called him before he had shown penitence and improvement. Such a change of mind might induce it (the Committee?) to call him, or pave the way for his being called to other churches by some passably ecclesiastical form. Hence also the advice, by authority of the Committee on Long Island, to hear the second Confession Sermon. But, my brethren, who had pushed that through against my wish and wrote, now, also without my knowledge, refused Arondeus. So I appeared there with a few hearers in vain. The latest report about Arondeus is that he is an impenitent sinner. May the Lord have care for his soul! All this, Rev. Fathers, I ask your Reverences patiently to look for, when the minutes of the Coetus and of the Committee come to hand. I deem it my duty to give you some information in regard to it. I trust that you will watch over our churches. Without the salt of order there can be no peace. Mark 9:50. The Lord, I hope, will give your Reverences more light on those matters which are still dark.
A few things, besides, are pressing upon my mind. These I had better make known. The matter of de Wint will, no doubt, have come to your Reverences' knowledge from a letter signed by the president and the scribe, Rev. Goetschius, and Leydt. Of Arondeus you will probably hear enough; possibly from his own lips, when his conscience, which he now keeps on resisting, wakes up. For he lives, as it seems to me, in secret despair of himself, departing from before the face of the Lord. (Gen. 4:16.) Such things, the Rev. Verbryck had heard from his own lips and reported in full Coetus. Rev. Fryenmoet, his friend, also declared that he could prove it beyond a probability. Therefore I think, it must be so. If there is brought before your Reverences anything against the secretary, Goetschius, or anybody else, the possibility of which has been intimated to me by my brother Leydt, I know that your carefulness and justice will not allow you to accept anything proven, before one has had the chance of defending himself. I have, indeed, said to friends, that the saving of Benhadads and Agags was the death of Israel-the justification of the wicked, the condemnation of the just; and that I expected that the protection of the Arondeuses and de Wints would have the same result.
Excuse my boldness in troubling your Reverences with this communication. The Lord give your Reverences compassion for our Zion and for us, his poor children, few, oppressed; who, though sighing over one who is unspiritual and indifferent, yet are thankful to God that he uses your Reverences for our help and deliverance. With much love and respect, I remain, Very Reverend Fathers, Your Reverences Most Obedient Servant and Brother in Christ,
John Frielinghuysen.
Raritan, March, 1752.
Receiver p. Convert, via. London, May 17, 1752.
.
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CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA. The Consistory of Claverack to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam,
March 30, 1752.
Portfolio " New York ", Vol. ii.
Addressed on outside:
To the Very Reverend, Very Learned Classis of Amsterdam, at Amsterdam. To the Very Reverend Classis of Amsterdam :-
In order to the proper understanding of the letter sent to the Very Rev. Classis, the following account of what has occurred is enclosed:
I. After the unanimous call of Rev. E. T. Van Hoevenberg to (the Church of) New York had been annulled by a majority vote, (of that Consistory), because he had said that he would have nothing to do with the intrigues of Rev. (Gualterus) du Bois and Mr. Bankert; and, because, without order from the Consistory, a letter written by the late du Bois, as I believe, had been handed to him, to compel him to join the Coetus; and he would not allow himself to be bound by his signature, because his call should stand on the same footing as that of Rev. Ritzema, whose signature had not been so required :- then the before mentioned Lord Robert Living- ston, Junior, invited Claverack to unite with him, (the patroon), at the Manor of Livingston, in calling Rev. Van Hoevenberg, whom he most highly recommended.
This was finally done, after the conditions had been agreed on. The call was signed first by the patroon, J. (Van) Renselaer, and the Consistory of Claverack. But while the patroon of the Manor of Livingston was delaying to add his signature, there came to his ears through one of his nearest friends, a malicious saying of Rev. Van Hoevenberg, which caused hard words to pass between them. Though becom- ing ecclesiastically reconciled, in the presence of Messrs Cool and Ham, elders of the Manor Church, Livingston still refused to sign the call.
II. Meanwhile Rev. Van Hoevenberg was called to Lower Rhinebeck. He went there because the (Patroon of the) Manor refused to sign. After being there half a year, he was wanted on Long Island. So we gave him a letter of dismissal declaring ourselves perfectly satisfied with his teaching and conduct. In evidence of that the Consistory resolves, not one member dissenting, to permit him to administer the Lord's Supper. The first time, the domine administered it without there being any objection raised; the second time, not without a struggle, because some evil-minded persons had spread the report that Rev. Van Hoevenberg was not a legal minister.
In the summer of 1751 Rev. Frielinghuysen, after having administered the Lord's Supper, made an offer to Claude de Lametter to hold a preaching service (in that neighborhood) in the week. Rev. Van Hoevenberg, knowing of this, came to hear Frielinghuysen, and especially, if possible, to settle the difficulty. When Rev. Van Hoevenberg came to the house of de Lametter, Rev. Frielinghuysen said to him that he hoped he had not come to cause division in the Church. To which Rev. Van Hoevenberg, with calmness replied, by asking, if Rev. Frielinghuysen had had any experience of that? Rev. Frielinghuysen said, "After the sermon I shall hold a meeting of the Consistory to settle the difficulties." Rev. Van Hoevenberg answered, "I join in that request." After Rev. Frielinghuysen had gone, we sepa- rated, and came together again the next day at the house of the Reader, (Voorlezer) Willem Van Ess. Rev. Frielinghuysen pretended that, as the Church of Claverack was in his charge, he was bound to keep that congregation united. He asked Rev. Van Hoevenberg for his papers. The latter refused to show them to him, giving as reasons :-
1. Because he had shown them in full consistory at Claverack, after having announced that those of the church who wished to see them could come in. The elders declared at the same time that they had seen them and were satisfied in regard to them. In this Frielinghuysen refused to acquiesce.
2. Because Rev. Frielinghuysen had no more right to ask such a thing of Rev. Van Hoevenberg, who had been in service for two years already, and that unquestioned, than Rev. Van Hoevenberg had to ask him to show him his papers; especially, as
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Rev. Mancius had installed him at Rhinebeck on the strength of his papers; also, because that man, Caspar Couyn, at whose request he asked it, was not a member of the Consistory.
After this had passed, the Consistory, or at any rate, three elders, asked Rev. Van Hoevenberg to preach. But Frielinghuysen refused to allow this, under pretext that he would not allow another minister in his churches. Nevertheless, at the urgent request of the Consistory, he did preach. As Rev. Van Hoevenberg preached after mealtime, Rev. Frielinghuysen, contrary to his promise, went away without holding a consistory meeting. He went to Kinderhoek, after declaring that he did not know, that Rev. Van Hoevenberg's call had been signed by Claverack, and that the elders had accepted him as minister.
In the winter of 1752, Rev. Frielinghuysen having ministered again at Livingston Manor, the elders of Claverack were called by the deacons to appear before Rev. Freilinghuysen, either at the Livingston Manor or at Claverack. They agreed to appear before the Manor Consistory, on condition that Rev. Mancius, of Kingston, should be present.
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