USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume V > Part 24
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Rev. Sirs, I doubt not but that there are other ravenous wolves who are writing to your Revs. against me. But, as long as they are concealed from me, I am unable to defend myself against them. While I count all the reproaches which I suffer for my Christ's sake, greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt, I ask your Revs., in case there are such as send over false reports, to let me know who they are, in order that I may have them called up before the consistory. For I am sure that no one can accuse me of anything. It is true-I confess it-in my early youth, as a student, I was somewhat gay. But why should anything be made of that? Most ministers might then, indeed, be banished. That the Rev. (John) Frielinghuysen, minister on the Raritan, has been as I believe, using his pen and ink against me, and is possibly doing so still-is something which, as the proverb says, "I have already in the nose." What else is he than an intruder, seeking to leave his own church and forcibly to crowd himself into another, and doing many other things not worth the trouble of my putting them on paper. True there are in your Revs.' Assembly some who build on Frielinghuysen; but if such persons live long enough, they will find that their building stands on an unsteady pillar, and threatens possibly before long, to come to naught.
But furthermore, Rev. Sirs, I shall continue to make known the Word of the Lord to the children of men. I shall cause them to hear the voice of the Lord calling them to repentance. I shall set before them the two ways and exhort them to choose the way of eternal life. My desire, in all this, will not abate; but I shall be fired rather by greater desire and zeal so as to do the will of the Lord my God; not by my own powers, indeed, but by the power of God's Spirit, for which I beseech the generous Giver of all things, for his own Son's sake.
Further, your Revs. may ask, why I relinquished so suddenly, my plan of going to see your Revs. The reason for that is that I learned that the certificate, which Kalverslager is said to have sent to your Revs., was by your Revs. sent back to New York, to the Coetus. I will first present my matters there, and, meanwhile, wait to hear in return from your Revs.
Nothing further, Rev. Sirs: only let me be reinstated in my office, in order that "I may go on unhindered. So I close, wishing your Revs., all together, every blessing for both soul and body. I remain always and with all respect.
Very Rev. Sirs, Your Revs.' Obedient Servant,
Pieter de Wint. No. 166.
N. B. See Recording Book (Copy book) of Letters.
Received Dec. 3, 1752. Via Copenhagen, P. Capt. Hojer, D. G. G.
CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA.
The Coetus of New York to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam.
Sept. 21, 1752. xxiii. 308-312. Reference, xxiv. 19. Learned and Pious Fathers and Brethren :-
Since we, on the 18th of October last, satisfied your desire in the sad case of P. De Wint, whose testimonials were shown to be
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false, and stated our reasons for suspending him from the minis- try, we have been expecting further intelligence from your Rev. Body. Nor have we been disappointed. On the 24th of May, 1752, we received a letter from you, bearing date October 4, 1751, and also one of the same year, which, to our wonder, is without date of day or month, together with extracts from the Classis of Neder Veluwe. Understanding from them that your Body, after a calm inspection of the documents and full deliberation, with abhorrence of such godless and deceptive proceedings, have, in the fear of God, unanimously deposed him, we have carried out the sentence by the two neighboring ministers, Ritzema and De Ronde, who read your letter to the Consistory of Bergen and Staten Island, and made it known to De Wint, who submitted to the sentence, and has gone to the West Indies.
But Rev. Fathers and Brethren, notwithstanding we approve in the highest degree the decision of your Rev. Body, yet it seems to us remarkable that you have passed without notice some, as we think, evident contradictions in the letters of Dom. Wynstock. For example, in his letter to you, forwarded to our Assembly, he says that he knew no P. De Wint any more than a Herrnhutter; and yet it appears by the extract of his concerning the deportment of P. De Wint, that he knew him much better than a Herrnhutter, which is further confirmed by two letters written to De Wint, the one on Oct. 10, and the other on Dec. 8, 1750, three or four weeks before his examination, in which Dom. Wynstock congratulates P. De Wint upon his arrival at Amsterdam and his call, and warmly requests him to come to him without delay, and promises to help him in everything. These letters, if we are rightly informed, were sent by P. De Wint to the Rev. Body, to be laid upon the table.
We must with deep sorrow state, that the long-desired peace and quiet of the congregations on Long Island are not yet estab- lished, since Dom. Arondeus, resisting the sentence pronounced upon him, disturbs the congregation by administering the Word and the sacrament of baptism, and is confirmed in his obstinacy
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by his followers, who still refuse to pay the salary due to Van Sinderen.
As you in your letter of October 4, 1751, desire to hear that peace is made between New Paltz and Kingston, we hereby inform you that the commission performed by Dom. Fryenmoet at the Paltz has furnished us with good grounds for declaring the con- gregation independent of Kingston, as appears from their reply to the three reasons of Dom. Mancius, which is herein sent to you. We expect that the call of Dom. Vrooman, who has been recom- mended by Dom. Mancius, will soon be brought to your table, and thus every groundless suspicion against it will, we think, be satis- factorily removed.
Sending the minutes of our recent sessions, by which you will have clearer understanding of what has been done, we pray that the all-sufficient Jehovah may pour out upon you all the gifts of his gracious Spirit, to the magnifying of his name and the benefit of his Church, especially in these provinces ; and remain,
Your servants and brethren of the Christian Coetus of New York,
In the name of all, J. Fryenmoet, V.D. M., At Minisink, At 31
p. t. Pres't. L. De Ronde, p. t. Clerk.
Done in our Coetus Assembly, Sept. 21, 1752.
Proceedings at New Paltz.
Congregation of New Paltz, October 18, 1750, in the presence of Egbert De Witt and Samuel Bevier, elders from Wawarsing, the instructions of the Rev. Coetus, and the letter of Dom. Man- cius thereon, were read to the Consistory. They brought forward the following in reply :
To the first article in Dom. Mancius's letter: That Samuel Bevier, at present an elder of the Paltz, will, with many others, testify on oath, if required, that he, with many others, saw Andrew Le Fever offer to declare on oath before a magistrate, that while the Paltz had always, as a French Reformed congre- gation, been provided with its own minister and Consistory, yet
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now, as they were vacant, they would engage with Kingston ; but, as soon as they should have their own minister, they should be released from this engagement.
To the second: That it was true various persons from the Paltz had been received as members in Kingston, but the reason was, not only that they, according to the promise aforesaid, paid salary at Kingston, but also that the Paltz, at the time, had no other minister. It was true, also, that some had turned again to King- ston, but how far these were influenced by a conviction of the unlawfulness of John Van Driessen's ministry, was unknown to the Consistory : still, this was no proof that the Paltz belonged to Kingston, for these members could just as well have gone to any other congregation.
To the third they replied: That it was wholly untrue that the Paltz has had no other Consistory than that of Kingston; for, as the church book shows, in August, 1683, Pierre Daillee chose and ordained Louis Du Bois for elder, and Hugh Frere for deacon ; and that in June, 1690, Hugh Frere as elder, and Louis Bevier as deacon, were chosen and ordained, who continued in office till their death. When Mr. John Van Driessen came, there was no Consistory, and he consequently constituted one, which was prop- erly acknowledged by Dom. Mancius as lawful, since the Coetus had already set him the example.
Thus we believe that the conclusion of Dom. Mancius is false, because, as appears from all the foregoing reasons, Paltz has always been a church and congregation independently of Kingston, and consequently that the ministerial service performed here by Dom. Goetschius and other Reformed ministers is not in conflict with Article XV. of the Church Orders.
Such is our reply to Dom. Mancius's letter, certified under our own hands.
Samuel Bevier, Dan'l. Hasbrouck.
In presence of E. De Witt, Samuel Bevier.
The foregoing having been delivered to me and calmly consid- ered, I have, after calling upon the Lord's name, in the name of
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the Coetus, acting with the Consistory and Church, chosen an elder and a deacon, and after three separate publications of their names to the congregation, have ordained them.
In confirmation whereof, I here subscribe my name,
J. Fryenmoet, V.D.M., At 38.
CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Acts of the Deputies, Sept. 25, 1752.
(Abstract.)
Letter from Rev. Theodorus Frelinghuysen, of Albany, June 25, 1752; received September 25, 1752. (Referred to, Vol. 12, 309; Vol. 24, 9, 13.)
Not long after his arrival at Albany he served the Church of Claverack occasionally at its request, with the proclamation of the Word, the administration of the Sacraments, and the installation of members of the Consistory. After that Rev. Eggo Tonkens van Hoevenberg came from Suriname to this church, having first caused some confusion in New York. He ministered to the churches of the Manor of Livingston and Claverack for about a year. This was a matter of gratification to the writer, not having any doubt about his credentials ; but Mr. Hoevenberg on reporting himself to the Coetus, was rejected for lack of certificates; on this account, Mr. Livingston would not proceed with the call. Dissen- sions occurred from this, so that Hoevenberg challenged that gen- tleman to the sword, and removed to Rhinebeck. A portion of the Claverack people, however, still continued to cling to him; another portion was apprehensive as to the lawfulness of his ministry.
Rev. Frelinghuysen, meeting Mr. Hoevenberg, requested, in the presence of the consistory, to be allowed to see his credentials. Whereupon Hoevenberg broke forth in extravagant language in a manner not fit to relate to the High Rev. Classis. Since that time the Deacons and the larger portion of the congregation have pro- tested against his ministrations. The Elders and another portion keep him in office. Three members of the Coetus state in a letter,
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which came to Claverack, that this Classis for weighty reasons will not have anything to do with Rev. Hoevenberg; since they are in doubt at Claverack how this must be understood, he as well as the Deacons and the larger part of the congregation, ask that the Classis will please to explain itself; whether it recognizes Rev. Hoevenberg as a lawful minister for these regions; or not; and they promise if the Classis acknowledges him, they will give him the hand of fraternity; but if not they will have nothing to do with him. He ends with salutations. xxiii. 247, 248.
CORRESPONDENCE IN AMERICA.
The Coetus of New York to the Rev. Coetus of Pennsylvania, Sept. 29, 1752.
Rev., Pious, Learned, and Highly Esteemed Brethren :-
We must highly approve your zeal for the maintenance of peace and love, shown in the letter of Dom. Schlatter, containing an extract from the resolution of the Synod of North and South Holland, concerning the examination of Mr. David Marinus, to- gether with a proposal to us whether we would find it agreeable to carry out the Synodical resolution.
Our brotherly reply is, that after mature deliberation and a careful inspection of your letter and that of Dom. Schlatter to Marinus, we are confirmed in the opinion that since this gentle- man, with his congregation, belongs under the Coetus of New York, he ought to be examined by the same. Having thus con- cluded, we, at the request of Marinus, examined him by two Examinatores, in the truths of theology, the languages, etc., and were so satisfied as to admit him to the office of the ministry, and he will be ordained at an early day. Thus you will be saved the trouble.
Cordially wishing that the Lord would bless you in person and work, would always dwell in the midst of your Assembly, and prosper with his grace all your endeavors for the extension of his dear-bought Church, so that Zion may be built up in your region, and the holy Israel of his people enlarged. We remain, in all
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esteem and fraternal affection, Your servants and brethren of the Coetus of New York,
In the name of all,
L. De Ronde, V. D. M., Extraor. Clerk. New York, September 29, 1752.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Death of Rev. Calverslaege and Call of Rev. John Wernerius Knevels to St. John.
1752, Oct. 2nd. § 1. Rev. John Plantinus makes known in the name of the consistory of St. John, (West Indies, ) that Rev. Calverlaege died at St. John. The Rev. John Wernerus Knevels, S. S. Min. Cand., at Leyden, was called to that place, and he requested the approval of that call by this Assembly; also that the said John Wernerus Knevels may be at this session examined, finally, and after proper examination, ordained, because a ship will sail thither before another regular meeting of Classis. The certificates, both from Church and Classis, were found to be praise- worthy and excellent testimonials of John Wernerus Knevels. He having already arrived, this Assembly approved the said call, and granted his request to be this day examined, finally. As a trial text there was given him Matt. 7: 24, 25; for examination in Hebrew, Ps. 27; in Greek, Acts 8. xii. 307.
(Letters to) Peter de Wind, and to the Consistory of Staten Island.
§ 6 ad § 7. A letter was read to Rev. de Wind, and another to the consistory of Bergen and Staten Island. Both of these were approved, and will be sent in such a way, that the letter to de Wind shall be enclosed, unsealed, in the letter to the consistory. Quod factum. xii. 308.
New York; in particular Arondeus.
Art. 13. The Deputies ad res Exteras, together with Messrs. Visser, van Schelluyne, and van de Vorm, have examined all the former Acta and letters of parties, pro and con, in the case of
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Rev. Arondeus. After mature and earnest consideration, they brought in a report (pre-advice), which is to be found in full in the Acta of the Depp. This was read and approved, and the letters shall be written in accordance with said pre-advice, and be dispatched, without waiting for the Classis in January xii. 309.
Rev. Theodore Frielinghuysen's letter regarding Rev. Hoevenberg.
Art. 14. A letter was read from Rev. Theodore Frielinghuy- sen, minister at Albany, dated June 23, 1752, in the name of the consistory of Claverack, addressed to this Assembly. In this there is a request that the Classis would declare itelf in regard to Rev. Hoevenberg; whether he was recognized as such a minister as one to whom they could extend a call in that country without offense. The Classis judges that for this once this private letter might be answered; but, at the same time, that this consistory be reminded of the Coetus. As to Rev. Hoevenberg, the Classis does indeed recognize him as a minister in Suriname, but not in New York; for there has never come before them any act of dis- mission of Hoevenberg. As to the rest, the Assembly will have nothing more to do with said gentleman. xii. 309.
(The Classis henceforth considered all letters as unofficial, which did not come through the Coetus.)
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Final Examination and Ordination of John W. Knevels for St. Johns, W. I.
Art. 15. The Rev. Mr. Abraham William Filenius Kruythof, appeared at this session with -(illegible)-wish for blessing, to be present at the final examination of the Messrs. Cornelius Griese, called to Batavia, and John Wernerus Knevels, called to St. John, (West Indies), Each of these gentlemen preached a sermon to the satisfaction of the Assembly on the words assigned them, and were admitted to the final examination. Also Mr. Jacob Swart, S. S. Theol. Stud. preached with satisfaction on the text pre-
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viously assigned to him, and was admitted to the preparatory examination. These three gentlemen were then questioned by Rev. deJonge, as Examiner, both in the Hebrew and Greek, and the principal articles of Sacred Theology. They gave such satis- faction that the Rev. Deputy of Synod and the entire Assembly made not the least objection to ordaining the first two as ministers. This was done. Rev. Jacob Swart was admitted to the office of public preaching. All of them were also first required to repudiate the condemned opinions of Prof. Roel and Dr. Bekker; to sign the Formulae of Concord and the Post Acta of the Synod of Dort; and to promise that they would read, word for word, without any change, the Forms for Baptism and the Holy Supper ; especially the last three questions in the Form for Baptism. The Rev. Swart also took the oath against Simony. The Examiner was thanked. The Rev. Deputatus took leave with his good wishes, and was responded to with the good wishes (of Classis) in return, by the President. Rev. Jacob Swart was given a laudable certificate. xii. 309.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
The Classis of Amsterdam to the Consistories of Bergen and Staten Island, Oct. 2, 1752. Vol. 30, p. 295, No. 157. Re- ferred to in Vol. xxiv, 13.
To the Worthy Brethren, the Elders and Deacons at Bergen
and Staten Island.
Worthy Sirs and Brethren :--
A few days after we had forwarded our letter of July 12 (17?) 1752, we received a letter from Mr. P. De Wind, dated June 13, 1752, wherewith he sends us a copy of a letter from Rev. Wyn- stok, etc. From this he thinks he can prove that he was deceived by Rev. Wynstok, and concludes by saying that he did not deserve such severe action in connection with his deposition, and now wishes to offer himself a second time for examination. We have carefully considered its contents, but find ourselves compelled to abide by our former resolution of deposition, which has been already sent to you. We take the liberty of addressing to you our
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reply to Mr. De Wind, with the request to hand this letter over to him, after having read it yourselves. We therefore leave it unsealed.
We remain, after wishing every blessing upon you, your offices and your congregation, with all esteem.
Signed as above.
In our Classical Assembly at Amsterdam, Oct. 2, 1752.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
The Classis of Amsterdam to Pieter De Wint, Oct. 2, 1752.
Vol. 30, page 297, No. 158. Ref. xxiv. 13.
To Mr. P. de Wint,
Dear Sir :- We duly received on Aug. 11th, your Hon's. letter of June 13, 1752, with the copies of certificates enclosed, and letters from Rev. Wynstok, one original and one copied. We see therefrom, that your Hon. complains about the sentence of depo- sition, (deportation) which we passed upon you, as being, in your opinion, too severe, pretending, as you do, that you must have been innocently misled by Rev. Wynstok. We have considered the letter, a copy of which you sent us, and by which you think you can prove that Rev. Wynstok must have deceived you. But we fail to see that it proves such a far-reaching accusation against Rev. Wynstok, as you deduce therefrom. We cannot even recon- cile its contents with the account which you yourself gave us pre- viously of that letter: We fear, therefore, that your Hon. is lowering himself more and more by the invention of untruths and false accusations. This is not the way for you to act, to enable us to set you on your feet again and to reinstate you in the Holy Ministry. On the contrary, we find ourselves necessitated to abide by your former resolution of deposing (deporting) your Hon. and of declaring you unfit for church service. We cannot make the slightest change in that resolution until we become convinced of your innocence. To that end it would be necessary for you, in case you feel aggrieved by this resolution, and hold yourself in conscience to be innocent to institute action against Rev. Wynstok,
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and to summon him to appear before his competent judge, to answer your charges.
Meanwhile we advise, exhort, and beseech you earnestly, to be careful to refrain from adding new misdeeds to the former ones ; and to think over the past, to honor the voice of God, to make confession to him, to humble yourself before God, and to seek reconciliation in the blood of sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our wish is that the God of all grace may prepare your heart therefor by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Dear Sir, Your Hon's. obedient and well-wishing servants, the members of the Classis of Amsterdam. In the name of all,
Jacobus Tyken, V.D.M. Cl. Amst. Cl. Depp. h. t, Praeses,
Jacob de Jouge, V.D.M. Cl. Amst. Cl. Depp. h. t, Scriba, In this Classical Assembly
at Amsterdam, Oct. 2, 1752.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Rev. Schuneman shall be examined.
1752, Oct. 5th. § 2. Rev. John Schuneman was present. He had for some time studied under certain ministers in North America, in the province of New York, and brought with him from that country laudable certificates. He requested permission to undergo the preparatory and final examinations, as he had already been called as minister by the congregation at Katshiel (Catskill) and Coxsackie, in said province. His request was granted him for the next Classis in the New Year. The clerk was directed to write to the Examiner, van Wena, and give him notice hereof, that a trial text might be assigned to the examinandus, etc., and that he should officiate in the Classis at the appointed time. The letter was read to the Assembly, approved and subse- quently sent. xii. 310.
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CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA. Rev. Gerard Haaghoort to the Classis of Amsterdam, Oct. 11, 1752. Portfolio " New York ", Vol. ii. Addressed: To the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam,
Rev. Sirs and Respected Brethren :-
As I was charged with forwarding the enclosed and found a good and, indeed, early opportunity to do so, I wish to express, briefly, that I cannot hide my aston- ishment at my not getting an answer to the protest against our Coetus, etc., which I sent your Revs. such a long time ago; or at any rate, an answer to my preceding letter. Nor can I forbear to mention that our Coetus has, (for and in the behalf of Rev. Schlatter, of Pennsylvania, whom the Synods of Holland had authorized thereto), ordained Rev. (David) Marinus to the ministry at Aquackanonck. This church was formerly united with that of Second River, here. It belonged to our Coetus and was always subordinate to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, all of which is well known to your Revs. I must confess my inability to comprehend how all this can be done, and how it can be indicated, (reconciled). The Classis refuses (permission for such things) and with good reasons. The Synods, which we do not know, and to which we do not belong, allow it; and that, also, by a person (Schlat- ter) who has not the slightest relation to us. He is a Swiss, and was formerly sent here by the Synods, to the German churches in Pennsylvania. But he has, on his own authority, undertaken even to examine the said Marinus, and to license him, (give him liberty to preach) and that at Aquackanonck.
Can all this be done without the Rev. Classis? If so, why not prevent it? If not, the same course, (to license) is open to us, unless it be declared illegal. But I think the mistake lies in this, that the Synods thought that Aquackanonck was situated in Pennsylvania! In that case, however, the blame rests on Rev. Schlatter, and on the Kev. Classis. They know better, and they will have to answer for it. Or, do the Synods have any knowledge of our Coetus at all? It is only to Rev. (Gualterus) du Bois that any letters are written. The Coetus is passed by. In regard to the Pennsylvania matters: after the great commotion brought about by Schlatter, I should like, after further information, to give the Rev. Classis a fuller account than I can now do. For want of time, I can but hurriedly jot down (a few things), with a view to preventing general tumult, disunion and disruption. Of these we have enough here already. I should like to find a way for putting everything to rights.
The German churches here, dissatisfied with the refusal of the Rev. Classis; afraid of the danger and the expense of sending their students over (to Europe); strengthened by the Synods' advice to that Philadelphia Coetus, in order to obtain here the right of promotion; they are trying to get us to unite with the English Presbyterians or Independents, who have a Synod here, and also one in Philadel- phia. So there is danger of their becoming estranged, or falling away from the National Church of Holland; for which, (belonging to a State Church) we are justly recognized here); and even of becoming independent and so taking a free position, like that strange German Coetus-which the Synods, however, think might be con- sidered a Classis. Already there are beginnings toward this, and they of Aquack- anonck have made an attempt at it. All I wish to remark about the matter now, is that, if it were to come about, as is to be feared, it would be better for them to unite with us, inasmuch as they have no Liturgy, Forms, etc.
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