USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume V > Part 30
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In the name of all,
Amsterdam, in our Classical Assembly,
April 2, 1753.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA. Rev. John Frelinghuysen to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, April 4th 1753.
Portfolio "New York ", Vol. ii. Extracts in Vol. xxiii, 323-9.
Very Reverend, Very Learned and Godly Sirs the Classis of Amsterdam. Very Reverend Sirs :-
Grace, peace and mercy be multiplied unto you!
On the 3rd inst. I found myself honored by receipt of your very friendly letter of July 3rd 1752. I notice therefrom that your Revs. had received mine of March 17th. I wrote that letter, although I dreaded to interrupt your business, and, from lack of time, to take up my weary pen. Nevertheless I was urged on by such a sense of the necessity of it, that, in my haste, my letters crowded upon one another. I am sorry to have caused your Revs. trouble by my close and indistinct writing. I will now, if time permits, although having but little to spare, send a copy so plain that every one who runs may read it. However, my chief object has been gained, namely, that of learning that your Revs. are awaiting the minutes of the Coetus. I am astonished that your Revs. have not yet received them.
I thank your Reverences for your counsel, to join prudence to zeal. I know this to be exceedingly necessary, as it is very seldom that, without it, unless by special guidance from God, any good is wrought, either in opposing evil or in defending good. But it is a sin which is noticed more by others than by one's self. That is, indeed, so with all sins, but especially with this one. Moreover, all that your affectionate letter contains confirms me in the belief, that your Reverences aim at nothing save what is conducive to the true welfare of our churches. That makes me heartily glad. At the same time, to that end, I beseech the Lord to give your Reverences all necessary light on our condition, and cause you to rejoice over the desired fruit of your efforts.
It seems as if the matters on Long Island have to be left to the decision of God. Although the Coetus last April deemed it inexpedient and impossible to reinstate Arondeus on Long Island, and, although I was not at any time present at the meet- ing when action to that effect was taken, yet I am sure that no one could con- scientiously have had anything against it.
Arondeus, however, and the greater part of his adherents did not submit, but, as report goes, they appealed to your Reverences, notwithstanding the fact that your Reverences had left it to the Coetus. They did this, so as to obtain further delay, to gain a last remedy and a chance to try once more. Thus that Island continues to be still the Flanders of our ecclesiastical conflict.
There seems to be, however, greater hope for good than heretofore, inasmuch as two of those pastorless churches in Queens county have extended a call to a young man (Thomas Romeyn) who promises to be a suitable instrument for the upbuilding of Zion there. He is particularly suited to the field from the fact that he was born in this country, is accustomed to the ways of the people, has been heard by those churches, and thereupon been chosen and called by them as their minister. With a view to the preservation of peace that action has very much in its favor. It now remains for your Revs. to give it a trial.
That this call was legally made, I took it upon myself to prove before our Coetus, where I summoned the pen, hired by that trash of Jamaica village.
1. It is a call from a church which had the right and liberty to call. This is so, not only from the nature of the case, but also because, with the unanimous approval of our Coetus, permission was given to call a minister. I look upon this as a special guidance of God's Providence, whereas, otherwise, the churches here call a man without knowledge of Classis or Coetus; for example, New York called Mr. de Ronde; Staten Island, called Pieter de Windt.
2. I agree to prove also that this call was made not only unanimously by the entire consistory, but also by all the members and hearers of the church of Oyster Bay, the adherents of that foolish and fanatic Arondeus even included.
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3. I agree to prove that it was done by unanimous consent of all, one by one, of the Church of Jamaica, who belong to the Coetus; and besides, by some of those who adhere to the intruder Arondeus. A few have not yet consented, because, as they told me themselves, they wanted to see first what action the Rev. Classis would take in regard to Arondeus. As to these three things, I doubt if the father of lies himself would come anywhere near denying them.
4. I agree to prove that it is not probable that those churches will ever unite for good, unless they get a minister who is careful, who loves truth and peace, and who preaches, not for the cross-marked piece of money, (gekruisten penning), but, the Crucified One. If they should get such a one, and the Lord should work with them by His Spirit; and if some should be brought out of darkness the opponents would grow less; and those remaining, finding that they had against them, not a mere shadow of God's people, but their power, would lose courage. It went thus in my place here, (the Raritan Valley), as one of your respected members wrote at length; so that I don't know a church in this country now where peace flourishes more. True, there are those who at heart are enemies of God's people, but these submit themselves to teaching and admonition.
The first three statements being clear, and the fourth capable of proof, it neces- sarily follows that, as those churches have thus unanimously extended a call to a person, as to whose gifts they are satisfied and in a way in which the steps of divine Providence are to be seen, there can be raised no objection strong enough to break that work.
I do not know that any objections to this call will come before your Reverences. Yet I believe that those furious people, forseeing that it must mean their downfall, together with some Sanballats and envious Tobiases, will now lire some one to pre- sent their case to your Reverences in a more humane spirit. For, those "Beasts of Ephesus" have learned, that with their letters breathing out threatening and domi- nation, they have gained little with your Reverences; and that that driving helms- man, Arondeus, has brought no little damage to their keels. They will now, that envy and self-interest have made others willing to serve them, be the better able to hire some one who can hide himself behind the misty veil of their names.
The main pivot on which their reasoning against this call must turn is, (a) that those who made the call had no right to do so; (b) that the call was not made in proper form.
a. The first is, as already stated, contradicted by our Coetus, and by the nature of the case. For, why should they not have a right to do it? As to Oyster Bay, the entire church there, members and hearers, united in it. And as to the village of Jamaica, all of those who observe order there joined in it. The fact that some schismatic, contentious people, who, against all admonition, adhere to Arondeus, are against it, is in favor of, rather than an objection to the call; inasmuch as it is not to be expected that those corruptors would favor anything that is good. And if, on that account, those who made out the call had no right to do so, all calling (of ministers) would soon have to stop; for it is hardly conceivable that the devil's gov- ernment will ever come to so low an ebb, that he cannot stir up some to oppose that which threatens the downfall of his realm. So the first point stands firm.
b. The second objection, whether the call was made in proper form, can be taken in two ways.
1. Abstractedly, on the part of those who made the call, whether the call is de Forma esse tralis, or in form equitable; that is, whether those who made the call, the consistory, or the members of the church, had a free vote and cast it for calling Mr. Romeyn at a proper meeting of the consistory. This is proved to have been all in order by the signatures. The genuineness of these even the father of lies will not deny.
2. Whether the one who officiated as moderator of the call was competent to do so, and did what was required of him in the making out of a call. The last point, as to his doing what was required of him, being proved by the documents of the call, which are held to be true, the question is reduced to these terms:
(1) Whether the moderator of the call was a person not competent.
(2) Whether, in all respects, he was so incompetent that his act made the call illegal and void. Both questions will, I believe, be answered in the affirmative by the opponents, while I must deny both.
(1) What bears on the general conclusion I prefer to prove to your Reverences first of all, and to put off the other which relates to my person, until I am accused. It
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would require my going into certain particulars which would cause my letter to dilate too much; and these also, belong more properly nearer home, namely, our Coetus. There they are known, and can, with ease, be forcibly proved. I may, how- ever give your Reverences a brief account of the matter.
The conclusion, then, is drawn from an unproved premis, and upon which all the force of their reasoning must rest. As uo one has the power to deny the right of a legally vacant church to make a call; and as our Coetus took action, promising those churches to help them in this matter for that reason; is the call illegal because he who officiated as moderator of the call was not a person competent, although juste egit consulentis officia? By no means.
(a) The call was made in proper formn, with entire unanimity of votes, and those who were making the call were acting of their own accord; and never since Goet- schius was called, with such unanimity. And now to do that thing over again? If, through a misunderstanding, they did take the wrong person to attest their act, neither the one called nor those calling ought to suffer therefor, but only the person who should have known better.
(b) Granted, that that would invalidate a call in well-ordered churches and count- tries; yet that is no reason why it should do so in these regions, where frequently calls are made without the presence of a minister, just like mine was, which was approved by your Reverences. Or, as often happens, one of the consistory simply goes to some minister to get bim to write a call, such as is desired. This is then signed by the consistory, and afterwards taken back to the minister for his signa- ture, as a witness. Thus, I think, it went with the calling of Meinema, by the Rev. du Bois; because churches are separated so far from other ministers. Often, too, it is done by such as the churches request, or providentially meet with, as was the case with the call made by the Paltz. There, the Rev. du Bois was appointed by the Coetus to act as moderator, though the call was written and signed by my brother.
Nothing of all that touches the essential form of the call, while the signing of it is simply for the purpose of attesting it. Taking all circumstances into account, one may say in this case, "Communis error facit jus."
(2) Now, on the point that the person who moderated the call was not competent thereto: I recently heard, aside, arguments advanced, to prove that, on the ground that Mr. de Ronde had been appointed, and not Mr. Frielinghuysen. As every one in our Coetus knows, the matter stands like this :- those two combined churches send some one to the Coetus, with the request that some one be commissioned to instal their consistory, and at the same time to counsel and assist them in calling Mr. (Jonathan) du Bois, a candidate from Pennsylvania. The assembly was minded to leave the matter to their choice; but Mr. de Ronde stated, that he had to be about there, before long, and so could attend to it on his way. Whereupon the assembly, to which I joined myself, requested Mr. de Ronde to install the consis- tory, and at the same time not to refuse being of help to them in making out a call. The first thing, Mr. de Ronde carried out, but not the second; because the candidate du Bois had meanwhile accepted a call (to North and South Hampton) in Pennsyl- vania. Thereupon my brother (Theodore) of whose care the vacant churches in these regions generally avail themselves, comes down from Albany with Mr. Romeyn, whom they desired to hear. My brother goes there, but Mr. Romeyn is prevented, by the small pox, from coming there at the time appointed. My brother, on being asked about the young man, bears good testimony in regard to him, arranges cer- tain matters, but is unable to stay long enough to await his recovery. Those churches, inasmuch as Mr. de Ronde, as they informed me, had refused to preach at Jamaica, send me a request to come then with the young man, so that they may hear his gifts, under my supervision; for no student is allowed to preach save under the supervision of some minister. The young man himself comes to me, and the church hears him and is pleased with his gifts. They ask me to write out a call. My brother had already composed it in part and sent it to me, I write it. The church signs it, and asks me 10 sign it as witness. They showed me reasons and proofs that de Ronde would decline doing it, and that his commission for the purpose had expired. Seeing that this was the truth, and that the matter could brook no delay, I sign the call. I flatter myself with the thought of being able to show that what I had done, no one could justly bring up against me, at the place where I shall be called (?) and at a time when several. . will be brought to light and proved.
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I do not doubt that your Reverences will consider the need of those churches -- which now for seven (?) years already have been without a minister, and which, at the most but two or three times a year, have had the privilege of hearing a sermon in their mother tongue. This is a condition which necessarily causes an uncommon estrangement from God and His service. A church which, because of internal troubles, has, in spite of repeated attempts, never been able to get thus far. A church which, in the rear, is attacked by the Anabaptists, whom many go to hear; for the people will sacrifice, if not at Jerusalem, then at Dan and Bethel; in front, by the Church of England, whose Pelagian principles and political bulwarks are so agreeable to the corrupt nature; in the flank, by that fanatic, Arondeus; and within, by ignorance, etc., and all those monsters of the night.
Therefore your Reverences cannot possibly be disposed to listen to the voice of the Tobiasses and the Sanballats, whom, it grieves, to see that a man has come to seek the good of Jerusalem. Now, I leave this matter to the guidance of God. "There are many devices in a man's heart; but the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand." Prov. 19:21.
I rejoice to think that the Lord will frustrate all my deliberations and under- standings which are not for the best interest of Zion. I rejoice in the conviction, that I aim at, and seek nothing else than the salvation of those perishing churches. To that end I expect some time yet to see my tears and prayers answered. May God grant this, and honor your Reverences with bringing it about!
I remain with love and respect, Very Reverend Fathers, the Classis of Amsterdam, Your Reverences obedient servant and brother in Christ,
Joh. Frielinghuysen.
Raritan,
April 4, 1753. No. 185. Received June 29, 1753.
THE NEW YORK COLLEGE.
The Proper Method of Establishing a College in New York, to prevent it from becoming sectarian, should be not, by Royal Charter. By Wm. Livingston. April 5, 1753.
(Extracts. )
It would be of little use to have shown the fatal Consequences of an Academy founded in Bigotry, and reared by Party-Spirit; or the glorious Advantages of a College, whose Basis is Liberty, and where the Muses flourish with entire Freedom; without investigating the Means by which the one may be crushed in Embrio, and the other raised and supported with Ease and security. In all Societies, as in the human Frame, inbred Disorders are chiefly incurable, as being Part of the Consti- tution, and inseparable from it; while, on the Contrary, when the Rage of Infirm- ities is resisted by a sound Complexion of Body, they are less inherent, and conse- quently more medicable. For this reason, it must necessarily be esteemed of the utmost Importance, that the Plan upon which we intend to form our Nursery of Learning, be concerted with the most prudent Deliberation; it being that alone upon which its future Grandeur must evidently depend.
In pointing out a Plan for the College, I shall first show what it ought not to be, in order that what it should be, may appear with greater Certainty.
As Corporations and Companies are generally founded on Royal Grants, it is without Doubt supposed by many, that our College must be constituted by Charter from his Majesty, to certain Persons, as Trustees, to whose Government and Direc- tion it will be submitted. Nor does the Impropriety of such a Plan strike the unattentive Vulgar, tho' to a considerate Mind it appears big with mighty Evils.
Nec quae circumstant te deinde pericula cernis Demens.
Virg.
It is necessary to the well-being of every Society, that it be not only established upon an ample and free Bottom; but also secured from'Invasion, and its Constitu- tion guarded against Abuses and Perversion. These are Points of which I beg
to
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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Leave to think my Readers fully convinced. Nor can they wonder at the Novelty of my Scheme, when an University, hatched by the Heat of Sectaries, and cherished in the contracted Bosom of furious Zeal, shall be shown to be the natural Conse- quence of a Charter Government.
But to consider an Academy founded on a Royal Grant in the most favourable Light, Prudence will compel our Disapprobation of so precarious a Plan. The Muta- bility of its nature will incline every reasonable man, to prefer to it that Kind of Government, which is both productive of the richest Blessings, and render its Advantages the more precious, by their superiour Stability. A Charter can at best present us with a Prospect of what we are scarce sure of enjoying a Day. For every Charter of Incorporation, as it generally includes a Number of Privileges sub- ject to certain express or implied Conditions, may, in particular, be annulled, either on a Prosecution in the Court of Kings-Bench by Quo warranto, or by Scire Facias in Chancery, or by Surrender. Nor does it require a great Abuse of Privilege to determine its Fate by the two first Means; while mere Caprice, or something worse, may at any Time work its Dissolution by the latter. I believe my Country- men, have too high a Sense of the Advantages of Learning, to risk the College upon so unsettled a Basis; and would blast a Project so ineffective of its true end, to make room for a Scheme by which the Object of public attention may be fixed on a Bottom more firm and durable. How would it damp the sanguine Prospects, of the fervent Patriot; disappoint the honest well-wisher of his country; and blacken the Hopes of every Lover of the Muses into Dispair, should an inconsiderable Mistep subvert so noble a Design! Yet to these fatal evils would a Charter be exposed: Should the trustees exceed their Authority, however inconsiderably it might affect the Interest of the College, their acting contrary to the express Letter would ipso facto avoid it. Or should they, either thro' Ignorance, Inattention or Surprize, extend their Power in the least beyond those Limits, which the Law would prescribe upon a Construction of the Charter, a Repeal might be obtained by Suit at Common Law, or in Equity. And perhaps such might be the Circumstances of Things, as to render a new Incorporation at that Juncture, utterly impracticable. Besides, upon its Dissolution all the Lands given to it, are absolutely lost. The Law annexes such a condition to every Grant to a Body politic: They revert to the Donor. Nor is there much Reason to expect a charitable Reconveyance from the Reversioner.
But if this may possibly be the Case, should even the Scheme of the Instruction of our Youth continue unperverted by the Directors of our Academy, what abuses of Trust might they commit, what Attacks upon the Liberty and Happiness of this Province might they make, without Correction or Controul, should they be influ- enced by sinister Views? While the Fountain continues pure and unpolluted, the Stream of Justice may flow through its Channels clear and undisturbed. But should arbitrary Power hereafter prevail, and the tyrannical Arts of James return to dis- tress the Nation, the Oppression and Avarice of a future Governor, may counte- nance the iniquitous Practices of the Trustees, or destroy the Charter by improving the Opportunity of some little Error in their Conduct; and having seized the Fran- chise, dispose of it by a new Grant to the fittest Instruments of unjust and imperi- ous Rule, and then, adieu to all Remedy against them: For were they prosecuted by his Majesty's Attorney General in the Kings-Bench, a Noli prosequi would effect- ually secure them from Danger; while the Authority of a Governor rendered a Suit in Equity entirely useless. Thus would the cause of Learning, the Rights and Privileges of the College, our public Liberty and Happiness, become a Prey to the base Designs and united Interest of the Governor and Trustees, in Spite of the most vigorous Efforts of the whole Province: Nor could a happy Intervention to the gen- eral Calamity, be expected from the other Branches of the Legislature, while his Majesty's Representative would give a hearty Negative to every salutary Bill, the Council and Assembly should think proper to pass. I say, his Majesty's Representa- tive; for tho' our gracious Sovereign can delegate his executive Authority, he cannot transfer his Royal Virtues; and more than once has this Province beheld a Vice- gerent of the Best of Princes, imitate the Actions of the Worst. Reflections of this kind will pronounce it a Truth most glaringly evident, that whatever care may be taken in the Construction of a Charter to give our College an extensive Bottom, to endow it with the richest Privileges, and secure them by the most prudent Methods, it may still become the Spoil of Tyranny and Avarice, the Seat of slavish, bigotted and persecuting Doctrines, the Scourge and Inquisition of the Land. And far better
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would it be for us to rest contented with the less considerable Blessings we enjoy, without a College, than to aim at greater, by building it upon the sandy Foundation of a Charter-Government.
But after all, it may be urged, that should the College be founded on a Royal Grant, it might still be raised upon as unexceptionable a Basis, and as munificently endowed with Privileges as upon any other Footing. This is not in the least to be doubted. That a specious Charter will be drawn, and exhibited to public View, I sincerely believe: A Trick of that kind will unquestionably be made Use of, to amuse the unattentive Eye, and allure the unwary Mind into an easy Compliance. But it will be only "latet Anguis in Herba," and when a copious Fund is once obtained, a Surrender of the Charter may make way for a new One, which tho' sufficiently glaring, to detect the Cheat, will only leave us Room to repent of our Credulity. This is beyond dispute, a sufficient Reason with some, for establishing the College by Charter, tho', in my humble Opinion, it is one of the strongest Argu- ments that can be urged against it. We should be careful, lest, by furnishing the Trustees with a Fund, to render themselves independent of us, we may be reduced to the Necessity of being dependent upon them. If the Public must furnish the Sums by which the College is to be supported, Prudence declares it necessary, that they should be certain to what uses the monies will be applied; lest instead of being burdened with Taxes to advance our Interest, we should absurdly impoverish ourselves, only to precipitate our Ruin. In short, as long as a Charter may be sur- rendered, we are in danger of a new One, which perhaps will not be much to our liking: And, as this kind of Government will be always subject to Innovations, it will be an incontestible Proof of our Wisdom to reject it for a better.
It has in my two last Papers been shown, what an extensive and commanding Influence the Seat of Learning will have over the whole Province, by diffusing its Dogmata and Principles thro' every Office of Church and State. What Use will be made of such unlimited Advantages, may be easily guessed. The civil and relig- ious Principles of the Trustees, will become universally established, Liberty and Happiness be driven without our Borders, and in their Room erected the Banners of spiritual and temporal Bondage. My Readers may, perhaps, regard such Reflec- tions as the mere Sallies of a roving Fancy; tho', at the same time, nothing in Nature can be more real. For should the Trustees be prompted by Ambition, to stretch their Authority to unreasonable Lengths, as undoubtedly they would, were they under no kind of restraint, the Consequence is very evident.
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