USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume V > Part 50
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May that God, who, in his loving kindness, has brought me thus far, keep me from becoming indigent! May He feed me with the food that is suitable for me! May He do good to Zion and build up the fallen walls of Jerusalem!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all !
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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1754
CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA.
The Consistory of the Dutch Church of New York to the Classis of Amsterdam, Oct. 17, 1754. (Objecting to the Organization of a Classis).
Portfolio " New York ", Vol. ii. Extracts, Vol. xxiii, p. 412.
Addressed : To the Very Reverend Sirs, Fathers and Brethren, Ministers and Elders, constituting the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam.
To the Very Rev. Classis of Amsterdam.
Very Reverend Sirs, Fathers and Brethren in Christ: The Consistory of the Dutch Reformed Church of Jesus Christ at New York feels obliged to inform your Revs. of the conduct of the Rev. Coetus at New York, (which now for some years has held its meetings, by the coming together of nearly all the Dutch ministers of the Provinces of New York and New Jersey), and of our decision relative thereto. This conclusion of ours, when the reasons are made known to your Revs. there- fore, we doubt not will meet with your approval. For that purpose we lay upon your Revs.' table the Draught sent by the Coetus, Sept. 19, to our Church. It is the same as that sent to all the other churches. We also send our action taken thereon, in full consistory, Oct. 1, 1754.
We offer the following in further explanation of that action :
1. If the Coetus is useless, because, among other things, it has not the power of rendering a final decision, we fear that such power, assumed by the Classis about to be organized, will make such Classis still more useless. For the lust to rule shown by some of the brethren, during the existence of the Coetus, has more than once been noticed by us, as leading to much discord and division, and as calling down ridicule upon us from those that are without. Then too, the exercise of the power (by such a Classis) would have just as little effect, as the inability to exercise such power in the Coetus, because not enforced by civil authority. (Zynde niet gesterkt door de magt van de overigheid). Indeed we fear that the exercise of such power would afford occasion for impairing the liberty, which we are enjoy- ing, by a higher power.
2. We cannot, indeed, wholly deny the necessity of making candidates and ministers in this country. Indeed, we admit that this would be desirable, if there were here, as in the Fatherland, the proper means of instruction in certain branches of study. But while these facilities are still lacking, we think, to make ministers here would tend to tarnish the Gospel service : as when someone, taught for two or three years by some minister or other, and not having become very familiar with the languages and sciences, and not having gained much systematic knowledge of the true doc- trines of the Faith, should, like some rustic, ascend the pulpit, boldly come forward with a borrowed sermon, deliver it all unabashed, de verbo ad verbum, before respectable congregations, thinking that he has performed a famous thing, (lit. a Roman task) ; and then, if he adds anything of his own, spoiling the entire effort not a little.
3. Then, the making of candidates and ministers here is, in our opinion, open to the objection that it will unavoidably cause our separation from the churches of the Fatherland. Already there is sufficient evidence of this. Some style our relation to your Revs.' Assembly a father's yoke, which must be shaken off. They speak with disrespect of those whom you send. They care very little for what they were required to subscribe to, when they assumed the ministerial office. Yea, indeed, a spirit of independence is clearly manifest, and in the Draught itself (of Classis) even we are made to feel it.
If now we cast our eye upon the party-spirit which for some time has been exercised in the Coetus-a spirit which will not be quenched by the organization of a Classis we conclude that the one, (the Classis), like the other, (the Coetus) will prove to be more of a loss than a profit. We have abundant documentary evidence to show this; from the work of the Committee that came together at
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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Flatbush; from the calling of Jackson to Bergen, and of Romeyn to Oyster Bay, in opposition to what your Revs.' Assembly aimed at; from all the efforts put forth by those who, from time to time, were appointed by the Coetus ; even as also from the work of the Committee at Tappan. The resolutions and regulations of the Coetus concerning matters of that kind are set aside without hesitancy. Whenever one has resolved on a certain course, he makes himself strong by intringue, so as to secure the majority of votes. When that is secured, those who want the right maintained are demanded as strengtheners of the hands of the ungodly and opres- sors of God's people.
These and similar things induce us confidently to go back to our old relation- ships, and to continue steadfastly in our correspondence with your Revs. We will communicate our matters to you, and await your counsel and direction. We hope that your Revs. will not withdraw yourselves from us, but that you will continue to stand by us to the extent of your ability; to be our counselors and helpers in what is for the welfare of our churches. Our desire is that what the petitioners are undertaking may not be successful.
With this we close, and remain, Very Reverend Sirs, Fathers and Brethren, the Consistory of the Dutch Church of Jesus Christ in the City of New York.
Joan. Ritzema, p. t. Praeses.
Wm. de Peyster
Lamb. de Ronde, V. D. M.
Lucas Romme
Paul Richards
Corn. Van Rausd
Henry Cuyler
Phil. Livingston
Ab. Van Wyck
Nich. Roosevelt
Isaac de Peyster
Richard Bay
Fran. Maerschalk
Andrew le Mayer
Nich. Bayard.
New York, Oct. 17, 1754.
Received December 1754.
[But see Corwin Manual, 3rd ed. 1879, pps. 32-44, and 414-417 ; and 4th ed. 1901, pp. 102-117; and 677-680.]
CORRESPONDENCE IN AMERICA.
(Rev. Ritzema to Rev. Van Sinderin, Oct. 18, 1754.)
No. IV.
Sir and Worthy Brother :-
Things turn out very differently from what I thought, in view of the action last proposed at the Coetus. Now there is no other way, so far as I can see, than for you to enter with the others into certain negotiations for peace. If it is to be on the basis of their being recognized as the " Old Consistory ", and, as such, receiving a letter from you, they will return you an answer ; otherwise, they will not; because a letter addressed to them as " Men and Breth- ren " without mentioning persons or affairs, has already greatly disturbed them.
They are urging me very strongly to come and preach for them. They think it likely that, subsequently, if I should make them a visit, it might tend toward the furthering of the proposals
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1754
for peace. But I have not yet been able to consent to it. I should like to have your Revs. idea as to whether it would not be better to consent to it, with a view to the good that might result, than, willing or not, to have it done by those who do not trouble them- selves a great deal about your ruin. May the Lord direct your way in wisdom, to his honor and the salvation of many souls, in order that the dissensions, so pernicious to soul and body, may cease. I am,
Your affectionate brother,
J. Ritzema. New York, Oct. 18, 1754.
P. S. I expect your Rev's. answer as early as possible, in order that I may know what further I am to do.
THE GOVERNOR AND THE STATE-CHURCH COLLEGE. THE DUTCH CHURCH PROFESSORSHIP THEREIN.
William Livingston to Rev. Noah Welles .* Oct. 18, 1754.
Dear Sir :- In relation to Mr. Nicoll's letter on the subject of the charter for our intended college, if our governor made the declaration you mentioned, all that I can infer from it is, that he appears to be as great a master of the art of tergiversa- tion as the most consummate politician. It is no longer ago than last Thursday night that I conversed with him on that topic, and though he then talked like a man who had a double part to act, yet it appeared to me that he intended I should understand him as being resolved not to grant the petition. But my hopes are in the House of Representatives, and I am morally certain that the college would gain nothing by the charter, as the Assembly would never vote for the appropriating the money to a college on that plan.
The Dutch Church has preferred a petition to the Assembly (now sitting), pray- ing for a professor of divinity in the college, to be chosen and appointed by them. Which petition, for the reasons set forth in the same, I doubt not will be granted, and will not fail of having a good effect even should it be rejected. If it meets with success, it will secure to the Dutch a Calvinistic professor, and diminish that badge of distinction to which the Episcopalians are so zealously aspiring. Should it be rejected, as it will meet with opposition from the sticklers for a party college, that will animate the Dutch against them, and convince them that all their pre- tences to sisterhood and identity were fallacious and hypocrtical.
I am, etc., William Livingston. -Sedgewick's Life of Wm. Livingston, pp. 93-95.
* Noah Welles, a Presbyterian minister, whose name occurs frequently in this volume, a classmate of Mr. Livingston, was afterwards settled at Stamford, in Con- necticut, and died on the 31st of December 1776, in the 57th year of his age. MS. letter to Gov. Livingston.
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BISHOP SHERLOCK TO THE REVEREND SAMUEL JOHNSON, D. D.
Fulham, Oct. 20, 1754.
Rev. Sir,
In consideration of Mr. Palmer's* circumstances, and the strong recommendation he brought from you and other worthy clergymen, I appointed a special ordination, and not being able myself to ordain, the Bishop of Bangor, at my request, was so good as to come hither and ordain him; but I refer myself to him to give you an account of his reception here
Sir, I do heartily congratulate the Church abroad, upon the prospect of the settlement of a College at New York under the circumstances and conditions you specify. There is nothing that has come from your parts that has given me so much satisfaction ; and I am, and every friend of the Church of England will be, very much obliged to you for undertaking the care of it; for upon the prudence and fidelity of those who have the first formation, the future success of this undertak- ing will very much depend. I remember some time ago, that I heard of this scheme, but then it was insisted, that the dissenters should have the direction entirely, and that the service of the College should be in their way. One reason offered in behalf of such settlement was, that it would be very convenient for the education of the young gentlemen of the islands ; which, I own, was far from being an argument with me; for as the inhabitants of the islands are almost generally of the Church of England, I thought the putting the young people under the conduct of the dis- senters, and obliging them to their manner of worship, might, in time, be attended with great inconveniences ; but if the College can be settled upon the terms you mentioned, it will go a great way in showing that the zeal for establishing the Church of England is not so inconsiderable in New England as it has sometimes been industriously represented.
I pray God grant you health and strength to accomplish this undertaking, to whose protection I recommend you, and the good work.
If I live to hear that you are settled in this new office, I shall pay great regard to your recommendation of Mr. Beach.
I am, Sir, Your affectionate brother and very humble servant,
Tho. London. -Chandler's Life of Johnson, 172.
CORRESPONDENCE IN AMERICA.
Rev. Van Sinderin to Rev. Ritzema, Oct. 22, 1754. No. V.
Sir, and Brother :-
Your letter of the 18th, I received on the 19th inst. At your Rev's. request this must serve as my reply.
As to the proposal that you should preach to the party differing with us-that, both to myself and to my friends, looks very strange; inasmuch as your Rev. recognizes the decision of the Rev. Coetus in regard to the (anti-) consistory men- tioned, namely, that it ceased to be when its minister, Arondeus dropped out.
It is also to be added, that, in a matter of a similar kind, the Rev. Coetus once made a complaint, in writing, to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, about the miscon- duct of Rev. Mancius. Therefore I cannot accede to such a request, as, in fact, no one is conscientiously free to seek to do so.
* Rev. Solomon Palmer was a graduate of Yale College, and afterwards a Con- gregational Minister in Connecticut. Having conformed he was admitted to Holy orders in the Church of England by the Right Reverend Dr. Egerton, as above stated, " being found worthy upon an examination into his Morals and good Learn- ing." He continued a missionary in Litchfield county, Conn., and in 1761 was ap- pointed, at his own request, to Amboy, N. J., being no longer able to bear the fatigues of an itinerant mission. But it seems he did not remove thither, as, "he would by no means be suitable at Amboy, which is a polite place and the seat of the Gover- nor, whereas Mr. Palmer has been always used to a plain retired Country Life." He was in consequence appointed to Rye, Westchester county, N. Y., in 1762. But he did not go there, the people of that place preferring another ; Mr. Palmer continued at Litchfield, and in 1763 went to superintend the church at New Haven. In 1767 he was again Missionary at Litchfield and Great Barrington, where he continued until his death, which is supposed to have taken place in 1772 .- Col. Docs. N. Y. vi. 910.
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1754
But, if it is their desire, and their idea that by your preaching, your Rev. can do some good, then (I consent) with all my heart ; but that can be done in an orderly way, under my direction, and that of my consistory, even if it were to be week after next, when the Preparatory Service, (boetpredikatie) Deo Volente is to be held. I am willing to exchange with your Rev., if it is necessary.
As to the rest, what your Rev. writes of its possibly being doneby force, on the part of those who do not trouble themselves about my ruin-it grieves my very soul to hear that there are such men to be found among the brethren. But whosoever it may be, who seek to do such a thing as that, shall bear his own judgment, Gal. 5:10; for he will thereby publicly show that he listened neither to God nor to His Word, (The Golden Rule), Matt. 7:12, nor to the Church Order, Art. XV and LXXX .*
Farther, as regards the brethren with whom we differ, we hope to conduct our- selves always in a Christian spirit, and to settle all differences amicably. It grieves me to learn from your Rev's. communication that many were greatly disturbed about the letter we sent, because no names were mentioned. But, in truth, that cannot be said : because the writing mentioned was not meant for any one in particular, but for the whole of the party that differs from us. These, I thought I could honor with no better designation that that of " Men and Brethren," this being an elegant form of address and scriptural. However, if I had had, as the writer, an inkling of such a desire, I should with all my heart have mentioned certain ones in particular by name, as it would have been easy enough to do so. But although this was not done, the good intention of the writer ought not to have been ignored, much less should the communication itself have been left wholly unanswered, as was done by the opponents in this case.
For the rest, I hope that, according to your wish, the Lord may direct my way in wisdom, to His honor and to the salvation of many souls. This is also my wish for your Rev. as well. In closing I hope to remain your Rev's. well wishing brother, especially as I came out of the same Province as yourself, and across the dan- gerous waters, to be engaged in the same service.
Flatbush, Oct. 22, 1754.
U. Van Sinderen.
THE CHURCH AND THE COLLEGE. Reverend S. Johnson to Bishop Secker.
Stratford in New England, Oct. 25, 1754. May it please Your Lordship :-
What Your Lordship says on the subject of that letter is very melancholy. I now almost despair, and very much doubt those more favourable times you hope for will never come. So far from this, that I rather fear the age is growing worse and worse so fast, that the Freethinkers and Dissenters, who play into one anothers hands against the Church, will never drop their virulence and activity, by all manner of Artifices, till they go near to raze the very Constitution to the foundation, both in Church and State .- It is a sad omen that their interest with the Ministry should be so much superior to that of the Church, that she cannot be heard in so reasonable and necessary a thing, and when she asks no more than to be upon a par here with her neighbors, in having to leave to enjoy the benefit of her own institutions as well as they. Is it then come to this, My Lord, that she must ask the Dissenters leave whether she may be allowed to send so much as one bishop; even though it were but a transient one, once in 7 years, to take care of all her numerous children, scattered over so vast a tract of the English dominions ?- If these dissenting Govern-
*Article XV. " No minister relinquishing the service of his own church, or being unattached to any particular congregation, shall be permitted to preach indis- criminately from place to place, without the consent and authority of the (Provincial) Synod or Classis ; in like manner no minister may preach or administer the sacra- ments in any church other than his own, without the consent of the consistory of that church."
Article LXXX. "The following are to be considered as the principal offences that deserve the punishment of suspension or removal from office, namely : False doctrine or heresy, public schisms, open blasphemy, simony, faithless desertion of his office or intruding upon that of another," etc. Rules of Synod of Dort, 1619.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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ments in New England, who scarcely tolerate the Church, must be indulged, yet why may not one be allowed to be sent to New York or Maryland, or Virginia or South Carolina, in which Colonies the Church is established by Law ?- This is extremely hard indeed !- Our Candidates would gladly ride, if it were 5 or 700 miles, for orders, vastly rather than go over the sea 1000 leagues, which has proved so fatal to many of them .-
I have my Lord above these 30 years been trying by many good Offices, and all the means of a friendly converse with the Chief of them, to convince them that nothing more is intended than what I mentioned above, and many of them are good men and have no objection ; but so far are the prevailing party from being softened, that of late they seem a good deal worse than they were, (encouraged, I suppose by their potent friends at home,) for now they will not suffer the pupils of our College at New Haven that belong to the Church, to go to the Church there, nay, offer to fine Mr. Punderson's own sons for going to hear their father, as I suppose he will inform the Society when at the same time the Church at New York, (where it most prevails) is about founding a College with free liberty to dissenting pupils to go to what meeting they please ; nay not excluding dissenters from being even tutors, and only desiring such a preference in their Charter, as that the President of the College be always a Member of the Church, and that an abridgement of the service of the Church be used for Morning and evening prayer, and offer at least seven tenths of the charge in founding endowing etc .- And yet such a hideous clamour is raised against her having any sort of preference or any Charter on these terms, by a small busy faction of dissenters headed by 4 or 5 bigotted violent freethinkers, as threatens throwing the Government into confusion and frustrating the whole design : and this notwithstanding that they have 3 Colleges in these Northern Colonies and the Church none. Nay they contend that no religion at all should be taught in the College rather than the Church should have any precedence .- So bitterly are they set against us! and however so much they are otherwise at variance among themselves, yet they unite with their utmost force against us, and do all they can to disaffect the Dutch towards us, who otherwise were peaceably dis- posed .- Thus, my Lord it is here, and so I doubt it is at home, that by how much the more mildly they are used, by so much the more assuming and active they grow in their endeavours, (not only to hinder the promoting them here, but) even utterly to demolish the Episcopate and the Liturgy there !-
My Lord, Your Lordship's Most dutiful most obliged and obedient humble servant,
(signed) Samuel Johnson. -Col. Docs. N. Y. Vol. vi. pp. 912, 913, 914.
REV. DR. JOHNSON TO THE MOST REVEREND DR. HERRING,
ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.
New York, October 25, 1755.
May it please Your Grace,
The bearer hereof is my son who having been several years in the Society's Service as a Catechist, is now humbly desirous of being admitted to their service as a Curate or Assistant to Mr. Standard* the very aged Missionary at West Chester, near me in this province of New York, and humbly begs leave to pay his duty to Your Grace, and to wait upon you for your instructions and your blessing. I therefore humbly presume to introduce him to Your Grace's kind notice, and beg Your Candor and Condescension towards him, as I trust he is an honest Youth, and have some reason to hope he may prove a useful man, especially in such a Country as this.
At West-Chester in particular, there is the greatest necessity of some good assis- tance, as the people there have been for many years sinking into a deplorable state
"Rev. Thomas Standard, was the first Episcopal Clergyman of Brookhaven. L. I., where he organized a congregation in 1725. Thompson's History of Long Island, 11., 428. In the following year, he was removed to Westchester, vacant by the death of Rev. Mr. Bartow, (Rep. of Prop. Soc., 1727,) where he continued to labor until his death, which occurred in 1760; having been for some time before his demise incapable of performing his office in the Church. Bolton's History of Westchester County, ii., 212. He was succeeded in 1761, by the Rev. John Milner .- Ed.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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1754
of irreligion and neglect of the public worship; partly through the age infirmity and inattention of their minister, and partly through the bad example and influence of some people of condition who affect to be a kind of freethinkers, and not only neglect the public Worship themselves, but tempt the vulgar to neglect and despise it : many of whom, however, if not all, I would hope may yet be reclaimed by the good conduct of a discreet, industrious and faithful clergyman.
And as Mr. Standard, (having no child and a considerable estate, has, I think been too narrow in allowing my son but £40. this currency, i. e. about £22. sterling per annum when, at the same time he is past doing anything himself, (at least that is acceptable to his people) so that my son must, in a manner do all the duty ; I should therefore be most humbly thankful for Your Grace's kind influence with the Society, that they would be so good as to allow him a small pension, which probably would not need to continue long.
With my son, as a friend and companion in his travels, goes one Mr. Harrisson, a gentleman of good esteem in the Vestry of this Church, whereof he is a Member, who will wait on the Society with a letter from the rector, church-wardens & vestry, relating to our College, of whom also I beg Your Grace's kind notice, as he purposes with him to pay his humble duty to Your Grace : and to them I beg leave to refer Your Grace for an account of the condition of things here in America and particu- larly as to what concerns our young College .- I humbly beg Your Grace's prayers for my son, amidst all the dangers and difficult station. I am, may it please Your Grace,
Your Grace's most dutiful Son and most humble servant,
(signed) Samuel Johnson.
To his Grace of Canterbury.
-Col. Docs. N. Y. Vol. vi. pp. 1018, 1019.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
Petition of the Collegiate Church, of New York City, to the
Assembly, for a Professorship of Divinity in Kings College, Oct. 25, 1754.
(From the Journal of the Assembly (of the Province), Vol. ii., p. 392, Oct. 25, 1754.)
A petition of the Ministers, Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, in the city of New York, was presented to the House and read, setting forth that, as the establishing of a College within this Colony for the instruction of youth in the liberal arts and sciences has given rise to various debates, and is of the utmost importance to their civil, and more especially their religious liberties ; they conceive it highly necessary, as guardians of the ecclesiastical interests of the Dutch congregations of this city in particular, and the other Dutch Churches in this province in general, that they should by all proper means endeavor to add to the privileges and liberties they have heretofore enjoyed under the auspicious smiles of the British Government :
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