USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume V > Part 57
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
Done in our Coetus Convention, held in New York on the thirtieth day of May, 1755. In the name and by the authority of the whole Coe- tus.
Reinhardt Erickzon, p. t. Praeses., Johannes Leydt, p. t. Scriba., Benjamin Meynema, Ulpianus van Sinderin, Johannes Henricus Goetschius, J. C. Fryenmoet, Samuel Verbryck, David Marinus, Barent Vrooman, Johannes Schuneman, Thomas Romeyn.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
3553
1755
CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA.
. |
The Coetus to the Classis of Amsterdam, May 30, 1755.
Portfolio, "New York ", Vol. ii. To the Very Rev. Classis of Amsterdam.
Very Rev. and Very Learned Sirs and Brethren:
Although it lies fresh in the memory of the Coetus, that the Rev. Classis has insisted that no further requests be made for permission to ordain [promote] more young men to the sacred Gospel ministry in this country; and reasons therefore were given, which, in themselves, were not without weight; and although we would gladly have acquiesced in ordinations [promotions] only by the Rev. Classis, and thus have observed that part of the good order of which they make mention, if other parts of said good order, and, especially, pressing circumstances had not com- pelled us; yet, Rev. Sirs, it happens that, on that very account, we feel ourselves in conscience constrained and compelled to renew our requests. And so we now do, and that for two individuals, upon the earnest desire of certain churches. Their circumstances are such, that when they are more fully made known, we trust, your Revs. will not only justify our request, but also give your permission and approval in the matter.
One of these individuals is [John] Mauritius Goetschius, a man, so far as we know, of Christian character, and of a peace-loving disposition. He is a brother of Rev. [John] Henricus Goetschius, under whom he studied for some years. He then sailed for Holland with a view to the ministry. He went to Switzerland, however, and, after having attended an Academy [University] there, he became a doctor of medicine. Sometime ago he came back again. Having practiced medicine success- fully for a time, he felt constrained to serve the Church. Under Rev. Theodore Frielinghuysen [of Albany ] he fitted himself in theology, the Hebrew language, etc .; and now he has received a call to Stone Arabia, a German Reformed Church, north of Albany. For some time past, this church has been imposed upon, tossed about and injured by German [ministerial] tramps. It is far distant and has little strength; but it longs for the Gospel ministry. It has accordingly addressed itself to our Coetus for help, and particularly as to this matter. If not helped now in this way, and being unable to bear the expense of a voyage to Holland, [by a man seek- ing ordination] it is liable to become totally scattered.
The other individual is Henricus Frielinghuysen, a young man about twenty-one years of age, possessed of excellent ideas, and of a discerning judgment. These are natural gifts, common to the Frielinghuysen family, and not unknown to your Revs. He, too, by studying under his brothers from his childhood, has enlarged his gifts, so that his knowledge and erudition are by no means small. At first, indeed, he did not have the Gospel ministry in view. But at length he was induced to give himself to it. He has now, in a private examination held for him, by Revs. Freyenmoet, Verbryck and Vrooman, given satisfactory proof of his knowledge in theology as well as in other branches. And he has already received a call from the church where his brother Jacobus had been called, namely, at Mormelton [Marbletown]. This church still feels the heavy expense [of having sent Jacobus Frielinghuysen to Holland], and the sad loss of its formerly called minister, whom, after so many struggles and such long waiting, it had at last secured, but was never privileged to behold as its [settled] minister. An express condition, therefore, made in this call, is, that he must receive ordination [promotion] in this country; otherwise the call will be cancelled. So it was, therefore, that although he felt inclined to go across the ocean, even at his own expense, yet he could by no means do so; for the risk connected with it, as well as other reasons, had to be taken into account. Such being the case, and the church as well, being strongly determined, we could not conscientiously refuse to make again this request: namely, that the Coetus, in the name of the Classis, should have power given it, to qualify these two young men.
3554
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1755
Nor can we doubt that your Revs. will accede to such request. In expectation whereof, after wishing you, Rev. Sirs and Fathers, every blessing, we remain Your Revs. Servants. Signed in the name of the Coetus,
R. Erickson, p. t. Praeses. J. Leydt, p. t. Scribe.
Done in special session of our Coetus at New York, May 30, 1755. Copia collata Concordat.
P. S. We are absolutely necessitated, Rev. Sirs, to repeat this request, even before we have obtained an answer, and to urge it, with the following reasons;
1. The well-known war, which makes the sea altogether unsafe, and which presses especially upon our country. This induces those churches to say further, that these young men shall not go across the sea [for ordination], for they dread the possibility of their falling into the hands of the enemy.
2. Those churches are located on the borders, and are thus exposed, more than others, to the inroads of the barbarians. This not only makes the need of services for them the greater, but it also makes it unsafe, yea, even dangerous, for ministers to go to supply them; for the Indians are in the habit of lurking along the ways, like wolves, watching for blood.
3. If we obtain no authority for the ordination [promotion], then the churches are lost to us. This has now become plain; for we have with difficulty withheld them from going over to other denominations, and have only quieted them by the promise of once more repeating this request.
young men shall not go across the sea [for ordination], for they dread the possibility that the Rev. Classis will not be able conscientiously to refuse our request; neither will it want to do so. We ask, therefore, that the answer may be sent us as soon as possible, either by the way of England, or by some other way, cost what it may. Thus may we be in a condition to save the churches and to keep them in subordina- tion to your Revs., as well as to good order. We are eagerly awaiting an answer to our former proceedings, which were sent on a year ago. We shall now give orders to send on the present also; and we ask that answers be sent us under cover, addressed to Mr. Joris Brinkerhoff, merchant at New York. We remain, Your Revs. Obedient Servants, In the name of the Coetus, in regular session, Samuel Verbryck, p. t. Praeses. B. Vrooman, p. t. Scriba.
Dated New York, this 7th of October, 1756.
No. 259. Answered, Jan. 11, 1757.
THE COLLEGE AND THE DUTCH CHURCH.
The Additional Charter, for a Dutch Divinity Professorship in Kings College, pre- sented and approved, May 30, 1755.
At a Council, etc., etc., the 30th of May, 1755.
Fresent, the Honorable James De Lancey, Esq., Lieut .- Gov., etc. Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Murray, Mr. Smith, Mr. Holland. Mr. Chambers,
The draft of an additional charter to the Governors of the College of the Province of New York, in the City of New York, in America, for establishing a Professorship in Divinity for the instruction of such youth as may intend to devote themselves to the ministry in these churches in this Province that are in communion with and conform to the doctrine, discipline and worship established in the United Provinces by the National Synod of Dort, and any other students that may be desirous to attend his lectures was laid before the Board, read and approved of, and the Coun- cil humbly advise his Honour to fix the seal of the Province to the same when engrossed and prepared for it.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
3555
1755
THE ADDITIONAL CHARTER.
"Additional Charter" to the Charter of Kings College, allowing a Professor of Divinity to be appointed therein by the Dutch Church of New York City; upon the personal application of Rev. John Ritzema, Senior minister of said church. 1755, May 30. [See Oct. 31, 1754.]
."That the Dutch here shall enjoy the liberty of their consciences in Divine Worship and Church Discipline . there may and shall be in the said College, a Professor of Divinity of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, for the instruction of such youth as may intend to devote themselves to the Sacred Ministry of this Church, in this our Province of New York Such Professor shall be from time to time, and at all times hereafter, nominated, chosen and appointed, by the Ministers, Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the City of New York for the time being, when they shall see fit to make such nomination, choice and appointment Provided always such Professor, so to be chosen from time to time by them, be a member of, and in communion with the Said Reformed Protestant Dutch Church."
-See Corwin's Manual of the Reformed Church, 4th ed. 1902, pp. 107-116, 168, 678-9.
See also under dates of Oct. 1, 18, 25; Nov. 1, 4, 1754; and May 7, 13, 19; June 3, 5, 12; Aug. 11, 12, 1755; Dec. 1, 1756.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Letters to Pennsylvania.
1755, June 1st. Art. 6. The Committee on Pennsylvania affairs handed over three letters, drawn up by them according to resolutions of the Rev. Depp. Utriusque Synodi, and of this Classis : namely, one to the Coetus, one to Rev. Scheatter, and one to Rev. Rubel. A committee was appointed to hear those letters read, and, if satisfactory, to send them off. The Committee having expressed its complete satisfaction therewith, the forward- ing of those letters was determined on. xiii. 49.
Final and Preparatory Examination of Revs. Brouwer, Jakson, and Van Herwerden.
Art. 8. William Jakson handed over his academical and ecclesiastical certificates, with an accompanying call from the churches of Bergen and Staten Island, in North America. He asks to be examined preparatorily and finally. This was granted him, on the condition that before his admission to the ministerial office, he make declaration that he will not co-operate (lit. con- spire) in any plans to promote the erection of an independent Classis or Academy in New York or the neighboring provinces, without the consent of the Classis. xiii. 49, 50.
3556
1755
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
(William Jakson.)
William Jakson's sermon was on Eccles. 12:1, and the chapters assigned him in the languages were Psalm 2 and John 1. But so little satisfaction was given by him that the Assembly rejected him for the present, with the privilege that he might offer himself once more for examination, when he shall have advanced further. xiii. 51.
THE COLLEGE AND THE DUTCH CHURCH.
The Additional Charter to the Charter of Kings College presented to the Trustees, June 3, 5, 1755, and deposited with the Treasurer of the College, and ordered printed.
June 3, 1755.
Mr. Banyar, Deputy Secretary of this Province from his Honour the Lieutenant Governor presented his Majestie's Additional Charter to the Governors of the Col- lege of the Province of New York, in the City of New York in America, for estab- lishing a Professor in Divinity in the said College according to the Doctrine, Disci- pline and Worship established by the National Synod of Dort, and then withdrew. The said Additional Charter being read: It was thereupon
Resolved, That the Treasurer, Mr. Barclay, Mr. Ritzema, Dr. Johnson and Mr. Lispenard be a Committee to wait upon his Honor the Lieut .- Governor, to return him the thanks of this Board for the same.
Ordered, That the said Additional Charter be lodged with the Treasurer of the Corporation; which was delivered to him accordingly.
At a Council, etc., etc., the 5th of June, 1755
Present.
Ordered, That the additional charter granted to the Governor of the College of the Province of New York, in the City of New York, in America, for the establish- ing a Dutch Professorship in Divinity be printed.
(This additional Charter is not on Record in the office of the Secretary of State at Albany.)
CHURCH OF NEW YORK. Manor of Fordham.
New York, June 9, 1755.
Consistory held after calling on God's name. Present, domines Ritzema and De Ronde. Elders; Cuyler, de Peyster, Lefferts, Johnson, Brinckerhoff ; Deacons, W. de Peyster, Van Wyck, Ray, Livingston, Meyer, Keteltas, Brevoort, Bogart; Church Masters : G. W. Beekman, Lott, Roosevelt. Resolved,
1. That the act and confirmation be delivered to Deputy Secre- tary Banyer, to be placed in the hands of the Council.
2. That a notice be affixed to the Church-door of the Manor of Fordham to the effect that all who are in arrears of rent shall
3557 1755
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
pay the same by August 1st to Capt. Abel Hardenbrock in New York; otherwise they must expect to be arrested without further delay.
3. That the Great Consistory be called to meet on the matter of the Manor at 4 o'clock on Thursday afternoon, June 12.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
Manor of Fordham, Church not to be sold.
New York, June 12, 1755. Great Consistory held.
After calling on God's name, the President stated, that the last Great Consistory had consented to petition for power to sell the Manor of Fordham; that the Act of Assembly was not confirmed in England; and that the question now was, whether all was still of the same mind; and were willing to sell. It was unanimously agreed to sell, and the matter was referred to the Ruling Consis- tory, to manage the matter as they thought best.
The Ruling Consistory further resolved to request the Elders, Johnson and Lefferts, and the deacons, Philip Livingston and Theodore Van Wyck, to speak first to Mr. Pieter de Lancy, who it was understood, wished to buy the whole (Manor), and see if they could come to an agreement respecting the Manor, excepting the church ; and report to the Consistory. This they agreed to do.
PETITION OF THE TRUSTEES OF KING'S COLLEGE TO THE ASSEMBLY, FOR THE MONEYS RAISED BY LOTTERY FOR A COLLEGE; JUNE 12, 1755.
From the Journal of the Assembly, Vol. ii., pp. 446-7.
A petition of sundry of the Governors of the College of the Province of New York, in the City of New York, in America, was presented to the House and read, setting forth that for some time past several considerable sums of money had been raised in this Colony by public lotteries and the duties on excise, which was, by Acts of the Legislature, vested in Trustees, and appropriated for the founding and erecting and establishing a College or Seminary of learning, for the education and instruc- tion of youth; that the said Trustees in consequence of their appointment, and of the Acts of the Assembly aforesaid, did about a twelve-month since open a Public Seminary, under the care and direction of the Reverend Samuel Johnson, whom they invited and called from Stratford, in New England, as President, to begin and carry on the same; but finding the advancement of the said Seminary would be greatly retarded for want of several powers and privileges with which the neigh- boring Seminaries were vested, such as making laws for the good government of the
3558
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1755
students, and conferring degrees and honors, such as are usually granted by Col- leges, did therefore petition his Honor, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council, and obtain his Majesty's Letters Patent of incorporation, granting unto the petitioners the powers and privileges aforesaid whereby there is now the greatest prospect of success, and it is hoped that by some future assistance and encouragement it will fully answer the good and laudable intentions of the Legislature:
That the said petitioners, considering it would tend to the promoting of said Col- lege to have a Professor of Divinity therein, in communion with and conforming to the doctrine, discipline and worship established in the United Provinces by the National Synod of Dort, for the benefit of such students as may tend for the Sacred Ministry, or such others as may be desirous to attend his lectures, petitioned his Honor, the Lieutenant Governor in Council, for his Majesty's additional Letters- Patent for that purpose, which were readily granted, whereby the nomination and appointment of such Professor is vested in the Ministers, Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in this City; and the said Professor is to enjoy the same rights and privileges as other Professors in the said College, as in and by the said Charter, ready to be produced, will more fully at large appear:
That upon the petitioners being sworn and qualified to execute the office of Gov- ernors of said College, the Rector and Inhabitants of the City of New York, in communion of the Church of England, as by law established, did, for the encour- agement, promoting and forwarding the said good design, execute and deliver unto them the legal conveyances for a certain parcel of land in the West Ward of this City, of upwards of three thousand pounds value, which they generously offered and set apart for that purpose, being most pleasantly and conveniently situated for the building and use of a College;
That the petitioners, being sensible of the advantages of a free and generous edu- cation of youth in the liberal arts and sciences, to the Province in general, as well as to this City in particular, are ready and willing to the utmost of their power faithfully to execute the trust reposed in them; and therefore humbly praying the Honorable House will at all times assist, protect and countenance them therein, and particularly that they will be favorably pleased to pass a bill in order to vest in the petitioners for the uses aforesaid the several sums of money so as aforesaid raised by public lottery, and the duties on excise, with the increase or profit arising thereby; and also grant unto them such further and other assistance and encour- agement the better to enable them to carry on the useful work aforesaid, as to the Honorable House shall seem reasonable and consistent with the public good.
A Motion was made by Mr. Cornell to postpone to the next meeting of this House, after the first day of September next, and the question being put thereon it was carried in the affirmative, in the manner following: affirmative, 11; negative 9. (The names are given in the Journal.)
After a warm and protracted debate of a year, it was ordered that one-half of these moneys be given to the College, and the other half to the Corporation of the City of New York for a Pest-house. [See Corwin's Manual, Brd ed., 1879, p. 37; 4th ed. 1902, 107. Also Act of Dec. 1, 1756.]
CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA.
Rev. Anthonius Curtenius, of Flatbush, to the Classis of Amster- dam, June 21, 1755. Portfolio " New York ", Vol. ii.
Addressed on the outside:
To the Rev. Ministers as well as Elders, who constitute the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, at Amsterdam.
Very Rev. Fathers and Brethren in Christ, Ministers as well as Elders, who con- stitute the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam:
Remarkable in deed are the words we read in Prov. 21:1, "The king's heart is in the hand of Jehovah; as the watercourses, He turneth it whithersoever He will." Of this I have become aware by the wonderful guidance of the Most High. For
I
3559
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1755
the old and real consistories of the five villages, namely, Flatbush, Brooklyn, Bush- wick, New Amesfort and New Utrecht, situated in Kings County on Long Island, had their hearts inclined, in the name and by the authority of far the greater num- ber of members in the Reformed Dutch Churches of the aforesaid villages, to call me as their regular pastor and teacher, in the place of Rev. John Arondeus, who went back to Holland last year. At first, when two delegates from the consistory came to bring me the call, I stood amazed, and thought by myself, how wonderful is the Lord's guidance in my being called there; for I had never even heard of their having it in their mind to call me. Then they related to me how wonderfully God's hand had been at work in the matter. They said that the Church-Committee, authorized by the Churches to choose a minister, had in mind two ministers, namely, Rev. Van Hoevenberg and Rev. Freyenmoet; that they were expecting surely to make a choice of one of them, for their regular pastor and teacher. When the consistories had come together, two days before a choice was to be made, it happened that a certain person of the church [kerkpersoon] mentioned my per- son at their meeting. So, when the day had come to choose a minister for the churches, my person was named again at their meeting. Then God so inclined their hearts that, within an hour's time, by unanimous vote, they, in the name of the churches, elected me, as their regular pastor and teacher for the five aforesaid villages. See document, Letter A.
To me, and to hundreds of other people, it seemed wonderful that that election had thus come about. I wrote a letter to the consistories, stating that I would take the call into consideration for one month. I also asked them to be so good, mean- while, as to come to me to New York, to confer further on this matter; requesting them also to be pleased to bring with them the lists from each village of those who desired me for their regular pastor and teacher. I found that as many as one hun- dred and thirty odd persons, of Reformed Church families, desired me as their minister. When one considers such a fact, and looks at it in the light of God's Word, he finds that the regular calling of a pastor and teacher lies with the church, as in Acts 14:23, etc .; 1 Cor. 3:23, 2 Cor. 4:5, and other places. See document, Letter B.
This gave me proof, sufficiently convincing, of my being called of the Lord. Nevertheless, I was not willing to give my word, before, as I told the consistories, they had proposed certain Articles of Peace to Rev. Van Sinderen and his consis- tory. The Peace Articles were, accordingly, drawn up. Then said I, "I should like to see Rev. Van Sinderen's salary as secure as my own." They answered me, "If Rev. Van Sinderen accepts these Peace Articles," [this will be so.] An elder from Flatbush then said to me, that he [Van Sinderen] would have 28 pounds from Flatbush village alone, as well as myself; also all the other consistories promised to do their several parts, in seeing what they could raise among their churches by voluntary contribution. I then said, "If he accepts these Peace Articles, I promise that, after I shall have been installed in my office, I will go with him through the five villages from house to house, to declare before every individual of all the con- gregations, that I had not come to the churches to keep up the quarrels which had so long prevailed among them; but that, if it should please God to bless my ministry, all such things must vanish away. See document, Letters C. D. F.
It grieved me that all these advances were repelled by him and his consistory. See document Letter E. Although I perceived, that, in spite of every effort on my part to secure the restoration of peace in those churches, Rev. Van Sinderen and his consistory continued to oppose that large number of people in those churches. Nevertheless, I did not want to resist the will of God. I declared at last, that, in the fear of the Lord, I accepted the divine call, and that in the strength of the Lord, I would come over to them.
So in the beginning of April my relation [at Hackensack] was dissolved, and on May 8th, 1755, that being Ascension Day, I was by the Rev. Johannes Ritzema, installed in office. My humble request now is, that it may please your very Revs., to approve this divine call; and then I doubt not that those churches will soon be restored to rest and peace. I would have asked your Revs. for approval of this divine call before I went over to those churches, but there was danger in delay. For as soon as Rev. Van Sinderen and his consistory heard that the call had been offered to me, they banded together with the Gravesand Church to call Rev. Theo- dorus Frielinghuysen of Albany. They also put this plan into execution, and at once offered him the call. I understood from Rev. Van Sinderen that he declined it.
3560
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1755
The object of this was, to thwart again the will of that large majority, and of scaring me into declining that divine call.
Wishing your Revs. every conceivable blessing, not only upon your holy ministries but also upon your persons and families, I close, and remain, Rev. Fathers and Brethren in Christ, Your Very Revs. Obedient Servant and Brother,
Anthonius Curtenius.
Flatbush, June 21, 1755.
No. 233. Received by Classis, Sept. 1, 1755.
Paper A.
That the election occurred in such a way as our minister has represented in his letter, we the elders, testify in the name of all.
Nicklaes Wyckof, elder Jeremias Van der Bilt, elder Nicklaes Veghte, elder
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.