USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume V > Part 62
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There were present the following members:
Rev. Reynhart Erickson
And elder
H. Voorhees
Ulpianus Van Sinderen
60
J. Sebering
John H. Goetschius John Leydt
J. Leydecker
John C. Freyenmoet
66
66
J. Westfael
David Marinus
66
J. Pieterson
Johannes Schuneman
Thomas Romeyn
66
J. Durje
From Vacant Churches. Simon Van Aarsdalen, from Raritan. J. Gerritsen, from Staten Island.
From these members of this Assembly, there were elected as Officers-For Presi- dent, Rev. J. Leydt; for Scribe, Rev. J. C. Freyenmoet.
The Minutes of the Special Meeting recently held were then read and approved.
It was proposed to send some one to Rev. Ritzema, and kindly ask him, if he would not please attend the Coetus as a member of it; and, in case a negative answer is given, to demand of him, in name of the Coetus, the Coetus Book of Minutes, the Classical Letters as well as other papers belonging to the Coetus; also his report, as treasurer. This proposition was agreed to without a dissenting voice. As a Committee for that purpose, there were appointed, the Rev. President and Rev. Reynhart Erickson, together with the elders, Voorhees and Van Aarsdalen.
Whereupon the meeting adjourned with thanksgiving to God. Time of meeting: in the afternoon, at 4 o'clock.
Session II. Afternoon, 4 o'clock.
After calling upon the Lord's Holy Name, Rev. Benjamin Menima and elder, Isaac Brinkerhoff came in as members.
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The minutes of the forenoon session were read and approved.
1. The gentlemen commissioned to see Rev. Ritzema, reported that they did not find his Rev. at home, and so could not carry out their commission. The Rev. Assembly continued the Committee, until its work shall have been accomplished.
2. The gentlemen commissioned to go to Long Island reported, that owing to an error in the date, the 3rd of July instead of the 3rd of June, being written in the letter citing Rev. Curtenius, they were unable to proceed with their commission. Rev. Curtenius was unwilling to appear on account of that error; and he, with his followers, called it a non-suit; and, in a brief letter to the Committee, he abused the Rev. Assembly. Whereupon, the Rev. Assembly heartily thanked the Committee for the many though fruitless troubles which they had taken.
3. The Committee on the affairs of Hackensack and Schralenburg brought in their report. The entire Assembly of the Coetus, not only approved and ratified the pro- ceedings of the Rev. Committee, but also heartily thanked the Committee for the same.
Rev. Goetschius, having made a request to give further account of what occurred, in connection with Rev. Haaghoort and his chosen consistory, at Hackensack and Schralenburg, since the Committee last met there, the request was received for future consideration, because of the absence of brethren who were expected.
4. The President inquired whether Rev. Curtenius should be now cited to appear before this Assembly to reply to the complaints brought against him by Rev. Van Sinderen. It was resolved, without a dissenting voice, that this be done. Rev. Goetschius was asked to draw up the Citation, and to set the time for his appear- ing, on the day after the morrow, in the forenoon at 10 o'clock. For this, when it was done, his Rev. received thanks.
5. James Hyndslaw, elder at Smithfield, [Pike Co. Pa. ? ] and Johannis Westfael, elder at Minnesink, [Sussex Co. N. J.] presented to our Assembly for our considera- tion and our decision, a certain difficulty existing between the Consistory of the three churches of Rev. Freyenmoet, and the Consistory at Smithfield. This arose out of a misunderstanding about a certain ecclesiastical action taken by the Rev. Consistory of the four churches on April 16, 1750. Both sides have promised to acquiecse wholly in our decision to be given thereon.
The Rev. Assembly, having heard the reasons for and against, and having care- fully considered the action itself, found itself in conscience bound to give the fol- lowing unanimous decision: That, whereas it appears that the church of Smithfield has been legally and ecclesiastically separated from the three other churches, [Mini- sink, Walpeck and Mohakkemack], the Rev. Consistory of Rev. Freyenmoet's three churches are, according to the contents of the aforesaid action, obliged to pay to the Rev. Consistory at Smithfield thirty pounds. It will have to make every effort to secure that amount from the churches; and, should anything be lacking, to supply the deficiency out of the elders' treasury. Whereupon both parties thanked the Assembly for this decision.
Session III.
Wednesday, Oct. 8th, Forenoon
0
The meeting was opened with an earnest prayer by the Rev. President. 1. The following additional members were present:
Rev. Theodorus Frielinghuysen; and the elders,
J. Haring from Tappan
A. Hardenbergh
New Paltz
H. Visscher
New Brunswick
E. de Wit
Mormel [Marbletown] Rochester and Wawarsing.
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A letter from Rev. Verbryck was read, giving his Rev's. excuse for not appearing as a member at the Coetus, which was perfectly satisfactory to the Assembly.
The minutes of the previous forenoon were then read and approved.
2. Isaac Romeyn, Joh. de Witt, Petrus Du Bois, elders, and Mattheus Dubois, deacon from Fishkill, representing, as they declared, all the members of the con- sistory, cited by Rev. Minema to appear before the Rev. Coetus, asked to know, whether an ex-elder, like Isaac Brinkerhoff, who has been allowed a seat, should keep it, when a ruling elder, such as each one of their number is, comes in?
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The Rev. Assembly agreed to ask the ruling elders, whether one of them was willing to take a seat in our Assembly in that capacity. The proposition, when made to them by the President, was accepted, and Isaac Romeyn was selected to take a seat. Whereupon the Rev. Assembly Resolved, That, whereas Isaac Brinker- hof had, owing to the absence of a ruling elder, the day before, enjoyed a seat, and the Assembly was allowed a ruling elder according to his desire, to take the seat, Isaac Brinkerhof was thanked for his assistance on the previous day.
3. Report of the gentlemen who were commissioned to see Rev. Ritzema: He absolutely refused to attend the Assembly as a member; or to let them have the Coetus Book of Minutes, and the papers, belonging to the Coetus; likewise he refused to give up the Classical Letter. He gave as his reasons, that he had received no orders to that effect from certain brethren with whom he had recently conferred ;* and that the matter had already been brought where it belonged. He was also unwilling to make report as treasurer, because he did not hold us to be the Coetus.
Whereupon the Assembly adjourned with thanksgiving to God, to meet in the afternoon at 2:30.
Session IV.
Afternoon, 2:30.
After calling upon the Lord's Name, greatly to be feared, the minutes of the forenoon were read and approved, after being amended.
Rev. Theodorus Frielinghuysen made report to show how his Rev. Consistory would, not only have nothing to do with the Rev. Coetus, but also would in no wise consent to his Rev's. departure [to Holland]. His Rev., therefore, asked the Rev. Assembly whether it remained steadfast in its resolution to send him to Hol- land, as their legate, entrusted with several important matters. He offered to shape his course according to the decision of the Assembly. The Assembly, with one exception, persisted in its resolution.
It was moved to appoint a Committee to compose a letter to be sent to the Classis, giving a general account of the condition of our churches, of what circumstances had led to the formation of a Classis, of the progress therein, and of the opposition thereto up to the present time.
The proposition was accepted, and the Rev. Scribe, Rev. Erickson, with the elder Visscher were appointed said Committee.
It was further proposed to appoint a Committee for the purpose of drawing up and ratifying credentials for Rev. Frielinghuysen. This proposition was carried, and there were appointed as such Committee, the Rev. President, Rev. Marinus, and the elder Joost Durjee.
2. Rev. Goetschius gave the Rev. Assembly further account of what had taken place, in connection with Rev. Haaghoort and the Consistory chosen under his direction at Hackensack and Schralenburgh:
(1) Proceeding with the installation of that Consistory, so chosen.
(2) Forcible occupation of the churches by the members under censure, and their observance of worship in them.
(3) Numerous meetings of Consistory under the President, Rev. Haaghoort, and with the assistance of Rev. Van der Linden.
In reference to this business, it was the Rev. Assembly's opinion that a letter should be written to Rev. Haaghoort and the censured members at Hackensack and Schralenburgh, containing the following points:
(1) A notification of the ratification, by the Rev. Coetus in special session, of the acts of the Rev. Committee appointed by the Coetus in special session last May [1755], to investigate the disturbances at Hackensack and Schralenburgh.
(2) Also an earnest warning against every ungodly act of that kind.
(3) And the purpose of the Rev. Coetus to lay all that has occurred forcibly and truthfully before the Rev. Classis.
(4) Also a letter to Rev. Van der Linden, containing a faithful warning against his giving further assistance, in any church assembly, to those censured members
* See letter of Sept 3, 1755. These "Conferring Brethren", took the name of Conferentie, a Conference, in distinction from the Coetus. But the word "confer-' entie" or "conference", as a common noun, sometimes occurs when it refers to a conference of the Coetus.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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For this purpose were appointed as a Committee, the Rev. Erickson and the elder, Simon Van Aarsdalen.
3. Rev. Van Sinderen, persisting in his complaint against Rev. Ritzema, concern- ing the installation of Rev. Curtenius among the followers of Arondeus on Long Island, the Rev. Assembly resolved that Rev. Ritzema be cited to appear before us the following day at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
By unanimous consent Rev. Minema took upon himself the drawing up of the citation which having been done, his Rev. was thanked therefor.
A Committee was appointed, consisting of Revs. Frielinghuysen and Romeyn, to draw up a representation to the Rev. Classis of the conduct of Rev. Haaghoort at Hackensack and Schralenburgh, as also of the acts done by the Rev. Committee there.
.Rev. Erickson, having faithfully fulfilled his commission in writing the aforesaid letters, was thanked therefor.
Whereupon the Assembly adjourned with thanksgiving to God.
Session V.
Thursday, Oct. 9th; Forenoon.
According to custom, the Rev. Assembly was opened with prayer, looking up to God.
The Minutes of the afternoon previous were read and approved.
1. An answer was read from Rev. Curtenius, to the Citation served on him the day before. It was addressed, "To the Rev. Gentlemen, who are neither a Synodi- cal, nor a Classical, nor a Consistorial Assembly, but who are holding their sessions at the house of Mr. Nego Hegeman, residing at New York". From this address, it appeared, and the Rev. Assembly so judged, that the communication did not belong on their table. Therefore it would have to be returned, under convert to his Rev's. house. From the contents of the answer, it was also plain to the Rev. Assembly, that Rev. Curtenius, because of his having been called to Long Island through the wonderful guidance of the Most High, [as he said] did, some time ago, bring his affairs to the notice of his "Competent Judges", namely, The Very Rev. Classis of Amsterdam; and that therefore, he refused to appear before us.
2. The Rev. Assembly was of opinion, that the power to suspend him from the ministry, (which, on certain conditions was given to the Rev. Committee appointed by the special Coetus last May to investigate his Rev's. call to Long Island), be now put into execution. This was done on account of his Rev's. persistent and utterly unecclesiastical action in this matter, his disregard for every ecclesiastical exhortation, and his disobedience; and, furthermore, that all the proceedings in this case be laid upon the table of the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam.
The form and expression of this suspension was taken into further consideration. Whereupon the Assembly adjourned with thanksgiving to God; to meet at 2:30 P. M.
Session VI.
Afternoon, 2:30.
1. After the meeting, as usual, had been opened with prayer, it was proposed to send a Committee to the Rev. Consistory of New York, requesting its members to act as mediators in requesting Mr. Ritzema, their minister, and, if possible, to per- suade him to deliver up to us the Coetus Book of Minutes, the Classical Letter or Letters, and other papers and books belonging to the Coetus, as well as the Coetus- Funds, etc. As such committee, there were appointed the President and Scribe of this Coetus, together with elder Visscher.
2. (1) Rev. Romeyn complained to the Assembly, that, by Rev. de Ronde's preach- ing for the dissatisfied at Newtown, he is being hindered in carrying out the salu- tary object which the Rev. Classis had committed to him, namely, the uniting again, in harmony of the four churches.
(2) Rev. Romeyn further asked our Assembly for advice concerning Church- members at Success and Newtown: Whether it might be permitted them, provi- sionally, to commune with those at Oyster Bay and Jamaica, if the Consistories at Jamaica and Oyster Bay agreed to it; inasmuch as they had formerly been com- bined with those churches, and had never been ecclesiastically separated. The Rev.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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Assembly had not the least objection to their doing so. Adjourned, with thanks- giving to God, to meet 9 o'clock to-morrow forenoon.
Session VII.
Friday, Oct. 10th, forenoon; 9 o'clock.
The meeting was opened with prayer to God.
1. The Scribe reported that his Rev. had personally handed the letter of citation to Rev. Ritzema, and that Rev. Ritzema had replied that his Rev. had already given his answer to that letter to Revs. Erickson and Leydt.
The minutes of the previous afternoon were read and approved.
The Committee appointed to wait on the Rev. Consistory of New York, reported, that they had discharged their commission. The Rev. Consistory had advised them that this matter did not pertain to them, but belonged on a higher table.
The Rev. Assembly, having used every means in its power to obtain from Mr. Ritzema its Coetus Book of Minutes, etc., was unable to obtain anything else than the Classical Letter of January 14, 1755; and that was obtained from the hands of Mr. Joris Brinkerhof, under the express condition of its being returned to him.
The Rev. Scribe and Rev. Frielinghuysen, having once again gone to the house of Rev. Ritzema, to seek to induce him, by every conceivable reason, and in a friendly and fraternal manner, to give up to us, or, at least, to loan us, the Book of Minutes of our Coetus, found every effort in vain. His Rev. said that he was firmly resolved, cost what it might, to retain all the aforesaid records and papers, and to let every- thing come to a head.
2. Rev. Minema and his friends, as also the members of consistory, [of Pough- keepsie, etc.], representing forty-two church-members, being all of them either ruling members, or else ex-members of consistory, and cited by Rev. Minema to appear before our Assembly, were now asked by the Rev. President, whether, if the Rev. Assembly took it upon itself to judge of their disputes, they would, on . both sides, be willing to submit themselves to its decision? Rev. Minema, with his followers expressed himself as heartily thus inclined. But those members of the consistory referred to, replied, that they could not leave the matter to the Rev. Assembly, because the churches had not authorized them to do so; and they were certain that, if sentence were pronounced against them, the churches would rise up against them, and be wholly disrupted. They requested, however, that the Rev. Assembly would devise some possible way to persuade Rev. Minema to resign his ministry among them. The Rev. President, therefore, asked Rev. Mineme whether he felt himself inclined to such resignation of his ministry of his churches, [Pough- keepsie and Fishkill], and would, to that end, enter into the proper negotiations with the Consistory? Rev. Minema showed himself disposed to do this also, on condition that the Rev. Consistories of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill
1. Would give him a certificate in due form.
2. And pay him, besides the arrears on his salary, a fair sum of money;
3. And recommend him to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam.
The Assembly adjourned, with thanksgiving to God, to meet at 2:30, P. M.
Session VIII. 2:30, P. M.
The Rev. Assembly was opened again with prayer to God.
The Minutes of the last session was read and approved.
The Rev. Assembly, having put forth every possible effort in connection with Rev. Minema's negotiation with his Consistory of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill, concerning his Rev's. resignation of his ministry among them, finally came to the following agreement:
That the Rev. Assembly, by an individual expression of opinion, makes known what sum of money the Rev. Consistory of Poughkeepsie and Fishkill should be obliged to pay his Rev. on his dismissal. The Consistory aforesaid took it upon itself to raise the amount thus fixed upon, among the churches, if possible; or if not, to leave it to a Committee, appointed by this Assembly, namely, Revs. Leydt and Marinus, together with the elders, Haring and Hardenbergh, if both parties so desired. Both sides bound themselves to abide, to stand or fall, by the decision of
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that Committee. His Rev. reserved to himself liberty to consult further with his wife about it. The Rev. Committee is also to provide his Rev. with the necessary testimonials for a regular ecclesiastical dismissal.
The sum of money, by individual vote, adjudicated to Rev. Minema on his dis- missal, was three hundred and ten pounds [$375.] in all; to be paid by next Christ- mas, or else sufficient security to be given to his Rev. therefor.
The ecclesiastical testimonial for the use of Rev. Frielinghuysen, [in Holland], drawn up by the Committee appointed thereto, was read, and approved by the Rev. Assembly.
The question was proposed by the Rev. President, whether our Assembly ought not to ask the German Reformed Coetus, in Pennsylvania, to join with us in estab- lishing a Seminary. This proposition, the Rev. Assembly approved, and resolved to leave it to the care of Rev. Leydt, in name of this Coetus.
Whereupon the Rev. Assembly adjourned with thanksgiving to God, to meet to-morrow, at 9 A. M.
Session IX.
Saturday Oct. 11th, Forenoon.
The Rev. Assembly was opened with prayer to God. The minutes of the after- noon before were read and approved.
1. At the request of the Rev. Assembly, Rev. Romeyn and elder Sebering had asked Rev. Ritzema, whether he had fulfilled his promise, of sending on to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam the minutes of last fall; [Sept. 1754, about a Classis]; also whether he had put the same on record. His Rev's. answer was, "As I promised, so have I done."
2. Rev. Frielinghuysen had received certain letters from Rev. Van Sinderen. These served to throw some light on what had passed on Long Island in connection with the calling of Rev. Curtenius. The letters were written to Rev. Van Sinderen by Rev. Ritzema. It might be necessary to exhibit them to the Rev. Classis.
3. Rev. Romeyn proposed, that as the Rev. Assembly had taken all pains to serve the churches at Poughkeepsie and Fishkill, it should now also, in a friendly and fraternal manner warn the Rev. Consistory, not to allow unauthorized ministers to preach before their congregations. This proposition was adopted by the Coetus; and accepted by John de Wit, an elder from Fishkill. He not only accepted it for himself, with thanks, but also bound himself faithfully to urge the same upon his brethren at Fishkill and Poughkeepsie.
4. At his request, Adrianus Van der Swan came in, to ask this Assembly for its assistance, in the furtherance of his promotion [to the ministry]. This had already been asked for, of the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, or of the Synod, by Messrs. Erickson, Curtenius and Ritzema.
The form for suspending Rev. Curtenius, drawn up by Rev. Minema, was read, and by the Rev. Assembly approved, and sent off. A copy of it was given to Rev. Van Sinderen, for his Rev. to communicate to his consistory.
The certificates of Adrianus Van der Swan were read; also a copy of a letter from Rev. Ritzema. It was the desire of the Rev. President to have possession of this letter. The Rev. Coetus judged that it could not second his request, for the reason that, in Rev. Ritzema's letter, the Rev. Classis is requested that his promotion should be effected by certain ministers who received their qualification in Holland. But on the other hand, the business of qualifying for the ministry is something, which, by authority of the Rev. Classis, belongs only to the Rev. Coetus. It was decided that, the Lord willing, this Assembly of the Coetus be again opened on Monday, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon.
Hereupon, again with thanksgiving to God, the Assembly adjourned.
Session X. .
Monday, Oct. 13th, Forenoon.
The Assembly opened again with prayer to God.
1. Adrianus Van der Swan, present again according to his wish, renewed his request, that our Assembly should be pleased, through Rev. Frielinghuysen, [when in Holland] to petition the Rev. Classis or Synod for his promotion, leaving wholly out of the question what had already been done in the matter by Rev. Ritzema. This request was again refused for certain reasons.
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2. The Rev. Assembly, having considered the answer of Rev. Ritzema to the letter, uuanimously citing him, Resolved to bring that whole matter to the table of the Rev. Classis, as well as some other matters, and to leave it to its judicial action.
So the Assembly adjourned with thangsgiving to God, to meet in the afternoon at 4 o'clock.
Session XI. 4 P. M.
The Assembly opened with a prayer to God.
A letter, drawn up to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam was read and approved. The Assembly adjourned with thanksgiving to God; to meet at 9 A. M.
Session XII. Tuesday, Oct. 14th, 9 A. M.
The Assembly was opened with a prayer to God.
1. On motion of Rev. Frielinghuysen, it was Resolved, That on account of the opposition of his Rev's. Consistory at Albany to his mission abroad, his Rev. be supported by both word and deed, according to the agreement entered into and signed the year before; and that no call from Albany be accepted by any minister of the Coetus, until those matters shall have been properly settled. Meanwhile, the brethren offered the Church of Albany, if it so desired, every possible service during the absence of Rev. Frielinghuysen [in Holland].
2. Resolved, that the Rev. Classis be asked, through Rev. Frielinghuysen, to direct its several communications hereafter to our Assembly, under cover of Mr. Joris Brinkerhof, merchant at New York. He will forward the same to Rev. Erickson, at Nevesink, who, in conjunction with Rev. Leydt, will open such Classical letters, and decide, according to circumstances, whether or not they shall call a special meeting of the Coetus.
3. A paper was read, drawn up by Rev. Romeyn, regarding the disturbances at Hackensack and Schralenburgh. This was approved. 1
4. Rev. Van Sinderen reported that Rev. Curtenius had received the notification of his suspension on Saturday; but that, on the Sunday following, he preached twice. In this also he showed himself disobedient.
Whereupon the Assembly adjourned, with thanksgiving to God, to meet 4 P. M.
Session XIII. 4 P. M.
Again the Assembly was opened with prayer to God.
A paper was read, giving a historical account of what had led to the establish- ment of a Classis and an Academy; of the progress made therein, and of the opposition thereto. This paper was approved. [See Oct. 14, 1755.]
A letter to Rev. Schuyler was read, kindly and fraternally warning him against accepting the call from the seditious consistory at Hackensack, and exhorting him to remain in fraternal fellowship with our Coetus Assembly.
It was proposed to appoint a Committee, for the purpose of further perfecting, in the name of the Coetus all such things, as Rev. Frielinghuysen together with said Committee, might deem necessary, before bis departure; and of corresponding with him after his departure. As such Committee, there were appointed, Revs. Erickson and Leydt; and, in addition, if need be, in matters of great importance, the Messrs. Marinus, Goetschius and Verbryck.
Whereupon, with hearty thanksgiving to God, the All-Sufficient One, and after having wished one another, and especially Mr. Frielinghuysen on his weighty mis- sion; every blessing, the Rev. Assembly adjourned in love and unity.
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