USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume VI > Part 22
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4. Resolve, That the pillars of the gallery be carried through to the roof of the church to support the same. The above mentioned committee will attend to this.
5. That a letter of thanks be sent to the Classis for their trouble, in this matter, domine Ritzema will compose it. And also a letter to the same effect to Messrs. Schelluyne, Winoldus Budde and Dr. Kennedy.
6. That Mr. J. de Peyster be directed to rent out for one year the house which Mr. Adrian Van der Sman has hitherto occupied.
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7. That Mr. John Montanye, Jr., be ordered to pay the moneys collected to Mr. Jakobus Roosevelt.
8. It was proposed to build a small chamber in the New Church, to serve as a room in which the minister can refresh himself before and after preaching. This was reserved for further consideration.
9. Alderman Bogart, Abram Lott, Peter Keteitas and Jacob Le Roy were appointed to look over the vacant seats in both churches and report concerning them to the Consistory, that they may be disposed of to the satisfaction of the persons interested.
Signed etc., J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
LETTERS.
1764, May 7th. Art. 3. The Messrs. Deputies ad res Exteras read 1. A letter from New York of John Ritzema, dated March 8, 1764; 2. A letter from John Ritzema as President of the con- sistory, to our Classis ; 3. Also one from George van Essen, V. D. M. at St. Eustatius, of February 18, 1764. xiii. 385.
REV. JAKSON.
Art. 4 ad 6. Regarding the answer to the letter of Rev. Jakson, the Messrs. Deputies reported that they themselves had not written, but they had requested a certain gentleman to do so. He had agreed thereto. With this the Classis is content. xiii. 385.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
REPAIRS.
New York, May 14th, 1764.
Consistory held after calling on God's name.
1. There came up a dispute about certain seats in the New Church. Recorder Johnson, Jakobus Roosevelt, Alderman Bogart, Mr. Keteltas, Abram Lott and Jacob Le Roy were appointed a committee to take action.
2. Since the consistory at present has no money in hand to complete the New Church, six hundred pounds shall be taken on Interest from Gerardus W. Beekman and a bond given therefor.
Signed etc., J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
VERSIFICATION OF THE PSALMS IN ENGLISH.
New York, May 22nd, 1764.
1. On the 17th of May a bond for £600 was given to James Jauncey at seven per cent, in place of the one given to Beckman.
2. That Mr. Evert Byvank be released from his engagement to versify the I'salms in English in the same manner as they are versifled in Dutch; and that the committee, with Mr. Hopkins, inquire In reference to the best method of doing this according to the genius of the English tongue, and that the versifying be done accordingly. .
Signed etc.,
J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
3923 1764
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Letters to the Consistory of New York, and to Lambertus de Ronde.
1764, June 4th. Art. 5. The Messrs. Deputies read a letter to the Consistory of New York, and also a letter to Rev. Lam- bertus de Ronde, minister at New York. Both of these the Clas- sis approved, and directed them to be forwarded. xiii. 387.
THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM TO REV. DE RONDE, JUNE 4, 1764. VOL. 31, PAGE 220. No. 143.
To Rev. Lambertus De Ronde, pastor at New York,
Rev. Sir and Beloved Brother :-
According to our letter of April 2, 1764, you have learned that your English Catechism was approved by the Classis upon condition that you expressed your- self clearly and soundly, either in the Preface or in the Conclusion upon the mystery of the Procession of the Holy Ghost. In reference to the book of Marshall (on Sanctification) the Classis was of opinion that it was beyond her jurisdiction, but the matter would be considered in another Assembly. Subse- quently on March 7, 1764, this matter was brought up. We accordingly notify you that the Classis, upon further information, still holds to her former resolution, that Marshall's book lies outside of her jurisdiction. Having nothing more to write, we commit you to God and the Word of his Grace, while we remain, affectionately, Rev. Sir and Brother, Your obedient servants and brethren,
In the name of the Classis of Amsterdam, Winoldus Budde, Depp. Cl. h. t. Praesis. John Kalkoen Scriba.
In our Classical Assembly, Amsterdam, June 4, 1764.
THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM TO THE CONSISTORY OF NEW YORK, JUNE 4, 1764. VOL. 31, PAGE 220. No. 144. To the Rev. Consistory of New York,
Rev. Sirs and Beloved Brethren :-
It was with satisfaction that we received your letter of March 8, 1764. It came to us by means of the packet-boat not only quickly, but also with little expense. What has been to you a matter of trouble, has been to us far from a matter of joy: namely, that the Catechist and Visitor of the Sick, Adrian Van der Swan, had practised such deception on us, forging letters in the name of Rev. Ritzema and of the congregation of Jagertie (Saugerties). and had thus attempted to force himself into the ministry. It is a great satisfaction to us that you have sus- pended him, and deprived him of every office. This, of course, we unanimously approve. We do not suppose that the Lord Mayor of New York is a man who will now give him a license to preach and catechise elsewhere, or encourage him in any way. We advise you, if the Lord Mayor should encourage him in his dis- orderly conduct, that you oppose it in as kind a way as possible.
It will be a matter of great satisfaction to us to hear of harmony restored among the members of your Consistory. Did our former letter produce any effect? We hope that the God of Peace may bind these brethren together again,
.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1764
and that our exhortations have been blessed to this end. We also hope that Rev. Mr. Leadly, (Laidlie), who, we trust, has already arrived, may become a great instrument of good among you, and that the blessing of the Lord may rest upon him. May the Great King, who reigns over his Church by his Son, be your wisdom and strength in all your ministry. May his grace be sufficient for you, and his power sustain you in your weakness.
We remain affectionately yours, Rev. Sirs and Beloved Brethren, Your servants and brethren, In the name of the Classis of Amsterdam, Winoldus Budde, Depp. Cl. h. t. Praesis. Joh. Kalkoen, .. .. " Scriba.
In our Classical Assembly,
Amsterdam, June 4, 1764.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK. Translation of the Catechism Completed.
New York, June 5th, 1764.
Consistory held after calling on God's name.
1. The Heldelberg Catechism in English was presented by the committee. It had been prepared by them from translations already existing. This translation, having been compared by the consistory with the Dutch, to their satisfaction, was approved and ordered to be printed.
2. It was stated to be necessary to take off the roof of the New Church. This was unanimously agreed to.
3. That Mr. Anthony ten Eyck shall from this time on, receive proper interest for his disbursements.
Signed etc., J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH, NEW YORK.
New York, June 18th, 1764.
Present all the members of the Consistory.
Domine Kern Informed the meeting that he had been invited by the two Dutch Ministers, the Rev. Dms. Ritzema and De Ronde, to attend a Conferentie meeting, to be held the following day. Dm. Kern further stated that according to the church records, dated 28th October, 1763, it had been resolved " that this church, for the better preservation of the same, attach themselves to the Classis of Amsterdam, and that now was the time for them, according to their knowledge and conscience to give thelr votes upon the subject.
Resolved. Unanimously, That subordination to the Classis of Amsterdam is for the good of the Church, better than it, in an Independent state, can be kept. That the necessary credentials shall be prepared ready for signature. At the same time the credentials were prepared, read and signed as per copy page, 9.
Copy.
Most honorable and much esteemed Brethren.
We the undersigned, duly elected members of the Consistory of the German Reformed Church here, were minded for some time past, for the better providing for the good of our church to unite with the honorable Classis of Amsterdam. And our Minister having been invited by the Rev. Dms. Ritzema and de Ronde to be present at a meeting of the honorable Synod of North Holland, on the 19th Inst., at the taking of the final vote. We have taken the matter agaln into consideration, and find no reason for altering our previous determination.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
3925 1764
We therefore deputise by this writing not only our much beloved Pastor the Rev. Johan Micheal Kern, but also our christian brother Sebasti Stephany as elder, to appear in our behalf before the honorable Classis of Amsterdam to deliberate and advise, and conclude with the assembled Ministers and Elders, that the word of God and the regulations of our dearly beloved church may recommend for the present as well as for the future welfare of the whole Low Reformed Dutch Church in this Province, and ours in particular.
May the Spirit of Wisdom and Peace be with the assembled Ministers and Elders in all their deliberations and actions, and may all redound to the glory of his holy name and the extension of the kingdom of Jesus.
With the greatest respect.
Johannes Zurcher
Abraham Lung Elders.
Johannes Meyer,
Heinrich Croo
Heinrich Will
Deacons.
New York, 18th June, 1764.
To the Assembled Churches of the honorable Classis of Amsterdam.
EFFORTS FOR UNION.
Acts of the Assembly of Ministers and Elders of the so-called Coetus and Conferentie, June 19 and 20, 1764. June 19, 1764-Forenoon.
The Assembly was opened with prayer by Dom. Ritzema ; and the following were found to be the
Members Present.
Ministers.
John Ritzema
Lambertus de Ronde
Thos. Van Wyck
Arch. Laidlie
Jno. Bogert, Jun.
Ulpianus Van Sinderen
Rem Remsen
John C. Rubel
Andies Stockholm
John C. Fryenmoet
Jacob Dekker
H. Meyer John Leydt
Hendrik Fisher
J. Rutzen Hardenberg
Teunis Post John Paulisen
D. Marinus
W. Jackson
John Gerritse
G. D. Cock
Hendrik Benner
J. M. Kern
J. S. Stephany Gerrit Leydekker
John H. Goetschius
Mart. Van Harlingen
John Montfort
John Schuneman
Maurice Goetschius
Jonas Freer
John Blauvelt
John Brinckerhoff
Bernaardus Ryder
Isaac Brinkerhoff
Benj. Van Metre
The Fundamental Articles of the Coetus, and the letters of the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, dated January 11 and October 30, 1763, were read to the Assembly. Various discussions followed, in which the brethren, not coming to an understanding, agreed to a postponement until the next day.
Separated with thanksgiving to God.
-
S. Verbryck H. Schoonmaker
Elders. Jacobus Roosevelt
John Wynkoop
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1764
June 20, 1764.
Opened with prayer, by Dom. Ritzema. The following additional members appeared : Dom John Schuyler Elder, Rynear Giessen 66 Benj. Van Der Linde
Stephen Zabrisko
66 Peter Roome.
The brethren of the so-called Coetus stated, as their final answer upon the papers read yesterday, that they found in the decision of the Rev. Classis some difficulties which must first be removed ; and as we could give no explanations of it, they desired to lay their gravamina before the Rev. Synod or Classis itself .* We could not but cordially assent to this, in the expectation that the Rev. Assemblies will make further definite statements, which will be plain to us.
Whereupon the brethren of the Coetus departed, and those of the CONFERENTIE ORGANIZED THEMSELVES ANEW ; and the joint meeting was closed with thanksgiving.
ACTS OF " THE ASSEMBLY SUBORDINATE TO THE REV. CLASSIS," (OR THE CONFERENTIE, NOW FOR THE FIRST FORMALLY ORGAN- IZED, WITH ELDERS), JUNE 20, 1764.
The Subordinate Assembly, under the Classis and Synod, was opened with prayer by Dom. Ritzema.
Members Present.
Ministers
J. Ritzema
Elders. Jacobus Roosevelt
L. De Ronde
John Bogert, Jun'r.
Uipl. Van Sinderen
Rem. Remsen
J. C. Rubel
Andrew Stockholm
John Schuyler
Rynier Van Glessen
John C. Fryenmoet
Jacob Dekker
B. Van Der Linde
Stephen Sabrisko
G. D. Kock
Hendrik Benner
J. M. Kern
John S. Stephany
Peter Roome, of Pompton Nicholas Wyckoff, of North Branch. Isaac Brinckerhoff, of Fishkiii.
1. Poughkeepsie .- Peter Van Kieek, Elder, and John Conkiln, Deacon, of Pough- keepsie, appeared before the Assembly with a complaint against the ruling Consistory of the congregation, for making a call upon one Schoonmaker, without recognizing them therein in their official Character. Further, that their church maintained the Church Order of the Synod of Dort, and their buliding was erected upon that condition, as appears from a copy of the deed of sale, which was exhibited; yet the Consistory, when asked whether they remained under the Classis of Amsterdam, said that they adhered to the Coetus ; and one said that he adhered to God's Word. Besides, they had let Schoonmaker preach, against the prohibition of the elder, who objected because he was not regularly ordained. On the ground of these complaints, it was requested that a minister should be sent to appoint a Consistory according to the Constitution of our Church. After a conscientious consideration of the case, the request was granted.
2. The Student Leydekker .- Gerrit Leydekker, a student in theology, requested the Assembly to write on his behalf to the Classis for liberty to admit him to the preparatory examination for a candidate ; which the Assembly, knowing him to be properly qualified, undertook to do.
3. Tappan .- Cornelius Abraham Heering, representing thirty-nine heads of families of the congregation of Tappan, presented various severe charges against the minister,
*See June 3, 1765.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
3927
1764
Sam'l Verbryck, both in doctrine and life. They had desired him to resign, otherwise they would withdraw their obligation for his salary ; whereupon he put them all under censure, and excluded them from the Lord's table, and they still remain in that state, without any care being taken of them, although they are members of his congregation ; wherefore they request to be released by the Assembly from such a minister. It was resolved to present their case to the Rev. Classis, and urge it with strong arguments.
June 21, 1764-Forenoon.
Opened with prayer by the President.
1. Fishkill .- The advice of the Rev. Messrs. Ritzema, De Ronde, Van Sinderen, and Rubel, respecting the election and ordination of a Consistory at Fishkill, and the proceedings of Dom. Verbryck in carrying out the same, were read to the Assembly and approved ; and Dom. Verbryck was heartily thanked for his pains in the matter.
2. The Same .- The congregation of Fishkill having called Dom. Blauw, (before the unlawfully ordained Schoonmaker came there), and it being still uncertain whether he will come, Schoonmaker seeks to strengthen his party, and thus to divide the lawful subordinated congregation. So the elder, Isaac Brinckerhoff, stated, and requested the aid of the Assembly in supplying them with the preaching of the Gospel. This the brethren promised to render, each according to his ability.
3. Letter to the Classis .- It was resolved that a letter be prepared to the Rev. Classis ; and Dom. Ritzema, Pres., and Dom. De Ronde, Clerk, were appointed a committee for the purpose.
June 21-Afternoon Session.
Opened with prayer. The proceedings of the neighboring ministers, scil., J. C. Fryenmoet, H. Meyer, and J. D. Kock, with their elders, who, in the case of Dom. E. T. Van Hoevenberg, found themselves constrained in conscience, by his high- handed sins, uncleanness, drunkenness, contention, ill treatment of his wife, and per- sistent contempt and scorn of all ecclesiastical admonitions, to lay him under censure, were laid before the Assembly, with a request for advice how to deal with him further, in case he continued obstinate in his sins. The Assembly advised them to keep Dom. Van Hoevenberg still under censure, until the reply of the Rev. Classis should be received.
The Assembly separated in love and peace, with thanksgiving.
J. Ritzema, p. t. Pres. L. De Ronde, p. t. Clerk.
" THE ASSEMBLY SUBORDINATES TO THE CLASSIS," [OR THE CON- FERENTIE], TO THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM, JUNE 21, 1764. VOL. 33, PAGE 80. No. 349.
To the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam :-
It is already known to you that your letters of January 11, 1763, and October 3, of the same year, have been received in due season, and we hereby express our thanks to you for them. But the Acts of the Synod of North Holland, containing that acceptable decision, which we think so necessary for the security of the doc- trine and discipline of our Church in this distant part of the world, (if we mean to uphold our doctrine by discipline, and not fall into all sorts of errors, through the pretended freedom of living under an English government,) still remain behind, although we never had more need of them than now.
On the 19th of June we met in the Consistory Chamber, at New York, and affectionately besought our brethren to unite with us on the basis of the decision of the Classis and Synod ; but nothing was less in their minds than submission. They showed their usual censoriousness, and Dom. Leydt, speaking in the name of the others, sought to confirm their Church Order, by citing and explaining various pas- sages of Scripture, and thus to make the impression on every one that our Church Order was contrary to the Scriptures, and in conflict with English freedom. Still,
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1764
we kept our purpose not to enter into dispute with them, although some expressions were so piercing that we could scarcely keep silent. To him and the others who assisted him we maintained that they must submit, or else make their case clear to the Classis and Synod ; for we could not undo what had been determined by the highest judicatories ; the more especially, since we conscientiously acquiesced in that determination, as appears from the brief notice in our minutes.
Should they now write, we still hope that the Rev. Classis will take care that the determination already made be not altered, for we are firmly convinced that in that case the existing confusions, instead of being ended, would commence anew.
After the departure of the brethren, we formed ourselves into "AN ASSEMBLY, SUBORDINATE TO THE REV. CLASSIS "-a name which we gladly appropriate to ourselves ; and as such, we considered the matters brought up by those who are willing to continue with us in subordination to you.
Article 1 states the case of Poughkeepsie, where the congregation is under the tyranny of some consistorial persons, who were picked out of the congregation by the Coetus ministers, to serve the ends of the Coetus, by unlawfully thrusting (ten to one in the congregation being opposed) upon Poughkeepsle and Fishkill that (Henricus) Schoonmaker whom they Inst autumn made a candidate, and have now made a minister. He was brought into our Assembly with his bands on, for which reason he stands on the ilst of ministers present the first day ; and we did not expel him, because we were unwilling to commence a strife with them. We have now permitted the petitloners to choose a Consistory, which will serve, not only to hinder in hls disorderly course this young man, ordalned against the will of the Classls, (as they very well knew, ) but also to put the congregation In a condition to unite with some other settlements near by, in calling a lawfully ordalned minister from this country or from Holland.
The second article concerns the request of Mr. Gerrit Leydekker, to be examined for a candidate, and without doubt, if he shall be called by any congregation, for a minister. We recommend him in the strongest terms, not only as one whom we know to have been taught from hls youth in Latin and Greek, but also as having studied for four years at the College of New Jersey under President Burr, so dlil- gently, as to receive the degree of Bachelor of Arts; after which he spent a year and a half in divinity under Dom. Ritzema, and in Hebrew under Dom. Kals. His maturity of mind and ploty of life confirm us the more In this desire, as also does his weakness of body, which has always kept hlin from undertaking the voyage to Ilolland. Being convinced that the irregular ordination of the Coetus ministers was Inconsistent with our constitution, he has never been able to unite with them ; yet he has spent six or seven years in the exercises mentioned, without any prospect what the Issue of his course would be ; and he has a true desire to edify hls neighbors.
Article 3 relates the sad condition of the congregation of Tappan, which at different times has been brought before the Rev. Classis, and which we have promised to urge in serlous terms.
The dispute Is principally about some silly speeches of the minister from the puiplt, as e. g. : The forms of prayer must be cast away, and we must pray by the Spirit. Those who attend church in the forenoon and not in the afternoon, are on the direct road to hell, etc. And though he Is bound, by the terms of his call. to preach on the festival days, he does not refrain from deriding the custom, as when once officiating on Pass-day, (Easter.) he preached upon the crucifixion. Besides, he, along with other ministers, desired a charter for an academy from the Governor of New Jersey, although he lives under the government of New York. These things greatly excited the congregation, yet each held firmly to his own way ; the minister deeming himself more bound to maintain his fancy of having an academy or a Classis, than to feed the souls Intrusted to him; and the congregation thinking that they were not bound to a minister who was not willing to abide by what had always been taught and practiced, nor to unite with us, who maintain due subordi- natlon. Long since would we have done something, had we not feared the unavoidable wasting of the church. Therefore, we hope that the Classis will issue the case, for the relief of these long-oppressed heads of familles. And since this matter of an academy is that which is so sadly disputed in the congregations of New Jersey, and those adjoining, we cannot omit mentioning that, notwithstanding two governors have refused thelr request, they mean to try it with the third ;
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
3929 1764
whence men justly expect that if it is granted, they must contribute to the erection of such a school, and that in order to increase yet more the number of that kind of ministers.
The transactions recorded in the minutes of June 21 are of the same nature as those of Poughkeepsie already mentioned. The encounters Dom. Fryenmoet has had with the adherents of Schoonmaker are so unchristian and indecent, that it is improper to repeat them; yet we must say, that the rights of congregations, accord- ing to our constitution, will perish, unless this case is strictly handled, be the consequences what they may.
The last case in the minutes, that of E. T. Van Hoevenberg, was supported by so many testimonies that the brethren could not do otherwise than lay him under censure, and continue him there, unless he should soon show repentance, and the giving up of his sins. We can do nothing in such an important matter without the knowledge of the Classis ; so we trust that the Rev. Classis, without requiring us to send over the sworn testimony, will confirm our action, in insisting, according to God's Word and the Constitution of the Church, upon the deposition of such an open sinner going on in his sins ; so that he may be taken out of the way, and the congregation be enabled to provide itself with a suitable minister. We could say much of this unhappy man, but he is personally known to many members of the Rev. Classis, and now, by domestic circumstances, he is become still more unhappy. By the abuse of an expression in his call, as if he were under the Synod of Dort, which all the world knows to be no longer in existence, he conceived himself subject to no church. judicature, and on this his obstinacy was based. Therefore, we separated from him.
Not to delay you longer, we must still mention, in few words, that the strength of our opponents lies partly in the abuse of God's Word, with which they go around in the congregations, saying that it gives the right of ordination to them equally with the Classis, and that the Classis, in appropriating that right to them- selves, are in conflict with the Word of God : partly that, as they say, being subjects of the King of Great Britain, it is not allowed them to acknowledge a foreign power, yet the civic oath is only political, and has reference merely to the supremacy of the Pope in the Church of England ; partly because Dom. Hardenberg spread it abroad that although the Classis and Synod had thus written, yet many ministers and professors were of a contrary opinion, especially Professors Burman and Bonnet, who had approved the erection of an academy here, and would send to it a suitable person for professor of divinity. So the name of the Rev. Winoldus Budde, who, as one of the Deputati ad res Externas, and the writer of the last Classical Letter, is very generally known, is abused by the report that he lifted his hands to heaven over the sins of those who opposed the Coetus, especially in the matter of calling Dom. Fryenmoet to the North Branch, at Raritan ; as to which, if proof were demanded, we think the balance would incline to the other side.
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