USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume VI > Part 25
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5. A deed was given to Theophilus Hunt, of Westchester, for a farm in the Manor of Fordham, marked on the map as No. 10; sold to him for £938:17:814; and
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another deed, signed and sealed, to Benjamin Corson, for a plece of land in the same Manor, sold to him for £157:7:41%. For these four bonds are given by the sald Theophilus Hunt, Aaron Hunt, and Abram Leggett, which are taken in place of the payment of the first installment in ready money, according to the first agreement.
Signed etc., J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
LORDS OF TRADE TO THE LORDS OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL. JULY 23, 1764. KINGS COLLEGE RECEIVES (GRANT OF LAND. (SEE JULY 17.)
To the Right Honorable the Lords of the Committee of His Majesty's Most Honorable Privy Council for Plantatlon Affairs.
My Lords.
In pursuance of your Lordships Order of the 17th Inst., we have taken Into our consideration the memorial and humble petition of Sir James Jay, Knight, In behalf of the Governors of King's College In the City of New York In America humbly praying "That his Majesty will be pleased to grant twenty thousand acres of land In the Province of New York, free of the conditions of cultivation and Quit Rent, to the Governors of the College of the Province of New York In the City of New York In America, for the use and behoof of the said College, and that the sald Governors may have leave to locate the quantity of land allowed the sald college out of any of the Crown lands in the sald Province, before any person or persons who have obtained orders for Lands In the sald Province are permitted to locate the same."
Whereupon we beg leave to report to your Lordships, that as this new established Seminary for the encouragement of Religion and useful learning appears to us to be a laudabie Institution and as such has already been favoured with his Majesty's countenance and protection: we see no reason why your Lordships may not advise His Majesty to endow it with such a landed property as the Petitlouer requests, which will give It a greater respect and stability, and will under proper restrictions and prudent management be no Inconsiderable addition to its present slender and precarious support; and therefore we beg leave to recommend that his Majesty's orders may be given to the Governor of New York to cause twenty thousand acres of land to be surveyed and laid out for this purpose in one continuous tract, in such part of the Province as the acting and resident Governors of the College shall choose, and upon a return of such survey to pass a Patent for the same to the Governors of the said College as named in the Charter & their successors for- ever, for the use and benefit of the said College, with a power to the sald Gov- ernors to grant leases of the premises for three lives or any term not exceeding ninety-nine years; reserving a rent to the College of at least one third of the Improved value.
As to the request of the Petitioner that these lands may be granted free of Quit Rent, If His Majesty shall be pleased as a mark of his royal Grace and Favour to approve of such reinission of the usual Quit Rent, we humbly recommend that an annual rent of 6|8, should be reserved to be paid by the President and Fellows of the College to the Governor or Commander in Chief of the Province sitting In Council In the Council Chamber on every Monday after Easter In each year; but we do not think It either expedient, or for the Interest or advantage of the College, that this grant should be made free from the conditions of cultivation prescribed in His Majesty's Instructions, or that It Is elther just or equitable to allow that priority of location of the lands desired by the Petitioner.
We are etc.,
Hillsborough Geo. Rice J. Dyson.
Whitehall, July 23, 1764.
-Col. Docs. N. Y. Vol. vil, pp. 645-6.
3943 1764
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA.
Revs. Freyenmoet, Meyer and Cock, to the Classis of Amsterdam,
July 25, 1764. Vol. 33, page 81. No. 351.
A letter from three neighboring ministers of the Flats, Revs. Freyenmoet, Meyer and Cock, dated, The Flats July 25, 1764, with some voluminous documents.
I. The letter itself contains a statement of the cause for which, and the manner in which, these three ministers and their elders, at the request of the Rev. Consis- tory of the Flats, (Rhinebeck), came together there, and took action, on the case of Rev. E. T. Van Hoevenberg, minister at the Flats. They resolved, on account of his impenitence and stubbornness, for his many sins and misdemeanors, base and offensive as they were, to keep him under censure, until the Classis or the Synod of North Holland shall pronounce sentence upon him, for to these bodies he has appealed.
II. The accompanying documents contain the account
1. Of the Acts of the neighboring ministers and elders, Jan. 18, 1764, in the case of Rev. Van Hoevenberg. For very grave misdemeanors, they had judged him to be worthy of censure, without, however, dealing with him at once, because they wanted first to get the opinion of the ministers of New York and Albany.
2. Of the Acts of these same ministers and elders, who at the same place, on May 5, 1764, censured and suspended Rev. Van Hoevenberg for ten weeks. Against this sentence, as well as against all that was done, he had already protested the day before.
3. Finally: Of the conclusions of that Ecclesiastical Assembly, keeping Rev. . Van Hoevenberg, under censure, because he showed no penitence during the term of censure, and was unwilling to make any confession or to preach a Penitential Sermon at its close. He was therefore continued under censure, until the Rev. Classis, before which they openly place this entire matter, shall have passed its sentence thereon.
This provisional and continued censure was approved by the subordinated Ecclesi- astical Assembly at New York.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Report of Committee on the Affairs of New York and New Jersey. Ritzema and Van der Sman.
Synodalia. 1764. Art. 48. The Classis report that its Deputati ad res Exteras, in pursuance of the resolution of the Synod of last year, (1763) caused to be made notarial (certified by oath before a notary) copies of the two letters addressed to the Synod ; the one in the name of John Ritzema, and the other in the name of the consistory of the Jagertje (Saugerties) church. These, our delegates to this Synod placed upon the table of Synod, while the originals were forwarded to New York, whence tidings have been received that the writer of these forged letters has been discovered. He is the Catechiser and Kranken-bezoeker, A. van der Sman, who in this way had sought to intrude himself, as pastor, into the church of 't Jagertje. For this he was not only censured, but also suspended and deposed from his office.
xiv. 10.
(See Minutes of Synod, July-Aug. 1763; March 8, 1764.)
ACTS OF THE SYNOD OF NORTH HOLLAND, JULY 31-AUG. 8, 1764;
VOL. 65. ARTICLE 47. New York and New Jersey.
The Rev. Classis of Amsterdam reports that its Deputies on Foreign Affairs have, pursuant to last year's resolution, had notarial copies made of the two letters
.
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written to the Synod; one in name of Rev. John Ritzema, the other in the name of the Consistory of Saugerties. These the Deputies to this Synod lay on the Synod's table, the originals having been sent to New York. News has been received from there, to the effect that the writer of those forged letters had been discovered, and that he is the Catechizer and Visitor of the Sick, A. Van der Sman, who had thereby sought to crowd himself as minister into the church at Saugerties. Wherefore he has not only been censured, but also suspended and deposed from his services.
Their Hon. Mightinesses, the Corresponding Delegates, the moderators and all the Classis thank the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam for thus clearing up matters.
REV. RITZEMA TO MR. JOHN WYNKOOP, OF KINGSTON, AUG. S,
1764. (COPY ALSO SENT TO CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM WITH ('ONFERENTIE LETTER OF JUNE 21. )
Advice from Kingston have compelled us to forward the following to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam :
To Mr. John Wynkoop, Elder at Kingston :
I have received your letter by the hands of Mr. Cranner, as I had also some days before received one from Dom. Meyer. To the latter I had prepared an answer, but had not yet sent it. so that there was an opportunity to read it to Mr. Cranner. Ile approved it, but desired me to add something which might be more satisfactory to the Domine ; this I have done, and now dispatch it, hoping that you will see it. Otherwise I would communicate it to yon verbatim, while it is in my power ; but it is too burdensome for me to make copies of my domestic correspondence, it being tronble enough to do that with letters to foreign parts.
I mourn your condition and that of the other congregations, among which such a spirit of domination prevails that men will not be subject to a lawful subordina- tion, but seek to impose an uniawfni subordination upon others. For they have set up, and mean still further to carry, the rule of the majority, by which they will be able to manage everything their own way ; and, for my part, I think I have satisfactory reasons for believing that, if they succeed, they will so play the master (spelen den baas) in all our congregations, that we shall get into a state of confu- sion from which there will be no recovery. Yet we do not desire, neither does the Classis, a'ny such subordination as would conflict with the freedom which a subject of Great Britain has. Our subordination to the Classis means only and simply that we govern our churches here according to the ecclesiastical constitution of the Nether- lands, on which they are founded ; and in consequence of which we are not a tolerated Church, as all dissenters are, but an established Church, according to the Articles of Surrender, when this country, which before was Dutch, became English. If, then, we withdraw ourselves from Holland, which we certainly do by refusing to be in becoming subordination, I expect that in time we shall be considered dissenters, and lose our privileges as an established Church, and perhaps incnr the danger of forfeiting our charters. For these were given to us as a Netherlandish Church ; and how can we remain such, when we will not be governed by the Netherlandish Church rnies, but will make ministers here of whomsoever we please, which is, indeed, the principal thing aimed at?
On this account, I am resolved to add to the letter already written to the Classis a copy of the oath which all functionaries here are required to take; and to ask the Classis to say that they wish no subordination inconsistent with that oath.
Further, brethren, be united with each other, and stand as one man against the schismatics ; for the least indulgence yon grant will ent like a canker, to your rnin. Be the opposer who he may, he must yield, or all is lost. The Lord unite your hearts hereto in love.
With due salutations.
I am your friend and servant,
New York, August 8, 1764.
J. Ritzema.
Dr. Meyer was not kind enough to make known ail my letter to him, but read only parts of it, wherenpon the Consistory resolved to read to him my letter to
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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Mr. John Wynkoop, and requested him to become subordinate to the Classis of Amsterdam, on the grounds stated in my letter. He replied according to their request, in writing, a copy of which here follows :
DOMINIE MEYER'S POSITION.
" Being requested by the Consistory, consisting of the elders and deacons of the congregation, to give my opinion as to the propriety of yielding or refusing subordi- nation to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, my reply is this : For the satisfaction of my conscience in regard to the oath by which I adjured all foreign power and authority, etc., over things ecclesiastical or spiritual in this realm, my purpose was to consent no further personally to the subordination to the Classis of Amsterdam, before I received the explanation of the Conferentie, wherein this subordination is stated to be such as may consist with the oath which is already taken by some, and may be taken by more. And still, to bring no bonds on my conscience concern- ing that oath, and out of fear of acting faithlessly, I find some difficulty in conceding to the Classis the right and power over our spiritual things, so long adjudged them, by which the right of ordination is denied to our ministers and congregations, and the sole decision of questions concerning ecclesiastical persons and assemblies here is given to the Classis. For the rest, I have no objection to a Christian and brotherly correspondence; on the contrary, I desire in this way to be united with the Classis."
RITZEMA'S REMARKS ON MEYER'S POSITION.
See there, Rev. Brethren, what troubles again befall us! We are asked not only to communicate these things to you, but also whether the people may not with the greatest propriety be released from such a minister-one whose course violates his call, and puts them in danger of forfeiting their charter if they keep him ; since they hold their church building and property, not as an independent church, but as standing under the Church Order of the Netherlands, determined in the Synod of Dort, 1618, 1619.
Since my letter to Mr. Wynkoop expresses the true condition of our Church and the subordination we hold, and since we send the answer of Dom. Meyer to the Rev. Assembly for its judgment, we add only these observations: Dom. Meyer appears to make conscience of an oath which he took freely and without necessity, but not of his signing the Formulas at his ordination when called to Kingston, which pledged him expressly to the Church of the Netherlands and its Orders. Now, not only has he long known the unanimous decision of the Synod, in which the Synods of all the provinces were represented, that the churches here should be subordinate to the Classis of Amsterdam, but he has had copies of the last two letters in which the Rev. Classis defends its ancient right. We cannot, therefore, conclude otherwise than that he has a determined purpose either to destroy the peaceful and united congregation of Kingston, or else be driven out himself.
As to the request of the Consistory, it has been difficult for us to reply. Yet, being assured of his obstinacy, and also of the unanimous purpose of the Consistory, yes, of the whole congregation, to have no minister who did not stand in due subordination to the Classis of Amsterdam, we resolved to advise them to warn him once again, and set before him the danger of refusing; but if all proved vain, to strengthen themselves with a neighboring Consistory, so as to put him under censure, and in the end remove him from the congregation.
On one of the pages of our letter to the Classis, reference is made to the oath of allegiance, which was already copied on an additional note to be sent to you as a P. S .; but, as we now shall probably have an opportunity to send direct to Amsterdam, and therefore need not be so precise about increasing the weight of our letters, we attach it here, in order that the Classis may see the needless, if not wicked, notion of the Coetus brotherhood. It thus reads in the original tongue :
106
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1764
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
THE CIVIL OATH.
I, A. B., do sincerely promise and swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his Majesty King George the Third. So help me God.
I, A. B., do swear that I do from my heart abhor, detest, and abjure, as impious and heretical, that damnable doctrine and position, that princes excommunicated or deprived by the Pope, or any other authority of the See of Rome, may be deposed or murdered by their subjects, or any other whatsoever ; and I do declare that no foreign prince, person, prelate, State, or potentate, hath, or ought to have, any jurisdiction, power, superiority, dominion, or authority, ecclesiastical or spiritual, within this realm. So help me God.
This is the oath about which so much excitement has been raised, yet every one sees that it has no reference to our Church state, but only to the preservation of the King against the power of Rome, etc. We humbly desire, therefore, that the Rev. Classis would please insert these words in their answer to us-that they desire no other subordination that such as may consist with the oath of allegiance. This will strengthen the weak and stop the mouths of the malicious.
Ilerewith we conclude, and subscribe ourselves, Rev. Fathers and Brethren in Christ, with the utmost respect,
Your servants and brethren,
J. Ritzema L. De Ronde.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK. German Church. Catechist. Rev. Laidlie. New York, August 20, 1764.
1. A plan of the ground of the High Dutch Church was shown. By this, it was found that that church stood for some feet upon our ground.
Resolved that these feet be leased to them for fifteen years for a compensation of a shilling a year.
2. That Mr. Van der Sman be relieved from censure.
3. Mr. Jakobus Van Antwerp was appointed Catechist in the English language. He Is to receive from the church £15, yearly, and from each catechuman two shil- lIngs per quarter ; and for this, he is to provide fire and light.
4. That domine Laidlle henceforth shall render the communlon service, with the preparatory and the thanksgiving sermons, in the New Church ; because the English members derive little or no profit from the service in Dutch.
5. That £7 : 10 received from the seats bought for the children of Mr. Welp, be presented to him, in recognition of his trouble, in examining the accounts of Jan Montanye.
Signed etc., J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
CHURCH OF KINGSTON.
Request of the Elders of Kingston to Rev. Hermanus Meyer to Acknowledge Subordination to Classis of Amsterdam, nothwith- standing the Civil Oath. Aug. 23, 1764.
No. 10.
The Elders and Deacons for weighty reasons unanimously agreed to ask our Minister if he had any cause for objecting to acknowledge on our behalf subordina- tion to the Classis of Amsterdam, in accordance with the proposal made In a letter addressed by him to Do. Ritzema some time before. His answer was-that he found himself prevented from so doing by the oath of allegiance which he had taken. To this the Consistory replied : That they had no thought of acknowledging any
3947
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
1764
subordination which should be inconsistent with this oath, or trench upon any free- dom which a subject of Great Britain might enjoy under that government, since we were certain that the Classis demanded nothing of this kind ; nor did the Consistory intend any other subordination than that only which consisted in the regulation of our Churches here by the Constitution of the Church of the Netherlands. To this there could be no objection for our Churches were based upon this Constitution and likely to adhere to it is secured to us by the Charter of the Crown of Great Britain.
Being further desirous to understand accurately from the Dominie whether there was anything in our proposal disadvantageous to ourselves and to remedy it to the best of our ability if there were, after much reasoning we at length received at our request an answer from him in writing which is given below verbatim.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK. Letters received. Renting Seats. More Deacons.
New York, September 27, 1764.
Consistory held after calling on God's name.
1. Three letters from Amsterdam were delivered : viz., one from the Rev. Classis ; one from Messrs. Longueville and Blenshall; and one from Mr. Daniel Crommelin. These having been read, the consistory laid them on the table to be answered at another time.
2. A plan was presented by Mr. Recorder for selling and renting the twenty-four last made seats in the New Church ; and the same was approved.
3. It was agreed that the two seats which Mr. Mathews van Aalsteim has rented for many years, and which formerly were inscribed to some of the family of Jas. Ranaudet, shall be set over to the said van Aalsteim, provided he pays the church's price for them, and holds them under these conditions : of giving up one or both of them in case the widow Ranaudet or her son, the Doctor, should return here to live ; to be used by her or him, should they attend our congregation, and otherwise not; and also repay the money expended to the said van Aalsteim.
4. That the seat of Christoffel Bancker which has become vacant shall be allowed to the next of his family according to the old rule.
5. Lastly, it was agreed that at the next election, two more deacons, than usual, shall be chosen, in order to lighten the service in the New Church of those who there are to officiate in their turn ; so that the number of deacons hereafter shall be ten ; and all to be of like authority and dignity.
Signed etc., A. Laidlie, p. t. President.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
LETTERS.
1764, Oct. 1st. Art. 8. The Rev. Depp. ad res Exteras have received letters- From Colombo, dated January 25, 1764.
From the Consistory of New York, dated May 12, 1764. Whereof the extracts are to be found in the Acta Deputatorum.
They read to the Assembly a letter to the Consistory of Batavia, and a letter to the Consistory of Colombo. Both of these were approved for forwarding. XIV. 16. ACTS OF THE DEPUTIES, OCT. 1, 1764.
Extract from a letter of the Consistory of New York, per Rev. Ritzema, dated May 12, 1764. Vol. 33, p. 79. No. 347. ARRIVAL OF REV. LAIDLIE.
A letter from the Consistory of New York, dated May 12, 1764, signed by Johannes Ritzema, Syn. h. t. Praeses.
1. They inform us of the safe arrival of Rev. Laidlie at New York on March 29, (1764) ; and that his Rev., (after that Rev. De Ronde had preached on April 1st.
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from 2 Thess. 3: 16. "Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means ;" and Rev. Ritzema had preached on April 15th, from Obadiah, vs. 21, "And saviours shall come up on mount Zion. to judge the mount of Esau ; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's ; ") in the afternoon preached his inaugural from 2 Cor. 5 : 11, a, " knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men ;" to the great satis- faction of a large congregation. He gave by his edifying teachings much hope of blessed fruit.
2. They thank the Lord of the harvest for sending them such a faithful laborer ; and express also their gratitude and obligation to the Rev. Classis for doing its part, and that so speedily, in sending them this man, whose ministry along with that of the other ministers. they pray, may be blest to many.
After assuring the Classis of their high regard, they close with congratulations.
CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA.
Rev. Joannes Ritzema to Rev. Winoldus Budde, Oct. 3, 1764. Vol. 33, P. 82. Letter 352.
Reverend Sir and Much Esteemed Brother :
Sir :-
My letter to your Rev. on the 5th of July, having been despatched from here only last month on account of want of opportunity to send it, explained my difficulty, on account of my not having received the Acts of Synod, nor any answer to the call of Queens County. Now. however, through the goodness of God, we are enabled to rejoice In the receipt of the Aets of Synod, with the accompanying letters, and the minister for Queens County Is eagerly expected. On this account, further informa- tion thereon becomes unnecessary.
In my letter I made a suggestion that the Classis should qualify three or four candidates, and send them over without definite settlements. This is a thing of such eminent importance, on account of the decision of Classis and Synod (about the Acts of the Cortus), that if the Rev. Classis desires to free our Church from Independence, and to make her decision available, and to lead some of our Coetus- brethren to return to proper subordination, it will not only strengthen us. but compel them to obedience. If I had now three or four such qualified individuais at hand, I would be able to provide them with places, as good as any in this country, all of them situated on our beautiful North River, between New York and Albany, in the heart of the country. They are congregations, also, which are able to bear the expenses of a call, and among which are found only a few who are in favor of the Cortus. Perhaps two of these churches will even resolve to send a call at once.
"The piace of the aged Erickson, whom the Coetus has deposed, will now be filled again by a young man. Those ministers will In this very month, again ordain, according to their right of Independency, and that, as I am told, against the senti- ment of the greatest part of the Congregation, who, nevertheless, will have to foot the bills. If we now had had such a man, it would never have come to that. And we further hear that they have several more in readiness, whom they will press in, here and there, as soon as the way is opened to the least extent. From this, I think, will appear the necessity of my suggestion, even if the Rev. Classes should be obliged for a while to loan some small amounts for the furtherance of such objects. For one, I will be good for the repayment, if the individuals are provided with the necessary qualifications. I will also receive and care for them.
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