USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume VI > Part 46
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Except the Charters granted to the Church of England, all the Instances of such Incorporations within this Province, (four only in number) are confined to the Dutch, whose claims to this Distinction, are, the Committee apprehend, grounded on one of the Articles of Capitulation, on the Surrender of the Colony in the year 1664, by which it is declared "that the Dutch here, shall enjoy the Liberty of their Con- sciences in Divine Worship, and Church Discipline."
In the Petition now under consideration, it is asserted as an Inducement to the Royal Grant; "That his Majesty's Subjects of the Province of New York, Dutch and English of the Presbyterian Perswasion, are a great majority of the whole Number of its Inhabitants:" This Suggestion, though it should be allowed in respect to Numbers, cannot be admitted, as to the Connection it supposes between
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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the People of those two Denominations; The Dutch were originally part of the Church of Hoffand, and conform themselves to the Doctrine Worship and Discipline approved by the National Synod of Dordrecht; Whereas the Prayer of the Peti- tioners, is to be Incorporated by the "Name and Stile of the Ministers, Elders, Deacons and Trustees of the Presbyterian Church of the City of New York, accord- ing to the Westminster Confession of Faith, Catechisms, and Directory, agreeable to the present established Church of Scotland."-In regard to the other Allegations in the Petition, the Committee discover no essential or material Difference in the Circumstances of the Petitioners, and the other Protestant Congregations, not of the Communion of the Church of England, whereon to ground any Preference. But it is asserted by the Petitioners, That "the old English Statutes of Uniformity, do not extend to America;" Whether these Statutes, or that of the 5th Anne Cap. 5. which Is made an essential part of the Art of Union: do or do not extend to the Plantations, Is a Question of which the Committee do not conceive themselves com- petent Judges: and which appears necessary to be determined on the highest anthority, previous to any final resolution on the Petition: lest such Incorporations might be considered as repugnant to the provisions of those Statutes .*
All of which is humbly submitted
City of New York. 24th March, 1767.
By Order of the Committee, Jos. Reado, Chairman.
-Doc. Hlst. N. Y. Vol. Ifi. pp. 304, 305.
.AN EPISCOPATE IN AMERICA.
The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel In Foreign Parts was founded in 1701. They sent many clergyinen to America. As early as 1714 an order was obtained from Queen Anne for the draught of a bill for an American Episcopate, but with her death soon after, the matter seems to have been dropped for a considerable time. Int the dis enting members of the colony had repeatedly suffered from the oppression of such Governors as Fletcher. Cornbury and others, and hence the colonists resisted every approach toward an American Episcopate. Charters had been denled to churches of all denominations except the Episcopal and Reformed Dutch. An appli- cation for a charter by the Presbyterians In New York as late as 1767, was again refused It was just at this Juncture that an effort was again made for an American Episcopate.
On Petruary 20. 1767. the Bishop of Llandaff. In a sermon before the Society for Propagating the Gospel, again recommended an American Episcopate. Hle referred to the Americans In very nncomplimentary terms ; yet the Episcopal clergy in America took occasion thereupon to urge their claims. Petitions were sent to the King, to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and to the University of Cambridge, upon this subject, and printed appeals were made In America This aroused the Dissenters against any establishment of one form of religion. They feared the system in all Its develop- ments, tithes, spiritual conrts. canon law, as In England. Yet they did not object to Bishops nnattended by nny temporal powers or dignities.
Willem Livingston addressed a letter to the Bishop of Llandaff, taking exception to his charges against the morris and culture of the colonists. He does not touch upon the merits of the proposed Episcopate. In reference to the neglect of making provision for ministers to which the Bishop referred. he reminded him of the perse- cutions and Intolerance which compelled the colonists to seek the American shores to escape the neurpations over consciences, and to enjoy the right of private judge- ment- He declared that the Bishop had been deceived as to the facts. This pam- phlet was Immediately republished In London, and excited much attention. Rev. Charles Ingis, of Trinity Church, New York. attempted an answer to It.
We cannot properly understand onr Revolutionary history unless we remember the extent to which the religions and political discussions were Interwoven. The jeal- onsy of the Dissenters Lad Its rise in the very foundations of the settlements. The least encroachment of Episcopal power was therefore resisted.
Mr Livingston was the editor of the American Whip, and was assisted by articles of Rer. Archibald Laldlle of the Dutch Church. Dr. John Rodgers of the Presbyterian Church, and probably by Dr. John M. Mason of the Scotch Church. Answers were attempted by Revs Chandler, Samuel Seabury, and Charles Inglis. Some of the Essays on the Livingston side were niso written in Dutch.
BISHOP WHITE ON THE SECTARIAN JEALOUSY IN THE COLONY IN 1767.
In regard to the motives of the parties In the dispute,
there are circumstances which charity may apply to the most favourable conclusions. As the Episcopal clergy discialmed the designs and the expectations of which they were accused, and as the same was done by their advocates on the other side of the water, particularly by the principal of thein, the great and good Archbishop Secker, they ought to be supposed to have had in view an episcopacy purely religions. On the other hand, as their opponents lald aside their resistance of the religious part of It, as soon as American Independence had done away all political danger, If it before existed. It ought to be belleved that in their former professed apprehensions they were sincere ..
Sedgewick's Life of Wm. Livingston. p. 128.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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QUEENS COLLEGE .- CALL FOR A MEETING OF THE TRUSTEES OF QUEEN'S COLLEGE ISSUED ON APRIL 4, 1767, TO BE HELD ON THE SECOND TUESDAY OF MAY, 1767.
(From the New York Mercury of the following dates, viz., April
20, 27, May 4th, 1767.
Bergen County, April 4th, 1767.
Whereas, a number of Dutch Ministers and Elders have taken into serious con- sideration the many and dangerous inconveniences and abuses which have crept into their churches, whereby the progress of true Christianity and knowledge and practice is obstructed, and with which they have been greviously inflicted these many years; and being desirous to rectify them and restore their Church to its ancient and proper lustre and dignity, after solemn humiliations, fastings and prayers before the Throne of Grace, with all those among their flocks who thought proper to join them ; agreed at last to, and judged it the only remaining remedy, to erect a Seminary or College, in which the American youth might be regularly educated, and after the manner and custom of the United Provinces, and other Protestant Reformed European Churches wherefrom their ancestors proceeded ; and to dedicate the most pious and capable to the weighty Gospel function whereby the usefulness and happiness of the numerous Body of the Dutch people might be com- pleted in respect to their loyalty. industry and Christian Religion. It also pleased the King of Kings, in whose hands the hearts of Kings are, and who promised that their Kings should be nursing Fathers, and their Queens nursing mothers to the Church, to favor the humble address of the Ministers and Elders, to his Excellency, William Franklin, Esq., Governor and Commander-in-Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of New Jersey, etc., whereby they have obtained his Majesty's Letters- patent and Charter, or Royal Grant, bearing date the 10th day of November, 1766, to erect a College called Queen's College, in the Province of New Jersey, and a Corporation or Body Politic, together with all the privileges, powers, authorities and rights belonging thereto, as is customary and lawful in any College in his Majesty's Realm of Great Britain; the sacred trust of which is committed to the care and - integrity of these following worthy and eminent gentlemen, in company with a sufficient number of Ministers of the Gospel, residing in this and the two adjacent Governments, created and constituted to be Governors and Trustees of said Queens College ; namely :
Of the City of New York.
Simon Johnson, Esq.,
Philip Livingston, Esq.,
Theodorus Van Wyck, Esq., Abram Lott, Esq.
Of the Province.
Sir Wm. Johnson, Bart., Jacob H. Ten Eyck, Esq.,
Robert Livingston, Esq.,
Col. Abram Herring,
Col. Johannis Hardenberg,
Isaac Vrooman, Esq.,
Col. Abram Hasbroeck,
Bernardus Ryder, Esq.,
Levi Paaling, Esq.,
Rev. Samuel Verbryck, Tappaan,
Col. Jas. Brinckerhoff,
Rev. Eilardus Westerlo, Albany,
Col. Nicholas Stillwell,
Rev. John Schuneman, Catskill,
Rev. M. Goetschius, New Paltz,
Of the Province of New Jersey.
His Excellency, the Governor, -
The President of the Council,
For the time
The Honorable, the Chief Justice, The Attorney-General.
being.
Peter Hassenclever, Rev. John Leydt, Brunswick,
Hendrick Fisher, Esq.,
Rev. David Marinus, Achquegkenonk,
Col. Matthew Hoffman,
Rev. Barent Vrooman, Schenectady.
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
Philip French,
John Van Metern,
Peter Schenck, Peter Zabriskie, Esq., Tuynes Dye, Esq., Hendrick Kuypers, Esq.,
Rev. John H. Goetschius, Hackensack,
Rev. Martinus Van Harlingen,
Rev. Jacob Rutse Hardenberg, at Raritan, Rev. Wm. Jackson, Bergen,
Rev. P. Wyberg, Philadelphia,
Rev. Jonathan Du Bois, Bucks, in Penn- sylvania,
It is also ordered and directed, in the same Royal Patent, that the first meeting of the said Trustees shall be held at or near the County House of New Barbadoes, or Hackensack town, In Bergen County, on the second Tuesday of May next, where and when said Trustees are to be properly and duly qualified by any one of the Justices of the Supreme Court, or Judges of the inferior Court of Common Pleas, of the Colony of New Jersey, before they proceed to any business.
I, therefore, the subscriber, with the advice of others, do by these presents give public notice of the said meeting, and with all due submission and respect to the above-named gentlemen, I Invite them and humbly crave their presence and con- descension to such a necessary and salutary laborious task, putting in remembrance of the words of the holy apostle Paul to the Hebrews, chap. vi : 10, "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, whilch ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
John H. Goetschius, V. D. M.
[The above was copled from the files of the New York Mercury, In the New York Historical Society in 1884, by E. T. C.]
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
LETTERS.
1767, April 6th. The Rev. Depp. ad res Exteras read to the meeting two letters for Suriname:
One to New York to that Assembly of ministers and elders which subordinate themselves to the Classis of Amsterdam; with which will be sent the Acta of the Synod of 1766.
One to Curacoa, to Rev. Warmoldus Kuyper with the Acta of the Synod of 1766; all under date of April 6, and all of which were approved for forwarding. xiv. 109.
THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM TO THE CONFERENTIE, APRIL 6, 1767. VOL. 31, PAGE 288, No. 173.
To the Assembly of Ministers and Elders subordinate to the Classis of Amsterdam. Rev. Sirs and Brethren :-
The Minutes of the Synod of North Holland of 1765, with our accompanying letters, of April 7th, 1766, In the maintenance of our fraternal correspondence with you, we trust have come to your hands. We also send you now the Minutes of the Synod of North Holland for 1766, and hope that the same may safely reach you. We have nothing to add at present, except our fervent prayer to God that you may prosper and be in health, and especially that your souls may prosper. May the
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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congregations entrusted to your oversight, have peace and be edified ; may they also be multiplied, and walk in the fear of the Lord and the comforts of the Holy Ghost.
We are and remain etc., etc.
John Kalkoen, Pres. Wm. Vanden Broek, Scriba.
In Classis, Amsterdam April 6, 1767.
THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM TO REV. WARMOLDUS KUYPERS, AT CURACOA, IN THE WEST INDIES. - 1768. VOL. 31, PAGE 289, No. 174.
Very Rev. Sir and Brother :-
For maintaining our fraternal correspondence with your Rev., we send to your Rev. the Acts of the Synod of North Holland, last held in the previous year, 1766, in this city, with the request that, as customary, you give it to read to the very Rev. Gentlemen, ministers on the neighboring islands.
For the present we have nothing to add, save that the Very Hon. Messrs. Directors of the West India Company will, in all probability, this year, yet send your Rev. a good colleague, to lighten your heavy labors and with your Rev., do the work of the Lord in your church.
Meanwhile we heartily desire that, preaching God's Word in purity, you may continue in season and out of season, refuting, reproving and exhorting in all longsuffering and doctrine, setting an example to the believers, in word, in walk, in love, in the spirit, in faith, in purity, to be an honor to Christ, and to promote the salvation of the souls entrusted to your care. May God grant you this blessing to that end. We are and remain with hearty affection, as above.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
Continued neutrality of the Consistory. Third Church Building.
New York, April 27th, 1767.
Consistory held after calling on God's name.
The resolution of October 7th, 1765, concerning the position of the Consistory in relation to the Assemblies of the Coetus, and the Conferentie, was read by the President. Thereupon the Consistory resolved still to abide by that resolution, and therefore are not inclined to send domine Laidlie and Elders to the same.
A list of subscriptions for the building of a Third Church was presented, and found to amount to £3600., and some shillings. Whereupon a committee was appointed to obtain plans and a strict estimate of costs, so that the consistory may
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1767
be in a condition to act farther. Pieter Marschalk, Ths. Van Wyck, Isaac Roosevelt, Andrew Marschalk and Garrit Abeel were appointed.
Mr. Ths. Van Wyck produced three leases which had been bought in, for £210. It was resolved to restore this money out of the first incoming subscriptions or from some other source.
Signed etc.,
J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
LETTERS.
1767, May 4th. Art. S. The Rev. Depp. ad res Exteras have received a letter from New York, dated February 18, 1767, signed by thirteen members ; enclosing one from Poughkeepsie, dated December 22. 1766, signed by Frymoet, Kok, and Rysdyk. The enclosure contained a request for a minister.
XIV. 112.
ACTS OF THE REV. ASSEMBLY OF MINISTERS AND ELDERS, (THE CONFERENTIE), UNDER THE REV. CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM, HELD AT NEW YORK, MAY 5 & 6, 1767.
Tuesday, May 6th-Forenoon.
1. Officers and Members .- The Assembly met, and was opened with prayer by Dom. Ritzema, as last President, who was again called to the same post.
Members Present.
John Ritzema Lamb. De Ronde Joannes Schuyler
J. C. Rubel, and his Elder. J. M. Kern, and his Elder. J. Rysdyck, and his Elder.
Ulplanus Van Sinderen, and his Elder.
2. Communications .- The letter of the Rev. Classis, of April 7, 1765, being the last which was received with the acts of the Synod of North Holland, was read. From this it was perceived that the Rev. Classis approved our last proceedings, and recommended us to maintain carefully the Constitution of the Church, and to ald those who manifested subordination.
3. Proposals for Uinion .- The President Informed the Assembly of an Interchange of letters between himself and Dom. J. H. Goetschlus respecting the reunion, and this was confirmed by Dom. De Ronde and Dom. Rubel, who had had conversation on the same subject with some members of the Coctus. From this originated the proposal of certain articles as a basis of union.
Separated with thanksgiving to God ; to meet in the morning, at nine o'clock.
Wednesday, May 6-Forenoon.
Opened with prayer.
The proposal for peace was considered, and, with some additions, put into the form of a letter, which, It was resolved, should be sent to the brethren who meet at Hackensack on the ensuing Tuesday.
Whereupon the meeting concluded with thanksgiving.
Signed, in the name of all,
John Ritzema, President.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
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1767
Copy of the Letter of the Rev. Assembly to the Brethren at Hackensack.
The Assembly of Ministers and Elders under the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, inet in New York, May 6, 1767, learned that there was among the brethren who call themselves the Coetus some movement toward a union with us-a matter which was a source of joy, yet awakened some anxiety as to the way and manner in which this desirable end was to be reached. To make a proposal on this subject, brethren, has so much difficulty in itself, that even the least objectionable one may yet subvert the desired object ; for which reason, we have noted only this in advance, as what we desire :
1. The brethren shall firmly hold with us subordination to the Rev. Classis according to the Synodical decree of 1763.
2. No ministers or elders shall be present in the Assembly except such as have what we deem a lawful commission ; that is, have been sent by the Rev. Classis, or ordained here by their order, or recognized on their recommendation, or that of some other Classis in the Netherlands.
3. The question how the ministers otherwise ordained are to be treated, we shall arrange to our mutual satisfaction.
4. As to the ordination of others, that stumbling-block will be taken out of the way, if we fall upon fit subjects, and provide the means of a suitable education.
If these things are acceptable to the brethren, it is our unanimous desire that a meeting should be appointed for the ensuing autumn, say the first Tuesday in October, which every one, if alive and well, shall attend.
Since this proposal demands that everything which in the least hinders peace should cease, we promise that we will not install a Consistory at Tappan, or call a minister there, on condition that you will not introduce a minister at Harlem or Gravesend, or anywhere else.
Understanding that you will hold your meeting at Hackensack on the coming Tuesday, we use this opportunity to make our proposal known to you all; and we request that you will consider it maturely, in the fear of the Lord, and communicate your conclusion to us, so that we may know how we are to govern ourselves, and what we are to expect ; and that this will be done within six weeks.
We subscribe ourselves, with much respect,
In the name of the Assembly,
New York, May 6, 1767.
J. Ritzema, President. L. De Ronde, Clerk.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
Lawyers' fees. Manor of Fordham. Third Church Building. New York, May 11th, 1767.
Consistory held after calling on God's name.
1. Two indentures for leased grounds in William St., one to Edward Meeks, and the other to Isaac Vreedenberg were presented and ordered to be sealed.
2. The lawyer's costs amounting to £170 : 2 : 9 were presented, and the Treasurer was authorized to pay the same out of the first incoming rents or capital.
Signed etc.,
J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
New York, May 25th, 1767.
1. After the usual report of the House visitation, Capt. Ths. Clarke appeared in the meeting and offered to buy our mortgage on J. Valentyn's farm in the Manor of Fordham with the payment of one year's interest, of the £500 .; the Consistory how- ever giving a credit for the two years interest. Two days delay was desired in order to see by the Treasurer if one year's interest was still to be had from Valentyn.
2. Two plans for building a Third Church were presented. That of Mr. Breestede was chosen, with the observation, that the breadth should be 74 instead of 70 feet, and the pillars should run all the way up so as to support the roof.
115
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
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3. Resolved that the committee on plans should obtain a close estimate of the cost of such a church built of clipstone, so that we may know what ground there is to go upon in completing it.
4. Resolved that Deacons Abeel, Marschalk and Roosevelt demand a third of the money subscribed ; and the receipt of the money be entrusted to the last named. Signed etc.,
J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
Meeting of the Coetus at Hackensack, May 13, 1767. Minutes not recovered, as correspondence was suspended with the Classis of Amsterdam, at this time.
Rev. William Hanna to Sir Wm. Johnson, May 29, 1767. Also sketch of Mr. Hanna, Doc. Hist. N. Y. 4to., iv. 236. See also pp. 279, 280. He was the first Presbyterian clergyman of Albany. In 1771 he became an Episcopallan.
GOVERNOR MOORE TO THE EARLE OF SHELBURNE.
Complaints of Society for Propagating the Gospel. Rights of the Church. Land grants to Trinity Church and Kings College.
Fort George, New York, June 9. 1767.
My Lord,
It Is Impossible for me to express the concern and astonishment I was under on receiving your Lordships letter of the 11th of April [1767]* Inclosing the Copies of two Petitions, one from the Society for propagating the Gospel, and the other from Samuel Robinson & hls associates ; although some people have often made free with the characters of His Majesty's Governors in Amerlea in common conver- sation, and have frequently misrepresented their actions, yet I always thought that so much decency would constantly be preserved in an address to the Crown, that it should contain no assertions of Facts but what were Incontestable; I beg leave to assure your Lordship that this is very far from being the ense at present, and that it gave me the highest satisfaction to find that His Majesty was determined not only to have the strictest enquiry made into the circumstances of the charges in the Petition, but that he expected the clearest and fullest answers to every part of it. As I am persuaded that when the truth is lald open It will fully appear that I have neither perverted the Power lodged In my hands nor acted in any manner derogatory to my station and that so far from deserving the least Impu- tation of Oppression, I have made disinterestedness the characteristle of my admin- istration as I thought it Incumbent on me to support In every shape the dignity of the Commission with which his Majesty has been pleased to honor me. To begin my answer as far back as I can, I beg leave to transcribe some minutes of the Councli which are as follows.
On Wednesday the 10th of April 1765 the Lieutenant Governor laid before the Councli His Majesty's order in Council dated July 20th 1764 declaring the River Connecticut to be the Boundary between the Provinces of New York and New Hampshire.
It would be proper to observe here that these Lands though petitioned for under a grant from New Hampshire were within 20 Mlles of Hudson's River. but were still notwithstanding the encroachment, protected, on account of the Settlement on them, although the Title set up was rejected.
As it was necessary that something should be done to encourage people to settle in those parts I determined then to engage personally in it, and to take up a Tract of Land there which should be distributed out to poor Familles in Small Farms on the condition that they should begin upon the Manufacture of Pot Ash and the Culture of Hemp : His Majesty's Council having approved of my plan consented to have a Township lald out for me and some other associated with me at twelve
*See said letter, Doc. Hist. N. Y. 4to ed. iv. 365. Also the whole discussion, Iv. 329-375.
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
4091 1767
miles distance from the North Line of the County of Cumberland and on a spot neither granted by New Hampshire nor claimed by any persons whatsoever :.
I have directed a Church to be built at my sole expence in the Center of the Township, and shall set apart a large Farm as a Glebe for the incumbent; These measures I am persuaded will contribute greatly to the peopling of that part of the Province, for many wealthy persons inhabitants of this Town on seeing what I have done, and still propose to do, have associated themselves together in sufficient numbers to be entitled to Townships there, and have taken all the necessary steps to carry their Plans into execution, many people being actually employed in sur- veying and dividing into different Lotts the Lands they have taken up; I have likewise had a Township laid out and vested in Trustees for the use of the Minis- ters of the Gospel according to the Communion of the Church of England, and another for the use of the College here that the opportunity might not be lost of improving the Morals as well as fortunes of the New Settlers in so distant a part of the Province.
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