USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume VI > Part 79
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As for me, I was compelled to ask for my release (form active duties) and I am now living at the good old age of seventy-seven in peace, in the country. I can, therefore, quietly commend to God the cause of His Church, as I daily do in my prayers. But, since the departure of the British troops from New York, and the taking possession of the city by our troops, so many things have been changed in church affairs, in respect of myself as well as of some of the brethren, that I find myself in conscience bound before God to give your Revs. some information with regard to these things.
To begin with myself. With the consent of my Consistory, in April 1776, when New York was besieged, I took flight with my family to the country, at first thirty miles distant. However, after a two years' stay, there, I was surrounded by the (hostile) army again, in my place of refuge, so that I narrowly, and with much loss, escaped up the River, to Kinderhook, a place about 145 miles from New York, where the minister (Fryenmoet) had died the year previous.
1785
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
4333
Finally, after independence from Great Britain had been secured, I intended to return, with mine, to New York. Fortunately, not far from where I lived there was a part of my old fugitive church. Among them were two counselors, three deacons, etc. I thought best to visit in October, for the purpose of considering what course I would better take by December, when the city was to be sur- rendered. I scarcely dare make mention of that meeting, because it ended in my being, with positive violence, turned out of my lawful church, and in the depriva- tion to the church of its old minister, who was still desired with tears by hun- dreds. I had come within ten miles of my journey's end, when I met a man, formerly one of my deacons, to whom I revealed the object of my journey. He told me confidentially, that a plot was laid against me to keep me forever out of my church, and to give me some support, annually, that I might end my days in the country. That led me to step down from my wagon and turn into his house, where he told me everything he knew. I then set before him my right and duty, as the oldest minister, according to our Charter from King William; the tenor of the grants to the church, which I had in my possession, and the reasons why I thought all this to be impossible, especially as the persons, to whom I was going, were my best friends, my first catechumens, with whom I never had had a dis- pute; yea, in regard to whom I dared to boast that they would have had their eyes plucked out rather than see that any harm came to me, etc.
This, however, put me on my guard. I preached the day following, with much pleasure and inspiration, to a portion of my old congregation whom I had not seen for seven years, besides others of the place. After the sermon, I was at once invited to dinner by one of the counselors. This invitation I accepted, on condition that in the evening, at the other's house, I must, with a view to my object, have a conversation on the "state of affairs." This took place, lasting till late at night. Everything passed off in a friendly spirit; and any one, who did not know what had been told me, would have said-" There is a company of people of one mind." One, however, dropped a word which I took up. It was about the Charter and what, according to its express language, I was expected to do, with four elders and four deacons. He answered me: " Domine, our Charter is of no value. We ought to have a new one, now that the legislative power rests with us. We can get one just as we like." To this I replied: "Sir, if we do that, we annul every instrument and writing of ours, many of which I myself sealed with the seal of our Corporation; and you, Sir," said I to the other, " will then lose £2000 holding, as you do, an obligation from the Church to your Honor's father, for the completion of our North Church, with the seal of the corporation upon it." Whereupon at once a deep silence occurred. In the end, the result was that one said :- "Next week I will go to New York and see how matters stand there and bring report." This took place. At the same time I was informed that they would take possession of the churches, residences, etc .; that the journey was too great for me in the winter; that my costly house was unfit to live in, etc .; that it would be made habitable again, and then, with the first sailboats, I might come down with my family.
What happened meanwhile? On the 10th of February (1785) certain elders and deacons come together and send me this arbitrary action :- " My service is no longer needed. There are not more than twenty or thirty people who are any longer in favor of Dutch. The welfare of the Church demands English services, and it would not be agreeable for me to preach to so few. They allow me half of my salary for life. I can live on that in the country, but not in the city. An action of similar import they would send to my colleague, de Ronde."
Thus I and Rev. de Ronde were deposed by five elders and seven deacons; the Charter in the matter of our calls was nullified, together with all the acts of the Consistory respecting us. At once I was convinced in reference to the plot revealed to me; and the meaning of the remark, "Our Charter is of no value," etc. I reflected on the matter. I searched the writings and the acts of the Consistory, which were in my possession, took counsel with good friends, considered time and circumstances and my advanced years, and concluded that it was best to get an honorable release, without entering into a dispute with them as to the justice of the case, seeing that I would find little help in the gate. I then sent my daughter's husband to New York, to treat with them on moderate terms. I requested to be made Minister Emeritus, with a release from administrative duties in the Church,
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in which, I knew, I could not agree with them. I expressed my willingness to preach (in Dutch) to the few who yet remained, as long as I could be of use to them. Only I requested that my house should be given back to me, and I would have it repaired for £400., so that it would be good enough for me; the interest on which amount, I would pay as long as I lived; and that then I would agree to their proposition. The last of those terms was utterly refused to me.
My colleague, de Ronde, hearing of this, thought that, as I was Emeritus, he was now the oldest minister, and must necessarily come into his rights, according to the Charter. He, therefore, took another course and demanded the payment of arrears in salary for so many years. Wanting to make sure of his rights, he preached once and again to the congregation. The Consistory refused to give more salary than before. Out of this he had to hire his own house, which would now take at least half his salary. The church being unable and unwilling to contribute anything of account, he was finally glad to come in on my terms, etc.
The church, however, was dissatisfied at our being thus thrust out. Many of the old Dutch people came back to the city, demanded their rights, and wanted their ministers back. I was particularly desired by many; and was informed, from time to time, by others of a report spread concerning me, to the effect that through age, I had become unintelligible, and that I had myself given up the work, the real reason being kept concealed. I found myself obliged to come down, last May, and to show what, by the grace of God, I could do, and at Kinderhook had been doing every Sunday. The result was that I put my enemies to shame. I preached to a full church so intelligibly that every one declared that they had never heard me do better.
Whereupon every one desired that I should come back to the city. They would provide a residence for me. Requests were made by the Consistory. These wanted me back so much that two of the elders even begged me, with tears in their eyes, and left me no rest until I promised that I would come back. They would provide a house for me, and see to it that I had a living. I did make the promise on the condition that I would, indeed, preach, catechize, etc .; but, as Minister Emeritus, I would take no part in the church-management; for I knew what the Consistory's object was, and that as I would not be able to consent to that, I would be in con- stant difficulty with them. If then, at their request, the Consistory should call me back, I would be at their service again, as long as I was able. I went home expecting nothing else than that I should return to the city late in the summer. But the oppressors-permit me to use the expression-of the Dutch Church influ- enced them to such an extent that they would not get my house repaired for the £400, the interest on which I was willing to pay as long as I lived; whereas they have now repaired it at a cost of £1200., after the similitude of a palace, for Dr. Livingston; so that it is now derisively called "The Palace of the Dutch Bishop." Besides that, they have promised him £500., a year, whereas we never had more than £300; and I only £260, with a free residence; whereas the Doctor, (Living- ston), as also his deceased colleague, Laidlie, were called on a pure subscription, and without any claim whatever on the property of the Dutch.
Oh! how happy I am that, in my old age, I may live in peace in the country, and minister to a small church with satisfaction, although I get little more for my labor than free residence, fuel and light. An attempt has now been made to pacify the Church by inviting to its pastorate a minister from Holland, because, amid many murmurings, the Dutch services had come to a complete standstill, etc.
On the same track have now followed those of Long Island, also, in their treat- ment of Rev. Van Sinderen. Being a country man of mine, I paid him a visit once, and found him outside of a parsonage, living with his children. He quickly brought out a letter, written to him by his Consistory in the same style as ours; "We need your services no longer, etc .; but will give you £50 annually." At this he burst out in tears, " What wickedness! what violence!" I cheered him up as much as I could, for. he was involved in the same fate as myself. "How fortu- nate we are" I said, "that we have been discharged with honor! Now there remains for us nothing else than to get discharged from everything else, and to make firm our foundations upon Jesus, and through Him to await a blessed Eternity! Look at your unfortunate colleague," I said, "whom they have deposed," etc., "Rev. Rubel; while I do not take his part at all, I hold that he has been treated in an unecclesiastical and unscriptural manner; because, for reasons which
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OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
he gave, he refused to appear before their Assembly, and was, therefore deposed. In my time, too, we have had two or three miserable cases; but we labored to restore the erring with meekness of wisdom, and put hardly any one under censure. Now, on some charge or other, what the truth of the matter is, I leave in its place, summarily to depose this man, who, as long as I have known him, was always a sober and temperate man, is the first of the ministers who came here from Nether- land, (?) ("de eerste van de predikanten die nit Nederland is overgekomen"?) and is the son of a noble father, and has a brother who is still living, I say, it seems to me to indicate that here they are inclined to bear with no one, unless he is an American.
I add yet another instance. The Assemblies which are now called "Synods" and "Classes" have made Dr. Livingston and Dr. Meyer, Professors; the former in Theology and the latter, in Languages. Although they have neither an Academy nor students, they have passed a resolution that no one shall be admitted for examination, unless he has, for a certain time, been under the instruction, first of Doctor Meyer, and then of Professor Livingston. Last year it happened that a certain Snyder, (Schneyder)-that, I think, is the man's name-who came here dur- ing the war, and supported himself by giving instruction to children, made himself known to the Ministers, Kock, Doll and Gebhard, who reside in my vicinity. These advised him to study diligently the Systems of Braumius and Burman. According to the account which I received from those gentlemen, he made himself at home in those works. As the Church of Schoharie had lost its minister, and knew of no one who was conversant with the German language, and, having suffered much during the war, was unable to invite a minister from Germany, this man was recommended to it, was invited, and gave such satisfaction that the church was willing to call him, in case he could secure a license. He went with an elder to New York, a journey of 170 miles. On their return, they stopped at my house, and gave an account of what had occurred. They said to me that his request for license had been refused him; that he had addressed the Assembly in Latin, offer- ing himself for examination in Latin or German. He told me that no one had answered him; the Professor was not present, and he thought that no one of the illustrious Assembly knew Latin. So he might as well go on and edify the Church as well as he could. Now I hear that he is again refused, and has gone to Philadelphia to be ordained there.
Now, Very Rev. Sirs and Brethren, I must take notice of yet another thing- something of which a gentleman informed me a week or two ago. It was this; that in the month of May, at New York, he had read a letter from the Deputati ad res exteras to Doctor Livingston, in which, among other things, a complaint was made, and a wish of the Classis was expressed. The complaint was made of the withdrawal from the Classis; and the wish was that the Classis might be kept informed of the state of the church, here, etc. that he, accordingly, went to the Doctor, who is from Amsterdam, and proposed to him, that, as a matter of neces- sity, all the ministers should convene together, to consider the condition of the church, as it had suffered much by the war, and to ask for assistance; and that he received for an answer, that he was quite competent to do that alone, as he had sufficient influence in Holland. What was done I do not know; nor do I expect to make inquiry concerning it, because, receiving no hearing when I was working to please (the Classis) I shall certainly not be listened to now.
I experienced a new proof thereof when I was in New York, and his Excellency, the Ambassador Van Berkel, in conversation, said to me that I had been treacher- ously and shamefully treated-a man who had served so long with honor, and who was still so strong and spry. "Domine, you have missed it, you ought, willing or not, to have come in and maintained your rights, and those of the Dutch Church. Then everything would have been well. I would have helped you, etc." Begging leave, I asked his Excellency in reply, whether he did not know that, at that time, there was no place for me to lay my head. My house had been ruined by the enemy. My church, aware that, early in the spring, I would come down, set the carpenters to work, to fit up a couple of rooms by that time. But the Consistory ordered the work to be stopped. They did not want to have the house repaired. Your Excellency was not there; and do you not see how my colleague, de Ronde, fared? I knew with whom I had to deal. When it became known that I had talked with his Excellency, some asked me what it was he told me. I answered
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1785
little, but they objected at once that "he had no business to concern himself about our Church. If he wants a minister, then the States of Holland should send him one. They knew what they had to do," etc. I might point out other instances of pride in the Doctor. He, arrayed in his fine toga, daily parades the streets, and ascends the pulpit; neglects to catechize, and instruct the youth, saying he has no time for that. The pretension is made that they are members of the Netherland Reformed Church; but the foundations upon which that church stands, and which distinguishes it from others-little care is taken of them. What a Laodicean condition!
I live here at a place five miles from the North River, twenty miles from Albany, and fourteen miles from Clavarack. No public worship is conducted here except by myself. I have lived here as an exile for nearly eight years. Too little I have concerned myself about the condition of the Church; for, from time to time, I expected to return to my own. I was not wholly idle, however. I preached once every Sunday, when the weather, in some degree, permitted, and catechized usually in the afternoon. The great slackness, however, especially as regards the latter work, as also the lack of books for instruction, the Compendium being the only one I had, sometimes discouraged me. I cannot find male members enough to change the Consistory, which I have only done twice in all this time. I asked my Consis- tory, because I expected to go away, to go through the entire district of this locality to secure a subscription for a young minister. They came back and could not make out £60, and that only in promises; while a minister who has ever so small a family needs £200, if he is to live with any respectability. Whereupon I felt myself in conscience bound before God, seeing that, while I get no compen- sation for my work, I receive enough from New York to live on, to continue here as long as I can be of any use. I think that in the region between Claverack and Albany there must be in the neighborhood of 1000 families, purely Dutch-that being the language usually spoken in them. Their religion, for the most part, consists solely in presenting their children for baptism in the Dutch Church. I think I have baptized 800 here. Four ministers would have work, if they could only find their living. I have undertaken, with an elder, to go round in one part of the congregation for a couple of days, and hope, when the snow falls, to do so in other parts with a sleigh; in order to let the people know, at their houses, the way of salvation, which they either cannot or will not hear about in public. For their souls, I consider now are laid to my charge. Oh! that I might yet cause some to awake out of the snares of Satan. Then the Lord would show me for what purpose I am staying here.
I think now, very Rev. Sirs, that I have said enough to those who understand. Much as I have desired to continue among my own to the end, the Lord has set me to rest in this way. Even if they were now willing to restore me to my former state, I find that my shoulder is too weak to bear that burden. I am waiting for the reward of grace, with the forgiveness of all my many weaknesses.
Although I am not conscious of having written one word that is beside the truth, I, nevertheless, hope that no occasion will be given me for defending it. I do not know but that a deposition might result.
Thus I close this letter, wishing for Jehovah's blessing upon your Revs. persons and weighty ministries. May He who dwelt in the Burning Bush be with the Church of Netherland and shed His light and grace upon your Ecclesiastical Assem- blies! And, although I do not expect that your long continued efforts here will bear much fruit, my desire is, nevertheless, that your Very Revs. may persevere in contributing your share.
I am, very Rev. Sirs, Fathers and Brethren in Christ,
Your Revs. obedient servant in the Lord,
Joannes Ritzema, Minister Emeritus of New York, residing at Kinderhook in North America.
Kinderhook, Dec. 10, 1785.
P. S. While I have no personal object, I shall be exceedingly pleased to be favored with an answer. I know that the Judge stands at the door, and says to me, "Be thou faithful unto death!"
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
4337
1786
THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
1786, Jan. 10th. A letter to New York was read and approved, and will be sent with the Acts of the Synod of 1785 and 1786. xv. 353.
The Classis of Amsterdam to the Rev. Ecclesiastical Assembly of New York and New Jersey, Jan. 10, 1786. Vol. 32, page 91. No. 54.
Very Rev. Sirs and Much Respected Brethren :-
In due time we received your Revs. esteemed letter of Oct. 8, 1784, together with the Acts of your Revs. Assemblies, held at New York, October, 1783, May, 1784, and October, 1784, for the transmission of which we thank you.
We gladly learned, that among the privileges which your Revs. are now per- mitted to enjoy, this was one of them :- that, as it had pleased God to cause the War in your land, with all its terrible consequences to cease, and to restore to you a delightful peace, your Revs. were also permitted to come together in peace and brotherly love. May the God of peace grant your Revs. the perpetual enjoyment of this privilege.
It touched us to learn that the number of ministers in the churches within the jurisdiction of your Revs. Assembly is small, and that it is to be feared that matters will grow still worse; and that the supply is far short of satisfying the demand. With you, and also for you, we pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into His harvest. It would give us joy, if capable and pious candidates or ministers showed a disposition to fill up the ranks of the ministry in that country.
It grieves us that your Revs. have reason to complain because of the mighty flood of errors, the free-thinking, with all the different kinds of irreligion which are breaking forth everywhere in your country. May God grant your Revs. a double measure of zeal and faithfulness, to watch against such things; and by His Spirit, may He make your Revs. efforts successful for the removal of all destructive errors, in order that truth may triumph over falsehood, and the members of the churches, by an exemplary walk in godliness, establish the pure Doctrine of the Truth.
Your Revs. inform us also that very Rev. Gentlemen, John H. Livingston, has, by the Rev. Assembly, been appointed Professor of Theology at New York, and that Rev. Hermanus Meyer, Minister at Pompton and Totowa, has been chosen to in- struct the students in the Sacred Languages. Our hearts' desire is that the All- sufficient Jehovah may increasingly furnish both men with all needed gifts and graces for those eminent and weighty positions, and make them blessed instru- ments for instructing young Nazarites, who shall in the course of time render truly useful service to the Church of God.
We take this occasion to send your Revs. the Acts of the very Rev. Synod of North Holland, held in the year 1784, at Amsterdam and in the year 1785, at Hoorn.
Further, Brethren, let us take heed to ourselves and to the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made us overseers. Let us watch and pray, waiting for the com- ing of our Lord, to whom we shall have to render an account of the work which has been committed to us, in order that we may have boldness and be not ashamed at His coming. May the glorified King of His Church be ever graciously near your Revs. May He bless your Revs. in the weighty work of the Sacred Ministry. Re- member us in your prayers, and believe that, in true brotherly love, and with all respect, we call ourselves,
Very Rev. Sirs and Much Beloved Brethren, Your Revs. Obedient and well-wishing Brethren, In the name of all,
At Our Classical Assembly, Amsterdam, Jan. 10, 1786 .-
N. B. This letter is sent to New York with the ship called "The Philadelphia, Captain George Lower."
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ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
1786
REV. DR. JOHN H. LIVINGSTON TO REV. DR. THEODORIC ROMEYN MARCH 1786.
Consistorial Trusteeship in Dutch Churches.
" The business of our incorporations I found was not properly understood by some, and very warmly opposed by others. The ideas adopted by the authors of the incorporation act, were to keep the temporalities of all churches perfectly distinct from spirituals. For this reason, without adverting to the customs or discipline of any religious denomination, the body corporate in one and all of them was to be formed in a new mode, and this mode be adopted by every congregation. In this plan there are many of our great folks so established that I despaired of any open- ing for redress in our case. I applied, however, constantly to some leading mem- bers in both houses, and at last obtained their consent to a bill, which I now inclose to Dr. Westerlo, who is requested to send it forward to you. But, even as to this bill, it is suggested to me that it will be insisted upon, and probably a clause for that purpose added to the bill, that our elders and deacons shall be chosen at large by the people, and not by the consistories, as at present, being, as they say, more republican. Should this last be urged, I would rather drop the whole application, as that remedy would be worse than the present disease, and would infallibly bring confusion into our churches. The truth is, I do not feel anxious to bring the business forward this session. However, I have drawn a memorial, and sent it with this conveyance to brother Westerlo, for him and you to sign; and if you both judge it is best still to push the matter, I will do as you shall direct."
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