USA > New York > Ecclesiastical records, state of New York, Volume VI > Part 9
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After all the disputes and divisions in these congregations, at last the day of peace and general unity, desired by all the good, yet expected by few, has arrived. They tell me that I, (who am an unworthy servant of Christ, and who, strange enough, strayed to this place), have become the cause of their happy unlon, and that, as such, I have been called by them. Meditating on the Providence of God which brought me to this place, and on the general good feeling of the congrega- tions towards me after some of their fruitless attempts to secure others, I have considered the call as the Voice of God and have obeyed the same. Beileve me, Rev. Sirs, that, If I know my own heart, It is only because I looked at the matter in this light, and especially from love towards my Crnelfled Savlor, with an earnest desire to preserve the peace and unity of these congregations and to promote the
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welfare of their souls, that I have become inclined to accept their call. I have already suffered many hardships and disappointments in the ministry, although I am yet young, such as I would not have suffered in any other vocation. And because of the uncertain love and treacherous changes of men, and the eninity of the world against Christ and his disciples, I have reason to fear that I will yet experience much more of grief and sorrow. With all humility, I believe that if I was not really desirous of willingly taking up the cross of Christ, and bearing it after him, I would not again undertake the important service of the ministry. The difficulty also of my preaching the Gospel and performing my duties in a language which I do not very well understand, and which I must yet learn, in order to serve four congregations far apart, and that for a smaller salary than I received in the Eng- lish church with easier work :- all these considerations will convince your Revs. of the uprightness of my heart in what I have related to your Revs.
That I was not over eager to accept this call, so far as respects myself, your Revs. will see from a motion and desire to which I gave expression before the Con- sistory in their last meeting. It was that, if the Rev. Classis, should refuse to ratify this call to me, the Consistory should then request the Rev. Classis to send some minister to their congregations, according to their wisdom, and that they would promise to accept him. But they refused this proposal. And now I leave this whole matter with you, Rev. Sirs. I do not doubt but that your Revs will conclude that which your Revs. shall deem best for these congregations. Mean- while, may the Father of Lights guide your Revs. by His Spirit, in the despatching of this and all other matters which may come before your Revs. This is the earnest desire of your Revs. humble servant and co-laborer in the vineyard of Christ.
(See Oct. 7, 1762.)
Abraham Keteltas.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR ROBERT MONCK- TON, JUNE 14, 1762-JUNE 28, 1763.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK.
English Preaching. Difficulties. New York, July 6, 1762.
Consistory held after calling on God's name.
1. Touching the call of an English minister to our church, some articles were presented by Mr. Lott, Jr., to show how this could be conveniently done. These having been read and somewhat ex- amined, were approved by the consistory, with a view of proposing them to both parties and obtaining their consent to them. Domines Ritzema and De Ronde, Cornelius Clopper and Pieter Lott were appointed a committee for this purpose. They undertook to attend to it at once and make report.
2. Mr. Tiebout enquired if one Susanna Kock could be employed by the Deacons at twenty shillings per month. Agreed to. This done etc.
L. de Ronde, p. t. President.
Report of the above Committee, Messrs. Vredenburg, Tiebout, Hardenbrook, Turk, Bogert, Brown and Stoutenburg appeared in the Consistory Chamber as representing the Second Petitioners. After speaking again and again with these members, and reading to them the proposed Articles, and urging them to agree to them, we received reply, that the Second Petitioners would in no way consent that an English-preaching minister should come into our church. They desired to remain as they always had been. They would come no more before the Consistory and refused even to take a copy of the Articles.
I. de Ronde, p. t. President. New York, July 12, 1762.
Consistory held after calling on God's name.
The Consistory found itself much perplexed by the above given answer, inasmuch as it was their business and duty to keep an eye
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on both set of petitioners, and satisfy both, if possible. The matter urged by the Second Petitioners was their fear of losing in course of time, their church and church privileges, (the Charter) ; yet the First Petitioners propose nothing else than to secure the same for the Dutch Church. Inasmuch as the Consistory is now a (Civil) Corporation, as such it has always been very zealous in making secure those properties, which by will have been given them, for the service and support of the ministers. By virtue of the Charter, confirmed to them by Act of Assembly, the Consistory resolved to have the proper papers prepared and confirmed by the Seal of the corporation, and thereupon also, immediately to have the Call of an English minister prepared, under the limitations fixed in the last proposal; except the sixth article is made to read that neither the Dutch nor the English ministers shall be paid out of the col- lections.
Messrs. Cornelius Clopper, Marschalk and Abram Lott, Jr. were appointed to speak with such a lawyer as they should approve, in respect to drawing up the above resolution.
L. de Ronde, p. t. President.
ACTION OF THE SYNOD OF NORTH HOLLAND, JULY 27-AUG. 6, 1762, PAGE 50, VOL. 65.
Article 36.
Classical Changes.
Dismissed,
Rev. Cor. Blaauw, minister at Vlieland, goes to North America.
Rev. Johannes Martinus Van Harlingen, called by the churches of Millstone, (now Harlingen) and New Schennic (Neshanic). After being finally examined, on May 25, 1761, he was ordained to the ministry of churches in New Netherland.
Rev. Cor. Blaauw was called from East Vlieland to Pompton, Totowa, and Ganzegat, (now Fairfield). After being duly dis- missed from the church at Oost Vlieland and from the Classis of Enkhuysen he was installed in the ministry of the said churches.
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Article 45.
North and South Hampton ; minister, Rev. (Jonathan ) Du Bois. His Rev. Complains a great deal about the prospect of the decline of his church from the lack of a Dutch school. He has labored much, but in vain to obtain one.
Amwyl (Amwell) in New Jersey, having asked for a minister, and promising to pay a large part of his salary, Rev. Casper Michael Stapel has been appointed, and has already started thither.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
New York. Letter from the Conferentie.
1762, August. Art. 9. The Rev. Depp. ad res Exteras report that they have received, another letter, from New York, dated October 15, 1761. This was signed by George H. Mancius, John Ritzema, Lambertus de Ronde : John Schuyler, John C. Rubel, A. Roosencrantz, B. van der Linde-Ecclesiastes. xiii. 320.
CHURCH OF NEW YORK. English Preaching. Protests. New York, August 18, 1762.
Consistory held after calling on God's name.
1. The committee appointed by the last consistory presented a draught, in English, which was read. After discussion, it was unanimously agreed that this could answer no good purpose for the better securing the properties of the church. Therefore the former resolution should be considered of no value. It was better also to take up the matter under the form of the eight articles, with the proviso that the change made in the sixth should be included.
2. The consistory returned to the eight articles which were presented on July 6th and the question was proposed in these two forms: (1) Shall a preacher be called according to the eight articles, and the Great Consistory be asked to approve the same ?
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or (2) Shall the articles be rejected so long as the Second Peti- tioners abide by their proposal ?
In favor of the first, were, Cornelius Clopper, Pieter Lott, Garrit Rapelye, Abraham Lott, Jr., Gerhardus Beekman, Francis Marschalk, Cornelius Bogart, Jacobus Roosevelt, Jr., Petrus Lowe, Gerhardus Duyking.
In favor of the second proposition, were, Christoffel Bancker, John Aalstein, Huybert van Wagenen, Andries Abramse, Teunis Tiebout.
Whereupon, it was resolved by a majority vote, that the Great Consistory should be called tomorrow eight days, August 26, at 3 P. M.
Signed etc.,
J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
New York, August 26, 1762.
Great Consistory held after calling on God's name.
The resolution of the Ruling Consistory, to act upon which this meeting was called, was read. Whereupon Mr. Hardenbrock pre- sented a list of names of members of the Great Consistory, which he wished to have considered as a Protest, since they did not con- sent to the proposed action. The Majority refused to consider it, because, if they did, it still would not hinder the progress of the business. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the majority, Messrs Hardenbrock, Vredenburg, Petrus Bogart, Van Dyck, Jakobus Turk and Willem Rooseboom continued to protest.
The question was then again put on consenting to the resolution of the Ruling Consistory; and all except the above named con- sented.
The Great Consistory was then asked, if it had anything further to observe. The answer was, that the matter was referred to the Ruling Consistory, on condition that the second of the eight articles, should be amended, according to a remark of Mr. Recorder. " Provided that the English minister must be a member in full communion of our church, according to our Church Constitution, and in the same manner as the present Dutch ministers."
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The matter being left in the hands of the Ruling Consistory, they resolved to let it rest until after both the communions.
Signed in etc.
J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
List of the present members of the Great Consistory who gave their consent to the call of an English minister.
1. Cornelius Wynkoop
Pieter Keteltas Richard Ray John Duryee W'm. De Peyster
2. Abram Lott, Jr. Nicholas Roosevelt David Abeel
Joris Brinkerhof " Peter Marschalk
Luke Roome
John G. Lansing Henry Clopper
Luke van Ranst
Gerard W. Beekman
3. John Livingston Isaac Roosevelt Evert Byvank Robert Bronson
John Brevoort Jacobus Roosevelt, Sr. Philip Livingston
4. Symon Johnson Abram van Wyck Andries Breestede Anthony Ten Eyck Theodore Van Wyck Dirk Brinkerhoff Andrew Myer
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Approval of the Call of Rev. Kok, (Cock.)
1762. Sept. 6th. Art. 4. The Rev. Depp. ad res Exteras hand in a lawful instrument of a call of elders and deacons of the Camp and Rhinebeck. in New York, extended to Rev. Gerard Daniel Kok. (Cock) with the request that at the next Classis he may have his final examination.
The Rev. Classis finding everything in debita forma approves this call, and grants this request. As a text there was assigned to him 1 Thess. 5 : 8; " But let us, who are of the day, be sober, put- ting on the breast-plate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation." And for the examination in Hebrew, Psalm 2; in Greek the chapter of the text. xiii. 321.
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Pamphlets of Leydt and Ritzema.
Art. 7 ad 9. The Rev. Depp. ad res Exteras report, that one of those two pamphlets have a tendency to injure and arraign the Classis. They are requested to submit extracts therefrom, and to bring in a report (pre-advice) as to how this blame can in the best manner be diverted from the Classis. xiii. 321. (See Oct. 4.)
CHURCH OF NEW YORK. Calling an English-speaking Minister. New York, September 19, 1762.
Consistory held after calling on God's name.
The observation of the Great Consistory in respect to the second of the eight articles was brought up, making it read: "that the English minister etc." (see Aug. 26;) and a majority voted that this should be inserted in said article.
Mr. Teunis Tiebout presented a Protest, given to him by Jakobus Stoutenberg, in which the names of the Protesters, were written by Mr. Stoutenberg, desiring that the resolution of the Great Consis- tory for the Call of an English minister should not be proceeded with.
It was further proposed whether any, and if any, who, should be appointed to obtain a subscription for an English minister: Where- upon it was Resolved, as before, that the Ruling Consistory should undertake this work and request the aid of some of the Great Con- sistory in furthering it.
It was further asked and agreed to, that the papers presented by any party should, when regularly requested by a member of Con- sistory, be furnished by the President, to be returned after use.
Signed etc., J. Ritzema, p. t. President.
ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM.
Report on the two Pamphlets of Leydt and Ritzema; and on the Coetus of New York.
1762, Oct. 4th. Art. 5 ad 7. The Rev. Depp ad res Exteras report, that in the one pamphlet, published by those who
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call themselves the Coetus, (Leydt's), are found heart-grieving things in arraignment of the Classis and Synod, as on p. 29 etc. ; even as they read some citations from the same, and have en- lightened the Classis with their pre-advice; wherewith the Classis are very much pleased, and with thanks requested them to draw up everything carefully, so that the pre-advice might also at the same time constitute the contents of those letters.
Further, Classis requested them to write one letter directly to the Coetus, and another to the Conferentie-Meeting, and to express to the members of the Coetus the displeasure of the Classis ; also to announce to them that a Coetus-Assembly was permitted them upon certain terms which they now themselves violate. Hence the Classis cannot recognize such a Coetus. Also that the Classis desires no subordination for its own benefit, but only to be of service to the churches of New York ; but by their perverse conduct they give reasons why the Classis can be of no further service to the churches of New York. Of all this the Classis shall give knowledge to the High Rev. Synod in proper season. xiii. 324.
(See Leydt's Pamphlet, Aug. 12, 1760 ; and Ritzema's, Oct. 15, 1761.)
Examination of Rev. Kok (Cock) for New York.
The High Rev. Mr. Verloren, Deputatus Synodi, took his seat, having been led into this Assembly by the Quaestor and Clerk. He expressed his wish for a blessing upon the Classis. This was anwered in like manner by an expression of welcome by the Rev. President. Whereupon Rev. Gerardus Daniel Kok, (Cock), called as minister to the Camp and Rhinebeck in New York, preached a sermon on 1 Thess. 5: S, to the satisfaction of the Deputatus, and the members of this Assembly. He was subsequently most caro- fully interrogated by the Rev. Examiner, Joosting, in the Hebrew, on Psalm 2, in Greek on 1 Thess. 5, as well as on the principal articles of Sacred Theology. He gave satisfaction to the great pleasure of the whole assembly both in the confirmation of the doctrines of the Truth, and in the confutation of the errorists. He was therefore assigned to that church with much satisfaction,
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(amplitude), with a prayer for the divine blessing. Whereupon the High Rev. Deputatus took his leave with expression of thanks, and his wish for a blessing on us. He was in like manner answered by the Rev. President, and was conducted from the Assembly by the Quaestor and Clerk.
Rev. Kok, (Cock) repudiated the condemned opinions of Prof. Roel and Dr. Bekker, and declared himself orthodox. He prom- ised to read the Forms for Baptism and the Supper, particularly the three questions under Baptism, without alteration. He then signed the Formulae of Concord and promised to maintain corre- spondence with this Classis. He was thereupon ordained to the Sacred Ministry by Rev. Examiner, with the laying on of hands. The Rev. Examiner was thanked for his careful examination.
xiii. 325.
ARCHBISHOP SECKER TO THE REVEREND DR. SAMUEL JOHNSON.
Lambeth Oct. 6, 1762.
Good Dr. Johnson :
I hope Mr. Cooper is or soon will be with you, and will answer expectation. I gave him such advice as I could: the best part of it was that he should consult you, and follow your directions in every thing. I promised him to send some books after him : and they were carried for that purpose three days ago to Dr. Jay's lodgings. You will be pleased to tell him this, and to add, that they are only what I told him they would, such Duplicates from amongst my books, good or bad, as I could spare : for I have lent the rest of my duplicates to the Chaplains. Dr. Jay hath undoubtedly acquainted you with what has been done for the two Colleges. I approved the proposal of a joint Collection, as the best way for both. Lord Presi- dent opposed your College very strongly ; and engaged Lord Egremont, Secretary of State, to take the same side: but at last we got the better. Dr. Smith hath acted very honorably and disinterestedly in this whole affair : and was well contented with my procuring twice as much from the King for New York College, as for Philadelphia, because the former is a Royal Foundation, and hath no other Patron.
A Pamphlet hath been sent me from America, entitled " The real advantages which Ministers and People may enjoy by conforming to the Church of England faithfully considered and impartially represented." It is written in a ludicrous manner, yet with strange virulence, and seems likely enough to do great mischief. Yet surely the Dissenters, who have any seriousness, cannot approve such a method of writing against us : at least, they might be brought to disapprove it, by the prudent use of very mild and friendly Remonstrances, setting forth the uncharitableness of such treatment, and the injustice of such Representations. With the author himself stronger Expostulations, yet grave and gentle ones, might be used : begging him, with fit expressions of concern for him, on some of the more flagrant enormities of his pen, to consider what spirit he is of. Some good persons, who are not of our church, one should hope, might thus be brought over to take part with us. And other ways of answering, I apprehend, would do us little good, but perhaps much harm. The American facts, alleged or alluded to, are so many, that no one who hath not been a good while in our Colonies, can make a full answer, unless more than ordinary pains were taken to furnish him with materials. And an intemperate
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answer would be, and a defective one might be, worse than none. I had not an opportunity of knowing the contents of this Pamphlet, till Dr. Smith was gone out of town to the North.
A letter hath been brought me, within these two days, from Mr. Caner, dated Aug. 9, with an Act of the Assembly at Boston, passed in May, to incorporate a Society for propagating Christian knowledge amongst the Indians of North America. I know none of them by their names, unless the Author of the just mentioned Pamphlet be one : but I observe, that no persons are members by virtue of their Stations : if any of them be Churchmen, I should be glad to know it. They are accountable oniy to themselves : and therefore may abuse their trust as much as they please; and I should fear they would abuse it to the disadvantage of our Society, and the strengthening of the Dissenting interest. If the matter appears in the same light to our American friends, I wonder we had not earlier notice of it. The Act lies before the Board of Trade here, and might possibly have received the Royal Assent some time ago. Were our Society to oppose it, we should be charged with doing little or nothing ourselves and hindering others. The danger of its hurt- ing our Society will, I doubt, affect but few of our great men: and that of its benefitting the Dissenters, not very many. Invectives against it by our Missionaries will be of no use on several accounts : particularly because its Fate will be decided here ; where possibly we may be able to stop it for the present, though I am not sure of that : and much less, what can be done, if it comes back another year amended.
I should have said one thing more about the Pamphlet, which is more material than all the rest, that whereinsoever we are justly accused, Clergy or people, we should own it and mend, which is the only good answer in such cases. The Society hath not met since May. I have been ill; and the Bishops, the Secretary, and the Treasurer out of Town. In the meantime I have paid the Bill of 500 11 from your College out of my own pocket. And I think I have secured from the Crown 170 11 for the damages done by the soldiers to Mr. Charltons Glebe in Staten Island. I hope there wlil not fail to be a Meeting next week. Whether 1 shall be able to go to it is very doubtful. But at least I promlse myself, that I shail talk over matters with such as can go. And then I purpose, God willing, to write you another letter. For there are several particulars in yours of last April relative to Society Affairs, yet unanswered by mne. But I must go no further at present. Only I assure you, that no one hath hitherto intimated to me the least desire of the office of a Bishop in America : and that I am entirely of your opinion, that the Crown should not begin with Clergymen already settied there. God bless you, good Dr. Johnson. Pray for
Your loving Brother. -Col. Docs. N. Y. Vol. vil, pp. 307.8.
CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA.
The Conferentie Ministers to the Classis of Amsterdam about the call of Rev. Abraham Keteltas, October 7, 1762. Vol. 33, page 50. No. 323.
To the Right Rev. Classis of Amsterdam.
Rt. Rev. Gentlemen, Fathers and Brethren in Christ :-
We have the honor to forward to your Rev. Body two communi- cations besides this one of our own : one from the Rev. Abraham Keteltas. (of June 7, 1762), formerly minister in the Presbyterian congregation at Elizabeth Town, in New Jersey, the other from the United Dutch congregation in Queens county, Long Island. Their
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contents will speak for themselves. About their extensive reports we have nothing more to remark than to say, that we can testify to the truth of the substance of the narrations, leaving certain par- ticulars to the responsibility of the writers of the same.
The reason why these letters were not sent on the day on which they were signed accompanied by a letter from us, as had been promised, was, that we had been requested to hold a trial-examina- tion of Rev. Keteltas, in order that, if convinced of his orthodoxy upon all points, we might have all the better grounds for recom- mending his Rev. to the Rev. Classis. In this examination (tenta- men) we found his Rev. too favorably disposed to the opinions of the Rev. Dr. Isaac Watts, as regards the dogma of the eternal generation of the Son by the Father. We were, therefore, not only checked in the accomplishment of our previously adopted plan, but it also caused great disturbances throughout the congregation, so that, in consequence, separations again threatened them, (lit. stood at the door). We conferred repeatedly with Rev. Keteltas and eventually brought matters so far, that he has handed to us, in person, in this accompanying writing, the expression of his opin- ion, in order to let your Hon. Body judge, whether or not his con- ceptions are at variance with our received doctrines.
But inasmuch as all the differences in that congregation, so serious and of such long standing, have been quieted down, and they have united on the person of Rev. Keteltas, we make bold, Rev. Gentlemen, in case this affair should be acted on more or less strictly by some classis in the Netherlands, most earnestly to recommend said Rev. Keteltas, to favorable notice. In all other respects he agrees with us upon every point, so far as we know. He is a man who was born in our own church. His father was for- merly a distinguished elder in the congregation of New York. His mother is still an esteemed member of the same, as are also other of his relatives. He made confession of his faith and was a member of our church; and although he does not express himself upon this point, as we would like to have him do, nevertheless he does not oppose our doctrine upon any point. Indeed, he himself declared to me only this morning, that he had never taught, nor
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did he intend to teach anything different from that which is taught among us; and that he hoped upon further investigation to receive such light as would enable him to express himself in the manner customary among us.
We hope, therefore, Rev. Gentlemen and Fathers, in considera- tion of all these circumstances, and of the earnest desire of the congregation which has again been communicated to us by two mes- sengers, and in consideration of the injurious consequences which otherwise may perhaps be expected, that we may receive, as soon as possible, your favorable reply, let it cost what it may ; and that we may rejoice together in knowing that peace and love again prevail through the whole of Long Island ; and may this also clear the way for other laborers where the peace is still disturbed.
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