USA > New York > Kings County > New Utrecht > Historical discourse : delivered on the 18th of October, 1877, at the celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the Reformed Dutch Church of New Utrecht, L.I. > Part 2
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During Mr. Lupardus' ministry - or about the year 1700-the congregation erected a church edifice. It was a stone structure of octagonal form, with a roof running up to a point, surmounted by a belfry. At first it was without pews, the worshippers occupying chairs. Afterward pews were erected in it. The pulpit was very high, with about room enough in it for the preacher-in shape very much like a tumbler. Access to it was gained by a winding stair-case on one side. This building stood in the old grave-yard at the other end of the village, and remained until the year 1828-a period of one hundred and twenty-eight years. During all this time it was used for public worship, except a few years during the struggle for Independ-
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ence. During the Revolutionary War it was occupied by the British. Peculiar in construction and prominent in position, its removal was deeply regretted. It is said that sea captains used it as a mark by which to steer their vessels into the harbor; and I doubt not many a landsman found it to be the place where he was directed in the way to the heavenly home.
Shortly after the death of Mr. Lupardus, about the year 1702, the Governor of the colony was appealed to by the elders of the Kings County churches, for consent to call Rev. Bernardus Freeman, a minister at Schenectady, instead of applying to the Classis of Am- sterdam to send them a minister. Lord Cornbury was at that time Governor, and he worked hard to establish the English Church, and did not allow the Dutch churches to send for ministers, except by his permission. For some reason, the Governor at first refused to grant this request, and this action awakened opposition from a part of the people in the different towns. Flatbush called a town meet- ing, at which those present affirmed that they had the right to call the minister of their choice; and a committee was appointed of one from
each town, to secure Rev. Mr. Freeman as their minister. Mr. Free- man was born at Gilhuis, Holland, and, like most young men of the day, learned a trade. He was a tailor. He was a man possessed of large natural gifts. He had a special faculty for acquiring the lan- guages. When the church of Albany needed a minister, it appears that Mr. Freeman was ordained by the Classis of Linge, in Westphalia, March 10th, 1700, and sailed for this country. The Classis of Am- sterdam, however, had ordained Rev. Johannes Lydias for that place ; and he arriving in the country first, was accepted by the church. Dominie Freeman went to Schenectady and labored among the Mo- hawks. Finally the Governor gave a license to Dominie Freeman to be called to Long Island; but as the conditions did not suit him .-
he declined.
In the mean time, some of the members of the Kings County churches had made application to the Classis of Amsterdam to send them a minister. The Classis did so. They sent Rev. Vincentius Antonides, who arrived in the country at the beginning of the year 1705, and was received and acknowledged by a portion of the con- sistories. Rev. Mr. Freeman then claimed the position, by the civil license. This was the commencement of a long and bitter strife. Party spirit ran high, and sad acts of violence were committed. "In consequence of this preliminary trouble, Dominie Freeman did not arrive until 1705, when he was installed pastor of the Dutch churches
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of Kings County. In the call to Mr. Freeman, we find the name of the church of Bushwick included with the churches of Flatbush, Flatlands, Brooklyn, and New Utrecht, for the first time. Rev. Mr. Freeman was installed in November, 1705. The installation service took place in the church at New Utrecht, and Rev. Mr. Du Bois of New York preached the sermon. The difficulties continued. For twelve years the cause of religion suffered, and the congregations were perturbed by this distracting controversy.
Finally, the unhappy differences were healed. In 1714, a reconcil- iation took place, through mutual concessions. Delegates from Flat- bush, Brooklyn, Flatlands, New Utrecht, Bushwick and Jamaica were present. They unanimously agreed to receive both Dominie Freeman and Antonides as their pastors. Both were to receive the same salary-£107 per year-to be furnished with suitable parson- ages and sufficient firewood, and a lot of ground for pasture. Thus this unhappy strife resulted in the settlement of two ministers over the churches in Kings County, whose united services, in conse- quence of the territorial extent of the charge and the growth of pop- ulation, were needed. Both of these ministers enjoyed long pastor- ships. Dominie Freeman was a man of extensive learning and acquirements. He published, in 1721, a volume of sermons in the Dutch language, entitled "The Ballances of God's Grace." The copy of this work in the Sage Library has a portrait in it. He also published a volume of moral precepts, translated from some of the ancient philosophers, with the title "The Mirror of Self-knowledge." He was declared Emeritus in 1741, and died two years later, in 1743.
The successor of Mr. Freeman was Rev. Johannes Arondeus, who was the colleague of Mr. Antonides about two years, or until July, 18th, 1741, when the latter died, full of years and honor, in his seventy-cighth year. A paper of his day, The New York Weekly Post Boy, says : " He was a man of extensive learning, of an easy, conde- scending behaviour and conversation, and of a regular, exemplary piety, endeavouring to practice himself what he preached to others ; was kind, benevolent and charitable to all, according to his ability ; meek, humble, patriotic, and resigned under all his afflictions, losses, calamities and misfortunes, which befell him in his own person and family, and which were not a few; and after a lingering disease, full of thopes of a blessed immortality, departed this life, to the great and irreparable loss of his relations and friends, and to the great grief of his congergation." He left many descendants, some of whom reside within the county.
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Mr. Antonides was succeeded by Rev. Ulpianus Van Sinderin. The latter came over from Holland in the year 1746. Immediately on his arrival and installation a difficulty arose between the pastors. Dominie Arondeus took offence because Dominie Van Sinderin per- formed a marriage service shortly after his arrival.
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At this period, the whole Dutch Church in America was rent by the unhappy controversy known as " The Cotus and the Confer- entiæ." The Conferentie party adhered to past usage, and insisted that the work of educating and ordaining ministers and doing church work belonged to the mother country. The Cotus designated the party who wished to educate and ordain ministers and do church work in this country. The whole Dutch Church was agitated by the discussion, and the churches of this county suffered in no small de- gree. Congregations, and even families, were sadly divided. Mr. Arondeus was, according to some records, a troublesome man. In the civil and ecclesiastical records, he is referred to in an unenviable manner ; and so long as he remained, the churches were involved in difficulties. The grave charges of drunkenness and other crimes were made against him, and he was cited to appear before the Coctus, a Classis in this country. He declined, and replied that he refused to acknowledge that body ; but he would be willing to communicate with the Classis of Amsterdam. Sides were taken. Each party had adherents. The ministers went so far as to declaim against each other from the pulpit. In September, 1750, after a trial, the Coetus deposed Mr. Arondeus, subject to the approval of the Classis of Am- sterdam. This action was confirmed by the Classis of Amsterdam in January (12th) of the following year. This declared that Dominie Van Sinderin was the only lawful minister of Kings County. Into the merits of that controversy we will not enter; happily the conflict has long since passed away. The feeling, however, existed for several generations.
A short time after the deposition of Dominie Arondeus, a call was made upon Rev. Anthonius Curtenius, who had been settled over the Dutch churches of Hackensack and Schraalenburgh, since November, 1730. He accepted the call, and was installed over the five churches in May (2nd), 1755. His ministry terminated in one year and five months. He died, after a brief illness, Oct. 19th, 1756, in the 59th year of his age. Notwithstanding the brevity of his la- bors, he had made a good impression on the Long Island churches. His efforts were directed to the healing of the differences among the people, and removing the bitterness which the controversy between
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the Cœtus and Conferentie parties had caused. The following sen- tences are from a Eulogy printed about the time of his death :
Concerning the blessed death of the Rev. Mr. ANTONIUS CUR- TENIUS, in his life the faithful pastor of the five united congregations of the Netherland Reformed churches of Kings County, who on the 19th of October, at his residence in Midwout, rested in the Lord. His peaceable nature and inclination was known and seen, and it was a subject of no doubt that he trusted roverently, with abiding faith, in the promises of the Saviour. How earnest he was! His sorrowful members must have been touched with his efforts for peace, which he often insisted on, and his offers of friendship made without success. It is thus evident that his Reverence, during his residence in these parts, and during the 26 years in his previous position, stood as a peaceable and peace-making pastor, of blameless behavior. * # * He maintained his tranquillity to the last ; and, in peace with God and all mankind, after a sickness of about 30 days, he found a quiet death, exclaiming with his parting breath, "O death, where is thy sting ?" This caused uncommon sorrow to his beloved congregations, his friends, but most of all to his afflicted family, whose sole comfort was his glorious departure and happy death.
He was buried under the church in the village of Flatlands. He belonged to the Conferentie party, and was greatly grieved at the treatment he received from the Coetus party. His death, however, was greatly lamented by all, who recognized that in his decease they · had sustained the loss of an estimable shepherd and a devoted Chris- tian.
In August, 1757, Rev. Johannes Casparus Rubel was called to be the pastor of the Kings County churches, and was the colleague of Dominie Van Sinderin until 1784, or until the close of the Revolu- tionary War.
Mr. Van Sinderin was a Whig. . He was an earnest, active preacher. In the palpit he made many gestures. He became very animated during the delivery of his discourses, so much so as to for- get the limited space the pulpit allowed him. On one occasion, it is said, being more animated than usual, he leaned a little too far over the pulpit, and fell out. The story is that one of the deacons caught him in his arms and said, " Dominie, I have long expected you !"
Although an eccentric man, he was an earnest and practical preacher, and, by the use of illustrations, served to make the truth so plain that all could understand. In 1784 he was declared Emeritus, and a small salary was paid him until his death. He died on his farm, October Ist, 1803, and was buried in the village of Flatlands. Re- cently a handsome stone has been erected over his grave by his de-
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scendants. It took the place of an old one, interesting because of the following Dutch inscription : " HIER LEGT HET LIGCHAEM VAN DEN WELEER WAERDE HEER, ULPIANUS VAN SINDERIN, IN SYN LEEVEN PREDICANT IN KINGS COUNTY. OVERLEEDEN DEN 23 JULII, 1796, OUD ZYNDE 88, JAAREN 7, MOANDEN 12 DAEGEN." His son was the founder and first President of the Long Island Bible Society.
The number of public weekly services held in the churches before the Revolution was greater than at present. The observance of Fast days and the holidays-Easter, Whitsunday, and Christmas-was par- ticularly attended to. The Call to Dominie Rubel, among other duties, required him to preach twice on each Lord's day, and also on every Fast or Thanksgiving day, and on the usual Holy days, Christmas, Easter, and Whitsunday, and once upon the day following ; likewise upon New Year's and Ascension day. Also a Preparation Sermon is to be delivered at the places where the Lord's Supper is next Sabbath to be administered, which is to be dispensed four times a year, together with pastoral visitation, admission of members, and catechising the children.
Dominie Rubel was not successful in his work among the Ger- mans, with whom he labored at Rhinebeck and Red Hook, before he came to Kings County. He was styled by the German Cœtus, in 1755, "the rebellious Rubel," and requested to resign his charge. It is evident that his conduct was unchanged after he came to the island, and became pastor of the churches of Kings County. He was a man of good talents, but his life and preaching were lacking in spiritual power. During the close of his pastorate, the war for Free- dom began. Dominie Rubel openly espoused the cause of England against the Patriots, and by his sermons from the pulpit and in his conversation among the people, he denounced in the severest terms all who took up arms for Independence. On one of the Fast days appointed by Congress, Dominie Rubel preached at Flatbush, and took as his text, "Honor the king ;" and said, in his discourse, that people could live as well without a head as without a king. He went so far as to call the soldiers of our army "the devil's troops." A num- ber of families sympathized with his sentiments, but a large majority of the people were Patriots. His conduct and disloyal sentiments awakened opposition. Unfortunately, this disloyalty was not his only sin. On account of drunkenness and the ill-treatment of his wife, he was, in May, 1784, deposed from the ministry. He died in May, 1797, and was buried in Flatbush.
Shortly after the commencement of the Revolution, on the
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22nd day of August, 1776, the British troops took possession of this portion of the island. They landed at Bath, near the foot of the street on which the present church edifice stands. The battle of Long Island was fought five days later, August 27th. At the ap- proach of the enemy many of the families left their homes. Most of them, however, returned again ; but public religious services in this town were sadly interrupted during the war. Some families attended church at Flatbush. As evidence of this we have a Pass given by the British to allow one of our families on Sabbath to go through their lines.
The church building was used at various times by the British, for the different purposes of hospital and riding school. At the close of the war, in 1783, it underwent considerable repairs, at a cost of five hundred pounds (Continental money), and was devoted again to its original purpose for forty-three years.
At the close of the war, in 1784, on the 5th of October, the six Reformed Dutch churches made a call upon Rev. Martinius Schoon- maker, of Gravesend and Harlem. They gave him a salary of £150 a year, of which New Utrecht furnished £24, as her share of the salary and expenses. The work of Mr. Schoonmaker was greatly blessed. By his indefatigable labors, and sympathetic and kind manner among his people, he was, under God's blessing, enabled to restore the shattered congregations to unity ; while his devoted life and earnest, spiritual preaching was instrumental in largely increasing the numbers and efficiency of the members of the churches. He ap- pears to have been a man raised up by God for the time, and the needs of the Long Island churches, at that interesting yet critical juncture of their history. At his death, the churches were left strong and vigorous, and abounding in the work of the Lord. His memory is still precious among the older members of these congregations.
Rev. Martinus Schoonmaker was born at Rochester, Ulster County, in 1737. He studied the classics under Goetschius, from 1753-6, and theology under Marinus. He was licensed to preach in 1765, and was settled in Gravesend and Harlem from 1765 to 1783, when he became the pastor of the Kings County churches.
During the Revolution he was an ardent Whig. So highly was he esteemed, that the Congress in session at Harlem, on his word and statement, released a suspected Tory from arrest. Yet while his loy- alty made him beloved by the patriots, he was dreaded by the British, who sought to effect his capture. One Sabbath, while he was pastor of Harlem and Gravesend, he preached in the morning in
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Brooklyn. After service he was quietly informed of a plot of the British to arrest him as a spy, because he had been in the habit of conveying letters from Harlem to the brethren on Long Island. He used to sew them in his shirt, and on Saturday evening he ripped them loose, and after service on the Sabbath quietly handed them to an elder to distribute. The British had discovered this, and determined to take him. No time was to be lost. The Consistory dispatched sev- eral messengers on different errands-one to the Narrows, to have a boat in readiness-another to a relative, Mr. Williamson, of Flatbush, for aid. The elder, Mr. Rapelje of Quipplebush, with whom he staid, sent him on horseback, with his colored servant as a faithful guide, to a designated point on the road between Flatbush and New Utrecht. There he was met by. Mr. Williamson with a conveyance, who drove him rapidly to the Narrows. Nor were they a moment too soon ; for so closely did the Red-coats pursue, that when the Dom- inie hastened on board, and the boat as quickly as possible was swung out into the deep water, the bullets of the enemy whistled through the sails. He was taken safely over to Harlem. The American troops at that time occupied Harlem Heights. Afterwards he went up the river to Rochester, Ulster County, where he remained for a long time.
During his ministry, and that of his colleague, the change of language from Dutch to English took place. This change was ren- dered necessary by the desire of the young people, who were taught English at school. It is said that Dominie Schoonmaker once at- tempted to preach in English, but owing to his want of success he never repeated the experiment. Toward the close of his life, when he preached, he read the hymms in English. He possessed a vigor- ous constitution. In his Soth year, he said he could not complain of a single bodily infirmity ; even his sight was perfect. He continued to preach in all the Dutch churches in the county until the year 1824, when, on May 24th, he died, in his eighty-seventh year. " He was a person of reserved and retiring habits, yet so courteous and polite that he won his way to the hearts of all. He was a good representative of the clergyman of the old school." He took an active part in ec- clesiastical affairs, his name being frequently mentioned as a delegate to the General Synod. His labors were great and blessed. He came to his grave with a character unblemished. Few men have been more widely respected and beloved. He and his colleague were buried in Flatbush.
His colleague was Rev. Petrus Lowe. In 1787, a call was ex-
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tended by the six congregations of Kings County to the licentiate, Petrus Lowe. It was laid before the Synod, and Mr. Lowe, having passed a satisfactory examination, was licensed to preach. His call having been approved, he was installed October 27th, 1787. His ordination took place in New Utrecht church, Saturday morning, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Schoonmaker. His installa- tion took place in Flatbush the next day.
Rev. Mr. Lowe was born at Kingston, N. Y. From his early years he was remarkable for his piety. An old barn in Kingston has always been associated with Mr. Lowe, as the place where, when a lad, he frequently went to pray. He studied under Dr. Livingston. Rev. Mr. Van Pelt says of him : " He was social in his disposition, pleasant and friendly in his looks, agreeable and entertaining in conversation, having the happy faculty of mingling gracefully pious reflections therewith. He was modest and unassuming, ever seeking to be more alienated from the world, and more fully conformed to Jesus. Hence, by those unacquainted with him, his real powers were not at first appreciated. He was a inan of industrious habits, and of a candid and liberal spirit. He labored with fidelity and zeal, speaking to the heart and con- science."
Mr. Lowe had learned the art of book-making, which he turned to a good account by gathering up and binding in a volume all the rec- ords of the church that could be found. He erected two dwellings in succession in Flatbush, and ornamented them with trees and flowers- His garden was the place of meditation ; and while walking therein he prepared many of his sermons. One of his discourses has been print- ed. On the roth of April, 1792, we find the following action. The service being held in New Utrecht once in six weeks, it was resolved, in United Consistory. That the service in the afternoon in Brooklyn, Flat- bush and New Utrecht, shoukl be in the English language, on the days when Dominie Lowe should preach. From Mr. Lowe's labors it is apparent that he was a diligent minister, of a social disposition, and an example to his people of humility and Christian affection. He died of cancer, June toth, 1818.
During the ministry of Dominies Schoonmaker and Lowe, John Van Kırk Van Nuyse was chorister. His successors in the office have been Thomas Hegeman, Benjamin Larzelere, Mr. Ralph, Peter Roguet, and Andrew Hegeman, who is our present chorister, and has held the office since 1848.
I wish, at this point, to recall to mind, in order that they may not be forgotten, a few of the ancient customs which have become obso-
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lete. In the old church, the number of the first psalm was set with movable figures suspended at the sides of the pulpit. These the clerk properly arranged before service, so that every one might readily pre- pare to sing. It was also the clerk's duty to have an hour-glass prop- erly placed near the minister at the commencement of the sermon, and as the last grains of sand left the upper for the lower cavity, it was a reminder that the time had arrived for the conclusion. Some preachers, however, quietly allowed the sand to run out, and then informed their audience, that as they had sat so patiently through the one, they would proceed with a second. The collections during the service were taken in velvet bags attached to the end of long poles, with a small alarm bell fastened to the end. The best explanation I have heard of the use of the latter, is that it indicated when contributions were made. When a coin was given the bell rang ; if it passed through a pew silently it showed that nothing had been contributed by the per- sons in that pew. It required experienced dexterity to handle them well, to avoid the pillars and the bonnets. Previous to 1.802 there were no stoves in the churches. The ladies were accustomed to bring their footstoves, and to replenish them at a house near by. In simplicity of manner and in want of many blessings we enjoy, our fathers wor- shipped God, and truly found Him, as they waited in His courts.
In those days, when the ladies went out to spend the day or to make an afternoon visit at the parsonage, they carried their spinning wheels and flax with them. Among the old social customs was one to furnish the persons invited to funerals, with tobacco, pipes, and liquor -- a custom which was sadly abused. This was happily aban- doned about forty years ago. Funeral sermons do not appear to have been usual in our church in olden times.
About the year 180S, in consequence of the increase of population in the various towns, and the increasing need of a separate pastor in each town, the combination of churches which until then had existed, was in form dissolved, although in some practical features it contin- ued a few years longer. Dominie Schoonmaker continued to preach in the different churches as long as he was able. In 1802, the church of Brooklyn called Rev. John B. Johnson of Albany. Rev. Mr. Schoonmaker took part in the installation service. In 1853, Rev. Peter Lowe became the pastor of the united congregations of Flatbush and Flatlands, whom he served until his death.
In July, 1802, a call was made by the church of New Utrecht on Rev. John Beattie, D. D. The call was accepted, and in the follow- ing year he was installed. Dr. Beattie was a native of Salem, Wash-
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ington Co., N. Y. He had united with the Presbyterian Church under Dr. Proudfit's ministry. He received his preparation for college at Kinderhook, and graduated at Union College, at Schenectady. He studied theology under Dr. Livingston, and was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1809. He labored for a time as a missionary in the west- ern portion of this State and Canada, until he received the invitation of this church to settle as their minister, where he remained twenty- four years.
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