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 3
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After the dissolution of the union of the churches, each church carried on its separate work with greater vigor and blessing than be- fore. The church of New Utrecht was not an exception. The at- tendance upon the services increased, and many were added to its membership "of such as shall be saved."
In 1825, John Carpenter, M.D., organized the first Sabbath-school in the town, in the village of Fort Hamilton, which held its sessions in a barn. He was the founder of Sabbath-schools in New Utrecht. Owing to the removal of Dr. Carpenter from Fort Hamilton, this school was for a season discontinued. It was subsequently revived by Moses Allen, of New York, and still continues. While under Mr. Allen's charge, the Fort Hamilton and New Utrecht village schools joined the Sabbath-schools of New York City in their anniver- sary. At one of them, held in the old Castle Garden about fifty-one years ago, this school, on the roll of the S. S. Union, numbered 63. Mr. Allen's successors have been Mr. Horton, Mrs. Sarah Berrier, Mrs. Albert Van Brunt, Christopher Prince, M.D., and J. Remsen Ben- nett, who is the present Superintendent. The Assistant Superinten- dent is Mrs. Wm. J. Cropsey.
In 1826, Dr. Carpenter, having removed to New Utrecht village, organized the New Utrecht Sabbath-school in the old church. This school continues to this day. Of this he was Superintendent until his death. His successors were James Beekman, for a short time- Charles Lott, who was Superintendent about 16 years, or until his death-Thomas M. Hegeman, and Andrew Hegeman, who is the pres- ent Superintendent. The Assistant Superintendent is Simon W. Du Bois. An infant class was organized in connection with this school in 1869, by Henry Holt. In 1827, Garret I. Cowenhoven organized a Sabbath-school in Cowenhoven's lane, which, after flourishing a number of years, was discontinued. Fifteen years ago, the present school at Edgewood was organized by Mr. John McKay, who con- tinues its Superintendent. The Assistant Superintendent is Mr. James C. Lott.
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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, NEW UTRECHT, L. I.
For a few years the church increased in numbers and power. Mr. Beattie was a man of industrious habits, and a good preacher. His manuscript sermons show that he was a man of good natural ability. But it appears he was indiscreet in manner, and, by attempting to man- age the temporalities of the church, and by the introduction of poli- tics in his discourses, he awakened opposition. Difficulties followed. They were increased by his determined pressure of the project to build a new church edifice. The walls of the old church were cracked, and by some they were regarded as unsafe and likely to fall. A part of the people favored the determination to build. But so great was the veneration for the old edifice that a large number opposed its demo- lition and were in favor of its repair.
The congregation became sadly divided. In 1828 the work of demolition began, and the stones in the old building were used in the construction of the new one. The site immediately in front of the old academy was finally selected. But grave difficulties arose to impede the progress of the work. The cost of the building was great, and not all of the people favored it. Many contributed to their utmost, and some even beyond their ability, to secure its completion. Eight or ten persons subscribed five hundred dollars each. Then during the process of its erection a violent north-east storm raged, and as the workmen had neglected to cover the top of the walls, the mortar be- came soaked, and they were weakened, and more than half of the walls, which were ready for the plates, fell. In addition to this, dur- ing the same year, serious sickness prevailed, and many of the lead- ing subscribers died ; so that, if the subscriptions had not been made the previous year, the erection of the church would have been indefi- nitely delayed. To assist in meeting the cost of building the new church the pews were sold at auction, subject to an annual rental for the sup- port of a minister. Conditions were made for the lapse of the pews to the church, if the rental was not paid. Many persons purchased pews, taking the majority of those in the body of the church and on the sides of the pulpit, and many of those now under the gallery. The sale amounted to a large sum, which greatly aided the work. The church was completed and dedicated to the service of Almighty God on Thanksgiving day, 1829. The persons who had the super- vision of its erection were John Van Deventer and James Cropsey.
The difficulties in the church not being composed, Dr. Beattie re- signed his charge March 8th, 1834, and removed with his family to Lockport, N. Y., where he resided until his death, January 27th, 1864. The following minute appears on the books of the Classis of
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TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY,
Long Island, at the time of Dr. Beattie's resignation, Oct. 14th, 1834: " A joint application came before the Classis for the dissolution of the pastoral relation. The application for the dissolution was granted, and the Classis adopted the following: Resolved, unanimously, That this Classis unite with the Consistory of New Utrecht in expressing their regret at the circumstances which, in the providence of the Lord, has led to the separation of the Rev. John Beattie from them as their pas- tor, and, while they fervently pray that the Lord would pour out upon them as a people the spirit of unity and peace, and speedily send them another pastor after His own heart, to break to them the bread of life, they would most affectionately commend to the churches of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ their beloved brother, the Rev. John Beattie, as an able, faithful, zealous and successful minister of the New Testa- ment, trusting that the great Head of the Church will soon appoint him another field of labor, and continue him long as a blessing to His church and people." At the time of Dr. Beattie's resignation the church numbered 68 members.
After the resignation of Dr. Beattie, the congregation was without a pastor about a year, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Robert Ormiston Currie, D. D. Dr. Currie was a native of Hudson. N. Y. He was a graduate of Rutgers College, and of the Theological Semi- nary at New Brunswick. After graduation he was appointed rector of the Grammar School in New Brunswick, wherein young men receive their preparation for college. A call was made upon him, and he ac- cepted it, and was ordained February 15, 1835. He continued to serve the congregation until his death-a period of over thirty-one years. He happily healed the divisions of the people, and united the members of the congregation. By his judicious course, he bound the affections of the people to him, and strengthened their attachments to the church. Under his ministry the church prospered. During his pas- torate a chapel was erected in the village of Fort Hamilton, for the accommodation of the Sabbath-school, and services were held there on the last Sabbath afternoon of every month. A lecture room wasalso erected in the village of New Utrecht. The number of sittings in the church was also increased, by the erection of a gallery. The church increased in her benevolent offerings, yet few comparatively were added to the membership. The ordinances were regularly dispensed, and waited on by the people. Some were added to the church, and God's children were instructed in the great doctrines of salvation. He preached the word faithfully, yet no mention appears of any season of religious interest during his ministry. Those who knew him well
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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, NEW UTRECHT, L. I.
have remarked that toward the close of his life he seemed to be burdened by some great sorrow. It was, I doubt not, the burden many a minister carries, and by which he is borne down, when the truth he utters does not seem to result in the quickening of God's professed people, and the conversion of sinners. I feel almost author- ized to state this as the cause of his sorrow ; for I remember to have heard Dr. Howard Crosby, of New York, remark (in conversation), that the last time he met Dr. Curric before his death, the latter placed his arms around his neck and bursting into tears, said, " I wish I could see some more fruit of my ministry." But the Lord had ordered otherwise.
Still he did not relax his efforts of faith and prayer. Like. Paul at Ephesus, he toiled on in public and in secret, even when his la- bors appeared the most fruitless and unavailing. But the seeds he cast were the seeds of God's Kingdom ; the word which he preached " was quick and powerful." Relying on the promise of God, " they that sow in tears shall reap in joy," he continued faithful, in season and out of season preaching the truth. He was a beautiful illustra- tion of the patient toiler in his Master's vineyard.
" Sow thy seed ; be never weary, Nor let fears thy mind employ. Be the prospect ne'er so dreary, Thou shalt reap the fruits of joy."
After a season-as it always does-the seed of God's word, pray- erfully and faithfully sown, took root, and sprang up, and waved in blessed harvest ; but he did not live to gather it. Like Moses, he came to the distant view of the inheritance only. He lived to see a little interest in spiritual things awakened among the young people in the church, before he died. His last sermon in the church was preached from the 14th verse of the Soth Psalm-"Return, we be- seech thee, O God of hosts : Look down from heaven and behold and visit this vine."
Dr. Currie was a man of more than ordinary attainments, both of a literary and theological character. He was an excellent classical scholar. In ecclesiastical affairs, he took a prominent part, and in church courts was looked upon as good authority on constitutional questions. In debate, he was welcomed as a colleague and dreaded as an opponent. In his pastoral work he was faithful and affection- ate. He was kind, and at times humorous in manner, and without a trace of arrogance or self-importance. He was a man widely re-
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TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY,
spected. In March, 1866, while he was, as usual, preparing to attend a meeting of the Long Island Bible Society, he was taken with a severe paroxysm of pain, under which he ruptured one of the small blood vessels near his heart, and instantly expired. A tablet, with an in- scription written by Dr. J. S. Lord, was erected in the church, to his memory.
Rev. Mr. Van Buren says of him : " He was a careful student. He had mental traits which rendered him competent to distinguish himself in any of the departments of learning. He was careful, can- did, wise in counsel, a good adviser in ecclesiastical matters. An ex- ample of punctuality in attendance, and of courtesy and propriety in conference and debate with his ministerial brethren; and as such he is held in memory, esteemed and respected.
The sudden death of Dr. Currie produced a profound impression upon the congregation and vicinity. Many persons were led by it to serious reflection. A blessed revival followed. Special meetings were held for nine weeks. Although it was the spring-time, the people found time for these services. They left their ploughs an hour earlier than usual, in order that they might be at the place of prayer. At these services Rev. Hugh S. Carpenter, D. D., Rev. C. L. Wells, Rev. C. Brett, and others, greatly aided the work. The result was a large ingathering of souls. The church had an accession of 69 on confes- sion, in one year-a number equal to one-half of its former member- ship. Many of the converts, in their examination for admission to membership, referred to his sermons as the means whereby they were brought to reflection. At his death the number of members was 137.
After the death of Dr. Currie, the church was vacant for a period of fifteen months. The present pastor of this congregation-a grad- uate of Rutgers College and of the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick-first preached in this church by invitation, Nov. 11th, 1866. In the following spring a call was made, and he was installed on June 27th, 1867. He is the third pastor of this church since its separate existence. The sermon on that occasion was preached by Rev. Win. Brush, of Bedminster, N. J., the charge to the pastor was delivered by Rev. M. G. Hansen, of Gravesend, and the charge to the people by the Rev. C. L. Wells, of Flatbush. Ten years have passed away since I came among you. Of what has been crowded into them, I purpose on this occasion only to make a brief mention.
The revival, which preceded my entrance upon the work, not only added to the church membership, but it also increased its usefulness and power. The hearts of all were warm, and, under the impulses of the
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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, NEW UTRECHT, L. I.
Holy Spirit, were led to devoted effort for Christ's cause, and to lib- erality toward the work beyond our own bounds. Our church had enjoyed a good reputation for liberality. What the amount of con- tributions were before the time of which I speak, we have no means of knowing. In the last ten years there has been raised over twelve thousand dollars for benevolence outside of our own field, and the congregation has raised thirty thousand dollars for improvements in the church edifice and chapels, and the parsonage and congrega- tional purposes. In the year 1869, a handsome stone chapel was erected at Edgewood, by the generosity of some of the members of the congregation, at a cost of six thousand dollars. A Young Men's Christian Association was organized in 1869. In the year 1875 an addition to the church edifice, for the organ and choir, was completed, at a cost of forty-seven hundred dollars. It was rededicated No- vember 7th, 1875. In these ten years God has not left us without tokens of His favor and blessing. No year has passed without bring- ing accessions to the membership. In the early spring of 1876, another gracious outpouring of the Holy Spirit was enjoyed. Special meetings were held during six weeks, and forty-seven were re- ceived into church fellowship-forty-five of them upon confession of their faith in Christ. The most of them were young people. Forty- five members of the church have died during this period, all of them dearly beloved, many of them pillars in the house of the Lord. Many have been certified to other congregations, and now the church numbers two hundred and forty-five members. To God be all the praise.
The following is an extract from the last Annual Report of the Consistory : "By God's blessing we come to our two hundredth year, having a larger membership than ever before were identified with us. The last indebtedness which had been incurred by the alterations of the parsonage, and by the enlargement of the church, and the purchase . of an organ, has been cancelled by the generous gifts of the people, while the calls of benevolence have been met with liberality." More than one-half of the present members and supporters of the church are the descendants of those who were its members and supporters before the Revolutionary War. It is a gratifying fact to find that my ances- tors were among them.
During the last one hundred years this church has given a num- ber of her sons to the ministry of the Lord, and her daughters as helpmeets to many clergymen. We mention the names of Rev. George Barcalow, Rev. Peter Van Pelt, Rev. Philip Duryee, Rev.
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TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY,
Hugh S. Carpenter, D. D., Rev. Charles H. Pool, and Rev. Charles S. Wright. The last three occupy positions of usefulness; the others have passed away to their reward.
This is a sketch of the past two hundred years. Such has been the ministry God has given you. This is a brief review of the histo- ry of God's care and love and faithfulness to this congregation since its origin. For over one hundred and fifty years it was the only church in the town. How much this church has blessed this town! What good it has done our families cannot be estimated in this world. Whatever of truth and of sound theology and of early training in the love of the right we possess, we are indebted most of all to her. Of many it is written, " This and that man were born there."
But having already occupied much time, and perhaps exhausted your patience, let me bring my discourse to a close with the presenta- tion of two thoughts which the review of the past two hundred years suggests. The path has not been all joyous. There have been al- ternations of trials and triumphs; yet goodness and mercy have fol- lowed this congregation throughout all its history. " The Lord hath been mindful of his covenant." He hath blessed us, and will He not bless us still ? If we seek Him, He will be found of us. If we are faithful, He will not forsake us. He will " look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine."
Let me mention two things which it appears God's goodness to this congregation in the past calls loudly for. One is, our entire consecration to Him. The retrospect of the past, the thought of God's uninterrupted preservation and blessing, ought to lead all to a renew- ed and fuller consecration of all we have and are unto Him who loved us, and gave Himself for us. Some of you remember well all the pastors, from Dominie Schoonmaker until the present. Could we recall them for a brief season, and have them here once more to speak to us some important message, we do not doubt their message to us would be the same they so tenderly and earnestly spoke to you years ago. " Be ye reconciled to God." " Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together." " Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." " Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life."
The other duty called for by this review is gratitude. Gratitude for past mercies. Every one who is in any way connected with this church, has reason to be grateful. The Church of our Fathers is our church. This church, organized for the worship and service of God, is no less effective because it is old; but, on the contrary, because of
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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, NEW UTRECHT, L. I.
this fact, there is gathered around the name and the place associations most dear, which are calculated, among the thoughtful and devoted, to increase her power for good. When Israel had crossed the Jor- dan, God bid them take stones from the midst of the stream and erect a memorial as a sign ; and when their children said, " What mean ye by these stones ?" they should let their children know that Israel had come over Jordan on dry land. And as we come up, by God's gracious guidance, out of a second century, we also should show to our children that we have the spirit of our fathers; and when the children say, " What mean ye by this service ?" the fathers may reply, " It was in grateful remembrance of the way in which God had led our venerable church."
One day, in yonder harbor, a person was observed in the water, and almost drowned, because he was unable to swim. A stalwart man plunged in, and lifted him up and sustained him and brought him to the dock in safety. He was saved, when it seemed that he must have perished. He turned to his rescuer and asked, " What can I do to show my gratitude ?" He went to his home and related to his family the story of his peril and his rescue. And it touched their hearts and awakened the inquiry of the wife and of the children, " What can we do to show our thankfulness ?" How many of us have friends and parents and children, who through the instrumental- ity of this Church of God have been rescued ; and shall we not ask, " What can we do to show our gratitude ?" If nothing more, it ought to awaken every one to greater interest in the work of the Lord. Two hundred years of such experience of God's care and blessing ought to confirm our faith in the Lord, in the fruitfulness of His word, in the faithfulness of His promises. It ought to quicken every one to earnest activity. Shall we be true to the faith of God ? Shall we be true to the standard our fathers gave to us, on which, above every other, is the name of Jesus ?
" Let us learn from their example. In humble penitence and loving faith ; in steadfast loyalty to Christ Jesus; in pure, peaceable and pa- tient continuance in every path of duty toward God and all men, let us go forward and discharge the mission which God has committed to our hands. And so, when another hundred years shall be added to these, and we shall have gone the way of all the earth, to mingle our dust with the dust of our fathers and mothers, shall our descend- ants come to lay their tribute on our graves, and say, with filial pride, 'They were faithful to us, as their fathers were faithful to them.'"
God grant it, for Christ's sake. Amen.
ADDRESS
ON THE
ANNALS OF NEW UTRECHT. BY
TEUNIS G. BERGEN.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :
AT the request of your Pastor and Consistory, I have prepared and will attempt to give, a condensed account of the annals of New Utrecht in olden times, commencing at its foundation and ending about the period of the Revolutionary War.
The first reliable account we have of the Bay of New York, on which the town of New Utrecht is situated, is that of Hendrick Hud- son, who, on a voyage of discovery in 1609, entered the same. The lands about the Narrows, he states, "were as pleasant with Grasse, and Flowers, and goodly Trees, as ever they had seen, and very sweet smells came from them." The discovery of the Bay of New York by Verrazzano, a Florentine in the service of the King of France, in the spring of 1524, as set forth in our old histories, has lately been clearly proved, by the Hon. H. C. Murphy, to be a myth, and without foundation.
The first application for land in New Utrecht to the Director General and Council of New Netherlands (as this country was then called by Europeans), after the first settlements in the colony, was that made by Antony Jansen van, or from, Salee, in Africa-a banished settler of New Amsterdam-for 100 morgen, or 200 acres, on the 3rd day of August, 1639; which was granted, and a patent issued for the same, on the 27th of May, 1643. These premises were lo-
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HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
cated partly in New Utrecht and partly in Gravesend, as the town boundaries are now fixed. He probably removed to these lands im- mediately after the granting of his application, and was recognized as a resident of New Utrecht shortly after its organization as a town-his dwelling being located, as is supposed, at what is now known as Unionville-and he was undoubtedly the first European settler who occupied lands within the boundaries of this town and its neighbor, Gravesend. The Van Sicklen and part of the Emmons family of this locality are his descendants.
November 22nd, 1652, Cornelis Van Werckhoven, a member of the West India Company-who, it may be said, were the European proprietors of New Netherlands-purchased of the Indian proprie- tors what is commonly known as the Nyack tract, extending along the Narrows and Lower Bay, from the line between the farms late of Albert N. Van Brunt and that late of Chandler White, to what is known as Cortelyou's Lane, or the road leading from the Bay near the residence of John C. Bennett, to the village of New Utrecht. Under this purchase a much larger tract was claimed-covering about the whole town and a part of Brooklyn-which was finally narrowed down to the above boundary. The price paid was, 6 shirts, 2 pairs shoes, 6 pairs stockings, 6 adzes, 6 knives, 2 scissors, and 6 combs. The intention of Van Werckhoven, under the regulations of the West India Company, was to become a patroon, or feudal lord, over this territory. One of the conditions imposed by the Company on their large grants was, that the grantee should within four years place 100 settlers over 15 years of age on his premises. If Van Werckhoven had succeeded in his attempt, the soil of New Utrecht would probably to this day have been held by one family, and cursed with leasehold tenures like unto that by the Rensselaers and others on the Hudson.
Van Werckhoven, shortly after his Indian purchase, commenced settlement on his lands, returning to Holland in 1654, to obtain the requisite number of settlers to entitle him to his feudal privileges, leaving Jacques Corteljau, the private tutor of his children, to man- age his affairs during his absence. Before leaving, he built a resi- dence and secure retreat, enclosed with palisades, on his purchase, sufficient to baffle any attack by the Indians. This was the second house built in the town, and, as near as can be ascertained, was lo- cated on the site of, and its walls are probably included within, the present residence of John C. Bennett. Van Werckhoven did not return to this country, dying in 1656, leaving a widow and two chil- dren.
١ . لهم
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ANNALS OF NEW UTRECHT.
Corteljau's management of the affairs of Van Werckhoven ap- pears to have been unsatisfactory to the heirs, who, in 1658, petitioned the Directors in Amsterdam to compel him to account and de- liver over the property. To this Corteljau answered that in the first place he ought to be paid the " sums due him by writings, acts of Notary Public, and advanced money." The Directors directed and urged Director Stuyvesant to attend to the matter; but no settlement appears to have been made, Corteljau remaining in possession, and managing, after founding the town of New Utrecht, to hold the same until after the conquest of the colony by the English, when he obtain- ed from them a patent for the part he held. There is documentary evidence showing that Van Werckhoven left debts which Corteljau paid ; and it may be that his claims equaled the value of the proper- ty. From a suit in 1658, it may be inferred that Van Werckhoven erected a mill on his tract.
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