USA > New York > Rockland County > History of Rockland County, New York : with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 55
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ceding party) charged the other with sacrificing the purity of the gospel to a time serving policy. It was amid an Origin of the New Church Building .- In the year 1834, while Dominie Lansing still lived, Mr. Cole felt himself called to suggest to his people the need of a new house for the Lord. The old building, erected in 1716, and rebuilt with alterations of forin and enlargement at the beginning of Dominie Lansing's pastorate, had now become thoroughily unfit for use. It was discreditable to the people. Yet it was not a thing of a day to bring an old-fashioned congregation, able in means though it was, to see the need for improvement. The pastor knew that every temporal success, as well as every spiritual, must come from a divine source. He pondered and prayed [over this matter till his mind received a comfortable as- surance that the Lord would be with him. Then he preached to his people from the words of Haggai, I, 4: " It is time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses and this house lie waste." His manner was instructive, tender, and persuasive. It was forthwith apparent that the message had been from the Lord, and that it had taken the hearts of the people. They were not at once unanimous. But a movement sprang up promptly, and in the spring of 1835, the work of building a new church was begun. The autumn of the same year was memor- able both for the completion of this building and for the translation of the senior pastor from the infirmities and toils of earth to the rest and the rewards of heaven. The heartiness of the people in the work in which they had been engaged, and the spirit with which they had carried it through, were attested by the fact that when it was completed, it was paid for in an effort of two successive days at a sale of pews. The whole cost was about $11,000. And now, setting out under increased advan- tages, the remaining pastor began alone a work of in- creased responsibility, but with a thankful heart and a intense surrounding heat of conflict that Rev. Isaac D. Cole began his ministry. This threw him, and others like him, at once upon their best resources, natural and acquired. And especially it drove them to the Bible, and to the throne of grace for spiritual light and strength, that they might really preach Christ and him crucified, and bring out the whole system of divine truth with greatest perspicuity and power. Under this training, and under the fire of a criticism which was often in- tensely malicious, Rev. Mr. Cole cultivated and suc- ceeded in acquiring a habit of comparing Scripture with Scripture, for which he became widely distinguished, and on which probably more than on any other characteristic, his reputation will rest. It is hardly possible that he was ever excelled in this wonderful gift. No one ever heard him for the shortest time, even in his most desultory ad. dresses or conversations, without being wonderfully im- pressed with it, and remembering him prominently by it. It was carried into every sermon, prayer meeting talk, and conversation, to an extent and with a grasp and con- trol to which no verbal description of ours can do jus- tice. It impressed every hearer with the feeling that the pastor had been penetrated by the Holy Spirit with the very life of the divine word. And with this facility of comparing and applying the Scriptures, was connected another remarkable gift. Owing largely, doubtless, to the carping spirit of the times, but more yet to the natu- ral teaching tact of Mr. Cole, to which we have already alluded, he had struggled to acquire, and had succeeded in acquiring a remarkably simple style of speech, which made him, without any sacrifice of purity of diction, al- ways intelligible to the plainest hearer. Like his col- league, he never used a manuscript in the pulpit. His in inner was that of a father instructing his children, or a new courage. He was destined to carry this church on
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ORANGETOWN-REFORMED CHURCH OF TAPPAN.
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his mind and heart for twenty-eight years more, till Feb- ruary 1864. The work now, with the exception of a single occurrence, one of great importance, however, proved to be a straightforward work of feeding the flock of Christ, and of gathering in those who were yet with- out. The love for this work never abated for a moment during the long period. And the strength was renewed day by day. It was delightful service to the end, main- tained throughout in the spirit with which it had been originally assumed. It was interrupted by one occur- rence only of a trying kind, of which we speak here, not because we love to do so, but because we have to, to be true to the history of the period and of the pastor him- self.
Experience of Trial .- We cannot now too minutely enter into particulars of the occurrence to which refer- ence has been made, as many on both sides who took interest in it are still living, and there is no need, nor have we the least desire for a revival of painful memo- ries. A jar arose in the congregation in January 1838. We shall not here venture an expression of opinion as to the real spring. It started with a prominent and influential member of the church, and took the form of expressed dissatisfaction with the teachings of the pulpit. It soon extended to some others in the congregation. As it came to issue in the form of two Classical trials of the pastor, in 1838 and 1840, the proceedings of which are all on record, and as from each side a pamphlet or book relating to it was published, we have the means at this time of looking fairly at the whole controversy. The pastor was characteristically jealous of the Gospel com. mitted to his trust. Movements for moral reform were then being started which did not meet his views. He was firm as a rock on the subject of total abstinence from intoxicating drinks, and on the questions arising from existing evil in every form. But he could not sympathize with many of the movements of that day for the suppres- sion of various evils, because he deemed them at vari- ance with the Gospel, and inimical to the cause of Christ. Large numbers of the best Christian thinkers were with him in his views. It is possible that the jar in his church started with his teachings on these subjects, as a number of persons around him were heated upon them to fever heat. But those who had taken issue with him on these matters soon began to express dissatisfaction with his preaching on the relations of justification and sanctifica- tion, faith and good works, the marks and evidences of the new birth, and kindred subjects. It is not necessary to detail the history further, since, as we have said, the whole controversy is spread over pages upon pages of ecclesiastical record, and still further detailed in the publications of the parties themselves. In the summer of 1838, the pastor was summoned for trial, upon specified charges, by the Classis of Paramus, with which he was connected. The session lasted two days, and at its close the matter was thought by some to have been adjusted. The pastor, in an address, said that perhaps he had not been sufficiently plain in his preaching, and that it would be his aim in the future to be simpler and |ence, also gave evidence of a training under peculiar in-
clearer than he had been. The disaffected parties hailed this remark, availed themselves of the opening it offered for settlement, and proffered their hands in token of sat- isfaction. The meeting thereupon adjourned. At once it was claimed that a compromise had been sought by the pastor, though no such thing had been even distantly intended. The preaching upon this became plainer in- deed, so plain that it forthwith appeared that the differ- ence was radical and that there could be no hope of an adjustment of it. Two years later, the temporarily sup- pressed difficulty culminated in a second ecclesiastical trial, which resulted in the pastor's emphatic acquittal of all charges. The result was his firmer establishment with his people, and a widening of his ministerial power and usefulness. The defeated parties withdrew from the Tappan Church in various directions, and left a peaceful and united congregation. Those withdrawing were, be- yond a doubt, sincere and pious people. The contro- versy seems to have been substantially the old contro- versy between the Calvinistic and Arminian views of the doctrines of grace. Perhaps in the beginning it was principally this. But in its progress, it probably stirred up personal feeling to a greater extent than some suspect- ed. As for the pastor, his bearing through the long period of it was characteristic. His happy peace in his Saviour was remarkable. Nothing he heard or saw ever excited him to a hasty word. The interviews between himself and his opponents were always conducted on his part with absolute self control. His sermons, throughout the whole period, though unwritten, were always delivered with an imperturbable composure. And in the Classical trials, he left himself in the hands of his Lord with a quietness of spirit so marked that it wonderfully affected the Classis, the spectators, and the whole community The result was deep and lasting. As it had been in the period of the secession already mentioned, so here again, every one around was put afresh upon the study of the Scriptures, in deep anxiety to understand the subjects involved. The pastor's spirit was unspeakably refreshed, and a foundation of Bible knowledge was extensively laid, such as no ordinary work could ever have secured. Many souls were brought to Christ by this unusual seed sowing. The parties who withdrew from the church, several of them, in later years better understood the pas- tor, and ranked among his warmest friends. The gen- eral result was his firm establishment in the confidence and love of his people and of the whole country. The way was now effectually cleared for a ministerial work which went on through the next 23 years at Tappan, with- out further interruption to their end, in February, 1864. This experience no doubt further helped to form the style of the pastor's preaching, of which we have already spoken so strongly. It had trained him to unspeakable care in regard to certain words and forms of speech lia- ble to misapprehension, and to unspeakable nicety in the selection of words and phrases really adapted to convey his thoughts. AII the sermons of his life, while evincing their spring in the depths of a profound spiritual experi-
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HISTORY OF ROCKLAND) COUNTY.
fluences. They were always rich in experimental and Scriptural truth, thrown with the utmost skill into words and forms that would run clear of the prejudices of men ignorant, but opinionated. He kept his teaching, with remarkable closeness, to the phraseology of the Scriptures themselves, with which none could find fault. This pe- culiarity made him acceptable in the pulpits of all de- nominations. He spoke with so much directness to what his hearers of every name felt in their own experience, that men whose doctrinal creeds were professedly in striking antagonism with his own, would thank him warmly for his sermons as having done them good. Throughout his long ministry, he was never betrayed into the sensational. The calm teaching style governed his whole public work, and every sermon without a single exception, was a practical exposition and enforcement of the gospel of Christ. Every utterance gave clear evi- dence of a spirit of prayer and walk with God behind it. The preacher seemed always under the baptism of the Holy Ghost. With the utmost cheerfulness of tempera- ment and keen ability for the appreciation of humor, his private conversation was yet always controllingly and deeply serious. He seemed always and everywhere full of Christ. Without an effort and by the quiet dignity of . his manner, he effectually kept down all frivolity in his
presence, and yet, singularly enough, diffused a perfect ease wherever he went. No one could ever take undue advantage before him, and yet no one of even moderate good sense ever felt unpleasantly restrained where he was. His good judgment in all directions was remark- able. It sat upon him as part of his very nature, and will always be remembered as inseparable from any recall of the man. His freedom from excitability always made every one who attacked him pretty sure to defeat him- self. His temperament was admirably balanced, and his character, wrought by the Holy Spirit through the power- ful influence of that divine truth to which he so unre- servedly submitted himself, stood the severest tests of all the relations of life. In the family, in the transac- tions of business, in the councils of the church, and in His life at Spring Valley was marked.by the same characteristics which had marked it in Tappan. And here, as age increased, this eminently devoted servant of Christ ripened into a maturity of Christian knowledge and strength which became to the general feeling of all who knew him a gathering glory. His experience in old age was appointed to be an afflictive one. His new partner, about six years after their marriage, was stricken down by a severe and wasting fever, which left her spi- nally affected. After five years of further suffering she died on the 27th of August 1875. This was further sor- row for the ripening man of God. But it found him pre- pared. The acquiescence was ready. The trust had been growing vigorously for more than half a century, his ministerial relations and work, he was everywhere and always, the modest, the upright, and the trusted ser- vant of the Lord Jesus Christ. His views of right be- tween man and man were of the strictest kind. No one ever suffered wrong at his hands in the relations of pub- lic or of private life. It was, perhaps, his nature, but it was more yet his religion, to deal justly with his fellow men to the very smallest matter of obligation. And his heart was large and broad in regard to the great duty of Christian liberality with his means. He abhorred selfishness and narrowness in all their manifes- tations, and believed in and practised good works as the fruits of a living faith. And yet his whole spirit repelled dependence upon works for salvation. He sought to be, and it did not falter here. But the close of his own life and was, a noble illustration of a believer in Christ, living the life of faith upon the Son of God, and living out that life in all his walk and conversation for the good of his fellow men.
A.M., his wife, Ann Mary Shatzel, who had been from November 23d 1821, the sharer of his experience, and an admirable supporter of all his way, and helper in all his work, went home, just as the sun was rising, to the eternal rest and joy of heaven. And three weeks later to a day occurred the further death of his eldest daugh- ter, Caroline, Mrs. James J. Stephens. Both the mother and the daughter left behind them the strongest evi- dences that they had only gone away to be with Christ. There was not a memory of either that could suggest a fear or doubt. Their remains were committed to the tomb in an unwavering faith in the glorious immortality. But the two strokes, in such quick succession, had the effect of depressing the heart of the pastor, now rapidly advancing in years. For some time before this he had been feeling unequal to pastoral work, and had been thinking of giving up his pastoral charge. Upon prayer- ful consideration for a few months after these deaths, he tendered his resignation to his Consistory, and on the 9th day of February 1864, by regular process, the pas- toral connection between himself and the church he had served for 34 years, was dissolved. Immediately after- wards he removed to Spring Valley and settled for the rest of his life upon a farm, which he had inherited front his father a few years before, and upon which he had then recently erected a very pleasant dwelling, with a view to make it his future earthly home. Here, after a time, he married again. His second wife was Harriet P. Bronson, widow of Rev. Peter Allen, formerly pastor of the West Hempstead (or "Brick ") church. After a season of rest and diversion upon the farm he again assumed for a time the work of the ministry, not as a pastor, but as a supply of the then vacant Presbyterian Church of West Hempstead. This engagement con- tinued two years. It was his last settled relation as a minister. During the rest of his life he continued to officiate in pulpits upon request, as long as his strength continued, but never again assumed official relation with any church.
was now not far away. Its last years were distinguished as years of earnest interest in the work of his Master in Spring Valley. The people knew that they had among them a tower of spiritual strength. The pastors of the
On the 16th day of August 1863 (Sabbath Day), at 4 |churches realized that they had at hand a strong sup-
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ORANGETOWN-REFORMED CHURCH OF TAPPAN.
porter, defender, and friend. The prayer meeting of the and forty years an aggregate of vacancies amounting to Reformed Church was regularly enriched with his pres- two years. ence, prayers, and experimental addresses. Its pulpit Rev. George M. S. Blauvelt .- The fifth settled pastor rendered what in these days is considered a long service to the church. Called in 1864, he remained in the pastorate till 1882. He is a son of Rev. Dr. Wil- liam W. Blauvelt of Lamington, N. J., and a graduate of the New York University of the Class of 1850 and of Princeton Seminary of the Class of 1853. He had been a pastor of Presbyterian churches before he went to Tap- pan in 1864, and left Tappan in 1882 to become pastor of the Reformed Church of Easton, Pa. He still con- tinues in that relation. The memory of Rev. Mr. Blau- velt and his long and faithful work is warmly cherished in the church of Tappan. His ability as a scholar and thinker, his directness and fidelity as a preacher and pastor, and his character and qualities as a man greatly endeared him to the people. More can not be said of one who is still living to read what we write. But Rev. Mr. Blauvelt will be warmly cherished among the pastors of this ancient church. was often occupied by him and never more satisfactorily to the people. Its ordinances were often administered by him, and at its communion table he was again and again the means of lifting the worshipers into liveliest communion with the Redeemer. Hiswalks through the vil- lage were always hailed as an omen of good, as they always betokened a coming round of kindly calls, with which long familiarity had taught the people that spiritual blessing was sure to come. And amid such blessed liv- ing and blessed doing the life of the aged minister of Christ drew near to his earthly end. In the month of July 1878, he was seized with his last illness. There was really no illness, however, about it. It was a giving out of physical strength. For five weeks, till August 30th, he was confined to his bed, and it is scarcely too much to say that his experience was through all these weeks none other than a continuous dying. His cxercises during this period were intensely spiritual. He spoke little, but what he did say was in full keeping with his life. It was one
Rev. William H. Williamson .- The sixth, and present constant outgiving of Bible passages logically connected | pastor of the church is of recent coming. He is a gradu-
and directed in every case to some clear end. To each of his children and grandchildren, and to every friend who called to see him, he gave his special line of instruc- tion, in every case woven from the words of inspiration with which his own soul was so intensely vitalized. The dying was wonderfully true to the living. There was much suffering connected with it, but it carried the word with it faithfully all the way to the end.
Funeral services were held at the residence in Spring Valley on the afternoon of Monday, September 2d, and again in the church at Tappan on the morning of the next day. The Rev. Thomas Mack, pastor of the Pres- byterian Church of West Hempstead, and the Rev. Daniel Van Pelt, pastor of the family and of the Re- formed Church of Spring Valley, officiated on Monday, and on Tuesday the services were conducted by the Rev. Geo. M. S. Blauvelt, representing the Tappan church, the Rev. Dr. John H. Duryea, representing the Classis of Paramus, the Rev. James Demarcst, sen., representing the Seminary Class, Rev. Mr. Cole, and the Rev. David D. Demarest D. D., professor in the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, representing the church at large, and also the early pupils of the deceased pastor, of whom Dr. Demarest was one. After the latter services, the re- mains, borne by six ministerial brethren, were carried to their sepulture in the Tappan cemetery, where those of Dominies Muzelius, Verbryck, and Lansing had been in- terred before. It is worthy of note, that so far, at the end of 190 years from organization of the Tappan church, the remains of all its pastors who have died, lie in its · own church yard. The pastorates of the four covered a period extending from 1724 to 1864, one hundred and forty years in all. Their lengths were respectively 25, 34, 51, and 34 years. Two of them ran side by side for six years, and there was not in the entire one hundred been conducted by Mr. Lediger.
ate of Rutgers College, New Brunswick, N. J., and of our own Theological Seminary Class of 1881. After a very brief pastorate in New Jersey, he was called and settled at Tappan in 1882. He has already established himself in the affections of his people. He has been blessed with an unusually energetic revival of religion during his short pastorate, as a result of which 43 per- sons were brought into the communion of the church. The work drew in all classes of people, of all ages and both sexes. It has completely changed the character of a community from one of pervading carelessness to one of pervading concern for and interest in divine things. The future of this young brother and of his work is re- garded with warmth in view of this great event.
BLAUVELTVILLE.
This hamlet, which is on the New York, Lake Erie, and Western Railroad, about two miles from Piermont, was a settlement in the 17th century. Prior to the build- ing of the railroad, it was known as Greenbush, but it re- ceived its present name in honor of Judge Cornelius I. Blauvelt, and because many others of the name resided here. It is a hamlet of twelve or fifteen houses and it has a store and such mechanics' shops as are required to meet the wants of the surrounding farming population. The first merchant that is remembered here was John Blauvelt, who was succeeded by Judge Blauvelt early in the present century. He was succeeded by Isaac Dederer. and he by Smith Demarest. John Raab was the successor of that firm, and he continued till about 1882. Some fifteen years since, Bohls & Lediger established a store here. Mr. Bohls soon died, and the business has since
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HISTORY OF ROCKLAND COUNTY.
SCHOOL AT BLAUVELTVILLE.
May 15th 1809, John Isaac Blauvelt gave to the people of Greenbush the ground on which the school house of District No. 6 stands. Soon afterward a school building was erected, which was known as the Greenbush Acad- eny. It was a two story stone building and had on the first floor the teacher's residence and school room, and on the upper floor a hall or lecture room, which was used for religious meetings and other public purposes. Besides the common branches of study the higher English branches and other languages were taught. One of the early teachers was a Mr. Bailey. The building was afterward used for a district school. About 1850 it was torn down and the present school house was built on the same site.
JUVENILE ASYLUM.
. This institution, which is situated a short distance south of the Blauveltville station, was founded by the Sisters of the Order of St. Dominic, and its object is to gether with the parsonage near. During the following care for and educate poor children (girls only). The year the present neat and commodious structure was erected. It is a stone building of handsome appearance and it cost about $4,000. It was dedicated November 27th 1883. The church has no debt. property, consisting of thirty acres of land and one dwell- ing house, was purchased from Joseph Eustace in De- cember 1878. Since that time four large buildings have been erected. In 1880, owing to the imperfect system of Rev. Charles H. Lester has officiated as stated supply since December 2d 1883. sewerage, etc., purulent ophthalmia appeared among the inmates. The place was at once put in as perfect a sanitary The Sabbath school was organized in the summer of 1817. The first superintendent was Abraham G. Blau- velt. The present superintendent is A. T. Blauvelt. The school numbers about fifty scholars and is in a pros- perous condition. condition as possible at an expense of about $20,000, the system of sewerage, drainage, etc., being one of the most perfect in the State. Since these improvements, the mor- tality has been less than one-half of one per cent. About thirty sisters are in attendance, and the present number of children in the institution is about three hundred and and fifty. An asylum of similar nature is in process of erection at Nanuet for the Sisters of Charity of St. Vin- cent De Paul. They term this place Mt. St. Agatha.
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