USA > New York > Ulster County > History of Ulster County, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers. Vol. I > Part 58
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A call was now offered to Dominie Vincentius Antonides, of Brooklyn and Flatbush, and subsequently to Dominie Gualterus Du Bois, of New York, both of which were declined.
The church again made its appeal to the Classis of Am- sterdam to send them a pastor. Accordingly, Dominio Pe- trus Vas was sent over, bearing high testimonials from the Classis, and became its seventh pastor. He arrived in Kingston Dee. 19, 1710. O. S., and " was received with great joy by the magistrates, Consistory, and citizens gen- erally," and immediately entered with zeal upon his minis-
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terial work. He was a man of scholarly attainments, a profound and eloquent preacher, of fine social qualities, and devoted to his work. Under his ministry the church membership was largely increased. During a period of less than four years-from April 12, 1712, to December, 1715 -- there were added to the church 160 persons, and in 1717, 34 made a profession of their faith in Christ. On the 1st of May, 1712, Dominie Vas and his Consistory petitioned Governor Hunter to grant the church a charter similar to the one which had been granted the church in New York, May 11, 1696. After a protracted delay of seven years their petition was granted, and on the 17th of November, 1719, a charter was obtained from " George, by the grace of God king of Great Britain, France, and Ireland," signed by " Peter Schuyler, president of the council, etc.," to
For twenty-two years Dominie Vas was the sole pastor of the church. When he had attained his seventy-fourth year, Dominie George Wilhehnus Mancius, minister of the Re- formed Dutch Church of Schraalenburgh and Paramus, N. J., " with the consent of their faithful and beloved pastor and preacher, Peter Vas," on the 16th May, 1732, was by the Consistory called to become his colleague. Maneius ac- cepted this call, and until 1752, when Vas died, at the age of ninety-six years, they were co-laborers " in the unity of the Spirit and the bonds of peace." Mancius survived Vas ten years, when he died, Sept. 6, 1762, and was buried under the church, near the elders' seat. Dominic Van Hoeven- burgh, amid great sorrow and lamentation by the people, preached the funeral sermon from Heb. xiii. 7. The joint pastorate of these two devoted servants of the church was
THE OLD DUTCH CHURCH. (Burnel by the British, Oct. 16, 1777.)
" Petrus Vas. Minister ; Abraham Delamater. Capt. Wes. sels Tenbrook, Guisbert Van Der Bergh, and Thomas Jan- sen, Elders; and Capt. Nicholas Hoffman, Lambert Cool, Capt. John Rutsen, Tjerek Van Keuren, Deacons, and their successors in office," bearing the corporate name of the ". Min- ister, Elders, and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Kingston," confirming their title to the ground and cemetery on which the present church edifice stands, and in accordance with the provisions of which the affairs of the church have been and are regulated and controlled.
In the year 1721 the church edifice was thoroughly re- paired, and an addition to it was erected on Main Street, after the fashion of the old Dutch churches. This annex was called a " Doop Huys" (baptism house), and was used also as a consistory-room. In its front wall was imbedded a stone tablet, bearing the following inscription :
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" P. VAS. MDC.C.XXI."
fifty-one years, eight months, and seventeen days. They were earnest and faithful ministers, and God's blessing attended their labors. More than fourteen hundred were added to the membership of the church during their united ministry.
About the time of the death of Dominie Vas a new, sub- stantial, and spacious church was erected near the site of the former building, and dedicated by Dominic Mancius, Nov. 29, 1752, N. S. The text of the dedicatory sermon was 1 Kings viii. 29. The 122d Psalm was sung before, and the 65th Psalm after, the sermon. All the services were in the Dutch language.
A fact well authenticated (but hitherto questioned ), from a record found in an old family Bible, occurred in the church of Kingston, Dec. 16, 1744, which was that in the forenoon of that day, Sunday, Dominie Freymouth, of Minnisink, was, by the order of the Classis of Amsterdam,
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CITY AND TOWN OF KINGSTON.
ordained by Dominic G. W. Maucius, in the presence of Doruinie P. Vas and Dominic Weys.
The famous Catus and Conferentie controversy agitated the Reformed Dutch Church in this country about the middle of the last century. It originated in a desire on the part of some of its ministers to dissolve their connec- tion with the Classis of Amsterdam, and form a " Cotus" or " assembly" for the purpose of ordaining their own ministers. The Conferentie preferred to retain their connection with the Classis of Amsterdam, and obtain their ministers, as heretofore, front Holland. With the latter party Dominie Mancius and the greater part of the church of Kingston were strongly allied.
At this juncture the Consistory of the church of Kings- ton authorized and requested the theological faculty of Gron- ingen to call a pastor for them. The call was tendered to Hermannus Meyer, Jan. 17, 1763, which having been ae- cepted, he was solemnly ordained to the ministry on the following 31st of March, " in the presence of the Deputati Synodi Groningarie." He took passage from Amsterdam to London, thence to New York, and arrived at Kingston Nov. 2, 1763, and on the next Sabbath preached his first sermon, from Prahu xxii. 30, 31. Mr. Meyer's preferences were with the Cutus party, but he wished to hohl, if pos- sible, a neutral position, and thus maintain peace in the congregation. This, however, did not please many of his people, and they endeavored to bring Him under subordina- tion to the Classis of Amsterdam. By his call he was left free to act with either party. They were also displeased with his practical and searching preaching, and availed them- selves of every pretext to array a party against him, and finally, by a self-constituted council of three neighboring min- isters uil their elders, all of whom belonged to the Conferen- tie party, Mr. Meyer was ejected from his pulpit and his salary withheld from him. He continued, however, to preach and perform other ministerial services in the con- gregation, at private houses, to a large number of adherents of the first respectability, until November, 1772, when he resigned his charge at Kingston and accepted a call from the Reformed Dutch Churches of Pompton and Totowa. N. J., where he continued to labor until Oct. 27, 1791, the date of his decease.
In 1789, Daminie Meyer was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Queen's (now Rutgers) College. In 1754 he was appointed by the General Synod pro- fessor of the Hebrew language, and in 1756 lector and assistant to the professor of divinity, both of which offices he held to the close of his life. He was a member of the convention of 1771 which met in New York " to devise the means for peace and unity in the churches," and was also elected president of the ninth General Synod, which met at Pompton in 1779. These distinguished honors, extended to him by the highest authorities of the Church, showed the general estimation in which he was held, notwith- standing the studions efforts which had been made to blast his character and impair his usefulness. He was a man of ardent piety, profound learning, and varied scholar- ship, a faithful and edifying preacher, and his memory is even still fragrant in the churches.
The spirit of strife between these contending parties in CC
the church of Kingston was in its consequences sadly detri- mental to its material and spiritual prosperity.
As time passed on, however, the Consistory, with the con- currence of the Great Consistory, prompted by a better spirit, in 1775, called Dominie George J. L. Doll, who was at the time " preaching at Albany in Dutch and French," to become their pastor. This call was accepted, and Dominic Doll im- mediately entered upon the active duties of his pastorate, and for thirty three years faithfully and acceptably served the church until 1808, when, in consequence of the infirmities of age and a growing desire to have preaching in English, John Gosman, a candidate, was called to be his colleague. In May, 1809, Dominie Doll went to reside with his daughter, Mrs. Judge Van Der Poel, at Kinderhook, at which place he died March 28, 1811, at the age of seventy-two years. The church paid him an annuity of $400 from the time he ceased to reside in Kingston, and were anxious that his remains should be brought to Kings- ton and buried beside those of his wife, under the church, but his Kinderhook friends preferred to inter him at that place.
A sermon appropriate to the death of Dr. Doll was preached by the Rev. John Gosman, on the Sabbath suc- ceeding his demise, from Rev. xiv. 13. An obituary appeared in the local press, which speaks of him in these words: " His unblemished life, his ardent zeal in the cause of religion, the purity of his morals, and the Christian meck- ness which adorned his character, proclaimed him 'the mes- scuger of truth, the legate of the skies.' Although he had no relations in this country, the unspotted excellence of his life attached to him numerous friends. He had no enemies. Ilis unwearied pains to spread gospel blessings, and preach Christ and Him crucified, endeared him to every member of his flock." lle is still spoken of, by some of the older members of the church, as an exceedingly devout and ami- able quan, diffusing an atmosphere of love around him, and thus he became instrumental in restoring peace to his dis- tracted church.
The pastorate of Dr. Doll covered the trying period of the Revolution, during which he was as patriotic as he was Jevout. This is cvident from his thrilling letter addressed to Governor George Clinton on the occasion of his inaugu- ration. at Kingston, as the first Governor of the State of New York, on the 30th of July, 1777," and also from his
* LETTER OF REV. GEORGE I. L. DOLL. ADDRESSED TO HIS EXCEL- LENCY, GEORGE CLINTON, ON THE OCCASION OF LIS INAUGURA- TION AS FIRST GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, JULY 30, 1777.
" To His Excellency, GEORGE CLINTON, ESQ., Governor, General and Commander-in-Chief of all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy of the State of New York :
" MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY :
" At the commencement of the New Constitution, andl at the very hour of your inauguration, the Minister, Ellers, and Deacons of the Reformed Dates Church of Kingston, in Consistory assemble.l. beg leave to congratulate your Excellency upon the highest honors the subjects of a free State can possess, and to assure you of the part they bear in the public happiness of this occasion.
" From the beginning of the present war, the Consistory and tho people of Kingston have been uniformly attached to the cause of America, and justify upon the sonwlest principles of religion and morality the glorious revolution of a free and oppressed country. Convinced of the unrighteous design of Great Britain nyon their
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HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
letter addressed to Gen. Washington when on a visit to Kingston. in 1782 .*
civil and religions privileges, they choose, without hesitation, rather to suffer with a brave people for a season, than to enjoy the luxuries and friendship of a wicked and cruel nation.
" With an inexpressible perseverance, which they trust the greatest adversity and persecution will never change, they profess to your Ex- celleney their interest in the Continental Union and loyalty to the Sinte of New York.
" While the Constitution is preserved inviolate, and the rulers steer by that conspicuous beacon, the people have the fa rest prospects of happiness and success. With you they choose to launch, that future pilots may forin a precedent from your vigilance, impartiality, and firmucss, and the system obtain an establishment that shall last for ages. For, as nothing can be more agreeable to the conscious patriot than the approbation of his country, so nothing can more promote the general good than placing confidence in established characters, and raising merit to distinguished power.
"Take, then, with the acclamations and the fullest confidence of the public-take, Sir, the government into your bands, and let the unso- licited voice of a whole State prevail upon you to enter upon the arduous task.
" All ranks, in placing you at their head, have pledged their lives and fortunes to support and defend you in this exalted station, and the Consistory of King-ton cheerfully unite in the implicit stipula- tion, and promise you their prayers.
" As a reformation in morals is the immediate object of the Con- sistory of King-ton, they esteem themselves especially happy in having cause to believe that religious liberty (withont which all other privi- leges are not worth enjoying, will be strenuously supported by your Excelleney ; and they congratulate themselves and the State that God has given them a Governor who understands, and therefore loves, the Christian Religion, and who in his administration will prove a terror to evil-loers, and an example and patron to them that do well.
" Signed by order of the Consistory, "Aug. 2. 1777." " GEO. J. L. DOLL, Praesen.
Nore .- The above-named Consi-tory at that date were Johannes Von Keuren, Heiman Roosa, Benjamin Ten Broeck, Ezekiel Masten, Ellery : Gerrit Freer, Abrahatu Eluiendorf. Conrad Newkirk, und Tobyas Swart, Deacons; William Elting, Kerk-Mecster (Church-War- den).
REPLY TO THE FOREGOING LETTER.
"GENTLEMEN,-While I receive with the highest pleasure this tes- timmy of esteem from your respectable body with gratitude, the honor which the suffrages of a free prople havr conferred upon the, I cannot but express apprehensions of my inability to answer the expectations which they are pleased to formu of me. It shall, however, be my car- nest en-leavor by a sedulous attention to the important duties of iny ofice to merit their af probation, and I rely firmly on Divine Provi- denee, and the prayers which you offer to put up in my behalf, to render my services efectual in promoting the happiness of the people comunicted to toy charge.
"i agree with you, Gentlemen, in thinking that the Constitution gives the fairest promises of happiness. This I shall study to pre- serve inviolate, and thereby secure to the j cople those civil and reli- ginis liberties which it has with the utmost liberality aud wisdom been attentive to establish aud guard. Atl, as unjust suspicions and fondness for novelty have been ruinous to many States, you justly observed that a confidence in established characters, and the promo- tion of tried merit, must contribute to the general welfare. By this salutary principle, therefore, I wish to be governed in the part I have to take in the distribution of public offices.
" Gentlemen, I cannot dismiss you without giving iny publie testi- mony to the patriotism of the Consi-tory and people of Kingston, who, in imitation of their brave ancestors, have shown themselves worthy of the mestimable privileges they enjoy, by the spirit and alacrity they have early and uniformly manifested in their defense.
" May it please the Supreme Author of all events to crown them with (qual glory and success ?"
*CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE MINISTER AND OFFICERS OF THE FIRST REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH OF KINGSTON, N. Y., AND GEN. WASHINGTON, IN His2.
"Sin, -Amidst the gener .. l joy which instantly pervaded all ranks of people here on bearing of your Excellencey's arrival at this place,
When Kingston was taken by the British under Gen. Vaughan and burned, Oct. 16, 1777, there are good rea- sons to believe that they were at first reluctant to burn the church ; but when they learned of the active patriotism of Dr. Doll and his Consistory, they no longer hesitated sacri- legiously to apply the torch to the house of God and also to the parsonage in which the dominie was living.
The burning of the church and parsonage was a great calamity. Sympathy was awakened throughout the land, and assistance to rebuild was sent from Poughkeepsie, Charleston, S. C., and other places. But in a few years the work was accomplished, and the people were again found worshiping in their venerable stone edifiec, beau- tified and improved. A drawing of this church, as it appeared before it was burned, accompanies this sketch.
The Reformed Dutch Church at Marbletown was an offshoot from the church of Kingston. On the 29th of September, 1793, their second church edifice was dedi- cated,-Dr. Van Horn preaching in the morning from 1 Kings viii. 29, and Dr. Doll in the afternoon from 1 Kings viii. 62, 63.
Dr. Doll was the last one of the list of venerable pastors who had been educated in the universities of Holland and Germany, and who had for one hundred and fifty years officiated in the Dutch language. The records of the church were all kept in the same tongue, and everything pertaining to its internal affairs was after the model of the Church in the Fatherland. But the wishes of the people, which had often been previously expressed, could not longer go unheeded. They demanded, especially the younger portion of the congregation, to have preaching
"We, the Minister, Elders and Deaeons of the protestant reformed Dutch Church in Kingston, participated in it; and now beg leave with the greatest respect and esteem, to hail your arrival.
"The experience of a number of years past bas convinced us that your Wisdom, Integrity, and Fortitude have been adequate to the arduous task your Country has imposed upon you ; never have we, in the most perilons of times, known your Excellency to despond, nor in the most prosperous to slacken in activity, but with the utmost Resolu- tion persevere until, by the aid of the Almighty, you have brought us this year to Independence, I'reedom, and Peace.
" Permit es to add, that the loss of our religious Rights was partly involved in thint of our eivil, and your being instrumental in restoring the one, affords us a happy Presage that the Divine Being will pros- per your endeavors to promote the other.
" When the Sword shall be sheathed and Peace re-established, and whenever it is the Will of Heaven that your Excellency has lived long enough for the purposes of nature, then may you enter triumph- antly through the Blood of the Lamb into the Regions of Bliez, there to take possession of that Crown of Glory, the reward of the Virtuous, and which fadeth not away."
REPLY TO THE ABOVE.
" GENTLEMEN,-I am happy in receiving this public mark of the esteem of the Minister, Elders and Deacons of the reformed protest- ant Dutch Church in Kingsten.
" Convinced that our religious Liberties were as essential as our civil, my endeavors have never been wanting to encourage and pru- mote the one, while i have been contending for the other, and I am highly flattered by finding that iny eforts have met the approbation of so respectable a Boly.
" In return for your kind concern for my temporal and eternal hap- piness, permit me to assure you that my wishes are reciprocal : and that you may be enabled to hand down your Religion, pure and un- defiled, to a posterity worthy of their ancestors, is the prayer of, Gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
" GEORGE WASHINGTON."
.
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CITY AND TOWN OF KINGSTON.
in the English language. This church had up to this time maintained an independent position, and declined all overtures for a union with . the ecclesiastical assemblies in this country. But now, as they were about to obtain a minister to preach in English who had been educated in this country, it seemed almost a necessity that this policy should be changed. Accordingly, on the 5th of Septem- ber, ISOS, it was resolved (the Great Consistory . coneur- ring) that an application be made by the Consistory to the Classis of Ulster to be received under its care. This applica- tion was presented to the Classis Nov. 22, 1808, at a special meeting held at Kingston ; it was favorably regarded, and the church and pastor, Dominie George J. L. Doll, were enrolled as members of the Classis. On the 19th of Oe- tober, 1803, the churches of Kingston and Hurley united in making a call upon Rev. John Gosman to become their pastor, he being required to preach three-fourths of the time at Kingston and one-fourth at Hurley. This call was pro- seuted to the Classis for approval Nov. 22, 1808, when a remonstranee was presented, signed by 25 members of the church of Kingston, on the ground that Mr. Gosman could not preach in English. The call was approved by the Classis, and an arrangement was coveluded to the effect that on those Sabbaths when Mr. Gosman preached at Hurley there should be preaching in Dutch at Kingston. The call was then accepted, and Mr. Gosman made application for ordination and installation, at the same time presenting his certificate of dismission as a candidate from the Washing- tou County Presbytery of the Associate Reformed Presby- terian Church.
Mr. Gosman was born in the city of New York, and in August, 1801, graduated from Columbia College with the highest honors of the institution. He studied theology with Rev. Alexander Proudfit, D.D .. of Salem, N. Y., and was licensed to preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Washing- ton County, October, 1804. Hlis examination having been sustained by the Classis, arrangements were made for his ordination and installation as co-pastor with Dominie Doll of the Reformed Churches of Kingston and Hurley, on Dec. 14, 1808, by a conmittee of Classis, consisting of the Rev. Moses Frogligh, who was to preach the sermon, and Rev. Messrs. Goetschius, Doll, and Demarest. On the 5th of November, 1811, the Classis of Ulster dissolved the pastoral relation between the Rev. Mr. Gosman and the church of Hurley. He was thus able to devote his whole time to the interests of the church of Kingston.
The arrangement which was made at the time of the settlement of Mr. Gosman to secure preaching a portion of the time in Dutch at Kingston operated unfavorably to the peace of the church, and resulted in an embittered and protracted controversy, not alone in the church of Kings- ton, but in the Classis and Synod. This strife was finally allayed by the action of the General Synod, in June, 1812, by which, at the request of the Con-istory, the church of Kingston was transferred from the Classis of Ulster to the Classis of Poughkeepsie. It continued in this connection until, at its own request, it was again restored to its former relation to the Classis of Ulster by the action of General Synod, in June, 1830.
During Dr. Gosman's ministry the church was awakened
to new spiritual life. Meetings for prayer and Bible classes were instituted, and a revived state of religious feeling and activity was enkindled.
The religious instruction of the children and youth, ex- eept that which was given by parents, was imparted by the pastor from the catechism. The first Sabbath-school which was established in Ulster County was in connection with the church of Kingston, May 19, 1816, the object of which, as expressed in its constitution, was " to teach the people of color to read the Bible," and also looking forward " to the time when people of color will be entitled to the rights of citizenship," alluding to the existence of slavery at that time.
The officers of the society were Rev. John Gosman, President ; Christopher Tappen, Vice-President ; James Cockburn, Treasurer ; Edward O'Neil, Secretary. At the expiration of one month the school had 114 pupils.
la view of the growth of the congregation and the in- ereasing demand for pews, the Consistory, in 1832, deter- miued to erect a new church, on the southeast corner of Wall and Main Streets. This was the brick edifice now called St. Joseph's Catholic Church, the corner-stone of which was laid Sept. 19, 1832, by the Rev. Dr. Gosman. It was completed and dedicated Aug. 20, 1833. The services were largely attended, and were conducted by Rev. C. L. Van Dyck and Andrew N. Kittle. Rev. Dr. Thomas De Witt preached the sermon from Psalms Ixv. 4, and the dedicatory address was delivered by the pastor.
After a most successful and popular pastorate of twenty- seven years, Rev. Dr. Gosman resigned his position Aug. 17, 1835, in response to a call, which he deemed it his duty to accept, from the Second Reformed Duich Church of Phila- delphia, Pa. It would be appropriate here to speak of his life, character, and labors, but, as a full sketch appears else- where in this volume, such a tribute is unnecessary.
The next pastor was Rev. John Lille, a native of Kelso, Scotland. He early exhibited a great fondness for study, and before he was sixteen years old had attained such proficiency that he was admitted to the academic course of the University of Edinburgh. His attaiments in the regular curriculum of study secured for him the highest honors of the institution. He was regarded as " the most accomplished scholar that had graduated from that famous seat of learning in half a century." In 1831 he was examined and admitted to the Divinity Hall. For two years he there prosecuted his theological studies, when he came to America. On his arrival he connected himself with the theological seminary at New Brunswick, N. J., where he completed his studies, and was licensed to preach the gospel by the Classis of New York, July 21, 1835. A unanimous eall from the church of Kingston was extended to him Sept. 29, 1835, which was accepted, and he was or- dained and installed by the Classis of Ulster, Feb. 1, 1836, when the Rev. Dr. Henry Ostrander preached the sermon. Young and inexperienced as Mr. Lillie was, he rapidly de- veloped into a learned and profound theologian, an accu- rate scholar, and an impressive and edifying preacher. The records of the church attest the fidelity and success of his labors. His scholarly attainments secured for him an ap- pointment in the grammar school connected with the Uni-
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