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 64
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On the day of the dedication the skies were clear; the ยท sun shone brightly ; all were apparently in forgetfulness of the heavy load of debt, and looked hopefully towards the future. Bat the congregation was soon brought to face great trials and difficulties. First of all, the pastor's salary and the ordinary contingent expenses of the church, in- cluding interest, had to be provided for; they amounted annually to about $2650. As appears by a report made to the Great Consistory on the 14th of March, 1:53, only five months after the dedication, the revenue from the pew rents amounted only to $500, thus leaving an annual deficiency of over $2000.
The formal dissolution of the pastoral relation with Rev. Mr Stiller, on the 13th day of October. 1853. was im. mediately followed by applications for dismissal ou the part of 20 manbers (including two members of the acting Con- sistory ) to the Presbyterian Church at Roudout, and the withdrawal from the church by a large number of the con- gregation.
The feeling of despoudeney at that crisis, on the part of the Cousistory, was expressed in the following memorial of the Consistory to Classis, adopted Nov. 2, 1853:
" TO THE REV'D CLASSES OF VINTER:
" Yout memorialist-, the Corsistory of the Second Reformed Dutch Church of Kingston. re-pretfully represent that they are now but- thened with a very large indebtedness, incurred in the building of their house of worship. . . . That they find it ispossible to struggle through such heavy indebtedness unler the circumstances, and sus- tain the church. That unless immediate and large preuniary and is secured to them towards the discharge of such indebtedness, they most free- sarily ubili their church and suffer it to pass into other hands. That delay only increases the difficulty and the responsibility of those whoon whom the borthen reste, and, therefore, immediate action for The purpose or the other is sudispensable. Your wietuo- rialists some time ago memoralized the Collegiate Church in New
York withont avait, and they now desire the influence of Classis in their behalf for such purpose ; and Furtber solicit such advice from your honorable boly as may appear to you proper in the premises."
Upon the reception of the above memorial, Classis adopted the following resolutions :
" Resolred, That it be recommended to the Consistory and congre- gation of the Second Church of Kingston to persevere in the impor- tant enterprise in which they are engaged, by their own contributions, looking to the Head of the Church For ultimate success.
" Resolved, That the Classis will cordially endorse an application to the Consistory of the Collegiate Church of New York for aid, as pre- senting an object worthy of their most liberal encouragement and assistance, and that it be recommended to the Consistory to appoint a committee to solicit in behalf of their church ; and that the churches of this Classis especially be urged to respond liberally to their call."
In pursuance of this recommendation, an arrangement was made by the Consistory with Mr. Lueas Van Keuren to visit the several churches in the Classis, and the late lamented and R. v. Dr. C. D. Westbrook was requested and , authorized by the Consistory to solicit aid from the friends of the church. On the 21st day of November, 1853, Messrs. M. Schoomuaker, E. Du Bois, and T. I. Houghta !- ing were appointed a committee to solicit aid from the Col- legiate Church in the city of New York. The efforts of the committee were seconded and most zealously and effi- ciently aided by the Rev. Dr. Westbrook, to whose untiring exertions the resulting success was mainly attributable. He succeeded in convincing the Consistory of the Collegiate Church of our great necessities, so that, in the exercise of the great liberality frequently exhibited by them, they, on the 9th day of February, 1854, agreed to make a donation to this church of 86000, in case the balance of the debt was provided for.
The Consistory found that the balance of the debt was still too great for them to pay, and then, on the 3d day of April, 1354, they determined to apply to the Collegiate Church for an additional appropriation of $1000. After much solicitation and personal interviews with the indi- vidual members of their Consistory by Rev. Dr. Westbrook and J. S. Smith, that application was also granted on the 13th day of April, 1854, as a loan, to be payable one-halt'. in five and the balance in seven years, and to be secured by a mortgage on the church and the individual bond of responsible parties.
On the 15th day of May, 1854, the acting Cousistory. under the advice of the Great Consistory, perfected an ar- rangement with the Rev. Anson Du Dois to take charge of the congregation as pastor for one year. Mr. Du Bois com- menced his services under that arrangement about the first of June, 1854. On the 27th day of July, 1854, the Con- sistory tendered to him a formal call to become the pastor of the church. The call was approved by Classis and ac- copted by Mr. Du Bois, and he was formally installed as pastor on the 224 day of November, 1854.
At this time, through the troubles and difficulties in the church above alluded to, it had run to a very low ebb. In the first repeit made by Mr. Du Bois to Classis, which was in April, 1855, the ummiber of members in communion were reported at 67. the number in the congregation at 150, the whole number of scholars in the Sabbath-school 25, and the average attendance 15. Dr. Du Bois has lately informed
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CITY AND TOWN OF KINGSTON.
the writer that the first time he saw the Sabbath school there were in attendance 7 scholars and 15 teachers.
In reference to the actual existing indebtedness of the church, the report of a committee was presented to and adopted by the Consistory on the Ist day of August, 1854, from which it appears that the indebtedness of the church, with interest calculated up to the 1st day of July, 1854, amounted to $28,753.06. This indebtedness embraced the bonds, amounting to $10,000, executed by individuals for the benefit of the church, as before stated. To relieve the church from the principal part of that portion of the debt, somte individual members of the congregation, consisting principally of a portion of the obligors named in the bonds, assumed the payment of the greater portion thereof, $$332.84, and took prws in the church at the appraised prices, upon special terms in regard to rent, same as the builling conanittee, in payment. The church then had the following sums provided towards paying the reported in- debtedness of 828,753.66.
1. Assumption of bonds as above $8,332.84
2. Subscriptions, together with amount eofferted by L. Van Keuren 1.087.00
3. Donation and loan by Collegiate Church 10,020.00
$19,419.51
Balance not provided for, $0,333.82
A period of difficult negotiations followed, and extraor- dinary endeavors were made to remove the embarrassment of the debt. Its accomplisinnent was a difficult matter, but the day of relief was finally reached.
The committee on the church debt were enabled to, and did, on the 21st day of March, 1855, report to the Con- sitory " that they had sufficient means in their possession for the liquidation of the church indebtedness, with the - amount in expectancy from the Collegiate Church in New York." After some delay, the matters were all consum- mated, and on the 25th day of June, 1855, at a meeting of the Consistory, it was
" Resolve 7, That the Consistory, deepty impressed with the won ler- ful grace manifested in the preservation of this church amid very great and long-continued embarrassments, hereby aj point the after- noon of Sabbath, July Sth, as a season et humble acknowledgment and thanksgiving to Almighty God, the Giver of all goo 1: aol as a befitting revision to express to these friends of the Redeemer who have so generously contributed to our relief our sense of gratitude towards them for their most opportune benefactions."
The terms upon which the advance of $10,000 by the Col- legiate Church had been made, were as follows : 86000 thereof was virtually a gift; but in order to protect against the transfer of the church to another denomination, they re- quired and took a bond and mortgage, which was given aud dated April 5, 1855, with the following condition : That " $6000 is to be paid, with interest at 7 per cent. from date, whenever the said ministers, elders, and deacons of the Second Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Kingston shall cease to be in connection with and subordinate to the General Synod of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, and the other intermediate judicatories thereof." The balance. 84000, was simply a loan withont interest, secured by a mortgage on the church and a collateral bond to se- cure its punctual payment, executed by the following-named members of the congregation : Charles Du Bois, Teunis I.
Iloughtaling, Joseph S. Smith, Marius Schoonmaker, and Jacob HI. Du Bois.
In the compromise and settlement of the account of Joseph S. Smith, and to compensate in part for the large advances made by some of the members of the church, and the assumption of some of the church bonds, transfers were made of 71 pews by certificate (valued, according to then church valuation of pews, at $15,840) to such parties severally, according to the amount of their respective ad- Fances. The certificate contained a provision that so long as held by certificate and not occupied by owner, they were to be free of rent. If rented, the reserved rental of 5 per cent. on valuation to go to the church, and the surplus to the owner.
The settlement thus effected, although it did not wipe out and extinguish the entire debt, still afforded a very great relief to the church and left them unhampered by any present calls. The only obligation of indebtedness re- maining was the 81000 Collegiate Church loan, to be paid for one-half in five and the rest in seven years, withont interest. It had the immediate effect to inspire the con- gregation with new life and energy, and to raise their droop- ing spirits, so that innmediately thereafter action was taken by the Consistory in behalf of the benevolent boards of the church, and a system for more effective action in their be- half adopted, which, as will be seen in the sequel, proved eminently successful.
In the year 1857 negotiations were opened by the Con- sistory with Joseph S. Swith for the repurchase of the organ and the building lot, which had been transferred, as before stated, in effecting the compromise of his claims. Those negotiations resulted in a re-transfer of the organ and lot to the church, in consideration of the payment of 81400 in cash, and the transfer of securities and the excention and delivery to Mr. Smith of a church note for $1000. The settlement included a small balance ou former obliga- tions unpaid and some other matters. The church note was eventually paid in full, mainly through the instru- mentality of the Ladies' Society in the church.
The Rev. Mr. Du Bois continued his connection with the church as pastor until the fall of 1859. In the month of June of that year be presented his resignation of the pas- torate to the Cousistory, to take effect on the 1st of Sep- tember. On the 3d day of October, 1859, his resignation was formally accepted by the Consistory, with a resolution to unite with him in requesting the Classis to dissolve the pastoral relation. At the same meeting the Consistory unanimously adopted the following resolution :
" Resolved, That the appointment of the Rev. Anson Du Bois to the sceretaryship of the Board of Domestic Missions, whilst it has opened to bit a field of usefulness, in which we doubt not Providence has called him for the good of our common cause, we have yielded with reluctance to the painful separation which it causes in severing his pastoral relation with this church."
Thus elosed the connection with this church of one of our Redeemer's most faithful ministers. He was with ns during the darkest days of our existence. By his prayers, by his counsel, and by his unwavering fidelity to the church, he did much to sustain and encourage the congre- gation and the friends of the church in their efforts to up-
248
HISTORY OF ULSTER COUNTY, NEW YORK.
hold this branch of the Redeemer's kingdom during its days of trial and adversity.
In glancing at the result of his pastorate, we find the church not only relieved from an overwhelming debt, but its efficiency for usefulness largely increased. The system for benevolent action, as before stated, resulted in contribu- tions during the subsequent six months, ending on the 1st day of January, 1856, to the benevolent boards of the church, to the sum of $112 29 in the aggregate, and col- lections by the Ladies' Benevolent Society during the year to 8242.27. The total contributions for religious and be- nevolent purposes during the five years of his ministration were 8877.29. During his pastorate 97 persons joined the church, of whom 45 were by confession and the others by certificate. In his last annual report to Classis, made in April, 1859, he reported the total in communion at. 108. The scholars in Sabbath-school had increased from 25, as stated in his first report, to 125, as given in his last report.
At the same meeting of the Consistory at which the resignation of Mr. Du Bois was accepted, a call was made upon the Rev. Joseph A. Collyer, then settled at Geneva. It was accepted by him, and he was formally installed under the direction of Classis ou the 17th of November, 1850. Hle officiated as pastor until the 13th of Angust, IS6-4, when the Lord relieved him from the troubles and trials of this life and called him to his heavenly rest.
The Consistory, by consent of the family, took charge of the remains, and they are deposited in Wiltwyck Cemetery, with an appropriate monutuent designating the spot, erected with funds raised by subscription in the congregation. The committee of the Consistory to whom bad been intrusted the duty of raising funds and the erection of the monu- meut subsequently reported that they had found a ready co-operation on the part of the congregation, and subscrip- tions had been liberally and cheerfully wade, and an amount received adequate for the purpose withont applying to any one outside the church.
During the few years Mr. Collyer was permitted to re- main with us the $4000 mortgage held by the Collegiate Church in New York was fully paid off and satisfied of record. Upon the payment of the last installment of the Collegiate Church mortgage, in October, 1862, liberal con- tributions were made by friends not connected with the church, and to such an amount that the Consistory, at their meeting held on the 5th day of November, in that year, passed the following preatable and resolution :
" WHEREAS, Through the liberality of some of the members, pew- holders, and friends of this church. the Consistory have been enabled to satisfy and di-charge the mortgage resting upon the charch prop- erty, and thereby relieve the church from its embarrassments, there- fore :
" Resulted, That the thanks of this Consistory and church are specially due, and are hereby tendered, to Messrs. Thomas Cornell, Cornelius Bruyn, Francie S. Wynkoop, of the city of New York, Henry II. Reynolds, and others, who, although not connected with this church, have by their kindness and liberality largely aided the chnreh to extinguish the balance of the mortgage debt resting upon the church property."
During the ministration of Mr. Collyer, extending through nearly four years, 108 were admitted to the mem- bership of the church, 40 of whom were by confession. In his last report to Classis, made in 1864, the whole
number of communicants were reported at 174, the number of families 112, and the number of scholars in the Sabbath- school 170. .
The contributions for religious and benevolent purposes during the five years of his faithful services amounted to $2068.56, and for congregational purposes, including the payment of debts, to $14,298.85.
At a meeting of the Cousistory, held on the 30th day of December, 1864, under the advice of the Grand Cousistory, a call was made upon the Rev. Charles II. Stitt to become the pastor of the church, which, after approval by Classis, was accepted by him; and on the 15th day of February, 1865, her was, under the dircetion of the Classis, duly in- stalled as pastor of the church ..
Ife immediately thereafter entered upon the work, and continued in this field of labor, working most diligently and effectively in the cause of his divine Master, until the 14th day of January, 1874, when, at his own request, the pas- toral relation was dissolved.
In review of his aetive and earnest ministration here of nine years, we find that during that time 340 individuals were admitted into the membership of the church ; of whom 183 were admitted on confession, and the rest by certificate. In the last report made by him, in April, 1873, he reported in his congregation 153 families and 391 com- minicants.
Ilis annual reports to Classis while here show the gross amount of contributions to religious purposes during his . pastorate to be $10,604.99, and for congregational pur- poses, including the payment of debts, $42,171, making au annual average for all purposes of 85864, and the gross sum of $52,776.
Some matters occurred during his pastorate which seem to require a suitable record.
The Consistory purchased the present parsonage and lot at the corner of Fair and Pearl Streets, and made extensive repairs and improvements thereto; and also repairel the church edifice, by means of which au indebtedness of 85500, or about that amount, had been ineurred. At a meeting of the Consistory, held on the 13th day of March, 1565, it was, on motion,
" Resolved, That the Consistory of this church raise by subscription the sum of $5300, for the purpose of paying the present indebte lness of the church."
And at a meeting of the Cousistory held on the 5th day of July, 1865, the committee on subscriptions reported that a sum sufficient to pay the indebtedness of the church had been subscribed ; and at a subsequent meeting, held on the 27th day of November, 1865, the committee reported that they had realized upon their subscriptions $5618, an excess of $118 above the amount required; and that the whole sum, except about $200, was subscribed by the congrega- tion connected with the church.
A. large number of the jews in the audience-room which had been transferred under special certificate at the time of the adjustment of the original debt to the building cou- mittee and others, in consideration of large advances, were still held under such certificates, although some had been released to the church.
The attention ot the Consistory was drawn to those pews,
2.19
CITY AND TOWN OF KINGSTON.
and the tennre nuder which they were held, by a common- nieation received on the Sth of January, 1867, from JJoseph S. Smith, in regard to moneys due his wife upon the rental of some of the pews held by her under certificate. This matter led to considerable discussion, both in the Cousistory and in the congregation, in regard to the tenure of the cer- tificate pews, and the legal and equitable obligations of the church thereunder to the owners.
After considerable negotiation, the Consistory succeeded in the purchase of all the pews, with two or three excep- tions, and the cancellation of the certificates. The pur- chase was made at prices averaging less than fifty per cent. of their cost to the original owners, about thirteen years previous, without any compensation of interest or accrued rent. To pay the liabilities incurred by the purchase. the Consistory issued the corporate bonds of the church, payable at or before the expiration of ten years, with semi-annual interest, to the amount of 88322.50.
Thus did the church again become involved in a heavy indebtedness, but the relief obtained by the release of the pews was an ample compensation and justification for the liabilities incurred.
The Consistory, being desirous to have the debt liqui- dated, on the 10th day of March, 1869, appointed a com- mittee to solicit subscriptions for the payment of the debt, which at that time amounted to about $9000. Our lamented and departed brother, Cornelius Bruyn, was then an elder in the church and a member of that committee. With his usual liberality, and under the conviction that the wealth with which God has blessed him should contribute towards the support of his Redeemer's cause, he offered to pay $4500 towards the discharge of the indebtedness, pro- vided the balance was raised by the congregation on or before the first ensuing day of May. This incentive and princely proposition had the desired effect, so that on the 9th day of June the committee, affer stating the proposition of Mr. Bruyn, and some matters in regard to their discourage- ments and encouragements in the progress of their work, reported that " after much anxiety and vexation, your com- mittee rejoice to state that at last, by the blessing of God, their labors have resulted in complete success. The amount required was all, actually, and in good faith, subscribed by the 23d day of April, and a small sum in excess."
After the departure of Dr. Stitt, and before supplying the vacant pulpit, the Cousistory made a thorough exami- nation of the list of members. in order to purge it of all who had moved away, had died, or had permanently left the church, and also of the actual number of families in the church. After such revision, the annual report was made to Classis in April, 1874, by the Consistory, showing 126 families, and the total in communion, 333. Religious and benevolent contributions during the year, $843; for congregational purposes, 83659.24.
The present pastor. the Rev. Dr. Janues Demarest, Jr., was installed nuder the direction of the Kingstou Classis, on the 24 day of August, 1874.
During the ministry of Dr. Demarest, 77 have been ad- mitted to the communiou and membership of the church, of whom 41 were upon confession of faith, and 36 by cer- tificate from other evangelical churches. The roll of mem-
bership, soon after the commencement of the present pas- torate, was again thoroughly revised by the Consistory, and only those of whom some of the members of the Consistory had personal knowledge were counted. The result of that thorough investigation showed 140 families and 319 com- municants. We have now in the church 150 families and 344 communicants. The number of scholars in the Sab- bath-school is 230.
The benevolent collections in the church have, during the present pastorate, been seriously affected by the unex- ampled financial distress existing in the country. During that time they have amounted to the sum of $2991.SS. The collections for congregational purposes have been, dur- ing the same time, 818,747.36.
At the then last effort to accomplishment the payment of the debt, there was a deficiency in the funds provided for its payment by reason of an unanticipated amount of floating debt and accumulation of interest, the discharge of which left three of the bonds, amounting to about 81300, unprovided for. Two of them were paid off in 1875, together with a considerable amount of accumulated floating debt. A large portion of the remaining $500 has since been dis- changed by the ladies of the congregation. The small bal- ance remaining nupaid by them was settled by the churchi last year out of $1000 borrowed to pay the same, together with the then existing floating debt. In regard to the present financial condition of the church, we are pleased to state that the annual income is now, and was during the last fiscal year, sufficient to meet all the congregational ex- peuses. The outstanding debt has been considerably in- ereased during the present year by extensive repairs and alterations in the audience-room. so that it now amounts to about $2500. This is not a large sum to be cared for by the congregation.
Soon after the organization of this church, the ladies formed an association within the church for its aid and en- couragement. The church has been and still is much in- debted to them for their efficient and zealous operations in its behalf. The soft and mellow-sounding bell carries an impress on its face which, so long as the bell is used to call the people to the house of the Lord, will inform the pres- eat and future generations that it was " presented to the Second Reformed Dutch Church of Kingston, N. Y., by the ladies of the congregation." To them the church is in- debted for the rich and fine-toned organ, for the neat com- wunion service, for the introduction of gas, by which we are enabled to throw light in every part of the church, for the repair of the front steps after their destruction by the falling spire, for the neat recess in the rear of the pulpit, for twice carpeting the church, and, to sum up, whenever their aid has been needed and could avail, it has been cheer- fally given.
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