USA > New York > Rensselaer County > East Greenbush > History of the Reformed church, at East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, New York > Part 2
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In the spring of 1835 a wing was added to the north side of the parsonage at a cost of $258. Messrs. Perkins and Carpenter were the builders. The well was dug the same year. On Dec. 1, 1835, the Consistory adopted these resolutions relative to the well :
Resolved, That any person wishing water from the pump in the Dutch Church parsonage yard shall after the first of May next (1836) pay the sum of two dollars in advance, each and every year during the time they shall use it, except in certain cases where the Consistory think proper to commute.
Carried by a large majority.
Resolved, That no person shall have the privilege of bringing any animal into the yard for the purpose of watering the same.
Wells were an expensive luxury in those days !
This house was occupied by Revs. Liddell, Stim- son, Talmage and Anderson. During Mr. Wilson's pastorate it was rented, he always boarding at other places.
22
EARLY HISTORY.
The old parsonage was sold to Miles Traver on Jan. 18, 1873, for $2,025.
The new parsonage was built in the year 1872. On the 26th of March of that year the Consistory decided to build a new parsonage and sell the old one.
The Building Committee was composed of Jacob Kimmey, John N. Pockman, Andrew Tweedale, Isaac Hays and Jacob M. Cotton.
On the 20th of April, 1873, this committee reported the parsonage completed at a cost of $5,665.67. This beautiful house with its capacious grounds added very much to the comfort of the minister's family.
On July 7, 1873, the above committee was instructed to have a well dug at the new parsonage at a cost of $150. A suitable barn was also erected ; and all these were located on the middle portion of the Breese lot-that comprised the plot of ground purchased on Dec. 26, 1866, by the Church of Miss Berthia L. Staats for the sum of $3,000. The war- ranty deed was given April 10, 1867. The north lot was disposed of to the Misses Yates and the south lot became the property of John N. Pock- man.
No more desirable place could be found in the vil- lage for a pastor's residence.
23
EARLY HISTORY.
GLEBE LOTS.
On March 8th, 1798, it was determined to lease the Glebe Lots belonging to the church, that they might become a source of profit to the church.
An annual rent of not less than three pounds was to be reserved on each lot.
Monday, the nineteenth of March, 1798, at ten o'clock A. M., was fixed upon as the time of sale. Upon that date the following sales were effected :
Lot No. 1, purchased by Gerardus Beekman, for £1.15.0.
Lot No. 2, purchased by John Brees, for £2.8.0.
Lot No. 3, purchased by Gerrit Brees, for £2.2.0.
Lot No. 4, purchased by Henry K. Van Rens- selaer, for £2.18.0.
Lot No. 5, purchased by Gerrit O. Lansingh, for £4.0.0.
The above purchase money became due on May 1st, 1798, when the leases were executed to the purchasers. Previous to this date a Seal was to be procured pertaining to the body corporate of the church, and it was left to the discretion of the minister to direct the device.
On March 4th, 1809, three lots of ground were conveyed to Dr. John S. Miller, lying north of the lot in possession of Manassah Knowlton, reserving a yearly rent on said lots of three pounds.
24
EARLY HISTORY.
The accompanying survey is undoubtedly of the lot now owned by Samuel S. Warner :
Beginning at a stake and stones standing on the south line of the Parsonage lot and at the distance of 5.85 on a course forty- one degrees west from the southwest corner of the barn on the said parsonage lot, and runs from said stake and stones north three degrees fifteen minutes east, 6.25, to a stake on the north line and on the south side of the road; then along the same easterly to the Rensselaer and Columbia turnpike road; then along the same southerly to the northeast corner of William P. Morrison's farm; then westerly along the north line of said farm to the place of beginning, containing 2.5 acres of land.
DEEDS IN TRUST.
THIS INDENTURE, made this tenth day of June, one thous- and eight hundred and fifty-seven, BETWEEN Cornelius Van Rensselaer and Maria L., his wife, of the town of Clinton in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, parties of the first part, and Nathaniel S. Payne, Simeon Ostrander, Joseph S. Hare, Charles Rhoda, John Pockman, Henry Salisbury, John Gilbert and William Link, The Consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church of Greenbush (now the town of Clinton) and their successors in office, in trust for all the heirs of Col. Nicho- las Van Rensselaer, late of the town of Greenbush, deceased, of the second part,
WITNESSETH, That the said parties of the first part, for and in consideration of FIVE dollars, to them duly paid by the said par- ties of the second part, have bargained, sold, remised and quit- claimed, and by these presents do bargain, sell, remise, and quit-claim unto the said parties of the second part in their actual possession now being, and to their successors in office for- ever, ALL that certain lot, piece, or parcel of land, situate, lying and being on the farm of the said Cornelius Van Rensselaer,
25
EARLY HISTORY.
and being the FAMILY BURIAL GROUND OF THE SAID COL. NICHOLAS VAN RENSSELAER so deceased, and is bounded and described as follows, to wit:
BEGINNING at a marble post numbered one (No. 1) which bears south fifty degrees west three feet from the cedar tree standing near the southwest corner of said burial ground, and runs then from said marble post north four degrees west thirty feet to a marble monument or post numbered two (No. 2); thence north eighty -six degrees east eighty-eight fr et to a marble monument or post numbered three (No. 3) standing at the west side of the Albany and West Stockbridge Railroad; thence along the same south twenty-one degrees east thirty-one feet and three-quarters of a foot to a marble monument or post numbered four (No. 4), and thence south eighty-six degrees west ninety- seven feet to the place of beginning. Containing two thousand seven hundred and seventy-five feet of ground, together with the right of way and passage to and from said burial ground at all times, through and over the lands of the said Cornelius Van Rensselaer, for the purpose of making interments on said burial ground, or for the purpose of making or repairing the fences enclosing or to enclose said burial ground, or improving, or planting ornamental trees, shrubbery, flowers, or embellishing the ground in any way and manner whatever. With the appur- tenances, and all the estate, title and interest therein of the said parties of the first part.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written.
CORNELIUS VAN RENSSELAER, MARIA L. VAN RENSSELAER.
Sealed and delivered in? the presence of
ELIZABETH B. MANLEY.
STATE OF NEW YORK, RENSSELAER COUNTY, 88.
On this twenty-second day of September, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, before me, the sub-
26
EARLY HISTORY.
scriber, appeared Cornelius Van Rensselaer and Maria L., his wife, to me personally known to be the same persons described in, and who executed the within instrument, who severally acknowledged that they executed the same; and the said Maria L., on a private examination by me, apart from her said hus- band, acknowledged that she executed the same freely, and without any fear or compulsion of her said husband.
HENRY GOODRICH, Justice of the Peace.
Recorded in the Clerk's Office of the County of Rensselaer the twenty-fifth day of September, 1857, at 12 M., in Book No. 103 of Deeds, on page 239, &c.
JOHN P. BALL, Clerk.
THIS INDENTURE, made third day of April A. D. one thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, BETWEEN Joachim P. Staats, of the town of Schodack, county of Rensselaer and State of New York, of the first part, and "The Reformed Protestant Dutch Congregation of Greenbush, in the county of Rensselaer," in said State, party of the second part,
WITNESSETH, That the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of the express trusts and behests hereinafter vested in and committed to said party of the second part, hath granted, bargained, sold, remised, released and confirmed, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, remise, release and confirm unto the said party of the second part, their successors and assigns forever, ALL that certain tract, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in said town of Schodack, known and distinguished as THE FAMILY BURIAL GROUND of Joachim P. Staats, the party aforesaid, and described and bounded as fol- lows, that is to say :
BEGINNING at a point at the southwest corner of said lot, two chains, nineteen and one-half links distant from the northwest corner of the dwelling-house of said Joachim P. Staats, in which he now resides, on a course north twenty-two degrees thirty minutes east, and thence runs south seventy-one degrees twenty
27
EARLY HISTORY.
minutes east, one chain; thence north eighteen degrees forty minutes east, seventy-five links; thence north seventy-one degrees twenty minutes west, one chain; thence south eighteen degrees forty minutes west, seventy-five links to the place of beginning. Containing about one-tenth of an acre of land, be the same more or less, together with all and singular, the tene- ments, hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining; and the reversion and reversions, re- mainder and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title, interest, property possession, claim and demand whatsoever, as well at law as in equity, of the said party of the first part, of in or to the above-described premises, and every part and parcel thereof, with the appurtenances, together with a right of way, access and approaching to and from said premises, with teams or otherwise, over and through the lands now belonging to said party of the first part, from the public highway, which said right of way shall be the same route as the one now used by said party of the first part, or as neces- sarily changed hereafter by him or his heirs; and said party of the second part, their successors or assigns, SHALL AT ALL TIMES have the right to pass or repass thereby on foot, or with horses, wagons, sleighs or other vehicle, or carriage whatever to said land from the public highway.
To have and to hold, all and singular, the above-mentioned and described premises, together with the appurtenances, and the aforesaid easement unto the said party of the second part, their successors and assigns forever, in trust, however, for the benefit of said party of the first part, his heirs and next of kin. The object and intention of this conveyance, and a part of the con- sideration whereby the said party of the first part makes the same, is, that said land may always and forever be held by said congregation as the sacred depository of the remains of the family, friends and kindred of the party of the first part, and that the said burial ground may never be used for any other purpose whatsoever; and the said party of the first part, for
28
EARLY HISTORY.
himself, his heirs, executors and administrators, doth covenant, grant and agree to and with the said party of the second part, their successors or assigns, that at the time of making this con- veyance, he is the lawful owner of the premises above granted, and that he is seized of a good and indefeasible estate of inherit- ance therein, and that they are free and clear of inchoate dower rights, and of all incumbrances whatsoever, and the above- granted premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, their successors and assigns, against every person whomsoever he and they will and shall war- rant and forever defend.
In witness whereof, the said party of the first part has here- unto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written. JOACHIM P. STAATS.
Sealed and delivered in presence of GROVE P. JENKS.
STATE OF NEW YORK, RENSSELAER COUNTY, SS.
On this third day of April, A. D. 1865, before me, the sub- scriber, a Justice of the Peace of said county, personally appeared Joachim P. Staats, who acknowledged that he executed the fore- going instrument; and I further certify that I know the person who made the said acknowledgment to be the individual de- scribed in and who executed the said instrument.
N. N. SEAMAN, Justice of the Peace.
Recorded in Rensselaer County Clerk's office June 24th, 1865, at 12 hours M., in Book of Deeds No. 127, page 468, &c. EDWIN BRONERDT, Clerk.
PATROON-RENT-RELEASE.
Received, Albany May 6th, 1878, of the Consistory of the Reformed Protestant Church of East Greenbush $7.26 on account of rent on farm leased to Caleb Hill, Nov. 11th, 1793,
29
EARLY HISTORY.
and $1.24 for interest, and $15.00 as a deposit, the interest of which amount will be an equivalent for the further rents on four acres of said lease. W. S. CHURCH.
Signed and sealed
$ 7.26 In presence of
1.24 JACOB KIMMEY.
15.00
$23.50
RENSSELAER COUNTY, TOWN OF GREENBUSH, SS,
On this sixth day of May, 1878, before me came Jacob Kim- mey, to me known, the subscribing witness within-named, who being by me sworn, did depose and say that he resides in the town of Schodack, county aforesaid, that he knows Walter S. Church, the signer of the above receipt therein, and knows him to be the person who is described in and who executed the above instrument, that he was present and saw the said Walter S. Church execute the same, and that he thereupon subscribed his name as a witness thereto.
J. F. GILMAN, Justice of the Peace.
Recorded on the twenty-fifth day of November, 1878, at 10.15 o'clock A. M. in Liber 181 of Deeds, at page 237 and examined. JAMES KEENAN, Clerk.
30
CENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
CENTENNIAL OF THE REFORMED CHURCH.
EAST GREENBUSH, N. Y., Nov. 17, 1887.
OFFICERS. - Minister Elders-Jacob M. Cotton, Jacob Schermerhorn, Andrew Tweedale, William H. Rhoda. Deacons-John Moore, Alex- ander Traver, Michael H. Warner, Thomas Black. Sec'y-Stephen S. Miller. Treas .- Jacob Kimmey.
As the one hundred years of history was being rounded out the Church, unfortunately, was without a pastor. Dr. Steele had been laid aside from active duty by a paralytic stroke, had resigned, and moved away.
A few ladies were particularly zealous to observe the Centennial, and they soon kindled the enthusi- asm of some of the gentlemen, and the exercises were decided upon.
The following gentlemen were chosen a commit- tee in charge : Jacob M. Cotton, John Moore and Jesse P. Van Ness.
They issued the appended circular letter and sent it to many old members and friends of the Church : A. D. 1787. CENTENNIAL. A. D. 1887.
Reformed Church of East Greenbush, N. Y.
Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 16th and 17th.
Rev. Edward A. Collier, D.D., Presiding.
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CENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
Nov. 16th. 2 P. M. - Sermon in the Holland language.
Voorleser and Singers
Nov. 17th. 10.30 A. M .- Centennial Sermon by a grandson of the first pastor.
2 P. M. -- Historical Address. Also addresses or letters by ex-Pas- tors or their representatives.
7 P. M. - Addresses by members of Classis, visiting clergymen and others. Also a Poem written for the occasion.
You are cordially invited to attend. J. P. VAN NESS, Corresponding Secretary.
Many accepted this invitation and large audiences attended the services, when the following order of exercises was carried out :
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
Wednesday Afternoon, Nov. 16th. 2 o'clock.
Rev. Edward A. Collier, D. D., Presiding.
Holland Services as our fathers worshipped one hundred years ago. Singing-Psalm 98:2-In Holland Language. Reading of Ten Commandments and Scripture Selection. By Voorleser Mr. J. Backer. Singing-Psalm 25:6. Prayer -- In English Language. Singing-Ps. 116: 7, 8 .- Collection taken during Singing. Sermon-In Holland language, by Rev. Lawrence Dykstra, of the Holland Church, Albany, N. Y. Prayer-By Elder A. M. Donner. Singing-Hymn, in English. Benediction.
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CENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
Thursday Morning, Nov. 17th. 10.30 o'clock.
Anthem-"Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem "-By the Choir. Invocation. Scripture Reading. Singing-Hymn 362. Prayer. Singing-"In the secret of His presence," Stebbins. By Mrs. W. J. Bentley.
Sermon-By Rev. J. Romeyn Berry, D. D., of Rhinebeck, N. Y. Singing-" When the mists have cleared away," - - Henshaw. By Mrs. W. J. Bentley. Addresses or letters by ex-Pastors. Prayer. Anthem-" Crown Him Lord of all"-By the Choir. Benediction.
Thursday Afternoon, 2 o'clock.
Organ Voluntary. Anthem-By the Choir --- " O, how lovely." Invocation. Scripture Reading. Response-" The Book is open." Prayer.
Singing-"Jesus lover of my soul "-By Mrs. W. J. Bentley. Historical Address- By Rev. J. F. Yates, A. M., of Fort Edward, N. Y. Singing-Hymn 104. Addresses by Members of Classis. Prayer.
Singing-" One sweetly solemn thought " Ambrose. Mrs. Bentley. Benediction.
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CENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
Thursday Evening, 7 o'clock.
Organ Voluntary. Solo-"Oh! for the wings of a dove "-By Mrs. Willard Sprong. Invocation. Scripture Reading. Singing-Hymn by Mrs. Anna Romeyn Taylor. Prayer. Anthem-"The Church rejoices "-By the Choir. Addresses-10 minutes : Rev. E. Lodewick-" The Reformed Church in relation to other Churches."
Rev. P. T. Pockman-" The Reformed Church and Education." Rev. W. F. Anderson-" The Reformed Church and Missions." Fraternal Greetings-By visiting Clergymen. Singing-Hymn 931. Original Poem-Written by Rev. Norman Plass-Read by Rev. Edward A. Collier, D. D. Closing Prayer. Doxology. Praise the name of God most high,
Praise Him, all below the sky;
Praise Him, all ye heavenly host,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost;
As through countless ages past,
Evermore His name shall last. Benediction.
HYMN.
[Written by Mrs. Anna Romeyn Taylor, daughter of the fir s minister of Reformed Church, Greenbush. ]
On God's own mount a temple stands, A house all glorious in His eyes, Eternal, and unmade with hands, Which His own presence sanctifies.
[3]
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CENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
There sing the seraphs-there are bowed The white-robed elders, and the throng Of humble worshipers, who crowd Those temple gates, to join their song.
There sits the Lamb-He lights the place, His glory radiates the scene; And in the trophies of His grace His Father's promised gift is seen.
And will He-can He condescend To leave those heights and dwell with man ?
Prostrate in dust our spirits bend, And wonder at the Gospel plan.
Yet we will plead His promised grace, And though no worthiness we claim, Upon these walls and in this place We'll ask Him to re-write His name.
Come, dearest Lord, and in this hour The influence of Thy grace impart; Come in Thy Spirit's mighty power, And animate with zeal each heart.
CENTENNIAL SERMON.
BY REV. J. ROMEYN BERRY, D.D.
But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for- ever and ever-Hebrews 1:8.
O UR anniversaries are reminders of our frailty. Each one is a memorial of a vanished past. The symbols which they suggest are the morning flower, the withered grass, the shuttle, the vapor, the dream, the watch in the night.
When the review covers, as in the present in- stance, the field of a century, the impression of transitoriness is only more intense. The prophet's question rises spontaneously to our lips, "The fathers, where are they?" The sky and hills and streams remain, but where are the men and women and children who a hundred years ago trod these hills and looked upward to this sky, or sailed on yonder stream ? It is the average lifetime of three generations. It embraces many a change in the pulpit, the pew, and at the Communion Table. If you call the roll of most of the worshipers of this church, innumerable grave-stones rise up to respond
36
CENTENNIAL SERMON.
for the names of the sleepers at their feet. The living are only a few survivors of a great departed past. We gather as the remnants of regiments have gathered recently at Gettysburg, to erect monuments for battles long since fought, and for comrades long ago turned to dust.
All this is naturally humiliating and saddening. It tells of frailty and mortality and change and loss. But is there nothing but themes like these before us at such an hour ? Have we no topic of courage or joy or hope ? Yes, "in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." We come to this centennial to speak not of defeat but triumph; not of death but life ; not of mortal man but the everlasting God. The centuries are God's ; the Church is God's ; the saints past or present are God's ; we are God's. All the incom- prehensible wonders of His existence and power are gathered around our feebleness like a wall of fire round about us and a glory in the midst of us. We glory only in Him-not in our godly ancestors, for whom we bless Him, and who may be a silent crowd of witnesses around this scene to- day. But not in them do we glory-we glory only in the Lord. As the apostle gloried in his infirmity that the power of Christ might rest on him, so do we who are so compassed with infirmity and who die daily, glory only in the unchangeable perfect-
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CENTENNIAL SERMON.
ness of Jehovah and in the unfading splendors of His majesty.
" Great God, our lowliness takes heart to play Beneath the shadows of thy state; The only comfort of our littleness Is that Thou art so great."
A special aspect and application of this thought comes before us to-day. It is the memorial day of a church of Jesus Christ. The most of its pastors and members have died. The walls of its old sanctuary have long since been scattered to the winds, as these of the present edifice must some
day disappear.
But the church itself as a part of
Christ's kingdom is immortal. Whatever becomes of its material constituents and conditions-though its members should all die, though its local organi- zation should be dissolved, yet so far as this church ever possessed the spiritual elements of Christ's kingdom and thus was a part of that kingdom, it is imperishable. For the life of the church depends not on man but on Christ. The King secures the Kingdom. To the Son Jehovah says, " Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever."
Let us then enter on these centennial services with some thoughts on the relation of Christ's eternal throne to His church upon the earth.
1. Christ is a great King. The ordinary symbol indeed of His relations to our world is the Cross on
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CENTENNIAL SERMON.
which He died. On spire and sepulcher, on neck- lace and volume, its form is ever before us. And precious are the truths which the Cross represents. The story of God's love and man's salvation is inseparable from that Cross. He who rightly knows its meaning is a theologian ; he who rightly feels its power is a saint. No church is a church indeed that cannot with the apostle's heart and meaning use his words, "God forbid that I should glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." But that Cross could never have saved a single soul without that throne, just as the throne could have availed nothing without the Cross. They are eternal allies in the great Kingdom of grace and glory.
2. The throne of the Son is supreme and univer- sal. All power is His in heaven and in earth. All the departments of nature as well as grace are beneath His sway. He upholds all things by the word of His power. Neither angel nor insect flies -neither flood nor dewdrop falls but by His will.
Men speak of God's providence and it is true, but the God of that providence is the Son. The Father has committed all things to the Son, and "given Him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should con-
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CENTENNIAL SERMON.
fess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
This is a great truth, not only for the church, but for the whole race to ponder, that the entire system of nature to-day is beneath the supreme control of the God-Man, Christ Jesus. This is the central fact without which all this world's history is a riddle which no philosophy can solve.
We know how hopelessly men were perplexed in astronomy until Copernicus taught them that the sun and not the earth was the center of the solar system, and afterward Newton and Kepler added their illustrious lessons to the science. Then everything came right-every movement of planet or satellite, every eclipse, every change was part of a great harmony governed by infallible laws per- fectly explained.
So in the complicated and mysterious move- ments of this world's history. As long as we try to make man the center and master of the scene, or nature her own law-giver, or chance or fate the arbiters of destiny, everything appears-
" A dark
Illimitable ocean, without bound, Without dimension, where length, breadth and height, And time and place are lost; where Eldest Night And Chaos, ancestors of nature, hold Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise Of endless wars and by confusion stand."
40
CENTENNIAL SERMON.
But the moment Christ's throne appears, it is like the ancient fiat, "Let there be light, and there was light." Omnipotence and wisdom and justice and goodness are on that throne. Great purposes of righteousness and grace are there ; eternal years are there. Then like the Psalmist we sing, "The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice, let the multi- tude of isles be glad thereof."
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