USA > New York > The earliest churches of New York and its vicinity > Part 26
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From 1736 to 1751, no regular record has been dis- covered of this church, except occasional entries, when baptisms and marriages were solomized by the Rev. Theodosius Frelinghuysen, of Albany, and the Rev. * Fixt. Ing. Church, New Paltz, by Rev. C' H. Stitt.
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Isaac Chalker, the Rev. Johannes II. Goetschius, with probably Dominic Mancins, from Kingston .* In the year 1741, the Consistory of New Paltz, uniting with those of Rochester, Marbletown, and Shawangunk. called the Rev. John Casparus Freyenmoet to be their- pastor, for the sum of one hundred pounds per annum : Rochester contributing thirty-one pounds six shillings and a parsonage for one-third of his services; Marble- town, thirty-six pounds fourteen shillings for a third ; and New Paltz and Shawangunk thirty-one pounds for the remaining third.
After him, Johannes Henricus Goetschius served this congregation. He was born in Switzerland, and studied at Zurich, the birthplace of Zuingle, the great reformer. In the year 1748, he was properly ordained by the Classis of Amsterdam, and settled in the Hackensack church. He was a scholar and a teacher of theology. and a preacher of intrepid earnestness. It is related. that while preaching on Long Island, the doors of a church closed against him, he mounted the steps and delivered a powerful sermon to a large and sympathi- zing congregation. A majority of the Hackensack Con- sistory also deliberated, one Sunday, about closing their church-doors against him, when, buckling on a sword. he declared, "I will do what Imust for my rights," and, thus accoutred, actually entered the pulpit.
Mr. Goetschius had charge of the Schraalenbergh and Hackensack congregations from 1748 to 1774, and taught theology at the latter place. During the whole period of his ministry, seven years, it was a season of the * Hist. Hlug. Church, New Paltz, by Rev. C. H. Stirt.
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Lord's presence and power. At a single communion, in 1751, he received eighty-seven members. In the year 1752, Barent Vrooman received a call from New Paltz,. and was installed the next year, remaining only till 1754, when he became pastor at Schenectady.
Johannes Mauritius Goetschius, a younger brother of the dominio already referred to, came a physician to America about 1744, but immediately commenced the study of divinity. Ordained in the year 1758, he took charge of the High and Low Dutch church of Scho- harie, preaching in German and Dutch, and practising medicine. In 1760, he became the pastor of the tivo churches at New Paltz and Shawangunk, "each congre- gation to pay him forty pounds, good New York gold," an article so scarce and high in these war times. He was called the " Doctor Dominic," and his labors must have been extensive and arduous, extending, as they did; from Bloomingdale to New Prospect, a distance of some thirty miles. A skilful physician, he was called, it is related, to visit a fearfully insane person, by the name of Jacob Lefever. Quick as thought the dominie took a violin, and playing with a masterly hand, the notes were so sweet and soothing that the maniac patient be came at once soothed and calm ; and, leaping from his bed, he danced until profuse perspiration followed the exercise, and, striking his hand on his head, he ex- claimed, "I have been crazy ?' Permanent cure was the result of this novel, yet sensible, practice. Mr. Goetschius continued in this useful field of labor until his death, in 1771, and his ashes rest under the north side of the Reformed Dutch church at Shawangunk.
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All readers of the religious history of these times will bring to remembrance the difficulties produced by the "Cotus" and "Conferentia" parties in the Reformed Dutch Church. To say the least of the contest, it was a pious strife, if we can with propriety use such a term. It terminated in an opou division (1767), when a Second Reformed Dutch Church of New Paltz was organized by the Rev. Isaac Rysdyck, of Poughkeepsie and Fish- kill. Noah Eltingo was chosen elder, and Petrus Van Wagenen deacon, and the new church numbered five members from Kingston and ten from New Paltz. This new organization, however, arising from dissension, de- clined and died in a few years. Their ministers were the Rev. G. D. Cock, 1768 to '70; Rev. Ryneer Van Neste, 1774, with a salary of one hundred pounds ; and he remained pastor until this congregation merged into the Cotus, or First Church of New Paltz, under the Rev. Stephen Goetschius. The old, or first church at New Paltz, was finally taken down, and its material converted usefully into a village schoolhouse, still ro- maining. On its site, a new and more commodious stone building was erected, with a hipped roof, similar to the "Old Middle Dutch, " New York. and sur- mounted with cupola and bell. the last still usefully serving the village schoolhouse. This new temple of the Lord was dedicated to His service A. D. 1770.
In the year 1775. the Rev. Stephen Goetschius took the spiritual oversight of this congregation, with the one at New Henley, remaining until 1706, when he ro- moved to the church of Marbletown. He received his preparatory studies undor Dr. Peter Wilson, then of
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Hackensack, but afterwards professor at Columbia Col- lege, and so well remembered by many liberally-edu- cated New Yorkers. Dominie Goetschius obtained his bachelor's degree at Princeton, reading divinity under his father, at Hackensack ; Dr. Livingston, New York ; Dr. Westerlo, Albany ; and Dr. Verbryck, Tappan.
The preaching of this young licentiate happily healed the breach between the two congregations at the Paltz, uniting them into one communion, and thus restoring peace in their beloved Zion. HIe labored during the stormy times of the American Revolution, and says, in one of his discourses: " At the close of the war, I per- ceived there were places where new congregations might be gathered. I did undertake, collected, and organized nine churches. Being the only minister in the Dutch Church in Ulster County, my labors in solemnizing mar- riages, in visiting, and performing parochial duties, were very severe, and rather more than I could endure; but the Lord helped me, as I have reason to believe.""
He was a man of small stature, but bold and fearless in denouncing sin-a sound preacher. His vacant Sab- baths were spent at Wawarsing, a valley west of the mountains, distant twenty miles from Paltz. At this period the Indians visited its defenceless inhabitants with fire and death, and he speaks of preaching in a pul- pit eut and disfigured by their bloody tomahawks. The church had been set on fire, but it went out of its own accord, and thus escaped dostrnetion by the intervening kind providence of the Lord. With the exception of three houses, the whole of this retired village was * Rev. Mr. Stitty's Hist.
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burned to the ground. He also mentions an old man. an elder in the church, who, not able to retreat with the other flying inhabitants, was shot and scalped on the road. It is a remarkable fact, that the Christian settle- ment of New Paltz escaped the scenes of cruelty and bloodshed which so early visited the surrounding neigh- borhood. This good fortune, we doubt not, was owing to the treaty carly made with the Indans, the Huguenot settlers paying a fair compensation for their lands, and they then strictly respected its provisions. Toward the last of his ministry, Dominie Goetschius, to meet the wants of his younger hearers, preached alternately in Dutch and English. The former his vernacular, it was difficult for him, at once, to use the new language, but by perseverance he succeeded. His first discourse in the new tongue was from Rom. xiv. 8: "For whether we live, we live unto the Lord," &c. He finally settled at Saddle River, there ending his ministry full of years and usefulness. The text of his farewell and last ser- mon, was Eph. vi. 24: "Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen." He thus concluded : "Farewell, farewell. friends and fol- low-Christians! From henceforth ye shall see me no more as your ordinary shepherd and teacher in the sacred desk. Be of one mind ; be of good cheer ; live in peace, and the God of peace will be with you. "Omden will der vrieden myn Andder broderin, dis bimmer vyn: Wensachre ik in vrole in alle packen, Om dat Con temple zeer ryn. Staat binnen were muren nd klyn Zalik steeds an voors poedracken." P's. 122.
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After a vacancy of three years, the Rev. John II. Meyers took the pastorate of Paltz and New Henley, in 1799, preaching in both languages-and, it is said, elo: quently. A peculiar unction attended his sermons. In the year 1803, he settled at Schenectady, where he soon died. Then came the Rev. Peter Ditmas Freligh, his ministry lasting six years at the Paltz; when, removing to Acquackanonck, New Jersey, in 1814, he there fin- ished his course.
In the year 1817, the Rev. William R. Bogardus occu- pied this field of Christian labors, continuing to 1831, and then he also took the pastoral relation to the Re- formed Dutch Church of Acquackanonck. In the year 1857, he retired to Paterson, without any charge, and afterwards lived with his son-in-law, the Rev. J. Ro- meyn Berry, at Kinderhook. Ile was an untiring pastoral laborer, with a remarkable power to adapt his discourses to the wants of his flock, in preaching Christ. He has recently been called to his seat in the upper sanctuary.
During his ministry, New Henley was separated from the Paltz, the latter retaining his exclusive services.
In 1832. the Rev. Dominio Van Olinda succeeded hin till 1844, and then removing to the church at Fonda, he soon died. Under his direction the new Paltz Academy was established, and by his efforts the second stone church there was taken down, and a new brick one built near its site, with parts of the material from the old. This is a spacious, beautiful house of the Lord. and dedicated December 17, 1839. After Dominio Vali Olinda, the Rev. John C. Vandervoort became the pas-
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tor of this flock, 1845; and, faithfully laboring in the cause of his Master, he removed to the congregation at West Ghent. Here this good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, having ended a tedious sickness, fell asleep in Christ.
He was succeeded by the present excellent pastor, in the year 1848, the Rev. C. II. Stitt." We have thus extended our notice of the earliest churches of New Paltz, because so little has been collected of their inter- esting history.
* To this gentleman's researches we owe much of our New Paltz history.
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CHAPTER XXXIX.
FIRST CHURCH IN ALBANY, 1642 -PULPIT IMPORTED -ENLARGED -- SECOND AND THIRD CHURCHES-REV. J. MEGAPOLENSIS THE EARLI- EST DOMINIE-SALARY -DOMINIE SCHAATS, 1652 -- REVS. M. NIE- MENHUYSEN AND N. VAN RENSSELAER - LATTER SUSPECTED OF BEING A PAPIST-ARRESTED, BUT RELEASED BY THE GOVERNOR- REV. MR. DELLIUS ARRIVES, 1683 -BAPTISMAL REGISTER PRE- SERVED - DOMINIES LUCELLA, LEDILS, AND VAN DRIESSEN - CHURCHI REBUILT IN 1715-REVS. C. VAN SCHLIE AND T. FRELING- HUYSEN, 1760-E. WESTERLO-J. BASSET-NEW CHURCH BUILT -- REVS. A. B. JOHNSON, J. W. BRADFORD, 1805-FIRST SETTLER IN SCHENECTADY - ITS MASSACRE, 1690 -REV. MR. TASSOMAKER KILLED-REVS. T. BROWN, B. FREEMAN, R. ERKSON, C. VAN SANT- VOORT, B. KOOMER, J. D. ROMEYN. J. H. MYERS, C. BOGARDUS, J. VAN VECHTEN-FIRST AND SECOND CHURCH-ST. GEORGE'S, FIRST EPISCOPAL (1762), J. DUNCAN, RECTOR-REV. MR. DOTY AND AN- DREWS, AND ROGERS, ETC. - CAPTAIN WEBB INTRODUCES METHOD- ISM -PREACHES IN REGIMENTALS -- HIS SUCCESS - WHITEFIELD - CHURCH BUILT-CONCLUDING REMARKS- BLESSED RESULTS FROM THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THESE EARLY CHURCHES IN NEW YORK AND NEW AMSTERDAM.
As early as 1612 a small stone church was built, nine- teen by thirty-four feet, at Albany, and its pulpit im- ported complete from Holland, and is still preserved. The sacred edifice had pews for the deacons and magis- trates, with only nine benches, but the humble place of worship answered its pious purposes for thirteen years, when it was enlarged in a curious way. Small as was this infant church, as early as 1647 it coukl loan two
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hundred guilders to the Patroon, for which the " Diaco- nie" or Deacons received an interest of ten per cent. In the year 1651, a new " stoop" or steps were added to the edifice, which, to use the language of an old record, would answer the purposes of the congregation " for the next three or four years, after which it might be con- verted into a schoolhouse or a dwelling for the sexton." A new stone wall, built around the old church, enclosed it, so that the usual services were discontinued for three Sundays only. This second church remained ninety-two years, until 1800, directly in front of the present post- office, when the stone was removed to aid in the erection of the beautiful South Dutch Church. In the month of August, 1642, the Rev. Johannes Megapolensis arrived at Albany, under the patronage of the PATROON. He had a free passage to New Netherland, with an outfit of three hundred guilders, or one hundred and twenty-four dollars ; salary, eleven hundred guilders, thirty schepels or twenty-two and a half bushels of wheat, two firkins of butter, annually, for the first three years. In the year 1649, Megapolensis retired from Albany, and during 1652. Dominie Gideon Schaats came from Holland, his successor, at a salary of eight hundred guilders (three hundred and twenty dollars) per annum, for three years, and this sum was afterwards increased to thirteen hun- dred. He is supposed to have died in 1683; and as early as 1675, Mr. M. Niemenhuysen was his colleague. when Dominio Nicholas Van Rensselaer arrived. Ho claimed not only the pulpit, but the Manor also ; and, strange to us, he was suspected of being a Papist ! A controversy ensuing, the Governor of the Colony
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espoused the part of the Dutch dominio. The magis- trates even ordered him to be arrested and imprisoned for "several dubious words" uttered in a sermon. But the Governor, releasing him, compelled them to show cause why they had confined the minister. with security of five thousand pounds each. His Excelleney, however, fear- ful of raising a party against himself, discontinued the proceedings, referring the matter to the Dutch Church at Albany.
The pulpit and bell of the new church were sent by the West India Company from Holland, and both served the congregation a century and a half.
During the year 1683, the Rev. Godfredius Dellius arrived to assist Mr. Schaats, now threescore and six- teen years old. The baptismal register of this venerable Albany church has been regularly kept ever since. Dominie Dellius added many members to his congrega- tion, and especially from the neighboring Mohawk Indi- ans. Unwisely led into property speculations, he became involved. which ultimately led to his dismissal in 1699. when he returned to Holland. In the year 1700, the Rev. Mr. Lucella officiated at Albany. - 1703, the Rev. Jolm Ledius for two years, and during 1703. Petrus Van Driessen was called. and Jabored until his death, in 1738. The church was rebuilt in 1215, upon the old! site, and during 1733 we find the Rev. Cornelius Van Schlie officiating hore, who died in 1: 14. Then the Rov. Theodorus Frelinghuysen occupied the pulpit till 1760. when he returned to Holland. and the Roy. Bilardus Westerlo succeeded him. He breame one of the most eminent ministers in our land, dying diyor, in his fifty-
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third year, greatly beloved. Whilst the British occu- pied New York, Dr. Livingston occasionally exchanged with Mr. Westerlo, and there was a disposition to call him to preach in Dutch, but he was too infirm for this duty. In 1987, the Rev. John Basset was called. The congregation now larger, a new church was built on North Pearl street, and services continued in both. During the year 1796, the Rev. John B. Johnson became a colleague of Mr. Bassett, continuing fill 1802, and died at Newtown, Long Island, in 1803. He appears to have obtained great popularity.
The Rev. John W. Bradford was called in 1805, with a salary of fifteen hundred dollars, and two hundred and fifty dollars more if he married. This year. the ground of the old church was sold for five thousand dollars, and its materials taken to aid in erecting a new one on Beaver street. Its imported pulpit, weathercock, and some small panes of glass preserved, are all that now remain of this old temple of the Lord.
Schenectady was the earliest inland settlement beyond Albany, and made by the Dutch, as the nearest landing on the Mohawk River. The first settler was named "Corlaer," before 1666; the name signifying " beyond the Pine Plains."# Schenectady was the frontier town. and had its stockades, blockhouses, and gates, but no enemies until the ever busy French interfered with the Indians. On the 8th of February, 1690, at midnight. the ground covered with snow. two hundred French and savages, entering the town before the guard had any warning. fired almost every house, and butchered sixty * Watson's Annals of New York.
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persons, without any regard to age or sex. Several were made prisoners ; while those who escaped, almost naked, fled towards Albany, in the midst of a raging. terrible snow-storm, some losing their Jimbs from the intense cold.
The minister's house had been ordered to be saved. that he might be captured, but it shared the general destruction-his papers burned and himself among the murdered. This was the Rev. Mr. Tassomaker, the first settled minister in the place. He came from Holland in the year 1684. Before this period the inhabitants made their church visits to Albany, distant sixteen miles. The mur- dered dominio was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas Brower, in the year 1702, also from Holland, who continued his ministry until 1728, when he ended his earthly labors. Next came the Rev. Bernardus Freeman and Reinhard Erkson, and in 1740, Cornelius Van Santvoort, from Staten Island, and he finished his course in 1754. His successor. Dominic Barent Koomer, continued the ministerial duties until his death, in 1782. There succeeded in Schenectady. the Rev. J. D. Romeyn and J. H. Myers, from New Jersey. Cornelius Bogardus, Jacob Van Vechten, all Americans. &c., &e. The first church was erected between 1684 and. 1698, a more commodious one following in 1733, and is said to have been celebrated for its fine silver-toned bell. having much of the precious metal in its composition. St. George's was the first English or Episcopal Church established here. about 1762, its principal benefactors Sir William Johnson and John Duncan. Previous 10 the American Revolution the congregation owned a val- nable library and organ, which were destroyed by some
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lawless whites and Indians. It was called the English Church, and such was then the opposition against every thing English, as even to exhibit itself in this outrageous . way. The pastor, the Rev. Mr. Doty, escaped the vio- lence of the mob, as they did not discover his abode. The Rev. Mr. Andrews was the first pastor. Mr. Doty following him (1773), and retiring in 1777. Then there was no regular minister until 1791, when the Rev. Amni Rogers took the charge, succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Whitmore, Cyrus Stebbins, P. A. Proal, &c., &c.
Captain Thomas Webb, one of Mr. Wesley's " Local Preachers," introduced Methodism into Schenectady. He was an officer in the British army, and, stationed in Albany, occasionally visited other places to preach the Gospel. On such a pious mission he went to Schenec- tady, in the year 1767, and preached with success. It was a strange sight to hear an officer in a military cos- tume delivering a sermon, but a number embraced the truth from his ministrations. George Whitefield also here followed Webb, in 1770, immense crowds assem- bling to hear him wherever he appeared. For several years the Methodist Society met in private dwellings for religious services, but finally, in the year 1809, a suita- ble church was built, which was succeeded by the pres- ent beautiful edifico in the year 1836.
From these early evangelical Churches in New York and Now Netherland have issued the streams which everywhere among us gladden and enrich our beloved Zion. What pen or mortal tongue can tell the results of these holy institutions? Little did our pions fore-
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fathers, who laid the foundations of the Lord's temples in our land, imagine or ever anticipate the glorious and sublime results which our eyes behold. They long prayed, "Thy kingdom come !"' and God, in a most wonderful manner, is answering that prayer in our later day. The mustard-seed which they planted has germi- nated, and lo! a tree has sprung up whose "healing leaves" are for every part of our happy land, and the cloud, arising not larger than a man's hand, has spread until its gracious showers have descended and enriched every region. In the beautiful imagery of the Serip- tures, the Church "looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners." Centuries have not buried the religious life and sentiments of our Protestant forefathers. They were BIBLE Christians. And who can doubt but their prayers have been answered in our day, and in the experience of their children and children's children, by Iny who has promised-" I will be a God to thee, and thy seed after thec
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