USA > New York > The earliest churches of New York and its vicinity > Part 3
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Peace was concluded with England in 1783. The enemy left the city on the 25th day of November, which has since annually been celebrated as " Evacuation Pay." Gladly the citizens again returned to their firesides and altars. after a tedious exile of seven years, and, with faith and prayer, began to build the waste places of their beloved Zions. The venerable Dominies Ritzoma and De Ronde, who had preached in Dutch, preferred to remain where they had sojourned. These were consequently declared . emeriti." with a suitable annuity for life from the consistory. Dr. Livingston was now the only Dutch Reformed minister in the city, and the "Old Garden Street Church." having
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escaped the damages of the war, was at once used for divine service. The "North" was repaired and again opened to God's worship in December, 1784, and the "Middle Dutch" on July 4th, 1790-Dr. Livingston de- livering a suitable discourse.
There is a notice of this discourse written in an old Dutch Bible belonging to the New Jersey Historical Society : "The first sermon that the Rev. Mr. John Livingston preached after joining his congregation after the war, in the Old Dutch Church, was taken out of the Book of Psalms, 124 Psalm, the whole Psalm, in Decem- ber 7, 1783, in the forenoon.
"Also, the first sermon Mr. De Ronde preached after joining his congregation after the war, in the Old Dutch Church, was taken out of the Book of Psalms ; 34 Psalm and the 4 verse, in December 7, 1783, in the afternoon.
"On Tuesday, the 25th day November, that ever-mem- orable day the American army took possession of the city, General Washington and Governor Clinton entered, when the same day, that day, civil government took place."*
Dr. Livingston was now left alone in his ministerial work, his labors highly acceptable and greatly blessed by the Great Head of the Church. Occasionally he preached in Dutch to the old people. More ministe- rial aid was wanted, when the services of Dr. William Linn, from Elizabethtown, N. J., were obtained. He became a finished writer and a powerful pulpit orator. Ilis health failing, he retired to Albany in 1805, where he died in ISOS. The Rev. Gerardus AA. Kuypers, after-
* F'rom a letter of the " Librarian" to the author.
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wards Dr. Kuypers, succeeded him. He was an accu- rate scholar, preaching in Dutch, at the Garden Street Church, to those preferring that language. But the num- bers of such became fewer, until his last sermon to them was delivered in 1803.
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In 1795 Dr. John N. Abeel was called as a colleague minister, and the choice was eminently happy. Ilis Gospel labors were accepted and blessed, and he was sometimes called "the beloved disciple. John." He died in early manhood, during the year 1812. and amidst increasing usefulness.
Dr. Livingston, resigning his pastoral charge at New York in 1810, accepted the Presidency of Queen's Col- lege, New Brunswick, with also a Theological Professor- ship. He continued faithfully to discharge these impor- tant duties to the very end of his life, in January, 1825, lecturing to his classes on the day before his death with unusual spirit and impressiveness. With benedictions on his family, he retired ; but. at the usual hour of fam- ily devotions, the next morning, he was found in his chamber, calmly resting in the arms of death. He had gently fallen asleep in Christ, aged seventy-nine, ripe in years, labors, and piety.
In the year 1813, the Rev. Philip Milledoler became one of the collegiate ministers, and few, if any, were more beloved or successful in their holy work. On the death of Dr. Livingston, in 1825, he was chosen his sue- cessor, assiduously discharging his new duties for a few years, when he resigned on account of advancing years. He died on his birthday, in September. 1832, aged sey- enty-seven years -his excellent wife following him to the
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heavenly rest the next day. They were buried from the North Dutch Church at the same time, and occupy the same tomb in Greenwood Cemetery. We well remember the impressive and solemn ceremonies of that occasion.
To preserve a clear connection of our subject, we must refer necessarily to more modern times and men. In the year 1813, the old church in Garden street formed a con- sistory of their own, and the Rev. Dr. Matthews was cho- sen their pastor, and. when this church was destroyed by the great fire in 1835, two new ones arose from it. One, retaining the original corporate character, located itself in Murray street. under the pastoral charge of the Rev. J. M. McAnley, 1838: but, in a few years, the congregation erected and occupied the beautiful white marble edifice on Fifth avenue and Twenty-first street. The second church from this division is the noble structure fronting Washington Square and adjoining the University. Drs. Matthews and Hutton were then its pastors. (1837.)
When Dr. Linn retired, in 1805, more ministerial help was needed for the Collegiate charges-the North, the Middle, and the South Dutch Churches. Accordingly, in 1809, the Rev. John Sehureman, with the Rev. Jacob Broadhead (afterwards D. D.'s), were called, and were highly acceptable. Soon. however, in 1811. Dr. Schure- man accepted a professorship in Queen's College. Now Brunswick, where he ended a useful life (1818) in his fortieth year, and lamented by all. In 1813. Dr. Broad- head took charge of a new congregation in Philadel- phia --- the first of the Reformed Dutch Church formed there. With the divine blessing, he gathered a large au-
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dience, continuing to labor among them until 1826, when he again returned to New York, taking charge of the church in Broome street. Here he preached with suc- cess till 1837, when the health of his family led him to a country charge, and afterwards he was pastor of the Central Reformed Dutch Church in Brooklyn. He died in June, 1855, aged seventy-four years, greatly beloved and honored.
When Dr. Broadhead removed to Philadelphia, Drs. Milledoler and Kuypers were left to sustain the whole charge of the Collegiate Churches-the Middle and the North --- and the necessity of more ministerial aid was strongly felt. This was procured in the spring of 1816, and the Rev. John Knox, with Paschal N. Strong, were called, and installed in July following. They were both students from the Theological Seminary under the charge of the eloquent Dr. Mason. Mr. Strong was a gifted preacher, and fond hopes were entertained of his long remaining a faithful watchman on the walls of Zion. But, a subject of pulmonary disease, in the fall of 1824 he sought to benefit his health by visiting Santa Cruz, and there he ended his pilgrimage, at the age of thirty- two. Over his remains, in that sunny isle, his consistory erected a proper monument. Dr. Knox then became the senior pastor, and, after nearly half a century's untiring labors, a few years ago he suddenly terminated them by a fatal fall from his porch. Dr. Knox, Dr. Berrian, and Dr. Spring, were the only three clergymen in New York who had reached the same length of years in their respective churches; the last-named and vener- able man of God alone remains on the earth. With all
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three of them, their churches in this city were their first - settlement in the Christian ministry, and where they always labored.
When Dr. Milledoler removed to New Brunswick, a call was made, in 1826, upon Dr. William C. Brownlee. He was born, educated. and licensed for the ministry, in Scotland. At the time he was chosen to the Collegiate Church he was Professor of Languages in Rutgers' Col- lege. He soon became an eminent writer and preacher. with the prospect of long continuing in the Lord's vine- yard ; but he was an illustration of the impressive truth, that "in the midst of life we are in death." In the per- fect enjoyment of health and intellect, in a moment he was prostrated by paralysis ; but, through God's good- ness, partially recovered from the severe stroke, without being able to resume active duties, and entered his rest on high in February, 1860.
Dr. De Witt was settled in the ministry of the Colle- giate Churches in 1827, Dr. Vermilye in 1839, Dr. Cham- bers in 1849-ministers who have seenred the confidence and affection of their people, with the whole community. But it is not our intention to write about the living. except as is necessary for our immediate purposes. In 1836, the consistory of the Associate Dutch Churches laid the corner-stone of the new saered temple in Lafayette Place, and it was dedicated May 9th. 1839.
There was no church edifice in our city, around which so many recollections and associations gathered. as the old "Middle Dutch :" but the time at last arrived when it must be vacated, from the increasing commerce, and the removal of the citizens " up-town." On the 11th of 3
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August, 1844, the senior pastor, Dr. Knox, preached the last sermon within its hallowed and venerable walls. His text was, John v. 20-24: "For the Father loveth the Son," &c. Dr. De Witt, one of the colleagues, fol- lowed with the apostolical benediction in the Dutch language, the same in which its sacred worship and services had been here commenced, one hundred and fifteen years before.
On the 11th of October, 1854, the splendid edifice at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Twenty-ninth street was dedicated to Almighty God. The title of the Middle Reformed Dutch Church" has been given to the edifice on Lafayette Place-a sacred name, associated with so many pleasant and impressive reminiscences. and now very proper from its relative position. In Fulton street still stands the North Church, and between this and the Fifth Avenue edifice is the Lafayette, or .. Middle" Dutch. These three are now the houses of worship forming the Collegiate Church.
We have sketched more fully the Reformed Dutch Churches in New York, because they were more numer- ous, and more properly belong to the "olden time." To the names already mentioned, add the Rev. Dr. Talbot's, and our list is complete of the ministers of this venerable church -- from Dominio Bogardus, in the year 1638, to Mr. Chambers, in 1849. Dr. Vermilve was called to the city in 1839, where he is universally re- spected, and still spared to preach Christ.
Outward appearances have changed some between our present costly and magnificent temples of the Lord and the humble carly Dutch churches ; but the same
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Bible and the same pure Faith remain unchanged, and so will remain to the end of time !
It must be remembered that we are speaking of the oldest denomination in America, and organized as early as the year 1620. For a long time the Reformed Dutch Church retained its distinctive customs, and even lan- guage, and of the former some were peculiar. Unlike the plainly attired Puritan, the Dutch dominies always appeared in their high circular pulpits with black silk gowns and large flowing sleeves. This sacred robe seemed indispensable; and it is related that, at the in- stallation of an early minister, who was not prepared with such a garment, the presiding clergyman refused to officiate. Fortunately for the candidate, a kind min- ister supplied his need, or the ceremonies would have been postponed.
All the pulpits had heavy sounding-boards, and the Psalms of the day set in movable figures, either upon the sides of the sacred desk or the church. The clerk occupied a little pew or box by himself, in front of the pulpit, prefacing the morning services by reading the Scriptures, and, during the afternoon, the Apostles' Creed. He received from the sexton all the notices to be read, and then placing them at the end of a long pole, they were thus passed up to the dominio for pub- lication. There were no church clocks then, and the hour-glass supplied their place, which was placed in- variably at the right -hand of the preacher. It was the clerk's duty, too, when the last grains of the sand had rum ont, to remind him that the time to end the sermon had come, by three raps of his cane. An amusing story
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is related of a dominie, who, sceing his clerk asleep, with the people drowsy. on a warm summer's day, quietly turned the emptied glass up again. Then, after its sands had disappeared a second time, he remarked to his hearers that, as they had been so patiently sitting through two glasses, he would now go on with the third. I have seen the "old pulpit" of the earliest Dutch church in Albany. It was imported from Holland, is a great curiosity, and still there carefully preserved : and among its fixtures are those of such a primitive time-piece. Just before ascending the pulpit, the Dutch dominic raised his hat before his face, and silently offered a short prayer for a blessing on his coming labors. Then, when he had pronounced the last word of his text, and before the sermon began, he exclaimed : "Thus far!" This custom is said still to be preserved in some country churches. The discourse finished, the deacons rose in their seats, went to the altar, listened to a brief address from the preacher, when they attended to the public collection. Each carried a long pole with a black velvet bag at the end, to which was attached a little bell. One of these bells, from the "olden time," and used in the early Garden Street Church, has been carefully pro- served in our city. Once little iron-bound boxes were placed near the doors of the churches for the alms of the people, and such are still used in Trinity.
There is an interesting chronicle about the earliest church bells of the Reformed Dutch churches. The legend on the one of the "Old St. Nicholas" at the Battery, was: " Dulcior nostris timnitibus resonat der. P. Henowy me jeeit. 1674." Thence it was transferred
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to the Garden Street Church in 1807. Some thought it. too small for modern times and fashion : but Mr. Benson, one of the elders, insisted apon retaining the faithful old sentinel, as it came from Holland, and was the first one used in the colony of New Netherlands. At last, with the church, both were destroyed by the fire of 1835. The bell of the "Old Middle Dutch" was presented by Colonel Abraham De Peyster, at that time a prominent citizen. Whilst the sacred edifice was building, in 1728. he died, directing in his will that a bell should be pro- cured from Holland for its steeple. It was cast at Amsterdam, 1731, and it is said that a number of citizens there threw in pieces of silver coin in the preparation of the metal. This is its legend :
" Me fecerunt De Giara et N. Muller, Amsterdam, Anno 1631. Abraham De Peyster, geboren (born) den 8 July. 1637, gestorven (died) den 8 Augustus, 1728. " Een legaat aan de Nederduytsche Kerke, Neuw York." (A legacy to the Low Dutch Church at New York.)
IIere the bell remained more than a hundred years. until the church was vacated and became the city post- office ; then it was removed to the Ninth Street Dutch Reformed Church, and afterwards to the beautiful edi- fice, Lafayette Place. . There it still rings its silvery tones, inviting the people to the Lord's house, as it has sounded for generations long past.
The father of the late John Outhout. Esq., states. in a letter to Mr. Frederick De Peyster, this interesting fact : Early in our Revolutionary struggle, when the British converted the - Middle Dutch" into a dragoon riding- school, his father obtained permission from Lord Howe to remove this bell. It was then stored in a secret place until the enemy had evacuated the city, when it was
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restored to its former and rightful position. For its size and clear, far-sounding tones, it is one of the finest ever cast, and during very many long years was called the "Firemen's Bell." It became a general favorite with them, springing to their important work and duty at its well-known signai of alarm.
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CHAPTER II.
THE DUTCH EARLY INTRODUCED SCHOOLS IN NEW AMSTERDAM- EVERT PIETERSEN, THE ZIEKENTROOSTER -SCHOOLHOUSE BUILT -CHILDREN PUBLICLY CATECHISED-NEW AMSTERDAM BECOMES NEW YORK -THE SCHOOL CONTINUED AS USUAL, BUT BROKEN UP FOR A TIME BY GOVERNOR CORNBURY-SCHOOLHOUSE ERECTED ON GARDEN STREET-CONTINUED THREE-QUARTERS OF A CENTURY -ENGLISH INTRODUCED IN THE PUBLIC RELIGIOUS SERVICES - "SONS OF LIBERTY -AMERICAN PRISONERS IN THE CHURCHES- GREAT FIRE OF 1776-SCHOOL REOPENED AFTER THE PEACE OF 1783-NEW SCHOOLHOUSE BUILT IN 1847.
GREATLY to their honor, the Dutch have long been dis- tinguished for their efforts to educate the young. Every- where schools were established, at the public expense, to teach their youth the catechism and articles of Religion."
When the West India Company first began the work of colonization in America, it bound itself to maintain among the settlers good and fit preachers, schoolmasters, and comforters of the sick. + Thus, the founders of Now Amsterdam encouraged religion and learning : and wo find in the earliest records accounts of the establishment of schools at Fort Orange, Flatbush, Fort Casimer, and other settlements. The colony on the Delaware, New Amstel, furnishes an example. With the emigrants, " the city of Amsterdam" promised "to send a person proper for schoolmaster, who shall also read the holy Scriptures in public, and set the psalm." Accordingly. " Evert * Broadhead, i., 462. + Coll. N. Netherlands, i., 220.
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Pietersen, who had been approved, after examination before the classis, as schoolmaster and ziekentrooster," was appointed to "read God's Word and lead in sing- ing." No colony, however far east we may travel, was ever organized under religious auspices more favorable to its future prosperity. A few months afterwards, Dominie Everardus Welius, with four hundred new emi- grants, arrived, when the same Pietersen was appointed "fore-singer, ziekentrooster, and deacon." The like course was pursued on the settlement of Manhattan. In 1626, as soon as the colonial government was founded by Kieft, the first Director-General, Sebastian Jans Crol, with Jan Huyck, two ziekentroosters, or "comforters of the sick," to a certain extent supplied the place of a clergy- man. In 1633, Wouter Van Twiller, the second director of New Netherlands, arrived, when Everardus Bogardus became the officiating "Dominic" at Fort Amsterdam, with Adam Roelandsen, the first schoolmaster."
Here, then, according to Dutch custom, we discover the first schoolmaster in Manhattan, who laid the founda- tion of a school which the Reformed Dutch Church reli- giously maintains to this hour. The earliest church edifice of New Netherlands was a plain wooden building. on the present Broad street, between Bridge and Pearl. In 1642, this building becoming dilapidated, an attempt was made to procure a new one, with the erection also of a schoolhouse. An old chronicle says: " The bowl has been going round a long time for the purpose of collecting money for creating a schoolhouse." Jan Cornelissen is mentioned as the second teacher in the
* Alb. Rec., i., 52.
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Manhattan Church school ; the third, William Vestens ; and, in 1655, he was succeeded by Harmanus Van Ho- boocken, as chorister and schoolmaster, at "g. (guild- ers) thirty-five per month, and g. one hundred expendi- tures."*
It must not be forgotten that there were others, at this period, teaching private seminaries ; and about 1652, John De La Montagne conducted a second church school, with a salary of two hundred and fifty guilders. This continued, however, a brief period only, Vestens uninterruptedly continuing his institution from 1650 to 1655. The schoolmaster, ex officio, was always clerk, beadle, or chorister, and visitor of the sick.t
In the year 1661, Evert Pietersen, who had left the settlement of New Amstel and come to New Amsterdam, became the teacher of the Reformed Dutch church school, and he was the sixth. Van Hoboocken then was schoolmaster somewhere on the Bowerie. Governor Fish thinks that his schoolhouse stood where the present Tompkins Market has been located. It is well known what provision Governor Stuyvesant made for his colored prople ; and it is very probable that Van Ho- boocken had these under his instruction. In the year 1664, Pietersen still schoolmaster, the Director-General issued an ediet, requiring, as long the custom in the fatherland, "the publie catechising of the children." This is among the good old fashions of the olden time greatly to be desired in our day. Pietersen and Van Hobooeken were commanded by the civil ordinance to appear "on Wednesday, before the beginning of the * Alb. Bre .. xxv., 133. + Watson's Annals, 166.
0
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sermon, with the children intrusted to their care, after" the close of the sermon, in the presence of the reverend ministers and elders, who may there be present," and thus be examined "on what they, in the course of the week, do remember of the Christian commands and cate- chism, and what progress they have made ; after which the children shall be allowed a decent recreation."
"Done in Amsterdam, New Netherland, this 17th March, 1661, by the Director-General and Council."*
We have thus traced this church school through its Dutch colonial history ; about three years after this. however, on March 12th, 1664, an event transpired in England, which soon was to change the name, govern- ment, and destiny of New Amsterdam, now containing a population of fifteen hundred souls. On that day, James II. granted to his brother, the Duke of York and Albany, the territory between the Connecticut and Dela- ware Rivers, including all the possessions of New Neth- erland. In August following, the Duke's squadron, commanded by Colonel Richard Nicoll, of four ships, with ninety-four guns and four hundred and fifty sol- diers, anchored off New Amsterdam. To resist such a force, the city was wholly unprepared, and Stuyvesant very unwillingly consented to capitulate. The name of Fort Amsterdam immediately changed to Fort James, and, worse still, New Amsterdam became New York in name-a royal name unknown in history to virtue, great- Hess, or renown. The ascendeney of the Hollanders in numbers, character, and influence, however, continued a long while. Even now, after a period of almost two * Alb. Rec., xxii., 100.
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centuries, amidst the changes of the city, and its present heterogeneous population, there can be found the honest maxims, the homely pictures, and the family BIBLE, of the fatherland. And so, also, have their churches and schools and dominies descended, with all their saving influences, to our day.
At the close of Stuyvesant's administration, from charter provisions and the efforts of the clergy, "schools existed in almost every town and village"" in New Netherland. Although New Amsterdam became New York, and the Dutch government had ceased in New York, still the Dutch people, Church, and school remained. By the articles of capitulation, they had secured " the liberty of their conscience in divine wor- ship and Church discipline, with all their accustomed jurisdiction of the poor and orphans." It is very probable that Van Hoboocken's school on the Bouwery was discontinued, but Pietersen taught as heretofore, and in 1655 he resided in De Browker Straat.t
It must be remembered, that the ecclesiastical relations of the Reformed Dutch Church remained, as heretofore, under the jurisdiction of New Amsterdam Classis. The Church school continued stilt to be supervised by the deacons, but now, deprived of all aid from the public treasury. its support dovolved upon the consistory.
The efforts often made to advance the English Church. at times were severely felt by that of the Dutch ; but, tolerant to all, she maintained from the first the enjoy- ment of her own worship and school.
Lord Cornbury, a governor, was a well-known persecu-
* Coll. New N., ii., 316. Valentine's Manual, 1850.
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tor of all denominations not Episcopalian. Among other infamous acts, he imprisoned and fined two Presbyterian ministers, and, by rigid measures, broke up the Dutch schools on Long Island. None can doubt, for a moment, but that he was acting contrary to the principles and teachings of the Protestant Episcopal Church. His own misguided zeal did this mischief.
Still persevering in his obstinacy, Cornbury gave the Dutch Church to understand that no Dutch minister or schoolmaster would be permitted to exercise his calling. without a special license from himself. This usurpation, directly opposed to the previously granted charter, given by William III. to the Reformed Dutch Church in Amer- ica, which said "that the ministers of said Church, for the time being, shall and may, by and with consent of the elders and deacons of the said Church for the time being, nominate and appoint a schoolmaster, and such other under officers as they shall stand in need of."# A com- mittee of the Consistory remonstrated against the gov- ernor's claim. as contrary to this provision. and retained their rights and settled their own teachers as heretofore, although his illegal prohibition unjustly and disastrously injured the Dutch congregations in other sections of the province.
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