USA > New York > Kings County > Flatbush > The history of the town of Flatbush in Kings County, Long Island > Part 6
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In the year 1698, a subscription was taken up for the purpose of erecting a new church. This subscription, which was confined to the inhabitants of the old town and New-Lots, amounts to 15,728 guilders and 5 stivers, which reckoning a guilder at forty cents, is equal to $6,291.20. The precise time at which the church was built, is not known; but it was no doubt during that year or the one that succeeded. The committee to whom the erec- tion of the church was entrusted, were, Captain Daniel Polhemus, Captain Aries Vanderbilt, Adrian Ryers, Rem Remsen, and Rem Aertson. This building, which was lo- cated on the spot on which the first church stood, was a stone edifice, fronting the east, with a large arched double door in the centre, having a steep four-sided roof coming nearly together at the top, on which was erected a small steeple. The building was wider in front than in depth, being about sixty-five north and south, and about fifty feet east and west. The roof rested on the walls, and was partly supported by them, and partly by two large oak columns, standing in a line within the building, in a northerly and southerly direction, and at a suitable dis- tance from each other. The two columns supported a plate in the centre of a lofty arched planked ceiling, the north and south ends of which, rested on the wall, in conse- quence of which, the north and south walls of the build- ing were considerable higher than those of the east and west. There were two large and broad braces extending from each column to the plate. The roof appeared to be badly constructed. Its pressure on the walls was so great, that in process of time, the upper part of the north- erly wall was pressed out more than a foot over the foun- dation, and the four braces attached to the columns within the building, were considerably bent from the weight and
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pressure above. The pulpit was placed in the centre of the west side of the building, fronting the door, having the Elders bench on the right, and the Deacons bench on the left. The male part of the congregation were seated in a continuous pew, all along the wall, which was divided into twenty apartments, with a sufficient number of doors for entrance: each person having one or more seats, in one or the other of these apartments. The residue of the interior of the building, was for the accommodation of the female part of the congregation, who were seated on chairs. These were arranged into seven different rows, or blocks, and every family had one or more chairs in some one of these blocks. This interior arrangement of the seats, was called by the significant Dutch term "De Ges- toeltens." Each chair was marked on the back by a num- ber, or by the name of the family or person to whom it belonged. The windows of this church were formed of small panes of glass; and those on either side of the pul- pit, were painted, or ornamented and set in lead.
It is probable that about the year 1698, when the first church was pulled down, in which as we have seen, there was accommodation for the minister and his family, the first parsonage house was built. This is the south part of the present building now occupied by L. L. Van Kleeck, Esq. which has undergone so many important improve- ments under his hands.
About the time of the building of this second church, a certain paper was drawn up and adopted, entitled " Articles, Laws and Ordinances, by which the church of Flatbush shall be governed and occupied, by the in- habitants and builders." This document contains certain provisions :- 1st. Concerning the occupancy and posses- sion of the seats. 2d. Concerning the tenure of the seats
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whenever the owners remove; and 3d. Concerning inter- ments in the church. These provisions are all wise and prudent, but some of them appear at the present day somewhat curious. We shall only extract from this docu- ment, the articles concerning "interments in the church." They are as follows :-
"1. Those who are inclined to be interred within the church, are required to pay for an adult corps of sixteen years and upwards, £4; for a corps under sixteen years, to six years of age, £3; and for a child of six years and under, £2; and this shall be paid to the Church Masters, for the profit of the church.
"2. Those who are inclined to be permitted to be in- terred in the church, are required to pay the expense of every person : for a corps of sixteen years and upwards, the sum of 27 guilders : for one under sixteen years to six years, 22 guilders : for a child of six years and under, 19 guilders, for the profit of the schoolmaster, for the time being, who shall be required to see that the graves are to be dug so deep that two coffins can be placed therein, one above the other, and that the grave for the under coffin is seven feet deep, and that he shall remove all dirt out of the church."
From this time, the practice of burying under the body of the church, became quite general. All the ministers who died after this date, (1701,) during the standing of that church, were interred under the building; and this indeed was the case with all whose friends could afford to pay the extra expense connected with this privilege; and this accounts for the fact, that the grave yard now con- tains so few tomb stones of ancient date. Vast numbers of human bones were dug up when the earth was removed for the foundation of the steeple to the present church.
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These were all carefully preserved, and subsequently again buried. In front of the church, and under it have been interred the bodies of nearly three or four genera- tions.
At the time of the building of this church, the Rev. W. Lupardus, was pastor. After his death, which occurred towards the close of the year 1701, or in the commence- ment of the year 1702, the congregations of the county made an effort to call the Rev. Bernardus Freeman, then pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Schenectady. Three men were chosen in each of the four towns, of Flatbush, Brooklyn, Flatlands and New-Utrecht, for the purpose of prosecuting this call, in accordance with the provisions of the government, which then exercised con- trol over the church. An application was made to Lord Cornbury, the then, Governor of the Colony, for permis- sion to call Mr. Freeman. This request was, on the 23d of October, 1702, denied by the Governor; and the four congregations were directed to send to Holland for a min- ister, in conformity with their previous custom. It would appear that another effort was made to obtain the Rev. Mr. Freeman, in the year 1703. On the 27th of April, in that year, Lord Cornbury, issued a warrant granting full liberty to call Mr. Freeman. The congregation of Schenectady, however, remonstrated against the proceed- ing, and sent a petition to Governor Cornbury, requesting that the calling of Mr. Freeman should be interdicted. But this petition was denied by Lord Cornbury in an or- der issued by him bearing date June 24th, 1703. A call was accordingly presented to the Rev. Mr. Freeman, who in a letter dated August 2d, 1703, consents 'to accept the same, provided certain conditions which he names are complied with. On the 19th of August, 1703, these con-
RESIDENCE OF REV. BERNARDUS FREEMAN, 1735. JOHN C. BERGEN, 1842.
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ditions were acceded to by the congregation of Flatbush. Previously however to this, it would appear that certain difficulties had arisen relative to this matter. Some, if not all, the persons who had been deputed from the sev- eral congregations to call the Rev. Mr. Freeman, for some cause which does not appear, became disaffected towards him. In consequence of this, they did not comply with the instructions which they had received-but not only neglected to answer the letter of Mr. Freeman, informing him that the congregation had complied with his stipula- tions, but addressed a letter to the Consistory of Schenec- tady, stating that the most part of the congregation were in favor of sending to Holland for a minister-but that only some " stiff heads," as they term them, had enjoined them to make a call upon Dom. Freeman. Eventually, Mr. Freeman visited the island himself, and having ascertained the true state of things, consented to accept the call. The matter, however, appears to have been in agitation for more than two years before he came. For he was not installed until the year 1705. This took place by procla- mation of the Governor, in the church at New-Utrecht, in November of that year. The service was performed on the occasion, by the Rev. Mr. Dubois. In the mean time, however, the disaffected persons wrote a letter to the Classis of Amsterdam, bearing date, December 10th, 1703, requesting that a minister should be sent out to these churches from Holland. This letter was received by the Classis of Amsterdam, on the 2d, June, 1704, and on the 6th, of October, 1704, they commissioned the Rev. Vin- centius Antonides, to proceed to America, for the purpose of becoming the pastor of the church of Flatbush, and of the Dutch churches adjoining. He was at the time pastor of the church of Bergen, in Friesland. In their letter to
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the churches, the Classis of Amsterdam, speak of him as a man of great learning, and of fine talents. He arrived in this country, and in connection with the Rev. Mr. Free- man, entered upon his duties in the year 1705. But a very unhappy controversy, which had its origin previously to his arrival, continued to agitate the churches. We need not enter into the particulars of it. It is sufficient to state that the contest was so warm between the friends of these respective ministers, that the civil authority had to interfere, and one or two orders were passed on the sub- ject, by Lord Cornbury, the Governor. Some of these are curious, as exhibiting the powers which the Governor and his council exercised in the affairs of the church. These differences continued to agitate these several congrega- tions, until the year 1714, when they were harmoniously reconciled. On the 27th, of December, in that year, a meeting was held in Flatbush, composed of delegates from the churches of Flatbush, Brooklyn, Flatlands, New- Utrecht, Bushwick and New-Jamaica, (as it is called in the document which gives the account of this meeting,) or the Reformed Dutch congregation of Queens County, which was then about being organized, and was supplied by the ministers from this county. This meeting was as- sembled in good friendship, as they state in the pream- ble to their transactions. They all agreed to lay aside their differences, and to receive the Rev. Messrs. Free- man and Antonides, as their pastors and teachers. They fixed the proportion of salary, to be raised by the several churches for their support, and the times and places of administering the Lord's Supper and of preaching. In regard to the communion, it was agreed, that Bushwick, Brooklyn and Flatbush, should commune together; Flat- lands, Gravesend and New-Utrecht, together; and the con-
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gregation of Queens County, should form another com- munion. In regard to preaching, it was agreed, that one minister should preach on one Sabbath in Bushwick, and the other in New-Utrecht; that on the next Sabbath, one in Brooklyn, and the other in Flatlands; and the third Sabbath, one in Flatbush and the other in Jamaica, and thus on in regular rotation. From this time forth, for a number of years the churches enjoyed peace.
The unhappy controversy to which we have alluded, was, by Him, who causes the wrath of man to praise Him, overruled for good. For, from that time forward, the churches of the county enjoyed the services of two ministers of the gospel who in addition to their pulpit exercises, performed all the usual parochial duties; such as visiting the sick, catechising the youth, pastoral visita- tion of families, and the like. All of which, had hereto- fore been attended to by one individual, who from the extent of the charge, could not possibly have rendered all the services which were needful and proper.
To accommodate these pastors, it became necessary to provide another parsonage. Accordingly, in the year 1711, the congregations purchased of Johannes Johnson, the house owned by Mr. John H. Hess, and recently occupied by Mr. Michael Schoonmaker. Deeds for this property, in proportion to their several rights were given to the respective Dutch congregations in the county; this church being entitled to the fourth equal part. This building was used as a parsonage, until the year 1809, when it was sold, an account of which will be subse- quently given. In this and the other parsonage adjoining the church, the Rev. Mr. Freeman, and the Rev. Mr. An- tonides were accommodated, but we are not able to tell in which house they severally resided.
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Both these ministers appear to have been men of more than ordinary acquirements and talent. The Rev. Mr. Freeman, was a very learned divine. He wrote and pub- lished several works. Among others, one entitled, " Trial of Grace," or the "Ballance," containing a series of sermons; and another, entitled, " Apothems," which has been translated from the original Dutch, by General Jere- miah Johnson. The latter work discovers a vast amount of learning, and a mind of the deepest research. It is a treasure of truth.
In the year 1737, a meeting of ministers was held in New-York, for the purpose of taking measures to organize a Cætus or Assembly of Ministers and Elders, subordinate to the Classis of Amsterdam, with powers somewhat sim- ilar to those now exercised by the Classes of the Reformed Dutch Church, in this country. At this meeting the Rev. Mr. Freeman attended, on behalf of the churches on Long-Island. A plan was adopted for the organization of such a body, and was submitted to the churches, for their approbation. On the 27th, of April, 1738, the meet- ing again convened, in the city of New-York, for the purpose of hearing the reports on this subject. At this meeting the churches on Long-Island were represented by the Rev. Mr. Freeman, and the Elders Peter Nevius and Dirk Brinkerhoff. The plan having been approved by the churches generally, it was now ratified and adopted, and immediately sent over to the Classis of Amsterdam, for their approval. But for some cause not known, the ap- probation of the Classis did not reach this country until the year 1746. It was brought over by the Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen, of whom we shall presently speak.
Mr. Freeman died in the year 1741. He was succeeded by the Rev. Johannes Arondeus, in the year 1742, who
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was the colleague of the Rev. V. Antonides till the year 1744, when the latter died.
On the death of Rev. Mr. Antonides, the Rev. Ulpianus Van Sinderen was called. He came from Holland, and entered upon his duties, in 1746, and continued to serve the congregation in connection with the Rev. Mr. Aron- deus until the year 1754, when Mr. Arondeus was called to his final account.
Mr. Van Sinderen was the bearer of the letter from the Classis of Amsterdam, containing their approbation of the plan of the Cætus which had been agreed upon in the meeting, held in New-York, in the year 1738. Shortly after his arrival in this country, a meeting was called to receive this letter. This meeting was held in the city of New-York, in the month of May, 1747. The Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen, is named first among the six ministers who attended this meeting. Little more was done at this time than receive the letter of concurrence in the plan from the Classis of Amsterdam, and appoint the second Tuesday of the following September, for the meeting of the first Cætus, to be held in the city of New-York, under this new plan. On that day, the representatives of the churches met in Cætus, and organized the first judicatory (if it can be so called) higher than a consistory, that was es- tablished in the Dutch Church in America. The Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen attended as a member of this body. The plan was however opposed by several ministers, and churches, and eventually gave rise to very serious trou- bles, which it would be inappropriate here to narrate in detail.
Mr. Van Sinderen, though a man of talents, was quite eccentric in his manners. He was short in stature, but very active.
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Though endowed with learning, he appears to have been deficient in sound judgment. He was too much in the habit of introducing the occurrences of the week pre- vious in his sermons, on the Sabbath, and often would al- lude to very trifling circumstances. Some amusing an- ecdotes, are told of him, relating to this practice. On one occasion, a good old Elder, who had borne with the Do- minie in this particular, till his patience was exhausted, very injudiciously, under the excitement of his feelings, rose in his seat, during divine service, and interrupted Mr. Van Sinderen, by saying, they had called him to preach the gospel, and not to detail to them such matters. The Dominie, indignant at being stopped in his discourse, leaned over the pulpit, and replied, " You, Philip Nagle, if you can preach the gospel better than I can, come up here and try."
After the death of the Rev. Mr. Arondeus, the Rev. Anthony Curtenius was called. He commenced his min- istry in this place in the year 1755. But in the succeed- ing year, on the 19th, of October, he died, being in his 58th, year.
About this time, or probably, a little while before, this church was greatly agitated, in common with the whole Reformed Dutch denomination, with what was called the Cætus and Conferentie differences. This was a contest which excited great warmth. It related principally to the question of the right of ordination, and the exercise of church authority. The Cætus party contended that in con- sequence of the inconvenience of sending to Holland for ministers, and the increase of the churches in this coun- try, it should be exercised by the ministers of the church, already in America, and that for this purpose, there should be a regular organization of the churches into
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Classes, and Synods, as was the case in Holland, to whom should appertain all the rights and privileges belonging to such ecclesiastical bodies, in the mother country. The Conferentie party, on the other hand, maintained that all ministers should be ordained in Holland, and sent forth under the authority of the Classis of Amsterdam, or by their permission. The controversy was a very unhappy one, and continued to trouble the churches until the year 1772. This congregation was not exempt from the gen- eral difficulties. So divided and embittered against each other were many on this subject, that the different par- ties would not worship together, nor even speak to each other. Sometimes they would not turn out when they met on the road. On one occasion, it is said that two of these redoubtable opponents belonging to Flatbush, meeting each other in their waggons, and both refusing to give the road, they each deliberately took out their pipes, and began to smoke! How long they continued at this very pacific employment is not stated, nor is it said whether the difficulty between them was lost sight of by the cloud of smoke obscuring their vision, or whether their pipes were ever turned into the calumet of peace.
In August, 1759, the Rev. Johannes Casparus Rubel, was called, who continued as colleague with the Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen, until the year of his death.
The old or second church, which we have above de- scribed, continued without material change until about two years previous to the war of the American Revolution, when it was thought necessary to remodel or improve the seats, by introducing pews. Consequently, on the 6th of October, 1774, the church masters prepared a subscription paper, detailing the plan by which this desirable object should be accomplished. This paper was signed by every
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male adult person of the congregation who had an interest in the church. This document exhibits in a striking man- ner, the wisdom, foresight, sound discretion and piety of the men of that day. In this too, as well as in almost every other public ecclesiastical document, they refer to the ar- ticles of their faith, as established in the National Synod of Dordrecht, in the year 1618, 1619. The assent of the whole congregation having been thus prudently obtained, they commenced in the year 1775 to remodel the seats. The chairs were removed, and sixty-four pews, containing six seats each, were introduced. The work having been completed on the 28th, day of September, in the same year, the pews were drawn for, by the members of the con- gregation, and assigned to the respective owners by lot, and a record of the same accordingly made. The expense incurred by this improvement, amounted to £290.16.9. or $727.09, of which sum, the respective pew holders paid £190.4.6. equal to $475.56. John Bennan, Thomas Lane, Isaac Martense, Adrian Martense and Vincent Antonides, were the carpenters who performed the work, and the painting was done by William Post. There were two gal -. leries along the easterly side of the church, divided by the door; the one was occupied by the whites, and the other by coloured persons. The benches below, under these gal- leries were free, and usually occupied by non-residents. On each side of the church were two windows, and one upper window in each of the ends, at the north and south. These were all provided with shutters. The bell rope hung down in the centre of the church, was easy of access, and often used to give alarms, during the revolutionary war. Here were two benches with backs, one called the "Ye- frows Bench," and the other the " Blue Bench." The for- mer, was for the accommodation of the minister's wife and
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family and the other was let out to other individuals, and from its position, was regarded as an honorable seat. Boards on which the first Psalm to be sung was noted, were hung upon the walls of the church, for the benefit of such as were not present when it was announced. The Dea- cons were furnished with long rods, at the ends of which, were velvet bags, in which to take up the collection, and they usually stood for a few moments with their poles in their hands in front of the pulpit, till the minister briefly reminded the congregation of their duty to the poor.
The Rev. Messrs. Van Sinderen and Rubel, continued to officiate in the church, until the close of the revolu- tionary war, in 1783. With regard to these individuals, several unpleasant difficulties arose in the five congrega- tions of the county, who were under their pastoral charge, -and as their residence, as that of all the previous min- isters had been, was at Flatbush, the inhabitants of this town took a warm and active interest in these differences. The particulars of these, it would not be edifying to re- late. In regard to politics, which during the revolution- ary struggle, was a matter of deep interest; the Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen appears to have been in favor of the Ameri- can cause, and the Rev. Mr. Rubel, strongly opposed to it. On a fast day which was ordered to be kept by the Provincial Congress, the latter preached in Flatbush, from the text, "honor the king;" when among other things, he said, " people could do as well without a head as without a king." This gave great offence to those who were in favor of throwing off the British yoke.
At the close of the war, in June 1784, at the request of the united Consistory, the Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen re- signed his charge, and on the 12th of July, in the same year, was declared Emeritus and a certain salary voted to
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him as such, which was regularly paid him, until the day of his death, which occurred on the 23d of July, 1796. He was interred in the grave yard at Flatlands, to which place he had removed some few years previously. The Rev. Mr. Ruble, was for certain causes, which it is not necessary to mention, deposed from the office of the sa- cred ministry, by the Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, in the early part of the year 1784. He remained under this censure, till the time of his death, which took place in 1799. His remains lie interred in the public cemetery of the Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush.
In the year 1785, a call was made on the Rev. Marti- nus Schoonmaker, then officiating at Gravesend and Har- leam. He having accepted the call, the congregation of Gravesend was admitted formally into the combination. On the 28th of October, 1787, the Rev. Peter Lowe, a native of Ulster County, who had completed his theo- logical studies under the Rev. Dr. Livingston, was in- stalled colleague pastor with Mr. Schoonmaker. These two continued to preach alternately in the old church, until it was taken down, in the year 1794. All the ser- vices of the above named ministers, were performed in the Dutch language, until the 10th of April, 1792, when it was resolved that the service in the afternoon, in the congregations of Brooklyn, Flatbush and New-Utrecht, should be held in the English language, on such days as the Rev. Mr. Lowe should preach in those places.
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