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FUNERAL SERVICE.
steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
[ T'hen shall be said or sung.]
I HEARD a | voice from \ heaven, | say- | = ing \ un- to me.
Write, | From hence forth | Blessed are the fileud who \ die in the \ Lord ;
Even so [ saith the | Spirit, | for they | rest . . . | from their flubors.
[ Then followeth a prayer by the minister, after which shall be sung.]
I WOULD not live alway : I ask not to stay Where storm after storm rises dark o'er the way, The few lurid mornings that dawn on us here, Are enough for life's woes, full enough for its cheer.
FUNERAL SERVICE. 33
I would not live alway, thus fettered by sin, Temptation without and corruption within ; E'en the rapture of pardon is mingled with fears, And the cup of thanksgiving with penitent tears.
I would not live alway ; no, welcome the tomb ; Since Jesus hath lain there, I dread not its gloom. There, sweet be my rest, till he bid me arise To hail him in triumph descending the skies. AMEN.
BENEDICTION,
1
Rules and Liegulations
for the Government of the First Lutheran Church.
|Adopted May, 1:51.]
ARTICLE I.
"THE affairs of this Congregation shall be conducted by a Church Council, composed of the Pastor, Trustees, Elders, and Deacons, whose several duties are specified in the following articles :
ART. II .- OF THE PASTOR.
SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of the pastor of this church to conduet the publie worship of God, expound the Holy Scriptures, and preach the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ : to administer the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper; to instruet and examine the candidates for confirmation and church mem . bership, and in conjunction with the Elders and Deacons, to decide upon their reception or rejection ; to interest himself in the welfare and progress of the Sunday School ;
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RULES AND REGULATIONS.
to visit the sick, and admonish men of their duties; and by all proper means, public and private, to edify the church of Christ.
$ 2. He shall keep a fair record of all the baptisms, confirmations, and communicants in the Congregation, in the book provided for that purpose.
ART. III .- OF THE TRUSTEES.
SEC. 1. The Board of Trustees shall consist of seven members, believers in the truths of Christianity, and of reputable life and conduct, who shall be elected by the Congregation in the manner hereinafter provided.
§ 2. They shall at their first meeting after the annual clection, choose by ballot, from among themselves, a Pre- sident, Secretary and Treasurer, whose duties are described in the following sections :
§ 3. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board, maintain order, put the question on all proposi- tions properly presented, and acting as the organ of the Board in conjunction with the Secretary, execute all legal instruments.
§ 4. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a fair record of the proceedings of cach meeting of the Board, and attest the signature of the President to all legal instru- ments. It shall be his duty to register, in a book pro- vided for that purpose, the names of all persons holding
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RULES AND REGULATIONS.
pews or sittings in the Church, with an account of their . payments, to make out all bills of pewholders, and collect the same, and to attend all elections with said Register to test the qualifications of electors, in case the same should be questioned.
$ 5. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive and account for all the moneys of the Congregation, and his accounts shall be submitted to the Trustees for examina- tion and settlement, at every quarterly meeting of the Board. He shall pay no bill or order that is not passed upon by the Board, and signed by the President. He shall prepare an annual report of the state of the funds, the yearly revenues and expenditures of the Congregation. the amount of arrearages, and all other items pertaining to the temporalities of the church, which shall be laid be- fore the Church Council for their adoption, and read be- fore the Congregation at their annual meeting on Christ- mas day. It shall also be required of the Treasurer to give ample security to the Board for the faithful per- formance of the duties of his office, before he enters upon it.
$ 6. The Trustees shall have in charge all the property, real, personal or mixed, belonging to the Congregation, and shall administer of its temporalities according to their best judgment and discretion, rendering each year to the Congregation, at its annual meeting, through their Seere- tary and Treasurer, an account of their stewardship.
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RULES AND REGULATIONS.
$ 7. The Trustees shall hold quarterly meetings for the . examination and settlement of the Treasurer's accounts and the despatch of general business, on the last Wedues- days of February, May, August and November. Extra meetings may be held at the call of the President and Se- cretary, provided the nature of the business to be traus- acted be specified in the call.
§ S. The Trustees, as provided by statute, shall at least one month before the expiration of office of any of their number, notify the same in writing to the Minister, or in case of his death or absence, to the Deacons, specifying the Trustees whose terms will expire ; and the Minister or the Deacons shall publicly notify the members of the Congregation of such vacancies, and specify the time and place for the election of new Trustees, to fill up the same. This notification is to be given at least fifteen days before the election, and for two successive Lord's days. The eleetion is to be held at least six days before the vacancies shall occur, and to be presided over by two of the Deacons, or in case of their absence by two members of the congre- gation designated by the majority of the members present.
ART. IV .- OF THE ELDERS AND DEACONS.
Sec. 1. This Board shall consist of six members, three Elders and three Deacons, men of reputable life and con-
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RULES AND REGULATIONS.
versation, in full communion with this church, in the manner hereinafter described.
$ 2. The principal duties of the Elders are to aid the Pastor in administering the government and discipline of the church : to endeavor by precept and example to discourage all manner of vice and immorality, and to bring it to pass that peace, harmony and brotherly love may prevail in the congregation ; to visit the sick and the afflicted, and to encourage the Sunday School, and pro- mote the religious education of the children of the church.
$ 3. The duties of the Deacons are to lead an exemplary life as commanded in scripture ; to minister unto the poor, extending to their wants, and distributing faithfully amongst them the collections which may be made for their use ; to assist the Pastor, if necessary, in the admin- istration of the Eucharist, providing the bread and the wine, and taking care of the communion service; to attend regularly, and render all necessary service at stated worship; to take up the weekly, and other collections, and pay the same over to the Treasurer, taking his receipt therefor; to see that their Pastor receives a just and adequate support, according to the commands of our Lord ; and at the same time to employ all proper means for advancing the external welfare of the church, and for increasing its ability to give assistance to similar insti- tutions, and to aid others in the diffusion of the divine word.
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RULES AND REGULATIONS.
$ 4. The Board of Elders and Deacons shall hold quar- terly meetings, at which the Pastor shall always preside, for the purpose of examining the candidates for confirma- tion and church membership; and shall decide by vote as to their reception or rejection, which decision shall be final. At such meetings any other business pertaining to the spiritual interests of the church may be discussed and decided, and a delegate appointed to represent the church at the annual session of the Synod with which it may be connected. These quarterly meetings shall be held on the Wednesday preceding the administration of the Lord's Supper, in each year. In addition to these, extra meetings may be held at the call of the Pastor, the call specifying the nature of the business to be transacted.
$ 5. If at any time any member of this church be found walking in the ways of vice or immorality, any one or two of the Elders or Deacons shall in a private and friendly manner expostulate, reason with and admonish that mem- ber to desist from such practices. If this should not have the desired effect, then another attempt shall be made by a larger number of the Elders and Deacons ; if this also fail, they shall report such erring member to the Church Council, who shall also endeavor to reform him, in such a manner as to them seems most consistent with the spirit of Christianity. But if after giving the accused a fair opportunity of exculpating himself, by being confronted with his accusers, he appears guilty to a majority of the
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RULES AND REGULATIONS.
whole Church Council ; and after another admonition by them, he still proves incorrigible, then shall such member be suspended or excommunicated. But, if, through the blessing of God, the offender alter in his life and conver- sation, and show contrition for his past conduct, and the same be known to the Church Council, and they are fully satisfied and convinced of his repentance, then shall he be reinstated in his rights and privileges. Every aet of cx- communication or of restoration may be published to the Congregation, if deemed expedient by a majority of the Church Council.
$ 6. At the first stated meeting for public worship on the Lord's day after the election of Elders and Deacons they shall be solemnly inducted into office, according to the form prescribed in our Liturgy.
$ 7. It shall be the duty of the Elders and Deacons, in the absence, or at the request of the Pastor, to provide a suitable supply for the pulpit.
ART. V .- OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL.
SEC. 1. The Church Council shall hold a meeting annu- ally, on the first Monday in December, the Pastor, c.c-oficio presiding, to receive the Reports of the Secretary and Treasurer, on the condition of the church property, and the state of the funds ; and to transact such other business as may come before them relative to the general interests
41
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
of the Congregation, and for the promotion of its pro- . sperity and usefulness.
$ 2. The Church Council shall make all appointments of the inferior officers of the Congregation, such as the organist and choirmaster, and sexton ; shall prescribe their duties, and fix the amount of their compensation.
$ 3. Extra meetings of the Church Council may be called by the Pastor, or any three of the Trustees, Elders or Deacons.
ART. VI .- OF ELECTIONS.
See. 1. Of the Election of L'ustor. In case of a vacancy in the pastorate of this congregation, the Church Conneil. after having exercised their best judgment and discretion in inviting ministers to preach to the congregation, shall recommend as candidates such as they sincerely and con- scientiously think will best promote by their labors the spiritual and temporal interests of the Church ; and at the time appointed by them for the purpose, the congregation shall proceed to choose by ballot the one whom they pre- fer for their pastor. The person so chosen by a majority of the members of lawful age, present and voting, shall be declared elected. Should any serious difficulties arise between the Pastor and the congregation, which they are unable to settle by their own endeavors, either party may
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RULES AND REGULATIONS.
appeal to the Synod with which the church may be con- nected, in Synod assembled, and shall abide by its decision.
§ 2. Of the Election of Trustees. The election for Trustees shall be held annually, after public worship on Christmas day, or in case of Christmas falling on Sunday, on the following day, when two or three Trustees, as the case may be, shall be chosen by ballot for the term of three years. The poll shall be open at 12 M. and close at 1 P. M.
$ 3. Of the Election of Elders and Deacons. The elec- tion for Elders and Deacons shall be held annually, after public worship on Good Friday, when one Elder and one Deacon shall be chosen by ballot for the term of three years, the poll to remain open as above.
$ 4. In case of any vacancy or vacancies in the Board of Trustees or Elders and Deacons, either by death, resig- nation, removal or other cause, the same shall be filled by a special election, and the person or persons chosen shall serve as long as the person or persons in whose place he or they were elected to serve.
§ 5. All the above officers shall be elected by ballot without, nomination, unless it shall be determined by unanimons consent to vote viva voce, and all elections shall be determined by a majority of the male members of lawful age present and voting. And no person shall be eligible to any office until he shall have been a pew holder in this Church.
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
§ 6. Of the Qualifications of Voters. No person shall be entitled to vote at any election unless he shall have been a stated attendant on divine worship in this church at least three months before the election, and shall have contributed to the support of our Institutions, either by renting a pew, or sitting, and paying the same, during the above term. He shall be a believer in the truths of Christianity and lead a moral life.
ART. VIT .- OF THE REGULATION OF THE PEWS.
SEC. 1. The pews in the Church shall be rented annu- ally on the Ist Monday in January, preference being always given to those who formerly occupied them. Such as are not then taken may be had at any subsequent. time by application to the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, or to the Sexton.
ART. VILL .- OF AMENDMENTS.
These rules and regulations shall not be altered or amended unless two-thirds of the Church Couneil shall agree to the same. Having so agreed, they shall appoint a day for the Congregation to meet and decide thereon, of which at least one week's previous notice shall be given by publication from the pulpit. At which meeting a ma -
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RULES AND REGULATIONS.
jority of the members present and voting shall be requisite to establish the proposed alteration or amendment.
The above Rules and Regulations were submitted to a meeting of the Congregation, duly convened for their con- sideration, on the 28th day of May, A. D. 1871, and after being read by sections, were unanimously adopted for the government of the First Lutheran Church, in the city of Albany.
S. P. SPRECHER, Chairman. J. MUNSELL, Secretary.
THE
Origin, Progress and Present Condition
OF THE
FIRST LUTHERAN CHURCH IN ALBANY.
..
The active settlement of Albany was begun about 1630. The early immigrants, coming from Holland, were prin- cipally Calvinists, with strong predilections for the prin- ciples propounded by the Synod of Dordrecht, and em- bodied under the name of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church ; yet, although the predominating seet, they seem to have found many difficulties in the way of sup- porting their own church, which was established in 1612. We have not been able to ascertain the precise date of the first establishment of a Lutheran church in Albany, but Father Jogues speaks of Lutherans here in 1611, and it is known that from 1656 to 1660 they had be- come numerous, and pressed their claims for freedom of worship. Probably as early as 1668 they had an organ- ized church here, in spite of the opposition they met with ; for they seem to have been the first seet which
40
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
the dominant party thought necessary to restrain in their mode of worship.' Application had been made at an early date, to the directors in Holland, to allow profes- sors of this creed liberty to cleet a pastor, and perform the free exercise of their religion in New Netherland. But these privileges were refused, and orders were sent over "to employ all moderate exertions to lure them to our churches, and to matriculate them in the public re- formed religion."> Moderation is of little avail, where conscience interposes seruples. Fathers were compelled. contrary to their principles, to assist at the baptism of their children in the Dutch church, and as well as the sponsors, to deelare their belief in the doctrines promul- gated by the Synod of Dort. Many who objected to this were imprisoned. In a letter dated March 10, 1656,3 De Decker alludes to a certain placard drawn up and published by the authorities at Beverwyck, " against the congregation of some Lutherans, which has also been exceuted against the contraveners and disobedient." The Lutherans also sent over complaints, which led to the censure of Stuyvesant, and the aggrieved were permitted to worship in their own houses. This, however, was not
' O'Callaghan's History of New Netherland, 11, 319-20.
" Albany Records, 1, 130; Brodhead's Hist. N. Y., 1, 581.
" Port Orange Records ; Brodhead, 1. Gli.
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
enough ; they demanded freedom from interruption in . their worship. The director general avowed his deter- mination to enforce the law against schismatical worship. The Lutherans appealed to him, October 24, 1656, as fol- lows : " We, the united brethren of the Augsburg Con- fession here in New Netherland, show with all due reve- rence how that we have been obedient unto your prohibi- tions and published placards, unwilling to collect to- gether in any place to worship our God with reading and singing, although we solicited our friends in our father- land to obtain this privilege; who, as our solicitors, ex- erted themselves in our behalf by the noble directors of the West India Company, our patrons; when after their letters to us, containing their entreaties, they obtained that they resolved unanimously and concluded that the doctrine of the unaltered Augsburg Confession might be tolerated in the West Indies and New Netherland, be- ing under their direction, as is the practice in our father- land under its excellent government; wherefore we ad- dress ourselves to your honor, willing to acknowledge your honor, as dutiful and obedient servants, with prayer that you will not any longer interrupt our religious exer- cises, which we, under God's blessing, are wishing to make, with reading and singing, till as we hope and ex- peet under God's aid, next spring, a qualified person shall arrive from our fatherland to instruct us, and take care of our souls."
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
Accordingly, in July of 1657, the Rev. Johannes Er- . nestns Goetwater, a Lutheran minister, arrived with a commission from the consistory at Amsterdam, authoriz- ing him to act as pastor to the Lutheran congregation at the Manhattans, now New York. The Dutch ministers, Megapolensis and Drisins, took active measures to pro- cure his instant expulsion, demanding that he should be sent back to Holland in the same ship in which he ar- rived. Sickness alone prevented the immediate execu- tion of the harsh and unchristian mandate, and he was put on the limits of the city for the time being, and finally forced to embark for Holland.' The department at Am- sterdam, although desirous of soothing the feelings of the Lutherans, could do little to relieve their grievances, and in the hope of winning them over, ordered some alterations to be made in the formula of baptism, as then practised in the American orthodox church, to make it less objectionable. In 1659 Megapolensis and Drisius were enjoined to prevent schism and promote tranquillity ; to avoid overbearing preciseness, and were told that if they should persist in their former course, the company would be compelled to allow the Lutherans a separate church of their own .?
' O'Callaghan's History of Jer Netherland, 1. 845, 816.
" Brodhead, 1, 656.
.
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
The British dynasty brought with it full permission to the Lutherans to follow their mode of worship. On the 13th of October, 1669, Gov. Lovelace publicly announced that he had " lately received letters from the duke, wherein it is particularly signified unto me, that his royal high- ness doth approve of the toleration given to the Lutheran church in these parts. I do therefore expect that you live friendly and peaceably with those of that profession, giving them no disturbance in the exercise of their reli- gion, as they shall receive no countenance in, but on the contrary strictly answer any disturbance they shall pre- sume to give unto any of you in your divine worship."
The Lutherans seem to have succeeded in gathering a church here before 1670, for it is found that the fine- tions of their minister, the Rev. Johamies Fabritius, were in that year suspended by the public authorities.1 It is supposed to have been about this time that the Lutherans erected a church and parsonage in Albany, fronting on Pearl street, between Howard and Beaver streets, long since known as the Centre Market.3 Capt.
' Documentary History of New York, IN, 13, 22-3.
"The Centre Market, which cornered on South Pearl and Howard streets, was removed in IS68, to make room for a new building for city purposes. The workmen, in digging to lay the foundations, found the remains of several bodies, which were removed to the new grounds of the Lutherans in the Rural Cemetery. There had been no burials here for nearly a century.
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
Abram Stacts (or Staas) obtained a patent of that lot on the 25th of October, 1653, which he sold to the officers of the Lutheran congregation on the 2Sth of March, 1680. The original deed, which we still possess, having the above date, states that the lot was already occupied by a Lutheran church, ' and a house in which the domine lived. The consideration money is not stated, but it is distinctly set forth that the first and last penny were paid, which certainly puts a very creditable finish to the aspect of the transaction. The following is a copy of the original deed, and a translation :
Compareerde voor my Robert Li vingston, Seer. van Albany, Colonic Rensselaerswyk cude Schaentech- tady, &ca, ten over-laen van de E. achtbaur heeren, Mr. Andries Teller & Mr. Cornelis Van Dyk, commissa rissen der selver Gerechte, Maj. Abraham Staas, d welke verclaerde in waren Rechten, vryen Eggendom te rederen, Transporteeren, en over te draegen, aen en ten behoeve van Albert Bratt, Myndert frederickse onder Lingen, Anthony Lespinard
Appeared before me, Robert Li- vingston, Secretary of Albany, Colo- ny of Rensselaerswyk and Schener. lady, etc., in the presence of the honorable Messieurs Andries Teller. and Cornelis Van Dyck, magistrales of The same jurisdiction, Maj. Abra- Lam Starts, who declares that in true right-, free ownership he grants. conveys, and makes over, to and for the behoof of Albert Bratt, Mynderi Frederickse, ellers. Anthony Lis- ponad, and Carsten Frederick-e.
and when the grounds were surrendered by the church to the city in 1816, but one body was removed, that of John Christo pher Hartwick, subsequently spoken of in this account.
"The earliest allusion to this edifice that we have found in the public records is in a dead of a lot made in Hit. See .Il. bung County Records, p. 100.
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.
en Carsten frederickse Diakens van d'Lnyterse gemeente hier in Albany, reker huys en Erv, staende ende gelegen alhier in Albany, met alles datter aen Acide & nagel va-t is, op d Eerste kil, belendende ten suyden d cerste kil, voorts ten noorden d gewesene gemene Padt, un gepos- sideert van Mr. Pretty, Jacob San- ders, Johannes Wendel, Myndert Harmense & Hend. Cuyler, ten oos- ten d gemeine wegh, ten westen cen cleyn killetje, is Breedt ten oosten Twalf Roeden en elf voet, & ten westen zes Roeden & vier voet, & lang aen de Zuydtsyde con & twen- tigh Roeden & con voet, & aen d noort syde drie & twentigh Roc- den en Twee voeten, alles Rhyn- landsche maet, op welke Eri'd 1.ny- terse Kerk nu staet, als mede Chuy- voor d Luyterse domine, synde van d geheele Luyterse Gemeente ge- kocht & betaell, aen welke d selve opgedragen wort ; Zulx by Cedent ust doet uyt Cracht van Grondibrief hem verleent van den gewezenen Governo Richard Nicholls, sub duto den 25 April 1667, zyude con ge- deelte van d'Erff waertoe in deseu gerefereert wordt, en dat vry en on- beswaert, sonder eenige Lasten die. rop staende ofte uytgaende, behou. dens der heer zyn Reght. - onder
deacons of the Lutheran church here . in Albany, in a certain house, stand- ing and lying here in Albany, with all that is fast in earth and nailed, on the first kil, bounded to the south by the first kil aforesaid, to the north the late common path, now po -- served by Mesers, Pretty, Jacob Sanders | Glen, ] Johannes Wendell, Myndert Harmense [ Van der Bogert ] and Hendrick Cuyler, to the east the highway, to the west the little kil. in breadth to the east 1er. 11 ft. west Gr. 4 f., length on south side 21 r. 1 ft. on the north side 43 r. 2 ft., all Rhynland* measure, on which lot the Lutheran church now stands, to- gether with the parsonage, being purchased and paid for by the whole lattheran congregation, to whom the same is now made over ; which this grantor, does by virtue of a pa- lent to him given from the late Go- vernor Richard Nicolls, of date the 5 April, 1667; being a part of the lot to which reference is herein made ; free and unincumbered, with no claims standing or issuing against the same rexcepting the lord's right
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