1751 Fourthly: That on the Festivals, his Rev. shall hold services, as is the custom in the Reformed Dutch Church at each place an equal number of times. Fifthly: That, God willing, his Rev. shall administer the Lord's Supper four times a year; twice a year at Catskill, and twice at Coxsackie, by turns; once on Christmas Sunday, or on the Sunday after Christmas when Christmas does not fall on a Sunday; and once on Easter Sunday. The other occasions for celebrating the Lord's Supper will have to be arranged with reference to these two. Sixthly: That, before each celebration of the Lord's Supper, at the place where it is to be held, his Rev. shall preach a preparatory sermon; and, once a year, he shal! go through both churches performing visitations. On these conditions, We, the Consistories of the said two combined churches of Catskill and Coxsackie, in our capacity as Elders and Deacons, promise for ourselves and for our successors coming into office from time to time, and give assurance, in all sincerity, as long as his Rev. continues to be our Overseer, Shepherd and Teacher, the following: First: That we will give to his Rev., on his acceptance and signing of this call, eighty pounds in money current in the Province of New York. Secondly: That we will give his Rev. a suitable dwelling, with a barn, a garden and a well, and keep them in repair, in such manner as shall be agreeable to his Rev. and the churches; together with twenty acres of land at Catskill, not far from the church. This shall be his as long as his Rev. remains our Overseer, Shepherd and Teacher. The repairing has reference only to the house, the barn and the well. Thirdly: That from the time his Rev. is at Coxsackie, in performing the duties of his ministry he shall be provided with board and suitable lodging; the latter of which only Coxsackie promises to provide. Fourthly: That we will deliver for his Rev. at his door, all the fire-wood which he may need. Fifthly: That we will pay his Rev. yearly and every year, the sum of eighty pounds in money current in the Province of New York, in two installments; a just half of it at the expiration of each half year, to begin from the day of his coming to our said churches, and this is to continue as long as his Rev. remains our Overseer, Shepherd and Teacher. We, then, the Consistories aforesaid, extend to the said Johannes Schuneman, and put into his hands, this call. We desire that he would accept the same in the fear of the Lord; and we pray that the good God, the Ruler of the World, will be pleased to guide him safely on his voyage out and back on the wild waters, and enable him to come back to us with a rich blessing. To show that in these our acts we are sincere and of good intention, we set our hands and seals to this instrument on this twelfth day of November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and fifty. Gerrit Van Hergen Phillip Bronk Hendrik (his mark) X Hoogteling Theunis Van Vechten Casparis Bronk Johan Persen, Junior, This call was made in Albany on the twelfth of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and fifty one, and signed and sealed; as witnessed by Theodorus Frielinghuysen, pastor of the Church of Jesus Christ at Albany, president of the meeting. Pieter Winne, Justice. I, the undersigned, accept this call in the fear of the Lord, promising to submit myself to the conditions stipulated, so far as the Lord will give me strength. To this I set my hand and seal, Johannes Schuneman, on date as above. Collata Concordant hoc Testor, Jac. Frielinghuysen. L. W. 1751 CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA. Rev. John Ritzema to the Classis of Amsterdam, Nov. 15, 1751. Portfolio "New York", Vol. ii. xxiii, 258; xxiv, 7. Very Reverend, Very Learned, Godly Sirs, Messieurs, Fathers and Brethren in Christ: I have the honor of sending on to your Revs. the original testimonial obtained by Rev. Pieter de Wint, together with a writing from him. I had already, in August last sent this to the Very Reverend Theodorus Van Schelluyne, with a view to its being presented to the Rev. Classis as I trust it has been already. But the Rev. Classis having written to the Coetus itself about this matter, the latter obtained from him a copy of what he had written, which is the one now sent. With it goes a letter from the Coetus, signed by the president and scribe. also a special letter written by himself, as well as one from his church. Accompanying these are also certain documents of Joh. Aemilius Wernig, in proof of his Rev's. candidacy in Germany, and of his service in a diaconate in Switzerland. But his Rev. has no certificate from the Chapter of Stekhorrn authorizing him to administer the Sacraments. This, however, he solemnly declared and professed before the commissioners that he had done there, and that by legal appointment. What, now, the deficiency of that testimonial signifies, I do not personally know; but I have learned from two of our members who were Swiss-born, that Wernig was not a Swiss citizen, and this, I think I understood, may have been the cause of it. But I know that his Rev. while in Holland, for the purpose of being promoted to the ministry, fell in, at Rotterdam, with two individuals from a district (over here) called Stone Arabia. These offered him a call from their church, which call he also accepted. Thereupon he went thither with them, without further presenting himself before any Classis, or making it known at all. This proceedure is now creating some dissatisfaction among some of the people, as also in the Coetus, in which he appeared for some redress in his affairs. His request was, that he, together with his church, might be received into its membership. But this body was unwilling to enter into the matter, and declare him a legal minister, and recognize him as a member, without the knowledge of the Rev. Classis. It sends on the papers, therefore, in the hope that the Rev. Classis, considering that the man acted in ignorance, as did also the Commissioners, will make no objection to his Rev's. being recognized as a minister legally called to that place; for not even one of the Coetus objects. It is the more important to do this, because the Church is German and the people widely scattered. Otherwise great disturbance might be created, from the fact that his Rev. is recognized by the people there as their legal minister. This appears from a certain writing shown to the Commissioners. To the great sorrow of our entire church, in the fifty-second year of his faithful service, and in the eighty-first year of his life, my very Rev. Colleague, (Gualterus) Du Bois, died on the 9th of October. On the day after his burial, I held a solemn memorial service, preaching from Numbers 8:25. His office, as "Special Scribe" he has filled with great pleasure and faithfulness. He had laid down this office with sadness, on account of the vexations caused him, particularly by Rev. Haaghoort, who cherished a feeling of resentment against the Coetus, and especially against that aged father. This was because he did not manage matters, or have others do it, so that he might become minister at Aquackanonck, or somewhere else; whereas there was no church that wanted him although he was tired of his own church at Second River, (Belleville). As to the real cause, that is known to everybody about here. I do not care to mention it unless I am obliged to. Probably, from a protest made by him, which was, in part, inserted in our minutes, it will yet come to the knowledge of the Rev. Classis. This aged father said to me, "I am now done with the Coetus, or else Haaghoort will have to leave." Little did he think at the time, that his deliverance was so nigh; for his Rev. was then as strong as I had ever known him to be. Now I, having been appointed in his place as special scribe, ought to send on, as is customary, the Minutes of the regular Coetus, as well as those of the special 1751 meeting four weeks later. This was called, because of the condition in which Long Island matters were at the time. I should also send a letter giving in brief a few items. But it has been thought best that I should defer doing this until next year; because, as it was said, the matters ought first to be more closely considered, etc.; also the letter must be written in name of the Coetus. So the Rev. Classis will please take this letter as a personal one, and in no sense as written in the name of the Rev. Coetus; but, at the same time, as one in which I honestly lay open my dissatisfaction with the acts of those brethren. With the better intentioned of those brethren, I hope to get matters again on the old footing. Otherwise I shall be forced to take different measures; always, however, with submission of my judgement to that of your Revs. As a private member, then, I make known to your Revs. that the differences se long existing with reference to the Raritans at the North Branch, have by the Coetus been happily settled. It has been thought best to forbid de Wint, who had already been ordained, to administer the Sacraments. The letter composed by the Coetus on his matters contains more than one dark statement calculated to injure him. The worst of them, I have tried to get modified by supplementary notes. As to the case of Arondeus; many have tried to get him away from Long Island. Also many hundreds who have clung to him, have, to all appearances, been utterly corrupted. They have employed the power of the Law. They have held on to him in spite of all opposition. To that end they have made a wrong use of the liberty of religion, according to the Act of Toleration, under the Crown of Great Britain. They have sought in every conceivable way to save their case. But, following your Reverences' express instructions, we have got the matter so far along, that, for a reconciliation, not everything any longer, has to come from the side of Arondeus, etc. We also examined, on the other side, the document of Ulpiandus Van Sinderen. Although it had received some strokes of the brush, it very clearly showed me that the blame lay, if not chiefly, yet at least in large part, with the latter. This however, did not give the others the liberty to do as they did. But the hatred of those people to the Coetus at that time, to which, among other things, they were instigated, was not a little of a drawback to them. We have charged both these men, each according to a definite program, to preach penitential sermons on the 26th inst., in the presence of three commissioned ministers. One of these, then, is to preach a peace and penitential sermon with reference to the Church. After that, an entire new consistory is to be chosen for the five villages. On the day following, the two other ministers are to preach on the same subject. Then the consistory, after having been installed, will seek to extend a legal call to Arondeus. The result we shall make known at the earliest opportunity. If, now, it shall pleace the Rev. Assembly to answer this personal letter of mine, it will be a great comfort to me. But should it please the Rev. Classis to leave it unanswered, and make use of it in the proper place, I shall be satisfied. For myself, I will endeavor to promote peace and unity among the brethren, and the true welfare of the churches, although others may none the less hesitate to discover sinister designs (therein) and publicly to oppose them. With this I close. Wishing the Very Rev. Assembly everything desirable- New York, Nov. 15th, 1751. J. Ritzema. Note on the Rev. Gualterius Dubois, who died Oct. 9, 1751. Rev. Gualterius (Walter) Dubois. This gentleman, who was installed a pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church in this city, in October, 1699, was born in the year 1671, at Streetkerf in Holland; his father, Domine Petrus Dubois, being then pastor of the church at that place. The subject of this sketch was educated at the University of Leyden, and passed his examination before the Classis of Amsterdam in 1697. soon after which he received a cal! to this city. He served faithfully in his pastoral duties in this city for upward of fifty years. He preached for the last time on the afternoon of 29th September, 1751. After service he returned home, and was seized with illness in his study, which brought him to his sick chamber, where he languished until Tuesday of the following week, when he expired, having attained the age of about eighty years. He was succeeded in his ministry by the Rev. Lambertus De Ronde.-Valentine's New York, p. 233. See also Corwin's Manual, 1902, pages 438-442. 1751 DUTCH CHURCH OF NEW YORK. Free School and Teacher's Dwelling. New York, Nov. 18, 1751. Consistory held. Mr. Daniel Brat handed in a list of free scholars. These were found to be three more than the Consistory had appointed. He requested payment for all these, and also to be permitted to take more, if they offered themselves. Both these requests were acceded to, but on condition that the number should not exceed twenty. Domine De Ronde read a written statement to the Consistory, that for the rent of his former dwelling and his present one, he had been compelled to pay, out of his own means, more than the twenty-five pounds ($62.50), allowed him with his call. He requested that the Consistory would not let him suffer thereby. This was granted. It was also determined that he should at once be provided with a suitable dwelling like as the other ministers. J. Ritzema, p. t. Praeses. ACTS OF THE DEPUTIES AND THEIR CORRESPONDENCE. The Classis of Amsterdam to the Coetus, Nov. 23, 1751. Vol. 30, page 236, No. 135. To the Rev. Coetus of New York. Rev. Sirs and Brethren: In our letter to the Rev. Coetus of New York of May 3rd, 1751, we informed you of the not groundless suspicion of the Rev. Classis of Neder Veluwe, that both the Rev. Coetus as well as ourselves had been grossly deceived by Peter De Wind. There has at length come into the hands of one of our members, and thereby into our hands, a copy of a letter of Rev. Wynstok, and herewith sent to you, that you may prevent the ordination of such a man as this Peter De Wind to the Sacred Ministry, until at least the truth or groundness of these uspicions shall be made clear to us. Meantime Meantime trust that y have secured the 1751 original certificates which De Wind presented to you, and that you will send them to us. We are now fully convinced that this Peter De Wind,-Oh base deed! has pressed himself with forged certificates so far toward the Sacred Ministry of the Gospel. Herewith are also sent the certified copies of the transactions of the Classis of Neder Veluwe, as well as some other reports and information about him. Of all this the Classis being fully convinced, after a calm examination of the documents and mature deliberation, with great disgust at such deceitful and wicked conduct, passed the following resolution, unanimously, and in the fear of God's name. "That Peter De Wind, if not already ordained, is hereby adjudged unworthy ever to be ordained to the Sacred Ministry; and if, (which we hope not,) he has been already ordained, that he be, de facto, deposed, even as the Classis does by these presents depose him, and declare him (inhabil) unqualified ever to assume any ecclesiastical function. From this, it also follows, as a matter of course, that he be considered as under censure.”—This business we now leave to the Consistories of Bergen and Staten Island, under the supervision of the Coetus. We Notice has already been given of this prae alabel, although as yet, only in a general way, to the Christian Synod, held this year at Edam, of which we have the honor to send you the Minutes. We shall make further report of this case next year to the Synod, even as we have made known this our resolution to the Consistory of Staten Island by letter sent at the same time as this communication. We have exhorted them, especially in such an important case as this, to consult with you, and to act in co-operation. heartily wish you all needed wisdom and prudence in this matter. Carry into effect the action of Classis with holy zeal. If, contrary to expectation, P. De Wind should, after this exposure, attempt to perform any function of the Sacred Ministry, such function must be considered as illegal and null in the Church of God. (indeed, all the more on account of his wicked intrusion into the Sacred Ministry.) Care must be taken against him in |