1752 seen. For, instead of Arondeus's deposition contributing to peace, it only seems to hasten the desolation of the Church. As soon as Arondeus was deposed, his friends refused to pay anything toward Van Sinderen's salary. Thereupon Van Sinderen cited before the Civil Judge those who had signed his call. This caused the anger of those people to exceed, as it were, their reason. They will litigate with him as long as they have a penny in the world, and thus the ruin of each will be accomplished and the very bottom of the Church of New York will be knocked out. One of the elders cited by Van Sinderen has even hung himself, although no one knows exactly why, or from what cause; but surely such disturbances have not been beneficial to him. And the Lord only knows what is yet to come forth out of all this. He refers himself further to the letter read to him, but sent to the Rev. Mr. Van Schelluyne by Mr. Christopher Banker, elder in the Church of New York, and a member of the Rev. Coetus. He has noted down everything very accurately. Further, it is requested that this letter of Rev. Van Schelluyne should be read, and the business involved, recommended to the wise and fatherly supervision (of the Classis), so that the Church may not be utterly torn asunder. Furthermore, it appears that the writer would propose certain regulations, yet he thinks that nothing further would result therefrom, except that Arondeus would be kept in the Church. If then there came no peace within a year or two, that Van Sinderen should also be deposed, as well as Arondeus; nevertheless, even then, there would be no peace, as the Ruling Consistory of Van Sinderen would still remain, and would again call a minister according to their own pleasure, which would lead to renewed disquiet, but with those who remain, the dispute, which is now at its worst, would gradually die out, as has occurred already in that same church, between the now deceased Revs. Antonides and Freeman. Concluding with salutation, he adds yet a P. S.; that Revs. Ritzema and De Ronde also the elder Banker and the other elders of the city of New York, opposed themselves to this imprudent conduct of the Coetus. N. B. Not protested or appealed; no one has done thus, at Coetus, neither Arondus nor his friends. xxiii. 275-278. 1752 CHURCH OF NEW YORK. Church Records. New York, Aug. 24, 1752. (N. S.) Consistory held, after calling on God's name. Resolved, That the things recorded in the WHITE BOOK, since 1741, be revised; and there shall be transferred to the BROWN BOOK such things as belong there. Domine Ritzema and Elders Bancker and Lynssen were appointed to do this. The Elders, E. Bryant and C. Bancker were chosen to sit with the ministers, Ritzema and De Ronde, in the next Coetus. It was agreed that Aafye Nobel, a weak and indigent member, be supported by the deacons at fourteen pounds per year. J. Ritzema, p. t. President. Certificate of Mrs. Catherine de Wint, regarding matters concerning her son, Rev. Pieter de Wint. Sept. 2, 1752. Portfolio "New York", Vol. ii. I, the undersigned, have learned that Mr. Kalverslager, (who in his lifetime was minister on the island of St. John), must have sent to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam a certificate relating to the conduct of my son, Pieter de Wint. This certificate, as reported, I must have signed myself. But in the presence of the members of the consistory of this place, as witnesses, I hereby testify and declare, in truth, as at all times I shall be ready to declare under oath, that such a certificate is false and unjust. I never had any conversation with Rev. Mr. Kalverslager about my son, Pieter de Wint. On the contrary I declare that during my separation from my son, I have heard nothing about him except what was good. So, also during the time I was with him, I can give no other than good testimony regarding his conduct. I have requested my son, Pieter de Wint, to summon me to appear before the judge to make a statement to that effect under oath; but he replied that it would not be necessary, and that this statement, made before witnesses would be enough. I therefore, hereby request the Rev. Coetus of New York to send a copy of it to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, in order that it may see from this, what an evil deed was done, and that, alas! by a minister. In confirmation of all that is stated above, I have, before the witnesses present, signed my hand. Done at St. Thomas, September 2, 1752. Catharina de Wint. We, the undersigned, elders and deacons of the Dutch Reformed Church of this place, do hereby testify that we were present to see Mrs. Catharine de Wint sign the above certificate with her own hand. 1752 ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. 1752, Sept. 4th. There was read a letter to Rev. Wynstok, minister at Harderwyk, concerning the case of Peter de Wind, which was approved. Since then there has come in a letter, with certain enclosures, from Peter de Wind, relating to his case. This was sent to the Messrs. Deputies. They are directed to write him, that if he thinks he has any cause for action against Rev. Wynstok, he must institute the same in the place where it belongs. In this event, the Rev. Classis will act as circumstances require. xii. 304. Referred to, xxiv. 12. Brill, Ritzema, de Ronde, Haaghoort, Suriname. Art. 9. The case of Brill remains in statu. The Messrs. Deputies shall write about it to Rev. Meynders, at Embden, as actuarius of the Coetus. The business of Ritzema and de Ronde, remains in statu, and will be answered in the letters to the Coetus of New York. A reply to Rev. Haaghoort was read and approved. In the Suriname affair, an extract from the request of Mr. de Vries was read; also a letter from the gentlemen of the Suriname Society to the Hon. General Sporke. The Deputies were thanked for the communication, and were directed also to thank the gentlemen of the Society, in the name of the Classis. xii. 305. ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Letters from Foreign Lands. Art. 14. A letter from the Coetus of New York to the Classis of Amsterdam, dated April 17, 1752, was read, together with the Acta of an extra meeting of September 10, 1751, and extra sessions of October 16, 1751, and April 14, 1752. Besides this there was an enclosure, signed by Rev. Ritzema. There was also a letter from Rev. Theodore Frielinghuysen of Albany, dated May 1, 1751. A reply to the latter was approved. See further, Acts of Deputies, Sept. 4, 1752. xii. 306. 1752 THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. The Classis of Amsterdam to Rev. Gerard Haeghoort, September 4, 1752. Vol. 30, page 281, No. 151. Ref. xxiv. 12. To Rev. Gerard Haeghoort of Second River. Worthy Sir and Brother: Yours of July 17, 1750, reached us in due time, as also the one of Dec. 6, 1751. Had the first been couched in friendly and proper terms, we would have gladly replied to it in a similar spirit. But the expressions used therein showed that friendship and propriety were not taken into the account. This led us to decide not to trouble ourselves about replying. We would gladly exchange thoughts with you in a friendly manner, but when missives do not conform thereto it is best to consign them to oblivion. The answer to your second letter we were obliged to defer until the present time, because not until now have we received the letter and the Minutes of the Coetus of New York. From these we had hoped to obtain more light upon your protest against that Body, and the now deceased clerk extraordinary, (Rev. Gualterus) Du Bois. To our sorrow, however, we must say that we did not gain the light desired, to enable us to judge of your protest according to the ale "Audi ad alteram partem." Meantime we hope that some way may be discovered to settle the differences between you and the Coetus in an amicable manner. To this end we urge you to strive with all your might. We expect the Coetus also, from its side will heartily co-operate. Thus may you associate with the brethren in unity and harmony, so desirable. To this end we pray the Lord's blessing to rest upon you, that you may glorify your ministry, and may be able to rejoice that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. We are with all affection, Amsterdam, In Classical Assembly, September 4, 1752. Signed as before. 1752 ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. The Classis of Amsterdam to Rev. Theodore Frelinghuysen, To Rev. Theodore Frelinghuysen of Albany: Worthy Sir and Much-esteemed Brother: Your letter of May 1st 1751 did not come to hand until July 3, 1752, and hence we could not answer it earlier. We learn from it with satisfaction that you have done your utmost to prevail upon your Consistory at Albany to join the Rev. Coetus of New York, and we are sorry that you fear your efforts may be unsue cessful. We will be gratified if you will persevere in urging this matter, knowing well that those who persevere finally conquer. We notice that you seem to have been affected by certain words in our letter of May 5, 1749. You desire to know the reasons of our objections that you may explain them away. We answer that the request in your letter was put too much in the form of a de mand; that the arguments you employed, viz., that the refusal of your request would cause unpleasantness, and would discourage others who might desire to study, are not arguments which car persuade us to permit matters which we could hardly justify before the higher Ecclesiastical Assemblies. However, since you! say that you wrote that letter in a great hurry, we gladly overlook those things and consider them as closed. Messrs. Ferdinand and Jacobus Frelinghuysen with Barent Vrooman were examined for ordination and ordained for their settlements on July 3, 1752. All three of them gave great satis faction to our Assembly, so that we had no hesitancy in admitting them. We hear, also, indirectly, that their examination for licensure before the Classis of Utrecht was passed with great satisfaction to that body. We congratulate you thereupon, and trust that the Lord will sustain them with all strength of soul and body, and make their ministry glorious. May they be successful instruments in the hands of God to the building up of the King dom of Jesus. We wish the same also for you. We remain, Amsterdam, Sept. 4, 1752. Signed as above. |