1753 CORRESPONDENCE IN AMERICA. His Opponents, to Rev. U. Van Sinderin, Oct. 25, 1753. No. II. Sir:-A long time ago, when we had a difference with you, we informed you that we dismissed you from service, and declared to you that we intended to pay your salary no longer. We have however, found it difficult to prove that we deposed you from our service, and to indicate the time when we did that. We, therefore, again, in this way, and by this writing, inform you that it never entered our minds, or the mind of any one of us, that we were, or could be held liable, personally, for your salary. And, in order to be relieved of that burden, as soon as we can, we hereby again depose you from our service, and desire that you be no longer our minister. We are determined, if possible, to pay you no more money on account of your salary. You have in no way acted in accordance with your call, or conducted yourself in such a manner as was agreed between us. In witness hereof we sign our hands this 25th day of October, 1753. Jeremyas Remsen, Dominicus Van der Vier, Phillippus Nagel, Hermanus Hooglandt, Rutgert Van Brunt, To the Rev. Ulpianus Van Sinderen, Folkert Folkertsen, The above communication is a translation of a letter in English, written to Rev. Van Sinderen by those whose names are subscribed thereto. They are the persons who called me (Arondeus) from Holland and have now again called Curtenius. CORRESPONDENCE IN AMERICA. Request of the churches of Marbletown, etc. that Henry Frelinghuysen be ordained by the Coetus. to by Rev. Theodore Frelinghuysen. Nov. 3, 1753. Portfolio "New York", Vol. ii. Certified We, the undersigned, elders and deacons, constituting the consistories of the three combined Reformed Churches at Marbletown, Rochester and Wawarsing, do hereby certify that it is the hearty desire and humble request of all of our churches that the student, Henricus Frielinghuysen, be next spring appointed to the preaching of God's Holy Word by the Rev. Coetus at New York. Pieter Cantyn, Frederick Schoonmaker, Wessel Brodhead, Louis Bevier, Stephen Nottingham, Thomas Sammen, Hendricus Jansen, Ceseryk, Nov. 3, 1753. Solomon Van Wagenen, Egbert de Wit, The above is a true copy of an original writing signed by the consistories of those 246. 1. 1753 CHURCH OF OYSTER BAY, L. I. Pledge of Rev. Thomas Romeyn, Nov. 3, 1753, Vol. 31, page .. The Classis of Amsterdam having learned through the pastor at Jamaica and Oyster Bay that a call had been given to Mr. Romeyn on Nov. 27, 1752; and having also noticed that in Jamaica there are two Consistories, and that the one has protested and appealed to Classis: First, against the legality of that Consistory at Jamaica which has made the call; and Secondly, against the call itself on Rev. Thomas Romeyn: therefore, the Classis was not able to approve the call, so far as Jamaica was concerned, so long as it had not the necessary light concerning the legality of that Consistory; but it has approved the call of the church of Oyster Bay, and has also ordained Rev. Thomas Romeyn, after the usual qualification and examination, as pastor of Oyster Bay, but on the express condition that Rev. Thomas Romeyn shall promise the Classis in writing, as follows: I, Thomas Romeyn, called as pastor of the churches of Jamaica and Oyster Bay, Nov. 27, 1752, having heard of the protest and appeal by a certain Consistory of Jamaica against the legality of the Consistory which has called me, as well as the protest and appeal against my call made by the said church; do hereby conscientiously promise and declare as follows: 1. Acknowledging that I have accepted the call, I will fulfill all the duties of a faithful minister in the one church, depending on the Lord for his blessing. 2. Concerning the Call of the Church of Jamaica, I hereby promise and declare that I will not undertake the duties of pastor of that church, before the appeal and protest against the legality of said call, as pastor of the church of Jamaica and Oyster Bay. have been settled by the Coetus of New York; or if it cannot be decided there by the Classis of Amsterdam, or if necessary, by the Christian Synod of North Holland. 3. That I will become a member of the Coetus of New York subjecting myself to their equitable laws, resolutions and decisions. according to Church Order, including the right of appeal to the Classis of Amsterdam and the Synod of North Holland, if I may have any objections thereto. 4. Finally, I promise to encourage, as much as possible, quietness and peace, in the churches of Oyster Bay and Jamaica, as well as in the churches of Newtown and Hampstead, which were formerly connected with Jamaica and Oyster Bay. Done at Amsterdam, Nov. 3rd, 1753. Thomas Romeyn. Jacob de Jonge, V.D.M., Amst. Depp. Classis, h. t. Praeses. John Albert van Muyden, V.D.M., Amst. Depp. Classis, h. t. Scriba. PETITION OF THE DUTCH CHURCH OF NEW YORK TO BE ALLOWED TO To the Honourable James De Lancy Esq. his Majesty's Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America In Councill The Humble Petition of the Ministers Elders and Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the City of New York. Sheweth That your Petitioners intending to apply to the General Assembly of this Province for leave to bring a Bill into that Honorable House to enable them to sell and dispose of those Lands known by the name of the Manor of Fordham in the County of Westchester either altogether or in parcels as they shall Judge best to and for the use and benefit of their said Church Did (pursuant to his Majesty's Royal Instructions relating to the passing of private Bills in this province) cause an Advertisement to be affixed on the door of the parish Church in Westchester declaring their said Intentions where the same remained upwards of four Weeks successively. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray that they may have leave to make proof to your Honor and this Honorable Board of the said Advertisement being so affixed and Remaining on the door of the said Parish Church and that the same may be entered in the Council Books and a Certificate thereof granted to your petitioners and your petitioners as in duty bound shall pray, etc. Signed in behalf of ourselves & ye rest of ye Petitioners. Henricus Boel, p. t. Praeses. 1753 21st Nov. 1753 Read in Council & granted. New York, September 27, 1753. ADVERTISEMENT. Publick Notice is hereby given That the Minister, Elders and Deacons, of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the City of New York, do intend to apply to the Governor, Council, and General Assembly of this Colony, for leave to bring in a Bill to enable them to sell and dispose of those Lands known by the name of the Manor of Fordham, in the County of Westchester, either all together or in 1753 Parcels, as they shall Judge best, to and for the use and Benefit of their said City of ss. Joost Vredenburgh of the Manor of Fordham in the County of CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA. The Coetus, (per Revs. John Leydt, John Frelinghuysen and Portfolio "New York", Vol. ii. Extracts, Vol. xxiii. 398, 401. The Very Reverend Classis of Amsterdam; Very Reverend Sirs and Fathers in Christ: We, the Commissioners of the Rev. Coetus, appointed to make reply to the protes of the Arondeans at Jamaica, in Queens County, did not receive their so-called pro test, and, with it, their address to the Rev. Coetus until the 17th of Novem 1753. It was as late as the 6th (16?) inst. when it was handed in by the spect scribe, although it was dated September 11th. It had been promised (to be bas in) a week from the time the Coetus adjourned. (This delay was) for no ear reason, as we think, than to prevent the making of a reply and thus to shun 17 light. For, when one of us made a demand for it, it was refused; although it ** sent on later. In like manner, they of Kings County at first refused to give reasons, saying, "The Coetus would refute them", etc. We find the protest to be, in the main, the same that was presented before the Coetus in September last. We can, therefore, acquiesce in the minute of the answer given by the Coetus. In further explanation, however, we may say this, repeating what, (referring to earlier documents) cannot be unknown to the Rev. Classis; that at Jamaica there are two so-called consistories. How came these two to exist? First: those who fell away from (Rev. J. H.) Goetschius, forsaking their post, called themselves a consistory. The late Rev. (T. J.) Frielinghuysen was invited. He together with an elder, Mr. Lott, and one or two deacons who had remained firm, chose and installed another consistory among the friends of Rev. Goetschius. Afterward, upon the removal of Rev. Goetschius, (to Hackensack), the Rev. Classis ordered the forming of another consistory. This was to be a consistory for all, and one to the satisfaction of both parties. It was to be effected by the Coetus, through its Commissioners or a neighboring minister, etc. The Commissioners of the Coetus, Revs. (G.) du Bois and (J.) Ritzema, with elder Banker,-made the attempt. They proposed four or five conditions (articles) according to one of which they would have to make their choice. Those who had forsaken Rev. Goetschius, selected one (of the articles) for that purpose. This is about the only instance in which they spoke the truth. The others selected the same article, but did so from fear of domination, by the introduction of (other) ministers. Lukewarm, if not hostile toward vital godliness, and having joined themselves to the Coetus, the deserters had no desire that the future consistory should be under the Coetus, and amenable to it, by the subscription of their names. This appears from their own copy of a communication addressed to the Commissioners. The Commissioners thought the other best; and this is the other article, enclosed herewith, and mentioned in their communication, which as they say, they could not agree to;-because the spirit of independence and false accusations would then come under some restraint, and the evil doings, still persisted in and covered up, would then be brought to the light. But the deserters refused this, namely, to stand under the Coetus. They broke with the Commissioners and summoned Arondeus. He was neither then, nor is now, a legal minister on Long Island. He chose and installed a consistory for them, without in the least recognizing the others. The elder Lott, becoming aware of this, protested against it; but they paid no attention to it. How this now can agree with their boasted conformity to classical order, we leave the Rev. Classis to judge. That they were unwilling to trust the Ccetus with the further discussion of all these matters, appears from their going directly to the Classis with their returned protest. And now they claim for themselves the first decision, by saying that they are legal; and they want to be so recognized by the Classis, as, (say they) they always have been. But this needs to be proved, and, they say, surely will be, when the Classis comes to hear how the Commissioners have been misled by lies, etc. But we say, they surely will be declared illegal, if the Classis is no more misled by lies, than the Commissioners have been. On the other hand, the Commissioners had to help the other side as best they could, according to classical order. Rev. Ritzema, with unwearied efforts and under painful reproaches received from them, too many and too shameful to relate-tried to help them, and that, briefly, in the following manner: He sought to persuade, first the one party, and then the other, to unite. After the election, he urged them to drop both consistories and to choose one (new one) for all, etc.; but all was in vain. He finally proceeded to install a new consistory for the party which submitted to the Coetus. These were informally to hold it until the still hoped for union might be secured (?) Although now in conflict with a raging and protesting party, the use of courteous (uncourteous?) weapons was to be avoided, it could not be in the Dutch Church. Four years ago, surely, they ought to have protested against the act, if it was unecclesiastical; but it was not done then. The hope for union is now cut off more than ever. For what the protesting party call a monstrous thing, yea, the very extreme of disorder, they themselves committed long ago by making out a sort of call upon, as it seems, the incorrigible Arondeus. To him, against the decision of Classis, they stubbornly continued to adhere, but more from an envious party-spirit than from any love to him. And, what is more, they broke the bond of union which existed between the four churches in Queens County, in reference to calls, by joinng themselves to certain ones in Kings County, who have about the same standing s themselves. Thus they have already formed a church within a church, etc. 1753 |