fore, to your Revs.' own resolution. This is a matter to our grief, and of shame to your Revs. There is much that I had to write to your Revs., even as I promised; but, as correspondence is refused me, for I have gotten no answer even to any of my former letters (about the Church), I shall pass over to my own personal matters. I remark only, that everything in your Revs. letter looks strange to me; for you intimate that it is my desire to have a Classis here, etc. But my circumstances are so critical and painful; the church here is also so entirely rent and divided by discord and tumult, that the desire to do so (write?) fails me. Little redress is to be found anyhow; and I have to help myself as best I can. It has gone so far, as I have told your Revs. heretofore, that I have bought a place for a refuge for myself and my family; for it is probable that I shall have to give up my place, (Belleville), and, in some way or other, find means for support. My sole request is, that the Classis, if it has still some mercy left, and will still take any knowledge of brethren who are in tribulation, as well as of schismatics, would send me, in answer to all my complaints, their decision or judgement to the following effect: Whether a church is bound to fulfill the conditions of its call; and, according to that call, to pay me my salary, and to deal justly with me. Ecclesiastical judgement has always been given by the Coetus, to take effect according to English law. I have my fears as to the result, however; and may be obliged to have those who signed my call arrested. I have waited as long as I possibly could; but will now be compelled to do this, as there is nothing else to be done; everything has been tried. Men turn things upside down. They reproach me even for complaining to the Classis, and thus making known what they are. Wishing you every blessing, I remain respectfully, Very Reverend Sirs and Brethren, Second River, Jan. 15, 1754. Your Revs. obedient servant, but oppressed brother, P. S. Herewith, your Revs., goes also a letter of fine talk, tiresome all around, for reasons given. May these (mine?) not be tiresome! Vale! No. 206. Received March 11, 1754. Pr. couvert [under cover] of Hendrik Van Eiberger. ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. William Jackson. 1754, April 1st. Art. 10. William Jackson had been called by the church of Bergen and Staten Island but had been prevented by illness from presenting himself before this Assembly. He had requested by word of mouth of the Depp. ad res Exteras that he might be examined, preparatorily and finally, at the next Classis. This was granted him, and a text shall be assigned him by the Examiner in the Hebrew and the Greek. xii. 371. ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Letters from New York. 1754, April 2nd. Art. 11. The Rev. Depp. ad res Exteras have received the Acta of Coetus of New York, of Sep. 1753, with several enclosures; also a letter from Kings County, where 1754 1754 Arondeus still exercises his ministry, of November 28, 1758; also a letter from that consistory of Jamaica, which was elected under Arondeus, and was declared unlawful by the Coteus, dated May 5, 1753, with many enclosures; also a letter from that consistory of Jamaica which was elected under Rev. Ritzema, and declared lawful by the Coetus, of October 16, 1753. ...... The substance of all these was conveyed to the Classis, and the Depp. were asked to reply to them. The same was done also with two letters from Rev. John Frielinghuysen of Raritan, of June 25, and ...... August 1753. He was to be requested to operate through the Coetus. Two letters were also read from Rev. Theodore Frielinghuysen of Albany, of September 20, and October 15, 1753. Finally there was also read a letter from Bergen and Staten Island, written by the consistory there, on October 5, 1753, which does not need to be answered. xii. 373. CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA. Rev. John Frielinghuysen to the Classis of Amsterdam, April 25, 1754. Portfolio "New York", Vol. ii. Extracts, Vol. xxiii; 486-8. Very Reverend Fathers in Christ, Members of the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam:Yours of Sept. 3rd, came to hand yesterday. I find myself honored by a reply to my letter of April of the same year, (1753) and by some information concerning matters relating to Mr. (Thomas) Romeyn. I thank your Revs. for your paterns: admonitions, on account of some things done by me in the business of that impeded call, which acts of mine appear to your Revs. as somewhat out of order; and because you did not find sufficient reason therefor in what I brought forward in justification. Nevertheless, humbly and with due respect for your Revs.' usual deliberation and prudence, I surmise that it would have been fully as proper if your Revs. had waited until accusations had been brought against me in a legal way; and, according to my expectation and request, and your customary observance of order, you had let me come to your Revs. first through the Coetus. For now, while I am thankful to your Revs. for overlooking the severe and extravagant expressions used, to characterize the unruly ones at Jamaica; and am also obliged to you, for the kindliness of your admonition; I nevertheless feel that I have done nothing save what leaves me the testimony of a good conscience before God, and a resolute countenance before men. Nor do I doubt that, on a nearer view of those matters, your Revs. will see in them much that is strange and out of order, and find reasons enough for my allowing myself to be used in the making out of that call. These reasons I did not give your Revs.; for, as I remember, my communication to you was for the purpose of showing that, if I did not act quite properly in allowing myself to be used in the making out of that call, such impropriety ought to bring punishment on me, not on those who made out the call, or ea him who received the call. At the same time I was ready to show the Coetos, before which I had summoned my accusers, that I had not sinned against the? Body. For, the love of peace and prudence and your own adherence to Order, for bade me to defend myself in any other way except through the Coetus. Think for 2. That he had refused to serve the church as moderator. 3. That he considered those making the call to be an illegal Consistory. 4. That he acted as moderator to keep the call from being partisan, and probably also, to have it stand them in stead of that of Arondeus, as against the action of the Coetus. 5. There is to be considered, moreover, the constitutional regulation of our Coetus. This was made before any one of the native-born brethren had become members, and was to the effect, that every church should have liberty to ask whomsoever she pleased, (to assist in making out a call.) For which reason it is something unusual and more of a usurpation than a right (for any one) to appoint a moderator (for such business.) Nothing of all this could well come up for your choice (consideration?) unless it had passed through the Coetus. But now consider the circumstance how I came to these churches, unexpectedly, as I informed you on a previous occasion. Take it for granted, that I came there in an orderly manner. Take into consideration the particular reasons given; the helpless condition of the church; and also the young man who was the choice of that church. Thus the matter having been brought to this Crisis-should I let the call go, by default, or allow myself to be used as a mere counselor. But sacrificing my own respect, ease and profit, for the welfare of the Church of Christ, I undertook this thing. I knew well enough that the adherents of Arondeus, who always show me, to my face, a great deal of respect, would bring into play their secret antagonism. I also knew the disposition of others in this matter; that de Ronde would complain to the Rev. Coetus; but I knew also that I would not be compelled to give way, as the event proved. In the evening before the opening of the Coetus, having been invited by the servant girl of the above named gentleman to take supper with him, and not having heard a word of dissatisfaction from him; judge of my surprise the next morning in the Coetus, to see his countenance swollen, as he proceeded to have a complaint entered against me in the Coetus. I sat speechless until it had been entered and twice read, and understood. Then noticing how the matter had been managed, I asked to be permitted to bring a written answer in the afternoon, in order that my defense might neither gain nor lose by the inclination of the members. So I did write it, and read it to the Assembly. Whereupon, after having absented myself, Mr. de Ronde and the Assembly told me that they were willing to withdraw the complaint, if I would withdraw my defense, which was a bold one. This I gladly did, because I felt more like sitting down to weep than to sharpen my pen in matters of dispute. So I stood again without any accusation against me to be presented before your Revs., and without guilt in the presence of my opponents. Now, while I am willing to bear what are my just deserts in private, I kindly ask your Revs. to send me no more public admonitions in letters to the Coetus. Although I have not seen them, yet I have heard the sound of them. I should first be allowed to be publicly accused, and then defended. But, I trust, that, as your Revs. have light enough now on the matters of de Wint and Arondeus-for which you might search through the letters which are favorable to both of them-your Revs. will now see this matter of mine also in its true coloring. And although sorrow has deprived me of all desire to go into such matters; and although my style is obscure and form of expression not altogether pleasing, still I hope I have let your Revs. understand something about that with which I have been charged, and which I have signed; something which may be truthfully and confidently said about it, when matters are known. Meanwhile, I am thankful to your Revs. for the promotion thus far granted, of Mr. Romeyn. The circumstances which arose concerning Jamaica, which occurred because your Revs. were in the dark on the legality of that consistory, have now, I trust, disappeared; and so such things will no more serve as tinder for those fiery spirits. If, in this matter, your Revs. will acquiesce in the action of the Coetus, to which body you have entrusted the treatment of it, everything about the call will be rendered easy and legal. Let me reason thus:-The Coetus appoints a committee. I am left out, but de Ronde is put on that committee, so as to take the force out of that Jamaica protest. 1754 1754 Those protesting, hold, that they who made the call, are an illegal Consistory; the others declare that they are legal. The Coetus, to deprive the protest of its force, holds that those protesting are illegal, while those who made the call are solely and wholly legal. According to the protest the call is illegal. The Coetus wants this refuted. Therefore I hope and pray, that what that legal church has done in the fear of God, and what our Coetus, after sc many years of dealing with those disputes, has conscientiously devised, will not be nullified by your Revs., for the sake of some uncomplying people. But, however it may be, I rejoice in the powerful guidance of God who will bring all things to light in due time; and, in the testimony of my conscience to the fact, that, with tenderness and pity in my soul, I have sought the temporal and eternal welfare of those churches. This is to me a sure reward, although the outcome of my efforts is still uncertain. I can call God to witness, that I share with your Revs. the desire for the peace of those churches; and to the sorrow, the tears, and the prayers offered to Him, in whose fear and to whose honor I have sought to deal with all these matters. In the sorrow of my soul, and under the painful sense of the loss of both my brothers, I wrote your Revs. a request. I am still perplexed by reason of the uncertainty as to its result. I have now sent a copy of the call, extended to my youngest brother by the church of Marbletown,-that church which was deprived of its minister by the death of the one who was very dear to me among my brothers-a call to be laid on your Revs. table. This shows the church's desire; and its weighty reasons, I hope, will be clear to your Revs, and move you to a favorable reply. Mr. Jackson, who was called to Staten Island, I am informed, has safely landed. He has in mind, as I had strongly advised him, (his parents and the church consenting), to study one year more at one of the Universities. It is my desire that this may come about. For the rest, my desire is that, by the grace of God, I may show myself a zealous promoter of peace in all truth and godliness; that the Lord may graciously grant your Revs. rich gifts and graces in your several offices; that your care, your labors and vexations, in connection with our church affairs, may tend to the welfare of our Zion; and that we, over here, may yet have occasion to send up manifold thanksgivings for the benefits that shall come of the guidance of your Reverences, careful, conscientious, kindly and charitable as it is. Such is the wish and sincere prayer of him who signs himself, very respectfully, Rev. Fathers, Members of the Classis of Amsterdam, Raritan, April 25, 1754. THE NEW YORK COLLEGE. Colonial Laws of New York. Chapter 954. An Act to prolong the time limited for Drawing the Lottery Appointed in and by an (Passed, May 1, 1754) WHEREAS by an Act passed the Twelfth day of December last Entituled "Az Act for Raising the Sum of One Thousand One Hundred and Twenty five Pounds by a publick Lottery for this Colony for a further provision towards founding a College within the Same" A Lottery is Erected and the Drawing thereof Appointed to Commence on or before the first Tuesday in June Next And it being Conceived that the Several Matters Required by the Said Act to be done and performed Antecedent to the Said Drawing Cannot be Compleated by that time. BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by his Honour the Lieutenant Governor the Council and the General Assembly and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the Same that Instead of the Sald First Tuesday in June next as is directed by the Aforesaid Act The Drawing of the Said Lottery Shall begin on or before the First Tuesday in October Next And all matters Whatsoever directed by the Said Act to be done and performed by the Said first Tuesday in June Next if done After the Said Day and on or before the first Tuesday in October Next Shall be good and Valid to all Intents Constructions and purposes whatsoever Anything in the Said Act to the Contrary Notwithstanding.-Colonial Laws of New York, Vol. lii. pp. 34. 995. 1754 ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Letters from and to New York. 1754, May 6th. Art. 3. The Rev. Deputies ad res Exteras read a letter from Raritan from Revs. Leich, (John Leydt), John Frielinghuysen, and Henry Visser, an elder, as a committee of the Rev. Coetus of New York, written by order of Coetus, November, 26, 1753. The Rev. Deputies read a letter to be sent to the Coetus of New York in the name of this Assembly, which was approved and will be sent; also a letter to the protesting brethren of Kings County, with reference to the case of Rev. Arondeus; also a letter to the consistory elected at Jamaica under Arondeus, but declared unlawful by the Coetus; and finally a letter to the consistory elected at Jamaica under Ritzema, and declared lawful by the Coetus. xiii. 1. ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. The Classis of Amsterdam to the Coetus of New York, May 6, Rev. Gentlemen and Brethren, Members of the Coetus of New In answer to your letter of Sept. 19th 1753, with the Acta We read in your letter that on Sept. 12, 1753, you finally took positive resolution against Rev. Arondeus and refused to entertain the appeal of J. Lot. The Classis does not desire to interfere in the difficulties which have again arisen, which are mentioned in the Acta Coetus of Sept. 1753, but which are not in legal form; yet it will strongly adhere to the resolutions which allow, that when a new Consistory is chosen from each party in the presence of two members of the Coetus, there shall also be chosen a legal minister. The village of Gravesend, however, is excepted from acting in this affair. But as the Classis has no pastor to propose, it leaves the choice of a worthy person to the congregation. Concerning the Consistories of Jamaica, the Classis has resolved [to recognizse] the one formed by Rev. Ritzema, as well as that |