of peace and union; and also, having understood that many of your Revs. would be inclined thereto: these few lines, therefore, are intended to show that from our side we are not less so inclined. But if this desirable work is to be accomplished, it will be necessary to take action; and means to that end ought to be put in operation. Probably there is no more effective or proper way than for both parties to come together and confer about it. In order therefore, to bring about such a result, we most kindly invite your Revs. (to such a conference), that we may, together, devise means wherby the fire of discord and dissension which has been burning among us for so long a time, may, by the blessing of God, be graciously quenched; and that instead, peace so desirable, with its wholesome fruits may be enjoyed among us, according to the 133 Psalm; "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity," etc. In order to reach such a result, five men have been appointed for that purpose from our side, one from each village; and our request is that the same thing be done by your side. The men who are thus appointed to meet together ought to keep in mind the Savior's saying, "Blessed are the peacemakers", Matt. 5:9. To this request we hope for an early answer. Resting in this expectation, we commend your Revs. to God and to His Grace. Witnessed in the name of all, Flatbush, Aug. 15, 1754. U. Van Sinderen, Minister of the 1754 THE COLLEGE AND THE CHURCH. William Livingston to Chauncey Whittelsey, New Haven. Dear Sir: August 22, 1754. Your brother did me the honour of waiting upon me this morning with your respects, and told me you desired from me a state of our college, and what was, or was like to be its plan and constitution. It was opened last June, in the vestry-room of the school-house belonging to Trinity Church. It consists of seven students, the majority of whom were admitted, though utterly unqualified, in order to make a flourish. They meet for morning prayers in the church, and are like to make as 1754 great a progress in the liturgy as in the science The doctor's advertisement promises stupendous matters...... I have acquainted the trustees with the contents of your last letter, but we have had no meeting since I received it. The plan on which they would fix it, you wil see by the paper enclosed. They expected the governor would have granted the charter on their preferring a petition, and I believe they had some assurance to that purpose; but the noise and uneasiness created by the protest which I pohlished, on purpose to create such a noise and uneasiness, have so puzzled his h- -r .... that he has hitherto deferred his answer. The protest has indeed excited so great a fermentation in the province, that in consequence a the reasons therein urged, and some other steps that had been taken by me and my friends for rousing the people to an opposition, several of the members in our present session of Assembly are come with petitions from their constituents to them. against granting any further fund for the college till its constitution and government be settled by an act of legislation. The adverse party are also making interest with the members, to nod over the affair and leave it to the management of th trustees. But I believe we have a majority who will enter into an examination of their conduct, and vote for incorporating it by Act of Assembly: Had the printers not been overawed from publishing anything on the subject in their newspapers. I am confident we should have raised so great a fervour in the provinces, as nothing but a catholic scheme would have been able to extinguish. However, a new press will be set up in the fall, and then I am persuaded (if not then too late) the trumpet will not cease to blow in Zion. After the session, I shall acquaint you with the event of this affair. Some of the members are greatly exasperated against the trustees, but they have better hearts than heads, and are browbeat and nonplused by some of the house of better capseity than themselves. But they are lately inspired with much fortitude by the promise of a foreign aid, which I believe will render them a match for their antagonists. The act proposed and every other requisite will be prepared to their hands. With respect to my own transactions in this matter, as I have not been withor the thanks of some, I have not wanted the malediction of others. Those who were at the bottom of the partial plan I opposed, and who thought it just on the point of being carried into execution, when I published the very scheme they had, not a fortnight before, absolutely disowned from having in view, will never forgive me: as this effectually prevented all possibility any longer to conceal their intentions of monopolizing the management of the college, they waxed exceeding wrath, and 1 repaid their anger by laughing at their resentment. I am, etc. William Livingston. -Sedgewick's Life of Wm. Livingston, pp. 91-93 ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. The Classis of Amsterdam to the Consistory of Lower Rhinebeck, To the Rev. Consistory of Lower Rhinebeck, on the Flats of Dutchess County: Very Rev. and Much Beloved Brother (Brethren): All that your Revs. contemptuously write in your former letter of May 27, 1754, being fully expressed in ours of Dec. 5, 1752, we must refer your Revs. to that, and request that your RevS be pleased to conduct yourselves according to the Postscript. Everything must be dropped, and all things done in order. We pity the woful condition of the churches. and pray God for your Revs. and the Church. Wishing you every grace and blessing we remain, Very Reverend and much beloved brethren, your very Revs.' very dutiful servants and brethren, In the name of the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, Joh. Alb. Van Muyden, Rev. Cl. of Amst. et depp. Cl. ad res ext. p. t. Praeses Amsterdam, in our Classical Assembly, Sept. 2, 1754 CHURCH OF NEW YORK. Domine Boel's Widow. Salaries. 1754 New York, September 15, 1754. Consistory held after calling on God's name. Resolved 1st. That the widow of Domine Boel shall receive the full salary for the quarter, now expired, in which her husband died, and shall have the free use of the house until May 1755. 2. That the salary of the minister shall henceforth be increased to two hundred pounds, it being understood that this is an addition of ten pounds to the former increase. The old minister had for the entire service, in both churches, one hundred and fifty-five pounds, with fifteen pounds for fire wood. Besides this twenty pounds were afterwards given on certain conditions, and they pledged themselves to attend to the catechizing, private as well as public. This done in Consistory. Signed in the name of all. CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. J. Ritzema, President. Acts of the Deputies. Sept.? 1754. (Abstract.) No. 222. Answer, 46. Letter from Kings County on Long Island, of March 29, 1754; signed by the elders John Lott and John Couwenhoven. They state that they are the old Consistory of the Church of Kings County. On Sept. 18, 1753, they protested against the utterance of the sentence of the Coetus on Rev. Arondeus, both as consistory and congregation; and that, no answer having been received thereto from the Classis, Rev. Arondeus as early as last year departed. And that after much slinging (Dutch: slingeringe) about by Rev. van Sinderen and his party, they had finally unanimously chosen the peace-loving and estimable Rev. Antonius Curtenius, who had been for more than twenty-four years the praiseworthy pastor at Hackensack. He had accepted this call, on condition that the reunion of the parties in the church should be proposed to Van Sinderen and his party, by the election of a New Consistory for the whole church, whereby the foundations of peace might be laid. That then his friends should see what they could contribute towards a salary for him. This should also then be approved on their side, beyond the total which by him (?) should be paid to Rev. Curtenius. That the proposal was rejected by van Sinderen and his followers, although Rev. Curtenius wrote to Rev. van 1754 Sinderen, that he was willing to join friendly hands with van Sinderen, to promote the peace and to supply van Sinderen's arrears of salary. Van Sinderen objected that he, Rev. Curtenits but that since Arondeus was an unlawful pastor in consequence his consistory was also illegal; and from its illegality followed the illegality of the call; which they deny. They give as reason, why they did not previously unite the consistories that then they would not have been able to chose a minister to their general satisfaction; and also because, when Rev. Mancius once had preached there, they had made out a call to him, by which signatures they deemed themselves authorized to call. Their request is, that the Classis would approve this call (to Curtenius) as lawful, assuring us that this would tend to peace. They request a speedy answer, expecting the coming of Rev. Curtenius at the earliest opportunity. xxiii. 419-420. COETUS OF NEW YORK. Portfolio of "New York", Vol. ii. Meeting of the Reverend Coetus at New York, Sept. 17-19, 1754. The Rev. Assembly had, to its sorrow and regret, learned that the Rev. Jeb Frielinghuysen, on his way hither, even as far as Long Island, had by a sudden attack, been taken home out of this life; and that, therefore, his Rev. did not reach his destination, while we, also, must be deprived of his Rev's, presence and help. As Rev. de Ronde, whose turn it was to preside, did not appear that day, the Rev. Assembly chose Rev. J. Ritzema as temporary adsessor. Tuesday forenoon. 1. The Minute relating to the improvement of the Coetus, or to the setting of it on a better footing, was read from the records of the Coetus last held. The menbers were asked in turn by the president to give their views on that minute. Ther several suggestions were also heard. The result was, that some of the brethre advised that the Coetus remain in statu quo, but be freed from what was defective; while others held that there must be an improvement which would amount to a transformation. 2. Resolved that the reading of the Classical letters be next in order. The meeting was closed with thanksgiving to God. Time of meeting in the afternoon, 2:30. Afternoon. The meeting was opened with prayer. 1. A complaint was brought in by the Rev. Consistory of Fishkill against Rev. Benj. Meinema. It was resolved to consider it the next morning at 10 o'clock. 2. The Classical letters of Sept. 3, 1753, of Jan. 8 and May 6, 1754, were read. 3. According to previous suggestions, it was decided by a sufficient unanimity of votes, that an effort be made to get the Coetus changed into a Classis; the exact form of which to be left for further consideration. 4. It was decided that a plan in brief be drawn up indicating the form which the Wednesday forenoon. The Rev. Assembly having been opened with prayer to God, 1. The minutes of the previous session were read, and the errors noted, were corrected. 2. It was resolved that Rev. John Ritzema preside at all the sessions. 3. The complaints of the consistory of Fishkill were read, and oral explanations heard. It was resolved that Revs. Erikson, A. Curtenius and D. Marinus, together with their elders, be a committee to go to Fishkill as soon as possible, to deal there with the matters brought in, according to certain instructions; and, in order to gain this salutary object, it was recommended that Rev. R. Erikson preach a PeaceSermon there. This duty was by him accepted. The meeting closed with thanksgiving to God. Afternoon. The meeting was opened with prayer. 1. On "Instructions" for the Committee going to Fishkill, there were appointed as a committee, Revs. G. Haeghoort, John Leydt, J. C. Fryenmoet and Verbryck, with the order that they report in the morning at 9 o'clock. 2. The Committee appointed to draw up a plan, outlining the form of the Classis, made a report of their work. This was approved and accompanies this. (See below.) 3. Two of the members of the Fishkill consistory being present, heard the action taken by the Rev. Assembly and acquiesced in the same. 4. Two elders from Jamaica, of the party which had called Rev. Thomas Romeyn, being present, expressed their desire for a report from the Classis relative to their matters; and (learned that the Classis had) left their matters further to the Rev. Coetus. With thanksgiving to God the meeting adjourned. Time of meeting in the morning, 9 o'clock. Thursday forenoon, 9 o'clock. The meeting was opened with prayer. 1. The Committee appointed to prepare instructions, for the Committee appointed on the matters at Fishkill, made a report. This, after some amendments, was approved, and accompanies these minutes. 2. It was represented to the Assembly that Rev. Mancius, regardless of the warnIng of Rev. Ulp. Van Sinderen, had undertaken to preach for the party of Arondeus, 1754 |