upon the circumstance of Frielinghuysen's operations, claiming that thereby, "he had broken up the Coetus", etc. The disruption of the Coetus was after all, the chief object; but accusing others of it, was the artifice employed. For before this, it had, in many ways been insisted (gewronge en gedronge, wrenched and urged) that the Coetus was disrupted; and this also seems to have opened the way for the wrong doings of Revs. Curtenius, Ritzema and Haaghoort. The one organized a church within a church at Hackensack, etc.-a case which, further explained and acted on, is now upon the table of the Classis. The other has accepted a call among the followers of Arondeus, with a consistory which the Coetus had emphatically declared to be illegal; and that without any approach to union between the parties. In every way and in every circumstance, it was as in the case of Arondeus, whom the Classis and the Cœtus declared to be an illegal minister, there, etc. The third did, by advising, and yielding, (raadgevinge en inly vinge) fall in with it, [the plan for a Classis], etc. It became altogether necessary now to say, "There is no more any Coetus;" for otherwise things would come to light before the opening of Classis, and previous resolutions would take effect, etc. At this stage of the case a Convention was held last May [1755] for the purpose of inquiring whether the matters of a Classis and Seminary ought to be laid before the Synod, as the minutes of that meeting show. At this Rev. Haaghoort rises up with a protest against the meeting, against what had been done, what was being done, or what might ever be done. He had taken a great deal of trouble, also, to get his party to protest, but had not succeeded, save with the Trustees, the new heads at Hackensack. But the consistory of Paramus, its minister being absent, and his own consistory were not willing to protest. And he is still writing letters to consistories against their ministers, so as to cause divisions where there yet is peace. Such action had some foundation, in Rev. Frielinghuysen's going around among the churches, without having been appointed thereto by the Coetus, etc. But the idea especially sought to be conveyed, is, that the very object of the Coetus is broken up, by seeking the organization of a Classis; whereas it is, on the contrary, thereby confirmed and advanced. But this man is known of old, for his protesting character, and making trouble in the Coetus; yea, he is a man, who, from the moment of his arrival, has dealt deceitfully with churches; is filled with the love of honor and power, and is known to be an idle glutton. Being that kind of a man, the result is, that his church has nearly dwindled away; and another call he cannot get, much as he has sought it. By reason of the restlessness mentioned, and the zealous urgency of the complainants, the Convention [of May, 1755] found itself, in conscience, obliged to call a special meeting of the Coetus. The character of this meeting the minutes indicate. The cavilers then fell upon that. It had not been legally called; the Coetus was thereby broken up, etc. But we thought differently, and we proceeded with the business as the circumstances required. Rev. Ritzema then, too, said, "There was still a Coetus, or there ought to be." But, as he has, more than once, acted and spoken deceitfully, or because he changed his opinion again, when he found that the Coetus would be held again at the regular time, he raised a new objection, which he made known in a correspondence with Rev. Leydt. To a friendly question proposed to his Rev., whether it would not be well for his Rev., as Special Scribe, to send a Circular Letter to all the brethren, members of the Coetus, to urge them to union again; and among other reasons, to press the importance of union with heart and soul, in order to seek the welfare of God's Church: to this he gave the following answer: "In reply to your question, this must serve as an answer; that, although I am still the Special Scribe of the Coetus, I neither shall, nor am I able to call a Coetus, for the Coetus has been broken up by you all. Do you still call yourself a Coetus? but call the child by its right name, for you are Frielinghuysen's Coetus; and, since you are such, the letter from the Classis belongs to us, and not to you; and will, as I trust, be opened by us, and afterwards used, etc." He took this position for reasons which are, possibly, best known to himself. In this state of mind the regular Coetus still found him; for, a week before the regular session, he, with two or three other brethren, had held a sort of a session. Consequently, he refused to send us, when assembled at the regularly appointed time, any of the books or papers that belonged to the Coetus, as appears from our minutes. He was told by the other brethren not to do it, [not to send books etc.], Which matter, therefore, we bring before the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam. When by letter asked to appear before us to explain his part in counseling Rev. Cur 1755 1755 tenius, and in installing him, on Long Island, he refused to do so. This, the Be it further known, that he has acted in his own church in such a way, t in the matter of the Episcopal College at New York, [Kings College), in whlab intermeddled, making a request for [a Theological Professorship for] the without having consulted his consistory, etc., that his consistory cited in appear before them, and recorded in their Church Book several points that we charged against him, and protested against them. It is far from the truth, is that the entire consistory of New York agrees with him in his opposition to bar a Classis and a Seminary in this country. There are several of them, and they by no means the least, who are in favor of these things. Thus it is, therefore, that not only the peace, but especially the preservation the Dutch Church in New York, keeping it from going entirely over to the Eas [Church] demand that we should have something more of organization than now have. Such is the case also with several other churches. Their earnest deste are that our Mother-Church in Holland, whose sound Confession of Faith and exelent Discipline must be as precious to her as it is to us, will take compassion A consider our condition, and help us in furthering the measures for redress 201 improvement. That these things are so, in very truth, we, the Regular Coetus, testify. This 14th of October, 1755, New York. Johannes Leydt, p. t. Praeses. b. t. Scriba No. 245, I. CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA. Rev. Theodore Frielinghuysen to the Classis of Amsterdam, O 22, 1755. Portfolio, "New York", Vol. ii. To the Very Rev. Sirs, the Very Rev. Classis of Amsterdam: Rev. Fathers, Highly Respected Brethren in the Lord, the Very Rev. Class's Peace and joy be multiplied unto your Reverences! Although I had hoped to enjoy the privilege of appearing before your Reversi Body in person for the Rev. Coetus had charged me with a certain commiss (which with the help, and through the mediation of, the Rev. Classis of Amster dam, I was to lay before the very Rev. Synods), namely, the matter of establishing among us a Classis and an Academy; I shall have to be satisfied, for the present with this communication; for I am kept from going on my journey, partly by the unwillingness of my church to be without my services for so long a time, and partly by the rumors of war. I take the liberty of laying upon the table of the Very Rev. Classis, the accom panying papers, in order that your Revs. may be able to form a preliminary jed ment on the state of things among us. The minutes of the Conference (May 2 1755, and of the Special Coetus in connection with that occasion, are herewith despatched. The minutes of the regular Coetus [Oct. 7-14, 1755] I hope to send by the next opportunity, so that, in case these should be lost, [drift off, misdrobberel the others may come to hand safely. Our church matters here have reached an important crisis, and the only remedy that can heal our difficulties seems to be the one which we are now seeking. Shed that remedy not be secured, it is likely that everything will fall into disorder 254 get beyond the hope of any remedy. Since my church refuses to let me make the journey, notwithstanding the prose of the brethren of the Coetus to supply it in my absence, I humbly request that may please your Revs. to give orders to my church to let me go to carry out the purpose for which the Rev. Coetus has delegated me. Many things I would call up to the remembrance of your Revs., if it were not that I still cherish the hope of soon appearing before your Revs. in person, to give a fuller account of everything. Concerning the matter, now undertaken, in the name of the Lord, by us, I have no doubt that the Rev. Classis will give their approbation to it, if it be but truthfully represented. I trust, also, that nothing which may come from our brethren who may protest, will be considered unanswerable, until we shall have the liberty and opportunity to make our defense. For, Rev. Fathers, our matter is of such a nature, that we are obliged to exert ourselves to the very utmost, and to bring everything into the clear light of day, as becomes those who are laboring to keep the ship from sinking, in order to save our Jerusalem, to deliver her out of the hands of those who are dealing treacherously with her, who seem to be willing to betray our Zion, and to deliver her over to such as are seeking her destruction. The Rev. Classis w be exceedingly surprised at things which have occurred among us, when, at some time, all that is now kept concealed, shall be fully revealed. With this goes also a letter from the Rev. Coetus, containing a humble request that two young Nazarites, Maurits Goetschius and Henricus Frielinghuysen may be ordained. The one is called and is already preaching at Stone Arabia; the other at Mormeltown [Marbletown], Rochester and Wawarsing, in the Esopus. Delegates from Stone Arabia were present at our Special Coetus, and presented a petition, signed by most of the members of that church, asking and beseeching the Rev. Coetus, to ordain the man whom they had called into the Holy Ministry. The delegates from the Esopus had also signed a petition requesting that the minister whom they had called, might be ordained in this country at the earliest opportunity. When the Rev. Classis comes to consider the need of those churches and their earnest desires to have their ministers ordained, [ingehuldigt, as above], I humbly hope and trust that the Rev. Classis will be so good as to give the Rev. Coetus, as soon as possible, authority for their promotion. I add my humble request to that of those churches just mentioned. The refusal of their requests, would, I fear, have very disastrous consequences. Hoping and expecting to obtain a favorable answer from you, and within a short time to enjoy the honor and the pleasure of meeting your Revs. face to face, and praying for Heaven's most precious blessings upon your Revs' persons, your Holy Ministry, and your honored families, I remain, leaving and submitting everything to the wise judgment of the Rev. Classis, Your Revs. very humble and obedient servant and brother, New York, Oct. 22, 1755. No. 246, iv. [See Report in April, 1756.] Theodorus Frielinghuysen. Meeting at Paramus, Nov. 3rd, 1755. See under Nov. 25, 1755. THE CHURCH AND THE COLLEGE. Trinity Church, New York, to the Society for Propagating the We always expected that a gift so valuable in itself, and so absolutely necessary, (it being the only ground within the City properly situated, and of sufficient extent,) would be the means of obtaining some privileges to the Church; especially as the first promoter of the affair, in the House of Representatives, always proposed such a preference, at least, as is granted by the Charter; but we never insisted on any condition, till we found some persons laboring to exclude all systems of religion out of the Constitution of the College. When we discovered this design, we thought ourselves indispensibly obliged to interpose, and we have had the countenance of many good men of all denominations, and in particular the Ministers of the Foreign Protestant Churches in this city, who are 1755 1755 appointed Governors of the College, and who, without the least hesitation qualfed agreeable to the Church, and continue hearty friends to it. But notwithstanding this, the opposition still continues, and has so far prevad as to have hitherto prevented the application of the money raised by Lottery the use of the College. To effect this, our opponents have been indefatigable, t most base disingenuous methods have been used to prejudice the Common Peur in the several counties, whom they endeavored to persuade, that the Test impose on the president will infallibly be attended with the establishment of Bishops an Tythes, and will end in the loss of all their religious privileges, and even in perscution itself. Petitions have been drawn and handed about to be signed againg the Charter Establishment; and weekly papers have been published for two yea past wherein all the Friends of the Church and the Vestry of Trinity Church i particular, have been abused in the most opprobrious terms; so that it is very uncertain when the money will, by the General Assembly, be vested in the Goernors. In the meantime, they have begun to subscribe among themselves, and are daily purchasing materials to lay the foundations of a handsome, convenien Editice, which, God willing, they propose to begin next spring; and they are induce to hope, that as the dissenting seminary in New Jersey" (Princeton) "has had the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland engaged in its behalf last year, as wel as the dissenting interest in England, and as we are informed, have collected i very considerable sum of money; so our Brethren in England will be ready to cottribute, to preserve the Church in this part of the world from the contempt is enemies are endeavoring to bring upon it. The Dissenters have already three Seminaries in the Northern Governments. They hold their Synods, Presbyter s and Associations, and exercise the whole of their Ecclesiastical Government to the no small advantage of their cause, whilst those churches which are branches of the National Establishment are deprived not only of the Benefitt of a regular Church Government, but their children debarred of the privileges of a liberal education. unless they will submit to accept it on such conditions as Dissenters require, which in Yale College is to submit to a fine as often as they attend Public Worship in the Church of England, communicants only excepted, and that only on Christmas and Sacrament Days. This we cannot but look upon as hard measure, especially as w can, with good conscience declare, that we are so far from that bigotry and nar rowness of spirit they have of late been pleased to charge us with, that we would not, were it in our power, lay the least restraint upon any man's conscience, and should heartily rejoice to continue in brotherly love and charity with all c: Protestant Brethren, as we can appeal to all men we have always done, notwithstanding the late unmerited reproaches, calumnies and opposition we have t with." See Digest of Proceedings of S. P. G. Dix's Hist. Trinity Church, i. 271-3. Berrian's Hist. Sketch, 102. "The spirit of the (Episcopal) Church is well illustrated by that rule of the C lege which stipulated that the students should attend such places of worship on b Lord's Day, as their parents or guardians shall think fit to order and permit:' «2/ also by a provision of the Charter which recognized the establishment of a Prefessorship of Divinity in accordance with the Synod of Dort."-Dir's Hist. of Transiy Church, 273. This is hardly fair. The English Church College was largely dependent on the children of non-Episcopalians for a constituency; as nine-tenths of the population were non-Episcopalians. And then the Dutch members of the Assembly wer deceived into voting for the Charter by the promise of a Divinity Professorship f the Dutch Church; but this was left out of the Charter when it was engrossed an signed; and the Governor and his party were deeply chagrined when compelled the next spring, to pass an amendment to this effect, but which was repudiated by the Dutch Church; and its minister, Ritzema was censured for the part he had in the affair. See Corwin's Manual of the Reformed (Dutch) Church, 3rd ed. 1879, pp. 4. 414-417; 4th ed. 1901, Chapter viii, and pp. 677-680.-See also special references unde Oct. 31, 1754 and May 30, 1755. The Independent Reflector; and articles styled "The Watch Tower" in the New RELIGION AND THE TWO COLLEGES THE ONE IN NEW YORK, TERIAN. Remarks of Rev. David Marinus of Aquackanonck, N. J., on the "If any man in his right senses, who will not be duped, considers what hath happened among us, will he then any longer be at a loss to ascribe our strifes, quarrels and contentions to their real causes? Was there not a sum of money raised by our Assembly in order to erect a College or Seminary of learning for the education of youth? And did not a certain party petition for and obtain a Charter in which the President is appointed forever to be a member in communion with the Church of England? etc." Will not our youth by this Constitution be under the sole government of that party, (as yet not numerous in this Province), and thereby be imbued with their principles; so that High Church will be brought into a likely way to triumph over us? Will not the youth be tinctured with the principles of those who teach them? And will this not soon model Church and State? When these things are duly considered (which surely are very obvious to every thinking person) I hope they who belong to. the Reformed Church as constituted by the Synod of Dodrecht will no longer suffer themselves to be so much imposed upon as they have been for some time of late. For my part, I am not more amazed, although I am much so, at the astonishing imposition of the encroaching party that would monopolize our intended College, than I am at our own infatuation, stupidity and lethargy." He then refers with approbation to the Independent Reflector and Watch Tower on this point, and inveighs against a pretended friend to the Dutch Church who had published an Article in the New York Mercury in favor of King's College and adverse to the establishment of a separate Classis in this Country. But he seems," says Domine Marinus, "to be under a terrible apprehension when this (an independent Classis) is effected, that the Jersey College (then located at Newark under Rev. Aaron Burr) will be encouraged and ours (Kings) at the same time neglected I hope we will wish the Jersey College well, because their aim at grasping after all our Churches hath not hitherto been so glaring as that of the High Church College (Kings) in this Province. And I believe the religious principles inculcated in the former agree better with Holy Scriptures, and with the Confessions of our Church, nay, even with the doctrinal part of the Articles of the Church of England than I expect will be taught in the latter. Moreover those who erected it, have not as yet endeavored to impose the charge of keeping it upon us. But if our friend had not been hasty, and had waited but a little while longer he would perhaps have been informed that we don't choose to have too near a connection with either; but intend, please God, an Academy of our own, for the free Education of our youth.”—“And though this our resolution be but just and equitable in itself, and no more than what is manifestly our indispensable duty, we may notwithstanding, in a great measure, thank our kind sister Churches for it, who by the whole of their late conduct towards us, even by their dreams and prophesies, have shown us the necessity thereof, unless we resolve ignominiously to surrender, and give up our churches to them." He finally exhorts his brethren of the Reformed Church to be aroused from their lethargy, to awake to the craft and artifice used to despoil them. He doubts not that his Gracious Majesty King George will be pleased to "grant us a Charter too, for the education of our youth as well as any other religious denomination whatsoever." And he adds: "We have no business with their Colleges; they may erect as many as they please, and must expect to maintain them too, themselves. Let every one provide for his own house." The above pamphlet is bound in Vol. V. Miscellaneous Pamphlets, New Jersey 1755 |