1755 with 1 Tim. 5:19, "Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before twee three witnesses," and that accusation was false. Rev. Haaghoort's consistory w passed by; yet there was imposed upon him the duty of showing penitence befin his consistory, and so before the Classis also; for according to Church Order, the Classis is to judge whether such a one shall be entirely deposed, in case the censin is found to be legal and just. (Church Order, 1619, Art. 76.) From all this the Rev. Classis can understand what sort of a man Rev. Goetschis is; and how he has gone to work recklessly, rashly, violently, and-what is than probable-against his own better knowledge; and how he has been the case of the split in his own church, yea, of all the evils and mischiefs which have DeN befallen the Church. His Rev.,, therefore, deserves to be suspended from his Eistry, and his consistory to be immediately deposed, etc., etc.; especially as the have been arraigned before the Higher Authorities as worthy of punishment. One is astonished at seeing such a man, his character known no less to other brethre than to us, thus shielded and strengthened in his evil way. Especially is one astished at Rev. Erickson, the eldest of us all, for placing himself at the head of swi defendents-one who even denounced Rev. Haaghoort once in his own house 25 1 very Judas and a church-traitor. Your Revs. ought to take notice of this. But the Rev. Classis understands as well as we do, what the upshot of all this matter is namely, domination, playing the master, taking advantage of circumstances, (1 using the present occasion,) now that they begin to have a majority. This is int erable, coming, as it does, from those who, most of them have been ordained (premoted) by us here and have only recently come in, and who in a variety of ways have been helped along and favored, and all this done to men of Gray beads advanced in years; men who were sent over here by the Classis, and who have been serving the Church of God here, blamelessly, for such a long time. However, as only Rev. Haaghort with his elder was present, (for Rev. Curtenis was unable to be present, and Rev. Marinus did not appear), we, by the advice c the Consistory of Hackensack and Schralenburgh, and with their consent, suspended our judgement on the censure of Rev. Goetschius, and on the deposition of his ec2sistory. We resolved to lay this whole matter before the consistory of Rev. Cir tenius and the Consistory of New York, or their Commissioners, as our neighbors, in order to obtain their advice, assent and concurrence. We have thus felt in conscience bound to defend our good cause against the injurious and disgraceful treatment of this assumed Coetus of our brethren; and at the same time, to pour out our bitter complaint, about its violent dominatin and assumed authority, into the bosom of the Rev. Classis. We are saddened by the disturbances, divisions, reproach among the churches, and the ridicule from the world, and especially from those that are without. So we are moved to make this our humble request; that it would please the Rev. Classis, by its authority and power, to put a stop to all this trouble, in order that far greater evils may not result therefrom. Done, and thus resolved upon, at Paramus, on the day and at the house above named. On Nov. 24, 1755 this matter was laid before the Consistory of New York. Rev. Curtenius, who had been requested to be present at its meeting, excused himself, chiefly on the ground that he had been put under censure by that Assembly which now called itself a Coetus; and because the consequences of his attending might make matters worse in his church. The Consistory gave hearing to this document from beginning to end, but took the following verbal action thereon: "On motion of Rev. Haaghoort, as Director of a conference held at Paramus, etc. Resolved, That, if both parties will leave the matter to the decision of our Consistory, (of New York), they will then give their judgment on it. Otherwise they can take no action on it." Signed in the name of all, J. Ritzema, p. t. Praeses. Thus it is clear that, on our part, we carried out our purpose, yet we have been unable to attain our object. We have, therefore, delayed the execution of the censure imposed on Goetschius and his followers; and give the whole matter, as thus presented, into your Revs. hands. Gerard Haaghoort, In name of all, as Director. P. S. We confirm by our signature the truth of all this, and also of what this document contains with reference to the conduct of the newly organized Coetus. 1755 New York, Nov. 25, 1755. Joan. Ritzema (See Report on this paper in April, 1756. This was the beginning of those sad troubles which led on to Rev. Solomon Froeligh's Secession, in 1822. See also July 10, 1756, and Article, Froeligh, Solomon, in Corwin's Manual.) CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA. Petition of the Consistories, the Elders and Deacons, of the Dutch Portfolio "New York", Vol. ii. Very Reverend Classical Assembly: From the previous report, sent by our neighboring ministers, if it has, indeed, come to your hands, your Revs. have already learned of the action so offensive and painful to us, of Rev. Gerardus Haaghoort. Supported by Rev. Curtenius, who has removed to Long Island, and by Rev. Van der Linde, and in opposition to our earnest dissuasions as well as those of the neighboring ministers, he appointed a (new) Consistory for certain ones of our (distant) separated members, in each of the two churches; and occasionally he has preached for them. His action, having been examined by our Rev. Coetus, was repudiated, his Rev. himself was suspended, and the leaders of those separatists were forbidden the Lord's Supper. This was done, first, by a committee appointed by the Rev. Coetus; and later by the Rev. Coetus itself which approved their action. (You have also learned) of the unjust treatment accorded us as well as the churches under our care, by the above mentioned ministers. Concerning this, we might have kept quiet, but, following the example of the turbulent Long Islanders, by whom also they were stirred up, we have learned that our said opponents were also about to attack our minister, J. H. Goetschius, with a very elaborate complaint. This it is said, must have been already dispatched to your Revs. Wherefore, in order that, according to our oath and duty as elders, we might not neglect to do what conduces to the saving of our already disrupted church, we beg of your Revs. not to take this very weighty business out of the hands of the Rev. Coetus, as is the desire of our enraged opponents; but we request you to oblige 1755 them, as well as ourselves, to submit to the judgment of the Rev. Coetus in belong to the Coetus, and you yourselves have instituted that body. All our ecclesiastical Acts, even to our calling and ordaining ministers, are fome upon its authority. We cannot in good conscience throw the Coetus overboard our said opponents are doing. For, we are sure that, if we should return with the to the old regime, our New Netherland Church would be a field without a fee We most humbly beg of your Revs. to give us the opportunity to defend ourse here at home and before the Coetus; and to send back the original (eigenba complaint of our opponents (tegenparty), to the Rev. Coetus. The whole afra both sides, will be so elaborate, and tedious, that it will cost your Revs, an pressible amount of trouble and time. Please do not take this request, as if it were prescribing laws for your Bers, did not want to entrust you with dealing with this matter. Not at all. It is with the design that our opponents may not by their misrepresentations gain advantage over us; and also, that besides our own churches, other churches mu not be ruined by the said ministers, and that our minister, (Goetschius) may suffer any more injustice to his good name notwithstanding Rev. Haaghoort's maz efforts to bring about such results. We have a right to expect that your Bevs, defenders of the Church of God, will in no wise be able to endure such confusin and injustice. With good conscience, we bear our testimony to Rev. J. H. Ge schius, both as to the purity of his teaching and the blamelessness of his condar His ministry among us has been blessed, and will be honorably remembered foreve We abominate unjust dealing with our ministers. We are sure it is a great st to rob them of their good name; to withhold from them their just dues; to seek 1 drive them away, as, alas, our opponents are doing. Already too many ministe are treated in this unchristian way in this land of ours. Should our opponents the least hearing with your Revs., then, in a very short time, our ministers and churches would be in a bad case, and even a legal consistory would be of little vaw to a church. In short, as your Revs. very well understand, if a number of dissatis fied members are permitted to rise up against their minister and consistory, and formally organized as a (new) consistory and church by other ministers, in opp sition to the legal minister, consistory and church; and if the houses of God may then be violently taken possession of, and "Readers" appointed, and the calling of another minister contemplated, and so on-things which, in fact, as God knows, taken place among us-such a course of action, (if permitted) will be the shortest way of destroying God's Church altogether. We must also include in our complaint to your Revs. the inconsiderate action of Rev. Van der Linde. He, on the 3rd of November last, cited our minister and esistory at Schralenburgh to appear before those members of ours who were under censure, and whom his Rev. had called together at his house, as though they were neighboring consistories, with Rev. Haaghoort as president. Before such a Church Assembly, his Rev. pretended that we, according to Church Order, must answer ba Rev's. charges. These were to this effect: "That, (we) had, with (some of) ac church members, gone to make a new settlement at Spitsberg (?) in the midst of all sorts of sects, a place more than thirteen English miles distant from his Rer's church at Paramus; and having obtained from the proprietors a grant of Churchland, for the planting of a new Dutch Reformed Church, we had, in a fraternal spirit, invited Rev. Van der Linde and his consistory to co-operate therein; but that then, inasmuch as they refused, we had, according to Church Order and custo although much against Van der Linde's wish, chosen two elders and deacons." But since that time, the Rev. Coetus has been in session three times, and his Bev was present at the first session, yet he made no complaint; but only now, and before such an assembly as mentioned above, consisting of eight of our censured members, and Rev. Haaghoort, a suspended minister, (he makes complaint). These members now, the President and Van der Linde recognize as neighboring consistories, despite the fact that his Rev., a few weeks before, had by the Rev. Coetus, been fraterna. exhorted, in writing, not to unite in sin with Rev. Haaghoort and those people, lest he should also participate in their punishment. And not only did his Rev. do this but he now sustains and promotes that separation, by marrying and baptizing the children of those people, etc. All of these things we now earnestly present to your Revs. We humbly ask your Revs. to be pleased to oblige him to appear before the Rev. Coetus and to let that ody judge of our respective complaints, according to Church Order. This will give s satisfaction, and will compell him also to place himself under the supervision of he Rev. Coetus from which he has withdrawn. This is the just thing to do. It will Iso certainly prevent him and our dissatisfied opponents from carrying out their vil design; but more than this; it will be wholesome to his church and ours, as well as other churches. In closing, we commend ourselves, in our miserable condition as a church, and with all the injustice done us in our official action, we commend ourselves, next to iod, to your Revs.' Christian care and supervision. We wish nothing more heartily han that your Revs. may thoroughly understand the condition of our New Netherand Church, and the behavior of the said ministers and of their followers; also heir injurious designs; so that you may protect the better-minded against them; and also, in order that truth and piety, without which we cannot be a Church of God, may abide among us. Meanwhile, may it please the Almighty to be your Revs.' shield and very great eward! May He bless your persons, your labors and your families, your going out and your coming in, from now, henceforth and forever! Pray for us, that the Word of God may have its free course among us, and that it may be the blessed means for promoting the Confession not only, but also the experience and the practice of true zodliness. We, the undersigned, with all respect and humility, are your Very Revs.' wholly subordinate servants, the consistories of both the churches. Gerrit Hoppe Jan Berdan Hendrik Blinkerhof Johannes Vrelant Pieter Zabriskie Johannis Van der Hoef Jan Bougart Gerrit Lydecker David B. Demarest William Christie Samuel Durai. 1755 No. 246, V. (?) ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Letters from Abroad. 1755, Dec. 9th. Art. 3 ad Art. 8. The Committee are thanked for the commission carried out in regard to the Assembly of the xvii, (the Board of Directors of the East India Company), whereto a reply was amicably made, but only in general terms; and was further recommended to the Committee. An extract was read from a letter of certain of the delegates of the Coetus of New York, of September 30, 1755; with the Acta of Coetus of September 1754. The answer thereto was approved. xiii. 80. New Netherland. 1755, Dec. 9th. Art. 2, ad Art. 2. The Committee reported the sad condition of New Netherland. The church there was much agitated, and threatened with ruin by reason of the disputes, disagreements and dissensions, caused by novelties introduced. To show the condition, the Deputies read an extract from a letter 1755 from Curtenius and Ritzema, ministers on Long Island and New York, of September 3, 1755, about an Academy (or College) proposed to be erected by Rev. Theodore Frielinghuysen. There was also a letter from the Consistory of Kingston, of July 27, 1755, on the same subject, and a copy of an announcement of a meeting of the Conferentie. Whereupon an answer to the Consistory of Kingston, which had been drawn up by the Committee, was read and approved. There was also read a letter from Rev. Ritzema, dated Aug. 20, 1755; together with a lengthy account of a meeting at Peremes (Paramus) on Nov. 2, 1755. Also a postscript of Rev. J. Ritzema, as President of the Consistory of New York. A reply by the Committee, was read, and the Assembly thanked them for this draft of a reply and adopts the same. xiii 81. ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. The Classis of Amsterdam to the Coetus of New York, Dec. 9. 1755. Vol. 31, page 97, No. 55. (Addressed to all, withou recognizing the schism which had taken place, but favoring the Conservatives.) Reference, xxiv. 47, 51. To the Coetus of New York, (See Acts of Classis, Vol. xxiv. 47.: Rev. Gentlemen, Much-beloved Brethren, Members of the Coets of New York:— The Classis beholds at last, not without surprise, the lens awaited Acta Coetus, held on Sept. 17, 1754, together with a doc ment relating to the change of the Coetus into a Classis, dat Sept. 19 of the same year; also a letter, written and signed at year later, by five ministers and four elders. The contents rels: mostly to a proposal toward the improvement of the Rev. Co Some of the members are in favor of leaving it in statu quo, & only correct its defects. Others think that an entire reconstr tion is necessary; that a change should be made which would tre form the Coetus into a Classis, as the proceedings show, and was finally unanimously concluded according to the Acts of second meeting. (May, 1755.) It is also said that a Commis |