sincere love, we subscribe ourselves, Rev. Sirs and Brethren, Your obedient servants and affectionate brethren, In the Name of the Classis of Amsterdam. W. Peiffers, Depp. Cl. h. t. President. R. Schutte, Depp. Cl. h. t. Scriba. In our Classical Assembly, January 13, 1756. FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE MINISTRY ACT OF 1693. (Passed, February 19, 1756.) WHEREAS, in and by an Act made and passed in the fifth Year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary Entituled "An Act for Settling a Ministry and raising a Maintenance for them in the city of New York, County of Richmond Westchester and Queens County" (1693) it is provided and Enacted, Among other things, that a Roll of the Tax to be raised for the Purposes in the said recited Act Mentioned, Shall be delivered into the hands of the Respective Constables of the Said City, Counties, Parishes and Precincts therein mentioned, and Signed by any two Justices of the Peace, impowering him or them to Levy the said Tax, and upon refusing to destrain and sell by Publick outcry, and Pay the same into the hands of the Church Wardens: And it is therein and thereby further provided and Enacted, that if the said Constables or any of them fail of their Duty herein they Shall respectively forfeit Five Pounds Current Money of New York:* AND WHEREAS in and by Another Act made and passed in the fourth Year of the Reign of Queen Anne, Intituled "An Act for the better explaining and more Effectually putting in Execution an Act of the General Assembly Entituled An Act for Settling a Ministry and Raising a Maintenance for them in the City of New York County of Richmond Westchester and Queens County", (1705) It is Enacted that all and Singular the Fines Penalties and Forfeitures mentioned in the same Act, shall be recovered before any of his Majesties Justices of the Peace for the respective Counties for the time being Where such penalties Shall be incurred, Notwithstanding which, no particular Provision is made nor power given or Method prescribed in case where the Constables having had the Tax Roll delivered unto them and have been Remiss in Collecting, or having Collected the same, have refused or delayed to pay the Monies by them Collected into the hands of the Church Wardens, as by the first above Recited Act is directed; † IN order therefore the more effectually to prevent the Neglect or Remisness in Constables for the future in the City of New York and to compell them to Collect and Pay such Sum and Sums of Money as Shall hereafter be laid and assessed on the said City and County for the uses Ends and purposes in the Aforesaid Recited Acts of either of them Mentioned and Expressed: BE IT ENACTED by his Excellency, the Governor, the Council and the General Assembly, and it is hereby Enacted by the authorty of the Same, That if any Constable or Constables of the said City and County of New York, to whom the Roll for Collecting the Taxes in Virtue of the above Recited Acts or either of them, See p. 1076 of this work. + See p. 1595 of this work. 1756 1756 Shall not Collect, or having Collected the Monies in such Roll or Rolls Assessed or Set down, Shall Neglect, refuse or delay to Pay the amount or Total Sum in Such Roll or Rolls mentioned, except retaining in his or their hands so much Money as in the above Recited Act or Acts for his and their Collecting Receiving and Paying, is Allowed, and Also so much as by a Committee of the Justices and Vestrymen Shall be allowed for Poor and Insolvent Debtors, and that on or before the Twenty fifth day of March next Ensuing the Publication hereof and so on or before every Twenty fifth day of March forever hereafter: Then, and in either of such Case, it Shall and may be Lawful, and the Church Wardens of the City a County of New York aforesaid are hereby Strictly Commanded and Required, to Apply to the Mayor or Recorder and one or More Aldermen, Who are hereby respectively Authorized and Impowered in a summary Way to hear Try and determine the Same, and Upon Conviction, the sum so unpaid by such Constable or Constables respectively shall be raised and levied on the Goods and Chattles of the offender or offenders, by Warrant under the hands and Seals of the Magistrates before wher Such offender or offenders shall be convicted; and if no Goods or Chattles Shall be found on which to destrain, it Shall and may be Lawful to the Magistrates who heard and determined the Cause to Commit the offender or offenders to the Conmon Goal, without Bail or Mainprize, there to remain untill the Sum of money found to be in arrear by the Magistrates before whom the Tryal and Conviction was had, together with the Costs Attending the Same, be paid and Satisfied; and the Said Magistrates Shall be and hereby are fully impowered, directed and Required to hear Try and determine these Matters in the Manner Aforesaid, and to give Judgment, and if need be to Award Execution thereon, and to Issue a Warrant or Warrants for Commitment of Such Offender or Offenders as the Case may require; Which Sum or Sums of Money So to be recovered by Virtue hereof Shall be paid into the hands of the Church Warden of the said City and County of New York to be by them Applied and disposed as in the Several Acts Above recited or other acts respecting the Maintenance of the Minister and Poor are directed and required Anything in Any Act or Acts touching the Settling a Ministry or Maintaining the Poor to the Contrary hereof in anywise Notwithstanding - The Colonial Laws of New York. pp. 36, 37, 38. CORRESPONDENCE FROM AMERICA. Rev. Theodore Frelinghuysen of Albany, to the Classis of Amsterdam. Feb. 20, 1756. Portfolio, "New York", Vol. ii. Extract, Vol. xxiii. 425. Rev. Fathers, Highly-respected Brethren in the Lord, the Very Rev. Classis of Amsterdam: Peace and Blessing be multiplied unto your Revs! It so happened that last Fall I had the honor of writing to your Revs. concerning certain important matters relating to the condition of the Church in this country. I, therefore, trust that I shall be excused the liberty of my present writing. It is well known that it was by means of our Reformed Church that the light of the blessed Gospel first fell upon these regions; yet it is only too true that wr. whose duty it was to be very zealous for the doctrine of the truth which is unto godliness, have let our hands hang down useless too long. Our brethren, the Presbyterians, have for a long time already been holding their Presbyteries and Synods; and in later years they have founded a College in the province of New Jersey. These things have put them in a condition to provide their churches with pastors and The Episcopal Church forward; and there can and to manage their own ecclesiastical affairs. few in numbers, is also taking long strides gains its object in respect to the College now opened in New York, that that denomination which is bound to have the rule among us, and adheres to Arminianism will gain a strong position. Our Reformed Church, numerous as it is in membership, is in a desolate condition. It has neither Classis nor Synod, nor any nursery for instructing those who would give themselves to the study of the learned languages, the sciences and arts, and especially Sacred Theology. Many churches without pastors do not know how or whence they may obtain help. They will be obliged to go and seek in other denominations what they cannot find among ourselves. The time is now come, Rev. Fathers, for our eyes to be opened somewhat; and the Lord has put it in the heart of those among us who are concerned for the breach of Joseph, to seek some good thing for our Zion, in order that truth and godliness may not be utterly lost among us. By far the largest number of the congregations of our Reformed Church, in this Province of New York, and in the neighboring one of New Jersey, have already entered into a Union or an Alliance and Covenant, in order, in the fear of the Lord, mutually and with one accord, to exert themselves to the uttermost to become organized as a Reformed Classis in this country, according to the tenor of God's Holy Word and the Articles (of Church Government) adopted by the Synod held at Dordrecht in the years 1618 and 1619; and to establish an Academy or a Seminary or Nursery (Kweekschool) for the promotion of pure learning, that thereby the Temple of the Lord may be built in our midst. But Rev. Fathers, we are in no wise lacking for strong opposition which has been raised against us, by a Tobias, an Ammonite servant, a Sanballat, the Horonite, a tamed Arabian. These mock us and derisively say, "What is this thing that you are doing? Will ye rebel against the king?" The Great Consistory of our Reformed Church, which is first in rank, has dealt treacherously with us. It intended, as it indeed, succeeded, in conjunction with the dominating Arminian party, (Episcopacy) to suppress the truth and godliness, and to exercise lordship over the Lord's herltage. But the Lord has so far brought to naught their counsels, that they have been disappointed by that very party with which they meant to combine. And so now, they want to return to the old regime; that is, (virtually), to throw everything into confusion, as much as possible, and then justify the ungodly and condemn the righteous. It seems to me, the Very Rev. Classis must see all this, in what has been done by that side, to protect the intruder, Arondeus, and oppress the legal minister of the place. Now what is still worse is being done, and the hands of the ungodly are terribly strengthened on Long Island, and at Hackensack and Schralenburgh. We have the greatest reason earnestly to beseech the God of Heaven, that it would please Him to convert or restrain that Elymas-minded troop (die Elymas-gerinde bende); for Heaven only knows to what a desolate condition they may otherwise reduce us! My Church, as the Rev. Classis knows of old, is very much of Gallio's mind; it cares for none of these things and is little concerned for the "breach of Joseph." So it is our humble request that it may please the Very Rev. Classis to assist us in seeking the good of Jerusalem, with good words and deeds, in order that in these new regions of the earth truth and godliness may grow and flourish yet for many days. We are occupied now with seeking deliverance from the aggressions of the French, (of Canada); but would that we might be delivered from those who are the enemies of Zion! The Minutes of the Coetus are sent herewith. From these the Rev. Classis will be able to judge of our condition. In closing, I leave everything to your Rev's. judgment, and pray that heaven's most precious blessings may abundantly descend upon your Revs. I remain, Your Revs. very humble servant and brother, Albany, Feb. 20, 1756. No. 247, I. Theodorus Frielinghuysen. 1756 1756 RELIGION AMONG THE MOHAWKS. Sir William Johnson to the Lords of Trade. March 8, (New York Papers, Ll., No. 37.) 1756. It would be very necessary to provide every Castle (especially where there is : garrison) with a worthy person in the character of minister of the Gospel, I need not repeat how much the French have done by their Priests even among the Indians in our Alliance that we ought to counteract them in all their measures I think quite obvious therefore humbly beg leave to recommend this measure to your Lordships consideration particularly with regard to Onondaga & Oneida, that, two proper persons of unblemished Character might be sent as Chaplains for these Garrisons, and at the same time serve as Missionaries to the Indians, how much may be done in that way, may be easily gathered from the success the Gospel has had among the Mohawks, who are our most hearty friends. I beg the liberty to mention to your Lordships the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie missionary to the Mohawk Indians who has upon all occasions done every thing in his power for the promotion of true Religion. This Gentleman's Salary both for this place and the City of Albany is very inconsiderable, some further encouragement to him by some addition to his Sallary would be of service to the common Interest, as it would enable him to proceed in his mission with greater spirit, and to support the expences that must attend the keeping up common hospitality among so mercenary a people. Consistory held after calling on God's name. Inasmuch as Jacob Dykman, Jr. bought at private contract. one of the places on the Manor, on the same terms as those sold at public vendue, yet is not to be bound by the purchase; therefore the consistory have come to a farther agreement with him, that he shall have a lease of the place for three years, at twenty pounds a year, and the purchase shall still stand. The writings shall be ready by the first of May, 1756. Then he shall give a bord with security for one fourth of the consideration money; and also three bonds, each for one fourth of the purchase money, payable in the years 1760, 1761 and 1762, with a mortgage for the same. Thus done in consistory. Date as above given. J. Ritzema, p. t. President. 1756 CHURCH OF NEW YORK. New York, April 1, 1756. Consistory held after calling on God's name. 1. A request was presented by Mr. Adriance Van der Sman, for his present and further support, as a just compensation for his services in the congregation as visitor of the sick and catechist. This being read, it was resolved, that in place of a collection in the church at Easter, twenty pounds should be paid to him this once out of the church-moneys. In the autumn, instead of making his house visitations at the usual time, he should do it fourteen days earlier, and then a new subscription should be made for him for three consecutive years. 2. The consistory waited during the morning and afternoon, with the papers prepared for those who had bought places on the Manor at public vendue, but no one appeared. However the writings were completed by Mr. Pieter de Lancey and sealed with the church seal, and then signed. 3. Respecting the letter formerly received from domine Theodore Frelinghuysen, it was resolved to send the following answer: Rev. Sir: Your letter of the eighteenth of February, 1756, came to hand, and was read in consistory, and we are still by no means of your opinion. As to the answer to your proposal of last year, that has been already given in writing. This now appears to be the ground of further correspondence, as if it were not such, (i. e. an answer). For the rest, we have made no promise to give our view of the proposal, since it is a matter which was brought before us by yourself, and we have no desire to have any dealings with you thereon. So we end with salutations. The consistory of New York, Signed April 10. |