1701 addition to this congregation, which attended Mass in hired Halls, -New York being then the Capitol of the Union,- Mass was celebrated at the Embassies of the French and Spanish Legations, by their chaplains. By March 1785, the Chapel of the French Embassy was fully equipped, and afforded religious services for many New York Catholics. The Law of 1700, in relation to "Popish Priests and Jesuits" was repealed by an Act of the New York Legislature in 1784; but the Naturalization Oath, though annulled in 1801, was required of them until 1806, when on a petition of a numerous body of the Catholics of New York City, gotten up by the trustees of St. Peter's Church, it was finally abrogated. The congregation of New York Catholics worshiped in a carpenter shop in Barclay street, fitted up for temporary use, and there were three priests in the City, Fathers Whelan, Nugent and La Valiniere. The last had charge especially of the French and Canadian Catholics. Dissensions between Whelan and Nugent and their respective adherents led to the withdrawal of both from the City, and La Valiniere was left alone. The little congregation in the carpenter shop, in the meantime, had undertaken the erection of a permanent church. The lots at the corner of Barclay and Church streets were purchased, and the cornerstone was laid Oct. 5, 1785. Dr. Carroll received from Rome special faculties, not usually given to any bishops, to consecrate the new St. Peters. The dedication took place Nov. 4, 1786. The King of Spain is said to have presented ten thousand dollars toward the erection of this church. The French and Spanish ministers were also its benefactors. The Trustees of St. Peters were incorporated in 1785, and re-incorporated in 1787, in which year Rev. William O'Brien became its pastor and served it for several years. The first American Catholic Bishop, Rt. Rev. John Carroll, was consecrated in England, Aug. 15, 1790, as Bishop of Baltimore, and having Episcopal jurisdiction over the whole United 1800 1701 1723 States. The first Bishop of New York was appointed in 1808, EARLY MINISTERS OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND, IN NEW YORK. 1702-1723. The early ministers sent over by the Society for Propagating the Gospel were: 1702, Rev. Patrick Gordon, for Jamaica, but who died very soon; George Keith, who officiated on Long Island at Hempstead; Rev. J. Barton, who officiated in Westchester, 1702-25; Rev. J. Thomas, at Hempstead and Oyster Bay, 1704-24; Rev. E. Mac Kenzie, Staten Island, 1704-22; Rev. G. Muirson, 1705-8, at Rye; Rev. Daniel Bondet, a French minister who conformed in 1709, at New Rochelle, 1709-22; Rev. P. Stoupe was his successor, 1723-60; Rev. T. Barclay, Albany, 1709-16; Rev. Mr. Wm. Urquhart, 1704-9, at Jamaica; Rev. T. Poyer, 1710-31, succeeded him. In 1710 Rev. J. F. Haeger, a German minister, was employed by the Society for Propagating the Gospel, to minister to the Palatines, 1710-21; Rev. Joshua Kocherthal was also voted twenty pounds by the Society in 1714. He was a Lutheran minister at E. and W. Camps, 1709-14. The Society also supported as a missionary to the Dutch congregation at Harlem, Rev. Henry Beys (Buys), 1710-13, a Dutch minister, whom Col. Morris had persuaded to accept Episcopal ordination. The mission failed in 1713. See Corwin's Manual, 4th ed., for Bondet, Stoupe, Haeger, Kocherthal and Beys. In 1745 Rev. Mr. Vesey reported that there were twenty two (Episcopal) churches in the province. The wonderfully successful labors of Mr. Elias Neau, 1704-23 under the auspices of this Society in catechising Negroes and Indians is worthy of most honorable mention. He had suffered greatly for his faith in France; had become an elder in a French church in America, and in 1704 conformed to the Church of England. FRENCH CHURCH IN NEW YORK. PETITION OF P. VILLEPONTEUX. 1701. To the Honorable Captain John Nanfan Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chiefe of his Majesty's Province of New York And Territoryes depending thereon in America, etc. The Humble Petition of P. Villepontoux Attorney and Elder of ye french congregation of New Rochelle Humbly Sheweth That Mr. Bondet ye Minister of ye said congregation having refused to come to baptize a childe of his newly born, and in danger of dying Your said Petitioner's Childe having recovered his Christening (was performed) by Mr. Peter Peyret Minister of ye french congregation (who had consent) of ye said Bondet to baptize your Petitioner's child and with a second consent of ye Said Bondet did Baptize (ye child but) Some days after ye Said Mr. Bondet with the other (Elders upon) that pretext only, in a Scandalous manner did depose (him from Said) Eldership. But because this blemish, they brought upon (him is) found upon no reason and that it draws upon your petitioner the (contempt) of all his neighbours, he has declared to appeal thereof; But (unawares) where he can have satisfaction for that injustice, as he applyets himself to your honor and humbly Prayeth That your honor may be pleased to take your petitioner's case in Your Serious consideration or appoint and select the Presbytery of the french congregation of (New York) or Such other as your honor Shall think (fit to) examine the aforesaid proceeding. And your Petitioner in duty bound Shall ever pray, etc. By the courtesy of Rev. Wm. J. Hinke, of Philadelphia, Pa., who secured copies of several pamphlets in the British Museum, relating to the Palatines, and which are inserted in this work. Thousands of these Palatines subsequently settled in the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys, N. Y. These papers, therefore, are of general interest for the history of the early German colonists of New York. AN ACCOUNT OF THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE PROTESTANTS In two letters to an English Gentleman. Felix quam faciunt aliena pericula cantum. London: Printed for Richard Parker at the Unicorn under the Royal Exchange and sold by A. Baldwin near the Oxford Arms in Warwick-lane.-1699. A True Account of the Sad Condition of the Protestants in the Palatinate. Sir: I agree with you that the Palatinate is one of the best countries in the world; whose natural fertility and plenty is such, that there is none that recovers 1701 1701 Itself sooner after a war than it. But affairs at this time are such, that it cannot be expected that we should see it in that flourishing condition it was formerly in when you saw it in your travels. During the war our hopes to have our condition bettered by the peace that should ensue, made us cheerfully suffer, hoping to enjoy our estates and religion as formerly when hostilities should cease. But our expectation proved vain, for though the war is ended, yet the wild boars are ravaging our vineyards. But these blood-thirsty zealots for religion, though they differed from us in opinion, yet we suffered them to dwell among us and were used kindly, for requital of which kind usage they are now turning us out of our houses and churches. Thus those whom we tolerated and protected amongst us, are for extirpating and depriving us of that shelter and countenance that we afforded them; by which means a new fire is kindled here in the Palatinate, so that we Protestants are in as ill a case, as the French Reformed are in France; and worse than you were in England under the late King James; in this, that you had only the storm hanging over you, but this is fallen on our heads, to the extirpating the Protestants, and their religion out of their native country, and this is to make way for popery and a crew of indigent Romanists who seek but for occasions to profit by the ruin of such of their neighbors that cannot adhere to them in their superstition. With permission I would here make some reflections how little consonant it is to the Prince's secular interest to countenance innovations contrary to the faith and practice of his predecessors, by which we may observe that none of the Romish persuasion are to be trusted, but they will when opportunity offers itself, omit nothing to propagate their religion, to effect which they will wade through all difficulties, though they thereby sacrifice the peace and riches of their country and their faith given; so inherent is persecution to popery that to be a Papist and a persecutor may be looked upon as controvertible terms that imply the same thing. These are those who are for damning all that are not of their opinion, a true mark of a bad cause, that dare not trust God to convert souls his way, but assist him in his work, will use fire, fagots, dragoons, force, terrors, and all to constrain those that differ from them to a compliance; but they consider not that conscience cannot be forced, though the will and body may consent and yield to forbid compllances, yet the conscience will ever bear inward testimony against all such sinful consents, let the imposing be never so dreadful to nature, for we are taught not to fear men but him that with the body can destroy the soul also. But this is the sad state of those countries that fall into Popish hands who suffer themselves to be byassed by a bigotted clergy, by whom they are influenced to become unnatural to their subjects and instruments of overturning the estab lished foundation both of church and state. Thus the Popish clergy becomes in a commonwealth what vermin are to the fruits of the earth, whom they destroy and consume and so become the plague of the age and country wherever they get footing. The long experience of these truths might open the eyes of sovereigns, and let them see the selfishness of these catterpillars. How they devoured the laity? and cloaked themselves with the fattest and fairest of their effects. How many famIlles have been impoverished to enrich Monasteries and Abbeys and Religious Societies, who are so many nurseries of pride and idleness; so that that most numerous part of the subjects are become the most useless members of the commonwealth where they reside. It were to be wished that princes in this age, as in the times of Reformation knew their interest so effectually, as to banish that vermin and as in England convert those incomes to better uses; this is it that has made your island so powerful and wealthy as it is at this day, as also other countries and places where church lands are possessed by the laity, whereas in Popish countries the clergy possesses one half, in some three parts and in others more; which revenues, if otherwise disposed of as in Protestant countries, the prince and people would be proportionally rich according to the rest of their Reformed neighbors. But our prince, not content to find a country lately fallen to him by Inheritance, disposed so advantageously for his interest by the constitution of its government, but he must bring in innovations and not satisfied to enjoy such a principality as his predecessors left him, but he must act so prejudiciously to his own interest, and the reign of his subjects by settling his religion at the cost of what is taken from the right owners. It was not so with Charles Louis, the former Elector Palatine, who though a Protestant, would not suffer the Protestant ministers, nor indeed any other of the different persuasions to inveigh one against another, although it might be expected that this our prince might have retained a tincture of such principles more especially being descended from Protestant offspring. But this consideration, hard for the Romish party is this day requited with Ingratitude. Would to God that our prince would but make reflection on the advantage and benefits that did accrue to the son of that prince viz. Charles, the last Protestant Elector Palatine. He found the country in a flourishing condition with a great treasure in monies, all which were marks of his father's prudence, by which means he was enabled to support his country and protect those of different persuasions, that flocked to him from all parts, as they use to do as soon as a peace is established, by which means his country was replenished with inhabitants, which so long a war had unpeopled and having suitable privileges granted them, were thereby encouraged to be inhabitants, and to increase trade. Thus the Palatinate was replenished with Inhabitants, the ruined cities rebuilt, and new ones erected as Manheim and Fredericksbourg; this effect had toleration and that in a short time, for the Protestants had that encouragement that their religion was the religion of the country and others were drawn thither by their being tolerated and countenanced by public authority, where all finding protection were encouraged to trade and gather riches, since they were assured to dwell quietly in the profession of their different persuasions. But what encouragement is there now to live here, where promises are violated? The natives that have been frightened from their habitations and scattered into other countries by the war, dare not now return seeing our prince is for introducing popery and its professors, who being less numerous and rich than the Protestants, the end of repeopling and reinstating the country in its former glory cannot be expected, for they show to have nothing in view but the violating the rights and properties of the Protestants as will appear by this following narrative. At Heydelberg and Manhelm they have built very much, since his Electoral Highness hath published a proclamation wherein he promises a freedom of thirty years and assures them that their privileges shall not be altered, but that he will maintain them all, which did encourage us to carry on our buildings so that the work advanced very much; but having since issued another proclamation by which the Popish Holy-days are enjoined to be kept through the whole Palatinate and that the Protestant burying places shall be common, our buildings are at a stand and we see the Romish religion introduced by authority and exercised in our churches through the whole palatinate. Also his Electoral Highness has taken from us the seven Latin schools with the cloyster and church at Heydelberg, where they are erecting cloysters for the Franciscans, Augustines and Capuchins, with a seminary for the Jesuits, and are very busy to get into their possession the Holy Ghost or Cathedral Church as also the Collegium Sapientiae. As they have done with the Cathedral churches at Weinheim and Ladenburg and other places, and has taken from the Ecclesiastical Council and the Verwalt meg their ancient privileges and rights and the revenues, liberties and properties and the freedom of disposing of their Ecclesiastical incomes so that the lands, which belong to the ministers and the tythes, which make a part of their salary, are given to the Roman Catholics, which proceeding cast us into so great a consternation, that we have lost all courage, even our desires are cooled from going on with our buildings. When his Electoral Highness came into the Palatinate and chose the castle of Weinheim for his residence, he then promised and assured both laity and clergy that he would maintain all their privileges, but we find that these were but Popish promises, which do afflict us very much, and the more in that his Electoral Highness refuses to fill up the vacancies in the Ecclesiastical Council, which consists at present but of two persons, whereas their number ought to be six, and a president. It is true that he promises to allow the Protestant ministers something out of their income for their subsistance, but without doubt, it will be little enough. 1701 |