1711 we request you previously to send us the necessary funds, or indicate whence we can draw them. We will then do everything in our power to send you a man who may be a means of edification to your church both by doctrine and life; and through whom the breach which has been made may be graciously healed. We doubt not that you will use all diligence to indicate the requisites to this end. Meantime we beseech the Lord of the Harvest that it may please him to cause to appear before us an able laborer, who may at length be received by you with good will, and who may gather in an abundance of fruit for our Lord Jesus Christ. P. Steenwinkel, V. D. M. et ad res exteras, Deputatus. CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Acts of the Deputies and their Correspondence. The Classis of Amsterdam to the Consistory at Kingston, January 9, 1711. To the Consistory of Kingston: Brethren:- From your last we learned with peculiar satisfaction of the Conference of six brethren with your church, relative to the matter of Rev. Bois (Beis). Our Classis cannot do otherwise than commend said Conference as held by those brethren, as well as those (conferences) held by yourselves; even as she must in the highest degree censure the remarkable conduct of Rev. Bois, who, as we learn to our sorrow, has, to the discredit and depreciation of our church, gone over to the Episcopalians. Hence he can never be received by our Classis until he shall clear himself of the charges brought against him, either before the Rev. Consistory of Kingston, or the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam. To do this he had indeed bound himself; but instead of defending himself, he has, without the knowledge of the Classis, secretly departed. This makes us justify your action the more. We pray the God of Love and Peace to enable you to persevere in your former earnestness, and preserve your church from worse offences, and graciously remove the effects of that already given. May he long spare you for the benefit of your church, that she may, under your oversight, increase and develop in all riches, and full assurance of understanding, so that she may be able to practice the truth in love. January 9, 1711. P. Stemwinkel, (Steenwinkel) V. D. M. ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. New Albany. 1711, Jan. 13th. Touching the case of the church of New Albany: the Rev. Deputati ad res Exteras had written about this matter, and they communicated the contents of their letter to this Assembly. ix. 227. 1711, Jan. 13th. Kingstown. And as regards the church of Kingstown, and the case of Rev. Beits: they had written about the affair, and they communicated the contents of their letter to this Classical Assembly. ix. 227. Palatine School House. I acknowledge to have Received of Robert Livingston forty Boards for ye School house in ye palatyeyn town called Queensberry & desire said Livingston to send for ye said use thirty Boards now to complete ye School house. The people contemplate present settlement for a couple of years. They persuade themselves that Canada will be taken this campaign, and that upon the conquest of that country, to secure their settlement, they will be established on the lands destined for that purpose. In this opinion, they are confirmed by the reports of those who wintered at Albany, who say that the inhabitants up there are in consequence very apprehensive of losing the profit they derive from the Indians, and the hay they annually cut on said lands. Some days ago, five Palatines were sitting around the fire conversing on the prospect of their settlement. They all agreed, that the selection of the Levingston lands was well planned that their situation between New York Sopes and Al 1711 1711 bany was very convenient; that the proximity to the river is of great advantage and that the exemption from the fear of enemies afford peace and a home to their families. But the desire to possess a good deal of land upset and demolished, in a moment afterwards, all their conveniences. The more moderate and sensible among them, to remove this, said to them What if, in return for all your pretended rights, the Governor will not give you any other lands than those in the rear of our villages, and be determined that we pass our whole lives here? What can you do then? Nothing, continued the same man, but draw down by the disgrace of the Governor, evils we do not experience here, and deprive ourselves of the good we now enjoy. For in fine (he continued) as it is our duty, and we must absolutely work for the Queen, it cannot be otherwise than that her Majesty will put us in a position to earn our bread for she will not keep us always in this way. Earn our bread, said another. We came to America to establish our families-to secure lands for our children on which they will be able to support themselves after we die, & that we cannot do here. What is to be done in that case? Only to have patience replied the first. Patience and Hope make fools of those who fill their hands with them." Whereupon the whole five burst out a-laughing and changed the Conversation. I asked Mr. Kocherthall in what way his people behave? He tells me all are at work and busy, but manifestly with repugnance, and merely temporarily that the tract intended for them is, in their minds, a Land of Canaan -that they agree, it is a very dangerous place to settle at present, and for this reason it is that they are willing to have patience here for a couple of years. But they will not listen to Tar-making. He thinks this repugnance can be overcome as was that to cultivate their gardens - and that the future will furnish with difficulty what the present time might easily guarantee, did the people conform to the intentions of those above them.- Doc. Hist. N. Y. Vol. iii. p. 394. COUNCIL JOURNAL, NEW YORK. 1711, April 11. Robert Hunter, Governor. Ordered. That the gentlemen of the Council or any five of them, whereof the chief Justice to be one, do prepare and bring in a Bill for naturalizing foreign Protestants. Council Journal, 310. Such a bill was passed, July 5, 1715. See Colonial Laws N. Y. under date. ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Case of New York. 1711, April 13th. On a certain occasion when there was communicated to this Rev. Assembly a certain extract from a letter from New York, written by Mr. de Peyster to his friend, William Bancker, the Assembly was reminded that on former occasions it had written many letters through the Messrs. Deputati ad res Exteras, to the churches and individual ministers, (in New Netherland) and to which no answer had been received. The Classis therefore requests the Messrs. Deputati ad res Exteras kindly to investigate what letters (of ours) remain unanswered, or which have received no satisfactory replies; also to investigate in reference to the moneys advanced by the Rev. Classis to certain ministers, and to write to such persons and churches about these debts in earnest terms. And inasmuch as it has seemed to the Rev. Assembly that letters were sometimes concealed by one from the other, that the Messrs. Deputies would take the trouble to send letters henceforth in duplicate, thus to make known the same things to others. ix. 231. Further Difficulties in Flatbush Church. Present, as before. At a Council held at ffort Anne Whereas this Board is Informed that Mr. ffreeman has lately Preached in the Churches of Kings County to which Mr. Antonides is called and that many violent proceedings are taken to the Great Disturbance of the Publick peace of the said Churches and County and in Derogation of the order of this Board of the 27th November last, And Whereas this Board has been Informed by a minute under the hand of the clerk of flatbush that the said Towne have lately Elected Church Masters after a New and unprecedented manner which may Introduce other New and pernicious Practices and effects. Whereupon it is ordered that the said order of this Board be confirmed and that Mr. ffreeman doe not presume to preach in any of the churches to which Mr. Antonides is called, and that none of the said Church Masters soe Newly Elected presume to Intermedle in the affaires of the said church or in any Lands houses or other effects thereto belonging And all her Majesties Justices of the Peace of the said County and persons Concerned are to take notice hereof and Governe themselves accordingly. Doc. Hist. N. Y. Vol. iii. p. 112. - Rev. Mr. Poyer to the Society for Propagating the Gospel. Honoured Sir: Jamaica, Long Island, 3rd May 1711. This comes to attend my Notitia Parochialis I thank God the Church of England here under my care encreaseth beyond expectation for among the Quakers where my predecessor Mr. Urquhart in all the time of his mission, could never gather a Congregation, I have seldom so few as fifty hearers, I have great hopes that there will more come over to our church notwithstanding the many enemies and discouragement I daily meet withall, of which I have in a former hinted to you but wrote more fully to the Right Reverend Bishop of London who has a perfect & true state of the case which I hope when duly considered will induce the Honorable Society to assert the right of the Church here, that I may be supported with my salary due here by an act of the Country, one penny of which has not hitherto been paid to me, but on the contrary raised & given to one Mr. George Macnesh an Independent North Britain Preacher who has had the assurance 1711 1711 in the face of the country to aver that the Bishop of London has no power here. I hope the Honorable Society will be plaesed to consider the difficulties I struggle with, that my family may be supported and not lie under the discountenance of those who are only pretended friends to the Established Church, I have acquainted the Right Honorable the Bishop of London of my writing to the Society. I remain, Honored Sir, yours etc. Thos. Poyer. Doc. Hist. N. Y. Vol. iii. p. 138. ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Churches of New Netherland. 1711, May 4th. The writing to the churches of New Netherland, recommended to the Rev. Deputati ad res Exteras at the preceding Classis, remains in statu. ix. 232. Journal of Society for Propagating the Gospel. May 18, 1711. Vol. ii. p. 39. § 14 From Mr. Haeger dated New York 28th of October 1710, importing his arrival, his diligence in his function, the conformity of his hearers notwithstanding the separation made by the Lutherans, who found a minister of their own, the desire of his people to have common prayer books; that he reckons 600 communicants, 52 of whom were instructed by him, of whom 13 were Papists. That he had marry'd 41 couples and baptized 8 children. That as to his subsistance it is very miserable, having received nothing from his people, nor the common allowance given to every Palatine; therefore he prays the Society to advance him something of his salary. The Committee agreed to move the Society that the said Mr. Haeger may be supplied with 100 common prayer books in High Dutch as soon as they can be procured, and that he be acquainted that his salary is duly paid his attorney. Agreed to. |