1713 much as you plainly write, that when he declined the call of And certainly that superscription-we say it with all reverence to your highly distinguished Assembly- shocked us tremendously; and not only us, but every one who has any respect for the Rev. Classis. We know not what to think of this, and cannot at all reconcile this superscription with the contents of your letter, supposing that we, or our predecessors in office, at the time of his declination, according to your judgement, had the power and the liberty to make another call; even as they did, who then constituted him "Worthy minister of Christ at Midwout?" Truly he is as little the "Worthy minister at Midwout," as he would have been at Albany, if, as he tried, he could have circumvented Rev. Lydius. In regard to that matter, please consult the circular letter on that subject sent to the churches, under date of March 29, 1700, in which the Classis acknowledges him as not even a "Worthy Siekentrooster." That which he failed to do then (at Albany), he has accomplished in the case of our pastor. He invaded his churches, not before, but just at his arrival. Thus he takes revenge for the wrong then done to him by the Classis! for even now he does not scruple to say that the place (at Albany) rightly belonged to him. There is yet something else which appears to us somewhat strange in your letter to our pastor and Rev. (Gualterus) Du Bois. Therein you admonish Rev. Du Bois to direct the whole matter, finally, in such a way that the moneys long ago advanced for (the passage of) Rev. Antonides, and for which orphans and widows are now suffering, be repaid, etc.; and of all that you sent a copy to Rev. Freeman. As to the matter itself:- It is right and just that you should demand payment of those moneys which were advanced so long ago. The same ought to have been paid long since; and this would doubtless have been done, if our pastor had been of better condition and means; and especially he had found things in our congregation as he had expected, and as such our former pastors enjoyed; without having been cramped and shortened in his emoluments and income as has now happened. The debt, indeed, originally belongs to the churches, for it was made in behalf of his travelling expenses. And in addition, according to the length and difficulty of the journey, in these trying days of war, there is a kind promise of increase above the stipulated transportation charges. He derives from this source from the congregations, twenty-nine pounds sixteen shillings, New York money, or seventy five dollars. But what we wish to remark in this connection is this:- that a copy of this was sent to Rev. Freeman. Of what use and benefit this could be, and with what object this was done, we cannot comprehend. Was it with the design to let Rev. Freeman see that there was no partiality among you, and to assure him of your affection toward him? But then we would have to complain of your partiality, and of withdrawal of affection from us; who without any reference to our own glory and interest, have, with our pastor, suffered and striven for the rights and freedom of our church:- when our lawfully called minister Rev. 1713 1718 Antonides sent to us by you; and we, with him,- for in this we take our part and portion are thus publicly branded as " One who causes suffering to orphans and widows;" while on the contrary, Rev. Freeman is honored with the title of "Worthy Minister of Christ's Church at Midwout." Yet even as we have always had reason to thank you for your faithful care in sending capable ministers, who have served and edified our congregations by their teaching and life; so now, we have special reason to rejoice in his person, who in these troublous times, has been himself sufficiently tried and tested. His laudable testimonials both from you, and from the Classis of Leewarden, and from his previous churches, both in respect of doctrine and life, have been sufficiently verified by him. By his labors among the young the number of the members, notwithstanding the sad schism in our churches, has been increased by more than a hundred. These after public confession and the giving of adequate testimonials have been received in the bosom of the church. The Holy Supper is celebrated now among us four times a year. And therefore we protest, that he and we with him — has not in any sense deserved to be thus publicly exhibited; and that it is to us as well as to all well-meaning persons very painful, and makes us bitterly sore of heart, that there has thus been given to Rev. Freeman any opportunity to boast over him, even as he seeks in every way to get the advantage of him. As to the moneys: Inasmuch as the money transmitted for promoting the liberty of our churches, is not being used for that purpose anyhow, and is lying idle; therefore we give authority by these presents, even as we now do authorize you to draw upon the portion contributed by us, which amounts to the sum of twenty five pounds (sixty two dollars and fifty cents) New York money, for the payment of said debt provided there be (first) deducted therefrom what has been already taken from it for expenses in curred. We could have wished that you had done this of your own accord, even as you took the liberty to take from it for the benefit of Rev. Vas; or that our minister had asked us for the authority to suggest it. But this, from his modesty, he never ventured to do; for we always expected and longed to hear that some good had been accomplished by you, in the object for which the money had been designed. Thus have we considered ourselves obliged, as the lawfully succeeding Consistory, whose predecessors have always been guided by the Classis, to answer your communication, and to give a fuller account of affairs. We must say that for a long time we have been expecting more comforting communications, and have eagerly looked forward for them. And even as we profess to have a clear conscience before God, in reference to our labors, which are sincere and faithful; and upon whose hearts the cause of God's Church rests; so we seek no glory nor interest of our own, and will ever seek to preserve and defend the rights and liberties of our churches, and maintain the pastors, lawfully called by us, as far as lieth in our power. If it cannot be with the aid of the Rev. Classis, let it be then in some other way, which God may vouchsafe to us, in all that is right and just. If there be anything that concerns our pastor personally it is proper that that be treated of privately, as a personal matter; but that which refers to the church, we request that this be also addressed, in common with him, to us; that we in that sort of writing, may be recognized as affairs of the church, for the government of the church concerns us jointly. Hoping that this our communication, springing from a deeply felt embarrassment, may not in any wise be accounted ill by you, we wish, and we pray, that upon your highly distinguished Assembly may come all imaginable prosperity and blessing, from 1718 1713 God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We remain with all [SUPPLEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONS TO GOV. HUNTER.] Order in Council Allowing the Clergy the Right of Appeal to the Governor and Anne R: Trusty and Welbeloved: Wee greet you well: Whereas the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts, having made a Representation unto us, wherein they set forth the Hardships suffered by Thomas Poyer, Clerk, in that our Province of New York, humbly submitting to us whether in this Case and others of the like nature Wee may not think fit to dispense with that part of the Instructions given to you, whereby it is provided that in all Appeales to the Governor and Council of Our said Province, the summ appealed for do exceed One Hundred Pounds, and in all Appeales to Us in Councill, the Summ appealed for do exceed Three Hundred Pounds sterling. Which Representation being by us referred to Our Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, they have thereupon reported that upon the Death of Mr. Urquhart, late Rector of the parish of Jamaica in Long Island, you inducted Mr. Thomas Poyer, a person duely qualified according to our Instructions in that behalf to the Rectory of the said Parish; notwithstanding which, by the violence of some Sectaryes, disaffected to the Church, the said Poyer hath been wrongfully kept out of the Parsonage House and Glebe. That the said Poyer is unwilling to seek his remedy at Law being apprehensive that if a Cause of the Church should be tryed and judged by Dissenters, he would not find justice, and the value of the said House and Glebe being small, an Appeale would not lye from the Inferior Courts to Our Governor and Council there. Which being the state of the Case Our said Commissioners are humbly of Opinion that in Cases where the Church is Immediately concerned, (as in the present Case), Wee be graciously pleased to allow the Clergy Liberty of Appealing from the Inferiour Courts to our Governour and Council only, without Limitation of any Summ. The said Report being laid before Us in Council Wee taking the same into our |