1713 ACTS OF THE CLASSIS OF AMSTERDAM. Tidings from New York. 1713, June 19th. A large package of papers relating to the churches of New York having come to the table, it was opened, and these writings were placed in the hands of the Deputati ad res Maritimas, that they might report their contents to this Classical Assembly. Antonides and Vas. The matter of the moneys advanced to Revs. Antonides and Vas remains in statu. ix. 293. REV. JOHN F. HAEGER TO SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING THE GOSPEL. Vol. 8. p. 189. No. 53. Letter from Mr. Haeger to Mr. Chamberlayne, July 6, 1713. Sir: Pray do not take it ill that I trouble you with these lines. I have written several times but I do not know whether the letters have come to hand. Thus have I likewise received none from my father, I do not know how long since, and therefore cannot be sure whether he is alive or dead. The misery of these poor Palatines I every day behold has thrown me into such a fit of melancholy that I much fear a sickness. There has been a great famine among them this winter, and does hold on still, in so much that they boil grass and ye children eat the leaves of the trees. Such amongst them have most suffered of hunger as are advanced in years and too weak to go out a laboring. I have seen old men and women crie that it should have almost moved a stone. I am almost resined with this people. I have given the bread out of my own mouth to many a one of these, not being able to behold their extreme want. 1713 Where I live there were two old people that, before I could be informed of their necessitous condition, have for a whole week together had nothing but Welsh turnips, which they did only scrape and eat without any salt or fat or bread; and in a word I cannot describe the miserable state they are reduced to, and above all that, have we no hope of any alteration; for one hears no news here, nobody receives any letters, which also hinders me now from drawing a Bill of Exchange for my half year's salary, due at Sadyday 1713. The knife is almost put to my throat, whilst I am in a foreign country without either money or friends to advance one any. I had sown and planted some ground at my own charges, but it has now twice been spoiled. I most humbly beg your advice what to do. I have served hitherto faithfully as Col. Heathcote and others can bear witness with a good conscience and should I now be forsaken in this remote land without any pay, or means of subsistance, having neither received anything hitherto from my people nor anything being to be expected from them for the time to come. They cry out after me: I should by no means forsake them for they should otherwise be quite comfortless in this wilderness. Sir, I entreat you to recommend my case as much as possible, for I do not know where to turn myself otherwise. May the Lord reward you for it and bless and keep your family in long life and health and thus I remain, Most honored Sir, your obliged and fervent in prayer, At present at New York the 6th of July 1713. P. T. P. Palat. LETTERS FROM THE CONSISTORY AT ALBANY TO SCHENECTADY Albany, July 7, 1713. The consistory of the Dutch church of New York having again sent to us the quantity of eighty bushels of corn, fifty pieces of smoked pork (rookspeck), weighing about five hundred pounds and one hundred pounds bread to be distributed among the Palatines of Schoharie, you are hereby kindly requested to send thither by the first opportunity five wagons to bring the said victuals to Schenectady and have it there stored away. Please bring also as many bags as will hold the corn, and be so kind as to buy flour to the amount of six [?] pounds. We also entreat you to summon all the said Palatines at your place a week after to-morrow being Wednesday the 15th instant, that they may be early in the morning at your place, when God willing the domine and some of the consistory intend to be at your place to distribute with you the said victuals. Respectfully yours, Per order of the Consistory of Albany. Munsell's Annals of Albany Vol. vii. pp. 236, 237. REV. JOHN F. HAEGER TO THE SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING THE Vol. 8. p. 158. No. 31. Letter of Haeger to the Secretary. July 8, 1713. Sundry of my epistles I have transmitted to you, but what misfortune they met with I cannot discover, as living remote in the woods, yet I can surely acquaint you that I have not received a line of your favor which makes me exceedingly melancholly, At this time Sir, I can only repeat with brevity to you the success I gained by God's assistance among our Palatines. They rejoiced extremely at the welcome news of sending so many examples of the Liturgy in their mentioned language, which they so long and impatiently expected and speak of that The number great care and charity with a very grateful sense. of persons instructed in our Church Catechism and true principles of Christianity and admitted to the Lord's Supper (part 1718 1713 whereof are come to such competent age as is required and part are such as left the errors of the Church of Rome) are As concerning the Communicants of my congregation, whɔ conform themselves to our liturgy, I'll only tabulate to you number of them on the chief Feast days of this instant year the Sir, I have had a much greater number, as will appear by my accounts transmitted from time to time particularly after the year 1712 last past when on Easter Day I had 240 communicants, but since they separated themselves they are dispersed up and down the country, yet nevertheless I endeavor to the utmost of my power to get the circuit from time to time, and as far as possible I can come to visit, instruct, edify and comfort them with the word of grace and to promote the interest of the Church of Christ by prayers and preaching on all occasions duely and truely to discharge the duty of my functions as will be verified by the testimonies of his Excellency Governor Hunter, Col. Caleb Heathcoate, Col. Louis Morris and others. Next under the divine providence I must wholly rely upon and have my sole refuge to the powerfull protection and assistance and favor of the honorable Society without which it is in vain for me to hope for the least support and encouragement considering the precarious circumstances of the poor Palatines who are not able to help themselves much less to contribute one farthing toward maintaining their minister who yet is so necessary to them, that without his instruction they should run astray like sheep without a shepherd and become quite ignorant of the knowledge of God and his word, like our Indians and like many others of those inhabitants called Christians having no more but the empty name, as to my great sorrow and grief I have observed in several places, which are remote and destitute of all instruction of Christianity Such a particular mark of the indefatigable zeal for propogating Christianity and such a particular favor and tender regard of the Honorable Society towards our said poor Palatines and others and to me will assuredly cause the pouring out of all celestial bless |