1720 Protestant religion, to the same congregation and their successors forever, in the said city of Albany, know ye, that of our especial grace, certain knowledge, and meer motion, we have given, granted, ratified, and confirmed, and do by these presents for us, our heirs and successors forever, give, grant, ratify and confirm unto all the inhabitants of Albany, so as aforesaid descended of Dutch ancestors, and professing the said Reformed Protestant religion, and to their successors forever, the free use and exercise of their worship, doctrine, discipline and church government according to the canons, rules, institutions and directions of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Holland, instituted and approved by the National Synod of Dort, 2. Perfect Religious Freedom granted. And that no person nor persons whatsoever in communion of the said Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Albany aforesaid, or at any time or times hereafter, shall be molested, disquieted, or disturbed in the free use and exercise of their said religion and worship, they behaving themselves peaceably, and not abusing this liberty to licentiousness, profaneness, and the civil injury or outward disturbance of the National Church of England, as by law established, or other Reformed Protestant churches in the aforesaid city of Albany. 3. Incorporation of said Minister with Elders and Deacons and Members. Name of Church. And to the end the same liberties and privileges be hereafter forever supported, maintained, and continued to them and their successors forever, we of our especial grace, certain knowledge and meer motion, do likewise will and grant for us, our heirs and successors forever, unto the same Petrus Van Driessen, the present minister of the same congregation at Albany, Johannes Roseboom, Hendryck Van Rensselaer, and William Jacobse Van Deusen, the present elders of the same church, and unto Rutgert Bleecker, Volkert Van Veghten, Myndert Roseboom, and Dirk Tienbroock, the present deacons of the same church, and the inhabitants of Albany communicants of the said church, that they be as they are hereby created and made one body corporate and politick in fact and name, by the name of the minister, elders and deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the city of Albany, V. Rights and Privileges of said Corporation. And that they and their successors forever, shall and may by that name have perpetual succession, and be able and capable in the law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, answer and be answered unto, defend and be defended, in all and singular suits, quarrels, controversies, differences, strifes, matters and things whatsoever, and in all courts whatsoever, either in law or equity, of what kind soever, 2. Rights in Property and Income. As also by the same name, to have, hold, take, receive, be seized of, possess and enjoy to them and their successors forever their said church, parsonage or minister's dwelling-house, almshouse, and other demesnes or inheritances, by fee simple, before mentioned, and such other demesnes or inheritances to purchase and acquire to them and their successors and assigns forever, and by the same name, the same lands, hereditaments and appurtenances, or any part of them (excepting only the same church); to alienate, bargain, sell, grant, demise, sell and to farm let to any other person, or persons, body corporate and politic, whatsoever at their will and pleasure, in fee simple for life, or lives, or for term of years, as to them shall seem most convenient and profitable, as any other person or persons, body corporate or politic, may or can do, not exceeding the yearly value of three hundred pounds over and above what they now stand seized and 1720 1720 possessed, or for the common use and benefit of the same Dutch Church and of all the members of the same congregation. 3. Right to a Seal. And we do further will and grant that the minister, elders and deacons of the same church, for the time being, forever hereafter, be the consistory of the same church, and shall and may have, keep and use a common seal to serve for all grants, matters and things, whatsoever belonging to the same corporation, with such device or contrivance thereon as they or their successors forever shall think fit to appoint, with full power to break, new make and alter the same at their will and discretion; and the same consistory shall have and enjoy the like power and privileges as a Dutch consistory in the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Holland do, or may or ought to use and enjoy. VI. Regulations for said Corporation. 1. Names of First Minister, Elders and Deacons to be the Consistory. Their powers. And we do will and grant that the same Petrus Van Driessen be the first minister of the said church at the time of this our grant, and the same Johannes Cuyler, Johannes Roseboom, Henryck Van Rensselaer and William Jacobse Van Deusen, be the first elders of the said church at the time of this our grant; and that the same Rutgert Bleecker, Volkert Van Veghten, Myndert Roseboom and Dirk Tienbroock, be the first deacons of the said church at the time of this our grant, to all intents and purposes; and that the said ministers, together with the said four elders and four deacons, or the ministers, elders and deacons for the time being, and the major numbers of them whereof the minister for the time being always to be one-be the consistory of the said church, and have and shall have full power and authority, at all time and times forever hereafter, to act in all their church affairs and business, by majority of voices, in as full and ample manner as if the minister and all the said four elders and four deacons were personally present and did actually and severally give their votes. 2. Supplying vacancies. Term of office. But in case of the death, absence or removal of their said minister, then, and in any of these cases, the elders and deacons of the same church, for the time being, or the major number of them, whereof the first elder in nomination we will always to be one, and shall preside, shall have, use and exercise all the power and authority of a consistory to all intents and purposes, and shall manage and order the church affairs in as full and ample manner as if their said minister were alive, present and consenting thereunto, anything in these presents to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. 3. May receive and pay out all moneys, gifts; keep accounts, etc. And we will and grant that the same elders and deacons continue in their respective offices until the next anniversary election. And the said elders and their successors, forever hereafter, have and shall have the full power and authority of receiving and paying the moneys given for the maintenance of the minister or ministry of the same church, whether the same arise by legacy, donation or voluntary contributions or collection from the inhabitants or members of the same congregation, and are to keep exact and true accounts to the consistory, when thereunto by them required. And that the said deacons and their successors forever hereafter, have and shall have the sole power and authority of receiving and paying all the moneys collected and offered at the administration of the Holy Sacrament of our Lord's Supper, and in church in the times of divine service of preaching, for the maintenance of the poor, and are to keep and render exact and true accounts thereof to the consistory aforesaid, when thereunto by them required. 1720 1720 4. Time of their election. Which election of the same elders and deacons of the same church is to be at Albany on every second Saturday of December, annually, forever, by majority of voices, of the consistory, in the manner following: That is to say, on each second Saturday of December, annually forever at Albany, shall be chosen two new elders and two new deacons, who, together with the two elders and two deacons last in nomination in this our charter, shall serve for the year ensuing in their respective offices, and forever thereafter, the two new ones shall be chosen and added to the younger two elders and deacons of the preceding year, so always as to preserve the number of four elders and four deacons of the said church. 5. Election of Church-masters and their duties. And moreover we do will and grant unto the said minister, elders and deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, in the city of Albany, and to their successors forever, that on the second Saturday of December next, and on every second Saturday of December annually forever hereafter at Albany, shall be elected and chosen four discreet persons by the majority of voices of the consistory aforesaid, to be kirkmasters of the said church, whose office and charge is and shall be to build and repair the same church and cemetery, parsonage, alms-house, and all other the hereditaments and appurtenances to the said church belonging, and to have the ordering and direction of the pews and seats in the said church, and the breaking of the ground in the cemetery for burying the dead, and shall have and receive all the rents and revenues of the said church, coming therefrom or from any other of the said church's inheritances; also, the payments of all sum and sums of money laid out and expended, in such necessary buildings, and reparations of all which the said kirkmasters are likewise to keep and surrender exact and true accounts to the said consistory aforesaid, two of which four kirk |