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" ERECTED A. D. 1860.
A. BIRCH, Builder."
HISTORY
OF THE
REFORMED CHURCH,
AT
East Greenbush,
Rensselaer County, New Yoik.
' One generation shall praise thy works to another.
COMPILED BY
REV. P. THEO. POCKMAN, A. M.
I
PUBLISHED 1891.
J. HEIDINGSFELD. Printer, New Brunswick, N. J.
<^5pi^
INTRODUCTORY,
THE little hair-trunk, tender mth age, has
poured out its contents at our feet. On the
seared and yellow leaves were written deeds,
bills, receipts, etc., which told plainly enough that
this was the treasurer's chest. It has long and
faithfully preserved these, together with the " col-
lector's " books. It has many a quiet tale to relate
of early struggle and devotion to the temporal in-
terests of Zion.
From different hands there have come to us the
various records of our Mother Church, telling their
individual stories of how God hath wrought among
the people for over a hundred years. Some of these
are in a foreign language, for our forefathers were
Dutch, but all are in a good state of preservation.
These pages have been scanned with keen in-
terest, and such items noted here and there as may
be of general interest to the reader. It is worthy
of special mention that we have been enabled to
make out a complete list of all who have served in
the Consistory from the beginning, and also that we
can present a full catalogue of members.
The records of births and baptisms are in a good
state of preservation, but will not be found trans-
4 INTRODUCTOBY.
cribed in these pages. Baptisms began in January,
1788.
The record of marriages is complete from Octo -
ber 5th, 1788, when Henry Shebley and Elizabeth
Shans were married; also Wynanot Van De Bergh
and Eva Witbeck : Key. J. V. C. Eomeyn perform-
ing the ceremony.
The first thought of this modest volume was
awakened four years ago, when the church observed
her centennial, and much of the contents were col-
lected at that time by the persevering labors of the
historian, Rev. Jeremiah F. Yates, of Fort Edward,
N. Y., who has most generously put everything into
the hands of the compiler.
In the hope that these pages will keep alive the
interest of generations yet unborn in the church of
our fathers, and that the name of the Great Head
of the Church will be glorified in some measure
through them, they are now scattered broadcast.
' * Church of my sires — my love to thee
Was nurtured in my infancy,
And now maturer thoughts approve
The object of that infant love.
Linked to my soul with hooks of steel,
By all I say, and do, and feel —
By records that refresh my eye.
In the rich page of memory —
By blessings at thine altars given—
By scenes which lift the soul to Heaven ;
By monuments that humbly rise
Memorials of the good and wise —
By graves forever sad and dear,
Still reeking with my constant tear ;
Where those in honored slumber lie.
Whose deaths have taught me how to die.
And shall I not with all my powers.
Watch round thy venerable towers ?
And can I bid the pilgrim flee,
To holier refuge than to thee?"
LOCALITY.
THE original deed of sale for the land forming
the Van Eensselaer Manor (a tract 24 by 48
miles), lying about Albany, then Fort Orange,
was seen by Gen. James Grant Wilson at Amster-
dam a few years ago. It is dated August 13th,
1630, and is full of Indian names. Gen. Wilson
has a photograph of the paper. This is supposed
to be the oldest record of the kind pertaining to
New York State lands.
The deed of sale for Manhattan Island was long
ago lost or destroyed.— Albany Journal, Oct. 29, 1889.
The names of Van Buren, Van Hegen, Staats,
Witbeck and Bris were found in the township as
early as 1630. Van Denburgh, Cuyler and Van
Wesipe were also among the earliest families in
the old township of Greenbush.
A Mr. Van Buren occupied a brick house on the
river road, about three miles south of the village of
Greenbush, which was erected over one hundred
years ago, and stands on a stone foundation that
was laid in 1630. The original house was a stone
structure, but its walls became so damp that it was
taken down.
The oldest dwelhng in the valley of the Hudson,
and one of the most ancient in this part of the
country, is situated just five miles south of Albany,
8 EAKLY HISTORY.
upon the east side of the river. The old Staats
stone mansion, or fort, dates far back, even to the
remotest history of our Colonial days. No doubt
when the Mayflower was tempest-tossed upon the
angry billows of the Atlantic, and but a few years
after the first trading post was established by the
Dutch, which was the origin of the Capital city of
New York, this little stone fort, with its thick and
substantial walls, stood the ravages of time, as the
rugged oak of the forest stands, defying the tem-
pest's fury or the wintry blast. The Staats man-
sion was standing long ere Queen Anne ruled over
the British Possessions, and was more than a
century old at the time of Gen. Washington's birth.
It is built of stone and brick. The stone portion
of the building is the first or original house ; the
other portion is a comparatively modern structure.
The Staats family have occupied the same home-
stead and farm all these years. The present gen-
eration is the seventh from the original proprietor.
(C. Van Rensselaer, Hudson, N. Y.)
Another dwelling in the township contests the
claim of priority and speaks of early life in the
vicinity. In the suburbs of Greenbush village to
the south is found an ancient structure, which was
built at the time Holland held sway. Its front
walls facing the river, are pierced with two port-
holes. It originally had more in the different walls of
EARLY HISTORY. ^
the building. This house was erected by Hendrick
Yan Eensselaer about 1642. It is commonly
known as the old Manor House.
(0. Van Rensselaer.)
Among the memorial tablets erected in Albany
and vicinity during Bi-Centennial year (1886) is
one placed in the walls of this Van Rensselaer
house bearing this inscription :
" Supposed to be the oldest building in the
United States and to have been erected in 1642
as a manor house and place of defence known as
Fort Cralo, General Abercrombie's headquarters
while marching to attack Fort Ticonderoga in 1758,
where it is said that at the cantonment east of the
house near the old well, the army surgeon, Dr.
Shamburg, composed the popular song, 'Yankee
Doodle.' "
The early settlement of the township is no more
surely authenticated than is the establishment of
religious worship.
A marble slab in the vestibule of the church re-
lates the fact year after year — "Built 1786" —
which was the year previous to the organization of
the society as a Christian church.
The deed for the land upon which the church
was built was given to the Consistory by Stephen
Yan Rensselaer, Esq., on April 8th, 1793, and
reads as follows :
10 EARLY HISTORY.
Stephen Van';Rensselaer, Esq., ]
to j
The Minister, Elders and Deacons of the [ Release.
Reformed Protestant Low Dutch Church I
in Green bush. I
" This Indenture, made the Eighth day of April in the year
of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-three.
Between Stepuen Van Rensselaer, Esq. , Lord and Proprietor of
the Manor of Reusselaerwyck, in the Counties of Albany and
Rensselaer, of the first part, and Jacobus Van Campe Romeyn,
Minister, Christopher Yates, John E. Van Alen, Stephen Mul-
ler and Huybert Ostrander, Elders, and Barent Van Denbergh,
John Lewis, Thomas Mesick and Jonathan Ostrander, Deacons,
Trustees of the Reforujed Protestant Low Dutch Church of
Greenbush, of the second part: Witnesseth, that the said
Stephen Van Rensselaer, for and in consideration of promoting
the Christian Religion, and for advancing the Interest of the
said Church, as for and in consideration of the Sum of ten Shil-
lings, lawful money of the State of New York, to him in hand
paid by the said party of the second part, at and before the
Ensealing and Delivery hereof, the Receipt whereof he doth
hereby acknowledge, Hath given, Granted, Remised, Released
and Confirmed, and by these presents Doth give, grant, Remise,
Release and Confirm unto the said Jacobus Van Campe Romeyn,
Minister, Christopher Yates, John E. Van Alen, Stephen Muller
and Huybert Ostrander, Elders, and Barent Van Denbergh,
John Lewis, Thomas Mesick and Jonathan Ostrander, Deacons,
trustees of the said Church in their actual Possession now being,
and to their Successors forever : All that certain piece or Parcel
of Glebe Land situate, lying and being in Greenbush, in the
County of Rensselaer, and Manor aforesaid, whereon the Church
Now stands, and is bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning at a
point which is distant one chain forty-seven links from the
Northeast Corner of said Church, on a Course North twenty-
seven degrees East and runs thence North thii'ty-three degrees
EARLY HISTORY.
11
West two chains ninety-six links, then North fifty-seyen degrees
East five chains, then South thirty-three degrees East five
chains, then South fifty-seven degrees West five chains, then
South thirty-three degrees East two chains ninety-six links,
then South fifty-seven degrees West four chains, then North
thirty-three degrees West five chains, then North fifty-
seven degrees East four chains, to the place of beginning. Con-
taining four Acres and five-tenths of an Acre; Together with
all and singular the Hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto
belonging, or in anywise appertaining, and the Reversion and
Reversions, Remainder and Remainders, Rents, Issues and
profits thereof, and of every part thereof, with the appur-
tenances; To have avd to hold the said piece or parcel of Glebe
land and premises unto them the said Jacobus Van Campe
Romeyn, Minister, Christopher Yates, John E. Van Alen,
Stephen Muller and Huybert Ostrander, Elders, and Barent
Van Denbergh, John Lewis, Thomas Mesick and Jonathan
Ostrander, Deacons, trustees as aforesaid, and to their Successors
forever, to and for the Sole and only proper use, benefit
and behoof of the said Reformed protestant low Dutch
Church of Greenbush, and for no other use or purpose whatso-
ever; Provided always, and these presents are upon this Express
Condition, that, whenever it shall so happen that the Divine
Service shall cease to be performed by the Congregation in the
Church aforesaid, or that they shall otherwise be unable to sup-
port a Minister for the Service, that then it shall and maybe
lawful for the said Stephen Van Rensselaer, his heirs and
Assigns, into the premises aforesaid to Re-enter, and the same
to have again. Repossess and Enjoy, anything herein to the Con-
trary Notwithstanding. In Witness whereof the parties to these
presents have hereunto Interchangeably set their hands and
Seals the Day and Year above written.
STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER. "
' ' State of New Yobk, ss.
This twelfth day of Angust, one thousand eight hundred and
12 EARLY HISTORY.
nine, personally appeared before me the within named Stephen
Van Rensselaer, to me known to be the same person described in
and who executed the within Indenture of Release and acknowl-
edged to have executed the same. I therefore allow it to be
Recorded. T. HANSEN, Master in Chancery."
"Recorded 3d October at 6 o'clock p. m. in Book of Deeds
No. 6, page 22, Clerk's Office, Rensselaer County,
Examined by me. R. M. LIVINGSTON,
Fees, $1.20. Dep'y Cl'k."
" Sealed and Delivered in the presence of
WM. GROSON,
SCHUYLER SWITS."
CHUECH BUILDINGS.
Tiie first church edifice was erected in 1786. It
was built of wood, forty or forty-five feet square,
with gambrel roof running north and south, and
with the entrance on the east side. There w^ere six
windows on a side, three above the gallery and
three below it. The entrance to the gallery was by
stairs on the outside, beginning at the southeast
corner and running up on the south side. It was
painted yellow. Mr. William Snook says it w^as
for many years known as " The old yellow church."
Services on Sabbath, according to his earliest rec-
ollection, were two, forenoon and afternoon, and
only one hour apart, the people tying their horses
EARLY HISTORY. 13
in the rear of the church and eating their hmch
there, while their teams fed on hay, which they
had brought with them. Mr. Snook also says that
he often heard his father say that he drew the
second stick of timber for the first church — a Mr.
Van Rensselaer living near the river having drawn
the first stick.
Revs. Romeyn, Zabriskie, Labagh, Marselus,
Taylor and Dumont preached in this building
before any alterations were made in the structure.
Second building. The marble slab that gives
the date of the first edifice — " 1786 " — also records
the date of the first alteration, which practically
made the church another building, viz. — " Enlarged
1829." In October of that year tlie following
changes were ordered : An addition of thir-
teen feet to be made to whole front (east)
to contain one large door, and two flights
of stah's on the inside to the gallery. The
roof to be turned gable end to the road, so as
to run east and west. Two doors to enter the
body of the church ; one opposite each side aisle.
Two recesses for stoves at front end, Windows
then in front to be closed and inserted in the new
part. Two windows on the north side and two
windows on the south side in the new part of the
building, and a door in front of the middle aisle.
The south door leading to the gallery to be closed.
14 EABLY HISTORY.
A porch in front of the large door, and an arched
window over the door. A cupola at the east end
twenty feet above the eaves.
The following agreement was recently found
among the papers of the Bev, John A. Liddell. It
refers to changes made in the rear of the church
in 1833 :
' • Memorandum of agreement made and entered into by and
between Henry Vandenbergh, Jno. Link, Barent Hoes, Jno,
Breese, James Elliott and Richard Waring, of the first part, and
Jno. G. Rorabeck of the second part. Whereas the said Rora-
beck is to erect or build an addition to the Prot. Ref Dutch
Church in the town of Greenbush (of which the Rev. J. A. Lid-
dell is pastor) — Said addition is to be f)laced on the west end of
said church, to extend West fifteen feet from the said Church
and North and South width and height of the old church to be
built in a good substantial and workmanlike manner and in all
things to correspond with the old Church inside and out, except
the frame of the roof, which is to be supported with purlins
plates in a sufficient manner to support the sealing and roof,
and one post to extend from (which will be) the centre post,
under the north and south Galleries to the sealing of the said
church to correspond with the- posts now under the Gallery.
The pulpit to be placed at the west end of said Church with a
flight of stairs on each side up to the entrance thereof, Railing
and Bannisters to be of black walnut, a perpendicular schrale on
said railing neatly finished — a closet under each flight of stairs
with doors, locks and keys to the same. One slip less on each
side of the Pulpit to leave room for the steps to the Pulpit.
With a good stone wall under the new part of the church, two
feet thick, three feet from the bottom of the sill downward,
with good stone Butments of the s-^me depth and two feet
square of flat stones under the floor foundation, and under the
EAELY HISTORY. 15
posts that support the Gallery. The plastering to be of two
coats and good quality to correspond with that of the old part of
the church, and white washed. The windows in the new part of
the church to be checked. The slips to i.^e made to correspond
with them in the old part of said Church, fashioned and finished
corresponding with the old ones. The whole of the new part to
be fashioned and finished to correspond with the old part inside
and out, to have two coats of paint to match those now on said
Church. Said Eorabeck is to have the materials, taken from the
west end of the church, and use so much thereof in the erection
of the addition to said Church as may be good and sufficient.
In consideration of the said Rorabeck's faithful performance
on his part the said Vandenbergh, Links, Hoes, Breese, Elliott,
and Waring agree and promise to pay the said Rorabeck five
hundred and sixty-five Dollars in manner following.
At the time of commencing said building Two hundred Dol-
lars $200, when said building is enclosed Two hundred Dollars,
and when the said building is completed to the satisfaction of
the said party of the first part one hundred and sixty-five Dol-
lars. The whole sum $565.
The said Rorabeck is to have the addition to said Church fin-
ished on or before the thirtieth day of October, one Thousand
eight hundred and Thirty Three.
In witness whereof the parties to these presents have hereunto
set their hands and affixed their seals this day of one
thousand eight hundred and thirty-three."
These alterations changed the appearance and
capacity of the house and formed the second
structure.
The present handsome and substantial structm-e
was erected in 1860, on nearly the same site, only
changing the foundation sufficiently to make the
building parallel with the highway. The corner-
16 EARLY HISTORY.
stone was laid June 5th, 1860, at the northeast
corner. It is 72 feet long by 50 feet wide and 35
feet high, with organ loft and gallery across the
front end only. It is of brick with brown stone
water tables, etc. The church was without a pas-
tor during its erection. It was dedicated April,
1861. Kev. Dr. E. P. Rogers, of the First Ee-
formed Church of Albany, officiated. His prede-
cessor in that church, Rev. Eilardus Westerlo, per-
formed a similar service for the first edifice sev-
enty-four years before.
PARSONAGES.
The first house used as a parsonage was in the
township of Schodack. The Schodack congrega-
tion provided this for the minister. Rev. Mr.
Romeyn lived in this house.
The second parsonage was at Blooming Grove,
on the line dividing the two congregations of Green-
bush and Wynantskill. It appears that the Rev.
Mr. Romeyn bought this house at first and sold it
to the two congregations for a parsonage, after his
successor arrived. In 1802 it was bought by the
church for 150 pounds, and fully paid for in 180^.
The last installment of this sum was " transmitted
EARLY HISTORY. • 17
to Mr. Komeyn by Capt. Boyd, of Albany, who
brought up our Bond, which was cancelled."
The following "Quit Claim Deed" has been
found, but the transaction seems not to be re-
corded in the church records :
THIS INDENTURE, made the tenth day of January in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three,
Between Peter D. VanDyck, of the town of Greenbush, in the
county of Rensselaer, and Margaret VanDyck, his wife, of the
first part, and the miuister, elders and deacons of the Reformed
Protestant Dutch Church of Greenbush, in the county of Albany,
their successors of the second part,
WITNESSETH, That the said parties, of the first part, for and in
consideration of the sum of three hundred and fifty pounds, law-
ful money of New York, to them in hand paid, by the said parties,
of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby confessed and
acknowledged; Have bargained, sold, remised and quit-claimed;
and by these presents Do bargain, sell, remise and forever Quit-
claim, unto the said parties, of the second part, and to their suc-
cessors forever, the one equal moiety or half of all that that cer-
tain lot of ground situate, lying and being in the town of Green-
bush, in the county of Rensselaer, with all the buildings and
improvements on the same, butted and bounded as follows,
to wit : Beginning at the corner post of the Cooirt-yard fence,
which is distant two chains and thirteen links on a course south,
sixty-four degrees west from the southwest corner of the dwell-
ing house of the said Peter D. Van Dyck, and running thence
south seventy-five degrees and ten minutes, east nine chains and
ninety links to a stake and stones, then south thirty degrees, west
one chain and sixteen links to a stake and stones, then south
fifty-five degrees, east fifteen chains and ninety-six links, then
north twenty-nine degrees fifteen minutes, east six chains forty-
four links to the south line of the farm of David M. De Foreest,
[2]
18 * EARLY HISTORY.
then along the same north fifty -six degrees fi fteen minutes, Wf-s
six chains thirty links, then south seventy-nine degrees, west
forty-six links, then north fifty-one degrees, west nine chaing
forty-one links, then south twenty-nine degrees fifteen minutes,
west three chains sixty-six links, then north sixty-three degrees,
west eleven chains ten links, and then south eight degrees, west
four chains fifteen links to the plac e of beginning, containing
thirteen acres of land,
Together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurte-
nances thereunto belonging, or in any wise appertaining, and the
reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issuSg
and profits thereof; and all the estate, right, title, interest, claim
or demand whatsoever, of the said parties of the first part, either
in law or equity, of, in and to the above bargained premises, with
the hereditaments and appurtenances. To Have and to Hold,
the said premises, above described, with the appurtenances to the
said parties of the second part, and to their successors, to the sole
and only proper use, benefit and behoof of the said parties of the
second part, their successors forever.
In witness whereof, the parties to these presents, ha'ce hereunto
interchangeably set their hands and seals, the day and year first
above icritten. PETEE D. VAN DYCK,
MAKGAKETVAN DYCK.
Sealed and delivered, )
in presence of )
The Jieirs and assigns being obliterated in the eight line, and
the word successors being inserted in place thereof, and the word
all in the same,line being also obliterated; heirs and assigns being
obliterated in the twenty -fourth and twenty-fifth lines and the
word successors interlined in both places instead thereof.
LEONAKD GANSEVOORT, Junr. ,
ANN BEEKMAN.
Be it remembered that on the tenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three, personally
EAKLY HISTORY. 19
appeared before me, Leonard Gansevoort, Junr. , one of the judges
of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Rensselaer, Peter
D. Van Dyck and Margaret, his wife, both to me personally known,
who severally acknowledged that they had signed, sealed and as
their voluntary act and deed rlelivered the within indenture for
the uses and purposes theirein mentioned, and the said Margaret
Van Dyck, being by me examined privately, apart from her hus-
band, the said Peter D. Van Dyck, acknowledged that she exe-
cuted the same without any fear or compulsion of her said
husband, and I, having examined the same and finding therein
no erasures or interlineation other than those noted, do allow the
same to be recorded.
LEONARD G4NSEV00RT, Junk.
Recorded this Eighteenth day of February, 1803, in Book
No. 3 of Deeds, Page 225 & 6, in the Clerk's ofl&ce in the County
of Rensselaer. N. SCHUYLER, Cl'k.
About 1807 " Ten acres of land adjoining the par-
sonage" were purchased by the Church, Dominie
Zabriskie advancing some of the money on it.
In 1815 the Greenbush Church sold the parsonage
at Blooming Grove, "one- third consideration money
to go to Blooming Grove."
Eevs. Zabriskie and Labagh lived at Blooming
Grove.
On October 19, 1815, the Consistory decided to
buy the property of Charles Doughty.
This is probably the property owned for some
time by William Barringer, and afterwards by
Michael Warner, and now owned by Mr. Crandall.
The following survey of the parsonage and Green
lots, made in 1825, is preserved.
BARN *
PARSONAGE *
2.5
The heavy hnes on the above map represent the parsonage and
lands thereto attached, belonging to the Consistory of the Church
of Greenbush, a part of which they have lately sold to Stephen
Green as represented by the dotted line and which will be
described as follows:
Beginning at a stake and stones standing in the south line of
the said lot and at the distance of 5.85 on a course S, 41 degrees
W. from the S. W. corner of the barn on the said parsonage and
runs from the said stake and stones.
1. N. 3 degrees 5 minntes, E 6.25 to a stake in the north line
and in the south side of the road, then along the same
2. N. 73 degrees 30 minutes 1.00 to a stake, then
3. N. 85 mimutes, W. 3.88, then
4. S. 52 degrees 30 minutes, W. 11.80 to a stake in the west
line, then
5. S. 9 degrees, E. 1.22 to a stake, then
6. S. 5 degrees 45 minutes, E. 4.74 to a stake and stones, and
then
7. N. 64 degrees, E. 14.46 to the place of beginning; contents,
10.2 acres.
Keturned 12th August, 1825, by
EVEETVAN ALEN,; Surveyor.
EARLY HISTORY. 21
Eevs. Marselns, Taylor and Dumont lived here,
and probably Liddell in the early part of his min-
istry.
What is now familiarly known as the old parson-
age was built in 1831 on land belonging to the
church. On April 15, 1831, a committee was
appointed to get subscriptions, and to select a site
for a parsonage " between the church and Esquire
James Lansings's house."
In the spring of 1835 a wing was added to the
north side of the parsonage at a cost of $258.
Messrs. Perkins and Carpenter w^ere the builders.
The loell was dug the same year. On Dec. 1, 1835,
the Consistor}^ adopted these resolutions relative to
the well :
Resolved, That any i:)erson wishing water from the pump in the
Dutch Church parsonage yard shall after the first of May next
(1836) pay the sum of two dollars in advance, each and every
year during the time they shall use it, except in certain cases
where the Consistory think proper to commute.
Carried by a large majority.
Resolved, That no person shall have the privilege of bringing
any animal into the yard for the purpose of watering the same.
Wells were an expensive luxury in those days !
This house was occupied by Eevs. Liddell, Stim-
son, Talmage and Anderson. During Mr. Wilson's
pastorate it was rented, he always boarding at other
places.
22 EABLY HISTORY.
The old parsonage was sold to Miles Traver on
Jan. 18, 1873, for $2,025.
The new parsonage was built in the year 1872.
On the 26th of March of that year the Consistory
decided to build a new parsonage and sell the old
one.
The Building Committee was composed of Jacob
Kimmey, John N. Pockman, Andrew Tweedale,
Isaac Hays and Jacob M. Cotton.
On the 20th of April, 1873, this committee
reported the parsonage completed at a cost of
$5,665.67. This beautiful house with its capacious
grounds added very much to the comfort of the
minister's family.
On July 7, 1873, the above committee was
instructed to have a well dug at the new parsonage
at a cost of $150. A suitable barn was also erected ;
and all these were located on the middle portion of
the Breese lot — that comprised the plot of ground
purchased on Dec. 26, 1866, by the Church of Miss
Berthia L. Staats for the sum of $3,000. The war-
ranty deed was given April 10, 1867. The north lot
was disposed of to the Misses Yates and the
south lot became the property of John N. Pock-
man.
No more desirable place could be found in the vil-
lage for a pastor's residence.
EARLY HISTORY. 23
GLEBE LOTS.
On March 8th, 1798, it was determined to lease
the Glebe Lots belonging to the church, that they
might become a source of profit to the church.
An annual rent of not less than three pounds was
to be reserved on each lot.
Monday, the nineteenth of March, 1798, at ten
o'clock A. M., was fixed upon as the time of sale.
Upon that date the following sales were effected :
Lot No. 1, purchased by Gerardus Beekman,
for £1.15.0.
Lot No. 2, purchased by John Brees, for £2.8.0.
Lot No. 3, purchased l)y Gerrit Brees, for £2.2.0.
Lot No. 4, purchased by Henry K. Yan Eens-
selaer, for £2.18.0.
Lot No. 5, purchased by Gerrit O. Lansingh,
for £40.0.
The above purchase money became due on May
1st, 1798, when the leases were executed to the
purchasers. Previous to this date a Seal was to be
procured pertaining to the body corporate of the
church, and it was left to the discretion of the
minister to direct the device.
On March 4th, 1809, three lots of ground were
conveyed to Dr. John S. Miller, lying north of the
lot in possession of Manassah Knowltou, reserving
a yearly rent on said lots of three pounds.
24 EAKLY HISTORY.
The accompanying survey is undoubtedly of the
lot now owned by Samuel S. Warner :
Beginning at a stake and stones standing on the south line of
the Parsonage lot and at the distance of 5.85 on a conrse forty-
one degrees west from the southwest corner of the barn on the
said parsonage lot, and runs froui said stake and stones north
three degrees fifteen minutes east, 6.25, to a stake on the north
line and on the south side of the road; then along the same
easterly to the Rensselaer and Co'lumbia turnpike road; then
along the same southerly to the northeast corner of William
P. Morrison's farm ; then westerly along the north line of said
farm to the place of beginning, containing 2. 5 acres of land.
DEEDS IN TRUST.
THIS INDENTURE, made this tenth day of June, one thous-
and eight hundred and fifty-seven. Between Cornelius Van
Rensselaer and Maria L. , his wife, of the town of Clinton in the
county of Rensselaer and State of New York, parties of the first
part, and Nathaniel S. Payne, Simeon Ostrander, Joseph S.
Hare, Charles Rhoda, John Pockman, Henry Salisbury, John
Gilbert and William Link, The Consistory of the Reformed
Dutch Church of Greenbush (now the town of Clinton) and
their successors in office, in trust for all the heirs of Col. Nicho-
las Van Rensselaer, late of the town of Greenbush, deceased, of
the second part,
WITNESSETH, That the said parties of the first part, for and in
consideration of Five dollars, to them duly paid by the said par-
ties of the second part, have bargained, sold, remised and quit-
claimed, and by these presents do bargain, sell, remise, and
qiiit-claim unto the said parties of the second part in their
actual possession now being, and to their successors in office for-
ever. All that certain lot, piece, or parcel of land, situate, lying
and being on the farm of the said Cornelius Van Rensselaer,
EAKLY HISTORY. 25
and being the Family Bukial Gkound of the Said Col,
Nicholas Van Rensselaek so deceased, and is bounded and
described as follows, to wit :
Beginning at a marble post numbered one (No. 1) which
bears south fifty degrees west three feet from the cedar tree
standing near the southwest corner of said burial ground, and
runs then from said marble post north four degrees west thirty
feet to a marble monument or post numbered two (No. 2) ;
thence north eighty -six degrees east eighty-eight ft et to a marble
monument or post numbered three (No. 3) standing at the west
side of the Albany and West Stockbridge Eailroad; thence
along the same south twenty-one degrees east thirty- one feet and
three-quarters of a foot to a marble monument or post numbered
four (No. 4j, and thence south eighty-six degrees west ninety-
seven feet to the place of beginning. Containing two thousand
seven hundred and seventy-five feet of ground, together with
the right of way and passage to and from said burial ground at
all times, through and over the lands of the said Cornelius Van
liensselaer, for the purpose of making interments on said burial
ground, or for the purpose of making or repairing the fences
enclosing or to enclose said burial ground, or improving, or
planting ornamental trees, shrubbery, liowers, or embellishing
the ground in any way and manner whatever. With the appur-
tenances, and all the estate, title and interest therein of the said
parties of the first part.
In witness whereof, the said parties of the first part have
hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above
written.
COKNELIUS VAN KENSSELAER,
MARIA L. VAN RENSSELAER.
'^^'^he^pre^^nir Of' '1 ELIZABETH B. MANLEV.
State of New York, Rensselaer County, ss.
On this twenty-second day of September, in the year one
thousand eight himdred and fifty-seven, before me, the sub-
3t) EABLY HISTOEY.
scribei, appeared Cornelius Van Rensselaer and Maria L., his
wife, to me personalty known to be the same persons described
in, and who executed the within instrument, who severally
acknowledged that they executed the same ; and the said Maria
L., on a private examination by me, apart from her said hus-
band, acknowledged that she executed the same freely, and
without any fear or compulsion of her said husband.
HENRY GOODRICH, Justice of the Peace.
Recorded in the Clerk's Office of the County of Rensselaer
the twenty-fifth day of September, 1857, at 12 m., in Book No.
103 of Deeds, on page 239, &c.
JOHN P. BALL, Clerk.
THIS INDENTURE, made third day of April A. D. one
thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, Between Joachim P.
Staats, of the town of Schodack, county of Rensselaer and State
of New York, of the first part, and " The Reformed Protestant
Dutch Congregation of Oreenbush, in the county of Rensselaer,"
in said State, party of the second part,
WITNESSETH, That the said party of the first part, for and in
consideration of the express trusts and behests hereinafter vested
in and committed to said party of the second part, hath granted,
bargained, sold, remised, released and confirmed, and by these
presents doth grant, bargain, sell, remise, release and confirm
unto the said party of the second part, their successors and
assigns forever, All that certain tract, piece or parcel of land,
situate, lying and being in said town of Schodack, known and
distinguished as The Family Burial Ground of Joachim P.
Staats, the party aforesaid, and described and bounded as fol-
lows, that is to say :
Beginning at a point at the southwest corner of said lot, two
chains, nineteen and one-half links distant from the northwest
corner of the dwelling-house of said Joachim P. Staats, in which
he now resides, on a course north twenty-two degrees thirty
minutes east, and thence runs south seventy -one degrees twenty
EAELY HISTOEY.
27
minutes east, one cliain; thence north eighteen degrees forty
minutes east, seventy-five links; thence north seventy-one
degrees twenty minutes west, one chain ; thence south eighteen
degrees forty minutes west, seventy-five links to the place of
beginning. Containing about one-tenth of an acre of laud, be
the same more or less, together with all and singular, the tene-
ments, hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging, or
in any wise appertaining; and the reversion and reversions, re-
mainder and remainders, rents, issues and profits thereof, and
all the estate, right, title, interest, property possession, claim
and demand whatsoever, as well at law as in equity, of the said
party of the first part, of in or to the above-described premises,
and every part and parcel thereof, with the appurtenances,
together with a right of way, access and approaching to and
from said premises, with teams or otherwise, over and through
the lands now belonging to said party of the first part, from the
pubUc highway, which said right of way shall be the same route
as the one now used by said party of the first part, or as neces-
sarily changed hereafter by him or his heirs ; and said party of
the second part, their successors or assigns, shall at all times
have the right to pass or repass thereby on foot, or with horses,
wagons, sleighs or other vehicle, or carriage whatever to said
land from the public highway.
To have and to hold, all and singular, the above-mentioned and
described premises, together with the appurtenances, and the
aforesaid easement unto the said party of the second part, their
successors and assigns forever, in trust, however, for the benefit
of said party of the first part, his heirs and next of kin. The
object and intention 'of this conveyance, and a part of the con-
sideration whereby the said party of the first part makes the
same, is, that said land may always and forever be held by said
congregation as the sacred depository of the remains of the
family, friends and kindred of the party of the first part, and
that the said burial ground may never be used for any other
purpose whatsoever; and the said party of the first part, for
28 EAKLY HISTORY.
himself, his heirs, executors and administrators, doth covenant,
grant and agree to and with the said party of the second part,
their successors or assigns, that at the time of making this con-
veyance, he is the lawful owner of the premises above granted,
and that he is seized of a good and indefeasible estate of inherit-
ance therein, and that they are free and clear of inchoate dower
rights, and of all incumbrances whatsoever, and the above-
granted premises in the quiet and peaceable possession of the
said party of the second part, their successors and assigns,
against every person whomsoever he and they will and shall war-
rant and forever defend.
In witness whereof, the said party of the first part has here-
unto set his hand and seal the day and year first above written.
JOACHIM P. STAATS.
Sealed and delivered) ^^^^^ p
in presence of )
State of New Yoke, Kensselaer County, ss.
On this third day of April, A. D. 1865, before me, the sub-
scriber, a Justice of the Peace of said county, personally appeared
Joachim P. Staats, who acknowledged that he executed the fore-
going instrument; and I further certify that I knovv the person
who made the said acknowledgment to be the individual de-
scribed in and who executed the said instrument.
N. N. SEAMAN, Justice of the Peace.
Recorded in Rensselaer County Clerk's office June 24th, 18G5,
at 12. hours M., in Book of Deeds No. 127, page 468, &c.
EDWIN BRONERDT, Clerk.
PATROON-RENT— RELEASE.
Received, Albany May 6th, 1878, of the Consistory of the
Reformed Protestant Church of East Greenbush $7.26 on
account of rent on farm leased to Caleb Hill, Nov. 11th, 1793,
EARLY HISTORY. 29
and $1.24: for interest, and $15,00 as a deposit, the interest of
which amount will be an equivalent for the further rents on four
acres of said lease. W. S. CHUECH.
Signed and sealed
$ 7.26 In presence of
1.24 JACOB KIMMEY.
15.00
$23.50
Rensselaek County, Town of Gkeenbush, ss,
On this sixth day of May, 1878, before me came Jacob Kim-
mey, to me known, the subscribing witness within-named, who
being by me sworn, did depose and say that he resides in the
town of Schodack, county aforesaid, that he knows Walter S.
Church, the signer of the above receipt therein, and knows him
to be the person who is described in and who executed the above
instrument, that he was present and saw the said Walter S.
Church execute the same, and that he thereupon subscribed his
name as a witness thereto.
J. F. OILMAN, Justice of the Peace.
Recorded on the twenty-fifth day of November, 1878, at 10.15
o'clock A. M. in Liber 181 of Deeds, at page 237 and examined.
JAMES KEENAN, Clerk.
30 CENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
CENTENNIAL OF THE REFOKMED CHURCH.
East Greenbush, N. Y., Nov. 17, 1887.
Officers. — Minister . Elders — Jacob
M. Cotton, Jacob Scliermerhorn, Andrew Tweedale,
William H. Rlioda. Deacons — John Moore, Alex-
ander Traver, Michael H. Warner, Thomas Black.
Sedy — Stephen S. Miller. Treas. — Jacob Kimmey.
As the one hundred years of history was being
rounded out the Church, unfortunately, was without
a pastor. Dr. Steele had been laid aside from active
duty by a paralytic stroke, had resigned, and moved
away.
A few ladies were particularly zealous to observe
the Centennial, and they soon kindled the enthusi-
asm of some of the gentlemen, and the exercises
were decided upon.
The following gentlemen were chosen a commit-
tee in charge : Jacob M. Cotton, John Moore and
Jesse P. Yan Ness.
They issued the appended circular letter and sent
it to many old members and friends of the Church :
A. D. 1787. CENTENNIAL. a. d. 1887.
Eeformed Chnrcla of East Greenbush, N. Y.
Wednesday aud Thursday, Nov. 16th aud 17th.
Rev. Edward A. Collier, D.D., Presiding.
CENTENNIAL EXEKCISES. 31
Nov. 16th. 2 p. M.— Sermon in the Holland language.
Voorleser and Singers
Nov. 17th. 10.30 A. M.— Centennial Sermon by a grandson of the
first pastor.
2 p. M.— Historical Address. Also addresses or letters by ex-Pas-
tors or their representatives.
7 p. M.— Addresses by members of Classis, visiting clergymen and
others. Also a Poem written for the occasion.
Yon are cordially invited to attend.
J. P. VAN NESS, Corresponding Secretary.
Many accepted this invitation and large audiences
attended the services, when the following order of
exercises was carried out :
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
Wednesday Afternoon, Nov. 16th.
2 o'clock.
Rev. Edward A. Collier, D. D. , Presiding.
Holland Services as our fathers worshipped one hundred years
ago.
Singing— Psalm 98 : 2 — In Holland Language.
Reading of Ten Commandments and Scripture Selection.
By Voorleser Mr. J. Backer.
Singing — Psalm 25 : 6.
Prayer— In English Language.
Singing — Ps. 116: 7, 8. — Collection taken during Singiug.
Sermon— In Holland language, by Rev. Lawrence Dykstra, of the
Holland Church, Albany, N. Y.
Prayer— By Elder A. M. Donner.
Singing — Hymn, in English.
Benediction.
32 CENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
Thursday Morning, Nov. 17tli.
10.30 o'clock.
Anthem — "Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem " — By the Choir.
Invocation.
Scripture Reading.
Singing — Hymn 362.
Prayer.
Singing — " In the secret of His presence, " - - - - Stebbins.
By Mrs. W. J. Bentley.
Sermon — By Rev. J. Romeyn Berry, D. D., of Rhinebeck, N. Y.
Singing — " When the mists have cleared away," - - Heushaw.
By Mrs. W. J. Beutley.
Addresses or letters by ex-Pastors.
Prayer.
Anthem — " Crow^n Him Lord of all " — By the Choir.
Benediction.
Thursday Afternoon, 2 o'clock.
Organ Voluntary.
Anthem — By the Choir — *' O, how lovely."
Invocation.
Scripture Reading.
Response — " The Book is open."
Prayer.
Singing — "Jesus lover of my soul " — By Mrs. W. J. Bentley.
Historical Address— By Rev. J. F. Yates, A. M. , of Fort
Edward, N. Y.
Singing — Hymn 104.
Addresses by Members of Classis.
Prayer.
Singing — " One sweetly solemn thought " - - - - Ambrose.
Mrs. ^Bentley.
Benediction.
CENTENNIAL EXERCISES. 33
Thursday Evening, 7 o'clock.
Organ Voluntary.
Solo — "Oh! for the wings of a dove " — By Mrs. Willard Sprong.
Invocation.
Scripture Reading.
Singing — Hymn by Mrs. Anna Romeyn Taylor.
Prayer.
Anthem — " The Church rejoices " — By the Choir.
Addresses — 10 minutes :
Rev. E. Lode wick — " The Reformed Church in relation to other
Churches. ' '
Rev. P. T. Pockman — "The Reformed Church and Education."
Rev. W. F. Anderson — "The Reformed Church and Missions."
Fraternal Greetings — By visiting Clergymen.
Singing — Hymn 931.
Original Poem — Written by Rev. Norman Plass — Read by Rev.
Edward A. Collier, D. D.
Closing Prayer.
Doxology.
Praise the name of God most high,
Praise Him, all below the sky;
Praise Him, all ye heavenly host,
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost;
As through countless ages past,
Evermore His name shall last.
Benediction.
HYMN.
[Written by Mrs. Anna Romeyn Taylor, daughter of the fir s
minister of Reformed Church, Greenbush. )
On God's own mount a temple stands,
A house all glorious in His eyes,
Eternal, and unmade with hands,
Which His own presence sanctifies.
[3]
34 CENTENNIAL EXERCISES.
There sing the seraphs — there are bowed
The white-robed elders, and the throng
Of humble worshipers, who crowd
Those temple gates, to join their song.
There sits the Lamb — He lights the place,
His glory radiates the scene ;
And in the trophies of His grace
His Father's promised gift is seen.
And will He — can He condescend
To leave those heights and dwell with man ?
Prostrate in dust our spirits bend,
And wonder at the Gospel plan.
Yet we will plead His promised grace,
And though no worthiness we claim.
Upon these walls and in this place
We'll ask Him to re-write His name.
Come,, dearest Lord, and in this hour
The influence of Thy grace impart ;
Come in Thy Spirit's mighty power,
And animate with zeal each heart.
CENTENNIAL SEEMON.
By Eev. J. EoMEYN Berby, D.D.
But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, 0 God, is for-
ever and ever — Hebrews 1:8.
OUE anniversaries are reminders of our frailty.
Each one is a memorial of a vanished past.
The symbols which they suggest are the
morning flower, the withered grass, the shuttle, the
vapor, the dream, the watch in the night.
When the review covers, as in the present in-
stance, the field of a century, the impression of
transitoriness is only more intense. The prophet's
question rises spontaneously to our lips, "The
fathers, where are they?" The sky and hills and
streams remain, but where are the men and women
and children who a hundi-ed years ago trod these
hills and looked upward to this sky, or sailed on
yonder stream ? It is the average lifetime of three
generations. It embraces many a change in the
pulpit, the pew, and at the Communion Table. If
you call the roll of most of the worshipers of this
church, innumerable grave-stones rise up to respond
36 CENTENNIAL SERMON.
for tlie names of the sleepers at their feet. The
living are only a few survivors of a great departed
past. We gather as the remnants of regiments
have gathered recently at Gettysburg, to erect
monuments for battles long since fought, and for
comrades long ago turned to dust.
All this is naturally humiliating and saddening.
It tells of frailty and mortality and change and loss.
But is there nothing but themes like these before
us at such an hour ? Have we no topic of courage
or joy or hope ? Yes, " in all these things we are
more than conquerors through Him that loved us."
We come to this centennial to speak not of defeat
but triumph ; not of death but life ; not of mortal
man but the everlasting God. The centuries are
God's ; the Church is God's ; the saints past or
present are God's ; we are God's. All the incom-
prehensible wonders of His existence and power
are gathered around our feebleness like a wall
of fire round about us and a glory in the midst of
us. We glory ofily in Him — not in our godly
ancestors, for whom we bless Him, and who may
be a silent crowd of witnesses around this scene to-
day. But not in them do we glory — we glory only
in the Lord. As the apostle gloried in his infirmity
that the power of Christ might rest on him, so do
we who are so compassed with infirmity and who
die daily, glory only in the unchangeable perfect-
CENTENNIAL SERMON. 37
ness of Jehovah and iu the unfading splendors of
His majesty.
* ' Great God, our lowliness takes heart to play
Beueath the shadows of thy state ;
The only comfort of our littleness
Is that Thou art so great."
A special aspect and application of this thought
comes before us to-da}^ It is the memorial day of
a church of Jesus Christ. The most of its pastors
and members have died. The walls of its old
sanctuary have long since been scattered to the
winds, as these of the present edifice must some
day disappear. But the church itself as a part of
Christ's kingdom is immortal. Whatever becomes
of its material constituents and conditions — though
its members should all die, though its local organi-
zation should be dissolved, yet so far as this church
ever possessed the spiritual elements of Christ's
kingdom and thus was a part of that kingdom, it is
imperishable. For the life of the church depends
not on man but on Christ. The King secures the
Kingdom. To the Son Jehovah says, " Thy throne,
O God, is forever and ever."
Let us then enter on these centennial services
with some thoughts on the relation of Christ's
eternal throne to His church upon the earth.
1. Christ is a great King. The ordinary symbol
indeed of His relations to our world is the Cross on
38 CENTENNIAL SEBMON.
which He died. On spire and sepulcher, on neck-
lace and volume, its form is ever before us. And
precious are the truths which the Cross represents.
The story of God's love and man's salvation is
inseparable from that Cross. He who rightly
knows its meaning is a theologian ; he who rightly
feels its power is a saint. No church is a church
indeed that cannot with the apostle's heart and
meaning use his words, " God forbid that I should
glory save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."
But that Cross could never have saved a single
soul without that throne, just as the throne could
have availed nothing without the Cross. They are
eternal allies in the great Kingdom of grace and
glory.
2. The throne of the Son is supreme and univer-
sal. All power is His in heaven and in earth. All
the departments of nature as well as grace are
beneath His sway. He upholds all things by the
word of His power. Neither angel nor insect flies
— neither flood nor dewdrop falls but by His will.
Men speak of God's providence and it is true,
but the God of that providence is the Son. The
Father has committed all things to the Son, and
" given Him a name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of
things in heaven and things in earth and things
under the earth, and that every tongue should con-
CENTENNIAL SERMON. 39
fess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God
the Father."
This is a great truth, not only for the church,
but for the whole race to ponder, that the entire
system of nature to-day is beneath the supreme
control of the God-Man, Christ Jesus. This is the
central fact without which all this world's history
is a riddle which no philosophy can solve.
We know how hopelessly men were perplexed in
astronomy until Copernicus taught them that the
sun and not the earth was the center of the solar
system, and afterward Newton and Kepler -added
their illustrious lessons to the science. Then
everything came right — every movement of planet
or satellite, every eclipse, every change was part of
a great harmony governed by infallible laws per-
fectly explained.
So in the complicated and mysterious move-
ments of this world's history. As long as we try
to make man the center and master of the scene, or
nature her own law-giver, or chance or fate the
arbiters of destiny, everything appears —
' ' A dark
Illimitable ocean, without bound,
Without dimension, where length, breadth and height,
And time and place are lost ; where Eldest Night
And Chaos, ancestors of nature, hold
Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise
Of endless wars and by confusion stand. "
40 CENTENNIAL SERMON.
But the moment Christ's throne appears, it is
like the ancient fiat, " Let there be light, and there
was light." Omnipotence and wisdom and justice
and goodness are on that throne. Great purposes
of righteousness and grace are there ; eternal years
are there. Then like the Psalmist we sing, " The
Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice, let the multi-
tude of isles be glad thereof."
It is a delightful truth, that all the dispensations
of this world, all its events of joy or sorrow, are
beneath the sway of the God-Man, our brother,
Jesus Christ. It reminds us of that charming
truth in natural science which reveals to us those
manifold obligations of our lives to the agency of
the natural sun ; that not only does he keep the
planets in their orbits; not only does he daily
warm and illumine and beautify the world; not
only does the life of every man and beast and plant
depend on his genial rays ; not only does he pen-
cil every hue of earth and sky, but through unnum-
bered ages of the past he has been storing up his
own heat and light in all the fuel of our globe, so
that not a gas-jet burns, not a furnace glows, not
an engine moves, not a train rushes across the land,
not a steamer ploughs the ocean, but all comes from
the light and heat which the sun long ago stored
up for us in those primeval forests which have made
the coal-beds of the world.
CENTENNIAL SERMON. 41
And has the great Sun of righteousness now on
the throne treasured up nothing for us in the past V
Was it not in the far past eternity that His love
looked down on our ruin ? Was it not then that
He espoused our cause and covenanted with the
Father to be our Kedeemer ? Was it not well-nigh
two thousand years ago that He tabernacled in our
nature, bore our griefs, died for our sins, and rose
for our justification ? Is it not of His fulness that
all we have received, and grace for grace ? And is
He not on that glorious throne just now for the
very object of carrying out the eternal purposes of
His grace and dispensing the daily and hourly
blessings of His love ?
Yes, Christ reigns over nature, animate and inani-
mate, over men and devils, over friend and foe,
over joy and sorrow, reigns over every event that
befalls us, reigns in righteousness to all, reigns in
everlasting love to His saints. "Blessing, and
honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever
and ever."
3. A conspicuous characteristic of this throne is
its peculiar relations to the church.
Its great design is the welfare, triumph and ever-
lasting glory of the church. It is as Head over all
things to the church, that Christ fills it. Everything
else is subordinate to this. Christ's own reward
42 CENTENNIAL SERMON.
and glory for the suffering of death, are involved in
the Christ's final victory and splendor. Therefore
" in Zion is His throne."
When God led Israel through the wilderness He
was King of all the earth, yet not in that peculiar
way in which He was King of Israel. That taber-
nacle and merc3^-seat, that pillar of cloud and fire,
that Urim and Thummim and covenant were not
for Egypt or Moab or Philistia, but for Israel
alone. Even the prophet of the enemy looking
upon the chosen people from the top of Pisgah
exclaimed, " Jehovah his God is with him, and the
shout of a King is among them."
If the other would share in these special privi-
leges, they must come into Israel's camp and wor-
ship Israel's God, for only there was the throne and
the glory. So to-day, while Christ is King of
Kings, His throne is pre-eminently in His Church
and for His Church. To the final glory of that
Church He guides all the movements of time with
an unerring eye and unwearied hand.
' ' And all the kingdoms of the earth
Shall worship or shall die. "
4 The bond which binds Christ's Church to His
throne is one of spiritual life and love. "I founded
an empire on force," said Napoleon, looking back
on the wreck of all his greatness. So stand most
of the kingdoms of this world ; their pillars are
CENTENNIAL SERMON. 43
their soldiery, their arm is an arm of flesh, and in
the struggle the strongest takes the throne.
Not so in the Kingdom of Christ in its relation
to His saints. The Eternal King communicates
His own life to every loyal subject, makes it par-
taker of His own spirit, kindles within it the flame
of a pure and immortal love, and thus unifies the
Kingdom in one body, of which the Sovereign is the
Head, and the Church the members. There are
thousands of parts in that Church, with thousands
of nerves and arteries and veins, but one life-blood,
one heart-beat, one warmth, one sympathy, one
interest in all. The life reaches not only through
every land and age of earth, but goes on into heaven
and eternity. It binds all the saints, past, present
and to come, in one great phalanx of life and love.
It kindles in all hearts the purest and highest
enthusiasm of gratitude and loyalty to the Lamb in
the midst 'of the throne. The universal cry is,
*' Thou art worthy, for thou wast slain, and hast
redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kin-
dred, and tongue, and people, and nation."
The world has seen many a noted instance of
soldiers' devotion to mihtary leaders, as when one
of Napoleon's heroes said to the surgeon who was
probing near his heart for a musket-ball, "Go a
little deeper and you will find the emperor there."
A few weeks ago in Berlin, at the anniversary of
44 CENTENNIAL SERMON.
the death of Marshal Bkicher (who saved Wel-
Hngton at Waterloo), an aged soldier who had
fought under the Marshal laid a wreath of
oak leaves at the feet of the statue of his old com-
mander.
It is well that earthly love and gratitude from
man to man should be expressed. But all this is
nothing to the purer emotions of the true believer
for the Lord who bought him. The smoke of stake
and scaffold ; the horrors of the amphitheater ; the
agonies of the rack ; the tortures of the Cross have
told the world the story of christian love for Jesus,
the King and Captain of Salvation.
•' They met the tyrant's brandished steel,
The lion's gory mane,
They bowed their necks the death to feel ;
Who follows in their train ?"
The whole church of the truly regenerate and
sanctified — millions upon millions of faithful hearts
who have been willing, if need be, to lay down
their lives for their Kedeemer. If we are not
heroes and martyrs every day, as some days have
seen them, it is not that the spirit of heroism and
martyrdom does not exist. There are as many
true hearts in the army to-day as ever, and more.
The same spirit, developed sometimes in one form
of fidelity and sometimes another, according to cir-
cumstances, pervades all the ranks of the sacra-
CENTENNIAL SEBMON. 45
mental host. Let the occasions come, and Eng-
land's Smithfields and Spain's Inquisitions and
Eome's wild beasts would find as splendid conse-
crations to Jesus as the world ever saw,— that the
spirit of that King who once himself hung on the
Cross, is in the breast of all His followers.
So the armies of the Lamb move on from genera-
tion to generatioD, from century to century ; so
church after church celebrates the memorials of its
history and sings the triumphs of its King.
That was a sublime scene in our National Capital
at the close of the late war, when the different loyal
armies met and held their grand review. For two
days the tramp of that mighty liost was heard from
morniiig to night. The broad avenue was filled
from morning to night with then' outspread ranks,
from side to side, and as far down as the eye could
reach, on and on they came, company after com-
pany, regiment after regiment, corps, army ; soldiers
from East, West, North, and from the South too.
Many of them born in foreign lands, many were the
languages of the mighty host. Thousands of miles
apart had their battles been ; tens of thousands of
their comrades had fallen in the strife. But from
year to year the ranks had been replenished
with new recruits. In one great cause had they
fought ; in one great victory they had shared ; one
Union had they saved. In its glad Capital they
46 CENTENNIAL SERMON.
were met, and on and on they came ; one incessant
shout of a Nation's thanks fell every moment on
their ears. Before the eyes of the nation's ruler
every soldier marched. To the enjoyment of the
rewards of their victory, in homes of love and a
land of peace, they all passed on.
It was a picture of higher things. A grander
march is ever going on ; an army not composed of
one nation alone, but of all nations and kindreds
and peoples and tongues ; not in one land alone,
but in all lands ; not for two days only, but for day
and night through endless years. At this very
moment the sun on our side of the globe and the
stars on the other are looking down on these hosts.
Every language, every shade of color, every condi-
tion of social life are represented in those ranks.
But in the same great cause are they enlisted, one
great Commander is over all. In one great triumph
shall they share. Before one great throne shall
they pass in final review, and in one great land of
peace and glory shall they reap their everlasting
reward.
In this great march of Christ's army, this church
has joined one hundred years. Its battle-flag at
the beginning and now is that which its King gave
it, with the charge, " Be thou faithful unto death
and I will give thee the crown of life." Many of
its officers and members have kept that charge and
CENTENNIAL SERMON. 47
won that crown. Not one of its original veterans
remains. The last of these long ago passed into
the joy of the Lord. Over and over again have its
ranks had to be renev/ed. But there is no change
in the cause, commission or nature of the conflict ;
the Great Commander is the same and His throne
is forever and ever.
Standing then at the end of this church's century
and amid such relations to the throne of the Mes-
siah, what is the lesson which should impress itself
on every heart ? Surely it is Loyalty.
In the recent centennial celebration of our
National Independence, and later of our National
Constitution — in every monument erected on bat-
tle-fields and every statue of the heroes of those
battles, one great design has been to stimulate the
spirit of patriotism, of love and loyalty to our coun-
try. And surely in a day like this, we can adopt
no lower formula of duty towards the throne of our
Lord and Saviour. Loyalty thus renewed, loyalty
to Jesus Christ is the lesson of this hour.
But how shall this loyalty be described ? First,
it is loyalty to His Truth. This is the Church's
first duty. The Word that comes from that throne
is her supreme and only rule. Her law is what
Christ commands — her faith what Christ reveals.
Her unchangeable commission is to keep His words
and preach His Gospel, not fancies of presumptu-
48 CENTENNIAL SERMON.
ous ministers, nor the un sanctified conceits of
foolish members, but the glorious Gospel of the
ever-blessed God. The army's marching orders
are not from the ranks, but from the Commander.
The dreams of men vanish with the night that cre-
ates them. The Great King says, " Heaven and
earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass
away." What malignant assaults has infidelity
made upon this Word during this past century, and
what changes in the weapons and mode of assault !
Yet what harm has all this bitter warfare done to
this Word of Christ ? What statement has it dis-
proved? What doctrine impaired ? There it stands
firm as the rock of ages, and true as ever in the
language of the King, " Whosoever shall fall upon
this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it
shall fall it shall grind him to powder." Science has
made and is constantly making many noble discov-
eries, but none as yet have shaken this great rock.
The hypotheses unfriendly to Revelation which
some illustrious names have announced and along
the line of which they thought they saw a refuta-
tion of some of the teachings of the Bible, have
not on further investigation worked out the results
which they expected. So that a learned scientific
professor recently said, " Much of the work of Hux-
ley has already become obsolete ; some of it con-
demned by himself ; and there are few prominent
CENTENNIAL SEBMON. 49
scientists who have not frequently found the
searcher unpleasantly detecting their errors.""^
And all this rise and fall of boasted theories
within a dozen years ! But during the nearly two
.thousand years since Jesus spoke, what word of
His has become obsolete ? What error of His has
"the searcher " found ?
It is to this high and immortal truth of its
Eternal Lord that the Church of Christ and the
ministry of Christ are dedicated — " separated unto
the Gospel of God," as Paul describes himself. It
was in fidelity to this Gospel and against the tradi-
tions and commandments of men that the Mother
Church in Holland gave her sixty thousand martyrs
to her Lord, fought the armies of Eomanism in a
war of eighty years, cut the dykes and let the ocean
roll over her fields and towns rather than the tide
of a false faith ; and her worshipers even gathered
in an upper room to hear the preaching of the
Word of Christ, when the only light they had for
their service was that which came from the fires
outside, which were burning one of their number at
the stake for fidelity to this same Word.
Oh, with such an ancestry and with such exam-
ples before them, there is no church in the world
which ought to be more loyal to the Word of the
Lord than this Daughter of Holland — the Eeformed
* Professor Macloskie, Presbyterian Review, October, 1887.
[4J
50 CENTENNIAL SERMON.
Chiircli in America. Amid the evanescence of all
earthly things, here is the incorruptible Word
which liveth and abideth forever. "For all flesh
is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower
of grass. The grass withereth and the flowej-
thereof falleth away : but the Word of the Lord
endureth forever. And this is the Word which by
the Gospel is preached unto you." It has already,
as we have said, the dominion of universal power,
but it seeks the dearer dominion of universal love.
Another vital element of lo^^alty to the throne of
Christ has aspect to the aggressive spirit of that
throne. It is a throne of conquest not over bodies
merely, but hearts. Its aim is universal victory.
Manifold and malignant are its foes, but "as I
live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me."
This world has been redeemed; it shall be re-
claimed. The trophies of the Cross shall all be
brought before the throne. The provisions are
sure. Sin and Satan shall be vanquished. Right-
eousness shall reign ; salvation shall triumph ; the
whole world shall acknowledge the Lord whom
once it crucified. We know not when nor exactly
how, but we do know the fact that —
" The King who reigns in Zion's towers
Shall all the world command. "
To accomplish this end. His Church is to pray and
labor night and day. As He ascended that throne,
CENTENNIAL SERMON. 51
He gave as His last great commission, ''Go ye into all
the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."
To every disciple He says " Go." To the sinful
and sad, He says " Come." But when one has
come and received His mercy, then He says "Go."
To the leper, the blind, the demoniac, the guilty,
the lost — " Go tell what the Lord hath done for
thee ; go tell other lost ones of the love and the
salvation ; go be a witness and a messenger of my
mercy to a perishing world."
To this high end every disciple is called in some
way to diffuse the knowledge of his King and
Saviour. For this purpose the Church exists ; not
merely to enjoy its own comfortable sanctuaries
and sweet Sabbaths and precious hopes and happy
centennials, but to be ever active and aggressive in
winning the world to Christ — as light to shine, as a
witness to testify, as an army to advance and
conquer.
Every church and every believer in Christendom
to-day owe their spiritual life and hope to the
aggressive and faithful labors of some who had
gone before. How came this church in existence ?
How came you and I to be Christians ? We are
all the fruits of missionary, and foreign missionary
labors. We are all the results of somebody's obedi-
ence to the King's command, " Go." For what was
our ancestry ? Not very long ago they were brutal
52 CENTENNIAL SERMON.
savages, " having no hope and without God in the
world." Imagine your ancestors standing closely in
a row in front of this pulpit down yonder aisle.
How far would that line extend before it would
contain a half-clothed savage Avorshiping an image
of wood or stone ? Not as far as yonder threshold,
and that savage would be one of your forefathers !
But a faithful missionary brought to him the mes-
sage of Christ's love, and so the Gospel from gen-
eration to generation came on, until to-day you are
a child of God, and so this church arose and has
lived a hundred years !
What is the lesson which gratitude suggests but
that of a larger and gladder consecration than ever
before to that great work by which and for which
the church exists. Proclaim the glories of your
King throughout the world. Lay your prayers and
offerings at His feet. Lay your hearts and lives
there. Bring your trophies of salvation there. Let
not only this surrounding community know how
you love and serve your King — let distant lands
know it ; let India, China and Japan know it ; let
Heaven know it; let it be such that you yourself
shall know it when you shall come to appear before
the throne of your King, that He may give you
everlasting rewards for your devoted loyalty to
Him.
Dear friends, this is a day of gladness, of grati-
CENTENNIAL SERMON. 53
tude and of lofty impulse. A century of God's
goodness and grace to this church has passed.
What shall the next century reveal ? what growth ?
what power ? what fidelity to Christ ? Shall it
live mth a new fervor, give with a new liberality,
and labor with a new zeal ? Shall it be so conse-
crated to Christ and such a co-worker with Him in
His Kingdom, that " when His glory shall be re-
vealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy ?"
For be assured that glory shall be revealed. These
centuries are rapidly bringing in the crowning day
of earth's great Kiug. There is no doubt about
His splendid and universal triumph. Earthly kings
may be dethroned or die ; earthly kingdoms may
be wrecked. The world is full of shattered thrones
and crowns in the dust. One of the saddest but
most beautiful pieces of modern sculpture is that
statue of Napoleon which represents the sick exile
in his arm chair with the map of Europe on his
knees. The keen eye and stern brow and com-
pressed lip are still there, but health has gone,
power, glory. That map was once his chess-board,
where he moved kings and queens and knights and
crowns as he chose. But soon not an inch of its
soil and not a soldier could he call his own. And
since that hour what new dethronements and
changes have there been on that same map !
But amid all the upheavals of human thrones the
54 CENTENNIAL SERMON.
throne of Jesus widens its sway and expands its
glory every year. Never were its predicted splen-
dors so near their manifestations as at this very
moment of onr celebration. As we speak the glory
draws nigh. Perhaps long before this church shall
celebrate its second century the King himself shall
come, and heaven and earth shall join in the shout,
" The kingdoms of this world are become the king-
doms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall
reign forever and ever !"
Dr. Berry was the grandson of the first pastor.
He died suddenly at Asbury Park, N. J., on Friday,
June 5, 1891. On Wednesday evening, June 3d,
he had preached the synodical sermon as the retir-
ing President of General Synod, and on Thursday
evening, June 4, he had joined in the Communion
service. Suddenly he was bidden to go up higher
and take his seat at the marriage supper of the Lamb.
After the sermon, the Kev. P. Q. Wilson, the
only one of the two living pastors present, deliv-
ered the following address.
KEY. P. Q. WILSON'S ADDEESS.
The centennial came in with a sharp breeze. The
mountain tops were covered with snow. But
although a little late in the season, we are glad
CENTENNIAL ADDRESS. 55
that it has arrived. Smiles and good cheer beam
forth from every countenance. And the people !
Multitudes upon multitudes ! Just like East Green-
bush. Everyone seems to be impelled by a grand
motive. Even the bell-ringer gave the old bell an
extra swing.
" Ring, sing, ring, sing, pleasant Sabbath bell,
Chime, rhyme, chime, rhyme, over dale and dell;
Ehyme, ring, chime, sing, pleasant Sabbath bell,
Chime, sing, rhyme, ring, over field and fell."
And upon this bright autumnal morning many
pleasant thoughts come trooping up upon the field
of memory. Our hearts are full of the great and
good things of the past and present. From the
vista of by -gone years we evoke the moral gi-andeur
of consecrated hves — it shall speak to the living.
When I entered upon my ministry here in 1861,
I noticed that this congregation exhibited a great
deal of good common sense. Their economy was
seen in the design and the execution of this sub-
stantial edifice— a church built for time. From
foundation to dome the whole structure, in its
material and style, may well remind us of the solid
Dutch people, and the old-fashioned Calvinistic
theology. There was a look of thrift and intelli-
gence, that commanded the attention of thoughtful
minds, upon surrounding things. The salary was
sensible ; there was money in the treasury ; we sold
66 CENTENNIAL ADDKESS,
the pews and paid the debt. There were twelve
pastors in the century and each minister contrib-
uted some good things towards making this church
in her pride and beauty. I was the first pastor
in the new church — beautiful for situation. East
Greenbush affords a commanding view of the sur-
rounding country.
On the north, there nestled beneath the hills,
the famous city of Troy and the proud capital of
your own State. On the west the wide sweeping
valley of the Hudson charms the eye. Beyond the
river the Helderberg and the Catskill mountain
ranges present a bold prospect ; and here, all
around, are the homes of plenty and farmers living
in comfort and opulence. And your church, so
complete in all its apartments, has been reared and
adorned by the sturdy farmers, the sons and daugh-
ters of the soil. And as I survey your recent work of
repairs, I readily conclude that this is the fullest,
the brightest and the handsomest centennial that I
have ever attended. There is the iron fence ; the
children sang and we gathered together the money.
It stands firm and strong. Always remember the
children ; don't forget the poor. They will be your
coadjutors by and by. The attendance upon our
Sabbath services was praiseworthy, almost every
pew occupied upon the Lord's day. And it is ex-
pected that the rising generation, stimulated by the
CENTENNIAL ADDBESS. 57
noble record of former years, will vigorously main-
tain, in its pristine beauty, the name and character
of this Eeformed Church.
I also witnessed your hospitality. This church
has always been noted for its care of the pastor.
The tables were loaded ; the hearts overflowed in
kindness and good will. I do not wonder that so
many clergyman are looking towards East Green-
bush. No one prays here, "Keep our minister
humble and we will keep him poor." The donations
were the outbursts of generosity — long may they
live. Our social gatherings, our wedding feasts,
and our presents will be remembered. Our young
people in all their relations gave great promise for
the future. " The hand that rocks the cradle rules
the world."
This church not only gave gifts, but she has
given more. Three of her sons within a few years
have been equipped for the ministry. They are
here to-day. And the Methodist Church and par-
sonage are a credit to the property and religious
chai'acter of the village.
I am at home to-day ! Familiar faces, familiar
things. And this celebration will note an import-
ant era in the history of each of our lives. An
epoch in the history of your church to which you
and your children will turn with fond remembrance ;
and at every advance of your progressive religious
58 CENTENNIAL ADDRESS.
life, you are forcibly reminded of two things closely
knit together — faith and works. Liberal hands
spread the table to-day. The young women,
sharing the disposition of their good mothers, have
given largely from basket and store. 'Tis work,
work, work, and hence we have here a succession of
devoted people following on in the line of religious
duties. This is the hope of your church. The
centuries are thus welded together by an unbroken
chain of men and women actuated and regulated by
the scriptural ideas of truth and duty. You stand
to-day upon an eminence of privilege and prospect.
But while we all rejoice, the feelings of sadness
rise unbidden in our hearts because so many of our
friends and neighbors have departed to return no
more. The cemetery is filling up.
' ' I like that good old Saxon phrase,
Which calls the burial ground God's acre. 'Tis just.
It consecrates each grave within its walls,
And breathes a benison o'er its sleeping dust."
The fathers, where are they ? The mothers,
where are they ? The exuberance of our joy is
restrained by the collection of the vast harvest
which death has gathered here.
' ' When we remember well
The friends so linked together,
That we have seen around us fall,
Like leaves in wintry weather. ' '
CENTENNIAL ADDKESS.
59
But their memory is precious, while the mantle of
their faith and industry has fallen upon their descend-
ants, who will carry the ark of this Zion into the future
conflicts of truth and righteousness. And all this
is the outgrowth of good preaching. And as we con-
clude, we look all around. The work is well done ;
the Consistory deserve praise ; the committee, our
thanks ; the choir, our respects ; the carpenter has
done his work well and the sexton is obliging. All
stand upon their merit from pulpit to pew. Even
the ministers carry in their faces a dignity and
reverence becoming this memorable occasion. You
can only celebrate one centennial ; and will you, as
the custodians of this house of the Lord, prepare to
hand down the great work of this vast congregation
to your successors, unimpaired by the rapid flight
of time, remembering that the ultimate end and
object of all church work is the conversion of sinful
man to Christ, not the wearing of gold or apparel,
but the ornaments of a meek and quiet spirit.
There were twelve pastors in the century, and the
Lord has permitted your humble servant, the only
one of the twelve, to come and participate in these
festivities, and say to the past, rich in ancient and
historic lore, in faith and prayer, in word and deed,
" vale amice, vale amice," and congratulate you all
as a people and a church as you step over into the
second century of your church life.
60 DK. Steele's letter.
A letter was read from Rev. John Steele, D.D.,
the last pastor, which in his feeble state of health,
he had dictated. It ran in these touching lines.
DR. STEELE'S LETTER
Newark, N. J., Nov. 7, 1887.
My Dear Christian Brefliren and Friends of the Reformed
Church and Congregation at East Greenhush, N. T. :
I had fondly hoped, and, until a comparatively recent date,
rather confidently expected to be present at the centennial cele-
bration of your church, but as the days and months of the
advancing year have rolled hy, it has become more and more
apparent that my state of health would not allow the fatigue of
the journey, or the natural excitement of the occasion.
But although not permitted, in the Providence of God, to be
present with you in person and take part in the interesting exer-
cises and glad festivities of the time, yet I cannot resist the
inclination to send you, at least, my cordial greetings and warm
congratulations, that God, in his Providence, has brought yon
to so interesting a period in the history of your beloved church,
IDcrmitting you to commemorate, in this fitting manner, the cen-
tennial year of the church's existence. For more than two
years I have looked forward with deep interest to this celebra-
tion. In view of tt-y official relation to the church, I had
expected to spend time, thought, and a labor of love in the
preparation of a memorial discouTse.
Although the materials for such a discourse were quite meagre,
yet I hoped, with what I had, and with what I might still be
able to gather, to produce something which would, at least, bo
appropriate to the occasion, and perhaps prove of some value as
giving to the church at large a small contribution to the histoiy
of one of the venerable churches of our denomination.
Those of you, Christian friends, who were present at our joy-
ous harvest home festival, a little more than a year ago, will
DB. Steele's letter. 61
remember that I made a distinct reference to the approaching
centennial of the church, which j^ou are now privileged to cele-
brate, and which, in the excellent health that I then enjoyed, I
so confidently expected to carry forward to the best of my
ability and make it, if possible, a grand success. Few things,
indeed, in the course of my ministry have been more delightful
in the contemplation, than the j)rospect of closing up the century
with you, and, if the Lord willed, to minister to you for a time,
at least, at the beginning of the second century of your exist-
ence. But, at a most unexpected moment, I was stricken down.
The hand of God touched me, and all active service in the min-
istry was suddenly brought to a close. I shall not say more at
this point, as you know the rest. "Whether the Master will have
any more work for me to do in His vineyard, in seeking to
alarm the careless, comfort christians, and guide inquiring sin-
ners to the Saviour, He only knows, and will make it manifest
in His own time. Until then, we will try by His grace to wait
with patience and unmurmuring submission. The way some-
times seems dark, but ''we follow where our Father leads, and
trust where we cannot see. ' ' His Providence and ways are wise.
Infinite wisdom and goodness must ever characterize all the
allotments of the Divine hand.
" Beliind a frowning providence
He liicles a smiiing face."
But I must not write a lengthy communication. I have
already exceeded the limits I had laid out for mj'self. Had I
been peimitted, as on former occasions, in leaving the churches
I have served, to take forma] leave of this congregation, I could
have said many things which I cannot write. But the pastoral
relation between myself and this church has been dissolved in
God's own time and way, and He will, I am sure, send you a
man after His own heart, to break unto you the bread of life.
You are no longer my people, as I was happy to call you; I am
no longer your pastor. But allow me to say that, as a family,
we have, and shall continue to have, while life shall last, very
62 DB. Steele's letter.
precious memories of this church and congregation. Ten of the
best years of my life were spent among yon. For your uniform
attention and love, and for your unnumbered acts of thoughtful
kindness and tender ministrations, I thank God, and I thank
you. Never can we possibly forget the unwearying assiduity,
with which you strove to relieve my distress, during those long
and weary months which immediately followed the afflictive dis-
pensation by which I was brought low. These countless acts of
affectionate regard at your hands, are engraven upon the tablets
of memory, never to be effaced. Truer and more constant
friends we have never had, nor shall ever find in this world.
But we have parted —
" Time can never
Bring the fadedjpast again.
Like the wave of some lone river.
It is buried In the main.
We have parted, yet we linger
Where the light of memory plays,
As that wizard, solemn finger
Wanders hack ^o other days.
Then farewell, yet oh.
Watch o'er us. Father,
On the land or sea ;
Till the weary way before us
Bears us up, at last, to Thee.
And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word
of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an
inheritance among all them which are sanctified. May the God
of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that
great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlast-
ing covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His
will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight,
through Jesus Christ.
Affectionately,
JOHN STEELE.
Dr. Steele died at his home in Newark, N. J.,
January 17, 1889.
DR. ZABRISKIE's LETTER. 63
LETTER FROM REV. F. N. ZABRISKIE, D.D.
Princeton, N. J., Nov. 15, 1887.
Mr. J. P. Van Ness, Sec'y.
Dear Sir :— I thauk you for your courteous invitation to be
present at the centennial celebration of the Reformed Church of
Efist Greenbush on the 16th and 17th of this month. I regret
that I am unable to attend an occasion of so much interest to
myself, as well as to those who are more immediately concerned.
I have never been at your church or village, but they are both
of them sacred places in my associations and my affection.
There my venerated grandfather, James V. C. Romeyn, began
his ministry; and there my mother, his eldest child, was born.
There also one whom I loved and honored as an uncle, the Rev.
Dr. Benj. C. Taylor, began his long and useful work as a pastor.
Of the latter two, I do not suppose that I can add anything
but my personal tribute of reverence and affection to what will
be told by the historian, the preacher, and others who shall be
present at the centennial observance. I knew my grandfather
only in his last years of extreme infirmity, both of body and
mind, and I was then a very little boy. But I have the vision
before my memory of a beautiful old man, with a face as pure
and beaming as a child's, and yet moving about in his decrepi-
tude with the dignity of a patriarch.
Of my mother, it would not become me to speak at length, or
to utter the feelings of my heart. I wish merely to say that in
force of character, in strength and quickness of mind, in
vivacity and sensibleness of conversation, and above all, in
nobility, generosity and humble piety of spirit, she was one
whom Greenbush may well be proud to claim as a daughter,
even as I am proud to call her my mother.
May God grant to old Greenbush Church many such pastors
as Romeyn and Taylor in the coming century; many such min-
isters' wives as Susan Van Vrauken Romeyn and Anna Romeyn
Taylor; and many such ministers' daughters as Susan Van
64 DR. GEIFFIS' LETTER.
Campen Eomeyn, the wife of George Zabriskie, and the
mother of Yours faithfullj^
FEANCIS NICOLL ZABEISKIE.
Kev. F. N. Zabriskie, D.D., died at Princeton,
N. J., May 13, 1891, in the 60th year of his age.
LETTER EEAD FEOM DR. GEIFFIS.
Boston, Sept. 19, '87.
Mr. Jesse P. Van Ness, Cor. Sec'y, Centennial Committee, East
Oreenbusli Reformed Church. :
Deab Sir: — Eeading in the Christian Intelligencer of the
centennial celebration of the East Greenbush Eeformed Church,
to be held November 17, the memory of very pleasant days spent
among your people during the years 1866 and '67 came vividly
to my mind, and I cannot forbear sending you greetings and
good wishes.
While a student in Rutgers College, I visited the home of my
classmate, now the Eev. Edward Lode wick, and enjoyed the
hospitalities of several of the good people of the congregation,
and of the pastor, Eev. William Anderson, and his family. I
remember speaking in the Sabbath School several times, and I
think also on my return from Japan, eight years later, I
lectured in the church, and again met some of the people.
It is because I have such a happy remembrance of the church
and people that I am tempted to add my testimony to the warm-
heartedness of the East Greenbush people, and to say that I
have a love for the Eeformed Church which prompts me to join
with you in spirit on your centennial anniversary day, and
pray for a continuance of the Divine favor upon you all as
you enter upon your second century of history.
In sincere sympathy with your honored pastor in his affliction,
I remain, with a warm love for the Eeformed Church, and in
the patience and kingdom of Jesus Christ,
WM. ELLIOT GEIFFIS,
Pastor of the Shawmut Congregational Church, Boston, formerly
domine of the Eeformed Church, Schenectady, N. Y.
JEREMIAH F. YATES.
HISTOKICAL ADDEESS.
By Key. Jeeemiah F. Yates.
THE Banian, the sacred fig tree of India, is a
thing of centuries. It is a spectacle of wonder
and beauty, a pillared temple of the plain, car-
peted with verdure, ceiled wdth foliage and frescoed
with flowers and fruit. The beasts of the field seek
its grateful shade, fowls of varied wing find refuge in
its mazy depths and feed upon its perennial sup-
plies. Every bough is at once a result and a factor.
Not content to be only a bough, it bends to the
ground as if in prayer, and the answering earth
draws down its fibers into roots and starts a new
trunk into the air world. And the process has no
end. All pther trees bear in themselves the sen-
tence of their decay and death ; but this mysterious
growth from an unreckoned Past multiplies with
every year and argues immortality. Men may die,
empires dissolve and time change the face of the
w^orld itself, but this w^ondrous tree, before which
from time out of mind the Hindoo has knelt in
prayer, proves to him its divinity by its constant,
silent, certain triumphs over all the years. The
lightning is a plaything for the mighty grove, the
hurricane a welcome refreshment, and the very
earthquake but quickens its roots.
[5]
bb HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
Every column of this verdant temple is alive, and
the passing seasons witness its increment of girth
and power. " The trees of the Lord are full of sap."
The apothecaries' art has turned its products into
medicine, and "the leaves of the tree are for the
healing of the nations." Is not this vision of
beauty, this tent for an army, this retreat for the
unf alien sparrow, this laden table spread in the
wilderness for the lowly families of animated na-
ture, this Tree of Life, a shadow^ of the church?
"Behold," said Jesus, "the fig tree !"
In the story of this church's visible life we shall
find an example of the force of the Kingdom of
God in human hearts bearing fruit, through His
grace, in multitudes of regenerated human lives.
The past of the Reformed Dutch Church of
Greenbush (" Greene-Bos ") is interwoven with the
whole history of this region. In A. D. 1652 — one
hundred and thirty-five years previous to the
organization of this church, and one hundred and
forty years before the township was created — Ger-
rit Smith was commissioned from the church in
Holland to perform ministerial duties here. Nor
was he the first. His commission reads: "He
shall use for his dwelling the house formerly used
by the former preacher, situated in Greenbush, and
there reside wdth his family and exercise his afore-
said oifice (" Sellout ") with all due diligence and
HISTOEICAL ADDKESS. 67
fidelity, according to the laws, edicts and ordinances
already or to be enacted there. ^ "^ ^ Having
arrived, with God's help, at the island of Manhat-
tan, he shall proceed by the first opportunity to
the colony and report himself to Jan Baptist Van
Rensselaer and make known to him his quality by
exhibition of his commission and instructions. He
shall above all things take care that divine worship
shall be maintained in said colony conformably to
the Reformed religion in this country, as the same
is publicly taught in these United Provinces. He
shall in like manner pay attention that the Lord's
Day, the Sabbath of the New Testament, be prop-
erly respected, both by the observance of hearing
the Holy Word as well as the preventing all unnec-
essary and daily labor on that day. And whereas,
it is a scandal that the Christians should mingle
themselves unlawfully with the wives or daughters
of the heathen, the officer shall labor to put in exe-
cution the placards and ordinances enacted or to
be enacted against the same, and strictly exact the
fines imposed hereby without any dissimulation."
He was to receive for his services one hundred
and fifty dollars, all fines and penalties amounting
to ten guilders, or under, and one-third of all in ex-
cess of that amount.*
The province was known as Rensselaerwyck, and
* Sylvester's History of Keusselaer County.
68 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
its settlement was coeval with that of Beaverwyck,
or Albany. It is believed that divine worship was
held in "Greene Bos" as early as at any point north
of Manhattan Island. The laud on this side the
river was so superior to that on the west that
patroon Van Eensselaer encouraged the earlier set-
tlements here. He w^as a strong adherent of the
Church of Holland^ and as we have seen, the min-
ister sent from the Netherlands w^as accredited to
him. There is an authentic old record to the pur-
port that timber for a church edifice was sent from
Holland to Greenbush several years before the first
church was erected at Albany. For some unknown
reason the design was not carried out, and the tim-
ber was used in the construction of "an old-fash-
ioned low-eaved barn of sixty by seventy feet
dimensions, which was consumed in a great fire in
the village." * The church was to have been built
on Douui's Point, within the limits of East Green-
bush, and would have taken the place of the room,
whatever it was, in which public worship had been
held from the beginning.
So this territory on which we stand is not only
among the earliest occupied by white men on the
American Continent as their home, but probably
antedates all other places, except Jamestown, Ply-
mouth and Manhattan, in stated Christian worship.
Just as the council fires of the Mohicans died out,
HISTOEICAL ADDRESS. 69
another fire was kindled on this spot, which for
two hundred and fifty years has gladdened the eyes
and warmed the hearts of thousands, and has drawn
us together to-day.
It is also matter for gratitude and honest pride
that this land on which we were born and on which
our churches are builded, was not stolen from the
aborigines, nor seized as the spoils of unjust war-
fare, but was bought and paid for by Mr. Yan Eens-
selaer before he set up his manorial title. The
Mohican chief, Narranemit, conveyed for a price by
regular deed, signed with his own hand, his grounds
called " Semessick," and which included Greenbush,
This was followed a few years later b}^ his purchase
of all the lands back into the interior claimed by
the Indian grantors, and with his previous pur-
chase he thus became proprietor of a tract of coun-
try twenty-four by forty-eight miles in extent,
containing some seven hundi-ed thousand acres,
now comprising the counties of Albany and Rens-
selaer, and a portion of Columbia.
But though with old Dutch honesty the territory
had been purchased of the occupying tribe of Mo-
hicans, other red men of the woods were found to
dispute with the settlers pre-emptive rights, and
much of this land was purchased of different Indian
claimants several times over. Alarms were not in-
frequent, and no house was safe without weapons
70 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
of defence. The soil in this region was so wonder-
fully favorable to the production of Indian corn,
that the savages were reluctant to give it up. The
most famous of many rich tracts was the cornfield
on the Evert O. Lansing farm. On one occasion
several men returning from the cornfield to the old
" Bomb Barrack " — still standing and occupied, two
hundred and fifty years old, on Staats' Island —
were waylaid by savages near the David Hector
place, a couple of miles from this spot. Several
were killed and others wounded. In 1777 a man
from Scott's Corners, named Shans, had started for
Albany with a load of wheat, accompanied by a
negro. They were set on by Indians and both
were killed and scalped. The frightened horses
ran to the residence of Mr. Lansing, thus convey-
ing the dreadful news.
There are many such traditions of those days,
and it is little wonder that the stern old settlers
deemed the life of a hostile Indian forfeited on
sight. There is a story of a brave old believer in
fore-ordination, that when starting out to go to
another settlement — Scott's Corners or Nassau, per-
haps— he carefully prepared his gun and ammuni-
tion for the journey. His grown-up boys, thinking
to make a point against their father, rallied him on
his precautions. "No matter about the gun,
father," they said; "you know you won't die till
HISTORICAL ADDEESS. 71
your time comes !" •' Yes, yes I know that," said
the sharp old man, "but suppose I should leave
my gun at home and then meet an Indian in the
woods yonder, and his time had come, what then ?"
If the savages ever imagined they could frighten a
Dutchman off from land he had bought and paid
for, their delusion cost them dear.
The tribe of the Mohicans claimed that theirs
was among the most ancient of all aboriginal
nations. " One of their traditions was to the purport
that many many moons before the white man came,
their ancestors had lived in a far-off country to the
west, beyond the mighty rivers and mountains, at a
place where the waters constantly moved to and
fro, and that, in the belief that there existed away
toward the rising sun a red man's paradise — a land
of deei and salmon and beaver — they had traveled
on towards the east and south to find it, but that
they were scourged and divided by famine, so that
it was not until after long and weary journeyings
they came at length to this broad and beautiful
river which forever ebbed and flowed like the
waters from which they had come ; and that here
amidst a profusion of game and fish they rested,
and found that Indian elysium of which the3^
dreamed before they left their old homes in the
land of the setting sun."^"
* Sylvester's History of Rensselaer County.
72 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
This plausible legend may never be verified, but
it is none the less true that this land of the Mohi-
cans was a spot of rare fertility. They reared
immense crops of corn, and this cereal which will
always bear the Indian name, seems to have fur-
nished them with the larger part of their food sup-
plies. A shoulder-blade of the moose or deer, or a
clam-shell rudely fastened to a stick, was the imple-
ment of agriculture, and as a fertilizer a fish was
buried in each hill of corn. The words hominy
and succotash are of Indian origin.
The entire work of planting and harvesting the
crop was done by women, the men reserving to
themselves the raising of tobacco as too sacred for
women to use or handle.
Not only the field, but forest and flood yielded
generous supplies. The river and stream abounded
with fish, -and the moose and deer, beaver, bear,
wild turkey, pigeon and partridge, nuts, berries and
roots furnished exhaustless luxuries with little toil.
The first name given by white men to this terri-
tory we call Greenbush was De Laet's Burg, so
called in honor of the historian of Hendrick Hud-
son's expedition up the river in September, 1609.
Hudson anchored on the eighteenth of that month
at a point opposite the present site of Castleton,
according to his own account. He came ashore,
and the famous navigator was probably the first
HISTOEICAL ADDRESS. 73
white man to set foot upon this soil. The historian,
De Laet, gives the following interesting extract
from Hudson's journal of the incident :
"I sailed to the shore in one of their canoes
with an old man who was chief of a tribe consistiug
of forty men and seventeen women. These I saw
there in a house well constructed of oak bark and
circular in shape, so that it had the appearance of
being built with an arched roof. It contained a
great quantity of Indian corn and beans of the last
year's growth, and there lay near the house, for the
purpose of drying, enough to load three ships,
beside what was growing in the fields. On our
coming into the house two mats were spread out
to sit upon, and some food was immediately served
in w^ell-made red wooden bowls. Two men were
also despatched at once with bows and arrows in
quest of game, who soon brought in a pair of
pigeons which they had shot. They likewise killed
a fat dog and skinned it in great haste with shells
which they had got out of the water. They sup-
posed that I would remain with them for the night,
but I returned after a short time on board the ship.
The land is the finest for cultivation that I ever in
my life set foot upon, and it also abounds in trees
of every description. These natives are a very
good people, for when they saw that I would not
remain with them they supposed that I was afraid
74 HISTOBICAL ADDBESS.
of their bows, and taking their arrows they broke
them in pieces and threw them into the fire."
This was in Greenbnsh, about two miles from this
spot, and about three hundred years ago.
The navigator who thus becomes related to us in
an interesting way, continued up the river in his
ship, the Half 3Ioon, to the head of tide-water, as
is supposed, near where the Mohawk empties into
the Hudson. He named the river with a fitness
better than he knew — The River of the Mountains.
In his brief history of East Greenbush, Mr.
Sylvester gives the following description from
"Dwight's Travels in 1798," showing that Hudson's
estimate of its great fertility was justified in the
lapse of time, and affording an interesting glimpse
into the ways of our forefathers :
"After crossing the ferry at Albany, we rode
over a charming interval at Greenbush, handsomer
and more fertile than any I had seen on this road.
It extends several miles toward the south and is
divided into beautiful farms and planted in a thin
dispersion with houses and outbuildings, whose ap-
pearance sufficiently indicated the easy circum-
stances of their proprietors. From the excellent
gardens which I have at times seen in this spot and
the congeniality of the soil to every hortulan pro-
duction of this climate, I should naturally have
believed tliat the inhabitants would have supplied
HISTOEICAL ADDRESS.
76
the people of Albany with vegetables. Instead of
this, they are principally furnished by the Shakers
of New Lebanon,— a strong proof of the extreme
reluctance with which the Dutch farmers quit their
ancient customs, even when allured by the pros-
pects of superior gain."
From the old records in the office of the Patroon,
it appears that this little village, now called East
Greeubush, was settled as early as 1630. No docu-
ments or legends of its founding are known to
exist, and the ancient date alone survives to remind
us that more than a quarter of a millennium has
passed since white men first climbed this healthful
hill to build, to plant, and, let us believe, to pray.
But one hundred years ago this ground was the
scene of notable events. The wilderness had blos-
somed. A plain structure of forty or forty-five feet
square, with gambrel roof fronting the north, and
with main entrance on the east side, had been
erected the year before, and was now filled with
substantial-looking men and women, bearing an
aspect of unwonted and earnest interest. A pass-
ing Indian might have wondered at the sight, and
indeed a pale-faced stranger would have fain paused
to inquire, What did it all mean? The people
needed houses to dwell in, and shelter for harvest
and herd. But this building is neither dwelling
nor barn. Nothing like it was ever seen in the
76 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
region before. Let us enter and look and listen.
A man of reverend aspect, fifty years of age, is
standing in an elevated inclosure, speaking. It is
Dr. Eilardus Westerlo, for thirty years pastor of
the First Eeformed Dutch Church of Albany, and
he is giving a name to the edifice. He calls it a
" House of Prayer," and says in subdued tones, as
if he felt the Unseen Presence, " Let us pray ! "
Every head is bowed in worship as the venerable
man invokes a benediction, ofiers thanks for the
providence that has crow^ned the building enter-
prise, implores that wisdom may be given to the
people in their purpose to establish here a new
church of Christ, and prays for its future pros-
perity. We and our fathers and our children were
included in that prayer, precious answers to which
the heavens have now been shedding upon three
generations.
And the time was auspicious. It was four years
after the close of the Revolutionary war and the
treaty of peace with Great Britain, and John
Adams had been accredited to England as ambassa-
dor from the United States of America. Three
days after this church was organized, the American
Federal Constitution w^as adopted at Philadelphia,
and peace and hope reigned everywhere. The
thirty years' war of " Coetus " and " Conferentie "
in the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 77
America, on the question of education and ordina-
tion of ministers in Holland or here — a contro-
versy which " Old Colony " Zabriskie designates as
the " Guelph and Ghibeline war of our church "—a
controversy which was so sharp that it alienated
very friends and divided families, and so prolonged
that it threatened ultimate ruin — had been amica-
bly settled by the consent of the mother church in
Holland to the independence of that in America.
It was sixty-seven years after the incorporation of
the Keformed Protestant Dutch Church of America
by King George the First, and five years after the
commencement of preaching in English in Albany
—"a half day each Sabbath." But it was ten years
before the building of the North Dutch Church on
Pearl street, fourteen years before the "Albany
and Boston turnpike" was laid out, forty-three
years before the " Greenbush and Schodack Acad-
emy" was built, and five years before Greenbush
was organized into a town.
It is greatly to be regretted that the records of
our churches are so generally incomplete. During
a few of your pastorates the journals were scrupu-
lously kept, but of others scarcely a page of history
remains.
And it has also seemed to be specially unfortu-
nate that since this celebration was finally resolved
on, the church had been closed for extensive re-
78 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
pairs, with no meeting of the congregation for
nearly three months. With a scattered flock, with-
out a shepherd, little could be done to supplement
imperfect records by those vivid traditions born of
courage, of sacrifice, of zeal and devotion, of joy
and triumph, which, when left to unwritten history,
are so often left to die. A pastor mingling with
the people might have chronicled many an inci-
dent which drew a tear, evoked a prayer or inspired
a song in this dear old church, which it has been
impossible for your historian in his limited time to
procure. But it is matter for devout thankfulness
to our fathers' God that in the flying years, and
frequent pastoral changes, so much of authentic
history remains. And the historian trusts that
though like the books of the Apocrypha, his story
is uninspired, yet like those writings it may be
accounted useful as history. " And if I have done
loell, and as is fitting the story, it is that which I
desired : but if slenderly and meanly, it is that which
I could attain to.'' — //. Maccabees, XV. 38.
ORGANIZATION.
The "Reformed Protestaat Low Dutch Church
of Greene-Bos, in the manor of Bensselaerwyck
and county of Albany," was organized in the " new-
ly-built House of Prayer," on the fourteenth day of
September, in the year of our Lord one thousand
HISTORICAL ADDEESS. 79
seven hundred and eighty-seven, by enrollment of
the following membership :
Harmon Van Hoesen,
Yachem Staats,
Peter M. Yan Buren,
Jonathan Witbeck,
Barent C. Van Buren,
Benjamin Van De Berg,
Christopher Yates en vrouiv, Catrina Lansingh,
Kasparus Witbeck,
John Lansing,
Abraham Cooper,
Jacob Ostrander,
Gerard Ostrander,
Thomas Mesick en vrouto, Maria Wiesener,
Melchert Vanderpool,
George Shordenbergh,
Matthew Shordenbergh,
Abraham Ostrander en vroiiw, Elizabeth Os-
trander,
Petrus Ham,
John MuUer en vrouia.
The edifice had been erected in the previous year
upon this spot, which is four miles southeast of the
city of Albany, and two miles distant from the
Hudson river, on a highway afterwards known as
the Albany and Boston Turnpike.
The record of the meeting is in the Holland Ian-
80 HISTOBICAL ADDRESS.
guage and is very beautifully written. It is our
most important document to-day and must be given
entire. Here is the translation :
"The persons who have anxiously made their
request of the Consistory of the Reformed Dutch
Church of Albany, to the end that a Reformed
Dutch Church might be organized in this place
for which to elect a Consistory, have for this pur-
pose been called to meet together to-day, and did
meet in the newly-built house of prayer, when Rev.
Dr. Westerlo, after calling upon God's name, made
a short address to the people and earnestly re-
quested all the male members who were present,
that they should elect from among them, in the
presence of the whole congregation, three Elders
and three Deacons. Accordingly the following per-
sons were unanimously elected :
Peter M. Van Buren, Abraham Cooper,
Abraham Ostrander, John E. Lansing,
Christopher Yates, Casparus Witbeck,
Elders. Deacons.
" The which were presented before the congrega-
tion to learn if they had any objection why these
persons should not be lawfully ordained, and no
objection being made, these persons were accord-
ingly ordained to their respective offices, after
which the whole congregation, having with one
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 81
accord invoked God's blessing upon the further
upbuilding of their society, were dismissed.
"Whereupon the newlj^-ordained Consistory
unitedly concluded to keep themselves by the
constitution of the Reformed Dutch Church in
the Synod of Dort, in the years 1618 and '19,
bound in union with the Christian synod of the
Dutch churches in the States of New York and New
Jersey, and belonging to the Classis of Albany.
"There was also present with us Mr. Henry
Schermerhorn, an Elder of Schodack, saying that
other members of their Consistory were hindered
from coming here with him for the purpose, if pos-
sible, to unite themselves with this society in the
calling of one pastor for both societies. Upon
which the Consistory of Greenbush proceeded to
send a call to Dr. Peter Lowe as shepherd and pas-
tor of this society, to attend to the service of the
Lord every other Lord's day for the yearly income
of £80.
"The aforesaid Elder certified that the Con-
sistory of the society of Schodack had resolved on
their part to furnish the half of the salary, with a
dwelling for the minister at Schodack, or wherever
his honor might choose, with the necessary fuel.
"Upon which the Rev. Mr. Westerlo was re-
quested to write out a call, and also to state that
for further emergency, they would on each New
[6]
82 HISTOEICAL ADDKESS.
Year's day make him a present of XIO, each society
giving £5.
" The limits of this congregation, to distinguish
it from that of Schodack, are the house of Jonathan
Witbeck at the river, and from there to the house
of Casparus Lodewick, and as far north as the com-
monly-called Jan Vorms padt ; and that any who
lived within the aforesaid limits, and who belonged
to the church in Alban}^ could, if they so desired,
remain in that church as long as they thought it
best to do so."
So much was done the first day. The next rec-
ord is as follows :
" January, 1788. As Mr. Lowe did not accept the
aforesaid call, we, the Consistory of this society, with
those of Schodack, have extended a call upon Dr.
Jacobus Yan Campen Romeyn, which was as follows :
" 'The Rev. Jacobus Yan Campen Romeyn, S. S.
Ministerial Candidate. We, the undersigned, Eld-
ers and Deacons of the Low Dutch Reformed Socie-
ties of Schodack and Greenbush, in the State of
New York, together united and in the fear of God,
have met together and have unanimously concluded
to extend to 5^our honour, as you will see by the
opening of this signed and sealed letter, our choice
of you to be the Ordinary shepherd and teacher of
the two afore-mentioned communities for the hon-
our of God and our mutual benefit, so that your
HISTOBICAL ADDRESS. 83
honour will be obliged to preach to us twice each
Lord's day, once in the Dutch and once in the Eng-
lish language, by turns to the different communi-
ties ; and afternoons as custom ar}^ to preach from
the Heidelbergh Catechism, and also upon the
feast days to administer the Holy Sacraments, to
work for the welfare of the church, to catechise the
young, and to perform all things according to the
Eequiremeuts of a faithful rninister of the Gospel^
according to the Rule of the Dutch Reformed
Church in the Synod of Dort, in the years 1618
and '19, confirmed and united with the Christian
Synod of the Reformed Dutch Churches in the
States of New York and New Jersey. For which
services faithfully discharged, we, the undersigned.
Elders and Deacons, each for our respective socie-
ties, promise, and also our successors promise, and
bind ourselves to pay to your honour yearly, and
that in two equal parts, the full salary amount of
one hundred and fifty pounds in legal coin of the
State of New York, each society to pay the sum o^
seventy-five pounds, and also to furnish a Respecta-
ble Residence at Schodack or wheresoever your
honour might choose, with its privileges.
*' ' May the Lord who alone is good persuade
your honour to follow in His fear upon this our Call,
and come over to us in the full blessing of the
Gospel.
84: HISTOKICAL ADDRESS.
"* Written, signed and sealed this Day. Nov.
28th, 1787.
And'w. Ten Eyck, Peter M. Van Buren,
Jacobus Y. D. Pool, Abraham Ostrander,
eTohn H. Beekman, Chris'r. Yates,
Jacob C. Schermerhorn, Abraham Cooper,
Koelef Jansen, Casparus Witbeck,
Dan'l. Schermerhorn, John E. Lansing,
Maus Yan Buren, Von Greenhush.
Von SchodacJc.'
" Upon the first day of May, 1788, it pleased the
Lord to persuade the afore-mentioned teacher to ac-
cept the call of the afore-mentioned societies and come
over to them, and he was ordained and installed on
the fifteenth day of June, in the church of Green-
bush, by the Kev. Dr. Dr. Dr. Thomas Komeyn, Dirk
Romeyn and Eilardus Westerlo, the sermon being
delivered by Dr. D. Romeyn, from Col. lY. 17 : 'And
say to ArcJdppus, Take heed to the ministry which
thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it'
" The aforesaid call was accepted with the fol-
lowing additions :
" 1. While it is customary in the Low Dutch
Reformed Church to allow the minister some Sun-
days on which he may vacate himself and have for
his own, and the said call not mentioning any, we,
the ordained Consistory, grant that whenever their
minister thought it necessary to be absent from his
people, he was at liberty to do so.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 85
" 2. The Consistory also resolved and promised that
in addition to the afore-mentioned salary they would
furnish for their minister pasture for his stock.
" As the selection of a residence was left to the
choice of their minister, so his honour chose to
reside at Schodack ; accordingly the Consistory of
Schodack took upon themselves the necessary prepa-
ration of the dwelling and paying all the expenses
of the same without the help of the society of
Greenbush."
The last chronicle of this notable first year
relates to the methods adopted for revenue, and
shows that the spirit of harmony and brotherhood
reigned in the church.
" 1788. In Consistory. Present : Jacobus Van
Campen Komeyn, Y. D. M.
Elders. Deacons,
Abraham Ostrander, John E. Lansing.
Peter M. Yan Buren, Abraham Cooper,
Chris'r. Yates, Casparus Witbeck.
"DISPOSING OF SEATS.
■ ' 1. As the house of worship being erected is
now finished, the Consistory thought it proper that
the seats should be sold.
"2. That the money proceeding from this sale
should be applied toward paying off the debt made
by the building of the church..
SCt HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
" 3. That each seat should be taxed with the yearly
rental of three shillings, and that the above-named
rent should be merged in the subscription list for
salary; of course as much as any should be in-
debted for their rent, it would be discounted from
the Subscription list, and if the rent should exceed
his subscription, he is required to pay the full
amount of said seat and be discharged from his
subscription.
" 4 And that in case a seat should be sold or
transferred over to another by an occupant, it
should be signed over to the buyer, for the regis-
tering of which he would be required to pay the
amount of four shillings to the Consistory.
" 5. That notice should be given from the pulpit
about the foregoing resolutions three Sundays pre-
viously, and the time for the sale should be fixed
upon Wednesday, at which time the conditions
would be made known to all who should be present.
" And after rendering thanks to God, the whole
assembly took leave, one of the other, in Peace and
Love. J. P. Jacobus Eomeyn."
(In a subsequent note dated " Wednesday, 1788,"
it is said that the sale was held according to the
above resolutions, and that the minister was "re-
quested to make a register of the seats sold and to
write them down in the Church Book." This
"register" has not been preserved).
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 87
Another event of historic importance occurred
this year. On the twelfth of August the church
was duly incorporated under the statute, six days
previous to the incorporation of the older church of
Schodack. The title assumed was: "The Minis-
ter, Elders and Deacons of the Keformed Prot-
estant Dutch Church of Greenbush, in the Count}^
of Albany." This was ratified by record in the office
of the County Clerk of the county of Albany on
September 12th of the same year. (The title was
altered by act of the Legislature February 7th, 1807,
to : " The Reformed Protestant Dutch Congrega-
tion of Greenbush, in the County of E-ensselaer.")
Copy of record in book entitled " Church Patents
No. 1."
" 23. Whereas, by virtue of an Act entitled 'An
Act making such alterations in the Act for incor-
porating religious societies as to render the same
more convenient to the Reformed Protestant Dutch
Congregations, passed the 7th day of March, 1788,
we, the subscribers, Jacobus Vc. Romeyn, Minister^
Christopher Yates, Abraham Ostrander and Peter
M. Van Buren, Elders, and Abraham Cooper, Kas-
parus Witbeck and John E. Lansing, Deacons, of
the Pveformed Protestant Dutch Church or Congre-
gation lately formed and established at Greenbush,
in the county of Albany, having assembled together
at the said church on this 12th day of August,
88 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
1788, by virtue of the said Act, do by these pres-
ents certify that the trustees of the said Church or
Cougregation and their successors forever, shall as a
body corporate be called, distinguished and known
by the style and title of the Minister, Elders and
Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church,
of Greenbush, in the county of Albany. In witness
whereof, we, the said Minister, Elders and Deacons
have hereunto set our hands and seals the day and
year last above written.
Jacobus Vc. Romeyn, [l.s.]
Christopher Yates, [l.s.]
Abraham Ostrander, [l.s.]
Peter M. Van Buren, [l.s.]
Abraham Cooper, [l.s.]
his
Kasparus X Witbeck, [l.s.]
mark.
John E. Lansing, [l.s.]
Signed and sealed )
in the presence of us, )
Anthony Brees,
Jas. McKown.
"Be it remembered, that on the 12th day of Sep-
tember, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and eighty-eight, personally appeared
before me, John M. Beekman, Esquire, one of the
judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the city
and county of Albany, Anthony Brees, one of the
subscribing witnesses to the within instrument,
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 89
who, being duly sworn, says that he saw Jacob.
Vc. Eomeyn, Christopher Yates, Abraham Ostran-
der, Abraham Cooper, Casparus Witbeck and John
E. Lansing, sign, seal and deliver the within instru-
ment for the uses and purposes therein mentioned,
and that he, this deponent, together with James
McKown, respectively, subscribed their names
thereto as witnesses; and I, having perused the
same and finding therein no erasures, interlinea-
tions or obliterations, do aUow the same to be
recorded.
John M. Beekman."
In the same book of "Church Patents" is the
record of Incorporation of the Eeformed Protestant
Dutch Church of Schodack, on the 18th of August,
1788, signed, sealed and attested as follows :
" JaC. Vc. PiOMEYN, [L.S.]
AxDRus Ten Eyck, [l.s.]
John H. Beeoian, [l.s.]
Jacob C. Scheemerhorn, [l.s.]
Jacobus Vander Pool, [l.s.]
Daniel Schermeehorn, [l.s.]
John J. Van Volkenburgh, [l.s ]
Maes Van Buren, [l.s.]
Eoelef Johnson, [l.s.] "
" Signed and sealed )
in the presence of us, j
Anthony Ten Eyck,
Corns. Schermerhorn.
90 HISTOEICAL ADDRESS.
ALTERING OF CORPORATE NAME.
The organization of the County of Rensselaer in
1791, and some ecclesiastical changes also, made it
desirable to alter the title of church corporation.
This was done in the twentieth year of its history.
LAWS OF NEW YORK, A. D. 1807.
Passed the 30th Session, 1807.
Morgan Lewis, Esquire, Governor
(Copied in office of Secretary of State, Sept. 21st,
A. D. 1887, from volume entitled "Printed copy of
the Laws, 24")
"chapter III.
" An act to alter the name of the incorporation of
the Dutch congregation of Greenbush, in the
county of Rensselaer.
(Preamble stating that the name of the incorpora-
tion has become inapplicable) :
"Whereas, the minister, elders and deacons of
the Dutch congregation of Greenbush, in the
county of Rensselaef, have, by their petition to the
legislature, stated that their said congregation was
incorporated agreeable to the directions of an act
entitled, 'An act making such alterations in the act
for incorporating religious societies, as to render
the same more convenient to the reformed prot-
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 91
estant Dutch congregations, passed the seventh day
of March, one thousand seven hundred and eight}"-
eight,' and that the said incorporation took place
at the time when the said town of Greenbush
formed a part of the county of Albany, and that
they assumed the name of the minister, elders and
deacons of the reformed protestant Dutch church of
Greenbush, in the county of Albany ; therefore,
"Be it enacted by the people of the state of New
York, represented in senate and assembly. That
the said congregation shall hereafter be distin-
guished and known by the name of ' the reformed
protestant Dutch congregation of Greenbush, in
the county of Rensselaer,'
"STATE OF NEW YORK.
In Assembly, February 7th, 1807.
This bill having been read the third time —
Resolved, That the bill do pass.
By order of the Assembly,
A. M. Card, Speaker.
"STATE OF NEW YORK.
In Senate, February 10th, 1807.
This bill having been read the third ti"me —
Resolved, That the bill do pass.
By order of the Senate,
Jno. Broome, Presid't.
92 historical address.
"in council of revision.
February the 20th, 1807.
Resolved, That it does not appear improper to
the council that this bill should become a law of
this state. Morgan Lewis."
One hundred years, 1,200 mouths, 5,200 weeks,
36,500 days, 876,000 hours, 52,569,000 minutes,
3,153,600,000 heart-beats ! This is a century in
simple outline, but who can begin to tell the sum
of the life of a christian church for a hundred
years ?
Brethren, in this period the Divine Master has
sent you twelve apostles, with an average pastorate
of one hundred months. Ten of them are dead —
as much as such men can die — and one of the
survivors has been touched by the beckoning finger
of God. To eight of the number this was their
first pastorate, whose ages at installation averaged
about twenty-three years. To two others this was
their fourth charge ; to one the fifth, and to one
the seventh, and it is believed that none of the
twelve had reached the age of twenty-four years at
the time of his ordination. The shortest pastoral
term was two and a half years, and the longest
seventeen and a half. Of the ten deceased, their
average natural life was sixty-eight years, and that
of their ministerial life forty-five years. None
J. V. C. ROMEYN.
From Oil Painting in Chapel of
Rutgers College.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 93
have died here ; but the baby dust of a child of Dr.
Marsehis, and one of Dr. Liddell lies under the
shadow of this sanctuary.
THE FIRST PASTOR.
1788-1799.
Jacobus Van Campen Romeyn was called Nov.
28th, 1787, and dismissed to accept a call to the
church of Hackensack, N. J., in the spring or sum-
mer of 1799. He served the latter church thirty-
five years, when he was stricken with partial paraly-
sis and soon afterward resigned his charge. He
halted upon his thigh for eight years and then fell
asleep.
He was a son of Kev. Thomas Romeyn, who,
with his brother Theodoric, was the first of a line
of ministers whose names are justly household
words of pride in the Reformed Dutch Church of
America. Here is the list by direct male descent :
Thomas, James Yan Campen, James and Theodore
B.; while the Taylors, Zabriskies, Danforths and
Berrys, and I know not how many to whom their
daughters transmitted faith like an heir-loom, adorn
just as brightly the history of our Zion.
His wife, Susan Yan Yranken, was born at Sche-
nectady Feb. 9th, 1771. They were married May
29th, 1788, just after his installation, when he was
in his twenty-third and she in her eighteenth year.
94 HISTOKIOAL ADDRESS.
In their family Bible, now in the possession of
their grandson, Rev. F. N. Zabriskie, of Princeton,
N. J., is the following record :
Children Born.
Susan Van Campen, February 6th, 1790.
Harriet, June 19th, 1792.
Maria, October 23d, 1794.
James, September 30th, 1797.
Anna, May 11th, 1800.
Elizabeth, July 3d, 1802.
Caroline, December 10th, 1807.
Thos. Theodore, August 22d, 1810.
Sarah, February 22d, 1813.
None of these children are now living. Four of
them were born during Mr. Romeyn's ministry
here — Susan, Harriet, Maria and James. Of this
James, Dr. Cor win, author of the " Manual of the
Reformed Church in America,'' says he became
" perhaps the most eloquent of our preachers — a
flame of fire in the pulpit." Anna, the fifth child,
was the wife of your fifth pastor. Rev. B. C. Tay-
lor, and the mother and grandmother of ministers.
The joy expressed by the Consistory that the
Lord had "persuaded" this man to listen to their
call, was amply justified in the sequel- For in that
early day, and during his ministry of eleven years,
one hundred and eighty-five persons were added to
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 95
this cliurcli alone. The church books of Schodack,
where he also served, are lost, and those of
Wynantskill, where he preached the remaining
five years, are either lost or are inaccessible. If
anything like a similar prosperity prevailed in
those communities — which seems probable, for in
six 3^ears Schodack was erected into a separate
charge — it would show that his labor here was not
only the most fruitful this region has ever known,
but also one of the most remarkable in the whole
denominational annals. Early in his pastorate the
church found it necessary to increase the number
of elders and deacons to the full constitutional
limit, to meet the growing wants of the congrega-
tion. His watchful eye must have been upon
every man, woman and child in his whole parish,
and he left no means unemployed to win them to
the service of his Master. No one now living in
this congregation can remember his ministry here,
which terminated eighty-eight years ago, but the
fruit of it is all around us. He wrote, with a beau-
tiful hand, the first records of this church — your
book of Genesis — and his personal piety and fruit-
ful life show that, like his Master, he " was in the
beginning with God." The first of the twelve
apostles whom the Lord has sent you, he was a
magnate fit to lead the noble procession. His
veins were full of the blood of the prophets. His
96 HISTOEICAL ADDRESS.
father, three uncles, three of his six brothers and
his son, gave themselves to the work of the min-
istry, and his children's children have caught the
banners from their sires' failing hands, one of
whom — Rev. James Romejn Berry — has to-day
been permitted to unfurl it again on the outmost
wall of this citadel sanctuary of a hundred years.
It is a royal priesthood race, a peculiar people, and
their family emblem should be an altar smoking
with incense in a temple whose lamps never go out.
The records say that, though he was disposed to
remain here, yet he accepted an urgent call to
Hackensack, where his ministry extended from
1799 to 1833. "It fell," says Dr. Berry, "upon
the most troublous times in our denomination in
this section of the country. Previous to his call to
the church the signs of a fearful tempest were
thickening on every hand. Hackensack already
gave tokens of becoming the principal point of the
great struggle which ensued. The great need was
a man who should properly combine the elements
of true piety, firmness, prudence and love of peace.
These characteristics Mr. Romeyn was widely
known to possess, and upon the basis of this repu-
tation he was called to the pastorate of the churches
of Hackensack and Schraalenburgh, without having
been heard or seen among them. ^ * ^- Of his
piety the sweetest memories have been cherished
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 97
by those who knew him in the fond relations of his
home, or in the confidence of personal friendship.
His natural loving and sincere disposition was
sanctified by his sincere and loving faith in Jesus.
This gave his children that peculiar fondness with
which they regarded him while living and revered
his memory when dead." Eev. Herman Yan Der-
wart, his latest successor in the Hackensack church,
says that Mr. Romeyn's pastorate was " the longest
in the two hundred years of the church's history."
It was my privilege one day last month to copy
from his family Bible at Princeton this tender
tribute from his pen :
" Susan, my beloved wife, and the mother of the
children recorded in the adjoining column, deceased
of dropsy in the chest, April 22d, 1826, at fifteen
minutes past three in the morning. She fell asleep
in Jesus, with a hope full of immortality."
" One day in August, 1832," says another grand-
son, Rev. Benjamin C. Taylor, " while sitting at his
own table he was suddenly stricken with paralysis.
He silently burst into tears, and received the stroke
as a signal that his work was nearly done. As
this attack was comparatively slight, he somewhat
recovered from it and resumed his pulpit labor, and
with great effort continued to serve at God's altar.
But his work was done and well done." "It is
doubtful," says Dr. Berry, " if the whole number of
[7]
98 HISTOEICAL ADDRESS.
the ministers of our church in that day could have
furnished another who would have borne the trials
and met the difficulties of his position better
than he."
His last public service was a funeral sermon in
the Dutch language over one of the most aged
members of his church. In his last address at the
Communion table, enfeebled by paralysis, and with
broken utterance, he began his remarks in the
affecting language of Job — " Have pity upon me, O
ye my friends, for the hand of God hath touched me !"
During the last eight years of his life the earthly
house of his tabernacle was shattered by repeated
attacks of paralysis. His mind suffered in the
feebleness of his body. Patiently he awaited the
signal for his departure. The last token of earthly
recognition was given in response to the question :
" Do you know that you are almost home ?" In a
few hours that home was reached and mortality
was swallowed up of life. He died on the 27th
day of June, 1840, in the seventy-fifth year of his
age. His ashes repose in the cemetery at Hack-
ensack, and his tombstone bears this legend :
" In memory of Rev. James Y. C. Romeyn, who
died June 27th, 1840, in the seventy-fifth year of
his age and fifty-third of his ministry, having
served the united congregations of Hackensack and
Schraalenbergh thirty-five years.
"I have waited for thy salvation, O God."
JOHN LANSING ZABRISKIE.
TAKEN BEFORE MARRIAGE.
HISTOEICAL ADDRESS. 99
He was honored by the church with a trusteeship
of Queen's College, and as president of Classis, and
like his great namesake, the apostle James, presi-
dent of the college at Jerusalem, was worthy of all
honor.
I have lingered thus long and lovingly around
this name partly because he was your first annointed
teacher, partly because he was so grand and good,
and partly because the materials for biography are
so ample. I have scarcely opened them ; but duty
to the occasion forbids indulgence in the grateful
task.
II.
REV. JOHN LANSING ZABRISKIE.
1801-1811.
After an interval of about one year, Rev. John
Lansing Zabriskie was ordained and installed. He
was born at Albany in 1779, graduated at Union
College in 1797, studied theology under Dr. Dirck
Romeyn, and was licensed to preach by the Classis
of Albany in the year 1800. Like Mr. Romeyn,
he served this church ten years, when he accepted
a call to Millstone (Hillsborough), N. J., where he
preached for thirty-nine years, dying in 1850, aged
seventy-one. His call to this church was approved
by Classis August 19th, 1800. Greenbush and
Wynantskill were his charges, and the parsonage
100 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
was at Blooming Grove. His first record is of the
baptism of two infants on February 15th, 1801 —
Henry Smith, born December 25th, 1800, and
Peter Breesey, born October 30th, 1800.
The church records, which, unfortunately, are
very incomplete, show an addition during his min-
istry of forty-eight members to the Greenbush por-
tion of his pastoral charge. There are a few
persons yet lingering here who remember him as
the minister of their childhood.
On the first page of the first account book in the
archives of this church appears this entry :
" Eeceived from the Consistory of Greenbush by
the hands of Peter Whitaker the sum of One Hun-
dred and thirty-three dollars and twenty-five cents.
August 17th, 1801. John L. Zabeiskie."
An interesting item of history is written near the
close of his ministry here :
"The Consistory having taken into their serious
consideration, so far as it relates to the preaching
in the Dutch language, and feeling inclined to
accommodate such Persons belonging to the church
who do not understand Dutch and who are no way
benefited when the service is performed in that
language — considering also the general Prevalence
of the English Language, and the daily desire of the
Dutch, are induced to Eesolve as follows :
"Resolved unanimously, that the service in this
HISTOBICAL ADDEESS. 101
church shall in future be two-thirds in the English
Language and one-third in the Dutch.
" And also Eesolved that the Kev. Mr. Zabriskie
Publish this Kesolution to the Congregation."
Here is also an interesting item :
" 30th June, 1806, received of the consistory of
Greenbush by the hands of John Ostrander, Dea-
con, the sum of Three Dollars, in full for one year's
salary as sexton of said church.
$3. Adam Cook.
In October, 1810, Mr. Zabriskie applied to
Classis for release from the charge. Both the Con-
sistories— Greenbush and Wynantskill — refused to
unite with him in the request, and Classis denied it
at first, but on the next day, October 17th, recon-
sidered their action and dissolved the relation. At
a meeting held in Greenbush February 19th, 1811,
the two congregations sent in a remonstrance
against the action and prayed for its reconsidera-
tion. The Classis endeavored to secure the release
of Mr. Zabriskie from the church of Millstone, to
which he had accepted a call, but failed. *
Eev. Dr. Abram Messier, in an appreciative
biographical account, says of him: "During his
long pastorate at Millstone he maintained his infiu-
ence and his standing to the end. All who knew
* Rensselaer Classis Eecords,.
102 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
him loved him, and those who knew him best
esteemed him most.
" He was one of the most laborious and success-
ful pastors in Somerset county. He preached and
lectured more, visited more families and attended
more carefully to all his public duties than almost
any other pastor of his time. He was considered
by all not only an example, but a monitor in his
official life. He was an excellent preacher, and
though he seldom wrote his sermons, they were
solid, sensible, full of evangelical thought, and
listened to with profit by all the earnest-hearted
and godly of his congregations. Few men could
speak more judiciously and appropriately from the
impulse of the moment on any given theme.
" His life was unstained by even a breath of evil.
In a word, he was a good man, useful in his day,
and he has left a name which will have a savor of
excellence for many generations among those whose
fathers and mothers he led in the way of life."
Note. — Kev. John L. Zabriskie was a judicious,
sensible, wise man ; an excellent " old-fashioned "
preacher. He was in person short and stout, with
a large head and face, genial in expression, and
easy in manners. With all his habitual gravity
and professional air, at times in his social inter-
coui'se he would astonish and excite you by his wit.
HISTOBICAL ADDBESS. 103
his sarcasm, and even drollery. He knew the Gos-
pel, and felt it, and preached it with clearness, zeal,
and often with great power of immediate impres-
sion.—(W. J. E. T.)
Note. — "One of the most Nathaniel-like men
was John L. Jabriskie. He was eminently a man
of peace, and of great simplicity of character. With-
out any pretensions to greatness, his ministry was
truly evangelical, and he saw the children and the
children's children come into the church. His house
was the much-loved place of ministerial meeting."
— (Rev. Isaac Ferris, D.D.)
Note. — Quite near the entrance of the Millstone
Church stands an imposing monument of marble
with the following inscription on its eastern front :
In memory of
The Eeverend John Lansing Zabriskie.
Born March 4, 1779.
Died August 15, 1850.
For more than 50 years a minister of God. From
1811 until his death Pastor of the Dutch Eeformed
Church at Millstone.
Pure in life, sincere in purpose, with zeal, perse-
verance and prudence, devoted to the service of his
Master, here, amid the loved people of his charge,
his earthly remains await the resurrection of the
just.- (P. T. P.)
104 HISTOBICAL ADDBESS.
III.
REV. ISAAC LABAGH.
1811-1814.
The call upon the third pastor, Rev. Isaac
Labagh, was approved November 19th, 1811, and
he was dismissed June 15th, 1813. This was the
fourth of his seven pastoral charges, and, like that
of Mr. Zabriskie, his ministry extended through
forty -nine years. He was licensed in 1788, and his
pastoral calendar is as follows : Kinder hook, 1789-
1801 ; Canajoharie, Stone Arabia and Sharon,
1801-1803; New Rhinebeck and Sharon, 1803-
11 ; Greenbush and Wynantskill, 1811-14 ; German
Church, New York city, 1815-22 ; New Rhinebeck,
again, 1823-7 ; Missionary to Utica, 1827-37, when
he died.
No further biographical account of this minister
of Christ is accessible. He served his first church
twelve years, and his last, Utica, ten ; and his
average in all his pastorates was seven years, yet
the accessions to the church membership here were
largely in excess of his predecessor, and at the
close of his term, Wynantskill felt strong enough
to support a pastor alone, and its connection with
Greenbush was dissolved. His residence also
appears to have been at Blooming Grove.
Soon after the commencement of his ministry
"ll'"Illll!'"'J|||l!!flii""
ISAAC LABAGH.
AT THE AGE OF 55.
(From Oil Painting.)
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 105
here, the Consistory resolved to discourage bap-
tisms at private houses and strongly advised that
they should be administered in the church.
Like Paul, that " Hebrew of the Hebrews," Mr.
Labagh was a Dutchman of Dutchmen. His name
was pronoimced broadly Labaache, and I suspect
that the prime cause of his early removal ^as the
action of Consistory in 1812, that the English lan-
guage alone should be used in the exercises of
worship. For several years only one-third of the
service had been allowed to the tongue of Mother
Holland, and it was probably asking too much of a
descendant of the Conferentie that he should think
and write, and preach and pray only in a language
foreign to his birth. The suspicion finds cogency
in two facts — the pastor was absent from the Con-
sistory meeting of December 5th, 1812, when Eng-
lish alone was resolved on ; and secondly, he went
from here to a Holland church in New York city,
where he preached in Dutch only for seven years,
and no doubt rejoiced at his riddance of the degen-
erate Reformed Dutch of Greenbush.
A notable resolution was taken in Consistory,
December 25th, 1811 — a Christmas greeting to the
pastor :
"Od motion Resolved, that whereas the call
made by this Consistory on the Rev'd. Isaac La-
bagh, their present minister, they have agreed to
106 HISTOEIOAL ADDRESS.
allow him yearly the sum of Two hundred and
sixty-five dollars, together with the use and occu-
pation of the one-half of the parsonage and glebe ;
and whereas, as no free Sabbaths have been allowed
the said Isaac Labagh, therefore Resolved unani-
mously, that until the Consistory of this church do
augment the salary of Mr. Labagh to the sum of
$300 annually, he be allowed 3^early, and every
year, two free Sabbaths."
His pastorate in this church closed seventy-three
years ago, but several members of the congregation
remember his ministry.
Note. — Mr. Labagh was instrumental in getting
his younger brother, Peter, to study for the min-
istry. Peter afterwards became a very influential
minister in the Reformed Church. — (P. T. P.)
IV.
NICHOLAS J. MARSELUS.
1815-1822.
In the year 1814 the connection of this church
with Wynantskill was dissolved, and a union
effected with the newly-organized church of Bloom-
ing Grove. The two congregations united in a call
on Rev. Nicholas J. Marselus. The call was ap-
proved by Classis August 7th, 1815 ; he was
ordained and installed over the two churches in
NICHOLAS J. MARSELUS.
IN HIS 79TH YEAR.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 107
September, and dismissed March 26th, 1822. He
was born in Mohawk Valley in 1792, graduated at
Union College in 1810, and New Brunswick Semi-
nary in 1815. From here he went to New York
city (Greenwich) 1822-1858. After forty-three
years of labor, he retired from the pastoral min-
istry at the age of sixty-six, and died in 1876,
at the age of eighty-four. In 1844 Rutgers Col-
lege gave him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
His residence while here was at Blooming Grove.
The division line between the two congregations at
this time was defined as follows: "Commencing at
the Rensselaer and Columbia Turnpike Road,
where the road along the north side of the Canton-
ment intersects the first turnpike, then running
eastward along the said road till near the house of
Stephen Hansen, leaving Thomas I. Witbeck in
Blooming Grove ; then from near the said house of
Stephen Hansen an easterly course, so as to leave
Stephen Miller in the congregation of Greenbush."
His ministry of over six and a half years was
very marked and memorable. About one hundred
and fifty persons were received into membership —
nearly all by confession of faith. In the year 1820
the first great revival known in Greenbush occurred,
and the traditions of it are familiar to us all. Some
subjects of saving grace are still living as witnesses
of that shower of mercy and the faithfulness of the
108 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
messenger of Christ. The report to Classis in Sep-
tember, 1820, was that " nearly one hundred have
passed from death unto life." At a "joyful Com-
munion season held about the middle of August,
with the church overflowing, many anxious listeners
filled the wagons driven up close under the win-
dows." Dr. Marselus' subsequent ministry was
very successful, but thirty years afterward he wrote :
"There are many scenes which I witnessed, and
consolations which I enjoyed, during that season of
refreshing from the presence of the Lord, which
stand out prominent among those which have
marked the whole course of my protracted labors in
the Gospel of the Son of God. I have enjoyed
similar seasons of the right hand of the Lord in my
present charge, but none equal to that which was
experienced in the spring and summer of 1820."
"It is quite impossible," says Dr. Corvvin, "to
err in estimating the personal qualities and dis-
tinctive forces which combined in the character of
Dr. Marselus. He was a man of faith and of in-
tense convictions. He had great will power, not
in any wise akin to stubbornness or obstinate preju-
dice, but power to abide in the service of truth and
righteousness. This quality he never failed to
exhibit all through his much labor and many trials.
His solid and firm mind gave shape and purpose to
his sermons. He preached to reach a mark. Ser-
BENJ. C. TAYLOR.
HISTOEICAL ADDRESS. 109
mons for him were tools to accomplish results. He
believed in the power of God's Word. Converts
were constantly added to his church, many of
whom survive to attest his zeal and fidelity. Over
thirty of these converts entered the ministry of
grace, and thus extended the influence of the good
man of God who had brought them to Christ."
At the commencement of his term of service
both congregations adopted the new edition of the
Psalm-book for use in public worship.
He was granted five "free Sabbaths" every two
years.
V.
REV. BENJAMIN C. TAYLOR.
1822-1825.
Benjamin C. Taylor was born in Philadelphia
February 24th, 1801, and died in Bergen, N. J.,
February 2d, 1881. His parents, William Taylor
and Mary Alice Gazzam, were natives of Cam-
bridge, England, and came to this country immedi-
ately after their marriage. Benjamin v/as their
fourth son, and one of eleven children. He was
converted during a revival at Baskingridge, N. J.,
in 1815.
"His parents had devoutly consecrated him to
the Lord in his infancy. His mother especially,
with a Hannah's maternal piety, had devoted him
110 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
to the work of the ministry, and she followed up
that consecration by a course of action which
attested her sincerity and earnestness. She was
one of a circle of ladies who met statedly to pray
for their children and their pastor. She never
mailed a letter to her absent boy at school until
she had first laid it before her, and on bended
knees supplicated God's blessing upon it."^
He graduated at Princeton and New Brunswick,
and was licensed May 31st, 1822. Shortly after
this he went into the northern part of the State of
New York and visited vacant and destitute congre-
gations in the Classes of Rensselaer and Washing-
ton. He soon received a call from the united
churches of Greenbush and Blooming Grove, and
about the same time another from the churches of
Waterford and Schaghticoke, the former of which
he accepted, and began his labors on the 10th of
November following. He was ordained to the work
of the ministry and installed as pastor of these two
churches by the Class is of Rensselaer December
17th, 1822. On the 30th of September of that
year he was united in marriage with Miss Anna
Romeyn, daughter of the first pastor of this church.
Immediately after their marriage at Hackensack,
N. J., the youthful pair dro^e in a carriage to this,
their new home — the parsonage in Schodack, one
* Dr. Van Cleef 's Memorial Sermon.
HISTOBICAL ADDRESS. Ill
mile south of this spot. He served these congrega-
tions for two years and eight months, when, finding
the pastoral care of two hundred and ninety fami-
lies too great, and the climate too severe, he re-
turned to New Jersey, being called to the church of
Acquackanonk, Classis of Paramus. During his
work here a debt on the parsonage was paid and
the languishing church greatly quickened. Rev.
James E. Talmage, in a historical discourse, says
of him: "He immediately began to develop those
traits of character which afterward gained for him
such an honorable place in the ministerial ranks."
He served Acquackanonk for three years, and in
1828 was called to the church in Bergen, where he
remained fifty-three years — forty-two in active min-
istry and eleven as pastor emeritus — dying in 1881,
in the eightieth year of his age and the fifty-ninth
of his ministerial life. The church at Bergen cele-
brated the jubilee year of his residence among
them by a grateful ovation, the associate pastor.
Rev. C. Brett, preaching on the occasion the same
sermon Mr. Taylor had preached there on taking
charge of the church fifty years previously.
Time would fail me to tell of the tributes to his
excellence of character and remarkable qualifica-
tions with which the literature of the church
abounds, but I must ask you to listen to a tender
monograph which his son, Rev. William James
112 HISTOBICAL ADDKESS.
Eomeyn Taylor, of Newark, and who was born in
your parsonage, has contributed to this centennial :
Newark, N. J., Nov. 10, 1887.
Rev. J. F. Yates :
Dear Brother : — Being unable to attend the celebration of the
centennial of the Keformed Church at East Greenbush, and re-
gretting the necessity that deprives me of the pleasure of sharing
the interesting service of the occasion, I comply with your
request to contribute somewhat to the reminiscences of the past,
by sending the accompanying brief memoranda of my father's
ministry in that field.
It was his first pastoral charge, the church at Blooming Grove
being then united with that of East Greenbush, He was fresh
from the seminary at New Brunswick, full of zeal and enthu-
siasm and love for his work, and like many another young min-
ister, he often went beyond his strength in his endeavors to
fulfill his calling.
The united parishes covered a large extent of country, the
people were widely scattered over it, and pastoral service at all
seasons, and particularly in bad weather, and the long winters
made serious inroads upon his health and shortened his period
of labor there. But he never lost his attachments to the good
people who warmly reciprocated his love, and valued his ser-
vices in the pulpit and in their own homes.
There, too, was the anchorage of the old parsonage home,
where he and my mother, both sainted now in the home above,
began their happy and long married life.
His method of preaching, at first, was from manuscript ser-
mons, carefully prepared and committed to memory. One Sab-
bath morning he said to my mother: " I have made such thor-
ough preparation that I shall leave my sermon at home and
preach without any notes." But in reading the scripture lesson
a text struck him which took such hold of his mind, that he
could not recall any part of his sermon, nor even the text. He
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 113
called a deacon and sent him for the manuscript while the sing
ing and the pastoral prayer were in progress, but the man re-
turned, unable to find it. At last he rose and told the congrega-
tion what had happened, and said that he would try and say
something about the new text that had so completely displaced
his studied discourse.
"As the spirit gave him utterance," he poured forth the
streams from the unsealed fountain of living truth into their
souls. That was his first lesson in preaching extempore. His
people felt its power and said it was the best sermon he had ever
preached to them, and it changed the methods of his pulpit ser-
vices. He made careful analyses, and never gave his congrega-
tions any slip-shod discourses. But excepting some special occa-
sional efforts, and also a brief period in his later ministry,
when he wrote out his sermons to shorten them, he adhered to
the way into which he was led at the turning point in his early
ministry.
In 1825, after nearly three years of active labors, he accepted
a call from the Reformed Dutch Church at Acquackanonk,
N. J. (now Passaic) ; a principal reason for the change being the
necessity of a milder climate, and also having but one congrega-
tion to serve within smaller bounds.
The minutes of the Consistory and other records of the Green-
bush Church, and that of Blooming Grove, as well, still attest
the systematic order and precision of his attention to all church
work — a habit which strengthened with his years, and ended
only with his life. Every denominational interest that engaged
his care was faithfully served in love, and nothing that he could
do for his own flock, or for the church at large, was neglected o.i
grudgingly done.
Of the immediate fruits of those first years of the nearly three
score that he completed in the ministry, by the grace of God,
the records may tell the story ; but of their far-reaching results
in the development of character and services, and in the shaping
of his after life-work, none but the Lord whom he loved and
served so long, can ever know.
[8]
114 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
Had he lived to celebrate with the church of his fii-st love, thii^
centennial ctnnmemoi-ation, the tires of youth would have glowed
agj^in in his aged face, and in that heart that never grew cold
until it ceased to beat, he would have overflow txi with reminis-
cences which he loved to cherish and repet^t.
Eegretting that I cannot now add more to the interest of this
memorable anniversary, I can only send my most cordial stUuta-
tions •' in the Lord " and remain.
Yours for Christ sake,
WILLIAM J. K. TAYLOR.
Note. — The writer of the above tribute to hit;
father died very suddenly on Noyomber l'2th, 1891,
on the cars near Gunnison, Col., on his way to Salt
Lake City, Vtah, to make an addi-ess in behalf of
the American Sabbath. His reniiiins were brought
to New Bruns^nek, N. J., and buried on November
18th, in Elmwood Cemetery. He was born at the
" Greenbush pai-sonage ' July 31st, 1823, and hence
was in his sixty-ninth year at the time of his death.
He was a very faitliful, useful, honored minister. —
(P. T. P.)
Yl,
-\BRAM HEXRY DUMONT.
1S20 1S20.
Mr. Taylor was followed (September 21th, 1826),
by Eev. A. H. Dimiont, who, after a term of thi-ee
yetii*s and three months, was dismissed December
22d, 1829. He went from this charge to Pottsville,
ABRAM H. DUMONT.
HISTORICAL ADDBESS. 115
Pa.; was afterward general agent of the missionary
society, and became pastor in 1833^ of a Congrega-
tional church in Newport, Rhode Island, dying in
1865. He appears to have been a man of decided
abilities, winning the esteem and love of his people.
The Greenbush and Schodack Academy, long and
justly a local pride, and to which this congregation
contributed almost the whole amount of the cost of
erection, was projected and partly built before he
removed, and no doubt largely through his in-
fluence.
In October and November, 1829, the first addi-
tion to the church edifice was made. The Consis-
torial record of the enterprise is worthy of repro-
duction. On the 17th of October
" The committee appointed to receive proposals
reported several, and it was resolved that Mr. Fred-
erick Lasher's offer being the lowest by $600, be
accepted.
" Resolved, That S. N. Herrick and Samuel R.
Campbell be the committee to superintend the
repairs.
" Resolved, That the following be the repairs :
" 1. There shall be an addition of thirteen feet to
the front of the whole building, containing one
large door in front, two flights of stairs to the gal-
lery, the old doors and windows closed, two doors
to enter the body of the church — one opposite each
116 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
side aisle — two recesses for stoves, one in each
corner, the whole upper part of the new part floored.
" 2. Across the space now occupied by the front
doors, the steps to be extended, and seats made
where the entrance to gallery is now.
" 3. On the new part a cupola and belfry ; cupola
twenty feet above the eaves of the building.
" 4 The whole building covered with a new roof^
and said roof to be turned gable end to the road.
"6. New outside casings to the windows — the
windows now in front to be closed and inserted in
new part.
"7. A porch in front of large door and south
door closed."
It was also '* resolved that Mr. Lasher be author-
ized to put an arched window over the front door,
and two windows on the north and two windows on
the south side of the new part of the building, and a
door in front of the middle aisle." This description
presents us with our only picture of the church as it
was in the beginning, and after its first enlargement.
The above record is followed by a list of one
hundred and twenty-three subscribers to the fund
for building, the amounts ranging from one to
thirty dollars and averaging about seven. They
must have been expeditious in those days, for in
six weeks the house was re-opened for service, and
the Lord's Supper administered.
HISTOKICAL ADDRESS. 117
But on the twenty-second of December, a few
days after the re-opening, the church was surprised
by the pastor's resignation. The minute is this :
" Rev. A Henry Dumont presented in writing a
request to be dismissed from these congregations
with his reasons therefor. These being entirely
satisfactory, it was resolved that, though the sepa-
ration from our pastor is unexpected and painful,
yet satisfied with his reasons, therefore his request
be granted."
At the beginning of Mr. Dumont's ministry in
1826 the Consistories of both congregations sup-
plied the pastor's pew with cushions. His wife,
Julia Ann McKnight, was baptised and received
into the church upon confession of faith. No
names of persons received by him remain on the
church records, all having died or moved away, but
there are several who remember him. At the close
of his short period of service. Blooming Grove felt
herself able to support a minister alone, and in
1830 the connection was dissolved and the parson-
age property divided.
Note. — Rev. Abram Henry Dumont, son of Peter
Dumont and Elizabeth Swartout, was born at New
York April 17th, 1800; licensed by Classis of New
Brunswick April 20tli, 1826 ; license signed by
President John L. Zabriskie. He was called Sep-
118 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
tember 21st, 1826, to take charge of the churches
(Dutch Eeformecl) of Greenhush and Blooming
Grove, near Albany, N. Y. He was ordained Octo-
ber 17th, 1826 (but I do not know where or by
whom). From Greenbush he went to Pottsville,
which he left March 2d, 1831, as they could not
support a Presbyterian church, so he must then
have belonged to some Presbytery. He went to
Newport in 1833, and preached his last sermon
there in December, 1840. He was called to the
First Presbyterian Church, Morristown, N. J., and
preached his first sermon as pastor of that church
in January, 1841, and left there in the fall of 1845.
He died January 3d, 1865, and at that time be-
longed to some Presbytery in Connecticut. He was
twice married. — (Miss E. S. Dumont, Newport,
Rhode Island).
As we descend in this list of worthy names, many
hearts will grow warm with the motions of deep
and grateful memories.
VII.
REV. JOHN AUGUSTUS LIDDELL.
1830^1834.
On September 14th, 1830, a call was issued to
Rev. John A. Liddell to serve the church of Green-
bush at a salary of $400. For forty-three years
JOHN A. LIDDELL.
From a Daguerreotype.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 119
other congregations had been associated with this,
but from that time this church has supported a
minister and enjoyed regular Sabbath services.
The call was accepted and he was ordained and
installed on the fourteenth of November, 1830. He
was dismissed on the twenty-sixth of May, 1834,
after three years and six months of a memorable and
blessed ministry.
Mr. Liddell was born in Scotland in 1806, educated
in the University of Glasgow and in the United
College of St. Andrews, and came to America about
the year 1828. From this church he went to Pat-
erson, New Jersey, for four years, thence to Lodi,
New York, for the next ten, and supphed Cicero,
Stone House Plains and Franklin, near Newark,
N. J., the following two years. He died October
18th, 1850, at Stone House Plains, in the forty-
fourth year of his age— the youngest of your trans-
lated ministers.
Mr. Liddell was a child of pious parents and of
many prayers, and he passed into the kingdom he
knew not when. Brethren who knew him well,
write of him that he had qualities as a preacher
which invested his pulpit utterances with more than
ordinary power. His sermons were clear, evangeli-
cal, pungent, forcible and simple. He lacked the
attraction of an attractive exterior and a graceful
action, yet no one could fail to be convinced that
120 HISTORICAT. ADDRESS.
ivn earnest IieAi't pix^mpUxi his solemn accents. He
wiis a " son of consolation," wise to win souls, and
possessed the faculty of attaching to himself the
people of his chiu-ge in a peculiar degree. The
lambs of the flock were the special objects of his
attention, it is said, and that nnist be the reason
why so niiuiy of us, who wore little children when
he was here, love tiie sound of his name and think
we ivmemWr him. It wa« clem* to tdl that his con-
trolling motive wt^ love for Christ and the souls of
men. His appeals to the conscience wei*e diixn^t
and faithful, awjvkening luul impivssive. Tlieiv
\s*as a fervor and pathos in his mjuiner that touched
and melted heai*ts. His wi\s the glowing ardor of
one who stooil Ix'tween the living and the dead,
and pi'eaclKxl in view of the judgment. In life juid
deatJi he boi'e ample testimony to the sustaining
and contiv>lling truths he preached. They say that
his weakness — the one spot on this beautiful sun —
was an over-sensitiveness. He shrimk from con-
flict and pivferivd to ivtire, when he should have
stood his gixnmd.
The second addition to the church buikiing, some
sixteen feet on the ivar, was made in the year I800.
The report of this church in 1S32 speaks of a
jx)werful revival, sixty-five |^>ei"sous having at that
time made pivfession of faith : sixty-seven moiv
were soon afteiward added* to the numlK?r. It was
HISTORICAL ADDREBR. 121
the divine seal of approval upon the people's zeal
and devotion. The whole church sfiemed to share
in the pastor's spirit. In April, 1831, the semi-
annual sacrament of the Lord's Supper had been
increased to quarterly, and twice in that year —
January and August — Consistory had asked the
congregation to set apart fifteen minutes each day,
between the hours of eight and nine in the evening,
for "special prayer for a blessing of divine grace to
rest upon this congregation ;" and the " third Tues-
day in September" was observed as a day of "fast-
ing, humiliation and prayer." The parsonage, too,
adjacent to the church, was builded that year.
With the offering of their hearts the people of God
had given their money to His cause, and no wonder
that the witnessing skies opened wide for a rain of
light and love. Some few yet linger among us who
were rescued from sin in that precious day of
mercy, to whom this man of God was an apostle
indeed, and who can say in a better than the Corin-
thian sense, "I am of Paul — John A. Liddell led
me to Christ!"
Revival services appear to have been held during
much of this year. The house was thronged, and
great numbers who were at times unable to enter,
gathered about the high windows in wagons, in
their eagerness to see and hear. Farm work was
urgent, but the people went to church. The lanes
122 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
were sometimes almost impassable in the opening
spring, but the thoroughly awakened people disre-
garded them and went. It was so at your house
and it was so at ours. A relative of our family says
that in that great revival our father, not then a
christian, used to get up the wjigon every day, and
though the mud was half as deep as the wheels,
take us to church. Our mother, in those days of
enforced economy, left her rising bread and went
to chiu'ch! In the loving faith of her mother-
heart she trusted that we might learn to feed on
hidden manna — the Bread " of which if a man eat,
he shall live forever." If my heart would suffer
me, I would draw aside a sacred household curtain
for the honor of our mother and our God. During
that memorable revival of 1832 she gathered her
children about her — probably in that evening hour
which had been set apart for prayer, and as we
knelt with her she prajed. Never can we forget
the awe that came upon us. She talked to some
One out of our sight about herself and her husband
and her children. In that twilight hour w^e felt
another Presence, and knew that her heart was
burdened. AVe know now that she was ^\Testling
for us — travailing in pain for her children's second
birth. Blessed mother ! Blessed Christ ! " One
generation shall praise thy works to another."
When Mr. Liddoll felt it to be his duty to ask to
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 123
be dismissed, the Consistory tenderly bade him
farewell and Godspeed, and passed the resolution
which has been quoted again and again, and which,
though quaintly and inelegantly expressed, is fit to
be the watchword of any church : ^^Resolved, That
we unanimously unite with each other that no
division be found among us !"
"Eendracht maakt macht."
Note. — Among some papers recently found in
the possession of Mr. Liddell's only living son, I
secured the following data: After coming to
America he spent two years in the Theological
Seminary at New Brunswick, N. J., graduating
from that institution April 15th, 1830. On the
fifteenth of June, the same year, he was licenfied to
preach by the Classis of New York. From his
naturalization papers, we discover that he did not
become a citizen of the United States of America
until July 12th, 1841, when he received his papers
from the Blarme Court of the City of Neio York.
Signed John Barberie, Clerk.
MADE CHAPLAIN.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW VOKK,
To All to W/tom T/iese Presents Shall Come :
KNOW YE, That pursuant to the Coustitutiou and Laws of
our said State, We have appointed and constituted, and by these
Presents do appoint and constitute John A. Liddell Chaplain of
124 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
the 128th. Regiment of Infantry of our said State (with rank
from 30th of August, 1845), to hold the said office in the manner
specified in and by our said Constitution and Laws.
In Testimony Whebeof, We have caused our Seal for Mili-
tary Commissions to be hereunto affixed. Witness, SILAS
WRIGHT, Esquire, Governor of our said State, General and
Commander-in-Chief of all the Militia, and Admiral of the Navy
of the same, at our City of Albany, the 25th day of October in
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-five,
SILAS WRIGHT.
Passed the Adjutant-General's Office.
THOMAS FARRINGTON, Adjutant- General
Mr. Liddell's body lies buried at Totowa (Pater-
son), N. J. The fatal sickness was dysentery, and
the duration of it only ten days. Mrs. Liddell died
April 8th, 1872, aged sixty-six years and eight
months. She was buried beside her husband,
—(P. T. P.)
VIII.
REV. EDWARD P. STIMSON.
1834-1852.
There is less occasion as this record enters the
latter half of the century that the historian should
dwell upon men and their work among you, with
which so many of you are familiar.
The call of the eighth pastor. Rev. Edward P.
Stimson, was approved by Classis October 28th,
1834, and he was ordained and installed the follow-
ing month, and dismissed in April, 1852. The semi-
E. P. STIMSON.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 125
centennial year of the church was the third of his
ministry, but no commemorative services were held.
His pastorate was the longest in the history of the
church, and nearly twice the average duration.
During his term— in April, 1836— the bell for the
tower was purchased at a cost of $337.10. It was
rung twice each day for the first six months, and
once a day for the next five months, partly, I
believe, to accommodate the school at the Academy,
and partly, no doubt, on account of its novelty.
According to the Consistory's reports to Classis,
ten famines were added, during his ministry, to
the congregation, and the number of communicants
was increased from two hundred and thirty to three
hundred and fifty-five, an average of seven addi-
tions per year.
Mr. Talmage, in his published address at the lay-
ing of the corner-stone of the new church edifice on
the fifth of June, 1860, says: "Eev. Edward P.
Stimson, the eighth pastor, left to take charge of a
new enterimse at Castleton. During his long pas-
torate of seventeen and a half years— some of them
joyful, some sorrowful years— the following im-
provements may be mentioned, viz.: the addition
of the north wing to the parsonage, widening of
the pulpit and pews, erecting the Consistory room,
hearse-house and horse-sheds, providing the church
bell and procuring the musical instrument to aid in
126 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
your songs of praise. The whole was so managed
as to leave the church without any burden of debt
— affording pleasing evidence that this congrega-
tion is willing, as well as able, when properly ap-
proached, to furnish the requisite supplies for any
needed improvement.
Notes. — On September 10th, 1841, the ladies
were given permission to alter the pulpit as they
saw fit.
Subscriptions amounting to $43.00 were secured
October 3d, 1843, to build the hearse-house.
The horse-shed, between the church and the
school house, was built in 1845, by Joseph Brock-
way, at a cost of $200.
On October 14th, 1848, a Mr. Witt, agent of the
Western Railroad Co., gave the Consistory $148.50.
On December 22d, 1852, thirteen persons re-
ceived certificates from this church to unite with
the newly-organized Reformed Church at Castle ton,
of which Mr. Stimson became the first pastor.
He is remembered by the people of East Green-
bush as a man of splendid physique, of very
unusual executive abilities, and as having decided
gifts as a preacher. He continued to exercise the
office of a minister until 1861, after which he lived
in quiet retirement at Castleton, and died there in
1876, in the seventy-first year of his age. His body
rests in the cemetery at Castleton.— (P. T. P.)
JAMES R. TALMAGE.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 127
IX.
REV. JAMES R. TALMAGE.
1852-1860.
Eev. Mr. Talmage commenced his labors Octo-
ber 1st, 1852, and concluded them February 1st,
1860, serving a little over seven years.
His ministry reached the period of seven years
and four months. He was licensed in 1829, and
preached successively at Pottsville, Pa., Jersey
Cit}^ Pompton Plains, Blawenburgh, Athens, Brook-
lyn, Greenbush, Chittenango, Warwarsing and Wilt-
wick. He " ceased at once to work and live," and
left behind him multitudes to thank God that they
ever knew him, and to mourn his departure. His
widow, whom also you loved and revered, sur-
vives.
Accepting a call to Chittenango, Mr. Talmage
kindly consented to give his influence to the project
for a new church edifice, and in a few days pro-
cured $5,000 in subscriptions, assuring success, and
in the same year this second "house of prayer" was
erected, at a cost, some sa}^ of $8,000. The first
reports to Classis of the " Religious and Benevo-
lent contributions " of this church were made by
Mr. Talmage, beginniug with the year 1854.
Rev. Dr. Goyn Talmage, his brother, sends us
the following affectionate tribute to his memory :
128 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
ToET Jekvis, N. Y., Nov. 15, 1887.
Rev. J. F. r(iti\s :
Dear Bkother : — Yoii have requested me, either personally or
by letter, to represent my brother, Rev. James R. T>ilmai;e, at
the one hundredth anniversary of the East Greenbush Reformed
Church. As I am providentially prevented from participating
in the very interesting services of the occasion, I will avail
ni3'self of the opportunity of writing a few words of him who
served in the pastorate of that church from 1852 to 1860.
Were I to attempt a full portrayal of the excellent qualities
and life of James R. Talmage, the article would be regarded ah
exaggeration, except by those who were intimately associated
with him as personal friends, or as his parishioners. All who
were brought in close contact with him in the different Classes
to which he belonged, and the congregations he served, will
heartily endoi-se what I am about to write.
Dr. James R. Talmage was singularly pure in his life and cou-
vei-sation. He kept his heart so carefully that it was manifest
his conduct was shaped and his words spoken as under the
Divine eye, and with a view to the Divine approval. While he
was a cheerful companion, and enjoyed and contributed to the
enjoyment of social life, yet he never forgot for a moment, or
failed to impress others, that he was a christian.
As a preacher of the Gospel he held forth the word of truth
with more than ordinary ability and with peculiar painstaking.
Maintaining all through his ministry the study of the Scriptures
in their i)rigiual languages, he endeavored to give the mind of
the Spirit in those portions which he brought to the pulpit for
exposition. His sermons were rich in doctrine and highly prac-
tical. They were prepared with exceeding care, with depend-
ence upon the Holy Spirit for guidance. He seldom left a text
until he brought out about all there was in it. Nothiug worried
him so much as to be compelled from force of circumstances to
bring unbeaten oil to the service of the sanctuary. His hearers
could not but acknowledge that they had opportunity of being
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 129
built up in the things of the Kingdom. His pastoral work out
of the pulpit was faithfully and prayerfully performed. He felt
the burden of souls upon him, and for more than fifty years
ceased not publicly and from house to house to teach and preach
Jesus Christ.
Possessed of an exceedingly humble and modest spirit, he was
absolutely without ambition for prominence, and even shrunk
from positions to which his brethren thought he was entitled,
and where his usefulness would be greatly enlarged. By reason
of the meekness of his spirit, his real worth and force of charac-
ter were but little known beyond the immediate neighborhoods
where his ministry was exercised; but his spiritual mindedness,
and christian example, and patient toil for souls, rendered his
work faithful in every place where his Master sent him. The
impression he made on his people was, that he was Christlike in
temper and life, and therefore a pattern to be followed. He was
extremely careful of the reputation of his ministerial brethren,
and being himself devoid of envy, always rejoiced in their pro-
motion to honor and usefulness. He manifested less resentment
than any man with whom I have had association, with a single
exception. When suffering wrongfully he never upbraided, but
sought to excuse the wrong-doer by pointing out the palliating
circumstances with which the mistake had originated.
He had three brothers (all yet living), who at various periods
followed him in the holy office, to all of whom he was exceed-
ingly helpful. They all recognize their deep indebtedness to
him, and thank God to-day that in their early ministry they
had before them such a striking example of pastoral devotion
and faithfulness, and do not hesitate to acknowledge that any
measure of success they may have attained, they owe in no small
degree, under God, to their elder brother, now gone to his
eternal reward.
A whole generation has passed away since James Talmage
came to minister to the congregation at East Greenbush, but
there are doubtless not a few of the fathers and mothers still
[9]
130 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
remaiuing there who talk of him to their children and hold his
life among them in fresh and precious and grateful remem-
brance.
May this review of the history of your church, calling up
afresh the faithfulness of God to its pastors and people for one
hundred years, be fruitful in rich spiritual blessings to all whose
privilege it shall be to join in the jubilee.
Faithfully yours,
GOYN TALMAGE.
Note. — The three brothers referred to in the
above letter were (1) Eev. John V. N. Talmage,
D.D., who has spent the most of his hfe since ISttT
in the mission field at Amoy, China, but is now
living at Bound Brook, N. J., in feeble health;
(2) Rev. Goyn Talmage, D.D., the writer of the
letter, who died suddenly at Somerville, N. J.,
June 24th, 1891, in the seventieth year of his age ;
and (3) Eev. T. DeWitt Talmage, D.D., of Brook-
lyn, N. Y., whose name and fame are world-wide.
Items of Record. — On February 1st, 1853, the
Classis tried to settle the boimdary line between
Castleton and East Greenbush congregations by
suggesting that it be a straight line running from
the north part of the farm of Joachim Staats, on
the Hudson river, to tlie farm of Mr. Warden, on
the turnpike. This was opposed by Rev. Mr. Tal-
mage as improper and unjust. The final agreement
is not recorded.
In 1855 two acres of land were pm-chased from
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 131
Walter Morrison for a burying ground. The price
paid was $400, and enough to cancel the ground
rent. The next year a fence was built around it at
a cost of 1100.
A resolution was passed by Consistory Septem-
ber 2d, 1859, that funds be raised to clear the
brambles from the burial ground.
In the winter of 1859 and '60 the question of
building a new church was earnestly agitated. On
January 6th, 1860, David Eector was appointed
to ascertain the prospects of purchasing the Acad-
emy grounds.
On January 10th a congregational meeting was
held to consider the proposition of building a
church. Of this meeting the Rev. James R. Tal-
mage said, at the laying of the corner-stone on
June 5th, 1860 : " Who of us can forget that
memorable Tuesday in January last, when,
assembled in the old church, after a spirited dis-
cussion, in which invited friends kindly and might-
ily assisted us, it was resolved that we must have a
new church, and that as soon as five thousand dol-
lars were secured, the building committee should
proceed ? And who that was present on the follow-
ing Sabbath can forget the joy fulness of the people,
when the chairman of the subscription committee
announced from the desk that the required amount
was secured ? The good work has been going on
132 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
steadily. I have not been present to witness the
steps, but sure I am that it has been going ou;
there are convincing proofs — huge piles of weighty
arguments all around us. May God continue to
smile upon the enterprise, bringing it to a success-
ful issue. He will — He will, only mind, looking to
the hills whence help cometh, to lift each one ac-
cording to his ability, lifting together, and con-
tinuing to lift with good courage, and every
muscle strecthed, until the topmost stone is laid.
Amen."
On the sixteenth of January, 18G0, the following
building committee was appointed : Henry Salis-
bury, David Bcctor, John Van Denbergh, Jacob
Kimmey, Henry Lodewick, and discretionary power
was given then to buy a new lot to build the church
upon, near the old site. After much consultation,
it was determined to build on the old site.
At first it was resolved to build of wood, but
eventually, on April 7th, 1860, the architect's plan
was approved and they resolved to build of hrich
During that season the building operations were
hurried along with all possible speed, under the
direction of Mr. A. Birch, master builder. By the
next spring the new church was ready for dedica-
tion, and on AprU 3d, 1861, the Consistory decided
to hold those exercises on the twenty-fourth day of
the present month. — (P. T. P.)
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 133
REV. J. R. TALMAGE'S LETTER AT DEDICATION.
Chittenango, April 15, 1861.
To the Church and Congregation of East GreenbusJt :
BuETHREN AND Friends : — I havG never lost sight of the
promise I made, more than a year ago, that I would endeavor to
be with yon at the time of the dedication of your new church;
but in the orderings of Providence you have fixed the time when
necessary engagements connected with the regular meeting of
our Classis will prevent my attendance. The best, therefore,
I can do is to be present in spirit.
I fancy I see the new church in its attractive comeliness, and
a large congregation of well-remembered faces assembled to
unite in the solemn yet joyful dedicatory exercises. "Lord, it
is good for us to be here," in circumstances so cheering as well
as impressive. What a change has come over our i^lace of wor-
ship ! Behold the transfiguration ! None who were present will
soon forget the stirring meeting held on this spot on Tuesday,
January 8th, of last year, when, after conference, it was voted
so unanimously and earnestly, beyond all expectation, that the
church edifice here was unattractive, uncomfortable and not
altogether safe. If our eyes and feelings decided correctly, then
verily there has occurred a marvelous transformation. Behold,
now, how attractive as well as comfortable and safe, so far as
man is capable of seeing and knowing. What mcaneth this?
The Lord stirred up the heart of the subscription committee to
go forward with flaming zeal, and the hearts of the people to
subscribe with courageous liberality, so that on the ensuing Sab-
bath the pulpit gladly announced that $5,000 had been sub-
scribed. Then the Lord stirred up the building committee with
painstaking zeal and tireless perseverance, in their work so re-
sponsible and difficult. Then the Lord stirred up the builder,
as He does every ^vise master builder, to lay the foundations
deep and broad.
On the fifth day of June last, a joyful assembly — the sky favor-
134 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
iug — witnessed the laying of the corner-stone with appropriate
ceremonies, since which time the busy workmen, with muscular
arms, have been plying their tools and lifting higher and higher,
until behold, the topmost stone is laid, and we shout, ' ' grace,
grace unto it. ' ' Let every one who has labored faithfully in
whatever department of this good work have due praise, and let
the chief praise be given to Him, without whose gracious
promptings and aid not a copper would have been given, or a
finger lifted. All the way, step by step, His favoring provi-
dence has led, working in us both to will and to do.
It is good to be here in this new temple, on this hallowed
spot. Stirring reminiscences of the past come thronging up
and mingling with the joyful solemnities of the occasion. Here,
in a former edifice, three times three successive pastors have
preached and ijrayed, breaking to hungry souls the bread of life.
The first three, viz., Romeyn, Zabriskie and Labagh, spent the
alternate Sabbaths at VVynantskill, excei)ting during the first
few years, when Mr. Romeyn ofliciated alternately at Schodack.
These three, each, after a pilgrimage of more than three score
years and ten, went to their reward, and scarce an individual is
left of all those brought into the communion of this church
during their ministry.
The next three successive pastors, viz., Marselus, Taylor and
Dumont, spent the alternate Sabbaths with the new church at
Blooming Grove. These still live to proclaim the glorious Gos-
pel. During the last year of Mr. Dumont s labors here (1829),
the congregation gave liberally for the complete remodeling of
the church edifice, thus enriching themselves, through God's
blessing, so much, that ever since they have been fully able to
support the ministry.
The first one of the remaining three pastors whose undivided
labors have been given here, viz., J. A. Liddell, after laboring
very successfully, here and elsewhere, while yet in the prime of
life, was called home. Who knows but tidings may have already
reached him, and the other deceased pastors, through some
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 135
swift-winged messenger, enabling them to share in the joy of
this occasion, so interesting in the history of a chnrch for whose
welfare they toiled and prayed on earth.
The next pastor, E. P. Stimson, labors in an adjoining field,
and the last, J. R. Talmage, desires, in the best way he can, to
contribute his mite towards promoting the interest of the occa-
sion. This has been a heaven-favored church. She has, indeed,
had her times of trial. What church has not ? She has been
specially tried by the calling away of her pastors to other fields
of labor, generally before they had reached their prime. But
the great Shepherd always had some one in process of prepara-
tion, just ready to step in and occupy the vacancy, so that she
has never been long in a state of widowhood. The last vacancy
has been the longest. We found it hard, mutually, to part, but
how happy has been the result. God, in that hour of trial,
helped us to work together, starting the church building enter-
prise, the result of . which surpasses our expectations. By the
same event the Lord stirred up the people of my present charge
to the good work of building an excellent parsonage. He has
also, meanwhile, furnished you with stated preaching, during
most of the time, on every alternate Sabbath, by one ripe in
christian and pastoral experience. This providential supply re-
lieved you from the necessity of exposing your pastor to the
interruptions, distractions, collisions, financial contrivings and
various perils connected with church building, which are so apt
to spill on the ground a pastor's influence. To-day you are in
more favorable circumstances than ever you were before to gain
the ear of a suitable minister, several times more favorable than
when you sat trembling with cold or fear in the old building.
Your recent liberality in building a house for Him, the Lord
will reward, in answers to your prayers, with a workman that
needeth not to be ashamed, and with spiritual blessings through
his ministry, such as were not received and not to be expected,
so long as the Lord's house was lying waste in the midst of a
people dwelling in their ceiled houses.
136 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
"It is good to be here." Hallowed reminiscences of the past,
including times of gracious refreshing from on high, and present
associations and exercises well adapted to move and cheer the
soul, together with bright anticipations for the future, combine
to emphasize the declaration — meet here, my friends, oft as you
can, to get all the good you can, and you'll find it good to be
here beyond what I can tell or you can conceive — good for soul
and body — for time and eternity — good for all within the sweep
of your good influence. He is faithful that promised.
The Lord send thee helj) from the sanctuary and strengthen
thee out of Zion ; remember all thy offerings, and accept thy
burnt sacrifice. Selah. Affectionately yours, &c.,
J. R. TALMAGE.
OBITUARY NOTICE BY REV. DR. VAN SANTVOORD, OF
KINGSTON, N. Y.
The death of this devoted and beloved minister
took place on Sabbath evening, June 29tb, 1879, in
the seventy-second year of his age, and just after
completing fifty years of ministerial labor. He
died at the house of his son-in-law, Rev. James
Wyckoff, pastor of the Reformed Church of Ger-
mantown, N. Y. He had gone there for a fort-
night's rest, to recruit from the effects of what his
family and friends considered but a slight attack of
illness. They hoped to see him return after this
interval, strengthened to resume his work. It was
ordered otherwise by Him who orders all things
well. The disease which seemed little serious at
first, assumed after several days a sterner form,
PETER Q. WILSON.
HISTORICAL ADDBESS. 137
settling at last into fever, which held him with unre-
laxing grip many days. When consciousness re-
turned at last, the bodily forces were too far gone
to be rallied and he passed tranquilly away
into " the city which hath foundations," towards
which it had been his heart's joy during all his long
and fruitful ministry to direct the steps of way-
worn, sin-laden pilgrims, and for entering which he
stood ever ready "with loins girded about and
lights burning when the summons should reach him
to join the company of the redeemed." He was
interred in the Wiltwick Cemetery at Kings-
ton, N. Y.
X.
REV. PETER Q. WILSON.
1861-1866.
The tenth pastor. Rev. Peter Quick Wilson, was
born at Roycefield, New Jersey, graduated at Rut-
gers College in 1858 and New Brunswick Seminary
in 1861. Accepting a call to this church in that
year, he was ordained and installed as pastor on
the eighth day of October, Revs. Benjamin F. Sny-
der, J. B. Wilson, J. R. Talmage and Elbert
Nevius officiating. He was the first minister in
the new church edifice, and served as pastor be-
tween four and five years, leaving here June 1st,
138 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
1866. From here he went to Spencertown and
took charge of the Presbyterian Church. He has
also served the churches of Guttenburg, Ponds and
Rockland, where he now has charge of a Presby-
terian church. Mr. Wilson and Dr. John Steele
are the only surviving ministers of the twelve. It
is matter for congratulation that not only is he
spared to proclaim the Gospel he loves, but cheers
us by his presence to-day. It is but just that the
historian should say that the standard of pulpit
ministrations to which you had been accustomed,
was amply maintained by Mr. Wilson. A church
debt of nearly $3,000 was paid, and a new iVrm
fence for the front and the west side of the church,
costing $400, was built and j^aid for. The income
from the pews of the new church was sufficient for
the pastor's, sexton's and chorister's salaries, and
to provide fuel and light.
To the reports of benevolent collections to
Classis, begun by Mr. Talmage in 1854, Mr. Wil-
son added annual reports of moneys raised by this
church for "congregational purposes." For the
first sixty-six years no such reports were made, and
no documents have been found showing the "benev-
olent" contributions of the church during that
period. But since 1854 there have been thirty
reports of such collections, aggregating $6,915.23 ;
and since 1861, when Mr. Wilson began to report
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 139
contributions for " congregational purposes," there
have been twenty-four reports, aggregating $63,-
G09.23.
Notes. — Newspaper item published some time in
1866, giving a brief account of the work accom-
plished under Mr. Wilson's ministry and of the
esteem in which he was held by the people :
" No More Debt. — The congregation of the Ke-
formed Protestant Dutch Church of East Green-
bush paid their last item of debt during the month
of April. The church edifice is new. They com-
menced the work of building in 1860. In April, 1861,
the church was dedicated to the worship and service
of Almighty God. In the ensuing October they
selected a pastor, P. Q. Wilson, a licentiate from
our Theological Seminary. At that time the debt
was not quite |3,000. This debt has been paid,
and we rejoice and are glad. The fence was old.
Times hard. War and taxes caused many com-
plaints. The pastor and children gave a few con-
certs, raised the money, and erected a neat iron
fence, at a cost of 1400. This was the children's
offering. Steps have been provided ; and last, but
not least, a new organ, which we hope will prove a
satisfaction to all. The church is large and sub-
stantial. Great care has been taken in furnishing
the house. In fact, it is very seldom that you find
a church in the country whose internal arrange-
140 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
ments and finish give so many marked expressions
of culture and intelligence. It is an honor to all
who have thus exhibited their love for Christ in
building a house for His glory. The struggle has
been great, but the results of the six years till our
hearts with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord
who has owned our work and prospered Zion.
"And it is our delightful privilege to record the
prosperity of church and Sabbath-school as the
brightest chapter in the history of this Zion. Our
pastor, whose voice has been somewhat weakened
by a recent attack of diphtheria, resigned the
charge of this important field the first Sabbath in
May. His labors have received the highest appro-
bation of our people, and given evidence of God's
favor resting upon them. And when he was ready
to close this faithful ministry, the people manifested
their kindness and benevolence in a very touching
manner, viz., a present of $200, and from a few
choice friends, a valuable gold watch. And we are
happy to say that these gifts are illustrative of
that blessed spirit of christian kindness which has
characterized his ministry. Truth."
The Organ.— On February 6th, 1866, the Con-
sistory entered into an agreement with George N.
Andrews, of Utica, N. Y., to furnish an organ of
the best materials and workmanship, to be deliv-
ered in ten weeks and to be kept in repair for ten
*
WILLIAM ANDERSON.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 141
years, at a cost of $1,050. This contract was ful-
filled, and for twenty-five years this instrument has
led a devout people in their praises to Almighty
God.
Mr. Wilson is the only pastor now living of the
twelve who served the church during the first
century. His i3arish is at Fawns, N. Y., near
Saugerties, where he labors with true apostolic
zeal, receiving at least the approval of St. Paul,
who said, " He that is unmarried is careful for the
things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord."
—(P. T. P.)
XI.
REV. WILLIAM ANDERSON.
1866-1876.
The ministerial death-knell has struck in this
centennial year, and the spirit of your eleventh pul-
pit teacher has entered into final rest. Rev. Wil-
liam Anderson took charge of this church — the
fourth and last but one in his history — in 1866,
and retired in 1876. His pastorate here was a very
noticeable and active one. The Academy, which
had been closed for some time, was re-opened
through his instrumentality and flourished for sev-
eral years. In 1872 the new and spacious parson-
age was erected, and the interests of the church
generally seem to have been promoted. His affec-
142 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
tion for his people was a striking characteristic,
and he cherished them as fathers, brothers, chil-
dren. His previous fields of labor were Peapack,
N. J., Fairview, 111., and Newtown, N. Y., and the
subsequent one, and in which he died last April,
Fordham, New York City. He gave a son to the
ministry, who takes his father's place here to-day,
and whose noblest ambition and fittest prayer
might be to honor that father's name in this holy
calling, and conquer at last like him.
A few days previous to his death. Miss Fanny
Van Vechten, of Oastleton, visited him. He real-
ized that his strength was failing, and expressing
the belief that he should never again look upon
your faces on earth, sent by her his dying message
to the church. Miss Van Vechten says :
"I was at Mr. Anderson's in April, and left there
only a week before he died, and while knowing he
was very miserable, still we did not dream the end
was so near, though I think, perhaps, he himself
felt he was drawing near to the ' golden gates.'
" One morning, as I was alone with him, he said :
' Fanny, I fear I shall never see East Green bush
again, but I want you to take a message for me to
that people; tell them I loved them as I never
loved any other people with whom I have been con-
nected, that I have remembered them at the throne
of grace, and that I ask them so to live that, if I
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 143
never see them again on earth, I may greet each
one in our heavenly home, not a single one be
missing. Tell them to love their pastor, love their
church and work for it, giving their best strength,
their means, and supporting and upholding it as
their highest earthly good and pleasure ; but, above
all, and before all, give their whole hearts to their
Saviour, and in God's own good time, I will meet
them again in a better, even a heavenly home.'
These are as nearly Mr. Anderson's own words as I
can recall them, and in doing so I seem to see
again his face and patient suffering, its meekness,
but above all, its sweetness and love as he spoke of
this people."
Notes. — It is but just to the memory of Mr.
Anderson that a few items be added to the fore-
going history. He acted such a conspicuous part
in a general uplifting of the congregation, that his
ten years of service might with propriety be called
a transitional period. His labors began November
1st, 186G, and ceased October 15th, 187G.
The purchase of the Staats' lot furnished the first
opportunity for the display of his executive ability
in the management of the temporal affairs of the
congregation. With keen foresight he saw a suita-
ble site on this plot for new liorse-sheds, and early
in 1867 had the project well under way. That year
144 HISTOEICAL ADDBESS.
thirty-two stalls were built, Henry Salisbury doing
the carpenter work. A little later, perhaps the
next year, four more were built, connecting the
western ends of the two long rows. Since that
time seven more have been added to the eastern
end of one row and four more to that of the other
row, making a total of forty-seven stalls. What a
convenience and comfort these are, those only can
appreciate who have to drive miles to attend a
house of worship. Here beast and vehicle are
always protected from heat and cold and storm,
and in a country parish this does a great deal to
solve the problem of regular attendance upon
divine service.
Again, with equal sagacity, he urged the choice
of the middle lot for a new parsonage. When this
undertaking was completed, about the middle of
his pastorate, every one could see how wise the
choice had been. Mr. Anderson was especially
interested in the improvement of the educational
and social conditions of the community. First by
a private school in the old parsonage, under the
care of one daughter, and later in the large school
in the academy, under the management of his three
daughters and two assistants, he was instrumental
in changing the tastes and aspirations of scores of
young men and maidens who might otherwise have
continued in the "good old way" of the district
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 145
school, and settled down to a hum-drum life. His
large and interesting family co-operated to the
fullest extent in all his plans and desires for the
welfare of the people. Their sacrifices and labors
have left an impression that time cannot efface.
They did much to elevate the tone of society and
to purify the morals of the community. The con-
gregation's appreciation of all those factors of
strength was shown before the end of the first year
of his ministry by a very decided increase of sup-
port.
On October 9th, 1867, the Consistory raised the
salary from $900 per year to $1,300. In addition
to this a number of liberal donations augmented
the comfort and joy of the pastor's household from
time to time. Early the next spring the assessment
on the pews was increased one-half, and this was to
continue " during the present pastorate."
In the year 1868 the exterior of the church was
painted for the first time. The work was done by
Bobert Ketchum at a cost of $306.00 It is com-
monly known that the district school house, the
second story of which is the "old Consistory
room," stands upon the property of the church. At
different times the question of enlarging the present
building or erecting a new school house has been
agitated. The matter was talked of in 1869. The
action of the Consistory on July 17th of that year
[10]
146 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
on this question was as follows : That the district
have the privilege of erecting a new school house
on the same site, but increased to the size of thirty
feet square and to front the road for an annual rent
of thirty dollars. The proposition was not accepted,
for the old house still stands. The year 1870 was
eventful in trying to settle the question about a
parsonage. Some thought it wise to sell the old
and build a new one ; others saw only difficulty and
debt ahead, and advised selling the Staats property
and keeping the old house. But, however, a sub-
scription was started for a new parsonage, which
very soon reached the amount of $1,500. Here it
was deemed best to let the matter rest for a time.
This was early in the year. About that time the
church had an opportunity to sell a part of the
Staats lot to the Misses Yates, and they decided to
let them have three-quarters of an acre. This
helped in the solution of the problem. But on
October 12th, the record states, the Consistory de-
cided to buy Mr. George Shibley's property —
house, barn and about two acres of ground — adjoin-
ing the old parsonage, and then sell and dispose of
the old parsonage building Negotiations in this
direction ended, however, when it was learned that
Mr. Shibley wanted $4,000 for his property. Dur-
ing that season the flag-walks were laid in front of
the church. In February, 1871, it was resolved
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 147
to sell the corner lot of the new parsonage grounds.
On the fifteenth of April, 1872, a committee re-
ported subscrij)tions to the amount of $2,600, with
more promised. This gave the required impetus to
the new parsonage movement. With the choice lot
reserved and this sum pledged, even though the
old property had not been sold, the people saw
their opportunity and proceeded to build the
elegant house that now adorns the grounds. The
old parsonage was sold the next winter. A com-
plaint was made by Mr. Simeon Allen that the
water from the church sheds ran upon his property
to the detriment of the same. A meeting was held
on February 28th, 1872, of the Consistory, shed
owners and those who rented sheds to consider this
allegation. It was soon after decided that action
could not be institubed against the church, since
each individual owned the shed he used, and suit,
if any, must be brought against every such person
separately. Quit-claim deeds were given to owners
of sheds March 8th, 1872.
These, and many other things, like the manage-
ment of the academy with twenty boarders and
sixty day pupils, show how necessary it was that
one with marked ability in business affairs should
have been at the head of these changes and move-
ments. But there is another side to Mr. Ander-
son's ministry, and that is the chief side — the
148 HISTORICAL ADDEESS.
spiritual. He was a careful, exegetical student of
the Word. His sermons were logical, direct and
well illustrated. All classes profited by his preach-
ing, and the church at times was too limited to
accommodate the audiences. He ever sought to
bring to every one that truth that he felt was best
calculated to awaken a new life. Revivals took
place and many bless him as their "father in
Christ."
The last Sabbath he officiated was October 15th,
1876. On the afternoon of that day the Lord's
Supper was celebrated.
When he retired from the pastorate of this
people he accepted a call to the Reformed Church
of Fordham, New York City, where he lived and
labored until the close of his life in April, 1887.
At a meeting of Consistory held September 25th,
1876, the resignation of Rev. William Anderson was
accepted, and the following resolutions unanimously
passed :
Resolved, That in sundering the cherished ties
which have bound us together during the past ten
years, we tender our pastor our affectionate venera-
tion for his wise counsels and able expositions of
Divine truth, and for his ardent solicitude for our
temporal, and especially for our spiritual pros-
perity ;
Besolvedj That we will ever remember with satis-
HISTOKICAL ADDRESS. 149
faction and gratitude tlie precious and marked
results of his labors among us in the Lord.
Resolved, That our best wishes and prayers will
follow him to his new field of labor, earnestly
hoping that in'the good providence of God he may
long continue to prosecute the Gospel ministry, and
be crowned with continuous and abundant success.
Geo. B. Mills, Moderator.
It was with great fortitude that Mr. Anderson
carried on his work, at times maintaining a severe
struggle with failing health, but always cheerful and
hopeful, until at last on the twenty-third day of
April, 1887, the Master said "come up higher," and
his spirit took its flight to the better world to min-
ister in the immediate presence of Him who sits
upon the throne. His familiar form we laid ten-
derly to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery, New York
City, on Tuesday, April 26th, 1887. He was in the
seventy-third year of his age and in the thirty-
eighth of his ministry. — ( P. T. P.)
RESOLUTIONS PASSED AT EAST GREENBUSH.
The Consistory of the Reformed Church of East
Greenbush, Rensselaer County, New York, has re-
ceived the sad intelligence of the death of the Rev.
William Anderson, their former pastor for ten years.
His eminent learning and devoted piety com-
bined to make him conscientious and successful as
150 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
a minister of Christ ; liis faithful labors for the con-
version v^f the unsaved, the edification of the faith-
ful and upbuilding of Zion, and his zeal in the
cause of education, all endeared him alike to the
young and the old of this community ; therefore,
Resolved, That the church express their deep
sorrow at his death, and offer their heartfelt sym-
pathy to his bereaved family, commending them to
the God of all comfort, and joining them in the
hope and consolation of the blessed promise of a
glorious immortality.
Resolved, That a copy of the foregoing minute
be sent to the bereaved family and also to the
Christian Intelligencer for publication.
By order of the Consistory.
Adopted May 4th, 1887.
XII.
REV. JOHN STEELE, D.D.
1877-1887.
' ' As your guide,
He in the heavenward path hath firmly walked,
Bearing your joys and sorrows on his breast,
And on his prayers. He at your household hearths
Hath spoke His Master's message; while your babes,
Listening, imbibed, as blossoms drink the dew;
And when your dead were buried from your sight,
Was he not there ?"
The last survivor of Christ's apostles was John,
whose antitype in the pleasant parallel I have been
JOHN STEELE.
mSTOKICAL ADDEESS. 151
suggesting, is the latest shepherd of this flock.
Yonder, fifty leagues away, he lies resting his weary
head on Jesus' bosom and counting the th robbings
of the blessed Saviour's heart.
We all remember too well how sudden was the
dreadful blow. In the fullness of his powers, in the
midst of a very fruitful ministry with his commis-
sion ringing fresh as ever in his ears and his heart
yearning for the souls of men ; in the study which
had so long witnessed his meek searching of the
Holy Word, and his prayers for help in proclaim-
ing it — on the evening of December 7th, 1886, that
commission seemed to be annulled, and the Master
to say, " It is enough."
His last service, December 5th, had been to
preach the Gospel, administer the Lord's Supper
baptize Maria Boughton, and receive her into the
fellowship of the church.
His parents were Nehemiah Vernon Steele and
Sophia Garretson, and he was born at Somerville,
Somerset county, New Jersey, September 20th,
1827, At the age of fourteen years he united with
the Reformed Church in his native place. He was
educated at Rutgers College and New Brunswick
Seminary, and has preached in Lebanon, N. J.,
Union Village and Coxsackie, N. Y., and Totowa,
N. J., and for the last ten years as pastor of this
church. For several years he has contemplated
152 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
this anniversary, and it is greatly to be deplored
that he could not have written the history of this
church from the standpoint of its centennial pastor.
At his home in Newark last month he gave me for
you his christian greetings for this day — to which
for years he had looked forward in hope — and he
has also sent you by his own trembling hand the
letter from his heart to which you have listened.
It may or may not be that the spirits of departed
friends re-visit this world in these latter days, but
if ever they come back, they must be here to-day.
Gathered as we are to recall their life-work and
catch new impulse for our own, to praise their de-
votion and pray for a double portion of their spirit,
it is easy to think that the gates are ajar, and the
throngs all around us. No picture gallery in the
world could equal for us this temple, were these
walls covered with the portraits of those hundreds
gone, the godly dead, whose diamond dust lies here
and there and yonder in many an angel-hovered
grave. But even their pictures, looking down upon
us here, might grow too sacred in our reverence —
worshiping the images of the saiuts !
[At the suggestion of the historian the congrega-
tion was asked to indicate, by rising, their recollec-
tion of the pastors of the church, beginning with
the last — Dr. Steele. Almost all of the vast assem-
bly rose. Next, those who remembered his prede-
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 153
cessor, Mr. Anderson, were asked to remain
standing and others to be seated, and so on
through the list in the inverse order of their settle-
ment. It was a spectacle never to be forgotten, as
name after name was called, to see the number
melting down, until Dr. Marselus was reached,
when but two or three remained standing. No one
present remembered to have seen Labagh, Zabris-
kie or Romeyn].
Time has forbidden that I should give, as I
should have been glad to do, the many words of
confidence and love and gratitude with which the
officers of this church, from time to time, have
parted with its pastors. It must have been a most
welcome encouragement to the minister when re-
signing his trust, that his confidential advisers —
the men who knew him best — so cheerfully gave
him their thanks and their prayers.
Three unsuccessful calls are all I have been able
to trace, though the records may be defective.
Most of the removals were occasioned by "calls" to
other fields, and this church in turn disturbed other
congregations by similar overtures. When we stop
to think of it, there is a flavor of selfishness in this
invading a sister church with a bold bid to take
away their chosen settled pastor for yourselves.
But all the denominations do it. There is a unique
scrap of history of such an instance, which is so
154 HISTOEICAL ABDEESS.
rare a curiosity that I must not withhold it : Dr.
J. C. Freyenmoet, who preached some years in
Schodack and hereabout before this church was
organized, and whose name (sometimes spelled
Fremont) appears in many of your old family rec-
ords of baptism, had when a young man been sent
to Holland, as the custom then was, to be educated
for the ministry. The expense of his education
was borne by a single church, with the understand-
ing that on his return he should serve the church
which had sent him out. He was accordingly duly
installed as pastor. But after some six months
had elapsed, another sound Dutch church in the
vicinity made overtures to the bright ecclesiastic to
honor their call, and an increased salary, by coming
over to their Macedonia. When the old congrega-
tion heard of it the blood was all up, to be sure,
and they promptly met the occasion. Here is their
missive, such as probably has rarely been equaled
in its combination of scripture texts and human re-
sentments, the Divine Gospel and the civil law,
submission to the will of God and resistance to the
church of "Kochester" :
To the Consistory of Rochester, Greetings :
We, your servants, having been informed and
concluded therefrom that you have had correspond-
ence with our Preacher, and have in so far seduced
him as to send him a call, and think by the amount
HISTOKICAL ADDRESS. 155
of money to take him away from us, but that Lord
who has hitherto hindered your underhand game,
shall further direct it to a good result, therefore we
find ourselves in duty bound, in accordance with
the words of the Saviour, " Do good to those who
do evil to you," etc., so will we in time to come do
good to you as we have in the past, for which you
do not thank us that he hath served you.
And then you dare say that he hath eight free
Sundays in each year, which is as true as tlie words
of the Devil to Eve, " Ye shall not surely die." But
if you desire to have our Preacher four or six times
in the year, we shall by no means refuse you, but
will leave it to our Preacher to bargain as to the
compensation for his services. And if this cannot
prevent the execution of your unjust intention, and
the Lord sees fit to use you as a rod to chasten us,
we shall accept it as coming from the hand of the
Lord, and comfort ourselves with the blessed say-
ing of Paul, Hebrews 12 : " For whom the Lord
loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son
whom He receiveth." And if the Lord hath fore-
seen that you shall have our Preacher, then never-
theless we do not hope that your consciences will
be so seared as to take away with him a part of our
livelihood, being the sum of £125, 12s., 6d., *
otherwise we shall feel bound to leave the matter
* Money they had paid for his education.
156 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
to the Civil Court. We expect an answer to this,
and conclude our reasons with " The grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and
the communion of the Holy Ghost remain with you
until a blessed eternity." Amen.
We remain your servants,
Signed. Jan Kortrecht,
Jan Van Yliedt,
Abraham Van Camp,
William Cool.
I testify to the above in behalf of the whole Con-
sistory. JoH. Casparus Freyenmuth,
Preaching Elder.
Done at a meeting of Consistory at Machacker-
mech, 6th day of Dec, 1741.
There are no records of the nature of the com-
munication of the Consistory of this church with
that of Millstone, when Mr. Zabriskie was
charmed away from here by their call — but if that
Millstone did not feel that it was a nether Millstone
before it came finally to the top — then the signs,
protest to Classis, special Classis, etc., have little
significance.
In those old days the domine was a man in
society, and in the state, with a sharp eye on pub-
lic affairs ; and the Dutch domine, at least, a man
HISTOBICAL ADDEESS. 157
of very positive convictions. It is stated of one in
a neighboring county that in the famous times of
Andrew Jackson he led a file of men to the polls to
vote for " Old Hickory," and so great was his influ-
ence that only one man, out of a total of 701, voted
against Jackson !
And not only in religion and in politics, but in
love as well, was he straightforward and direct.
Here is a model love-letter, written not many miles
from here, by which domine Rynier Yan Nest won
his bride :
" Respected and Beloved Catharine Goetschius :
My desire is to have you for my wife, if you will
consent. Your friends at Schoharie have recom-
mended you to me. If you will consent, then write
me at your earliest convenience and I will come and
see you. Ryniek Van Nest."
There was no coquetry about Catharine; the
frank proposal met with an equally frank accept-
ance, and they were married within four weeks.
Notes. — After the retirement of Mr. Anderson
the pulpit remained vacant seven months before a
successor was found. On June 5th, 1877, the Con-
sistory decided to call Rev. John Steele, D.D., of
Paterson, N. J. This call was accepted, but Dr.
Steele did not begin his labors until in August.
His installation took place October 30th, 1877. He
158 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
continued his pastoral duties with eminent ability
and genial affability for a little over nine years,
when suddenly, without the slightest intimation, he
was stricken with paralysis. He lingered along
during the winter with doubtful hope of recovery
until, being convinced that he was permanently dis-
abled, on May 1st, 1877, he offered his resignation.
This was reluctantly accepted, and ihe congrega-
tion continued his salary to October 1st, 1887, and
desired his family to remain in the parsonage.
They, however, thought it best to remove to
Newark, N. J,, to be near their kindred. Here he
passed the remnant of his days, so far rallying at
times as to see his friends, to walk out some and to
attend divine services and take some lesser part in
the exercises. Indeed, on the Thursday evening
previous to his death, he had taken part in the
prayer meeting with peculiar force and earnestness.
Says one: "Dr. Steele was especially favored in
being surrounded by a family of great culture and
refinement, who were able to, and did, sustain him
in every good work, in the church, in the Sunday
school, in the prayer meetings and wherever they
could lend a helping influence. The most affec-
tionate remembrances, and the warmest testimonials
of love and appreciation will ever be theirs."
His death occurred suddenly at his home on
January 17, 1889. Thus he lingered only a few
HISTOBICAL ADDRESS. 159
days over two years and one month after his first
stroke. He remarked to a classmate a short time
before his departure: "My work is done; lam
willing to go; I am only watshing and waiting."
His blameless christian life, his wise counsels
and his great zeal for the cause of Christ will ever
keep his memory dear to this people.
He was in the sixty-second year of his age and
the forty-first of his ministry. His body rests in
Fairmount Cemetery, Newark, N. J. — (P. T. P.)
I must pass over chapters relating to the church
edifices here and at Wynantskill and Blooming-
Grove ; the parsonages on the turnpike and at
Blooming Grove ; the sale of the land leased to the
church, subject to a trifling rental; the alteration
of the pews from the old square form in which
nearly half of the congregation turned their backs
upon the minister in an involuntary way ; of the
Academy, built in 1830 of timber from the old can-
tonment barracks on Greenbush Heights — timber
almost proof against cannon-shot; of the slaves in
the old days before 1826, baptized and received
into the fellowship of the church ; of dear old
"Sauer" Herrick, the dusky saint who always sat
in the gallery at the minister's left as near as she
could get, encouraging him by her constant pres-
ence, and helping him more than he knew by her
160 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
humble faith — a saint translated fifty years ago to
be a glittering black diamond in her Saviour's
crown ; of the first Sunday school away back, which
some of you still remember, with John O. Lansing
as superintendent and the whole of the second
chapter of Matthew for the first lesson, and very
likely one or two more for the next — there was no
nonsense about those old superintendents — of the
rude vehicles for church-going; how the young
men, dressed in their best, whatever that was, went
barefoot, carrying their shoes until they came in
sight of her house ; and men and women doing the
same as they went to and from church. It was
hard for the old Hollanders to be obliged to receive
'the Gospel in the English language. And what
work they made with the new language, often get-
ting out what they did not mean to say, as when
one honest Dutchman who had fallen from the
upper story of his barn to the floor, described it as
a fall " sixteen feet in circumference !"
There is a pleasant and authentic old story to
the purport that two prominent members of the
congregation, widowers, were seized simultaneously
with strong impulses to seek the hand in marriage
of a beautiful woman, a sister of your fifth min-
ister. The lady was at Ballston Spa, which, at that
time, was the great summer resort, and both
gentlemen set out at about the same time for the
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 161
springs, each in the hope of outstripping his rival
and winning the prize. It was in the old days
before railroads, and their heavy carriages made
slow progress. But the rivals — one a Frenchman
and the other a Dutchman — were resolute and
eager, and for hours the issue was doubtful. The
Frenchman won the race and the bride, who proved
to be a prize indeed, an ornament to the society of
Greenbush, and a wife and mother of rare excel-
lence.
Time would fail me to tell of how faithfully the
officers of this church have cared for its property,
and how when anything needed to be done they
went at it and did it, and did it well. ''Si monu-
mentum qiueris, circuruspice /" And in the old times
when they needed money they asked for it directly
in straightforward collections and subscriptions —
no fairs, no oyster suppers. New England suppers,
tableaux, excursions or concerts even — but money
direct. Will ye ever come back, ye good old days ?
But when the sons of God came together, Satan
came also among them. The fathers had often sore
trials with the careless and worldly in the chm'ch,
and sometimes with themselves. Intemperance
was a crying evil, and many and many were the
faithful admonitions and tender appeals to the
erring. Their christian discipline was very effective,
because administered in kindness, and without
[11]
162 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
delay. The careless were entreated to be "more
punctual in attendance upon the Word and Ordi-
nances." A member was suspended for trafficking
in milk on Sunday, which Classis had declared to
be a " violation of sacred law, and a reproach to the
christian church." They used plain words. Drunk-
enness in a professed christian they called "in-
iquity"— they did not throw all the blame on the
rum-seller. Attending a dance was designated as a
" crime," and the offender must give evidence of re-
pentance and reformation, or lose standing in the
church. When offences were grave and repeated,
public confessions were required and admonitions
given. A member gave out, many years ago, that
he had discovered a gold mine on his farm, hoping
thereby, as was believed, and as he virtually con-
fessed, to dispose of his farm to advantage. The
church gave effectual attention to the matter and
strangled the thrifty scheme. A member of Con-
sistory who had been sued at law for a bill which
he had paid, filed in defence a bill against the
plaintiff, which had also been paid ! The plaintiff
was non-suited, but the Consistory felt that this
following of a bad example was inconsistent with
the Gospel, however it might answer the civil law,
and admonished the brother to " avoid the exercise
of such a principle for the future."
In the year 1809 it was reported that a certain
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 163
member of the church had been "guilty of very im-
moral conduct in wounding and ill-treating his
wife." It was immediately " Resolved unanimously,
that the said • be and he is hereby suspended
as a member of this church until the Consistory
have satisfactory evidence of his reformation."
A case of elopement of a member of this church
nearly seventy years ago, occasioned a new sensation
in this quiet community. The delinquent was also
charged with intemperance. ITpon report of the
affair, an investigation was instituted, and strong
evidence of the truth of the reports being given, it
was "Resolved, that Mrs. be and hereby is
suspended from church privileges until she gives
evidence of reformation, repents of her crimes and
makes reconciliation with her offended family and
this offended church." The records are silent as to
the final outcome of the case.
A member disciplined for intoxication in the days
before pledges for abstinence were thought of, vol-
untarily offered to the church in token of his peni-
tence an iron-clad pledge to abstain in the future
from all intoxicants, including, with stronger
drinks, beer, Avine and cider.
A very prolonged investigation arose in the case
of a young man preparing for the ministry, and
who had received aid from the " Van Benschooten
Fund" for educating ministers for the Reformed
164 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
Dutch Church. He was charged with carelessness
as to his financial obligations in several particulars,
and as he was desirons of connecting himself with
the Presbyterian Church, the use of the aforesaid
money in his preparation was at first regarded as
evidence of bad faith. But upon a very thorough
inquiry into all the circumstances he was acquitted
of all wrong intent and honorably dismissed.
Time will not permit me to relate, even if that
were possible, the work that has been done to plant
and nourish this Banian tree and bring it to this
hundredth birthday anniversary. The half is not
told, and eternity alone can tell it. As I survey it,
I am reminded of an old Greek patriot in the days
of Athen's glory, who, when he had undertaken to
describe the mighty structures and monuments of
the classic city, exclaimed exultingly, ere he had
half completed the recital : "All cannot even be
mentioned; the Athens was builded by the gods
and by the ancestral heroes."
Here for one hundred years has Christ been
preached as the world's only Saviour, and hundreds
have believed and been saved. Here multitudes
have been consecrated to the Lord in baptism, and
multitudes have sat down to the Lord's Supper
who now drink new wine with Him in the Father's
Kingdom. The blessed promise which attended
the founding of this church has received a noble
HISTORICAL ADDRESS. 165
fulfillment. The wonderful power which attended
the early ministries has been felt all through the
century. Were you rescued from sin through
more recent visitations of mercy ? It was a result,
in great part of the faithful labors — the divinely-
approved work of Romeyn and Zabriskie and Mar-
selus and Liddell and their co-laborers in the
church, who plowed and planted and harvested so
well. " The Lord our God be with us, as He was
with our fathers." — I Kings, 8-57.
Dear, dear old Dutch Church ! Church of my
fathers. Church of the Reformation, Church of God,
all hail ! " The past at least is secure." Hundreds
of the blood-besprinkled bands who went up
through great tribulation have left us their high
examples and await us yonder. I want you who
are descended from such an ancestry to look for-
ward indeed, but to keep alive these memories as
well. "Honor thy father and thy mother," which
is the first commandment with promise. This
precious old grave-yard is God's acre, planted for
immortality. Visit it often ; there are voices there
speaking always. There is more life there under
the sod than in many a busy mart of worldly life.
The Resurrection was born in a sepulcher, and life
and immortality were there brought to light. Honor
thy father and thy mother ! In this newly-recon-
structed church, on the threshold of a new century,
166 HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
let US pray that our Father in Heaven will make
" all things new ;" renewed hearts and new lives,
new zeal and new^ sacrifices. Let every Sabbath be
a high day indeed; bring your babes into the
sanctuary, and give them to their Lord in baptism.
Let the Sabbath school lack for nothing, and
throng the place of prayer. When your prayers
shall be answered, as they will be, and the Master
sends you the missing prophet, let his hands be
held up as never before ; and then, as never before,
shall his work bear fruit. You must suffer my
words for they are born of pride and love and hope
and faith. Here for a hundred years have the
tribes come up — and my kindred always among
them — to the worship of the great King. Some
honored names in this lapse of years are dying out
of the records ; who will take their places ? O ye
children of such a parentage, who are neglecting
the God of your fathers, do you know what you are
doing ? Who will crown this centennial service by
giving to God the most acceptable offering — the
offering of his heart ? I know you feel you ought
to ; I almost feel that you will. For the last fifty
days of searching for this history I have seemed to
be so near the sainted dead that I have felt a spirit
of hallowed communion. Shall I speak to them
about you ? Shall I tell them that a hundred years
is enough ? That the story of their faith and the
HISTOKICAL ADDKESS. 167
memories they left you, have, by the grace of God,
prevailed? The child now born here of God shall
die a hundred years old — aye, in a deep and blessed
sense is horn a hundred years old — born in answer
to that first prayer of Eilardus Westerlo, born in
answer to the prayers of a hundred years !
Note.— The historian— Eev. J. F. Yates, A.M. —
who with such painstaking, elaborated the fore-
going address, is the son of the lamented Christo-
pher Yates, whose family has been identified with
the church from the very beginning. He entered
the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
being licensed in 1846 and ordained in 1850, and
has passed his whole ministerial life in that de-
nomination.
It was a good providence that he had the leisure
in 1887 to compile the history of the first century,
and the church and people owe him a debt of grati-
tude which can never be discharged. As a son of
the church he has shown a just pride in her past,
is interested in her welfare for the present, and
hopes great things for her future. — (P. T. P.)
Three young men from the families of the congre-
gation have entered the ministry of the Reformed
Church, and these being present were called upon
for ten-minute addresses.
168 BEY. E. LODEWICK's ADDRESS.
Kev. Edward Lode wick spoke on " The Eeformed
Church in relation to other Churches," as follows :
Beloved in the Lord Jesus Christ : — It affords
me very great pleasure to be present with you on
this grand occasion, and to bring you my hearty
greetings as one of the sons of this church ; for I
look upon this church as my spiritual mother.
I owe my early religious impressions, first of all,
to my beloved, pious mother, whom years ago we
laid to rest in yonder cemetery ; and next to her to
this church, when under the ministry of that good
and holy man, Dr. James R. Talmage, who has also
gone to his reward. Here, when a child, I gave my
heart to the Saviour, and resolved, God willing, to
devote my life to the preaching of the glorious
Gospel of Christ. Here I received my early re-
ligious training, was fed and nourished with spirit-
ual food during the pastorates of Rev. P, Q. Wil-
son (who is with us to-day), and of the Rev. W.
Anderson, the memory of whom is very precious to
many of us.
As I recall the blessings which God has showered
down upon me through this church and her faithful
pastors, my heart overflows with gratitude ; and I
thank the great Head of the Church that I am per-
mitted to be present at your centennial jubilee, and
personally present to my aged spiritual mother my
filial salutations. May grace, mercy and peace be
EDWARD LODEWICK.
REV. E. LODEWICK's ADDRESS. 169
multiplied unto this church from the Triune God,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
I have been requested by your corresponding
secretary to say a few words in reference to " The
Reformed Church in its relation to other churches."
In reference to our relation with other churches,
it seems to me that the Reformed Church intends
to maintain her identity. We as a church are
proud of our history. We love our distinctive
doctrines, we are strongly attached to our liturgi-
cal forms, and to our catechism and our confessions
of faith. All these are heirlooms which have come
down to us, through many generations, from the
fathers and confessors and martyrs of our church.
As a church, we consider these things far too
precious to be cast away for nought. Hence, when
the subject of organic union with the Presbyterian
Church was considered at the last meeting of our
General Synod, the voice of our church was heard
saying, " We have nothing against the Presbyterian
Church ; she is a grand, good and noble church,
our most honored and beloved sister. But the
lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places ; we will
keep the goodly heritage which God has given us ;
we have an honored name in God's Zion, with
which we do not wish to part ; we have a noble
170 REV. E. LODEWICK's ADDRESS.
work before us which we must do ; we will preserve
our identity and our individuality."
II.
While the Reformed Church evidently intends to
maintain her identity, her relation to other evangeli-
cal churches is one of christian fellowship. Chris-
tian fellowship includes three things :
(a) Christian love or friendship. We believe the
entire Church of Christ to be but one family. Paul
speaks of the Church as one famil}^ a part of which
is in heaven and a part on earth — " Jesus Christ,
of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is
named." It is called the Family of God, the
Brotherhood of Christ, the Household of Faith.
All christians are children of the one Heavenly
Father. As members of one family, we love one
another. We are "knit together in love."
History shows that the Reformed Church mani-
fests this christian love in her friendly relations
with other churches. She has been the refuge of
many persecuted christians — the Hugenots, Wald-
enses and Covenanters. She has extended to them
her helping hand, her sympathy and her love.
(b) This fellowship includes communion with.
We believe in "the communion of saints." All
true christians of every name are members of the
one family of God. All are partakers of the same
REV. E. LODEWICK's ADDRESS. 171
spiritual blessings; all eat of the same spiritual
bread and drink at the same spiritual fountain ; all
are washed in the same cleansing blood ; all have
the same love, faith and hope. We are all looking
forward to the same eternal home and glory ; all
are joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
The Reformed Church holds towards other
evangelical churches the relation of christian com-
munion. Tliey are children of the same Father
with us, and with us receive the same blessings.
(c) Fellowship includes friendly and intimate
association with. Our Reformed Church has been,
and is, in friendly and intimate relations with other
evangelical churches. Our Synod sends her frater-
nal greetings to sister churches, and in return
receives their salutations. Ministers are frequently
called from other denominations to minister in our
churches, and from our cliurches to labor in other
portions of God's vineyard. Our pastors exchange
pulpits with the pastors of other evangelical
churches. We dismiss members to other evangeli-
cal churches, " affectionately commending them to
their christian fellowship and confidence." We
also receive members into the communion of our
cliurches, on presenting certificates of membership
from sister churches. Every time the Lord's Sup-
per is administered in our houses of worship, we
invite those present from sister evangelical churches
172 REV. E. lodewick's address,
to come with us to the table of the Lord. We are
in intimate relation with other evangelical churches.
We say to our sister churches, " That ye also may
have fellowship with us ; and truly our fellowship
is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
III.
The relation of the Keformed Church to other
churches is one of christian unity. We believe in
the Holy Catholic Church. There is but one true
church ; one vine but many branches ; one body of
Christ but many members, still one church. " There
is one body and one spirit, one Lord, one faith, one
baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all, and in you all." This unity
includes unity of doctrine, unity of work, and unity
of worship. The Reformed Church is one with
other churches in her belief in the fundamental
doctrines of the Word of God. With our sister
churches, we believe all those doctrines embraced
in " The Apostles' Creed." This unity of doctrine,
however, leaves room for difference of opinion in
reference to the non-fundamental doctrines. We
find this difference of opinion existing among our
own ministers and our own people. So we may
differ in many non-essential things from our sister
churches, yet we are one with them in our belief in
the great fundamental doctrines of the Word.
REV. E. LODEWICK's ADDRESS. 173
We are one with them in work and worship.
Formerly our foreign missionary work was carried
on by organizations not connected with our church.
At first by the " New York Missionary Society,"
and afterwards by the "American Board." We
have engaged with other churches in " the work of
home evangehzation." We frequently unite with
other churches in worship, lifting our hearts and
voices with them in prayer, and patting forth
united efforts for the conversion of souls, and for
the advancement of the Kingdom of Christ. We
are as another has said, " catholic and at the same
time loyal, liberal to others and just to ourselves."
The relation of the Reformed Church to other
churches may be summed up in Christian Fellow-
ship and Christian Unity.
The Church Militant is a mighty army, divided
into many companies, but each company has its
place in the ranks of the Lord's hosts. All are
engaged in the same spiritual conflict with the
powers of darkness ; all are fighting with the same
spiritual weapon — the Word of God, which is the
sword of the Spirit; all are marching under the
same standard — the blood-stained cross of the Re-
deemer; all are shouting the same battle-cry —
Christ and victory ; all are under the guidance of
the same mighty Captain — Jesus Christ, the King
of kings, and the Lord of hosts ; all shall be
174 REV. r, T. pockman's address.
brought safely to the one Church, triumphant in
glory.
Note. — Edward Lode wick was born in this par-
ish in 1846, graduated from our institutions at New
Brunswick, N. J., and was licensed to preach by
the Classis of Rensselaer in 1872. He has minis-
tered to only two congregations — St. Johnsville,
N. Y., from 1872 to 1875, and Park Ridge, N. J.,
since 1875.— (P. T. P.)
Rev. P. Theo. Pockman spoke on " The Reformed
Church and Education " as follows :
Dear Friends : — It gives me great pleasure to be
here and to speak upon the historical position of
the Reformed Church on so important a subject as
Education.
My being here is a gratification, for here it
was my eyes first saw the light of day ; here it was
my mind first learned how to reason and judge ;
here it was my soul first caught a glimpse of the
Saviour, Jesus Christ. There is no other place on
earth like this to me. I love these hills; I love
the old school house ; I love this church.
There is also a fitness in my being here to repre-
sent the educational interests of our beloved church,
coming as I do from New Brunswick, N. J., where,
in the providence of God I have been called to
labor, for there our educational institutions are
REV. P. T. rOCKMAN's ADDRESS. 175
mainly located. In that city is situated the chief
source of religious instruction for the denomina-
tion. That city is the Mecca of the Dutch Church,
to which pilgrims go every year to renew their de-
votion, and kindle a new zeal for spiritual work.
It does not require much understanding to
believe in Jesus Christ to the salvation of the soul,
for the Scripture is so plain that even wayfaring
men need not err in finding the way of holiness ;
but it does require a trained mind to give a faithful
interpretation of all parts of the Word of God, and
a knowledge of the Truth (which is distinct from
inspiration) must one have to unfold revelation to
the eternal glory of men. To this end our church
has always demanded an educated ministry.
The policy of the Reformed Church in America
has been to copy after her old mother in Holland,
and place the church and school side by side — aye,
more, to place the school under tlie charge of the
church. This idea is well illustrated right here.
The school house in the rear of this church stands
upon the church property, and the room over the
school room is the old Consistory room, and the
pastors in earlier years always had a supervisory
control over the school.
So eager was the mother church across the water
to have her policy adopted in the New World, that
she attempted at first to control matters over here.
176 REV. r. T. pockman's address.
and insisted that students for the ministry should
receive their education in Holland. Her senti-
ments in favor of an educated ministry were
heartily endorsed, but her determination to have
our young men cross the Atlantic, and, at the ex-
pense of time and great means, secure their ordi-
nation abroad, was strongly resisted. Only twelve
of them uuderwent the ordeal in one hundred and
twelve years (from 1658 to 1770).
The desire to educate our ministers in this coun-
try led to strife, and finally to an open rupture with
the church in Holland. When King's College (now
Columbia) was established, it was understood that
the Dutch Church should have a chair of divinity
in that institution, but for some reason it never did.
Overtures were received from New Haven to
have a chair there, but these were not accepted.
There was also a decided effort made to have a
chair at Princeton, but prejudices were too strong
against it.
It was, however, in connection with this move-
ment that Dr. Livingston, our first professor of
theology, expressed the wish that all churches of
the Reformed faith might be united in one Grand
National Body. He believed it practicable, and
that it would ultimately be accomplished.
Queens College was founded in 1766 at New
Brunswick, N. J. In 1776 the building was burned
BEY. P. T. POCKMAN's ADDRESS. 177
by the British. In 1790 it was rebuilt, and I pre-
sume it is this same edifice that still stands in
Schureman street, used as a store-house for
furniture.
April 27th, 1809, the corner-stone of the present
main college building was laid by Kev. Ira Condict
D.D., pastor of the First Reformed Church. In
1825 the name was changed to Rutgers College.
At least two thousand students have been under
her instruction from time to time, and about fifteen
hundred have graduated, some of whom have
become very distinguished men.
The college is thoroughly equipped in every de-
partment, with a high standard of scholarship and
an earnest corps of christian professors. Her
library contains twenty thousand volumes, and her
grammar school is in a very flourishing condition.
Three hundred and fifty of her graduates have
entered the ministry of the Reformed Church, and
seventy-five have become pastors of other churches.
Our Dutch ancestors — members of the Reformed
Church — were chiefly instrumental also in founding
Union College, at Schenectady, N. Y., in 1795.
One hundred and fifty of her graduates have occu-
pied the pulpits of our church.
In 1863 the church, realizing the necessity of
giving educational facilities to those who were rap-
idly peopling the West, established Hope College,
[12]
178 REV. p. T. pockman's address.
with a partially endowed theological department, at
Holland, Mich., and at least forty of her graduates
have gone into the ministry.
These three colleges, and particularly Rutgers,
have acted as feeders to our Theological Seminary,
which has now entered upon its one hundred and
fourth year of service for the Kingdom of Christ.
Ours is the oldest theological seminary in
America, having already celebrated her centennial
in 1884. At first there was quite a difference of
opinion as to the location of the seminary. Those
representing the northern section of the church
wanted it at Schenectady, N. Y. Those of the
middle and southern sections vascillated between
New York City, Hackensack and New Brunswick,
N. J. Finally the last-mentioned carried the day,
and the meager department which at first required
very little room, and for a long time struggled for ex-
istence, at last leaped forth a strong and powerful
Institution, shedding her benediction upon thous-
ands. From her as a fountain-head of purity a stream
has gone forth in no way tainted with skepticism or
infidelity ; it is not a muddy stream, but clear as
the living truth itself as it issued from lips which
spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Everywhere her sons teach a pure Gospel, and
insist upon the faith once for all delivered unto the
saints.
REV. P. T. POCKMAN*S ADDRESS. 179
Eight hundred and seventy-five men, strong in
faith and prayer, have gone out from her halls into
every part of the globe to bless the homes and
soothe the hearts of the children of men. Five
hundred and forty of these are still living. There
is no seminary in the country better qualified to
train young men for the ministry. Her five pro-
fessors, halls, and Sage library of forty thousand
volumes, furnish everything necessary to make
students full, ready, and exact preachers of the
Word. She is worthy of your prayers, your gifts,
your sons. You may judge her by her fruits. Is
the Bible to be revised ? Her professoi-s are repre-
sented on the work. Is Arabic to be studied in
connection with the Hebrew ? Her youngest pro-
fessor prepares the manual. Do you want a man
to gather the largest flock of any under-shepherd
living ? T. DeWitt Talmage, a brother of one of
the pastors of this church and a graduate from our
school of the prophets, is the man. Does the Con-
gregational Church want a professor ? She selects
our Dr. Hartranft. Do the blue Presbyterians
want a gospel of white, shining love ? They take
our Holmes, and Berry, and Raymond, and Taylor,
and Salisbury. Everywhere her students are
sought after. There has been no " short cut " into
the ministry. A long course of study has been de-
manded, and in so far as this has been understood
180 EEV. P. T. pockman's addkess.
by other churches, the fact of one being licensed to
preach by our church, has been a guarantee of pro-
ficiency and acceptability. So determined is the
church in this matter that we cannot think of giving
permission even to natives of foreign lands to teach
their ignorant and debased fellow-men of the new
and living way without a special training. Because
of our sturdy adherence to this principle, Dr.
Chamberlain, our veteran missionary, is now on his
way to India with over $50,000, to endow the first
Theological Seminary in all that vast country. In
this we rejoice not unwisely. The sons of the East
must conquer their own land for Christ.
We all rejoice that the gi'eat timbers that were
first used a hundred years ago to build the barracks
on yonder hill (Greenbush Heights) to shield the
soldier, were afterwards used, fifty years ago, to
build the Academy across the street, to shield the
student. So let us glory also in the fact that in
other places where ignorance was once intrenched
and men learned war, there a premium is now being
put upon education and the sons of men are study-
ing peace.
The sword of steel falls useless from a paralyzed
hand when the sword of the Spirit is raised aloft ;
and to teach our students for the ministry how to
wield this latter sword with unrivalled poiver, has
always been the aim of the Keformed Church.
WM. FRED'K ANDERSON.
REV. w. F. Anderson's address. 181
P. Theo. Pockman was educated for the min-
istry at New Brunswick, N. J., graduating from the
Theological Seminary in 1878. He has served
three congregations — Fairfield, N. J., from 1878 to
1880 ; Greenville, Jersey City, from 1881 to 1886 ;
and the First Keformed Church of New Brunswick,
N. J., since January 1st, 1887.
Kev. W. F. Anderson spoke on "The Eeformed
Church and Missions " somewhat as follows :
The Church founded by Christ is an army for
conquest, a vine whose fruit is to hang over the
wall, a tree springing from the least of seeds to
overshadow and protect the earth. Little by little
into the heart of the church comes the love of the
Master, which was the love that loved the world.
Here and there first went out individual sons into
the heathen wildernesses. This border warfare
with outlying heathendom is full of divine and
startling incident. The biographies of the pioneers
of the church are the inspirational chapters of her
history. Joshua before Canaan, Paul before
Europe. The man called of God, leading the
church into some new province of the unconquered
Canaan, makes the Gospel still apostolic and still
adventurous and missionary. The day for these
valiant knights has past ; all the grand feudal king-
doms have swung open their gates to the trumpet
182 REV. w. F. Anderson's address.
notes of the kingdom. This work has immortalized
such names as Talmage and Scudder and Verbeck.
Among the tribes of denominationalism our own
little church has planted her forces in three east-
ern nations. Arcot, India; Amoy, China; Yoko-
hama, Japan, are centers of our foreign missionary
history. We began early and have maintained
every field upon the territory of the enemy.
What every confessor of Christianity needs to
realize is his partaking of a world-conquering faith ;
that he belongs to an army of the living God,
which must subdue all Philistine forces until it
makes a land of Canaan, a chosen land of the
whole world.
By the end of the first century the Church had
marched to Borne ; in the fourth she had conquered
the civilization that then was. After a thousand
years of union with the uncivilized, medieval tribes,
awakened and justified with the Word of God and
by the Spirit, she arose in the fifteenth century for
her advanced work. To-day she is upbuilding
everywhere. The missionary spirit is strong
upon her.
In the train wagon westward, in the ship east-
ward she goes, building her schools by the temples,
and even yet mingling the blood of her sons in the
mob violence of idolatry and hate. But by the
power of the flags of cliiistian nations, she is
REV. w. F. Anderson's address. 183
carrying the greater and mightier standards of the
cross, which will hold back not only the ferocity
of superstition, but give freedom from sin and the
liberty of the children of God to the people sitting
in darkness.
The day is not far distant when the earth shall
have outgrown savagedom, when neither wild beast
nor uncivilized man can be found. Heathenism
will have become a past era — a dead empire,
because the knowledge of God shall cover the earth
as the waters the sea.
What unselfish living, what cheerful joy, what
cosmopolitan spiritedness and awakened and love-
tempered zeal this advance of the Church upon the
masses in city and country and nations requires of
us. How we should consecrate ourselves for a life of
extending His kingdom, by recalling to-day what
has been done for us.
Brethren, up from the past come the names and
faces of those who have carried on this local
church ; there is here spread out before you a rec-
ord of pastors and people, more sacred and more
interesting than Israel's Book of Chronicles, and
to-day the church, which taught us of Christ, re-
ceived us in confession and accepted of our ser-
vices, seems to us as only a factor of God raised
up, born for our training and advantage in all good-
ness and truth. We can say of this church, she
184 REV. w. F. Anderson's address.
was our mother, and here as children she taught us
of God.
Standmg to-day, with all the memories tender
and fresh which she holds coming back upon us,
we once again hear the laughter and shout of our
play days and see the beaming faces of boyhood
and girlhood. Once again we are banded in that
early life of work and of phw, of confession, educa-
tion and worship. There comes over us the tragic
sweetness of the past goodness of God. "I will be
a God to thee and to thy seed after thee."
The true godly spirit and christian fellowship of
this local church is felt and acknowledged by all of
us who were permitted to be joined to her. By all
she has wrought for us, b}^ all she has taught us,
we will not but be true to her mission in us, pass-
ing down to others that which we have received
from her. Fellow church members, fellow class-
mates and school mates, let us see to it that we
possess the spirit of our common Master, who said,
" After ye are converted, strengthen the brethren."
" Go ye into all the world find preach the Gospel
to every creature." Fast gatliers the night upon
us, in which no man can work. Speak, act, live
the message of the Son of God, and when the still
hour comes to us, we shall be carried to the high
battlements, out from which even now are gazing
the cloud of witnesses watching Christ's Church
conquering the world.
GEEETINGS. 185
Note. — W. Frederick Anderson, the son of Rev.
William Anderson, graduated from Rutgers College
in 1875, then taught one year in the Albany High
School, after which he entered the Presbyterian
Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J., and
finished his course in 1879. His first charge was
in the Presbyterian Church at Chatham, N. J.
When his father's health failed so that it was im-
possible for him to discharge his full duties, Fred-
erick was called to be his father's associate in the
pastorate at Fordham, where he continues his work,
as sole pastor since his father's death, with ever-
increasing efficiency and success. — (P. T. P.)
Greetings from neighboring ministers and friends
succeeded these addresses.
LETTEK FROM REV. IRA VAN ALLEN, OF WYNANTSKILL.
Wynantskill, N. Y., Nov. 15, 1887.
To the Beformed Church at East Qreenbush :
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. The Re-
formed Protestant Dutch Church of Wynantskill sends greet-
ings to her elder sister on the occasion of her centennial
birthday, joining you in praising Almighty God for the bless-
ings of the past, and praying for your continued and increased
prosperity.
We are bound together by nearly twenty years of union under
the same pastoral care. «-
I need not refer to the changes the passing years have
wrought, nor recall names sacred to memory. In less than
another decade we will stand where you do to-day, with one
186 gheetings.
hundred years of history recorded, and the great untried future
before us.
One by one the laborers are called to their reward and others
take theu' places.
Long on eartli will men have place,
Not mucli longer, I.
Those who now stand in our churches, in pulpit and in pew,
"holding forth the word of life," must soon pass away, but
thank God his church shall live while time shall be. Receive this
our greeting in the name of Jesus Christ, who is ' ' head over all
things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him
thatfilleth all in all."
IRA VAN ALLEN,
Pastor of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Wynants-
kill.
LETTER FROM REV. D. K. VAN DOREN, OF
MIDDLEBURGH, N. Y.
MiDDLEBUKGH, N. Y., Nov. 16, 1887.
Mr. J. P. Van Ness :
Deae Sib: — Permit me as an individual and as stated clerk of
this Classis to extend my own greeting, and also that of the
brethren of the Classis of Schoharie, to your venerable and
strong church. But few of our country churches that have
been established as long as that of East Greenbush have the
numerical strength that it has. In this Classis we have several
organizations that have been long established, but with the excep-
tion of two, they are in a very weak condition. Schoharie and
Middleburgh churcbes, that are now over one hundred and fifty
years of age, are by no means strong, yet these are the only ones
of any vigor. Churches of other denominations have, since the
organization of our churches, been built, and these have their
share of attendants.
I trust East Greenbush will have a happy and successful cen-
GREETINGS. Ig7
tennial, at which she will be inspired with greater zeal and cour-
age for future work. May she ever remain a shining light that
shineth more and more, dispelling the moral darkness" around
her, and may new members flock unto the gates and fill her
sacred courts on the holy Sabbath.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper that
love thee." Sincerely yours,
D. K. VAN DOREN,
Stated Clerk of the Classis of Schoharie.
PERSONAL GREETING BY REV. NORMAN F. NICKERSON.
Dear Christian Brethren and Friends r—I bnDg
to you, on this occasion, the greetings of a sister
church, in whose cemetery stands the pure, white
marble shaft, which marks the spot where slumbers
the dust of the brother of him whom you have so
highly honored and eulogized this day, because he
was the first and well-beloved pastor of your
church. I refer to the Eev. Thomas Eomeyn, of
Glenville, N. Y., the grandson of whom, bearing the
same name and residing in the same town, has been
present at your festivities this day. There is also a
great-grandson of the same name who, let us hope,
may at some future period, become a minister like
unto his great grandsire. In consideration of this
relationship of the two churches, somehow I seem
to feel like a second cousin to you myseK.
Although in an unofficial capacity, I also present
to you greeting from a sister Classis, small in terri-
1 88 GREETINGS.
tory, but by no means least in influence and his-
toric incident, viz.: Schenectady, or the venerable
Classis of Dort, the eldest daughter of Albany
Classis.
At this late hour, I am fully conscious that I
must avoid making a lengthy address lest I weary
you beyond courteous endurance. I can therefore
only rapidly mention a few topics which are sug-
gested by this occasion, and which I must leave for
yourselves to clothe with their proper environ-
ments. Let us first of all answer the inquiry —
What, to us, is the meaning of this centennial ?
1. It means the history of four generations of
human existence, inclusive of those on the stage of
life then (1787) and now (1887). It means a weight
in souls, passed on from this lower house, up
through the shining portals of the church invisible.
Estimating the number of "the redeemed" of
this church, furnished to the heavenly gathering, at
the very low estimate of two hundred and fifty per
generation, you have well on to a regiment of one
thousand veterans in that invisible host — quite a
little army, if they can be looking down upon you
to-day and participating in your thanksgiving, to
help you in swelling the paens of praise to Him,
unto whom all the praise belongs. These all in
their day and generation have fought the battle
bravely for the redemption of the world from sin,
GREETINGS. 189
even as you are doing now, and abandoned the
weapons of their warfare only when mustered out
of this church in order to join the regiment fast
forming above.
It is a weight in influence, morally and politi-
cally. The numerical amount cannot be estimated
of the 'influence for good, and the elevation of the
moral and political purity which this church has
exerted on the surrounding community during the
past one hundred years.
It is pretty generally conceded that if all the
churches which stand as bright, green oases in con-
venient places in this dry desert world of sin, were
to be annihilated, civilization would soon again re-
cede backward into barbarism. Your centennial
sermonizer, this morning, drew a very thrilling
picture, in which he made you to stand in the fore-
ground, here before this pulpit, while your ancestry
took their stand in the aisle behind you, and he
startled us all by showing to us a savage forefather
standing at yonder door. Well, I hesitate not to
assert, that remove all evidence of the Gospel as
taught in and evidenced by the very externals of our
churches, and we may pass the line of our descend-
ants down either of these other aisles until we find
a barbarian again standing at the door, and the
savage hand of the descending scale clasping the
bony skeleton hand of the savage of the ascending
190 GREETINGS.
scale. It might likely be a well-favored barbarian,
for it is not likely that the race would ever again
relegate itself back into skins for clothing and
caves for dwellings. But it would be a barbarian,
nevertheless, and a case all the more mortifying for
the lingering signs of civilization.
2. It means to us ten decades of improvements.
We have heard from the narrative of your historian
about the externals of the primitive church and of
its successive structures, until the present beauti-
fully ornate edifice which speaks for itself.
But the people have grown, as weU as the church,
until noio your Sunday school boys and girls are
better Bible critics than were most of the men and
women of that earlier period — aye, perhaps we
ought not to exclude many of the ministry. (Here
the speaker, by way of illustration, narrated an in-
cident in which he was detected in an inaccuracy of
statement by one of his Sunday school teachers,
which gave considerable amusement to the audi-
ence).
Besides this, new sciences have been developed,
which have proven of great advantage to us as
a church. We still possess all of our forefathers'
sources of knowledge, together with oue hundred
years of discoveries, such as no previous age experi-
enced. The last two decades have been meteoric
in startling revelations and useful discoveries.
GREETINGS. 191
Theology has also grown. Mark you, I said
not religion. That is still of the same old sort —
good enough for all. But theology has grown to
recognize that the more nearly the church crowds
to Christ's idea and definition, " pure religion and
undefiled," <fec.. does she put forth branches ever
green, with perennial spring of eternal bloom. More
and more does she nowadays put the second of our
Lord's commands into practice, in the hope of
earning the plaudit. "Inasmuch as ye have done
it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have
done it unto me."
And it is well. The sooner theology resolves
itself into "Love thy neighbor as thyself," the
sooner will the problem of the two great evils of
the age — intemperance and the wage evil — be
solved to the satisfaction of all.
What we need most is a greater and more inti-
mate heart-beat with the beat of the gi-eat heart of
Christ for the mass of suffering humanity. We
must get down to the gutter-cast, and holding on
to Christ's hand and reaching forth, grasping their
hand, lift them up until we can place their hand in
Christ's. As in the electric lights, there is all the
power in, but no communication between, the dark
dead wires until a slender thread of carbon is
placed between the extremities, when lo! there is
light and illumination. So has it pleased our Lord
192 GEEETINGS.
to place His Church as a carbon, which by connect-
ing the fallen to Himself, shall convey to them the
light and illumination of eternal glory.
3. This, then, is the most important of all that
this centennial means to us, viz., that the work and
growth before the Church of Christ for the on-
coming century is humanitarian ; that our fellow-
creatures, of whatever grade of fallen virtue or lost
imagery of God, are to be picked up out of the
sloughs of despond, set on their feet and brought
to the wicket gate on the way to the heavenly
" Beulah Land." She is to work out the direction,
" Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make His paths
straight," by removing the obstacles which pride of
caste has placed in the church's Avay of reaching
sinners. She is delegated to pick up and renovate
the sinners, themselves, and place them back on
the way to welcome their and our Lord at His
coming. We have too long forgotten what our
Saviour said, " I came not to call the righteous but
sinners unto repentance."
Then cometh the millenium ! How to accom-
plish this work is now become the absorbing debate
of the theologues of the various schools of christian
learning and literature. I will close with the earn-
est prayer that you may prosper in the fitture, as in
the past, and that in your own sphere you may do
your talent's best work for the Master.
POEM. 193
Congratulations were also offered by the Kev.
Mr. Armstrong, of the Methodist Church in the
village; by Kev. Mr. Luddon, of the Lutheran
Church of East Schodack; and by the Rev. Wil-
liam H. Tracy, of the Third Reformed Church of
Albany, N. Y.
The following poem, written for the occasion,
was then read by Dr. Collier, the author not being
present :
"A HUNDRED YEARS OF GROWTH. "
BY REV. NOBMAN PLASS.
From out his store-house took Jehovah God
A precious seed, and with it earthward came,
Seeking a place, in all the world abroad,
Where best that seed would magnify His name.
A spot he found, with worthless weeds o'ergrown,
Barren of aught that yielded good to men ;
'Twas there He bade the tiny seed be sown,
And turned Him back to His abode again.
The seed was sown ; the loving sons of God
Gave it their constant and their tend'rest care ;
And soon a tree with branches spread abroad,
Budded and bloomed in radiant beauty there.
We celebrate to-day the hundredth year
Since first that seed was thus divinely sown ;
And as we come oar hearts are filled with cheer
To find that tree has all things else outgrown.
Xo more do worthless weeds infest the ground —
Beneath that tree they quickly droop and fade ;
[13]
Spiomliu^ its Inauohos on till tho io(j{\v>ii lomul,
All useloas i^rowths huvo ditvl btn\oi\th its shiulo.
It stH!\ils ti>-ilrty upon this U>fty hiU
UjiswHyoil l)v ivll tho mlvorso wiutls that blow.
So full of strou,u[th jvud sttiniy vi^or still.
Wo so.'vvoo oiiu ilouht (ov oouturios yot 'twill m'ow.
As ohiUirou i;;uthor nt tho lioiir t^lii houu^
Tho >j:looful tiilos of ohiUlhooira dfiys to toll.
O'or l\oUl Mvi \YOv>illuuii ouo»» a^iiiu to mam.
liosiile tho brook, withiu tho tpiiot iloll;
So horo ti>-iiay withiu this stuuoil homo,
Kmloivrotl to «n'ory honrt iu ilivois ways,
Tho ohiUlrou of t»uo family \vo oouu>
To livo aij;aiu tho soouos of foruior days.
Ami thi>Ui^h wo huvo to uiauho ni's staturo ^rowu.
With 'riu\t»'s ilull footprints fnrrowod on tho brow.
W«^ quito fiMi^ot that many yom-s huvo tlown.
Ami moot to;;t<tlior <>'<n» ms I'hiKlrtMi now.
Hut as wo livo anow thoso youthful yoars
.•\. throad of smlnoss runs throui^h ovory hoivrt,
.\nd soaroo oan wo rofrain from bittor toavs
At thimi»ht of tln»so \vhon» (>od has bid dopart.
l>y momorys hoarth stauiis many a vaoant ohair
Whoro now tho loved forms no moro api>oar ;
They avo t\ot hort^ those holy joys to share,
Thoy aro not hero tht^so saddouod In^arts to ohoor.
Aa wo recall their mijiistrios »>f Uno,
Wo fain would have thon\ share this y;lailsomo soone;
lint thoy aro ojono to that blest homo abv>v«\
There to part^vko of heavenly joys serent».
Aa veterans gather at the bugle- Uv>t»<
From far aud near, where 't\r they mtoh t>he ai>\md,
Donning onoo more tho soiloil and tattered ooat.
Touting Hgnin upvju the o\d oamp-ground.
POEM. 195
So we, the warriors of the heavenly King,
Gather upon this famous battle-field,
Those songs of triumph once again to sing
Which to our valor have so oft appealed.
"We build our camp-fires once again to-night,
And gather 'round them as in days of old.
To feel their warmth, and by their flickering light
Rehearse the stories of our warfare bold.
And as we toll those tales of by-gone days,
Recalling scenes in which we fought and bled.
Our tongues can scarcely sound the words of praise
Which they desnrve who forth to victory led.
Those noble captains of our valiant host.
Who faltered not whon dangers hovered near,
Who fought the fiercest when the fight seemed lost,
Who brooked defeat, and had no room for -fear.
Would that they with us one and all might meet
To join their voices in the victory song;
We'd cast our blazoned banners at their feet,
And with their glorious praise the shout prolong.
As stand the stones along the world's highways,
To mark the miles o'er which the travelers trod,
So these recurring anniversary days
Point out the Progress of the Church of God.
We note the changes that have taken place
Within these hundred years that now have flown—
The fashions old which we no more embrace.
The forms of worship that have been outgrown.
Customs there were which are to memory dear.
Hallowed observances, no more esteemed;
The children scorn the ways their sires revere,
Neglecting rites which they most sacred deemed.
But we are not of those who blindly praise
Those blissful days of old " when goodness reigned;"
196 POEM.
We think that we have welcomed better days;
Of all the customs have the best retained.
No more the long-faced look, the visage grim ;
No more the sermon, near an endless boon ;
No more the tedious " lining " of the hymn;
No more the doleful " pitching of the tune."
Siich things as these do we no more regard ;
They came and went, living their little day;
We keep the kernel and the chaff discard.
Retain the seed and throw the husk away.
Wand'ring one day beside a mountain stream,
I watched it coursing down its valley bed,
Marking its gurgling waters' sparkling gleam
Beneath the sun, as on its way it sped.
And as I watched I saw it linger long,
With shallow course, where stooped the deer to drink;
And then I heard it blend its silvery song
With that of birds which fluttered at its brink;
And now again I saw it stop outright
Because of some obstruction to its course ;
Then it resumed again its onward flight
With greater augmentation of its force ;
Amid it all pressing still boldly on,
Running its rough and tortuous course along,
Winding this way and that, thither and yon.
At every turn growing more swift and strong ;
Until with quick repulse it sweeps aside
All things that dare extend opposing hand.
Bearing them on with its increasing tide.
Casting them high upon its gravelly strand ;
Wearing its bed daily more broad and deep,
Till on the solid rock its channels rest ;
And then at length it sinks to silent sleep,
From wandering free, upon old Ocean's breast.
POEM. 197
How like to this, I thought, the Church of God,
That stream that has its source on Siuai's height,
And thence flows on along this valley broad
That leads beyond to realms of endless light.
Sometimes it moves with current smooth and slow.
Its gracious blessings to dispense to all ;
And then again its surging waters flow
With speed of torrent swift or waterfall.
Sometimes its waters eddy 'round and 'round,
Opposed by unbelief or doubts or fears ;
And then again they start with sudden bound,
Strong with accumulated force of years.
Wander with me along its rugged shore.
And mark its course throughout the century past ;
Note what obstructions it has triumphed o'er,.
Notice what driftwood on its banks is cast.
When men have tried to stop its onward course
With barriers huge which have its current spanned.
It's swept them down with irresisted force,
And strewed tlieir shattered fragments on the strand.
It's hurled aside with sharp and sudden shock
All heresies which have its course deterred,
Choosing its paths along the solid Rock,
Shaping its shores by the eternal Word.
We note this Progress of God's holy church
As it has onward run its arduous way.
Fruitless the task and more than vain the search
To find a force which can its current stay.
We note the mighty volume it has gained —
At sight of it our souls o'erfill with joy;
We lift our hearts to God with thanks unfeigned,
And make His praises our sublime employ.
198 POEM.
By Him its feeble course was first begun ;
By His own hand in all the way it's led;
Through all its devious paths its race is run
To God the sea from God the Fountain-head.
And as when armies put their foes to rout,
And on with loud huzzahs to triumj)h go,
Each soldier lifts his voice with lustiest shout,
Because that triumph is his victory, too ;
So we uplift our joyous shout of thanks
Because God's Church is vanquishing all sin,
For we have place within the sacred ranks
Of those who such a glorious victory win.
Whate'er the universal church has gained
Within these hundred years so quickly gone,
Each local church has to the same attained,
And in the conquest has rich laurels won.
We have to-day the leaves of history turned.
And read what there is worthy deemed a place —
Those deeds of valor on their pages burned
In characters which Time cannot efface.
We have recalled the desperate battles fought
Upon this spot throughout the century past;
We've had displayed to us the laurels brought
From various fields, and at this altar cast.
Here have brave warriors grasped the Spirit's sword,
And with it put to flight satanic foes ;
Here have they gained such victories for the Lord
As on the general church a luster throws.
But what the need of tarrying here to-day,
And thus renewing these five scores of years,
Unless from this review we turn away
With loftier faith that shall becalm all fears;
POEM. 199
Unless when Satan's fiendish hosts afif right,
And from the fight we're ready quick to run,
These deeds of daring shall anew incite,
These noble victories shall then cheer us on.
Let us make sure the battle we begin
Will for the cause of Christ advantage gain,
And then advance until at length we win
The final triumph, and all foes are slain.
We sometimes gather 'round an aged tree,
The seed of which was by a grandsire sown.
And there rejoice that it so sturdily
Has upward grown for all that winds have blown ;
We gather on the birthdays of a friend
From year to year, the event to celebrate.
To him our heartiest wishes to extend.
And on his blessings to congratulate ;
'Tis thus we gather 'round this honored tree,
Thus bid God-speed to this our sister-friend.
Wishing that many, many years may be
Its happy lot, before its life shall end.
The Church of God — it shall^unshaken stand
As long as to the Truth it loyal proves ;
Its healing branches shall o'erspread the land,
And yield rich fruit to each who by it roves.
However hard opposing winds may blow.
It shall resist unmoved their fiercest shock ;
However strong the tempest-storms of woe,
It shall remain enduring as a rock.
God sowed the seed, and God will it protect
Until the final harvest-time shall come ;
Then He will send his angels to collect
Its ripened fruit, and come rejoicing home.
200 ADDITIONAL ITEMS.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS.
The East Greenbush Methodist Church was
organized December 2d, 1873, Kev. S. W. Clemens
being the first pastor.
The chandelier and pulpit lamps at the Keformed
Church were presented by Jacob Kimmey Decem-
ber 2d, 1872.
An organ was purchased for the Sabbath school
August 16th, 1875.
On December 28th, 1880, it was determined that
the church owned forty-two pews and that individ-
uals owned sixty-four pews.
By action of Consistory of this date, ten pews
were forfeited for non-payment of rent.
Steps were taken on December 18th, 1884, to
have the cemetery incorporated.
On January 8th, 1886, Consistory gave a quit •
claim deed to the cemetery association.
A piano was secured for prayer meetings and
Sabbath school on August 3d, 1886.
The new matched-board ceiling was put on, the
walls were papered, new window-curtains hung, a
new sawed-pine shingle roof laid, and the interior
of the church painted, during the summer of 1887.
The carpenters were : Gilbert Westfall, contractor ;
Clark Waterbury, John Wright, DeWitt Keynolds.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS. 201
The painters were: Frank M. Eoth, contractor;
John K. Payne, Alden Van Buren.
The exterio7' of the church has just peen painted
(November, 1891), by Frank M. Roth, contractor.
The color is Pompeian red.
SEXTONS.
The first person whose name appears on the rec-
ords as sexton is Adam Cook, in the year 1806.
The following minute explains itself : " Joshua
Cook is to officiate as sexton of the church, to heat
the stove in winter, to open and close the charch
doors when there is service, and to provide clean
water whenever children are baptized ; and he is to
have for those services the sum of three dollars,
payable the one-half on the first day of February,
and the remaining liaK on the first day of August
in each year during the time he officiates. 1809,
August 1st."
These persons have also served in that responsi-
ble position : Mr. Jessup, 1836 ; John O. Lansing,
1838; Isaac Dingman, 1841; J. H. Goodrich,
1846 ; Lorenzo Bedell, 1847 ; Harry Wilson, 1849 ;
George Hulsapple, 1850 ; Hicks Hulsapple, 1853 ;
W. C. TourteUot, 1855; WiUiam H. Hulsapple,
1857 ; Reuben Van Buren, 1858 ; Barney Hoes,
1861; Joel R. Brown, 1867; David De Freest,
1872 ; A. D. Traver, 1877 ; Christian Vedder, 1881 ;
William S. Miller, William Link.
202 ADDITIONAL ITEMS.
TREASURERS.
As far as can be determined, these have per-
formed the duties of treasurer : Peter Whitaker (or
Whitbeck) 1801 ; Peter D. Van Djck, 1802 ; Peter
W. Witbeck, 1806; Stephen Hanson, 1809; L.
Gansevoort, Jr., Cornelius Van Buren, James Lan-
sing, Esq., 1823; John O. Lansing, 1833; Gov. M.
Herrick, 1834; E. P. Stimson, 1838; Henry C.
Lodewick, 1846 ; Jeremiah Hyser, 1847-50 ; Adam
Dings, 1851-3 ; George Lansing, 1854-5 ; John N.
Pockman, 1856-7 ; Heremiah Hyser, 1858-68 ;
Jacob Kiramey, 1868-88 ; Edgar Miller, September
15th, 1888.
SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS.
The list is very imperfect : John O. Lansing,
Elliot E. Brown, Henry Salisbury, Joseph S. Hare,
Stephen Miller, William H. Ehoda, John E. Tay-
lor, Sylvanus Finch, John DeWitt Shufelt.
THE ACADEMY.
The Greenbush and Schodack Academy was
started and partly built during the ministry of the
Rev. A. H. Dumont, probably in 1829. It was for
a long time fostered and controlled by the church.
Trustees were elected from the members of the
church. Eev. Mr. Stimson is said to have taken a
very active interest in the school, and was instru-
ADDITIONAL ITEMS. 203
mental in securing a library. For many years it
was a source of great benefit to the community.
Some of those who have been at the head of the
institution, or have taught there, are these : Mr.
Russell, probably the first principal ; John Crum,
about 1837 ; John Hall, 1838.
With Mr. Hall was associated, as classical
teacher, Michael Hillard, an Irishman, said to have
been educated as a priest ; also James Hoyt, after-
ward a Presbyterian clergyman, who was his pupils'
ideal of scholarship and manhood.
Rev. Samuel Hill taught somewhere about this
time ; also a Miss Anderson.
Rev. Peter S. Williamson had charge in 1843.
In 1844, and for some time after, Henry Bulkley
and his brother, Hiram Bulkley.
Messrs. Leach, Schimeal, William C. Hornfager
and Fellows were identified with the institution at
different times.
Between 1850 and '60 the Rev. William Water-
bury was principal.
While the present district school house was
being constructed (1835?) the school was trans-
ferred to the basement of the Academy and taught
by a Mr. Graves, a venerable man.
During the war (1861-5) the building was used
for hotel purposes.
About 1869 Rev. William Anderson opened a
204 ADDITIONAL ITEMS.
boarding and day school, under the title of " The
East Greenbash Collegiate Institute." From the
outset it was a very flourishing school, commend-
ing itself to parents who desired a school for their
sons and daughters where christian culture and re-
finement were taught, as well as the contents of
books, Mr. Anderson's three daughters. Miss Dar-
row, Mr. Herman YanDerwart and others were
teachers. In 1872 Mr. Anderson sold his interest
in the Academy to the Rev. Isaac G. Ogden, a
Presbyterian minister, who, with the assistance of
Walter H. Ogden, his son, carried on a successful
school for a few years. After this Charles Putnam
Searle, now a lawyer in Boston, had a private
school in the building for one or two winters. The
Misses Steele were the last to use the Academy for
school purposes.
DAWN OF THE SECOND CENTURY.
The last sacramental service for the centennial
year was administered by Rev. Matthew N. Oliver,
of Rosendale, Ulster county, N. Y., on December
4th, 1887, he supplying the pulpit on that Sabbath.
The first pastor of the second century is Rev.
John Laubenheimer, who graduated from Rutgers
College in 1883, and from the New Brunswick
Theological Seminary in 1886.
He was ordained to the ministry and installed
JOHN LAUBENHEIMER.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS. 205
pastor of the Reformed Church of West New
Hempstead, Eockland county, N. Y., on October
5th, 1886. His call to this, his second pastorate,
is dated October 31st, 1888. He accepted the call
and began his labors December 1st of that year.
The installation services were held on December
19th, 1888. For these three years he has success-
fully prosecuted his ministry among the people to
their entire satisfaction, and now has every pros-
pect of enlarged usefulness in the future. The
present strength of the congregation is numerically
one hundred and twenty families, with a professed
membership of two hundred and twenty-five, and a
Sabbath school of one hundred.
Long may the dear old church remain a beacon
and a tower of strength to mortal man ! Ever may
she be blessed with the Holy Spirit's indwelling
and power !
" Long be our Fathers' temple ours,
Woe to the hand by which it falls;
A thousand spirits watch its towers,
A cloud of angels guards its walls. "
And now my task is done. The labor ceases.
The pleasure and profit abide. — (P. T. P.)
PASTOES.
Jacobus Yan Campen Eomeyn, 1788-1799.
John Lansing Zabriskie, 1801-1811.
Isaac Labagh, 1811-1815.
Nicholas J. Marselus, 1815-1822.
Benjamin C. Taylor, 1822-1825.
Abraham Henry Dumont, 1826-1829.
John Augustus Liddell, 1830-1834.
Edward P. Stimson, 1834-1852.
James K. Talmage, 1852-1860.
Peter Quick Wilson, 1861-1866.
William Anderson, 1866-1876.
John Steele, 1877-1887.
John Laubenheiiner, 1888.
FIKST CONSISTOEY.
Elected Sept. 14, 1787.
Elders.
Abraham Ostrander,
Peter M. Van Buren,
Christopher Yates,
Deacons.
Abraham Cooper,
John E. Lansingh,
Casparus Witbeck.
1789.
Obadiah Lansingh,
Joh'n. MuUer,
Casparus Witbeck.
1790.
Cousistory increased to four elders and four deacons.
Abraham Cooper,
Peter M. Van Buren
Christopher Yates,
Petrus Ham,
Christopher Yates,
Barent C. Van Buren,
Abr'm. N. Ostrander,
John E. Van Alen,
Abraham Cooper,
Christopher Yates,
John E. Lansingh,
Hubert Ostrander,
Barent C. Van Buren,
Steven Mailer,
Petrus Ham,
Jacob Schermerhorn,
John E. Lansingh,
John Witbeck,
Joh'n. MuUer.
1791.
Barent Van De Bergh,
Obadiah Lansingh,
John Lewis,
Johannis Muller,
1792.
Thomas Mesick,
John Witbeck,
Jonathan Ostrander,
Jacob Schermerhorn.
208
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
Jacob Schermerhorn,
John E. Van A] en,
Obadiah Lansingh,
Christopher Yates,
John Witbeck,
Hubert Ostrander,
Job's. MuUer,
Steven MuUer,
Barent Van DeBergh,
Obadiah Lansingh,
John Lansingh,
Jacob Schermerhorn,
Hendrik Shants,
John Lewis,
Hubert Ostrander,
Steven Muller,
Jacob Van Alstine,
Nicholas Staats,
Barent Van DeBergh,
John E. Lansingh,
1793.
Jacob Van Alstine,
John Lewis,
H. K. Van Kensselaer,
Barent Van De Bergh.
1794.
Nicholas Staats,
Thomas Mesick,
Harmen Van Hoesen,
Jonathan Ostrander.
1795.
Cornelius Van Buren,
H. K. Van Kensselaer,
Gysbert Van De Bergh,
Jacob Van Alstyne.
1796.
Philip Staats,
Cornelius H. Van Buren,
Thomas Mesick,
Jonathan Ostrander.
1797.
William Witbeck,
John Ostrander,
Gysbert Van De Bergh,
Cornelius Van Buren.
ELDERS AND DEACONS. 209
1798.
Cornelius Van Buren, Charles Smith,
Leonard Gansevoort, Jr., Cornelius Dubois,
Hendrik Shants, Philip Staats,
John Lewis, Cornelius H. Van Buren.
1799.
Obadiah Lansingh, Peter Witbeck,
Gysbert Van De Bergh John Van De Bergh,
Jacob Van Alstyne, William "Witbeck,
Nicholas Staats, John Ostrander.
1800.
Obadiah Lansingh, Charles Smith,
Cornelius Van Buren, Cornelius Du Bois,
Gysbert Van Denbergh, John Van Denbergh,
Leonard Gansevoort, Jr., Peter W. Witbeck.
1801.
Obadiah Lansingh, John Van Den Bergh,
Gysbert Van Denbergh, Peter W. Witbeck,
Leonard Gansevoort, Jr., Nicholas Van Kensselaer.
Cornelius Van Buren, Tobias Van Buren.
1802.
John A. Ostrander, Peter D. Van Dyck,
Philip Staats, Myndert Van Hoesen,
Leonard Gansevoort, Jr., Nicholas Van Eensselaer,
John I. Witbeck, Tobias Van Buren.
[14]
210
ELDEKS AND DEACONS.
1803.
John I. Witbeck, Peter D. Van Dyck,
Nicholas Yan Rensselaer, Abraham Witbeck,
Philip Staats, David Seaman,
John A. Ostrander, Martin Vin Hagen.
Philip Staats,
John I. Witbeck,
Peter D. Van Dyck,
Nicholas Van Rensselaer
1804.
Abm. Witbeck,
Martin Vin Hagen,
Abm. Van Buren,
John M. Snook.
1805.
Cornelius Du Bois,
Philip Staats,
Peter W. Witbeck,
Leonard Gansevoort,
Peter W. Witbeck,
David Seamon
Peter W. Witbeck,
John Witbeck,
David Seamon,
Cornelius Van Buren,
Abm. Witbeck,
John I. Ostrander,
Caper Ham,
Abraham Van Buren.
1806.
Cornelius Van Salisbury,
John Halenbeck,
John I. Ostrander.
1807.
Cornelius Van Salisbury.
Richard Smith,
John Halenbeck,
Stephen Hanson.
EliDERS AND DEACONS.
211
1808.
Cornelius Van Buren,
Philip Staats,
John Witbeck,
William Witbeck,
Cornelius Van Buren,
Cornelius Du Bois,
William Witbeck,
Philip Staats,
Leonard Gansevoort,
John Ostrander,
Cornelius Van Buren,
Cornelius Du Bois,
Richard Smith,
John Miller,
John Ostrander,
Leonard Gansevoort,
John Miller,
Abraham Witbeck,
Richard Smith,
Philip Staats,
Richard Smith,
Stephen Hansen,
Samuel Ehring,
Jonathan Witbeck.
1809.
Jonathan Witbeck,
Hubert Ostrander,
Samuel Ehring,
Evert Van Alen.
1810.
John Witbeck,
William Van Denbergh,
Hubert Ostrander,
Evert Van Alen.
1811.
Evert Van Alen,
William Fitch,
John Witbeck, Jr.,
William Van Denbergh.
1812.
William Fitch,
Peter Ostrander,
Zachariah Link,
Wm. W. Van Den Berg.
212
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
1813;
Philip Staats,
Abraham Witbeck,
Leonard Gaiisevoort, Jr.
John Tice Snoek,
1814
Peter Ostrander,
Zachariah Link,
John Garner,
John Moll.
Evert Van Alen,
John A. Ostrander,
Nicholas Van Rensselaer.
John Tice Snook,
John Ham,
John Garner,
John Moll,
John P. Heyser.
1815.
Nicholas Van Rensselaer, John Ham,
Richard Smith, John P. Heyser,
John A. Ostrander, Cornelius Van Salisbury,
Zachariah Smith, Stephen Hansen.
Richard Smith,
John A. Ostrander,
Stephen Hauser,
Cornelius Debois,
Philip Staats,
John Tice Snouk,
John A. Ostrander,
phen Hauser,
1816.
Jacob Snyder,
John Ham,
John P. Heyser,
Cornelius Van Salisbury.
1817.
John Ham,
John P. Heyser,
William Fitch,
John Witbeck, Jr.
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
213
Abraham Van Buren,
John Halenbeck,
Philip Staats,
John Tice Snouk,
1818.
Peter Ostrander,
WiUiam Fitch,
Pvichard Miller,
John Witbeck, Jr.
1819.
Abraham Van Buren,
John Halenbeck,
Nicholas Van Rensselaer
John P. Heyser,
1820
Peter Ostrander,
Richard Miller,
Joseph Jessup,
Zach. Link.
Nicholas Van Rensselaer,
John P. Heyser,
John Ham,
Abraham Van Buren,
Joseph Jessup,
Zach. Link,
Casper Ham,
David Reghter.
1821.
John Ham,
Abraham Van Buren,
Stephen Hauser,
William Fitch,
Stephen Hanson,
William Fitch,
Joseph Jessup,
John T. Snouk,
Casper Ham,
David Reghter,
Henry Van Denbergh,
Andrew Van Buren.
1822.
Henry Van Denbergh,
Andrew Van Buren.
James Lansingh
William Hicks.
214
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
Joseph Jessup,
John T. Snook,
Richard Smith,
Peter Ostrander,
Richard Smith,
Peter Ostrander,
John Hallenbake,
William Fitch,
William Fitch,
John Hallenbake,
John A. Ostrander,
John P. Heyser,
J. A. Ostrander,
Jno. P. Heyser,
J. J. Miller,
Wm. Fitch,
Abrm. Van Buren,
J. Ham,
Wm. Fitch,
J. J. MiUer,
1823.
James Lansingh,
William Hicks,
John J. Miller, Jr.,
Martinus Lansingh.
1824
John J. Miller, Jr.,
Martinus Lansingh,
William Hicks,
James Lansing.
1825.
William Hicks,
James Lansing,
John J. Moll, Jr.,
Nathaniel Payne.
1826.
J. J. Moll,
— Van Denbergh,
N. C. Payne,
David Reghter.
1827.
A. Van Buren,
Jno. O. Lansing,
— Van Denbergh,
David Reghter.
ELDEBS AND DEACONS.
215
John J. Moll,
Stephen Hanson,
Abrm. Van Buren,
J. Ham,
Wm. Hicks,
Jno. J. Moll,
Peter Ostrander,
Stephen Hanson,
John J. Hallenbake,
Wm. Fitch,
Wm. Hicks,
Peter Ostrander,
John A. Ostrander,
John J. Miller, Jr.,
John Hallenbeck,
Wm. Fitch,
John P. Heyser,
John O. Lansing,
John A. Ostrander,
John J. Miller,
1828.
S. Nelson Herrick,
John Payne,
A. Van Buren,
Jno. O. Lansing.
1829.
John O. Lansing,
Nath. S. Payne,
Jno. Payne,
S. N. Herrick.
1830.
Henry Van Penbergh,
Stephen N. Herrick,
John O. Lansing,
Nath. S. Payne.
1831.
Henry Van Denbergb,
Nathaniel S. Payne,
Stephen N. Herrick,
David Reghtor.
1832.
Harmon Van Buren,
John Link,
James Burton,
David Reghtor.
216
ELDERS AND DEAOONS«
N. S. Payne,
S. N. Herrick,
Jolin P. Heyser,
John O. Lansing,
William Fitch,
Henry Binck,
N. S. Payne,
John A. Ostrander,
1833.
Barrent Hoes,
James Burton,
Harmon Van Buren,
John Link.
1834.
Governeur M. Herrick,
Jeremiah Heyser,
Barrent Hoes,
James Burton.
1835.
Peter Ostrander, Benj. Whitbeck,
Henry Yan Denbergh, Chas. Koda,
Wm. Fitch, Jeremiah Heyser,
Henry Binck, Governeur M. Herrick,
1836.
John Link,
Henry Binck,
Peter Ostrander,
Henry Yan Denbergh,
Benj. "Whitbeck,
James Burton,
John A. Ostrander,
John Link,
Nicholas Slighter,
Barney Schermerhorn,
Benj. Whitbeck,
Chas. Eoda.
1837.
David Harrington,
Joseph Hare,
Nicholas Slighter,
Barney Schermerhorn,
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
217
John A. Ostrander,
Nathaniel S. Payne,
Benj. Whitbeck,
James Burton,
John P. Heyser,
David Rector,
John A. Ostrander,
N. S. Payne,
Adam Dings,
Peter Ostrander,
John P. Heyser,
David E-ector,
John P. Heyser,
Barney Schermerhorn,
Adam Dings,
Peter Ostrander,
1838.
William Sprong,
Jeremiah Link,
David Harrington,
Joseph Hare.
1839.
David Harrington,
Joseph S. Hare,
William Sprong,
Jeremiah Link,
1840.
Wm. Hulsapple,
Edward Elliot,
David Harrington,
Joseph S. Hare.
1841.
Henry P. Barringer,
William Link,
Wm. Hulsapple,
Edward EUiot.
1842.
G. M. Herrick,
Henry Van Denbergh,
John P. Heyser,
Barney Schermerhorn,
Isaac Bink,
Cornelius Schermerhorn,
Henry P. Barringer,
William Link,
218
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
1843.
Henry P. Barringer,
Henry Bink,
G. M. Herrick,
Henry VanDenbergh,
Joseph S. Hare,
Benj. Whitbeck,
Henry P. Barringer,
Henry Bink,
Charles Khoda,
John Van Sinderen,
Joseph S. Hare,
Benj. Witbeck,
Simeon Ostrander,
Barent Hoes,
Charles Ehoda,
John Van Sindren,
Henry P. Barringer,
William Hulsapple,
Simeon Ostrander,
Barent Hoes,
John Van Sindren,
David N. Row,
Isaac Bink,
Cornelius Schermerhorn.
1844.
Garrett Lansingh,
David Defreest,
John Van Sinderen,
David N. Row.
1845.
Doct. F. B. Parmele,
Wm. Hulsapple,
Garrett Lansingh,
David Defreest.
1846.
Garret Lansingh,
John Guffin,
Doct. F. B. Parmele,
Wm. Hulsapple.
1847.
William Link,
Isaac Bink,
Gerret Lansingh,
John Guffin.
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
219
Barent Hoes,
Wm. Sprong,
Henry P. Barringer,
Wm. Hulsapple,
Evert O. Lansingh,
Henry Bink,
Barent Hoes,
Wm. Sprong,
Barent Hoes,
David Kector,
Evert O. Lansing,
Henry Bink,
Evert O. Lansing,
N. S. Payne,
Barent Hoes,
David Kector,
Joseph S. Hare,
Benja. Whitbeck,
Evert O. Lansing,
N. S. Payne,
1848.
Henry Salisbury,
Nich. Staats Rector,
William Link,
Isaac Bink.
1849.
John N. Pockman,
Walter Ostrander,
Henry Salisbury,
N. Staats Rector.
1850.
Jacob Schermerhorn,
Elliot E. Brown,
John N. Pockman,
Walter Ostrander.
1851.
Abram Ostrander,
Adam Dings,
Jacob C. Schermerhorn,
Elliot E. Brown.
1852.
John Gilbert,
George Birch,
Abram Ostraoder,
Adam Dings.
220
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
Simeon Ostrander,
Jeremiah Heyser,
Joseph S. Hare,
Benj. Whitbeck,
Walter Ostrander,
Barney Schermerhorn,
Simeon Ostrander,
Jeremiah Heyser,
Da^id Kector,
Charles Ehoda,
Abram Ostrander,
Barney Schermerhorn,
Joseph S. Hare,
N. S. Payne,
David Eector,
Charles Khoda,
1853.
Alpheus Birch,
Stephen Miller,
Edward Elliot,
John Gilbert.
1854.
Geo. Lansing,
Christopher Yates,
Alpheus Birch,
Edward Elliot.
1855.
William Elliot,
Leonard Rysdorph,
Geo. Lansing,
Christopher Yates.
Simeon Ostrander,
Charles Rhoda,
Joseph S. Hare,
N. S. Payne,
1856.
Henry Salisbury,
John N. Pockman,
Elliot E. Brown,
Leonard Rysdorph.
1857.
William Link.
John Gilbert,
Henry Salsbury,
John N. Pockman.
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
221
1858.
Jeremiah Heyser,
Adam Dings,
David Defreest,
Simeon Ostrander,
Peter Palmateer,
David Defreest,
Jeremiah Heyser,
Adam Dings,
Simeon Ostrander,
Joseph S. Hare,
Peter Palmateer,
David Defreest,
Simeon Ostrander,
Joseph S. Hare,
Peter Palmateer,
David Defreest,
Jeremiah Heyser,
Adam Dings,
Simeon Ostrander,
Joseph S. Hare,
Jacob Schermerhorn,
John Palmateer,
Wm. Link,
John Gilbert.
1859.
Edward EUiot,
Chancy S. Payne,
Geo. Lansing,
John Palmateer.
1860.
Geo. Lansing,
Stephen Huff,
Edward Elliot,
Chancy S. Payne.
1861.
Geo. Lansing,
Stephen Huff,
Edward Elliot,
Chancy S. Payne.
1862.
John N. Pockman,
Leonard Eysdorph,
Geo. Lansing,
Stephen Huff.
222
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
Joseph S. Hare,
Henry Bink,
Jeremiah Heyser,
Adam Dings,
David Rector,
Elliot E. Brown,
Joseph S. Hare,
Henry Bink,
Henry Bink,
William Link,
Charles Rhoda,
Elliot E. Brown,
1863.
Henry Salsbury,
Wm. Link,
John N. Pockman,
Leonard Eysdorph.
1864
John Van Denbergh,
Lewis Ostrander,
Henry Salsbury,
William Link.
1865.
H. C Lodewick,
Reuben Yan Buren,
John Van Denbergh,
Lewis Ostrander.
1866.
Jacob C. Schermerhorn,
Leonard L. Rysdorph,
Henry Bink,
William Link,
John Palmateer,
Stephen Huff,
H. 0. Lodewick,
Reuben Van Buren.
1867.
Jeremiah Hyser,
Joseph S. Hare,
Jacob C. Schermerhorn,
Leonard L. Rysdorph,
Wm. H. Rhoda,
Zachariah H. Bink,
John Palmateer,
Stephen Hoff.
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
223
John Yan Denbergh,
Henry Salsbiiry,
Jeremiah Hyser,
Joseph S. Hare,
Adam Dings,
Wm. Sprong,
John VanDenbergh,
Henry Sals bury,
Henry C. Lodewick,
William Link,
Adam Dings,
Wm. Sprong,
Edward Elliot,
Lewis Ostrander,
Henry C. Lodewick,
William Link,
L. L. Rysdorph,
Jacob Schermerhorn,
Edward Elliot,
Lewis Ostrander,
1868.
John N. Pockman,
N. Staats Rector,
Wm. H. Rhoda,
Z. H. Bink.
1869.
Jacob M. Cotton,
Stephen Miller,
John N. Pockman,
N. Staats Rector.
1870.
James Seaman,
Andrew Tweedale,
Jacob M. Cotton,
Stephen Miller.
1871.
Reuben Van Buren,
Isaac Hays,
James Seamon,
Andrew Tweedale.
1872.
John Palmateer,
Martinus Lansing,
Reuben Van Buren,
Isaac Hays.
224
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
John Van Denbergh,
Joseph S. Hare,
L. L. Kysdorph,
Jacob Schermerhorn,
Stephen Miller,
N. S. Kector,
John YanDenbergh,
Joseph S. Hare,
E. E. Brown,
Wm. Link, Senior,
Stephen Miller,
N. S. Eector,
Jacob M. Cotton,
Isaac Hays,
E. E. Brown,
Wm. Link, Sn.
Henry Salsbury,
James Seamon,
Jacob M. Cotton,
Isaac Hays,
1873.
Michael Warner,
John Van Sindern,
John Palmateer,
Martinus Lansing.
1874.
Wm. H. Bame,
Theodore Hover,
Michael Warner,
John VanSindern.
1875.
Walter Elliot,
Theodore Van Decar,
Wm. H. Bame,
Theodore Hover.
1876.
Eugene Bame,
EH Shaffer,
Walter Elliot,
Theodore Van Decar.
1877.
Wm. H. Ehoda,
Martin Streever,
Eugene Bame,
Eli Shaffer.
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
225
Stephen Miller,
Martinus Lansing,
Henry Salsbury,
James Seamon,
John E. Taylor,
Stephen Hoff,
Stephen Miller,
Martinus Lansing,
John Van Denbergh,
Andrew Tweedale,
John E. Taylor,
Stephen Hoff,
Joseph S. Hare,
Jacob M. Cotton,
John VanDenbergh,
Andrew Tweedale,
James Seamon,
Isaac Hays,
Joseph S. Hare,
Jacob M. Cotton,
[15]
1878.
Michael Warner,
Frank Shaffer,
Wm. H. Ehoda,
Martin Streever.
1879.
John D. Shufelt,
Jacob Kimmey,
Michael Warner,
Frank Shaffer.
1880.
Eeuben Van Buren,
Zachariah Bink,
John D. Shufelt,
Jacob Kimmey.
1881.
Cornelius Schermerhorn,
Wm. E. Defreest,
Eeuben VanBuren,
Zachariah Bink.
1882.
Wm. S. Miller,
Abram Palmateer,
Cornelius Schermerhorn,
Wm. Defreest.
226
ELDEKS AND DEACONS.
Geo. W. Brockway,
John N. Pockman,
James Seam on,
Isaac Hays,
Jacob Kimmey,
Wm. H. Khoda,
Geo. W. Brockway,
John N. Pockman,
Stephen Miller,
Zachariah Biuk,
Jacob Kimmey,
Wm. H. Ehoda,
Jacob M. Cotton,
Jacob Schermerhorn,
Stephen Miller,
Zachariah Bink,
Andrew Tweedale,
Wm. H. Khoda,
Jacob M. Cotton,
Jacob Schermerhorn,
1883.
Sylvanus Finch,
James Elliot,
Wm. S. Miller,
Abram PalmaJ;eer.
1884.
John A. Putman,
Jesse P. Van Ness,
Sylvanus Finch,
James Elliot.
1885.
F. Albert Van Denbergh,
Theodore Hover,
John A. Putman,
Jesse P. Van Ness.
1886.
Thomas Black,
Michael Warner,
Albert VanDenbergh,
Theodore Hover.
1887.
Alexander Traver,
John Moore,
Thomas Black,
Michael Warner.
ELDERS AND DEACONS.
227
John R. Taylor,
Isaac Hays,
Andrew Tweedale,
Wm. H. Rhoda,
James Seamon,
Stephen Miller,
John R. Taylor,
Isaac Hays,
John Van Sindren,
Reuben YanBuren,
James Seamon,
Stephen Miller,
Theodore Hover,
Stephen Hoff,
John VanSindren,
Reuben VanBuren,
1888.
John D. Shufelt,
Edgar Miller,
Alexander Traver,
John Moore.
1889.
Charles W. Burton,
Martin Streever,
John D. Shufelt,
Edgar Miller.
1890.
John Bame,
F. A. VanDenbergh,
Chas. W. Burton,
Martin Streever.
1891.
Jesse Brockway,
Wm. S. Miller,
John Bame,
F. A. Van Denbergh.
228 MEMBERS.
MEMBEKS.
These persons were acknowledged as members
at the organization of the Church of Greenbush :
1787.
Harman Van Hoeseu, Yochem Staats, Peter Van Buren, Jona-
than Witbeck, BarrantC. Van Buren, Benjamin Van DenBergh,
Christopher Yates and wife Catriua Lansing, Casparus Witbeck,
John Lansing, Abraham Cooper, Jacob Ostrander, Gerrard
Ostrander, Thomas Mesick and wife Maria Wiesner, Melchert
Van der Pool, George Shordenbergh, Matthew Shordenbergh,
Abraham Ostrander and wife Elizabeth Ostrander, Petrus Ham,
John Miller and wife Catrina Herdick.
MEMBEES EECEIVED DUEING THE MINISTEY OF
EEV. J. V. C. EOMEYN.
(Names followed by " c " were received on certificate.)
1789.
May 6. — Hubert Ostrander and wife Catrina Helm, Jonathan
Ostrander, Evert Yates, Obadiah Cooper, Casparus Ham, John I.
Ostrander, Jurrian Goes, Annatje Shans wife of Gerrit Van Den
Berg, Maria Lansing wife of John E. Lansing, John Witbeck,
Lyntje Miller wife of John Van Buren, Maria Ostrander, Obadiah
Lansing, Jacob I. Schermerhorn, Catrina Brosee, c. , widow of
Hendrick Brosee, Catrina Mesig, c, wife of Stephen Miller,
Thomas Mesick and wife Maria Wiesner, c.
September 17. — Abraham Van Den Berg, Catrina Shans wife
of John Witbeck, Diaan, slave of Barrent Van Den Berg, Jin,
slave of P. Ham.
December 20. — John Theis Snook, c, John Miller, c, and wife
MEMBERS. 229
Catrina Herdick, c, Catrina Moor, c, wife of Jer. Miller,
Hilletje Van Den Berg widow of Cornelius Van Den Berg, Eliza-
beth Ostrander widow of Obadiah Cooper.
1790.
July 23. — Barrent Van Den Berg, Lena Van Buren, Elizabeth
Staats widow of John Miller.
September 25. — Caty V. Renssalier wife of Cornelius Scher-
merhorn, Gertrug Vin Hagen wife of Myndert Van Hoesen,
Catrina Freest wife of William Witbeck, Rachel Ostrander,
Catrina Ostrander, Catrina Guin wife of Leonard Witbeck, John
Lewis and wife Maria Clarke.
1791.
April 21.— Stephen Miller, Widow Shibley, Johannis Witbeck,
c. , and wife Eva Waldron, c. , Johannis E. Van Alen, c. , and wife
Nancy Friemont, c, Melchert Van Der Pool.
December. — Jesse De Foorest and wife Rebecca Van Zandt.
1792.
January 29.— Jurry Jac. Schordenbergh, c, Maria Michel, c. ,
wife of Peter Ham, Herman Van Hoesen, c, and wife, Fryntje Wit-
beck, c. , Annatje Staats, c. , wife of Peter Van Dyck, Cornelia Van
Alystyne, c. , wife of HendrickV. Renssalier, Annatje V. Schaick,
c, wife of Abrm. Witbeck, Baatje V. Volkenbergh, c, wife of
John Vin Hagen, Hendrick K. V. Renssalier and wife Alida Bradt,
Nicholas Staats and wife Molley Salsbury, Philip Staats and wife
Annatje V. Alstyne, Tiny Yates, Hester Emry, Fytje Miller wife
of Herman Van Buren, Gerritje Smith, Elizabeth Smith, Hen-
drick Dekker and wife Catrina Fredenberg, Peter Van Buren,
Tobias Van Buren and wife Jannetje Salsbury, Jacobus Vin
Hagen, John Salsbury and wife Jinnetje Salsbury, Catrina Sals-
bury wife of William Agnew.
June 14. — Rebecca Waldron (widow), Guysbert Van De Berg
and wife Jannatje Witbeck, John Bliss, Cornelia Lansing wife of
Gerrit Yates, Cornelius Van Buren and wife Jannatje Van Der
Pool, Johannis Van De Berg, Peter Goes and wife Annatje Van
230 MEMBERS.
Buren, Helmes Van Deusen, c, and wife Christina Kittel, c,
Cornelius Du Bois, c .
October 4. — Eva Van Alstyne widow of Leonard Witbeck,
Charles Smith, Daniel Hallenbake and wife Catriua Quackenboss,
Hendrike Sharpe widow of Henry Hallenbake, Dorothea Hallen-
bake wife of Hendrick Van Buren.
October 7. — Marti C. Van Buren, Annatje Van Buren.
1793.
May. — Jacob Van Alstyne and wife Annatje Lansing, William
Witbeck, Philip Duitscher and wife Elizabeth House, Phebe,
slave of Peter Ham.
June 10. — Benjamin Bragge.
October 10. — Maria Amack, c, wife of John Hanson, Rachel
Ostrander wife of Barrant Goewy, Maragrita Landt wife of Hen-
drik Ekker.
1794.
July 3. — Jeremiah Landt, c, and wife Maria Ham, c.
October. — Jellis Bat, c, Jannatje Cole, c. , Jacob Hoffman, c,
and wife Maragritta Rees, c, Cornelius Van Buren, Hendrik
Shans, Harpert V/idbeck, Gerrit Van Den Berg, Johannes Van
Der Pool and wife Isabella Douglass, Jeremiah Shans, ^iicholas
Van Rensalier and wife EJitje Van Buren, Jacomine Bloomendall
wife of Hendrik Crannel, Marie Goewy wife of Henry Ostrander,
Gurtly Bees wife of Wm. Bar tell, Rebecca Van Everen (widow),
Sarah Van Everen wife of Jellis Bat, Rjaiier Van Alstyne, Peter
De Freest and wife Petertie Van Alstyne, Cornelius Van Sals-
bury and wife Magtel Widbeck, Marti C. Van Buren, Abraham
Van Buren and wife Neltje Van De Bergh, Rachel Freest wife of
Matthew Van Alystyne, John Prison and wife Judike Van Buren,
Jonathan Widbeck, Tobias Widbeck, John Hanson, Abraham
Widbeck.
1795.
May 20. — Jacob De Freest and wife Anna Van Alstyne, Anna
Ham, William Kilmer and wife Sarah Ostrander, William Lap-
MEMBERS. 231
plus and wife Alida Van Dusen, Marretje Van Diisen, Jacobus
Van Der Pool and wife Maria Mnller, Jeremiah Miller, Gerrit
Lyster, c. , and wife Helena De Voort, c.
1796.
May 8. — David Seaman, Jacobus Salsbury, Martin Vin Hagen
and wife Judith Carl, Peter Butler and wife Catrina Kilmer,
Maake Him wife of Cornelius Van Buren, Abrm. V, Volken-
bergh and wife Tennetje V. Volkenbergh.
1797.
May 8. — Leonard Gansevoort.
1798.
January 7. — John Staats Lansing and wife Elizabeth Cooper,
Mary Van Renssalier, c, wife of Leonard Gansevoort.
1799.
September 28. — Catharine Miller, Jude, slave of N. Staats, John
Vin Hagen, Conradt Ham, c, and wife Christina Stryd, c, and
their daughter Catharina Ham, c, wife of Jonathan Dubois,
Christina Ham c. , and husband Nicholas Smith, c. , Christopher
Snyder, c, Jacob Snyder, c, Wilhelmus Snyder, c.
MEMBERS RECEIVED DURING THE MINISTRY OF
REV. J. L. ZABRISKIE.
1801.
February 24. — Henry Hallenbake, John Hallenbake, Darley
McCarty, Peter D. Van Dyck, Harriet Gansevoort, Catharine D.
Gansevoort, Elizabeth R. Gansevoort, Anthony Sweazer, slave
of Gerarchus Beekman.
1802.
October 24. — Nancy Haddock wife of Jacob Ostrander, Stephen
Hanson and wife Rachel Thurston.
232 MEMBERS.
1803.
October 22. — Jolni A. Ostrauder, Johu Wilsou, Letitia Smith.
October 23. — Neiuer Ailcou, c.
1804.
June 30. — Jobu Cnruer aud wife Jaue Goewy, Peter Ostrnuder
aud wife Margaret Wolsb.
1805.
Jime. — Richard Smith and wife Sophia INIiller, Samuel Earing
and wife Sarah Ostrandor, John Pool.
November 2. — Charity Griffon wife of Cornelius Du Bois.
180G.
May 4. — Maria Van De Berg wife of Barrent Goes, Margaret
Smith wife of Thomas Mesick.
1807.
October 31.— CatyKush wife of J. T. Witbeck, Polly Curtis
wife of Casper Ham, John Witbeck Jr.
1808.
April 30. — Elizabeth Du Bois, Tanike Witbeck wife of James
Lansing, Elizabeth Lodowick wife of Smith Payne, Polly Hush
wife of Albert Payne.
1809.
March. — Sophia Webster wife of Johu Witbeck Jr.
May 11. — Sally Link wife of Thomas Mesick, Ann Link,
Catharine Link, Caty Mastin.
July 23. — William Haltzapple, c, and wife Susannah Link, c.
October 28. — Charity Traver wife of J. Mastin, Abiel Fitch
wife of Johu Breese.
1810.
April 27. — William Fitch and wife Sarah Hanford.
1811.
May 1. — EveUne Gausevoort, Rachel D. Gansevoort.
MEMBERS. 233
MEMBERS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEPARTURE OF
REV. J. L. ZABRISKIE AND DURING THE MINISTRY
OF REV. ISAAC LABAGH AND UP TO THE MINISTRY
OF REV. N. J. MARSELUS.
1811.
November.— Mrs. Miller, c. (widow), John Ham and wife
Catharine Potts, Elsie Friar wife of James Smith, Catharine
Yatefj wife of Dr. John Miller.
1812.
June 6.— Sylvanus Walker, Nellie Earing wife of David
Goewy, Catharine Heaxt wife of John Mannion, John J. Moll
and wife Gerritje Schermerhorn, Maria Ham wife of James
Elliott, Sarah Burns wife of John 0. Lansing, Cataline Scher-
merhorn wife of Gerrit O. Lansingh, Zacharias Schmidt, c,
and wife Gertheay Holtzapple, c.
1813.
March 27.-Volkert Van Den Berg and wife Mary Vin Hagen.
October.— Margaret Campbell widow of Jas. McKown, Catha-
rine Doty wife of Peter Johnson, Henry Smith, John A. Wit-
beck and wife Hannah Shuts, John P. Witbeck, Gertrude Bort
wife of William P. Morrison,
1814.
April 10.— Hans Heyser, c.
The following persons were long recognized as members, but
by some means their names were omitted from the old register
and were not found in any of the Minutes of Consistory.—
(Rev. Benjamin C. Taylor).
1808.
April. -Evert Van Alen and wife Deidrica Knickerbacker
Zechariah Link and wife Link, Polly Morehouse wife of
234 MEMBERS.
William Elliott, Henry Ostrander, John Miller, Heaxt wife
of Stephen Miller, Hannah Ostrander.
MEMBERS RECEIVED DURING THE MINISTRY OF
REV. N. J. MARSELUS.
1815.
November 3. — Anna Link wife of John Link, Cornelia Snyder
wife of Nicholas Sluyter, Catharine Snyder wife of Teunis
Snook.
1816.
May 3. — John Link, Hannah Holtzapple wife of Wm. Hix Jr.
December 7. — Margaret Hallenbake, Susannah Link wife of
David N. Row, Sally Jessup wife of John Hayden, Elizabeth
Card wife of Manassah Knowlton, Elizabeth Elliott wife of John
Hallenbake, Nancy Bailey wife of Charles Doughty, Jane Teller
wife of Rev. N, J. Marselns, Caty Van Buren wife of John But-
ler, Christina Bink wife of Jacob Snyder, Richard Miller, Eunice
Hanford, c. , wife of Joseph Jessup, Sarah Mynderse, c, wife of
Samuel R. Campbell.
1817.
July 24. — William Staats, Henry Fradenberg and wife Tiny
Potts, Catharine Philips, Maria Milham, Sarah Thompson, Mrs.
Abia Scott, c.
1818.
January 30. — Gitty Hoes wife of Jehoicim N. Staats, Charity
Witbeck, Hannah Lewis wife of Stephen Miller Esq. , Catharine
Rorapack wife of Barrant Van Den Berg, Cataline Keefin wife of
J. McAlpin, Eleanor Williams wife of Andrew Van Den Berg,
Getty V. D. Berg wife of William Staats, Eliza Drum wife of
John Van Den Berg, Andrew Van Buren and wife Elizabeth
Reghtor, Andrew Ham and wife Magdalen Ham, David Reghtor,
Joseph Jessup Sn. , Henry Philip, c. , and wife Catharine Phihp,
MEMBEES. 235
c, William H. Philip, c, and wife Polly Philip, c, Elizabeth
Smith, c, wife of Martin Krum.
August 7. — Barrant Van Den Bergh, Ann Staats wife of David
Reghtor, Amy Bostick, Nancy Piatt wife of John Herrick, Polly
Sharps wife of Evert O. Lansing, Catharine Lansing, Catharine
Ostrander.
November 21. — Clarissa Burton wife of Nathaniel Payne.
November 29.— Elizabeth Payne wife of James Burton.
1819.
March 5. — Phebe Birce, Maria Pulver, Alida Schermerhorn,
John D. Bovee, c.
September 24. — Hannah Milham wife of John Witbeck,
Charity Acker.
1820.
April 28. — Henry Den Van Berg, Polly Lansing wife of John H.
Van Eenssalier, Abigal Allen wife of David Bell, Dorothy Weath-
erwax wife of James Philips.
August 10. — Judith Freezon, Betsy Smith wife of John D.
Bovee, Caty Smith wife of Peter Smith, Tiny Mesick wife of
Henry Van Den Berg, Catharine Miller, Elizabeth Ostrander,
Ann Witbeck wife of Doctor Abm. Hogeboom, Eleanor Witbeck,
Ann Lansing, Julia Fitch, Lydia Hulett wife of John G. Yates,
Tiny Van Buren, Nancy Munroe wife of Daniel Doughty, Mar-
garet Scott wife of J, Acker, Sally Du Bois wafe of J. Palmer,
James P. Powers, Stephen N. Herrick, Edmund Fitch, James H.
Teller, Dorothy O. Yon wife of Jonathan Witbeck Jr., Lany Potts,
Marshall Scott, Jane Eliza Lansiugh, Barbary Van Alstyne, Polly
Van Salsbury, Charlotte Delue, Maria Scott, Eliza Krum, Hannah
Van Salsbury, Peggy Elliott, Catharine Decker wife of J. Mastin,
Lydia Mastin wife of Benjamin Tallmage, Ann Degraw wife of
William Hix (senior), Harriet Du Bois, Sally Van Voorhes wife
of A. Du Bois, William L. Mastin, Jane Claw wife of Abram Van
Buren, Ann Doughty, Sally Doughty, Mittina Campbell, Polly
Reghtor wife of Peter Gardinier, Henry Acker, Charles Johnson.
236 MEMBERS.
November 24. — Olive Martin wife of J, T, Salsbury, Maria
Ann Lansingh, Maria Lansingh, Mary Ann V. Renssalier, Kachel
Witbeck wife of Isaac Knowlton, Polly Burton, wife of Tunis
Smith, Alida Van Eps, Catharine Moor wife of David Ostrander,
Ann Delue wife of S. Rorapack, Sarah Maria Wright, Louisa
Amanda Wright, Maria Miller, Elizabeth Milham wife of Tobias
Van Buren, Experience King wife of P. Kip, Caty Witbeck wife
of John Pike, Maria Kip, Catharine Ham wife of Daniel Hallen-
bake, Nathaniel Payne, James Burton, Henry Witbeck, Martinus
Lansingh, John Payne, William Hix, Joseph Jessup Jr., John
Pike, John J. Miller Jr. , James Lansingh.
1821.
May 11. — Governeur M. Herrick, Lydia Hicks wife of Cor-
nelius Snook, Hannah Fuhr (Ford), Cornelia Salsbury, Maria
Ostrander, Jerusha Treadway, c.
June 6. — Sally Hoghteling.
November 16. — Rasully Mastin.
November 18. — Lucy Maria Yale, Olive Eliza Yale wife of Doc-
tor Goodrich, Maria Ham.
MEMBERS RECEIVED DURING THE MINISTRY OF
REV. BENJAMIN C. TAYLOR.
1823.
February 14. — Martha Seaman widow of David Seaman.
March 5. — Anna Romeyn, c, wife of Rev. Benj. C. Taylor.
September 12. — Jane Van Dyne, c, wife of John Van Sinderen,
Elizabeth Burwell (widow).
1824.
February 13. — Alida Moll wife of Cornelius J. Schermerhorn
Jr. , Andrew Van Den Berg.
August 13. — Annie Pulver, John O. Lansing, c.
November 4. — Sally Carpenter, c, wife of John A. Ostrander,
Eitje Kittle, c, widow of John Van Den Berg, Taunche Goes, c. ,
MEMBERS.
237
wife of Jehoiacim Gardinier, Charity Acker, c, wife of Daniel
Smith, Christianna Bloomingdall, c.
1825.
February 25.— Awuy Claw, c, wife of John Elkenbrecht.
MEMBERS RECEIVED DURING THE MINISTRY OF
REV. ABRAHAM H. DUMONT.
1826.
December 3.— Flora, slave of J. A. Ostrander.
1828.
May 4. — Adam Dings, c, Eliza Winn wife of Abm. Pool.
1829.
January 25.— Jacob Ostrander, c. and wife Nancy Haddock, c.
September 4.— Geo. A. Huff, c, and wife Julia Ann Maston, c.
MEMBERS RECEIVED DURING THE MINISTRY OF
REV. JOHN A. LIDDELL.
1830.
Decemberl7.—Sarah Anne Yale wife of John Hall, GrizellyMc-
Gilpin wife of John Carman, Judah Fodder widow of Stephen
Pool, Jane Van beur en wife of John Payne, Jane Vanbeuren widow
of Tobias Vanbeuren, Cathrine Vanbeuren daughter of Harmon
Vanbeuren, Henry Salisbury, Cathriue daughter of Henry Van-
beuren, Jeremiah Huyser, Mary Fodder wife of William Vanben-
thuysen, Jane Martin, c. , wife of Rev. John A. Liddell, Dinah
Harrison, c, (colored).
1831.
April 1.— Jacob Dingman and wife Jane Vanbeuren, Ann Maria
Schermerhorn, c, wife of Doctor John Van Alstyne.
July 1. —Margaret Showerman wife of William Lasher, Cathrine
238 MEMBERS.
Maria Vanbeuren, Christina Miller, Adam Diugs Jr. , Abrm. Pool,
Dinah Anthony (colored"), Sarah Banker (colored).
October 8. — Martha Semous, Eveline Gardineer, Alida Rori-
beck, Ann Maria Miller wife of Nicholas Miller, Emeline Salis-
bury, Jane Ann Ostrander, Polly Vanbeuren, Harriet Levina
Bennet wife of Cornelius Vanbeuren, Euuis Vanbeuren wife of
John Roribeck, Mary Vanbeuren widow of Garrit Vanderpool,
Julia Loran Wright, Helen Cormick wife of Barrent Vanbeuren,
Ann Ostrander wife of Joseph Hare, Maria Vanbeuren, Ann Hoes,
Sally Maria Ostrander, Joseph Hare, John Roribeck, Barrent
Hoes, Margt. Vanettin wife of Conrad Traver, Cathrine Vanden-
bergh wife of John J. Miller Jr., Cathrine Miller, Elizabeth
Lowe widow of Jacob Staats, Ann Staats widow of David D.
Semons, Sally Fox wife of Cristopher Yates, Maria Lasher, Mary
Schermerhorn, Cathaline Schermerhorn widow of Garrit O.
Lansing, Cathaline Lansing, Eliza Huff wife of Henry Ford,
Christina Brooks wife of Casper Brooks, Hannah Miller wife of
Jeremiah Huyser, Mary Divine widow of Joseph Hallet, Margt.
Sheltiss wife of Lawrence Manzer, Conrad Traver, Benjamin
Woodbeck, Susan Adam wife of Abrm. Baker (colored), Betsey
Harrison (colored) wife of John Harrison, Eliza Lavender (col-
ored), Hester Ryckman, c, wife of Richard Waring Esq., Eliza-
beth Carpenter wife of Barney Schermerhorn , Ann Miller widow
of Arthur McClosky, Catherine Brees, Susan Woodworth, Eleanor
Schermerhorn wife of Isaac M. Jessup, Barney Schermerhorn,
Peter M. Vanderpool, John Pool — Junior.
December 30. — Emeline Mastin wife of Henry P. Barringer,
Dorothy Pool, Nancy Fitch, Jane Porter wife of Benj. Woodbeck,
Catherine Simons.
1832.
March 30.— Ann Shents, Jane Eliza Payne, Gertrude Scher-
merhorn, Sarah Ann Shibleywife of James Richardson, Margaret
Woodbeck, James Ostrander, Mrs. Catherine Witbeck, o. , wife of
Jonathan Witbeck.
MEMBERS. 239
July 6. — Mary Staats, Ann Maria Pool, David N. Row, Cor-
nelius I. Gardineer, Lawrence L. Manzer.
October 5. — Cornelius Hoes and wife Mrs, Sophia Hoes, Bar-
rent Hoes Jr., Chs. Rhoda and wife, Mrs. Christina Rhoda,
Nicholas Sluyter, Jeremiah Link, John Carman, Margaret Ann
Vanbeuren, Sarah Ann Simons, Mary Fitch, William Sprong
and wife, Mrs. Catherine Sprong, Jane Duryea Staats, Mrs.
Jemime Jacques wife of Wart Jacques, Isaac M. Jessup, Sally
Simpson (colored), Betsey Harrison (colored), Mrs. Ely Adams
(colored), Margt. Burch, John Tuttle.
1833.
January 4. — Catherine Sprung wife of John C. Traver, Mary
Williams wife of Chas. Doughty.
April 5. — Susanna Robertson wife of Christopher Sprong,
Elizabeth Manzer, Charity Dubois, Catherine Vanbeuren, Willie
Meesick, c, and wife Sally Ostrander, c, Andrew Oak McDowell,
c , and wife Hannah Kitredge, c. , Rachel Witbeck, c. , wife of
Isaac Knowlton, Eliza Brees, c. , Mrs. Harriet Witbeck, c.
July 5. — Judy Lagrange, Christina Halsapple, c, widow of
Philip Binck, Henry Binck, c, and wife Catharine Link, c, John
Airhart, c. , and wife Maria Kilmer, c. , Evilina Airhart, c. , Mary
Ann McHay, c, wife of Benj. Mull.
1834.
January 5. — Harriet Wendall, c. Amy Stiver, c, wife of Jere-
miah Becker.
MEMBERS RECEIVED DURING THE MINISTRY OF
REV. E. P. STIMSON.
1835.
April 19.— Edward Elliott and wife Mrs. Mary Elliott,
Isabella Elliott, Miss Mary Ann Salsbury.
July 12.— Mr. Wm. Link, Mrs. Harriet Birch wife of Wm.
Link, Mrs. Susan Traver wife of Jeremiah Link.
240 MEMBEBS.
October 9. — David Deyo, c, Elizabeth Ostrander, c, wife of
David Deyo.
1836.
January 17. — Timothy Newman and Mdfe Anny Filkius, Cor-
nelius Schermerhorn, Hannah Timson (colored).
April 3.— Mrs. Martha Taylor wife of Henry Genett, Thomas
Mesick, David McLaurin.
July 3. — Mrs. Cornelia Tappan Genett widow of Dr. Hall,
David Harrington and wife Susan Hulsapple, Abram Harring-
ton Jr. and wife Getty Allendorph, John T. Snook.
October 2. — Sarah Adrian, c. , wife of Rev. E. P. Stimson,
Miss E. Rote, c, Adeline Harvey wife of David D. Semon,
1837.
May 7. — Sarah Ring wife of John G. Ring, Susan Stephen-
son, c. , widow of Job Bink.
August 6. — James H. Mastin, c.
1838.
February 2. — John Coons.
February 4. — Sarah Mariah Traver.
May 4. — Margaret Traver, Sarah Bell.
November 11. — Eliza Dedrick wife of Z. Mesick.
1839.
February 3. — Teal W. Rockerfeller and wife Jane Von Voul-
kenburgh, William Hulsapple and wife Annie Snook, Isaac
Bink and his wife Eiiza Catherine Rockfellow, Eli Bois and his
wife Eliza Christina, Ellas Bois, c, Sally Ann Van Benthuysen
wife of Saral. Earing.
^ May 5. — Henry P. Barringer, John Holland, Catharine Snook,
Hannah Dings.
November 3. — Eliza Adrian, c, wife of Rev. P. S. William-
son, Jane Ostrander, c. , widow of Westf all, Lucretia Dings
wife of G. M. Herrick.
MEMBERS. 241
1840.
February 7.— Isaac Dingman.
November 13.— Catharine Milham, c.
1841.
May 15.— John Henry Yates.
August 8.— Harriet M. Yates.
1842.
February 6.— Mrs. Jane Goodrich.
May 1.— Garret Lansing, James H. Campbell, Elizabeth Camp-
bell, Magdalene Grey, Hannah Eliza Snook wife of Wm
Semons, Mariah Ann HuJsapple, John Van Sindren Loisa
Shant wife of Garret Hulsapple, Sarah Ann Van Sindren.
Deborah Payne, Elizabeth Payne, Hannah Eliza Hulsapple, Mary
Ann Harrington, Dr. A. C. Getty, Caroline Siver wife of James
Rosenkranse, Susannah Deyo, David Deyo. c., -and wife Elizabeth
Ostrander, c.
July 29.— Mary Jane Hogan, Col. Broddum Yale.
November 6. -James H. Goodrich and wife Rebecca Ann
Burton, Elizabeth C. Van Buren wife of Henry Palmer, David
De Freest, c,and his wife Mariot Hilton, c.
1843.
February 1.— Phebe Eliza Huddleston wife of Wm. Philips
May 14. -Dr. Parmelee, c, Mrs. Parmelee, c, Sarah M
Campbell, Sophia Clow wife of Daniel Sprong, Sally Rhoda
Susan M. Rhoda wife of Hermon Payne. Mary Mesick, Emma
Hulsapple, Nathaniel Payne, David H. Hulsapple, Rachel
Mesick, James E. F. Gage, Chauncey S. Payne.
August 6. -Leonard I. Rysdorph c, and wife Eleanor Earing
c. , Sally Snook, Almira Snook.
November 5.~Stephen Van Rensselaer Goodrich, James
Elliot, Mrs. Catherine Traver, c, Esther Traver, c.
1844.
August 4.— Albertim Schermerhorn ; Emma Elizabeth Yates
[16]
242 MEMBERS.
1845.
February 1. — Catherine Moulton wife of William Sprong,
Benjamin Mull, Simeon Ostrander, c, Hannah Fellows, c,
Harriet L. Ostrander, c. , Kachel Fellows, c.
May 2. — Francis W, Payne c, and his wife Olive Ann Brock-
way, c.
August 1. — Jane C. Huddleston, c, wife of Richard Huddle-
ston.
1846.
February 1. — John Guffin, c.
August 3. — Robt. Strain, Emily Chamberlain, c, wife of
Fred. Birch.
1847.
February 6. — Anna Maria Rector.
April 4. — Margaret Elizabeth Rector wife of Silvester Fulton.
November 7. — Nicholas Staats Rector and wife, Maria B.
Shufelt.
1848.
February 6. — Obadiah L. Yates, c.
April 30. —Dr. John S. Miller, Evert O. Lansing, Wm. Elli-
ott, Jeremiah Miller, Abram Ostrander and wife Pauline Traver,
Christopher G. Yates, Barreut J. Van Hoesen and wife Catherine
Miller, Walter Ostrander and wife Eliza Ann Wilber, John Gil-
bert, Elliott E. Brown and wife Sally Jane Page, Jeremiah
Leary (Roman Catholic), Jeremiah Hoff, George Hulsapple,
Isaac K. Morrison and wife Laurietta Sprong, John M. Van
DeCarr, Wm. Felix Hulsapple, Robt. Smith, Stephen I. Miller
and his wife Christiana Lasher, John N. Pockman, George Lan-
sing, Jacob C. Schermerhorn and wife Jane Kimme, George W.
Birch and wife, Susan C'aioliue, Conrad Race, Edmund Cooper
and wife Susannah Kemp, Orpha Torry wife of Jeremiah Mil-
ler, Margaret Hyser wife of L. P. Traver, Elizabeth Traver,
Sophia A. Hyser, Sarah Defreest, Catherine Maria Hoff, Sarah
MEMBERS. 243
E. Haynor, Viletta Hulsapple, Mary Jane Hoes, Mary L.
Knowlton, Harriet F. Stimson wife of N, Van Sindren, Sarah
Ann Birch, Christina Ostrander wife of J. P. Ostrander, Cornelia
Link wife of George D, Shibley.
August 6. — John Cotton, c., and wife Maria Bame, c.
1850.
March 2. — Julia Campbell, Peter Dings and wife Mary Coons.
September 1.- — Almira Birch.
November 3. — Christopher Bartel.
December 1. —Adam Dings, c. , Christina Rector, c, Alpheus
Birch and wife Tynetta Newkirk.
1851.
December 21. — John Gilbert, c.,and wife Jane Ostrander, c.
MEMBERS RECEIVED DURING THE MINISTRY OF
REV. J. R. TALMAGE.
1852,
December 3. — Mary Shufelt, c, wife of Rev. J. R. Talmage,
Catherine Talmage, c. , Catherine Barner, c. , wife of Wm. Beame,
Mrs. Edwm Wilhs, c.
December 9. — Eliza Burrage.
December 10. — Elizabeth Hallenbeck.
1853.
March 5. — Hannah C. Hare, Leonard L. Rysdorph, c. , and wife
Sarah Maria Butts, c. , Eliza Link wife of Barney Hoes.
June 6. — Catherine Ham, c, wife of Danl. Hallenbeck, Augusta
M. Hallenbeck, c.
September 3. — ('athalina Lansing, Almira Ham, c, wife of
Wm. B Tabor.
December 2. — Ann Stophilbeam, c, wife of Peter Stophilbeam,
Tunchie Hoes, c, wife of Jehoikim Gardinier, Jane M. Jessup-
244 MEMBERS.
1854.
March 4. — Peter Palmatier aud wife, c, Samuel Warren Gush-
ing, John Palmatier, Margaret McGregor wife of Rich. Huddle-
stone, Elizabeth Caroline Ostramler.
June 2. — Lydia Hare.
November 30. — Ann Mesick, c. , wife of Cornelius Hicks, Mrs.
Dennis C. Crane, c, Harriet E. Crane, c, Mary Talmage.
1855.
March 2. — Andrew Van Dusen.
June 1 . — Danl. W. Talcott and wife Viletta Hulsapple.
1856.
May 30. — Wm. Harvey Dings, Almira Phillips, c, wife of
John Palmatier, Margaret Palmatier.
June 1. — Ann Staats, c, widow of Dowd D. Semon, Catherine
Semon, c, Wm. Palmatier, Margaret S. Holt.
September 5. — Sarah Elizabeth Hare.
1857.
March 6. — John Walker, c. , and wife Gitty Rosecrants, c,
Frances Mary Sprung wife of Andrew Van Dusen, Electa M. Tal-
mage.
1858.
March 5. — Mary Hulsapple, Lydia Hulsapple, Matha E. Scher-
merhorn, Sarah M. Slyter wife of Zech. Bink,
March 7. — Abrara Palmateer, Zachariah H. Bink, John E.
Hulsapple, Martha Ann Phillips.
May 28. —Stephen Hoff, Edward Lodewick, Mary Woodworth.
September 3.— Mary Ann Lansing, c, wife of Jacob Rector,
Samuel Palmateer, c.
December 3. — Theresa Defreest, John Van Sinderen.
1859
June 6. — Sally Hyden, c. , Cornelia Yates, c. , wife of Jno. Van
Denbergh.
MEMBERS. 245
MEMBERS RECEIVED DURING THE MINISTRY OF
REV. P. Q. WILSON.
1860.
November 30. — Miss Isabella A. Hallenbeck.
1861.
May 31. — Mrs. Maria Cotton, c.
November 30. — Catherine BLimmy, c.
1862.
May 31, — John Vandenberg, Henry C. Lodewick, Louisa Clark.
September 6. — Elizabeth BTuton, Jeremiah Link, c., and his
wife, Mrs. Ann Link, c. , Mrs. Stephen Miller, c.
1863.
February 28. — Mrs. Laura Wood worth, Reuben Van Beuren,
c., and wife Sarah Rhoda, c., Garret Miller.
June 6. — Louisa Cotton wife of Cornelius Timeson, Miss Cor-
nelia Schermerhorn, Mrs. David Moore.
1864.
February 19. — Betsy Blaney. Maria Manzer wife of John
Proper, Hattie Matilda Proper wife of Saml. Palmateer, Emma
Amanda Proper, Sarah Jane Buckman wife of John See, Mrs. E.
Walker.
April 30. — Mrs. Rachel Mesick, c, Sarah C. Blaney, Mrs.
May Palmateer, Mrs. Margaret Morrison.
August 6. — Mrs. Margaret Veeder, c., Miss Edith Veeder, c.
Dr. Bower and wife Ameline Bower, Mrs. Charity Ann Miller,
Mrs. Emeline B. New.
1865.
February 3. — Miss Mary Van Deusen, Mrs. Margaret Stumpt.
August 4.— Mrs. Mary Morey wife of Walter Elliott.
November 3. — Mrs. Caroline Hover wife of Lewis Hover, Mrs.
Mary Barhyte wife of Albert H. Barhyte, Wm. Rhoda, Catherine
Link wife of Abram Palmateer.
246 MEMBERS.
MEMBERS RECEIVED DURING THE MINISTRY OF
REV. WILLIAM ANDERSON.
1867.
February 23. — Edward Green and wife Catherine Van Alstyne,
William Frederick Anderson.
May 4. — Almira Lape, Eli Shaffer, c, and wife Sarah Terwil-
lager, c. , Mrs. Sarah Louisa Anderson, c. , Cornelia Anderson, c.
August 4. — John Henry Lodewick, Harriet Louisa Anderson.
November 2. — Jane Lodewick, Harriet C, Bink, Andrew
Tweedale .
1868.
February 1. — Jacob M. Cotton, James Seamon and wife Eliza
Miller, Katie Seamon.
April 6. — David Moor.
May 9. — Benjamin E. Shaffer and wife Sarah S. Van Antwerp,
Stephen Miller and wife Ann M. Keefe, Fanny C. Van Vechten,
Hellen E. Phillips, Alonzo Sharp, Charlotte Kimbal widow of Al-
bert H, Smith, Jane A. Schermerhorn, c.
October 31. — Albert Palmateer, Mary T. Van Vechten.
1869.
February 6. — Mary A. Schermerhorn, Magdalene V. R. Whit-
beck wife of Edme Genet, Gertrude E. Whitbeck wife of Thomas
S. Manley, Mary E. MuUer, Peter MuUer, c. , Carolina Adolphnia
MuUer, c. , wife of Robt. G. Maginniss.
May 15. — Libbie F. Schern^erhorn, Mrs. A. Montania, c.
November 6.— Roseltha Kimball, David De Freest and wife
Jane A. Kimball.
November 6. — Adelia Van Hoesen wife of Clarence Cotten.
1870.
February 4. — William Van Vliet, Theodore B. Van Decar,
Philetus Theodore Pockman, Lydia E. Pockman, MaryAlida Van
Buren, Sarah M. Van Buren.
MEMBERS. 247
February 9. — George M, Vandenberg and wife JaneH. Traver,
Frank Albert Vandenberg, Martinus S. Lansing, Walter Elliot,
Catherine J. Van Bureu, Hattie L. Ostrander, Mary E. Mitchell,
c. , wife of John M. Link, Sarah M. B. Brockway, c. , wife of Theo-
dore B, Van Decar, Thomas Black, c.
April 30.— William S. Miller, Frank E. Shaffer, Harriet E.
Khoda, Mary C. Snook, Matilda J. Becker, c. , wife of Jacob H.
Snook.
August 6. — Theodore Hover and wife, Francis L. Cryne, Isaac
Hays, c. , and wife Catherine Van Akin, c.
November 6. — Jessie Lodewick, Margaret Goulder, c. , wife of
Isaac S. Lodewick, Louise M. Salisbury, c.
1871.
August 5. — Harriet Ella Smith.
1872.
February 3. — Lottie L. Walker wife of Lawrence V. V. Robins,
Michael H. Warner, Elizabeth 0. Wandell wife of Michael H.
Warner, Rachel H. Robinson wife of Orris Clark, Florence D.
Wakeman, Ida Louisa Taylor, Minnie Anderson, Hellen Slack,
Carrie Mesick, Mary C. Barringer wife of Albert Warner, Matilda
A. Clint, c. , wife of Alonzo De Freest, P^mma R. Van Buren, Ida
V. Montania.
May 4. — William H. Bame, Eugene D. Bame and wife Chris,
tiana Hicks, Ida A. Bame, Eva M. Bame wife of Stephen H.
Mesick, Mrs. Rev. I. G. Ogdeu, c, Walter H. Ogden, c, Florence
E. Ogden, c, Rollo Ogdeu, c, Mary ElUot, c, wife of Stephen
Hicks, Hannah Slingerland.
August 3. — Nancy Edick wife of Alexander Livingston, Per-
melia F. Livingston.
November 2. ^Harriet Pitcher, c. , wife of William Snook.
1873.
February 1. — Phebe T. Onderdonk, c, wife of David Onder-
donk, Mary Onderdonk, c.
248 MEMBERS.
August 2. — Jacob Kimmey and wife Sarah Ann Koonley , Anna
Jane Kimmey.
November 1. — Christina Hoes.
1874.
February 7. — John B. Vandenberg and wife Mary E, Forrester,
Sarah Ann Vandenberg, Ewd. S. Vandenberg, John H. Bame and
wife Mary E. Dings, Thomas G. Smith and wife Elizabeth Mason,
Catherine M. Bame, Catherine Cryne wife of Richard Pockman,
Catherine Rector, Genet S. Silvernail wife of Frederick Wood,
Sarah Van Vaulkenberg wife of Abram Van Vaulkenberg, Alpheus
Ostrander, Cornelia Hackney, c, wife of John Van Sindern,
Augustus W. Kimball.
May 10. — Lewis Hover, Mary A. Walker, Margaret C. Lode-
wick, Catline C. Lodewick, MagdaliueP. Ostrander, Mary A. Tay-
lor, c.
August 1. — Julia A. Slyter wife of Andrew Phillips, Catherine
Winni ewife of Jacob H. Slingerland, Orlando M. Hogle, George
E. Anderson, Mary E. Bame, c.
October 31. — Charles A. Phillimore, Henry Bink, Mary Rhoda,
Libbie B. Payne. Elizabeth C. Schermerhorn, Almeta O. War-
ner, Sarah Van Sindern, Ann Maria Hoes (widow), Alviua Van
Deusen, c.
1875.
February 6. — John Van Slyk, Maria Van Slyk, Carrie A. Hover-
May 1. — Martin Strever and wife Dorcas A. Brockway.
July 31. — John R. Taylor, c.
November 6. — Nellie Van Vaulkenberg, Charlotte Douglass, c.
1876.
February 6. — William F. Link, John George Gerster, Margaret
A. Cotton wife of William Hicks, Carrie D. Becker, c. , wife of
Wm. F. Link, Mrs. Henrietta Sherman.
June 3. — Hellen Van Sindern.
October 15. — Jennie Anderson.
MEMBERS. 249
1877.
May 12.-WiUard Palmateer. John D. Schufeldt and wife
Emma Cotton, Ella Sliter, c, wife of Frank Shaffer.
MEMBERS RECEIVED DURING THE MINISTRY OF
REV. JOHN STEELE, D.D.
1877.
September 1 Charles Van De Carr, c, James Elliott and
wife Anna Schill, Martha Slingerland.
1878.
March 1. -Jacob Lansing Ostrander, Elizabeth W Worth
widow of John S. Van Den Berg, Anna Arrowsmith, c, wife of
Rev. John Steele, Anna Steele, c, Louisa Steele, c
June 9. -Henry Elliott, Mary E. Sweet wife of Henry Bink
August 31.— Josephine Ostrom, c, wife of Wm. F Shiblev
December 7 Robert Taylor c, and wife Harriet Stalker,
c, Clara S. Steele.
1879.
March l.-George Henry Newman, James Weir, Jessie W
Schermerhorn, Clarissa Payne, c, Frances Lasher, c, wife of
Jacob Gardener, George Henry Gardener, c, CorneHus Scher-
merhorn, c, and wife Sarah C. Myers, c.
June 1. -Lydia Salisbury wife of Christopher I. Lott
September 6. -Mary Elizabeth Gardner wife of Francis Her-
rington, Maggie Van Slyke, Henry Taylor, Peter R. Hogle
Cattahne Van Voulkenberg, Elizabeth Shafer, c, wife of L E
(jrardner. '
December 6. -Lydia Jessup, Jessie Benner.
1880.
March 6. -Anna Mary Tweedale, Emma Cornelia Rector wife
of Oscar J. Lewis, Josephine Stumpf .
250 MEMBERS.
May 29.— Ann Burns, c, Ann Link, c. (widow), John A. Put-
man and wife Catherine Putmau, c, Aaron H. Putman, c,
Sarah Putman, c, William K. DeFreest, Mary Stumpf.
September 4. — Anthony Coon, Mrs. C. E. Garrison, c. (widow),
Sylvanus Finch, c, Mrs. Sylvanus Finch, c, Wm. F. Finch, c.
December 4. — George Brockway, c, and wife Amanda Brock-
way, c, Mary Brockway, c, Emma Brockway, c, Walston
Brockway, c. , Jesse Brockway, c, Jesse P. Van Ness, c, and
wife Ella A. Milham, c.
1881.
March 5. — Mary E-yerson Steele.
May 28. — Libbie Brocher.
1882.
March 3. — Margaret Niver, c. , wife of Christian Veeder, Edith
Veeder, c.
December 3. — Dr. Addison C. Koberts, c, and wife Maggie
J. Cowan, c.
1883.
March 3. — Cyrus Lasher, c, and wife Ella Lasher, c, Eliza
Moyer, c, wife of B. J. Walker, Willard D. Sprong and wife
Paulina A. Melius, Miles Anderson and wife Mary A. Newman,
Gilbert W. De Freest, George Van Buren, Charles Van Buren,
George F. Warner, Elmer E. Finch, John Hauser, Alanson
Hays, Charles H. Coons, Grace S. Warner, Jennie H. B. Snook,
Anna L. Rhoda, Mary E. Moore, Sarah Schermerhorn, Esther
Strever, Carrie E. Palmateer, Ida F. Van Buren, A. Kate Pock-
man.
June 2. — William E. Bame, Addie May Forepillar, John M.
Mesick, Rosella Livingston, Matilda L. Livingston, Emma J.
Edick, Alexander Traver and wife Charlotte E. Melius, John
Moore and wife Cornelia C. Sliter, Elizabeth A. Phillips, c,
wife of John M. Mesick.
MEMBERS. 251
September 1.— Elma Garrison wife of Aaron H. Putmau.
December 1.— Jennie E. Rector, Jennie F. Herringtou
1884.
February 29.— Ida Jane Bell, Libbie Cack, David Henry Lape.
March 2.— Margaret Hymen wife of Peter Michael, Louisa
Michael, Minnie Michael, Catharine Maria De Freest wife of
John Clark, Emma D. Wauds wife of Charles Earing, Jeanie M.
Earing, Luella Sweet, Ida M. Crehan, Ella Crehan.
September 6.— Lydia ElUot widow of Leonard W. Rysdorph,
Edgar Miller, M. Louise Caskey, c, wife of Edgar Miller.
1885.
February 28.— Vienna Weaver.
March 27.— Sarah A. Allen, c.
June 6.— P. W. Cramer, c, and wife Sarah A. Shufelt, c, Ger-
trude Shufelt, c. - ' '
1886.
March 6.— Samuel Germoud and wife Maggie J. Lowrie.
December 5.— Maria De Freest widow of Emory Bouton.
MEMBERS RECEIVED BETWEEN THE MINISTRIES OF
DR. STEELE AND REV. JOHN LAUBENHEIMER.
1887.
December 3. -Charles W. Burton, c, and M^fe Maggie Pahna-
teer, c.
1888.
June 10.— John H. Van Sindern, Mrs. Margaret Black, Eliza-
beth Black, Alice Rhoda.
September 9. -Peter P. Burtou, Mamie A. Van Sindern,
August Byer and wife Adelia Newman, Lydia Coons.
252 MEMBERS.
MEMBERS RECEIVED DURING THE MINISTRY OF
REV. JOHN LAUBENHEIMER.
1888.
December 15. — Jessie F. Randolph, c, wife of Rev. John
Laubenheimer, Emma Laubenheimer, c. , Abram L. Bame, Emma
L. Bame, Jacob Rysedorph.
1889.
March 1. — PameliaF. Livingston wife of Willard Palmateer, c.
June 1. — Georgia E. Johnson, Caroline Ackerman Sleight wife
of W. H. Coons.
September 15. — Martha Cryue wife of Wm. Westfall, Mary
Cryne widow of George Westfall, Minnie Carrie Hover, William
Henry Coons, Frank Henderson Bell, Joseph Lewis Hover, Har-
riet E. Winnie, c, wife of Jos. L. Hover, Ora E. Knickerbocker
wife of Irving Knickerbocker.
December 8. — John L. Miller, c, and wife Matilda Ostrander,
c. , Cornelia Gardner, c, wife of John E. Schermerhorn, Lucy
Havens, c. , wife of Frank Gardner.
1890.
March 9. — Mrs. Clara Carmen, c, Mary Frances Lansing wife
of John Francis Miller, Frank Miller.
June 1. — J. I. Best, c, Mrs. J. I. Best,c., Rosa J. Hoff, c, wife
of Jesse Brock way.
September 7. — John V. Davis, c, and wife Phebe E. Husted,
c, Louis C. Stahlman, c, Mrs. L. C. Stahlman.
December 8. — Mrs. Susan Schermerhorn, c, ,Mary Lemire, c,
wife of Alanson Hays.
1891.
February 28. — Louisa Cotton, c, widow of Cornelius Tymeson,
Peter Ostrander, c. , Minnie Comstock wife of Peter Ostrander,
c, Carrie A. Ostrander, c.
May 31. — J. Allen Barringer, c, Mrs. J. Allen Barringer,
Laura Sprugue wife of Phillip Staats, Frank Newkirk.
December 6. — Mary B. Schermerhorn, Jennie E. Tweedale.
APPENDIX.
LIST OF ANTIQUITIES AT THE LOAN EXHIBITION,
DECEMBER 1, 1887.
Miss Berthia Staats — Dutch Bible, 250 years old.
Miss Martha Lodewick — Picture of the ship in
which Rev. Ulpianus Van Sindern came from Hol-
land in 1732, drawn by himself; white silk hand-
embroidered wedding-dress brought from Holland,
and worn by Mrs. Ulpianus Van Sindren in 1732 ;
brass tea-kettle from Holland, 155 years; foot stove,
25 years ; book published A. D. 1714.
Mrs. A. Tweedale — Pewter platter, 175 years;
shoulder shawl, 100 years; linen table cloth, 100
years ; Bible dictionary from Scotland ; book, date
1777.
Mrs. James Lansing — Dutch Bible, 250 years;
copper tea-kettle, 125 years ; pair silver candle-
sticks ; powder horn, 1756 ; large bowl, gravy dish
and platter, 125 years ; china plate, 125 years ; bel-
lows, 100 3^ears.
Deforest Van Deusen — Pieced quilt, 70 years ;
housewife, 150 years ; beaded purse, 60 years.
Yates' Family — Holland mirror, 150 years ; Cal-
vin's Institutes, 1611 ; Ulster County Gazette, Janu-
ary 4, 1800, in mourning for Gen. George Washing-
ton ; $100 Confederate money ; pewter plates and per-
254 APPENDIX.
ringer, 150 years ; an infant's dress, 70 years ; pic-
ture of a lady over 100 years of age ; linen towel
106 years ; child's rocking chair, 100 years ; velvet
work-bag, rose of Jericho.
Barney Hoes — American Preceptor, 1816 ; foot
stove, 100 years ; Holland mirror, set of chairs, 100
years.
Mrs. Walter Elliott— Bible, 1803 ; Doddridge's
" Eise and Progress," 1744; hymn book, merino
shawl, glass preserve dish, shoulder shawl, 85 years ;
tin bread tray, 100 years ; china cup and saucer, 85
years ; glass punch bowl and wine glass, 100 years ;
trunk, 100 years ; foot stool, 107 years ; soup plate,
84 years.
Mr. Jacob Snook — Jackknife carried in the Revo-
lutionary War ; potato hook, over 100 years ; stable
fork, 100 years ; an augur, 100 years ; iron chain ob-
tained from soldiers, during the war of 1812, in ex-
change for milk ; frying pan used before brick ovens
or stoves were known.
Mrs. Jacob Snook — Two cups and saucers, 85
years ; chair, 100 years.
Mary A. Schermerhorn — Chair brought from
Holland, 1637.
Jesse P. Van Ness — Picture of Hon. Robert
Monckton, major general, governor of New York
and colonel of his Majesty's regiment, 1756 ; shoul-
der shawl, pitcher, tumbler and silver buckle, 1778.
APPENDIX. 255
Mrs. John N.. Pockioan — Book, 1821 ; knitting
bag and sheath, 101 years ; fancy work bag, 95 years.
John Van Denberg — Holland Bible, 1741 ; foot
stove and andirons, 100 years.
Mrs. John Stnmpf— German Bible, 1775.
Mrs. Mitchell Link — Small paper trunk.
John Van Sindern — Coat of arms, 1746 ; brasier
brought from Holland, 1746; United States penny,
1783; petrified wood ; New Testament and Psalms,
1715.
Mrs. Zachariah Binck — Striped coverlet, 150
years ; stone crock and jug, copper tea-kettle and pew-
ter dish, 100 years ; scissors, 115 years ; snuff box and
snuff, 100 years ; cup and saucer, 125 years ; snuff
box and bottle, 125 years ; wallet, stamped 1776 ;
pewter spoon and mould in which it was made, 150
years ; sword of Eevolutionary War, pocket knife.
Mrs. Wm. Link— Coverlet and linen sheet, 100
years ; chair, 150 years ; tea pot, plate, tea cup and
saucer, 100 years ; wine glass, 150 years.
Mrs. Stephen Miller — Cradle quilt, 80 years;
brass candlesticks and snuffers, 80 years.
Wm. S. Miller — Mahogany cradle brought from
Holland 100 years ago; coverlet woven in 1801.
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