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Jacob’s &Aih:ess to Xioiban
© SB SB HI ® SS9
PREACHED IN THE
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH
AT
IN THE CITY OF NEWYORK, AUGUST 9, 1818,
ON OCCASION
OP ANNOUNCING TO THE CONGREGATION
THE
RESIGNATION OF HIS CALL.
BY
STEPHEN N. ROWAN, A. M,
—-ooo-—
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST,
PUBLISHED BY JAMES EAST BURN 8r CO.
AT THE LITERARY ROOMS, BROADWAY, CORNER OF PINE-STREET.
----------------------------.......
ABRAHAM PAUL, PRINTER.
1818.ADVERTISEMENT.
It was painful to write, and to be under the necessity of preach-
ing this Sermon. But having been, as I supposed, unjustly and
ungenerously cut off from the ordinary support, I had received for
several years, and being determined to have my feelings no longer
lacerated by the collision attending an annual vote for giving me
what was deemed a present, I announced the resignation of my call.
Under these circumstances I felt that I owed an explanation to those
members of the congregation who had uniformly contributed liberally
to the support of the Gospel, under my administrations, and who
were anxious to retain me as their Pastor. Accordingly, I incorpo-
rated the facts which led me to resign in the following Sermon, and
preached it; as the only, and the most proper way of giving satisfac-
tion. But as few people heard it, in consequence of inclement
weather the whole of the day on which it was delivered; as the
facts stated are, I understand, to he controverted; as one person has
retracted an assertion which he publicly made, that I had repeated
“ a falsehood, knowing it to be such;” but as I fear the retraction has
not been as generally made known as the assertion ; as the Consistory
of the Reformed Dutch Church at Greenwich have requested me to
give them a copy, and as many of their people who have requested
it, have an equal right to see the Sermon, I have determined to pub-
lish it. And as it has been said that the facts were but partially dis-
closed—in other words, that by giving only a part of the minutes of
Consistory, the facts became discoloured, I have appended to theIV
ADVERTISEMENT.
Sermon entire extracts from the minutes of the Consistory of the
Reformed Dutch Church at Greenwich, relating to the facts I have
stated, which, 1 think, will make “ assurance doubly sure.” At any
rate, I am willing that my character as a man of veracity, should stand
or fall upon the confirmation, given in the Appendix, to every fact
assumed in the Sermon.
STEPHEN N. ROWAN.
JVew-York, August 1818.TO ALL MINISTERS
OE THE
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH,
WHOSE CONSISTORIES,
THOUGH ABLE,
JLUE NOT WILLING,
TO SUPPORT THEM,
THIS SERMON
IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED
BE THEIR
SYMPATHIZING BROTHER,
THE AUTHOR.GENESIS XXX. 30.
It was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now
increased unto a multitude ; and the Lord hath blessed
thee since my coming: and now, when shall I provide for
mine own house also ?
THESE are the words of Jacob, in reply to the
request of his uncle Laban, that, instead of going to
the land of Canaan, he would remain with him in
Mesopotamia. Jacob having incurred the displea-
sure of his brother Esau, in the matter of the birth-
right, found it necessary, for his own peace and com-
fort, to leave his father’s house. His mother having
a brother in Padan-aram, he thought he could find
no retreat more secure than the house of his kinsman.
Accordingly, with his staff in his hand, he departed
from Canaan; and after a variety of trials and com-
forts by the way, he arrived in safety at the end of
his journey. He was kindly received by his relations^
and hospitably entertained by them for one month ;
when Laban, who was of a niggardly and covetous
disposition, observing that Jacob’s attention to his
fields and his flocks would be profitable to him, pro-
posed, under cover of promoting the interests of hisrelation, a reward for his future services. Jacob,
who at the first sight had become enamoured of his
cousin Rachel, proposes marriage with this Laban’s
youngest daughterand as he had no marriage por-
tion to give the father, as the custom of the times
and of the country required, he offers, as an equiva-
lent, seven years of personal servitude. Laban, far
from embracing this occasion of consummating a
marriage which had virtue and affection for its bonds,
made Jacob’s attachment to Rachel subservient to
his avarice, and readily accepted his proposition of
seven years’ service! Thus were the “laws of
hospitality, and the ties of blood, made to truckle to
the most sordid and detestable of all human passions;
and the free-born descendant of Abraham sinks into
the most abject of all servitude—subjection to a mar
relation
The term of service, however, was faithfully ful-
filled. “ Jacob bore with patience and cheerfulness,
the ardour of the meridian sun, and the cold, chilling
damps of the evening, in the hope of that blest hour,
when tender sympathy should soothe his distress, and
every uneasiness he lulled to rest in the bosom of
love.”* He “served seven years for Rachel; and
they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he
had to her.”
At the expiration of this period, Jacob demanded
the fulfilment of the covenant on the part of Laban.
He feigns compliance, the better to conceal his medi-
tated fraud, and amuses unsuspecting Jacob with the
* Hunter.usual apparatus of a marriage-feast: and instead of
Rachel, his beloved, Leah is imposed upon him!
The conduct of Laban was in every view trea-
cherous and base; and the excuse he offered, instead
of being an indemnification, was an insult. It is
doubtful whether it was the custom of the country for
the elder daughter to be always married first; and if
it was, Laban ought, like an honest man, to have
given him the information before; and not, by keep-!-
ing him in ignorance, cheat him out of the reward of
his services, which he had every reason to expect at
their termination.
But what will not avarice do ? It will deceive
the unsuspecting—it will accommodate the miser’s
conscience to the basest purposes ! Hence we find
the same man who, the night before, was too conscien-
tious to violate an absurd custom of the country, proposing
the very next morning polygamy and incest, and to
make his own children the instruments of both! He
had seen his flocks multiply and his wealth increase
under Jacob’s care, and it mattered not what disor-
der his proposition introduced into his daughter’s
family, provided it redounded to his private interest.
He therefore told Jacob that he might still have
Rachel, on the condition of another seven years’ ser-
vice. This unblushingly avaricious proposition,
Jacob’s love induced him, with perhaps too much
precipitation, to accept. He obtained his Rachel,
and served his uncle and his father-in-law seven years
more.
At the expiration of the time of Jacob’s servitude,
he naturally thought of the home he had left so long
210
"before, and of the obligations he was under to make
provision for his notv numerous family; and accord-
ingly applies to Laban for his dismission. That
greedy kinsman, well aware of the loss he would sus-
tain by Jacob’s departure, expresses much regret on
hearing his proposal; and as he had most ungene-
rously taken advantage of his nephew’s passion for
his daughter to increase his own wealth, he now,
from a sense of shame, as well as a regard to interest,
consents to share with Jacob those fruits of his
labours which he had hitherto kept to himself “ And
Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found
favour in thine eyes, tarry : for I have learned by
experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy
sake. And he said, appoint me thy wages, and I will
pay it.”
Jacob being won by his fair speech, makes up his
mind to remain with Laban, provided he can do it
with advantage to himself. And by way of inducing
Laban to do well by him, he makes an appeal to his
gratitude : “ Thou knowest how I have served thee,
and how thy cattle was with me. For it is little
which thou hadst before I came, and it is now in-
creased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed
thee since my coming.” Since, therefore, I have
served you so faithfully and so successfully, let your
gratitude dictate that you ought now to be liberal to
me. But this is not the only consideration he urges.
He urges his own obligation to secure a comfortable
maintenance for himself and his family—“and now,
when shall I provide for mine own house also ?” He
that provides not for his own, and specially for thoseof his own house, hath denied the faith, and is worse
than an infidel. And, therefore, if I am to remain
with you, it must be upon the supposition that I shall
have an opportunity of making provision for my
family.
I have selected this address of Jacob to Laban as
the subject of present remark, as it affords an oppor-
tunity of giving a short history of this congregation
since my settlement among you; and as it will enable
me to declare more fully than I ever have done, a
part of “the counsel of God,” which may be profita-
ble in your present situation. A crisis has arrived in
which you ought to be made acquainted with your
own concerns; in which, a regard to truth, and the
prevention of misrepresentation of conduct and of
character, requires a plain, unvarnished exposition of
. facts. And as this exposition can now be made with-
out fearing any thing from the frowns, or hoping any
thing from the favour, of whom it may concern, I shall
make it, holding myself responsible for its truth, in
the order of the text.
I. “ It was little which thou hadst when I came.”
At my settlement, in the autumn of 1807, there
were thirty-one members in the full communion of
this church. The number of families I cannot pre-
cisely state, as no statistical reports were then re-
quired by the Classis. But in the year 1810, we
could number no more than sixty-five families as con-
tributing to the worshippers of God in this place.
The ordinary hearers were a mere handful—here andthere ©ne, scattered over this space which we h6w
occupy. They were so few, in fact, that, to use the
figurative language of an old divine, speaking of a
4hin congregation to which he had preached, “ you
might have planteda cannon, and firing it off in almost
any direction, it Would scarcely have killed any.
body.”
As there were few people, so there were small
pecuniary means for the support of the gospel. The
pew rents, from June 1808 to June 1809, the first
time they were let by the year, amounted to $586.
The amount of subscriptions I have not been able to
ascertain, as there is no record on the minutes of
Consistory. At this period Consistory were in debt
$5,075. In point of numbers and of wealth, there-
fore, it is literally true, that it was little which thou
hadst when I came.
II. “ And it is now increased unto a multitude.”
The number of communicants added to this Church,
since my ordination, is 229; of whom 162 were receiv-
ed on confession of their faith, and 67 by certificate
from other churches. Of the whole number which had
been received before, and which have since been
received, amounting to 260, 22 have died, and 74
been dismissed, leaving 164, as the whole number
now in the regular communion of this Church,
The number of families is increased to more than
100. Every pew is taken; and in some pews there
is more than one family. The building is in fact
fill occupied.The tents of the pews have increased from $586
to % 1,441; and the subscription, for any thing I know1
to the contrary, remains much the same. Compared,
therefore, with what you were when I came; it may
be safely said that your numbers and your means hare
increased unto a multitude.
III. And 1 may add—“ The Lord hath blessed thee
since my coming.”
To myself I take none of the honour of the favour-
able change which has taken place in your temporal
and spiritual affairs. I would, like Jacob, when
Laban says, “ the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake,”
vary the expression, and say, the Lord hath blessed
thee since my coming.”
Ascribe the favourable change to any cause you
please; say that it is owing to the increase of popu-
lation in this village; that it was to be expected in
the ordinary course of things; that it might have
taken place (and to a greater extent,) under the
administrations of any other man: say, if you please,
that all the past and present hearers have hated my
person and my ministrations, and that they have
attached themselves to this Church because there
was no other place of worship for them in the village;
purely out of love to religious ordinances, or at the
suggestion of the rulers of this congregation; ascribe
the change, I say, to what you please, and take away
from me and my ministrations, in every respect, the
credit of it, still the fact exists—“ The Lord hath
blessed thee since my coming.”14
The number of members and of ordinary hearers
has greatly increased. Your debt, of more than
$5000, had, by the month of October, 1815, been
reduced to $361, besides paying the minister’s sala-
ry, and all the contingent expenses of the congrega-
tion ; and you have been receiving, for several years*
an average income of about $2,500.
IV. “ And now, when shall I provide for mine own
house also.”
It is the duty of every man to make honest efforts
for the support of his family. An inspired apostle
says, (1 Tim. v. 8.) “ If any provide not for his own,
and specially for those of his own house, he hath
denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” Now,
of all men, a minister of Christ ought to be the last
to deny the faith of the gospel, give occasion for the
charge of infidelity, or of being worse than an infidel!
He ought to seek a suitable maintenance for his household.
How is he to do this? The duties of his calling,
the current of public opinion, and the authority of his
Master, forbid his engaging in any secular pursuit.
And if he is to endeavour to obtain a competency, he
must look for it from the people among whom he mi-
nisters. It is their duty to support him.
The support of the ministers of religion rests not
on the foundations of chance, of the caprice of their
people, or of the artificial, unabiding value of coin.
The instruction of mankind in the knowledge and
practice of the divine will, and the support of those
who are set apart for this instruction, have been con-15
sidered objects equally worthy of infinite wisdom and'
goodness; and that support is to be afforded in one
permanent, uniform manner ; in a manner that frees
them from the anxiety of providing the necessaries of
life for themselves and their families;; and which, in
consequence of that freedom, leaves them more at
liberty to attend to the great duties of their profession.
Thus, under the Law, God ordained that the
tribe of Levi, who were to officiate in the office
of the priesthood, should receive the tenth of all
the income of the other tribes for their support.
The Levitical priesthood being changed, the obli-
gation of paying tithes to the tribe of Levi ceased with
it. But it might, perhaps, be difficult to prove, that
the payment even of tithes for the support of religion
is dispensed with under the Gospel. At any rate, the
apostle Paul strongly asserts the right, not the favour
—-the right of the Christian ministry to a support
from their ministry. And in one place he clearly inti-
mates that that right extends to a support very much
like that to which the Levites were entitled by their
officiating in the temple. (1 Cor. ix. 13, &c.) “ Do ye
not know that they which minister about holy things
live of the things of the temple ? and they which wait
at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so
hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the
Gospel should live of the Gospel.” And again; “ It is
written in the law of Moses, thou shalt not muzzle
the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth
God take care for oxen ? or saith he it altogether for
our sakes ? For our sokes, no doubt, this is written, that
he that plougheth should plough in hope, and that16
he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of has
hope.”
Paul did indeed^ for the most part, maintain him-
self in the discharge of his ministry. But why ? Not
because he had nft right to a support: for this he
repeatedly asserts on his own behalf, and on the
behalf of his fellow-labourers; but because, at the
first propagation of the Gospel he wanted to keep
himself and the Gospel clear of all suspicion of merce-
nariness, to which all things expensive axe exposed, till
their excellence and their purity are thoroughly un-
derstood; and because it was an express command
of Christ to his apostles, “ freely ye have received,
freely give.”* The apostles had been at no expense
either of time, study, or fortune, to attain a full know-
ledge of the Gospel; and therefore they were required,
in dispensing that Gospel, to give as freely as they
had received. But “ every scribe which is instructed
unto the kingdom of heaven, is like unto a man that
is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his
treasures things new and oM.”f He will take care to
furnish himself with all the materials and implements
necessary to the purposes of his profession : he will
endeavour to be informed of the ancient and modern
condition of the world, and to gather stores of useful
knowledge from ancient and modern literature. But
all this cannot be done without much time, much
expense, much study, and weariness of the flesh.
And is it reasonable, or right, that after all this, he
should be condemned to a precarious, a scanty, and
* Matt. x. 8.	t Matt. xiii. 52.;|7
illiberal maintenance ? it is riot. And therefore oto
loot'd has not left the matter at uncertainties. He
-has note instructed minister^ in these days as he did
dhe apostles,.by miracle; ahd therefore has not given
-diem, as he did the apostles, the power in dispensing
instruction to others, to work miracles for their main-
tenance. The people who are. taught, must communi-
.cate to him that teacheth in all good things. So saith
Scripture the stupid revilings, and hypocritical
cant of Satanic delusion, petulant ignorance, or in-
terested avarice, to the cohtrary notwithstanding.
Such is the .obligation of a people who are favoured
.with a Gospel ministry, as inferred from the testimony
of Scripture.
Let us now see what obligations they voluntarily
incur, when they give a minister a call. Let us take
the call given to the ministers of the Reformed Dutch
Church, as an example.*
In that instrument, I find this. address to the .per-
son to whom it is given•“ To mctmrage you in the
discharge of the duties of your important office, we
promise you all proper attention, love, and obedience
in the Lord; and to free you from all worldly cares and
revocations^ while you are dispensing spiritual blessings
to us, we do promise to pay you” annually—a certain
specified sum.
> What, I ask, would, in the eye of God, and in the
opinion of common sense, he considered as a fulfil-
ment of this contract? Would the payment of the
* Some of the following ideas on the subject of Calls, are borrowed
from a Sermon preached at Albany, by the late Rev. John B-
Johnson.
318
stipulated sum ? Not in all cases, by any means;
The stipulated sumds not the principle upon which
the call is predicated. It is only the mean to accom-
plish the end the people had in view, viz. to: free him
from worldly caresx&id avocations. In this call, there-
fore, a congregation . obviously contracts not merely
for the mean, but for the end in view. But if the
means should become insufficient, the end must fail.
If the salary is not adequate to free him from worldly
cares and avocations, and they refuse to give him more,
they fulfil neither the letter not the spirit of the contract.
Let us state a case as an example: I receive a call
from a people, in which are the words before recited.
I accept it upon the promise of a Stipulated sum,
which, at the time of acceptance, is deemed, both
by the Church and myself, sufficient for the support
of my family. For some time I find that I have not
been disappointed; that my support has been gene-
- rous and abundant; But after labouring a few years,
circumstances change, my family increases, the ne-
cessaries of life are doubled in price, and conse-
quently my money has lost half its value; and, with
this alteration, the numbers and Wealth of the people,
fand the income of the Church, proportionafoly in-
crease;—bpt my salary remains fixed. If, under
these circumstances, I tell the Consistory, or the peo-
ple, “ my salary does not go half as far as it uSed to
do; that it fails to support my family:” will they.be
exonerated by replying, with cold indifference—we
have fulfilled our contract; we can think of doing
nothing more ! Is this freeing me from worldly cares and
avocations f Is this performing the stipulation, to pay19
me all proper attention ; when they%ill not attend to my
most Urgent necessities ? Is this manifesting all that
love itt the Lord which they promised, when they leave
me and my family to starve?	!■;
In these views of the subject,. I might ask, “When
shall I provide for mine own house also ?” Since
Christ has commanded that he who preaches the
Gospel must live of the Gospel; since this Consistory
did promise, by the support they were to give me, to free
me from all worldly cares and avocations; and since,
by the diminution of their debt, andthe increase of their
revenue, they were amply able to fulfil their contract,
it might have been reasonably expected that I should
have been enabled to provide for those of mine own
house. But the fact is otherwise. I originally accept-
ed the call of this Church at a stipulated salary of
$1,150—-ignorant of the expenses of housekeeping
generally, and particularly of the expenses of living
in this place: but believing, that with my then
small family, it would be sufficient to support me. I
soon found that sum inadequate; and, accordingly,
eighteen months after my ordination, made known my
wants to the Consistory, and asked them whether
they would augment my salary ? To which Consis-
tory replied, that it was inexpedient at that time “ to
attempt’ to raise my salary; but, at the same time,
expressed their “ hope that the great Head of the
Church would hereafter give them cause to bless his
holy name, for enlarging their powers and their zeal
to promote his declarative glory.”* In this hope I
* See Appendix, No. 1.m
continued to serve them; and for ihreeyears received
no more from them than my stipulated salary. In the*
course of the fourth year of my ministry, the opinion#
of the liberal part of the congregation, in relation to
the inadequacy of my support were so decidedly ex-
pressed by their words and actions, that the Consis-
tory were induced to give me $350 more; and for the
six following years I received that sum in addition td
the stipulation of the call.* But even this, with the
increased expenses growing out of the late war, and
the increased number and expensiveness of' my
family, proved insufficient. Accordingly, on the 9th
of July, 1816,1 applied to Consistory for an increase
of my salary above the sum of $1,500. This applica-
tion was followed by an attempt to increase my
salary, and a pledge to give me all that could' be
raised for that purpose: and 1, the following year,
received $1,950. But that pledge having been with-
drawn, "Jr and the present Consistory having reduced?
my income to the stipulated sum of 1,150; I ask,
when shall I provide for mine own house also ? and
reply, Never ; so long as I remain the pastor of this con-
gregation.
My reason for this answer is, a eonvietion that there'
is an indisposition, on the part of the present Consist
tory, and of those who, from time to time, will (as a*
thing of course, and as a matter of policy) compose
this Consistory, to afford me any additional regular
* In 1814 I received $400.
t Without my consent, or the consent of the congregation.tuppgfi -above $1,150; This conviction rests on the
following facts .*■■■■
1st, The conduct of Consistory in times past, at the
annual vote to give me $350 as extra salary.
This sum they uniformly refused to endorse on the
call i* they gave it oj ew to a poor necessitous:
man-mot as any thing they were bound to give'—and
in. a way which was calculated to increase my sense of
obligation to them, and not to the people, who
enabled them to give it. But if this was the object, it
was never obtained. I never did fed, I never did
Mpmm my obligation to them for it. I always consi-
dered it os my right, growing out of their duty to sup-
port me, and out of the wish of the people who gave
it, that 1 should receive it. That I should receive it,
was, in several honourable cases, the condition of its
subscription : and if the Consistory had refused to
give, it, the subscribers would have done it; and,
consequently, would have withheld their subscrip-
tionsfrom Consistory. This was well known: and the
fear of diverting the income of the Church into another
channel, was, in my opinion, the true reason why I
received it. And, therefore, was it left as a tempo-
rary, and not as a permanent arrangement ; in hope
that that time would come, when my friends, as they
have been invidiously, though properly called, might
possibly become indifferent to my support; and then
they could, without clamour, revert to the original call.
2dly. The circumstances connected with the pledge
given by the Consistory.
* See Appendix No, 2.22
When, in the year -1816, I applied for an increase
of my salary above fifteen hundred dollars, the
Consistory (to their honour be it said) took up the sub-
ject promptly, laid* it before a meeting of the congre-
gation, called by? themselves, and read to them a
minute, of which the following is a true copy: “ Con-
sistory pledge themselves, that whatever additional
sum may be given by the congregation for the above
purpose, shall be given to Mr. Rowan, to the extent
of $2,500.”	'	^
One inducement offered by the Consistory to the
people to give liberally, was in the following words:
“ That from a due examination of their receipts and
expenditures, a statement of which is hereunto an-
nexed, it appears, that if Consistory should allow Mr.
Rowan $1,500 this year, as they have done for Seve-
ral years past, there will be a deficiency of $81.”
Over this statement I should like to draw a veil: but
as I have been censured for the opinions I have ex-
pressed in relation to it, I shall not withhold what I
have to say: it was an incorrect statement. And here I
wish to be understood, not as implicating the motives
of any man, or of any set of men. The circumstance
might have originated in inadvertence or miscalcula-
tion on the part of the treasurer, or in want of circum-
spection on the part of the Consistory. But the fact is
so, that the statement was incorrect. The Consis-
tory could have given me that year $1,700, and had
money over. They did give me $1,500, and instead
of there being in consequence of it a deficiency of $81,
there was a surplus of more than $200; which, with23
a loan of $200 more, enabled them to take up a bond
of about $400.#
The inducement proposed, however, together with
other considerations of a personal nature, produced a
considerable increase to the meansvof Consistory to
support the Gospel in this place. But, strange to tell!
notwithstanding their solemn pledge, and the increase
of their means in consequence of that pledge, the
Consistory did wish to put me off with the old sum
of $ 1,500. This of course /firmly opposed. And after
opposing my determination as long as they could;
after keeping me out of part of my money nearly three
months, from the 1st of October to the last of Decem-
ber, (18th) I received, in all, $1,950. And be it re-
membered, that after I received that sum, as being all
that they had, and after all the contingent expenses of
the congregation for the preceding year were paid,
there remained in the hands of the treasurer $165 14;
which I have receipted on the salary of this yean
This sum, in the view of all the obligations, of all the
morality with which I am acquainted, / consider the
Consistory as still indebted to me for the services of that
year. For, agreeably to their own pledge, there was
no limit to the amount I was to receive but $2,500,
provided they had it to give.f
But why this change in the views of Consistory as
to that pledge ? Look at yonder Consistory-room,
and you will see the reason! The committee ap-
pointe4 “ to procure a plan for said building,” and
to “ devise ways and means” to carry that plan into
* See Appendix No. 3. f See Appendix No. 4.effect, having incurred an umiithoHzed mA mettp&ked
amount of debt in erecting that building, it wae
thought (it is presumed) unreasonable that ! should
have all the moneys pledged to me, while the Consis-
tory would be running in debt : therefore -was the
fulfilment of the pledge opposed—therefore was a part
of the money which that pledge covered withheld.*
That pledge was withdrawn after it had stood in
foil force for nearly three months of the present year :
and the circumstances connected with that withdraw-
ment, prove the indisposition of the Consistory to
give me what the people contribute to my support,
above the stipulated salary.
3dly. The same conclusion may be inferred from
circumstances relating to a ministerial library.
In the autumn or winter of, I think, 1816-17, the
subject of a ministerial library was spoken of by the
members of the Consistory; and (as I am informed, by
the gentleman who, of his men accord, brought the
subject before them) the thing was highly approved
of by all; but that, as they had no means to appropri-
ate to the purpose, it was deemed inexpedient for the
Consistory to take any measures to carry it into
effect.
Deeming a well-selected theological library of im-
portance to myself, to my successor, and to the interests of
this congregation, and knowing that I had some friends
from whom I Could get something, and from whom
the Consistory could get nothing, I undertook to raise
a small sum for that object myself. I accordingly
• See Appendix No. 5.25
called on a few gentlemen, stated to them distinctly,
and in so many words, “ that the subject had been
■before the members of our Consistory ; that they
highly approved of the object, but considered them-
selves too poor to do any thing hr the business; and
that I had, therefore, undertaken to make a beginning
myself.” I am thus particular, because a certain
person, or persons, who had no more concern with
the library than the man in the moon, have made
themselves officious in inquiring of the subscribers
what I said, and in making misrepresentations.
What I have stated is the truth, for which I hold
myself responsible.
Accordingly, upon the representation which I made
of the importance of the object, I obtained $275:—
$20 of which, poor as I am, I contributed myself.
The remainder was obtained from gentlemen who do
not belong to this congregation, and who, with the
exception of two, never come near this Church; for
the purpose of buying books to be given to the Con-
sistory of this Church “ in trust for ever, for the exclu-
sive use of the present minister, and of his successors
in the pastoral charge” of this congregation. Agree-
ably to the trust reposed in me, I purchased upwards
of eighty volumes of standard theological works, amount-
ing in value to more than $275; and, in the names
of the donors, presented them to the Consistory. The
Consistory, at the time of presentation, with only one*
dissenting vote, agreed to accept them. But having
* At the time the vote was taken, I heard but owe; I have since
been told there were two !!—Par nobile fratrum !
426
emerged from the darkness of the consistory room,
end obtained light; on the subject, from some. Mazing
sun of the congregation, they, at the next meeting,
reconsidered their former vote, and “resolved, that
this Consistory will not accept of said books as the
gift of the before named donors!!!” Why ? Because,
said one, “ the Consistory were not previously con-
sulted because, said another, “ it would be impro-
per in Consistory to run in debt for a library”—(by
receiving it as a present;) and because, said a third,
“ it will be of no use!” Because; say I, it was given
by somfe of Mr. Rowan’s friends, by way of compli-
ment to him, and in consideration of the inadequacy
of his support. This they could not admit ; and
therefore did they refuse a present tendered to them
in the most delicate and respectful manner; a pre^
sent which will now be offered to some individual, of
some other Consistory; and which, I venture to say,
they Will not have wisdom enough to reject.*
4th. The indisposition of the Consistory to give me
more than $1,150 is proved by their recent vote, in
relation to the salary of the present year.
The pledge which was given to the people, as to the
amount of my support, having been repealed without
their knowledge or consent, towards the Close of last
December (23d,) things reverted to their former
situation; and it was suposed that I should receive,
for this year, $1,500, with the addition of what Would
be due under the pledge of Consistory, which re-
mained unrepealed for nearly three months of the
* See Appendix, No. 6.present year. Tlte principle, though not formally,
.yet had been virtually conceded, that I was to re-
xeivc $l,-500 a year for my services. The Consis-
tory, in voting it, called it extra’ salary, and they uni-
formly took my receipt for it on account of salary. 1 there-
fore confidently expected to receive it for the present
year, as usual. I in fact was told by two members of
-the Consistory, in the presence of all the rest, a few
■evenings before my departure for the Carolinas, that
•they meant to give it to me, if it was in their power.
{The pews were not then sold. I suppose it was not
therefore desirable to give any alarm to my friends on
the subject of salary till after the sale.) According-
ly, after my return, I continued to receive my salary,
as usual, up to 1,150, when the Treasurer having
been informed, by some individual, that he must not
.pay me any more without an order of Consistory,
very properly addressed a letter to them, requesting
instructions on that subject, in consequence of this
a motion was made and seconded, that the Rev.
Mr. Rowan receive, up to the 1st of October, $350
in addition to his stipulated salary of $1,150; which,
being regularly put, was lost.”* For the honour of
those who voted in favour of the above resolution, I
beg leave to read a further extract from the minutes:
■“ The ayes and' noes being called for, stood as fol-
AFPIRMATIVE.
John Cowan,
John Traphagen.
NEGATIVE.
All the rest.”
* Minutes of August 4, 1818.w
And here I wish it to he distinctly understood, that
the Consistory and myself have had no quarrel which
could have induced them thus to decide: we have
lived together in the utmost harmony. They decided,
I believe, because it was the honest conviction of
their consciences that my salary was sufficient to
support me. They therefore* deserve more credit
for acting as they have done, than those who, know-
ing that $1,150 are not sufficient to support a minis*
ter’s family in New-York, have endeavoured to pre-
vent my receipt of a larger regular salary. This
their conviction, however, does not prevent my dif-
fering from them in opinion. Accordingly, this de-
cision I in substance told Consistory at the time, as
I now tell you, I consider unkind and cruel; as from
the practice of Consistory for the last seven years,
as well as what passed before I left this for the south,
I was led to believe that I should have received
$1,500, at least, this year: that I confidently ex-
pected it, and had made all my arrangements accord-
ingly. I stated, moreover, that I considered it unjust,
as the people in* the congregation had subscribed and
purchased seats, under the impression that my salary
was $1,500; and that it was not fair to appropriate
the money, which they had in good faith contributed
to the support of the gospel, to other purposes; that
as said decision was an indication of their unwilling^
ness to support me, and as I could consent no longer
to be the instrument of deceiving the congregation,
they expecting that I received the money which they
contributed, when in fact I did not, I should do what
is now announced as a further extract from theminutes: “The Rev. Mr. Rowan stated, that in con-
sequence of the above decision; he should, by the
first day of October, which is the end of the year,
resign to the Consistory his call.”
If you ask, Why postpone your resignation till
October ? Why did you not resign immediately ? I
will'tell you frankly: I have already received, and,
within a few dollars, expended, the stipulated sum of
$1,150. I have not the means of refunding it; and,
therefore, though cut off from my ordinary resources,
though left almost pennyless, I shall, as faithfully as
possible, continue in your service to the close of the
year; trusting to the Providence of God for the
bread and the water which I and my family shall
put into our mouths. The decision which I have
announced was not made hastily. It has been my
determination for years, that I would not serve you a
single hour (if possible) after it should be announced
to me that I should receive no more than $1,150. I
might have pursued a different course; I might have
retained my situation, and appealed to private indi*
viduals for additional support: and I believe I should
not have appealed in vain. But believing it the duty
of the constituted authorities to apply the moneys
they receive to the purposes for which they are
given; and knowing, from what has heretofore taken
place, that this would not be cheerfully and peace-
ably done; and being unwilling any longer to incur
obligation to individuals, for the sake of Consistory,
I have voluntarily determined to retire.
Nor was my decision made on the basis of any other
expected settlement. I have no call. I have no ex-30
pectation of any particular call. I have decided, be-
cause the voice of Providence distinctly announced,
that if I should remain these twenty years, I could "
not hope for a support from this Consistory, as at pre-
sent constituted, nor as it is likely to be constituted;
even though the people should hereafter, as they
have uniformly done, provide ample means for my
support. I am, therefore, henceforth the child of
Providence. I go forth, like Abraham from Ur of
the Chaldees, not knowing whither: but confident, that
if my Master has any more work for me to do, he
will provide the vineyard in which it is to be done;
and that if no such field of labour offers, it will be my
duty to retire from the ministry : the responsibility of
that retirement resting upon those who, by their
injustice and their parsimony, have induced it.
Thus 1 think I have had sufficient grounds for the
conviction, that there is an indisposition on the part of
the Consistory to give more than the sum specified
in the call; and of course have, in the opinions of all
reasonable men, justified myself in the course I have
adopted.
The causes of this indisposition are mere matters of
opionion. Speculations have already been made on
this subject ; and will, no doubt, continue to be made.
As I therefore shall have no other opportunity of
endeavouring to prevent misrepresentation; as I shall
not condescend to sweep after the track of all the
slanderers that may traverse the village, I shall
now state the causes assigned for that indisposition,
so far as they have come to my knowledge.31
1st. It has been considered hard to have to sup*
port a man who reads his sermons.*
When considerations of sufficient importance are
presented to my mind, I can preach without notes;
and it is not improbable that I may yet become an
extemporaneous preacher. But, as the preaching
from notes is, with a great part of this congregation,
a matter of indifference, if not of preference; as such
preaching has not hindered the growth of this con-
gregation; as those who left it for this cause (if
there ever were any,) were a good riddance, and
their places were supplied by those who were more
able and more willing to support the Gospel; I have
had no sufficient motive to discontinue the practice.
I now, however, cordially congratulate “ the powers
that be,” on the opportunity which my resignation
will afford them, of obtaining a preacher who never
uses notes; and who, if they please, is not able to
make them. And if he, without notes, is able to keep
this congregation together as well as I have with
them; and if he is instrumental, by that means, in
* Among these Causes, I have since been told, was the alleged
preaching of politics. I never did utter, from the pulpit, a sentence
of party politics. And not knowing that polities rendered Christians
itasplacable, I had forgotten all about what had been imputed to me.
It is said, however, that those who are acquainted with the concate-
nation of men and things in the Church at Greenwich, can trace the
last memorable vote, to one of those Fasts in the year 1812, when
some people, instead of humbling themselves under the reproofs of
God’s word, went to the house of worship to “ fast for strife and
debate, and to make their voices to be heard on high.”32
bringing more abundant resources into your treasury,
I shall heartily rejoice.
2dly, Complaints have been made of a neglect of
family visitation.	'
The Classis of New-York allow each of their
ministers two years to go through their congregations
on family visits. This I have done either more or
less formally; and your delegate to Classis has uni-
formly, for the last six years, replied to the usual
interrogation,—That family visitation is regularly per-
formed in this congregation.
3dly, Great fault has been found because I have
not more regularly and zealously attended lectures
and prayer-meetings.
It is a fact, that winter after winter I have attended
a lecture and prayer-meeting in the Orphan Asylum;
and that the want of attendance on the part of the
people was the cause of their discontinuance on my
part. It is a fact, that winter after winter I commenced
a lecture in this Church, and that as the numbers
who attended did not contribute enough to defray
the expenses of lighting the building, it was deemed
expedient to discontinue it. It is a fact, that on the
finishing of the Consistory Room, I opened it with a
firm determination to continue a weekly lecture in
it; and that that lecture was regularly kept and well
attended until the last of October, when I went to the
Synod at Kingston. On my return the streets were
found, and so continued for the whole winter, almost
impassable in the evening, in consequence of the
alterations making by our corporation. In thegprjflg I yim ubscht two moptfes. Since my return
the weather has been tee warm, and the evenings
tee jshert. Bet I had fully determined to resume
them by the first of September. Whether under
present circumstances it is worth, while for the few
weeks I remain is uncertain.
Perhaps the good that might have been done by
those lectures, had they been continued, was not
very great. For it is a singular fact in the history of
the vital religion of this congregation, that some of
those who are most zealous for lectures and prayer-
meetings, and who make the greatest clamour at their
omission* are the most virulent opposers of a liberal
support to their minister, and the most free in their
censorious remarks upon his conduct and his charac-
ter. To such I say—be not deceived. These things
are utterly inconsistent with each other; aud be
advised by a friend to your growth in grace, either
to quit praying, or to quit slandering and backbiting.
Prayers which are made while such habits are che-
rished are not worth making; for if ye regard ini-
quity in your hearts, God will not hear you.”
Finally, It is said, the Consistory are not willing,
because they are not able ; or in other words, that if
they were able they would willingly give more than
$1,150. This assertion, I confess, requires more faith
than I possess. The whole debt of the Church so
recently as 1815, was but $361. What has been
added since was for vaults and the consistory room.
The first were necessary, but would soon pay for
themselves; the latter is of no more use to the con-
gregation than a steeple would be at each corner of
534
this building! But even all the debts, amounting to
between $1,800 and $2,000, might, without injury to
the Church, have been gradually reduced, and yet
ample support given to your minister out of your
annual income. That income this year is as follows;*
* Since writing the foregoing, I have obtained the following copy
pf an abstract from the books of the Consistory.
The Consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church in account with E.
Bur rill, Treasurer.
Dr.
To Cash paid Mr.
(Iowan .	.
To Cash paid sundry
other persons .	.
Balance in hand .	.
Cr.
$984 86
452 88J
440 2£
By Cash at sundry
times as actual in-
come
$1877 77
$1877 77
$1877 77
To this I am authorized to add by the collector as pay-
able on the subscription list with certainty ...	.	122 00
The calculation of the Treasurer as to what may yet be
expected from other sources is as follows :
From deacons .	.	. . .	.	.	.	...	... .	108 00
Vaults, &c.	.	...................... 40 00
Room rent at the rate of................... 100 00
So that the income of this year is *	.	.	.	.	.	$2247	77
To this add what was over last year	.	.	.	.	.	.	165	14
And the disposable fund for the year is .	.	.	.	.	$2412 91
Add to this the subscription which the collector thinks
will be lost............................ 156 50
And the difference of calculation between myself and the
Treasurer as to receipts from vault.................... 24 50
$2593 91
And my estimate falls short .	. .	.	.	.	.	.	.	6	9
$2600 003&
(how much of it has been received, or is to be
received, I am not able to state) Pews $1,441, Sub.
scription $556, Collections estimated $250, Vault
and Pall estimated $100, Rent of Room on the
Church lot at the rate of $100, making in all upwards
of $2400. Add to this the $165 which ought to
have been given to me last year, but which I have
received as part of the salary of this year, and
the disposable fund is about $2,600. Out of this
whole sum I have received $1,150, and out of the
actual income of this year I have received only
$985. Consistory therefore have, or are to have $1,400
more, and yet were not able to appropriate any part
of it for the support of the Gospel !—and yet their
not being able is the reason assigned for withholding
from me an adequate support! Verily this congre-
gation exhibits a phenomenon in the religious world;
a people who contribute most willingly and'abun-
dantly for the, support of the Gospel, and yet that
Gospel is not supported as it ought to be! the money
being appropriated by Consistory to the payment
of debts contracted for other purposes!
Having detained you thus unusually long, I shall
close with a few brief reiriarks.
1st, From the statement I have made to you of
recent occurrences it may be inferred that my pecu-
My statement of the amount of pew rents and subscription I took
from the Minutes of the Consistory; and considering that I had not
then seen the Treasurer’s hooks, and knew not how much had been
collected, my estimate has proved to be tolerably correct. Perhaps
more may still be received than either the Treasurer or myself l*ave
calculated. It may be less.36
iiiary circumstances are < not very eligible. I bad, 1
confidently thought, upon good grounds, expected to
have received a greater compensation for my services
this year than I have received. The pulpit has been
for the past year regularly supplied by myself, Of by
my instrumentality ; and when I looked for my reward
—when I had reason to expect Rachd,behold, Laban
has, in a dark hour, imposed upon me Leak: when
I ought to have received at least $1500,1 have only
received $1150! and this is all I am to receive from
the Consistory. Still I am to serve you two months
longer, at the expiration of which I shall be ih arrears
for the rent of my dwelling, and the food and raiment
of my family. And therefore, though it may be no
great compliment to the constituted authorities, I airi
induced, from a sense of duty, to cast myself upon
the generosity of those who know that $1,150 are not
sufficient to support a large family; who can calcu*
late the difference between $1,950, of even $1,500
and $1,150, and realize the effects which such a fall-
ing off in one year must produce Upon the means of
my support* I have no claimupon ymir justice. Votl
have already contributed liberally, though 1 shall not
be benefited by it; and let those whom it may con-
cern settle among themselves all accounts on the
score of justice. 1 therefore appeal to your genero-
* In consequence of the above appeal a subscription paper, I am
informed, was circulated for my benefit; but several persons to whom
it was presented had been previously requested, by two members of
the great Consistory, not to subscribe, as their subscription would be
taking part with me against the Consistory. It was not enough to
refuse to give themselves—nobody else, without their consent, must give it
This reminds me of “ the dog in the manger.”37
sityj tod state thus publicly* that; any thing any of
you may contribute to my support up to the first of
October, will be thankfully received. And perhaps
He: who says, “ Inasmuch as ye have done it unto
one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done
it unto me,” will not leave you without your reward.
2dly, Suffer me from that part of the counsel of
God which I have on this occasion declared, in rela-
tion to the support of the Gospel ministry, to give
you a word of advice. You will soon be called to
make choice of another minister. You ought in fact
to be immediately looking out for one ; for the inter-
ests of this congregation require regular administra-
tions of public ordinances; and 1 will readily resign
my pulpit on any Sabbath while I am here, to give
you an opportunity of hearing any person as a candi-
date. Make up your minds then to give my succes-
sor a liberal support. It is madness for you to expect
to get a man who is fit to occupy this place, for so
small a sum as you promised me. I know, indeed,
that some influential men among you, have already
congratulated themselves that you will now be able
to get a minister (as they call it) “ cheaper,” and I
know too that there is no doubt of that fact. I could
name to you 50 men, who would be glad to get this
situation, if you were to offer them less than my stipu-
lated salary.
But I also know that not one of the fifty would
keep this congregation, as at present constituted,
together for six months! To use the language of the
Christian’s Magazine,* “ You cannot place the pecu-
* Vol. iii. p. 386. •38
niary recompense so low, as that it will not be an
object for somebody.	Fix your salary at fifty dollars
a year, and you shall not want candidates. But they
will be fifty dollar men” They will be destitute of
all that talent and qualification which will fit them
for rendering you acceptable or useful services. Men
of talent are in too great demand, in more'prominent
situations than this, for you to expect such an.one
without an adequate support—a support something
like that afforded by congregations around you; and
such an one this congregation needs. Therefore
submit to the authority of Christ—“ He who preach-
es the Gospel must live of the Gospel.” Adhere to
the principle, and fulfil the promise of your own call,
that you will free him from all “ worldly cares,” &c.
It is, I hesitate not to say, one of the most undis-
guised proofs of a people’s want of moral honesty,
(not to say of piety,) and of their utter contempt for
the authority of Christ, who suffer their minister to
live in embarrassed circumstances. And the cries
and tears of his poverty-stricken widow and father-
less children will present an account against them at
the bar of God, which they will find it difficult to
cancel!—It is moreover unfair, upon every principle
of humanity and justice between man and man, that
he who spends his time and his patrimony in literary
institutions and the schools of the prophets, should,
on his settlement, be deprived of a competency.
Thus have I spent my time and my patrimony; and
if instead of devoting myself to the ministry, I had
taken Galen or Justinian for my master; if I had
adopted either a legal or medical profession; nay,39
had I been a useful mechanic, I could probably, with
the little talent God has given me, have advanced
myself to honours and to wealth;—whereas I have
spent 11 years of the prime of my life in your employ-
ment ; and while you have been reducing your debt,
and growing richer, I am now, as a minister, worse off
by hundreds than when I came among you!
Speculate not thus upon any other man: encourage
the heart, and strengthen the hands, of my successor
by a liberal support. But for my continued anxieties
and mortifications, in relation to temporal things, you
had received services in greater number and of a
better quality. For a people who would have sup-
ported and cherished me, I think I could have spent
the whole amount of my time and my talent, and
even the last spark of my life! I have often taken
up the pen, often devised and resolved on plans of
usefulness ; when the thought coming across my
mind, “it is for those who do not cherish me,”
the pen has been thrown dow n, and the work aban-
doned ! And but for the kind attentions of some in-
dividuals among you, with whom I could live, with
whom I could die, and with whom I hope to meet in
heaven, my labours had indeed been worthless, and
my ministerial career among you comfortless! In
relation to my successor, then, remember, that nothing
more effectually depresses and breaks a minister’s
spirits than neglect; that cold-blooded distance and
indifference is the death of all pleasure in tbe pasto-
ral relation;—and let him not look in vain for that
constant succession of kind and liberal attentions,
which is the best proof of affectionate regard, and©ne of the best securities for his faithful and success-
ful labours.
Finally. In the prospect of the dissolution of our
connexion, let us mutually prepare for its solemn re*
suits. Our accounts with God, as minister and peo-
ple, will soon close; and perhaps sooner than we are
aware, we shall be sisted before the tribunal of God:
I, to answer for the manner in which I have fulfilled
my ministry:—you, for the improvement you have
made of my ministrations. Be it my business then to
humble myself before God for all my neglects of
duty; and to plead with Him, for Christ’s sake, for
their forgiveness. Be it yours to remember, that the
word you have heard will be to you either a savour
of life unto life, or a savour of death unto death;—
and if my ministrations have hitherto proved unprofit-
able, be solicitous to profit by them during the short
time that remains. There are many of you upon
whom labour has been hitherto bestowed in vain;
who have been exhorted, warned, and reproved—•
to no purpose: .to whom I have been preaching of a
precious Saviour, of an incorruptible crown, and an
everlasting kingdom; but who have, as yet, neither
part nor lot in either; who are still in the gall of bit-
terness and the bond of iniquity.
And shall you continue at ease in such a state ?
Are you willing to go unpardoned and unsanctified
to the regions of the lost ? Are not your souls pre-
cious ? Is not the day of account for Sabbaths and
sermons drawing near P Then be entreated even at
this late hour, to flee for refuge to Jesus, for pardon
and acceptance with God. Ask him to cause the41
good seed which has been sown among you, to take
root in your hearts, and spring up, bearing fruit unto
the harvest of eternal life: that it may not be your
condemnation, that light has come among you, and
you have loved darkness rather than light, your deeds
being evil: but that being washed, and justified, and
sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the
Spirit of our God, you may at last be presented spot-
less, before Him with exceeding glory.
And ye, professing Christians, be solicitous to
manifest more consistency of Christian character; to
grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ ; to imitate his example, and to
obey his laws. Now is your salvation nearer than
when ye believed. Therefore sleep not as do others.
But let your loins be girded about, and your lamps
burning, and ye be like unto men who are waiting for
the coming of their Lord.
Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for
you all is, that ye may be saved. May the blessings
of the everlasting covenant - be given to my friends;
and may the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush,
be the portion of mine enemies. And when we shall
stand together at the bar of God, may my head be
encircled with many crowns of rejoicing given me by
God in this congregation; and your glorified lips
mingle with mine in singing that song—“Unto Him
that loved us and washed us from our sins in His
own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto
God and his Father, to Him be glory and dominion
for ever.” Amen.
6APPENDIX#
NO. I.
Extracts from the Minutes of the Consistory of the Reformed Dutch
Church, Greenwich, New-York.
“ JUNE 6, 1809.
The following communication was received from the Rev. Mr.
Rowan:
The following simple, though interesting questions are humbly
submitted to Consistory, by their friend and brother in the bonds
of a common Lord :
1.	Whether it is in their power to augment his salary ?
2.	If it is, whether they will or not ?
3.	If they will, how much ?
4.	If much, how soon ?
A candid answer to these questions will much oblige, because
upon it depends the future arrangements of
STEPHEN N. ROWAN.
Whereupon resolved, That Messrs. Wendover, Labagh, Haring,
BeaMy, and Demarest be a committee to consider and report
thereon.
JULY 3, 1809.
Mr. Wendover, from the committee to whom was referred the
Communication from the Rev. S. N. Rowan, made the following
report:
The committee to whom was referred the communication from
the Rev. Mr. Rowan, of the 6th instant,” (ultimo it ought to have
been) “ beg leave to report, That they have taken the same into '
their serious consideration, and after mature reflection, they are of
opinion, that it is not in the power of Consistory at present to raise
Mr. Rowan’s salary. And that, considering the state of the Con-
gregation in all its relations, it would not, in the opiniea of your44
APPENDIX.
committee, be expedient to attempt it at this time. Your committee
however think, that under these circumstances, Mr. Rowan ought to
postpone any arrangements he may have contemplated, while they en-
tertain a hope that the great Head of the Church will continue to
carry on his work with greater increase among us, and hereafter
give us cause to bless his holy name for enlarging our powers and
our mutual zeal to promote his declarative glory in our Zion.
(Signed)	P. H. Wendover9
A. Labaghy
John Haring,
Christopher Beakly9
Abm. Demarest.
Greenwich, July 3, 1809.”
Remark.—Five out of eight of the Members of Consistory on a
committee! !! It is obvious, that whatever such a committee
would report, Consistory must adopt!
“ SEPTEMBER 5, 1809.
The Rev. S. N. Rowan stated to Consistory, that having taken
into serious consideration their embarrassed situation, he was
willing (agreeably to an opinion suggested in the report of the com-
mittee on his communication) to postpone his contemplated arrange-
ments ; but at the same time also stated that such were his own em-
barrassments, in consequence of inadequate support, that he ex-
pected Consistory, as soon as God in his providence shall put the
means in their power, will make an increase of his salary.”
NO. II.
As this fact will not be disputed, it is unnecessary to quote at
large, the Minutes of the Consistory on this subject. I shall only
state, that the Great Consistory, at a meeting, July 13, 1813, de-
clined giving any advice on this point; and that the Consistory, at
their meeting, July 30, 1813, refused to increase the permanent
salary.
Since the foregoing Sermon was preached, the Consistory called
a meeting of the Great Consistory, August 14, for the purpose of
asking “ their advice as to the expediency of giving the Rev. Mr
Rowan any additional sum as his regular salary above $1150:”APPENDIX.	45
when their names being called, they all, with one exception,
said 44 NO.”
The Consistory, at a meeting, August 17, 1818, passed a reso-
lution 44 in conformity to the advice of the Great Consistory.”
Thus, are my convictions and assertions as to the indisposition of the
present Consistory, and of those who will be their successors, con-
firmed.
NO. III.
The following is a true copy of the statement alluded to.
44 Estimate of the probable receipts and expenditures of the Church,
from 1st January, 1816, to 1st January, 1817.
Rent of pews ....
Amount of subscriptions
that may be received .
Collections by Deacons .
$1000
600
180
$1780
Mr. Rowan’s salary, if
paid as last year . .	$1500
Clerk’s salary ....	50
Sexton’s salary . . .	50
Interest on Mr. Brincker	
hoff’s bond ....	25
Painting the Church	150
Contingent account . .	50
Candles and firewood ,	36
1861
1780
Making a deficiency of . $81	”
Viewing this statement, as it purports to be an 44 estimate of the
probable receipts,” &c. it i£ incorrect in the following particulars.
1.	The pews let for $1030 89 ; and it was not probable that $30
would be lost in the collection.
2.	It was not probable that there would be no income from the
vault and pall, which are omitted in the estimate.
3% Nor was it probable that there would be only $180 collected
by the Deacons, as there had been for several years received from
that source between $250 and $300, and the Congregation was an-
nually increasing *46
APPENM2,
The result at any rate proved the estimate to hare been incorrect,
for. the following were the receipts of that year.
Pews .	.	.	.	.	$1030	39
Subscription .	.	*	604	39
Vault and Pall	.	.	96
Deacon’s collections $ 219 10
$1950 38—170 38 more than the estimate.
And on paying the expenditures^ included in the estimate ; (painting
the Church excepted) on paying other contingencies which were
not estimated ; on paying a salary of $1500, and a bond which was
not in the estimate, amounting to $459, including interest, the
Consistory were under the necessity of borrowing only $200, and
there was left in the Treasury a balance carried to the account of
the following year, of—$159 51—nearly enough to have paid
for the painting of the Church, which was more than the estimate,
viz. $166.
The objections to the statement then are,
1.	That some probable sources of revenue were omitted.
2.	That money actually received as revenue was omitted.
3.	That the bond, if it was to have been paid, was not included
among the expenditures of the year.
4.	That the Treasurer, with his books before him, should make
out a statement, exhibiting a deficit of $81 ; and that in less than
one month afterward, he should, without any new sources of reve-
nue, find enough in the Treasury to furnish a committee appointed
for that purpose the means of paying himself $459 19.
NO. IT.
Extracts from the Minutes.
“ JULY, 9, 1816.
A communication from Mr. Rowan was read, and is in the words
following, viz.
Greenwich, July 9, 1816.
Christian Brethren,
The Consistory not having yet come to a formal and official
decision upon my application to them for an increase of salary on
the 5th of March, as I hoped they would have done during myAPPENDIX.	47
absence, I now, agreeably ta an intimation given the last time we
met, renew that application.
It is known to you that I originally accepted your call on the
condition of receiving eleven hundred and fifty dollars per annum,
and that for this sum I served you three years. For the five follow-
ing years, the Consistory, from the conviction of the inadequacy of
their first offer, paid me fifteen hundred dollars. The embarrass-
ments occasioned by the small sum I at first received, in connexion
with a depreciated currency, and the extremely high price of every
article of family consumption, rendered the last sum of little more
value to me than the former. The consequence has been, that I
have been under the necessity of taking up money upon interest, and
of successively selling, 1st, One hundred acres of land, the property
of my wife. 2dly, Parting with a most valuable portion of my
library, a possession which every congregation which has any regard to
the respectability and efficiency of its ministry would rather increase
than diminish; and finally disposing of my household furniture, and
interrupting all my domestic habits and comforts. The proceeds
of these itespective sales have been appropriated in the extinguish-
ment of my debts ; and all that I have been in the habit of receiving
from this Consistory up to the first of October, have in anticipation
been appropriated to the same object: and even when that shall
have been received, I shall be under obligations for a considerable
amount, neither the principal nor interest of which I shall be able
to discharge, and at the same time support my family.
Such is a frank disclosure of my situation to you as friends and
Christian brethren ; a situation which gives me unceasing anxiety
of mind, and which often occasions an interruption of the comfort-
able and even the faithful discharge of my ministerial duties.
Under these circumstances I hereby ask you in your incorporated
capacity, for an increase to the salary heretofore allowed me for my
services. And if it may be any inducement to make such increase,
1 will add, that I have good reasons for believing that many of the
pew-holders are willing to increase their subscriptions in order to
increase the salary. Independently of the consideration, that I could
have received the two last years more money than the Consistory gave
me, had it not been for the fear of giving them offence, and the sincere
desire that all the moneys I receive should come through the medium of
the Consistory; independently of this, I cannot be made to believe48
APPENDIX.
that a people who, in the vicinity of other churches, and having
every facility for going to them, give the preference to ours, .are
not satisfied with my ministrations ; nor shall I believe, until the
experiment is fairly tried, that a people satisfied with my ministra-
tions are not willing to support me, if a fair statement be made to
them of my situation, and of the willingness of Consistory to relieve
it, provided the means are afforded them.
I therefore renew my application for an increase of salary; and
pray that your decision may result in the glory of God, and the best
interests of the church committed to our common care.
STEPHEN N. ROWAN.
Consistory being desirous to afford their Pastor a liberal support,
as far as their means will enable them, Resolved, That the aforesaid
communication be referred to a committee, consisting of Wm. W.
Gilbert, John Cowan, Abm. Labagh, John Ritchie, and David Ro-
bertson, to inquire into the state of their funds, and whether any
means may be devised to increase them, together with their opinion
as to the best course to be pursued, and to report thereon with all
convenient speed.
, JULY 20, 1816.
The committee to whom was referred the communication from
Mr. Rowan, reported as follows, (viz.)
The committee to whom was referred the written application of
the Rev. S. N. Rowan, for an increase of salary, report, That they
have taken the subject into serious consideration; that from a due
examination of their receipts and expenditures, a statement of
which is hereunto annexed,* it appears, that if Consistory should
allow Mr. Rowan $1500 this year, as they have done for several
years past, there will be a deficiency of $81. Your committee are
therefore of opinion, that unless some additional means are afforded
by the Congregation, it will not be in the power of Consistory,
however desirable, to increase his compensation. That, from the
consideration of Mr, Rowan's usefulness—whose preaching we believe
has been blessed, and a disposition in Consistory to comply with his
* See page 45.APPENDIX.
49
request, your committee would respectfully recommend to Consistory
that they make a serious call upon the Congregation, for the pur-
pose of affording additional means to increase Mr. Rowan’s compen-
sation ; and that Consistory pledge themselves, that whatever ad-
ditional sum may be given by the Congregation, for the above pur-
pose, shall be given to Mr. Rowan, to the extent of $2500. Your
committee would further recommend, that the Congregation be re-
quested to meet in the Church, on Monday, the 22d day of July, at
7 o’clock in the evening, for the purpose of laying before them the
said application of Mr. Rowan, together with the proceedings of
Consistory thereon, in order that the Congregation maybe induced
by a liberal subscription to enable the Consistory to increase his
compensation ; and that public notice of said meeting be given next
Sabbath, both morning and afternoon.
The above is respectfully submitted.
(Signed)	Wm. W. Gilbert, \
John Cowan,	I
A. Lahagh,	>	Committee.
John Ritchie,	I
David Robertson, j
Which report was adopted.
To show that there was money in the Treasury, after my receipt
of $1950, and the payment of contingencies, I insert the following
letter from the Treasurer:
SIR,
The committee to examine the Treasurer’s account intend to
meet at my house this evening ; there being upwards of $100 in my
hands, and wishing to balance the books before they meet, will
you be pleased to call on me this morning, to receive it.
Your’s, &c.	Wm. W. GILBERT.
Rev. S. JV. Rowan.
I accordingly called, and received, as stated in the Sermon,
$165 14. And to show to what account it was placed, I give the
following as the last item on the Dr. side of the Treasurer’s books,
under date of January 14, 1818.
“ Rev. S. N. Rowan, on account of his salary, com-
mencing for the year from 1st of October, 1817,	$165 14,”
750
APPENDIX*
By way of impugning my statement that I received the above
sum after all the contingent expenses for the preceding year were
paid, it is said the present Treasurer has paid several accounts
which ought to have been paid last year. Why were they not
paid ? There was money enough in the Treasury* I have since
examined the Treasurer’s books, and find, that what he has paid and
is to pay, which ought to have been paid the last year, amounts to
$60 42. Leaving, as my due, $104 72. If to this I add as a set-
off to the $60 the $166 for painting the Church, which, according
the preceding statement was to have been paid in 1816, but which
was paid (out of money pledged to me) in 1817—the balance still
due me, in my estimation, for the services of that year, instead of
being only $165, as I stated in the Sermon, is above $250.
NO. Y.
“ MARCH 26, 1817.
On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to procure
a plan for said building, (Consistory Room) and report with all
convenient speed; and that Labagh, Beackly, and Herring be the
committee.
“ APRIL 2, 1816.
The committee who were appointed to procure a plan for the
building to be erected on our lot, report, That they have obtained
one, which they now lay before the board ; which is estimated to
cost $600, twenty-five by forty-five, and one story high.
On motion, Resolved unanimously, That the above plan be
adopted.
On motion, Resolved, That a committee be appointed to devise
ways and means (in addition to those already provided by a sub-
scription taken up for that purpose, Febr’y 8th, 1816) to carry the
above resolution into full effect; and that Messrs. Labagh, Beakly,
and Herring be that committee.
On the minutes of Consistory, of Dec. 5, 1817, and Dec. 11,
1817, “ The whole debt—contracted for (said) building, including
work done for repairing Church and making blinds,” is stated to be
$1607 83.APPENDIX*
51
The repairs were estimated by the committee at $50* The
building then cost $ 1557 83. $554 49 were obtained by the commit-
tee from the friends of Sunday Schools—-the remaining $1003 34
Consistory are indebted for. The Consistory agreed to go to the
extent of $600—the committee, without authority, went to the ex-
tent of $1557 83. If the committee had confined themselves to
the plan, Consistory would have owed for the building only $45 41.
It was hoped by the Consistory, when they adopted a plan for a
room on their lot, that they would incur no debt in its building.
Hence they appointed a committee to devise ways and means—and
hence that committee, in their report to Consistory, Dec. 5, 1817,
after stating that they had received on a subscription $494 50, also
state 64 The success your committee met with at the beginning, and
the hope (considering the necessity of such a building in our village)
that wo, or a a very small debt would be contracted by the Consistory,
induced them to purchase materials and employ suitable workmen.”
NO. VI.
The following is a copy of the subscription presented, and a list of the
subscribers obtainedl.
Whereas A learned and pious ministry is of vital importance to
the interests of the Church generally, and to the respectability and
profit of individual congregations : and,
Whereas No ministry can become learned or well qualified to dis-
pense useful instruction, without the use of a well-selected theo-
logical library: and,
Whereas The salary afforded the minister of the Reformed Dutch
Church at Greenwich, in the city of New-York, is inadequate to the
support of his family, and, at the same time, to the purchase of
books which are absolutely necessary for him in the course of his
ministrations: and,
Whereas We, the subscribers, are desirous of contributing to the
respectability of the standing of said minister, and of his successors
in the pastoral charge of said Church ;
Therefore, Do we give the several sums set opposite our respect-
ive names for the purchase of a library, on the following express con-
ditions :
1st. The books are to be selected by the Rev. Stephen N, Rowan,
who is, at the end of this Subscription Book, to make out a catalogue52
APPPNDIX.
of the books he select] , and a statement of the prices they cost, duly
certified by his signatiiJe.
2d. The books so selected are given, by us, to the Consistory
of the Reformed Dutch Church at Greenwich, in the city of New-
York, intrust, forever, for the exclusive use of the present minister,
and of his successors in the pastoral charge of said Church.
3d. The exclusive use of said books shall always be considered
a perquisite independently of, and in addition to, whatever monqy
said Consistory may pay as the salary of said minister and his suc-
cessors.
4th. The Books, during the ministry of the Rev. Stephen N.
Rowan at Greenwich, are to be deposited by him in a place most
convenient to himself; and, afterward, by the Consistbt^^iorttheir
room near the Church, or in any other place which will most safely
preserve them, and at the same time accommodate their successive
ministers.
5th. Whenever the said Consistory, or their successors, shall
refuse to let their present minister, or his successors, have the exclu-
sive use of said books, the trust reposed in them by us shall be con-
sidered as forfeited ; and in that event, we do hereby reserve to our-
selves, our heirs, and assigns, for ever, the right of giving said books,
in trust, to any other Reformed Dutch Church.
6th. The case or cases necessary for the preservation of said
books, shall be purchased by Mr. Rowan out of the moneys hereby
donated.
John Hone....................  $50
J. Oothout ...........	35
Abraham Brinckerhoff........... 35
John Ford...................... 15
Isaac Heyer ..........	30
Richard Duryee................. 20
Stephen Reed..................  25
J. Nitchie..................... 10
Isaac Sebring.................. 10
James Boyd, jr.	^	.	10
John N. Luff..................  15
Stephen N. Rowan. ............. 20
$275