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The Days of Old. 
 
 A FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY 
 
 HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 
 
 ^ ON THE .56 
 
 Mmd Pfflteslant Outch Chofchi 
 
 OW KinsrDERHOOK, N". Y. 
 ITLEACHEaD J-UTSTE 5, 1904, 
 
 BY THE PASTOR, 
 
 REV. EDWARD A. COLLIER, D. D. 
 
 CoTJEiEH Peixtixg HorsK, Chatham, N. Y. 
 1904. 
 
Zo ^2 BelopeD people: 
 
 In preparing this discourse for publication, as requested by 
 many, it seemed desirable to add items that were omitted when the 
 sermon was delivered, lest even the most patient ears should be 
 unduly wearied. All available sources of information have been used. 
 The Dutch records have been read to me by those versed in the lan- 
 guage Old papers and maps in Albany have been carefully scrutinized. 
 The Documentary History of the State, Dr. Corwin's Manual of the 
 Beformed Church and his recently published volumes of the Ecclesias- 
 tical Records of the State have been freely drawn upon, and the recol- 
 lections of aged friends repeatedly taxed. It is hoped that this general 
 acknowledgement of manifold indebtedness will suffice, without dis- 
 figuring the pages with references. I am indebted to Mr. Wait for 
 much valuable assistance in the preparation of the illustrations. The 
 addition of baptisms, marriages, consistories and communicants 
 would make the history more satisfactory, but would involve the 
 transcription of many thousands of names and the publication of a 
 large volume. This brief sketch is published with the hope that 
 it may be of interest and value to the many friends of this historic 
 church, which is so very very dear to your affectionate Pastor, 
 
 EDWARD A. COLLIER. 
 Kinderhook, N. Y., 
 June, 1964. 
 
^»^■ 
 
 PASTORS 
 
 1801-1904 
 
 (/i^o omittec/) 
 
 PASTORS. 1801-1904. 
 
 [TWO YEARS excepted] 
 
 1. JACOB SICKLES. 
 
 2. J. C. VaNDERVOORT. 
 
 3. B. VAN ZaNDT. 
 
 i. O. BRONSON. 
 
 5. J. R, BERRY. 
 
 6. E, A. COLLIER. 
 
Remember the days of old. 
 
 Consider the years of many generations. — Detit. 32 : 7. 
 
 t^** «i?^ (5^ 
 
 This is a strain from Moses' song, recounting the 
 Lord's marvelous doings for His people now on the 
 border of the promised land. It is a summons to 
 remembrance and consideration of tHe past; a sum- 
 mons worthy of our attention as well as theirs. As 
 furnishing occasion alike for thankfulness and hu- 
 mility, for encouragement and for admonition, such 
 occasional remembrance may be helpful as well as 
 interesting. 
 
 This is true as regards the community, the nation 
 and the Christian Church as a whole, and also as 
 regards any local church like this, whose history 
 covers "the years of many generations." And when, 
 as never before in the two hundred and sixty years 
 since Kinderhook was settled, there occurs the fortieth 
 anniversary of one pastorate, it seems fitting that we 
 not only record our gratitude to the Head of the 
 Church, but also give special heed to the counsel of 
 the text. 
 
 Kinderhook means children's corner. It is a 
 beautiful name, given, tradition alleges, by a Holland 
 shipmaster sailing up the Hudson, because of the 
 Indian children seen on a point jutting out into the 
 river. 
 
8 THE DAYS OF OLD. 
 
 On the earliest maps the name is given to a tract 
 of about four miles along the river and thence extend- 
 ing easterly about eight miles. It thus included the 
 whole of Stuyvesant, and parts of Stockport, 
 Ghent and Chatham, as well as the present township 
 of Kinderhook. 
 
 Martin Van Buren is reported as having stated 
 that the first settlers came to this region about the 
 year 1640. The date 1623, embedded in the brick wall 
 of one of our old houses, seems much too near Hendrick 
 Hudson's voyage of discovery to be trustworthy. In 
 1656, however, a traveler from HoUand wrote of Kin- 
 derhook as being "one of the principal settlements 
 along the Hudson." The settlers, who were mostly 
 Hollanders, with a few Swedes, built their houses in 
 the first instance along the river front, and then along 
 the banks of the Stockport, Kinderhook and Claver- 
 ack creeks. 
 
 In due time their first houses, probably of logs 
 and with thatched roofs, gave place to larger and 
 better buildings of brick brought from Holland. 
 Eemnants of these are still standing; one at least in 
 our village, and one on the Lindenwald road; and 
 there are those living who remember others, or at 
 least their ruins. Some of these buildings, with their 
 massive walls and heavy oaken beams, were not only 
 most substantial, but quite pretentious and even ele- 
 gant for their time. 
 
 Kinderhook village was built on land originally 
 bought of a Mohican Indian chief named Emikee. 
 It grew, but, slowly. As late as 1714 the inhabitants, 
 children and slaves included, numbered but three 
 hundred and twenty-five. The earliest map of the 
 
THE DAYS OF OLD. 9 
 
 village shows scarcely more than a dozen houses; all 
 these and the first church building being along or 
 near the street now leading up from the two bridges 
 over the creek. 
 
 The Hollanders brought hither that love of God 
 and of His Word and Church, for which their fathers 
 of ' 'the Church under the Cross" had suffered so much. 
 As early as 1660, undoubtedly, the beginnings of this 
 church are to be placed. At that time and for fifty 
 years thereafter the Albany pastors rendered occa- 
 sional service here. In 1702, one Paulus Van Vleck 
 was summoned to Albany to answer for irregular 
 conduct in serving as Clerk or Precentor here without 
 a license from His Excellency, Lord Cornbury; as also 
 were the officials of the congregation. A certificate 
 in Mr. Van Vleck's favor signed by four persons 
 speaks of him as "Precentor and Schoolmaster of our 
 church" and as "comporting himself to the great con- 
 tent of our congregation." The certificate also states 
 that since forbidden to do so he- had not preached "in 
 house or barn or in any place in Kinderhook, " but that 
 he performed the duties of Precentor, as two others 
 had done before him. 
 
 In the historical discourse on the Albany church, 
 by the late Dr. E. P. Sogers, it is stated that the Kin- 
 derhook church was organized as an independent 
 church in 1712 by the Albany pastor, the Eev. Dr. 
 Petrus Van Driessen. In the order of organization, 
 Kingston, New Paltz, Tappan, Tarrytown and 
 Kochester, Ulster Co., are the only older Dutch 
 churches between New York and Albany. Our 
 earhest records are in the handwriting of this Petrus 
 Van Driessen, and are dated. May 27, 1716. He 
 
10 THE DAYS OP OLD. 
 
 styles himself "Eegular Minister at Albany; occa- 
 sional, at Kinderhook." His register of members, 
 "as found and recorded" by him, consisted of these 
 twelve names : Leender Connyn, Aendries Prosie, 
 Thenis Van Slyck, Thomas Wiler, Catrina Verrin, 
 Elsie Valkenburgh, Ariaentie Mulder, Ariaentie Van- 
 derpoel, Breghie Wieler, Eva Valkenburgh, Maria 
 Wieler, Catrena Van Slyck. A second enrollment in 
 1721 added fifteen to this number. Among these 
 fifteen, we find the familiar names. Van Dyck, Huyck, 
 Dingman, Van Alstyne, Vandecar, Vosburgh, Van 
 Alen and Gardenier. 
 
 From 1716 to the present time the records of 
 members, marriages and baptisms are nearly com- 
 plete, a few pages only being missing. Until nearly 
 the end of the century they are wholly in Dutch. The 
 number of infant baptisms in the early years was 
 enormous. They occurred almost every Sabbath, and 
 in many instances two or more were baptized on the 
 same day. In the year 1776 there were 109 infant 
 baptisms; and in the year 1782 there were 111, one 
 of the infants being a future President of the United 
 States. It is, however, to be borne in mind in this 
 connection, as well as regards the large accessions 
 hereafter noted, that there are now twelve or fifteen 
 Protestant churches within the territory in which 
 this church for many years stood alone. 
 
 Although organized in 1712, the church re- 
 mained dependent upon the Albany pastor's ministra- 
 tions for about fifteen more years. For a portion, 
 however, of this interval, the Eev. John Jacob Oehl 
 (Ehle) rendered occasional service here, as our records 
 show. 
 
THE DAYS OF OLD. 11 
 
 pastors of ©ur Cburcb. 
 
 I. Johannes Van Driessen (1727-35) was a 
 brother of the Albany pastor. Peter Van Driessen's 
 interest in his brother evidently warped his judgment 
 and somewhat dimmed, for a time, his perception of 
 right and wrong. Johannes had sought licensure and 
 ordination in Holland, but had been denied because 
 of sad failure in his examinations and the presenta- 
 tion of false credentials. Advised, it is stated, by the 
 Hon. Eobert Livingston, the King's secretary, Peter 
 sent his brother, with a letter of recommendation from 
 the Patroon Van Eensselaer, to the Faculty of Yale 
 College. A Congregational Council was thereupon 
 assembled at New Haven, which examined Mr. Van 
 Driessen and gave him his credentials. 
 
 These New Haven credentials, in Latin, are spread 
 in fuU upon our records, as they are, it is stated, on 
 those of aU other churches to which he ministered. 
 In 1726, in view of the need of more frequent service, 
 the consistory, in union with that of the Claverack 
 church, and as advised by Petrus A^an Driessen, ex- 
 tended a joint call to Johannes, which he accepted. 
 Kinderhook agreed to pay forty pounds of his salary. 
 In 1727 he came and was duly installed by his 
 brother. Because of the irregularity of the ordination 
 which had been refused by the Classis of Amsterdam, 
 and for other reasons which need not be stated, the 
 confidence of other ministers and churches was denied 
 him, and both he and his brother were severely cen- 
 sured by the Classis. 
 
 Claverack, becoming dissatisfied, withdrew from 
 the joint arrangement after one year. Kinderhook, 
 
12 THE DAYS OF OLD. 
 
 however, continued loyal to its chosen pastor. In 1732 
 the consistory sent a memorial to the Olassis of Am- 
 sterdam concerning the supposed injustice done to 
 their pastor. They recount the story of his coming; 
 attest the great acceptability of his service to all the 
 people, and deplore "the spirit of jealousy often ex- 
 cited by malignant envy, which in all these years has 
 not been able to draw a single member of our Kinder- 
 hook church away from our beloved pastor. It would 
 be well (they kindly add) if Claverack could say as 
 much." 
 
 Mr. Van Driessen's pastorate lasted about eight 
 years and was by no means fruitless although thus 
 clouded. He was subsequently silenced as a minister. 
 In 1729 Mr. Van Driessen recorded the names of 101 
 heads of families as belonging to this congregation. 
 He also recorded, without date, that, in his presence, 
 Mr. Gerrit Van Schaack presented to the church a 
 silver cup which his father Laurens Van Schaack 
 had bequeathed. The subsequent history of the cup 
 is now unknown. 
 
 After Mr. Van Driessen's departure there was a 
 discouraging vacancy for about twenty years. The 
 church, however, was supplied now and then by such 
 preachers as could be obtained. The record of bap- 
 tisms proves that services were held with considerable 
 regularity, and, every year except four, there were at 
 least a few accessions to the membership. 
 
 In 1736 Arent Van Dyck was appointed "Voor- 
 leezer" (Eeader) at a yearly salary of twelve pounds. 
 He thus served for five years, and was succeeded by 
 Anthony Quackenbush, who served for five additional 
 years. Seven months in the year they were to read 
 
THE DAYS OF OLD. 13 
 
 twice each Sabbath, once during the remaining 
 months, and also on all Feast and Fast Days. In 
 1752, Ferdinandus Frelinghuysen, a brother of the 
 "much beloved and apostolic" Theodore Frelinghuy- 
 sen, of Albany, was called to the pastorate. He was 
 a graduate of the University of Utrecht and had been 
 that year ordained by the Classis of Amsterdam. He 
 accepted the call and was on his way hither from 
 Holland when he and his brother Jacobus died of 
 smallpox while at sea, in the spring of 1753. A me- 
 morial service, conducted by his brother Theodore, 
 was held in the church here. 
 
 n. Johannes Casparus Fryenmoet (1766-77) be- 
 came pastor of the united churches of Kinderhook, 
 Claverack and Livingston Manor in 1756. He gave 
 one-third of his time to each church. In 1770 
 Schodack was substituted for the two other churches. 
 Under the former r.rrangement his salary was 120 
 pounds, of which Kinderhook paid 40. Under the 
 latter, this church paid 90 pounds and Schodack forty. 
 His remarkably neat penmanship and the uniform 
 addition of his age, where he had occasion to write 
 his name, are characteristic features of many pages 
 of our records. Very popular as a preacher and 
 earnest in his piety, he was held in high honor and 
 affection wherever known. He died here after a 
 faithful and fruitful ministry of twenty-one years, 
 and was buried iii'st near the church in which 
 he preached, but subsequently beneath this building, 
 the site of which was originally a burial ground. 
 
 III. Johannes Eitzema (1779-89) was pastor of 
 the Collegiate Church in New York city. Soon after 
 the outbreak of the Revolution he was compelled to 
 
14 THE DAYS OF OLD. 
 
 leave the city and came hither. He was 68 years of 
 age at the time, but served the church as acting 
 pastor for about ten years. His salary was 143 pounds 
 together with a parsonage, land and firewood. He 
 was buried near the house in which he died, but in 
 Dr. Berry's time the Collegiate consistory removed 
 his remains to our cemetery and erected the modest 
 monument there to be seen. An old paper in the 
 State libriry which announces his death speaks of 
 him as "a scholarly, eloquent and earnest preacher, 
 and a cultivated Christian gentleman, well entitled to 
 the respect and affection in which he was held." At 
 Mr. Kitzema's request, Judge Silvester drew up the 
 Act of Incorporation of "the Minister, Elders and 
 Deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of 
 Kinderhook." That is the legal title of the church 
 to this day. The original certificate of incorporation, 
 dated Dec. 25th, 1788, is still in our possession. At his 
 suggestion also, and at about the same time, our 
 church seal was made. It was the work of a certain 
 Mr. Wells, probably of Albany, is made of silver and 
 cost six dollars. The seal, reproduced on the title 
 page, is an appropriate one for the Church of 
 Children's Corner, and for the mother of many 
 baptized children and of churches, which this has 
 been. Its Latin inscription is — "Seal of the Church 
 at Kinderhook." 
 
 IV. Isaac Labagh (1789-1801) came to this 
 church as his first charge, and served with evident 
 acceptance and fruitfulness. Hitherto the church 
 services had been wholly in the Dutch language. In 
 the latter part of Mr. Labagh's ministry a portion of 
 them were in English, as were the church records 
 
THE DAYS OF OLD. 15 
 
 also. In 1T92 chandeliers were placed In the front 
 part of the church, in order that the EngUsh service 
 held in the school-house might thenceforth be held in 
 the church. The school-house referred to was the in- 
 cipient academy, standing on the site now occupied by 
 the Central hotel. That site and the whole tract 
 from and including Mr. Farrar's residence to the 
 Union Bank corner, belonged at one time to the 
 church. In 1792 the constitutional question, asked 
 of the elders before each communion, was first 
 introduced. In 1793, the two corner lots on which 
 the Union Bank now stands, were sold to Abram 
 I. Van Vleck for 172 pounds, and a third lot to 
 Philip A. Van Alstyne for 72 pounds. AU these lots 
 were to be subject to an annual rental of eight shil- 
 lings forever. The academy paid an annual rental to 
 the church of three dollars. In 1796, in response to 
 a petition presented by Mr. Peter Van Schaack, a strip 
 of land five feet in width was added to the school- 
 house lot, making it 60x90 feet. In 1800, Mr. La- 
 bagh was the first "Scriba" (stated clerk) of the new 
 Classis of Eensselaer, then set off from that of Al- 
 bany. In Feb. 1801, having accepted a call from the 
 churches of Stone Arabia and Canajoharie, he was 
 dismissed. 
 
 V. Jacob Sickles (1801-35) was called hither 
 from his pastorate of the united churches of Coxsackie 
 and Coeymans, which had been preceded by a service 
 of about three years as an assistant to the eminent 
 Dirck Eomeyn of Schenectady. He was to have a 
 salary of 195 pounds, 80 loads of firewood and the use 
 of parsonage and land. One-half of the services were 
 -to be in English. Dr. Sickles' field of labor was ex- 
 
16 THE DAYS OF OLD. 
 
 tensive. As before stated there are now twelve or 
 more Protestant churches within the territory within 
 which this chtirch stood alone during twenty-five 
 years of his pastorate. At least six of these churches 
 drew their original membership wholly, or in part, 
 from this church. Dr. Sickles had the joy, at inter- 
 vals, of beholding large accessions to the church 
 membership. The years 1821 and 1822 especially were 
 times of remarkable spiritual awakening here, as they 
 were elsewhere, nearly seven hundred persons being 
 received on confession within that short time. Al- 
 though we have but one living communicant repre- 
 senting his pastorate, Dr. Sickles is weU remembered 
 by many who know his worthiness of the gracious 
 tribute to his memory in Dr Van Zandt's sermon at 
 his funeral. During the last two or three years of his 
 pastorate, Dr. Sickles had first an assistant and then a 
 colleague. The assistant was the Eev. David Gush- 
 ing. Through unhappy differences of opinion leading 
 to the Classical trial of Mr. Gushing for heterodoxy, 
 and through some unwisdom, no doubt, on both sides, 
 the 2d Dutch Church of Kinderhook, organized at 
 Valatie in 1833, and composed of fifty-two members 
 of the parent church, became, in December 1834, the- 
 1st Presbyterian church of Valatie. Dr. Sickles' 
 colleague for about one year was the Eev. Enoch Van 
 Aken. In 1835 Dr. Sickles' resignation as pastor was 
 accepted. Honored and beloved by many, he contin- 
 ued his residence here until his sorely lamented death 
 in 1 845. His grave is in our cemetery and is marked 
 by a monument erected by the consistory of the 
 church he had served so long and so well. 
 
 VI. Enoch Van Aken, colleague of the former 
 
THE DAYS OP OLD. 17 
 
 pastor (1834:-35) was ordained by the Classis of Rens- 
 selaer in '34. His acceptable service here ended with 
 that of his venerable associate and he accepted a call 
 to the Bloomingdale church, of which he continued 
 to be pastor for nearly fifty years, until shortly before 
 his death in 1885. 
 
 VII. Henry Heermance (1835-36) was pastor for 
 less than one year, because of failing health. His 
 time of service, however, was one of large and joy- 
 ful reaping. He died and was buried here ten years 
 later. A son, Edgar L. , became a minister of our Ee- 
 formed church; a grandson, Woolsey, is now 
 the Director of the American School in Athens, 
 Greece; and another grandson, Edgar, a Congrega- 
 tional minister in Minnesota. 
 
 VIII. John C. Vandervoort (1837-42) came 
 hither from Paterson, N. J. He is spoken of as an 
 earnest preacher and a wise and faithful pastor. His 
 subsequent charges were at MellenviUe, New Paltz 
 and Ghent, where he died in 1851. His remaias also 
 rest in our cemetery. 
 
 IX. Benjamin Van Zandt (1842-52) had been 
 pastor at Union Village for six years when he ac- 
 cepted the call to this church. He was an elegant 
 writer, a strong preacher and a man of marked exec- 
 utive ability. His subsequent charges were at Nyack 
 (where he also served for two years as Principal of the 
 Eockland Institute), Oanajoharie and Sprakers, and 
 Leeds. The last seventeen years of his life were spent 
 in retirement at Catskill, but he continued in service 
 as a supply as opportunity offered. He died at the 
 age of 86. 
 
IS THE DAYS OF OLD. 
 
 X. Oliver Bronson (1854-57). Swiftly develop- 
 ing disease shortened his pastorate to three years, and 
 in 1860 ended on earth a life of rare beauty and 
 promise. It is a matter of personal opinion merely, but 
 judging him from his published sermons and from 
 what I know of him through a brother, whose friend 
 he was, I regard him as the most briUiant, intellectu- 
 ally, of all your pastors, and as second to none in 
 spirituality and devotion. 
 
 XI. James Eomeyn Berry, (1857-63). Of his 
 pastorate little need be said, so well and so tenderly is 
 it remembered, although now more than forty years 
 removed. Many living friends wiU be glad to read 
 these extracts from the just and beautiful tribute of 
 Dr. John McC. Holmes at his funeral : "As a man and 
 a minister he was characterized by exceptional excel- 
 lence. Of commanding personal presence, he at- 
 tracted the attention of all who met him. But his 
 qualities of mind and heart were even more conspicu- 
 ous, and challenged the confidence and regard of those 
 who knew him well. * * * As a preacher, he was 
 a clear thinker, a forceful writer and an effective 
 speaker. He carefully studied his sermons, and felt 
 that the best he could produce should be given to God 
 and the church. At the same time, his discourses 
 were invariably practical and spiritual. * * * As 
 a pastor, as well as a preacher. Dr. Berry was emi- 
 nently successful. His nature was sympathetic and 
 his devotion to his people intense. * * * He was 
 enabled to lead many from darkness to light, and 
 from death to life. * * * Only two days before 
 his death he retired from the Presidency of the Gen- 
 eral Synod and preached a sermon on the occasion. 
 
THE DAYS OF OLD. 19 
 
 which was characterized by marked earnest ness and 
 spirituality. At the close of the discourse he quoted 
 that last stanza of Eay Palmer's hymn, which the 
 author repeated with his last breath: 
 
 When death these mortal eyes shall seal, 
 
 And still this throbbing heart. 
 The rending veil shall Thee reveal, 
 
 All glorious as Thou art. 
 
 The act was suggestive. In less than forty- 
 eight hours he had passed through the veil and ex- 
 perienced the ineffable vision of Christ in His glory. 
 It was a fitting close of a faithful ministry." Before 
 coming here Dr. Berry had served for about seven 
 years at Piermont and Syracuse. After leaving Kin- 
 derhook he was pastor in Jersey City, Fishkill-on- 
 Hudson, Montclair and Rhinebeck. He died June 5, 
 1891. 
 
 XII. Your present pastor preached in this pul- 
 pit for the first time April 10th, 1864:, and was in- 
 stalled pastor May 21th. Of the ministers who 
 officiated at the installation not one is living. Of the 
 consistory who sigaed the call but two are living, 
 and but one remaining with us. Then a deacon, he 
 is now, as regards service, our honored senior Elder , 
 and also, as for forty-one years past, the faithful and 
 efficient treasurer of the church, Mr. Wm. H. Rainey. 
 "Instead of the fathers shall be the children." A son 
 of one who signed your pastor's call is now an elder, 
 and we welcome among our deacons one whose father 
 and grandfather have filled the same important office; 
 the last named uniting with the church by confession 
 in '67, in the prime of his manhood. 
 
20 THE DAYS OF OLD. 
 
 Of the 307 communicant members of the church 
 in 1864, only twenty- three are now enrolled. There 
 is one representative of Dr. Sickles' pastorate now in 
 her 98th year; there are two of Mr. Heermance's; 
 three of Mr. Vandervoort's; two of Dr. Van Zandt's; 
 one of an interval when the pulpit was vacant; three 
 of Mr. Bronson's and eleven of Dr. Berry's. 
 
 Cburcb JiSuil&inQS. 
 
 There have been four church edifices; one more 
 than was known in later years, when the tablet 
 which is in the vestibule was made. This fact has 
 been ascertained through personal search of our old 
 records, aided by an accomplished Dutch scholar. Its 
 truth is confirmed by the examination of old maps. 
 In 1716 there is a resolution of Consistory to proceed 
 to the obtaining of subscriptions for the building of a 
 new church, "since our church has become very old 
 and too small; our congregation having increased to a 
 great multitude, so that our house can no longer 
 contain them." The building spoken of as "very 
 old" in 1716 was evidently the first. It stood nearly 
 opposite the present Methodist church. What is sup- 
 posed to be a representation of this (or of the 2d 
 church) is on an old sampler embroidered by Miss 
 Catharine Van Vleck, and now in the possession of 
 Mrs. John K. Peirce. This has been photographed 
 and, with some of its outhnes straightened and the 
 perspective improved, is reproduced in the accom- 
 panying cut for what it is worth. I call it the first 
 church for reasons which seem good, if not conclu- 
 sive, but I may be in error. 
 
T^-^ 
 
 ■'■^^it.-:' ■ 
 
 '*"3^0mm^./^'" 
 
 FIRST (OR SECOND) CHURCH. 
 
THE DAYS OF OLD. 23 
 
 The second larger building was erected after 1717, 
 and stood on land now belonging to Mrs. Earll and 
 near her residence. On a map of Kinderhook, made 
 somewhat later, both churches are represented as 
 standing where stated. From traditional accounts of 
 this building it seems to have been patterned some- 
 what after one of the early Albany churches, with a 
 four-sided roof and a small bell-tower, the rope from 
 which came down in the aisle. The significance of 
 the records is not altogether clear and desirable dates 
 are missing. At an early date there was a sale or 
 rental of twenty- six pews on the ground floor and 
 twelve more in the two galleries, each holding six 
 persons. Then, in 1769 there are records concerning 
 pews "in the new gallery," and in 1791 "the second 
 new gallery" is referred to. In the end, apparently, 
 there were four galleries running around the four 
 walls. The seating capacity of the pews spoken of 
 was 300. Our oldest hving communicant remem- 
 bers the bell-rope in the aisle, but does not recall the 
 arrangement of the galleries nor the exact shape of 
 the building. In 1775 the Consistory resolved that, 
 ' 'as ordered from the beginning, the pew on the left 
 of the pulpit is reserved for the Consistory, and that 
 on the right for magistrates, colonels and captains." 
 In 1801 some addition was made to this building, the 
 character of which is unknown. The only heat in. 
 winter was from the foot-stoves brought to the church 
 the coals of which were wont to be replenished at 
 Mr. Van Vleck's home opposite, and also at the 
 inn, now the residence of Mr. Frank Eisedorph. 
 This church, misnamed the 1st on the vestibule 
 tablet, was used for eighty years or more, in- 
 
24 THE DAYS OP OLD. 
 
 eluding a part of Dr. Sickles' pastorate. 
 
 Late in the year 1813, work on the foundation of 
 the third building, on the present site, was begun. 
 Through 1814 the massive walls slowly rose, and the 
 church was completed and dedicated toward the end of 
 1815. The cash-bopk of the treasurer, Henry Van 
 Vleck, indicates that the cost was ten or twelve 
 thousand dollars, $497 of which was for the bell. 
 The fathers were zealous for the sanctity of the House 
 of the Lord. That the older church might never be 
 put to any unhallowed uses, it was discreetly de- 
 molished at a cost of about $32.00, nearly eighteen 
 mouths before the new church was ready for use. In 
 the interim, a large barn belonging to Oapt. John I. 
 Pruyn wa? used for church services. The barn was 
 that destroyed by fire about three years ago, and 
 owned at tha time by the late Mr. Edward Van 
 Buren. The churoh, as originally eracted, was one- 
 third smaller than it was when burned in '67. It had 
 a high pulpit, a lofty arched ceiling, and as many 
 windows and pillars as there were at the time of the 
 fire. There was a stove in each corner; and, that the 
 galleries might be thoroughly .warmed, it was thought 
 necessary to place a fifth stove on a high platform in 
 the center of the middle aisle. During the singing of 
 the seconi hymn, the sexton would come in with a 
 ladder and an armf al of wood, and, mounting to the 
 stov3, would replenish the fire. The site of this build- 
 ing, like that of the 2d church, was a burial plot, and 
 was given to the Consistory by its original owners. 
 The fire revealed many of the old tombstones, as 
 som3 well r3collect. la 1835 the pulpit was modern- 
 iv;ed, the breast-work of the galleries lowered and the 
 
THIRD CHURCH. 
 
THE DAYS OF OLD. 27 
 
 whole interior and exterior renovated at a cost of 
 $600. 
 
 Daring Dr. Van Zandt's pastorate, the church 
 building was enlarged by the addition at the pulpit 
 end of about one-third its former length. The base- 
 ment also was then built. Unhappily, this was not 
 accomplished without dissension. A protest against 
 the proposed enlargement, signed by nineteen mem- 
 bers of the congregation, is among our papers. The 
 disregard of this protest by the Consistory led to the 
 organization of the Episcopal church of this village. 
 
 This building remained substantially unaltered 
 until the fire, although now and then renovated and 
 re-adorned. The foundations and portions of the 
 walls are the same now as then. How well and 
 pleasantly many of us remember its unpretentious 
 square belfry, its double rows of windows, 
 its massive square galleries running the v»'hole 
 length of the church and.supported by heavy pillars, 
 and the large box. pews on either side — that on the 
 right of the pulpit and against the wall being that 
 often occupied by President Va.n Bui'en. It was sub- 
 stantial and plain, but yet, for its, day, an elegant 
 structure. For a few of us some of the most hal- 
 lowed and precious of life's memories still cluster 
 about the former house, including as well the small, 
 gloomy, damp basement, which yet was often irradi- 
 ated by the shining presence of the Lord; notably in 
 '57 and again in the opening months of '67. 
 
 Saturday the 14th of December 1867 was bit- 
 terly cold. At eleven o'clock some of us were at- 
 tending the funeral of Mr. Silas Metcalfe, whose re- 
 mains were brought hither for burial. In former 
 
28 THE DAYS OF OLD. 
 
 years he had been an active and useful member and 
 officer of the church, as well as one of the most not- 
 able principals of the then noted academy. Scarcely 
 had we returned from the burial and finished the 
 noon-time meal, when an alarm of fire was sounded. 
 Before sundown nothing remained of our holy and 
 beautiful house save the walls and heaps of smoulder- 
 ing ruins. The pulpit-bible, sofa, and mahogany 
 chairs now in the chapel, the old communion table, 
 and a few cushions, books and a strip or two of 
 carpet were the sole remains of the church furniture. 
 That women wept, I need not say; that some strong 
 men were bowed in tears is no wonder. Sunday was 
 a day of silence and of private prayer. Your pastor, 
 in whose wakeful ears again and again through the 
 night the sweet-toned bell seemed to toll, had not 
 self-control enough to hold even a prayer meeting. 
 
 On Monday Consistory met and resolved to arise 
 and build. On Wednesday a largely attended meet- 
 ing of the congregation, in Bray and Herrick's haU, 
 heartily approved the resolution. Then came the 
 magnificent response of the people in the way of 
 subocriptions; then, in the Spring, the ringing sound of 
 all tools of iron in the building of this temple, even 
 sweeter music to our ears than ever was the song of 
 returning birds; then, on the 4th of July, the great 
 fair, in what is now Mr. Brown's carriage shop, yield- 
 ing the energetic woman-workers $1700 in one day; 
 then, in January '^9, the glad entrance upon the use of 
 our beautiful chapel for services, which for a year had 
 been held in the old dilapidated Baptist church, which 
 had been made as decent and comfortable as could 
 be; and finally, on the 19th of May, the thronged all- 
 
THE DAYS OF OLD. 31 
 
 day jubilee of dedication — all this is a familar story 
 to many. The cost of this fourth building, including 
 the organ and all appointments and furnishings was 
 about $42,000. Materials were then abnormally high 
 and the total cost was considerably greater than it 
 would be now. The first contribution for the rebuild- 
 ing of the church was brought, before the day of the 
 fire ended, by a boy seven years old, who asked per- 
 mission of his mother to give the entire contents of 
 his saving s-bank. 
 
 When the church was dedicated we had a debt 
 of $10,000, which we thought we could not pay at 
 once. The tornado of July 14, 1870, prostrating the 
 spire, much higher and more graceful than the pres- 
 ent one, breaking large holes in the main building and 
 almost wrecking the chapel, proved that we could. 
 For we at once raised not only the 86,000 needed for 
 repairs, but the $10,000 additional debt. Never since 
 then has any debt been allowed to accumulate beyond 
 the fiscal year. To the wise insistence of our treas- 
 urer this creditable record is largely due; which yet 
 would have been impossible without your equally 
 creditable and generous responsiveness. 
 
 In October '87, the Baptismal Font, a costly and 
 rarely beautiful memorial of Mrs. Mary Clark, long 
 a devoted member of the church, was placed here 
 by her daughter, the late Mrs. Peter Bain, long 
 abounding in good works and generous deeds. 
 
 In the spring of '88, the children of another of 
 our sainted women, Mrs. Margaret A. Eeynolds, pre- 
 sented the communion table in memory of their 
 mother. Still later, from the sons of the late Mr. 
 and Mrs. Peter S. Hoes came these beautiful com- 
 
32 THE DAYS OP OLD. 
 
 munion chairs as memorials of their parents. 
 
 The pulpit Bible was presented by Mrs. Anna 
 Harder Gibson, and the offering plates by Mrs. James 
 Mix. The pulpit flower vases and light standards 
 were memorial gifts of loving daughters of departed 
 mothers of precious memory. 
 
 In 1901, and principally through the energetic 
 effort of two members of the choir and one other 
 helper, the addition was made to the chapel, which 
 has already been useful on many occasions, and never 
 more pleasantly so than on the evening of the 24th 
 of May last. 
 
 The first legacy to the church was of $500, left 
 by Miss Lydia A. Van Alen, who died in 1876. 
 Subsequently Miss Jane Van Alstyne, whose name is 
 now the first of our living communicants, in addition 
 to regular and considerable gifts to the missionary 
 and educational work of our Keformed church, was 
 the executor of her own will to the generous amount of 
 $2500. Still more recently there was the legacy of the 
 late Mrs. Peter Bain of $2, 000. These latter sums are 
 still intact and invested. 
 
 In view of the inevitably changing conditions in 
 a community such as ours, changes the end of which 
 we know not yet, it surely would have been a wise 
 and gracious thing if some of the men as well as 
 women of wealth, had remembered this church of 
 their fathers for many generations, at least in their 
 wiUs, that its proper and vigorous maintenance might 
 be assured to perpetuity. 
 
 It should be added that for several years the late 
 Mr. P. V. B. Hoes gave §50 annually for a Pastor's li- 
 brary, the property of the Consistory. Including some 
 
PRESENT CHURCH, FIRST VIEW. 
 
THE DAYS OP OLD. 35 
 
 unbound reviews, the volumes now number three 
 hundred and sixty; largely of standard works certain 
 to be valuable to any pastor, and nearly all the gift 
 of Mr. Hoes. 
 
 Sun&as Scbool an& Poung people's Societies. 
 
 The beginning of our Sabbath School is involved 
 in obscurity. At an early date, rudimentary schools 
 were held in school houses, private dwellings and 
 even barns. In 1834: there is a record that the school 
 was removed from the main floor of the church to 
 the galleries. In 1835 the Consistory deeded to the 
 district a site for a school house in the rear of the 
 church. Among the conditions of the deed were — 
 that the building might at aU times be used by the 
 church when not needed for school purposes, and that 
 the land should revert to the chm-ch when no longer 
 used by the school. The building in its earUer and 
 better days was used by the church for its prayei 
 meetings and Sunday school, which after a few years 
 more returned to the church. Our Sunday school has 
 for many years maintained a native catechist or 
 preacher in India. The first was Peter Souri, who 
 attained high distinction and usefulness in the native 
 church. The present representative is pastor Abra- 
 ham Williams — not the first and most eminent of 
 that name, but a valuable helper of good repute. 
 The contributions of the school, considering its size, 
 have been notably large, and wholly for benevolent 
 purposes, never for itself. 
 
 Our 0. E. society was organized in 1887 and is 
 the oldest in the county. Its predecessor was a 
 
36 THE DAYS OF OLD. 
 
 Young People's Union which combined Uterary as 
 well as social and religious features. It served an 
 excellent purpose for several years until merged into 
 the C. E. society. The Junior society has been admir- 
 ably conducted, and our several mission societies and 
 bands have been valuable workers in the one great 
 field "which is the world." 
 
 Zbc iparsonaQcs. 
 
 There are reasons for thinking that the present 
 Scully house was the first parsonage, or at least that 
 Mr. Eitzema lived and died there. It has been so 
 stated. I am more and more disposed to question it) 
 however, and to believe that he and his successors in- 
 cluding Dr. Sickles, until 1835, Uved in the house now 
 occupied by Mr. A. H. Farrar. It was certainly the 
 parsonage for many years, and originally had con- 
 siderable land attached. 
 
 The site for the second parsonage was bought of 
 Capt. John I. Pruyn in 1836, and the building soon 
 thereafter erected at a cost of about $2000. Mr. 
 Vandervoort was its first occupant. It was origi- 
 nally without the extension at the rear, which has 
 been added in two distinct portions at different times. 
 
 Statistics. 
 
 Of the statistics for the forty years of the present 
 pastorate a few may be of interest. 
 
 Of the 706 ministers of our Reformed Church at 
 the present time, only one. Dr. WeUs of Flatbush, 
 has had a longer pastorate. Of the twelve ministers 
 in our Classis forty years ago, your pastor is the only 
 
PRESENT CHURCH. SECOND VIEW. 
 
THE DAYS OF OLD. 3 9 
 
 survivor. Since he signed the Classical Formula, 
 sixty-one ministers have joined the Classis and fifty- 
 seven have left it. Most of the other churches of 
 Classis have had from five to ten or more different 
 men during these years. As nearly as can he ascer- 
 tained, the whole number of communicants received 
 since the beginning of our records in 1716 is 2446. 
 This, it will be observed, is an average annual addi- 
 tion of slightly less than thirteen. The total of ac- 
 cessions in the last forty years is 544; and this, strange 
 to say, is an annual addition of slightly more than 
 thirteen. Only 195 couples have been married, and 
 308 infants and adults baptized; while the funerals 
 (some of them burials only) have numbered 704. 
 
 Our benevolent contributions daring these forty 
 years have amauuted to §37,914, and the sums raised 
 for congregational purposes up to the 24th of May 
 have aggregated §159,262, making a total of S227,- 
 176. Undoubtedly our benevolent offerings have 
 never been what they might and ought to have been. 
 Moreover, the loss of many large givers, the di- 
 minished ability of others and certain other causes 
 have tended to lessen the total of our offerings in re- 
 cent years. And yet, as churches and people go, I 
 am not ashamed of the record of the dear old church 
 of Kinderhook. Its supreme gift to missions was the 
 gift of Dr. Cornelius V. A. Van Dyck, of world -wide 
 renown, who, when a lad of thirteen, here confessed 
 his Savior, and whose name remained upon our regis- 
 ter until his death. Other sons given to the ministry 
 were Lawrence H. Van Dyck, John C. F. Hoes, John 
 M. Van Buren, John B. Church and E. S. DeQ. Tomp- 
 kins. And then from the church, and in greatly in- 
 
40 TEE DAYS OF OLD. 
 
 creased volume during the last fifty years, have gone 
 the offerings which have given the church a place of 
 honor. 
 
 The years have been freighted with much 
 joy and much sorrow. Joy, because of the unbroken 
 spirit of inity and affection, and that in times often 
 provocative of discord; joy, because of occasional and 
 most precious seasons of special blessing from on 
 high; and joy for every soul led to become a follower 
 of Christ, and for every child of God who may have 
 been helped in the Christian life, and comforted and 
 strengthened in the days of tribulation, trial and 
 tears. 
 
 But the foity years have been freighted with 
 much sorrow also. Sorrow that results have not 
 been greater and better than they have been; sorrow 
 for many failures, omissions and errors, known to me 
 better than to any of you; sorrow for the appalling loss, 
 as it seems from our earthly standpoint, of so many 
 trusted and beloved friends and helpers, the meeting 
 with whom again, it seems to me, will be one of the 
 great joys of heaven. Tiae changes in the homes, 
 alike in the village and in the country, and the blot- 
 ting out by death or removal of family after family 
 who were the staunch friends and supporters of the 
 church forty years ago, have been a sad experience 
 indeed. Some have come in for whose devotion and 
 service we are sincerely thankful, but not in sufficient 
 numbers to make good the loss, either in numbers or 
 in the changed character of the population, so pain- 
 fully apparent to those whose memo:y covers these 
 forty years. 
 
 I hope I am not transgressing the strictest limits 
 
THE DAYS OF OLD. 41 
 
 of propriety in saying — that I have tried to give you 
 the word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 
 their simplicity and purity. I have endeavored to be 
 a faithful pastor, especially in your many, many times 
 of sickness and sorrow. ' 'I have coveted no man's 
 silver or gold." I have urged upon you to "remem- 
 ber the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself 
 said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." 
 
 Would that my ministry hitherto had not been 
 seemingly S3 in vain as regards those of you who will 
 not come to Christ that ye might have life. "V\''ould 
 that you would even now choose the better part which 
 never shaU be taken away. For your own sake, for 
 your children's sake, for your friends' and compan- 
 ions' sake, would that I might greet all without excep- 
 tion, as I do sincerely greet so many of you — 
 
 ' 'For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of glory- 
 ing ? Are not even ye before our Lord Jesus Christ 
 at his coming? For ye are our glory and our joy. 
 Therefore, my brethren beloved and longed for, my 
 joy and crown, so stanl fast in the Lord, my be- 
 loved." 
 
 May God bless to us our "remembrance of the 
 days of old and cDUsideration of the years of many 
 generations," and to Him shall be the praise. Amen. 
 
present Organization : 
 
 pastor : 
 
 EDWARD A. COLLIER. 
 
 Gonslstorp : 
 
 ELDERS. DEACONS. 
 
 W. H. Rainey, F. Bion Van Alsttne, 
 
 J. Hagadokn, C. M. Beat, 
 
 J. S. HOSFOBD, T. M. KiTTELL, 
 
 E MiLHAM. J. E. Van Alstyne. 
 
 Teeasukek— W. H. Rainey. Clerk— C. M. Beat. 
 
 C&otr : 
 
 Choie Master— E. Risedoeph. Organist — Mes. W. V. S. 
 Beekman. Quartette — Mrs. Wm. Wait, Miss Mary Lawleb, 
 Mr. Risedorph, Mr. Martin, and choeus. 
 
 Sun&as Scbool : 
 
 Superintendent — Edward Van Alstyne. 
 Assistant — J. S. Hospoed. 
 
 Secretary — Miss Laura A. Hospord. 
 Librarian — C. M. Bray. 
 
 3La5tes' /JDissfonars Soctetp : 
 
 Pres't — Mes. N. D. Gaensey. Sec'y — Miss Maria Pruyn. 
 
 (Birls' mission asan& : 
 
 Pres't — Mes. N. D. Gaensey. Sec'y — MissH. W. Collier. 
 
 C. E. Society : 
 
 Pres't — Miss Sarah V. S. Beekman. Vice Pres't — Miss M. 
 Kasten. Rec. Sec. — Miss E. Hebrick. Cob. Sec. — Miss C. Best. 
 Pianists — Mrs. Geo. Reynolds, Miss Florence L. Pruyn. 
 
 junior C. E. Society : 
 
 Sup't — Miss Axna H. Wilcoxson. 
 
 Seiton : 
 
 Andrew Hagadorn. 
 
Cornell University Library 
 BX 9517.K51C69 
 
 The days of old :a fortieth anniversary 
 
 3 1924 009 234 950