; p\5 CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY Given in Memory OF Jane Gouinlock VanArsdale OF THE Class of 1908 Cornell University Library BX9519.P3A5 A history of the classis of Paramus of t 3 1924 009 709 258 . ^ Cornell University W Ubrary The original of tiiis book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924009709258 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS 1800 = - 1900 A HIST^ORY OF THE CHASSIS OF PARAMUS OF THE REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA CONTAINING THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CENTENNIAL MEETING OF THE CLASSIS, THE HISTORICAL DISCOURSE, AND THE ADDRESSES, STATISTICAL HISTORY AND THE HISTORIES OF THE INDIVIDUAL CHURCHES. New York The Board of Publication, R. C. A. 1902. Copyright, 1902. by Joseph H. Whitehead. PRESS OF THE PASSAIC HERALD MANHATTAN PHOTO ENGRAVING COMPANY NEW YORK WATERS' BINDERY NEW YORK FOREWORD THE committee appointed to edit and publish tlie Centennial History of the Classis of Paramus contained in these pages, would have hesitated a long time before undertaking the work, had there been the least apprehension of the labor it has required, to secure its satisfactory completion. Without the cordial co-operation of the ministry and the Churches of the Classis such a result would have been impossible. The committee hereby acknowledge their indebtedness to all who ha\'e given needed aid. They desire to thank the brethren who by their able addresses caused the anniversary exercises to overflow with interest and delight, the pastors who have prepared the histories of the churches, the consistories who have diligently gathered portraits of their former pastors and the friends and acquaintances and even strangers who have confided to their care cherished mementoes, oftentimes the only photograph of a loved one they possessed, that the illustra- tion of the work might be more complete; to each and to all of these the committee are grateful, and would have them recog- nized as efficient co-laborers. The assistance received from the Rev. David Cole, D. D., of Yonkers, N. Y., has been so cheerfully rendered and so exceed- ingly valuable that the committee gratefully make special ac- knowledgment of his kindness. The authors and not the committee are responsible for all statements made in the histories of the churches, the individuality of which both in style and expression has been carefully guarded and preserved. Slight discrepancies may also be discovered in the spelling of proper names. Every effort has been made to perfect our HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS pages in this respect, but some latitude must be conceded, where such great variety exists in equally reliable authorities. A full and complete index of persons and places has been carefully prepared and, facilitating reference, enhances the value of the publication. As a part of the history of the Kingdom of God in its conflict with evil, these records of the Classis of Paramus and its Churches for a hundred years are issued with faith in the certainty of the Church's final triumph, looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Joseph H. Whitehead, Elias W. Thompson, Theodore W. Welles, ^^'^LLIAM H. Vroom, Cominittee. CONTENTS Account of the Centennial Celebration 13 Program of Exercises 1 7 Prayers at^the Centennial 25 Historical Discourse by the Rev. William H. Vroom, D. D. 33 Address, by the Rev. Daniel Van Pelt, D. D. The Ancestral Church in Holland 77 Address, by the Rev. E. Tanjore Corwin, D. D. The Colonial Churches of the Classis 83 Address, by the Rev. Peter H. Milliken, D. D. Churches Organized by the Classis 91 Address, by the Rev. Prof. Ferdinand S. Schenck, D. D. Former Ministers of the Classis 94 Address, by the Rev. Martin Flipse, Holland-Speaking- Churches of the Classis 98 Statistical History, by the Rev. Theodore W. Welles, D. D. 105 History of the Churches of Hackensack and Schraalenburg-h, by the Rev. W. H. Vroom, D. D, 157 " Church of Acquackanonk, by the Rev. Ame Vennema 167 " Church of Tappan, by the Rev David Cole, D. D. 205 " Church of Paramus, by the Rev. W. H. Vroom, D. D. 242 " Church of Clarkstown, by the Rev. David Cole, D. D. 274 " Old Church of Totowa, by the Rev. Theodore W. Welles, D. D. 290 " Church of West New Hempstead, by the Rev. H. W. Brink 303 " Church of Saddle River, by the Rev. I. Van Kampen, Ph. D. 313 " Church of Ramapo, by the Rev. W. H. Vroom, D. D. 326 " Church of Warwick, by the Rev. Taber Knox 337 8 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS History Church of Pascack, by the Rev. Edward Lodewick 348 " First Church of Totowa (Paterson), by the Rev. T. P. Vernoll 357 " Second Church of Totowa (Paterson), by the Rev. Theodore W. Welles, D. D. 369 Church of Nyack, by the Rev. W. J. Leggett, Ph. D. 403 Church of Piermont, by the Rev. W. C. Stitt, D. D. 416 " Second Church of Piermont, by the Rev. Theodore W. Welles, D. D. 429 " First Holland Church of Paterson, by the Revs. F. G. Dekker and T. W. Welles, D. D. 432 " Holland Church of Lodi, by the Rev. Martin Flipse 439 " Broadway Church of Paterson, by the Rev. Elias W. Thompson 444 '• Church of Sprinjj; Valley, by the Rev. C. E. Crispell, D. D. 456 " Second Holland Church ot Paterson, by the Rev. Theodore W. Welles, D. D. 472 North C'hurch of Passaic, by the Rev. J. H. Whitehead 475 Holland Church of Wortend}'ke, by the Rev. D. C. Ruijj-h 496 First Holland Cnurch of Passaic. by the Rev. Martin Flipse 504 Church of Ridge wood, b)' the Rev. John A. Van Neste 513 " Church of Ramseys, by the Rev. Theodore \V Welles, D. D. 517 Second Church of Lodi, by the Rev. R. ^]. Offord 520 Church of Centerville (Athenia), by the Rev. Anson Du Bois, D. D. 530 Church of Garfield, by the Rev. W. G. l\Iyles 537 Church of Clifton, by the Rev, William Manchee 544 " Church of North Paterson, by the Rev. N. H. Van Arsdale, D. D. 554 " Church of Hawthorne, by the Rev. Theodore W. Welles, D. D. 557 " Church of Glen Rock, by the Rev. E. ^\^ Thompson 564 Complete Index of Names and Places rgg ILLUSTRATIONS Acquackanonk, Church of 1829 189 Church, 1901 203 Parsonage, 1899 202 Centerville, Church, 1882 531 Clarkstown, Church, 1825 277 Church, 1871 284 Clifton, Church, 1892 546 Garfield, Church, 1888 538 Glen Rock, Church 565 Hackensack, Church 159 Hawthorne, Church 561 Lodi, Holland, Church, 1860 439 Lodi, Second, Church, 1878 522 Tablet 527 Church, 1901 528 North Paterson, Church, 1894 555 Nyack, Church, 1836 404 Church, 1900 414 Paramus, Church, 1800 257 Parsonage, 1872 271 Pascack, Church, 1812 349 Passaic, Holland, Church, 1898 511 Passaic, North, Church, 1869 476 Parsonage, 1869 477 Cnurch, 1891 488 Paterson, First Totowa, Church, 1829 358 Church with stores and offices 363 Church, 1874 365 Paterson, Broadway, Church, 1885 447 Paterson, First Holland, Church, 1856 434 Paterson, Old Totowa, Church, 1755 292 Paterson, Second Totowa, Church, 1827 372 Church interior, April 9, 1899 393 Parsonage, 1883 3S1 Liddell Monument 383 Piermont, Church, 1850 417 Parsonage, 1860 426 Ramapo, Church, 1795 328 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Ramseys, Church, 1875 Ridgewood, Church, 1879 Saddle River, Church, 1819 Spring Valley, Church, 1865 Tappan, Church, 1716 Church, 1788 Church, 1835 Warwick, Church, 1848 Church, 1890 West New Hempstead, Church, 1858 Wortendyke, Holland, Church, 1881 518 515 313 458 224 225 285 343 345 307 498 PORTRAITS Allen, Peter 305 Decker, Henry E. 422 Anderson, Asher 483 Decker, Fred. G. Demarest, John T., D. D. 438 353 Bahler, Pierre B. 435 Demareet, William 333 Bartholf, Benj. A. 355 DeMund, Isaac S. 269 Bechthold, A. H. 473 DeWitt, Richard i62 Berry, J. Romeyn, D. D. 420 Diephuis, Jacobus, 500 Betten, D. L. 437 DuBois, Anson, D. D. 533 Betz, William P. 442 Duryea, John H., D. D. 388 Birdsall, Edward 550 Dusinberre, Thos. S. 311 Blauvelt, G. M. S. 236 Bogardus, William B 322 Ellsworth, J. S. 552 Bogardus, William R. 192 Eltinge, Wiihelmus, D. D. 254 Bolton, James 525 Brett, Philip M., D. D. 405 Flipse, Martin 512 Brink, Henry W. 311 Gaston, John, D. D. 198 Brock, John R. 459 Hageman, Chas. S., D. D. 406 Carroll, Vernon B. 344 Halloway, W. W. 450 Clark, William H., D D. 451 Hasbrouck, Howard C. 428 Cole, Isaac D. 234 379 Hazenberg, W. 506 Conover, Garrett M, 289 Hill, Eugene 288 Corwin, E. Tanjore, D. D 268 Hoonte, Tennis, H. 443 Crispell, Cornelius E. D. D. 465 Huyssoon, James 436 Crispell, Peter 344 Jacobs, Chr. W. 509 Danner, J. LeMoyne, D.D. 367 Jacobs, Wm. M. C. 510 PORTRAITS Johnston, Wm 562 Jongeneel, L. C. 442 Kasse, A. K. 474 Kellogg, Charles D. 481 King, Albert A. 335 Kipp, Peter E. 463 Knox, Taber 346 Kuypers, Gerardus A. 251 Laubenheimer, John 310 Leggett, Wm. J., fh. D. 413 Letson, W. W. 335 Liddell, John A. 382 Lippincott, Benj. C. 284 Lodewick, Edward 356 Lord, Daniel, M. D. 408 Lubach, W. 502 Luckenbill, George A. 567 Manchee, William 524 Manley, John 320 Marvin, Uriah 409 Mattice, Henry 309 McKelvey, Alexander 361 Meyers, Abraham H. 321 Milliken, Peter H., D. D. 396 Myles, W. Guthrie 542 Nasholds, William H. 334 Oliver, Matthew N. 239 Ostrander, Henry, D. D. 36 Peltz, Philip, D. D. 360 Quick, Peter J. 283 Ralston, Edward S. 427 Raymond, A. V. V., LL. D. 366 Rederus, F. 506 Ruigh, D. Cornelius 502 Sehenck, Feramand S., D. D. 285 Seibert, George 539 Seibert, George G. 541 Smit, Jan. 499 Smith, Marshall B., D. D. 460 Spaulding, Arthur 199 Statesir, Benj. T. 309 Steele, John, D. D. 362 Stillwell, J. L. 532 Stitt, Wm. C, D. D. 424 Streng, Samuel 286 Strong, J. Paschal 479 Talmage, David M. 287 Talmage, Goyn, D. D. 270 Taylor, Benj. C, S. T. D. 186 Thompson, Ellas W. 455 Todd, Augustus P. 323 Todd, William N., D. D. 323 Van Arsdale, N. H., D. D. 452 Vandenburgh, Louis 336 VanDerveer, F. H., D. D. 342 VanDervoort, John C. 359 VanDeventer, John C. 412 VanHaagen, Henry C. 551 Van Kampen, Isaac, Ph. D. 324 Van Neste, George J. 308 Van Neste, J. A. 514 Van Pelt, Daniel, D. D. 464 Van Zandt, Benj., D. D. 407 Vennema, Ame 201 Verbrycke, JR. 425 VernoU, Thomas P. 368 Voorhees, Henry V. 410 Vroom, William H., D. D. 272 Warner, A. H. 282 Warnshuis, J. W. 508 Welles, Theo. W., D. D. 398 West, Jacob, D. D. 421 Whitehead, J. H. 485 Wiggins, Ebenezer, D. D. 360 Williamson, W. H. 238 Winfield, A. B. 266 Wormser, W. 507 Wust, William C. 440 Wynkoop, Jefferson 371 AN ACCOUNT OF THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION THE Classis of Paramus was organized at Paramus, Bergen County, New Jersey, the second day of September, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred. In view of this event the Classis, in stated session at Clifton, Passaic county, New Jersey, the twentieth day of April, eighteen hundred and ninety-seven appointed the Revs. Theodore W. Welles, D. D. , William J. Leg- gett, Ph. D., and William H. Vroom, D. D. , a committee to formulate a plan for the public celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the organization of the Classis. At the following stated session of the Classis, October the nine- teenth, the committee presented a report, which was unanimously approved, declaring the Centennial Anniversary of the organization of the Classis, to be an event whose commemoration should possess more than a temporary interest, tend to the instruction of the people and awaken in their hearts a deeper love and a more intense loyalty to the institutions and polity of the Reformed Church. As a means for the realization of a result so desirable, the committee suggested that the anniversary exercises should be held in the Reformed Church of Paramus, in the autumn of the year nineteen hundred, that the exercises, with appropriate devotional services should consist of an Historical Discourse, reviewing the acts and proceedings of the Classis during the century, a Statis- tical History of the Classis, and short addresses upon themes in harmony with the occasion, and that as a permanent memorial of the event the Classis should publish the Historical Discourse, the Statistical History, the short addresses and with them a history 14 HISTORY OF THK CLASSIS OF PAJCAMUS of each Church in the Classis illustrated with a picture of the church and of as many of its pastors as possible. The Rev. William H. Vroom was appointed to prepare the Historical Discourse and the Rev. Theodore W. Welles to prepare the Statistical History of the Classis. The Revs. J. H. Whitehead, Elias W. Thompson, Theodore W. Welles and William H. ^'room were appointed a committee to edit and publish the Centennial History of the Classis and to make all necessary arrangements for the Centennial Anniversary. The Consistory of the Reformed Church of Paramus very kindly invited Classis to hold its anniversary in the old Church in which, a short time after the completion and dedication of the building to the triune Jehovah, the Classis was organized. The sixteenth day of October, nineteen hundred, the stated time for the fall session of Classis, was selected as the most ap- propriate day for the Centennial observances. Notices of the event were inserted in the Christian Intelligen- cer, and many of the papers published within the bounds of the Classis. Invitations to attend the services were sent to former members of the Classis, to the ministry of the Particular Synod of New Brunswick, and to the clergymen of other denominations in the immediate vicinity, with a request that they extend the in- vitation to their congregations, and assure them of a cordial wel- come. The day was all that the most ardent lover of nature could desire; one of the brightest jewels of the year, sparkling with beauty in its golden setting of autumnal glory and making joyous with its genial influences every heart. The people commenced assembling at an early hour, filling the ample grounds about the sanctuary and reading with interest the inscriptions upon the numerous old tombstones in the ceme- ter)^ It was hallowed ground, and the quaint, rude character of the moss-covered stones marking the graves of past generations, a subtle link uniting the present with the past, awakened emotion in thorough unison with the commemorative services of the day. When the gathering hosts entered the church they were greeted by the features in miniature of some of those who a cen- tury ago met within its recently erected walls to organize the Classis of Paramus. ACCOUNT OF THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 1 j Flowers and evergreens and flags, neatly and handsomely ar- ranged, formed a picturesque scene, which mutely, yet impressive- ly, testified of the joyous character of the passing hours. Music furnished by Miss Fanny Osborne, director and organKt; Miss Anna H. Slade, soprano; Miss Harriette G. Hubbell, contralto; Mr. Paul Roberts, tenor, and Mr. Francis Carrier, basso, all of New York city, assisted by the choir of the Paramus Church, elicited universal commendation and praise. It was sweet and charming, artistic and heart - touching, wafting thought heavenward and thrilling the soul with the sublimity of its harmonious melodies. The services were intensely interesting, bringing near "the days of old,'' causing kindly remembrance of those to whom the present generation is largely indebted for its religious privileges, strengthening the conviction that in the kingdom of God there were "giants in those days," and revealing God as the efficient agent in all that takes place, determining the issues of every day, and conducting all things to the consummation of His gracious designs. The collation served by the ladies of the Paramus Church during the midday intermission was a practical and delightful manifestation of the proverbial hospitality of the New Jersey Dutch, highly appreciated and greatly enjoyed by well nigh a thousand guests. The centennial session of the Classis was called to order at ten o'clock a. m., and opened with prayer by the retiring presi- dent, the Rev. William H. Vroom. The roll was called and with few exceptions every member of Classis responded. The Rev. Matthew N. Oliver was chosen president, and the Rev. William J. Leggett, temporary clerk. Greetings were received from the Classis of New Brunswick, in session at Middlebush, N. J., and from the Classis of New York in session at Yonkers, N. Y. The Rev. Charles D. Shaw, D. D., of Paterson, N. J., brought greetings from the Presbytery of Jersey City. Letters of regret were received from many whose attendance was prevented by previous engagements or unexpected events. The anniversary exercises commenced promptly at half past ten, the appointed hour, and proceeded in the order of the pro- I 6 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS gram, which, as a souvenir of the occasion, is reproduced on the pages immediately following, as originally printed. During the afternoon session, the sky was darkened by a pass- ing storm. When the services closed, and the people bidding each other good-bye, turned their faces homeward, the western sky glowed with wondrous beauty, marvelously draped with silver lined clouds tinged with vermillion and golden hues, suggestive of the glory to be revealed when, after the storms of life are past, "the General Assembly and Church of the First-born" bid each other good-bye, and hasten home. Theodore W. Welles. PROGRAM nDornina Seesion ►l^ ^ ^ ©rganisation of Class is Centennial Ejercises The Rev. Edward Lodewick, presiding ®rgan iprelUlse Melody St. Saens 3)0J0l0g^ ''Praise God from whom all blessings flow,'" IFnvocation an^ Salutation The Rev. c. e. dispell, d. d. IResponsive Scripture Psalm lxxxiv How amiable are thy tabernacles, Lord of Hosts I Mvsoal longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found a house. And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young. Even thine altars, O Lord of hosts My King and vty God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house : Thev will be still praising thee. Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee ; In whose heart are the ways of thcin : Who passing through the valley of Baca, make it a well: The rain also fillet h the pools. They go from strength to strength, Everv one of thsin in Zion appearetli before God. O Lord God ot hosts, hear my prayer: Give ear, O God of facob. Behold, O God our shield. And look upon the face of thine anointed; For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. 1 had rather be a doorkepeer in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tetits of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield ; the Lord will give grace and glory : No good thing will He luitliltoldfrom them that walk uprightly. O Lord op Hosis, hi.f.sseo is thic man that TiaisTE-rn in thkf,. "©lOria Patri" Garrett Ibpinn 92 Wesley Come, Thou Almighty King, 3 Come, Thou Incarnate Word, Help us Thy name to sing. Gird on Thy mighty sword. Help us to praise ; Our prayer attend ; Father, all-glorious, Come, and Thy people bless. O'er all victorious, And give Thy Word success; Come, and reign over us, Spirit of holiness, Ancient of days. On us descend. 4 Come. Holy Comforter, Thy sacied witness bear In this glad hour ; Thou who Almighty art. Now rule in every heart. And ne'er from us depart. Spirit of power. prater The Rev. John Gaston. D. D, HntbeiTl Festival Te Deum, iti E flat Dudley Buck Til K praise Tliee. O God, we acknowledge Thee to be tlie Lord: All the earth doth worship Thee, trie Fatlier everlasting. To Thee all angels cry aloud; the heavens, and all the powers therein; To Thee cherubim and seraphim continually do crv. Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord God of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Thy glory: The glorious company of the Apostles praise Thee; The goodly fellowship of the Prophets praise Thee; The nol)le army of Martyrs praise Thee; The holy Church throue;h6nt all theworld doth acknowledge Thee. The Father of an infinite majestj', — Thine adorable, true and onlv Son, — Also the Holy Ghosl, the Comforter. Tliou art the King of glory, O Christ! Thou art the everlasting Son of the Father! When Thou tookest upon Thee to deliver man. Thou didst humble Thyself to be born of a virgin; When Thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death. Thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers; Thou sittest at tiie right hand of God, in the glory of the Father: We believe that Thou shalt come to be our Judge. We therefore pray Thee, help Thy servants whom Thou hast redeemed with Thy precious blood ; Make them to be numbered with Thy saints in glory everlasting. O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thy heritage ;"govern them, and lift them up forever. Day by day we magnify Thee, and we worship Thy name, ever world without end. Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin, O Lord, have mercy upon ns; OLord, let Thy mercy be upon us, as our trust is in Thee. O Lord, in Ihee have I trusted ; let Jhe tiever be confounded, ttistorical H)iscourse The Rev. William H. Vrooni, D. D. Ibpmn 692 Newton Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God ; He whose word cannot be broken, Formed thee for His own abode : On the Rock of Ages founded. What can shake thy sure repose? With salvation's walls surrounded, Thou mayest smile at all thy foes. - See the streams of livin.g waters. Springing from eternal love, Well supply thy sons and daughters, And all fear of want remove: Who can faint, while such ariver. Ever flows their thirst to assuage? Grace, which, like the Lord the Giver, Never fails from age to age. JSenebiction ©rgaii postlube Allegro Moderato ^ 4, 4, 5ntermtssion A collation will be served at one o'clock, in the Chapel, by the ladies of the Paramus Church, 4, 4, if, Hfternoon Session Smart The Rev. John A. Van Neste, ®rgan preluDe Canon Presiding Nicholas de Wilm Hntbem ' Prepare ye the way oj the Lord," Garrett n. HE voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for oxir God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every inoniitain and hill made low; the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh ^^liall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. The voice said, cry .... Wliat shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower lliat is in the field. The grass withereth, the flower fadetli, but the word of our God shall stand forever. Amen. I.^-VTah xl: t, -S. prater The Rev. Anson Du Bois, D. D. Ibgmu 693 Dwioht I LOVE Th\- kingdom, Lord, " I love Thy Church, () God; The house of Thine abode. Her wall.s before Thee stand. The Church our blest Redeemer saved Dear as the apple of Thine e) e, With His own precious blood. And gra\en on Thy hand. 6 Sure as Thy truth shall last. To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield. And brighter bliss of Heaven. H&breSS The Rev. Daniel \'an Pelt, D. D. Astoria, N. Y- •' 77if Ancestral CJuirch in HolJand." a&OreSS The Rev. E. Tanjore Corwin. D. D. Historiographer of General Synod, New Brunstvicl(, N. J- " The Colonial Chnrches of Ihc Classis." Ibsmii 767 We.sley Let saints below in concert sing " One family we dwell in Him With those to glory gone; One Church above, beneath. Fi ir all the servants of our King Though now divided by the stream, In earth and heaven are one. The narrow stream of death. \ Dear Savior be our constant guide; Then, when the word is given. Bid Jordan's narrow stream divide. And land us safe in heaven. B5&reS5 The Rev. Peter H. Milliken, D. D. Pl)iladelphia, Pa- "Chicrches Ors^anized by the Classis" H5J)re5S Pi'of. Ferdinand S. Schenck, L). D. New Brunswicif, N, J. "Former Ministers of the Classis." Ib^mn 711 Watts How beauteous are their feet 2 How charming is their voice Who stand on Zion's hiil, How sweet the tidings are ! Who bring salvation on their tongues "Zion, behold Thy Savior King; And words of peace reveal! He reigns and triumphs here." 6 The Lord makes bare His arm Through all the earth abroad ; Let everv nation now behold Their Savior and their God. H&6reSS The Rev Martin Flipse ' ' The Holland Speaking Churches of the Classis. ' ' ©fteCtOr^, IrtO '• Father, lead me fy Thy hand,' Butterfield J ather, lead me by Thy hand, Through the devious ways of life. Let me close beside Thee stand. Shield me in the hour of strife. Dangers close around me press Lo ! I helpless come to Thee Be Thou near my soul to bless, Let me rest alone in Thee, Father, guide me by Thine eye, Dark and cheerless seems the wai,- Beam, upon me from on high, Be my comfort and my stay. Kefuge give me from the blast, Help, me trust alone in Thee, Hide me till the storm is past, 'Neath Thv shadow shelter me. H&bress Ibpmn 770 The Rev. George M. S. Blauvelt Franklin Park, N- J. " Retniniscences. ' ' Fawcett Bene&iction Blkst be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love ; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above. 2 Before our Father's throne We pour our ardent prayers ; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, Our comforts and our cares. ®rgan postlu&e Finale Lemr PRAYERS PRAYERS AT THE CENTENNIAL Rbv. C. E. Crispeli,, D. D. OUR Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Of Thee and through Thee and to Thee, are all thing's. All perfections belong to Thee and subserve the cause of holiness. All the works of creation and providence show forth Thy power and wisdom and goodness, and the work of redemption excels in manifesting Thine exceeding great power and Thy manifold wis- dom and the riches of Thy grace. We adore Thee as the true God, the Father, the Son. and the Holy Ghost. We come to Thee in this house built for Thee and consecrated to Thy service, where Thou dost meet with Thy people and bless them. We come as sinners redeemed by the blood of Christ, a part of Thy ransomed flock. We come PS the representatives and members of a part of Thy visible Church, known as the Classis of Paramus of the Reformed Church in America. We come to recall to mind what Thou hast done for us during the hundred years of our existence ; to note Thy mercies in both our commendations and chastisements, and to express gratitude to Thee for the same; to learn the lessons taught us and thus gain fresh impulses to enable us to go forward with greater zeal m ail the duties of our day. We come in the name of Jesus, our High Priest. Be with us, we pray Thee, in our deliberations, and confer- ences, and deliverances, and resolves, that we may properly en- deavor to meet our responsibilities in true faith, firm hope, ardent love, and a zeal according to correct knowledge. We thank Thee for the many examples of Christian devoted- ness of our ministry, eldership and membership, during the hun- dred years; for their soundness and perseverance in the faith once delivered unto the saints; for the souls saved through 2 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS. their agency by the Spirit's power; for ail that we have been inclined to do for the enlargement of our borders, and for hold- ing forth the word of life to the destitute regions of the earth; — in a word, for all that we have been enabled to do toward the ad_ vancement of the kingdom of heaven. And we beseech Thee, Heavenly F'ather, to fill all our ministers and members with Thy spirit of power, which holiors God the Savior, humbles man, and brings both in their right and true relations and positions. "Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done in earth, as it is done in heaven." Help us to look with more earnestness for the time when Christ, who was once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear the second time, without sin, unto the salvation of those who look for Him. Yea: hasten that time, when by Thy Spirit's power, the Medi- ator shall have completed His work of the sanctification of His redeemed, ransomed people, and shall have put down all rule, and all authority, and power, and shall deliver up His mediatorial Kingdom to God, even the Father. Yea: hasten that time when all Thy loyal ones shall, in unison, praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the true God, for the full manifestation of Himself, and for their everlasting blessedness. Amen. Rev. Amh Vennema.* ALMIGHTY God, our heavenly Father, who art from everlast- ing to everlasting, and keepest covenant with Thy people from generation to generation, we praise and adore Thee this morning. Thou didst bring our fathers hither from across the sea and didst bid them go in and possess the land, and when as yet the people were few in number. Thou didst establish Thyself among them and didst cause Thy glorious name to be remem- bered, For the organization of Thy Church here and in the region round about, for her faithful maintenance of the ordi- nances of Thy holy religion, and for the gracious influences that have gone out from her upon the souls of men during all these *.f t the morning ,se.s.5ion. Takiiis; the place of the Rev. John Gaston, D. D., who, arriving later, pronounced the Benediction. 1'RAVERS at tHE CENtENNIAt. ij years, we give Thee our devout thanks. We are assembled to- day, O Lord, to commemorate the formation one hundred years ago of this Classis of Paramus, under whose care the churches have been maintained and have multiplied and flourished, and by which they are bound together in such pleasant and helpful association. We thank Thee for the especial guidance of Thy Holy Spirit vouchsafed to this judicatory of Thy Church dur- ing the century, enabling it to give wise counsel to the churches in their perplexity, to encourage them under difficulty and trial, to devise liberal things for them when they were straitened, to maintain boldly the faith once delivered unto the saints, and in all things to have respect to the glory of Thy most holy name. And now, our heavenly Father, we beseech Thee, bless these services; make this day memorable; fill our hearts with praise and rejoicing, and incite us to greater zeal and truer de- votion. And Thou, O Christ, to whom all power is given in heaven and on earth, and in whose name we are commissioned to this blessed work, be Thou with us through all the coming years for our encouragement and strengthening. And, Spirit of the living God, descend upon us all, we pray, and baptize us with Thy grace and power; may our hearts be opened for Thy pure indwelling and our lives yield themselves to Thy noble in- spirations. Thus may more glorious things be spoken of Zion during the coming years than in the century past, and Thine, O triune God, shall be the praise forever. Amex. Rev. Anson DnBois, D. D. OLoRD, our God, Thou art the same yesterday, today and forever. Thou art our God, and our fathers' God, and we bless Thee that we may assemble here to commemorate Thy mercies toward us and toward our fathers in these hundred years that are passed. Amid the beauty and abundance of the year, with our garners full, our homes happy, and our churches blessed with every Gospel privilege, we come to celebrate this feast of harvests, this feast of the harvests of a hundred years. 2§ HISTORY OF THE Ct.ASSIS OF PARAMl'S We bless Thee for Thine unrnerited mercies. We confess our sins and the sins of our fathers. None of us have earned these g-ifts by our services. They but illustrate and magnify Thy mercies, O Lord, which have so followed us and made us rich in all these years. Wt; bless Thee for the holy men of God, whom Thou hast raised up and sent among us, truly the servants of God, pro- claiming the truth of God from our pulpits, and showing the power of God in their sanctified lives. Not the learning of the world, but the truth of God which maketh wise unto salvation — this, in all these years, has been taught in our churches, in- stilled into the minds of our children and treasured in the hearts of our people. We bless Thee for the earnest men who have borne the divine commission in all this work. And we bless Thee for that goodly company of God-fearing men who have served in the eldership and in other offices of responsibility and unrequited toil; humble men, earning their own bread, with no aim but peace and prosperity to their dear church, self lost in the service, and grandly loyal in every trial, every change and every condition of the work. Faithful to their pastors, faithful to their vows, they have mamtained the con- tinuity of the Gospel power in their communitits and congrega- tions these hundred years, and though unknown to fame and resting in their graves, it may be, without a headstone, these churches are their monuments, and the work of these churches forms the record ©f their worth. And we thank Thee, O Lord, for those holy women who have made the homes of Thy people truly Christian homes in all this region for so many years. Much of their lives so hidden, toiling so many of them, amid great privations. With hus- bands, children, servants, dependent on them for their comforts and even their character, they swerved not from duty nor from cheerful trust in God. We thank Thee for what these Christian mothers have wrought for their children, consecrated in baptism and trained for God, so that their names are perpetuated on our church books from generation to generation. We thank Thee, O Lord our God, we bring Thee our grati- tude and praise that Thou hast, in all these years, raised up so many consecrated souls in our families, in our schools, and in our congregations to teach and pray and show forth the Christian PKAYEKS AT IHE CENTE.XXIAL 29 type of manhood ami of womanhood among- us, in daily life. Lord, keep us truly a Christian community for the years yet to come. Perpetuate our churches. Give us that simple and pure (iospel of Jesus Christ, which elevates and saves man. And extend, in Thy mercy, these benig-n influences to those mul- titudes who are flocking in among us from lands where the Gos- pel is less known and less revered. Continue the mercies of the past into the years to come. Perpetuate the power of Thy word and increase that power more and more here and through the whole world. Then shall the nations bless Thee, and the long centuries of time bring their tribute of praise and glory to Thy feet. Hear us, Oh, our Father. Accept us. Save us for Jesus Christ's sake. Amex. HISTORICAL DISCOURSE HISTORICAL DISCOURSE The Rev. William H. Vroom D. D. I or(;axizatio.n' or the classis. AT the session of the General S5niod of the Reformeil Dutch Church, held in Albany, X. V., in tlie month of June, 1800, a series of resolutions was passed authorizing- a division to be made in three of the old original classes, namely. Kingston, Al- bany and Hackensack, and leaving only those of New \'(jrk and Xew Brunswick intact. These changes were made for conven- ience of access and for the promotion of church e.xtension. The division of the Classis of Hackensack resulted in the for- mation of those of Bergen and Paramus. That act, so far as it relates to our classis, was as follows: "That the Classis of Hackensack be divided into two classes, to be known and distinguished by the names following, and to consist of the congregations subjoined, to wit: "I. The Classis of Paramus, to consist of the congregations of Tappan, Xew Hempstead [Clarkstown], Schraalenbergh, Hack- ensack, Kakiat [West Xew Hempstead], Ramapo, Paramus, Ac- quackanonck and Totowa. •* * * "That the Classis of Paramus meet on the first Tuesday of September at 10 o'clock a. m. at Paramus, and that Rev. .'^olomon Froeligh preach a sermon at said time and place and (jrganize said Classis." In accordance with this act, representati\'es of the churches named assembled on the second day of September, A. D. 1800, to be organized, in tlie very place in which we are gathered to- day to celebrate the event. The Church of Paramus, though not the oldest of these churches, was already a venerable organization with three quar- ters of a century of her existence completed. The old stone church in which the fathers had worshiped during that period, 34 HSKIKV 01' THE CLASSIS OT'' PARAJUS \\as 11(1 long-cr udciiuate. It was touched with deca}' and the congrei^-ation had out.t^n'dwn it. During the ' Rcvukitionary War it had been titly used as a place for the safe-keeping- of British ca]3ti\'e sokliers. its stones, therefore, had become very sacred, not on!)' because of their long use in the service of religion, but also for the decided part they had taken in the struggle for national freedom. When the old building was demolished these consecrated stones were incorporated in the present structure, which was erected almost upon the same site. This hajjpened in the spring and summer of i8oo, and the building could scarcely have been completed when the delegates were summoned to this place for the organization of the classis. Eight years ago the present addition at the rear was built for the accommodation of the organ, and some changes were made also in the interior appointments during a time of general repair in 1873, ^^^t in substance, form and ap- pearance the building is essentialh' the same as it was at the time of its erection a century ago, when the classis was organ- ized. It is the only church in the classis, now in use, which was erected so earl)-. These facts have made it peculiarly fitting that the present celebration should be held in this place. \\'e are \\'arranted in the belief that a large congregation witnessed the organization, for it took place in the midst of the mightiest work of grace ever manifested in this region. The place was being shaken by the Holy Spirit, like Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. Out of a sparse country popu- lation nearly three hundred souls were gathered in the year preceding and that which followed the organization of the classis, and the church became, through these accessions, the strong- est numerically in this part of the country. It is interesting to notice that the classis, which was destined to bear a leading part in the religious development of an important section of our country, and to endure trials and afflictions in its earlier career of extraordinary severity and overcome them, was born in an atmosphere of prayer and revival, and baptized with the grace and power of the Holy Ghost. The sermon on the occasion was preached, as Synod had directed, by the Kev. Solomon Froeligh, of Hackensack, from Col. 2:5. "For though I be ab- sent in the flesh, yet am I with \'ou in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ." HrSTORICAL DISCOURSE 35 The roll call shuwed that tin' nine churches \\-erc repre- sented as follows: " Hackensack and Schraalenherg, Ke\'. Solomon Froeligh. Elder, Garret Dervea. Achquackenunch and Totoa, Rev. Henricus Sclioonmaker. Elder, Paulus Paulison. Kacheat anclRamapoug-h, Rev. (leorifeC. Hrinkerhoff. Elder. Joseph (joetsius. Paramus, Re\-. W'ilhelmus Eltinge. Elder, Abraham W'es- tervelt, Escj. 'I'apiian and Clarkstown. Elder, Teunis T. Tolmaii." I'he Re\-. Nicholas Eansiug-, ol the churches of Ta|5pan and Clarkstown, who was the only absent one, was detained by ill- ness. The classis considerateh' remo^'ed to his church at Tap- pan on the second, tiny of the session that he mig-ht be present. The Rev. GeorgeC. Brinkerhoff was elected the first presi- dent. The Rev. W'ilhelmus I'dtinge was chosen stateusly to ihe surrender to the Enylish. It was the earliest org-ani/.ation within the limits of Xcw jersey, and maintained its existence with a jj-ood de,tcree of spiritual life and g-rowth for ninet\' years without ever ha\'ing- a settled minister. The older church of Hackensack, which was formerly in connection with this classis, but seceded in 1822, was ors^anized in 1686, and was the second formed within the state. The church of Acquacka- nonk, org-anized in 1(193, was the third. Tappan, in the state of Xe\v York, came next in 1694. The remaintler of our original churches were started in the following century. Hitherto all our Reformed ministers liad l)een sent from Holland and were members of the Classis of .\msterdam. There were no ecclesiastical organizations in this countr)' except the individual consistories, and, therefore, no power to create a minister. With the cessation of tlie Holland emigration this want soon became deeply felt. ( )nl)' one duly commissioned man arrived during the ne.xt tweh'e vears, and the whole number of ministers was for a long time reduced to three. The Kpiscopalians had one clerg\'man, who was the chaplain of the Knglish troops. Notwithstanding these adverse circumstances. Reformed churches were multiplied in this state and in other regions, till, in 1700, thirty-si.x years after the surrender, there were twenty- nine in all, and ten ministers. Five years later the ministry had decreased to si.x, and manv of the churches could secure preach- ing onh' two or three times a vear. This state of things led many to wish that the American churches could become inde- pendent of the mother church in Holland, and obtain the right to educate and ordain their own ministers. No decisi\-e steps were taken, however, in that direction, for a generation to come. In the meantime, a great spiritual awakening throughout the country occurred. The Re\'. Theodore J Frelinghuysen came from Holland in 1720, and inaugurated his transforming work in central Xe^v jersey, the blessed effects ot which were felt through- out the land; and, bv 1737, thirty-six additional churches had l)een formed, bringing the total up to sixty-fi\e. ( )f these ac- cessions two were original constituents of this classis, nameh', the older church of Schraalenburgh in 1725, which afterward seceded, and Paramus, whicli was organized not later than that vear. 4o HISTORY OF THE CI.ASSIS OF PARAMVS During that period of internal enlargement, a few ministers had been induced to come from Holland, and a few young men had been sent to Holland, at great risk and expense, for ordination, and had returned. Vet the churches were more than three times as numerous as the ministers; besides, each church stood practically alone, with no local bond of union or co- operation save their common origin and language., Earnest and progressive men, therefore, believed that the time had come to form some kind of local organization, and to take measures for edvicating and ordaining a ministry among themselves. This proposal, though favored by a large majority of ministers and people, quickly developed an opposing minority of very deter- mined character, bent upon clinging to Holland, and recognizing no minister except such as had come into the office through the hand of a Holland classis. The tremendous struggle attending this advance movement, marks the next era in the early history of our churches. 2. The Struggle for the Right of American. Ordination. The matter took form in 1737, when, with the approbation and, indeed, at the suggestion of the Classis of Amsterdam, it \\'as proposed to organize the ministers and churches into an association, to be called a "Coetus, ' — a body having the general form of a classis, but with very limited powers. Two con^'en- tions were held in Xew York to consider the matter, and at the latter one, in the spring of 1738, a plan was perfected and sent to Holland for approval. The Classis of Amsterdam now took nine years to decide what to do in the premises, being influenced somewhat by the opposition which had arisen in this country, and possibly by a little jealousy of their own power and authority. At length, in 1747, tlie act of approval was received. It was soon found, however, that this concession was inadequate to give the relief the churches needed, for the Classis of Amsterdam pro- ceeded at once to deny the right of the Coetus to examine and ordain candidates for the ministry without its special consent, and then notified it not t)' a larg-e majority in the session of Alay 30, 1755. 'I'hen J3avid -Marinus, ] IM. Goetschius and others were ordained without tlie consent of the foreign classis. In the meantime the minority had become strenuous and bitter in their opposition. They, too, liecame organized under the name of "Conferentie," and were violently opposed to every measure of progress and every change favored liy the Ccetus. It is said that "by the ancient Conferentie party the doctrine of the ne\\' birth was exceedingh^ ridiculed, as was also experimental rehgion, famil)' worship and pra^'er meetings, and that the ancient Ccetus ministers dwelt much on these spiritual subjects, and were hated and ridiculed on account of it."* Another writer says: "It seems at least to be certain tliat in some sections of the cliurch what- ever the ostensible pretenses may have been, the great contest of Coetus and Conferentie was, in fact, a struggle of formalism against vital godliness, of the law of progress against the inertia engendered by an admiration of the past. It was the spirit of this age and of this land, fighting for liberty, when the attempt was made to bind it down bv forms, customs and veneration for the fatherland." f The conflict thus induced not only agitated the church at large, but disrupted individual congregations, retarded their progress and stifled in a great measure their spiritual life. At first the Coetus only was officially recognized by the Church of Holland, but after the Conferentie was fully organized, the Classis of Amsterdam opened a correspondence with it also, so that, instead of no local organization, there were now two, each claiming to be the governing body and to represent the whole Church. The Coetus, because of its assumption of classical pre- rogatives, fell out of favor with the Classis of Amsterdam and the .'^j'nod of North Holland, and those bodies now gave their ofticial recognition and endorsement to the Conferentie. The conflict thus grew hotter than ever. The members of individual con- gregations arrayed themselves on the side of one bod^' or the other, and it seemed as though the churches ^verc hopelessly rent into fragments. For example, the churches of Hackensack and Schraalen- burgh were under one pastor, but each congregation no^^- became *C' T. DemaresL's ".Lamentations over Dr, S. Froeligh," p 60. t Dr. A, Messler's "Pastor'.s Memorial," p. 43. 4 2 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMIS divided into two parties. Then the dissenting body in each church joined in calling a second jaastor — one who was in har- mony \\-ith their views. The two ministers preached alternate} }' in each of the churches for many years, under conditions of most unseemly rivalry. 'I'hey were under the same corporation and paid fro]n the same treasury, yet the audiences in each place were as distinct, unmingling and hostile, as though they were two armies in battle array. ."Similar conditions existed in many other congregations, though not ah\'ays resulting in such complete schism. That a group of churches planted in a wilderness, prac- tically cut off from the sympathy of the religious world and from foreign sources of increase, speaking a strange tongue, living under an unfriendly government devoted to rival interests, could endure such a trial of internal contention for nearly a generation and still survive and even grow, is evidence of a remarkable vitality', and produces a conviction that God was leading them through great trials to prepare them for a special mission, which may even yet lie largely in the future. The period of agitation and struggle between the two opposing parties continued for about twenty-five years from the first authorization of a Coetus, and sixteen years from its assuiTi]i- tion of the powers of a classis. During that time, in spite of all the unfavorable circumstances, about forty additional churches were organized, bringing the whole number up to about one hundred. Among these accessions were two of the original con- stituents of our classis, Clarkstown, X. Y. , in 1749, and 'I'otowa in 1755. The whole number of ministers in the country was thirty-four. J. The Reconciliation of f//2, and the Independent Church. At length, in 1772, (jod was pleased in His gracious pro\'i- dence to bring to His churches a complete reconciliation and union, and to put theiii upon a basis of permanent prosperity. This He did by establishing them under an independent consti- tution and go\-ernment, which in all essential features were the same as those under wdiich we are working at the present time. The way to this blessed result had been prepared iiy the prudent labors ot the Re\-s. Theodore L'relinghyusen (a son of Theodore J. before mentioned), Jacob R. Hardenbergh, Samuel \'erbryck of HISTORICAL DISCOURSR 43 Tappan, and others; but the chief agent in its final consumma- tion was Dr. John H. Living;ston, whom (.}od seems to ha\'e raised up for this \-ery purpose. He was horn in this country at Poughkeepsie, educated at Yale College, but studied theology in Holland and \va.s licensed by the Classis of Amsterdam. He was a man of large endowments, ample learning, clear and decided opinions, yet filled with the spirit of prudence and conciliation. He felt it to be his peculiar mission from the beginning of his career, to reconcile and pacify the American churches and ])cr- haps to secure their independence. While he was in Holland pursuing his studies, the C'cetus, in 1766, under the lead of ^'erbryck of Tappan, secured, after years of toilsome effort, a charter for an academy in Xew Jersey. This \yas the forerunner of the more liberal charter granted four years later, in 1770, for Queen's (now Rutgers) College. The first meeting of the trustees of that institution was held at Hack- ensack, and as the charter did not determine the location. New Brunswick secured it only by obtaining the larger sub- scriptions for its endowment. The procuring of these charters for the purpose, primarily, of training a nati^'e ministry for our churches, stimulated all parties to inquire more earnestly for some basis of union; and just in that j'ear. September 2, 1770, Livingston appeared from Holland, under a call from the Church in Xe^\■ Vork, bringing with him a plan for a union, which had been approved provisionally by the authori- ties in Holland. After a year of correspondence on the subject, a convention was called by Livingston and his consistory', which met in New Vork, October 15, 1771. Twenty-two ministers, out of thirty-four in all, were present, also twenty-five elders from the one hundred churches. 'I'hey represented in fair proportion the Coetus, Conferentie and Neutrals. Livingston was chosen presi- dent. The spirit of peace prevailed, and the result was that the plan before mentioned as brought from Holland was adojated unanimously with very slight alteration, and sent down to the churches and also to the Classis of Amsterdam for ratification. The plan provided for the organization of the churches on a practically independent basis, after the manner of the church in Holland. There were to be one general bod}', after\yard called a Synod, and five particular bodies, afterward called Classes. Full power of self-government and discipline was granted, and, what 4 4 HISTORY OF THR CHASSIS OF I'ARAMTS was most important, the right to examine and ordain candidates for the ministry was fully conceded. Two years later, on June i6, 1772, another convention was held, and the ans-\rer of the Classis of Amsterdam was read. It was a warm, affectionate and cordial approval of all the former convention had done, and certified that the classis had ratified the entire plan without a \\'ord of chang-e and bj^ a unanimous vote. The delegates to the convention now subscribed to the "Plan of Union'' and provided for obtaining the subscription of those not present; and by this act our Reformed Church for the first time gained its rightful place in this land as an army of the Lord, free, independent of foreign control and united. She has never failed to acknowledge her obligations to the Classis of Amsterdam, nor to feel a hearty love for that venerable body; but, could the churches have united in assuming independence a hundred years earlier, when the immigration ceased, it would doubtless ha\'c been in man)^ ways to the advantage of our denomination. The complete organization of the Church, in accordance with the provisions of the "Plan of Union, -was speedily effected, and the live particular bodies were formed, which resulted in the five original Classes, of New York, Kingston, Albany, Xew Brunswick and Hackensack. With the last of these only is this history con- cerned, for to the Classis of Hackensack all the original con- stituents of our classis belonged until our own was formed. 4. The Classis of Hackensack. This Classis was organized with seventeen churches, thirteen of which were in the province of Xew Jersey, and four in that of New York. As given by Dr. Taylorin his ".Annals of the Classis of Bergen, ' they were 'Paramus, Pompton, Totowa, Ackquackanonk, Hackensack (two), .^chraalenberg (two), Second River. Per- sippany, Ponds, Bergen, English Neighborhood, Tappan, New Hempstead [Clarkstown], Kakijat [West Xew Hempstead], and Staten Island.' The Church of West New Hempstead was organized and received into the classis in 1773, a year after the adoption of the "Plan ofUnion. Later, in 1785, the Church of Ramapaugh was formed and added to the classis. This completed the list of our original churches. HISTOKICAr, DISCOliRSE 4 5 The Church of Saddle Ki\er was really organized a )'car earlier, in 17S4, but remained org-anically connected with Paramus. ^\'hile the two congregations were quite distinct as \vorshiping assemblies, and eight members of consistory were chosen from each, vet thev constituted one corporation, one consistory and one pastoral charge. The name of Saddle River, therefore, never appeared upon the roll of the C'lassis of Hacken- sack, nor did it appear upon that of the (,'lassis of Paramus till 181 1, when that church assumed a separate and independent life. The records of the Classis of Hackensack are said to be in a good state of preservation from 1773 till its dissolution in 1800. ^\"ith the exception of the last year, these records were kept in the Dutch language. Upon the assumption of independence by the Church at large, many questions arose and demanded settlement, whicli, in \Mew of past differences upon those ver}' subjects, required most prudent and delicate handling. The establishment of a school of theolog}', on conditions that would secure general consent, was one of the most difficult of these matters. It was vitally in- volved in the old dispute between the Ccstus and Conferentie. Not much progress was made toward its settlement for a number of years, and students were left to pursue their theological studies with individual pastors designated for tliat purpose in different parts of tlie Church. The chief reason of this delay was the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, and the tremendous political disturbances which preceded it. There is abundant evidence that our Reformed Churches bore a noble part in that great struggle. Their pulpits rang with the fervid utterances of patriotism and liberty. Their church edifices were willingly surrendered, when necessary, to the use of the American army. Almost every ancient church and community has its traditions of thrilling events connected with those times. Often pastors and people were compelled to flee from their homes to escape their enemies. The capture of JMajor John Andre, his trial held in the old church of Tappan, (because the court house had been previously burned, ) and his execution on the height near that village, are well known to every one. So also is the famous courtship of Aaron Burr at Paramus, when the whole region in which the lady lived was under the control and strict surveillance of the enem)^. The graveyard adjoining this church is largely tilled with the bodies 46 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS of soldiers of the ReA'olution, many of them marked with a fragment of common stone on which, in some cases, the year onl)^ is rudely carved. It is believed that the dust of many British soldiers also, the victims of that conflict, lie therein graves un- marked. Notwithstanding the excitements, alarms and interruptions of those years, the classis held its meetings regularly and diligently watched over the interests of the several churches under its care. .Much attention was given to matters of discipline and the adjustment of difticulties in the churches, and, in some cases, between the ministers. In 1782 a system of church visitation was adopted, and careful inquiries ^vere made by the visitors into the condition of the churches. The pastors and con- sistories respontled to the inquiries, and all matters of import- ance were reported to the classis. "During the war efforts were made by the classis and consist- ories to ascertain the wants, both temporal and spiritual, of the scattered families of the congregations, many of whom had fled into the interior of the countr)^. Communications from the classis embodying the reports from the churches on this behalf, were sent up to the General Synod, detailing the hardships they were en- during and the various ineasures of the pastors, elders and deacons to watch over and comfort those of their congregations to whom access could be had. "The minutes show that prevailing sins received open and fearless rebuke in that classis, and abuses of the ordinances of CJod's house were not connived at but reproved. Deservingly pious young men were encouraged in the prosecution of their studies, and several were licensed to preach the Gospel of the blessed God, some of whom became burning and shining lights in the church. ■' * At length, with the close of the eighteenth century, the work of that classis, faithfully performed in war and peace, came to an end, and with the dawning of the new centur)^, the Classis of Paramus with that of Bergen succeeded to its responsibilities. The names of the venerated fathers in the ministry, who served our original churches before this classis was formed, will be pre- sented and their work noticed, we presuine, in connection with the history of the churches in which the)r served. But there are *See Taylor's "Annals of the Classis of Bergen," pp. 27, 28. HISTORICAL DISCOUKSI', 4/ three ]iioiiccrs who should be mentioned here, two of whom having- Her\'ed as supplies only, may not be referred to else- where: — As early as 1686, the Rev. Peter Tesschenmaoker organized the Church of Haekensaek with thirty-three communicants, and continued to supply them occasionally till i68y. He also preached in other adjoining- settlements. He was, no doubt, one of the very first to preacli the (iospel in the field now (jccu- pied by this classis. He was a Hollander, educated at the University of L'trecht, but came to this country unordained. The people of New Amstel, Del., greatly desired him for their minis- ter, and in the extrei-ne scarcity of Dutch ministers — there l)eing only four in America, — the g-o\'ernor of the colony, 1679, author- ized these ministers to get together and examine, and, if found (]ualified, to ordain hii-n to the ministry. He \vas thus the first t>ne ordained in America -without the consent of the classis in Holland. This was nearly a century before a C(_etus was thought of, but tlie classis ratitied the act, so that it was not regarded as a precedent. After serving tlie Churcl-i of Xe\\- Amstel four )rears, he went to tire Churcli in ,'schenectady in 168.2, and during his ministry there visited this field. Eight years later he -was slain by Indians in the bloody massacre which occurred at tliat place at midnight, February 8, 1690. He was one of sixty wlio -were cruelly n-iurdered, his wife and two colored ser\-ants being also among the victims. The leaders of the raid had given orders to spare J-iis life, but he was killed and his house set on tire before he was recognized. The name of Rudolphus A'an Varick also appears in connec- tion with the Haekensaek Church as an occasional supply from 1687 to 1689. His sphere of activity -\vas in Brooklyn and the I.ong Island churches, but he found time to come to New Jersey occasionally. He had the courage of liis convictions and in common with all the Dutcli ministers, he opposed openly the usurpation of the government of New York by one Leisler, at the time of the accession of \\'illiam and IMary to the British throne. For a time Van Varick sought refuge from his persecutors in Del- aware. On his return in 1690, he was arrested with great vio- lence by the usurper and cast into prison for six months. After- wards, charged with speaking treasonable words, he was fined ;,{8o by a pretended judge and sentenced to be deposed from the 4 8 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARA JUS ministry and imprisoned till the fine should be paid. Good bail was refused. At last he was released, without tine, but died in 1694 from the injuries received. Tlie usurper was deposed and executed. The first regular pastor settled within what is now the state of New Jersey and the adjoining- counties of Orange, and Rock- land, N. y. , was the godly and devoted Guilliam Bartholf. PYom tliis name, therefore, starts all the ecclesiastical history of this region. This man was from 1694 to 1724, the pastor of the Churches of Hackensack and Acquackanonk, and at the same lime the acting pjistor of the Church of Tappan, but his services extended to all the churches in this state, and as far as Tarry- tuwn, X. Y. .All the Holland people within those bounds re- garded him as their pastor. He first came to this country in 1683 or 1684, and became in due time a "Voorleser" or public reader, and a schoolmaster in Hackensack. After the organization of the Church of Acquackanonk in 1693, that church united with Hackensack in sending him to Holland for ordination. He was the second one thus sent abroad for that purpose. On his return in 1694, fully invested with the ministerial office, he assumed the pastoral charge of the churches named, which continued thirty years. For the half of this period he stood alone, without a colleague in all this wide field; and his zeal and widespread ac- tivity in ministering the Gospel to these scattered settlements, laid the foundation for many a church, which has been a fountain of blessing to this day. He is said to have been "in possession of a mild and placid eloquence, which persuaded by its gentle- ness, and attracted by the sweetness which it distilled and the holy savor of piety which it diffused. Tradition credits him with thirteen children. His biography as given in the "His- tory of Tappan Church" by Dr. David Cole, traces the lines of eight, and shows that his descendants are among us still, a mighty host, now allied apparently with all the old families of Bergen county, embracing such names as Terhune, Blauvelt, Bogert, Ackerman, Haring, Zabriskie, Demarest, Banta, Ro- maine, Hopper and many others. So the memory of the just is blessed. HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 49 III. IHE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLASSIS. I. A Hopeful Outlook. When this Classis began its career in 1800, our country was in a state of peace, the Church quiet, fairly united and hopeful. A church constitution had been perfected and a General Synod or- ganized. Measures were being taken to endow a Theological Semi- nary. A number of sons of the Church had entered the ministry, others were preparing for it, and great revivals of religion had come to many of the churches resulting in the addition of large numbers to their communion. A spirit of hopefulness, therefore, pervaded the denomination and was shared to the full by our Classis, for some of our Churches had been conspicuous as centers of re- vival. The nine congregations, or ten counting Saddle River, constituted five pastoral charges of two congregations each, and were well manned with educated ministers. They weie diligent and fearless in the use of discipline for the suppression of sin, and were already devising plans for the education both of white and colored people, for the prevention of intemperance and the support of foreign missions. In 1810 the Classis first required an annual report of the statist'cs of the Churches, showing their spiritual condition. This was in accordance with an act of General Synod passed the same year. The table upon the next page exhibits these statistics as far as they were submitted in 18 11. West New Hempstead did not report until 18 12. Totowa till 181 5. Though everything seemed favorable for rapid growth and prosperity, yet the event showed that God's ways are not as ours. He saw fit in His wisdom to put this Classis to a severe test and cause it to walk in the fiery furnace for many days. The trial consisted in the violent conflict of views and feelings which attended the schism of 1822, when two of our former Churches, those of Hackensack and Schraalenburgh, seceded from the de- nomination, and, under their leader, the Rev. Solomon Froeligh, made a strenuous effort either to carry the Churches of the Classis with them, or to disrupt and disintegrate them. Though the first design failed and the latter only partially succeeded, HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMIS FIRST S rATISTICAL REPORT MADE BY THE CHURCHES TO CLASSIS, A. D. 1811 ^=^ Rec'd. ~ i Bapt. CHURCHES. S. -Za -m o a O U PQ o O Acquackanonk Hackensack 192 100 ^ 94 459 -. I 1 2 144 I 27 Schraalenburgli 117 548 I II 3 4 8 163 ,.. 19 Tappan 172 801 6 2 6 . 3 234 I 42 Clai-kstown 213 913 4 3 2 77 I 36 Paramus 300 2000 12 2 6 3 4 431 2 50 Ramapo 150 837 3 3 2 69 . . . 39 Kakiat or West New Hempstead"' 92 539 S I I . 82 , . 23 Totowa f 113 606 2 2 90 • • 33 AVarwick \ tReport of 1815. -- "Report of 181-. JNo Report. yet the agitation and distraction produced by these attempts paralyzed the spiritual life of the Churches during the first half of the century and brought almost to a standstill their outward growth. Seventy-eight years have passed away since the secession was declared. All who had any active part in it are in eternity. The True Reformed Dutch Church, so called, which sprung out of it, has ceased to exist as such. Whatever may remain of it has been absorbed into other bodies. Some of the Churches have been twice transformed and are like the knife that had been di- vested first of its blade and then of its handle. The time has come, therefore, when a generation having no personal interests to promote or injure, and no memories to be painfully awakened, can look upon these events purely as matters of history, with no other feelings than those called forth by the solemn warnings and instructions which the history may bring to them. HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 5 I 2. 1 he Secession of 1S22. Its Causes. It is not our intention here to repeat in detail all the events and circumstances which led up to this movement, for ihe reason that they have been quite fully set forth, with the documents pertaining- to them, in other accessible publications. The in- tegrity of this history, however, requires that an outline of these causes, both remote and immediate, be presented. An examination of the various documents shows that as early as 1748, the two Churches of Hackensack and Schraalen- burgh which had thus far been under one pastor, called a second one as colleague to Antonius Curtenius, namely, J. H. Goetschius; that in due time the people of each Church became separated into two parties, as each person allied himself with his favorite min- ister; that Goetschius and his followers then attempted without the knowledge of the other party to secure a charter by which they should control the whole property, and that through this act a feud was started within those Churches which was never healed. A little later the factional bitterness thus engendered was greatly intensified by the famous controversy over American or- dination already described. One party with its minister favored the Coetus, the other the Conferentie; and this itself was con- sidered a sufficient cause tor breaking off all communication and fellowship with each other. Each party now followed its own minister from church to church and counted those of the other party its enemies. Still later, in 1756, the Conferentie party in each church elected a full Consistory from its own members and had them duly installed by an outside minister This only added fuel to the flame, tor the Coetus party now charged the other with schism, and sought to bring into question their rights in the property. There were now four organized Churches instead of two, though they constituted only two corporations as before, and continued to worship in the same buildings. The two ministers preached by turns in each building on alternate Sabbaths. This arrangement continued after the Ccetus controversy was ended and the churches had come under the jurisdiction of the Classis of Hackensack. A few years after the two parties in each church had become 5 2 HISTORY or THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS separately organized, the agitations which led to the Revolu- tionary War came on, and party politics ran high. It so hap- pened that these hostile factions succeeded in ranging themselves on opposite sides of the political questions of the day, and now all the rancor of bitter political partisanship was added to the strife. In 1786 the Rev. Solomon Froeligh was called to the pastor- ate of the two Churches, represented by the original Coetus Con- sistories. The Rev. Walmoldus Kuypers was the pastor of the more recent organizations. Mr. Froeligh was a man of respect- able attainments and fair intellectual abilities. Upon coming into this troubled field he at first co-operated with the Classis and Synod in an attempt to heal old wounds, and reunite the shat- tered congregations. These efforts were, after a few years of negotiation, temporarily successful, and in 1790, a basis of union was formally agreed to by the parties and ratified by the Classis with rejoicings. The two congregations in Hackensack now united and built a new church edifice on the Green — that in which the First Reformed Church now worships. But the peace so hopefully consummated was of short duration. Within five years Mr. Froeligh changed his mind, and his people sent up a petition to Classis denouncing the union, and praying for a sep- aration. Now all old wounds were reopened, and strife and contention reigned again with renewed virulence. It would be most amusing if it were not so serious to see Mr. Froeligh preach- ing on Jer. xv: 19-21, concerning the separation of the precious from the vile, and gravely assuming that he and his friends were the "precious," and good old Dominie Kuypers and his people the "vile." But this was perhaps not more extravagant than his resort to dreams, both his own and those of his parishioners, to justify them in undoing the peace and unity of the Churches. A lightning stroke, which on July 10, 1795, damaged the steeple of the new church in Hackensack and broke in pieces the stone containing the inscription, " Een dracht maakt niacht," furnished a portent which, to the disunionists was conclusive as a divine endorsement of their view. "The triune God," they said, "has made them two; the fire of grace is on one side and the fire of rage and discord on the other."* While matters were in this state of ferment, and before any *Pemarest's lamentations over Dr. Froeligh. note H, p, 6: HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 53 conclusion was reached, Mr. Kuypers, who had worthily finished his course and was full of years, resig^ned. This was the signal for another complete change of attitude on the part of Mr. Froeligh. He and his people now claimed, most strenuously, that the Churches in each place were one, and should not be separated. As the corporation in each place embraced the two Consistories, and these were of equal numbers, Mr. Froeligh, as president of the corporations, was complete master of the situa- tion; in e\ery equal division his casting vote could decide in favor of his own Consistory, and, by refusing to call a meeting of the corporation, he could prevent any action whatever. As he and his Consistories seemed disposed to use their power to the utmost, the other Consistories were compelled to seek the inter- vention of the Classis. Even here their appeals were followed by counter appeals and protests on the part of Mr, Froeligh and his elders. Never- theless, the Classis and the Particular S^mod over-ruled ]Mr. Froe- ligh's C'onsistories and approved a call, made in 1799, upon the Rev. J. V. C. Romeyn, to become the successor of Mr. Kuypers. Mr. Froeligh took his appeal from this action to the General .Synod, and upon being invited to officiate at the installation of Mr. Romeyn, refused to do so. He thus placed himself and his Churches in an attitude of open opposition and hostility to his new colleague and his administration. Upon the trial of his appeal by the General Synod, in June, rSoo. Mr. Froeligh was again over-ruled, and the acts of the Classis and Particular Synod were confirmed. The following also was passed: ''Resolved, That in consideration of the differences which have long subsisted between the peoples now under the care of Rev. James Y. C. Romeyn, and those under the care of Rev. Solomon Froeligh, the frequent and unsuccessful attempts to com- pose these differences, and the prospect that their continuance as united congregations would not be for their own comfort and the interests of religion; it be recommended for them to separate, and accommodate their civil concerns on the principles of equit\', and with the temper of Christians. " Against these decisions of the General Synod, in the name of the Consistories of his two Churches, the Rev. Solomon Froeligh and his elder, Jacob Demarest, entered a protest. It will be observed that this action was taken at the very session of the General 54 historV of the classis of pakajus Synod, which passed the act dividing the Classis of Hackensack into those of Paramus and Bergen; and it was evidently with the design of securing the separation of these churches, and in the hope of endine their dissensions] that the two which were under the care of Mr. Froeligh were placed in the Classis of Paramus; while the two more recent organizations, under the pastoral care of Mr. Romeyn, were assigned to the Classis of Bergen. By being so placed the contending churches were separated ecclesiastically as completely as possible. Still the old fires of contention continued to burn as fiercely as ever, for the separation was only formal. The two congregations in each locality occupied the same territory, worshiped alternately in the same building, were joint owners of the same property. Families were often divided, the husband clinging tenaciously to the one, and the wife as stren- uously adhering to the other. It was thus a pitifiil entanglement, — a labyrinth of trouble from which there seemed no way of escape. Attempts were made to adjust the property question, but they re- sulted only in the revival of old disputes and contentions. How- ever, as the old church building at Schraalenburgh became unten- able, and the two congregations were unable to agree and co-operate in the building of a new one, each was obliged to build an edifice for itself Mr. Froeligh's people located theirs near the old site, and Mr. Romeyn' s wisely selected a new site about two miles to the North. Thereafter they became known as the North and the South Churches. The South Church now proceeded to appropriate the old church property entirely to themselves, though the other had occu- pied it for a time after they abandoned it, and might, as it would seem, have claimed it by as good a right. They however contented themselves by making a demand for an equitable division, and, as the South Church gave no heed, they relinquished their claim without a contest. This transaction did not tend to harmony or good will. In Hackensack the two churches continued to worship alter- nately in the same building. Unconsciously this long continued strife, which had now lasted over fifty years, was preparing the way for the Secession. The Churches affected by it became morbidly sensitive, irritable, dis- trustful and jealous. They were like a mine charged with the elements of confusion and ready to be exploded at any moment. 1-USTORiCAI, DISCOIKSE 55 Dr. Froeligh himself, though possessed of many friends, and en- joying the confidence of most of his brethren in the Classis, evi- dently became soured and surrendered himself to influences and courses of action, which, in a healthier state of mind, he would have rejected. His feelings were greatly intensified and turned against the whole denomination by a disappointment which came to him about this time, in relation to the theological professorate. As early as 1792 the Pro\'isional S\'nod chose him as one of its lectors in theology and, five \'ears later, he was made a local professor, though without salary. A number of students were pre- pared for the ministry under his instruction. The Particular Synod of 1799 also appointed him as a teacher of Hebrew. But the Church had its heart set upon the e-itablishment of a central theological school with an endowment for the support of its prcj- fessors. It was soon percei\'ed that the system of local professors serving without pay stood in the wav of the accomplishment of that purpose, and especially of the securing of an endowment. The General Synod of 1803, therefore, declared that the previous ar- rangement was only a "temporary expedient to meet certain cir- cumstances which then existed, and that these professors should continue to possess the honor?^ and emoluments of their offices during their lives or good behavior, but shoultl have no successors." Dr. Livingston, who had been a professor under the Provisional Synod since 17S4, "was now elected the one permanent professor of the General Synod." * At the same time, the election in the previous ^-ear, bv the Particular Synod, of Drs. Froeligh, Bassett and G. A. Kuvpers, as teachers of Hebrew, was set aside as being" unauthorized, .-md General Synod proceeded to elect t«'o such professors. Upon counting the vote it was found that Dr. Froeligh had failed of elec- tion, while Drs. Bassett and Jeremiah Romeyn had succeeded. These latter, therefore, received the appointments. Such changes marked the great struggle through which our ( hurch passed in establishing the first theological seminary in America and placing it upon a solid and permanent foundation. There is no e-\'idence of the least design to slight any individual, and yet extracts which ha\'e been published from the correspondence of Dr. Froeligh f show clearly, that at that time he began to speak unkindlv of the *Corwiii's Manual, p. 104. f 'raylor's "Annals of the Classisof Bergen," p. 227, et seq. 56 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Reformed Church, to asperse her orthodoxy and purity, and to propose to some of his friends that they should assist him in work- ing up a secession. An endowment was in due time secured for the theological chair and Dr. Livingston was called to its occupancy upon a reg- ular salary. He was also elected president of Queen's college. He therefore left his important charge in the Collegiate Church in 1 8 ID, and removed to New Brunswick, which now became the seat of the institution. After this the Synod provided that all students in theology should prosecute their studies in the institution under the care of the Church. That the pride of Mr. Froeligh was deeply wounded by the promotion of Dr. Livingston to this position and the consequent set- ting aside of himself as an acting professor, is intimated by the sym- pathetic action taken in this Classis under date of April, 18 14, as fol- lows: "With respect to the students in theology, your committee are of the opinion that it [the act of synod] seems to annul the study of students of theology, under the care of Dr. Professor S. Froe- ligh, who has been legally and constitutionally appointed a pro- fessor in theology, and do therefore recommend to classis to enjoin it upon the delegates to the next General Synod to request an ex- planation of said article. " With reference to this Mr. Jacob Brink- erhoff, who claims to have written his ' ' History of the True Re- formed Dutch Church" from a personal knowledge of the facts re- corded, says: "The disaffection of Dr. Froeligh toward the Re- formed Dutch Church began in the year 18 10, when the General Synod wanted a theological professor for the presidency of Rutgers college, (then Queen's), as required by its charter. Drs. Livings- ton and Froeligh were named as the candidates. After much prayerful consideration the unanimous choice fell upon Dr. Liv- ingston. * * * It was, however, made manifest by Dr. Froe- ligh that he thought the General Synod had fallen into a mistake. He was greatly disappointed. He remarked to some of his friends after the matter was decided that 'he would make them feel his power.' " * During the agitation of the professorial question in the Church at large, matters grew no more peaceful between the Churches of Mr. Froeligh and those ot Mr. Romeyn. The delicate relations of those Churches required that the strictest comity should * Brinkerhoff'.s "History True R. D. Church," pp. 30, 31. HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 57 be observed in reference to the mutual reception and dismission of members; and to promote that end, the Particular Synod, at the request of this Classis, at its first session, 1800, defined particularly the limits of each congregation and made regulations to be ob- served by them. Party spirit ran so high, however, that when a person left one Church to join the other, he would not recognize the rights of the Church he left sufficiently to ask a letter of dismission, and Consistories in some instances were too ready to second the lawless procedure. Dr. Froeligh and his Consistories seemed to have been the chief offenders in this matter, and at last a definite case was made up against him. A memorial was presented to this Classis in 1819, from the joint Consistories of Mr. Romeyn, which claimed that those Churches had observed the rules imposed by the Particular Synod, and refused to receive members of the other Churches without letters, though such letters were uniformly denied them; but, on the other side, that Mr. Froeligh received members from Mr. Romeyn' s Churches without asking letters. Several cases of such breaches of law, order, and comity were cited, and finally, in reference to a very aggravated case, Mr. Froeligh was formally charged as follows : "i. With intruding upon the rights of the congregation of the North Church of Schraalenburgh, and a violation of the constitu- tion of the Reformed Dutch Church, by receiving said members in an unconstitutional manner. "2. With admitting said persons to present their child in bap- tism, they being suspended members, and their suspension con- firmed by the Classis of Bergen; and also with admitting the wife to the communion table after the decision of the Classis. ' ' Mr, Froeligh, in answer to these charges, put in the weak plea that the acts charged were not his personal acts, but those of his Consistories. He accompanied this plea with a statement signed by the Consistories, that they accepted the responsibility, and "pledged their honor to standby and support their minister to the last extremity in administering to said members the ordinances of God's house." The Classis admitted his plea and acquitted him without trial. The question was thus raised whether a minister is responsible for any of his acts in the administration of a Church. Mr. Romeyn appealed to the Particular Synod, and that body re- versed the action of Classis and directed that Mr. Froeligh should be tried. Notice of this came to the Classis at its next session in 58 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS 1 82 1, and it was then moved and seconded that "the Classis pro- ceed to the trial of Dr. Froehgh." The motion was lost by a vote of two to ten, as follows : In favor of it: — Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge, and Elder Freder- ick Van Riper. Opposed to it: — Revs. Stephen Goetschius, James D. Demar- est, Peter D. Froeligh and John I. Christie. Elders: Peter Perry, Garret Lydecker, John Post, John Westervelt, Aaron Tay- lor and Garrabrant Yereance. The above vote shows a very marked disposition on the pan of the Classis to shield Mr. Froeligh in his lawless proceedings. Mr. Eltinge and his elder protested. Mr. Romeyn appealed to the Particular Synod and the Classis, to protect itself, took an appeal from the act of the Particular to the General Synod. The latter body reviewed the matter in June, 1832, and, by a AOte of 36 to 8, sustained the Particular Synod, and sent the case back to the Classis for trial. The Classis now, in September, 1822. cited Dr. Froeligh to appear, but again showed its reluctance to proceed by fixing the time for the trial, in spite of the protest of a minority, a year thence. During these lagging proceedings, Mr. Froeligh had been diligently inveighing against the Reiormed Church. He openly charged her with corruptness in doctrine and laxity in dis- cipline. Under the former he specified Pelagianism, Arminianism, Antinomianism, and especially that vague error, at the time called Hopkinsianism. He taught that the Church was permeated with these errors, and strongly intimated that his successful rival. Dr. Livingston, and all the leaders in the Church, if not fully commit- ted to them, were openly winking at and preparing to embrace them. Time and the judgment of the religious world have abund- antly disproved this charge. They have shown that the orthodoxy of the Reformed Church and her intelligent and honest adherence to her ancient standards are proverbial among all religious people; and on the other hand, subsequent e\'ents have shown that, whether Dr. Froeligh himself believed these charges or not, they were published with the design of alienating a plain and unsuspect- ing people from their allegiance to the Reformed Church, and pre- paring them to desert to his standard, and to proclaim him as the founder and head of a new religious order. The bitter par- tisanship long existing in Schraalenburgh and Hackensack closed the ears of his people to outside information. They regarded Historical discourse 59 their pastor as an oracle upon whom they could implicitly rely. His bitter denunciations of the Reformed Church and its leaders, came to them as an infallible judgment. The learned terms em- ployed to describe the alleged errors, though not understood by them, imported to their minds something horrible; and in this way a people who desired to do no wrong, were led to bitterly hate and violently oppose as pure a Church as ever existed in this land, and the only one to which they were, by birth, con- sanguinity, nationality, tradition and common lielief, allied. And now the crisis had arrived. After the announcement of the General Synod's decision against hiin, the doctor hastened home, summoned the Consistories and leading members of his two Churches to a joint meeting, and asked them to unite with him in seceding. The reluctance of the people to comply with his request is shown by the fact that, notwithstanding the long training they had received, the vote of that meeting was a tie — thirty-seven on each side. The doctor, greatly disappointed, now labored with his people anew, and painted the alleged cor- ruptions of the Church in darker and more dreadful colors; and at a subsequent meeting succeeded in carrying the measure through the Consistories. While, therefore, the Classis was deliberating on the ques- tion of summoning Afr. Froeligh for trial, he had practically left the Church, and was at that moment on his way to the North, for the purpose of enlisting certain deposed ininisters in central New York to join him in forming a new religious denomination. These deposed men had become victims of the Church's strict- ness of discipline and were out of all ecclesiastical standing. They gladly consented to join him, and a few weeks later, in October, 1822, four such deposed men * came down to Schraal- enburgh, bringing with them three elders and one deacon, who had become their followers; and these, together with Mr. Froe- ligh and one of his elders, proceeded to organize themselves into "The True Reformed Dutch Church," and to issue a pamphlet containing the alleged reasons for their action. When the evidences of this proceeding were laid before the General Synod the next year, 1823, that body, to which Dr. Froeligh as a professor was directly responsible, referred the * Abraham Brokaw, Henry V. Wyckoff, Sylvaiius Palmer and John C. Toll. WyckolT and Palmer in 1829 seceded from the Secession. 6o HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS case with all the documents to a committee with the Rev. Philip H. Duryee as chairman, who reported in part as follows : "The committee to whom was referred several memorials of the Rev. W. Eltinge and others, together with a printed pamphlet, with the name of the Rev. Dr. Froeligh thereto subscribed, report: "That the Rev. Dr. Froeligh, as a professor of theology in the Dutch Church, is directly accountable to the General Synod for misbehavior. 'I'hat it appears by the printed pamphlet, referred to your committee, with the names of Dr. Froeligh and others affixed thereto, and which they have caused to be published. "I, That Dr. Froeligh thereby avows himself as a seceder from the Reformed Dutch Church, under whose authority he holds his office as professor. "2. That he, by the same pamphlet, implicated the consti- tuted authorities of the Church, in the serious charges of disre- gard to Christian discipline; of prostituting the sacraments, by an indiscriminate administration of them; and of sanctioning or winking at unsound doctrines, and cherishing the promulgators thereof. "3. That he, in the said pamphlet, has united with several deposed ministers of the said church, to declare themselves the 'True Reformed Dutch Church, ' in contempt of the ecclesiastical authority of the said Church, as established by the constitution and rules thereof. "4. That the object and tendency of the said pamphlet, is to excite and promote schism and dissensions in the said. Church, and the congregations thereto belonging. "That the foregoing acts of the Rev. Dr. Froeligh are direct violations of the duties of his office of professor, subversive of peace and good order, and calculated to excite and spread a spirit of insubordination in the Church, and to create contempt of, and resistance to the regular and orderly administration of the government thereof "Your committee are therefore of opinion that the Rev. Dr. F'roeligh should be cited, without delay, to appear and answer to the charges above detailed, before this .'>ynod. ' 'The doctor was accordingly twice cited to appear, but, having informed the messenger, in the second instance, that he should not reply to the summons, 'the Synod then adopted a preamble reciting the acts of the doctor and the position he held HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 6 I to the Synod as professor, as \\-ell as the serving of the citations upon him, and his refusal to appear, followed by the following- resolutions:' "Resolved, 'I'hat this Synod, by reason of such refusal, as well as upon an examination of the said pamphlet, do adjudge him guilty of the several offences, so as aforesaid charged against him. "Resolved, That Dr. Froeligh be, and he hereby is removed from his said office of professor for the said offences, and that he be and hereby is suspended from his office as minister of the Gospel until he shall exhibit satisfactory evidence to this Synod ot his sincere penitence, and full submission to the authority of the regular constituted ecclesiastical judicatories of the Re- formed Dutch Church. "Resolved, I'hat the stated clerk transmit a certified copy of the foregoing resolutions to Dr. Froeligh and his congregation. "Resolved, That the Classis of Paramus be directed to depose the Consistory of Dr. Froeligh from office, and to organize a new Consistory in the late congregation of Dr. Froeligh. ' The Classis seemed completely stunned by these events, and incapable of complying with the injunction of the Synod or of taking any decided action. -\ majority of its clerical members were closely allied with Dr. Froeligh and subject to his influence. Peter D. Froeligh, of Acquacka- nonk, was his own son, and receiveci from, his father his ministerial training. James D. Demarest, of West New Hemp- stead and Ramapo, was also a pupil and a devoted friend of Froeligh. These both would, without a doubt, have seceded at once if their Churches could have been persuaded to go with them. John I. Christie, of ^^'arwick, was born at Schraalen- burgh, reared in the midst of the old conflict, and was also trained for the ministry at the feet of Froeligh. He and Peter D. Froeligh were licensed hy this Classis at its session in 1801. It is evident that he was much attached to his old professor, and found it difficult to proceed against him, though in the end he stood true to the Reformed Church. Stephen Goetschius, of Saddle River and Pascack, was a son of the old Church at Hack- ensack. His father was a predecessor of Froeligh and held the same position of professor of theology. The son, born, reared and educated in the atmosphere of that old Church, must have 62 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS felt a sincere reluctance to proceed against her or her pastor in a way of discipline; yet in the end he adhered firmly to the Re- formed Church. Nicholas Lansing, of Tappan and Clarkstown, was not present when the first test vote was taken, but voted with the majority to postpone the trial of Froeligh a year. He was probably moved by a hope of securing a reconciliation. Wilhelmus Eltinge alone of all the ministers of the Classis seems to have held an absolutely independent and unbiased posi- tion according to the records, — and these at this time, were kept by James D. Demarest, who afterward seceded. It is due to Eltinge's memory to say that he manifested an unwavering devo- tion to the Reformed Church, and a decided outspoken opposi- tion to disunion and secession. We do not for a moment im- pugn the motives ot others who may have hoped by gentleness and time to win back the departed Churches, but we note the fact that Eltinge alone saw the emptiness of that hope, and the necessity of prompt action to preserve what remained of the two seceding Churches, and prevent the spread of the trouble. Noticing the reluctance of the Classis to take any action, the loyal minorities in the two seceding Churches each now memor- ialized the Classis to proceed to reorganize them as the Synod had directed; but the Classis refused, on the alleged ground that such action would produce discontent and division in other Churches, and cut off the hope of the return of the seceded churches to their allegiance. They therefore passed the following : "Resolved, That the General Synod are hereby earnestly and respectfully requested at their next session, to reconsider and re- scind that part of their resolution enjoining on the Classis of Paramus to suspend the Consistories of Hackensack and Schraalenburgh, and to constitute new ones in their room. ' The memorialists, and also Mr. Eltinge and his elder, ap- pealed from this decision to the Particular Synod, which body re- ferred it to the General Synod. At its next session, June, 1824. the General Synod took it up, patiently listened to the parties concerned, and then referred the whole subject to a committee with Dr. Milledoler at its head, which reported the following which was adopted: "I. Resolved, That although the conduct of the Classis of Paramus, in not complying with the injunction of General Synod in this case, can never be justified as a general principle, HISTORICAL DISCOUKSE 63 yet that peculiarities have existed in the case which convince this Synod that they have not acted in the premises from a spirit of insubordination, but from a sincere desire to promote the best interests of the Churclies under their care. "2. Resolved, Tliatthe appeal of Messrs. Cooper and Myers, from the decision of the Classis of Paramus, lie and hereby is sustained. "3. Resolved, That this Synod, anxiously desirous to remove out of the way, e\-erything opposed to peace and godliness in the Churches of that region, and, if possible, restore to them har- mony and good order, will appoint a commission to visit said Churches for the abo\"e purpose, confer with the Classis of Par- amus, and if found necessary and practicable, ordain new Con- sistories. "4. Resolved, That the Classis of Paramus be required to meet at Hackensack on the first Tuesday of July next, at lo o'clock a. m., to confer with such commission as General Synod shall appoint. '•5. Resolved, That the Rev. Drs. Philip INIilledoler, James S. Cannon and John Knox, and the Rev. Messrs. Thomas DeWitt, Jacob Sickles, Jesse Fonda, Cornelius C. Cu)der, John fAidlow, Jacob Schoonmaker, Cornelius D. W'estbrook, and David S. Bogert, and the elders, ^Messrs, Abraham Van Nest, Jacob R. Hardenburgh, Isaac Hyer, James (.,'. Roosevelt, John Frelinghuy- sen and Henry Rutgers, compose said commission. Respectfully submitted, P. ]\IiLi,EDOLER, Chairman. This commission whose members ranked among the most distinguished ministers and laymen in the Church, met on the sixth of July, 1824, with the C'lassis of Paramus in the church at Hackensack. The sermon preached at that time by Dr. Philip ^lilledoler on ist Cor: i-io, and also, "An Address of the Com- mission of the General Synod to the Ministers, Officers and other Members of the Reformed Dutch Church and Especially to the [Ministers and Churches of the Secession, were printed and widely distributed. The address is a carefully prepared paper, penned in a kindly spirit, and sets forth the real merits of the con- troversy. 'Tt thoroughly refuted the allegations of those who seceded, and shows clearly how unwarranted the whole move- ment was in the estimation of the Commission of Synod and of 64 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS those adhering to the Reformed Church. ' A brief outline of it is published in Taylors "Annals of the Classis of Berg-en," pp. 222-227. The Commission presented to the Classis the following re- port and advice: "The injunction of General Synod, of June, 1823, directing the Classis of Paramus to depose the Consistories of Hackensack and Schraalenburgh being still unrepealed and in force; and no sufficient reason appearing to this Commission why such in- junction should not be carried into effect, the Commission are of opinion that the members of such Consistories ought to be de- posed. But inasmuch as a committee of the Classis of Paramus did, in September last, express the hope that said Consistories would return to their allegiance; and inasmuch as the General Synod have manifested their anxiety to use every conciliatory measure, and to employ every means in their power to avoid ex- tremities; the Commission hereby recommend to the Classis of Paramus to invite said Consistories to return to their allegiance to the Church from which they have seceded, and that in case they decline to return before the next stated meeting, that the Classis be recoiTimended then to depose the inembers of said Consist- ories, from their offices, and if practicable, to ordain others in their stead." (Signed), I. Fonda, Clerk. The Classis expressed its acquiescence by passing the follow- ing: "'^solved. That Classis act in accordance with the advice contained in the above report of the committee." At the next regular session, September, 1824, it was made known that the Consistories in question refused to return to their allegiance to the Church, and a motion was made that the Classis proceed to their deposition, in accordance with the repeated or- ders of the General Synod and the pledge made to the committee of the General Synod on July sixth. But upon the vote being taken it was lost. Dr. Eltinge alone, of the ministers, voted in its favor. Nicholas Lansing, Stephen Goetschius and Peter D. Froeligh were opposed. The elders were equally divided, there being three on each side. An appeal was taken to the Particular Synod, and subsequently, through a committee of that Synod, two elders and a deacon were elected in Schraalenburgh and a delegate from this new Consistory was received into the Classis in April, 1825; but the property remained in possession of the HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 65 seceders. There is no further trace of this new organization in our records. The long struggle over these Churches was ended. The schism was accomplished. During the progress of these events in June, 1824, the Rev. James T>. Demarest, of West New Hempstead and Ramapo, joined the secession. He made a determined effort to take those Churches with him out of the denomination. Part of each Con- sistory and some of the members of each Church became his followers; but the loyal officers and members immediately laid the matter before the Classis, and Mr. Demarest and his seced- ing people were placed on trial. After a full and orderly investigation, they were convicted of the crime of public schism. Mr. Demarest was suspended from the pastoral office and the other official members were de- posed. Soon after this the Rev. Peter D. Froelig-h followed in the footsteps of his father. He, however, first resigned his charge over the Church of Acquackanonk on account of other troubles, and agreed with the Consistory to leave the Church in peace. Soon after, he broke his agreement and endeavored to form a congregation of seceders from within the bounds of that Church. He also was tried in Oct. 1825, and, on the testimony of many witnesses, was convicted of schism and other serious offences, and suspended from the ministry. He subsequently became suspected of a crime in relation to a will, and termi- nated his life by his own hand. In 1830 the Rev. Christian Z. Paulison, who, in the previous year had become the pastor of the Church of Acquackanonk, announced to his Consistory his intention of seceding. The Classis was immediately summoned to investigate the case; and, as Mr. Paulison was contumacious, refusing to heed any citation, or to confer with any committee, and, withal, abusive to the Classis, he was temporarily, and in the next year permanently, suspended from the ministry. He possessed decided talents, and now became a chief apologist for the Secession and eulogist of its leaders. The seceded Churches of Hackensack and Pater- son made him their pastor; but, within one year, he found him- self out of harmony with his new found friends. Some of their measures were abhorrent to his sense of right, and he was con- strained to denounce, in polite but withering terms, the conduct of those whom he had lately extolled. The seceded body now 66 HISTORY OF THE CLASSiS OF PARAMUS suspended him from its ministry also, but, as tliere were found in his Haclcensack Church persons willing to follow him in an- other secession, he took them out with him and became the head of an entirely independent organization in that village. J. Results of the Secession, 1822-1850. The results of the secession in relation to the Reformed de- nomination were inconsiderable; but, in relation to the Classis of Paramus, and a portion of that of Bergen, they were serious and long continued. The direct and manifest loss in the Classis of Paramus was two congregations, one each in Hackensack and Schraalenburgh; one Church property, the South Church of Schraalenburgh, and three ministers out of the seven then in the Classis. But a much more serious result was the division which oc- curred in nearly all the Churches. A number of their members, in each case, sided with the secession. In several instances, both in this Classis and that of Bergen, the minister became the leader of the movement. Strenuous efforts were made in those cases to take the whole congregation and the church property out of the denomination. These efforts were not successful, but as the prt)perty was generall)' in the hands of the Seceders, pro- tracted lawsuits for its recovery, which produced much bitter feeling, became necessary. The decision of these cases was uniformly in favor of the Reformed Dutch Church. The reason of the defection among the Churches, even ^\'here the ministers were loyal, was the fact that the people did not understand the real nature of the movement. It was per- sistently heralded as a crusade against doctrinal corruption, — a movement to secure a pure and holy Church. This supposed purpose touched a chord of sympathy in. many hearts, while the real motives, which lay behind it, — the personal ambition and the offended pride of the leader, — were carefully concealed from view. These disaffected persons were now taught that if they could not induce their Churches to secede, it was their duty to separate from them and form others in their stead. Accordingly organizations were made, and little churches built by the side of nearly every one of our ancient ones. They styled themselves "The True Reformed Dutch Church," but were always known to HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 67 the world simply as "Seceders. " 'I'hey adopted precisely the same doctrinal standards, the same form of government, and the identical rules of discipline which have always been maintained in the Reformed Dutch Church. It is evident, therefore, that they designed no radical reformation, eitlier in doctrine or discipline. Yet at the same time, their leaders so interpreted and applied the Scriptural doctrine of predestination, as to make it equivalent to the ancient pagan doctrine of fate. So extreme was their treat- ment of that subject, that it became useless to invite sinners to believe or to accept redemption; nor were men justified in at- tempting to interfere with the Divine counsel in these matters by the use of means. They were thus led to believe that they should simply submit to the unalterable decree, whether of elec- tion or reprobation as the case might be. Careless persons readily accepted this \'iew, for it furnished them w'th an excuse for refusing to seek the Lord, and relieved them seemingly of all responsibility for their neglect. The distorted doctrine, there- fore, soon spread widely among the people; and multitudes lived and died in stolid indifference, without religious hope or fear, be- lieving themselves the helpless victims of this inexorable power. The hope of the saints was paralyzed also by this perversion of the truth, for the)r were led to believe, that inasmuch as the de- cree was secret, it was a virtue to doubt their salvation; and a sin, or at least a very bad sign, to feel the assurance which the Gospel commends. Those who could not follow them in these extreme views, were denounced as unorthodox, corrupt, and un- fit for spiritual fellowship. These separated bodies in the midst of each congregation now became storm centers of strife, controversy and ill feeling. Fierce disputations constantly arose among the people in rela- tion to the deepest m)rsteries of religion, and resulted only in in- creased bitterness and hatred. Families became divided, life- long friendships broken and social relations generally disturbed. Worse than all, the Holy Spirit was driven away, and religion and morality sadly declined for a long period. Converts were few; the number of Church members fell below the number of families. The classical reports on the state of religion show only a few isolated cases of revival within the next twenty years. They complain of Sabbath breaking, profanity, intemperance, the neglect of family religion, the want of results from the 68 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAJIVS faithful preaching of the word, and especially the very discour- aging conditions among the young. This state of things con- tinued with little variation till 1843, when a number of the Churches were quickened and revived, and an accession was re- ported in the Classis of one hundred and fifty-six by conver- sion. 4. Church Exte7ision in the First Half of the Century. The building of many opposition Churches within the bounds of existing congregations could not fail to hinder greatly the work of genuine Church extension. It weakened the congrega- tions, used up their resources, marred their prestige and ren- dered them unfit for a long time to undertake much beyond their own maintenance. Little could be done, therefore, toward es- tablishing Churches in other neighboring communities till after the middle of the century. Meanwhile, the field, so imperfectly occupied by its rightful tenants, lay open to the inroads of other denominations, and these were not slow to embrace the opportu- nity. P"ive names, however, were added to the roll of Churches during the first half of the century in place of the two that were erased. The Church of Warwick, N. Y., was organized as a Re- formed Church in 1804, and has long been one of our strong and benevolent Churches. She was organized as a Presbyterian Church, probably before 1750, and had had four Presbyterian pastors before she came to us. The Church of Pascack was added early in the century, 18 14. Her constituency came from the congregations of Paramus and Saddle River. The Second Church of Totowa was organized in 1827 by a division of the old First Church. The congregation was unable to agree on a site for the new Church, after the old one had been destroyed by fire. A long contest ovej the matter both in Con- sistor)r and Classis seemed, at the time, a very sad and painful affair, but it proved to be fortunate in the end, because it gave us a needed second Church, which has been a great blessing to the city of Paterson. So far the accessions gained, though excellent and valuable, had not been the result of any aggressiveness, or even voluntary effort on the part of Classis. In the last two cases HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 6y the Churches were formed in spite of much opposition and many efforts on the part of others to prevent the divisions. But at last a new era dawned upon the C'lassis. The Churches had passed safely through their fiery trials. God had graciously upheld and comforted them. Though cast down for a season, Ihey were beginning to reco\'er strength, and to look about them for the work God intended them to do. In 1838 a petition came to the Classis from Nyack, signed by members of the Church of Clarkstovvn living in that place, praying to be organized into a Reformed Cliurch. There was no indication of the least opposition from any quarter. It was a gen- uinely spontaneous movement for the extension of the Church of God. The petition was joyously' granted. The same year a similar request came from Piermont, under like conditions. This also was granted. Both these organizations developed eventually into strong, healthy congregations. The next year, 1839, ^^^ Classis made its tirst recommenda- tion for aid from our Board of Domestic Missions, in behalf of its new enterprise in Nyack. Two hundred dollars were granted. Never were Domestic Missionaiy funds better employed. I'hat aggressive and puissant Church has for many years delighted to pour hundreds annuall}^ into the treasury of that Board, and to support with like generosity all the benevolences of the Church. At the close of the first half of the century the decided pro- gress made b)^ the Churches, despite all their troubles, is seen in the fact that there were then only two double pastorates, and that the number of ministers had increased from five to eleven. .\11 the fathers who participated in the organization had long since gone to their reward, excepting Dr. \\'ilhelmus Eltinge, who was still officiating at Paramus; but he, too, closed up his work of tifty-one years' duration, in 1850, and died the next year. Heroes of persistent labor and patient suffering were these men of the earlier days. One cannot read of their achievements ,in the records of the Classis and Consistories without feelings of admir- ation and reverence. They lived in troubled times, carried heavy burdens, generall)^ each pastor having two widely scattered congregations. They labored amidst sorrows and discouragements, and usually received slight compensations in material support. The Classis embraced, at the time it was organized, about the same territory as at present. It extended from Passaic on the 70 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMt/S south to Warwick in Orange county, N. Y., on the north — the latter place having been served by this Classis years before the Church was formally received. There were no railroads, no macadam, and few spring-carriages, yet was there rarely a min- ister or elder absent from a meeting. In the year 1837, seven sessions of the Classis were held — two regular and five special; yet, at almost every one the Churches were fully represented by both minister and elder. There was never a question concerning the presence of a quorum. The regular session ordinarily con- tinued two days, and occasionally, when much litigation was before it, three days were required to clear the docket. For example, it was at such a three days' session, held in Schraal- enburgh in 18 14, that the Classis attended to all the routine business of a Spring session, tried two appeal cases, in one of which it examined eight witnesses; granted two appeals to the Particular Synod from its own decisions, and formulated the reasons for its acts; afterwards it effected a settlement of all the disputes involved in those cases, and had the two latter ap- peals withdrawn. It also considered two grievances, one of which involved serious charges against a Consistory and min- ister, but succeeded at length in reconciling these parties also, and so brought about a general peace for the time being. Then it made a long deliverance on the subject of lay-preaching, in which much liberty was accorded to male Christians in explain- ing the Scriptures or the catechisms in social meetings, so long as they should not assume to speak with authority, and should use the pronoun zejf, — not j/e, or I Aou. This, it was claimed, was in accord with ancient usage, both in this country and Holland. It also essayed to determine a matter between the General Synod and another Classis: this involved a sharp debate. A memorial was read, also, relating to the organization of a new Church, and much other important and sometimes delicate busi- ness transacted, all of which is recorded in the handwriting of Dr. Eltinge, in eighteen closely written pages. This is but a specimen of many such long busy sessions. 5. Church Extension in the Last Half Century, i8jo - 1^00. We have seen that, at its organization, the Classis con- tained ten Churches, including Saddle River. At the comple- Historical fiisdouRSfi 71 tion of the half century in 1850, the whole number was thirteen. Five had been added, but two had seceded, leaving a net gain of three. Nearly all the increase in Churches, therefore, has been made within the last tifty years. It includes eighteen names in all, fifteen of which are of Churches now in full operation. The most of them were, in their infancy, under the fostering care of the Board of Domestic ^lissions, and a few are not yet entirely self-supporting. Four Churches are composed of Holland- ers who conduct their services mostly in their mother tongue. All of our original Churches used the Dutch language at the beginning of the century and some of the ministers were unable to preach in English. Demands for services in English soon began to be made, and it became the policy of the Classis in those cases, to grant a bi-monthly service in that language and to appoint the ministers who could use that tongue, to conduct them in rotation. By this means the transition from Dutch to English was successfully effected, though not without some controversy and feeling. Our present Holland speaking Churches are experiencing the same difficulty. The recent comers cling to the old language, and the new generation, Amer- ican born, desire the English language. These Churches have had their own dititiculties and trials also, arising from the occa- sional attempts of certain misguided persons to induce them, for some trifling cause, to secede from the denomination and to di- \ert their property. The most notable case of this kind happened at Lodi, N. J. The occasion of the schism was the change in the denomina- tional name, which took place in 1867, and which the Classis ratified by a two-third vote. I'his act was displeasing to the Rev. W. C. Wust, then pastor of the Holland Church, and his Consistory; and in the Spring of 1868 they sent a communica- tion to the Classis, so offensive and slanderous in its character, and so clearly avowing their repudiation of the Reformed Church and their secession from it, that the Classis, theri and there, sus- pended him from the Gospel ministry, and the members of his Consistory who united with him in these acts, from their respect- ive offices. Mr. Wust continued to minister in the Church, how- ever, after his suspension for more than two years, and that de- spite the fact that the Classis declared his acts irregular and dis- orderly, and as his animosity toward the Reformed Church still yj HISTORY OF THE CLASSiS OF PAfeAMltS manifested itself in slanderous publications, he was, in 1870, for- mally cited to appear before the Classis and answer to the fol- lowing charges: "I. Continuing to exercise his office in our Church of Lodi, after suspension by the Classis. "2. Slandering our Church and ministry." After two citations, and his failure to appear for trial at the time appointed, he was deposed for contumacy. A portion of the cono-regation then asked to be taken under the care of the Classis, and a commission consisting of the Revs. John Gaston and James Huyssoon proceeded to Lodi, by order of the Classis, to elect a new Consistory. The deposed minister and his elders refused them admission to the Church; whereupon they took possession, and, having entered the building with the loyal people of the congregation, proceeded to elect two elders and a deacon. In the language of the legal decision subsequently ren- dered: "In this case the ordination followed the election instanter, and within one hour, the Church was broken into, the meeting was convened, the Master of assemblies was invoked, the election was held, the elect were ordained, and all participants were on their way home again." These proceedings were in marked contrast with the dilatory and hesitating methods of 1822. If somewhat high-handed, they were made authoritative by the subsequent en- dorsement of the Classis. A suit was now begun in the Supreme Court for the recovery of the property, and after many vexatious delays, an elaborate opinion was rendered by Judge Dixon in 1876, five years after the case was begun, and eight after the secession, in which it was held that the property rightfully belonged to the con- gregation recognized by, and subordinate to this Classis. The de- cision was entered in full upon our minutes, under date of May 29, 1876, and is a valuable exposition of the legal rights of Consistories and Churches. The congregation re-established in its rightful home has become a prosperous, self-supporting Church. The agitation of the question of a union between our denomi- nation and the Reformed Church (German) in the U. S., in 1892, was made the occasion of a similar schism in the First Holland Reformed Church of Wortendyke. The pastor. Consistory, and a large portion of the congregation informed the Classis by a writ- ten communication, signed by ninety-five names, that they had de- cided to secede, that the Church was unanimous in so doing, and HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 73 that they desired the Classis to leave them in the undisputed pos- session of the Church and parsonage property. The Classis at first decided to grant the request, but quickly reversed their action when they learned that the representations made by the Rev. E. Hann and his followers, respecting the unanimity of the congrega- tion, were entirely contrary to the facts; and that fifty-four mem- bers and a large body of adherents, remained true and loyal to their former Church relation. A new Consistory was elected and installed under the direction of the Classis, and an ejectment suit commenced for the recovery of the property in the hands of the seceded body; but, in the light of the Lodi precedents, that body soon relinquished its claims, and restored the entire property to its rightful owners. The congregation of Wortendyke is now a flour- ishing, peaceful and happy Church. With the exception of such occasional ripples the course and progress of the Classis for many years has been smooth, steady and free from contro\ersy or excitements. The Lord led us formerly in strange paths, but He led us safely through them, and has brought us into a large place. The close of the century finds our Churches in a state of peace, devoted to the principle of unity and animated with the spirit of progress. The particular dealings of (jod with the several Churches will be exhibited in their own special histories soon to be published. It will be found that all the paths of the Lord are merc^- and truth unto such as keep his covenant and testimonies. While the religious world generally is in a state of disquietude, and many are staggered in their faith by the bold assaults of un- belief, this Classis is pursuing its steady and peaceful course, rely- ing indubitably upon that system of truth which has come down to us from Christ and His apostles, which was tried and tested afresh in the fires of the Reformation, and which is embodied in the ac- cepted and honored standards of our Reformed Church in America. For all the prosperity and enlargement which our God has given us, for all the fatherly discipline He has laid upon us, and for the sweet repose of faith which He has wrought in us, \^e give Him praise and glory. Today we are walking about Zion and going round about her; we tell of her goodly towers, we mark well her bulwalks and consider her palaces, that we may tell it to the generation follow- 74 msTORV OF THE CLASSIS OF tARAMtjS ing. For this God, who hath led us and our fathers through all the century, is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even unto death. ADDRESSES THE ANCESTRAL CHURCH IN HOLLAND The Rbv. Daniel Van Pk.lt, D.D.* IT is with peculiar pleasure that I arise to take part in the exer- cises of this auspicious occasion. I cannot but remember that when tenderness and callowness of j'outh were still upon me, I was ordained to the ministry bv the Classis of Paramus. The wisdom of that act may be freely called into question, and subsequent ^•ears may have sadly failed to evince that it was wise. But still the thing was done, and howe\'er much the ministerial profession may have suffered from it, it was a source of immense gratification to me at the time, and for this alone my gratitude is due, A hundred )-ears of life of such a body as this Classis means much. We have had the precise circumstances of that centennial season of existence and acti^'ity laid out in detail before us this morning. The experiences of a centurv thus gathered up into a concise and concentrated review, will have a greatly stimulating effect, in launching this whole ecclesiastical body with new zeal and consecrated purpose, upon another centurv of labor and achieve- ment, which must necessarily excel the former in breadth and height of accomplishment, because of improved conditions and more facile methods. The Classis of Paramus stands among a host of staunch de- fenders of the faith once delineated by the fathers, as a stronghold of loyalty and a citadel of orthodoxy. No uncertain sounds such as confuse the inhabitants of many another modern Zion, have ever been heard to proceed from the trumpets of the watchmen upon her walls. And yet hers has ever been an orthodoxy tempered by warmth of catholicity and moderation of temper. So then, with a straightforward and unbending attachment to well seasoned dogmas, yet with an eye to the world around it and a friendly regard for what differences from its own opinions may *Dr. Van Pelt died, by accidental drowning in the East River, 'ruesday, October 25, igoo. 78 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS there be found, how safe and sure the course of Paramus is Hkely to be through the treacherous shoals and shifting currents of a new and loose theology, that seems threatening to possess the age dur- ing the century that shall soon dawn upon us, and which we trust shall be but the second of a goodly number of centuries which are to mark the useful life of the Classis of Paramus. You all know that the Ancestral Church in Holland, the mother of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in America, was born of heroic struggle. You are aware "In what a forge and what a heat, Were shaped the anchors of her hope." An awakened conscience and an enlightened judgment in mat- ten-^ of faith and worship, had led men and women throughout the Dutch provinces, to deny the doctrines and defy the authority of the ruling Church. In the desperate effort to maintain her sway, she called upon the secular power to aid her and sanctioned meth- ods of cruelty and oppression. But, as by these methods, constitu- tional rights and popular safeguards were ruthlessly trampled under foot, the people of the Netherlands rose in revolt against their tem- poral lords also, and the struggle for religious liberty became at the same time one for political independence. Thus, out of the double war against Rome and Spain sprang the Protestant Re- formed Netherland Church, and the Republic of the seven united states, or provinces, of the Netherlands. I. Of these two the Church was first. Its organization was already perfected, its government in full operation, when the body politic was still unformed. Classes and Synods assembled in the midst of the battles and sieges of the war for independence. Thus the first Provincial Synod of Holland met in the city of Dordrecht, in June, 1574, when the tears of men were scarce dry for the dis- aster and the grief of the battle of Mookerheath in April; and when the people of Leyden were enduring their fearful and famous siege, holding out against Spaniards and famine and pestilence, until re- lieved and rescued on October 3. I. The ancestral Church, while still that of our ancestors in Holland only, i. e, , before (in 1628) the colonial Church was founded in New Netherland, had fought to a finish a serious war of doctrines. The controversy between Arminianism and Calvinism, precipitated in 1602, had culminated in the triumph of Calvinism at the great national and international Synod of Dordrecht, held in ADDRESSES 79 1618-1619. Here the Confession of Faith, the creed of the Church, had been finally fixed and clarified to go infallible and unchanged down the centuries; to be wielded as a weapon of de- fense and offense, a \eritable sword of the Spirit; sometimes of a good spirit, sometimes of a bad spirit. Thus tempered and sharp- ened, it was all ready for use for the American Church, from the ver}' beginning of its career in these western wilds. 2. To us, of course, this Church of the old fatherland, heroi- cally born, and with its sturdy, heroic creed, is principally interest- ing for its dealings with the daughter Church in America, But it was a mother to many another Church outside the bounds of the republic at home. (a). Wherever the vastK- extended commerce of the ever ris- ing Dutch Republic went, there the Church made its influence felt, in establishing the means of grace for its own citizens and the people with whom they traded; or in securing aid and comibrt to brethren in the faith oppressed by opposing and persecuting creeds. Thus not only in her own colonies in Asia or America, did the Church of Holland establish and maintain congregations, but also at Constantinople, at Smyrna, and other places in the Le^'ant; at Archangel, and other cities in Muscovy, and along the shores of the Baltic Sea. Money was sent in regular and unstinted contribu- tions, and constant appeals for relief from persecution were made through diplomatic channels, in behalf of the Waldenses in Italy, and of the Calvinistic communities in the Lutheran parts of Ger- many. The German Churches of Pennsylvania were for many years beneficiaries of the Holland Church. (b). As a matter of course the Church of Holland extended itself among its own colonies in the East Indies and in America. Talk about foreign missions dating its history from the year 1800 ! Not for the Dutch Christians; the}- never knew the word, "foreign missions;" they had no use ior it. There was no such thing as foreign missions, to their minds. There was nothing foreign about it. The field was the world; the world was Christ's; and to make the peoples of the world His peoples, wherever they, as a nation, came in contact with them, was the natural, unobtrusive, unboast- ful impulse and practice of their religious faith and duty! So, both east and west, the Dutch pastor had a thought for his heathen neighbors, and made deliberate and painstaking efforts to win them for Christ, American history boasts of an Eliot, but why is it 8o HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARA5IUS silent about a Michaelius and a Megapolensis; about Dellius, and Freeman, and Van Driessen, and Lydius, who persuaded hosts of savage Indians of the error of their heathenism, sprinkhng the records of our churches with many an aboriginal cognomen. (c). New Netherland passed from Dutch possession as a colony, but this did not abate by one iota the infinite care and patience wherewith the ancestral Church in Holland continued to administer the affairs of the New Netherland Church. At the first transition from one political power to another, denominational an- tagonism on the part of the English clergy threatened mischief and wrong to the Dutch people. Then, provided with a fund raised here, the ministers of Holland, by Classical or Synodical committees, watched and influenced legislation in the Parliament at London, so that the mischief might be averted and injuries avoided. (d). When troubles and quarrels arose on Long Island, at Raritan, at Esopus, at Paramus, at Kinderhook, and when the Coetus and Conferentie disputes broke out with exhaustless, un- wearied industry, long letters presenting both sides, from in- numerable combatants, were read, re-read, pondered, answered, so as to do the fair and square thing all around, and restore peace and unity and harmony. (e). The Church in Holland, again, was never tired of listening to requests for selecting ministers to be sent to the Amer- ican Churches. This minister would be written to, another visi- ted; the situation of American Churches carefully explained, objec- tions removed, encouragements given, until at last the man would consent to go. Then there were the examinations to be arranged for, the shipping for family and goods to be engaged, and a great variety of minutiae to be attended to. They spared themselves no pains, for it rejoiced their hearts to be able to send to America those who should rightly divide the Word of Life among the people here. II. All this had ceased in 1800. But the influence of it abode and has not ceased even yet. A. This is true, first of all, of the form of Church govern- ment. To this day our Church in America is a close reproduction of the form of the ancestral Church, as it was in 1800 and pre- \-iously. For since 1800 the Church in Holland has been much modified, its General Synod, for instance, being now hardly more than an executive committee, and not as representative as it should be. ADDRESSES 8 1 1. In 1800, however, as in preceding years, the Church in Holland had a General Synod, a full representative body, rarely meeting, but constitutionally provided for. Next came the Pro- vincial Synods, one for each province. These bodies met reg- ularly every year, and the sessions were so arranged that corres- pondents from each Provincial Synod could be present at all the rest, and yet report their actions the same year to their own Synods Thus every transaction in the one was soon made known to all the others, and, besides, concerted action could be taken on any point that demanded it. Under each Provincial Synod were the Classes, grouped about and usually named after some prominent city. 2. Now we know that all this is characteristic also of our Church in America. We have our General Synod; we have our Particular, equivalent to Provincial Synods, next below. And we have our Classes, grouped and named in much the same way. And all this was in full vogue when Paramus began its life as a Classis. B. But deeper than form is spirit. More lasting than body is soul. More truly the man or woman is the character that lives and grows within the outward personality. So with the ancestral Church; its principles and purposes were greater than its exterior embodiment, and for us it is better to seize upon and realize these and bid them fructify, than to rejoice in a similarity of external ecclesiastical construction. 1. A foremost and vital principle of the ancestral Church of Holland was reverence for the oracles of God. ' 'To the law and to the testimony," was ever the cry. Such as they here thought to discover the will and word of God to be, was obeyed as His will and word unquestioningly, through good and evil report, through the fires of the stake, or the carnage of the siege and battlefield ! 2. An allied and all-important principle of the old Church, naturally derived from this, was care — exceeding care — that these oracles should be handled with reverence and effect. Hence the scrupulous caution in selecting men, approved by God and by their fellow-men, who should edify the people, really edify them. They must magnify among their hearers the authority of God's word; and so lead, win, convince, stimulate them thereby, that for them all life and conduct should be shaped by the word of God; so that Christian activity should not run wild among an endless variety of undignified performances. The Bread of Life was presented as the g2 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS needed nourishment of the Church, without any suspicions of gin- gerbread, or even angel-cake about it. It was supposed to be the sufficient attraction to bring hungry souls to the fold. It was meant, by its upbuilding qualities, to secure an attachment to the Church which nothing could loosen, and which modern substitutes have not equalled in creating. It was mainly in the interest of this strong-boned and sinewy Christianity, that anxiety was manifested by the ancestral Church that "all things be done decently and in order," and thus that Church government was so clearly defined and so admirably ar- ticulated. 3. Another ruling and abiding principle of the ancestral Church in Holland was a wide lookout upon the world. Their thought was, the Gospel that alone saves, must be everywhere to save; hence it must be sent abroad. The Church of Holland, as we saw, was far ahead of Christendom in the entertainment and practical carrying out of that idea. The rest of the Christian world did not learn this lesson, or did not act on it, until about the very year when this Classis of Paramus was organized. C. These vital principles of Church polity and Christian life the ancestral Church in Holland bequeathed to the daughter Church in America. These in their action, more or less perfectly reproduced on American soil, have made our Church what it has become since 1800, — strong in the fear of God, in the search after His will, in the reverence for His word, in the dignity and loftiness of Christian conduct and activity, in the reach after souls over all the wide world. Fidelity to such ideals has been our prosperity, — the pledge, and the earnest, and the fulfillment of growth. The ad- herence to a policy so deep and broad, will keep us abreast of all other workers in the field of Christ, when Classes and Synods shall count their centuries by many more than one. III. The whole world, as well as the Classis of Paramus, stands upon the threshold of another century of its existence. Great has been the ferment and fever of progress in every depart- ment of human thought and achievement during this nineteenth cen- tury. And also in Church life, in theological speculation, in re- ligious thinking, an important crisis has arrived. Many men and women in the Church of today, as in that of 1800, stand with their faces toward the seventeenth, sixteenth, or earlier centuries, looking back to them for a guide to their thinking, the criterion of their re- ADDRESSES 83 ligious consciousness, the methods uf their Bible interpretation. But many also have their faces turned toward the twentieth and succeeding centuries, ever ready for that increasing light which John Robinson told the departing Pilgrims in 1620, "God would yet cause to break forth out of His holv word;" and which has broken forth, as the progre.ss of e\-entshas called for the re-adjustment of old faiths or opinions, by reason of an ever widening knowledge of the earth, of the universe, of man, of God, and of the Bible itself It is not for me, or for anv single human judgment, amid con- scientious differences, arrogantly to decide whether the looking backward, or the looking forward is the better. But this is sure, and this is happy. By reason of the interaction and balancing of thought and belief between the conservati\'e and the progressive positions, that which is good in the old shall the more certainly re- tain its hold upon the future; and that which is true and safe in the new shall not find itself misplaced among those Christian teachings which make for "true and undefiled religion" ; which furnish the mould for character, rather than for creed; and which therefore ap- peal with unfailing and convincing force to all human hearts that love the good and want to do it, whether they worship "Jehovah, Jove, or God." THE COLONIAL CHURCHES OE THE CLASSIS The Rev. E. Tanjore Corwin, D. D. THE circumstances of the Dutch Churches in America during the colonial period, whether considered morally, ecclesiastically, or in their civil relations, were far from satisfactor}-. We can easil)' understand that, morally considered, those early trading posts in the interior, often at a considerable distance from the main settle- ments, were not fields in which religion would be likely to flourish. They were started in order to trade with the Indians; to secure their valuable peltry for articles in exchange, which seem now to us to be of the most trifling worth. Patents were sooner or later obtained for tracts of land about these posts, for which the Indians were also satisfied, and which were confirmed by the civil government. Grad- ually, a few farmers began to locate about these centers; for the 84 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS trading posts were the centers of most of the early settlements and Churches. Indeed, it is not a little surprising that the minister and the Church so soon followed the trader, even quite into the heart of the wilderness; vet such was the fact. And notwithstand- ing the unpropitious surroundings, this circumstance speaks vol- umes for the inherent respect of the early Huguenot and Dutch colonists for religion. The story of these beginnings is being told with increasing fre- quency and elaboration as the generations pass, and the memories of the traditions become obscured or altogether fade away. But it is a happy circumstance that as traditions fail, and some of the meager pages of the early records perish by accident or indifference, those which remain, like the leaves of the sibyl, become increasing- ly valuable. Then also most earnest efforts begin to be put forth, often without regard to expense, to supplement if possible from other sources, the material that remains. And it is not a little sur- prising how much can be accumulated, when once the business is intelligently considered and prosecuted. Historical societies by their labors and suggestions, and by the stimulus which they give, have placed not only the country at large, but almost every local- ity under lasting obligations to them. These societies have done much to collect scattered facts and to rescue records from oblivion, and as their treasures increase, ever to classify them anew and in- dex them, that investigators on the larger or more limited fields may be able to collate the facts, and ponder them, and perhaps by the aid of a little imagination, to think out and reconstruct the history. Not every one, indeed, is calculated to do such work. The task requires a deep interest in the subject, much plodding, and not a little patience. But nothing is impossible to him who is willing to toil. And to those who love such work, it becomes a perfect fasci- nation. And they feel abundantly rewarded as they perceive the resurrection of the past taking place, and the men and the events and the institutions taking their appropriate places in the history^ local and general; as they see them rising from the dead and marching before their gaze, an exceeding great army. That pass- ing pageant, changing from generation to generation, fought great battles for us; battles in which we were deeply interested; batdes which gave us our privileges and comforts; our Churches and schools, and our homes. We ought not, therefore, to forget our ADDRESSES 85 ancestors, and what they did for us. We ought to honor them and reverence them. The Chinese worship their ancestors. But we fail to see what these ancestors did for their posterity, which is for a moment to be compared with what our ancestors have done for us. Ours not only conquered this wilderness, but developed our unprecedented free government, with its glorious principles respecting freedom of conscience. Obedience to the fifth commandment, ' 'honor thy father and mother," might perhaps, not unjustly, be extended also to our grandfathers as well, and to preceding generations. Said a Japanese student to me on a certain occasion, "What is the mean- ing of the promise attached to the fifth comandment, — That thy days may be long in the land which the Lord, thy God, giveth thee, does it refer to individuals or to nations ?" I asked him how- he would apply it to nations, and he quickly answered; ' 'There is the Chinese nation, which has always worshiped its ancestors; and China is the oldest nation in the world." Such was an oriental in- terpretation of that promise. But we occidentals, in our rushing life, and our wonderful plans, and our eager anticipations of the future, are liable to forget the past altogether. I have met many men who did not know their grandfather's name, so immersed were they in the present, or at least indifferent to the past. But historical inquiry is always an incentive to progress. Respect for the memorials of the past is a mark of advanced civilization. Savages, and those who live simply for self care only for the present, and are indifferent alike to the past and the future. With the growth of in- telligence there always comes solicitude for the future; but it re- quires a still larger degree of progress to develop an interest in the past. Antiquities are too often passed by as rubbish, until an en- lightened desire is awakened to understand the foundations of society, and the sources of our present prosperity. Thus only by due attention to the past can we prepare wisely for the future. The topic assigned me is the Colonial Churches of the Classis of Paramus. The history of most of these Churches has already been more or less fully written, and could not, at any rate, be elab- orately treated in a short paper. We can, therefore, only make a few general remarks. It is only about two hundred and sixty years since the first white settlers or traders ventured into Bergen county; and another generation passed before Churches began to be formed. It is difficult for us to appreciate all the hardships of those early 86 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS colonial days. The whole country was a wilderness, with bands of roving savages. These were never to be trusted, and always to be feared. For a long while there were no roads, and no bridges. There were a few Indian paths along the water-sheds. Fur-bear- ing animals abounded. They were almost without number. The simplest, and often the only way of reaching the interior tracts of land which now constitute the fair domain of Bergen and Passaic counties was by rudely made boats, upon the streams. These streams were fuller of water, and far more navigable then, than now, before the forests had been cleared off and the country drained. The shipment of the peltry, as well as the small quantities of grain when they began to export it, was chiefly b)' these streams. A few farmers gradually worked back from the rivers, and settled where they happened to find a parcel of land well suited for agriculture. Now it was under such conditions that the first Churches began to develop. They were not generally organized in a ver)' formal way, as we now organize Churches, but a few professors of religion and their families would meet together to read a portion of Scripture and offer prayer, sometimes using the prayers in the Liturgy, and sing a psalm or two. Perhaps, also, they would have a sermon read from the works of some old Dutch divines. With the exception of the Church of Bergen, which dates back to about 1 660, there ' were no Dutch Churches formed in New Jersey during the Dutch sway, which ended in 1664. All our Dutch Churches in New Jersey, with that one exception, were formed under the English government. But those few Huguenots, who came from Harlem under the lead of David Demarest, about 1678, no doubt sometimes went all the way to Bergen, a distance of twenty miles, to enjo)- the ordinances of the sanctuary. There they were served occasionally by the ministers from New York. But about 1682 they probably built a little church where the French graveyard yet remains, near Cherry Hill. There they held simple services, and may have occasionally been served by Peter Daille and some of the other French ministers of that day. But in 1686 the Dutch Church of Hackensack was formed, and the few Huguenots were soon entirely absorbed in it. There were at this time only five Dutch ministers in America, namely, Tesschen- maeker, Weekstein, Selyns, Dellius and Varick: and two French ministers, Daille and Boudet. Some of these, Daille and Boudet, AbDRESSES 07 for example, may have occasionally officiated for the French Church, and we know that Tesschenmaeker supplied the Dutch Church of Hackensack from time to time, although he lived in Delaware. No doubt, also, Selyns of New York and Varick of Long Island, occasionally did the same. The following is the entire list of Dutch Churches in north- ern Xew Jersey and Rocklantl County, N. V., during the colonial period, and indeed down to the end of the century, and almost all of which were on the original territory of the Classis of Paramus: LIST OF COLONIAL CHURCHES Bergen 1660 Clarkstown Hackensack (French) 1682 (New Hempstead) 1750 Hackensack 1686 Totowa (Paterson) 1755 Acquackanonk ( Passaic) 1693 Hackensack (Second) 1756 Tappan 1694 Montville (Persippany Belleville(Second River) 1700 or Boonton) 1756 Ponds 1710 Schraalenburgh (Second) 1756 Fairfield (Horse Neck or English Neighborhood 1770 Gansegat) 1720 West New Hempstead Schraalenburgh 1724 (Kakiat) 1773 Paramus 1725 Saddle River 1784 Pompton Ramapo 1785 (Pompton Plains) 1736 Stone House Plains 1794 Preakness 1798 The condition of these Churches was also far from satisfac- tory in an ecclesiastical sense. They were, indeed, under the government of the Classis of Amsterdam, but that body was too distant to give them efficient care and oversight, and until the middle of the eighteenth century there was no bond of union be- tween them in this country. When a Ccetus or Association was formed in 1748, it was not sustained with such unanimity as was desirable; and alienations began, especially in Hackensack and Schraalenburgh, which two generations later, with added causes, culminated in the Secession. When the documents are published, which have recently (1898) been obtained in Holland, 88 MiSlORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMItS additional light may be thrown on the origin of these difficul- ties. A little forbearance at first would have saved an untold amount of evil. In tlieir civil relations, the churches of New Jersey were better off, at least at first, than those in New York. The Dulte's Laws of 1665, as to religion, never applied to New Jersey, as that terri- tory was purchased by Carteret and Berkeley. Their conces- sions and agreements, dated February 10, 1665 said, referring to the oath of allegiance to Great Britain: "That no person qualified as aforesaid, within the said prov- ince, at anytime shall be anyways molested, punished, disquieted or called in question for any differences in opinion or practice, in matters of religious concernments, who do not actually dis- turb the civil peace of the said province; but that all and every such person or persons may, from time to time, and at all times, freely and fully have and enjoy his and their judgments and con- sciences in matters of religion throughout the said province, they behaving themselves peaceably and quietly and not using tliis liberty to licentiousness, nor to the civil injury or outward disturbance of others; any law, statute or clause contained, or to be contained, usage or custom of this Realm of England, to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding. "That no pretence may be taken by our heirs or assigns, for or by reason of our right of patronage and power of advowson, granted by his Majesty's Letters Patent, unto his Royal Highness, James, Duke of York, and by his said Royal Highness unto us, thereby to infringe the general clause of LiberLy of Conscience aforementioned: We do therefore grant unto the General Assem- bly of the said province, power, by Act, to constitute and ap- point so many ministers or preachers as they shall think fit, and to establish their maintenance, giving liberty beside to any per- son or persons to keep and maintain what preachers or ministers they please." The inhabitants, being free men, were then directed to select twelve representatives from among themselves, who, with the governor and council, should make laws, ordinances, and a con- stitution. But after the division of the province into parishes or other divisions, the free citizens were to elect on the first day of January, freeholders, for each division, to be the representatives ADDRESSES S9 of the same. A majority of these, with the governor and coun- cil, shall constitute the General Assembly. Its powers are then defined : "To enact and make all such laws, acts and constitutions as shall be necessary for the well-government of the said province, and them to repeal: Provided that the same be consonant to reason, and, as near as ma)' be conveniently agreeable to the laws and customs of his Majesty's Kingdom of England: Provided also, that they be not against the interests of us, the Lord's Pro- prietors, our heirs, or assigns, nor any of those our concessions; especially that they be not repugnant to the article for Liberty of Conscience above mentioned. "We do also grant convenient proportions of land for highways and for streets, not exceeding one hundred feet in breadth in cities, towns and villages, etc. ; and for Churches, forts, wharves, quays, harbors, and for public houses; and to each parish, for the use of the ministers, two hundred acres, in such places as the General Assembly shall appoint. "The governor is to take notice, that all such lands laid out for the uses and purposes aforesaid in the next preceding article, shall be free and exempt from all rents, taxes and other charges, and duties whatsoever, payable to us, our heirs or assigns. " Now it is well understood that the "Freedom of Conscience" granted by James to portions of New York in 1665, and which in 1674 was extended to the whole province; and again, that Freedom of Conscience which was granted in the "Charter of Liberties" in 1683, was not from any inherent love of the princi- ple, for James was a Roman Catholic; but only to give free in- gress to papists. His brother, Charles II, was also a Catholic. New York and New Jersey, during the first quarter of a century under English rule, were under Catholic kings. But both were restrained in England by their oaths of office, and after 1673 by the Test Act. But the Test Act did not apply to colonies unless they were specially mentioned. Now Carteret and Berkeley, the proprietors of New Jersey, copied their concessions, more or less closely, from the Duke's Laws, giving "Freedom of Con- science" to all; and this was done partly for the same reasons, perhaps, which inspired James; though partly from pure business reason, to induce immigration. And although the Civil Assem- OO .. -HISTOJRY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS bly had the legal right to divide New Jersey into parishes and to provide for the maintenance of ministers, (Episcopal?), yet it is probable that this was never even attempted. Neither do we know that any Dutch Church was ever benefited by the gift from the state of two hundred acres of land, although they probably enjoyed exemption from taxation. But in 1702 New Jersey was surrendered by the proprietors to the Crown. In the meantime the Catholic regime in England had come to an end in 1688, by the enforced abdication of James II, the former Duke of York, and the accession of William III, in whom England received a Dutch Protestant as her king. But now there came an apparent restriction of "Liberty of Conscience, '' for with the exclusion of Catholics from the suc- cession, the original and normal policy of establishing the Church of England in the colonies was begun. These efforts finally took some sort of shape in New Vork, in 1693, in the so-called "Ministry Act;" but this act was completely shorn of its intent in its passage through the legislature, which was overwhelmingly Dutch; the very name, "Church of England," being studiously excluded from all mention. Nevertheless unscrupulous gover- nors perverted its meaning, and acted as though it had estab- lished the said Church. This law, of course, had no reference to New Jersey, although New Jersey, when it became united with New York under a common governor, was one province with New York. But the governors in the secret instructions from the Crown, were always directed, more or less fully, to push the Church of England as far as might be prudent. Some of them, therefore, tried to compel Dutch Churches to obtain licenses from them, to call ministers; but the Churches sometimes stoutly resisted. Fears, however, were frequently expressed, in their letters to the Classis of Amsterdam, by Churches both in New York and New Jersey, that they might ultimately lose their free- dom in Church matters; but their fears proved groundless. After 1750, the Churches were never interfered with, and, by the Revo- lution, religious equality became the fundamental law of the whole land. ADDRESSES 9 1 CHURCHES ORGANIZED BY THE CLASSIS Thu Rev. Petek H. Milliken, D.D, MR. Chairman, Fathers and Brethren of the Classis, and Friends: — It gave me the greatest pleasure to accept the Icind invitation of vour committee to meet with you on this joy- ous birthday occasion, and with you to M^alk about Zion, tell the towers thereof, mark her bulwarks and consider her palaces, for this God has been our God and He will be our guide even unto death; and we do this with no feeling of boastfulness or of self- ostentation, but with hearts overflowing with gratitude exclaim, "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." The subject assigned me signifies Church extension, which is only another term for expansion in the Kingdom of Christ. But below this principle is another which is its foundation and from which it grows. It is the principle of Imperialism, pure and simple, without apology and without equivocation. When God, in His love and tender compassion, would devise some means to effectually answer the cry of suffering humanity, it was His Son, His only begotten and well-beloved Son who said, "Lo, I come, I delight to do Thy \^'ill," and when the gra- cious offer was accepted, though "the kings of the earth set them- selves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision," as He sends forth the proclamation, "I have set ^ly King upon My holy hill of Zion. Ask of Me and 1 will give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter s vessel. Therefore "kiss the Son lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him." As the promise shone with a brighter light, and the purpose of God became more clearly revealed through the holy men of old who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, the prin- ciple of imperialism became more pronounced. The wilderness and the solitary place would be glad because of Him, and the 92 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARaMUS desert would rejoice and blossom as the rose. All the ends of the earth would see the salvation of our God. The dominion of the Son would be from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. His name would endure forever, men would be blessed in Him, and all nations would call Him blessed. When, in the fullness of time, He appeared on the earth, he came as a King, announced by the ang-els, worshiped by the wise men and hunted by Herod. At the beginning- of His ministry He resisted the temptation that spread before Him the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, choosing to set up the spiritual kingdom that would be all-embracing and eternal, though He knew that such a course would lead Him straight on to the cross. In Nazareth where He had been brought up. He declared the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy in Himself He sent out His disciples to prepare the way for the coming of the King. He would have no rival, for His own declaration was, "He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." And when He had con- cluded His ministry, He announced to His disciples His omnipo- tence in the startling declaration, "All power is given unto Me, in heaven and in earth," followed by that comprehensive com- mission, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. " Then was set forth the principle of expansion, which those followers failed to understand until the divine power came upon them according to the Master's promise. His last words to them declare His imperialism and the principle of expansion growing out of it, for when they asked Him, "Lord, wilt Thou at this time I'estore again the kingdom to Israel ?" His reply indicated that not to Israel only, but to the world would the kingdom come, for they would receive power to become His witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Where others failed and would fail in grasping the dominion of the world b}' abusing the prin- ciples by which alone such a conquest could be made. He con- quered by giving Himself, by doing the will of God, by being obedient unto death. In the fulfillment of the promise, the power was given and the lambent flame set the followers of Christ on fire and "The world for Christ" became their purpose in life. Soon the kingdom expanded beyond the walls of Jerusalem into ADDRESSES 93 Judea and Galilee, spreading thence south and west round about unto Illyricum and reaching Rome, the imperial city, which it conquered and made use of for its farther expansion until the islands of the sea acknowledged the dominion of the King. This stupendous undertaking is carried forward, not by the force of arms, not by the power and influence of the wisdom and wealth of the world, for it is "not by might nor by power but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts." Christ taught the method and principle when He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." The expansive power works by permeating the mass until each individual is quickened into new life by the divine prin- ciple. Again, Christ taught, "The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge on the branches thereof " Though the beginning may seem to be insignificant, the expansive power causes the resvilt to be marvelous by con- trast. These two lessons set before us what is repeated in the experience of every worker for Christ, who, though he may sow in tears, will reap in joy. The work of organizing Churches is one of the most hopeful and satisfactory of all undertakings when we consider how few, if indeed any of them, utterly fail in contrast with the multitude of failures in business enterprises. Every Church, however small in its beginning, becomes a center of influence to the surrounding community, a tree that produces both shelter and fruit. There are seasons for sowing, and again seasons when the land must lie fallow. Your history shows this, for during the first twenty-five years of your existence as a Classis only one Church was organized; then for a period of ten years from 1859, ^^e were added to your roll. During the next ten years five more sprang up, and for ten years from 1879 only one was organized; while from the beginning of 1891 there was a new Church for each of the five years following. Besides and previous to the sowing there is the work of plowing, and every alert and consecrated pastor is careful and zealous in the work of his own field; while he has also a watchful 94 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS eye on the region just beyond, where he may be instrumental in plowing the soil in preparation for the seed-sowing. We, as members of the Reformed Dutch Church, have a glorious ancestry, but we must not be content to live on what they have done. We have the best right to this land as the first to organize a Protestant Church here, but that fact will not avail us anything unless we go forward to continue what we have un- dertaken. We have a creed so liberal as to embrace all who be- lieve in Jesus Christ, our Lord, but we must not forget to teach it to others. We have a Church polity safe enough to warrant the security of our enterprises for the future. W'e need an obstinate hopefulness based on a firm faith in Christ, our imperial Leader. We need a settled conviction as to the expansive power of the Church of Christ. We need an aggressive determination, fired by the Spirit of our Lord, that stops at nothing short of the conquest of the world for Christ. FORMER MINISTERS OF THE CLASSIS Prof. Ferdinand S. Schenck, D. D. IT is with great pleasure that I am, by your kind act, once again a member of this Classis, If it is but for a day, it is a mem- orable day in your history. I am to speak to you for a little while of the former ministers of the Classis, — those who twenty- five years ago were the worthy successors of the founders and early members of the Classis. I was examined by them and or- dained into the ministry, and installed as pastor of the Church of Clarkstown, in 1872. I am strangely linked to a more remote portion of your history, even to the date of your birth, for your historian told us this morning that the first licentiate of this Classis in 1800 was Henry Ostrander. I was examined for license in the spring of 1872, by the Classis of Ulster, and Dr. Henry Ostrander was my examiner in theology. The examina- tion was considered remarkable, not from anything the student said, but that it was so ably conducted by one over ninety-two years old, who had been in the ministry seventy-two years. It was, I think, his last ministerial act, for he died in the fall of ADDRESSES 95 that year. Of all those ministers who were members of this Classis when I was ordained by them, but a single one remains a member now, and he is with us here today. Dr. John Gaston. I cannot speak of him in his presence as the subject deserves, but )'ou all recognize and love the true man whose great mind and large heart, whose excellent judgment, vast experience, and genuine devotion have made him a leader among you for over a quarter of a century. Of the former ministers of the Classis I can select just a few for special mention. .\nd in this I confine myself to those who have passed into the life beyond. Three of my examiners still stand out very prominently in my memory of that crucial day in my life. Dr. Ferdinand Vanderveer was my examiner in theol- ogy. He was tall and portly, of great dignity of bearing, and of an impressive manner. He was a master mind in theology, having clear and comprehensive views and deep convictions; his questions were clear and his kindliness of heart made him very gentle. Agam, as in the case of Dr. Ostrander, the student was lost sight of in the admiration the Classis gave to the con- duct of the examination. Dr. Vanderveer was pleased to take a fatherly interest in me while I remained in the Classis. I could never account for it, except that my name too was Ferdinand; but I valued it highly and greatly admired him. Marshall B. Smith was my examiner in Greek. He was a man of wide culture, especially in classical scholarship. He could read and speak Greek as well as I could English. He was also a polished gentleman. I could see from the kindlv twinkle of his eye that he had discovered how much Greek 1 knew, but he treated me with so much courtesy, almost deferential, that the elders of the Classis and the members of mv congregation thought I knew as much Greek as he did. He was the stated clerk of the Classis at that time, and at every meeting his cul- ture and politeness greatly impressed me, winning his way in the most intricate affairs and securing for himself hearty respect. Dr. John T. Demarest was my examiner in Hebrew, but I shall speak of him as my parishioner, and life long friend. He ivas for the first two years of my ministry a member of the con- gregation, and every Sunday, rain or shine, found him in his pew. He was a man mighty in the scriptures, able to quote them readily and largely from the original Hebrew and Greek in 96 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS his ordinary conversation, and was a great theologian. He was at that time engaged in the preparation of his commentary on the Catholic epistles. He was mentally alert not only, but was specially gifted with great powers of wit and sarcasm; his keen thought always found ready utterance. But I soon found he had a most kind and noble heart. I dreaded preaching before him at first, but his first criticism was so true and kind, his desire was so evidently to do me good, and this was followed by such faithful and loving suggestion and advice that I soon came to value his presence as one of the greatest blessings of my early ministry. While his criticisms were kind and faithful, I soon found they M'ere only made to ine; to my people he always spoke of me in the highest terms of appreciation and commendation. Some of you remember him well. He was tall, and spare, and straight, his face sharp and expressive, his hair long and white, and his eye full of fire. His speeches in Classis were concise, clear and telling. One knew beyond the possibility of a inisunderstanding what he thought upon the question in debate. When he left the Church of Clarkstown to take charge of a Church in the Classis of Orange, I parted with him with deep regret, but I soon followed him into that Classis, largely as I found out afterwards, through his commendation; and my friend- ship for him grew until his death. M)r nearest neighbor was the pastor of the Nyack Church, Henry V. Voorhees, and an excellent neighbor he was. The Church of Clarkstown, when I became its pastor, was deeply in debt and greatly distracted over the building of their new and handsome church, and it was feared many of its lead- ing families would leave it. Mr. Voorhees would have been the gainer had he given any encouragement to this spirit; instead, he frankly informed the disaffected that he would not welcome them to his Church and urged them to remain with their own. Thus he did everything he could to sustain the young pastor of the troubled Church, and particularly I remember he several times arranged an exchange of pulpits with me. A great honor I felt it to preach to his large congregation, and mj' own people appreciated not only hearing him, but that he had asked me to preach in his pulpit. He was a man of rare eloquence, of deep emotion, vivid imagination and strong spirituality, having great command of language and an intense style. His sermons were ADDRESSES 97 carefully prepared and delivered with thrilling- power. But lifted as he was in preaching, he was far more gifted in prayer. His strong faith bore human need and longing into the throne room of the gracious King; following him, whether in Classis or in Church service, all felt we were having an audience with our Lord. Passing many Classical incidents worth}^ of note, let me describe the Classical visitation of 1875. It was planned with much care, carried out with self-sacrifice, and resulted in much good. The Churches were divided into groups of three or four. Nyack, Piermont, Tappan and Clarkstowii formed one group. Then for three days the ministers of the other Churches visited each group. Two ministers spent a day with each Church and then went to the next Church in the group. Two and sometimes three services were held in each Church each day. The pastor conducted them. One of the visiting ministers preached and the other made an address. All the ministers in the Classis entered heartily into this work, seeking to arouse the Churches to a higher spiritual life and to lead ("hristians to seek the conversion of souls to Christ. I can mention but two of the former minis- ters in connection with it. Dr. John H. Duryea, of Paterson, spent a day with our Church of Clarkstown. He was a venerable and fatherly man; a large man of impressive bearing, and when aroused by his subject, of great though quiet force. A man of large brain and warm heart, and his sermons were strong in thought and tender in appeal. At the close of the evening service a young lady felt impelled to do what she had never before thought it was her priv- ilege, or even duty to do. In coming down the aisle she spoke to a young lady friend concerning her soul. She was surprised and delighted to find the subject eagerly welconned, and still more delig'hted to lead her friend into the service of her Lord. Mr. Voorhees and I visited this Church ol Paramus, in which we are now meeting. Dr. Goyn Talmage was at that time its pastor. Dr. Talmage was a model preacher, and a model pastor. His gifts were both brilliant and substantial; the play of his imagination adorned his clear and strong reasoning, and his enthu- siastic nature gaxe an irresistible charm to his sermons, and his whole being was breathed upon by the spirit of God. But not only was the pulpit the throne of his power; he was enthroned in the homes and hearts of his people. He was greatly interested in L|8 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF TAKAMrS the Classical visitation, and especially in the meetings of his own Church. After the evening service, when we were sitting in the com- fortable study of the parsonage discussing the events of the day, his wife said to him, "Did 5-011 notice Mr. N in Church again this evening? He was there last night, too, and he seemed to me deeply thoughtful." "Yes, I noticed him," he replied, "and I shall go to see him the first thing in the morning." Then he told us how he had tried long and hard to get hold of the man, and had failed; but he hoped he would now succeed. In the morning after he had taken us on our way to the ne.xt Church, he went on at once to his parishioner to win him for his Master. Alert and powerful in the pulpit, he was also quick to see and prompt to em- brace e^'ery opportunity of reaching his people, and his genial and sympathetic nature, and gracious manner gave him a ready access to their hearts, I must mention but one more name, James Huyssoon, pastor of the First Holland Church of Paterson, A man of fine ability, ex- cellent judgment, and gentle, loving spirit, he won the confidence of all and was a power for good in the Classis. These men steadilv shining' in their God-given places remind one of Carlyle's rendering of Goethe's striking description of a true man : "Like as a star, That maketh not haste. That taketh not rest. Each one fulfilling, His God-given hest. ' Doubtless they are still shining in God's heavens, only thev are now bevond the vision of our mortal eves. THE HOLLAND SPKAKIXG CHURCHES OF THE CLAS.SIS Thk Kkv. Marti.n Fi.H'sk. THE lour Holland Churches, to which my subject refers, Lodi, Passaic, Paterson and Wortendyke, contain one-fifth of the entire number of families, and above one-fifth of the total member- ship in full communion in our Classis. ADDRESSES 99 The Holland branch of our denomination is not a foreign ele- ment, which needs to be assimilated before it is fully and vitally one with us. This mistaken idea may be entertained by adopted sons that have ne\-er entered fully into the life and histor\ of the Re- formed Church. Our denomination is the home of the Holland people in Amer- ica. No statement can be more firmly established by history . In fact, our Church has a double nativity; she has two mother tongues, Holland and American, but in her infancy she knew the Holland only. For convenience sake, permit me to make mention of the non-Holland Churches of Classis as the English-speaking- Churches. This double nativity, as we have called it, makes our Church especially dear to us; it is the best Church in America. We are reminded of a very apt illustration, used by a noted theologian. Dr. Kuyper, and it deserves repetition. Speaking to Holland-Ameri- cans, he urged them to retain their Holland language, but also to acquire the English as rapidly as possible. He said, "A Holland tulip in the Netherlands is worth one cent; an English tulip is worth the same; but when a florist can bv careful cultivation combine in one tulip the characteristics of both, such a tulip is worth ten cents." This illustration applies e.xactlv to our denomination, be- cause by the happy blending of the two branches of our Church, she rises in our estimation ten-fold. In comparing the Churches of our Classis, the English-speak- ing Churches are far ahead in organization, and in abundance ot machinery. There is a long list of societies of various names and various objects. But it takes much oil and a tremendous motive power to keep all this machinery moving, and an engineer of cool head and steady hand to avoid collisions. We concede that there is a great deal of usefulness in this abundance of organization, but we fear that it becomes often a burden, and that it is much overdone. Our Holland Churches have no Christian Endeavor societies, no prayer meetings, no missionary societies, no Ladies' Aid societies, no church choirs. I am speaking now only of these four Churches of our Classis. Our Holland Churches in the West are mostly sup- plied with missionary societies, and prayer meetings, and some have a C. E. society. When you hear of this dearth of machinery you probably ask, "What do they have?" I will mention two or three of the prominent characteristics, which to some of you ma>' lOO HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PAKAMIS seem to be relics of barbarism. The Holland Churches all have reg'Lilar, systematic family visitation. E\'ery family is visited at least once, and in the smaller Churches, oftener, each year, by the pastor, accompanied by an elder. The particular object of this visit is a talk on personal religion. These visits prove a vast bene- fit to the Church. It stirs up the hearts to faithfulness, and gives the pastor a definite personal knowledge of the spiritual and other needs of his people. We highly recommend this systematic work in the families of the Church. The second important feature of the work in our Holland Churches is the regular catechetical instruc- tion of the children and young people, directly by the pastor. Each Church has generally three classes that come weekly for in- struction. The infant class, consisting of all children under twelve years of age, are instructed in the simple leading truths, and espec- ially in sacred historv. The middle class, from twelve to seven- teen or eighteen years, is instructed more especially in the doc- trines of our church; while all the young people take up the study of the Compendium before they unite with the church. Those of our young people that have been faithfully sent to these classes from childhood have a good general knowledge of scriptural truth, and are thoroughly indoctrinated. When two theological students asked permission of absence from a certain Monday's recitation in order that they might spend the Sabbath with some vacant Church, the beloved professor, Dr. Mabon, now of sainted memory, with his usual force remarked, "Certainlv, you Dutch boys know more of theology when you come here, than some of these American boys when they graduate." These catechetical classes fill the void occasioned by the lack of other young people's societies. They afford the young a place to go to and something to do which becomes a real and lasting benefit to them. There are, however, other gatherings : a teacher's meeting in lieu of the prayer meeting; young men's societies that in some in- stances do the work of missionary societies, etc. The Holland Churches are noted for large attendance at their public services on the Lord's da\'. The children attend with their parents. They adhere strictly to public baptism. No child is baptized at home except in exceptional cases, because of sickness or other equally valid reasons. Only choral music is used in the regular services, and the entire congregation sings. This all may appear very severe and stiff", or austere, but let me assure you that the ADDRESSES lOI spirit ol our Holland people is not as severe and harsh as mit^ht seem from external appearances, or as one might gather from a par- tial acquaintance. As a proof of this statement, you are referred to the evidence from their language. The Holland language is richer than the English in words expressing the gentler and gracious at- tributes of God. The Holland language can furnish two words to one to express the sentiments of pity, grace, mercy, compas- sion, and loving-kindness. Should not these Holland Churches of Classis Americanize? I use this term in its usual significance. We answer yes, but grad- ually. If these Churches are too conservati\e, and in the spirit of prejudice refuse to adopt American methods and language where these become necessary, they would get into the predicament of the hen in the recent kindergarten story. The hen was raising a family of ducklings; proudly she led them and scratched and clucked, but arriving at a pond, her familv swam awa\', leaving' her greatly distressed on the shore. Conservatism is one of the virtues of our Holland people, but if indulged in to excess, the rising gen- eration may swim away from under its mother's wings. On the other hand, a rapid and forced change toward Ameri- canization would be equally unfortunate; it would make many of the most staunch and faithful workers so accustomed to former meth- ods and language and too far advanced in years, perhaps, to ad- just themselves to the new, exceedingly unhappy and incapable of further activity. Too hasty a departure causes one to forget many things that may be useful on the journey. These relics which we have mentioned are exceedingly valuable. Bring all that is good along. They are jewels that must never be left behind. They may require resetting, but bring them along. The entire denomination will sparkle and shine the brighter. A yovmg Holland-American, a plumber by trade and a first- class mechanic at that, was recently asked to do a small job at repairing a leaky pipe. He ])romised to come, but delayed two da)'S beyond the appointed time. He was asked again and urged to hasten. He promised faithfully, but again delayed. For a third time he was asked, with a great deal of Holland persistency. He came, but seemed to have come so quickly that he forgot his over- alls and lead. Fortunately he had a helper with him. The helper was sent post haste to get the useful articles. It took him an hour and a half; meanwhile the plumber sat and made time and rested. I02 HISTORY Of THE CT.ASSIS OF PARAJUS Holland Churches, Americanize ! Come, but get well prepared before you come. Imagine your dilemma, should you come too sud- denly and leave behind much that is indispensable to your useful- ness. It is very well for our English-speaking brethren to make great sudden leaps; they have so much machinery, so many help- ers. To change the metaphor, they need but press a button, as it were, and the lead is there, yea, even the gold. But how hopeless our position, should we come thus unprepared. These four Holland Churches, we love them. There they lie, along the southern border of Classis. Their very location is exceed- ingly suggestive. They lie in a semi-circle, like the extended arms of a saint in prayer, appealing to heaven and to you. To you their appeal comes, that you follow not the clamor of other denominations for revision of standards or the removal of sacred landmarks; and to Hea\en, that God mav bless our beloved Church and land. STATISTICAL HISTORY STATISTICAL HISTORY Thk Rkv. Thkodori, AV, Wkli.f.s, D.D. THE Classis ofParamus has requested me to prepare a statistical history. Such a history, very fortunately for its author, pre- cludes all attempt to beautify its language with the graces of com- position, or the ornaments of rhetoric. Its eloquence must be re- vealed through the subtle and mysterious power of numbers, and the reader's attention must be retained through personal interest in the subject. The Classis ofParamus is a well-known ecclesiastical assembly, organized in accordance with the requirements ot the constitution of the Reformed Church in America. Its object is the promotion of the cause of Christ. Its acts and proceedings are a part of the histor\- of our Redeemer's kingdom in its confli(5f with the world and its execution of the command of its ascended Lord, "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. ' ' The Classis commemorates the one hundredth year oi its life, that a re- view of God's goodness may arouse the Churches under its care to greater exertions ior the spread of the truth, that erelong the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ may encircle the globe. The General Synod in June, 1800, divided the Classis of Hack- ensack into two parts, one of which was to be known as the Classis of Bergen, the other as the Classis of Paramus. Delegates from the Churches designated by the General Synod to form the Classis of Paramus, met for that purpose Tuesday, Sep- tember 2, 1800, in the Church at Paramus and formally organized the Classis. At this meeting the Churches forming the Classis were represented as shown in the table on the next page. The Classis thus constituted contained, according to the rec- ord, nine Churches and five pastors; each pastor, «ith one excep- tion, serving two Churches. This exception, however, was only io6 HISTORY or THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS apparent. The Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge was pastor of the Church at Saddle River, organized in 1784, as legally and fully as he was pastor of the Church at Paramus. When in 181 1 he desired, be- cause of dissatisfaction in the Saddle River Church, to serve the Paramus Church only, it was necessary to have the existing pa.stor- ate dissolved by Classis, a new call from the Paramus Church ex- ecuted and approved and JMr. Eltinge formally installed pastor of the Paramus Church. After these things were accomplished, the Church of Saddle River, without any subsequent act of Classis, ap- pears upon the roll. THE FIRST ROLL OF CLASSLS Churches. I Ministeks. i Elders. Hackensack and Schraalenburgh Acquackanonk and Totowa Kakiat and Ramapo Paramus Tappan and Clarkstown fSolomon Froeligh Henricus Schoonmaker Garret Duryea Paulus Paulison George G. Brinkerhoff Joseph Goetschius Wilhelmus Eltingre ! Abraham Westervelt Nicholas Lansinar* Teunis T. Tolman *Was not present until the .second da}' of the session. It required more than half a century for these ten Churches to become distinct and independent pastoral charges. The increase of population was not rapid and the pastors were greatly endeared to the hearts of the people. This created a sentiment, widespread and })owerful, adverse to change and accented the thought frequently expressed even in the closing vears of the century, that what was good enough for the fathers is good enough for their children. Acquackanonk led the way and became an independent pastoral charge in 18 16. Totowa was rent in twain in 1827. The Second Church of Totowa was indejiendent from its organization, but the First Church of Totowa not until 1833. Tappan and Clarkstown remained one pastorate until 1830. Saddle River, Ramapo and West .\ew Hempstead became independent in 1853. Hackensack STATISTICAL HISTORY 107 ROLL OF THE CHURCHES. When Chukchf.s. irg'n- Pastoks. Elders. ized. Hackensaek 16S6 Seceded, 1S22 Acquackanonk 1693 Ame Vennema John H. Boynton Tappan 1694 Matthew N. Oliver John T. Raring Schraalenburgh 1724 Seceded, 1822 Paramus 1725 William H. Vroom Garret H. Wmter Clarkstown 1750 Garrett M. Conover Abram C. Wood Totowa I7S5 Rent in tiViiin.iS2-j West New Hempstead 1773 Henry W. Brink Cornelius E. Blauvelt Saddle River 1784 Isaac Van Kampen Abram J. Terhune Ramapo 1785 i'acant Andrew J. Winters- Warwick 1804 Taber Knox Henry P. Demarest Pascack 1814 Edward Lodewick Ab'm J. Ackerman * Totowa, Fir^tf 1827 Transferred, 1866'., Totowa, Second 1827 Theodore W. ^Velle■ Jacob Westhoven Nyack 1838 WilUiam T- Leggett Wilberf. Van Slyke Piermont 1S3S H. C. Hasbrouck John C. Haring Piermont, Second 1851 Disbanded, iSjj Paterson, First Hoi. 1856 Fred G. Dekker Peter Breen Lodi, First Hoi. 1859 Teunis H. Hoonte Jacob Cruson Paterson, Broadway 1S64 Elias W. Thompson John E. Dunning Spring Valley 1865 Cornelius E. Crispel Peter S. Van Orden Paterson, Second Hoi. 1866 Disbanded, iSyj Passaic, North 1868 J. H. Whitehead A. Z. Van Houten* Wortendyke, Holland X87X D. Cornelius Ruigh Teunis Van Emaus Passaic, First Holland 1S73 Martin Flipse Thomas A. Hellegers Ridgewood 1875 John A. Van Neste Edward Jardine Ramsey s 1875 I'aca/i/ since iSSd Lodi, Second 187S j / 'acant P. H. Van Iderstine Centerville 1SS2 Anson Du Bois John B. Courter Garfield 1S91 Wm. Guthrie Mylej- [ John iL Jones Clifton 1S92 Vacant James W, Meloney North Paterson 1S94 William Johnston George Berdan Hawthorne 1S95 William Johnston W'alter C. Zabriskie Glen Rock 1895 / 'acant 1 John A. Marinus Other ministers in connection with the Classisare: John Gaston, em- eritus, Passaic, N. J. William Lubach '■, emeritus, Wortendyke, N. J. Alexander A, King*, emeritus. ls\a!ar«ah., N. J. Robert JI. OiTord *. Pas- saic, N, J. Cornelius R. Blauvelt. Nyack, N, Y. Nathaniel H. Van Arsdale, New York, N. Y. Thomas S. Dusinberre, Warwick, N. Y. * Not present at the centennial session. | Incorporated 18 16 as First Totowa, but not so enrolled until 1827, J To Classis of Passaic. io8 History of' the classis oi' imkamus and Schraalenburgh were one when seceding in 1822, as when in 1800 they stood at the head of the roll of the Churches of the Classis of Paramus. The first Church organized by the Classis was at Warwick, Orange County, N. V. From a date unknown, there was a Pres- byterian Church at Warwick, having a settled pastor, the Re\-. Jonathan Elmer, as early as 1750; but. Sabbath, January 8, 1804, this ancient Church was organized as a Reformed Dutch Church and so continues, abiding in strength, ever loyal and true. The increase of Churches in the Classis, the date of their or- ganization, the pastors serving them, the elders representing them, together with the changes that have taken place in the Church roll of the Classis, are exhibited in the schedule on the preceding page. From this exhibit it is evident that the Classis has organized tM'enty-four Churches; that two have seceded, that one has been rent in twain, one transferred to another Classis and two dis- banded. U'ith all these changes the number of Churches under the care of the Classis has never been less than the original num- ber, as U'arwick and Pascack were organized previous to the se- cession of 1822. Of the twenty-four Churches organized by the Classis eighteen were organized since 1850, nine during the twenty-five years beginning with 1850, and nine during the twentjr-five years beginning with 1875. The (.Churches now enrolled number twenty-eight; five are vacant and two are served by the same pastor. The Classis when commemorating its centennial anniversary, contained 28 Churches, 22 pastors, 27 elders, 3 mmisters emei'iii, and 4 ministers without a pastoral charge; a gain in one hundred years of 18 Churches, 24 ministers and 22 elders. If the law of de- velopment prevailing in the natural world, "The slower the growth, the firmer the fiber, ' applies to ecclesiastical assemblies, the Classis of Paramus must, of necessity, be as staunch as the oak, as sturdy and hard as the hickory, and destined to survive all the tempests and storms of the coming century. Since its organization, the Classis has been convened three hun- dred and seventy-three times. Until 1834 the stated sessions were annual; but in that year thev became and have continued semi-annual. The stated sessions of the Classis have numbered 167, the extra sessions, 206. STATISTICAL HISTORY I09 Of these three hundred and seventy-three meetings, 25 were held at Acquackanonk, 10 at Broadway, Paterson, i at Cen- terville, 20 at Clarkstown, 4 at Clifton, 3 at First Holland Lodi. 5 at First Holland, Passaic. 4 at Fir^t Holland, Paterson, 14 at First, Totowa, i at Garfield, 2 at Glen Rock, 5 at Hackensack, 61 at S3'nod's Rooms, Xew York, 6 at North Church, Passaic, i at North Paterson, 5 at Old Totowa, 26 atParamus, 14 at Pascack, 18 at Piermont, 14 at Ramapo, i at Ramseys. 3 at Ridgewood, 15 at Saddle River, 5 at Schraalenburgh, 2 at Second Lodi, 22 at Second Totowa, 9 at Spring Valley, 19 at Tappan, 17 at Warwick, 18 at \\'est New Hempstead. These meetings have been attended by 6,809 members. Of this number 3,710 were ministers and 3,099 were elders. The average attendance at the meetings of the Classis has been 18.25; ministers, 9.94: elders, 8.31. The acts and proceedings of the Classis at these sessions have been carefully recorded and are well preserved in seven folio volumes. These volumes may be found in the Gardner- A. Sage Library at New Brunswick, N. J, The first volume be- gins with the meeting held for the organization of the Classis September 2, 1800; the second volume begins with the records of an extra meeting held at Ramapo June 15, 1824; the third, with the records of an ordinary meeting in the Second Church of Totowa, September 13. 1836; the fourth, with the stated Fall session September 16. 1862: the fifth, with the stated Fall session, September 21, 1880, the sixth, with the stated Spring ses- sion, April 8, 1 890: the seventh, with the stated Spring session, April 18, 1899. These records have been written by the following minis- ters, who have served the Classis as stated clerks: STATED CLERKS. \\'ilhelmus Eltinge iSoo — 1S18 Chas. S. Hageman 1842 — 1846 James D. Demaresti8i9 — 1823 John H. Duryea 1846 — 185S Wilhelmus Eltinge 1824 — 1833 Philip Peltz 1858— 1861 Alex. H. Warner 1833 — 1837 J. Paschal Strong 1861 — 1872 John L. Liddell 1837 — 1S3S ;Marshall B. Smith 1S72 — 1S74 Ebenezer Wiggin> 183S — 1840 William H. Clark 1874 — 1886 Philip M. Brett 1840— 1S42 J. C. Van Deventer 1886— 1892 Ebenezer Wiggins 1842 — 1842 Theo. W. Welles 1892 1 10 HISTORY OF THE CI.ASSIS OF PARAMl'S The first act of the C'lassis alter its organization was an ex- ercise (if its "peculiar prerogative, the examination of students of theology, witli a view of their becoming candidates for the min- istry," The student thus examined was Henry Ostrander. The result of his examination was his licensure to preach the Gospel. He signed the formula September 3, 1800. He was ordained by the Classis of Albany, and for seventy-two )rears was engaged in the work of the ministry. He died in the ninety-third year of his age, November 22, 1872. So long as Dr. Solomon Froeligh was a professor of theol- ogy, amenable to the General Synod of the Reformed Church, applicants for licensure were numerous; but after his secession there was a marked falling off. The students of theology ex- amined and licensed by the Classis have been the following: STUDENTS OF THEOLOGY, LICENSED BY THE CLASSIS. Henry Ostrander Jacob Schoonniaker Ralph Westervelt John L Christie Peter D. Froeligh Charles Hardenbergh James D. Demarest Peter Overbagh Samuel Bogert Andrew N. Kittle Thomas Holiday Cornelius T. Demarest Jacob R. H. Hasbrouck Abraham Hoffman Stephen Z. Goetschius George Du Bois James G. Brinkerhoff Henry Dater Wesley Taylor John A. DeBaun Wm. G. Hasselbrath Sept. 3, 1800 Oct. 6. 1 801 Oct. 6, 1 801 Oct. 6, 1801 Oct. 6, 1801 Oct. 5, i302 Oct, 5, 1803 Oct. 5, 1803 Apr. 24, 1804 Aug. 5. 1806 Aug. 5, 1806 Oct. 6. 1807 Aug. 2, 1808 Aug, 2, 1808 July 27, i8ig July 27, i8ig July 27, 1819 Aug. 6, iS;o Aug. 6, 1850 July 3T, 1855 Apr. 15, 1856 Cyrus G. Vanderveer Thomas S. Dusinberre James H. Bertholf Ed ward G. Ackerman Peter E. Kip John Kershaw John A. Van Neste Abram L Marti ne George D, Lydecker Sipko Rederus Robert H. Barr Isaac E. House John Smit Walter Winants William M. C. Jacobs John S. Van Orden Elias B. Van Arsdale Teunis H. Hoonte Frederick Dekker Hans H. Spoer Clifford P. Case May 24, 1859 May 24, 1864 June 4, 1867 May 25, 1869 May 24, 1870 Sep. 19, 1872 July 12, 1875 May 29, 1876 May 21, 1877 Mav 21. 1877 May 27, 187S June 2, 1879 July 2, 1883 May 23, 1892 May 23, 1893 May 23, 1893 May 23, 1893 June 29, 1896 June 29, 1S96 June 20, 1S98 May i3, 1900 The whole number of licentiates is 42. Of this number seven- teen were licensed previous to 1820, leaving only twenty-five for the remaining eighty years of the century. From July, 1810, to Au- gust, 1850, there was no one licensed by the Classis. The licen- sures of the latter half of the century have therefore exceeded those STATISTICAI. HISTORY III of the first half. There is still need, ho\ve\er, of earnest praj-er for a greater number fitted to make known the truth as it is in Jesus, that the conquest of the world for Christ may be hastened. Two of those licensed to ]>reach the (jospe! have not entered the ministry. One of them continued a member of the Classis for sixtv-four years, tenniiiating' his connection with the Classis b}' death. The other, .so far as the records show, is still a candidate for the Gospel ministry, licensed in 1856. The license (jf another has been revoked and he is settled as a pastor over a Church that is not considered evangelical. Fourteen are still living and are en- rolled among the ministrv of the Reformed Church. The five ministers who were members of the Classis at its or- ganization, were the only ministers of the Classis until Xo\'ember, 1804, when the Rev. Charles Hardenbergh, a licentiate of the Classis, was ordained and installed pastor of a recently organized Reformed Church at Warwick, Orange County, X. V. Mr. Har- denbergh was the first minister ordained b}' the Classis and the first to be installed as pastor. After the ordination of Mr. Harden- bergh, twenty years passed away without the ordination of a min- ister in an}- of the Churches of the Classis. During the first half of the century there were only eleven ordinations, during the next forty years, thirteen, and during' the last decade, seven. Of the candidates for the ministry ordained by the Classis, six were licentiates of the Classis, sixteen are still living, seven are members of the Classis, the eldest of whom, the Rev. Cornelius Eltinge Crispell, D. D. , was ordained fifty-eight years ago, Sept. 14, 1S42. His connection with the Classis has not, however, been continuous. He has been in his present pastorate since 1879. The Rev. John A. \^an Xeste, ordained juh' 12, I'^JS. is the onlv one who has remained for more than twenty-five vears pastor ol the Church over which he was ordained. Two of those ordained have been called to serve in a professorial chair in our theological semin- aries, and seven have received the degree of D. D. The whole number ordained by the Classis during the century is thirty-one, at such times and places as are designated in the table upon the next page. Of the five ministers who constituted the Classis at its organi- zation, the first to sever his connection with the Classis and also the first to taste of death, was the first president of the Classis, the Re\ . George G. Brinkerhoff of West New Hempstead and Ramapo, 112 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMl'S who was dismissed to the Classis of Montgomery in 1808. and died in 1813, aged fifty-two years. The first to die, his Hfe was shorter by twenty-two years than the hfe of any of his associates in the or- ganization of the Classis. The last of the organizers of the Classis to depart this life was the first stated clerk of the Classis, the Rev. Wilhelnius Eltinge, D. D. , of Paramus, who fell asleep in Jesus in i85i,.aged seventy-three years. CANDIDATES ORDAINED BY THE CLASSIS. Cand:datp;s for Ordination. Licensing Classis. When Ordained. Charles Hardenbergh Jefferson Wynkoop Christopher Hunt Isaac D. Cole Alexander H. Warner Peter J. Quick Ebenezer Wiggins Philip M. Brett Cornelius E. Crispell Charles S. Hageman Daniel Lord E. Tanjore Corwin A. D. Lawrence Jewett Cyrus G. VanderVeer James Huyssoon John R. Brock Ferdinand S. Schenck John A. Van Neste Samuel Streng Daniel Van Pelt William H. Nasholds William Wormser John Smit Peter Crispell George G. Seibert Isaac Van Kampen D. Lawrence Betten Garrett M. Conover Tennis H. Hoonte Fred. G. Dekker Henrv Wells Brink Paramus [ New Brunswick ; New York j New York New Brunswick Philadelphia S. New York New York New Brunswick New Brunswick Bergen Bergen P. , Luzerne Paramus New Brunswick Passaic I Ulster ! Paramus [ Illinois i ! New York j i Albany New Brunswick Paramus Kingston Bergen Rensselaer New Brunswick Raritan Paramus Paramus Ulster Where Ordained. Nov. II, 1804 Oct. 6, 1824 Oct. 12, 1830 May 24, 1831 Nov. 15, 1832 Apr. 25, 1837 Nov, 15, 1837 Sep. 12, 1838 Sep. 14, 1842 Sep. 14, 1842 Oct, 5, 1S47 Aug. 25, 1S57 Aug. 25, 1857 Nov. 8. 1839 May 2g, 1850 Sep. 17, 1862 Sept. 17, 1872 July 12. 1873 June 26, 1877 July 16, 1877 July 10, 1879 June 26, 1882 July 24, 1883 Aug. 3. 1887 July 5, 1892 June 20, 1893 Sep. 13, 1894 June II, 1895 July 22, 1896 July 21. 1896 May 29, 1S99 Warwick W. N. Hempst'd Clarkstown Tappan Clarkstown Clarkstown Totowa, First Nyack Piermont Nyack Nyack Paramus Piermont Missiona7'y Lodi, Holl.' W.N. Hempst'd Clarkstown Ridgewood Clarkstown Spring Valley Ramapo Passaic, Holl. Wortendyke Warwick Garfield Saddle River Pat'n.FirstHoU. Hawthorne Lodi, Holl. W'ortendyke W N. Hempst'd Abbreviations : P., Presbytery; S., South: W., West; Holl., Holland. STATISTICAL HISTORY II3 The Rev. Solomon Froelii;li, D. D. , who was appointed by General Synod to organize the Cla^sis and by whom the sermon lor the occasion was preached, seceded in 1822 and five years later, departed this life, in his seventy-sixth year. The other ministerial organizers of the Classis, the Kev. Hen- ricus -Schoonmaker, and the Rev. Nicholas Lansint;, D.D., were octogenarians, the former departing this life in 1.S20, eight^'-one years of age. and the latter in 1S35, aged eightv-seven )-ears. The combined ages of the fi\e ministerial organizers ot the Classis is three hundred and seventy years; an a\erage beyond the three score vears and ten. which the Psalmist considered the measure of "the days of the years" of mankind. The eldest minister of the Classis at the centennial celebration was the Re\'. Cornelius Eltinge Crispell, D. D. , of Spring \'alley. The name at the head ot the roll of ministers, is that of the Rev. John Gaston. D.D., of Passaic, who signed the formula Septem- ber 21, 1869. Since its organization one hundred and seventv-six minis- ters have been identified with the Classis. Twelve have their names enrolled twice. One hundred and thirty-se^•en have been set- tled pastors. Ten were without a pastoral charge while members of the Classis. Six changed their pastoral relation within the bounds of the Classis. Fourteen have served two Churches as one pastoral charge. Forty-two were licensed to preach the Gospel; si.x of whom, with twentv-six received from other Classes, were or- dained to the Gospel ministry. Two have gone out from us because thev were not of us. and are known as Seceders. Si-X have been declared emeritus, three have been suspended and twenty-five hav- ing terminated their connection with the Classis by death, are now. \ve trust, enjoying the rewards of their faithful service. The changes that ha\'e taken place in the ministrv of the Classis are by far too numerous for verbal statement. The following schedule entitled, "The Roll of Classis for a Hundred Years," ex- hibits them concisely. It has been prepared with the greatest care and contains the name of every minister and every candidate for the ministr)-. who, so far as the classical records reveal, has been connected with the Cla^si.- : with the date of his reception and dis- mission. So far as it has been within our power, we have given the date of the death of those who have been dismissed to other ecclesias- tical assemblies, but the data in this respect is incomplete. 114 HISTOKY OF THE CI.ASSIS OF PAKAMUS (N I- COCOCOCO coco COODCO coxooooco M cjv ^ PS W <• :3 ^ !zi 1j 11 I I I o X! TlJ 'C T3 lU V \£) \£) N lo o^ lo uo 4J .J +; ^ >^ ri -M -e: -H ^ SB O O CJ o cii n M OOOOg.^00 O O *«S ccicriO'-cMro-^u-vvor~^coa\0 "-i STATISTICAL HISTORY rN r-- — ->' -J- y -Z lC r^, 1^ ^^ :r "^ U~ !>. ^ X r^ '-^- ^^5 w ' X x-c :/:xx xxccxx^x xx^^x ^ ^ :> »-' -r rC , -* 3^ j „' ^,' s- ^ lo X c > ■ -,' - ■ - ■ . J 1^ >-, ij Iv IJ -X ^ li iJ .it -_ r ;^ i ti: -7 S :^ :x C ^ C 'J --c ;:^ '^ 'J. 'Z izi :- 2; X -' to f^- O C ^ X ri '.c C <") r^ i-^ X vo X O r- '~' (N IN r^ rj r^ rt r^. r^^ r^, f^, i--*, <"-, r-O \£) '^; '^ lO "T XXXX X XXXXX XXX xxxxx < < Z ^ 'x X - Z vr- " r. 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"3 i_ •-> w ,— . u --w w w s w M " o CO n1 'A W Ph i^ s •-; en 5 S ?^ 'tn ^ ^ "S ^ ^ fl ,3 ^ l-( -M Ih +J fl c .^ a5 s en ■^ 'O 13 OJ P -c w ^i rt if 1-1 •« 5 5 a o^ -s "j a; ■" •- -^ -^^ -r^I^t^COCO CJ^a^O^C^O O O ^ "- 01 01 oi N rOfOfOrO^O COCOCOOOCOCOOOCOOO a^0^a^a^O^O^O^O^CT^a^0^a^O^C^ COCOCOGOCOCOOOOOCOCOCOCOCOODCOOOCOCOOOOOCOCOCO " d" o" p. p< (N CO CO -+ -^ CO rO o) CO CO a^ C nl' CO CO CO CO 01 cs cs rj a j5ii=5'3ut;atjuooP.2 O »- ::( ^> -a ts * n O 2 3 B 5! 2 o « S 5 o S S •^ P5 ^ •" P" I — I I — . FU I — , v >| a a '^ '^ s: a — a ^ ^ ^ ^ M .a' STATISTICAL HISTORY '■r- A O 1; o o a; > if > •J. •z. ^ 2, ?: 5 5 ■tJ ;7. 1 ^ -li ■^ C rf ^ u 'S - u ^ ;2« CG ' ■ ^ u m; o t! I— — . *" •^ — — — < — u- ^ "^ C ^ q ^ 5 5 S ^ ^ i £: -■ =■ i i 5i £ i ^ 2? i 5 5 « ?■•= ~ ~; o j: '^. s c: ;= := .H .H £ o .H ^ s .;; s s z s '-^ -9^ -S^ -^ ^5^ -?^ 5^ ^ o^ a^ c> C7^ a^ ijN c^ CT' o> o o o o o i^' ^■ r; r; ^ ^ ^ ^'^ ^ "^ -*- ^ ^ 'o ^' '^. c^ rC ^^5" rf\ o~ _r :7^ ' ' z t- ^^ .5 2 r" =^-— ^ > — "'>'■'' ^ .=^ > '"" ~ k = '^ ^ ^ .^ Z "^ — ~ .^ -^ ~ ^ i" s: c <; c < - S ;- £ ?: ^ ^ x: ^' 5 s' ;i; £, ^' -C; 5" "- - ^' '"'"- ^ "^ ^ t^ :^ C^ C - ^) r^ -i- LC ^ r^ '^ ii " IZi HISTORY OF THE CLASStS OP PARAMUS Lay representation of the Churches in ecclesiastical assembhes, is one of the pecuHar features of the pohty and government of the Reformed Church. We firmly believe there should be frequent changes in the eldership, that the governing body may fairly rep- resent its constituency and be in hearty sympathy with those over whom it bears rule. From the statement already made, that at the meetings of Classis during the century, the average attendance of elders has been 8.31, while the average attendance of ministers has been only 9.94, it is evident that the laymen are a very important factor in the government of the Church. When to this we add the statement that while the number of mmisters who have taken part in the de- liberations of Classis is only 176, the number of elders who have done so is 747, the conclusion is inevitable that our form of gov- ernment maintains the most intimate relations between the govern- ing assembly and the changing conditions of the congregations, shunning not only the many evils connected with Episcopacy, but likewise avoiding the oligarchal tendencies of the Presbytery and the wild confusion of turbulent and disorderly Congregationalism. We have cause to thank God that ours is indeed ' 'a goodly heri- tage." The elders who have taken pare in the deliberations of Classis have been as follows: ELDERS, DELEGATES ATTENDING CLASSIS The Reformed Churches of Jacob Terhune Hackensack and Schraalen- Cornelius Cooper '1 burgh were represented previ- Roeloff Bogart ous to their seceding, by Peter W. Christie twenty-six elders: James Brinkerhoff Garret Duryea 1800 David A. Demarest John Terhune '01 George Doremus Nicanor Brinkerhoff '02 Cornelius Westervelt James Christie '02, '03, '08 Seba Brinkerhoff Elias Brevoort 03, '20 Garret Brinkerhoff Henry Bogert '04 Albert H. Voorhees Peter D. Christie '04 Garret Lydecker Albert C. Zabriskie 05 Simon Demarest John W. Christie '06 Isaac Van Saun '07, '17 The Reformed Churches of John R. Westervelt '08 Acquackanonk and Totowa, John D. Banta '08 whicli, when the Classis was Albert Bogert 09 organized, formed one pas- 10 II, '27 11 12, 13 10, '14 '15 '15 '16 •18 '19 19, 20 '21 '22 STATISTICAL HISTORY 123 toral charge, were repre- sented by fourteen elders: Paulas Paulison I 800 Cornelius Van Houten '01 Johannes Freeland '02 Johannes Post Cornelius Van Winkle Enoch Vreeland '04, 04, 09. '02 '06 '10 Henry Doremus Abram \'an Houten 07, '08 '08 Gar . \'an H outen '10, '11 15 ■16 Henry P. Kipp Peter ilerselis 13 '12 Richard Ackerman 13 Abraham Ackerman '14 Henry Speer '15 The Reformed Church of Ac- quackanonk became an inde- pendent pastoral charge in 18 1 6, and since that time has been represented by sixty-sev- en elders: Elias J. Freeland 16 Abraham Ackerman 17 Ralph Doremus Henrj'P. Kipp '20, 27, ' Garret 1. Van Riper James Van Winkle Garrabrant Vureance Peter Paulison Walling I. Van Winkle Cornelius Sip Casperus Post Richard Ackerman Peter Doremus John ^lerselus Henry P. Hopper Geo. Van Ryper '30, 3 1 Richard Banta Da\'id Deinarest 35, Peter H. Ivipp David Westervelt n, Nicholas Terhune John 'SI. Vreeland 'iS. 28, '19 32, '19 '20 21 22 ,23, 24 '24, '25 •26 '26, '27 '28 '29 '30 42 34 '31 43. 49. 55 ■36 ■64 Z7 ■38 Henry P. Doremus '38, John 1. Sip Edo P. Marcelus '40, '48, John G. Banta '41, '55, John P. IMarcelus 43, '44, Aaron A. Van Houten Richard Paulison '45, John Van Winkle John Sip 47, '48, '57, '66, '73, ■76, '79 '82, '87 Richard Van Riper Jaines Simmons '50, '51, Andrew Cadmus '51, David D. Doremus JohnG. \'an Riper '52. Abraham Van Riper \Mlliam P. Doremus '59, '68, Edo Kip '59, '60, Henrv Van Idestine JohnR. Post Samuel Conover Henry P. Kip '62, John X. Terhune Cornelius G. Van Riper '63, Peter Merselis '6"], '71, Christian A. Zabriskie '70. '77, -84, '88, '97 Peter P. Kip Peter Van Bussum David Campbell 71, '76, Peter H. Doremus '74, Williani L. Andrus John T. Van Iderstine 75, •79. '«3. '84 George Brinkerhoff Cornelius McCleese '81, 84, '94, Cornelius G. Cadmus Adrian Hopper '82, Daniel Demarest '85, 90, '93, Richard R. Post John H. Couenhoven '86, Henry \\. Doremus Henry P. Simmons 89, Peter W. Doremus John A. Spear Peter J, Kipp 96, 98, 39 '39 '49 '61 '52 '44 '66 ■46 ■69> '50 ■58 '72 51 ■54 •56 '78 ■65 '60 '61 '62 '80 '63 '62 '74 '74, "70 •70 '86 '83 '75 ■78, '78 '91. '81 '90 '94 '85 '91 •89 '95 '92 ■96 '99 124 HISTORY OK THE CLASSIS OI' PARAMUS George V. DeMott 1900 John H. Boynton 1900 The Reformed Churches of Tap- pan andClarkstown when the Classis was organized, were one pastoral charge, so con- tinued until 1 83 1, and were represented b}'^ twenty-five elders: Teunis I. Tolman 1800 Isaac T. Blauvelt 1800, '02 Johannes P. Blauvelt 02 Aurt Polhemus '03, '12 John D. Haring '03, '04, Ti, '27, '28 Resolvert Van Houten '04, '05 Abraham J. Blauvelt '06 Petrus S. Demarest '07, '08 Cornelius D. Blauvelt 08 William Van Dalsen '09 William Sickles '10, 11 Abram P. Blauvelt 10, '14, '18, '19, '24, Cornelius Eckerson James Perry Garrett Onderdonck Isaac Haring Daniel J. Haring, Teunis Blauvelt Garret Hogencamp Peter Perr}^ John Hatton Richard Blauvelt Abraham Eckerson Jacob Van Derbilt '26, Abraham Clark ID, '25- 17, 10, '14, '29 ■23- 19. 25. '27. '29. 13 '15 •16 '10 24 '20 20 '21 22 '23 26 '30 '30 The Reformed Church of Tap- pan became a single pastoral charge in 1830, since which time it has been represented by forty-four elders: Teunis Blauvelt 3 i Peter Perry '32 David D. Blauvelt '^^. '36, '37 John \y. Eerdon '33, '34 50, 47, 49> •69 i2, Jacob I, Blauvelt Joseph G. Blauvelt John I. Blauvelt Abraham Clark Stephen Powles '^-z, Wandel ^'an Antwerp John J. Haring '39, James P. Blauvelt Henry Vervalen Teunis Haring 43, Abraham F. Haring Jacob Riker ■Justin Demarest Frederick J. Haring Garrett C. Blauvelt John T. Blauvelt Cornelius J. Smith ■57, -64, '65, '68, Richard \'an Dien John De Mott James Schoonmaker Jaines J, Demarest Abraham A. Haring Albert M. Bogert Cornelius Van Antwerp Thomas Lippincott John J. Blauvelt Johh S. Verbryck Cornelius J. Holdrum Nicholas L. Blauvelt Abraham B. Haring '80, '88 John T. Haring 76, '79, '89-1900 Cornelius R. Haring Albert B. Eckerson Isaac Blauvelt Abram C. Eckerson Abram C. Holdrum Edwin Lydecker James Smith Cornelius E. Demarest James A, Ottignon 37, '38, 44, 40, '41. '62, 45- ■46, '59, ■50, •66, 53, 55, 56. ■70, 74, ■83. 86, 87. 34 '35 ■38 •36 42 '39 '53 ■51 '48 •63 45 '52 ■56 47 •67 48 5^ '72 53 ■75 'S4 ■61 55 ■58 '60 ■64 '74 71 73 •87, 90, 84. ■80 ■81 ■82 ■85 91 '93 ■89 92 ■98 The Reformed Churches of Par- amus and Saddle Ri\'er when the Classis was organized STATISTICAL HISTORY wltc one pastoral chai"y;e. and were represented liv fourteen elders: Abraham \Vester\L'lt iSco John D. Berdan 'oi, 07, 08 Abraham Harini; 02 I)aniel Wcstervelt 02 Daniel I. Hopper 03 Peter Hopper 03. 04 riiomas Banta '04 Christian Zabriskie '05, 06 A. I. Hopper '06 Harmon ^'an Kvpen oS |acob Demarest oy Henry A. Hopper 10 Peter H. Hopper 10 Simeon ^'an Winkle 10 The Reformed Church of l^ar- amus in iSn became a sing-la pastoral charge, and so con- tinued for five veal's, during which time it « : sented by six elders Jacob Banta John J. Hopper Christian Zabrisliie Jacob A. Terhune Albert I. Zabriskie Jacob Uemarest repre- 13- 1 1 12 14 I 5 I ^ 16 The Reformed Church of Par- amus in 1S16 united with the Church of Totowa. the two Churches forming a single pastoral charge until 1828. During this time they were represented by eleven elders: Cornelius Van Winkle Albert Westervelt Siineon Van Winkle Henry A. Terhune Johannes L Blauvelt Frederick Van R)'per Andrew P. Hopper Peter ^lerselius 16 '17 19. 22 19 '20 21 23. 24 24, 25 Albert (i. Hopper 2^. David Benson 26. Christian Zabriskie 27, 26 '28 The Reformed Church of Par- amus in 1828 and the First Reformed Church ot Tot<)wa, became one pastoral charge and so continued until 1833, and during this time were represented by four eiders: Albert Zabriskie '29, '30 John S. ^'an^^"inkle '29, 32, 33 John ^'an Blarcom '30, '31 Henry P. Hopper '31 Tlie Reformed Churcli of Par- amus in 1833 became a sin- gle pastoral charge, and has so remained. It has been represented by fifty-tive eld- ers: Aaron Blauvelt i'^, 34. 35 James Blauvelt '3,1. '36 Albert \^'estervelt '31^. '37 Harmon Van Der Beck '37, '38 David Hopper '38, '39 Cornelius Zabriskie 39, 40 Pet. A. Zabriskie '40, '53, '65, '66 Nicholas Hopper 40. 41 James Blauvelt 41 Garret H. Zabriskie '42 Garret D. Ackerman 42 Thomas Kuypers '43 Peter A. Westervelt 44, 45 Andrew H. Hopper Henr}' S. Terhune And. G. Ackerman 47. Harman Van Riper '48. '60, ' 64 Guilliam Zabriskie '49, '58, '59, '68, '71 David G. Hopper Abr. D. Ackerman '51, Garret H. \'an Dien John H. Hopper Henrv F[. Banta 44. 45. ^'i 48, 54 '53, '59. 50, '57. :> '61, '62 '_54 55 '55 [26 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS John Berdan, Jr. '56, '57 Garret A. Hopper '59, ■67, '68 Andrew Ackerman '60, '62, '63, '64 Albert A. Ackerman '62, '63, '66 John C. Bogert '67, '74 Peter Board '6g, '75, ■76, '77 Abraham Carlock '70, '71 Garret A. N. Ackerman '71, '73. '76, '80 Abraham H. Ackerman '72, '78, '85, '89 Henry A. Ackerman '72 John I. Van Saun '73 John C. Zabriskie '74, '75. '77, '85, '86, '91 John A. Marenus ■76. '90 Thomas V. B. Zabriski e '78, '79- '83, '89, '93 Isaac Wortendyke '79. '81 Albert G. Zabriskie ■82, '87, '88, '96 Cornelius J. Bogert '82, '86, '87, '92 John A. Ackerman '84 Garret N. Hopper '86 John R. Westervelt '86, '87 Albert C. Storms '88, '95 John W. Kipp '91 Nicholas G. Hopper '92, '95 Cornelius P. Crouter '93 Augustus Bogert '94 Abraham A. Blauvelt '94. '98 1900 Henry C. Storms '96 Andrew J. Zabriskie '96 John J. Mowerson '97 William Harding '97, '99 George Demarest '98 Garret H. Winter 99, 1 [900 The Reformed Church of Clarks- town became a single pastoral charge in 1830, since which time it has been represented by forty elders: Dowah I. Tolman '31, '39 Peter Smith '32, Cornelius J. Blauvelt '33 Daniel Joseph Blauvelt, '47, '51, '53 Jacob Blauvelt '36, '37, Jacob Van Derbilt Abraham B. Stephens '50. '55 Henry R. Stephens '42, '57, '63 Henry House Abraham J. DeBaun ' j.4, '58, '68 James J. Demarest '44, John P. Blauvelt Johannis Blauvelt Abram C. Demarest John House Tunis C. Blauvelt Abraham Eckerson Joseph Blauvelt Jacob J. Eckerson James Corsa '53, John Poihemus, M. D. Isaac I. Tallman '57, John Vervalen Peter Tallman John Poihemus John A. Blauvelt Isaac C. Haring, M. D. '70- '73, '80,' 83, ' T900 John E. Hogencamp John J. Van Derbilt Abram I. DeBaun John Poihemus James D. Blauvelt '72- '8i-'83, -85 Jacob C. Haring '75, '89, '92, '94 Charles Blauvelt E. '75 , '91, 93, '^5, '97 Peter T. Stevens Garrett G. Haring George Nickerson '35, '38, '33, '37 , '34, '40 '35, '45, '43. '49 '36 '37, '38, '46, '52, '42 '51, '56, '50, '69 '45 '47 '47 '48 '50, '51 '52 '52 '53 '54, '60 '55 '60, '61 '59 '59, '70 '61, '66 '62 '64-66, 84, '98- '65 '67, '70 '68 '71 ■'75, '79, '79, '85, '86, '88- '76, '87 ■76, -92 '86 STATISTICAL HISTORY 127 John Riley '88, '90 Aaron Ryder 96, '98 Abraham C. Wood 1900 The Reformed Church of Toto- \va was organized in 1755. and until 18 16 formed with Acquackanonk one pastotal charge. From 1S16 to 1828 it formed with Paramus one pastoral charge. It was then rent in twain bv factional strife, and the portion of the congregation known as the First Reformed Church of Totowa formed with Paramus one pastoral charge until 1833. All elders from the Totowa Church who attended Classis appear in the lists given for Acquackanonk and Paramus. The Reformed Church of Sad- dle River was organized in 1784. It formed with Par- amus one pastoral charge until 181 1. Until 18 13 it wa.s not rep- resented in Classis. In 1S14 it became with Pascack one pas- toral charge, so continued until 1836, and was represented by twenty-three elders: Thomas I. Eckerson '13 Petrus C. Smith '14 John Debaan ' 15 Joseph Debaan 16 Stephen Hopper 16 David Debaan ' 17 Jacob Banta 18, '19 Abraham G. Haring '19, '23 John Post '21 Jacob Wortendyke '23, '26. '27 Peter S. \'an Orden '24 Aaron Blauvelt 24, '25 John Yurry 25, '56 Jacob A. Debaan '27 John Jersey '28 Abram Debaan Henry A. Banta Adolph Suart ' larret I. Ackerman Abram Eccerson Garrett A. Haring John Blau^■elt .Abraham Delamater 29, 30 '30. '31 ^'32. '33 '33-- 35 '35 '35- '36 '35 36. '48 The Reformed Churches of Sad- dle River and Pascack, in 1836. although served by the same pastor, were each grant- ed lay representation in the Classis. Since then the Church of Saddle River has been rep- resented bv thirtv-one elders: AndreAV DeBaun •36 John I. Eccorson 37. '38, 45. '58-60 Thomas Peterson '38, '39 Henry Cunningham '40 Jacob J. DeBaun '41, ■48, 55 Garret .\. L. Zabriskie '44 Jacob A. L. Zabriskie '48, 50 David D. Eccerson 44, '45 Alb. D. Ackerman '47 52 53 William J. Yeurry '49, '71, '72 Cornelius I. Ackerman 50 George I. Snyder sj. '54, ■60, ■61, '66, '67 Sam. J. Debau '55, '56, ■70, ■71 Andrew Tallman ■56, '57 John P. !Mowerson '57, ■65, '66 Garret G. Smith '61 '62, '68 Conrad Fox '62, ■69- 70 Christian Eccorson '63, -64 Jacob X. Hopper ■65 Abram I. Eckerson ■67, '68 Stephen Coe Stevens 72, '73- 78, 96, 98 Jacob Snvder 73-76, 79. '80, '83, '87, 89, -91. '92 Garret A. .\ckerman. ■77', •8z William H. Yeomans ■8i Albert Z. Winter '87, 92, 93' '97, 99-1900 128 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Herman Terhune 90, 94, '98 John Ji. Hopper '88 Abram Higginson '93 Edwin DeBaun '95. '96 John Conklin ■97 Abraham J. Terhune 1900 1800 01, '02 02, 03 ■ '04, 10 '04 10 05, '06, '08, The Reformed Churches of West New Hempstead and Ramapo, when the Classis was organized, formed one pastoral charge, and were represented by twenty-tive elders: Joseph Goetscchius James Christie John i\Iyers John D. Christie Nicholas Van Houten, ';2, '30- '31 GerretA\'. Hopper '25, '26, '31 John DeBaun Gerret Servern John Suffern Abraham Hopper John Ackerman Adrian Onderdonk John Parlaman Peter Hopper William Yurry John Ackerman Cornelius A, Blauvelt '24-27, -32, '37, John P. Post R. Van Plouten John Westervelt AbrahaiTi Servern David Christie William Hopper Jonas Halstead James Stevens The Reformed Church of West New Hempstead, in 1836, re- ceived independent lay repre- sentation and has been repre- sented by twenty-five elders: 06 07> ■08, '14 09, '29. '30 'i I '11 '12, '15 '13 '15 -16 '17 :lt 18, 22, '41 , 42 '19. 20 '20 '2 I '23 23 24, '27, '28 '33, '34 '35, ■36 ■39> 40, ■40, 42, 40, 43. ■46, 54, 49, ■78, '82 John J. Ackerson John Ackerman James Westervelt ■'47. '51 Bernard BeBaun Garrett Van Houten ■55. '56 Edward 'I'aylor David Cole John Linkey John J Coe '47, '57, '60, '71, '75 Adrian Onderdonk Abram Onderdonk John B. Haring Joseph C. Blauvelt Isaac L. Sherwood '59, '62, '68, '72 Wm. Johnson '57, Andrew I. Tallnian Isaac \Miitney '61, '70, '74 Henry L. Sherwood Aaron Blauvelt '65-67, ■77, '80, '83, '85, '86 James Cooper '76, '79 Alpheus J. Coe '81 Samuel P. Blauvelt 84, '88, '9i> "93. '95 Cornelius E. Blauvelt '86, '92, '96, '98-1900 John J. Gurnee '87, '91, 94 Lawrence D. N. Coe 93 ■51. 54, 58, '62. 5'3 52 ■52. 5 5> ■69, 59. 66, '63- 70, ■ 3« 39 42, '43 47, 44 44 49 55. ■■48 '51 53 '53 '58, 70 '60 67. ■65 73> ■85 ■89 ■9'. ■90, 97 The Reformed Church of Ram- apo in 1836 was granted in- dependent lay representation and has been represented by twenty elders : Jonas Halstead '36, 37, '38, '40, '41, '48, '50, '51 William Conklin '41, '42, 45, 46. '53-56 John Thomas 43, 44 James Mowerson '44, '45, 52, '53, '67, '68 Da\id I, Christie 47 Jno. Campbell '58, '59, '65, '69 -'71 STA'I [STICU, HISTOKY 129 Abraham A. Banta 58, \Vm. F.Halstead '59, '60. '62 John H.\'an Houten '62 - '64 John A. Winter, '71, 72, '75- Thomas A. Banta Jacob D. B. Halstead John P. Maysinger John E. Fox Andrew Winter '82, Andrew J. \\'inter 'S4, '85. '^9- '91 -'93. 95- '96, I David Valentine '87. '90, Jno. T. Hemion '92 — '94, '96, Abram Banta Richard Wanamaker '99, i 59 ,67 ,'66 - 7'^ 73 '74 '79 'So ■83 'S7- 900 ■92 '97 ■98 900 The Reformed Church of War- wiclc was organized in 1804 out of the remnant of an old Presbyterian Church, and has Ijeen represented by twentv-six elders: Cornelius Demarest '08, '10, '12 Edward Eckerson John G. Eckerson '23, '24 John Pelton 08, 06, 06 20, 09. 25. 29- 35. '40 Da\id C. Demarest 1 1 Aaron Taylor 14. :6, 24, I ■ 21, ;i Sylvanus Fancher Thomas Sproul 5 Robert Pelton James Bell Daniel C. Dusinberre 13- 22 26, 1 — - / -5- '26 ■34. 36 30 41- 44 Maurice Hovt 50, 40, •64, 0/ '55. 59. 75. 76 Frederick Demarest '44. '46, '.51 Cornelius C. Demarest ■49. '52. '33 Henry Pelton '67. '68 43- '6S, 45 • 4S. 53. 5'-^. 42, 4.S, '63. Peter Dusinberre 54, 56, '61 65, '69, '72 James R. Christie Samuel J. \'an .Saun Cornelius H. Demarest 79. '.Si, '84, '86, 62 '66 76, 87- 89 Mahlon Cooper '74, Tiiomas Welling ■84, '87, '88, 96 -'98 78. 90, '80, '91. '81, 93. Samuel Pelton '78. '80, '85, '86, '88, '91, '97 James Wisner '82, 87, 89, '92, 94, 96, '99 Henry C. Dusinberre 92, '95 Ferdinand \'. Sandford Henry P. Demarest i '82. 94. ■83. 95. 90, 93, '99 goo The Reformed Church of Pas- cack was organized in 1 8 1 4. but until 1S36 it formed with Saddle Riyer one pastoral charge. In 1S36, although the same pastor served Sad- dle River and Pascack, each Church was granted lay rep- resentation in Classis. Since then, the Church of Pascack has been represented by twen- ty eight elders: [ohn X. Hopper Abraham Campbell John P. Dur\ea '38 Fredk. P. Wortendyke Abraham Eckerson Jacob Fleerboom ■51- '52 Laurence Lockw ood '49. '61, James Blauvelt Albert Duryea Henry A. Smith ■'67, '68, '74 50. ■6s '36, 37^ 37 '38 • 39, 44 ■ 45 y'ke ' 39. 40 42 42. 43- "47. 1 55- 43. 57- 44. '60, 52. '59. '53, '60, '55 '58 '63. I30 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS James P. Wortendyke '6i Benjamin Hill '62 Garret F. Wortendyke, '63, '68, '69, '71 Frederick F. Wortendyke, '64, '65, '69, '70, '73, '76 Abram A. Wortendyke '65, '66 Peter M. Holdrum '67, '77, '78, '81, '82, '86, '92, '96 Harmon G. Van Riper '70, '72, '73, '80, '81, '86, '87 John H. Van Houten '71, '72 John J. Storms '75, '82, '88, '89 David A. Demarest '77 Benj. J. Duryea'78, '79, '83, '84 Albert D. B. Duryea '84, '85 Edmund J. Eckerson '87 Abram A. Quackenbush '90 Martin J. Myers '90, '91, '94 John H. Ackerman '91, '97 '99 Warner W. Westervelt '93 Daniel A. Post '98 The First Reformed Church of Totowa was incorporated in 1 8 16, but until 1834 formed with Paramus one charge. In 1866 it was transferred to the Classis of Passaic. From 1834 to 1866 it was repre- sented by eleven elders: John Van Blarcom '34 - '36, '42 John V. \'an Winkle '34, 36, '44, '45 Edo P. Merselus '■ii'], '59, '60, '65, '66 Jas. Van Blarcom '37- '39, '42 '43 Albert Van Houten '39, '40, '47-'49, '51, '59 Davies Millar '4i>'55-'59, '61 - '64 Cornelius L Vreeland '46, '56, '57, '60, '61 Tunis I. Spear '49 -'5I' '54, '55 Peter Post '53 Andrew Snyder '57 James P. Westervelt '62, '63 The Second Reformed Church of Totowa was organized in 1827, and has been repre- sented by fifty-one elders: Garrabrant Van Houten David Benson '29, '33, John Joseph Blauvelt ' '33, '39 Cor. C. Blauvelt '30, Adrian R. Van Houten '38- '40, '53, '54 Garret P. Hopper Andrew P. Hopper Henry P. Hopper '45, Cornelius H. Post John I. Berdan Peter A. Hopper '47, ' '63, '64, '69, '70 '72 Samuel A. Van Saun 48, '52, '53, '60, '61 Thomas Terhune Garret L Blauvelt '49 '28 34, '42 9. '32. 3i> '36 '35, '40 '40 54, ■'55 45, '46 '47 ;5. '56, 59> 48 .64, '65, '71, '72, '74, '75-79 Cornelius S. Van Wagoner '50 Ira Ryerson '50, '51, '65, '72, .'73 David D. Demarest Richard Van Houten '67 David A. Alyea David I. Alyea Ridley Kent John A. Hopper '5 '66, '70, '71 John H. Doremus Benjamin D. Doremus '66, '67 Henry Fredericks '62, '70, '80, '81 William Goetschius '63 Andrew J. Ackerman '69 Isaac Stagg '68 John J. Snyder '70 Henry P. Simmons '73, '74 '51 '52, '53, '56, '57 '57. '58 57. ,'67, '68 !8, '59. '65, '60 IS '61, '62, STATISXrCAL HISTORY 131 William Row 74, 77- ■82, ■83. Richard R Eells •67 85, '86 David J. Blauvelt '68, "70, 74 -•76 Albert A. Terhune ■76, 77, '81, Alexander Blauvelt '71 ■84 Aaron L. Christie 72, 73. '77. Thomas Stagg 78 '79 Jacob Berdan 79 John Charlton 74 ' 77- '88 John Hopper '81, ■84. '86, ■87. Garret Van Xostrand '78. '79- '90. '93. 99 '81, '82, '84-'9o Duncan ^McFarlan ■82 Victor S. H. Waldron '80 Edo E. Vreeland '8:; John B. Pomeroy '80, '84. '87. William S. [Millar ■86. '88. ■Sy, '89-95 '92, '97 John Stewart '81 John H. U Blenis '86, '87 David T. Blauvelt ■83 Charles L. Hunter ■87. '88 John DeBaun '85. '86 Henry A. Hopper, Jr. '88 John H. Cooper '87 Jacob Ryerson 89. 90 Truman H. Baldwin 9- Edwin Stewart 91 .'96, '97 Cornelius DeBaun 93, '96, '97 John Row '91 Jacob Eckerson Demarest 94. Peter H. Van ^^"ago ner "92 '95. '98, -99 Anthon)"- Post ■94 Wilberforce Van Slyke 97-1 900 Andrew H. Van Wagoner ■95 Edo I. ]Merselis ■96 The Reformed Church of Pier- Henry A. Hopper ■98 mont was organized i in il 338, Jacob D. ]Mandigo '9V and has been represented by Jacob Westhoven I 900 twenty elders: Abraham D. Vervalen 39- '40, '42, '49 -'52, '57, ; 59- ^0 The Reformed Church if Xv ack Cornelius I. Blauvelt ■40, '42. was organized in 1838, and '46, '47 has been represented by Abraham Ackerson 42 twenty-nine elders: John Verbryck '43. '48, 52. 53- Peter Smith ■38- -■42 '58, '62, -63 Abraham A. Tallm lan '43. ■44 John Blanck '44, '47 Isaac P. Smith '43. '48, ■66 Jacob I. Blauvelt 45, '49. '50 John T. Demarest '44, '53 James I. Blauvelt '4t Cornelius T. Smith ■45 Silas Miller '53, '54, •65 Abraham De Baun, 46, ■52. '53. Isaac ^I. Diederer 54- '57, '61, '58 '64, '66 -'68, ■71, ' 73- 75' Henry House '47, 51- 59 '77, '80, '84 John D. Blauvelt '49 Isaac D. Haring 5 ^' '56 Isaac S. Lydecker 4 9- '50, 54. \^'illiam Verbryck ■63, ■64 "56 John W. Ferdon '69 - 72, '74, David D. Smith '50, 57' '60- ■65. '76 -'82, '84 '71, '72 John W. Blauvelt '79 Jacob Witman 52, 53 Charles W. Miller '83, '85- '87, John D. \^'aldron ■54. 55 '91. "94 Abraham P. Smith '64 Cornelius Clark '86, '88, '90 152 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Stansbury A. jessup '88, '89, '96 Cornelius Todd '90 John C". Haring '91-1900 William B. Corning '92 The Second Reformed Church of PieriTiont was organized in 1851, disbanded in 1854, and was represented in Classis b)' two elders: Eleazer Lord '52, '53 F. F. P'rost '53 The First Holland Reformed Church of Paterson was or- ganized in 1856, and has been represented by twelve elders : ^^'illem \'an Den Houten '65 John Sandford '66- '68 Paul Van \\'yck '66, '67 A art Breen '67 Job Kievitt '69, '70, '74. 75 Gerard J. Busch Keizer '70 Petsr Breen '70, -'72, '77 -'80, '84, '86, '87, '94, '96, '97, '99, 1900 ^larenus Baker '73, '74 I.eendert DeVogel '76 George Schut '81 -'84, '92 Peter Van Reen '89, '91, '93, '94, '97: '98 \\'illem Hengeveld '99 The First Holland Reformed Church of Lodi was organ- ized in 1 85 9, and has been rep- resented by eighteen elders: Aart Janszoons Breen '59, '61, Berend Hendrick Smit '60 Pieter van de A'rede '61 Nicolaas Bogertman '62 Cornells van de Vrede '65, '66 William Van Der Houten '64 Daniel Cooke '66, '67 John Troost '71, '72 H. Grocncntlyk 73, '74, '77, '78 Nicholas Dun '74, '75 Teunis W'estdyke '76 Johannes Van der Plaat '78 Jacob Cruson '79, '83 -'86, '98, '99, 1900 Lodew}rk Molenaar Huibert \'an Hassel '88 — Leenderd Boogaart '91, George De Graaf '93 - Lourens Posthumus ■87 •90 '92 ■97 '97 The Broadway Refd Church of Paterson was organized in 1864 and has been repre- sented by fourteen elders: Cornelius Vreeland '65 James P. Westervelt '65 — '67 Davies Millar '66 — '71 Jno.T. Spear, '67, '68, '71 — 73, ■75, '76, '80 Alexander D.Hill 72, 74 ~ '79, '83, '84, '86, '87 Peter J IMerselis '73, '74, '77 Garrett D. A'oorhis '78, '79 William L. \^'illiams '79, '81, '86, '96, '97 John P. Post '79 Gilbert G. Cooper '81, '82, '85 Isaac F. Boice '81, '82 Peter Quackenbush '88 -'95, '97 John E. Dunning '92, '93, '98, 1900 John E. Smith '98 The Reformed Church of Spring Valley was organized in 1865 and has been represented by seventeen elders: Henry L. Sherwood '65, '66 Isaac Tallman '68, '70 — '73 Hon. Nicholas C. Blauvelt '69 Andrew I. Tallman '70— '72 Cornelius I. Blauvelt '70, '75, '79, '86 Tunis Tallman '73, '74 STATISTICAL HISTORV 'ii I ">■ / / '7<'\ ■80 78 ^i, ■*3. '99 '82, ■84 '•■^s. '86 ■88 '90, '94 93. 97- '92, 94 'y6, 98 Richard Smith ' 74, Henr)' Smith Christian D. Eckerson Peter T. Ackerman ' 80, '87, '89, '93, '95, Abram Palmer Peter Tallman '8j, William E. Demarest Jacob C. De Ronde Peter S, \'an Orden '91— ' \)S. 1900 Abram J. Hopper Andrew Smith The Second Holland Reformed Church of Paterson was or- ganized in 1866, and dis- banded in 1875. -ft was rep- resented in Classis by nine elders: John ^'an den Bleyker '67. '68, '70, '71 Jacob Quadland 67 Paul P3'le '67— '69, '71, '72 John Struyke 69 Peter Perius '70 Isaac Kapun 72, 73 [ohanis Regenboog '73 ]\Iartin \'an Oostenbrug-ge 73 John H. Smith '74 The Xorth Reformed Church of Passaic was organized in 1869, and has been repre- sented by thirteen elders: Edo Kip, '69, '70, '72, ■78, 'Si --'87, '89-- John X. Terhune '71, George P. Davidson John L Ackerman '73, '77 Samuel V. S. ^ilamlevilk James A. Norton Thomas !M. IMoore Abram H, Ackerman James A. Sproull '86 — Henry Coleman 74. '75. 92,- '94 7-'. ■•76 72. '79 "4. 7^''. 73 79. '88 80, '93 81, ■82 88, '95 9i. '93 A. Zabriskie Van Houten '94 Frank Hughes 98 Thomas R. Goodlatte 98 The Holland Reformed Church of W'ortendyke, first known as the Holland Reformed Church of Hohokus was or- ganized in 1 87 1 and has been represented by eleven elders: Cerrit J Busch Reiser '74- '75, ■82. 'S3. '93 (jer. W'eyenberg 74- Albert Smith '78. 'I ■89 -'91 Jan H. Smith Jan Boerendans \\"illem Telgen Cornelius Leenas Jacob Westerhotf Jan Reurind I'eunis Van Emaus Jan Kornet The Holland Reformed Church of Passaic was organized in 1873, Eind has been repre- sented by seventeen elders: / / - 79- 81, 0, 85- '8 7 ^3 ■84. '86 84 '86, '87 '85. '86 '92 '92 '94 ' 95-1 900 '98. '99 Peter Van Heest Peter Kieviet '75 - John Kieviet '76, '79. '86 Huibert Van Hassel ^lattheus Van der Stad John Maat ' 79, Peter C. Kieviet ' Si, Jacob DeBliek Cornelius Den Boer Corstiaan Van Heest Hugo Berkhoff Thomas A. Hellegers '96, '97, 1900 Jacob Baker '93, '94, Vincent Berkhoff Dirk Jansen IMarinus Steenland Jacob VanderKooi 74. ■'86. '80, '88 83. '80, 94 '82. 8, ^5 84 87- 89 90- 92 92, 'c H. '96. 99 93 95 '97> 99 19 00 '54 HISTORV OF THE CtASStS OF PARAMUS The Reformed Church of Ridge- wood was organized in 1875 and has been represented by twelve elders: Edward Jardine '75, '84, '85, '90. '95, '97, 1900 Cornelius Z. Berdan '76 Edward Whritenour '76 Henry A. Hopper '77 Edgar Cron-iweir77, '78, '93-95 Peter G. Hopper '80, '81, '83, '85, '89- '91 Ackerson Thompson '81 J. Frederick Cruse '82, '86, '89 Albert A. Romame '86, '87, '96 James N. Quackenbush '91 - '93 William P. Alillar '97-1900 Isaac A. Hopper '98, '99 The Reformed Church of Ram- seys was organized in 1875. It has not been represented in Classis since 1888. Pre- vious to 1889 it was repre- sented by four elders: Jacob D. B. Halstead '75, '77, '78, '81, '82, '88 John F. Dodge '75, '76, '78, '79, '80 Cornelius C. Van Dyk ' 8 2 - ' 84 John G. Fox '84 -'87 The Second Reformed Church of Lodi was organized in 1878, and has been repre- sented by eight elders: George I\I. Chapman '78, '79 Dugald ]\lcNair '79 —'91 William L. Mercer '80 Abraham Freeland '82, ''85 William li, NicoUs '92 -'95 Peter H. Van Idestine '96, '97, '98, '99, 1900 Charles R. H. Sonntag 96 James C. Vreeland y6 - '98 The Reformed Church of Cen- terville was organized in 1882, and has been repre- sented by three elders: Hugh Cheyne '82 -'84, '86 Andrew Doremus '83 - '86 Jno. B. Courier '87, '89, '92 -'94, '97, 1900 The Reformed Church of Gar- field was organized in 1891 and has been represented by five elders: Calvin Terhune '91 Abram Freeland '92, '95 William Woods '93 John M. Jones '96, '98, '99 Arie Kievitt '97 The Reformed Church of Clif- ton was organized in 1892, and has been represented by two elders: William R, Payne '92 James W. Melone)' '92 - '97, '99, 1900 The Reformed Church of North Paterson was organized in 1894, and has been represent- ed by three elders: Warren H. Coburn '95, '97 Edmund F. Knapp '98 George Berdan '99, 1900 The Reformed Church of Haw- thorne was organized in 1895, and has been represented by three elders: \^'alter C. Zabriskie '95, '97- 1900 George W. Page '95 Haddon Slimmon 96, '97 The Reformed Church of Glen Rock was organized in 1895, and has been represented by two elders: John A. IMarinus '96, '98, 1900 George (j. Hopper '97 STATISTICAL HISTORY 135 Since the organization of the Classis there have been'i 1 6 meet- ings of the General Synod. Xinety-two of these meetings were stated sessions of the Synod, which previous to ;8i2 were trien- nial, but have since been annual. Twenty-four special meetings of the General Synod have been held. The Classis has been rep- resented at every meeting of the Synod, with the exception of two special meetings, one in 1823 and one in 1825. At ten stated meet- ings of the Synod there have been no lay delegates from the Classis. These meetings were in 1812, 17, 21, '25, '31, 36, 42, 53, 54 and 56. At eight special meetings there were no lay del- egates from the Classis. These tneetings were held in 1815, 18, '20, 26, 31, '39, 49, and '67. The Classis has been represented in the General Synod by ninety-two ministers and one hundred and twenty-eight elders. The Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge was a delegate to Synod thirty times in fifty years. The next highest record is that of the Rev. John H. Dur3'ea, but it is onl)' twelve. The elders who have attended Synod most frequently are John W. Ferdon, of Piermont, nine times, and Edo Kip, of Pas- saic, eight times. The General Synod has twice honored the Classis by calling to the Presidency of the Synod one of its delegates, the Rev. Nicholas Lansing in 1809, and the Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge in 1830. The ministers %vho have represented the Classis in General Svnod and the years they did so are as follows: MINISTERS, DELEGATES TO GENERAL SYX(3D. Clark, William H. '73, '75, '77, '80, '82, '83, '85 Cole, Isaac D. '33, '40, '42, '46, '50, '53. '57. '62 Conover, Garret M. 1900 Corwin, E. Tanjore '60 Crispell, Cornelius E. '45, 'S3, '84. '92, 93 Crispell, Peter 93 Decker, Henry E. '65 Demarest, James 14, 15, 19, '22 Demarest, John T, '58, '61, '65 Demarest, William '61, '66, 70 Allen, Peter '41, '45, '49. '52. '60 Anderson, Asher '81 Bartholf, Benjamin A. '69 Birdsall, Edward '96 Blauvelt, Geo. M. S. ' 66, ■72. '77. '79, '81 Bogardus, WiUiam E. '77. '80 Bogardus, William R. '32. '44 Brett, Philip M. '42 Brock, John R. '63, , '66 Carroll, Vernon B. '78, '80, '84 Christie, John I. '15, '18, '20, '23, '24, '28, '31 136 HlStORV OF tHK Ct.ASStS OF pAKAMllS Demund Isaac S. '69 DuBois, Anson '87, '91, '92, ■96, 1900 Duryea, John H. '39, '42, '43. 47- '51- '54- '63, •67, '70, .'72, 76, '79 Dusinberre, Thomas S. '94. '95. 1900 Elting'e, Wilhelmus '03, '04, '09. ' 12 - ' 18, '20, '22 -■ •'32, 34, '36- '38, '40, '41, '43. ■47. -49 Field, Jacob T. '29 FroeUgh, Peter D. '18, ■19. 21, 22 Froeligh, Solomon '12, 15- 17. '19, '20 Goetschius, Stephen '14. '16 Hageman, Charles S. 44, ■48, '50 Hill, Eugene '92, '93. 96 Hunt, Christopher '32 Huyssoon, James '61, ■64, ■71- •77, '83, '86 Jongeneel, Louis G. '82, •87 Johnston, William 96, ■98 Kellogg, Charles D. 75 King, Albert A. ■98 Knox, Taber '99 Lansing, Nicholas '06, '07, 09. '21 Leggett, William ]. '97 Letson, William ^V. ■87, ■88 Liddell, John A. 36 Lippincott, Benjamin C ■68 Lodewick, Edward '81, '86, '90 Lord, Daniel '49. 59 Manchee, William '86 Manley, John '35, '37, '40, 46, '53. '57. '^lo, '52, '6': 1 McKelvy, Alexander •62 Milliken, Peter H. ■85. ■87 Myers, Abram H. '74 Myles, William G. I 900 Oliver, Matthew N. '99 Peltz, Philip '58, •60, ■64 Quick, Peter J. 39, Ralston, Edward S. Schenck, P'erdinand S. Seibert, George G. Smith, Marshall B. Stewart, James W. Stillwell,"lohn L. Stitt, William C. Streng, Samuel Strong, J. Paschal 58, Talmage, David M. Talmage, Goyn Taylor, Benjamin C. Thompson, Ellas W. Todd, Augustus F. Todd, \\ illiam N. Van Arsclale, Nathaniel H ■87, '88, '94, '95, '99 ■Van Derveer, Ferdinand H ■45, '48, '55, '56, '59, '67, '70, '72, 76 A'an Dervoort, John C. \'an Deventer, John C. 81, '88, ^89 A'an Doren, William H. Van Doren, William T. A'an Kampen, Isaac A'an Keuren, Benjamin \'an Neste, George J. A'an Xeste, John A. '79 Yiin Zandt, Benjamin ^'ennema, Ame ^'oorhees, Henry \'. \Toom, William H. '8 '94. '97 ^\'arncr, Alexander \\'elles, Theodore 46, 57 97 '76 94- -■96 71- '73 '41 ■85 '76 '79 ■59. '67 '86 '74, '78 '26- -'28 ■97 '71 '90, ■91 H. ■83, '63, 34 52 ■56 ■98 '37 84, '89, 58, '89, H, W. 33> 90. \N'est, Jacob A\'hitehead, J. H, \\'iggins, Ebenezer 38, '47. 51. '54 Williamson, ^\'illiam H. Winfield, Aaron B. Wynkoop, Jefferson 26- 92. 39. 52. '32. ■99 '74 93. '35 '91. '53 '97 43. •89 5 5 '34 SIATISTICAL HISIOKV '37 ELDERS, DELEGATES TO ^V^'OD. The elders who have represented the Classis in General Synod, the j'ears they did so and the Churches, twenty-six in number, with which they were or are identified, are as follows. a total of one hundred and twenty-eight. From the united Churches of Hackensack and Schraalen- burgh, five elders; ^Matthew Bogert 'i6 James Brinkerhoff 14, 15 James Cliristie 09 Garret Duryea 08 From the Church of Acquacka- nonk, eleven elders: Abraham Ackerman 14, 18 Richard Ackerman 27 Henry P. Hopper '32 Henry P. Kipp '28 Peter J. Kipp '99 Henry P. Simmons '95 John Sip '69, 73, '79 John T. Van Idestine S^ Cornelius G. Van Riper '55, 59 Garret 1. Van Riper '20 Garrabrant Yureance 22 From the Church of Tappan, nine elders: Abraham J. Blauvelt '07 James P. Blauvelt '40 Justin Demarest '46 John T. Haring '94, 99 Teunis Haring 50 Abram C. Holdrum 89 Cornelius J. Smith '57, '69 ^^'illiam \'an Dalsen 09 Resolvert Van Houten '06 From the Church of Paramus fifteen elders: Andrew Ackerman '60 Andrew G. Ackerman 48 Garret A. X. Ackerman '76 Peter Board '77 Jacob Demarest 17 Albert G. Hopper 26 Andrew P. Hopper 24 John J. Mowerson 97 Daniel Westervelt 13 Albert Zabriskie 30 Albert (}. Zabriskie '96 Albert G. Zabriskie '16 Christian Zabriskie 03, '04, 27, ■28 John C. Zabriskie 85 Thomas V. B. Zabriskie From the Church ot town, seven elders: Jacob Blauvelt Abraham J. DeBaun Isaac C. Haring, ^I ■84, '92. '93 Peter Smith Henry li. Stevens Isaac I. Tallman Dowah I. Tollman From the Church two elders: Peter Marselius Simeon \'an Winkle 93. 94 Clarks- 45 •68 D. ■64, '80, 33, 40 46 ■57 '35 of Toto wa. 23 From the Churches of West Xew Hempstead and Ram- apo, two elders: Garret Servern 1 5 John D. Westervelt 22 From the Church of ^^■est New Hempstead, four elders: Cornelius A. Blauvelt 19, 34 David Cole '29 Garret ^\'. Hopper 26 Isaac L. Sherwood '68 138 HISTORV OF THE CLASStS OP PARAMUS From the Church of Saddle River, eight elders: Garret 1. Ackerman '35 Henry Cunningham '40 John I. Eccorson '46 Michael Ryer '16 Andrew Tallman '56, '57 Herman Terhune '90 Albert Z. Winter ■88, 'y8 John Yeury '26 From the Church of Ramapo, three elders: Abraham Banta '98 William F. Halstead '61 Andrew Winter '82 From the Church of Warwick, eight elders: Cornelius C. Demarest '81, '86 Frederick Demarest Daniel C. Dusinberre '4 Maurice Hoyt '3 Henry Pelton Ferdinand V. Sandford Thomas Welling '78, '9 James Wisner 40 I, '48 1, '70 '99 3. '94 From the Church of Pascack, five elders: Albert Duryea '58 John N. Hopper '37 Warner W. Westervelt '94 Garret F. Wortendyke '68 James P. Wortendyke '61 From the First Church of To- te wa, two elders: Davies Millar '58 James Van Blarcom '38, '39 John Joseph Blauvelt Benjamin D. Doremus John Hopper Peter A. Hopper Anthony Post Ira Ryerson William Sickles 50> 29 '67 •87 ■63 '98 '72 '37 From the Church at Xyack, six elders: David J. Blauvelt John Charlton David D. Smith '51, '59 '72 Abraham A. Tallman Garret "Van Nostrand '81, '83, '85, '88, '8 John D. Waldron '61 '78, 75 '11 '65, '44 ■79, 55 '80 From the Church at Piermont four elders: Isaac AI. Diederer '70, 76 John W. Ferdon '69, '71 '75, '77, '78, "81, '84 John C. Haring 92 Abraham D. Vervalen '49 From the Broadway Church of Paterson, four elders: Gilbert G. Cooper '84 Alexander D. Hill '77, "83, '87 Peter Quackenbush '90, '91, '97 William L. Williams '86 From the Church of Spring Val- ley, four elders: Peter T. Ackerman Henry L. Sherwood Peter Tallman Peter S. Van Orden 92, 99 66 83 93 From the Second Church of To- From the North Church, Pas- towa, eleven elders; David I. Alyea '58 David Benson '28 John I. Berdan '47 G. I. Blauvelt '71, '75, '76, '80 saic, three elders: John I. Ackerman '74 Edo Kip, '70, '73, '74, 78, •82, 84, '91, '97 John N. Terhune •'7 I: .'76 STATISTICAL HISTORY 139 From the Holland Church, Pas- From the Church of Garfield, saic, one elder: Peter C. Kieviet From the Church of Ridge- wood, three elders: Peter G. Hopper '89. 90 Edward Jardine 82 William P. .Millar '08 one elder: John ^I. Jones ■96 From the Church of Clifton, one elder: James W. IMeloney 95 From the Church of North Pat- erson, one elder: Edmund F. Knapp 98 From the Church of Centerville, From the Church of Glen Rock, one elder: one elder: Hugh Cheyne SS John A. Marinus 1900 DELEGATES, BOARD OF SUPERINTENDENTS. The Classis has been represented in the Board of Superin- tendents of the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, X. J., bv eighteen ministers and one elder: Wilhelmus Eltinge, "12- '20, '24 -'26, -'39 -42 John I. Christie 27- ^^ John C. \'an Dervoort 36 - 38 William R. Bogardus '43— 44 Ebenezer Wiggins 45-47 John H. Duryea 4S- ^S Aaron B. Winfield 54-56 Ferd. H. Van Derveer '57-59 William Demarest '60-62 Isaac D. Cole 63 -'65 John T. Demarest '66 — "68 Benjamin C. Lippincott '69— 71 John Gaston 72 - 73 John W. Ferdon, £/der.* '74 - 76 Go3'n Talmage 77 - 79 George ^I. b. Blauvelt '80-83 Cornelius E. Crisped '84-94 William H. Vroom "95 -'99 Theo. W. Welles t 1900 — BOARDS OF THE CHURCH, CLASSICAL REPRESENTATION. The Classis has been represented in the Boards of the Church as follows: In the Board of Education, by live ministers and two elders : Peter Quackenbush 1S92 — I. C. Haring,^!. D.,iS93 — 1900 MINISTERS John Gaston 1S67 — J. C. \''an Deventer 1889 — gi Theodore W. Welles 1S89 — Ame Vennema 1892 — Elias W.Thompson 1900 — « Appointed bv the General Synod under a reorganization of the Board, which lasted only three years, fTerni expires 1904. I40 HISTORY Ol'- THE CLASSIS OK PARAMUS In the Board of Domestic .Missions, by five ministers and three elders: MINISTERS John H. Duryea Goyn Talmag-e Peter H. Milliken N. H. Van Arsdale William H. \'room ELDERS ^3 79 1866- 1871- i887-'8S 1887- '90 1893- John W. Ferdon 1872 - 78 Thomas Willing- 1881 -'87 Garret Vail Nostrand 1890 --'92 In the Board of Foreign Missions, by one minister as Cor- responding Secretary, and as members of the Board, one min- ister and one elder : CORRESPONDING SECRETARY MINISTER Philip Peltz i860 -'65 J. H. Whitehead li ELDER Garret I. Blauvelt 1872 -'So 11 — In the Board of Publication by elders: three ministers and seven MINISTERS William H. Clark George Seibert William J. Leggett 1875 -'86 1891 - '92 1808— Isaac iM. Diederer 1875 -■8c David D. Smith 1873 -'75 John N. Terhune 1874 -'76 David T. Blauvelt 1874 -'80 Gilbert G. Cooper i8S3-'86 Garret Van Xostrand 1 876 - '88 Abram C Holdrum 1890 — THE PASTORAL RECORD OF THE CHURCHES. Hackensack, Bergen Co., N. J, Organized, 1686. Seceded, 1822: Peter Tesschenmaeker * 1686— 1687 Rudolphus Van Varick* 1687— 1689 Guilliam Bertholf 1694 — 1724 Reinhardt Erickzon 1725 — 1728 Gaulterus DuBois * 1728 — 1730 Antonius Curtenius 1730 — 1755 Johannes H. Goetschius 1748 — 1774 Dirck Romeyn i775 — 1784 Solomon Froeligh 1786 — 1822 ♦Supply Acquackanonk. Passaic, Pas- saic Co., X. J. Organized, 1693. Guilliain Bertholf 1694 — 1724 Gideon DuBois 1724 — 1726 Henricus Coens 1726 — 1735 J.\'an Driessen i735 — 1748 David ^larinus 1752 — 1773 H. Sclioonmaker 1774 — 1816 Peter D. Froeligh 1816—1825 Benjamin C. Taylor 1825 — 1828 (_'hrist'n Z. Paulison 1829 — 183 i Wm. R. Bogardus 1831 — 1856 J. Paschal Strong 1856 — 1869 John (Jaston 1869 — 1895 Ame Vennema 1895 — STATISTICAL HISTORY 141 Tappan, Rockland C(->., X. \'. Organized, 1694. (uiilliam Bertholf* 1694 — 1724 Frederick Mutzelius 1726 — 1749 Samuel X'erbryck 1750 — 1784 Xicholas Lansing 17S4 — 1835 Isaac D. Cole ° 1S29 — 1S31 Isaac D. Colet 1831 — 1832 Isaac D. Cole | 1833— 1864 Geo. :\I. S. Blauvelt 1864— 1882 William H. Williamson 1883— 1886 :Matthe\v X. Oliver 1890 — Schraalenburgli, Bergen Co. , X. J Organized, 1724. Se- ceded 1822: Reinhardt Erickzon 1725 — 1728 George W.XIancius 1730 — 1732 Antonius Curtenius 1737 — 1755 foil. H. Goetscliius 1748— 1774 birck Romeyn 1775 — 1784 Solomon Froeligh 1786 — 1822 Paramus, Bergen Co.. X. J. Organized, 1825: Reinhardt Erickzon 1725 — 1728 Geo. W. :\Iancius 1730— 1 73 1 Anton's Curtenius t 1731 — 1748 Joh.Van Drissen* 1 731— 1748 Benj. Vanderlinde 1748 — 1789 Gerar. .•\. Kuypers °i 748— 1789 Isaac Blauvelt 1790— 179 1 Wm. P. Kuypers 1 793— '796 W'lmus Eltinge 1799 — 1850 Aaron B. Wintield 1851 — 1856 E. Tanjore Corwin 1S57 — 1863 Isaac S. DelNIund 1864— 1870 GoynTalmage 1871— 1879 J C. Van Deventer 1889— 1896 William H. Vroom 1887 — Clarkstown, West Xyack, Rock- land Co. , X. V. Organized, Samuel \'erbryck 1750 — 1784 Xicholas Lansing 1784 — 1830 Christopher Hunt 1830 — 1832 Alexander H. Warner 1832— I 3 Peter J. Quick 1837— 1866 Benj. C. Lippincott 1866 — 1872 Ferd. S. Schenck 1872 — 1877 Samuel Streng 1877 — 1882 David :\I. Talmage 1884— 1888 Eugene Hill 1890 — 1897 Garrett W. Conover 1898 — Totowa, Passaic Co., X. J. Organized, 1755. Rent in twain, 1827: David INIarinus 1756 — 1767 Cornelius Blauw 1767— 1772 Hermanus .Meyer 1772 — 1791 H. Schoonmaker 1799 — 1816 Wilhelmus Eltinge 18 16 — 1827 West Xew Hemps land Co.. X. Y. .lead, Rock- Organized, 1773: David ^larinus Peter Leydt Geo.G. Brinkerhoff Jas. D. Demarest Jefferson Wynkoop Peter Allen John R. Brock Geo. J. Van Xeste * Henry ^lattice Benj. T. Statesir John Laubenheimer Thos. S. Dusinberre Henrv \^'eUs Brink 1773— 1778 1789— 1793 1793— 1806 1808 — 1824 1825— 1836 1837— 1862 1862— 1865 1865 — 1869 1869 — 1871 1872 — 1881 1886—1888 1889— 1898 1899— 1750: ■Supply. "A.'i.sistant. tOidained Saddle River, Bergen Co., X. J. Organized, 1784: Benj. Vanderlinde 1784 — 1789 A. Kuypers 1788— 1789 Isaac Blauvelt 1790—1791 William P. Kuypers 1793— '796 PattorTotowa 1832-33. J Colleague. 142 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OK PARAMUS Wilhelmus Eltinge 1799 — 181 1 Transferred to the Classis of Stephen Goetschius 18 14 — 1835 John Manley 1834 — 1866 Abra'm ?I. Meyers 1866 — 1872 Wm. E. Bogardus 1872 — 1884 William N. Todd 1885— 1892 Isaac Van Kainpen 1893 — Ramapo, jNIahwah, Berg-en N. j. Organized, 1785. Peter Leydt 1789 — Geo. G. Brinkerhoff 1793 — James D. Demarest 1808 — Jefferson Wynkoop 1825 — Peter Allen 1837 — Wm. T. Van Doren 1853 — William Demarest 1858 — George A. Magie 1871 — Wm. H. Nasholds 1879— William W. Letson 1882— Albert A. King* 1892— Louis Vandenburg 1901-- Co. , 1793 1807 1824 1836 1853 1857 1870 1875 1880 1892 1900 Y. Warwick, Orange Co., N. Organized, 1804. Chas. Hardenberg 1804 — 1808 John I. Christie 181 2 — 1835 Benj. Van Keuren 1836 — 1837 James W. Stewart 1838 — 1842 Per. H. Van Derveer 1842 — 1876 Vernon B. Carroll 1876— 1886 Peter Crispell 1887 — 1893 Taber Knox 1 894 — Pascack, Park Ridge, Bergen Co., N.J. Organized, 1814. Stephen Goetschius 1814 — 1835 John Manley 1834 — 1853 John T. Demarest 1854 — 1867 Benj. A. Bartholf 1868— 1873 Edward Lodewick 1875 — First Totowa Paterson, Passaic Co., N. J. Incorporated 1816. *KiTieritus. ^Emeritus I Passaic, 1866. Wilhelmus Eltinge 1816 — 1833 J. C. Van Dervoort 1834 — 1837 Ebenezer Wiggins 1837 — 1856 Philip Peltz ' 1857— 1860 Alex. McKelvey 1860—1865 John Steele 1865 -1877 Second Totowa, Paterson, Pas- saic, Co., N. J. Organized, 1827. Jacob T. Field 1828— 1832 Isaac D. Cole 1832 — 1833 John A. Liddell 1834— 1838 John H. Duryea ° 1838— 1895 Peter H. Alilliken 1882— 1888 Theodore W. Welles 1889 — Nyack, Rockland Co., X. Y. Organized, 1838. Philip M. Brett 1838 — 1842 Charles S. Hagemani843 — 1852 Benj. VanZandt 1852 — 1855 Daniel Lord 1856 — 1860 Uriah Marvin i860 — 1870 Henry V. Voorhees 1871 — 1878 Wm. R. McCorkIeti879— 1881 William H. Clark 1881—1886 J. C. VanDeventer 1886 — 1892 William J. Leggett 1893 — Piermont, Rockland Co., N. Y. Organized, 1838. Cor. E. Crispell 1842 — 1847 Daniel Lord 1847 — 1850 J. Romeyn Berry 1850 — 1851 Jacob West 1852 — 1855 A. D. L. Jewett 1857 -1859 Henry E. Decker i860 — 1865 Augustus F. Todd 1865 — 1871 William C. Stitt 1872 — 1887 J. R. Verbrycke 1887— 1893 Edward S. Ralston 1894 — 1900 How'd C. Hasbrouck 1 900 — ■ 82. Died 1895. tSupply. ST;\TISTIC/1 L HISTORY 143 Second Piermont, Piermont, Rockland Co., N. Y. Org-an- ized 1851. Disbanded 1854. \Vm. H. Van Doren 1852— 1854 First Holland, Paterson, Pas- saic Co., N. Y. Organized, 1856. Re-org-anized, 1864. Jacobus DeRooy* 1856— 1858 James Huyssoon * 1859 — 1864 James Huyssoon 1864 — 1865 Peter B. Bahler 1866— 1868 James Huyssoon 1868 — 1892 D. Lawrence Betten 1894 — 1897 Frederick Dekker 1897 — North, Passaic, Passaic Co., N. J. Organized, 1868. J. Paschal Strong 1869 — 1872 Charles D. Kellogg 1872 — 1879 Asher Anderson 1880 — 1886 J, H. Whitehead 1886— tlolland, Wortendyke, Bergen Co., N. J. Organized, 1871. John Smit 1883— 1886 Jacobus Diephuis 1887 — 1889 E. Hann 1890 — 1892 Frederick Dekker 1896 — 1897 Wm. Lubach 1898 — 1900 D. Cornelius Ruigh 1900 — Holland, Lodi, Bergen Co., N. J. Organized, 1859. James Huyssoqn 1859 — '^64 William C. Wust 1864 — 1868 William F. Betz 1875—1878 Louis G. Jongeneel 1878 — 1892 Teunes H. Hoonte 1896 — Broadway, Paterson, Passaic Co., N. J. Organized, 1864. Wm. W. FEalloway 1865 — 1871 William H. Clark 1872-1881 N. H. VanArsdale 188 i— 1885 Elias W.Thompson 1896 — Spring Valley, Rockland Co., N. Y. Organized 1865. JohnR. Brock 1865— 1869 Marshall B. Smith 1869— 1870 Richard DeWitt 1871 — 1876 Daniel Van Pelt 1877— 1878 Cornelius E.Crispell 1879 — Second Holland, Paterson, Pas- saic Co., N. J. Organized, 1866. Disbanded 1875. A. H. Bechthold 1866— 1867 A. K. Kasse 1868— 1874 *Supply. Holland, Passaic, Passaic Co., ■^- J- Organized, 1873. Francis Rederus 1875— 1876 William Hazenberg 1877 — 1879 William Wormser 1882 — 1884 John W. Warnshuis 1886— 1887 C. W. Jacobs 1889 — 1891 Wm. M. C. Jacobs 1893 — 1895 ^lartin Flipse 1896 — Ridgewood, Bergen Co, N. J. Organized, 1875. John A. Van Neste 1875 — Ramseys, Bergen Co., N. J. Organized, 1875. Wm. H. Nasholds 1879 — 1880 William W. Letson 1882— 1886 Second Lodi, Bergen Co., N. J. Organized, 1887. Robert M. Offord 1878 — 1884 William Manchee 1884 — 1887 James Bolton 1888 — 1890 William Johnston 1890 — 1898 Centerville, Athenia, Passaic Co., N. J. Organized, 1882. Alex. McKelvey 1882 -1883 144 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS John L. Stilhv ell 1884— 1886 Anson DuBois 1887 — Garfield, Bergen Co., N. J. Or- ganized, 1 89 1. George Seibert 1891 — 1892 George G. Seibert 1892 — 1896 William Guthrie Myles 1897 — Clifton, Passaic Co., N. J. Or- ganized 1892: Edward Birdsall 1892 — 1899 Henry Van Haagen 1899 — 1900 John S. Ellsworth 1901 — North Paterson, Passaic, N. J. Organized 1894. Garrett AI. Conover 1895 — 1898 William Johnston 1898 — 1900 Hawthorne, Passaic Co., N, J. Organized, 1895: Garrett M. Conover 1895—1898 William Johnston 1895 — 1900 Glen Rock, Bergen Co., X. J. Organized, 1895. Long pastorates are thought to be a peculiar feature of the Reformed Church. In the history of the Classis three pastors have continued in the same pastoral charge over fifty years, and fourteen have had a pastorate of twenty-five years or more. Three of these pastorates are still existing. The average dura- tion of the fourteen pastorates is 35.21 years. The average duration of the, pastorates of the Classis, other than those still existing is 8. 54 years. The average duration of existing pastor- ates is 10.2 years. The pastors distinguished for their long terms of service, are as follows : LONG PASTORATES. Name of Place of Period of Years of Pastor Pastorate Pastorate Pastorate Henries Schoonmaker Acquackanonk 1774 - i8i6 42 Solomon Froeligh Hackensack 1786- 1822 36 Nicholas Lansing Tappan 17B4- 1S35 51 Wilhelmus Eltinge Paramus 1799- 1850 51 Isaac D. Cole Tappan 1833 - 1864 31 William R. Bogardus Acquackanonk 1831 - 1856 25 John Maoley Saddle River 1834- 1866 32 Peter Allen W. New Hempstead 1837- 1862 25 Peter J. Quick Clarkstown 1837 - 1866 29 John H. Duryea* Totowa, Second 1839 - 1895 56 F. H. Vanderveer Warwick 1842 - 1876 34 John Gaston f Acquackanonk i86g - 31 1 Edward Lodewick Pascack 1875- 25 t John A. Van Neste Ridgewood 1875- 25t * ICmei-itus 18H2. ■f Emeritus 1895 X Pastorate still existing. STATISTICAr. HISTORY ■45 The condition of the Churches when the Classis was or- ganized, is somewhat diffictdt positively to determine. The Churches made no statistical reports to Classis until 1811, when all the Churches reported with the exception of Totowa and West New Hempstead, exhibiting- their condition and work for the year ending April 1 1, 181 1. A year or so later the other two Churches reported enabling us to formulate the following table, which, ex- hibiting the condition of the ("hurches when the reports were made, and showing the slowness of their growth with the slight variation in the number of communicants from year to jenr, makes it seem highly probable that when the Classis was organ- ized the families in the Churches under its care numbered about 1,447 and the communicants 1,370. FIRvST REPORTS TO CLASSIS. Churches. 1 Organized 1 .S f< c'f. 1 '^ E jSio Years since Org'n when Reporting 1: B fa 5 0] ■^ m Gain a B c If 3 t .a Schraalenburgh lOI Paramus lOUO 121 i 1S36 ■15 156 Clarkstown 901 yi 1 1S42 73 220 Old Totowa 3-7 14 West New Hempstead 273 76 I '^47 3; 74 Saddle River 394 " s 1S36 45 *7 Ramapo 556 53 iS;() 60 168 Warwick 327 1 99 i-<3(. 100 237 Pascack 360 i^ 1S41 6r. 160 Totowa 701 20 i33t. 200 Totowa, Second I2jn 137 1 836 130 410 Nyack 4''' 3 144 I -39 51 210 Piermont 202 4S 1S43 4'J 120 Piermont, Second I iS;2 20 Paterson, First Holland 712 I. 'J 6 5 50 170 Lodi, First Holland 557 ,S i>76 25 150 Paterson, Broadway I --7 67 1S65 70 Spring Valley 141 ;; 1S66 55 ];S Paterson, Second Holland 144 4 1869 125 Passaic, North 272 ■?7 I .S 70 130 323 Wortendyke, Holland 51S 6 1S73 f.o 71-" Passaic. Holland 715 13 1S75 35'J Ridgewood 159 49 IS 76 70 00- Ramseys 20 S 1S76 60 100 Lodi, Second 152 2; 1879 So 150 Centerville 41 24 18S3 140 So Garfield 51 8 I^gI 150 113 Clifton 1~ 10 1S93 129 232 North Paterson 34 6 1S95 go 116 Hawthorne 24 5 1S95 60 132 Glen Rock 4 12S13 3 1S96 30 48 Totals 1621 2348 4.-67 • 1621 Total Baptisms 14434 152 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS CONTRIBUTIONS. -^-J 1/1 Churches. ^ c u a, >■ S Report. For Religious ; and Benevo- lent Purposes. Year of First 0- a» Oi For Congre- gational Pur- poses. Acquackanonk $ 73688 59 $ 186723 Tappan 53 8325 59 56726 Paramus 53 16310 58 86920 Clarkstown 53 16761 67 65136 West New Hempstead 53 5334 58 34402 Saddle River 6i 2295 62 33108 Ramapo 53 2270 72 19426 Warwick 54 28402 64 93193 Pascack 56 4289 60 56863 First Totowa * 54 3080 58 13460 Second Totowa 53 28095 57 129373 Nyack 53 37634 58 152189 Piermont 53 16687 61 91695 Paterson, First Holland 65 3025 65 34069 Lodi, Holland 6o 1867 bi 18631 Paterson, Broadway 65 17959 65 138849 Spring Valley 66 6404 66 61238 Paterson, Second Holl. f 67 614 67 8564 Passaic, North 69 30809 69 188951 Wortendyke, Holland 73 1402 73 24838 Passaic, Holland 76 2537 76 40433 Ridgewood 76 6240 76 60930 Ramseys j;. 76 27 76 2039 Lodi, Second 79 1616 79 25702 Centerville 83 1738 83 22734 Garfield 91 514 91 8675 Clifton 93 1020 93 15465 North Paterson 96 80 96 2500 Hawthorne 95 549 95 2917 Glen Rock 96 32 96 1259 Total 1 319603 $1677008 * Reports cease '66. -f Reports cease '75. :]: Reports cease STATISTICAL HISTORY 153 they began to report their contributions for congregational pur- poses. The statistics furnished by the classical records cover less than half a century. These are exhibited in the table on the preceding page: The contributions of the Churches for benevolent purposes have been such as indicate the presence and power of a spirit of liberalitv. While expending 51,677.008, in maintaining the minis- tration of the Lord's house within their bounds, the Churches of the Classis during the last half century have also devoted to the work of the Lord 8319,603, making a grand total of 51,996,611 for religious purposes. Such statistics speak louder than words. They show us that the Church occupies a warm place in the affections of the peo- ple, and that they are desirous to extend the sway of the peace- speaking and soul-cheering Gospel. They also admonish the fol- lowers of Christ to be up and doing, lest the)' come short of those who have preceded them in the execution of the Lord s work. It is unwise to rest content with the worthy record made by others. The word of the Lord is, "Be ye followers of those who through faith and patience have inherited the promises. ' The history we have sketched exhibits the result of faithful labor for a faithful Lord, and furnishes cause for rejoicing because of the law unalterable, and unfailing, "Your labor shall not be in vain in the Lord. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES. THE REFORMED CHURCHES OF HACKENSACK AND SCHRAALENBURGH BY Rev'd William H. Vkoom, D. D. THE above title relates to the two ancient Reformed Dutch Churches first organized in Hackensack and Schraalen- burgh, and which seceded from the Reformed Church in 1822. They became part of the Classis of Paramus when it was organ- ized in 1800. After their secession they, together with a few other seceding factions in central New York, formed what was called "The True Reformed Dutch Church, ' but popularly known as "The Seceders. ' This body has been lately absorbed by The Christian Reformed Church — a body composed raosth' of Holland-speaking Churches in the West. The present First Reformed Church of Hackensack, and the present Reformed Church of Schraalenburgh were originally em- braced in the same corporations with these seceding Churches. On account of internal troubles the}' became separated, and at the time of the division of the old Classis of Hackensack in 1800. they were assigned to the Classis of Bergen. The}', therefore, have never had an}' formal connection with the Classis of Paramus, and are not to be confounded with the Churches now under con- sideration, though they bear the same names bv which these Churches were formerly known. ^luch of the historv of these seceded Churches, embracing- an account of their man}' troubles both internal and external, and their final secession under the misguided leadership of the Rev. Solomon Froeligh, has been alread}^ presented in the Historical Discourse. * The object of the present sketch is mainly to suppl}- a brief account of the lives and labors of the devout men of GikI. who loyalh' served these Churches previously to their secession, the * See pages 51 — 6.t. I 5'*^ HISTORY OKTHK CLASSIS OK PAKAMUS earlier of whom were among the first to unfurl the banner of the cross, and that of the Reformed faith in this part of our land. The Hackensack Church \\'as the second formed in New Jer- sey, and was organized in 1686 by the Rev. Peter Tesschen- maeker, wdio was then settled in Schenectady, N. V. Thirty- three communicants joined in the organization, and six others were added shortly afterward. During the next three years, till 1689, he continued to minister to this people, and to administer the sacraments as opportunity served. * During the latter part of this period the Rev. Rudolphus Van Varick, who was then the minister over the Long Island Cliurclies, rendered some ser- vice to this people. The supply of ministers was so deficient at that time, especially of those wdio could speak the Dutch language, that these occasional services were highly prized and long remembered. For the most part their devotional services were led by a ]'oorleser, who also read a sermon from some Dutch author. No church edifice was erected during the first ten years, but worship was maintaiiied in a private house. The I'vkv. Guilliam Bertholf. The first regular pastor settled over the Church was the Rev. Guilliam Bertholf, who entered upon his ministr)'' in 1694, and continued his labors until his death in 1724. His charge in- cluded also the Church of Acquackanonk and for many years, a general care of all New Jersey and some regions beyond. 'J'he life and extensive labors of this trulv excellent and use- ful man, ha^'e been portrayed in othe'- parts of this \'olume, to which the reader is referred, f During his ministry the first Church edifice was erected in 1696. The master builders were W'm. Day and John Stage, whose names, then rudely carved in the stone, ma^' still be seen in the wall of the present building. The site was the same now occu- pied by the First Reformed Church — "a delightful location in the southern part of the village, which for its neatness and beaut}' attracts'the'attention of the stranger. It is immediatelj' oppo- site the county Court Mouse and has on its westerly side the public square. It is interesting to obscr\'e that this Church property, which * I '"or an account (if this di.stingui.shed pioneer and hi.s inas.sacre by ludian.s, see page 47. t St-L- Tli..Lorical Discourse p. 4S. ,Mso Histories of the Churches of Acquackanonk and Tappan, HISIOKIK.S OF IHK iHlKCHKS 15V orig-iiuiUv lielnn^-ed tn the now ^cccilcl Church, and which, alter the fiirniati.in oi the i)rc?ciit First Church. w-a.< nwiieil ami u.-ed j'>intl\- hv the two limAies. was after the secessi(.)n of the older Cliurcli, claimed l>v the iiresent loyal liod\-. The)- did not. h^.w- e\er. attempt to dispossess the seceiled Church ami to take exclu- sive p<;>ssession themselves till ten years later, when a seconil se- Cessii.n took phice. under the leadersldi) .if the Rev. C. Z. Pauli- son, within the secedeil Church. Then, by a iiroclaiiiati' ni posted THE RKF0R:MKD I HURCH of H.\rKENSACK on the church d'Mirs. datei.l May y. 1832. the e.\clusi\-e ri^dit of the lfj\-al Church to the pro])erty was lieclared. and was n^it con- tested l>^• the secedeil hod}'. In this way the old propeit}' came int(j the possession of the newer lo_\'al 1 >ry;aiuzation. wliere it still remains. The success and fruitfulness ot Mr. ISerthoU's ministrv is wit- nessed 1)\' the fact that H2 mendiers were recei\'ei.l into this l60 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMOS Church alone on confession of their faith, and twenty-six by cer- tificate. But many other Churches shared the blessing of his widespread and Apostolic labors. The Rev. Reinhardt Erickzon. The connection between the Churches of Hackensack and Acquackanonk terminated with the close of the ministry of Mr. Bertholf; and in 1725 Hackensack united with Schraalenburgh and Parainus in calling the Rev. Reinhardt Erickzon as their joint pastor. A sketch of his life may be found in this volume in connec- tion with the history of the Church of Paramus. During his three years' ministry in Hackensack, fifty persons were received on confession of their faith and sixteen by certificate, giving evi- dence of an evangelical and fruitful ministry. The Church of Schraalenburgh, whose life from this time forth, with the exception of a few years, was. closely connected with that of Hackensack, and formed with the latter one pastoral charge, was organized in 1724. In the next yearthe first church edifice was erected near the site of the present South Church. Mr. Erickzon accepted a call to Schenectady in 1728, and, incon- sequence of the scarcity of ministers, these Churches were all left vacant for the space of over two years. Then Schraalenburgh joined with Paramus in calling The Rev. George W. MA^•CIUS. He remained pastor less than two years in consequence of a call, in 1732, to Kingston, N. Y. A brief sketch of his life is presented in the history of the Church of Paramus. The Church at Hackensack during the vacancy in its pastor- ate took dow nthe old stone Church, erected in 1696, and incor- porated its stones in a new and more commodious building on the same site. During this time they enjoyed the occasional services of the Rev. Gualterus DuBois, of New York, and within two years, though destitute of pastoral care, forty-six persons were added to their communion on confession of their faith. The Rev. Antonius Curtenius. In 1730 the Rev. Antonius Curtenivis came from Holland duly qualified and appointed by the Classis of Amsterdam to take charge of the Churches of Hackensack and Schraalenburgh; but, as the latter had now arranged with Paramus to call JNIr. ^lan- HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES l6l cius, and Mr. Curtenius preferred to take Hackensack alone, the matter was allowed to take that form for a few years. He be- came pastor of Schraalenburgh also, not later than 1737. His ministr}' then continued over both Churches till 1755. Mr. Curtenius was born in Holland in 1698. The Amster- dam Correspondence lately recovered by Dr. Corwin contains in- teresting items concerning him, kindly furnished for this history. The minutes of the Classis of Amsterdam show that he was assigned to New Netherlands on recommendation of the Deputati ad res exieras, ]u\\' 18, 1729. On October third, having received a call to "Akkinsak," he preached a sermon on Psalm 2: 12, "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way," and was admitted to final examination. In this he gave perfect satisfac- tion, and was then ordained to the sacred ministrj' bv the lay- ing on of hands. After he had been settled for some time in Hackensack, the Consistory of that Church wrote a letter to the Classis, which is worthy of record in full. Our space will only allow a few extracts. After suitable introduction they say: "We consider it to be our duty to dispatch withot delay, some letters of thanks to vour Reverences, for your fidelity in sending such an able and worthy teacher to our congregation." After alluding to the supply of Schraalenburgh by Mr. Mancius, they proceed: "In the name of the whole congregation of Hakkingsak, we herewith thank your Reverences from the bottom of our hearts, for all the trouble you have taken and for your fidelity in providing us with a teacher and pastor. He is beloved by all of us. He is in his life a light shining before us all, and a teacher of the truth which is according to godliness. ' ' The letter is subscribed : ' 'Your humble and willing servants in the Lord, the Elders and Deacons of the Dutch Reformed Church of Hagginsak : — John Hendrikse Banta, Hendrick Kip, Jan Bardan, Hendrick Van Giesen, Jurien Westervelt, Jacob De Groot." In 1748, after Mr. Curtenius had served the Church of Hack- ensack eighteen years, and that of Schraalenburgh the latter eleven years of the same period, these Churches took the fatal step which involved them in untold sorrows and troubles, and led to their undoing at last. This was the caUing of the Rev. J. H. 1 62 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Goetschius to be a colleague of Curtenius. His call to these Churches seems to have been designed to gratify discontented persons. Mr. Curtenius welcomed him and preached the instal- lation sermon; but soon each Church became divided into two hostile factions, and the friends of one minister would not attend the services of the other. Each faction, therefore, followed its own chosen minister from church to church, and met each other upon the high roads with scowls and frowns. The new colleague managed to have all the Consistory elected from his friends, and assayed, by the clandestine procurement of a charter from the governor of the state, to control all the finances. Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that Mr. Curtenius, who, in 1755, received a call to the Long Island Churches, which had previously driven Mr. Goetschius away, accepted it and removed to Flatbush. There he finished his ministerial work. Though favorable to the formation of the Coetus, he violently opposed the organization of a full Classis in this country and became a leader of the Conferentie. His obituary states : "He was re- markable for his indefatigable diligence in the ministrations of his office. His actions in all the affairs of life were accompanied with the strictest rules of justice, so that none could with more propriety claim the title of a preacher and a sincere Christian, which not only his morals manifested, but his happy death." This occurred October 19, 1756, in his fifty-eighth year. The Rev. Johannes H. Goetschius. Mr. Goetschius was born in Liguria, Switzerland, in the year 17 18, and was educated at the university of Zurich. He was licensed and ordained by Dorsius and J. T. Frelinghuysen in 1738. This was without the authority of the Classis of Am- sterdam or any other lawful judicatory, and led to much trouble and correspondence afterward. It happened during the nine years' delay of the Classis in granting the request for a Coetus. Its excuse was the imperative need of more ministers. Before coming here he was settled in the Churches of Long Island as a colleague of Antonides. There the validity of his ordination and ministry was questioned. Antonides, who had at first welcomed, turned against him. After much contention, sometimes accom- panied with hot temper, he at last consented for the sake of peace, in 1748, the year of his removal to these Churches in the HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 1 63 Classis of Paramus, to submit to a re-examination, and to be re- ordained by the Coetus, which was now duly constituted. Dur- ing the contest, when the Church was locked against him, he preached in barns, or crowded houses, or under trees, or on the doorsteps of the Church. On one occasion when in the church, the chorister who sat below the pulpit, and in those days gave out the h)'-mns, in order to prevent his preaching, gave out the whole of Psalm 119, which would have taken all day to sing. But Mr. Goetschius had the courage to stop the proceeding. God accepted his ministry, giving him while on Long Island and be- fore his reordination, as well as frequently after, great revivals. * After the departure of I\Ir. Curtenius in r755, Mr. Goetschius had the field to himself; but instead of uniting the factions, those who had been the friends of Curtenius now sought to be separately organized within each Church. This was effected in 1756, in each case; and, though these new organizations con- tinued to worship in the same buildings with the older bodies, alternatel)^ till after the secession of the latter in 1822, yet were they always from this time separate and distinct ecclesiastically; each pair of organizations having its own minister, and, indeed, after the year 1800, belonging to different Classes. Mr. Goetschius continued to labor with much spiritual suc- cess among his own flocks until his death, which occurred No- vember 14, 1774. He is described as "a learned, pious and godly man, and a faithful and successful preacher of the Gospel. ' ' He instructed several j'oung men for the ministry, who became eminent in the Church, and was one of the first trustees of Queen's College. The temper of the man was shown when on a certain occasion, having anticipated resistance to his preaching, he buckled his sword on his thigh, and thus accoutered, entered the pulpit at Hackensack. He was not disturbed. The Rev. Dirck Romeyx, After the death of Goetschius, the choice of these older con- gregations for the first time fell upon a native American, — and, in fact, a native of Hackensack, who was born in the year 1744. This was the distinguished Dirck (Theodoric) Romeyn. He was edu- cated at Princeton and studied theology with his predecessor, ;\Ir. Goetschius. He was licensed by the American Classis in 1766, and had already ministered, for nine )'ears, to the Churches of ^larble- * Corwin's Manual, p. 263. 164 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS town, Rochester and Wawarsing, N. Y., as constituting one charge; when, in 1775, he was called to his native Church and to Schraal- enburgh. The conflicting relations which he found existing between the rival Churches, continued during his pastorate. It is doubtful whether another case can be found in all the annals of Christianity, where four independent Churches were associated in an entangle- ment of cross relations so perfectly adapted to destroy all peace and love, and to produce jealousy, heartburnings, strife and the outbreaking of violent passions. The two newer Churches, form- ally organized after the departure of Curtenius, had first called the Rev. Johannes Schuyler for their pastor, who remained ten years. He was succeeded in 1768 by the Rev. Cornelius Blauw, who in turn was followed three years later by the Rev. Warmoldus Kuy- pers. This excellent, peace-loving man was in charge of those Churches when Mr. Romeyn came to the two older organizations. The times were very stormy; besides existing disturbances, the Rev- olutionary struggle was going on in the country. This proved a source of increasing troubles to these Churches, for party lines were formed largely according to Church affilia- tions. Yet, as Mr. Romeyn, like his natural rival, Mr. Kuypers, was a man of profound piety and of all generous and noble in- stincts, no notable collision or disaster occurred during his ministry. He is described as a man of superior natural endowments to which were added the force of a deep and broad education. All the paths of general science, history and philosophy were fa- miliar to him. He was a preacher of great power, being deeply experienced in all the mysteries of divine grace, and able to ex- hibit thein to others in a way to enlighten, instruct and power- fully move his hearers. He was the intimate friend and ad- viser of Dr. Livingston during the formative period of our de- nomination, and is described by one as "unquestionably the first man in our Church, and among the first in the whole American Church." He accepted a call to Schenectady in 1784, where he was largely instrumental in founding Union College. He was also a trustee of Queen's College, (Rutgers), from which he re- ceived the degree of D. D. in 1789. In 1792 he was made a Lec- tor in theology, and a full Professor in 1797, a position which he held until his death, which occurred in 1804. histories of the churches 1 65 The Rev. Solomon Froeligh. A year after ^Ir. Romeyn's withdrawal, these Churches ex- tended a call to the Rev. Solomon Froeligh to become their pastor, who, upon his acceptance was installed by the Rev. Ben- jamin Vander Linde. ]Mr. Froeligh was born at Red Hook, 'Slay 29, 1750. His predecessors, Drs. Dirck Romeyn and J. H. Goetschius, were his preceptors in theology. Licensed by the general meeting of ministers and elders in 1774, his first charge included several Churches on Long Island; but, being an ardent patriot, the coming of the British into that region compelled him to flee from his congregations. Arriving at Hackensack he ac- companied Dr. Livingston on horseback up the west side of the Hudson to the north; then, for four years, he supplied Fishkill and Poughkeepsie, until he was called to INIillstone and Neshanic in 1780. Six years later he came to this field and became the last minister of the older Churches of Hackensack and Schraalen- burgh. The earlier years of ^Ir. Froeligh's ministry in these congre- gations were full of promise. Hopeful attempts were made to reconcile the divided parties. Those in Hackensack united in building the present Church on the Green in 1791. This was the third building upon the same site. It was enlarged in 1847. In the general revival of 1800, ]\Ir. Froeligh received more than 200 persons into communion in a single year. At the death of 'Mr. Kuypers in 1797, he endeavored to get control of all the congre- gations, and to reunite them under himself as pastor. When he failed in this, and 3Ir. Kuypers congregations insisted upon call- ing the Rev. James A'. C. Romeyn as their pastor, Air. Froeligh went to the other extreme, and took a position of open hostility and disunion. We omit the painful scenes and strifes which characterized his subsequent ministry, and the account of the secession which in 1822 terminated it, and at the same time ended the life of these Churches in connection with our denomination; referring the reader to the Historical Discourse, in which these matters are suffi- ciently treated. * In 1792 Air. Froeligh had been appointed a Lector in theology and in 1797 a Professor of the same. His professorship made him * Dr. Benjamin C. Taylor'.s "Annals of the Classis and To"wnship of Beigen" contains much additional information relating to the Secession. I 66 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS directly responsible to the General Synod for his conduct. When in 1823 the Synod found him guilty of seceding from the Re- formed Dutch Church, of implicating the constituted authorities of the Church in the serious charges of disregard to Christian dis- cipline, prostituting the sacraments and sanctioning unsound doc- trines; of uniting with deposed ministers to set up another denom- ination in contempt of ecclesisistical authority, and of promoting schisms and dissensions in the Church, he was deposed from his professorship and from the ministry. It has been proved by Dr. Froeligh's published letters that he had contemplated secession for many years. His character and the influences which controlled him at the time of the Secession are thus described: "Mr. Froeligh was seventy-two years of age at his secession. He was not a man of lofty genius or of intellectual greatness. He followed the beaten track of doctrinal exposition, and experi- mental religion. He became with years severely dogmatic. His studies were rather confined to the needful and the useful. He was considered during many of his latter years by the Church at large as a troubler in Israel. He expressed his doctrines in the severest terms, preaching an unalterable reprobation. He was no doubt led into the ecclesiastical difficulties before he was aware, so far that he felt he could not recede, and by thus acting he soon became guilty of many inconsistencies. It must be re- membered that he at first strove for union; and when he had failed in all his efforts and plans, the reaction carried him far the other way. From his position he found himself at the head of a party, and circumstances led him on till the consummation which we have seen." * Mr. Froeligh, though deprived of all ministerial authority by the General Synod, the highest judicatory of the Church, still continued in disregard of all authority and order to assume the functions of a minister among the seceded people till his death in 1827. * Corwin's Manual, p. 276. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF ACOUACKANONK By The Rkv'i> Johis Gaston, D. IJ. The Rev'i) Ame Vennema. MAXV of the incidents connected Avith the origin and history of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Acquacka- nonk, which we would be glad to mention, have fallen into oblivion. W'e shall endeavor, however, to present as full a history of the Church as the means within our reach will enable, and the limited space allotted to us in this work will allow us to write. Acquackanonk was settled about the year 1685 b}' fifteen or twenty families from Communipaw. The names of the purchasers of the Acquackanonk Patent, embracing Passaic, Clifton, Acquack- anonk township, and all of Paterson south of the Falls, were as fol- lows : Hanse Diderick, Garrett Garretson, \\'alling Jacobs, Elias Hartman, Johannes and Cornelius Machielson, Adrian Post, Urian Tomason, Cornelius Roulofson, Svmon Jacobs, John Hen- drick Spears. Cornelius Lubbers and Abraham Bookey. All but one or two of these men settled here, though some of them soon remo\'ed elsewhere, and sold their shares of the propertv to other settlers. They were a God-fearing people. Some of them had been born and brought up in Holland, where their ancestors had suffered from the cruel oppressions of the Roman Inquisition. Religious liberty was inbred in these families, and religious cul- ture was their first aim. Thev clung tenaciousK" to the obser\'ance of religious worship, though in the New World preachers of the ^Vord were few. The first preacher in this vicinity of whom we have any knowledge, was Dominie Tesschenmaeker. He baptized the children, supervised the election of elders and deacons, and invested them with the functions of their respecti\e offices. On February- 8, 1690, when the French and Indians attacked Schenectady, this devoted man of God, who at that time was located and laboring in that \'icinity, fell a victim in the common massacre among his be- I 68 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS loved people. He and his wife and two colored servants, besides others of the inhabitants, were butchered in the dead of night. Such was the cruel fate of the first messenger of Christ, and mis- sionary to the people living in the then wilderness of Hackensack and Acquackanonk. In the face of such dangers was the seed of the Word scattered over the country immediately west of the Hudson river. We are not able to tell precisely when the Acquackanonk set- tlers founded a Church. It may have been under the irregu- lar ministry of Dominie Tesschenmaeker, about the time that he or- dained the first officers of the Church at Hackensack in 1686. Our oldest volume of Church records was begun in 1726. The list of elders and deacons prior to that date, was transcribed from the Hackensack records; the list of births and baptisms, apparently from family Bibles, though the records begin with that year. The oldest Church writings we have are in a small manuscript volume, six by eight inches in size. It is a very unique record, giving week by week the amount of collections taken up at each service during a period of thirty years, together with various items of expenditure. This record goes back to June 12, 1693, when the collection amounted to eighteen stivers, or about ten cents. This indicates that there were regular Church services held here as early as 1693; how much earlier we cannot say. Unfortunately the original deed of the Church property was lost as long ago as 1776, when a new confirmatory or quit-claim deed was executed by the heirs of the patentees. The Rev. Guilliam Bertiiolf. It is by no means to be understood that our pious forefathers enjoyed religious services only when an ordained minister occasion- ally visited them. In these days the Voorlezer was an important functionary, who on week days generally taught the youth and on Sabbaths conducted the worship of God. In this humble but very important capacity, Guilliam Bertholf appears to have acted very early in this vicinity. On September 2, 1693, a memorial from the Churches of Hackensack and Acquackanonk was presented to the Classis of Middleburg, Holland, requesting that he might become their minister. At a meeting of said Classis, held in Middleburg, September 16, 1693, Mr. Bertholf was examined. The examination was most heartily sustained, and the candidate was accordingly or- HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 1 69 dained to the Gospel ministry, and at once installed as pastor of the Churches by which he was called. It is said that the expenses of Dominie Bertholfs journey to Holland were defrayed by the two Churches which he was to ser\e, a touching evidence of the yearning of the people for the stated preaching of the Word and the administration of the ordinances, of their love for and confidence in their Voorlezer, and also of his devotion to the cause of Christ, which rendered him willing to ex- pose himself to the perils of a long, wearisome and dangerous \'oyage across the ocean to the fatherland, and the still more hazardous re- turn AOyage in mid-winter. He arrived in America in February, 1694, with his new and sacred honors upon him, "the first regular- ly installed pastor in the state of Xew Jersey. " We ha\'e the fol- lowing notice of his return in his own words, recorded in the Hack- ensack Kerkboek: "Anno, 1694, on the 24th of February, Guil- liam Bertholf arrived from Zeeland with a legal Classical license to ser\-e as preacher, shepherd and teacher over Acquackanonk, and was received by the Church with great affection.' By virtue of the authority now vested in him, he immediately caused a new consistory to be constituted, and it seemed to have been a sort of joint consistory, chosen by the two congregations, and yet, doubtless, distinct in all things, except as to the support of the minister. It was undoubtedly on the 24th of May that he ad- ministered the first communion at Acquackanonk, for in the little manuscript record before mentioned, we find that an unusually large collection was taken up on that day, 39 guilders, 5 stivers. \\'e regret to say that the salary of the minister was gener- ally in arrears. His salary was 25 pounds sterling. Si 20, for his services at Acquackanonk, and as much more for his services at the Church at Hackensack. But in more than one instance he turns over the amount in arrearage for his salary, to the Church erection and repairs account. From the various specimens of his handwriting extant, and from his manner of bookkeeping, we learn that Mr. Bertholf was a fine penman, painstaking and conscientious in his attention to the details of his pastoral work, and prudent in the management of his pecuniary affairs. His agreement with the joint consistory required that he should preach once at each place on Sunday, administer the sacrament twice a year to each con- gregation, catechise the children, and visit his people scattered over a territory stretching from Belleville on the south, to.Tappan on the 170 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS north, from the Hackensack and even the Hudson river on the east to Pompton on the west. Being for fifteen years or more the only settled Dutch minister in New Jersey, Dominie Bertholf had, in consequence, a general supervision of all the Churches in the col- ony, and may be said to hc^ve been a domestic missionary at large, and very much on his own charges. For more than thirty )rears he continued his ministrations over the two Churches, be- sides his supervision over the several incipient charges springing up under his guidance throughout this section. But at length, age, or more likel)^, disease, began to tell upon him. His hand- writing in 1 720 is as fine and neat as in 1700, but within the next two or three years the trembling and irregular lines betray a feeble and faltering hand. jNIeanwhile the congregations at Ac- quackanonk and Hackensack had become large, and the people at Belleville, Ponds, Pompton, Schraalenburgh and Tappan, demanded more service than one man could possibly ren- der them. The increasing infirmities of Dominie Bertholf made it the more necessary to take immediate steps for a division of this extensive charge, and upon consulting with him, an agree- ment was executed by which such division was consummated. As respects the first Church edifice erected in Acquackanonk, our information is very limited. Religious ordinances were prob- ably at first celebrated in some private dwelling. The erection of a suitable house ot worship was certainly had in view from the time Dominie Bertholf returned from Holland. The Hackensack Church was built in 1696, and that at Acquackanonk probably not until ten years later. That the people were collecting money for this worthy object for a long time, appears from the fact that as early as June 13, 1702, on figuring up their accounts, there was found in the poor chest for this purpose 2,538 guilders, not a large amount, but still a nice little sum out of which was des- tined to rise one day a substantial edifice. The Rrv. Henkicus Coens. After the death of Dominie Bertholf, and before the arrival of the new minister from Holland, the celebrated Dominie Gualterus DuBois, preacher in New York from 1696 to 1751, officiated here several times and exercised a fatherly care over the shepherdless flocks at Belleville, Acquackanonk and 't Noorden. But in the meanwhile these three congregations were circulating subscription HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES I7I papers in their respective districts to raise money for the support of a ''young preacher from Holland." It is to be remembered that after an amount sufficient for the support of a minister had been se- cured, the Church had to send a blank call, stating the terms and conditions offered, to Holland, where the mother Church could act upon it, and send out hither any preacher the Classis in Holland might select, at any time within two years. We do not know how long it took to get the subscription paper filled up with the promised ^80, New York money, but it was eighteen months or more, before we find Dominie Henricus Coens officiating as Predi- kant at Acquackanonk. The first entries bv him in our Church records are a list of 196 names of Church members, which he found in his first visitation in INIarch, 1726, living at Belleville, Acquacka- nonk, Sloterdam, Wesel, Totowa, Singack, Pompton and the Ponds. The oldest receipt we have of Dominie Coens is as fol- lows : ' 'The undersigned acknowledges to have received of the elders and deacons of Akquegnonk, Second River and t Noorden the sum of 40 pounds, 1 8 shillings and 6 pence, in payment of a half year's salary, up to April 5th, 1726." Now, unless the salary was paid in advance, which is extremely doubtful, Dominie Coens must have sailed from Holland about October, 1725. He probably arrived here and entered upon his ministerial duties about the first of January following. Soon after, the matter of securing him the free house promised in the call received attention from the congre- gation. For we find in the "Town Book of Lands of Newark," p. 157, now in the New Jersey Historical Society, that on the 20th of March, 1726, a bond or obligation was executed between Hessell Peterse and Thomas Jurjaen, trustees of the Church and congrega- tion of Acquackanonk, and Garret Wanterse and Abraham Vree- landt, trustees of the Church and congregation of Second River, in which it is stipulated that, inasmuch as both Churches are under one pastor, the society of Second River has paid the sum of ^50 unto the society of Acquackanonk for the building of a house to be occupied by the,' minister, and will be "at one equal third part charge from this time in keeping in repairs the said house." Should either Church see cause to separate from the other, this sum of ^50 shall be returned to the society of Second River, and the above obligation will cease to b.e of force. It is proper to mention in this connection, that the original grant of land from the Patentees to the Kerkeraad of Acquacka 172- HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OK PARAMUS nonk, consisted of a triangular lot containing about fourteen acres. Six acres of this plot were subsequently sold to John James Vreelandt. Two acres were set off as a Church site and burial place, and the remaining six acres were appropriated for the use and benefit of the minister. Now this first parsonage, for the erection of which the Second River people donated .^50, was located upon these six acres, standing as is believed in what now constitutes the garden of the homestead of Uriah Van Riper, de- ceased. A diagram of the house, upon which are recorded all the specifications the builder would require, is still preserved in the archives of the Church. The spirit of concord and co-operation so pleasantly manifested by the Second River branch of the con- gregation, in the joint effort to secure a house for the minister, was unhappily of very short continuance. A serious contention soon after arose between these districts, the precise nature of which we have not been able to determine. We have, however, in the absence of Dominie Coens' statement of the case, the action taicen by the Consistory, and, indeed, of the entire congregation of Acquackanonk. And we may be permitted to remark in passing, that it is evident from the charges preferred, as well as from the spirit in which this action was taken, that the forefathers did not have and exercise any more of the grace of Christian charity and for- bearance, than their descendants do at the present day. The docu- ment reads as follows : "Whereas, the perfidious and covenant-breaking neighbors of Second River have come to treat, so contrary to contract, faith- lessly and unscripturally, the Rev. Henricu^ Coens, whom we jointly called, not only by disharging and dismissing him from his .service, and forbidding his coming among them, and that with- out any cause, even by the shutting and nailing of the Church, so that his Reverence has been compelled to preach on the gallery- stairs, and also by sending the constable with a demand from the justice to give the Church books up to them, and other unheard of and unscriptural conduct, therefore, we of Acquackanonk and 't Noorden, pursuant to the unanimous vote of the entire congrega- tion, have, independently of the perfidious people of Second River, again accepted our own lawful and beloved minister, Dominie Hen- ricus Coens, on the same terms as formerly, and that on these condi- tions, to wit, that we of Acquackanonk and 't Noorden now shall hereafter be one congregation and one body, and that our above named minister shall always preach at Acquackanonk in the Church near his house, without even making mention of any other Church, HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 173 and that we then shall jointly, without Second River, pay the salary to his Reverence, according to the call which, agreeably to the unanimous resolution of the Great Consistory, was signed by the act- ing Consistory and which shall also be executed by all our success- ors. Done in Great Consistory at Acquackanonk, June 9, 1729.' From the records of the Church we are able to compile the following statistics of Dominie Coens' pastoral work. During the eight years of his ministry here, he received into the Acquacka- nonk Church 103 members on profession of their faith, and 31 by certificate. He baptized 222 children, and united 135 couples in the bonds of marriage. The following rules for the government of the affairs of the Church, were adopted under his administration: "First — A note book shall be kept in the Church, in which shall be recorded every Sunday what is collected for the poor. Second — Ever)'^ year's account shall be adjusted between the old and new treasurer, in the presence of the full Consistory. Third — No deacon shall be allowed to borrow an}' money out of the poor chest on interest, without the approval of the whole Consist- ory. Fourth — All the money that shall be exchanged out of the poor chest, must be paid out at the rate of eight shillings to the ounce. Fifth — Parents who shall henceforth bring their children here to be baptized, shall first stand pledged for the baptizing to the l/'oorlezer, to give the names of the parents, of the child, and the day of birth, and that each and all shall have to pay to the Voorlezer therefor six pence, or more if they please. Sixth — The males who have hitherto occupied the places of their fathers in the Church, and who still occupy the same, without they have paid something for the transfer or con- veyance thereof, and shall remain in possession, each and ever)' one shall pay to the Church as a return therefor, six shillings. And the females who have hitherto occupied the places of their mothers in the Church, and who still occupy the same, un- less they have paid something for the transfer or conveyance thereof, and shall remain in possession, each and every one shall pay to the Church, as a return therefor, four shillings. This rule is adopted for the following reasons : i. In order that the Consistory may protect those who have herein bound themselves, after mature deliberation, to acknowledge that the)^ should owe a reasonable, just, and proper allegiance to the Church. 2. That the faithful and well-meaning, \vho have always done so, as is here now determined and concluded for the future, shall not have reason to be discontented. 3. In order that there may be not 174 • HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS only a g-ood precept, but also a good example and encourage- ment for imitation. This done and voted at this time, June 21, 1731, Me Pres., H. Coens.'' It will thus be observed that as early as 1731, an assessment was laid, not upon the pews, for there were none at that time, but upon the benches that afforded the only comfort and con- venience of the worshipers. The males were to pay the annual tax of six shillings before they could occupy the sittings vacated either by the deatli or removal of their fathers, and the females were to pay four shillings for the possession of the sittings once occupied by their mothers. Our Church records contain the following notice of the death of Dominie Coens, and the place of his burial: "The Master, Hen- ricus Coens, late ordained preacher and minister in the Aghquech- nonk Church, fell asleep in the Lord the fourteenth day of Febru- ary, in the year 1735, and was buried here in our Church." It was a custom in those days, when a pastor died, to inter his re- mains under or in front of the pulpit in which he had preached. And hence there is reason to believe that the dust of this faithful, zealous and successful minister of the Lord Jesus, has reposed for one hundred and sixty-five years under the consecrated house where so many generations have worshiped God. The Rev. Johan.nes Van Driesskn. The Church remained vacant for about seven months. On the tenth of September, 1735, a call was duly executed and placed in the hands of the Rev. Johannes Van Driessen. He was the son of Dom- inie Petrus Van Driessen, preacher at Albany, 1712-1738, mission- ary to the Mohawk Indians in 1722, and founder of the Church at Kinderhook. Johannes was born in Holland in 1697, and came to this country under the patronage of the Patroon Van Rensselaer. He was in many respects a remarkable man, whose individuality was perhaps as strongly marked as any man of his day, and who in some important particulars was a representative man, embodying in him- self that yearning for independence that was already making itself felt in ecclesiastical as well as in political circles in this country. It is necessary in this connection to refer briefly to the Coetus and Conferentie difficulty that broke out at about this time, and which continued for from fifteen to twenty years to disturb and HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 1 75 agitate the whole Church. The Ccetus part)- was the progressive party of the day. They determined to be independent of the Church in Holland, declaring it to be absolutely necessary that the Church in this country should have the power to ordain her own ministers and transact her own business. The older, and less Amer- ican party, could not bear the thought of cutting loose from the mother Church, and called it schism. They formed themselves into a body and were called the Conferentie. It was just as these conflicting parties were entering upon the unchristian strife that for so long a time threatened the very exist- ence of the Church in this country, that Johannes \'an Driesssen, April 13, 1727, was licensed and ordained by a congregational coun- cil ofelev^ ministers, convened at Yale College, New Haven, Conn., and was authorized to preach in the Manor of Livingston and Rens- selaer. He was the first Dutch preacher in America who had not been regularly licensed and ordained by Classis in Holland. This irregularity was not countenanced by the great body of the American Church, and hence, during his whole ministry. Dominie Van Dries- sen was looked upon by most of his associates with a jealous eye. At the time that he entered upon his ministrv in this Church, he was in serious trouble with several of the prominent ministers of the Church. And hence, in his voluminous entries in the first volume of our Church records, he gives us various testimonials in vindication of his personal and ministerial character, from prominent men in this countrv and in Holland, and from the Churches of Kinderhook and New Paltz, which he had served. It appears from the call that only the Consistory of Acquacka- nonk engaged him to come here and preach. In making entry, how- ever, in our Church records of his preaching the sermon of dedica- tion and ordaining the Consistor}- in the new church edifice con- secrated in the Pompton district, on April 6, 1736, for the accommo- dation of Ponds, Pompton, Pompton Plains and the adjacent country, he styles himself pastor at Acquackanonk, and pastor 'extraordinarj-' at Pompton. He remained in charge until 1748; and during his ministry he received into the Church of Acquackanonk 94 members, 10 by certificate, his wife, Margareth Oothond, being one of them. His marriage license bears date October 22, 1736. Judged by the standard of additions to the Church, his ministry would not seem to have been so successful as that of his two predecessors, but it must be remembered that his field was by no means as extensive as theirs. He 176 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS records in our Church book 52 baptisms and 156 marriages. This phenomenal discrepancy is due to the fact that in our records he only records the baptisms of children of members of this Church, and not those of Pompton, while the marriages are of persons from all parts of his charge. Dominie Van Driessen left here in the spring of 1748. The pre- cise reason for giving up his call we cannot state, but it was proba- bly owing to the growing hostility to him by many of the regularly ordained ministers of the Church. Where or when he died, we can- not say. His wife died, and was buried here in our burial place, the Church bearing the expenses of the funeral, as we find by the following entries in the Deacons' Book, and the receipts which have been preserved: "Anno Dom., June first, 1751. Paid toJohnSty- mets, for the burial of Dominie Van Driessen's wife, fifteen shillings. Paid to Casparus Zabriskie for sugar and rum and butter for the funeral obsequies of Dominie Van Driessen's wife, £^2. 15s. 4d. Paid to Wessel Wesselse for the baking, eight shillings. Paid to Johannes Van Winkle for a barrel of beer, for the obsequies of Dom- inie Van Driessen's wife, ten shillings. ' ' Such items as these, charged in a bill of expenses for the burial of the pastor's wife, have a strange sound to us, and yet there are many now living who can recall the custom, when journeys were difficult and friends came from a dis- tance to attend funerals, to set out before the guests a bountiful re- past; though for many years past, we are glad to know, rum and sugar, butter and beer have not figured so conspicuously as in the obsequies of Dominie Van Driessen's wife. After the retirement of Dominie Van Driessen, the pulpit re- mained vacant for more than two years. Having to depend more than usual on the Voorlezer, in the absence of a stated minister, the Church was led at this time to compensate him for his services; for there is no mention of his receiving a salary until March 27, 1749, when he was paid five shillings, eight pence, and again on April 2, of the same year, eight shillings, four pence. The Rev. David Marinus. The people were by no means indifferent or inactive as to the use of all proper means to secure for themselves a minister. The attention of the Church became fixed upon David Marinus, a young theological student, living in Pennsylvania. He was examined and licensed to preach the Gospel by the Ccetus of New York, on Sep- HISTORIES or THE CHURCHES 177 tember 21, 1752. The call to Dominie Marinus by the Churches of Acquackanonk and Pompton, provides for his maintenance as fol- lows: "We promise your Reverence for your ser\ices among us, a year- 1) salary of eight) pounds, 'Jersey monie. ' Here is also promised a good dwelling, newlv built in the time of Dominie Coens, stand- ing near the Church, a little bam for horses and cattle, a well, a gar- den, and six acres of land. We will keep all this in repair. We will take firewood to the Dominie's house. Pompton will find you free provender for vour horse every year, and some of the Acquackanonk Church will als(j bring you something for your horse, but will not be obliged to do so as are the Pomptoneers. All this you will enjoy as long as your Reverence continues to be our Pastor." This call was accepted as soon as young Alarinus received his license at the hands of the Coetus. He had doubtless preached here as a theological student, from the time the call was made out until he was empowered formally to accept it, as often as his circumstances would permit. His ordination took place on the eighth of October, 1752, Dominies Curtenius and Goetschius conducting the services. The following rules for the government of the Church were adopted : "I. Four times in a year the Consistory shall meet. The min- ister may call a meeting, when necessary, at am' time. He is to pre- side at all meetings, and no action taken is valid, when he does not preside. Only when he is sick, or on account of other lawful rea- sons, the Consistor)- may be permitted to act without him. "2. All accounts of moneys shall be given before the whole Church on Ascension Day. "3. Four persons are to be chosen in place of the FIders, to help collect the salary with the Deacons. "4. The money for the poor shall not be put out on interest without good security, and the consent of the Consistory. "5. .Six shilhngs shall be charged for male seats, and four shillings for female seats, when thev go over to son or daughter. "6. To keep a sitting, inherited or otherwise, there must be paid at least ten shillings a year salary: b}^ an unmarried man 6 shillings, an unmarried woman 4 shillings. Whoever neglects to do so, his seat belongs to the Church. The meaning of this article is not to say, that those who have alread}' promised more salarv, will pay only ten shillings, but it is to show that this is the lowest amount for a seat. The payment must be made within a ^ear and six weeks, or the right is lost. Discretion shall be had with regard to old persons who are poor. '■7. Xo one can have more than one place. Whoever buys a 178 HISTORV OF THE CLASSIS OP PARAMOS seat must pay twelve shillings if a male, and eight shillings if a female. This must be paid within six weeks, or the right is lost. "8. Those that have seats already, and have not paid for them, must do so within six weeks or the right is lost. "9. Those who remove from the Church, or join other Churches, lose their right to seats. "10. For the use of the cloth for the dead, three shillings shall after this be paid. "II. There shall be preaching once on the Sabbath, and catechising immediately after, as in Dominie Coens' days. This may at any time be altered by the Great Consistory." Under these rules the Church appears to have had peace and prosperity. Nothing worthy of special mention occurs, so far as the records would indicate, until under date of Nov. 12, 1755, an appli- cation for the organization of a Church at Totowa was received. A few words respecting a business transaction of Dominie Marinus will throw considerable light upon this application. The Dominie seems to have been a man of some means, and instead of occupying the parsonage near the Church, he bought July 20, 1754, a tract of land containing 100 acres, situate near the Falls at Paterson, for which he paid 200 pounds. He occupied this property for six years, and in 1 760, exchanged his farm for that owned by Garret Van Houten, of Sloterdam, and to this place he removed, and lived there for several years. It was to the fact that Dominie Marinus resided at Totowa that the organization of the Church there was doubtless due, which was effected in about a year after he took possession of his farm at Paterson. The location of the Church was also in all proba- bility his work, as it was built almost within a stone's throw of his dwelling. After different plans had been considered, the following basis of action was finally adopted; "I. The Church of Totowa shall have the fourth part of the service and pay the fourth part of the salary. "2. The privilege is hereby given to Dominie Marinus to ordain a Consistory, and immediately to hold there the fourth part of the service. "3. The Congregation empowers the Consistory to make out a new call upon Dominie Marinus, in combination with the Consist- ories of Totowa and Pompton. " To this call is appended the signatures of the three Consistories, and it seems to have been the last of those important changes that HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES IJC) marked the ministry of Dominie Marinus, while he continued in these parts. Inde&d, the principal success attending his ministiy, seems to have been accomplished in the first five or six lears after his ordination. From 1753 to 1755, nineteen persons were received in- to the Acquackanonk Church on prcifessiim of faith. Then the record of communicants ceases, leaving us the fearful gap of eighteen years. His marriage record begins with the date of his settlement, and extends to the year 1767. After this, for what reason we can- not say, he ceases to keep any mamage record. During the five years in which the record was kept, he solemnized 11 1 marriages. 'I'he baptismal record covers the whole of his ministry and comprises the names of 643 children. It was during the administration of Dominie ]\Iarinus that the parsonage property on Lexington avenue, recently sold, was purchased. The deed bears date May 8, 1758. The consideration mentioned is ^370, and conveyance is made <;if forty-four acres of land, more or less. This is onh" another of many evidences that the Church continued steadily to advance in all that pertained to her material prosperity. Dominie Marinus was a young man of uncommon ability. Mi^ examination for license and ordination was a splendid success. In 1753 he published a letter of twenty-eight pages, in the Independent Reflector, in \vhich he re\iewed the religious tendencies of certain articles that had appeared in that paper, which was then edited In the young ^Villiam Livingston, who was afterwards Xew Jersey's war governor during the Revolution. In 1755 he publisheil another small pamphlet entitled, "A Remark on the Disputes and Conten- tions in this Province." This was written in opposition to King's College, Xew York, and advocates a separate college for the youth of the Dutch Church. Both of these pamphlets are to be found in the library of the New Jersey Historical Society, and both displa}' no ordinary ability- on the part of the writer. There is reason to fear, however, that like so many other brilliant \'oung men, he lacked that stability of character so necessary to continued success. W-rv un- fortunately for Dominie ^larinus, he lived in troublous times, when the Conflict between the Ccetus and Conferentie parties waged fiercely. ]Many of those who participated in the struggle were so seriously wounded that they never recovered from the shock. Dom- inie David Marinus was one of these. In the midst of this conten- tion, his growth in grace \yas seriously hindered, until at length his Christian character was sadl}' compromised. He left the Acquacka- l8o HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS nonk, Totowa and Pompton Churches in 1773, and though the im- mediate cause of his removal is not definitely known, yet quite enough is foreshadowed in the minutes of General Synod, to fur- nish a sufficient reason. These minutes, under date of October, 1779, present a long report to the effect that Dominie Marinus had again on various occasions indulged in his former sin of drunken- ness, and other gross improprieties inconsistent with his holy office. On the ground of these charges he was suspended, and a year later, still persisting in his evil courses, he was formally deposed from the ministr)'. Truly, a sad and dark close for a life begun so brilliantly thirty years before. It is said that in these latter days the fallen man, deeply and no doubt painfully conscious of his sins, would sometimes exclaim at the close of an impassioned outburst of his old eloquence, "Do as I tell you, and not as I do." When or where he died we do not know. The Rkv. Henkicus Schoonmaker. In the year 1774, Dominie Henricus Schoonmaker received a call from this Church. This call he was by no means predisposed to accept, nor would he ever have accepted it, but for the fact that the Dutch language had so far gone into disuse in both of the con- gregations with which he was connected, that preaching in English was imperatively called for; and being unwilling to submit to the awkwardness of attempting to minister in a language in which he was little at home, he felt constrained, though greatl}' to the regret of his congregation, to accept the call from the Church of Acquack- anonk. It took effect May first, 1 774. After the retirement of Dominie Marinus, the Churches of Totowa and Pompton withdrew from this Church, leaving the Consistory to secure for themselves the undivided services of Dominie Henricus Schoonmaker. Under date of October 18, 1774, the Consistory and the Great Consistory met, and agreed to allow their "beloved pastor four free Sundays in the year for his own use, in order to spend them somewhere else. " This is the first instance found upon the records of this Church, of a regular provision for the vacation of the pastor. It is worthy of remark in this connection that Dominie Schoonmaker was the pastor of this congregation during the whole of the great Ameri- can Revolution, and that, like most of the ministers of his day, he espoused the cause of his country. This great convulsion in the political world shook the yery foundations of society, gave a loose HISTORIKS OF THE CHURCHES [8[ rein to every immoral influence, and brought a flood of wickedness, impiety and intemperance into the land. It is not to be forgotten that a revolution in the Church was in progress at the same time, the effect of all which must have been, to a \ery great extent, detrimen- tal to the peace and prosperity of the Church, as well as to the growth of practical piety in the heart of the individual Christian. In such a state of things it redounds not a little to the praise of Dominie Schoonmaker, that the records of the Church set forth his steadfast and onward course, increasing all the while in the affec- tions of the people. This Church continued in the enjoyment of the blessing of peace, and a good degree of prosperity attended the ad- ministration of the means of grace. The Rev. Dr. Mever, pastor of the Churches of Totowa, Pomp- ton Plains and Fairfield, having died October 27, 1791, the Totowa Church, the year following, proposed to Acquackanonk to share the benefits and expenses of Dominie Schoonmaker's preaching. The matter being favorably regarded by the Acquackanonk Church and its pastor, a meeting of the Consistiwies of the two Churches was held at the house of Johannes Post, December 3, 1792, when it was finally agreed that Totowa should have one-third of the services of the minister; that his salary should be;^i2q, New York current money; that Acquackanonk should pay ^"82, and Totowa ;^43; each paying semi-annuallv. It was also determined that the minister should continue to occupiy the same house, and that Ac- quackanonk should pay two-thirds, and Totowa one-third of the ex- pense of keeping the premises in repair. This arrangement con- tinued in full force up to the time that Dominie Schoonmaker was compelled to relinquish the joint charge of these Churches, in con- sequence of failing health and increasing infirmity. It was also at about this time in the history of the Church, that trustees were elected and a legal incorporation was secured, under the general laws of the state, passed in 1786. The original document is in our possession in good preservation. As the paper is believed to be an important one, especially in view of the fact that its record in the clerk's office of the county of Essex was consumed b)'- fire many years ago, it is here transcribed, and is as follows; "To all Avhom it may concern: We, Henry Garretsie, Hessel Peterse, Paul Paulise, Philip Van Bussum, Richard Van Ripen, Henry Kip and Jacob Van Winkle, being trustees, duly elected and chosen bi' the congregation of the Protestant Reformed Dutch 1 82 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Church at Acquackanonk, in the county of Essex, agreeably to the act of the legishiture, in such case made and provided, do certify, that we have taken upon ourselves the corporate name of the Trus- tees of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church at Acquackanonk, and request the same may be recorded accordingly. In witness whereof we have hereunto put our hands and seals, this twent}-third day of INIarch, in the }'ear of our Lord, one thou- sand seven hundred and ninety-five." Then follow the signatures of the trustees, and an account of their legal induction into office by taking the following oath : "We, the aforesaid Trustees of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church at Acquackanonk, do solemnly swear that we will bear true faith and allegiance to the government established in this state, under the authority of the people, and we do further swear that we will execute the trust reposed in us during our continuance in ofliee, with fidelity, and to the best of our understandings; so help us God. Sworn before me this twenty-third day of March, 1795. Cornelius Vreeland, J of P. " Under date of April 28, 1800, a petition was presented from Preakness, asking for a share of Dominie Schoonmaker's services. The subject was laid over until May 19th, when the Consistories of Acquackanonk and Totowa resolved that the Preakness people should remain under the supervision of the Totowa Consistory, and should raise as much money as possible, and that they should have the dominie's "Free Sundays, and so many of the other Sunclays as the money raised would come to, but that no preaching service should be done there whenever the God's ser- \ice of our preacher was done in the Church of Totowa." Dominie Schoonmaker was very careful in keeping all the records of the Church, and ihe baptismal and marriage records are perfect during his long administration. It is quite touching towards the close of his ministry, to notice the trembling of that venerable hand in recording his ministerial acts. During the forty-three years of his ministry as the pastor of this Church, from May I, 1774, to October 12, 1816, he solemnized 896 inar- riages. His baptisms number 2,300. He received into the membership of the .\cquackani)nk and Totowa Churches, 236 persons on confession of faith, and 42 by certificate from other Churches. When he ascended the pulpit he always knelt, hold- ing his hat before his eyes, and prayed silently before beginning HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 1 83 the services. One of his hands was deformed, and he always wore upon it a black mitten, wrapped in a red handker- chief. He was unremitting in his pastoral work, and as the territory he had to traverse was \'ery extensive, and the number of the sicl< to visit and of burials was proportionably large, it is a matter of great surprise, that he was enabled to endure so long and accomplish so much. His advanced age, however, at last unfitted him for the active duties of the ministry, and he finally retired from the pastorate of the Church, in accordance witli the following minute, which reflects equal credit upon the Consistory and the minister: "Conditions agreed upon between the Rev. Henry Schoon- maker and the Consistory of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church at Acquackanonk, the thirteenth of February, 1816. The Rev. Henry Schoonmaker, on his part, agrees to resign, in consequence of age and infirmity, his charge as pastor of the congregation, on the following conditions, viz.: i. That he be permitted to reside in the parsonage house, where he now lives, until the first day of jMay ensuing, and be provided till that time with necessary firewood. 2. That the Consistory and their suc- cessors in office pay him after the first of i\lay ensuing, and dur- ing his natural life, yearly, the sum of two hundred and five dol- lars in half yearly payments. 3. That he have the exclusive privilege of performing the rite of marriage to persons in the congregation, till the first of ^lay ensuing. The Consistory, on their part, affectionately remembering the faithful services of their aged and infirm minister, and sympathiz- ing with him in his afflictions, agree faithfully to comply with the above conditions, and bind themselves and their successors in office to perform the same." This agreement is duly signed by the minister and his Con- sistory, and is attested by the Rev, Jacob Schoonmaker, V. D. M., at Jamaica and Newtown, L. I. In the summer of 1816, shortly after the resignation of his charge, he removed to Jamaica to reside with his son, the Rev. Jacob Schoonmaker, pastor of the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church in that place. Here, in great peace, he passed the re- mainder of his days; and here too, in the blessed hope of a glor- ious immortal life, he terminated his earthly career in the eighty- first year of his age, on the nineteenth of January, 1820. His body was brought for burial to the beloved people of his charge at this place, and deposited in the vault near the Church in which T»4 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS he had so long ministered. Here ends the history ot the Dutch era. The Rev. Peter D. Fkoei.igh. Under date of October 9, 181 6, a call was duly executed upon the Rev. Peter Ditmarse Froeligh. He w^as the eldest son of Dr. Solomon Froeligh, was graduated from Columbia College ill the year 1799, studied theology under the direction of his father, who was at that time pastor of the Reformed Dutch Churches of Hackensack and Schraalenburgh, and Professor of Theology, having received his appointment to this office from the General Synod in 1792. Peter D. Froeligh was licensed by the Classis of Paramus on the seventh of October, 1801. He was pastor of the Churches of Pittstown and Sincock, in the Classis of Rensselaer, from 1803 until 1807, of the Churches of New Paltz and New Hurley from 1807 until 1816, when he accepted the call to this Church. The service required from him here was that he should preach twice every Lord's Day for six months in the year, in the Dutch or English language as the Consistory might direct, and during the remaining six months one sermon only on each Lord's Day would suffice. He was promised the sum of $650, together with the interest of I750, a legacy left by Hessel Peterse, as also the use of the parsonage and forty-four acres of land, and the privilege of cutting all the tire wood he needed upon the parsonage property, and was to have four Sabbaths in each year at his own disposal. The Church records declare that "The pastor-elect was solemnly, and according to Church order, installed as pastor of this congregation by his father, the Rev. Dr. Solomon Froeligh, who preached the sermon from i Thess. 5: 12, 13. The inaugural discourse of Dominie Froeligh was from Acts 26: 22. These services were rendered March 9th, 1817. It is very evident from the records of the Church that soon after the settlement of Dominie Froeligh, very important differ- ences' were discovered to exist between the pastor and his Con- sistory, touching matters of doctrine and Church order. One of the principal questions in dispute was in relation to the baptism of infants. The minister contended that the parents must be com- municants in order to have the right to present their offspring for baptism. The Consistor)'^, the Great Consistory, and a majority of the male members of the Church, insisted that parents of good moral character and repute, who had themselves been baptized, HISTOKIES OF THE CHURCHES I 05 and thus brought within the hne of the covenant, were entitled to the privilege of consecrating their children to God in baptism. Tlie Consistory demanded that the ordinances of God's house should be administered upon the same basis as that recognized by Dominie Schoonmaker and the former pastors of the Church. From this decision the pastor appealed to the Classis. The Classis sustained the Church and set aside the appeal. This, however, did not settle the difficulty. Agitation continued, and the peace of the Church was ver)' seriously disturbed. There is no doubt, that the troubles through which this Church was passing grew out of, and were indeed the natural product of a secession from the General Synod, which was consummated under the leadership of Dr. Solomon Froeligh, on the twenty-second of October, 1822. * The result of the disagreement between pastor and people was that Dominie Froeligh tendered his resignation to the Cunsist- orjr on April 25, 1825, and on the following day Classis granted the application of the Church for a dissolution of the pastoral connection, leaving untouched, however, Mr. Froeligh's relations and responsibilities to the Classis. ]Mr. Froeligh continued to reside at Acquackanonk, and immediateh' upon his leaving the pastorate of this Church, he began to put forth every efifort to gather and organize another Church within the bounds of this congregation. We can readily perceive that this line of action on his part, could not fail to continue and intensify the discord and agi- tation in the old Church. Under date of September 4, 1825, the Consistory- presented a memorial to Classis, in which they brought four distinct and specific charges against the Rev. P. D. Froeligh. He was cited to appear before Classis at their adjourned session, to be held at Acquackanonk the fifth of October next, to answer to the charges and specifications in the memorial. But ^Ir. Froe- ligh did not appear in person or by representative at the time spec- ified. The Classis then proceeded to try the accused ex parte, on the charge of pubUc schism and its specifications. A number of witnesses were called, who in the testimony recorded, fully sub- stantiated the charge. "After prayerful consideration and mature deliberation, the Classis unanimously decided that the charge of public schism brought by the Consistory of Acquackanonk against the Rev. P. D. Froeligh, a member of this Classis, is *See Historical Discourse, p. 51, [86 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS abundantly supported by the testimony adduced." Whereupon he was suspended by Classis from his mmisterial office. Thus ends the relation of Mr. Froeligh to this Church not only, but also to the Classis and the denomination. Mr. Froeligh is said to have been "an attractive preacher, his sermons always being interesting, and delivered with great force and distinctness. He was a man of medium height, pleas- ant countenance, and great suavity of manners. While the pas- tor of the True Reformed Dutch Church of Acquackanonk, he was suspected in a certain matter about a will, and terminated his own life on the nineteenth of February, 1828." During the nine years that he was pastor of our Church he received into membership 105 upon confession of faith, and 16 upon certificate. He baptized 345 children and solemnized 130 marriages. During his administration Jacob Bogert served the Church in the capacity of clerk, receiving for his services $30 per year. The Rev. Benjamin C. Taylor, S. T. D. The pastoral relation between Rev. Mr. Froeligh and this Church being dissolved, the Consistorjr, for reasons that we can readily understand and fully appre- ciate, were exceedingly anxious that their pulpit should be at once and regularly supplied. The Rev. Ben- jamin C. Taylor, who was provi- dentially present at the meeting of Classis when the above action was taken, was prevailed upon to re- main over and preach for them the following Sabbath. This service being very acceptable to the Church, it was determined to secure him, if possible, as Mr. Froeligh's succes- sor. Overtures were accordingly The Rev. Bent. C. Taylor, S. T. D. j j. u • t, ■ u r 11 made to hini, which were favorably received. This call bears date Aug. 29, 1825, and was approved by Classis, September 6, 1825. The Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge was appointed a committee to install him as the pastor of the Church, the last Sabbath in September, 1825, Mr. Taylor was guar- anteed as compensation for his services, $425, in half yearly HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES lo/ pa}'ments, the use of the parsonage and land, and the other per- quisites usually given in this congregation. Soon after, $25 was added to his yearly salar}-, in lieu of the interest on the Hessel Peterse legacy, which was to be paid to the pastor of the Church, and of which no mention had been made in his call. On INIarch 10, 1828, the Great Consistory and congregation met in the church for the purpose of taking into consideration the subject of building a new place of worship, or repairing the old one. This matter had been previously discussed and determined in a joint meeting of the Consistory and the Board of Trustees, and the meeting of the congregation was called to approve or set aside the action then taken. It was resolved at the meeting that: "I. We are in favor of building a new place of worship. "2. We are in favor of building of brick. "3. We are in favor of building the present year. "4. We are in favor of building the new Church on the lot of U'illiam Spears. "5. Unanimously, that the trustees be authorized to furnish materials for the building of said church, and to sell the pews of the same for defraying the expense of building. "6. Unanimously, to sink the old pews. "7. That the trustees constitute the Building Committee. "8. That the trustees procure a plan or plans of a Church building, and submit the saine to the congregation. "9. That the action now taken be recorded in the Book of the trustees and also in the Book of Consistory." Another severe disappointment and trial was in store for the Church, just at this important juncture of her affairs. Before any- thing had been done to carry into effect the action so harmon- iously taken for building the new place of worship, the Rev. 'Sir. Taylor received a call from the R.eformed Dutch Church of Bergen. Strenuous efforts were made by this people to retain him. The Consistory declared by resolution, "their full satisfaction with the past services of their pastor, and returned him their thanks for his unremitting industry and perse^-erance in his calling." The con- gregation cordially responded to the wish of the Consistory, and offered to add one hundred dollars to his salarv. But all was without avail. The Consistory convened June 19, 1828. A joint request for the dissolution of the pastoral relation was agreed upon. The Classis met June 27, 1828, and dissolved the rela- 100 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS tion. The Rev. Mr. Taylor was pastor of this Church for three years, and received into the Church upon confession of their faith in Christ, 37; upon certificate, 3. He baptized while here 82 cliildren, and solemnized 50 marriages. As soon as the Church had been declared vacant by the Classis, the Consistory began to cast about for a suitable min- ister. Several candidates were heard. At length, by a vote of the congregation, the choice fell upon the Rev. Stephen L. Mee- ker, who was at that time pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Buskirk, L. I. A call was duly made out November 9, 1828, approved by Classis, and placed in the hands of Mr. Meeker. But after giving the matter grave consideration, he was constrained to decline it. Others were now invited to come and preach, and among them the Rev. Christian Zabriskie Paulison, to whom the congregation determined to extend a call. Mr. Paulison was born near Hackensack in the year 1805. He was graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1822, and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, in 1826; was licensed by the Classis of New Brunswick, and accepted a call from Marbletown, N. Y. , the same year. The call to Mr. Paulison from the Church of Ac- quackanonk bears date March 18, 1829, stipulates that he would be required to preach once on each Sabbath from the middle of October to the middle of April, and twice during the remainder of the year; that he should annually visit his congregation, "and since we are peculiarly situated,' the call goes on to say, "as to the subjects of Infant Baptism, it is expected upon your acceptance of this call, that you shall not, at present, limit Infant Baptism to infants of members in full communion, according to our mutual understanding of said subject." The compensation mentioned is $505, and in addition, $45, being the interest on Hessel Peterse's legacy. The call having been accepted, the installatian services were performed on the third Sabbath in June. The Rev. Jacob T. Field delivered a discourse from 2 Cor. 6:1, addressing the pastor-elect and the congregation, after which the Rev. Mr. Pau- lison preached his inaugural sermon from i Cor. 2:2. Immediately upon his settlement, the Board of Trustees re- solved, "to call another meeting of the congregation to take into consideration the utility and expediency of building a new church for worship, and on fixing and agreeing upon a site where to place it." At this meeting the previous action was reaffirmed in all HIS'IOKIES OK THE CIirKCHES 189 points, except as to location. It was resolved to biiilil upon the old site. A plan was submitted and adopteil, and the trustees were directed to proceed at once with the work. Tlie church AA'as finished the first dav of December, 1829, and cost $7,148. 'I"he pews were offered at [)ublic sale on ^I(Uida\-, the sexenth dav THE REFORMED CHl'RCH (JE .\CQl'.\CK.\NOXK. Ib2l of December, 1829. Strange to sa\-. there is not a word in the records of Consist(.irY as to the date \\dTen the church was dedi- cated, or the ser\"ices rendered upon that important occasion. Perhaps we have the explanation of this unusual omission in the fact that there was alread"\' manifested a feeling of dissatisfaction and restlessness on the part of the minister. The records of the Church as kejit by the Kev. ^Ir. Paulison at the time of which we 190 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS are writing, are remarkable for their brevity. Very little seems to have been done, at least so far as the minutes would indicate, be- yond the action taken upon cases of discipline, which were of melancholy frequency, growing out of the disturbed condition of the Church. The following letter, addressed by Mr. Paulison to his Consistory, sets forth so clearly the state of things in the Church in the winter of 1830, as to render further comment un- necessary: "I will inform you, in this open manner, that it is my in- tention to secede from the Dutch Church. My reasons for this step I expect to make known at some future day. Whatever step you take, therefore, on the subject of Infant Baptism you may take, leaving my stay among you out of the question. I would inform you that I am willing to preach for you on the next Sabbath if you wish it. I will receive it as a favor, if you will let me know this evening, whether you wish my services on the Sabbath or not. Yours respectfully, C. Z. Paulison." Upon the receipt of this letter the Consistory requested the Classis to convene, either to effect a reconciliation with the Rev. Mr. Paulison, or to dissolve the pastoral connection between them. The Classis met in the Church, December 7, 1830, and after the object of the meeting had been stated by the president, a commit- tee was appointed, consisting of the Rev. W. Eltinge, the Rev. Jacob T. Field, and the elder John Van Blarcom, to have an interview^ with the Rev. Mr. Paulison and the Consistory, relative to the difficulties on his mind respecting his continuance in the connec- tion of our Church, and to effect a compromise with him and the Consistory. Upon which, Mr. Paulison being present, stated that he declined meeting with said committee. It was then resolved that the pastor and Consistory come together, and take the requi- site step for a dissolution of the connection. Mr. Paulison de- clined meeting with the Consistory for that purpose. It appear- ing before Classis that the Consistory of the Acquackanonk Church requested the pastoral relation to be dissolved, and Mv. Paulison saying he was not opposed to it, the request of the Church was granted. Being asked whether, agreeably to the de- termination which he had expressed of seceding from the Church, he wished to ask a dismission from the Classis, iVIr. Paulison re- plied in substance that he had withdrawn, and that he would not HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES I9I recognize the authority of Classis by asking a dismission. He be- gan a course of remark, in justification of his action, in which he re- flected so severely upon the Classis, that he was called to order by the president. When this took place, Mr. Paulison stepped into the middle aisle, and extending his hands, he bade farewell to the beau- tiful sanctuary which he had been instrumental in erecting, and walked out of the church. Whereupon it was "Resohed, that the Rev. Christian Z. Paulison, be and is hereby suspended, un- til the next ordinary meeting of Classis, from his ministerial office, on the ground of schism." At the next meeting of the Classis, the following action was taken: "Whereas, the liev. ^Ir. Paulison was suspended from the ministry at an extra session of Classis until its ordinary meeting in April, and whereas he has disre- garded a regular citation and other means used for his recovery to the Church, therefore. Resolved, that he be and hereby is sus- pended indefinitely." Thus, after a pastoral connection with this Church of seventeen months' duration, ^Ir. Paulison seceded from our Church in order to become a minister of the True Reformed Dutch Church, from which he was suspended before the first year of his connection with it had terminated. Mr. Paulison was a minister of acknowledged ability, an interesting, instructive and popular preacher. But he lived in troublous times and made some very sad mistakes. While the pastor of this Church, he received 2 upon confession of faith, baptized 38 children, and solemnized 26 marriages. The Rev. \\''illiam R. Bogardus. It would not have been strange if the abrupt termination of the Rev. 'Sir. Paulison's ministry, after only seventeen months' continuance, had well nigh discouraged the Consistory. But such does not appear to have been the case. Very soon after the Church became vacant an invitation was extended to the Rev. William R. Bogardus, of New Paltz and New Hurley, to occupy this pulpit with a view to his ultimately becoming the pastor. This invitation was accepted, but his visit to Acquackanonk was necessarily deferred until the first Sabbath in April, in consequence of the difficulties attending travel in those days. That the trial service rendered by the Rev. Mr. Bogardus upon that occasion was entirely satisfactory, is made perfectly manifest by the fact that at a meeting of the Consistory, the Board of Trustees and the 192 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS cong-regatioii, on April 25, 1831, a unanimous call was voted to be given to him to become the pastor of the Church. The call was duly executed, bearing date iNIa)- 18, 1831. The compensation promised was $600, including- the interest on the Hessel Peterse legac}', the use of the parsonage and forty-four acres of land, thirty loads of fire wood and three Sabbaths vacation. The Consistory also agreed to pay the expenses of removing the jiastor's famil)- to this place. The call was approved by the Classis May 24, 1831. The Rev. Mr. Bogardus was installed pastor of the Church on Wednesday, June 22, 1831; the Rev. J. Wynkoop preached the ser- mon, the Rev. J. T. Field addressed the pastor, and the Rev. W. Eltinge addressed the congregation. William R. Bogardus was born February 24, 1789, in the town of Fishkill, N. Y. At an early age he professed his faith in the Lord Jesus, and began to prepare for the Gospel ministry. Me was graduated at Union Col- lege in 1 8 14. Having com- pleted a full course in the Theo- logical Seminar}' at New Bruns- wick, under Dr. Livingston, he was licensed to preach the (Jos- pel in 1817. Very soon after his licensure he became pastor of the Churches of New Paltz and New Hurley. Subsequently The Rev. wili.i.^m r. Bogardus. his charge was limited to New Paltz. a field large enough for the most competent and assiduous minister. The time of his coining to Acquackanonk could not ha^e been more propitious. The influence of the secession had sadly disturbed and verj' greatly injin'ed the Church. And hence he found this a sphere of labor that demanded the most patient and unremitting attention and solicitude, some ]ieculiar circumstances arising out of the former condition of the Church requiring especial care and prudence. In his endeaxors to promote harmony and peace, he succeeded in a most happy degree, being enabled by the help of God to restore to the Church l)oth concord and prosperity. His ministry was greatly blessed. Rich in its exhibition of the great e\'angelical doctrines and consistently earnest in the inculca- kiSTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 193 tion of practical duties, it was the means of elevating the tone of feeling, and giving scriptural direction to the views of those to whom he ministered. He was an experimental preacher because he was an experimental Christian. His fidelity in the discharge of the responsible duties of his office, soon produced such results in the Church and congregation, as might naturally have been ex- pected. At his first communion season there were received upon confession of faith in Christ, i6, and during the tirst year of his ministry, 38. He did much by his judicious management ot the affairs of the Church, to restore confidence and win back to the fold many who had strayed away. The people thanked the Lord and took courage. On November 4, 1834, the Consistory, in re- sponse to the wish of the congregation, resolved to add Sioo to the annual salary of the minister. The duties of the Rev. 'Sir. Bogardus were of an arduous char- acter. The congregation «'as large and the territory embraced by it was quite extensive. And yet, his ministerial life flowed on like the course of the beautiful river with which he was so familiar, calm and peaceful, free from unhealthy excitement or startling incident. At length, however, after twenty-five j^ears of almost unceasing toil, ' 'he was admonished by the strokes of disease that he must forbear the full duties of the charge so long under his care.' On the third day of January, 1856, he informed the Con- sistory that, considering his age and declining strength, together with the many and pressing duties arising from the claims of this large congregation, he considered it important that thev should have the services of a younger man, and that he felt it to be his duty under the circumstances to tender his resignation. He re- quested the Consistory to unite with him in .asking the Classis to dissolve the pastoral relation, to take effect the first of 'Slay next. After consultation, the Consistory resolved to accede to their min- ister's request, and cordially expressed the wish that in case thev should not fix upon a man to fill the station immediateh' after the first of ilay, their pastor would preach for and advise with them for a season, that they might not be left without any public ser- vice. The joint application was presented to the Classis at the spring session, and the request for the dissolution of the pastoral relation was granted. The aged pastor continued to reside for a time within the bounds of the congregation with which he had been so long and so pleasantly identified. There were several 194 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS reasons, however, that led him to determine that it would be wise to remove to Paterson, and while hving there he enjoyed the priv- ilege of very frequent communication with a large number of his old parishioners. His household was at length broken up by the death of his devoted wife, soon after which he removed to Kinder- hook, N. Y. , and found a home in the family of his son-in-law, the Rev. J. Romeyn Berry. He lived there less than a year, and fell asleep in Jesus on the ninth day of February, 1862. Agreeably to his request, after some brief exercises at Kinderhook, his re- mains were removed for interment at Acquackanonk, by the side of his beloved wife. The funeral exercises in this church called forth a large concourse of former parishioners and neighbors, who engaged in the services with the deepest interest. During the twenty-five years that the Rev. Mr. Bogardus was pastor of this Church, he received upon their confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 238 persons, and 60 upon certificate from other Churches. He baptized 578 children, and solemnized 314 mar- riages. The Rev. J. Paschal Strong. In the autumn of 1856 a call was made out and sent to the Rev. J. Paschal Strong, * who was at that time the pastor of the Third Reformed Dutch Church of Jersey City. Mr. Strong was graduated from Rutgers College in 1845, and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1850. He was licensed upon his graduation by the Classis of Long Island, and in the same year was installed pastor of the Reformed Church of East New York, where he remained for four years. In 1854 he received and accepted a call from the Third Church in Jersey City, and after a pastorate of two years, the health of his family demand- ing a change, he accepted a call from this Church. His com- pensation was to be $1,000, in half-yearly pa)rments, together with the use of the parsonage and lands. He was installed in this pastorate on the twenty-first day of December. The Rev. Dr. Thomas M. Strong preached on the occasion, the Rev. William R. Bogardus addressed the pastor, and the Rev. W. T. Van Doren addressed the people. Not long after the settlement of the Rev. Mr. Strong, it became manifest that the church was too strait to meet the wants of a num- erous and increasing congregation. The question began to be * See portrait of Mr. Strong, in the History of the Nortli Church, Passaic . HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES I95 agitated, shall we pull down and build greater, or shall we enlarge the place of our tent ? A meeting of the congregation was held February 2, 1858. It was determined after much discussion to enlarge the church, and that after the enlargement, the owners of pews should occupy the same location in the church as they did be- fore. Thirty-six pews were to be added on the ground floor, and an assessment of $10 was to be laid upon each pew owner. A sub- scription was also to be circulated to meet the cost of the enlarge- ment. Before the autumn season began, the e.xtension of sixteen feet to the original building was completed, at a cost of about 33,800. The many perplexing questions which are so apt to arise out of the necessity of enlarging or reconstructing a place of worship, were met in this instance in the spirit of Christian can- dor, and consequently upon the reoccupying of the church, all the additional pews were soon taken, and unanimit^" and prosperity continued to prevail. The wants of the congregation, however, were not yet fully met. The galleries of the church did not afford suitable accommodations for the increasing Sabbath school, and no place was provided for devotional and consistorial meetings. The erection of a lecture room came to be regarded as a necessity. It was built in i860, and was subsequently enlarged by a suffi- cient addition, to accommodate the infant department in the Sabbath school. Nor was the march of improvement in material matters arrested at this point. The congregation was not content to provide for its own convenience and comfort, to the neglect of the pastor's. In the summer of 1861 very considerable additions and improvements were inade to the parsonage, at a cost of about S2,ooo. All these evidences of temporal prosperity are of great moment, when considered as exponents of the condition of the Church. For you may ever rest assured that the condition of the ' Church property in general is a good and sure index of the state of the hearts of the congregation. The extension and upbuilding of the spiritual temple, more than equalled all that was accomplished in respect to temporal things. Few men have been favored with a larger measure of suc- cess in the ministry than was the Rev. J. P. Strong, while he was the pastor of this Church. Upon more than one occasion did God visit this people with the reviving influences of the Holy Spirit. Especially memorable in the history of his ministrv here is the year 1866, when sixty were added to the Church upon pro- 196 klS'l'OKV OF. THE CLa^^IS Ol-' PaRAMLiS fession of their faith, the majority of whom were in the morning of life. In consequence of his acceptable and faithful services, and also because of the increased expenses of living, the pastor's salary was raised from time to time, until it reached $2,000 per year. The Rev. Mr. Strong was possessed of natural and ac- quired endowments, which fitted him for great usefulness. He was eminently a man of prayer. He was also ever punctual in all his engagements, prompt and energetic in all his pub- He ministrations, and scrupulously exemplary in all his private deportment. The combination of such qualities as these in the minister, taken in connection with the fact that the community was growing in population, intelligence and wealth every day, filled the church. There were families asking for seats, but they could not be accommodated. Something must be done to meet this pressure for church privileges. The Consistory called in consultation the Great Consistory, July 21, 1868. A memorial from several members was read, set- ting forth the present condition, and asking for enlarged church accommodations. Nothing definite was done at this meeting. The subject of Church extension was again taken up by the Con- sistory on July 29, when it was "Resolved, that the old church re- main as it is in regard to tearing down or enlarging it, and that we are in favor of Church extension in this village." At the Septem- ber meeting of the Consistory, a committee appointed by the Classis was in attendance, and endeavored to prevail with the Consistory to aid in the establishment of a new Church. This proposition was fully debated, but final action was deferred for another month. It was seriously questioned by many, whether the Consistory had the right to transfer Church property, held in trust, to another organization. This was an eventful period in the history of the Church. Suffice it to say, that the little flock whose journey through the wilderness we have been endeavoring to trace in this narrative, was divided into two bands. The North Reformed Church was organized in the latter part of 1868, and was composed entirely of individuals who had been attached to this congregation. On June 14, 1869, the Rev. Mr. Strong tendered his resigna- tion as pastor of the Church, and requested the Consistory to unite with him in an application to the Classis for a dissolution of the pastoral connection. The request was acceded to, and the HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 1 97 Classis transferred the Rev. ]\[r. Strong from the pastorate of this Church, to that of the North Reformed Church of Passaic. During the thirteen years that ]Mr. Strong was pastor of the old Church, he received into membership 215 upon confession of faith in Christ, and 64 by certificate from other Churches. He baptized 290 children and solemnized 150 iTiarriages. In declaring itself "in favor of Church extension in this vil- lage," the Consistory did not inaugurate a new policy so much as recognize a movement that had already set in — a movement towards individualization. The increasing number of adherents of other denominations led to a branching out from the mother Church, and thus we find no less than four Churches springing into life in ten years, during IMr. Strong's pastorate. Henceforth the conditions of work are materially changed. The spire of old Acquackanonk no longer stands unique and solitary in the midst of the surrounding country, but the Church takes her place in subsequent history as one among her many sisters, and becomes a sharer with them in the growth and prosperity of the city. Since then the multiplication of religious organizations has continued steadily until, at the present writing, there are no less than thirty- five churches, chapels and missions within the limits of the city, while the adjacent country to which the old Church was wont to minister, is now dotted with villages that are amply supplied with religious privileges. The Rev. John Gaston, D. D. The Rev. John Gaston, D. D., was called to become the pas- tor of the Church in 1869. He was the son of William B. Gaston and Elizabeth Kirkpatrick, and was born in Somerville, N. J., on November 12, 1825. Dr. Gaston graduated at Rutgers College in 1849, and received his theological training in the Seminary of the Reformed Chureh at New Brunswick, N. J., graduating in 1852. He was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Classis of New Brunswick, and ordained to the ministry and installed pastor of the Reformed Church of Pompton, N. J., the same year, by the Classis of Passaic. Here he remained faithful in labor and be- loved by his people for ten years, when he assumed the pastorate of the Reformed Church of Saugerties, N. Y. In this field, also, he made full proof of his ministry, until he came to Acquacka- nonk in 1869. It was just after the new era of Church extension 198 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS ^riWI had begun, when man)^ were entertaining grave fears as to whether the old mother Church could supply the material for so many new branches, and still remain strong and vigorous herself These doubts were quickly dispelled, for under his strong and genial personality, his powerful and evangelical preaching of the truth, and his unostentatious, yet firm and tactful leadership, this ancient heritage of God's people has continued to renew her youth j^ear after year, and during his long and honored term of service, the course of Church life has been one of unbroken peace and prosperity. In 1884, a movement was inaugurated to effect certain alter- ations and repairs in the church edifice. Funds were diligently collected and cheerfully given, amounting to the very considerable '■ ■■ ■'■ ..^ sum of $6,411, sufficient to defray all the e,\penses. The interior of the church was completely reno- vated and refurnished, and the place of worship was inade not only more attractive, but very much more comfortable. The course of impro\'enients in our growing little city led to an in- crease of assessments from )'ear to year upon the parsonage prop- erty, consisting of buildings on Thk Rev. John Gaston, D D. Lexington avenue, and twelve acres of land, and it was resolved on jNIarch 28, 1887, to offer the same for sale. The committee to whom the matter was en- trusted, reported on April twenty-tifth that the property had been sold for a consideration of $32,000, and the ample grounds and old stone house, which for more than a hundred and twenty- five years had been the home of successive pastors, and had afforded shelter and hospitality to many visiting ministers and friends, and had been the social center of the congregation, now passed into other hands. INIovedby the kindly feeling of the congregation towards their minister, and in lieu of his use of the parsonage and lands now sold, the Consistory resolved on June 20, 1887, to increase the pas- tor's salary from $2,000 to $3,000, the change to date from May HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES IQ9 first of that year. During the following year, the sum of $400 was donated towards the erection of a chapel at Garfield, in union with the North Reformed Church. The spiritual condition of the Church, as attested by the num- ber of accessions to the membership, seems to ha^'e been healthy during the entire period of Dr. Gaston's ministr)' among this people. In the twenty-six years of service he received into fellowship 570 members. The years 1874, 1S76, 1S87 and 1894 are especialh' marked, in which respectivelv 43, 41, 40 and 41 are entered upon the records, among them a large proportion of such as had reached mature years. During the same period he ministered at 682 funerals, solemnized 392 marriages, and bap- tized 423 children. In the fall of 1893 the pastor, feeling that he was unable longer to bear the burilen of care and responsibility, submitted his resignation. The officers of the Church did not feel it was best for them to accept, and recom- mended that he should get an as- sistant to relieve him somewhat from the burden. To that position the Rev. Arthur .Spaulding was call- ed, and began his service on January i, 1894. He was the son of the Rev. Cyril .'spaulding, ,t,a'adu- ated at Rutgers College in iSyo, and at Union Seminar)' in 1893. He labored with acceptance and dili- gence, holding the position of as- sociate pastor until the close of Dr. The Rtv. Arthur Sp-\ulding. Gaston s official connection with the Church, and has since been installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Bainbridge, N. Y. The twentv-fifth anniversary of Dr. Gaston's pastorate was observed with appropriate exercises on September 20, 1894. The Rev. Arthur Spaulding presided. In the afternoon addresses were made b)' ^Ir. Daniel Demarest, in behalf of the Consistorj' and congregation, b)' ]Mr. Hugh ^McQueen, in behalf of the Sun- day School: and the Rev. Joachim Elmendorf, D. D. , made an address to the pastor and congregation, to which Dr. Gaston re- sponded. In the evening, addresses were made by the Rev. J. H. 200 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Whitehead, as a "Fellow Presbyter;'' by the Rev. P. F. Leavens, D. D., as a "Brother Minister;" by the Rev. Edward P. Terhune, D. D., by the Rev. A. P. Van Gieson, D. D., as "A Classmate," and by Mr. William E. Church, "Commemorating the Event." On this occasion his thankful people presented to their beloved minister a solid silver salver of beautiful design, having engraved upon it the spire of the old Church and bearing the following in- scription: "1869 — 1894. Presented to the Rev. John Gaston, D. D. , by his congregation, to commemorate the twenty-fifth an- niversary of his pastorate in connection with the Protestant Re- formed Dutch Church at Acquackanonk, Passaic, N. J., Septem- ber 20, 1894." The plan of an assistant to Dr. Gaston, suggested by the Coiisistory was, however, but the postponement of that which was inevitable. The condition of the pastor's health made it necessary for him again to ask for relief from the duties of his office. The Consistory, acting under the knowledge that in the opinion of his physicians this step was imperative, reluctantly ac- cepted his resignation. Seldom has it been the lot of one to occu- py so warm a place in the affections of a people for so long a time, and the universal regret and sorrow that the connection so long maintained in unity and love had to be severed, is only les- sened by the fact that he still continues to reside among his peo- ple, and that the genial warmth of his nature still pervades the place that has learned to love him so well. As a further evidence of their affectionate regard for the ven- erable minister, and their appreciation of his devoted service, the Consistory on September 24, 1895, took the following action : "Resolved, that the Elder representing this Consistory at the Classis in October, be requested to notify said Classis that it is the desire and earnest wish of this Consistory that the Rev. John Gas- ton, D. D., be declared pastor emeritus, and that we obligate our- selves to pay him an annual salary of one thousand dollars." Upon receiving notification of this action Dr. Gaston replied in part as follows: "While I am exceedingly grateful for the generous impulse that has led you to devise such liberal things for my future com- fort, yet as I can not conscientiously receive it, I most respectfully decline j'our proffered annuity. I have always been perfectly sat- isfied with the terms of my call, and hence fail to see why I should HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES receive a double pa)'ment for a single service. * * * * Yqu have ever fullv met the terms of our 'temporal contract, ' and conseciuentlv vou are honorably exonerated so far as it relates to all such matters of obligation. * * * *^ _:^11 j ^.sk is the continued love and confidence of those whom I have endeavored to serve in the Gospel during the term of my ministry.'' At a meeting of the Classis convened October 8, 1895, a joint application from pastor and people was presented and granted, the Classis declaring the pastor emeritus. Dr. Gaston's interests and activities ha\-e been wider than the Church which he has served. Thev have e.xtended to the denom- ination. For nearly thirty-five years he has been a member of the IJoard of Education of the Reformed Church, and since the death of Dr. !Mancius S. Hutton, he has served as President of the Board. Since 1872, he has been a Trustee of Rutgers College, which institution nearly thirt}' years ago, conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinit}-, an honor worthily bestowed. His devotion to the missionary and educational interests of the denomination has been warm and continuous during the forty-three 3'ears of his acti\'e ministr}-, and was not interrupted bv his retirement from the pastorate. The Rev. Aiie Venxema. On the sixteenth of September, 1895, the congregation as- sembled for the purpose of choosing a successor to Dr. Gaston. The choice fell upon the Rev. Ame A'ennema, pastor of the Reformed Church of Deerpark, Port fervis, X. Y. According!}', a call was presented to him by the Consistory, duly ap- proved b}- Classis, which, after care- ful consideration and the adjustment of certain details, was accepted, and the new pastor began his ministry in Acquackanonk on the fifteenth day ^^^^^^^^'W \. . ^ of December following. The Rev. Ame Vennema was born in Holland, ^lich., ^lay 25, 1857. He graduated at Hope College in his nati\-e city, in 1879, and at the Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, N. J., in 1882. His suc- The Rev. Ame A'exxem.4. 202 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS cessive pastorates have been, New Paltz, N. Y., 1882 — '86; Sec- ond Reformed Church, Kalamazoo, Mich., 1886 — '89; Second Reformed Church, Rochester, N. Y., 1889 — '92; Deerpark, Port Jervis, N. Y. , 1892 — '95. Shortly after the Rev. Mr. Vennema's settlement in Acquack- anonk, the question of a new Church site and building began to take definite shape, and on INIarch 17, 1896, the Consistory de- clared themselves favorable to the selection and purchase of anew jocation "provided that a majority of the congregation in a public ^-^5^*5- „ .11 The Parsonage, 599. meeting assembled shall so determine, and that the entire sum necessary for the purchase of the site shall be fully subscribed and paid for without in an)' manner drawing upon the vested funds of the corporation.' This action was approved at a meeting of the Great Consistory held on April twenty-eighth, and further en- tlorsed by an almost unanimous vote of the congregation, at a meeting called to consider the matter on Way seventh of the same year. The property on the southeast corner of Passaic and Pauli- HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 203 son avenues, 100x150 feet, was finally selected. The congrega- tion responded generously to the appeal for funds, and ^\-hen the required amount, 514,000, had been subscribed, the Consistory re- solved on June 17, 1898, to enter into an agreement for the pur- chase of the site. An additional plot, 75 .x 200 feet, facing Pauli- son avenue and immediately adjoining the new Church site, was also bought "for the purpose of moving thereon and using as a parsonage the house" on the corner lot, "and to afford room tor the horses and carrias'es of the members of the congregation. The Reformed Church of Acqu.^ck.woxk. — 1901. Since November, 1899, the pastor's famih^ have been comfortalilv domiciled in the well-appointed and spacious manse. Plans for a new Church building, submitted bv Charles W. Bolton & Co., Architects, Philadelphia, Pa., lia"\'e been adopted, and subscriptions amounting to nearlv Si 6, 000 towards the erec- tion of the building have already been made. The e.xpectation is warranted that soon the oldest Church in the countv and in the Classis will have a new, commodious and attractive house of wor- 204 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS ship, in a very eligible and central location in the growing city of Passaic. Contemporaneousljr with these important developments along material lines, the spiritual and benevolent work of the Church has received careful consideration. During the present pastorate, just rounding out its fifth year, 135 have been wel- comed into the membership of the Church, 94 have received the ordinance of baptism, and 95 funeral servicea have been con- ducted. At no time in her history did the Old Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Acquackanonk ha^'e a brighter outlook, and with the continued blessing of Almighty God, and the earnest and prayerful co-operation of her devoted members, the most sanguine hopes of the congregation will not fail to be realized. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF TAPPAN The Rev. David Cole, D. D. THE Tappan community dated from March 24, 1686, and the Tappan Church, in organized form, from October 24, 1694, eight rears and a half later. On the earlier of these days, sixteen men secured from the Colonial Governor Dongan a grant of land, about ten miles long, and from two to five miles wide, popu- larly known from its date as "The Tappan or Orangetown Patent. ' It was nearly coincident with the present town of Orangetown in Rockland county. It lay at that time within the bounds of Orange, one of the ten original counties into which the "Province of New York" had been divided by the colonial legisla- ture in 1683. Rockland county was not heard of till more than a hundred years later. It was set off from Orange by the legislature of the state of New York, February 23, 1798. ;\Iost of the sixteen patentees settled on their land at once, and within a short time several families, drawn to the site b}' its adaptation to industrial activity, joined them with their em- ployees, some of whom were negro slaves. Ample sources are preserved, from which we can get all the family names of the first sixteen years. First, we ha^-e the Dongan grant, which gives the names of the sixteen patentees. Then we have the Church roll of all the members received at the first two commu- nions, both held within the first Church year, and the onl)^ com- munions held before 1702. This roll contains fifty-two names. Third, we have the roll of Consistorymen complete for the period. And last, we have a full census of the settlement, taken in 1702, which contains the full names of all white men and the first names of all white women for that year, with the number of the boj^s and girls, and includes a count of thirty-three unnamed negro slaves. The impression the settlers of Tappan and the founders of its Church left upon their region and upon the Re- formed Church in America, has proved wonderfully enduring. 206 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Their names will all be g-iven here, and followed with informa- tion about them which cannot fail to be of interest. The sixteen patentees will come first, then the fifty-two Church members, and last, the fifty-four white men of the census of 1702, with the first names of their wives attached as in the original. The names in each list will be arranged in alphabetical order, spelled alike in each of their repetitions, and according to the best usage of their first hundred years at Tappan. The names starred came in at first as patronymics only, but are now nearly all identified, and will be brought out as far as known, through the information which will follow the lists. I THE SIXTEEN PATENTEES. * Lambert Ariaensen Pieter Haring Daniel de Clerck (later "Clark" only) Cosyn Haring Cornells Claesen Cuyper (Cooper) * Adriaen Lambertsen Staats de Groot * Cornells Lambertsen John deVries, Sr. -Claes Maunde John de Vries, Jr. * Gerrit Steynmets * Huybert Gerritsen Jan Stratemaker (Straat) * Johannes Gerritsen Iden Van Vorst II FROM THE ROLL OF CHURCH MEMBERS. a. Received at the First Commujiion, October 2^, i6()^. * Lambert Ariaensen and jVIargrietje Blauvelt, his wife Johannes Blauvelt Cornells Haring and Cathalina Flierboom, his wife Cosyn Haring and Maria Blauvelt, his wife Teunis Talman and Brechtje Haring, his wife Teunis Van Houten and Tryntje Claes Cuyper, his wife b. Received at the Second Communion, October 2j, i(>95- Hendrick Blauvelt and Marretje Waldron, his wife Jeremiah Cenniff" and Annetje Woelfs, his wife Jacob Cool and Barbara Hans, his wife Floris Willemsen Crom and Cathalina Ariaens, his wife Teuntje Floris Crom Annetje Cornells Cuyper Cornelis Claesen Cuyper and Aeltje Bogart, his wife HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 2O7 Jan Claesen Cuyper and Tryntje Stratemaker (Straat), his wife Daniel de Clerck and Grietje Cosyns, his wife Jan de Vries Jacob FHerboom and Maria Haring, his wife * Coenraet Hansen and Leuntje (or Leentje) INIagiels, his wife Pieter Haring and Grietje Jans Bogart, his wife ^Nlynert Hendricksen (Hogenkamp) and Jannetje Hendricks de Puw, his wife Rynier Mynertsen (Hysseryck) and Marretje Jacobs Flierboom. his wife Catliarina Mever Albert ^linne (Minnelay) and Meenske Jans, his wife Grietje INIinne, wife of Abram Blauvelt Johannes ^Minne and Annetje Joachims, his wife * Maria Pieters, wife of Isaac Gerritsen (Blauvelt) Casper Springsteen and IMaria Foos, his wife Annetje Idens Van Vorst, wife of Johannes ^Mever Annetje Van Houten Gerritje ^'an Houten Jan Waard (Waart) and Grietje de Puw, his wife HI THE CENSUS REPORT OF I702. Lambert Ariaensen (Margrietje) * Hendrick Gerritsen (^Marretje) Abram Blauvelt (Grietje) * Isaac Gerritsen (Maria) Isaac Brett (Magdalen) * Johannes Gerritsen (Catharina) IMelchert Caspersen (Geertruyt) * Coenraet Hansen (Leuntje) Jeremiah Cenniff (Annetje) Abram Haring * Johan Claesen (Tryntje) Cornells Haring (Cathalina) Samuel Conklin (Hanna) Cosyn Haring (^laria) Ariaen Crom Peter Haring (Grietje) Floris Crom (Lina) *Gerrit Hendricksen Gysbert Crom * Herman Hendricksen Willem Crom (Gerritje) *John Hendricksen Cornells Cuyper (Aeltje) John Hey (Tryntje) Daniel de Clerck (Grietje) * Gerrit Huybrechts Jacob de Clerck * Casper Jansen (Alay) John de Puw (Janneke) * Reyn Jansen (Lysbeth) John de Vries (Ariaentje) • Willem Juwell, Sr., (Sara) Jacob Flierboom (INIaria) Willem Juwell, Jr. 200 HIStORV OF ITHE CLASSIS OK PARAMllS * Gerrit Lambertsen Dirck Storm (Maria) Edward Mek (or Meeks) Dirck Straat (Tryntje) * Jeuriaen Melgertsen Teunis Talman (Brechtje) Willem Merritt (Margery) * Paulus Tjurcksen (or Turcksen) Johannes Meyer (Annetje) Claes Van Houten Albert Minnelay (Meenske) Teunis Van Houten (Tryntje) * Rynier Mynertsen (Marretje) Roelof Van Houten Jan Perry (Sara) Jan Waard (Grietje) * Lowe Rynertsen James Waller (Bethe) Frans Wey (Indian W.) INFORMATION. I. Respecting the Sixteen Pate7itees, and Their Relatives Found in the Other Lists. I. Lambert Ariaensen (Last name variously spelled. In early Tappan papers, it is sometimes Adriansen. The form Ariaen- sen went ofif through some lines into the family name Auryan- sen, in which it is still found in the neighborhood). His marriage in New York is thus entered — "April 9, 1682, — Lambert Aertszen van Thuyl in Gelderlandt and Margrietje Gerrits, j. d. "(that is — ' 'not before married"). Margrietje Gerrits was a Blauvelt. We know all about her now (see below). But I have not traced the husband back of this marriage. They had been married but four years at the date of the Tappan Patent. They have no child on the New York baptismal record. On the Tappan book, they have four from 1696 onward, viz., Pietertje, Tryntje, Abram and Lena. Two older than these must have been baptized elsewhere, as on the census report of 1702, they are given with six children, of whom two are sons. With their last Tappan baptism in 1706, they are entered as Lammert Adrian- sen Smith and Margrietje Blauvelt. So we find that Lambert's family name was Smith. He was the first Elder of the Tappan Church, was five times re-elected, and with every entry is given with this family name. Did it belong to him when he was mar- ried in 1682, or Avhen he settled on the Tappan Patent in 1686.? If it did, wh}' was it not put in the marriage record or in the Patent } If it did not, when did it start } This question deepens in interest as we notice on the list of patentees the names Adriaen and Cor- nells Lambertsen, and on the census report Gerrit Lambertsen. These men also come into the Church Consistory and the Church tJISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 2O9 records as Smiths. The two patentees Lambertsen could not have been Lambert Ariaensen's sons, as he had been married but four years in 1686. I venture the suspicion that they were his cousins, that there had been two earlier brothers, Adriaen and Lambert, the first the father of Lambert Ariaensen, and the second the father of Adriaen, Cornelis and Gerrit Lambertsen, and that the name Smith had been adopted by the family under the Holland law in their own country, and had belonged to the sons as a family name when they came from Holland to New York. There is, however, a family tradition on this subject, which I will not omit to give. As a known fact, Lambert Ariaensen settled in 1686 at Greenbush, later Blauveltville and now Blau- velt. He was a smith by trade and was popularly known as "Lambert the smith." This grew into a fixed designation, and finally settled into a family name. This story was received with confidence by the people of a later day, and found its way into the published histories of Rockland county as a real historic state- ment. I offer no comment on it, but know that Lambert Smith was the ancestor of a most valuable Smith line that ran through the whole two hundred years of the Church till very recently, when it came to an end at Tappan through removals and deaths. Lam- bert and his wife stand first on the Church's member list. Lam- bert, Cornelis and Gerrit were many times in the Consistory: Each is on the record of baptisms with many children. Gerrit Smith, the famous land owner, born at Utica in 1797, noted for his interest in slaves, and for his philanthropy and liberality, was of this family. He owned land at Tappan in the memorv of still living people. I am, however, called just here to emphasize only the important and lasting bearing for good of this family upon the Tappan Church (See the account below of a famous gift of land to the church in 1729. Through it Lambert Ariaensen and his associates still live in the svipport of the Church). 2. Daxiel DeClerck (or De Clerk — later "Clark' only). He is on all our three lists. He w as the second Elder in the Church, and was often re-elected. Just before settling at Tappan, as "widower of ^laria de Moll," he had married in New Vcsrk April 8, 1685, Grietje Cosyns, widow of Jan Pietersen Haring and mother of Pieter and Cosyn Harjng (See below). He had no children by the second marriage, but at least one son by the first followed his father to Tappan, and a de Clerk line from him came no HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS down through the records. His last descendant in the Church was Maria, widow of John Outwater, and daughter of William de Clerk and Elizabeth Haring. She was born February i6, 1810, united with the Church October 7, 1837, and died November i, 1895, aged 85 years, 8 months and 16 days. Jacob de Clerk, who is on the Church list below, as joining it at its second communion, was no doubt a son of this patentee. He married Annetje Van Houten at Tappan, October 16, 1706, and had eight children bap- tized in the Tappan Church. 3. CoRNELis Claesen Cuyper (Kuyper or Cooper). The Tap- pan records have his wife as Aeltje Bogart. The marriage took place at Bergen, and is entered on the Bergen record by patro- nymics only; thus, "Cornelis Claes of New York, and Aeltje Teunisse of Brooklyn. " This shows that the wife was a daughter of Teunis Bogart, and gives her residence before marriage. We have also on our lists a brother of Cornelis, Jan Claesen Cooper, with his wife, and a sister, Tryntje Claes Cooper, with her hus- band. The marriages of these are also on the Bergen record, thus, "Jan Claesen of Harsimus, and Tryntje Stratemaker of Ho- boken, September 13, 1694, and "Teunis Roelofse of Amersfoort, (Flatlands) and Tryntje Claes of Manhattan, December 23, 1677." These entries show that the Teunis Van Houten of the Tappan Church and census lists, was a son of Roelof Van Houten, that the father of the Coopers was Claes or Nicholas Cooper, and that all these married person were )^oung at the time of their settlement at Tappan. Cornelis, the patentee, became the third elder of the Church, and both he and his brother were again and again in the Con- sistory. The Coopers were in New York before 1650, but the parents of these three children seem to have settled in New Jersey, and the children themselves located at Tappan. In the Tappan Church their descendants became exceedingly numerous, occupy- ing a very large place in the records. American Coopers have been distinguished as authors, teachers and professional men and women in considerable numbers, and one of them has left behind him a monument of his interest in the masses, and ^f intelligent liberality with worldly wealth, which will keep the family name alive to the end of time. 4. Staats De Groot. His name, as given in New York and Bergen records from 1675 onward, was, in full, Staats Jansen de HISTORIES OF THE CHLRCHES 2 1 I Groot. His wife was Barbara Caspers (see Melchert Caspersen be- low. Her name in the baptismal records is again written Barbara Springsteen). I do not know whether these ever lived in Tappan, but their daughter Metje or ^Nlettie de Groot joined the Church there in 1 703, and Cornelia de Groot (perhaps another daughter) joined it in 171 I. Mettie married Tyares (or Joris) Juwell, and Cornelia married Jonas Gerritsen. Both have children on the register of baptisms. Other de Groots appear on the books in later years. The de Groots were in New York before 1650. They were also in the Bergen and Hackensack Churches — in the latter from its start in 1686. Rebecca, daughter of Pieter de Groot of that Church, married Daniel Demarest in 1707, and became the great -great- gxandmother of Rev. Dr. David D. Demarest, our late Seminary Professor at New Brunswick. 5. John (or Jan) De Vries, Sr. The name de Vries had been in America very early, and had been sadly emphasized at Tappan through the misfortunes of Captain David Pietersen de Vries be- tween 1640 and 1643. * He had had no family, and had per- sonally left the country at that date. Yet the name had contin- ued in New Amsterdam. Pieter Rudolphus de Vries, who died in 1660, had long been a merchant in the city. But this Jan de Vries seems I0 have been a new arrival after the middle of the century. He came over as a mariner, and was first known as Captain Jan Gerritsen. The sometimes added "de Vries," which grew upon him as a family name, at first only meant that he had come from Vriesland (or Friesland). He was married in New Amsterdam, December 18, 1660. The marriage is thus entered on the New York Register : "Jan Gerritsen of Workum in Vriesland, and Grietje Teunis of Amsterdam in N. Netherland." He has six children baptized in New York, beginning in 1661 and ending in 1682, all of whom, except Jacob, bs^ptized in 1679, were girls. \Mth the first three of these children, he is entered as Jan Gerritsen, and with the last three as Jan de Vries. The name of the mother, Grietje Teunis, is the same with them all. The name of this patentee never appears in any Tappan paper except the original Patent itself. He had lived in Harlem, N. Y. , to the date of that paper, and there is no existing evidence that he ever settled at Tappan. *See "History of the Reformed Church of Tappan." prepared by the author of this sketch in 1894. 2 I 2 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Riker, in his "History of Harlem/' states in regard to him that though he was called "de Vries" because he had last come from Vriesland, his real name was Van Dalssen, his original home hav- been Dalssen in Overyssel. He says his line went over into Orange (now Rockland) county, and started the Van Dalssen fam- ily there. He must have had Van Dalssen family sources of infor- mation that I have not. The first Van Dalssens at Tappan (and of course the first in Orange county) were Jan Van Dalssen and his wife, Anna Van Raetsvelt, who united with the Tappan Church in 1704. Dirck Storm, who had been the Voorleser of the Church from its organization, resigned his office in that year, and Jan Van- Dalssen was chosen his successor at once. He was still in office in 1 7 13, but probably died about that time. His wife appears on the records as a widow in 1718. With the baptisms from the latter date onward, other Van Dalssens come in who are evidently of the same stock with the Voorleser. But the Tappan records do not show any point at which the name de Vries could have passed into the name Van Dalssen. 6. John (or Jan) De Vries, Jr. The terms "senior" and "junior"' with these patentees, do not mean father and son, but simply the elder and the younger. The elder never had a son Jan, as 1 have shown. The two, however, were no doubt related. The younger married Ariaentje Dircks of Albany, October 10, 1679, and these made their home at Tappan, probably from the date of the patent. The wife never became a member of the Church, but Jan joined it October 23, 1695. They had four children, ]Maria, Helena, Jo- hannes and Jacobus. Helena (or Lena) and Johannes married at Tappan, and Johannes had a son Johannes baptized in 171 9. From this time the name de Vries does not appear on any Tappan record. The brothers de Vries in our ministry of to-day are not of the early American stock, but were themselves born in Holland and came to this country when young. 7, 8. HuYBKRT and Johannes Gerritsen. To these add Abram Blauvelt and Hendrick and Isaac Gerritsen of the census report, and Margrietje Blauvelt of the member roll. These six were brothers and sister. And one of them, Hendrick, had a daughter, JVIaria Blauvelt, who, on the same roll, appears as the wife of Cosyn Haring, a patentee. The family name of all these was Blauvelt. Their earliest American ancestor is on the New York records HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 213 simply as Gerrit Hendricksen, of Deventer, Holland. He mar- ried ^[arretje Lamberts [Moll of Bushwick, L. I., [May 7, 1646. * There were several children, of whom the six described below in the order of their ages, were all connected with the Tappan settle- ment : — (a) Hendrick Gerritsen (Blauvelt), not one of the pat- entees, was baptized August 9, 1648. He married Marretje Waldron in New York, September 20, 1673. t Hendrick and [Marretje were received into the Tappan Church October 23, 1695. Their daughter, Maria, as stated above, married Cosyn Haring, one of the patentees, and often an oflicer of the Church (i^ee below). (b) HiYBERT Gerritsex, (Blauvelt) oiic of the patentees, was baptized [May 13, 1657. He married Willemtje Ariaens, perhaps a sister of Lambert Ariaensen, m New York, April 15, 1679. There is no evidence that these ever settled on the Tappan patent. But they had a son, Gerrit Huybertsen Blau- velt (on the census list, Gerrit Huybrechts), married at Tappan in 1704, a daughter, JMarretje Huyberts Blauvelt, married (see Roelof Van Houten below) in 1705, and a daughter, Dirckje Huyberts Blauvelt, married at Hackensack in 1709. The first two of these settled at Tappan. (c) JoHAXXES Gerritsex (Blauvelt), one of the patentees, also one of the founders and first members, and more than once an officer of the Church. He was baptized April 9, 1659. He married Catharine ("Catie") CorneUs. I cannot identify the wife, nor have I found the date of the marriage. She never united with the Church. These were the great-great-grand- parents of the Rev. George [M. S. Blauvelt, pastor of the Tappan Church from 1864 to 1882. [Many of their descendants have been well-known ministers of the Gospel. One of them was for many )'ears a printer and publisher. In 18 10 he published Dr. Van Harlingen's translation of Vanderkemp's sermons on the "Heidelberg Catechism," a valuable w-ork in two volumes, still found in the older libraries of our Church. (d) [Margrietje Gerrits (Blauvelt), wife of Lambert Ariaen- sen Smith (see above). These have the honor of standing first *For fuU information in regard to his descending line, see mj- article on "The Blau- velt Family in .America," published in the N. Y. Gen. and Biog. Record, Vol. XXVIII, pp. 158-161. fFor the famous Waldron family of Harlem, and her place in it, see Riker's extensive genealogy, pp. 554" 5^7. 2 14 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS on the member roll of the Church. Margrietje was baptized September 25, 1661. (e) Abram Gerritsen (Blauvelt,) not one of the patentees. He was baptized January 17, 1663. He married Grietje Minne or Minnelay (for this name see below), April 8, 1691. She be- came a member of the Church October 23, 1695. His name is not on the member roll, but this is a clerical omission, as he was an Elder of the Church in 1711. These parents stand first on the baptismal register of the Church. (f) Isaac Gerritsen (Blauvelt,) not one of the patentees, nor ever a member of the Church. He was baptized January 27, 1666. He married Maria Pieters (whose connection I do not know), January 2, 1693. She joined the Tappan Church, October 23, 1695. 9, 10. Pieter and Cosyn Haring. Also in the other lists Cornells, Brechtje, Maria and Abram Haring. These six were brothers and sisters. They have been at Tappan as numerous and prominent as the Blauvelts. Both families had two men among- the patentees, both were always represented in the Con- sistories, both were among the land givers of 1729, both were at the front in civil and Church conflicts, and both have given min- isters to the service of Christ. It is important that both be dis- tinctly understood in a history of the Tappan Church. Pieter Haring, of Hoorn, North Holland, is the first ancestor of whom we now have knowledge. His third son, Jan Pietersen Haring, arrived in New Amsterdam April 15, 1660, and in 1662 married Grietje Cosyns, who, after his death, became, April 8, 1685, the second wife of Daniel de Clerck, as stated above. Could Pieter Haring of Hoorn have been of the same stock with the brave John Haring of the siege of Haarlem in 1573 ? It is highly probable. The nearness of time makes the question closely pertinent. Jan Pietersen Haring and Grietje Cosyns had seven children, viz.: Peter, born in Harlem, New York, August 13, 1666; married Grietje Jans, daughter of Jan Louwe (or Lourens) Bogert, a refugee from Mannheim, who had come over in 1663, and was noted among Harlem's early settlers, — Vroutje, born May 3, 1667; mar- ried Teunis Quick, — Cosyn, born March 3, 1669, married Maria Blau- velt (see above), — Cornells, born March 4, 1672; married Catha- lina Flierboom (see below.) — Brechtje, born July 4, 1675; married Teunis Douwense Talema (or Talman, see below.) — Maria, born HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 2 I 5 September 27,1679; married Jacob Tyse Flierboom (see below.) — and Abram, born November 24, 1681; married Dirckje I'alema (see below). All these children are found on Tappan records and sent down lines in the vicinity of their early homes. Cornells was the first deacon of the Church. He and Cosyn and Abram were re- peatedly in the Consistor)', first as deacons and later as elders. The children of Pieter were very numerous, but being mostly daughters, largely lost the name Haring- through their marriages. His line is now represented by ^liss ^largaretta B. Powless, of Nor- wood, near Tappan, and her sister, ^Irs. Petrus Kline, of New Durham, N, J., whose daughter, Mrs. Ira Bogert Haring, is a member of the Church to-day. The family of Cosyn also has been prolific. It has from the beginning hardly ever been unrepresented in the Consistory. Mr. John T. Haring, a present elder, belongs to it. (And see below for notice of a land gift in 1729). II, 12. Adriaen axd Cornelis Lajibertsen. Already fully treated under Lambert Ariaensen. 13. Claes IMauxde. No information. Name does not occur again. 14. Gerrit Steyxmets. He was baptized in New York, August 27, 1656, and was a son of Casparis Stej'nmets and Janneke Gerrits, who had been married in New York, !\Iarch 31, 1652. The family located in Bergen about 1660. Casparis became one of the first three magistrates of that place in 1661. Gerrit married Yroutje Claes of Bergen, February 24, 1684, and after her death, Cathalina Gerrits, July 1 2, 1691. He probably never settled at Tappan. The name Steynmets abounds in the records of Bergen, Hackensack and Tarrytown. 15. Jax Stratemaker (or Straat). His full first name was Jan Dircksen. He was received as a Church member at Bergen, December 30, 1664, and was married there to Grietje, or Geesje Gerrits, January 14, 1665. Three of his children also were mar- ried at Bergen, viz.; Tryntje Stratemaker ("from Hoboken'') to Jan Claesen Cuyper of Harsimus. now Jersey City, September 23, 1664; Dirck Stratemaker to Tryntje Buys, November 27, 1698, and Jan Stratemaker to Neeltje Buys, January 12, 1707 (Aert and Johnannes Buys, sons of Pieter Buys of Holland, settled in Harlem in 1661 and 1663. From them came the many of the name found on the Bergen, Hackensack and Tarrytown records). Jan Stratemaker is noted in Tappan history as the builder, in 1700, 2 10 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS of the first solid house in the settlement, a house still standing, and known, since the American Revolution, as the ' 'Washington Headquarters." He sold it to his son, Dirck, in 1704. Dirck was a deacon in the Church in 1 707, though, strange to say, his name is not on the member roll. Jan and his wife, Neeltje, joined the Church in October, 1708. Dirck and Tryntje had eight children baptized between 1699 and 1717. With the baptismal entries, he is four times given as Dirck Stratemaker, and four times as Dirck Straat. The name in Rockland county from his time onward has alwa)rs been written Straat or Straut. In this form it continues in the county still. 1 6. Iden or Ide (full name Iden Cornelisen) Van Vorst. He married in New York, Hilletje Jans of Oldenburg, Germany, Octo- ber 18, 1652. In the marriage record he is entered as of New Am- sterdam. But his name indicates that his family was of Voorst in Gelderland, Holland. There is no evidence that he ever settled on his Tappan land. He had received in 1664 a grant of land at Harsimus, now Jersey City, and he probably lived there. His daughter, Annetje Idens Van Vorst, first appears in records as re- ceived into the Bergen Church, May 29, 1672. She mamed Jo- hannes Meyer (full name Jan Jansen Meyer) in New York, June 13, 1677. The record of the marriage gives her as then of Har- simus. It is probable that her father interested himself in the Tappan Patent for the sake of these children. They became the ancestors of a line that has continued in Rockland county. They were the maternal great-great-grandparents of Rev. Isaac D. Cole, pastor of the Tappan Church from 1829 to 1864. Annetje united with the Church, October 23, 1695, and Johannes did the same January 17, 1705. He was in the Consistory as Deacon in 171 1, and as an Elder more than once in later years. 2. Respecting All Names in the Other Two Lists, Not Already Noticed. 17. Isaac Brett and His Wife Magdalen. These settlers are on the census report of 1702, but not on any other record. Tap- pan has no traditions of them. "Brit" often occurs in the Tarry- town register. Our own New York Church Records do not have the name Brett as early as 1702. It has stood high in our min- HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 2I7 istry and eldership during the present century, however, and is an honored name among us at this very day. 18. Melchert (Melchior or Melgert) Caspersex and his wife, Geertruyt Bartels. Of Bartels I know nothing. Melchert was a Springsteen. Riker says the original Springsteens were Swedes. Joost and Johannes Springsteen, however, came from Gronin- gen in 1652. Their father, according to Riker, was Casper, and he adds: "Melle or Melchert Caspersen, whom he makes to have been their brother, was at Bushwick in 1663. He became a freeman of New York in 1696, but afterwards removed to Tap- pan." He had several children born in Brooklyn, among whom were Casper and Jeuriaen, both of whom come into our lists here, the former as Casper Springsteen and the latter as Jeuriaen Mel- gertsen. Each of these will be treated in his place below. We had above a Barbara Caspers or Barbara Springsteen, as wife of Staats de Groot. She was undoubtedly a sister of ^lelchert Caspersgn. 19. Jeremiah Cenxiff (or Kenniff) and his wife, Annetje ^^'oelfs. These united with the Church October 23, 1695, and are on the census report of 1 702, with six children unnamed, of whom two were sons. Jeremiah was a deacon in 1695, and again in 1702. From that date I do not find him again in any Tappan record. His children, Jeremiah Cenniff, Jr., and Abigail Cenniff, united with the Church in 1710. The former married Annetje de Revier at Tarrytown, January 31, 1719, and from that time onward was connected with the Tarrytown Church. In his marriage record, he is said to have been born on the Manor of Cortland. Other Cenniffs are also on the Tappan record. I know nothing of the name Cenniff. It has been intimated to me that it has so changed its character as to have carried away all suggestion of its earlier form. 20. Jacob Cool (or Kool — later Cole) and his wife Barbara Hans or Jans (a patronymic that in this case has so far defied iden- tification). Jacob had been baptized at Kingston, January i, 1673, and had lived there with his parents till his marriage. Having de- termined upon Tappan as his home, he came down just as the Church had been started, and at about twenty-six years of age, joined it with his wife, October 23, 1695. He was a grandson of Barent Jacobsen Kool, of Amsterdam. Holland, who was an officer under the West India Company in 1633, and is believed to have first come over in 1626. Jacob died before November 23, 2 I HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS 1 710, as Barbara is on the record as a widow at that date. Jacob and Barbara were the paternal great-great-grandparents of the Rev. Isaac D. Cole. Several ministers of the Gospel have been among their descendants. 21. Samuel Conklin and His Wife Hanna. On the census re- port only. The early spelling was Kankelie. Kankelies abounded at Tarrytown from the beginning, but were not numerous at Tap- pan. I cannot fix the connection of this pair. At a much later period, there were many Conklins in the Tappan Church. The name is a familiar one in Rockland county. It has become, through some of its representatives, a renowned name throughout our land. 22. Ariaen, Floris Willemsen, Gysbert and Willem Crom. The name Crom became very common in the Tappan and Tarry- town Churches, and is still found in their neighborhoods. Floris Willemsen Crom and his wife Cathalina Ariaens (was she a sister of Lambert Ariaensen.?) have a daughter Teuntje Floris Crom on the member roll of October 23, 1695. Willem Crom married Grietje or Gerritje Van Houten (see below). 23. John, Jannetje and Grietje De Puw (various spellings with this name). John married Anneke, Jannetje was the wife of Mynert Hendrick Hogenkamp, and Grietje was the wife of Jan Waard (see below). This family is still in the Tappan Church. It abounded also in the Church at Tarrytown, and is still widely prevalent on both sides of the Hudson. It is a Huguenot family. Nicholas de Puis came to New Amsterdam in October, 1662 from Artois with a wife and three children. He was the American an- cestor of the family. It has given several ministers to the Church of Christ. In our own day it has won special distinction by the life and career of our United States Senator, Chauncey M. Depew. 24. Jacob (full name J/>cob Tyse) Flierboom and his wife Maria Haring, sister of Pieter andCosyn Haring (see above.) Jacob and Maria have a daughter Marretje Jacobs Flierboom on the member roll of October 23, 1695. She was the wife of Rynier Mynertsen Hysseryck, Cathalina Flierboom, wife of Cornells Haring, was no doubt Jacob's sister. The name Flierboom (or Vlierboom) came down in the Tappan Church to within a late date. It was also at Albany (see Riker). I have no knowledge of its history. 25. Coenraet Hansen (in several places written Coenraet HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 2 I 9 Harte) and his wife Leuntje (for Leentje, i. e. Helena or ^lagda- lena) Magiels. Hansen and Magiels are both patronymics. Hansen is one of the most difficult of these to follow. "Harte'' may have been the family name here. [Nlagiels means daughter of Magiel or ^Michael. The ^Nlagielsens were numerous at Bergen and also at Tarrytown, but I cannot fix their connections. 26. John Hey and his wife Tryntje. No information. 27. ^NIyxert Hendricksen HoGEXK.iMP and his wife, Jannetje de Puw (see above). The Hogenkamps became very numerous in Rockland county, and also appeared at Tarrytown. I have no doubt their origin is clear to the family, but I have no clue to it while preparing this sketch. 28. Gerrit, Her3i.\n and John Hexdricksex. Another pa- tron)'mic. Were they brothers of ^lynert Hendricksen Hogen- kamp .? 29. Gerrit Huybrechts. Same as Gerrit Huybertsen Blau- velt (See above). His wife was Catharina Meyer (See below). 30. Rynijkr ]\Iyxertsex Hysseryck and his wife, ]\Iarretje Jacobs Flierboom, daughter of Jacob Flierboom above. Rynier was twice an elder in the Church. No information as to his fam- ily line. 31. Meenske Jans (See Albert ]\Iinnelay below). 32. Casper Jaxsex and his wife May, also Reyn Jansen and his wife Lysbeth. No information. 33. WiLLEJi JvwELL, Sr. , and his wife Sara. We have also Willem Juwell, Jr., reported in the census return of 1702, and Joris Juwell (see under Staats de Groot) on the baptismal records. "Juel'' was very frequent at Tarrytown. I know nothing of its origin, but the name, with spelling Jewell, is common to-dav. 34. Edward 'SIek. In Tarrytown records IMeghts and Meeks, with a wife Maria or IMarretje. No information. 35. Jeuriaen Melgertsex. a son of ^lelchert or ]Melgert Caspersen (See above). His full name was Jeuriaen Melgertsen Springsteen. He has a brother, Casper Springsteen (See below). Jeuriaen's wife was Catharina. They had two children baptized and recorded in Tarrytown in 1706 and 1708. 36. William Merritt and his wife Margerv. I do not know the line of this family, but the name of i\Ierritt is very common to- day. 37. Catharixa Meyer. A daughter of Johannes Meyer and 2 20 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Annetje Idens Van Vorst. She married Gerrit Huybertsen Blau- velt at Tappan, January 12, 1704. See above under his father, Huybert Gerritsen Blauvelt, and compare statement respecting "Gerrit Huybrechts." 38. Albert, Grietje and Johannes INIinnelay (or Minne). Albert married Meenske (or Meinsje, for Wilhelmina) Jans, Grietje married Abram Gerritsen Blauvelt (see above), and Johannes married Anneke Joachims. Albert and Meenske are also on the Tarrytown books. They were married at Flatbush, Novem- ber 6, 1 684. Albert was three times elder at Tappan. The Minne or Minnela)' family is still found on the east side of the river, with slightly changed spellings of the name. Riker says it came from Minne Johannes who, according to him, sailed from Fries- land in the ship Stetin, in September, 1663. I myself have the ship's list before me while writing, and find the name printed "Merine Johannis. " Perhaps Riker knew this to be a blunder. He also says "Manny'' is another form of the name. 39. Maria Pieters, wife of Isaac Gerritsen Blauvelt (see above). Pieters is a patronymic. No information. 40. Jan Perry (or Perre) and his wife Sara Jans. These were married in New York, March 17, 1686. The husband is entered on the record as a widower. They are on the census report of 1702, Twenty-one years later, we have on the banns list at Tap- pan, Feb. 9, and on the marriage record in New York, March 10, 1 7 13, Jan Perry, born in New York, first engaged and then mar- ried to Catrina Stypers, of Germany, widow. Jan and Catrina have four children baptized at Tappan, the last as late as 1 734. Whether the husband in both these marriages was the same man, I do not know. But Jan Perry and Catrina Stypers were the an- cestors of a Perry family that has been very noted and substantially useful in the Tappan Church during the present century. The name meant more than words could express to the congregation during, and for years after, the building of the present house of worship i'^ 1835, but deaths have long since removed the dear ones who bore it half a century ago. 41. Lowe Rynertsen. No information. Was he a son of Rynier (Rynert .?) ]\Iynertsen Hysseryck.? 42. Casper Springsteen and his wife Maria Foos. To the wife I find no clue. Casper was a son of ?ilelchert (^aspersen Springsteen, and a brother of Jeuriaen Melgertsen Springsteen (see HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 2 2 I above). Strangely enough I find twice on the baptismal record Casper Smidt and iNIaria Foos, for Casper Springsteen and Maria Foos. I can detect no family connection between Spring- steen and Smidt, and have no doubt that Smidt, in the two entries, is a clerical blunder. \\'e must carefully distinguish Casper Springsteen and ^laria Foos of the Tappan record from Casper Springsteen and Maria, of the Tarrytown record. The latter is known to have been Maria, daughter of Dirck Storm (see below). Casper Springsteen and ^laria Storm have a child baptized at Tarrytown, April 21, 1697, while Casper Springsteen and Maria Foos have one baptized only eight days later, April 29, 1697, at Tappan. The two Caspers were of course related, but what the relationship was we cannot tell. 43. Dirck Storm and his wife Mary or ]\Iaria. These are on both Tappan and Tarrytown records, but neither give the wife's last name. With the baptism of one of her children, however, at Flatbush, October 20, 1678, it is given in full as IMaria Pieters Montfort. Other Moatforts, including a Pieter, are found on the same book. Dirck Storm was a most important man. He and his wife came to New Amsterdam in the ship Fo.x in August, 1662, with three children. They came from Hertogenbosch (Bosch or Bois le Due), the capital of North Brabant, Holland. They first lived in Harlem. In 1670 Dirck became Secretary at Brooklyn. In 1691, he was living at Tappan, then the countv seat of Orange county, as county Clerk of Sessions. In 1702, he and his wife (no children being named) were reported on the Orange county census, he himself being rated among the men over sixty vears of age. Probably he was at least sixty-eight or seventy by that time, as he had no doubt been at least twenty-eight or thirty, when, with three children, he came to New Amsterdam in 1662. The children he brought with him from Plolland were prob- ably his sons Gregoris (also written Joris), Pieter and David. To these were added on this side, born in Harlem and Brooklyn, r^Iaria (Harlem dates lost), Pietronella, baptized June i, 1673, Aeltje, baptized October 20, 1678 (died an infant), and Aeltje, baptized October 31, 1680. At an early period, all these children had located at Tarrytown. Gregoris (or Joris) had married En- geltje Van Dyck (sometimes written Engeltje Thomas, ) daughter of Thomas \'an Dyck. (She had a son Dirck Storm, baptized Octo- i2i History of The classiS of paramOs ber 20, 1695, who united with the Tarrytown Church in 1731). Pieter married Grietje, David married Esther. Both of these had iTiany children. Maria married Casper Springsteen, Pietronella married Pieter Sie (See) and Aeltje is on the member roll at Tar- rytown, no husband being connected with her name. From these children descended the Storm family of Tarrytown, more numer- ous, between 1700 and 1800, than any other family in the region. They still abound and, as a family, have been noted not for their numbers alone, but for their solid worth. Dirck and his wife did not remove their Church connection from their Holland home till May 13, 1670, when they united by letter with the Brooklyn Church. And they did not remove it again till, in their old ag-e, they put in their letters at Tarrytown, which was their last earthly home. How long they lived in Brooklyn cannot now be determined. Tappan was settled in 1686. They were located there in 169 1, as we have seen, and were still living there as the Church book shows, in 1 703. Dirck was a foremost man in all work. But especially he was a religious leader. He had probably gone to the new settlement soon after its start, invited and employed by the people to conduct their religious services, take charge ot their religious life, and be the teacher of their chil- dren. Very naturally, when the Church was organized in 1694, they confirmed him in this Voorleser (public reader) relation, which he held for the next ten years, till 1704, taking charge of the Church records, and in all possible ways making himself useful to the Church and the community to that date. Then he went to Tarrytown. There in 171 5, when he was over eighty years of age, the Consistory employed him to collect the full papers and statistics of their Church, which had been badly neglected since its organization in 1697. He performed that work with admirable fi- delity, and committed every scrap and item to record with his own hand. He must have died soon after, as his familiar hand and signature disappear from the record as soon as it is complete. Too m'uch cannot be said of the service he rendered to the Churches of Tappan and Tarrytown. There is abundant evidence through his extant work that he was one of the most cultured lay- men of his place and time. 44. Dirck Straat and his wife, Tryntje. See under Jan Stratemaker (or Straat) above. 45. Teunis Talman and his wife, Brechtje Haring, sister of HlSTORIKS QF THE CHIRCHES ^3 Pieter and Cosyn Having- (See above). These were the ancestors of a long line of Talmans, which has been prominent in the Churches and activities of Rockland county to this day. I do not know when or through whom the family started in America. 46. Paulis Tjurcksf.x or Turcksex. There were a father and son of this name in New York. The father married Aeltje Barents, daughter of Barentsen Kool, already mentioned, and aunt of Jacob Kool (Cool) who joined the Tappan Church October 23, 1695. This man on our list was the son. The name Turcksen is a patronymic. It early settled into Turks, and finally into Turk as a family name. 47. Teuxis (full name Teuxis Roelofsen) ^'AX Houten and his wife Trvntje Claes Cuyper (see above, under Cuyper). These, as already stated, were married at Bergen, December 23, 1677. He was from Flatlands, and she from Manhattan Island. They were recorded with their patronymics only, thus : "Teunis Roelofsen and Tryntje Claes." The family name means that it came from Houten in Utrecht, Holland. Probably Roelof Van Houten and Claes Cuyper, the parents of these Tappan settlers, never came to America. Teunis and Tryntje may not have gone to Tappan till about 1692, as they had had seven children baptized in Xew York, the last in ^Nlay of that year. But they were among the founders and first received members of the Church in 1694, and later they have upon its record four more children baptized. The first four of their eleven children are on our lists here, Gerretje (wife of Wil- lem Florissen Crom), and Annetje, as members received in 1695, and Roelof and Claes as resident in 1702. The father was three times an elder, and was noted for useful service. The two sons named were also often in the Consistory. Teunis is on the Tarrv- town records as always accompanying Domine Bertholf when he went thereto preach. He and his wife were great grandparents of Catharine ^'an Houten, the maternal grandmother of the Rev. Isaac D. Cole. 48. Jax Waard or \Vaart and his wife, Grietje De Puw. For her see above. Of him I have no information. 49. James Weller and his wife, Bethe. I cannot fix these parties. They were never members of the Tappan church. 50. Frans W'ey. No information. These names have covered all the heads of families and all the 224 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMOS Church members at Tappan during the first sixteen years of the settlement, from 1686 to 1702. A few of them were Huguenots, but most of them were Hollanders. All of them, of both classes, were of the Reformed faith, and all understood and spoke the Holland language. All were faithful Church goers. They were of the best blood of the early Holland and French immigrations. INIost of their names, as we have seen, ran through the Harlem, Brooklyn, Bergen, Hackensack, Acquackanonk, and Tarrytown Churches, as well as through their own. They well knew their The Reformed Church of Tappan, — 171 6. Bibles and their Church's history, and the)' were progenitors of later men who fought valiantly in civil and Church conflicts, and of man}' ministers of Christ_, two of whom, in immediate succession, filled their own pulpit for a continuous period of fifty-two years. From the very first day of the settlement in 1686, every head of a family had supremelv on his mind the importance of religion and education. At the verv outset, while putting up log houses for their own temporary homes, they remembered to include one of the same sort for Church and school purposes. This served them HISTOKIES OF THE CHURCHES Hi, as their only church and school house till they could command sufficient means to erect a more substantial structure. In 1716, they built their first solid church. A picture of it, taken from their Church seal, adopted in 1783, and still in use, is herewith fur- nished. Xo history of its construction has come down t(j us. In it [Major Andre was tried, condemned and sentenced in 1780. It The Reformed Church of Tappan, — 1788. stood unchanged till 178S, when it was rec(jnstructed ^\-ith enlarge- ment. The enlarged building stood just fort}--se\'en \'ears.* It is well remembered by several persons still living. It was entirely removed in 1835, and replaced with the present house, which is now sixt3'-six vears old. Till 1729, the congregation owned no property except its church building- and the graveyard attached, with limits nearly as * The histon' of its construction and architecture is described in the "History of the Re- formed Church of Tappan," of 1S94. 226 HISTORV of the CLASSlS OP tARAMtrS still seen. In 1729, Daniel de Clerck, Pieter Haring-, Johannes (Gerritsen) Blauvelt, Lambert (Ariaensen) Smith and Cosyn Har- ing, all orig-inal patentees and perhaps the only ones then living at Tappan, gave it ninety-seven acres of land, as a token of their "good will and affection." The Consistory in that year, as will be shown below, had but recently called a first actual pastor for the Church, and had engaged to provide him with a residence. At once, upon receiving this gift, they proceeded to erect their par- sonage, which is still standing, but has been several times re- paired and on one or two occasions considerably enlarged, so that it is much changed since 1729. The Rev. Guiliam Bertholf. * Religious life, as we have already seen, was in and with the Tappan community from the very start. The log house, put up at once, had been faithfully used. Perhaps Dirck Storm, of whom some account has been given, had conducted the neighborhood re- ligious meetings during the eight years and more that preceded the formal founding of the Church. But probably also, Guiliam (Wil- liam) Bertholf, who had come to America in 1686, and had been at Hackensack and Acquackanonck as a lay worker from that year, had been often on the Tappan ground and given the people en- couragement. In 1693, the Church of Hackensack, seven years old, and the Church of Acquackanonk, just organized, had sent him to Holland to be examined and, if found qualified, to be or- dained and set apart as their pastor. In February 1694, he re- turned with full power, and at once began his work. He was the first Reformed Church minister of New Jersey, and seems to have studied all territory within his reach, and to have faithfully used every opportunity God gave him to promote already begun work, and to start new work for Christ. The Church of Tappan does not, as I formerly thought, owe its being to him. It grew out of the vital consecration of the original Tappan settlers. But it was organized by him October 24, 1694, and though he was never installed over it as a pastor, he was its real founder, and its only ministerial supervisor from 1694 till his death. For at least thirty years, he administered its sacraments, and kept the * The speUing is "Guiliam," direct from the "Huis Books," and always so written in American records that are authoiitative. The Domine himself generally signedhisname simply "G. Bertholf," but when writing in full "Guiliaem Bertholf " The "U" is an error, taken from the Huguenot spelling — "Guillaume," used in our early records by Huguenot Clerks (See ' History of the Reformed Church of Tappan," page 12). HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 227 closest watch over its minutes and records, which have come down to us complete for his whole period. So far as is known, the Church under his care, was always at peace and in good con- dition. The Voorlesers of his time were Dirck .Storm first, and later Jan Van Dalssen. Tradition represents him as a man of deep piety and spiritualit)'. We do not need tradition to prove to us that he was a tireless worker in his ^Master s cause. We have not the date of his death, but a still extant deed, bearing date February i6, 1626, has the signatures of himself and his wife. He was then seventy years of age. He probably died in that year, as he does not appear on any record of a later date. It is said that his remains were interred beneath the pulpit of the first Hackensack church. We deeply regret that no portrait has come down to us of this eminently faithful and widely useful man.* The Rev. Frederic ^Iuzelius. Upon the death of Domine Bertholf, the congregation deter- mined upon establishing a formal pastorship for itself. It was led to the choice of the Rev. Frederic ^Muzelius, a young minister born in German}' January 5, 1704, of whose histor)' before his settlement at Tappan nothing is now known. He was called November, 1727, and served twenty-two years, till November, 1749, when his pastorate was dissolved. He lived about thirty- two and a half years longer, till April 7, 178 2. His remains lie in the oldest Tappan graveyard, within a few feet of the rear of the church. The original stone marking the spot, has out- weathered almost a dozen decades. The inscription upon it is easily legible still. It is given here with exact spelling and pointing. "Here Lies Inter'd the Body of Rev. Frederic ^luzelius, who Departed This Life the Seventh of April, One Thousand Seven Hundred Eighty Two. Born in Germany Anno Domini, One Thousand 1704, Aged 78 Years, Three Months, Two Days." Of Domine Muzelius scholarship or pulpit power, no testi- mony remains. Xor can we judge what results he would have left behind him as a pastor, had there been united and peaceful conditions around him in his congregation. His ministry fell upon a time of fearful strain in our American Reformed Church. * For a sketch of the Rev, GLiiliam Bertholf, seep. i6t of this volume; also the "His- tory of the Reformed Church of Tappau." 2 28 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS From its start in 1628, it had been so absolutely subject to the mother Church in Holland, that every American contemplating the ministry, had been compelled to cross the ocean to study, or at least to be examined, ordained and installed. This had now been going on for a hundred years. But meanwhile the Church had been growing. By the beginning of Domine Muzelius' min- istry, many were clamoring for the establishment of a college and a seminary in America, and for the founding here of a Ccetus (or Classis) with power to examine, ordain and install. But there was a large opposing element. Alany were for a Con- ferentie (or Conference body) which should cherish the existing connection. The story of the conflict is an old and long one. Two bodies, respectively known as "The Ccetus" and "The Conferentie'' were organized, and a conflict, whose details came to fill volumes of record, started on its way and lasted for many years. The Tappan congregation was terribly rent by it. Dom- ine Muzelius at first seemed to favor the Ccetus, but soon gave himself up with his whole soul to the Conferentie. His entire Consistory and most of his people were for the Ccetus. The Domine developed such a spirit during the years that it became necessary to suspend him from the ministry. , The Classis of Amsterdam, which had at first attributed his zeal to intense de- votion to the mother Church, finally seeing that he was a victim of ungovernable passion and dangerous to the Church, concurred first in his censure and then in his suspension. This brought his pastorate to an enforced end in November, 1749. By mutual agreement the Church furnished to him during his subsequent long period of retirement a residence and an annuity. He bound himself by a written compact * in the sum of two hundred pounds, not to preach or perform any ministerial acts publicly or privately in Reformed congregations in the vicinity, and not to foment or encourage schisms, divisions or dissensions among the people of the said congregations. Yet from his suspension till his death, more than thirty-two years, he kept up a continuous vio- lation of this compact. In 1768, he actually organized a schis- matic congregation in Tappan. This congregation he held to- gether till 1779 — eleven years — when it broke down, partly no doubt as the result of his own old age and infirmity, but prob- ably more yet as an outcome of the glorious Reformed Church * See "History of the Reformed Church of Tappan," p. 66. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 229 peace of 1771, whose effect must by that time have been accepted by the entire American people. All this history is very painful, of course. That the Tappan Church outlived its period is proof of divine ^'itality in our Lord's Church as an institution. It is a historic comment on His own words — "The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.'' The business development of the Church under Domine Muzelius' ministry (1727-1749) \\'as important. It came into possession ot its ninety-seven acres of land in 1729. Fiftj^-five of these acres lay to the north and west of the church, and forty- two acres, all woodland, lay about a mile to the south in New Jersey. The parsonage, as stated, was built at once on the re- ceiving of the land. The numerical growth was also important, as there was no other Church within many miles to which new- comers could resort. Two hundred and eighty persons were added to the communion, all but sixt3'-six of them on profession of their faith. The baptisms during the period were 1125. During the month after this pastorate closed, December, 1749), the Reformed Church of New Hempstead (now Clarks- town was organized as an offshoot from Tappan. From 1 749 to 1830 — eight)'-one years — the two Churches maintained joint re- lations, having but one pastor between them. They were first served by Domine Verbryck from 1740 to 1784, and last by Domine Lansing from 1784 to 1830. From 1830 they have maintained separate pastoral relations. The Rev. S.ajiuel Verbryck. The second pastor of the Church was the Rev. Samuel Ver- bryck. He was born April 30, 1721, at Raritan, N. J. He studied under Domines John Leydt, John H. Goetschius, Ben- jamin Van der Linde, and Theodorus J. Frelinghu)'sen. His ministerial record begins with a commendation of him to the Coetus by Domine Frelinghuysen, as "a most diligent scholar and of fine promise." At the Domine's suggestion, the Coetus asked and obtained permission of the Classis of Amsterdam to examine him and license him to the ministry. He was licensed in November, 1749. The two congregations of Tappan and New Hempstead sent him a joint call dated June 17, 1740. The call was approved by the Coetus at its fall meeting, and he was reg- ularly ordained and installed September 11. I used to hear in my boyhood from people who had been his parishioners, splen- 230 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS did tributes to tlie manly cliaracter of Domine Verbryck, but do not remember ever to have heard allusions to him as a preacher. What was especially magnified by his old friends was his re- markable fitness for his very peculiar times. I ■well knew all his four sons, and received much from them concerning their father. His record is well preserved. He was called to face the most desperate struggles both in Church and state, and he carried himself through them with wonderful judgment and courage, and with wonderful success. Within his Church circle he had close at his side from first to last the bitter Muzelius, always de- faming him and plotting against him. Strange to say, his treacherous foe had some following in the Tappan Church and even among ministers in the country. I have spoken of the schismatic Church he started in 1768. We have its record book in our possession. It shows 165 baptisms, giving of course the names of the parents. It reveals through these names to some extent, the strength of his adherents, and the number of the fam- ilies he drew off from the Tappan Church. From this record we may understand the local conditions he was compelled to con- front. And then, within the wider circle of the whole Reformed denomination, he was called to the handling of a great trust. Devoted as he was to the views of the Coetus, he became one of strong leaders to whom we o"we the starting of our college at New Brunswick in 1766. He was one of its trustees from its organization to his death. Th en too, it must be remembered that within his time, the American Revolution occurred. He was devotedly attached to the American cause, sacrificed much for it, and is said to have but narrowly escaped arrest and im- prisonment for his zeal. Tappan is eminently historic ground. It was the county seat of Orange county at the time. Its Court House of the day, built in 1739, ^^^^^ burned in 1774, it was be- lieved, by the loyalists. The result was the removal of the county seat to New City, The Andre episode of 1780 also con- nects with Tappan. Andre was confined in the village tavern, built in 1755 and still standing, but he was tried, condemned and sentenced in the Reformed Church, and executed on the hill to the west of the village. Before the war came to an end, the Domine was obliged to change his residence to Clarkstown as a measure of safety. On Sabbath morning, January 25, 1784, he was taken ill at the residence of one of his sons at Tappan HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 23 1 just as his people were gathering at the Church to hear him preach. He died on the following Saturda}', January 31. His remains were interred on ^Monday, February 2, in a new ceme- tery, which had just then been set apart on the west side of the Greenbush (now Blauvelt) road. His grave was probably the first opened in that ground. The Church record of baptisms under Domine Verbryck, as in fact from 1694 to now, is perfect. The total number of bap- tisms for this pastorate was 11 53. The member roll for this per- iod, ho'wever, is very defective. It was lost. All we have of it now was made up from inquiry and memory during the later period of Domine Lansing. The marriage record from 1754 to 1784 is wholly lost. Xo property transaction of prominence connects with the time of Domine Verbryck. The Church se- cured incorporation for itself in New York state in 1783, and in New Jersey at a little later date. The Rev. Nicholas Lansing. The third pastor of the Church was the Rev. Nicholas Lan- sing. He was a representative of one of the oldest families of .\lban3', N. Y. , a descendant of Frederick Lansing, of the town of Hassel, in the province of Over)^ssel, Netherlands, whose son, Gerritt Frederick Lansing, settled in Albany about 1650. His parents were John Jacob Lansing, born in 171 5, and Catharina, daughter of Nicholas Schuyler and Elsie \Vendell. He was born at Albany, September 20, 1748. In early life he was master of a sailing vessel, running between New York and Albany, ^\'hile pursuing this calling he was converted, when about thirty years of age, and not a gr^at while thereafter believed himself called of God to the Gospel ministry. He was called to the joint pastor- ate of the Tappan and New Hempstead Churches, August 11, and installed December 5, 1784. This joint pastorate he held till April, 1830, when at nearly eighty years of age he gave up New Hempstead, by that time long known as Clarkstown. In his pastorate at Tappan, however, he continued five years longer, till his death on the twenty-sixth of September, 1835. His remains, like those of Domine ^'erbryck, lie in the ceme- tery on the west side of the Blauvelt road. During Domine Lansing's time, the old church of 17 16 was rebuilt with enlargement in 1788, and the parsonage underwen '^ 232 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS extensive changes in 1797 and again in 1835. The forty-two acres of woodland in New Jersey were sold early in his ministry. The first church building at Clarkstown, erected in 1752, gave way to a new church in 1825. The Greenbush (now Blauvelt) Presbyterian Church was formed in 18 12, and the Nyack Presby- terian Church in 18 16, both from his Tappan and Clarkstown congregations. Both would have been Reformed Churches, but for resolute opposition with which Domine Lansing and his Con- sistory resisted their formation. Early in Domine Verbryck's ministry, the "English Presbyterian Church" of New Hempstead, and the Reformed Church of West New Hempstead had been formed out of the Church of Clarkstown. And again in 1822, the famous "Secession" under its assumed name of "The True Reformed Dutch Church" had drawn off families from both the Tappan and Clarkstown Churches. Through all these move- ments began and went forward great historic changes upon the territory with which the Tappan Church had started in 1694. At its organization, it commanded the whole area of the present Rockland county, and a very large portion of the northern part of Bergen county, N. J., besides. At the death of Domine Lan- sing, with very few exceptions, not a family of the congregation lived more than four miles away from the church. The period of Domine Lansing at Tappan was not locally eventful. Of course the war of 18 12 occurred while it was pass- ing, but Tappan did not tryingly feel it. An interesting event took place in 182 1 — the exhumation and removal to England of the remains of Major Andre. I think the Domine took some part in a brief service held at the time. No portrait of Domine Lansing or of any one of his prede- cessors has come down to us. This is matter for deep regret, as they were all historic men. The personality of Domine Lansing was wonderfully unique. Already it has long been a subject of legendary spell, and it is sure to become more so as the years go on. But the chief characteristics of the man were his godly life, his soul-possessing convictions, his doctrinal solidity and his pulpit power. As to person, figure and movements he was tall, gaunt and ungainly. He was in such feeble health when he be- gan his studies that his relatives opposed the step, and his physi- cian insisted that he would never reach the pulpit. Yet he gained instead of losing in strength, and enjoyed a phenomenal Histories of the churches 233 vigor throughout his whole ministerial life. He wore the Con- tinental dress until the day of his death, though it had been so long discarded that to most people it had already become a real curiosity. All his movements and words were nervously impul- sive and many of them were fiery and impassionate. His life was a perpetual drive of energy applied to all matters alike, whether small or great. Vet he never broke down in his work. His whole nature was pervaded with his religion, and with the spirit of consecration to his ]\laster. He was an indefatigable student of the Bible in its original, and also of the Latin and Greek fathers, and of the Latin theologians. He acquired much control over the scriptures, and his devotion to prayer was re- markable, causing him at times to spend a whole night in prayer. He knew every chord of the heart and every sensation of it. His sermons were enriched with delineations in which as in a glass every Spirit-led hearer could see his own exercises reflected and explained. His last sermon was delivered September 13, 1835, and is said to have been one of the most powerfully impressive discourses of his life. In it he summed up the teaching of his ministry by saying, "I have never preached to you, 'Do and Live,' but always 'Live and Do.' " The world, both at home and abroad, during his half century at Tappan, made wonderful advance. Especially the Church of God unspeakably widened its field. The century of modern missions dawned. The ports of the world began to open. Signs of the coming of the kingdom vastly multiplied and brightened. The Domine saw these signs, and they stirred his Christ-loving soul to its deepest depths. His later sermons were full of en- thusiasm. My own child nature entered into them and was in- tensel}' moved. One of the brightest of my memories connects him with the 35th chapter of Isaiah. He read through its thrill- ing words the coming of the glory, and I am sure he thought it was not far away. I wonder how he sees and thinks about it now ! The Rev. Is.aac D. Cole. The fourth pastor of the Church was the Rev. Isaac D. Cole. He was a son of the Church. All his ancestral lines both of his father's and his mother's sides, had been with the Tappan settle- ment and Church from their very start. The name Cool (Cole) came into the Church membership in October, 1695, and had 234 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Thk Rkv. Isaac D. Cole. probabljr been in the Ideality in 1694, when the Church was or- ganized. And the names VanVorst, Meyer and Van Houten, all of his maternal ancestry, were in it equally early, the first having been among the original patentees. This pastor was literally a son of the Tap- pan Church, and his lines have never been unrepresented in it to this day. The line of Jacob Cool has given five of its sons to the ministry of the Gos- pel, three of whom have served in the aggregate of their terms, more than a century in pastorates in the Re- formed Church. * After his graduation from the Sem- inary in 1829, he became at once an assistant to Domine Lansing, then eighty-one years of age, still pastor of the two Churches of Tappan and Clarks- town, and preaching in the two on alternate Sabbaths. His work in this assistant relation calling for but half his time, the other half was in April, 1 830, engaged by the North Church of Schraalenburgh, which was, at that time, jointly with Hacken- sack, under the pastorate of the Rev. James \. C. Romeyn. These relations continued till April, 1831, when the assistant was called, ordained and installed at Tappan as an associate pastor. He kept up his services at Schraalenburgh, however, in addition to his work at Tappan, till December, 1832, when both were terminated by his acceptance of a call to the Second Reformed Church of Totowa, at Paterson, N. J. After a service of just one year in that Church, being recalled bj' his old people to the associate pastorship with Domine Lansing, under adequate provision for his support, he returned to Tappan, December, 1833, and began that long ministry there which was not finally closed by Classi- cal act till February 9, 1864. He had, however, resigned in Oc- tober, 1863, and had since that time been only awaiting that act for his formal release. hi all, he was in the active ministry thirty-four years, all but one of which were given to this Church. His wife, Anna Maria Shatzel, granddaughter on her mother's * see Dr. Cole',s "History of tlie Reformed Church of Tappan," and the sketch of Second Totowa Church in thi.s volimie.— E^DS. HISTORIES OF THE CHl'RCHES 233 side of Ebenezer Wood, deputy sheriff of Orange county for the fifty years preceding the erection of Rockland county in 1798, died August 16, 1S63. This event, concurring •\\'ith his uwu 1,1- creasing years and consciously diminishing strength tor his heavy pastoral work, determined him upon the retirement from active service which so soon followed. His last fourteen and a half years of earthly life were spent at Spring \'alley, X. Y.. where he had been born January 25, 1799. His death occurred August 30, 1S78. The present house of worship, built in 1835, the enlargement The Reformed Church of Tappax, — 183: of the parsonage to the north in the same vear, and the erection of the present lecture room in 1859, '^vere the prominent business transactions of the Church during my father's period. The prom- inent national event was the outbreak of our Civil War of 1861 to 1865. The draft of this war on Rockland county for men and means, felt severely within the first vear of the ne.xt pastorate, is detailed in the two count\' histories written in recent years. The records of the Church, kept by mv father himself from 1829 to 1864, are complete. None of its baptisms or marriages 236 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS have been printed, but its Consistorymen and its members received are all printed with the Church history of 1894. The Church founder and its first four pastors whose periods I have thus reviewed, have all passed from the earth. All of them, except Domine Bertholf, are sleeping- as to their remains, in the grave yards of the Tappan Church. Their aggregate length of service amounted to 170 years — an average of thirty-four years to each. If there are any others, are there manv Churches in the land that can show a record like this .'' From 1864, there have been three successive pastors in charge, all of whom are still living, — the R.ev. George Mancius Smedes Blauvelt, 1864-1882, the Rev. W. Hall Williamson, 1883-1889, and the Rev. Matthew Newkirk Oliver, who was installed in No- vember 1890, and is the pastor of today. The statistics of these ministers and the prominent events of their periods may be given, but the time for characterization of the men has of course not yet come. The Rev. George M. S. Blauvelt. The fifth pastor was the Rev. George M. S. Blauvelt. He was born at Lamington, N. J., December 8, 1832, was gradu- ated from the University of the City of New York in 1850, and from Princeton Seminary in 1853; '"'^-S ordained by the Presby- tery of Passaic, September 21, of the ^, ■ " ., same )^ear, and was pastor of Presby- terian Churches successivel)^ at Ches- ter, N. J., Racine, Wis., and Lyons Farms, N. J., from 1853 to 1864. His call to Tappan was approved and ac- cepted in Classis at its session of Feb- ruary 9, 1864. He began his work at once, and continued at Tappan about eighteen years and a half, till the fall of 1882, when he accepted a call to Easton, Pa. In 1890, he became pas- tor of the Reformed Church of Franklin Therev.Geobge M.S. Blauvelt. Park, (formerly Six Mile Run) N. J., where he continues in active service at the present time. The Rev. Mr. Blauvelt is descended from Gerrit Hendricksen (Blauvelt) of Deventer, Holland, through his third son, Johannes HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 237 Gerritsen (Blauvelt), one of the original Tappan patentees, a founder of the Tappan Church, and one of its land-givers of 1729. * His father was the Rev. William Warren Blauvelt, D. D., born in 1800, a graduate of Queen's Cpllege in 18 14, a noted teacher and minister of the Gospel, and widely known in his day as the able and faithful pastor, for sixty-two years, of the Presbyterian Church of Laming- ton, N. J. He died in 1888. His wife was Anna Alaria Hutton, a sister of the late Rev. Mancius H. Hutton, D. D., of New York city, and a granddaughter of Domine Mancius, a Reformed Church minister of more than a hundred years ago. Rev. Dr. Blauvelt had two uncles who were ministers in our Church, and has left behind him, besides the former Tappan pastor, another son, the Rev. Isaac Alstyne Blauuelt, long a pastor in the Presbyterian fold. The first year of the Rev. Mr. Blauvelt's pastorate at Tappan coincided with the closing year of our Civil ^^'ar, and was full to him and his Church of interesting incidents. * Under the long ministry of his predecessor, the Reformed Church of Piermont had been organized in 1838, and other Churches had come into being at Closter and Norwood. These new organizations had drawn off some families from the Tappan congregation, but it had kept up its numerical and financial strength. It was in good condition when the new pastor was installed. The year 1864 found high prices prevailing, but money was abundant, and the Church moved on with vigor. Costly work was at once done upon the parsonage, and expensive improvements, including the building of a fine organ, were made in the church. The people stood by the pastor with strong support. Much money was raised and all expenses were readily met. The Church audiences kept up through the whole eighteen and a half years. They were remarkable especially for the number of young men always in attendance. Yet in the late days of this pastorate, it was noticed that deaths brought trying losses not made up to the Church. Many noted supporters passed away and were not replaced. The old farms came up for sale, and were bought by persons who had no interest in the village Church, some of them no interest in any Church or even in religion as a cause. Before this pastor left in 1882, he felt that the Church had lost at least some of the strength it had, during most of his time, so happily enjoyed. *See "History of the Reformed Church of Tappan," pp.iio-112. Also p. 213 of this volume. • See sketch of his life in the "History of the Reformed Church at Tappan." 238 HISTORY OF I'HE CLASSIS OF PAkAMUS The Rev. W. Hall Williamson. The sixth pastor of the Church was the Rev. \V. Hall Wil- liamson. The family is of Holland descent and for several gen- erations has resided at Neshanic, N. J. There is the old home- stead, still in the possession of the family and there, in the same old village, Mr. Williamson's great-grandparents, Cornelius Wil- liamson and his wife, Magdalene, daughter of Carpenter Hall, of English ancestry, were born, — the former, September i8, 1776; the latter, February 29, 1778. He is the son of Isaac Van Doren Williainson and Alaria Louisa Schenck. He was born at Flagtown, N. J., April 26, 1855. He graduated from Rutgers College in 1873, and followed civil engineering un- til 1876. In this year he was con- verted, and after teaching school for two years at Neshanic, entered the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, and was graduated and licensed to the ministry in 1881. He at once became pastor of the Re- formed Church at Annandale, N. J. His pastorate here was eminently successful. The Church prospered under his care, and not only its con- stituents, but the whole commu- nity, regretted his departure. He was called to Tappan July 2, and installed July 19, 1883. His pas- torate continued about six years and a half, till December, 1889, when he exchanged it for that of the Reformed Church of Irv- ing Park, 111. On the first of Maj^ 1890, he was installed pas- tor of the First Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is now settled as pastor of the Second Reformed Church of Philadelphia, to which he was called more than a year ago. The period of the Rev. Mr. Williamson at Tappan, did not bring up prominent business transactions. But it was remarka- ble for a powerful re\'i\'al of religion in the vicinity and the Church. The awakening began in Piermont, but quickly spread into the surrounding country. It became very active at 'I'appan. The Church held preaching services every night for six weeks, neighboring pastors assisting the Rev. Mr. Williamson in his The Rev, W. Hall Williamson. HISTORIES OI'- THE CHL'RCHKS n9 continuous work. Forty-five persons were added to the Church at the April communion. Whole families came together, and there were cases in which the children led the ])arents. The work had a deep effect upon the \'illat^e, which had lieen notahly careless on the subject of religion. It took on a new character. The pastorate of the Re\-. .Mr. Williamson will stand out in the Church's history as the season of this re\-i\-al, which can never be forg-otten by any who shared in its uplifting power. The Rev. M.vtthew X. Oliver. The se\-enth and present pastor of the Church is Rev. Mat- thew Xewkirk (Oliver. His father, James Oliver, M. D., traces descent from Andrew Oliver, who came to America from county Armagh, in the north of Ireland, about 1740. and settled in ^larbletown, Ul- ster county, X. \'., where he married Ann, daughter of Daniel Brodhead. His mother, Oitty, daughter of C(jr- nelius C. Cole and Christina Row, traces descent from 'I'eunis Ijastiaen- sen Kool. wh(j lirst apjjeared in Amer- ica in 1663.* Hewas born in Marble- t(jwn. Xo\'ember 12. 1834, was pre- jiared for college at the Libert}' Xor- mal Institute. Sullivan county, the Kingston Academy and the Dutchess Count}' .\cadem}'. He graduated fr(jm Cnion College in 1S57. He began to studv law, but «'as compelled b}- failing health to seek recuper- ation on his father's farm. His sister's death led him to change his -^'iews as to a profession, and his health im]iro\'ing he entered the Theological Seminar}- at X'ew Brunswick, and graduated therefrom in 1871. He was ordained and installed at Clo'\'er Hill. X'. ].. |ul}' II. 1871. In this charge he remained for thirteen years, ^lav 6. 1884. he became pastor of the Church of Rosen- dale, X. v.. where a \'erv successful ministrv was terminated 1)}' his call from the Church of Tappan. He was installed at Tappan on the second of Xo\'emlier, i8yo, *Thi.s correct-S a .Slight error in the "History of the Rel'oriiied Church of Tappan." ,See "Documentary' Histon' of New York," Vol. III. p. 6l: also Judge Marius Schoon- niaker's " History of Kingston," which gives Mr. Oliver's Cole ancestry clearly. The Rev. M.^tthkw N. Oliver. 2 40 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PAKAMUS and has now been in the service of the Church about ten years. In a letter written to me early in his pastorate, he wrote in part as follows : "The Tappan Church is passing through one of those crises which visit every congregation. It is in a state of transition from the old to the new order of things. The congregation is very dif- ferent from what it was during the long pastorates of the former ministers. The personnel of the congregation is rapidly changing. New ^-illages with new churches are springing up along the lines of the railroads. Travelling facilities are bringing in a new class of people. The work to be done is in some respects similar to that of forming a new congregation. In another respect it is one of re- adjustment to a new order of things. The church can never regain its original territorial proportions. But there is a possibility for the new element to be won over, and blended in time into a strong organization. Such a work is necessarily slow." This description is in line with what had at the time been for more than a score of years a growing forecast. Depletion had set in. * The families who filled the gloriously vigorous Church of the first two hundred years, are nearly all gone. They gave to the gen- eral Church and to the world at large descendants who still live but have left their original home. The Tappan of the future will be a new settlement. The quaint old village, hidden behind the Palisades since 1686, has already begun to feel, and will feel more and more the grasping life of the great city so near at hand. Families have disappeared, but they will be replaced. Church pews have lost their occupants, but they will be again in demand. The present pastor understands all this. Willing to "spend and be spent" for a Church whose history fills his soul with pride, he is taking in the situation, and plodding on in the faith of a future for his Church, nearer at hand, perhaps, than some of his people think. One of the great incidents of the Church during his pastorate was its bi-centennial celebration in October 1894. f He devoted him- self with unsurpassed earnestness to preparation for it, and his Con- sistory and people stood with him to make it a success. He has been keeping all along a manuscript journal of the events of his ministry at Tappan during this last decade of the nineteenth cen- tury. He is noted for his largeness of heart, his interest in the *See my address delivered at Nyack, N, Y., February 22, 1898, at the centennial exer- cise of the founding of Rockland county, published in Nyack the next dav. f The " His- tory of the Reformed Church of Tappan," to which reference is made in this article, was prepared and published by Dr. Cole, at the request of the Consistory of the Tap- pan Church, in commemoration of the Bi-centennial Anniversary. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 24' poor and suffering, and the courageous fidelit}' with which he with- stands everything he thinks will hurt, and sustains everything he thinks will help the locality and the Church. Both need the wil- ling support of the few who remain from the old stock of the past, and the cheerful help of new comers of Christian character, good judgment, and consecrated worldl)^ means. The region is one of exceptional beauty. Its attractions have long been acknowledged. Its day of awakening can not be long delayed. Prayer has been earnest for it. The blaster has earnest praying people in it now. It can not be considered poor even as to material possessions. A most valuable portion yet remains in its hands of the land gift of 1729. In the event of a strain greater than any condition of the present threatens, this might become its God-given strength to carr)' it through. We commend it to the faith and prayer of all who have loved it. The Lord has done wonderful things for it in the past. He will do even more wonderful things for it in the fu- ture, of which its coming children will take note and which will make them glad. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF PARAMUS The Rev. William H. Vkoom, D. D. THE exact date of the organization of this Church is unknown. Its earliest official records have been lost. There is docu- mentary evidence that it was in existence and enjoyed the minis- trations of a regular pastor as early as 1725. A few interesting facts concerning some of the earliest set- tlers of this region have been preserved in an historical discourse by the Rev. A. B. Winfield, published in 1853. From this and other sources we have obtained the following items. One of the first white settlers of this region was Albert Saboroweski, who emigrated to this country from Poland in the Dutch ship "Fox" in the year 1662. He was then twenty years old; in due time he married a Miss Vander Linde, and settled in Hackensack. He had five sons from whom the numerous Zabriskies of Bergen county and vicinity are descended. John, the eldest, settled on the homestead in Hackensack. Jacob, the second son, was stolen by the Indians at seven years of age, but was after some time re- covered, and, having learned the Indian language, became an interpreter. The Indians claimed that they had taken him for that purpose. His father, through these transactions, ob- tained from the Indians a title to a large tract of land containing 1977 acres, and called, on an old surveyor's map, "The New Par- amus Patent." Here Jacob eventually settled, and built his house in 1 713 on a farm, near Blauvelt's mill, lately come in possession of Albert G. Hopper. The third son, George, settled in Schraal- enburgh; Henry, the fourth son, in the Point, on the place now owned by Albert P. Zabriskie; Christian, the fifth son, on what is known as the Wessel property, now in possession of Cornel- ius Z. Board. The Paramus Patent extended from the homestead of Mrs. Peter Board on the south, about four miles north to the residence of the late Stephen S. Berdan, and from the Saddle HISTORIES OK THE CHURCHES 24 3 River on the west, one and one half miles east to the Sprout Brook. The name Paramus is said to be derived from the Indian "Peremessing, ' so called because it abounded in wild turkey. The first white settlers called it "Peremesse," from which it be- came gradually changed to its present form. Hohokus, formerly called Hoppertown, was settled by John Hopper in 171 2, who no doubt was one of the first of that name in the county; his descendents are very numerous. Saddle River was first settled by the Hoppers and Ackermans. Aaron Ackerman was probably the first of that name in this coun- try. He came from Holland, and built where Aliram Ackerman Blauvelt now resides. That property has remained in the family to the present time, Mrs. Blauvelt being a descendant of the origi- nal proprietor in the direct line. A description of this region in 1778, written by an officer in the Revolution, and found in the Historical Collection, says : "This town is chiefly inhabited by Dutch people. Their church and dwelling houses are built of rough stone, one story high. There is a peculiar neatness in the appearance of their dwel- lings, having an airjf piazza supported b\- pillars in front, and their kitchens connected at the ends in the form of wings. The land is remarkably level, and the soil fertile; and, being generally advan- tageously cultivated, the people appear to enjoy ease and a happy competency. The furniture in their houses is of the most ordinary kind, and such as might be supposed to accord with the fashion of the days of Queen Anne. They despise the superfluities of life, and are ambitious to appear ahvavs neat and cleanl)'", and never to complain of an empty purse. "* Though there be no direct evidence, it cannot be doubted, that the Gospel was finst preached in this place by that devoted man of God, Guilliam Bertholf, who was settled over the Churches of Hackensack and Acquackanonk from 1694 to 1724, and also sup- plied Tappan during the same period. Considering the vast extent of countr)' over which he assumed a pastoral oversight, his visits to this settlement must have been few; but the people lived within the sphere of his regular charge, and attended upon his ministry, either at Hackensack, Acquackanonk, or Tappan, according to their proximity to those Churches It appears that the close of Bertholf 's ministry was marked by the organization of the two new ' See Winfield's Historical Discourse, pp. 14 — 17. 244 HlSTOR'f OF tHE CLASStS OF PARAMUS Churches of Schraalenburg-h and Paramus. These were now joined with Hacljensack in one pastoral charge. The Rev. Reinhardt Erickzon. The first minister called under this arrangement, and, there- fore, the first pastor at Paramus was Reinhardt Erickzon, whose ministry began in 1725 and continued three years. He was born about 1700, and was educated in Holland. The records of the Classis of Amsterdam, lately recovered by Dr. E. T. Corwin, show that he was examined, and ordained by the laying on of hands, by the Classis of Amsterdam, on September 3, 1725, for the pur- pose of accepting the call, "authorized by the Consistory of the Reformed Church of New Barbadoes, [Hackensack], Schraalen- burgh and Peeremus, situated in New Jersey."* A letter written by him to his brother-in-law, the Rev. Henricus Coens, in 1725, also mentions that he was then the minister at "Hackensack, Schraalenburgh and Peeremus." Here we are upon sure ground. The results of Erickzon's ministry cannot now be stated, on account of the loss of the early records of the Church, but his sub- sequent ministry in Schenectady, N. Y. , was very successful. "He was of considerable intellectual ability, highly esteemed by his ministerial associates, and influential in the councils of the Church. He was the first president of the Coetus. His last pas- toral charge was at Freehold and Middletovvn, X. J., where, after twenty-eight years of service, he fell a victim to the drinking cus- toms of the day and was excluded from the pulpit. He died in 1771."* The Rev. George W. Mancius. After a vacancy of two years, a second pastor was called in 1730, in the person of George W. Mancius, who served this Church together with Schraalenburgh about two years. He was a young man, and not connected with the Classis of Amsterdam at the time of his settlement, but afterwards, in 1732, placed himself under its care. In that j^ear the Church of Kingston, N. Y., made a call upon him and enjoyed his services during the re- mainder of his active life. The Coetus controversy raged during his time, and, while he was at first strongly in favor of the inde- 'Acts of Classis of Amsterdam," Vol. XXII, p. 8i. "Brick Church Memorial" by the Rev. T. W. Welles, 1877, and Corwin's Manual, p. 257. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 245 pendence of the American Churches, he became very conservative, and finally joined the Conferentie. He built up a powerful Church in Kingston with a membership of 420 at the close of his labors, and died September 6, 1762. There was as yet no Church edifice at Paramus, and services must have been held in some private building. The erection of a church, however, had been under contemplation for several years. As early as Xo\'ember 17, 1726, Peter Fauconier had placed in the hands of the people of Paramus a written promise on behalf of himself and his partners, to convey to them a piece of land, "just over the Saddle River adjoining to John Boskirck's land, for the encouragement of their erecting of a protestant Church, and the procuring of a minister to serve the same." And on December 26, 1730, he executed a similar paper now in the archives of the Church, in which he alluded to the former paper, and definitely proposed to convey to the two Churches of Schraalenburgh and Paramus jointly, forty-five acres of land as before described, on condition "that there shall be in both churches a fit place appropriated for seven of the owners of the said tract, or their heirs to sit in for- ever," and also that "the intended minister' (alluding probably to George W. ^ilancius who was about to settle over these Churches) "and his successors do actually come and live thereon." It is not surprising that the people did not accede to this proposal. Now that iNIr. Mancius was gone, the congregation was with- out both church and minister. It was very difficult to obtain min- isters in those days and no regular pastor M^as settled again for about sixteen years. Nevertheless, the people were not wholly deprived of the preaching of the Word, for Antonius Curtenius, who was the pastor at Hackensack, and for the latter portion of the term at Schraalenburgh also; and Johannes Van Driessen of Acquack- anonk, supplied the pulpit from time to time and administered the sacraments. The baptismal register shows that that rite was frequently administered. The vitality of the Church is also shown by the fact, that, though destitute of a pastor, they proceeded dur- ing the vacancy to the erection of a Church edifice and carried the work to completion. The First Church Edifice. A meeting of the Consistory and congregation was held on January 15, 1734, at the house of Johannes Wynkoop; when Con- 246 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS radus Vanderbeck and Johannes Wynkoop were chosen as a com- mission to build the church. They were to act in accordance with an elaborate set of regulations, embracing sixteen articles, drawn up and adopted by that meeting. In them provision was made for a just and satisfactory apportionment of the seats when the building should be completed, so that the rights of every person who contributed to the enterprise in money, materials, or labor, should be secured. Special provision was made for the old and deaf and indigent persons, by the assignment of favorable sittings to their use; also for the preservation of sound doctrine by the ex- clusion from the pulpit of all ministers not properly authenticated. On April 2t, 1735, the corner-stone was laid. The site was almost the same as that of the present church. The ground was furnished by Peter Fauconier. It was not the forty-five acres formerly alluded to, but the plot occupied by the present build- ings — church, chapel and sheds — and the old graveyard ad- joining the church. As a consideration for the same, he was guaranteed the use of seats for himself and his wife, and their heirs, for a continual possession to be exempt from all charges by the Church, except for the minister's salary. This agreement was faithfully executed. The building, like most of the Dutch churches of that period, was of stone, with an octagonal roof, and the steeple in the centre. Instead of pews, it was furnished with chairs, on the back of each of which was inscribed the name of its owner. The bell rope came down into the middle of the church. This building served the needs of a large congregation for sixty-five years. The territory covered was for a long time about fifteen miles square. Within the same limits there are now thirty-three churches, eleven of our own order, and twenty-two of other names. The Rev. Benjamin Vander Linde. At length, in 1748, Providence opened the way for the settle- ment of another pastor by raising up a young minister in the neighborhood. This was Benjamin Vander Linde. He was born at Pollifly, near Hackensack, in 171 9, and was a relative of the wife of the first Zabriskie. He studied theology under Dorsius, and the elder Goetschius, and was the first minister licensed by the Coetus in this country. The Classis of Amsterdam, after a correspondence upon the subject, consented that he might be ex- HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 247 amined here, by the ministers in Coetus assembled, in the name of the Classis. This is confirmed by the recently procured rec- ords of the Classis of Amsterdam. In a report rendered by the Rev. Deputies ad Res Exteras, under date of January 9, 1748, it is said: "The young- man, [Benjamin] Vander Linde, to whom our assembly has heretofore granted permission to be examined by the Coetus in that country, thanked us by a letter, for our resolution." The event was regarded at the time as portentous, because, posoibly, foreshadowing a future separation from the mother Church. The examination took place in the spring of 1748, and was sustained. No sooner had Mr. ^'ander Linde been licensed than he received a call to become joint pastor of the two churches of Paramus and the Ponds. These charges were separated by ten miles of rugged country; yet the relation then formed continued without interruption for forty-one years, till the faithful pastor was summoned by the ^Master to lay clown his staff and enter upon his reward. ^Ir. Vander Linde's call is still preserved in the archives of each of the Churches. It was the first to be passed without the approval of the Classis of Amsterdam and differs considerabl)' from the con- stitutional form now in use. It was printed in the " ^Manual and Record of the Church of Paramus" 1859. It provided that he should "preach once each Sabbath, and, on the first and second day of Christmas, on New Year's da)', on the first and second day of Easter, on Ascension da)"", and on the first and second of Whit- sunday. " On Sabbath afternoons he was to catechise the children. He was to serve four times at Paramus and the fifth at the Ponds. On one Sabbath he was to preach on a text of his own choice, on the next, on the Heidelberg Catechism. If the Ponds raised more money then the)' might have service every third Sabbath, • but no farther. The salary was to be sixty pounds, current money in use in New Jersey and New York, paid in semi-annual installments, with an increase as soon as the congregation was able. The increase was made at a later time to ^"96. Besides this, Paramus agreed to furnish a suitable parsonage, with forty-five acres of land and firewood. He was also allowed four free Sabbaths. 248 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS The call was moderated by The Rev. A. Curtenius, and signed by the following names : Elders — Albert Van Dien, Steve. Terhune, Jan Romyn, Bar- ent Van Hoorn, Hendrik Van Aele, Raelof Van Houte. Deacons — Johannes Stek, Klaes Zabriski, Albert Bogart, Si- mon Van Winkle, Cornelius Van Houte, Steve Bogart. A spirit of earnest piety, warmhearted love and liberality per- vaded this call; and there is evidence that the pastorate which followed was fruitful and blessed. The whole period was exceed- ingly troubled with political and military excitements. In the earlier part, the French and Indian wars raged fiercely, and in the latter the war of the Revolution. The tremendous civil agitation incident to the break between the colonies and Great Britain, the adoption of the constitution and the establishment of a new gov- ernment distracted the country, and dissipated religious feeling and energy. The services in many Churches were suspended for considerable periods. The Paramus edifice was used by the gov- ernment for a time as a place for keeping prisoners of war. A portion of Washington's correspondence is dated at Paramus. Yet from the beginning of Vander Linde's ministry till the opening of the Revolution, elders and deacons were elected regularly each year with one exception only (1761), and during the war and thence forward to the end of the century — though all records for the period are lost except that of the baptisms — the Classis held its sessions regularly, and this Church had its minister and elder present almost invariably. The baptismal register shows great fidelity in the use of that ordinance; and the list of members sub- sequently gathered to constitute a new roll, shows that many prec- ious fruits had been gathered during those troubled years. Two j^ears after Vander Linde's settlement, 1750, Mrs. Mag- dalen Valleau, a daughter of the before mentioned Peter Fauconier, the donor of the Church lot, deeded to the Consistory of the Church forty-five acres of land, the same presumably which her father had proposed to give on different conditions, twenty years before. The original deed of this conveyance is still in the possession of the Consistory, and is recorded in the clerk's office of the county of Bergen, in book G of deeds, folio pp. 282-284, on the twentieth of June, 1794. Its date is, "the thirteenth day of April, in the twenty-third year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord, George the Second, by the grace of God of Great Britain, HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 249 France and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith, etc. Anno Dom- ini, One thousand, seven hundred and fifty.' It states that this land is given, "for and in Consideration of three places or seats, in the Peremus Church, that is to say, one woman's place, and two men places; also for Divers other good Causes and consider- ation and her thereimto mi;i\'ing, and especiall)' for promoting the good and benefit of the said Church and congregation." A portion of this land has been sold, but the greater part is still in possession of the Church, and is comprised in the present parsonage farm, and in the eastern part of the cemetery, named " Valleau, " in honor of the generous donor. The present year is the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of this notable gift. ;\Irs. Valleau at that time was a resident of Hackensack, but there is a well-authenticated tradition that upon her death her remains were laid to rest in the old graveyard near the monument recently erected to the memorv of some of her descendants. The pastorate of 'Sh. ^''ander Linde was troubled with eccle- siastical as well as civil excitements, for it was at this period that the great controversv between the Ccetus and Conferentie raged. Though licensed and ordained through the Coetus it appears that his s}'mpath)r was with the Conferentie during the earlier part of the contest; )'et the Ccetus, being the party of progress and inde- pendent life, was destined to win, however learned and respect- able the other party might be, and in the final settlement the Par- amus pastor and elders were found supporting the "Plan of Union,' and in favor of an independent American Church. He and his Elder, .Stephen Zabriskie, were members of the famous convention, held in New York in 1771, to devise measures of peace between these parties; and he and Elders Frederick Van Rype and Arent Schuyler were members at the convention held the next year at the same place when the "Plan of Union' was subscribed and the independence of the Church proclaimed. After the war of the Revolution, the old church was found greatly damaged by the strange use it had served, and in need of extensive repairs. The Great Consistory and a number of the congregation assembled, on the 23rd of June, 1785, and agreed that the decayed church should be rebuilt as speedih' as prac- ticable, and restored as it was before; and that the sum of eight shillings. New York money, should be laid upon each seat (chair), to be paid on peril of forfeiture of the seat to the Church. 250 HISTORY or THE CLASSIS 01' PARAMUS In this way the work was completed and paid for, and the need of the, people was served for fifteen years longer till the present building was erected. During the same year, 1785, in December, the Classis of Hack- ensack was in session in this church, when a petition came up from the people of Ramapo, to be organized into a separate Church. These people formerly attended at Paramus and a number of them held seats there. The request was granted unanimously, and they became the first off-shoot from the Paramus stock. Two years later, in 1787, a similar request for organization was made by the people at Pascack, but subsequently it was with- drawn, and that colony did not separate till twenty-five years later. But about the year 1784, the impossibility of accommodating the people at Paramus, led the pastor and Consistory to seek means of relief After due deliberation, they decided to build another church at Saddle River, six miles northward, for the ac- commodation of that part of the congregation, and to inaugurate a Consistory there to look after the interests of that people. But, at the same time, it was provided that no separation from Paramus should take place. The two Consistories were always to consti- tute one bod)^ and have every interest in common. To secure this arrangement a very solemn and stringent instrument of writing was drawn up, under date of January 7, 1788, and signed by both Consistories, binding and obliging themselves and their successors in office, both elders and deacons, that they should never attempt to separate the two congregations, but that they should always be united under the strongest bonds of love and peace; that, "One Church shall not, nor may not tear away nor fall away from the other, without the consent of the majority of the whole great Consistory," of both of the organizations. It also pro- vided that the minister, when there was one only, should live at Paramus, and, "that the oldest Church, that of Paramus, should be accounted and considered in every respect whatever as the mother Church, by both the aforesaid congregations." It was also agreed, that, in case of backsliding, or falling away, on the part of either without consent, such party should forfeit its church building and two acres of land on which it stood, to the other faithful Church. This remarkable agreement which held securely for twenty- three years, shows why the Saddle River Church, though it had a HISTORIES OF THE CHlRfHES form of organization, and was afterwards separately incorporated, had no independent ecclesiastical existence and was not reported in theClassis till its separation from Paramus in i8i i. The Rev. (iERARDus A. Kivpers, D. D. 'Sir. \'ander Idnde was now g-rowing old, and the addition of the Saddle River Church added much labor to his charge. The Consistory, therefore, in 178S, called the Rev. Cerardus Arense Kuypers, a voung man just licensed, to preach the Gospel, to be his colleague. He was the son of the Rev. \\'armoldus Kuvpers, and was born in 1766, in the Dutch colon v of Curacoa, ^vhither his father had gone from Holland as a past(jr. When (jerardus was two )'ears old his father removed to this country, and liecame pastor eventually in the churches of Hackensack and .^chraalenburgh. The son, therefore, was eilucated wholly in this country. He sat first at the feet of the distinguished Peter Wilson, LL. D.. of Hacken- sack Seminary: and later, under the theological training of his father, and Drs. Romeyn and ^Meyer. Li- censed at nineteen, he became at once a pastoral colleague of !\[r. Vander Linde. The Collegiate Church of New York sent him a call almost immediately, \\diiclr he at first declined, on account of his obligation to this Church: but upon its renewal, the next year, 1789, he felt it his duty to accept. He was dismissed from Par- amus April I^. 1789, having served the Church ten months only. I^r. Kuvpers afterward officiated in the old Garden street Church in the Dutch language, but at length was constrained to use the English, his last service in Dutch being in 1803. He was a man of fine presence, polished manners, well read in theology, and a noted student of the Bible. His preaching was spiritual, his pastoral gifts neither few nor small: withal he was modest, retiring, and clothed with humility. He died in 1833, after a ministry of forty- five years in all, being, at the time of his death, the senior pastor of the Collegiate Church, and likewise senior of the pastors of all de- The Rkv. Gerardtts a. Kvypers, D.D. 252 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS nominations in the city of New York. * The portrait here presented is a copy of a painting in possession of the Collegiate Church, and kindly furnished for this work. "The venerable Vander Linde did not long survive the depar- ture of his youthful colleague. Within less than three months, July 8, 1789, he was called to a better world at the age of 70 years. He had seen the congregation increase and send out two branches, with a third about to start, and yet retain undiminished vigor at home. His labors must have been immense; his congregation ex- tended at least twenty miles east and west, and fifteen miles north and south. He must have literally worn out in his Master's ser- vice. His bones were disinterred in the year 1800, and placed be- neath the pulpit of this church," * where they have Iain in undis- turbed repose, just one hundred years. The Rev. Isaac Blauvelt. At the death of Mr. Vander Linde, the connection of this Church with that of the Ponds was severed, and Paramus remained vacant a year and five months. At the end of that time, on De- cember 12, 1790, a call was extended to the Rev. Isaac Blauvelt. Mr. Blauvelt was born about 1750, and licensed by the old Classis of Hackensack in 1780. His first settlement was over the Churches of Hopewell, Fishkill and New Hackensack, and continued seven years. He then came to this Church. He had the reputation of a popular preacher, but his promising career was brought to a sudden and disastrous end, within a few months, by charges of gross misconduct; this was in the summer of 179 1. The Consis- tory, in conjunction with a neighboring Consistory arraigned him upon the charges preferred, and suspended him from the ministry and from the fellowship of the Church. The particulars of the offence charged, and of the original trial, are entirely lost in conse- quence of the loss of the Church records of that period. But Mr. Blauvelt took an appeal from the action of the Consistory to the Classis of Hackensack; from that body it was referred to the Par- ticular Synod, where, in May 1792, by simple resolution, without formal investigation, the sentence of suspension was annulled; but the bond of union between him and the congregation of Paramus was dissolved, on the ground that his ministry there would be alto- gether unprofitable. In this Mr. Blauvelt concurred. * " Year Book of the CoUegiate Church of New York. " 1889, also Corwin's Manual p. 334. * " Manual and Record of the Church of Paramus, " pp. 29-30. Histories of the churches 253 The Classis was greatly dissatisfied with this disposal of the case, as being entirely irregular, and took an appeal to General Synod. The appeal, signed by Solomon Froeligh and Andrew Gray, was founded on the three following reasons: "I. That Mr. Blauvelt had been restored to the sacred min- istry without being at all acquitted of the charge brought against him or making a confession. "2. That the investigation of his case was not conducted in a proper and regular manner. "3. The appellants are of opinion, that, on the supposition of IMr. Blauvelt's innocence, the sentence pronounced against him is in the highest degree injurious, and ought to be annulled." The General Synod on June 3, 1794, sustained the appeal, re- versed the act of Particular Synod, and thus left him under sus- pension by the Consistory. Mr. Blauvelt moved to New Rochelle and lived on a farm, maintaining the walk of a consistent Christian. Thirty years later, he requested the Synod to restore him to Chris- tian privileges. His request was granted, though he was not re- stored to the ministry. He died about 1840.* The Rev. ^^'ILLIAM Provost Kuypers. After another vacancy of nearly two years from the time of the suspension of ]Mr. Blauvelt, the Church, in May, 1793, tendered a call to the Rev. William P. Kuypers, a brother to one of its former pastors, which was accepted. He was born in Hackensack, in 1773, and studied with Dr. Livingston. His pastorate lasted only three years, and like the former one, was brought to a very pain- ful close April 12, 1796, b}' his trial before the Classis and suspen- sion from his office, on a charge of having used abusive language involving serious accusations against Dr. Froeligh. The latter, having explained the matters involved, demanded that IMr. Kuy- pers should confess that he had accused him falsely. This Mr. Kuypers refused to do and his suspension followed. A year later Mr. Kuypers, while under suspension, went over to the Episcopal Church, and accepted an oftice there; for this insubordination he was deposed from the ministry. Very soon after this, he returned to the Classis and made a thoroughly Christian and penitential confession of his errors, and the Classis gladly restored him to his office. He passed a long life of usefulness and honor in other '"Manual and Record of the Church of Paramus." pp. 30-37. 254 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS fields. His charg-es were: Boonton, Hempstead, Long- Island, (Presbyterian), and later, in Texas and the Red River country. He died in 1851 at the age of seventy-nine, "cheered to the last by a steadfast faith and illumined by a glorious hope. " The Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge, D. D. The disastrous ending of the two previous pastorates had a sadly depressing effect upon the congregation, but this was greatly intensified by another vacancv of three years' duration. The house of God had again become dilapidated through neglect. Vital piety had almost vanished. Religious profession was largely a formality. Vice of all kinds was rampant, especially among the youth, and the colored people were totally neglected, living in ignorance and in the practice of horrid enor- mities. But a better time was now at hand. It was signalized by the calling of the Rev. Wilhelmus El- tinge to the pastorate, whose min- istry was immediately attended by a great revival of religion. The call, as in the two previous instances, was made jointl)^ by Paramus and Saddle River. jMr. Eltinge was of Huguenot extraction, and was born near He finished a full course of study in Princeton College and under Dr. Dirck Romeyn, and was licensed to preach at the age of twenty. The next year 1799, the call of Paramus, made upon him, was approved by the Classis; and on June 30, he was ordained. The pastorate thus inaugurated continued without interruption through sunshine and storm for firt}f-one years. His coming to this field occurred almost at the time of the organization of the Classis of Paramus. He was made the first stated clerk of that body, and served in that capacity twenty-seven years. He was a very prominent figure in all the deliberations and councils of the Classis during the first half century of its exis- tence. He found a great congregation awaiting him here, but hardl}- the form of a Church; forthere was not even a roll of members. Thk Rev. Wilhelmus Kltinge, D. D Kingston, N. Y. , in 1778. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 255 It is known that there were books of consistorial records previous to that time, but, amid the troubles of the Church and country, they had disappeared. Mr. Eltinge entered upon his work two months before his ordination; and b)' careful inquiry from house to house, through all his widely extended field, succeeded in finding 171 persons, who claimed to be members in full communion. They were nearly all men and their wives, or widowed ones, with scarcel}' a young per- son among them. By act of the Consistory they were recognized as constituting the official roll of members. After his ordination 'Sir. Eltinge's first sermon, preached on the afternoon of the same day, alarmed the whole community and awakened multitudes to their need of Christ. His text was Ezek. 33: 7-9. Nothing could be more worthy of record here, than an account of the great revival which followed. In a letter communi- cated at the time by INIr. Eltinge, to T/ie Neiv York Missionary Magazine, dated August 31, 1801, he says : — "The revival now began to spread; everv sermon was blessed to some, and particularly those from John 3:7, Eccl. 11:9, and 2 Cor. 5:17. Animated bv these truths, and strengthened in the inner man, we erected prayer meetings, and established a separate catechise for the black people in particular; both institutions were violently opposed by many, but the Lord notwithstanding has crowned them with abundant success. As famih' worship was al- most totally neglected, previously to family visitation and admin- istratioi> of the Lord's Supper, I preached on September first, on Jer. 10:25, which service tended much to the reviving of that impor- tant though much neglected duty. On September nineteenth, we had a preparation sermon, when ten persons in the midst of all the persecutions, had the resolution to come forward and desire ad- mission; who after having bee'n strictly examined on doctrinal and experimental religion, and after evidencing by their conduct their having experienced a saving change, were admitted as members into full communion. September twenty-second the Lord's Supper was administered; on account of the strictness of the preparatory sermon, the previous exhortations and the mode of admission, few, in comparison with the whole number of members approached; conscientious scruples about their previous state pre\ented them. Through the months of October and November, the work of the Lord was spreading rapidh'. It now became a praying congrega- sion; scarcelv a sermon, a pra)rer meeting, or a catechise was at- tended, but some ' were pricked to the heart, ' and others were comforted. . November fourteen, seventeen new mem- bers were added to the Church. On the ensuing Sabbath I preached 256 HISTORY OF THE CLASSlS OF PARAMUS from Matt. 9:2. This was a great day to our souls; its exercises were not only blessed to the communicants but greatly to the spec- tators. The revival continued to increase through December, 1799, and January 1800. New cases of conviction were daily heard of, and sinners everywhere crying out 'what they should do to be saved. ' On January twenty-third, twenty-eight new members were re- ceived; on the twenty-sixth of the same month it proved a glorious sacramental occasion .... On April third thirty-seven persons enlisted under the banners of the Lord Jesus On July seventeenth twenty-seven new members were added to the Church . . . On October second w^e received an addition of thirty-four souls; this was truly a joyful day; no sooner had we entered "the tabernacle of the Lord of Hosts," but it proved '■amiable" to our souls; the power of the Spirit was great both in speaker and hearer. I preached from Acts 3:19, "Repent ye therefore and be converted" etc; a solemn silence pervaded the audience; they were all attention, hearing as for the salvation of their immortal souls, and mostly bathed in tears; nor was the Lord's presence less glorious on the ensuing Sabbath Many of the communicants enjoyed that near, dear and intimate communion with the Spirit, which cannot be described; even the spectators in general were deeply impressed by a holy awe; many were melted to tears, and a few so struck as to weep audibly. On April second twenty-one new members were admitted in- to the Church . and on June eighteenth eight new members . . and on Augu.st twenty-seventh nine were ad- mitted . . . Thus from September first, 1799, to August thirtieth, 1801, a period of two years, two hundred and seventeen new members have been added to the Church of Christ in this place .... besides these upwards of fifty in full commu- nion have during this period, experienced serious exercises of mind, and according to their fruits undergone a hopeful conver- sion .... The doctrine which has been generally owned as "the power and wisdom of God," unto the conviction, conver- sion, and salvation of souls, is that of regeneration in its several branches; this has been most violently opposed and most shame- fully ridiculed, and yet this has proved most abundantly success- ful in the hand of the Spirit, to the awakening and melting of the most hardened sinners, and to the edifying of the people of God. May the Lord continue his good work here and in other places, and perfect it to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the prayer of WiLHELMUS ElTINGE." This revival continued in a measure for several years. Up to April, 1805, one hundred and four members were received in addi- tion to the 217 above mentioned; thus making three hundred and HISTORIES OF THE CHIKCHES 257 twentN'-une received nii CDnfessiiin within tlie first fi\e ve.'irs ol ^Ir. Eltini,''e's ministry. A few came liv letter also, ami, as \'ery few were dismissctl, the meml)ershi|) niiist, at that time, ha\x' numbered nearly fi\'e humlreil. The C'lassis first re(|uired a sta- tistical rei)Ort frrmi theChurches in 181 i. At tliattime this t'hurch reported as folh^ws : Families, 300. Persons, 2000. .Members in full communion, 431. Infants ba])tized, 50, The wide interest awakened by the re\fival. and the ;,n-eat ciing-regations which assembled at Paramus in consequence, made The Kefiirjiei) C'hi'ki-h of P.\R.\.'\ifS, — 1800. it necessary' to ]iri)\ade lari^er and better C'htirch accommodations. Within two months, thereha-e, after !\Ir, KltiuL^e's ...rdination, Augaist 12, I7yy, a meetin;,;- of the coui^Teij-atirin was held to con- sider the matter. The plan ado])ted at that meetini,'- was to re- mo\a/ one end wall of the old fmildintj and extend the two side walls 30 lectin lentcth. At a second mcetinti- held April ifi, i ,Soo, the matter was reconsidered, and it was resob'ed to take down the old structure entirely, and to erect a new buihfiiiL;- 65 feet in lenyth by ^o feet in breailth, fronting- toward the east, and to be 258 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS placed south of the old church. Three managers were appointed with full power to employ workmen and to superintend the work. These were Christian Zabriskie, John Berdan and Casparus Bogert. The old building was taken down in April or May, 1800, and worship was held during the interval of building, in a large barn on the opposite side of the river. The great revival continued here with increased power, and so quickened the zeal of the people for building the Lord's house, that by the fall it was ready for occu- pancy. Here on September 2, 1800, the Classis of Paramus was organized. At the completion of the church, all the pews, including those in the galleries, were appraised by the managers, and then set up according to the appraisement at public vendue. This took place toward the close of 1800, and resulted in the immediate sale of every seat offered, including the galleries, with the exception of one pew. The benches along the wall on the gallery were reserved as free. Payment was to be made in three installments; so that a final settlement was not effected till September 12, 1803. It was then found that all obligations had been met and that there was a surplus in the treasury, in bonds, notes, cash and one pew, amounting to jCs33, i6s. 8d. The final report of the auditing committee was as follows : auditor's report. "To the Church of Jesus Christ meetmg tor worship of God at Param.us, N. J., Grace, Mercy and Peace be multiplied. The subscribers dul)"^ chosen (by the builders of the new church at Paramus aforesaid), auditors, to examine, settle and re- port the accompts of John D. Berdan, Christian Zabriskie and Casparus Bogert, managers appointed for the erection, finishing and sale of the aforesaid building, having carefully examined and com pared the same with the original receipts and vouchers, beg leave to present the following report ; That the managers stand charged as follows : 1. To amount of vendue book for sale of pews in the new church, ;^3286 2 o 2. Received for old material, 17 9 i 3. Received for overplus materials, 32 14 5 4. Balance on moneys received and paid for in- terest, 624 ;i3342 7 1° HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 259 And that the said manag-ers have paid as follows : 1. For the building and finishing the church including the manager's fees for attendance, the allowance for old seats and all expenses, ;^2495 17 6 2. Cash for new barn on parsonage, 143 o 3 3. " " repairs on parsonage, 512 8 4. " paid Peter Swin for second house on parsonage, no o o 5. Lost by error on account of John R. \\'ester- velt, 10 8 6. Cash deposited in hand of Consistor)' of Paramus as per receipt, £ 534 12 8 7. Expended in recovery of debts and suits as per receipt rendered, 21 10 8. There remains in hands of managers to col- lect, balance on pews not paid, 31 13 i Making in all the aforesaid sum, ^3342 7 10 In closing the report, we with pleasure, state: That we have had the most full and satisfactory evidence of the managers having discharged the duties and trust reposed in them with the utmost faithfulness and care. All which is respectfully submitted, JoHX J. Banta, ) . ,. •L- Ti- - Auditors. 1 HOMAS W ILLS, \ Paramus, September 15, 1803. " A new bell had recently been placed in the tower of the church, much to the delight of the congregation. It had been ordered from London, andbearsthe inscription, cast in the metal: "Thomas ]Mears, London, 1801.' This is the same bell that still cheerfully calls the congrega- tion to worship, or tolls the knell of the departed dead. After the sale of the pews in the new church, the Consistory found themselves possessed of considerable money and real estate; and took measures to secure their legal incorporation. As the rela- tions between Paramus and Saddle River were complicated, it was necessarv to set forth the property rights of each part; this was done in a series of articles, still preserved in the archives of Paramus, and signed by the Consistories of both parts for themselves and their successors. It was then : ' 'Resolved, That this Consistory form themselves into two bodies 260 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PAKAMUS politic, and that tlie two following certificates be forwarded to the county cleric for that purpose. CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION. To promote the peace and prosperity of the congregation of Paramus, we the subscribers, Ministers, Elders and Deacons, the Consistory of the lower part of the congregation of Paramus, do hercb}- certify that we take upon ourselves the following name, viz. : The Consistory of the Congregation of Paramus, in order to become a body politic and corporate in law, and trustees of the lower part of the congregation of Paramus and its temporalities, after the fol- lowing manner, \iz. : TRUSTEES. 1. Of the poor money belonging to the congregation. 2. Of the one-half of the parsonage house, land, and of the old barn or hovel. 3. Of the new Paramus church, and of the whole oi the fund, raiseil by selling of the aforesaid church, as also of the inter- est of the aforesaid fund. Here, however, it must be observed, that the trustees are not allo-wed to use any of the 1,37s dollars, the ca])ital of that fund, unless by a consent of a majority of the builders of that church, and those are to be accounted builders, whom the articles of the Church call such. 4. OF the ^vhole of the new barn, as also of the second house on the parsonage, purchased from Peter Swindt; with these views, upon these conditions, and uncler these restrictions, we, the subscribing Minister, Elders and Deacons, the Consistory of the lower part of the congregation of Paramus assume this name. The Consistory of the Congregation of Paraju^s, and here to affix our hands and seals, W'lLHELMUS ElTINGE, \. D. M. elders. deacons. Christian A. Zabriskie John J. Hopper Daniel W'estervelt Garret Zabriskie John Zabriskie Jacob Demarest Garret Hopper. Recorded the sixteenth November, 1802. Liber P. of Deeds, pp. 260, 261. N. Wade, C/erk." * CHURCH LANDS. In 1805, a careful survey of the Church lands was made by the surveyor, John D. Haring. And, as the deed of Peter Fau- conier had been lost, and certain boundaries were unsettled or needed readjustment, two deeds were made to the Consistory by '* The certificate of the Saddle Hiver Consistory reads the same except the names, &c. HISTORIES OK THE CHIKCHKS 26 I John Ackerman and David G. Ackerman, re?|5cctively, who were owners of the adjoining properties, bv which the lines were estab- lished as they have been maintained to the present time. These deeds both bear date of June 7, 1805. .'subsequently in 1825, the land l3nng- between the Hohokus and Saddle River roads was sold for 40 dollars an acre, realizing 370 dollars for the same. In 1888 a tract of nine acres, lying west of the Valleau C'emcter)', was pur- chased from John H, Zabriskie for the sum of '^725, and added to the cemetery. THE CHURCH IX l8l I. The condition of the Church just previous to the separation of Saddle River, is exhibited in the following- report made that year to the Classis : "At the time of the settlement of our present minister in 1791J. there were 165 members in full cmnmunion; ot whom 42 ha\'e died, 8 have been dismissed, and 2 suspended. Daring his twelve years' residence, 397 members ha\e been received into the Church: 65 adults baptized, of whom 13 have died, 45 have been dismissed and 22 suspended, 12 for heresy, and 10 for malconduct, and that with regard to the present condition of their congregation, the fol- lowing statistical accounts will show, (for the 3'ear 18 10) : Xumber of families 300 Total of the congregation 2,000 ]\Iembers received on confession 12 I\Iembers received on certificate 2 -Members dismissed bv certificate 6 ^Members suspended 3 ]\Iembers died 4 Total now in communion 431 Adults and infants baptized 52 Pastor, WiLHEMUs Eltin(;e. It is evident from the foregoing figures, that the congregation had now grown beyond the ability of one minister to adequately care for it. The people were widely dispersed. The two churches were six miles apart. Each had services on alternate Sab- baths only. The want of regular Church services led the people into habits of visiting on the Lord's Day, and other forms of Sabbath violation, which persisted among some long after the occasion had been removed. Along with these sprung up other vices, which be- came a serious menace to the morals of the community. The Con- sistory in 181 1, sent up a request through the Classis to the Partic- 262 HrSTORY OF THE CLASSIS Of PAKAMUS ular Synod, asking to have a petition circulated through all Dutch Churches of New Jersey and New Yorli, praying the legisla- tures of those states to "amend the law for granting licenses to inn- keepers and for affixing a penalty on all inn-holders who shall allow frolicing to be carried on in their taverns or outhouses. " Various acts of the Consistory, especially the constant recurrence of its acts of discipline for drunkenness, card-playing, horse-racing and other offences, evince its vigilance in guarding the morals of the com- munity and the purity of the Church. 'But the time had now come for a concentration of its work. This was to be brought about by a separation between Paramus and Saddle River. The movers for this separation were INIr. Eltinge and the Paramus portion of the Consistory. The Saddle River Consistory opposed it vigorously. The matter was first mooted in the Consistory June 3, 181 1, when the Paramus Con- sistory proposed that the stringent compact of 1788, bv which they formed themselves into two Consistories, but bound themselves to remain ever united as one Church, should now be submitted to Classis for ratification; so that they should become by their own voluntary act two separate independent Consistories, even as they were already two bodies politic. After several meetings and much contention, a majority of the Great Consistory, on September thirtieth, acceded to the proposal. They also agreed to allow the Paramus congregation to call their minister by themselves, and so permit the pastoral combination to be dissolved. Mr. Eltinge thereupon submitted his resignation as the pastor of the combined Church, in a letter, in which he sets forth at length his two griev- ances, which he had vainly sought to have removed, and which now led to his resignation. These were: First. A failure of the Church to fulfill promptly the temporal contract. His salary upon settlement had been fixed at ;^i52in cash, with parsonage and firewood. For a number of years there had been an-earages, which the Consistory had paid out of their private purses, which burdened his friends and injured his feelings. Secondly. The refusal of Saddle River to allow a sufficient use of the English language in preaching to accommodate the English hearers and to meet the taste and education of the rising generation. In consequence of this the minister was losing his facility in preaching in English, and was likely, through the disuse of the Dutch language in the Churches, to be laid aside in the prime HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 263 of life as a useless shepherd. He gave them assurance, moreover, that he had three other calls in his hand from important ChurchL-s, and solicited their prayers that he might decide upon a course in accordance with the divine will. When the Classis met at Paramus, early in October, iSn, they ratified the proposal to form two independent Consistories by the following act : "Resolved, That, whereas, b)' a written instrument, bearing date January 7. 17SS, it appears that a number of families then belonging to the congregation of Paramus were organized into a new congregation by the name and title of the congregation of Saddle River, and, Whereas, said organization has never received classical appro- bation; that the Consiston- and congregation of Paramus. and the Consistor}- and congregation of Saddle River, are, to all intents and purposes, two distinct and independent Consistories and congrega- tions, and be forever hereafter considered and treated as such. " The Classis now advised the two Churches to make a joint call on Mr. Eltinge. They agreed to do so, but IMr. Eltinge would not consent. At a subsequent meeting held the same month, the Classis dissolved the combination and allowed Paramus to call Mr. Eltinge for their own minister. The Saddle River Church ap- pealed from that decision to the Particular Synod, in consequence of which, the consummation of the new arrangement was delayed for a time; but after a very elaborate presentation of the matter on both sides, the Synod confirmed the action of the Classis. and this practicallv closed the contest. The Church of Paramus, subsequently, in 1S13. purchased from the Church of Saddle River their interest in the parsonage farm of forty-five acres, the parsonage and hovel, all at Paramus. for which they paid the sum of ^^550 1S1375 ). which was taken from the invested fund of the Church. The deed for the same, under date of June 11, 1S13, and signed by all the Consistory of Saddle River, is recorded in Liber I, 2, of deeds for Bergen County, p. 254. and 255. After the separation of Saddle River, this Paramus Church, for the first time since its organization, enjoyed the entire services of its minister. The arrangement, however, lasted only five years and was marred by an unhappv difference, which arose in 18 13, be- 264 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS t\veen ,AIi-. Kltinge and two of his members, Henry A. Hopper and Peter A. Wcstervelt. The question at issue related to the proper mode of conducting a prayer meeting. Mr. Eltinge had condemned the method employed in a certain meeting, claiming that it amounted to lay-preaching. Though no very vital principles were involved, the matter led to a series of charges made by these members against the minister, and counter charges by the minister against the members. In the investigation and trial which fol- lowed, the people naturally took sides; many witnesses were ex- amined, and much bitter feeling resulted, to the great injury of the Church and religion. The case vi^as carried to the Classis on ap- peal, where the entire proceedings of the Consistory relating there- to were declared unconstitutional, and were reversed, nullified and made void. The Classis then attempted to settle the difficult)^ by making an elaborate deliverance on the proper method of conduct- ing such meetings.* Mr. Eltinge appealed to the Particular Synod, but the matter was finally settled between the parties themselves. Other controversies and contests raged at the same time, and both the Consistory and the Classis were kept busy for several years con- sidering grievances, complaints, appeals and counter appeals. In June, 18 14, the Church of Pascack was organized on a pe- tition signed by seventy-nine heads of families. About one-quarter of these were from the Church of Paramus. CONNECTION WITH TOTOWA. In 1 816 the Church of Totowa, having become vacant, en- tered into a combination with Paramus, bv wdiich they secured one half the services of Mr. Eltinge. This arrangement was favored by the fact that Mr. Eltinge, in that year, left the parsonage at Par- amus and fixed his residence on his farm, on the banks of the Passaic, about two miles above Acquackanonk, and four from Paterson, where he abode the remainder of his life. He continued to serve these two Churches for seventeen years, till 1833. During this period the secession took place among the Bergen County Churches, and Mr. Eltinge became the most prominent leader of the opposition to that movement. The defection from the Paramus Church was small, and yet the True Reformed Dutch Church of Paramus, was the first of the Seceder order to be organized. On *Minutes of Classis, Vol. I, pp. 146-147. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 265 the twenty-first of April, 1823, Mr. ]'^lting-e and his Consistriry ad- dressed a memorial to the Particular Synod of New Vork, in which thej^ state that they had designed to present their grievances to the Classis; but that, upon trial, no t\vo ministers and elders could be found willing- to request such extra meetinL^; anil that the presi- dent ot Classis was unwilling to call such meetiiiLj upon request of one minister and one elder already presented; that thev therefore were compelled ti:) bring their urgent matter directly to the Synod or remain inacti\e for a year, and that they did not hesitate to choose the former course. Then they state, that, after the seces- sion (if October 25, 1822, "the Rev. Dr. Soloinon Froeligh came within the bounds of our congregatirm, and organized a True Re- formed Dutch congregation of Paramus, from seven mal-contented families out of the congregation of Paramus. three from the con- gregation of \\'yckoff, and one from the congregation of Preakness with some others, and afterwards administered the sealing ordi- nances, — Baptism and the Lord's Supper, — to said Church within the bounds of the congregation of Paramus. They therefore ask that the Synod either immediately try Dr. Froeligh on the merits of the case, or refer the matter for trial and decision to the General Svnod, before whose bar he, as professor, was imme- diately responsible for his schismatical conduct."* ^Ir. Eltinge's pastoral connection with the Church of Totowa was dissolved by the Classis December 10, 1833, and thenceforth, to the end of his ministry, he served Paramus only. In 1839, Rutgers College honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divin- ity. He had been a trustee of that institution since 1807. He was a man of positive character and decided convictions which he was ever ready to inaintain. He met inany tremendous diffi- culties in his career, grappled with them and fought his way through them. If his Church received a set-back occasionally, it quickly recovered and forged onward again. There were few years not blessed with accessions. It is believed that about six hundred souls were added by confession and certificate during his time. Old age and failing strength at last compelled him to resign his charge in ^lay, 1850. He died in 185 i, and his reinains, at first interred at Passaic, were reiTio\'ed a few years later at the expense of this congregation, and now repose, together with those of his wife, in the ministers' plot opposite to the entrance to the *For full paper see Minutes of Classis, vol. I, pp., 171, 172. 266 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Valleau cemetery. The place is marked by a marble shaft, erected by the congregation, bearing the following inscriptions : Memorial Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge, D. D. For MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS PASTOR OF THE Congregation of Paramus, BoRX April 22, 1778, Licensed to Preach the Gospel, September 22, 1798, Ordained and Installed at Paramus June 30. 1799- Resigned Apl. 23, 1850. Died June 24, 185 i. In token of affection and esteem, Erected by the Congregation of Paramus i860. The portrait, on page 254, is from a painting in possession of his grandson, Joseph Hasbrouck, JNI. D. , of Dobbs Eerry, N. Y. Rev. Aaron B. \\'infield. Eight months were now consumed in securing a new pastor but the choice at length fell upon the Rev. Aaron B. Winfield, who served the Church happily for nearly six years, when God called him to a higher service. Mr. Winfield was born at ^lon- tague, N. J., December 13, 181 5. His paternal ancestors were English; his maternal, HoUandish. He was trained in our institutions at New Brunswick and licensed by the Classis of Orange, in 1842. After two brief pastorates, at Friends- ville, Pa., and Sand Beach, he ac- cepted the call to Paramus, and entered upon his labors on the first Sabbath in January, 1851. He is described as having been an earnest and powerful preacher; ready in the Scriptures, forcible in his reasonings, striking in his illustrations, often pouring forth a stream of startling truth send- The Rev Aaron B. Winfield. HISTORIES OF THE CHIKCHES 267 ing joyor terror to the heart. His appeals to the conscience were direct, impressive and often awakening. He proclaimed truth and duty regardless of the applause or frown of men. * After his settlement, blinds were placed on the church, carpet laid in the aisles, and it was provided at a congregational meeting, that the offices of chorister and undertaker should go to the same person; the Church at this time, maintained its own hearse which was committed to the chorister as a perquisite of his office. The Church in 1852 reported 167 families, and 162 members, with a Sabbath school of 105 scholars. During Mr. Winfield's ministry 54 members were added to the communion, thirty-one on confession and twenty-three by letter. He was the first historian of this Church whose work has come down to us. A sermon from his pen entitled "The Safety and Sure Defence of Zion, to- gether with the History of the Reformed Dutch Church and Con- gregation of Paramus, N. J.," was published in 1853. Never in very vigorous health from his student days, he succumbed to consump- tion, November 17, 1856, at the early age of forty years. His re- mains and those of his wife, lie in the ministers' plot in Valleau cemetery, and are marked with a suitable shaft upon which it is stated that it was, — "Erected in memory of our Pastor by the Congregation of the Reformed Dutch Church of Paramus. ' The Rev. Edward T.wjore Corwix, D. D. The Rev. E. T. Corwin succeeded to the pastorate the next year. His installation took place September 22, 1857. and his ministry continued six years. He was born in Xew York, July i 2, 1834. Having pursued a college course in the College of the City of New York, and the theological course in the New Brunswick Seminary, he was licensed by the Classis of Bergen in 1856. After spending another year at the Seminary in New Brunswick as a resident graduate, he accepted the call to Paramus as his first charge. Sixty persons were received into the communion of the Church, 52 by confession and 8 by certificate, during his pastorate. A new kitchen ^vas built to the old parsonage and repairs made to the church. What is now well known as the Yalleau cemetery, was established at his suggestion, in 1859, and the grounds laid out under his direction and care. The benevolence of the Church was * Corwiu's Manual, page 556. 268 HISTOKY OF THE CI.ASSIS OK PARAMUS Thk R]-:v. K. Tanjore Corwin, D. D. 'ncreased ami the Sabbath school improvetl. "A Manual and Rec- ord of the Church of Paramus" was prepared b}' him and published in 1858, and in an enlarged form in 1859, containing 105 pages. In it the old deeds and many other old papers and documents relating to the Church, and also a complete list of members from the beginning of the century, were printed. By means of this work, the preparation of the present history has been greatly facilitated. While pastor of this Church, he also published, in 1859, the first edition of his well-known work, "A Manual of the Reformed Church in America." Other and greatly enlarged editions have since been issued, and to this work also we have been many times intlebted for valuable materials. He closed his labors in this Church in 1863, ha\'ing accepted a call to the Church of Millstone, N. J., where he labored until 1888. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Rutgers College in 1871. After leaving 3\Iillstone, Dr. Corwin held the position of Rector of Hertzog Hall for seven years. He also served as temporary assistant tor several short terms in the chairs of Hebrew and Old Testament Exegesis and also New Testament Exegesis in the New Brunswick Theologi- cal Seminary. In 1895 he accepted a call to the Church of Green- ]iort, N. Y. , but resigned in 1897 to make a voyage to Holland under the appointment of the General Synod as its historiographer, for. the purpose of collecting the remainder of the "Amsterdam Cor- respondence," and other historical matter, stored in the archives of the Holland Church. After fifteen months in that country he re- turned, bringing with him materials sufficient for several volumes, which are to be published under the direction and at the expense of the State of New York. The Rev, Isaac S. I)e Muxd. The Church next called the Rev. Isaac S. De i\Iund, and he was settled as pastor in April, 1864. He was in the nraturit)' of his life, having been born at Stillwater, N. J., in 1803. His train- HISTORIFS OF THE CHUKCHF.S 269 The Rkv. Isaac S. DeMund. ing; and education were in the Presbvterian C'hurcli, he having- graduated from Princeton C'oilei^e in 1823, and haxing'" been li- censed and ordained ]i\' the Presljy- tery of Newton in IS2^. After serving- for a tin-ie as a Home Mis- sionary in ()hi(i, lie ministered suc- cessi\-eh- to the Churches of King-- wootl, X. |., (Pres. ), \\'ali)ecl^, Pon-i])- ton, Hiiusti:jn street New \'ork, Yonlcers, Belle\'ille and Second Lan- caster ((jer. Ref ), before coming- to this field, yir. De [Nlund was a man of gentle ai-id gracinus spirit, suffi- cient learning- and dee]) |>ietv, and de\-ijtion to his ]-i-iini>try. His work was greatly hindered, in this tield, and his own happiness marred, b}' a troublesome and protracted contention in the c< mgregatiiui regard- ing the (jwnership of the ]-)ews. We ha\'e seen that when the church was built in rSoo, the p->ews were all sold to indi\-iduais. ^\ ith the constant changes ever occurrin.g in a large congregation, these pews had changeil hands again ami again, often in an in- formal manner and frequently in fractirmal parts. Xr.w. after the lapse of si.\'t-\'-four ^-ears, it «-Jis im]-)ossible to ascertain in, many in- stances, in case of a disputed claim, who the rightful owners y-ere. Assessments laid u]jon the pews for rejiairs, were, in these cases, left impaid: and, though the congregation was large and wealthy, the tii-ianees were in such a dejilorable condition, that funtls could not 1)6 secured to meet the Church's needs. The C()nsistor\- battled -with this difficulty for three years in a vain endeavor to straighten it out. Although the piastor was not in\-oU-ed in the tn mble, the irritateil state of inan\- pei.iple made it impi^ssible to preserve hai'- mon_\-, or tcj hope for spiritual results: and in February 1S70, Mr. De]\Iund resigned. 'Phirty members were added to the cc>mniunii-}ri during his ministry, fourteen on cijnfession and si.\teen Ijv letter. He afterwards supplied the First Church ( if (.'■ >x>ackie. the.^eeund of Athens, and Ramseys for brief ]>eriods. and. in 1875. "''^^ n-iade emeritus. He died in the blessed ho|-ie ol the (jusj-iel. alter a hmg life of faithful service, at the home \- a diffidence which seemed like self-depreciation. He was in fact a scholar and sermonizer of far more than common merit, and a most industrious and hard-work- ing pastor. Refined in every thought and habit, and eminentl)' conscien- tious as to living anil duty, he com- manded profound respect and in- spired universal confidence. The Rev. Dr. lohn A. DeBaun, who grew up from childhood under his minis- try, sa3'& of him : '■ He had a reserve which made it a torture for him to preach before any people but his own, so that aside from oc- casional exchanges with his near ministerial brethren, he was rarely heard out of his own pulpit. But there he was a power. His sermons were carefullv prepared, pre-eminently instructive, and earnestly and impressixely delivered. The seed sown sprang up, and God was Eflorified and sinners saved. Thh Re\'. Petkr J.\mp:.s QrrcK. The Re"\-. BE^•JAMI^ C. Lippinxott. The Rev. Benjamin Cooper Lippincott was born in Hoboken, X. J., November 22, 1S24. He was graduated from Rutgers Col- lege in 1847, srid. from the New Brunswick Seminarv in 1850. His pastorates were at Hurle}', 1850-66, Clarkstown, 1866-72, Wallkill Valley, 1872-77, North and South Hampton, Pa., 1877-81, and Port Ewen, 1881-98. It was during his ministr_v, in 1869, that the revival oc- curred, of which I have spoken above as coming under mv own observation. It is said that two of its converts became ministers of the Gospel. It was during his pastorate also that the new church now used was begun, and was brought to completion in 1871. This was his second work in church building, a new church having been erected biy the people at Hurley during his pastorate there. It would seem that as to ingathering of souls, 284 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS his period at Port Ewen must have been the most productive. Several of his cominunion seasons there brought in large acces- sions on profession of faith. In 1887 he received seventy-one at a time, in 1888 and again in 1894, twenty- four, and in 1898, the year before his. death, twenty-eight. "As a pastor and counsellor of the young, and especially of young men, he excelled. Scores of young men were brought to Christ through his personal effort. When asked on his dying bed by one who was beside him, what message he should carry to his brethren in the ministry, he answered, 'Be thou faithful unto The Rev. Benjamin C. Lippincott. j ju it 'ii ^' t-v. ' death, and 1 will give thee a crown of life.' He died at Kingston, on Sabbath morning, January The Reformed Church of Clarkstown, — 1871. * See Minutes of General Synod, Vol XIX, p. 565. HISTORIES OF THE CHL'RCHES 29, 1899. His funeral was held in the First Reformed Church of that city, and his remains were laid to rest among the people of his first charge, at Hurley, X. Y. The Rev. Ferdinand S. Schenck, D. D. The Rev. P'erdinand Schureman Schenck is a grandson of a distinguished physician of Somerset County, X. J. His father, the Rev. ^lartin Luther Schenck, was a most active and useful minister of our Church, who served thirty-three years in pastoral work, and died very suddenly on the eleventh of March, 1S73.* The son was born at Plattekill, Ulster county, X'. Y., August 6, 1845, ^^''is graduated from the College of Xew [ersey in 1865, and from the Albany law school in 1867. After a practice of law for two 3'ears, he entered the Theological Seminary at Xew Bruns- wick, and was graduated from it in 1872. His pastorates were at Clarkstown, 1872-77, Montgomery, 1877-89, Hudson, 1889-96, and University Heights, Xew York, 1897-99. In June of the last named year he was elected by the General Synod of our Church to its professorship of Pastoral Theology and Sacred Rhetoric in the Xew Brunswick Seminary, to succeed the Rev. Dr. David D. Dem- arest, who had died in 1898. He was installed in his office, Sep- tember 26, 1899, and is now filling his seminarv chair. The honorary degree of D. D. was conferred upon him by Rutgers Col- lege in 1 89 1. The Church of Clarkstown was his first charge. He entered upon it just after the new church build- ing had been completed. The peo- ple had been divided over the ques- tion of location, and over the stvle of construction. A debt of Si 6, 000 remained upon the congregation, and with the feeling that existed, the outlook was perplexing. He preached his first sermon from the words, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." The peo- ple were pleased with it, and placed the rkv. ferdi.nands. schenck, d.d. the words upon their church wall as a decoration. He went on with his work, preaching the Gospel, taking no sides, and the * Corwin's ^lauual, p, 432. 286 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS divided people came together. Ten thousand dollars of the building debt passed off during his five )'ears of pastorate. He was popular and successful in all his charges. What our Reformed Church thinks of him as a man, as a scholar, and as a Christian minister and teacher, is proved by its course in elevating him to the high position he now holds. The Rev. Samuel Streng. The Rev. Samuel Streng was born at Pella, Iowa. He was graduated from Hope College in 1871. After a suspension of study for three j'ears on account of impaired health, he entered the New Brunswick Seminar)' in 1874, and finished his course in 1877. His first pastorate was at Clarkstown, 1877-82. Later he was pastor at Churchville, Pa., 1882-90, and at Kalamazoo, Mich., 1890-92. This last charge he resigned on account of ill health. Then in succession, he served for a time as Classical missionary, taught a while in Hope College, and was stated supply at Fairview, Illinois, till in 1897, he entered upon the final illness, from which he passed to his heavenly rest on the third of October, 1900. He was buried at South Branch, N. J., on the sixth. "Mr. Streng was a man of 1 Ml- J ■ X n i 1 1 '4- The Ri-:\'. Samuel Streng. brilliant nitellectaal powers, and it Avas only on account of his extreme modesty and his feeble health that he failed to take a more pronrinent position among the clerg}' of the Reformed Church. But what I wish specially to say is that he was a inan of wonderful faith. During the last )ear I had opportuiiit)' to meet him often. He was constantly racked with pain, and yet never failed in holding on to his faith in God. . . . Among the last words he spoke to me, last Julv, were these, 'My sufferings are almost more than I can bear, but (J, I am so happy within !' He longed for the end to come, but was ever patient to await the IMaster's call. A true servant of God rests from his labors and sufferings."* *The Rev. Win. \'teiisclioten, "Christian Intelligencer." Oct. 12,1900. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 287 The Rev. David 'SI. Talmage. After the resig-nation of Sir. Strang-, a vacancy occurred in the pastorate of the Church, continuing from 1S82 until 1884. 'I'he p)ulpit was meanwhile occupied by the Rev. Charles Sted- man Hageman, D. D. of Xyack, as a stated supply. The Rev. Da\id [Mather Talmage, who next succeeded, and who is the second of the nine pastors still living, is a son of the distinguished Rev. lohn \'. X. Talmage, D. D., for forty Aears Re- formed Church missionary at Amoy, China. He was born at Amo\', Februar}' 4, 1852. and was graduated from Rutgers Col- lege in 1874, and from the Xew Brunswick Seminary in 1877. He was appointed missionarj' to Amov at once, upon being li- censed, and took his place in the work. P^ailure of health, however, compelled him to abandon foreign work, and to suspend all acti^■e service for a con- siderable time. Upon recovering his strength, he entered upon work in this country. He was pastor at Bound Brook, 1883-84, and at Clarkstown 1884-88. .Since 1888 he has been pastor at Westwood, X. J. Here he has been blessed in building up to a good degree of working strength what, when he took it, was a mere infant Church. It has more than trebled in its membership under his faithful care. His pastorate at Clarkstown was brief, but spiritually useful. He was also suc- cessful in reducing the debt upon the new Church building. After his resignation there followed a vacancy of tvvo 3^ears in the pastorate from 188S to 1890, during which the pulpit was supplied by Samuel Marinus Zwemer, who was at that time pursuing his seminary course at X'"ew Brunswick, but has since become noted as the missionarv of the Reformed Church, toArabia. Thk Rkv. U.WID M. Talaiagk. The Rev. Eugene Hill. The Re\'. Eugene Hill was born at Rosendale, X"". Y. , Septem- ber 12, 1846. He was graduated from the Ellenville Academy in 1863, and served in the United States Arm\- from the spring of HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS 1864 to February, 1866, after which he returned to his home and entered into Inisiness at Eddj-ville. In the winter of 1868, he married Miss Lettie Rhinehart, of Rosendale. Both united, during the :? same winter, with the Rosendale Re- formed Church. In 1869, having removed to F.ddy- ville where there was no Church of our denomination, he united with the Metliodist Churcli, became very active in its Christian worlv, and soon was licensed to the JNIethodist ministry. Acting, however, a little later on the advice of his former Rosendale pastor, the Rev. M. F. Liebenau, he determined upon seeking licensure in the Church of his chiUlhood. Placing himself under the counsel of the Classis of Kingston, he sought and obtained from the General Synod, the necessary dispensa- tion from a seminary course, and was finally examined and licensed to the ministry in 1881. After having served with usefulness in pastorates at Rosendale, Esopus, and Three Bridges, he was called to the charge of the Clarkstown Church, and served as its pastor from 1891 to 1897. During his time, the church was cleared of all remaining debt, and a new parsonage was built. There was a constant growth in the congregation, ami 122 persons, of whom 85 were by profession, were added to the membership. The Rev. Mr. Hill is now pastor of the Reformed Church of West Coxsackie, N. Y. The Rev. Eugene Hill. The Rky. Garrett ^I. Conover. The Rev. Garrett Milton Conover was born at Clinton, Hun- terdon county, N. J., March 29, 1866, was baptized in the Church of Lebanon, and made his profession of faith at about fourteen years of age in the Church of Annandale. He was prepared for Rutgers College in its own Grammar School, was a member of its class of 1892, and was graduated from the New Brunswick Semin- ary in 1895. His first pastorate (1895-97) was of thetwo Churches of Hawthorne and North Paterson, in both of which he was suc- cessful in both temporal and spiritual work. At North Paterson HISTORIES OF THE CHIKCHKS 28c the membership was more than doubled, in both Churches suli- stantial improvements were made in buikhngs, and at Hawthorne indebtedness was reduced. In Decem- ber 1897, he was called to Chirkstown, where he was heartily received, and he has been popular and has done g-ood work. The Church has lost in recent )'ears b}' the death of sijme of its old and strong- supporters, hut it continues united and vigorous, anil is workiiig heartih- with its pastor. During this \ear, 1900. it has celebrated its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary. It is true as e\'ert() the Reformed denomina- tion, and faithful in its suppi.irt of all our work and institutions. It has made a change recently in its parsonage property, and of the cost of this change a small amount is yet standing, which will of course be removed \'ery soon. A luture of growth must be before the locality of this Church, ami continued unity of pur])Ose and si)iritual devotion will cer- tainh' insure to it an e.Ypansion far greater than it has known in its ]>ast. Ever}' old friend will wish it Ciodspeed as it jiushes on to the rank to which it is entitled among the agencies lor the s]iread of the Redeemer's kingdom in its own vicinity, and in the broader outhing world. The Rkv. C'^.u^ett M. loxovkk THE OLD REFORMED CHURCH OF TOTOWA The Rev. Theodore W. Welles, D. D. IT is difficult to determine when the Reformed Dutch Church of Totowa was organized. What is known as the Totowa tract was originally patented to George Willocks, one of the proprie- tors of East fersey, and subsequently became the property of An- thony Brockholts, Halmagh Van Houten and Ralph Van Houten. Other lands on the north side of the Passaic, in the township of Manchester, were given by the proprietors, at an early date, to Maryen Camblo — Marian Campbell — and by her transferred to Blandina, wife of Petrus Bayard, in 1697, and November 2, 1706, were conveyed to George Ryerson of Pompton, Ryer Ryerson and Francis Ryerson, of New York. The western half of INIan- chester and about all the First Ward of the City of Paterson, were purchased of the Indians in i 709 by George Ryerson, of Acquack- anonk, Uriah Westervelt, of Hackensack, and Francis Ryerson, of New York. Totowa was settled by the Van Houtens about 1720. The occupation of the land was slow. The First Ward of Pater- son and the lower part of thp Second Ward had no white inhabi- tants in all probability until 1740 or 50. * "The first white owners of the soil, in the territory we have mentioned, were all Dutch, and with the exception of the settlers of the Wagraw tract, the portion lying north of the river and east of Clinton street, were relatives of the Acquackanonk patentees. " For more than halt a century they attended the Acquackanonk Church, but as the population of the several neighborhoods in- creased there was a demand for additional accommodations. This probably caused the pastor at Acquackanonk to hold service and to * These wards are on the north side of the Passaic River, — the First on the east, the Second on the west side of Temple street— and may be considered as occupying about the central portion of the territory of the congregation of the Old Totowa Church. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES igl catechise and baptize at the houses of those who were able to ac- commodate the people. " * During- the ministry of the Rev. Johannes Van Driessen as pastor of the united congregations of Acquackanonk, Ponds and Pompton, Totowa was made a preaching station and the work ot gathering a Church there was inaugurated. His connection with these Churches ceased in 1748, and in 1750 the Rev. David Mar- inus, then a theological student, was called by the united congre- gations of Acquackanonk and Pompton, but was not ordained and installed as pastor until October 8, 1752. His labors were great- Iv blessed, the Consistory of the Churches to whom he ministered testifying, in 1756, that he discharged the duties of his office "so zealously and piously, with praiseworthy edification, that it has pleased the richness of God's goodness to cause his service of the Churches so to grow and flourish that out of the Churches of Ac- quackanonk and Pompton, with the general consent of both, a third Church has arisen at Totowa. " In harmony with this declaration, the Great Consistory and congregation of Acquackanonk, February. 24, 1856, empowered their pastor, the Rev. David INIarinus, to immediately consti- tute a Consistory at Totowa. Two months later, April 23, 1756, there is a Consistory at Totowa, enrolling four elders and four deacons — Simeon ^'an Winckel, Jacob Van Houte, Johannes Ryer- son and Jacobus Post, elders; Dierk ^'an Giesen, Helmich \'an- Houten and Frans Post, deacons. At this time the Reformed Churches of Xew Jersey were twenty in number, making the Church at Totowa the twent}'-first Church of the Reformed faith and polity organized in the state. THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. This is mentioned as early as Xovember 3, 1755. \\'hen the Consistory was formed at Totowa the edifice was finished, hav- ing been erected on land belonging to Henry Brockholst, of Pomp- ton, the lot being situated on what is now known as Ryle avennae, at that time the principal road north of the Passaic. It stood near the foot of the hill, within a stone's throw of the bright waters of the Passaic, about thirt}- feet east of the avenue and about a hun- dred feet south of ^latlock street. It was a stone building about thirty or forty feet in area, the walls eighteen or twenty feet high, the roof rising steepl}-- from all four sides to a central peak, crowned * William Nelson, in History of Passaic and Bergen Counties. 292 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS with a square cupola surmounted by a gilded vveather-cock as a finial. Tiie doorway was in the middle of the front, a huge win- dow on each side, and above, in the centre, a stone, set diamond- wise in the wall, bearing- the inscription, Hct Hnijs des Heeren, IJSS- (This is the House of the Lord, 1755). The floor was occupied by two rows of long pews, with a gallery on each side, a very high The Old Reeokjied Church of Totowa, — i755- pulpit, overhung by a large sounding board, and before the pulpit a special pew for the Voorlescr. The church was erecteil in 1755, but it was not until 1762 that the trustees acquired a legal title to the land on which it stood. At this date a deed was executed by Henry Hrockholst, who says that he was pronqjted to do so by the g-ootl \\\\\ he owes and the regard he has for the progress of the Christian religion, and espec- HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 293 ially the manner of worship of the Low Dutch Reformed Church of Holland, and also in consideration of four seats in pew No. i. The trustees to whom this deed was made were Cornelius Kip, Robert Van Houten, Cornelius Westervelt, Johannis Van Blarcom and Cornelius Garritse, "members of the Low Dutch Re- formed Congreg-ation of Totowa. The Rev. David AIarinus, the Organizer. Immediately after the completion of the church the Consist- ories of Acquackanonk, Totowa and Pompton called the Rev. David JIarinus to take pastoral charge of the three congregations, preach- ing at Totowa a fourth of the time and making house to house visits once a year. For this service the Consistory at Totowa promised to pay him a yearh' salary of twenty-nine pounds, "New Jersey money reckoned at half Proclamation money, or otherwise New York current money," so long as he might continue their teacher. The call was executed April 23, 1756, and in accordance with its provisions Mr. Marinus served the Totowa congregation for six years, or until 1762, when the Churches of Totowa, Fairfield and Boonton (now INIontville) called the Rev. Cornelius Blauw as their pastor. Mr. IVIarinus, however, continued to serve the Ac- quackanonk congregation until 1773. A short time after his ordination, he bought of Henry Brock- hoist, July 20, 1754, a hundred acres of land at Totowa, between the Falls and Hamburgh avenue, upon which, it is said, he built a house on the north side of Totowa avenue, near Jasper street, where he resided until December 2, 1760, when he exchanged properties with Garret Van Houte, of Sloterdam, and henceforth occupied the Van Houte farm. During his ministry the Conferentie party by some means got possession of the church building at Pompton Plains, and de- prived him of the use of it. The result w^as a division in the Pompton Church, and another building was erected for him across the river on the plains where he continued to preach for a few years. It was built about 1760, and after standing for ten or twelve years was removed and used for other purposes. An outline of the life and character of Mr. Marinus is given in the history of the Acquackanonk Church. The Rev. Corxelius Blauw, of the Conferentie. The Rev. Cornelius Blauw, a Hollander, of whom but little 294 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS is known, was called to the pastorate of the Churches of Totowa, Fairfield and Boonton, by what was known in the Church of those days as the Conferentie party. He was installed pastor of these Churches in 1762 by the Rev. John Schuyler, of Hackensack, and the Rev. Johannes Ritzema, of New York, two of the most ardent Conferentie ministers. He remained about five years, when he removed to Hackensack to take charge of the Second Church there, and, after a three years' ministry, in 1771, finished his labors on earth to render an account of his stewardship to the great Judge of all. He lived at Two Bridges, and having no carriage was taken to and from church by the more fortunate people. Towards the close of his life he fell into irregular and dissipated habits. He is said to have been a good preacher, but a quarrel- some man, "invading the congregations of others, accepting calls from the disaffected and illegally administering the ordinances to them." The disaffected were the Conferentie party, a small minority of the Dutch people and Churches, opposed to the projects and plans of the Coetus party. The contention has already been de- scribed in these pages. It disturbed the whole Church filling it with animosity until 1771. The Conferentie were the Tories of the Church; the Coetus were the Continentals. "It was the spirit of the age and of the land fighting for liberty, when the attempt was made to bind it down by forms, customs and veneration for the Fatherland, and it conquered then, as it always will conquer in any future struggle. " The Rev. Hermanus Meyer, D. D. , the Learned Divine. The pulpit of the Totowa Church seems to have been vacant after the removal of Mr. Blauw in 1767, until 1772, unless, as is not improbable, their old pastor, Domine Marinus, resumed the duties of his ministry. In November, 1772, Totowa and Pomp- ton together called the Rev. Hermanus Meyer, D. D. , and he was installed as their pastor. Dr. Meyer was born in Bremen, Lower Saxony, of good par- entage, July 27, 1733. He was a graduate of Groningen Univer- sity, Holland, and was distinguished for his deep reading and learning, the warmth of his piety, and the ardor of his evangelical preaching. His sermons were practical and pointed. On one HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 295 occasion, after preaching on the necessity of regeneration, an officer of the Church met liim and said: "Flesh and blood can- not endure such preaching." He quickly answered, "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.'' He came to this country with the Rev. Jacob R. Hardenbergh, D. D. , (who was afterwards the first president of Queens, now Rutgers College), when he was returning home from a visit to Holland. He was almost immediately called to Kingston, X. Y. , and for a time served the people with great acceptance,* but his marriage, April 17, 1764, with Rachel Hardenbergh, a daughter of Col. Joannes Hardenbergh and ]\Iaria DuBois, of Rosendale, N. Y., and sister of the Rev. Dr. Jacob R. Hardenbergh, one of the most ardent and influential members of the Coetus party, together with his conscientious scruples in relation to the oath of allegiance to Great Britain, which he was obliged to take, renouncing allegiance, civil or ecclesiastical, to any other power, caused great trouble. He thought he had abjured the authority of the Classis of Amster- dam, Holland, and so declared. The Consistory of the Kingston Church was of the Conferentie party, and greatly offended by these things closed the church doors against him, and guarded the entrance with an armed sentinel. For several years previous to his receiving a call to Totowa he ministered in private houses. October, 1784, he was appointed Professor of Hebrew, and in 1786 Lector or Assistant to the Professor of Divinity in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church. He received the degree of D. D. from Queens, now Rutgers College, in 1789. He died after a brief illness, October 27, 1791, widely lamented, and was buried under the pulpit of the Pompton Plains church. His remains have neverbeen disturbed. He was a profound scholar and had begun a new translation of the Old Testament, but only completed the Psalms. It is said that "his last sermon was from the text, 'He that hath the Son hath life,' dwelling particularly on the last clause of the text, 'hath life.' He had contemplated administering the Lord's Supper two weeks from that dav, but he was taken ill. During his sickness he sent for one of the elders and gave him directions about his funeral. *In 1763 Dr. Meyer, it is said, made a trip from Kingston to Albany, about fifty miles away "The congregation in view of the contemplated journey, held a meeting, and the Consistory prepared a form of prayer to be used by the people 'for the special protection of the pastor during his long and perilous journey to Albany." Two elders accompanied him as far as Catskill to protect him." It now takes about an hour to go from Kingston to Catskill by railway. 296 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS He also remarked: 'I meant to have administered the Lord's Supper next Sabbath, but the Lord has intended otherwise, and I shall not drinli wine again until I drink it in my Father's Kingdom. As expressive of his pious sentiments, he said, after taking a little refreshment: 'I have no more taste for what I once rel- ished, but the bread of heaven is provided for me. '" * He was esteemed one of the most amiable of men, a pious and faithful ambassador of Christ. Few men stood higher in the opinion of the Church at large, or were more generally beloved. "It is reported, "says Dr. Duryea, |in his thirtieth anniversary ser- mon, "by some of the aged who remember him, that in the latter part of his ministry he spoke often from the pulpit with streaming eyes and broken heart. " The Church, however, during his ministry seems to have been in a feeble condition. Several causes may have contributed to this result, among which the most powerful and influential were beyond all doubt the exciting events attending the struggle of the American colonies to achieve their independence and the severe and wide- spread financial distress which followed the dawning of peace. Liberty was proclaimed throughout all the land, but the hosannas that greeted the proclamation came from many a poverty-stricken home, and were answered with a cry from despairing hearts for labor for the hand that had carried the musket and was now ready to toil. It required a long time for the country to recover from the effects of the war, and the prevailing depression, when the nineteen years' pastorate of Dr. Meyer was terminated by his death, was probably the reason why the church at Totowa remained quiescent and, so far as known, for a period of eight years made no effort to secure a pastor. TOTOWA WITHOUT A PASTOR FOR EIGHT YEARS. The period bounded by Dr. Meyer's death and the call of another pastor to Totowa, while leaving no record of spiritual ac- tivity, was fraught with events of the greatest importance, inaug- *Dr. Meyer's children were: Jacob bp. January 20, 1760; Maria bp. November 17, 1768; Rebecca bp. November 18, 1769, aU born at Kingstown, Johannis born at Pacquanac, October 19, 1794, graduated from Columbia College, and was pastor at New Paltz, New Hurley and Schenectauy, N. Y. The Rev. Jeremiah Romeyn. D. D., born in New York city in 1768 and died 1818, having been Professor of Hebrew in the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church since 1797, was a grandson of Dr. Meyer, I The pastor for many years of the Second Church of Totowa, HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 297 Lirating influences far-reaching and permanent, tending to the Church's future growth and prosperity. When Dr. ;\Ieyer closed his eyes in death, the territory which had been the arena of his ministerial labors for nineteen years, was a rural scene of e.xquisite beauty and loveliness, a masterpiece of the adorable Creator. Here and there a snug farmhouse might be seen, perhaps a dozen from the Falls to Dundee lake, their quaint appearance plainly intimating their sturdy Dutch origin and the thrift of their occupants, while about them on every side were tields of corn or gi^ain or pasture lands or fruit-bearing orchards, where cattle grazed and flocks were folded. Through the land- scape, its banks overhung with drooping willows and bending alders, or fringed here and there with buttercups and violets, the Passaic leisurely flowed to the sea, its waters dancing in sportive glee and idle abandonment, as young colts frolic in the meadow before the)' are harnessed for the service of mankind. It was the vallev of the Passaic, almost as God made it, await- ing the development which God intended when in the beginning He marked a channel for the beautiful river and piled up the huge rocks which form the great falls. The manner in which this development was accomplished is interesting and instructive, linking scenes in the ^^'est Indies with scenes in New Jersev^, and through a confusing multitude of events bringing God to our vie\v as the great Shepherd of His people. January ii, 1747, two years after the Totowa Church was erected, a Scotch merchant and his wife, residing on the Island of Nevis, in the ^^'est Indies, were gladdened by the birth of a son, who is known in history as Alexander Hamilton. He came to America in 1772, the same year that Dr. Clever commenced his ministry at Totowa. He took an active part in the conflict for American independence, and when President Washington formed his first cabinet he appointed ^Ir. Hamilton secretary of the treasury. Through his recommendation and influential exertions a number of public-spirited individuals of New York, New Jerse}^, and Pennsylvania formed an association for establishing useful manufactures, and having resolved to locate themselves in New Jersey, they were incorporated by the legislature of the state November 22, 1791, selected the great Falls of the Passaic as the 298 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PAKAMUS principal site of their operations, and gave their town the name of Paterson, to honor William Paterson, who as governor of New Jersey had signed' their charter. Those who contributed towards building the city sought the advancement of their personal interests. The prospect of gain was the hope set before them. They were shrewd business men, but through their labors God was bringing prosperity to the people and a blessing to the Church at Totowa. The Rev. Henricus Schoonmaker, the Dutch Orator. In 1799 Totowa, awakened from her eight years' sleep by the hum of the spindles and noise of the factories in the new town across the river formed, a union with the Church at Acquack- anonk and secured the services of the Rev. Henricus Schoon- maker. He was born July 18, 1739, in Rochester, Ulster county, N. Y. , and having been licensed by the Coetus, was called to the Churches of Fishkill and Poughkeepsie. He had been preaching at Acquackanonk since 1774, when he commenced his labors at Totowa. He could not preach very well in English, but was con- sidered the most eloquent and impressive speaker of the Dutch tongue in the country. In March, 1816, he relinquished his charge because of the increasing infirmities of age, and removed to Jamaica, Long Island, where he remained until his death, January 29, 1820. An outline of his life and character forms a part of the history of the Acquackanonk Church. After the termination of INIr. Schoonmaker's pastorate, "the Totowa Church, which had hitherto had preaching every third Sabbath, resolved to have service every Sabbath if possible, and so notified the Acquackanonk Consistory."* Although less than two weeks had elapsed since Mr. Schoonmaker's pastorate ceased, the Acquackanonk Church informed the Consistory at Totowa that they had secured the services of the Rev. Peter Van Pelts, of Staten Island, and asked Totowa to take a third of his services. The Totowa Consistory thought the action of the Ac- quackanonk Church premature or ex parte, as they had not been consulted, and repeated the demand for half the ministerial ser- vice. In reconsidering the matter the Totowa Consistory agreed to pay I300 a year for the pastor's support, if he would preach * "The old Totowa Church," by William Nelson, HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 299 one third of the time at Totowa, and give them services on the in- tervening Sabbath afternoons for eight months in the year, Totowa also to be exempt from the care or cost of the parsonage. While these negotiations were pending a proposition was received from the First Presbyterian Church at Paterson suggesting terms as follows: " If Totowa would pay $250 towards the support of the Rev. Samuel Fisher' — a sum less than one-third of his salary — "Mr. Fisher would act as their minister in visiting the sick, at- tending funerals, visiting the schools and catechising the children, and would preach at Totowa every other Sabbath, while the Totowa people would have the privilege of attendiiig the Presbyterian Church. " It is almost needless to say the Totowa people were too loyal and true to the Church of their fathers to entertain ^uch a proposition, and in a short time secured a pastor to the manor born. " The Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge, D. D. , the English Pre.vcher. After the resignation of the Rev. INIr. Schoonmaker, the To- towa congregation, March 16, 1816, resolved to become incor- porated, having as their title "The First Reformed Dutch Church of Totowa, ' to repair the Church edifice and, as already stated, to have preaching if possible every other Sabbath. A party of progress had evidently arisen in the Church, de- termined to inaugurate a new order of things, and secure a mod- ernized sanctuary and services in the English language. This led to their acceptance of a proposition received from the Rev. Wil- helmus Eltinge, of Paramus, to the effect that he would give thein sixteen full Sabbaths in the year, the Paramus congregation assent- ing, and also his six free Sabbaths, making a total of twenty-two Sabbaths in the year, besides two holiday sermons; Totowa to pay $300 a year for his services. A committee of eighteen was appointed * to secure the needed repairs, and pushed the work forward with commendable energy.' A new floor was laid, new pews were put in, the galleries repaired, more light obtained b}' putting fan hghts over the door, and the interior of the building painted white. When all was finished the building was rededicated to the service of God, Jul}' 14, 1816, by * The committee were John Joseph Blauvelt, Abraham Godwin Edo P. Mcrselis, John Doremus. John Van Blarcom, Cornelius Van winkle. David Benson, Abrahrm Van Blar- com. John Berdan, Jacob Van Houteu, Abram H. Houten, Albert V. Saun, Edo Merselis John G. Ryerson, Andrew Ackerman, Adrian Van Houtcii, Garrabrant Van Houten, Ksq., and Henry Godwin. The three last named were appointed managers to carry into prompt and immediate effect the determinations of the committee and to superintend the work. 300 HISTORY Ot THE CLASSIS OV PARAMUS the Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge, who had recently become the pastor of the Church. A sketch of his life and character is g-iven in the his- tory of the Paramus Church. He lived on a farm of his own, ten miles distant from the Paramus Church. He would frequently start from home Saturday morning, lecture in some house in the evening, spend the night with some parishioner. Sabbath morning preach in one of the churches, Sabbath afternoon preach in the other church, and Sabbath evening lecture in some house on his way home. He continued to serve the old Totowa congregation until it expired in 1827, suffocated by the smoke of its burning home. He followed, as their pastor, those of the old congregation who built a house of worship on the Paterson side of the river, and con- tinued to serve them in this capacity until 1833. He died in 1851. Dr. Eltinge seems to have been very popular with the Totowa congregation. His ministrations were attended with God's bless- ing upon his labors. The year after he assumed the pastorate of the Church in 18 17, he reported 130 families and 167 communi- cants; in 1827, the year the church was destroyed by fire — 170 fam- ilies, 1, 100 persons in the congregation and 134 communicants. In 1825, one of the members of the Church thought there should be a settled pastor at Totowa or Paterson, and proposed the organiza- tion of a new Church in Paterson, subject to the Totowa Consistory, or with a Consistory of its own, and that the same pastor serve them both, preaching alternately on either side of the river. To this end, he was ready to grant a seven years' lease of a house suitable for a parsonage, on Park street, now lower IMain street, the yearly rental of which was $260; and friends offered to furnish the same suitably for a pastor's use. He thought his offer equiva- lent to $350 a year. The Totowa congregation does not appear to have appreciated this offer, as in view of it they declare them- selves satisfied with Dr. Eltinge, and, ' ' Resolved, that we are not ready to sell our minister and our souls for the sum of $350 per an- num for seven years. " * THE OLD CHURCH OF TOTOWA DESTROYED BY FIRE. On Monday, March 26, 1827, about eleven o'clock in the morning, the roof of the old Totowa Church was discovered to be on fire. It was a dry and windy clay, and before the fire engines arrived the roof was a sheet of flame. The progress of the fire * " The Old Totowa Church" by WiUiaiii Nelson. HISTORIES OF THE CHfKCHES 3OI was SO rapid that in less than half an hour the woodwork was a heap of smouldering ruins and onh' the desolate walls remained. The fire was supposed to have originated through the carelessness of a sportsman who shot at a bird on the roof of the building and caused a piece of burning wadding to be lodged between the shingles. The old bell, which had rung for nearly three quarters of a centur}', it is said, "wept great tears of metal as the pitiless flames slowly and savagely crawled up and around it, wreathing it in their merciless embrace, until at last it fairly wept itself awav, the crash of the falling roof sounding its requiem.' ifany varied and tender memories clustered about the old building, its quaint appearance awakening in hearts innumerable, reminiscences of a never-to-be-forgotten past, of ecclesiastical conflidt resulting in the independence of the Reformed Church in America, of the Revolutionary struggle resulting in national freedom, and of departed loved ones who within its walls had proclaimed the tidings of redemption or learned the way of ever- lasting life and were resting in Heaven. For more than seventy, years its walls had echoed with songs of thanksgiving and praise. Assembled worshipers within its courts had obtained precious foretastes of "the peace of God which passeth all understanding, ' but the flames which destro)'ed their house of worship destroyed the peace and harmony of the congregation. When the project of rebuilding the church was inaugurated, a question arose in regard to the location of the new edifice. A por- tion of the congregation desired to have it placed on or near its former site; others desired to have it located on the Essex side of the river in the young but promising city of Paterson. The contro- versy was fierce. It was Dutch against Dutch, and a Dutchman, it is said, never yields. He is open to con^'iction, but like the Scotchman of whom we have read, he would like to see the man able to convince him that he is in the wrong. A majority of the Consistory, headed by the minister who re- sided beyond the bounds of the congregation, were anxious and determined to have the new house of worship on the Paterson side of the river. A considerable portion of the congregation sided with them, giving them a legal right to the title, the property and the records of the Church, and these rights they insisted upon main- taining to the fullest extent. 302 HISTORY OF THE CLaSSIS OI-'PaRaMUS Those who were opposed to the erection of a house of wor- ship on the Essex side of the river, by these proceedings were not only deprived of the means of grace, but could not even erect a new house of worship for themselves where their former house of worship had stood, and where many of their kindred had been laid to rest to await the appearing of the great God their Saviour. The very soil which held the remains of their loved ones, and for which their families had paid, was claimed and legally held by those who had abandoned it and moved to distant parts. The whole matter was therefore submitted to the Classis of Par- amus, but ecclesiastical authority could not prevail over legal rights tenaciously claimed. It was an unhappy contention, but has resulted in advancing the Kingdom of God. A greater work has been accomplished by the two Churches which have taken the place of the Old Totowa Church, than could posssbly have been wrought by either, alone. A Reformed Church was needed on both sides of the river, and their existence for the last three-quarters of a century is a practical exemplification of the truth, God causes the wrath of man to praise Him. The flames which consumed the Old Totowa church, while disolving long established relations and rending in twain the old congregation, have been a source of Gospel light, revealing to thousands "the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world," and giving glimpses to dying generations of the glory awaiting the redeemed in the home of the Heavenly Father. We are lost in admiration of the wisdom of God as we behold His tireless providence causing all things to work together for good, and using all things: the genius of a Hamilton, the founding of a city, the flames which destroy the property of mankind, and even the fierce passions which array brothers in the Lord in con- tending factions, using all things to advance the interests of the Messiah's Kingdom and make the earth ring with the Gospel of His love. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF WEST NEW HEMPSTEAD BY The Rev. Henkv W. Brink. THE Reformed Church of West New Hempstead, familiarl}^ known as the Brick Church, occupies a brick and stone structure situated in the eastern part of the town of Ramapo, Rockland county, N. Y. Its history can be dated from a meeting of several ixiembers of the Dutch Reformed Church at the house of James Christie, September 28, 1774. This meeting elected James Christie and Garret Eckerson as a nominating committee, and, on nomination by this committee, chose Cornelius Smith, Abraham de Baan, Rynier A. Quackenbos, and Johannes Smith as elders, and Jacob Ser\'ant, Petrus de ]\Iarest, Gerret Smith and Abraham Onderdonk as deacons. Gerrit Van Houten and Johannes ^^'. Cogg were chosen delegates to arrange with the Synod for organ- ization. Cornelius Smith was substituted for Gerrit Van Houten at the first service, which was held at the house of James Christie the second of October. The Sv'nod, on the fifteenth of Xo\'ember, granted their approval for a Consistor)^, and on the fourth of De- cember, Dr. Benjamin Vander Linde, the minister at Paramus, X. J., supervised the formal organization and confirmed the Consistory chosen in September. The first name of the Church was the "Reformed Protestant Dutch (Church in the upper part of Kakeath.' The name Kakeath, or Kakiat, was the early designation of this region. The records of 1824 show that at some time previous to that date the name of the Church had been changed to ^^'est New Hempstead. The word \Vest was prefixed to distinguish it from the Dutch Church of Clarkstown, to which the name of Xew Hempstead had been given. The first name of the town of Ramapo was Xew Hempstead. Kakiat is an Indian name. The first pastor was the Rev. David Marinus, * the ancestor of the Marinus families at Ridgewood, X. J. He became pastor • See sketch oi his life in Acquackanonk history in this volume. 304 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS soon after the org;anization and continued until 1778. In 1788, a building was erected on the site of the present church. The second pastor was the Rev. Peter Leydt, * who ministered from 1789 to 1793. He was succeeded in 1793 by the Rev. George G. Brinker- hoff, * the first president of the Classis of Paramus. His ministry closed September 6, 1808. The Rev. James D. Demarest. Sabbath, September 21, 1809, the Rev. James D. Demarest was installed pastor of the united congregations of West New Hempstead and Ramapo. In the early part of 1821, ninety-five persons were received into the communion on confession of faith in Jesus Christ. In 1824, Mr. Demarest with sixty-eight of the members of the Church, including two of the Consistory, joined the Seces- sion movement then spreading in Bergen and Rockland counties. Tire pastor and those associated with him formed the so-called True Reformed Dutch Church of Monsey. The Classis of Paramus in September 1S24, after hearing many witnesses, convicted Mr. Demarest of the crime of public schism and deposed him from the ministry. The two elders who seceded were also deposed from their office. Mr. Demarest lived until 1869, and his long life left a lasting impression on the scenes of its activity. After the Secession, elder Cornelius A. Blauvelt and deacon Isaac J. Cole applied to the Classis for recognition, with the result that the Classis appointed the Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge, pastor of Paramus and Totowa, N. J., to meet with the remaining male members, to superintend an election of officers to fill the vacancies and to ordain them. Mr, Eltinge fulfilled these duties July 11, 1824, and Classis adoptea the following : "Resolved, That the Consistory organized by the order of Clas- sis at \\'est New Hempstead, viz. : Adrian R. Onderdonk, John Tinkey, Jr., David Cole and Cornelius A. Blauvelt, elders; Isaac J. Cole, John J. Eckerson, Adrian Onderdonk and Bernard Debaun, deacons, be and are hereb)^ acknowledged to be the lawful Con- sistory of ^^'est New Hempstead in connection with the Reformed Dutch Church, \vhich Consistory was organized by the Commis- sioner of Classis, the Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge, July 11, 1824." The Rev. Jefferson W'vnkoop. At the stated fall session of the Classis, on the first Tuesday of September, 1824, the recently organized Consistory, in union with * See sketch of his life iu Ramapo history in this volume. HISTORIES OF THK CHL'RCHES 305 the Church of Raniapo, presented a call to the licentiate, Jefferson \\ ynkoop, and he having accepted the same, was ordained October 7, 1S24, and installed pastor of the united Churches of West New Hempstead and Ramapo. The relation thus formed was dissolved Xo^'ember 9, 1836, Mr. Wynkoop having accepted a call from the t-'hurch at Athens, Greene county, X. Y. During his pastorate. Sabbath schools were established, one about 1S30 and another previous to 1836. It is somewhat remarkable that during the twelve "\ears of his ministry, he made no report to Classis con- cerning the condition of the Churches he ser\-ed, until the Ajjril pre- ceding his dismission to the Classis of Greene. He then reported for the Church of West New Hempstead, 6c families, 24 persons re- cei\'ed into the communion of the Church u])on confession of their faith, and two Ijv certificate, making a total of 84 communicants. The Rev. Peter Allex. After the close of ^Ir. \\'vnkoop's pastorate, the Church was vacant for nearl}^ a year, when a call from the united Churches of West Xew Hempstead and Ramapo, was accepted fi\" the candi- date, Peter Allen, and a pastorate inaugurated that continued un- til dissolved by death. '•'Sir. Allen was born in Columbia countv, X'. Y.. in the year 1S08. He had earlv religious impressions, and the\' seem to have matured when he was about fourteen years of age. Soon after his conversion, ~ he had a strong inclination to enter the Christian ministry. His father needed his services on the farm, and for several years he was industriously emploved in the fields of the old home- stead. His X'ew Testament was his constant companion and often, in the field, was it taken from his pijcket to refresh his mind with its precious teach- ings. He sought to do good and was very useful in a neglected neighbor- hood, in sustaining social meetings by his prayers and exhortations. His heart burned tij make known the love of Jesus; Init his earlv education being imperfect and his means of improving it limited, The Rh\- Phtek .\llen. 3o6 HISTORV OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS he tried to dismiss the idea of serving his Master in the Church as a minister. But it was of the Lord, and the way was providentially opened, when he was about twenty-one years of age, for his instruction in the classics, under the assistance of the Rev. Dr. Isaac N. Wyckoff, then of Catskill, N. Y."* He entered the seminary at New Brunswick in the fall of 1834, and was licensed to preach in the summer of 1837, by the Classis of Poughkeepsie. He was ordained at West New Hempstead, Wednesday morning, the service commencing at nine o'clock, December 27, 1837, and installed pastor of the Churches of West New Hempstead and Ramapo. From 1789 to 1853 the West New Hempstead Church had shared the services of its pastors with the Church of Ramapo. In the latter year the connection was dissolved and the Rev. William T. Van Doren became the pastor at Ramapo, but Mr. Allen continued to occupy the pulpit of the West New Hempstead Church until his death, April 28, 1862. "Where he began his ministry, he lived, and loved, and labored, and died." His last sermon was preached February 23, about two months before his death, from the text ''Be clothed with humility. " During his sickness he wrote a letter to a friend which reveals the beauty of his character and the fervor of his piety. He says: "For four weeks I have not been able to preach. But why should I fear.? My Heavenly Father has promised never to leave me, nor forsake me. Those who feel themselves pilgrims on earth seek for a better country. I feel that although the chief of sinners, having merited perdition as oft as I have sinned against God, I am pardoned and shall finally be saved. To me Christ is all in all; 'other refuge have I none. ' Unless I get better my days are few. But Jesus has sanctified the tomb. 'I dread not its gloom.' The glorious morning of the resurrection will call the righteous forth to shine as the sun in the firmament. " f A short time after the separation from Ramapo, on Thanks- giving Day, November 20, 1856, the congregation unanimously resolved to erect a new church edifice on the old site. The com- mittee appointed to obtain subscriptions and to act as a building committee, consisted of Joseph C. Blauvelt, John J. Coe, Aaron Blauvelt, and Levi Sherwood. The work progressed, notwithstanding the financial depression of 1857, and the new building was dedicated to the worship of "Funeral Sermon by Rev. John H.Duryea. fMemorial Notice in"Christian Intelligencer."' HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES i07 God, yanuar\- 20, 1858, It continues to be the house of worship. Mr. AUen was the cjnly pastor buried in the cemetery of tiie Church. (Jne of his sons is the Rev, John K. Ahen, D,D,, of Tarrytown.X, V, The Rev, Iohx R. Brock, In the year 1862, the Rev, John R. Brock* became tlie pas- tor. In 1S30 a Union Sabbath school had been (opened in Spring Vahe\'. This school was connected in \'arious ways with the \\'est New Hempstead Church. Its histor\- was that of success, thou,ifh the work met with se\'eral interruptions. In 1864 its Ijuilding- The Refor-Med Church of West Xew He.mpste.vd, — 1858, was sold, and other provision was made lor the needs of the Sab- l)ath school. In 1S50 the ^\'est Xew Hempstead consistor\- ar- ranged for the building of a church edifice in Spring Valley, This Iniilding was completed by 1854, and services were held there for several v-ears under the supervision of the mother Church, In 1863 steps were taken to build a new edifice in S])ring Vallev', wdiich work was completed the ne.xt year. The Reformeil Church of Spring ^'alley was organized in 1865, antl yix. Brock resigned * .See sketch of his life in Spring \'alle\' history in this volume. 3o« HISTOKV Ot THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS his connection with West New Hempstead to become the first pastor of the daughter Church. The Rev. George J. Va.v Neste. He was succeeded the same year by the Rev. George J. Van Neste, who served this Church four years till 1869. Mr. Van Neste was born at Weston, N. J., in 1822. He was educated at New Brunswick, graduating from the Theological Seminary in 1846. He had been pastor at Bound Brook and Lodi, N. Y. , before coming to this Church. His subsequent charges were Little Falls, N. }., St. Johnsville, Kiskatom, Flatbush, N. Y. , and Pottersville, N. J. He was a vigorous writer, and distinguished for his sound views of the truth and his high estimate of the character and dignity of the ministerial office. About a score of young men who became able ministers of the Ciospel, were en- couraged to undertake their prepara- tion for this work through his atlvice and influence. He was for years a member of the Board of Education and greatly interested in that work. He closed his ministry in Potters'\'ille in 1892, and the next year removed to Millstone, where he died, January 18, 1898. His remains repose in what is familiarly known as the "Brick" Burying Ground, near Weston, within sight of the home- stead where he was born. The Rev. Henry Mattice. Then for two years the Rev. Henry Mattice supplied the pul- pit. He was never installed over the church, but resided in the parsonage and performed the duties of a minister. He was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., August 22, 1822. He was greatly in- terested in Sabbath school work, early in life, and was sent as a missionary by one of the Churches at Albany, to Kansas, where he established about one hundred and fifty Sabbath schools. In 1861 he was licensed by the New School Presbyter)^ in Kansas and in 1868 was ordained by the Old School Presbytery at Kaskaski, lUi- The Rev. George J. V.\n Neste. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHKS 309 The Rkv. Hknrv Mattici-:. nois. From 1864 to 1866 he was an agent of the United States Christian Commission, in 1867 he supplied a Church at Trenton, III.; from 186910 1871, supplied the Church at West Xew Hempstead, and then was assistant superintendent of the House of Industry, and missionary pastor at Calvary Chapel, New York. He established the first Italian missiijn in that city. After lalioring several vears in Covtesville, he took charge of the ^Morgan street mission at Jersey Citv, where he established the Free Church, of which for nine years he was ]iastor. Being in ill health he acce])ted a call to Unionville, N. V., and after- wards to the First Church of Hoboken. He died at Unionville, August 12, 1897. During the Civil War, while serving on the Christian Commission, he was captured b)' Quantral, the famous Confederate guerilla leader, but was released when he made known his mission. He was an earnest, faithful, devoted ser\-ant of the Lord — he rests from his labors and his works follow him. The Rev. Bexj.\mix T. Statesir. In 1872, the Rev. Benjamin T. Statesir became the pastor and re- mained till 18S1. He is still in the active work of the ministry. He was born in !Monmouth county, N. }., in 1 84 1, and having passed through the regular college and seminary course at New Brunswick, he ^yas licensed bv the Classis of Monmouth in 1865. His first charge was at Stone House Plains, where he ministered six years, and then came to this Church. After leaving West Xew Hempstead, he, for seven years, held the position of ,,. Principal of the Grammar School at Somerville, N. J. At the end of that time he felt himself called The Rev Benjamin T. St.atesir. HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS to resume the pastoral work, and in 1889, accepted a call to the Church of Fallsburgh, at Woodbourne, N. Y., where he still re- mains. After the resignation of Mr. Statesir, there was no regular pastor for five )'ears. This was due to the financial condition of the Church which did not warrant engag-ing a settled minister. During this time services were regularly maintained, though occa- sionally without a preacher. Many of the supplies were students in the seminar)' at New Brunswick. The Rev. John Laubenheimer. In 1886 the Rev. John Laubenheimer became the pastor. He was born in New Brunswick, N. J., in 1861. During his childhood liis parents removed to Ber- gen Point, where he received his earl)' education. He pursued his college and theological course at New Brunswick and graduated from the Theological Seminary in 1886. During his middle and senior years in the seminary, he supplied the Church of the Huguenots on Staten Island. He was ordained to the ministr)' in the West New Hempstead church, and after minister- ing to this people a little over two years, accepted a call in 1888, to the Church at East Greenbush,N. Y., where he is laboring at the present time. Dur- ing the interval before the settlement of his successor, a revival passed over the community and a large accession to the Church followed. This revival appeared first in meetings conducted by the members of the Church without a minister. Later they were assisted by the Rev. Jacob ^^'est, D. D. , Corresponding Secretary of the Board of Doixiestic Missions. The Rev. John Laubenheimer, The Rev. Thomas S. Dusinberre. The immediate predecessor of the present pastor, the Rev. Thomas S. Dusinberre, was installed over this Church in 1889. He was born in Warwick, N. Y. Having graduated from Rut- HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 3" jers College in 1861, and from the Theological Seminary at New Bruns\vick in 1864, he \vas licensed in that vear I))' the Classis of Paranuis, and for some months he supplied the Presbyterian Church at Amity. In 1865- 66, he was engaged in teaching the classics, and during a ])ortion of the latter year served as missionary at Park e'hapel, Albany. His hrst regular pastoral charge was at Prattsville, X. Y., where he remained four \'ears. Then, for over nineteen years, he laliored with much success in the Church ot Linlithgow, until, in 1889, he was called to West Xew Hempstead. His ministry in this Church continued till (Jctober, 1900, when impaired health constrained him tfi re- sitrn his call. TheRkV. ThhMAS S. DrSINBERRE The REy. Henry ^^'. Brink. The Rey. Henry \V. Brink received a call from this Church in the )'ear 1899, and is its present jiastor. He was born at Katsbaan, Ulster County, N. Y., in 187^. He \yas prepared for college at the Kingston Academy. Kings- ton. X. Y. , and graduated from Rutgers College in 1896. His theo- logical studies were pursued at the X'ew Brunswick Theological Seminary and completed in 1899. In that v'ear he receiyed from Rutgers College the degree of Bachelor of Divinity, as the result of an examina- tion sustained in special branches of study. ^^'hile in the Theological Seminary he supplied the Church at Glen Rock during the greater ]iart of the ^'ears 1897 and 1898, and im- mediateh' upon the completion of his studies, he accepted the call of the Church of \^'est Xew Hemp- The Rev. Hexrv w. Brixk. 3 I 2 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS Ol'' PARAMUS stead where he was ordained to the ministry and installed as pastor on the twentieth of June, 1899. In September of that year a Young People's Society of Chris- tian Endeavor was organized and continues in successful work. The Sabbath school is maintained, except in the winter season. A mid-week prayer meeting is held Wednesday evenings. The fin- ances of the Church are on a firm basis with the aid of several en- dowments. The people give liberally to the support of their Church and to outside benevolence. While there is room for better things in these financial matters, and also in the spiritual life of the Church and community, the Lord's grace is manifest. The present membership is ninety-seven. The location of the church gives a beautiful view of the moun- tains, hills and valleys of Ramapo. It is surrounded by the graves ■of man)^ of those who made its history. The old cemetery close to the building dates back to the days of the Church's foundation. The Church has opened a large new one across the way and one of private ownership extends the cemetery in the rear. A new par- sonage was built in 1899-1900. The Church has owned several in the course of its history. The land now occupied by the county alms house at Viola was once the parsonage farm. The present elders are: Alpheus J. Coe, John J. Gurnee, Cor- nelius E. Blauvelt and James H. Serven. The deacons are Jacob Wood, Herman Van Houten, John Blanchard and Charles I. Blau- velt. The most of these names appear in the successive genera- tions which formed the Church's history. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF SADDLE RIVER The Rkv. Isaac Van Kampkn, Ph. D. THE Reformed Dutch Church of Saddle Ri\-er was (irg-anized in 1 7S4. At the time of its org-anization it constituted the upper part of the conL;;reg"ation of Paranius. But as the congre- tion was hinrc- and scattered, it \vas resohcd to Ijuild another «i4- J.: The Reformed Church of Saddle River, — 181 9. church at Saddle River to accommodate that part of the cong-re- gation. This was done in the above year. The congregation was organized and a Consistory appointed and ordained. The new Church was st3'led the New North Reformed Tow Dutch Church at Saddle River. It was not to be considered as haviny 314 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS a distinct existence of itself, but simply a second Church, to ac- commodate the scattered congregation. An iron-clad contract was drawn up between the two Con- sistories, agreeing that the two congregations should never at- tempt to become separated without the consent of the majority of the whole Great Consistory. Besides other conditions, it was agreed that each Church should enjoy half of the minister's ser- vices. The Rev. Benjamin Vander Linde was at this time pastor. These Articles of Union were signed January, 1788. The mem- bers of the Saddle River Consistory who affixed their names to the abo\'e contract, were: elders — Albert Terhune and Bau- rent Forshur; deacons — Andries Hopper and David Ackerman. These Articles of Union were written in the Dutch language. The first church edifice at Saddle River was a wooden struc- ture, octagonal in shape. There were no pews in this building, the worshipers furnished their own seats. Neither was there any means provided to heat the building during the winter sea- son. But to keep himself comfortable, each person brought with him a foot stove, containing live coals. This structure re- mained standing until 181 9, when it was superseded by the pres- ent commodious and substantial edifice. The Rev. Benjamin Vander Linde. These events occurred while the Rev. Benjamin Vander Linde was in charge of the Paramus congregation. He continued to minister to the united congregations for five years after the organi- zation at Saddle River was made, viz., from 1784 to 1789, and was therefore the first pastor of this Church.* The Rev. Gerardus A. Kuypers, D. D. As this organization at Saddle River greatly increased Mr. Vander Linde's labors, the Consistory called a young man, the Rev. Gerardus Arense Kuypers,' who had just been licensed to preach, to assist him. This young colleague was born inCuracoa in 1766, but studied in this country and was licensed by the Particular Synod of New York in 1787. He was installed in these Churches in June 1788. Soon after this he received a call from the Collegiate Church of New York, and was dismissed from Paramus April 1 5, 1789, having ser\'ed these congregations about ten months. With- * For sketch of his life, see p. 246. HISTORIES OF THE CHLRCHES 315 in three months thereafter, on July 8, the venerable pastor, I\Ir. Vander Linde, was himself called away to his reward. Worn out in the work of the iMaster, he was laid away to rest. The \'ast amount of work that he accomplished in his extended field was the best testimony of his zeal and fidelity.* The Rev. Isaac Blauvelt. On the 1 2th day of December, 1790, the Re\-. Isaac Blauvelt was called to the pastorate of the united congregations. ]\Ir. Blauvelt was born in 1750, studied theolog}' under the Rev. Jacob R. Harden- bergh, D. D., and was licensed by theClassis of Hackensack in 1 7S0. In the year of his settlement in this charge, Mr. Blauvelt, though still a young man, was honored by being chosen President of General Snyod at its session in New York. As a preacher he seems to have been very popular. His ministry at Paramus and Saddle River, however, was of short duration, for in the summer of 1791, he was suspended by Consistorv for some misconduct. The Clas- sis sustained the action of the Consistory in the matter, as did also the General .Synod to which judicatory the case had been appealed, f The Rev, William Pkovost Kuypers. In 1793 the Rev. ^^'illiam P. Kupyers was called to these united congregations and continued to serve them for three vears. He was born at Hackensack, 1773, studied under Dr. Livingston, and was licensed by the General Svnod in 1792. On April 12, 1796, he was suspended from the ministry bv Classis, for using abusive language toward Dr. Froeligh. On confession of his faults, he was re-instated into the ininistry by Classis, but his rela- tions with the congregations of Paramus and Saddle River were dissolved. J The Rev. Wilheljius Ei.tixge, D. D. The last of the ministers who served this congregation while it was connected with Paramus, was the Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge, whose ministry extended from 1799 to 181 1. ^Ir. Eltinge \\'as born near Kingston, X. Y. , in 1778. He graduated from the Col- lege of Xew Jersey, 1796, was licensed in 1799, and in the same year accepted the call to Paramus and Saddle River. This relation Forsketch of his life, see p. 251. f For sketch of his life, see page 252. J For sketch of his life, see p. 253. 31 6 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OK PAKAMUS continued in Saddle River for twelve years, until this Church in 1811, became separated from Paramus and assumed an independent life. His relation with Paramus continued until he finished his career in the active ministry. The ancient custom of having a precentor and a reader was maintained in this church for years. These officials stood in front of the pulpit; one read the chapter and hymn, while the other took charge of the music. In 1804 some difficulty arose about singing in English. Before this there had been no difficulty about singing in Dutch, as this was very simple. But when singing in English was introduced, the question arose whether the three parts or only the tenor alone should be sung. The matter was settled by the Great Consistory; it was resolved that the three parts, treble, tenor and base should be sung. Mr. Peter Haring, the Voorleser, did not seem to accept their decision very favorably at first, but was finally persuaded to conform to the same. Near the beginning of Mr. Eltinge's pastorate of the combined Churches, in the year 1800, the Paramus society erected the pres- ent edifice for worship. Being now in the possession of consider- able money and real estate, the Consistories saw the necessity of becoming incorporated into two bodies politic. Two certificates of incorporation, signed by the members of each Consistory re- spectively, were therefore filed with the count)^ clerk, and recorded November 16, 1802. The certificate of incorporation of the Saddle River society, was signed by the following members of Consistory: elders, Abram Haring, Peter G. Haring, Henry Terhune and Nicansin Hopper: deacons, Peter C. Smith, John Perry, John G. Hopper and Lewis Concklin. The desirability of a dissolution ofthe combination of the con- gregations of Paramus and Saddle River had been felt for some time by a portion of the Paramus people, and about the year ) 81 1, the subject was brought under serious consideration.* The work in this combined congregation had now become a large one, and was extremely laborious and burdensome to the pastor. The two churches of the congregation were six miles apart and much time was consumed in travelling between them. And while the two Consistories were distinct bodies politic, yet they were but one * See page 262, of this volume. HISTOKIKS OF THE CHURCHES 3 17 body ecclesiastically. This became a cause of frequent mis- understandings. Besides, as the pastor was compelled to divide his time between the two Churches, each Church was therefore every other Sunday without preaching. Moreo\'er, the transition from Dutch to English was fast becoming a matter of importance. ;\Ir. Eltinge's call required him to preach seven months in the year in the Dutch language, and the other five months, Dutch in the morning and English in the afternoon. He soon found that by this means he was losing his knowledge of the English. He desired to change this, so as to be permitted to preach alternately in the Dutch and English languages. The Paramus section of the congregation yielded to this request, but the Saddle River sec- tion opposed it. Matters now becoming somewhat acute between the two cong-resrations, and after a number of conferences between the two Consistories to come to a satisfactory conclusion, Mr. Eltinge finally handed in his resignation, which was accepted. At a meeting of Classis at Paramus October 21, 1811, the Con- sistory of Paramus requested Classis to dissolve the combina- tion of the congregations of Paramus and Saddle River, and to permit the Paramus society to call the Rev. l\Ir. Eltinge separate- ly. This request was granted and finally acceded to b)'^ the Sad- dle River society. It would appear from the minutes of the Consistory of the congregation of Paramus, dated Eebruary 25, 1813, that they agreed to purchase from the Consistory of the Saddle River con- gregation their part of the parsonage land and hovel, and to pay the sum of ^^550 for the same. The deed conveying the same property and thus becoming the legal instrument of separation, was signed by the following members of the Consistor)' of the Saddle River Church, June 11, 1813. Signed: — Michael Ryer, Thomas J. Eckerson, Peter C. Smith, Jacob A. De Baun, John Duryea, John Post, Abraham Campbell, and Albert T. Terhune. * At the time of the separation from Paramus, the records of the Saddle River Church seem to show a membership of 125 in communion. In 1816 the report to Classis gives 138 families. Immediately after the di.^solution of the union between Saddle River and Paramus, Mr. Eltinge was again called by the now separate Church of Paramus, where he continued faithfull)^ to minister till I\Iay, 1850, up to within one )'ear of his death. He * Recorded in I^iber I, j, of Deeds for Bergen County, pp. 254 and 255, 3l8 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS died June 24, 1851. A faithful servant of tlie Master to the end. * It may be of passing interest to note the record of the first election of officers to the Consistory of the Saddle River Church after the separation from Paramus, "We, the Consistory of Sad- dle River being regularly convened this second day of July, 181 2, at the house of Thomas J. Eckerson, in order to elect part of the Consistory agreeable to the constitution, do make choice of the following persons : ELDERS. DEACONS. Peter C. Smith Albert J. Terhune Jacob De Baun Abraham Campbell Church Wardens : — Garrett S. Hopper and Garrett H. Van- eyher. Signed in behalf of the Consistory. "iNIicHAEL Ryer, Pres. " About this time the people of Pascack began to feel the want of a Church in their neighborhood. A request was pre- sented from Pascack to Classis in June, 18 14, praying to be or- ganized into a Church. This request was signed by 79 heads of families. The request was granted by Classis, and the Church was organized July, 1814. The Saddle River Church, recently separated from Paramus, now offered to join with the people of Pascack and to assist them in building a house of worship. It was agreed to have two church buildings, and but one Consistory and one congregation. The services were to be held alternately in the two houses of worship. The Rev. Stephen Goetschius. The same year, 1814, the Rev. Stephen Goetschius was called as pastor to these two Churche^. The building of the church at Pascack was completed and dedicated in the autumn of the same yeaj. Mr. Goetschius preached the sermon. He continued pas- tor of the two Churches of Saddle River and Pascack for twenty- one years, up to 1835. i\Ir. Goetschius was a son of the Rev. J. H. Goetschius, who was a professor of theology and pastor of the Church of Hackensack. He studied theology under his father and also under Livingston, W'esterlo and Verbryck. He was licensed by the General Meeting * For sketch of his life see p. 254. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 319 of Ministers and Elders, in 1775. In the course of his ministry he served in three pastorates, each of which was a double charge: the first, New Paltz and New Hurley; the second, Marblctown and Shokan; the third, Saddle River and Pascack. The Rev. John INIanley, hissuccessor at Saddle Ri\'er, describes him as a man small of stature and somewhat bent of form, but of a vigorous constitution. When over 80 }ears of age he could still ride on horseback between his two charges. He was strongly Cal- vinistic in doctrine, and was fond of preaching in Dutch. ^lany of his descendants may be found in this section today. In 18 1 7, five years after Mr. Goetschius'settlement in this field the old church was taken down and the present edifice erected in its place. This building has long been known as the " Old Stone church, " and is regarded as one of the early landmarks in this section of the count)^ The first pulpit was a curiosity of its kind. It was high and barrel-shaped, and elaborately ornamented. It was imported from Holland at considerable expense. While no longer in use, it is still preserved as a relic of the past. The original seats were built with high, straight backs and doors corresponding. Had it not been that the pulpit was considerably elevated, the children in the pews would not have been able to see the preacher. In the year 1835, [Mr. Goetchius resigned his call on account of old age and infirmities, and two years later he passed to his re- ward. The Rev. John ^Iaxley. The successor of 'Sir. Goetschius was the Rev. John Manle^-. He was born at New Brunswick, X. J., in 1809. He graduated from Rutgers College in 182S, and from the Theological Semi- nary at Xew Brunswick in 183 1. In the same year he was licensed by the Classis of New Brunswick. His first charge was at Man- heim, N. Y., from which Church he was called in 1S34, to Saddle River and Pascack. He served the two congregations until 185.)., when his relation with the Pascack Church was dissolved. This was due to the separation of the two Churches. At a meeting of the Consistory and congregation held in the Saddle River church ^ilarch 20, 1854, it was resolved to send a joint application to Classis, meeting the third Tuesday in April, at Saddle River, praying that the union between the Churches of 3 20 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Saddle River and Pascack be dissolved. This was done, and thus a second time Saddle River became an independent and separate Church. The reason assigned for the separation was, that each Church might have services and stated preaching every Sabbath. Mr. Man- ley continued his relations with the Saddle River Church, as pastor, twelve years longer, till 1866; hav- ing faithfully served that Church for thirty-two years, when he felt con- strained to resign his charge. He removed to New Brunswick, where he died the twenty-first day of May, 187 I. During his long pastor- ate at Saddle River, Mr. Manley was also engaged in farming, having a small farm of his own near the parsonage grounds. He was known as a good farmer as well as a sound preacher. He took this ineans of supplementing his salary, which was not a very ample one. In appearance, he was robust, of strong physique and over six feet in height. His kinilly disposition made him an excellent pastor and spiritual adviser. He lived to see many whom he had baptized grow up, marry and settle about him; and he lovetl to regard them as his children. 'I'here are some of the present generation who still remember him, and revere his mem- ory as a spiritual father to them all. The Rtcv. John Manlky. The Rev. Abraham H. Meyers. The Church now called the Rev. Abraham H. JMeyers to take up the work laid down by Mr. iNIanley. Mr. Meyers was born in Wistah, Albany county, N. Y. , in 1801. He graduated from Union College in 1827, and from the New Brunswick Seminary in i 830. In the latter vear he was also licensed by the Classis ot New Brunswick. After having serveil in ten different fields of labor and while at P'.sopus, he received a call from Saddle River, which was ac- cepted. He began his work at Saddle River in the year 1866, and continued to labor in this field till 1872, when he was called to Kaston, N. Y. During Mr. Meyer's pastorate at Saddle Ri-\'er, nothing of any particular interest is recorded in the minutes of HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 321 Consistory, It was a period of quiet tjrowtli in numbers and in spiritual life. It was during- his ministry however, that considerable altera- tions were made to the interior of the church. The old pul])it was replaced by one of more modern type, and an alcove was built to form a recess behind the pulpit. For many years candles jjlaced along the sides of the church, were the only means of illumina- tion. Those were the davs of sombre shadows, when the \\-or- shipers were compelled to keep as near to the candles as ])ossil)le to enable them to see their books, holding them at a visual angle that threatened near-sightedness. Handsome chandeliers, how- e\'er, presently banished the old-fashioned candles and oil lam])S ol that period. The Vooiieser had also become an antiquated ofticial, for by this time "we notice that the congregaticjnal singing was led b\" . , a choir. The minutes record that ^Ir, Herman Terlume was app(jinted by the C'onsistor)- as leader of the choir, Mn Meyers \\'as a sound Inblical preacher, clear and concise in style, with a happy faculty for choosing texts that were yery apposite. His last sermon at Saddle Ri\-er was from the te-xt, "And pray ye that yr)ur flight be not in the winter." St. ^Mark, 13:18. It is needless to say that the te.xt at least \vas long remembered by the good people of Saddle River, for that ver}- week the pastor was snowbound in transporting his goods. :Mr. :\Ieyers was made pastor emeritus in 1878. He died at Port p;wen, :\Iarch, 1886, and is buried in the cemetery there which overlooks the Hudson. The RE^-, Aek.^h.\m H. Mkyers. The Rev. Willi.v.m E. BoG.vKDrs. After a yacancy in the pastorate of nearly two years, a call was e.xtendcd to the Rey, William E, Eogardus, and was accepted, iMr, Eogardus was born at Cohoes, Albany county, X. V, He graduated from Rutgers College in i860, and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1863, In the same year he was licensed by the North Chassis of Long Island, and settled in 322 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS The Rev. William E. Bogardds liis first charge at Middleburgh. In April, 1874, he was received into tlie Classis of Paramus from the Classis of Orange, and installed over the Reformed Church of Saddle River the following May. For ten and one half years he faithfully served the congregation and was then dis- missed to the Classis of Passaic, having accepted a call to the Ponds Reformed Church, at Oakland, N. J. During the ministry of Mr. Bogardus, the present seal of the corporation was adopted. At this time also it was resolved by Con- sistory to replace the old parsonage with a new one. The old landmark around which clustered so many bright and sacred memories, was taken down, and the present parsonage building erected in its stead. The stipulations were that the new parsonage and the barn also built at the time, should not costless than $1,500. A feature of the work here, and one which was dear to Mr. Bogardus, was the circulating cottage prayer meetings, which he styles as faithfully attended, earnest, and pre-eminentl)^ social. It is still easy to perceive that Mr. Bogardus and his helpmeet were greatly endeared to many of the flock over which in the name of the Master, he watched. His sermons were carefully pre- pared and showed a conscientious endeavor to preach the whole ^^'ord of God. The Consistory, upon his retirement from the iield, adopted resolutions expressive of their appreciation of his faithful and conscientious work in the Master's vineyard while among them. The Rrv. William N. Todd, D. D. The vacant pulpit was again filled in 1885 by the settlement of the Re\'. WiUiam N. Todd. He was born at White House, N. J., September 7, 1844. He gratluated from Rutgers College in 1 87 1, and from the Theological Seminar)^ at New Brunswick in 1S74. He was licensed by the (.'lassis of Kingston, October 25, 1874, at DashvJlle Falls, N. Y. He was dismissed from the Church of Gallatin, N. Y., by the Classis of Hudson, October 20, HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 323 The Rkv. William N. Todd, D.D. 1885, to accept a call to the Saddle River Reformed Church. His ministry over this people ^^ as an acceptable one, and was blessed with spiritual fruitage. During his time improvements were made to the property, and the pews were first rented in 1893. ]\Ir. Todd was highly esteemed in the community as a citi- zen and neighbor. His pulpit prepara- tions were always of a high order, and full of spiritual instruction. It was during his pastorate that the Church celebrated her centennial anniversar\', the pastor delivering a discourse ap- propriate to the occasion. ]\Ir. Todd was dismissed by Classis to the Presb\- terian Church, in which body he had accepted a call to Blairstown, N. J. It was while serving in that field that iNIr. Todd was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, in recognition of his ability. Dr. Todd has many warm friends in his old charge, who are al- ways glad to see him when he visits Saddle River. The Rev. Isaac Van Kampen, Ph. D. Soon after the departure of [Mr. Todd, the Rev, Isaac Van Kampen accepted the call of the Church and was ordained and installed June 19, 1893, and still holds that position. He was born at Holland City, i\Iich. Intending to follow a business career, he entered the Grand Rapids Business College, and gradu- ated from the same in 1884. Later, having the ministry in view, he entered Hope College and graduated from that institution in 1890, and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, in 1893. In the same year, on Ma}' 22, he was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Classis of Rensselaer. Having accepted a call to the Church of Saddle Ri\'er, he was ordained by the Classis of Paramus and installed as pastor of this Church June 19, 1893. The Rev. W'm. X. Todd, D. D. , former pastor of the Church, preached the ordination sern^on. Soon after Mr. Van Kampen's settlement in this field, the ile- sirability of having a chapel and lecture room for the accommo- dation of the Sabbath school and other services, was felt. This 324 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS The Rkv. Isaac Van Kampen. new enterprise was soon under way. A commodious and hand- somely appointed building has been erected for that purpose. I\Ir. Jacob Zabriskie, now deceased, dona- ted the lot upon which the chapel was built, and gave the Consistory a deed for the same. The church edifice has been remodeled also recently, and greatl)r improved. The interior has been repainted and frescoed, and two additional front entrances have been made, giving- the church a more im- posing appearance. Four handsome memorial windows and a memorial communion table have been furnished by interested parties. All this has given the Old Stone Church a chaste beauty coupled with an architecture of old tune solidity. While a number of the older members have passed away, making a loss to the Church in several waj^s, still it has more than held its own. The attendance upon divine service is good, the congregation being largely augmented during the summer months. The well attended prayer ixieetings are an indication of whole- some spiritual life. A few years ago a Christian Endeavor Society was organized. The Sabbath school is in a flourishing condition, the membership steadil)' increasing. The Ladies' Aid Society is a generous and hearty co-operative factor in the work of the Church. The relations between pastor and people are harmonious, and the work under God's blessing is progressing. Last year the pastor was granted an extended leave of absence to prosecute a course of study at the university of Eloomington, 111., from which institution he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Pastor and people are working hand in hand, trusting that God's blessing may be with this Church of the fathers in the future as it has been in the past. In conclusion, it is but a fitting tribute to add that Elder Jacob Snyder acted for many years as clerk of the Consistory. Now gone to his rest, he was a faithful friend to the Church he loved. The Sabbath school, at present a flourishing one, has been for man)' years under the eflicient management of elders A. Z. Winter and Herman Terhune as superintendent and assistant su- HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 325 perintendent. Mr. Conrad Fox, the oldest member of the congre- gation, at present 91 years of age, and still a regular attendant, was for many years an elder of the Church. He can remember the various changes that have taken place in the histor}' of the Church since the days of old Domine Goetschius, when the services were still in Dutch, and sound doctrine prevailed. The period from Domine Goetschius up to the present pastorate was one of "giants in those days. " The four successive pastors after Mr. Goetschius towered above the pulpit with ample grace, each being six feet in height. The memory of that greatness still lingers among the people. Also of the days when great work was done for the Master's cause, when the fathers gathered from far and near to worship in the Old Stone Church, and when every pew and every gallery was filled with worshippers to hear the Word of God declared. Those were the days when many brought with them their lunch on Sabbath morning to enable them to stay and attend the afternoon service. Those scenes have changed, and many have been gathered to their fathers and now lie asleep in the old church- yard, but the Old Stone Church still stands, its massive walls un- touched by the hand of time, a symbol of God's everlasting truth to those who still regard it as the Church of their fathers. Legacies and bequests of various sums have been received by the Church at different times. In 1877 a legacy was received from the estate of the widow, Elizabeth Ackerman. In 1887, by will and testament of Gitty De Baun, a legacy of $500. 'was received. In 1889, a bequest was made to the Church to be received in dif- ferent sums from the estate of Angeline N. Brown. In 1897, a legacy of §200 was received from the estate of Edward De Baun. On the minutes of Consistory, dated August 18, 1890, resolu- tions are recorded in expression of the generosit)' of Adolphus Wanamaker, and of his interest in the welfare of the Church. In his will he requested that the old bell in the church tower be re- placed by a new one of excellent tone and power, and a sum of mone)' bequeathed for this purpose, was received from the estate. In 1893 Mrs. Adolphus Wanamaker left by will and testament a bequest of $500, to be devoted to Foreign Missions. It was placed with the Board of Foreign Missions for the Arabian Mis- sion, to educate a native preacher. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF RAMAPO The Rev. William H. Vroom, D. D. RAMAPO is an Indian name, formerly written Ramapough, and applied to a large district of country lying partly in New Jersey and partly in New York state. The tract embraced the Ramapo Mountains, and also gave its name to the beautiful river which flows through it and becomes a prominent tributary of the Passaic. The earliest white settlers in this locality were a com- pany of Protestant Germans, said to have been of the Lutheran faith. They are supposed to have entered this region either from Dutchess county, N. Y. , by passing down through Sullivan and Orange counties about 1720, or from Hunterdon and Sussex counties, N. J., where some of them arrived about 1715 — 1720. The body of immigrants to which they belonged came over from the Palatinate in the time of Queen Anne, and settled for the most part in New York state; but one vessel driven out of its course, entered Delaware Bay, and landed its passengers on the New Jer- sey side of the Delaware River, where the most of them remained. The object of these immigrants in coming to our shores was partly to escape persecution, and partly to improve their condition. The settlers in Ramapo proceeded at once to establish religious wor- ship, and exhibited their zeal and enterprise by the erection of a log church about the year 1720. The building was situated about a quarter of a mile south of the present Reformed church. Hol- land families followed soon after the Germans. These connected themselves with the congregation of Paramus, ten miles distant, and are mentioned as signers to the call and contributors to the salary of Domine Vander Linde, who was settled at Paramus and the Ponds in 1748. The Ramapo settlers continued in this rela- tion till some time after the American Revolution. At length, the spirit of independence having taken possession of the people, steps were taken to organize a Church of their own. The matter HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 32/ came up at a meeting of the old Classis of Hackensack, held at Paramus, December 14, 1785. The following is the record of the transaction as found on the Minutes of Classis, page 54- PETITION FROM RAMAPO. "David Christie appeared before the Reverend Classis, and Cornelius Haring, and have, as commissioned by the neighborhood of Ramapo, presented a written memorial signed by the respective citizens of the neighborhood, by which their Reverence request from the Reverend Classis, liberty and aid to be established into a Church. The Reverend Classis having heard and considered this desire, agree unanimously that this neighborhood shall be organ- ized into a Church, only with this restriction, that those from among them are bound to fulfill their promises for the support of religion in the congregation of Paramus and Ponds, by virtue of their signatures, as long as the call remains in force of Domine Vander Linde, whereto they have bound themselves freely, ^^'e wish for the rest that the Lord will command over them and this their desire. His blessing and His love. Further, the Rev. Her- manus Meyer is appointed, with one of his Consistory, to aid said neighborhood in the appointment of a Consistory there. The Rev. Hermanus Meyer mentioned as the organizer, was the pastor at that time of Totowa and Pompton Plains both of which were in the Classis. About ten years after the organization, in 1795, the first church edifice vi^as erected on the present beautiful and sightly lo- cation, hard by what is now the village of Mahwah, N. J. It has been frequently renovated and somewhat reconstructed since that time, but is believed to be practically the same building. The Erie Railroad established a station a little east of the chuixh in i860, and the village which has since grown up around it, took its name from a brook or rivulet near the place, called by the Indians. Mahwah River. Tradition says, "the church was built by the Hollanders and Germans jointly, and that each party was to use it on alternate Sabbaths."* Whether this were true or not, it event- ually became the exclusive property of the Reformed Church. The church was known colloquially, until quite recently, as "Island" church. The same designation was given to the high road and the neighborhood. The only plausible explanation found for this, is that suggested by Dr. Zabriskie, that the "ele- * From a letter by A. S. Zabriskie, M. D., of Suffern N. Y., containing a unmber of fagts and traditions of the early tinie^ here presented. 328 HISTORY or THE CLASSIS OK PAKAMUS vated position of tlic land, which is surrounded by valleys and streams, gives it some similarity to an island." The development of the country and the building of the Erie railroad caused a number of other picturesque and thrifty villages to spring up within the Ramapo district. These are Darlington in New Jersey, and Suffern, Hillburn, Ramapo, Sloatsburg and Tuxedo in New York. The village of Suffern, onl)^ a mile north of the church, was founded at the time the railroad was ■' .^^'^!^.vy;?'*^";^'. ;/?''.'V^ The Reformed Church of Ramapo, — 1795- built in 1 84 I, and took its name from John .Suffern, a native of the county of Antrim, Ireland. He settled in this locality in 1763. He was a inan of wealth, energy and influence, and obtained an im- mense landed propert)^ upon which not only Suffern, but Hillburn and Ramapo also are built. ^Ir. Suffern became a prominent member of this congregation. The village of Ramapo, four miles north of the church, is one of the oldest in the region. It was founded bv Josiah G. Pierson and his l)rothers, Jeremiah H. and Isaac, in the year 1795, and was for many years noted for its enterprise and success in the manufacture of iron. This and the neighboring village of Hillburn HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 329 are still distinguished for their iron foundries. At the present time most of the villages mentioned have one or more churches of their own. The lands belonging to the Ramapo Church, embracing origi- nally about forty acres, were donated by Robert Morris and John De Lancey, who at that time were the proprietors of large tracts in that region. John Suffern was their agent for the supervision of their interests, and by his suggestion and influence the donation was secured. The restriction imposed by the Classis at the organization of Ramapo, that those who had subscribed to the salary of Domine Vander Linde, should continue that support as long as his call re- mained in force, appears to have been faithfully observed; for no call was made for a minister till that aged pastor completed his labors at Paramus and Ponds in 1789. The Rev. Peter Leydt. In 1789 the Ramapo Church called the Rev. Peter Leydt to be- come its first minister. In so doing it was united with Ponds and West New Hempstead, each of those Churches receiving part of his services. He was a son of the Rev. John Leydt, who for thirty- iive years was minister at New Brunswick and Six Mile Run. He was born in 1763 and licensed in 1788. He was educated at Queen's College and studied theology under Dr. Livingston. The extensive charge to which he was now called was his only field of labor. It embraced three widely scattered congregations and in- volved the organization of the work in Ramapo. His pastorate continued four years only and appears to have been terminated by failing health. Three years later, at the early age of thirty-three, the blaster called him to his heavenly reward. The Rev. George G. Brinkerhoff. Immediately after the retirement of Mr. Leydt, Ramapo united with West New Hempstead in calling the Rev. George G. Brinker- hoff" to become their joint pastor. 'Sir. Brinkerhoff was a native of Bergen county — born at Closter, in 1761. In theology he was a student of Meyer, Romeyn and Froeligh, and was licensed to preach in 1788. His earliest work in the ministry was as a home missionary in the North. He appears to have labored also for a time at Conewago, Pa.; but his first regular pastoral settlement. 330 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS and the longest one, was with these Churches, extending from 1793 to 1806. After leaving this field he preached several years at Owasco, N. Y. , and died in 1813. It is to be regretted that no regular church records have come down to us from which might be gleaned interesting details of the life and work of these men of God who labored in these Churches in the early days. In the case of Mr. Brinkerhoff, we are told that he was a very "godly man, mild and gentle in temper, b>it firm and resolute in his opinions and purposes." His Christian assur- ance and prophetic foresight, displayed in the closing hours of his life are thus described: "On Saturday morning he remarked to his family, 'I think I may live until Tuesday;' but in a few moments he looked around and said, T was wrong; a little after midnight, this very night, my Lord and Master will call for me.' After giving his parting counsel to his relatives and neighbors, who were at his bedside, he said : 'Now I have done with this world. Why tarry Thy chariot wheels so long, O Lord .?' On being asked whether he had any doubts of his salvation, he replied: 'No; if I were to doubt now, I would sin.' Between the hours of one and two on Sabbath morning, as he had predicted, his Master called him home." * The Rev. James D. Demarest. After a vacancy of more than a year, a call was made, in 1808, upon the Rev. James D. Demarest, who ministered to this Church in connection with that of West New Hempstead, for a period of sixteen years. The Church had already become strong numerically and in iSio reported 150 families. His ministry, though hopefully begun, ended disastrously in his own secession and the disruption of his Churches. He was a student under Dr. Froeligh and licensed in 1 803 by the Classis of Paramus. Four years later he received his first call to the Church of Caatsban [Katsbaan,] N. Y., from which, after two years' service, he en- tered this field. In the fierce controversy which arose in the Classis on account of the disaffection of Dr. Froeligh toward the Reformed Church, Mr. Demarest was led to sympathize with his old preceptor in the false position he had taken, and, in 1824, fol- lowed him in secession. A part of each of his Consistories and a portion of each congregation went with him. The matter was *The Rev. P. D. Van Cleef, D.D., in Corwin's Manual, p. 195. HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS 33 I presented to the Classis and its aid earnestly solicited in a carefully drawn paper prepared at a meeting of the loyal congregation, and signed by John Suffern, chairman; Jacob Young, secretary; Wil- liam Hopper and John Parleman, elders; William Eckhart, dea- con, and forty-six others. In response the Classis appointed the Rev. John I. Christie to preach in this Church and assist the con- gregation in choosing and ordaining a Consistory therein. At the next regular session held in Pascack in September, 1824, the Classis sat for a period of four days, and patiently tried the min- ister and the seceding officers upon the charge of public schism, and having found them guilty, deposed them from their respective offices. The same course throughout was pursued in respect to West New Hempstead. The pulpits of both Churches were de- clared vacant, and a call upon the Rev. Jefferson Wynkoop to be- come the joint pastor, was approved at the same session. The Rev. Jefferson Wyxkoop. The successor of I\Ir. Demarest, the Rev. Jefferson ^^'ynkoop, was born in New York City in 1801. Having graduated from Union College and the Theological Seminary at New Bruns- wick, he came into this field fresh from his studies, and was or- dained in the Ramapo church October 6, 1824. He must have been a young man of wisdom and tact, for he guided this Church in troublous times and accomplished a ministry of twelve years duration. After this he labored two years at Athens, N. Y. , and subsequently in several Presbyterian Churches. The Rev. Peter Allex. The successor of Mr. Wynkoop was the Rev. Peter Allen, who was born in Columbia county, N. Y. , in 1808, and like his predecessor, entered upon the pastorate in this Church and West New Hempstead fresh from the School of the Prophets at New Brunswick. This was in 1837. During his first year a list of the members in full communion, consisting of 66 names, was prepared by him and placed on record. A register of marriages was also begun, and consistorial minutes of the more important acts were from that time forward preserved. At a meeting of the Consistory and congregation, held in the church, April 15, 1852, the following resolutions were passed: "Resolved, That twenty acres of the lands belonging to the 332 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS congregation, on the north end of the farm, be offered for sale, and the proceeds thereof be applied to building a suitable dwelling house on the remaining lands of the said congregation. "Resolved, That said house be located on the hill east of the church, and north of the public road leading to the Franklin turn- pike. " James Suflfern, Abram Banta and David P. Ramsey were ap- pointed a committee to carry the above resolutions into effect. The twenty acres were sold to Abram Van Horn, Peter R. Ramsey and John Winter. After hauling the stone for the foundation, how- ever, the plan of building was abandoned; and a property, con- sisting of a suitable house and some fifteen acres of land lying on the Franklin turnpike on the easterly side of the village, was pur- chased from Seba Bogert for a parsonage. Mr. Allen's ministry in this Church continued sixteen years, and was fruitful. At the end of that time, in 1853, the pastoral alliance between the Churches of Ramapo and West New Hemp- stead, which had subsisted in amity for sixty-four years, was dis- solved. This change was brought about partly by the earnest rec- ommendations of the Classis, which sought to cultivate the field more thoroughly, but chiefly, by a sense on the part of each Church of the need of a minister for itself Mr. Allen, therefore, resigned his call to this Church, and spent the remaining nine years of his life ministering to West New Hempstead only. After his death, which occurred in 1862, the Rev. Dr. Duryea spoke of him as "a good man full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, whose end was just such as we would expect to follow so humble and godly a life. " * The Rev. William Theodore Van Doren. After the departure of Mr. Allen from this Church in 1853, the congregation undertook the entire support of a pastor, and called the Rev. William Theodore Van Doren. He had been trained in our own institutions at New Brunswick, and already spent some twelve years in the work of the ministry. Previous charges had been at Batavia, Woodstock, Port Byron, (Presby- terian,) and Mott Haven, N. Y. His ministry here was brief and without notable incidents. An attempt was made to liquidate a debt upon the parsonage, and a schedule of benevolent contri- butions was adopted, which included domestic and foreign mis- * -A. fuller sketch of his life naay be found on page 305. HISTORIES OF THE CHIKCHES 333 sions and the Bible Siiciety. He resigned in 1857 and accepted a call to South Bend, Ind. He also ser\-ed as chaplain of the Seventh ^Missouri cavalry in the War of the Reliellion. The Rev. \\'illiam Dkjiarest. April 20, 1858, ^Ir. Van Dorcn was succeeded in the pastorate by the l\ev. \Mlliain Demarest. He was a native of Hacken- sack, Bergen county, N, J. ; a graduate of Columbia College, class of 1834, and of the New Brunswick Seminary, class ol 1837. He had already been pastor of the Churches oi Clover Hill, New Hurley, First Berne and ]5eaver Dam, Westerlo, and Bound Brook, and was in his niaturit}' when he accepted this call. 'J'here is e\'idence of much pains- taking work done by him, but the ac- cessions were entirely offset by losses. Dr. Corwin said of him : "He was a man ot marked peculiarities. He was pure in character, strong -in con\ic- tions of duty, devoted to the work of preaching the Gospel, conscientious in the discharge of every duty, de- voted to the Church in whose interests he labored — loyal to her constitution, her order, and her whole polit\'. In his intercourse with the people there was kindness and gentleness, com- bined with dignit}', which could not fail in making an impression." In 1870 he resigned this charge and a year later became pastor of the Church of Union, Albany county, N. V., where after a quiet ministry of three years he de- parted this life ^larch 21, 1874. He was succeeded in this pastorate in 1871 by the Rev. George A.Magee. The Rev. George A. ^I.vgee. :\Ir. Alagee was a native of Ireland, — born in Londonderry in 1830, and came to this country when ten vears of age. Havint^ prepared for the ministry under the instruction of Dr. Krebs of New York city, he was licensed by the Presbytery, and held sev- eral positions outside of our denomination before he was called to this Church, Good spiritual results attended his labors, and he Thk Rkv. \Villi.\m Demarest. 334 HISTORY or THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS enjoyed the love of his people; but the Church was weak materi- ally, and was having a severe struggle to maintain the means of grace. Besides this the people of Ramseys, who had been tribu- tary to this Church, had taken steps to erect a chapel, and in 1875 procured their organization into a Church. Mr. Magee, therefore, resigned in 1875. He subsequently supplied a Church at Lake View for a time, and on January 16, 1878, he died. His remains were laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery. The Church was now vacant for a period of four years, but the pulpit was regularly supplied by the Rev. Abram G. R)rerson and others. A measure of quickening grace was felt at this time and the Church was encouraged by receiving much larger acces- sions than usual. The Rev. William H. Nasholds In 1879 the Rev. William H. Nasholds was called to the pastorate. He was born at Knox, Albany county, N. Y. , and had just graduated from our institutions at New Brunswick, where he had taken a full nine years' course of stud}^ His charge embraced the infant enterprise at Rainseys as well as this Church. The old parsonage property on the Franklin turnpike had been sold in 1874, and the present commodious building, standing on a sightly corner opposite the church, was built during the first year of Mr. Nashold's ministry, at a cost of $2107.33. The next year im- paired health obliged Mr. Nasholds to resign, much to the regret of his people, have been Farmer Village, Schodack Landing, charge, the First Church of Bethlehem, N. Y. The Rev. William H. Nasholds. His subsequent charges and his present The Rev. William \Y. Letson. In 1882 the Rev. William W. Letson responded favorabh^ to a call and took up the work awaiting a laborer. He was born in New Brunswick, N. J., in 1830, and enjoyed the benefits of a full course of study in the institutions there established. Licensed to HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 335 The Re\-, William \V. Letson. preach the Gospel in 1854. he had already been pastor at Ghent, Gilboa, and Amity, N. Y., before being- called to this field. In each of these charges he had been successful in winning souls and ad- vancing the interests of the Churches. In this field, likewise, his labors were attended with success. The Church which had been previously very weak, was raised to a posi- tion of self-support, its membership more than doubled, and the inter- ior of the church renovated and adorned. A neat chapel was built, and the Sabbath school continued all the year. In 1886 his pastorate in Ramseys was discontinued and his entire labor given to this field. In February, 1892, ]\Ir. Letson's health gave way and he was obliged to give up his work and resign his charge. He remo\-eil to Allendale, where he lingered in ever increasing weakness of body, but in a firm and comforting assurance of soul, till on Sep- tember 22, 1893, God took him. He was a painstaking and con- scientious worker in the vineyard of the Lord. The Rev. Albert A. Kixg. Upon ^Ir. Letson's retirement, the Church called the Rev. Albert .\. King. He was born at Stanhope, X. J., in i8s2, educated at Pennington seminary and licensed by the Newark ^lethodist Episcopal Conference. By his own diligence and perseverance he pre- pared himself for the ministry, and was ordained by the Classis of Passaic, and installed over the ("hurch of Ponds in 1 881. After leaving that Church he was pastor at Boonton and at Riverside, Paterson, before coming to this field. the rev, Albert a. king. His early ministry here was largely blessed in con\'ersions. The spiritual quickening enjoyed from 1894 to 1896 was unusual in this f ^^ f ?,?,(> HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES Church, and the membership was hirgely increased. Failing health incapacitated him for labor, and on Jul}' ii, 1900, the Classis relieved him from his active ministry, and declared him emeritus. The Rf,v. Louis Vaxdenburgh. Toward the close of the year, 1900, the present pastor, the Rev. Louis Vandenburgh, was called. He was born in Chicago, 111., 1878. His preparation for the ministry was begun at the North Western Classical Academy at Orange City, Iowa. He was graduated from Hope College in 1897, and from Princeton Seminary in 1900. (Jn January 29, 1901, the Classis of Paramus ordained him to the ministr}- and installed him over this Church. The sermon was deli\'cred b}' the Rev. \^'illiam H. Vroom, D. I). The Rev. Louis vandknburgh 'i'he charge to the minister was given by the Rev. Isaac Van Kampen, Ph. D. , and the charge to the people, b}' the Rev. Henry W. Brink. The present Consistory is constituted of the following named persons : Andrew J. Winter, Matthew Hicks, Richard Wanamaker, John T. Henion, elders; David Hopper, Martin Henion, Richard Valen- tine, Jacob Crouter, deacons. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF WARWICK The Rev. Taber Knox. THE Reformed Church of Warwick was formally organized as such by the Classis of Paramus, on the second Sunday of January, 1804. Previous to that time the congregation had been Presbyterian in its organization, holding ecclesiastical connection with the Presbytery of New York, and later with the Presbytery of Hudson, upon the formation of the latter in 1795. The earliest history of the original Church is somewhat obscure. The year 1 764-5 is given by some authorities as the date of the organization of the Presbyterian body, but owing to the fact that the records of the Presbytery of New York previous to 1775, are lost, and in the absence of necessary early local records, this date cannot be verified. On the other hand, the records of certain early ministers, who served the people of Warwick and of Florida (five miles distant), conjointly as pastors, do exist; and from these it is evident the Warwick Church had pastoral care at least fifteen years earlier. The Rev. Jonathan Elmer was pastor of these two Churches from 1750 to 1754. After that there is no evidence of pastoral care for eight years, or until 1762, when the Rev. Samuel Parkhurst was pastor of the same Churches, so remained until his death in 1768. Then another interval of four j'ears occurred, during which period the Church became the possessor of property; as, in 1770, two contiguous acres of land were reserved out of cer- tain properties that changed possession, " for a burial ground for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian Church of Warwick. " In 1773-4 the erection of the first rude house of worship was begun; at that time it was enclosed, but the war of the Revolution delayed its final completion twenty years. This first building was mani- festly a very uncouth affair, square in shape, with a curb-roof, a single aisle, with a tier of clumsy seats on either side; the gallery was never completed. Trustees for the care of the church property appear to have 338 HISTOKV OK THE CLASSIS OK PARAMUS been first selected in 1784, when, on October 22, John Wheeler, Francis Baird, and John Dennison were constituted as such. The incorporation was legally effected in 1791, the certificate of in- corporation bearing- the date of October 24 of that year. After this incorporation, quit claim deeds for the two acres of land, be- fore mentioned as having- been reserved for the use of the Presby- terian Church of Warwick, were executed in favor of the trustees by William Wickham and the heirs of John Morin Scott, dated re- spectively April 23, 1793, and January 18, 1793. But to return to more spiritual matters, the Rev. Amzi Le-wis in 1772, (after four years' interval in the time of ministers), be- came pastor of the joint charges of Florida and Warwick, sever- ing his connection with the Warwick Church in 1777. Serious difficulties, evidently, at this time, agitated the congregation and made the withdrawal of Mr. Lewis wise in the eyes of Presby- tery. But whatever the difficulties were, the separation of pastor and people does not seem to have improved matters materially; for eighteen years things -were in so unsettled a condition that one may judge the spark of life was well nigh extinguished. In 1784, when the first trustees were chosen, the memorandum noting that fact also contains the somewhat unusual information that there were "no minister, elders, or deacons existing. Finally the movement of life is again evidenced, and, in 1795, the Rev. John Joline assumed pastoral charge of the Florida and Warwick Churches, giving to Warwick one-third of his time; he thus served for seven years. After that the Presbytery furnished supplies. While the Presbyterians of Warwick for over fifty yearo had thus maintained their ecclesiastical existence, they could not claim great activity for themselves. Certainly a Church that, for a time at least, had no minister and no other officers than trustees to hold possession chiefly of a burial ground, and possessmg a neglected building, could not claim a high degree of vitality. At the beginning of the century a very decided advance was evident, the result of the coming of ne-w families into the neighborhood, and then began a most unique attempt to carry on a dual organi- zation (which in point of fact did continue in form until the year 1890) by which it was hoped to maintain organic connection with both the Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church and the Classis of the Reformed Church. A strong Dutch element, coming into the locality, not unnat- HISTORIKS OF THE CHURCHES 339 urally desired a Church organization in connection with their an- cestral denomination. Their position was considerably helped by the fact that, "about this time several voung Dutch ministers, lately landed, preached to the great acceptance of the people. The English element finally yielded to the Dutch brethren and agreed to the organization of what should be styled the Presbyter- ian and Reformed Church of Warwick. The reason for this double designation was to insure the legal possession of the property that had been given to the "Presbyterian Church." Accordingly, while Presbytery was still continuing to appoint supplies for the Church, forty-four subscribers petitioned the Classis of Paramus to "furnish them from time to time with preaching and catechis- ing, and to organize them in due time into a congregation. " The petition, dated February 23, 1803, was presented to Classis by the Rev. Mr. Eltinge of Paramus, on Ma)' nineteenth of the same year. The petition was granted, though the organization was not imme- diately effected. Cornelius Demarest and John G. Ackerson were in the following September appointed to wait on the Classis of Paramus at the next session for the purpose of asking supplies. The request was granted, and it was resolved that "any minister be- longing to this Classis, with an elder, be authorized to organize the people of Warwick into a congregation, whenever in their opinion, a proper opportunity offers. ' In accordance with this resolution, the Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge and the elder, Stephen Hopper, re- ported to Classis on April 4, 1804, that on the second Sabbatn of January, 1804, they had organized "the people of Warwick into a congregation by the name of the congregation of Warwick. '' At this time Andrew Ackerman and Cornelius Demarest were chosen , elders, and Aaron Taylor and John G. Ackerson, deacons. Two years later Edward P. .\ckerson and John Pelton were also made elders, and Andrew Onderdonk and David C. Demarest, deacons. These eight persons constituted the first full Consistory of the Church. Of course the dual name of the organization could never be recognized by Classis or any other ecclesiastical bod)'. The or- ganization was constituted a Reformed Church and four years later the Presbytery of Hudson forrnally recorded that the con- gregation had placed itself under the care of the Paramus Classis. As late as 1809 the Church evidentl)- regarded itself as both Pres- byterian and Reformed, for, at that date, during a vacancy in the 340 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS pastorate, the Warwick Church is found applying- to the Presby- tery to appoint supplies "if they should think proper." The re- quest rather naively suggests that Presbytery shall not name sup- plies for certain specific dates, as "these are the days appointed by the Reverend Classis. " There is a decided humor in such an application, as evidently the congregation supposed that the dual organization of the Presbyterian and Reformed Church act- ually existed and that the chasm was thus bridged. March 8, 1807, the Church was duly incorporated as the "Consistory of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church and Con- gregation of Warwick." The trustees, however, continued to hold the property in the name of the Presbyterian Church of War- wick, until March 18, 1890. The Rev. Charles Hardenbergh. The first minister of the Church after its organization by the Classis of the Reformed Church was the Rev. Charles Harden- bergh, a licentiate of the Classis, who, on the second Sabbath of November, 1804, was ordained and installed as pastor. Mr. Hardenbergh's pastorate continued until the close of the year 1807. He was a great-grandson of Johannes Hardenbergh and Catherine Rutsen, of Rosendale, Ulster county, N. Y. the Jo- hannes Hardenbergh to whom, with six others. Queen Anne of England, gave a royal grant in 1708 for the large tract of land in the state of New York, which has been known as the Great or Hardenbergh Patent. His parents were Johannes Hardenbergh and Rachel DuBois, of the Wallkill Valley. His father was a cousin of the Rev. Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh, D. D. , the first president of Queens, now Rutgers College, of which institution he was elected a trustee in 181 2. He studied under the Rev. Solo- mon Froeligh, D. D., was licensed by the Classis of Paramus in 18 1 2 and was the first minister the Classis ordained. After leav- ing Warwick he was pastor at Bedminster, Somerset county, for twelve years, when, in 1820, he accepted a call from the Green- wich Reformed Church, corner of Bleecker and Amos streets. New York, and died the following year. A man of more than ordinary ability .nd devotion to his work, his death was a loss not only to the Church he served, but also to the denomination he loved. More than four years elapsed before a successor to Mr. Hardenbergh was selected; the congregation was ministered to by HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 34' supplies. During this time the original little building that had been in use seventeen years since its final completion, was dis- carded for a new, and, for the time, commodious church. The new church was completed in the spring of 1812. The Rev. John I. Christie. The summer of the same year witnessed also the settling of a pastor in the person of the Rev. John I. Christie, who, though a licentiate of the Classis of Bergen, had served for ten years in the pastorate in the Presbyterian Churches of Amsterdam and Galway. He was born at Schraalenburgh in 1 78 1 ; was graduated from Columbia college in 1799, ^"d was licensed by the Classis of Ber- gen in 1802. 'Sir. Christie was the beloved pastor of the Warwick Church for twenty-three years, until his health, which had not been good for a number of years, made his retirement necessary. During the pastorate of ;\Ir. Christie, in 1830, the Sabbath school was organized on the eighth of August, with a total enrollment of sixty-five scholars. Mr. Christie was a faithful minister of the word, and a godly man, his sincere nature drawing to him the hearts even of the children of his flock. His sermons were always carefully prepared, and under his ministry the Church be- came much strengthened. His death occurred in 1845. The Rev. Benjamin Van Keuren. The Rev. Benjamin Van Keuren became pastor in ^lay, 1836. He was a graduate of the seminary at New Brunswick, class of 1824. Before coming to Warwick, he was pastor at Esopus from 1825 till 1836, during parts of which period he was also pastor of the Churches of Hurley and Bloomingdale, N. Y. Mr. Van Keur- en's pastorate at Warwick covered only a period of a year and a half, closing in November, 1837. His later pastorates were in connection with the Presbyterian Church. He died in 1865. The next important act on the part of the congregation was the purchase of its parsonage property. This was made April, 1838, and included twenty-two acres of land, with a dwelling upon it that served as the minister's home for twenty years. The minister was not expected to cultivate so large a farm. The purchase was the rather made as a speculation. Its cost was $5200, and arrange- ments were at once made to sell off so much of the land as was 342 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS not needed for parsonage use. By this plan the parsonage, with tlie ample grounds that still surround the present building, were secured at what finally proved to be but a small cost to the con- gregation. The Rev. James W. Stewart. After securing a parsonage, the Church sought again a per- manent minister, the choice falling upon the Rev. James W. Stew- art, who on Ma)f 15, 1838, having held pastorates in Salem and [ackson, was installed as the \\'ar\vick pastor. The Church pros- pered anew upon Mr. Stewart's assumption of leadership, and gained largely in numbers; his pastorate ended in the fall of 1842. The Rev. Ferdinand H. Van Derveer, D. D. On the fourth of December, 1842, the Rev. Ferdinand H. Van Derveer, began to preach regu- larly, and on the fourteenth of February following ( 1843 ) h^ was installed as pastor. His long and successful ministry in the Warwick Church covered a period of almost thirt)r-four years. Dr. Van Derveer was the revered and beloved father of the Warwick Church of today. He graduated from Union College in 1821, and from the seminary at New I3runswick in 1823, His previous pastorates had been at Hyde Park, New Hurley and New burgh. He was an independent thinker, an earnest speaker, clear and logical in statement, illus- trating the truths he proclaimed by his holy and consistent be- havior. Though a man of great energy and decision of character, he was peculiarly social in disposition. Dr. Van Derveer's minis- try was signally blessed in the salvation of souls and in sowing the seed that has borne its fruitage long years after. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Rutgers College in 1828. In the earl)f )rears of Dr. Van Derveer's pastorate the church building of 18 12 proved inadequate for the uses of the congrega- tion. Accordingly a new editice was erected, which was com- The Rkv. F. H. Van Dervekr, D. D. HISTORIES OF THE CHIRCHES 343 pleted and dedicated in 1848. Eleven years later the Church was enlarged and beautified; as then completed and used b}' the con- gregation for thirty years longer, it was attractive and commo- dious. Its architecture was Grecian Doric, the roof supported in the front by four massive fluted columns, forming the spacious portico where for so many years the congregaticjn were wont to gather for mutual greeting before or after the services within. Soon after the enlargement of the church, the congregation built The Reformed Church of W.^rwick, — 1848. the new parsonage, which has continued to be the comfortable and commodious home of its pastor until the present time. Dr. Van Derveer's pastorate terminated, in consequence of the limitations of age, September 11, 1S76. His death occured July 10, 1881, at the home of his son-in-law, the Rev. Thomas S. Dusinberre, at Ij'vingston, N. Y. The Rev. Vernox B. Carroll. On December 28, 1876, the Rev. ^'ernon B. Carroll A\-as in- stalled pastor of the Church, and remained at its head for ten 344 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Thk Rev. Vernon B. Carroll. years, until January i, 1887. Mr. Carroll was born in Baltimore in 1846; was graduated from Rutgers College in 1868, and from the seminary at New Brunswick in 1 87 1. His previous pastorates were in Pottersville, N. J., and New York city. He was a man of scholarly at- tainments and of large capacity for work; an able preacher, deeply spirit- ual and profoundl)^ conscientious. He was decidedly progressive in his ideas and keenly alive to the methods and demands of modern Church life. A new era in the Church's spirit and activity began with his ministry. The Church made much progress along all lines; its membership was largely augmented and its benevo- lences were systematized and greatly increased. The Ladies Missionar)^ Society (Auxiliary to both the Boards) was organized while Mr. Carroll ministered to the Church. His later pastorates were at Tenafly, N. J., and Armenia, N. Y. His death occurred December 21, 1899. The Rev. Peter Crispell. On the third of August, 1887, Classis ordained to the Gospel ministry, and installed as pastor the Rev. Peter Crispell, under whose seven years' ministerial care the Church con- tinued to make very marked progress. The additions to its membership were especially large; its Young People's society was organized, and the grow, ing congregation found the church of thirty and forty years before, again too small. Once more the question of enlargement or rebuilding had to be considered. It was decided to build a new church on the old site, and plans, drawn by Mr. E. G. W. Dietrich, of New York, calling for a handsome stone structure, were adopted. The new edifice Thk Rev. Peter Crispell. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 345 was built at a cost, complete with organ and furnishings , of more than $35,000, besides the value of work done gratuitously. By the personal exertions of the pastor and the liberal response of a most united people, it was dedicated without encumbrance on June 26, 1890. The building is in many respects an unique structure. Its architectural style is Byzantine; its walls and arches, towers and buttresses are built of the rough stones gathered from fields and fences, which, when first built into the structure were still green or black with growing 7"he Reformed Church of ^^'ARWICK, — 1890. lichen or moss, and the mold and weather stains of years, and are still most beautiful, covered with growing ivy. The church is commodious, with a seating capacity of five hundred. Mr. Crispell's pastorate terminated the first Sunday of June, 1894. He resigned to become pastor of the Reformed Church at Utica, N. Y. , of which he is now pastor. ]\Ir. Crispell is a native of Hurley, Ulster county. New York, where he was born in 1862. He is the son of Peter Crispell, M. D. He graduated from Rut- 346 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS gers College in 1884, and the seminary at New Brunswick in 1887. The Rev. Taber Knox. The present pastor, the Rev. Taber Knox, was called from the Fourth Reformed Church of (Mana)amk) Philadelphia, and was installed October 23, 1894. Previous to his Philadelphia pas- torate, Mr. Knox was pastor of the ^"■"■' ' Second Reformed Church of Tarry- town, N. Y. He was born in New York cit)r in 1863, and is a grandson of the Rev. John Knox, D. D,, who was one of the pastors of the Col- legiate Church for forty )rears. Mr. Knox is a graduate of Columbia College, class of 1883, and of Union Theological Seminary, class of 1886. After leaving the seminary he had charge, in the absence of its pastor, of the Presbyterian Church atSchagh ticoke, N. Y. He was ordained to the ministry when installed pas- tor of his Tarrytown charge July 12, 1887. The Junior Christian Endeavor society and the Young Ladies' Missionary society ("Heart and Hand") and two branch summer Sabbath schools are recent additions to the working agencies of the Church, and with the Sabbath school, the Christian Endeavor society and the Ladies' Missionary society, organized as noted above, in former years, are doing good work. According to its most recent report the families now constitu- ting the congregation are 150; its membership 269; Sabbath school enrollment, 237; its benevolent contributions last year, $1524. This Church has given three of its sons to the gospel ministry. The Rev. Cyrus G. Van Derveer, the son of its pastor. Dr. Ferdi- nand H. Van Derveer, was ordained to the Gospel ministry by the Classis of Paramus at a meeting held in the Warwick church, No- vember 9, 1859. He was pastor of the Reformed Church at Dav- enport, Liwa; and during his pastorate there also served as chaplain in the Civil War; at the time of his death he was secretary of the Board of Domestic Missions. His death occurred at Warwick in April, 1868. The Rev. Taber Knox. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 347 The Rev. Thomas S. Dusinberre, the son of Elder Peter Du- sinberre, was also a son of the Church. A sketch of his life is given in the history of the West New Hempstead Church, in this volume. He now resides at Pine Plains, N. Y. The Rev. James Henry Bertholf, another son of the Church, son of James Holly Bertholf, was ordained to the Gospel min- istry by the Classis of Westchester, and installed pastor of the Church at Unionville, Westchester County, N. Y. He after- wards served as pastor of the DeWitt Chapel, in connection with the Collegiate Church, New York city; the Reformed Church at Nassau, N. Y. , and the First Freehold, Marlboro, N. J. ]Mr. Ber- tholf's present residence is Yonkers, JST. Y. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF PASCACK The Rev. Edward Lodewick. THE valley in which this church is located was originally "under the dominion of the Delaware Indians. '' The brook flowing through the valley was called in the Indian language, "Paskack," which signifies running water. From this the valley and its immediate vicinity received its name. When the Church was organized it naturally assumed the name of the locality in which it was situated, and became known as the Church of Pas- cack. This is the name under which it was incorporated, and which it still retains. The people originally attended religious services in the neigh- boring churches of Tappan, Schraalenburgh, Paramus and Saddle River. As the population increased they desired a church in their own vicinity, where they could with greater convenience assemble to worship God. The subject of organizing a Church was agitated for twenty- seven years before the desired object was attained. At a meeting of the Classis of Hackensack held May 27, 1787, a petition was presented from the neighborhood of Pascack, to be formed into a Church, and the following was adopted : "As some persons are members of the neighboring Churches, and as this is a matter .of great importance, it must be taken up ad referendum. In the meanwhile the Consistories of these Churches who have any interest in the matter are commissioned to take this weighty affair into consideration and to thoroughly in- vestigate into the whole subject, by the next meeting of Classis." "At the meeting of Classis held again at Hackensack, no one ap- peared from Pascack to press their request. *" From the above, it would seem that the matter was allowed *See Dr. Corwin's ".Manual and Record of the Church of Paramus." HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 349 to rest for the time being, and for a number of years the people were prevented from carrying out their cherished plan. Finally, in the year 18 12, the way was opened by the separa- tion of the Church of Saddle River from that of Paramus, these two Churches having been under the charge of one pastor previous to the year 181 1. When this separation occurred, the people of Saddle River of- fered to unite with the people of Pascack, and to assist them in building a house of worship, with the understanding that the two congregations should form one Church and be governed b)' one The Reformed Church of Pascack, — 181 2. Consistory. It was also agreed that services should be held in the two houses of worship alternately. In the year 181 2, land was purchased and the building of the church was begun. From the record of deeds in the office of the county clerk at Hackensack, we find that in the year 18 12, on the twenty-third day of October, Peter Wortendyke and Matze, his wife, and Abraham Campbell and Margaret, his wife, for the sum of $60.00 current money of the State of New York, gave a deed for one acre of land, to John J. Demarest, Garret J. Ackerson, Albert 350 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Wortendyke and John J. Blaiivelt, the appointed trustees for the building of the Reformed Dutch Church at Pascack. "The building was now begun with spirit and resolution, and in one season a very beautiful and well proportioned house was completed; in the fall it was dedicated, and the pews were sold, a suitable discourse being preached on the occasion by the Rev. Stephen Goetschius." The building is of red sand stone, quarried from the hills in the immediate vicinity and is known as "The Old Stone Church of Pascack." The arrangement with Saddle River seems to have continued for about two years, when difficulties arose, "caused by a line drawn by the Classis at the instigation of Dr. Wilhelmus Eltinge and the Consistory of Paramus, extending about a quarter of a mile south of the meeting house at Pascack, by which a number of families who desired to attend the services at Pascack were claimed by the Consistory of the Church of Paramus." In order to overcome this difficulty, "it was agreed to petition Classis at their next session to disannul said line and to leave the inhabi- tants, at their discretion, to join where they pleased." The fol- lowing is from the minutes of the Classis, at a meeting held at Schraalenburgh April 25, 1814. "A petition was laid before Classis by a number of heads of families'in the district of Pascack, request- ing to have the boundary line between the congregations of Par- amus and Saddle River aimulled. On motion it was resolved that the petition be entered on the minutes and is as follows: ' 'To the ministers and elders constituting Board of Classis of Paramus, convened on the fourth of April ensuing, Gentlemen and Brethren: The thought of your humble petitioners showeth that whereas there has been a line drawn and confirmed by your reverend board, some years ago, extending in our district, with- out our knowledge and approbation, and whereas it appears that compulsion is intended and already exercised to restrain us from a union in fellowship with the Church of Pascack, now built and completed and to which we have liberally contributed and ob- tained seats. Gentlemen, be it known that as there was a va- cancy here, and neighboring churches a considerable distance from us, our attendance and contributions were only occasional, and to continue until we could build a church in our own neigh- borhood, which has been in contemplation for many years, and for which there have been movements made at different times, which to our full satisfaction has now been completed. Shall we now be constrained by a line to which we have never agreed and HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 351 forced to abide in fellowship in those Churches which we attend only occasionly, until we should have an opportunity of Christian privileges in our own neighborhood ? Even the idea is absurd, and would be oppressive in the extreme. Therefore, we, your humble petitioners, do remonstrate against said line as oppressive and grievous and pray that your reverend body interpose to relieve us from said restriction as offensive and pernicious to the edifica- tion of ourselves and families, and to disannul said line and leave it to the option of every one to attend or join in Christian fellow- ship where it shall be most convenient, a privilege which is gen- erally enjoyed in Churches around, and which we claim as a civil and religious liberty." Signed by fifteen names. It was resolved that a copy of the above petition be sent to the Consistory of Paramus. It was also resolved that the discus- sion on the petition be postponed till the adjourned meeting of Classis on the third Tuesday of June next at Pascack, and that the people of Pascack be recommended in the mean time to devise a plan for their being constitutionally organized into a congregation, and that the people adjacent to the new church at Pascack, belong- ing to neighboring congregations be recommended to make appli- cation to their respective Consistories for their consent to be con- nected with the said new congregation. At this meeting a call was laid on the table of Classis bv the Consistory of Saddle River for the Rev. Stephen Goetschius, which was approved and accepted. The Classis met in adjourned session at Pascack on the third Tuesday of June, 1814, when the following petition was presented : "Gentlemen and Brethren, — We your petitioners, fully con- vinced of the propriety and expediency of forming a Church in Pas- cack, do by these presents request your Reverend board to appoint a committee, any time you may judge convenient, in order to ordain elders and deacons and form said Church, by name, style and title of the Church of Pascack. In complying with our prayer you will oblige your ever praying petitioners. '' The above petition was signed by seventy-nine heads of fam- ilies; about one quarter of this number were from the Paramus con- gregation. Classis resolved: "That the request of the above petitioners be granted, and that a committee be appointed to meet at Pascack on 352 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS the second day of July, 1814, to organize said Church, and that with the advice and concurrence of the members in said district, four members ( two elders and two deacons ) together with the four already ordained, be chosen and ordained to constitute the Consis- tory of said Church, known by the name, style and title of the Church of Pascack." On July 2, 1 8 14, the committee appointed to organize the Church at Pascack met according to order ofClassis. All the mem- bers, John Yurey, Joseph Debaun, Jacob Debaun and John De- baun, were present. The business of the day was introduced with prayer; they then proceeded to the election of elders and deacons, whereupon the following persons were chosen: Elders : — John T. Eckerson, John Campbell, Garret Duryie, Esq., Jacob Banta, Esq. Deacons : — Garret J. Ackerman, Ed- ward Eckerson, Hendric Storm, John L. Demarest. President, Stephen Goetschius. The Church was organized with about forty-eight members. On the twenty-ninth of August, 1814, the Consistory made the following declaration of incorporation : "State of New Jersey : These are to certify that we the sub- scribers, the iNIinister, Elders and. Deacons of the Reformed Dutch Church at Pascack, do on this twenty-ninth (29th) day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, agreeably to an act of the legislature of this state, entitled, "An act for incorporating religious societies," agree and declare to be- come a body politic and corporate, and to be known and distin- guished in law by the name of the Consistory of the Congregation of Pascack in the county of Bergen. Stephen Goetschius, (Seal) V. D. M. Signed and sealed by all the members of Consistory." The Rev. Stephen Goetschius. Although the churches of Saddle River and Pascack became separate organizations when the Church at Pascack was organ- ized, they continued to be served by one pastor. The Rev. Stephen Goetschius was pastor of both from 1814 to 1835, when, on account of the infirmities of old age, he resigned. Two years later he was called to his eternal rest. He seems to have been a HISTORIES OK THE CHURCHES 353 painstaking man. On the tirst leaf of the record of the Church of Pascack is inscribed in his neat handwriting, the following : "In the name of the Lord. Amen. The First Record of the Church of Pascack Organized in the year 1814 Omnia cum Deo & Nihil sine Ko Omnia cum Christo & Nihil sine isto. Let all thintrs be done decently and in order. 1 Cor., .xiv:i2. I left thee to set in order the thinijs that are wantini 'itus I ;: The Rki lOHN ^L\XLEV. In the year 1834 the Rev. lohn INIanley was called to the jias- torate of the two Churches. In 1835 the Churches separated, each desiring a minister of its own. The Re\'. ]Mr. Manley therefore re- signed froin the church of Pascack and continued to be the pastor at Saddle River onl)^ His ministry at Pascack presents nothing striking, no record having been kejjt, e.xcept that of baptisms and the names of those received into the communion of the Church. * The Rev. johx T. De.marest, D. D. Upon the departure of INIr. Manlev in 1853, a call was made upon the Rev. John T. I^emarest, and was accepted by him. L^p to this time there had been no need for a parsonage at Pascack, as the pastor lived at Saddle River. But now, having a pastor of their own, the Consistory re- solved to provide a parsonage. 'I'he site selected was that upon which the parsonage now stands. August 24, 1855, a deed was given bv Peter P. Wortendyke and Polly, his wife, to the Consistory of the Church of Pas- cack for fifteen acres of land, for the consideration of $1,600. The parson- age was built without delaj'. In this home Dr. Demarest was called upon to suffer the * For sketcli of his life, .see page 319 The Rev. John T. Ui-:m.\ki-;,st.1>.d. greatest sor- 354 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS rows of his life. The remains of his wife and children lie buried in our cemetery. He was born at Schenectady, N. Y. , February 20, 1813. He graduated from Rutgers College in 1834, and from the Theo- logical Seminary at New Brunswick in 1837. He was at once licensed to preach by the Classis of New York, and immediately entered upon his first pastorate at New Prospect, where he re- mained until 1849. He was then called to the Church of Minni- sink, and in 1852 became principal of the Harrisburg Academy. From 1854 to 1867 he was at Pascack, in 1869 returning to New Prospect, where he remained until 1871, and in 1873 going there again for the third time and resigning in 1885, when the infirmi- ties of age compelled him to retire from pastoral work. In 1857 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Rutgers College. His pulpit preparations were models of clear thought expressed in pure and forcible English. He was thoroughly orthodox, believing in honest effort to ascertain what the sacred writers meant, but loathing all evolution of doctrine from inner consciousness, a ready and rapid writer, whose opinions always demanded respect. The Consistory at New Prospect bears testimony to his eminent learning, ability and faithful exposition of the Scriptures, to his high moral character, strong faith and convictions; his unswerving loyalty to Church, denomination and God, and his great helpfulness to individuals, and the congregations to whom he ministered. He died at New Brunswick peacefully and happily January 30, 1897, and was buried at New Prospect, among the people he had loved and served.* Dr. Demarest was an acknowledged scholar. He was the author of several works, among them "A Commentary on the Catholic Epistles," and, together with Dr. Gordon, he was author of "Essays on the Coming and Kingdom of Christ." He was a man of many peculiarities, of keen wit, and sharp sarcasm. As a preacher he held forth the doctrines of divine grace, and sover- eignty, and the second coming of Christ. Under his ministry, the ingathering, according to the Church record, was not very large. An important part of his mission seemed to be, to build up and strengthen the taith of Christians. Many of the members of this Church, who have passed triumph- antly away, owe a debt of gratitude to the preaching of this good * Minutes of General Synod, vol. XVIII, p. 768. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 355 and faithful man, for their strong, unwavering and triumphant faith. The Rev. Ben'jamin A. Bartholf. In the year 1868, the I^ev. Benjamin A. Bartholf accepted a call from the Consistory, and served as pastor for five years. During his ministry, the Church was blessed with a revi^'al, se\'- enteen being received into the communion of the Church in one year. Air. Bartholf graduated from Rutgers College in 1861, and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in r 864. during which year he was licensed by the Classis of Passaic, and or- dained and installed by the Classis of Cayuga, as pastor of the Church at Fair Haven, Cayuga county, N. Y. From 1868 to 1873 he served, as al- ready stated, the Church at Pascack. The following three 3-ears he was stated supply of the Inde|)endent Con- gregational Church at .Stone Church, Genesee county, N. Y. In 1876 he became pastor of the Presbyterian Church at ^layfield, N. Y. , and has since been identified with Presb3-ter- ian Churches. From the year 1873 to 187s the Church was without a regular pastor. During this interval, the church building was remodeled at a cost of nearly $4,000. The interior of the building was com- pletely renovated and refurnished. The Rev. Alexander McKelvey, although declining a call from the Church, became stated supply for three nionths, dur- ing which time the parsonage was rebuilt at an expense of 51,000. In order to meet this expense, the parsonage propertv was mort- gaged to the Hackensack .Savings Bank. This debt was afterwards paid from a legacy of Si, 000 left to the Church by Mrs. Jane Lockwood. The Rev. Edward Lodewick. On April 20, 1875, the Rev. Edward Lodewick, the present pastor, was installed. During his ministry the Church has enjoyed L . The Rev. {ENj.\MiN A. Bartholf. 356 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS The Rkv. Edward Lodewick, a high degree of prosperity, 254 having been received into the communion of the Church. A commodious chapel, begun in 1885, has been erected at a cost of about $4,000. The churcli build- ing has twice been remodeled and refurnished, at a cost of nearl)^ «;5,ooc!. A new bell was placed in the church tower in the year 1891. There are connected with the Church, a I.adies' Aid Society, to which the congregation is mdebted for the chapel and the improve- ments in the church projierty, a Woman's Missionary Society and Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, all of which are doing noble work in their various depart- ments ; also a flourishing Sabbath school from which many have been received into communion of the Church. Legacies to the amount of $2,500 have been received by the Church. (Jn iSIay 11, 1900, the congregation gave a reception to Mr. Lodewick, in honor of the twenty-fifth anniversary of his pastor- ate, at which a large number of friends extended their congratu- lations to him and his highly esteemed wife, expressing the sincere wish that the relation existing between pastor and people, might long continue. Mr. Lodewick was born in Rensselaer county, N. Y. , in 1846. He was educated at the institutions of the Reformed Church at New Brunswick, graduating from the Theological Seminary in 1872. His first pastorate was at St. johnsville, Montgomery count\', from wdience in 1S75 he came to Pascack. The Church is prepared to enter upon the new centur}' united and harmimious, thanking (lod for the blessings of the past, and trustiu"- Him form-eater blessings in the future. THE FIRST REFORMED CHURCH OF TOTOWA BY The Rev. Thomas Powell Vernoi.l. THE First Reformed Church of Totowa is the corporate name of an organization which for nearly a half of a century wor- shiped in a building situated at the corner of INIain and Ellison streets, Paterson, N. J., and for more than a quarter of a century has had its place of meeting on Hamilton avenue above Straight street. The paternal stream from which this Church issued has been traced to its source by such well known historians as William Nelson, Esq., and the Rev. Theo. W. Welles, D. D., and in brief is as follows : The old Dutch Church at Totowa was organized in the year 1755. Its house of worship was burned to the ground ?ilarch 26, 1827. On the question of where the future church home should be, the congregation divided. Life is too short and time too pre- cious for us to linger amid the echoes of the controversy thus occa- sioned, nor have we the inclination to attempt to answer the often mooted question: "Which one of the branches of this divided stream is the original stream ? " We will change the figure and say, "The old mother Church died in giving birth to twins. ' One child remained on the north side of the Passaic river, and, soon after the mother's death, was christened "The Second Reformed Dutch Church of Totowa," at Paterson, X. J. The other child crossed to the south side of the river and located at the corner of Main and Ellison streets. Here a church home was dedicatetl March 15, 1829, and was familiarly known as "The Old Town Clock Church. " This organization retained the mother Church's corporate name, "The First Reformed Dutch Church of Totowa,'' as well as the property of the ancient site of the church, and the 358 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS pastor, the Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge. The corporate title was de- cided upon at a congreg-ational meeting- held as far back as Tues- day, March 12, 1816. The Rev. Wilhelmus Eltinge, D. D. At the dedication of the new church building. Pastor Eltinge preached from the text. Psalm 84:1, "How amiable are Thy taber- The First Reformed Church of Totowa, — 1829. nacles, O Lord of Hosts," and continued his connection with the Church until the latter part of the year 1833, when he resigned to give his full time and strength to the Church of Paramus, which Church he had served in conjunction with the First Church of To- towa. A sketch of his life Mali be found in the Paramus Church history. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 359 The Rev. John C Van Dervoort. On the twentieth day of January, the Rev. John C. Van Der- ■s'oort was chosen pastor and ser\'cd the Church until June, 1837. He was born at Bound Brook, N. J., in 1798, was educated at New Brunswick, fjrad- uating- from Queens College in 1816, and from the Theological Seminary in 1 8 19. He was a licentiate oftheClassis of New Brunswick, but was ordained to the Gospel ministry as pastor of the Presbyterian Churches of German Valley and Vox Hill. \\'hen called to the First Church of Totowa, he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Basking Ridge. In 1837 he accepted a call from the Reformed Church of Kinderhook and subsequently was pastor of the Reformed Churches of Mellenville, New Paltz and Ghent. He was a follower of Christ from early life and gave himself to his ministerial work with unfaltering steadiness of purpose. In most, if not in all of his charges, he was cheered and encouragetl by seasons of refreshing from the Lord. He was a man of deep spiritual life, an earnest preacher, a lo\'ing, wise and faithful pas- tor. He served in the Gospel ministry for thirt3f-two years and fell asleep in Jesus, June 21, 1851.* The Rev. John C. Van Dervoort The Rev. Ebenezer Wiggins, D. D. The next pastor was the Rev. Ebenezer Wiggins, D. D., who was called October 13, 1837, and faithfully served the Church for nineteen years. He was an Irishman by birth, a professor bv aspiration and a minister of the Gospel by the call of God. He received his collegiate education at the University of the Cnv of New York, was a tutor in ancient languages at Rutgers College, and graduated from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1837, and during the same year was ordained, and installed pastor of the First Church of Totowa. In 1857 he became pastor of the Manhattan Reformed Church of New York, and so remained * See Corwin's Manual. 360 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OK PARAMUS until 1870. This was liis second and last charge. He died in 1878, and, with his wife and only child, was laid to rest in the Cedar Lawn cemeter}' at Paterson. Hismemor)^ is fondl}^ cherished by the older memliers of the Church. He was a good pastor, a Christian gentle- man of the old school, "of the straight- est sect of orthodox preachers," and therein, it is said, "highly acceptable to the old people to whom he minis- tered." * It is impossible to state the num- ber of accessions to Church member- ship during the pastorates of the Rev- erends Eltinge, Van Dervoort, and Wiggins, until the year 1845. The rec- ord book was probably destro)'ed at the time of the burning of the church in 1871. But from 1845, to the close of Dr. Wiggins' pastorate in 1856, eighty-five communi- cants were received. Thk kiiv. Ehknezer WiGCtINS The Rev. Philip Peltz, D. D. In April, 1857, the Rev. Philip Peltz, D. D., began his labors as pastor and continued to serve the Church until called to the office of cor- responding secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions in June, i860. Dr. Peltz was a man of great force of char- acter, an impressi\e preacher, and re- markably successful in winning souls into the kingdom. During his short pastorate, one hundred persons united with the Church. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1823, graduated with high honors from the University of Pennsylvania, in 1845, from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1848, and before the close of the year was ordained and installed pastor of the Churches of Coe3rmans * Hi.story of Bergen and Passaic Counties, p. 492. Thk Rev. Philu' Peltz, D. D. HISTORIES OF THK CHURCHES 361 and New Baltimore. In 1851, he accepted the call of the Church of C'oxsackie. In the service of this Church he remained until 1857, when his ministry as the pastor of the First Church of Totowa was inaugurated. This proved to be a pastorate of only three years. The following; five years were spent in the service of the Board of Foreign [Missions, and then in 1866, Dr. Peltz began the labors of his last and longest pastorate, in the old historic Church of New Paltz. In this year also he re- ceived from Union College, the honorary degree of U. D. In 1876 he was appointed a delegate bv the (jeneral .Synod of the Re- formed Church to attetid the meeting of the Pan-Anglican Presby- terian Council at Edinburgh, July 4, 1877, and was also commis- sioned to bear the Christian salutations of the General Synod to the Synod of the French Reformed Church. In 1882, because of failing health. Dr, Peltz was declaretl (fOTd'r//?/^', and June 26, 1883, departed this life to join the great multitude of whom it is said by the Spirit of God "These all died in faith." The Rev. Alexander ]McKel\ey. The next choice of pastor fell upon the Rev. T. DeWitt Tal- mage, D. D., but alas! brother Talmage's wings were to soar in higher air. Februarj' 6, 1861, the Rev. Alexander ]\IcKelvey was installed pastor. Previous to his settlement the Church had passed through the deep waters of manv trials, ranging from the call of pastors to the outlining of the duties of sextons, in- cluding the introduction of a melodeon, the choice of choristers, assessments on pews and collecting the same, the erection of a lecture room, the keeping of the clock in the steeple in order, the tolling of the bell, and the settling of controversies regarding a hearse and a burjfing ground. There was a growing desire among the people to enlarge and beautify the church, or to sel' and build a new church on a ne^v site. Here, too, the waters were stirred with not so satisfactory results as when the angel visited the Bethesda pool; for, in 1864, The Rkv. Alkx.ander McKKL^"EY 362 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS fifty-nine members were dismissed for the purpose of organizing; the Broadway Reformed Church. Afterward, improvements were made, by adding an alcove at the rear of the church, and em- bellishing the interior of the edifice. Judging from the Con- sistorial minutes, the white winged dove was not always visible; for, the entire Consistory resigned at one time; and, after a few weeks, was recalled by the declared wish of the people. Mr. McKelve)f's pastorate closed in the spring of 1865, and today he is serving a sister Church in the Classis of Passaic. He has always been an active, public-spirited man. During his pas- torate at "The Old Town Clock Church," sixty-five members were added to the roll of Church membership. He was born near Belfast, Ireland, graduated from Rutgers College in 1855, from the New Brunswick Theological Seminar}^ in 1858, and the same year was ordained and installed pastor of the Church of Irvington, from which in i860 he was called to the pas- torate of the First Church of Totowa. This charge he resigned in 1865, served the Church at Coxsackie Landing for a year and then, for another year was rector of the grammar school at New Bruns- wick. In 1867 he became pastor of the Church of Greenpoint, L. I., in 1874, of the Presbj'terian Church of Westfield, N. J., in 1877, of the Canal street Presbyterian Church, New York, in 1882 of the Reformed Church of Centerville, Athenia, N. J., in 1884 of the .Second Presb)rterian Church, Jersey City, and June i, 1894 of the Reformed Church, Boonton, N. J., where he is still laboring with gratifying and encouraging results. The Rev. John Steele, D. D. The next in order was the Rev. John Steele, D. D., who was called July 12, 1865. Under date of Septem- ber 18, 1866, we read in the Minutes of Consistorj' "A motion M'as made and carried that the Consistory re- solve itself into a Bible class and prayer meeting to meet every Monday evening at the house of one of the members. '' We regard the above as a timely suggestion for consistories of The Rev. John steelb. D. D. the twentieth century. During the HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 3^3 3'ear 1866, the Church was transferred from the Classis of Paramus to the Chissis of Passaic. In Februar)' 1867, stores and offices were placed in front of the church building and remained there until the whole was destroyed by a fire which began a few- minutes before eleven o'clock on the night of December 14, 1871. The First Church, with Stores axd Offices. The Paterson Daily Press December 15, 1871, gives an idea of the position the church held in the affections of the public. "It is seldom that a fire occurs which has so much the char- acter of a pidilic calamity, or excites the same degree of public interest, as that which last night, in the last hour before mid- night, wrought such swift and utter destruction in the First Re- formed Church of this city. The old church with its quaint. 364 HISTORY or THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS square, white frame tower, with tlie four black dials near the top, pointing the hour, seemed like public property; everybody was interested in it, and apart from the sacred character of the edifice, all feel that its destruction is an irreparable loss, with all its wealth of old associations as a landmark of Paterson, wherein so many of our friends and ancestors have in times past been bap- tized, or have worshiped, or have had performed over their re- mains the last sad rite of burial. The old Church had come to be regarded as one of the most influential in this part of the state. It had lived to see the American Church separated from the hamp- ering apron string of the Synod of Amsterdam, and only the day before the fire, the thirteenth instant, the last services held in this sacred edifice were commemorative of the one hundredth anni- versary of that important event to the American (Church." The following "Ode to the Old Clock" was written by Mr. George Wurts, and appeared in the editorial, from which the above is a quotation : ' 'Thou hast ruiig the hour when toil began. And the noon-stroke full and deep, And sweet release from the crowded shops, And the time of blessed sleep. The wedding-hour thy stroke hath told. And the slow dead-march hath timed; And jocund peals from thy belfry rolled. As the notes of victory chimed. Thy hands have gleaned in the lightning's flash; And shown in the moonlight wan: , . And steady and calm they have marched their round. As the faithful hours went on. The fateful hours that flew so fast And their freight of life and death: With sorrow and joy, with bitter and sweet, With coming, and parting breath. We have gazed our last on thy honest face. Old friend, so trusty and true. And we feel as we look at thy vacant place. That the old is worth more than the new. Another clock ma)'' point the hours, And chime us to toil and rest; But many a day may wax and wane Ere we love the stranger best. Farewell, old friend, thou hast met the fate. That to mortals and clocks mizsi come; HISIOKIKS OF THE CHUKCHES 365 Our faces must crumble in ashes, too, And our hands fall dead and dumb. And well for us, when our life-dial strikes The end, on its "passing- bell" If our friends will sa}', as we do of thee, '\'e did your duty well.' " The lecture room, an adjacent building, was fitted up for The First Reformed Church of Toiow. -1874. preaching services, and on December 25, 1871, Dr. Steele })reaclied a touching and appropriate sermon from Isa. .\-i\:ii, "Ourholvand beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned uj) with fire; and all our pleasant things are laid waste." Here the people continued to worship until a new church on a new site was dedi- cated June 2, 1874. Dr. Steele held the rudder through the surg- 366 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS ing sea of time, until 1877. He was born at Somerville, N. J., in 1827. He graduated from Rutgers College in 1845 and three years later from the Theological Seminar}' at New Brunswick. He was ordained to the ministry and installed pastor of the Lebanon Re- formed Church. His next charge was the Second Church of Coxsackie, and then in 1858 the Church of Union Village, N. Y., in 1865, First Totowa, and in 1877 the Church of Greenbush, N. Y. This was his last pastorate; in 1886 he was stricken with paralysis, and died at Newark, N. J., January 17, 1889. While he was at Paterson, he was a inember of the Board of Visitors of Rutgers Scientific School, and in 1873 received the honorary degree of D. D. from his Alnia Mater. He is said to have been "a dilligent stu- dent, a sound theologian, a painstaking sermonizer, a graceful preacher and a faithful jjastor," a man dearly beloved by the peo- ple. During his pastorate one hundred and seventy-eight souls united with the Church. The Rev. Andrew V. V. Ravmond, D. D. , LL. D, In June, 1878, the Rev. Andrew Van Vranken Raymond, was called. He had just gradu- ated from the Theological Seminary. For two and a half years he served the Church most acceptably, a favorite with both old and young. He was born in 1854, graduated from Union College in 1875, and from the New Brunswick Seminary in 1878. He resigned the pastorate of the First Chnrch of Totowa, in response to a call from Trinity Re- formed Church, Plainfield, N. J. In t886 he became pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church, Al- bany, N. Y. This ministry was terminated by the acceptance of his present position. He is now the popular and successful president of Union College. Ninety- three names were added to the list of Church membership during his short pastorate. The Rev. J. Le Moyne Danner, D. D. The Rev. J. Le Moyne Danner, D. D. , followed in 1S81 and The Rev. A. V. V. Raymond, L. L. D. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 367 The Rev. J. ISee Minutes of Synod, Vol. XVIII, p. 560. The Rev. Uriah :marvix. 4IO HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Tunis Smith for money paid in 185 i, to balance the cost of re- building the church, and the other part of the price, $1,200, was kept till 1865, when it was used in repairing the church. The last four years Mr, Marvin occupied the house in the rear of the church, which was rented for him. In October, 1870, this house and lot were purchased by the Consistory, to obtain land for an addition to the church building, which was not large enough to ac- commodate the growing congregation. An addition of sixteen feet was built on the rear of the church, providing needed space for the audience, an organ and choir loft in the southwest corner, and a pastor's study and robing room in the northwest corner. The ainount expended was about $13,000. The house pur- chased was used as a residence for the successive pastors, till April, 1888, when one more desirable was provided by leasing I\Irs. Stevenson's house on Broadway, corner of Hudson avenue, which continued to be the pastor's residence through the century. The Rev. Henry V. Voorhees. In November, 1870, the Rev. Henry V. Voorhees, was called as pastor, and he began his ministry [anuary i, 1871, l)ut was not installed till April 21. During his pastorate the Church grew to 184 families, 319 members; the Sabbath school to 320 members, and in a few years the contributions for support and benevolence nearly doubled. But the general financial depression of the "sev- enties " weighed heavily upon some of the most liberal friends of the Reformed Church, and the com- munity as well as the Church, felt the burden seriously. Mr. Voorhees resigned his charge April i, 1878. His other pastorates in the Re- formed Church werp Geneva, N. Y., from 1850 to 1854; Broome street, New York City, 1855; Bound Brook, N. J., from 1858 to 1862; Wash- ington Heights, N. Y., from 1863 to 1865; South Bushwick, N. Y., from 1867 to 1869. After leaving Nj'ack he served the Presbyterian Churches of Princess Anne, Md., from 1881 to 1889, and of Dela- THEREV. HKNRY V. VOORHKKS. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 4 I I ware Water Gap from 1891 to 1895. He died October 10, 1897. * The Rev. William A. McCorkle, D. D. In October, 1878, the Rev. Wm. A. McCorkle, D. D., of the Presbyterian Church, was secured as stated supply, and remained in this position till April i, 1881. He occupied the parsonage, and performed faithfully all the duties of the pastor that the Con- stitution of our Church permitted, but the people preferred an in- stalled pastor and hence lessened their zeal for the Church. The Rev. ^A'illiam H. Clark, D. D. The seventh pastor was the Rev. \\'illiam H. Clark, D. D., who began his work here June 16, 1881, and continued it till April I, 1886. In the first year of his pastorate he received forty- four members into the Church on confession of faith, and forty- two by certificate, the largest number received in any one year in the Church's history. The Church prospered in ever}^ respect. A revival spirit was manifested continuousl}^ interest in missions was greatly increased, and besides meeting the regular needs of the Church with increased salaries, more than $4,000 was paid on the debt for enlargement of the Church in i870.f The semi-centennial of the church building occurred while the Church was without a pastor, but the Consistory planned and carried out a very fitting celebration of the event. It was held Jime 17, 1886. Dr. Clark, by request, presided at both sessions. At the afternoon session the Rev. Charles S. Hageman, D. D. , gave an historical address, and at the evening session addresses were made by all but two of the former pastors that were living, and the Rev. Cornelius Brett, D. D., spoke of the pastorate of his father, the only ex-pastor who had died. The Rev. John C. Van Deventer. In October, 1886, the congregation voted with great unanimity to call the Rev. John C. Van Deventer, and he began his work here November first. Both ^Mr. Van Deventer and Dr. Clark were called from pastorates in this Classis, Dr. Clark coming here from Broadway, Paterson, and ]Mr. ^'an Deventer from the old Paramus * See an estimate of his character ou page 96 of this volume, f A sketch of Dr. Clark's life is given in t'ne history of the Broadway Reformed Church, Paterson. 41 2 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS The Rev. J. C. Van Dkventer. Church. The vmanimity manifested in the call was continued by the people all through the six years of his pastorate. The lib- __ erality of the Church for the Lord's i :;:'?f.'''' '■. ' ■ ■ work in this and other lands continued and increased, and the balance of the old debt for the enlargement of the church was paid. A goodly num- ber were added to the Church by con- fession and certificate, and all the services were well attended. The Society of Christian Endeavor was organized October 14, 1887, and proved a great blessing to the young people. In March, 1890, a severe ill- ness left Mr. Van Deventer with heart disease, which caused his death, November 8, 1892, in the forty-sixth year of his age. For several months it was generally known that his health would never be improved, and that any Sabbath might be his last. On Sabbath evening, October 23, he preached from Rev. 20:11, "And I saw a great white throne," and all who heard him were impressed by his words, and with the thought that it was his last sermon. Such it proved to be. His remains were laid to rest in a plot provided by the Church in Oak Hill cemetery, Nyack. His former charges had been Cold Spring, N. Y., from 1873 to 1875; Glenham, N. Y., from 1875 to 1879; Paramus, N, J., from 187910 1886. "Rev. Mr. Van Deventer was a man of superior qualities of heart and mind, possessing a sweet and liberal disposition. He was also gifted M'ith a clear analytical and logical mind. As a preacher, he was very attractive. His sermons and his lectures were not only vigorous and lucid, they were also presented in a winning way, and as one has truly said, ' it was always a pleas- ure to listen to the words of truth which fell from his lips'." The resolution adopted by the Consistory of the Reformed Church of Nyack fitly expresses the views of all who knew him. "As a preacher he was clear and strong in thought, earnest in ex- pression ami entirely practical in the enforcement of God's word. As a leader of Christ's people in the various departments of Chris- tian effort, he was peculiarly skillful and wise, and successful in HISTOKIES OF THE CHURCHES 413 originating and developing- the Christian activities of his people in such a \va)' as to secure the harmonious and fruitful co-f)peration of all. As a pastor, tender and prudent, he endeared himself to all his people, and won the respect and esteem of the communit}-. To know him, was to respect, to trust and lo\e him. " * The Ivev. Willi.vm J. Leggett, Ph. D. The ninth pastor was Re\-. \^■illiam J. Leggett, Ph. D. who entered upon his duties April i, 1893. His former charges had been Schodack Landing, N. Y. , from 1S75 to 1SS2; Claverack, X. Y., from 1882 to iSSy; Belleville, X. J., from iS8y to 1893. During his ministry the Church membership has been increased, and also the gifts for benevolence, averaging over $1,600 per year, and the work of the Church has been well sus- tained. A Junior Christian Endeavor society was formed ]\Iay i, 1894, which under excellent leadership is ver)' helpful in the spiritual training of the children. A cliapter of the Brotherhood of Andrew and Philip was formed October 15, 1896, and a Bo3''s Brotherhood, January 24, 1900. Lidividual communion cups were introduced in June, 1898. For several years the need and desire of the people was to ha^•e a new church and chapel, because it was difhcult to keep the old building in repair, and because there was need of a better Sabbath school and prayer meeting room than the church basement. June 7, i 89 2, Consistor}' resolved, "that the time had come, when the erection of a new church edifice should be earneslly considered," and ap- pointed a committee to take steps in that direction. A few months later the pastor died, and the committee reported that it was not wise to consider the matter at that time. July 18, 1893, Consistory again appointed a c(jmmittee, and the subject of building a new church and chapel was CLinsidered at meetings of the Consistory and of the congregation till X'ovem- ber 13, 1894, when plans were appro\'ed, and the building com- * See Minutes of S_\-iiod, VoL XT'II, p. S91. The Rev. W J. I,eggett, Ph. d. 414 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS Of PARAMUS mittee authorized to beg-in the chapel when the cost, $9,000, was subscribed and $5,000 paid in. General financial depression pre- vented the carr)ring' out of these plans. A building fund was started and augmented, but no special effort was made to build till October 10, 1899, when Consistory appointed a committee "to resume the consideration of plans. " An impetus was given to the project at this time by the probable receipt in the near future of $15,000 under the will of Amanda Van Nostrand, widow of elder The Reformed Church of Nyack, -1900. Garret Van Nostrand, which sum was received by Consistory in June, 1900. New plans were approved March 20, 1900. The old parst)nage in the rear of the church was demolished June 26, and on its site the foundation walls of the chapel were begun August 9, 1900. The building was completed and dedi- cated without one cent of debt December 19 of the same year, at a cost of $10,000, including furnishing; $2,120 of which came from the Van Nostrand legacy, and the balance was given by the congregation. The sermon at the dedicatory service was preached from Psalm 118:25, by tlie Rev. Charles S. Hageman, D. D., who. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 415 as pastor, fifty years before, January 7, 1851, presided at the re-dedication of the enlarged church building. In the sixty-two years of its existence this Church has re- ceived on confession of faith, 612 members, and on certificate, 512. The present membership is 363. The Church has been blessed with faithful and efficient pastors, with capable and de- voted ofiticers, and with helpful and consecrated members, both male and female. This brief outline points out some facts in the history of this Church, but the inerrant record is written in heaven. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF PIERMONT The Rev. William C. Stitt, D. D. THE first Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Piermont was organized on January 27, 1839; the first elders chosen were Abraham D. Vervalen and William Lawrence, and the first dea- cons Eleazar Lord and Cornelius L Blauvelt. The original mem- bers were received from the Tappan Church by certificate. The names are as follows : On January 27, 1839, Mr. and Mrs. Eleazar Lord, Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius L Blauvelt, i\Ir. and Mrs. Hezekiah C. Seymour, Abraham D. Vervalen and William Law- rence. To these were added on May 31, Mr. and Mrs. John S. Verbryck, Mr. and Mrs. John G. Blauvelt, Nathan S. Lord, Mar- garet Copeland, wife of David Clark; Ann Eliza Blauvelt, wife of Isaac M. Dederer; Eleanor Blauvelt, wife of John G. Blauvelt; Martha Sickles, wife of Garret J. Blauvelt; and on confession of faith, Rachel Haring, wife of J. M. Gahagan; on October 4, 1839, Catharine M. C. Gahagan, and Jane Van Blarcom; on January 31, 1840, Mr. and Mrs. James I. Blauvelt and Mrs. Thomas E. Blanch; on January 5, Elizabeth Vlierboom, wife of Aaron Banta; on October 2, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob I. Blauvelt; on October 4, John L Blauvelt; June 4, 1841, Isaac M. Dederer, on confession, and on October 4, 1841, on certificate, Mr. and Mrs. Silas Miller, and Ann Lockwood, wife of Ezekiel Miller. The first communion was administered on June 2, 1839, the Rev. Dr. Cornelius C. Vermeule, stated supply, from May, 1839, to September, 1842, officiating. "Dr. Vermeule was pastor of the Harlem Reformed Church from 1816 to 1836, when he resigned his pastorate because of ill health. He is said to have been a good preacher, an earnest, faithful pastor of more than usual mod- esty and humility of spirit, and of great tenderness and sensibility HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 417 of feeling."* His services at Piermont were not only accepta- ble, but fruitful of blessing and good. The first child baptized was Louise, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hezekiah C. Seymour, on September 8, 1839. As ISIrs. Louise Seymour Houghton, she is well-known at this date(i90i) ■■'^ The Reformed Church of Piermoxt, — 18 so. as a writer of books, and as the editor of the New York Evan- gelist. The first recorded inarriage was that of William H. \\'hiton and Sarah Pierson, daughter of Eleazar Lord, on October 21, 1845. i\Ir. and i\Irs. Whiton are still living (1901) in Piermont. They have always been substantial helpers of the Church. The first church building was on the slope of the hill just be- * Dr. MandeviUe's Historical Discourse, iSts. 4l8 HISTORY or THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS low the station of the Northern Railroad of New Jersey, and it answered the needs of the congregation for ten years. The present building was erected in 1850 at a cost of $5,000. The Rev. Cornelius E. Crispell, D. D. The Rev. Dr. Crispell's ministry in Spring Valley brings him into more elaborate notice in another part of this volume. He was ordained and installed September 27, 1842, as the first pastor of the Piermont Church. In 1847 he deemed it his duty to accept a call to another parish. At his examination for ordination, the deputy of the Synod expressed his "entire satisfaction with the ready manner in which the candidate gave answers to the ques- tions presented to him." In those early years he laid the founda- tion of that Biblical and theological learning which made him in after years a strong defender of the Calvinistic faith. The Pier- mont people have grateful memories of his practical work and espec- ially of his preaching, which was vital with the doctrines of grace, every sermon being wrought out with care and labor, and aiming to tell the whole counsel of God, to strengthen faith and to win souls. As a theological teacher in Hope College in later years, and as a writer of occasional articles in defence of the truth. Dr. Crispell has made the Church his debtor. On the sixtieth anni- versary of the Piermont Church, Dr. Crispell in his address referred to the early composition of the Church as a blend of different types of piety. One type fashioned by the Dutch and another by the Westminster standards, the one a native element and the other imported from New England, and both strong in the orthodox faith. Dr. Vermeule for a few years strengthened the people in the faith, and the Rev. Augustus C. Thompson (now the venerable Dr. Thompson, of Boston,) for a few months gave them the strong meat of God's word. Under such truth and preaching as Dr. Crispell showed, the people were "more than ordinarily impressed with the divine constitution of the Church." In their opinion "it stood firm for all family divine rights and duties and for all civil divine rights and duties as taught in the Scriptures, but it was properly jealous of all associations formed merely for social inter- course and mutual assistance. It would have no association of men, at its option, take the lead of or excel the Church in works of piety and beneficence, nor would it allow its own labors of love HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 419 to be drawn aside from the specialty of the household of faith; as the Apostle taught: 'Do good unto all men, especially unto the household of faith," Dr. Crispell showed in his address that the small body of people in the Piermont Church at the beginning was "impressed with the divine headship of the Church and anointed by the Holy Spirit, and held the doctrines of God's word as instrumentally powerful to save'' and he pleaded that it might always magnify its original characteristics. The Rev. Daniel Lord, M. D. On October 5, 1847, the Rev. Daniel Lord was ordained and installed as the pastor. During his brief pastorate, the building of a new church was mooted and finally accomplished in 1850, under his successor. Differences arising in regard to the site of the edifice, those who preferred the hill side to the present site on the Sparkill creek, organized a Presbyterian Church, and worshiped in it for several years. It was finall)' closed, and most of its meinbers re- turned to the Reformed Church. On ^lay 17, 1850, ;\[r. Lord resigned. He was a man greatly beloved because of his spiritu- alitv and zeal. He died at Jordanville, X. Y. , September 10, 1898. "He was born in the city of New York, April i, 1822. His parents were Benjamin Lord and Hetty ^'anderwart. The Rev. Benjamin Lord, D. D., who for seventeen years was pastor of the First Church of Norwich, Conn., was his great-great-grandfather. He graduated with honor in 1844, from the University of Penn- sylvania, and froin the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1847. After years of service in the ministry, to increase his use- fulness in the parishes in which he labored he qualified himself, by taking a full course of medical instruction, for the duties of a practicing physician. His qualifications were such that he be- came physican-in-chief of the South Side Dispensary, Chicago, and occupied the position for five years, from 1873 to 1878, when he returned to the people of his second charge at Henderson, N. Y. , and during the latter years of his life ofiiciated in the neighboring village of Jordanville with great acceptableness and usefulness. \Vhile thus engaged, having announced the hymn, 'Nearer my God to Thee,' he was stricken with apoplexy, and in a few minutes 420 HISTORY OK THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS passed from the church on earth to the upper sanctuary. " ^rtv.'^yiiW)*,^ The Rev. J. Romeyn Berry, D. D. On August 27, 1850, the Rev. J. Romeyn Berry was ordained and installed in the new church, which had been erected at a cost of $5,000, of which sum $1,000 was contributed by the Collegiate Church of New York, to be returned if the Piermont Church should ever cease to be under the care of the Synod of the Dutch Church. On March 16, 1852, Mr. Berry was called to Syracuse, the Consistory testifying in a recorded minute that his ministry had been "edifying and of great good to the Redeemer's cause." -»' "Dr. Berry was born near Hack- Thk Rev. j. romeyn bekry, d. d. ensack, N. J. , in 1 8 2 7. He was a grand- son of the Rev. James V. C. Romeyn. D. D., graduated from Rutgers College in 1847, from the Theo- logical Seminary at New Brunswick in 1850, and was licensed the same year by the Classis of Bergen. He was ordained in the Re- formed Church of Piermont, and after serving the Church a year, accepted a call to the Reformed Church of Syracuse, N. Y. In 1857 he removed to Kinderhook, where he remained un- til 1863, when he assumed the pastorate of the Third Re- formed Church of Jersey City, since known as the Park Re- formed Church. Here a successful ministry of five j^ears was brought to a close, because of the failing health of his wife. From 1869 to 1870 he served the Church of Fishkill Landing, and then was called to the Presbyterian Church of Montclair, N. J. Here he remained until 1887 when he accepted a call to the Reformed Church of Rhinebeck, of which he was pastor at the time of his death. He died at Hotel Bristol, Asbury Park, June 5, 1891, in the sixty-ninth year of his age. Dr. Berry as President of the Synod of 1890, opened the Synod of 1 89 1, June third, preached the Sy nodical sermon in the even- ing, attended the communion service the following evening, was taken seriously sick in the night and the next day expired at 8 * See Minutes of Synod, Vol. XIX, p. 896 HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES 421 o'clock p. m. He was a man of fine ]iersonal appearance, ot ex- cellent qualities of mind and heart, and thoroughly furnished for his ministerial work. As a preacher he was instructive, as a pastor, faithful, and as a friend, belo\'ed. "* The Rev. Jacob ^^'EST, D. D, On August 24, 1852, handily been duly called and installed, the Rev. [acob \\'est began his \vork as pastor. His resignation took effect on April 20, 1856. "At the installation services the sermon was preached by the Rev. William H. Van Doren. The form was read and the charge to the pastor delivered by the Rev. Ferdinand H. \'anderveer and the charge to the people was given by the Rev. Charles S. Hageman, The relation thus formed was ot short duration contininng only un- til April 20, 1856. "Dr. \\'est was born in 18 18, and died January 22, 1890. He re- ceived his preparatorj' education at Gallupville, Schoharie county, X. Y. , graduated from Rutgers College in 1842, and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1845, during which year he was licensed bv' the Classis of Albany and or- dained bv the Classis of Schoharie at Middleburgh, X. Y. His pastoral service continued for twenty-three years; seven of these were spent at Middleburgh, four at Piermont, and twelve at East Brookh n. Bedford avenue. In 1868 he was appointed corresponding secretarv' of the Board of Domestic [Missions, in which position he remained until January, 1888. When his resignation was accepted he was en- titled honorary secretary, and until his death counseled with and labored for the Board as opportimitv required. "Dr. West was an eminently sincere, spiritually-minded be- liever in the Lord Jesus Christ, profoundly interested in the sal- vation of souls and the building up of the Redeemer's Kingdom. He will be remembered for hard work faithfully performed, and * See Minutes of Synod, vol. XVIt, p. 647. The Rev. J.^cob West, D. D. 422 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OK PARAMUS that told more upon steady progress than through sudden and startling results." * The Rev, A. D. Lawrence Jewett. On November i, 1856, the Rev. A. D. Lawrence Jewett en- t ered on his duties as pastor, having been ordained and installed by the Classis on September 15. Mr. Jewett resigned on Septem- ber 5, 1859, in consequence of illness. Though Dr. Jewett was subsequentl}^ a pastor and did a large work, his health was never secure, and in the last years of his life he was a chronic invalid. He was a warm-hearted, enthusiastic man, and an intense and eloquent preacher, "He was educated at Williams College, and graduated from the Princeton Theological Seminary in 1854, He came to Pier- mont from the Presbytery of Luzerne. He was subsequently pas- tor of the First Presbyterian Church of New Brunswick, N. J., for six years, the relation terminating in 1874. The latter part of his life he resided with his daughter in New York. He died Satur- day, April 30, 1 8g8. '■■■)■ The Rev. Henry E. Decker. On the first Sunday of April, i860, the Re\'. Henry E. Decker began his pastorate after the usual call and installation, and resigned '' ■ ' ■.''■ on July I, 1865, to accept an ap- pointment as a Missionary of the Domestic Board. He graduated from AVilliams College in 1854, from the Theological Seminarv at New- Brunswick in 1857, and the same year was licensed, ordained and installed bv the Classis of Rens- selaer, as pastor of the Reformed Church of New Concord, Columbia countw N. V. This Church was previously a Congregational organi- zation and ?\Ir. Decker was its first pastor after its change of ecclesiastical polity and faith. His pastorate here was terminated by his acceptance of the call from Piermont. * See :\Iiniiies of Synod, vol. XVII, p, 193, f Editorial .Addenda. Tmc ki-.\-. lli.;xRY Iv Di-.ckkr. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES ^23 He afterwards served in Grand Rapids, ^Michigan; Havana, Illinois; Davenport, Iowa; and in 1875 returned to Sparkill, near Piermont, and opened a private scliool. Subsequently he was pastor in Blauveltville, Florida, Turin and Lyon Falls, all in the state of New York. He died in 1893. The Rev. Augu.stus F. Todd. The successor of Mr. Decker was the Rev. Augustus F. Todd, who was called from Athens, Pa. , in October, 1865, and installed January 3, 1866. "The occasion was of peculiar interest, because of those who took part in the services. The preacher was Mr. Todd's brother, the Rev. John A. Todd, D. D., of Tarrv'town, N. Y. The charge to the pastor was by the Rev. George J. Van Neste, then of West New Hempstead, and the charge to the people, by the Rev. John Steele, D. D. , then of Paterson. These brethren, together with the pastor-elect, were all from the First Church of Somerville, N. J., and had been brought to a knowledge of the truth through the ministrations of the same pastor, the Rev. Abraham Messier, D. D., while the president of Classis, the Rev. George JM. S. Blauvelt of Tappan, was from the neighboring Church of Lamington, of which his father was pastor. "Mr. Todd was born in Somerville in 1826, spent his boy- hood on a farm, and at eighteen years of age, when an apprentice to the carpenter's trade, made confession of his faith in Christ, and three years later was made a deacon. His preparation for college was under the instruction of Mr. Thompson, now the Rev. John B. Thompson, D. D. , who was then in charge of the Classical school at Somerville. He graduated from Rutgers College in 1855 and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1858. His pastorates have been at Athens, Pa., seven years; Piermont. six years; Boonton, N. J., one year; Bloomingburg and \Vurts- boro, Orange county, N. Y., eight years; Schoharie, N. Y. , four years; South Bound Brook, N. J., two years, his pastorate here The Rev. Auglstis F. Todd. 424 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS ending- in 1886. He has since been without charge, but much of the time engaged as supply. He resides not far from his boyhood home at Dunellen, N. J. In all his pastorates Mr. Todd's labors have been owned of God and graciously blessed." While there was no special spiritual awakening during his ministry at Piermont, there were a goodly number of accessions as the 3'ears went by, bearing testimony of a workman that needs not to be ashamed. For several months in 1871 the condition of Mr. Todd's throat disabled him from preaching, and caused him to resign his charge. He preached his farewell sermon, October 8, 1871. The Rev. William C. Stitt, D. D. The Rev. William C. Stitt, D. D., was called from the Presbyter- ian Church of Johnsonsburgh, N. J. He began his labors on the first Sunday of Ma)^, 1872, and was installed on June 18. In 1873, the sum of $11,000 was expended on the enlargement of the Church. As the records state : "the building was completed, the money paid, and the house opened for service on December 30. " A large gathering in the Church was addressed by former pastors and others, and a historical address was made by Elder John W. Ferdon. In the evening, Dr. Stephen H. Tyng, Jr. , of New York, preached. Special thanks were given to the building com- mittee, Messrs. J. W. Ferdon, Brewster Valentine, Isaac M. Ded- erer and William H. Whiton, and to all who had given money and time to the work. Of the sum ex- pended f7,ooo was given b)' Mr. Ferdon. In 1879 $3. 000 was ex- pended in building a lecture room in the rear of the church. "Dr. Stitt was born in Phila- delphia, Pa., in 1833, graduated from the College of New Jersey in 1826 and from Princeton Theo- logical Seminary in i860. Having been licensed by the Presby- tery of Philadelphia he supplied the Presbyterian Church of The Rev. William C. Stitt, D. D. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 425 Georg-etown, D.C., for a couple of years, arnl was ordained at Hagerstown, Maryland, iNIav 13, 1863, from whence after a five years' pastorate he went in 1868 to johnsonsliurgh, X. J. His pastorate here of about three years, was followed by his pastorate at Piermont, -which, beginning- May i, 1872, was not terminated until February 9, 1887. It proved a successful pastorate, upbuild- ing the Church and bringing many souls to Christ. In 1889 he received the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from Princeton University." * After this long pastorate of very nearly fifteen years in Pier mont. Dr. Stitt resigned on the latter date, to accept a call to the Presbyterian Church of Hazleton, Pa., and on April i, 188S, he became the secretary of the American .'^eamen's Friend Society in New York, an office which he still holds, (1901). The Rev. J, Russell ^'E"RBRVCKE. The Rev. j. Russell Verbrvcke was called from the Reformed Church of Preakness, X. J., in March, 1887. He received both his classical and theological education at New Brunswick, graduating from the Theo- logical Seminary in 1884. The Church of Piermont was his second charge. During his pastorate the interior of the Church was decorated and re- carpeted, and a two-manual pipe organ placed in the recess behind the pulpit. Later the church was newh' roofed with slate. The first parsonage was built on the hill in 1847, enlarged in 1849 and sold in 1857. In c86o the present parsonage was built at a cost of $3,000. In Mr. Verbryck's pastorate, the parsonage was raised, roofed and beautified, within and without, and completed free of debt. In December, 1893, he accepted a call to the Gurley Memorial Presbyterian Church in Washington, D. C. , where he remains, (1901). The Rev. Edward S. R.^lstox. On ]\Iay 21, 1894, the Rev. Edward S. Ralston was called to * Editorial Addenda. The Rev. J. Rvssell Vereycke 426 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS the pastorate to take effect on April i. As he had been supply- ing the pulpit before, the for-mal call could be put in his hands. On January 27 and 29, 1899, Mr. Ralston arranged for a cel- ebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Church. On the twen- ty-seventh a reception was held in the lecture room, the main fea- tures of which were music and readings, and addresses by the Rev. Drs. W. C. Stitt and W. J. Leggett. On the twenty-ninth, be- sides elaborate music, addresses were inade by Drs. Crisped and Stitt in the morning, and in the evening historical sketches were given, first, of the Consistory, by Elder Charles Williams; of the THE PARSONAGE. Sabbath school, by Miss A. E. Haring; of the Christian Endeavor Society, by Samuel S. Jessup; of the King's Daughters, by Miss Julia Jessup; of the Missionary Societ}', by Mrs. E. S. Ralston; and of the Junior Christian Endeavor Society, by Miss Mary Jessup. Letters were read from the Revs. Daniel Lord, M. D., A. F. Todd and J. R. Verbrycke and there were addresses and letters from neighboring pastors. On April 22, 1900, Mr. Ralston resigned to accept the assist- ant pastorship of the Collegiate Reformed Church of Harlem. Resolutions of the Consistory showed that both Mr. and Mrs. HISTORY OF THE CHIRCHES 427 ElA\-AR]t ^. RaLSTOX. Ralston were held in high esteem and deep affection. Besides 'Sir, Ralston's atfectionate work in the pulpit, he was a power for good in the ^'illage Improvement Asso- ciation, and left his work as a citizen of public spirit, who could be depended upon for courageous leadership. ■■He was born in Boston, ^las- sachusetts. His parents are Edward Ralston and Elizabeth Stanley. He was educated for and practiced as a lawyer. He received his theo- logical education at Lane Seminarv, Cincinnati, Ohio, and was ortlained bv a Congregational Council in April, 1886, as pastor of the Church at Newport, Kentucky, from whence he went to Plymouth Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, and from thence to the Presbyterian Church of Aspen, Colorado. This was his last charge previous to his settlement at Piermont, "* The Rev. How.\rd C. Hasbrolck. On September 5, 1900, the Rev, Howard C, Hasbrouck, of Peapack, N, J,, was called to the pastorate, and on November 12, was installed pastor, the Rev, Dr, William C. Stitt delivering the charge to the pastor and the Rev, P'dward S, Ralston the charge to the people. Before his installation the parsonage was repaired and a new well sunk, the church painted, and electric lights f)ut in. Among the elders of the t'hurch whu have passed away men- tion must be made of ^Ir. Silas Miller, \\-ho died in 1866, for more than twenty-five years a wise counselor, a consistent Christian and a lo\-able man; of ^Nlr. Alexander Main, who died in 1884, a thoughtful, well-read and genial man; of the Hon, John \V, Ferdon, who died in 1S86, a member of the state legislature, of the Forty-sixth Congress, useful as the secretary and president of the Rockland County Bible Society, as a member of the Board oi Domestic ^Missions' of the Board of Superintendents of the Thecj- logical Seminary, and as treasurer of the Church: a de^•oted friend of the Church and a generous supporter of its work: of Isaac ;\I, "Editorial .addenda. 42t HISTORY OF THE CI.ASSIS OF PARAMUS Diederer, who died in 1888, an honest, saintly man, whose long and faithful service as a Christian and an elder impressed the world as well as the Church; and of James Auryansen, who died in 1900, a simple-hearted, devout, earnest Christian, and as such universally respected. The Piermont Church has been noted for its general intelligence and social character. Its pastors have enjoyed visiting it after entering up- on other fields of labor, and were sure of a hearty welcome. As Piermont is virtuall}'' a suburb of New York, the floating character of much of its pop- ulation hinders the Church's growth and makes it subject to vicissitudes. Under the circumstances it has held together remarkably well, the people loving each other, standing by the Church and sup- porting its ordinances and its pastors with generous self-sacrifice. How much it has owed to a long line of godly women, who can tell.' Mrs. I. M. Diederer and Mrs. C. W. Miller as types of these, belong to the history of the Church, and their names are as oint- iTient poured forth. To pastors' wives also belong some of the credit of the prosperity the Church has enjoyed. But to God be all the glory for the work achieved, for it is His spirit who has made the Church a strength to its members and a blessing to the communitv. The Rev. Howard C. Hasbkouck. THE SECOND REFORMED CHURCH OF PIERMONT The Rev. Theodore W. Welles, D. D. THE Second Reformed Church of Piermont, N. Y. , was organ- ized December i8, 1851. The organization was in com- pliance with a request addressed to the Classis of Paramus con- vened in extra session in the First Presbyterian Church at Pier- mont. The request was very concise and in manner following : To THE Reverend, the Classis of Paramus : We, the undersigned, officers and members of the First Pres- byterian Church and congregation in Piermont. N. Y., respectfully request the Classis of Paramus to receive them under its care as the Second Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Piermont; and they hereby present a call to the Rev. William H. Yan Doren to be their pastor. They trust that the Reverend Classis will grant their request and take such measures as will secure to them the object of their call. Dated November 6, 1851. Signed : Eleazer Lord, Henry Fitch, F. F. Frost, John I. Blauvelt, John H. Blauvelt, Lewis Yan Y'oert, M. S. Seymour. The First Presbyterian Church of Piermont, when this appli- cation to be received under the care of the Classis was made, could not have been organized a very long time, as the ininutes of Synod for 1850 make mention of seventeen communicants dis- missed from the Reformed Church of Piermont "to form a Pres- byterian Church in Piermont. ' The cause of this defection was a controversy in relation to the site of a new church edifice. Those who were dismissed from the Reformed Church of Pier- mont were opposed to building where the church now stands. The petitioners were therefore simply returning from whence they 430 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS had recently strayed, thereby revealing a higher wisdom than some others have manifested. The Classis after due deliberation, adopted the following : "Resolved, first, That the request of the officers and members of the First Presbyterian Church of Piermont be granted, and that the present elders exercise their offices in conformity with the rules of the Reformed Dutch Church. Resolved, second, That the Classis holds its next stated session in the Second Reformed Dutch Church of Piermont, instead of at Nyack, the third Tuesday of April, 1852. Resolved, third, That the religious services of the Classis be held in the evening instead of in the morning, and that the instal- lation of the Rev. W. H. Van Doren take place at that time." The Rev. William H. Van Doren, D. -D. In compliance with this action, Classis met in the Second Re- formed Church of Piermont Tuesday, April 20, 1852. The Rev. William Howard Van Doren was received from the South Classis of New York, and the call of the Second Reformed Church of Piermont having been approved by Classis, was placed in his hands and he signified his acceptance of the same. Installation services were held in the evening. The Rev. A. B. Winfield preached the sermon. The Rev. Charles S. Hageman and the Rev. Isaac Van Doren, father of the pastor who was being installed, took part in the devotional exercises, by invitation of Classis. The pastoral relation thus formed, continued only a couple of years. April 18, 1854, it was formally dissolved by action of Classis and Mr. Van Doren, at his request, was dismissed to the Classis of New York. The Church when organized reported fifteen families and seventeen members. During the short pastorate of Mr. Van Doren there was a gain of five families, twelve persons were received into the communion of the Church and five dismissed to other Churches. The membership of the Church at the close of Mr. Van Doren's pastorate, was twenty-four. He was the only pastor the Church ever had, as April 17, 1855, in compliance with the request of the Church, the organization was disbanded by Classis. During the Church's brief life it was repiesented in Classis by Elder Eleazer Lord and Elder F. F. Frost. The Rev. William Howard Van Doren, son of the Rev. Isaac HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 431 Van Doren, was one of fourteen children, all of whom were heirs of the promise. Among these were the Rev. John L. Van Doren, of the Episcopal Church, and the Rev. Luther H. Van Doren, who died in 1876, while pastor of the Reformed Church at JMid- dletown, N. J. His mother was a daughter of Luther Halsey, an ofiScer with the rank of major under Washington in the Revolu- tion. Four of her brothers were in the ministry, one of whom, the Rev. Abram O. Halsey, D. D., was pastor of the Reformed Churches of North and South Hampton, Pa., for nearly forty years. William H. Van Doren was a graduate, it is supposed, of Princeton Seminary in 1840. The same year he was ordained pastor of the First Reformed Church of Williamsburgh. Here he continued to labor successfully until 1849, when he was suc- ceeded in the pastorate by the Rev. Elbert S. Porter, D. D. In 1852 he became pastor of the Second Reformed Church of Piermont, N. Y. With the termination of this pastorate, in 1854, his labors in the ministry of the Reformed Church ceased. About 1859 he became identified with the Presbytery of St. Louis, Mo., and subsequently with the Presbytery of Chicago, with which his connection was severed by his death. He received the degree of D. D. from Rutgers College in 1869. He published a comment- ary on the Gospels, and also on St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans in 1873, having previously published in 1847 a discourse en- titled, "Triumphs of Grace," and in 1852 a book for young men entitled, "Mercantile Morals." He was a man of scholarly at- tainments, and of more than average ability. His worldly circum- stances freed him from pecuniary anxiety, but at the time of his death he was engaged in evangelistic labors, although he was seventy-two years of age. He died at hidianapolis, September 8, 1882. THE FIRST HOLLAND REFORMED CHURCH OF PATERSON BY The Rev. Frederick G. Dekker, AND The Rev Theodore W. Welles, D. D. ABOUT the middle of the nineteenth century emigrants from the Netherlands were drawn to Paterson by the industrial privileges of the city. In 1856 they were sufficiently numerous to petition the Classis of Paramus to organize them into a Church and to take them under its care. The petition was referred to a committee with power, which believing it expedient to grant the petition, secured the attendance of the Rev. Nicholas J. Marselus, D. D., of New York, because of his familiarity with the Holland language, and at a meeting held Sabbath afternoon, June 8, 1856, organized the petitioners as The Holland Reformed Church of Paterson. From the minutes of Classis, the following interesting inform- ation is gained: Dr. Marselus conducted the religious services and preached the sermon. The Rev. Jacobus De Rooy, who had been lab- oring among the petitioners for several months, announced the names of the persons constituting the Church, and ordained as the Consistory two elders and two deacons. The number of communi- cants composing the Church at its organization was eighty-five, with about the same number of families. They worshiped for a time in the Consistory room of the Second Church, and on ordin- ary occasions had a congregation of between two and three hundred. At a meeting of Classis, September sixteenth, the newly or- ganized Church desired Classis to approve a call made upon the Rev. Jacobus De Rooy, but this the Classis refused to do, because having "no information that the aforesaid Jacobus De Rooy has been ordained or is a candidate for the ministry of the Gospel in any evangelical denomination." \^'hile Classis was seeking the HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 433 desired information, Mr, De Rooy continued to minister to the people, and with the endorsement of Classis solicited funds among the congregations of the Reformed Churches of the city, for build- ing a house of worship. The funds secured through such solicita- tion were used in erecting the large brick church at the southeast corner of Bridge and River streets. A short time after the comple- tion of the church, a majority of the congregation, -'under the per- suasion" of I\Ir. De Rooy, withdrew their allegiance from the Classis, and "affiliated with The True Reformed Dutch Church, commonly called the Seceder Church."* In compliance with the request of a small minorit)'' of the seceding congregation, the Classis called and ordained as a mis- sionary ^lay 29, 1859, the Rev. James Huyssoon, a licentiate of the Classis of New Brunswick, "to labor among the Hollanders at Paterson and vicinity." Mr. Huyssoon at once began holding divine services, which were well attended, in Derrom hall on ^^'est street, the present site of the Bijou Opera House. The first result of Mr. Huyssoon's labors, was a petition from certain Hollanders residing in Lodi, Paterson, and \-icinity, which caused Classis to organize a Church October 4, 1859, in the vill- age of Lodi, the Consistory of which, in compliance with the action of Classis, "was chosen from members residing in the above named places," — Lodi, Paterson and vicinit}', — with the un- derstanding that the Consistory thus chosen, should "have the oversight of the Holland population within their districts."'!' The Church at once called ]Mr. Huyssoon, "to preach one Sunday at Paterson and the next at Lodi," as long as he remained its pas- tor. The call was accepted and Sabbath, November 27, Mr. Huyssoon was installed pastor of the Holland Church of Lodi. The relation thus formed continued until November 15, 1864, the number of communicants having increased froi'n49 to 114, and the congregation having erected a house of worship both at Lodi and at Paterson. While this work was progressing, Classis from time to time was petitioned by the loyal minorit)^ of the Holland Church of Paterson, organized in 1856, to grant them the services of a settled pastor. As such action w^ould conflict with the extra- ordinary powers conferred by the Classis upon the Consistory of the Holland Church at Lodi, the request, wisely or unwisely, was never granted. Classis on the other hand, April 19, 1864, at the * HistDry of Bergen aai Passaic Comities, p. 494. t Minutes of Classis, Vol. Ill, 1859. 434 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS request of the Church at Lodi, declared the Holland Church of Paterson non-existing; July tenth installed the Rev. W. C. Wust, pastor of the Church of Lodi, to officiate at Lodi only; October third or,o;anized the members of the Lodi Church residing at Pater- son, as the First Holland Reformed Dutch Church of Paterson; November fifteenth, dissolved the pastoral relation existing be- tween the Rev. James Huyssoon and the Holland Church of Lodi, and matle arrangements for his installation as the pastor of the The First Holland Reformed Chi'rch, — 1856. recently org-anized First Holland Reformed Dutch Church of Pater- son, from which he had received and accepted a call. The Rev. James Huyssoon. The First Holland Reformed Church of Paterson at its organ- ization, enrolled 92 communicants. The elders and deacons of the Church of Lodi residing in Paterson formed the Consistory, W'illem Van der Houten and Daniel Bogartman, elders; Peter Olree and Cornelius Breen, deacons. To the Church thus constituted the Church of Lodi transferred by deed "the church building and prem- HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 435 ises" at the southeast corner of Clinton and Xorth First streets, in which the Cliurch was org;anized and in which it still w^irships. In little less than a year, ^Ir. Huyssoon's |3astorate was terminated by his acceptance of a call from the Reformed Church at Drcntlie, Michigan. The Rkv. Pierre B. 1!ahi,er. The congregation for some time was unable to unite on the choice of a pastor, and man^' of the communicant members, led bythe Rev. ]. M. Rutte, who, while a theological student sup]died the pidpit, were organized by the Classis of Passaic, as ■■The Sixth Holland Reformed Church of Paterson." Those who re- mained, finally called the Rev. Pierre B. Bahler, of Albany, who -was in- , ''^^ " stalled February 20, 1867, and after serving a year was dismissed to the Classis of Geneva, April 21, 1S68. 'I he Rev. Pierre Benjamin Balder, son and grandson of a clergyman of the Reformed Church, was born at Zwolle, Netherlands, INIay 25, 1S07, came to America in 1864, and died at Rochester, N. Y. , lanuarv 26, 1SS2. His father was of -Switzerland, his mother a Huguenot of France. He was converted in early life, com- menced his career as a private tutor, engaged in evangelistic work in Belgium, serx'ed the Hol- land Bil)le Society as proof reader and sulisequently was editor of Dc Bazuin, an organ of the Xetherlands Re- formed Churches, aiid one of the best religious papers in Holland. In 1857 he began to jireach or hold meetings in private houses, and was called by the Ldiurch at Hellendorn tn become their pastor, and earl)- in 1858 was ordained and installed. In the fall of 1861 he became pastor of the Church at Deventer, and so remained until 1864 when he came to .\mericci. and Decem- ber twenty-fifth was installed pastor of the Holland Church at Albany, X. Y. , from whence in 1867, he caiiie to Paterson. After serving here for a 3'ear he became pastor of the Holland Church at Rochester, X. Y., and so continued until 1873, when he resigned 'ri-IE Rk\'. PiKKRi-; II. 436 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS his call and was declared emeritus by the Classis of Geneva. Two sons are in the ministry of the Reformed Church, Louis H., at present without charge, and Pierre G. M., pastor of the Church at Clymerhil, N. Y. Mr. Bahler was an earnest Christian man. His knowledge of the Bible was remarkable, giving him great freedom in the pulpit, and great power in his pastoral work. His preaching was logical and orthodox, Scriptural and spiritual. He lived looking for the coming of the Lord, and died breathing the prayer, "Come Lord Jesus, come quickly." The Rev. James Huyssoon. To succeed Mr. Bahler the Consistory resolved to call for the second time, the Rev. James Huyssoon, and September 20, 1868, he was again installed as the pastor of the Church, and so con- tinued until failing health and strength necessitated the abandon- ment of ministerial labor. The pastoral relation was dissolved October 11, 1892, and Mr. Huyssoon was decX&red emeritus. At this time the Church reported 82 families and 142 communicants. Factional disturbances made it a difficult field, requiring unceas- ing vigilance and unflagging zeal to heed the command, "Hold that fast which thou hast." The Rev. James Huyssoon was born in the Netherlands in 1823. He came to America in 1849, ^"d several years later entered the Theo- logical Seminary at New Brunswick, graduating therefrom in 1859. He was licensed and ordained by the Classis of Paramus, with which he was connected during all the years of his ministry, excepting the years 1865 — '68, when he was pastor of the Holland Churches of Drenthe and Polkton, Michigan. The First Holland Church of Paterson is a monument testifying to the faith- fulness of his ministry and the effi- ciency of his labors. Li 1883 — '84 he was a member of the Board of Education of Paterson. He was esteemed, re- spected and honored, both as a citizen and as a minister of the Gos])el of Christ. Li duties jjertaining to parish and pulpit, he Tiiii Rev. James Huyssoon. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 437 was ever active and faithful. About two years before his death he received a strol^e of apoplexy, from which he never entirely recovered. Another stroke came suddenly upon him while visit- ing at the home of one of his former parishioners, and before medical aid could be obtained he expired without a word, July 3, 1894. The Rev. D. Lawrenxe Bettex. After the resignation of !Mr. Huyssoon the Church was vacant for nearly two vears, during which the pulpit was supplied a con- siderable portion of the time by INIr. Leonard Jacobs, a theological student at New Brunswick. The choice of the people resulted however, in calling the Rev. D. Lawrence Betten a candidate for the ^^01^^ ministrv, who having accepted the ^^' X call was ordained and installed Sep- ■ \ tember 13, 1894. He was the first _* J9ff HHs pastor of the Church to enter upon his duties through the solemnities of ordination. The relation thus formed was of short duration. After a very successful pastorate of about three vears, ^Nfr. Betten accepted a call from the Reformed Church at Brighton, N. Y. , and his relation to the Church he was serving was dis- solved August 4, 1897. Mr. Betten was born at Pella, ^Marion county, Lswa, January 29, 1869. He is a grandson of the Rev. A. J. Betten, Sr. , a pioneer minister of the Reformed Church in the West, who after sixtv years of service, died at Orange City. Iowa, December 6, 1900, aged 87 years. Mr. Betten graduated from the North West- ern Classical Academv in 18S6, and from Hope College in 1890. The following vear he attended the ^Lchigan L'niversity, from which he also received the degree of A. B. Having resolved to studv for the ministry, he entered the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick and graduated in 1894. \\\ the fall of the same year he was licensed and ordained pastor of the First Holland Church, Paterson. After sustaining this relation with satisfaction to the people and credit to himself, he accepted a call from the Re- The Rev. D. L.-^wrknce Bettex. 438 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS formed Church at Brighton, N. Y. , where his labors have been blessed and the outlook is encouraging. The Rev. Frederick G. Dekker. The successor of Mr. Betten is the present pastor, the Rev. Frederick G. Dekker. He was born at Zwartsluis, province of Overyssel, Netherlands, and having- graduated froin a classical school, pursued a full course of study in the literary department of the Theological School of the Reformed Church at Kampen, not very far from his native commune. A short time after com- ing to America he made Wortendyke, N. J., his place of residence and was engaged by the Consistory of the Holland Reformed Church as a student supply for the vacant pulpit. He entered the Theo- logical Seminary at New Brunswick, but after receiving the first year's course of instruction completed his preparation for the ininistry, at the advice of the Classis of Paramus, with the Rev. Herman Vanderwart, of the First Reformed Church of Hackensack, N. ]. A short time thereafter he was licensed to preach the Gospel, and was ordained and in- stalled pastor of the Holland Church at Wortend}^ke, June 29, 1896. He remained in the service of this Church until he assumed the duties of his present pastorate, in which he was installed, October 5,1897. During his ministry the Church has given evidence of increas- ing prosperity. Extensive improvements have been made in both the church building and the parsonage. A well-lighted basement has been secured by raising the church nine or ten feet, thereby supjilying a great need, rooms for (he Church societies and a home for the se.xton. Attendance at the services has greatly increased and the number of communicants has been largely augmented. 1 here is need of a more commodious sanctuary to provide for the stranger within the gates and the many who are neglecting the ordinances of religion. The outlook is hopeful, and the presence of God manifest with the Church to which He has here given a habitation and a name, Thk Rev. Frbdekick G. Dekker. THE HOLLAND REFORMED CHURCH OF LODI The Ri.v. Makiin Fi.ipsk. THE P'irst Holland Reformed Church of Lodi, X. J., was org-aii- ized October 4, iSsy, with forty-six members in full com- munion. The first members chosen to ser^-e as a Consistcjry were : Aart Janzoon Ikeen, Xicholaas Boogartman, Peter Van de "^^rj" '^■'Jv-Tae* The Hollaxd Rf.I'ORmed Chlrch of Lodi, -T 860. Vrede and Berend. Hendrik Smit, elders; Corstiaan \'an Heest, Peter Van Heest, Cornelis Van de A'rede and Gerard Jacob Busch Keiser, deacons. This Consistory was installed October 23, 1859, by the Rev. James Huyssoon, classical missionary for the Hollanders of Pat- 440 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS erson and the surrounding- country. At the request ot the Con- sistory and by consent of Chassis, Mr. Huyssoon became finan- cial agent for the Church of Lodi, for the purpose of gathering funds for a churclr l)uilding. The Rev. James Huyssoon. A call was extended to Mr. Huyssoon November 4, 1859, which was accepted, and he began his work as pastor of this Church November 27, 1859. The Rev. A. C. Van Raalte, of Holland, Michigan, preached the sermon at the installation service. Good progress was made with the erection of a church build- ing, so that after great sacrifices, the people were able to dedicate their church with great joy, September 30, i860. While Mr. Huyssoon served the Church of Lodi, he continued to labor in Paterson. His time was divided between these two fields. By his faithful labor and because of increased inimigration, the con- gregation grew and in 1864 it became necessary for each locality to have the entire service of a minister. IMr. Huyssoon accepted the call to the First Holland Reformed Church of Paterson. In the record of that parish his further service as a minister of our Reformed Church will be found. to the Rev. Wil- The Rev. William C. Wust. The Church of Lodi now extended a cal liam C. Wust, of Rochester, N, Y. , who upon acceptance of their invita- tion, was installed and entered upon his labors July 10, 1864. Mr. Wust was greatly blessed in his work; he was thoroughly in earnest and a faith- ful pastor, and as a jsreacher he al- ways took a positive and uncom- prn. N. J., and became the pas- tor of the Broadway Reformed Church, being installed Novei-nber third, 1881. During his pastorate the present church edifice was erected. By invita- tion of the Rev. Dr. |. M. Ferris, Dr. ^'an Arsdale became as- sociated with him in the editorship of the Cliristian Intelligencer, January first, 1883. His editorial duties took him from his parish two days each week, until May, 1895, when he resigned his Pat- erson charge to devote all his time to the Intelligencer, with which paper he is still connected. Supph'iiig the First Reformed Church of Hoboken, N, ]., for six months in 1896, he succeeded in raising- their debt of over $1,600, and since September r, 1899. he has hatl charge of the C.reenwood Heights Reformed Church, of Brooklyn, N. Y. , rendering full services each week. He re- ceived the degree of Doctor of Di\'inity from Rutgers College in HISTORIES OF THE CHL'RCHES 4 53 1889. .Dr. VanArsdale served three years in the United States Army during the Civil War. Dr. Van Arsdale's ministry was especially successful in Pater- son in that he succeeded in carrying through the project for a new church. This was done in spite of depressed business conditions, the removal by death of many adherents, and the changes of resi- dence from the downtown to the Eastside quarter, which caused many to unite with Churches which had houses of worship more conveniently located. During Mr. Van Arsdale's pastorate, one hundred and fifty-seven persons were added to the membership roll. The Rev. Elias Wortman Thompson. The Rev. Elias Wortman Thompson belongs to a family whose ancestors in both the maternal and the paternal lines have been for several generations in the Reformed Church. He traces his maternal ancestry to the Wortman progenitors whose origin and history have been recently published by the Rev. Dr. Denis Wortman, of Saugerties, N. Y. The paternal line is derived from Abraham Post, "the revolutionary soldier," on the one side, and on the other from Juda Bodine, the mother of John Thompson. She was a direct descendant of Jean Bodin, who wrote, what Sir William Hamilton calls, "The ablest and most remarkable Treat- ise on the Philosophy of Government and Legislation," a book which Saintsbury, the famous English critic and historian, de- scribes as "the only work of great excellence on the science of politics before the eighteenth century.' Jean Bodin was the coun- selor of the King of France and also of Elizabeth of England. He advised the latter to enlarge her domain by adopting the King of Scotland and marrying Lenox. One of his descendants, also Jean Bodin, was naturalized in London in 1681, and is next heard of in the vicinity of what is now known as Perth Amboy, N. J, Here his son or his grandson, Abraham Bodine, married a Dutch girl named Adriantje Janse. Their daughter, "Judik" afterwards mar- ried the pious and industrious John Thomson. He did not fancy the Dutch name, so he wrote it "Juda" in the family record in the Bible which he had brought from Scotland. Shortly after his marriage, John Thomson took his wife and child and journeyed to the "Shemokem country" and found a home in the fertile valley of the Susquehanna near the present city of Williamsport, Pennsylva- 454 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS nia. Magenniss' "History of the West Branch of the Susque- hanna," published in 1889, quoting from the record made in the family Bible, thus tells of John Thomson's tragic end: "The 9th day of June, 1778, John Thomson departed this life, was killed and Scalped by ye Tory & Indians at Shomoken." With true Dutch grit Juda Thomson took her boy and the Bible and traversed the three hundred miles across the mountains, to the home of her husband's relatives in the eastern part of Hunterdon coimty, New Jersey. She had been taught the Heidelberg Catechism by Frelinghuy- sen, and now with her boy came under the spiritual ministrations of Dr. Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh. Educated by such a mother and under such influences he grew to be a man among men. He inherited his father's energy and independence, and in spite of the opinions of teachers and kin, wrote his name with a "p." One of his sons was the Rev. William I. Thompson, who was well known throughout Bergen and Passaic counties as pastor of the Churches of Ponds and Wyckoff, 1842-1845, but perhaps better known for his successful and unique methods of teaching and discipline while rector of the Grammar school at New Brunswick. Joseph Thomp- son, another son of John Thompson, was for thirty years judge of the court in the county in which he resided, and was widely known in Classis and in Synods as "the elder from Readington. " For sixty years he was a member, and for fifty-five of these years an honored elder of the Church at Readington. Three of his sons entered the ministry of the Reformed Church. The eldest. Rev. Dr. John Bodine Thompson, now lives at Tren- ton, N. J. Henry P. Thompson and Abraham Thompson are de- ceased. The fourth son, Aaron J. Thompson, resides near the old homestead at Readington, and has followed in his father's footsteps as a successful business man and an enthusiastic sup- porter of, and elder in the Church. His eldest child is Miss Anna de F. Thompson, of the Reformed Church Mission at Yokohama, Japan. His second child is the subject of this sketch. The Rev. Elias Wortman Thompson was born at Reading- ton, N. J., in 1866. He graduated from Rutgers College in 1889, and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1892. He was licensed by the Classis of Raritan in May, 1892, and on June twent)'-third following, was ordained by the Classis of Philadelphia, and installed pastor of the Talmage HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES Memorial Church of Philadelphia, where he remained until 1894. During his pastorate there the membership of the Church was more than doubled. In 1894 he went to Illinois to take charge for one year of a Church at Havana, under the care nf the Board of Domestic ^fissions. At the end of this period he returned to Philadelphia, as associate with the Rev. Dr. Milliken in the First I^eformed Church. He became pastor of the Broadwav Reformed Church, januarv fourteenth, 1896, the Rev. Benj. V. D. Wvckoff, of Readington, X. J., preachiuLC the sermon at the installatif)n. During his pastorate the Church has ])r()s- pered in manv wavs. (Jne hundreil and five persons ha\"e tieen added to the membership. ^^'ith pastor and people happv in the wr>rk, with a Church well equipped and in exxellent condition, the "Broadway Church" hopes to maintain for many years the influ- ence it has already attained, and thanking God tor the past, prays His blessing for the future. The Rkv. Eli-^s "VA'. Thompson. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF SPRING VALLEY BY Thk Rev. Cornelius E. Crispei.l, D. D. THE Reformed Church of Spring Valley originated from the desire of many members of The Reformed Dutch Church of West New Hempstead, residing in and near Spring Valley, to have a fold nearer than that of the whole flock in the West New Hempstead Church. The primary movements are fully de- scribed in "The History of Rockland County," pp. 290-r, as follows : "On March 7, 1850, the Consistory of the West New Hemp- stead Church appointed David Cole and Joseph C. Blaiivelt to solicit subscriptions towards securing an outpost or preaching station in the vicinity of Spring Valley. This action was taken at the request of a number of families in the neighborhood of Spring Valle)^ who were desirous that a church edifice should be erected in that vicinity. Tvv'o years later, December 9, 1851, Joseph C. Blauvelt, Isaac Whitney, Steven Stevens, Isaac L. Sherwood and Henry Seamen were appointed a building committee to superin- tend the erection of a church edifice on the premises of Mr. Jo- seph Wood." At their meeting held January 21, 1852, the Consistory of the Brick Church, reconsidering their action ot the month previous, accepted the (gratuitous) generous offer of David Cole, of a lot "over the hill, " authorized Mr. Cole to solicit subscriptions, appointed J. B. Haring, J C. Blauvelt, I. Whitney and Isaac L. Sherwood (Henry Sherwood was afterwards added), a commit- tee on the part of the Consistory to conduct and inspect said build- ing in connection with Mr. Cole. Here ground was broken and timber collected for the new church; but upon Mr. Cole's health becoming impaired, his deed was returned August 26, 1852, and August 31 following, a new committee consisting of I. L. Sherwood, Samuel Lawrence, I. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 457 Whitney, Henry Sherwood, and Stephen D. Herrick, was appointed to build a Reformed Protestant Dutch Church at Spring Valley, upon the land donated by Samuel Lawrence. Here, where the present church now stands, the "preaching- place'' was erected, and of the new enterprise the Consistory of the Brick Church in their report to the Classis, April, 1854, make the following minute : "With regard to the enterprise at Spring Valley, thanks be to God, it has so far proved that the time, the expense, and the labor given to it has not been in vain. Our church edifice there, though small, is yet substantial, neat and comfortable. The attendance there is not great indeed, but it is encouraging. The church edi- fice was erected at an expense of some fifteen hundred dollars. When dedicated a few hundred dollars debt remained upon it, which has since been nearly liquidated. And we as a Consistory feel constrained, from a sense of gratitude, here to express our un- feigned sincere thanks to those brethren of the Classis and their congregations for their seasonable aid in this important enterprise." For over a decade of years, after this, services were held in this "preaching place" at Spring Valley, the pastor of the West New Hempstead Church officiating usually in. the afternoon of each Lord's day. But in 1863 "the pews in the little building being by many too few to accommodate those worshiping there," it was agreed that the time had arrived to erect a more commodi- ous house of worship. Whereupon, June first, Andrew I. Tallman, an elder in the Brick Church, was appointed to circulate a sub- scription, and his report being favorable, the "preaching place'' was sold for four hundred dollars to Albert Tallman; and A. C. J. Blauvelt, Andrew I. Tallman, Nicholas C. Blauvelt and Henry L. Sherwood were appointed a building committee to erect a new church upon the old site. The work of building was commenced in 1864, though the war of the Rebellion had advanced all kinds of building materials to almost fabulous prices. January 4, 1865, to the great satisfac- tion of all, the building committee were able to report to the Con- sistory of the Brick Church that their work had been done. Whereupon that body passed a resolution approving the course of the building committee and obligating themselves to meet all indebtedness incurred. This action of the Consistory of the Brick Church in assum- 45^ HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS ing the debt (about $8,000) incurred in the erection of the church at Spring Valley, was remonstrated against by certain members of that Church, and after considerable discussion it was by mu- tual consent, deemed best that the two Churches should separate. Upon the Brick Church relinquishing "all claim upon the church building or property in Spring Valley," and the Spring Valley Church assuming the debt, this separation was effected by a com- ThK REFORiMED ChURCH OF SpRING VaLLEY, 1865. mittee of Classis, the Revs. John Manley, J. T. Demarest, J. R. Brock, and Elders Henry L. Sherwood and Mr. Wortendyke, of Pascack, April ii, 1865. On the seventeenth of April following, the "Reformed Pro- testant Dutch Church of Spring Valley, Rockland county, New York" was legally incorporated, and at that time the Brick Church HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 459 formally transferred the property at Spring \'alley to the new org;anizati(.>n, ns PASTORS. The first pastor of the Church was the Rev. [ohn R. Brock, who resijjneil the pastorate of the West New Hempstead Church tor this purpose. He was installed 'Slay 7, 1865, and remained pastor till April 10, 1869. His successors have been: [Marshall B. Smith, July 7, 1869 t(j Xo\enil>er i, 1870: Richard De Witt, October 8, 1871 to April 1876; Peter PI Kipp. ( stated supply ) July 1876 to A])ril 1877; Daniel Van Pelt, July 16, 1877 to September 23, 1878: Cornelius E. Crispell, D. D., September 9, 1879. Dr. Cris])ell took charg-e and acted as pastor under a regular call about ^lay i, 1879. -'^s '^^ '^^'■^s a professor of Theolog-y, he could not formally accept the call and be installed. His voluntary resig-nation of the professorship was made and accepted in June, 1879, <'"'J his installation took place on the ninth of September following. He is still its pastor. The Rev. Johx R. Brock. * The Rev. John Randlett Brock, the first pastor of the Church of Spring ^'alley, was born at Newbury, Vermont, in June, 1831, and died at Marysville, Tennessee, August 7, 1872. The famil}' name of his paternal ancestors was Randlett, a family of French origin, and in all probability ot Huguenot faith, a portion of the large emigration from France to America in the early part of the seventeenth century, occasioned by a desire to escape religious persecution. ^Ir. Brock was the grandson of Ruben Randlett and Rachel Elsworth, and the son of Jacob Randlett and 'Sla.ry Curier, residents of his native village. An only brother, the Rev. Asa Randlett, a Baptist clergyman, resides at North Ashford, Con- necticut, and is now in the seventy-eighth year of his age. By him *This and the following biographical sketches have been prepared and inserted by the editorial committee. Ti-e data in relation to Mr. Brock were furnished by his only son, Mr. Charles R. Brock of Peterson, N. J. The Rev. Johx R. Bfock. 460 HISTORY OF THK. CLASSIS OF PARAMUS we are informed that his mother died when John was an infant about a )rear and a half old, and that the little fellow, a beautiful babe, was committed to the care of Mrs. Charles Brock, who took him to her home and heart and cared for him with a mother's gentle, patient, loving tenderness. When a young man he was legall}^ adopted, and taking the name of his foster-parents, was henceforth John Randlett Brock. Mr. Brock graduated from Rutgers College in 1859, and from the The-ological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1862. Ma)- twen- ty-ninth of the same )rear, he married Miss Isabella Benson, of Pater- son, N. J., and September seventeenth was ordained and installed pastor of the West New Hempstead Church. His second charge was the Church at Spring Valley, which failing health compelled him to resign in 1869. About this time he took charge as prin- cipal of the Spring Valley Academy, but his health demanding a less vigorous climate, it was necessary for him to abandon the enterprise. He was cut off in the midst of his da3S, a workman that needed not to be ashamed, meriting the eulogy of the secu- lar press at the time of his installation at Spring Valley, "a tried man, worthy of the people's confidence and high estimation." The Rev. Marshall B. Smith, D. D. The second pastor of the Church at Spring Valley, the Rev. INIarshall B. Smith, D. D.* received his education for the ministry at the Theological Seminary of the Protes- tant Episcopal Church at Alexandria, Virginia, where he was graduated in 1859. "He labored for a short time in Wilmington and Dover, Dela- ware, and in i860 became the rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Passaic, N. J., where he remained until 1868. On the fifteenth of March, 1869, he withdrew from the Protes- tant Episcopal Church, and on the twentieth of April was received to the Reformed Church of America, becoming a member of the Classis of Paramus. In June of this * Compiled from Minutes of Clas.sis and from maiuhscript of the Rev. Dr. John Gaston, The Rev. l\I..iRSH.\LL B. Smith, D.D. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 46 1 year he received a call from the Church of Spring N'alley, and was installed pastor of the Church July seventh, the Rev. Dr. John H. Duryea preaching the sermon on the occasion. Novem- ber I, 1870, he resigned his charge and returned to Passaic, where he resided for the remainder of his life. November 28, 1873, he was dismissed to the Reformed Epis- copal Church which was then being organized. The letter dis- missmg him and recominending him to the Reformed Episcopal Church was the first official recognition of that body by any of the other organized branches of the Church of Christ. Dr. Smith re- mained in the communion of the Reformed Episcopal Church for more than eight years, when in iNIay, 1882, he returned to the Re- formed Church and was again a inember of the Classis of Para- mus. He departed this life at Canaan Four Corners, Columbia county, N. Y. , P'riday, September i, 1882. "He was a man of singular simplicity and purity of character, and of most earnest piety, ever jealous of the honor of Christ and steadfast in his defence of the faith once delivered to the saints, a profound and accurate scholar, a frequent contributor to the press, both secular and religious, a thoroughly conscientious man, a scribe well instructed unto the kingdom of God. "His preaching was chaste, instructive and persuasive, of that calm, beautiful and gentle order, which at once feeds the un- derstanding and appeals to the devotional element in the heart of the true Christian. Of hiin it is recorded, 'He walked with God, and was not, for God took him.' " The Rev. Richard De Witt. The third pastor of the Church of Spring Valley was the Rev. Richard De Witt. He was born at Hurley, N. Y., July 21, 1839, his father. Ten Eyck De ^\'itt, and his mother, Ann Crisped, being of the old Dutch-Huguenot families that settled very early in the vicinity of his native place. He prepared for college at the Tren- ton Academy, and entering Rutgers College in 1856, graduated in i860. Continuing his studies at the New Brunswick Theological Seminar)', he graduated therefrom in 1863. The following \ear he married ]Miss Katherine Hammond of Pine Plains, N. Y., and was ordained and installed pastor of the Church at Guilford, N. Y. , where he remained until called in 1871 to the Church of Spring Valley. His health constraining him to relinquish this charge, he 462 HISTORIES OF THE CHUKCHES resided for a short season in Kingston, and resumed pastoral labor at Wallkill in 1877, where he re- " ■ mained until 1889, when he ac- cepted a call to the Church of Flat- bush, Ulster county, N. Y. , in the service of which he fell on sleep February twentieth, 1901. "He was a wise and devoted pastor and a faithful, able exponent of the Gospel. He entered heartily into the personal and social as well as the Church life of the people to ^vhom he ministereel. He never deemed any work too hard, or any „ „ „ „, self-denial to be a cross. He was a IHE Rev. Richard Dk Witt. man of eminent good sense, of large heart and wise counsel, warm piety and Christian manhood. He has finished his work. He has done it well. He has heard the voice of the Master saying 'well done; enter into rest.' " * The Rev. Peter E. Kipp. After the resignation of the Rev. Richard DeWitt, the pulpit of the Spring Valley Church was statedly supplied by the Rev. Peter Fl Kipp, for nearly a year. He was a son of FMo Kip, F^sq., of Passaic, N. )., a prominent elder and for maii)^ years in- fluential in the councils of the Reformed Church. He was born at Passaic, March 28, 1847, graduated from the University of the C'ity of New York in 1867, and from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1870. In August of that vear, he was or- dained and installed pastor of the Church at Fishkill, N. Y. , and in the following October married Miss Josephine Sutphen, of Brooklyn. In 1874, a protracted illness proinpted him to resign his charge at Fishkill, and in luly of the same year he became stated supply at Spring A^alle}'. While he was thus serving, "the Church was visited with a revival of religion which shook the whole town." In the spring of 1877, he became pastor of the Bedford Reformed Church of Brooklyn, and entered upon labors which failing health compelled him in a few j'ears to abandon. * Compiletl from obitiuiry, "Cliri-stiaii Intelligencer," by the Rev. Denis Wovtnian, D. Pi . HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 463 i The RE^^ Peter E. KIpp. With energies recuperated by travel, he accepted in Alarch, 1881, the pastorate of the Second Church of Schenectady, N. Y., where a ministr)' of six years resulted in an ingathering of two hundred souls. Having accepted an unanimous call from the Cass Avenue Presbyterian Church of Cleveland, Ohio, he was installed in June, 1887, and re- mained until 1894 \\-hcn he be- came pastor of the P^nst Presby- terian Church of San Uiego, Cali- fornia, in the service of which he died Ma\' 8, 1900. Amiil the duties of an active pastorate Mr. Kipp found time for literary pursuits, and in 1893 published a work entitled "Is IMoses Scientific," which testifies both to his scholarly attainments and learning, and to his implicit confidence in the Divine inspira- tion of the Scriptures. He was a man of intense earnestness of spirit, entirely consecrated to the work of the ministr)-, exceedingly jealous for the salvation of the perishing, and of faith unbounded in the power of the Gospel to renew, regenerate and sa\'c mankind. The Rev. Paull-'. Sut]ihen, D. D. , a life-long friend of Mr. Ivipp, writes: "In a larger measure than any man I have ever known, he inet the ^Master's meaning, when He said that whosoever would re- ceive the kingdom must become as a little child. It was not that he lacked virility, he was every inch a man, but his nature was perfectl)' guileless. He thought no evil of others. He trusted men, and in perfect childlike simplicity he trusted God." Mr. Walter Couch, a parishioner, writes in the California Independent: "In the prompting of brotherly feeling the world was his parish. Foreign Missions were with him well nigh a ruling passion, and he could poorly brook an}' lagging interest in this great cause among his people. He never did anything by halves. His theology was fused by the glowing fires within. It was of that energetic type which Albert Barnes called 'Calvinism in motion,' and with it what the old divines st\"led, 'a passion for souls.' The themes of the last two sermons that fell from his lips were, 'The Resurrection' and 'The New Song.'" The strains of 464 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS that song he has heard and learned, and now, with Jesus in Par- adise, awaits the coming resurrection of the dead. The Rev. Daniel Van Pelt, D. D. The fourth pastor of the Church at Spring Valley was the Rev. DanielVan Pelt, D. D. He was born at Schiedam, Netherlands, October 10, 1853, graduated from the College of the city of New Vork in 1874, from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick in 1877, and the same year was ordained and installed pastor of the Church at Spring- Valley, July first. In January, 1879, he be- came pastor of Hope Church of Holland, Michigan, and subse- quently of the East New York Reformed Church of Brooklyn and the Renisen Street Reformed Church of Astoria, the pastorate of which he resigned about eighteen months pre- vious to his death, October 23, 1900. -'Dr. Van Pelt was a loyal son of our historic Church, cherishing with all the ardor of his nature the rich heritage of her traditions and history. 'I'o the discharge of his duties he brought a mind well furnished and instinct with the literary taste of the scholar sanctified by the in- dwelling of the Spirit of God. A preacher of signal ability, he ever carried beaten oil into the sanc- tuary. A conscientious minister of Christ, his tendencies were broad and catholic. An author of wide repute, he being dead yet speaks, his genial spirit and Christian manhood shining forth from the matchless histories he has left as a legacy to the world. " * Dr. Van Pelt's publications were purely historical. The first was issued in 1885, "A Chronological Table of invents in the History of the R.eformed Church in America;" this was followed in 1888, by "A Church and Her Martyrs; " in 1892, by three elaborate ar- ticles in "Wilson's Memorial Histor}' of New York;" in 1897, by "Pictures of Earl)' Church Life in New York," and in 1898 bv his largest work "The History of Greater New York. " He was one of the lecturers under the direction of the School Board of Man- * Compiled from obituary article.s imblished shortly after Dr. Van Pelt's death. The Rev. Danikl Van Pklt, D. D. HISKIKIK.S OF THE CllliRCIIES 4^-5 hattan, devoting himself to Holland and the early history of New- York. He was regarded as an authority on the early Dutch re- cords of the Colonies anil translateil many of them for the State Archives at Albany. The Rev. CoRXEr.ius E. ('kispei.e, D. D. The successor of Dr. ^'an Pelt in the ])astorate of the Church at Spring- Valley, was the Rev. Cornelius Kltinge Crisped, I). 1). He is the only living representative of the ministers who ha\-e been identified with the Church since its orgazization in 1865. and his pastorate exceeds by many ■\-ears, the combined pastorates of his pre- ■„_,., "" - decessors. Dr. Crisped is a descendant ot the Dutch-Huguenot families, «ho settled the Wallkill valley, and auKuig \vhose members are tlie ancestors of many of the ministers of the Reformed Church. The fandlv trace descent from Anthonic Cre])el, one of the eleven associates of Louis Duliois, in securing the New Paltz Patent from Lieutenant Go\'ernor - eneral Ann of the late Peter Crisped Jr., 'SI. D., (if Hurle}', Ldster count\-, N. \'. , a well known physician of exten- sive practice. His grandmother Crisiiell was [ane Hasbn.>uck, and his mother was Catherine, j'oungest daughter of Cornelius Eltinge and Blandina Llmendorf, of Hurler. She was the sister of the Re^^ Cornelius C. Pdtinge, ot the Deerpark Cliurch, Orange county-, N. v., and of the Re\'. Wilhelmus Pdtinge, D. D. , who for half a century was the most influential ndnister in the Classis of Paramus, and also of Blandina Kltinge, who before her death, made ample provision for both the classical and professional ed- ucation of her nephew, Cornelius P^ltinge Crispiell. It is thus ver\' e\'idcnt that little other than Pluguenot Iflood was in his father's THk Ri:v. C. K. Ckisi-kll. 1). D. 466 HISTOKV Ot I'MK CLASSIS OF PARAMUS veins, and that little other than Dutch blood was in the veins of his mother; and that it may be said of him, he is a Dutch Hugue- not of Dutch Huguenots. Dr. Crispell commenced his classical course with his father, and was prepared for college at the Kingston Academy. He graduated from Rutgers College in 1839 and from the New- Brunswick Theological Semmary in 1842. In September of the same year he wsls ordained and installed the first pastor of the recently organized Reformed Church of Piermont. His ministry here was terminated in 1847, by his becoming pastor of the Church of Linlithgow in Livingston Manor, N. Y. , where he remained for ten years, and in 1857 removed to Schoharie to succeed the Rev. Ransford Wells, D. D., in the pastorate of the tJhurch in that beautiful village. These pastorates were in the state of New York. In 1863, owing to the chill and dampness of the valley air, he resigned his pastorate and for three years was rector of the Grammar school at New Brunswick, N. J., and Professor of History in Rutgers College. In 1866 he was appointed Professor of Math- ematics, Natural Philosophy and Astronomy at Hope College, Michigan, and served as such until his resignation in 1878. In June, 1867, the General Synod's committee on the Profess- orate called attention to the necessity of inaugurating measures to secure the establishment of a Theological Seminary at the West. The language of the report in relation thereto, is this: "Let Synod follow the steps of the fathers of the Church, and at this session elect one of the Faculty of Hope College, Professor of Theology, as were Dr. Livingston and Dr. Solomon Froeligh, before the seminary was formed, who shall take charge of the theological class at Holland, Mich., and give instruction in theol- ogy and properly qualify himself for the same as a professor of General Synod by signing the proper formula."* In accordance with this resolution Dr. Crispell was elected by the General Synod, professor of Didactic and Polemic Theology at Hope College. This arrangement served to secure, after a few years, a theological seminary at Holland, Michigan, now known as the Western Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church. The duties of this professorship Dr. Crispell performed until June 1877, when by order of General Synod theological instruction was suspended. During the year i 868-9, by request of Professor Oggel, * See Miiime.s of Synod, Vo), XI. pp. 26S, 269, 271, 4S0. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 4^7 who was prevented by serious and protracted illness from attend- ing to his official duties, Dr. Crispell taught Pastoral Theology, and after the death of Professor Oggel, he taught the same for eight years by the appointment of the Council, acting as a Board of Superintendents. In 1867 Dr. Crispell received the honor- ary degree of D. D. from Rutgers College, his Alma Mater. In June, 1879, he resigned his theological professorship for the purpose of accepting the call of the Church of Spring Valley, N. Y. The pastorate thus inaugurated, has continued nearly twenty-two years, although it began forty years after Dr. Crispell graduated from college, and is still bearing fruit, edifying samts, leading sinners to Christ, and glorifying God. It is doubtful if there has been or is, in the history of the Classis, another pastor- ate commencing so late in the life of the pastor, and continuing so many years. A sublime eulogy of deeds, it rounds out with pecu- liar beauty a long life of loving service for the loving IMaster who has said : -'Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. " MEMBERS. When the Church was organized April 11, 1865, it had fifty-six names enrolled upon its register. All these came by certificate from the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of West New Hemp- stead. At the close of the ministry of Rev. J. R. Brock, the regis- ter had reached 100. At the close of the ministry of Rev. ]\I. B. Smith, the number was 108. At the close of the ministry of Rev. R. De Witt it had reached 151. When the Rev. Peter E. Kipp closed his services as stated supply, it had increased to 215. When the Rev. Daniel Van Pelt resigned, nine more had been added, making a total of 224. During the interval between Dr. Van Pelt's resignation and the present pastorate, three more were added, so that when Dr. Crispell took charge of the Church the register numbered 227. At present, November, 1900, it is 386. ELDERS AND DEACONS. Elders. Those who have served as elders are the following. The first four were chosen at the organization; the last four are now on the bench : Andrew I. Tallman, Henry L. Sherwood, Tunis Tallman, Cornelius I. Blauvelt, Abram C. I. Blauvelt, Isaac Tallman, Hon. Nicholas C. Blauvelt, Abram Palmer, Richard Smith, William E. Demarest, Henry Smith, Jacob C. DeRunde, Joseph A. Ball, Chris- 468 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS tian D. Eck.erson, Abram I. Hopper, Peter T. Ackerman, Peter S. Van Orden, Peter Tallman, Andrew Smith. Deacons. Those who have served as deacons are the follow- ing. The first four were chosen at the organization of the Church, the last four are serving now : Abram Palmer, Frank (Jhalton, Harvey Sherwood, Peter Tall- man, Aaron D. Blauvelt, Peter T. Ackerman, William Fredericks, Abram Van Zant, Robert C. Haff, Henry Smith, Lanning Van Zant, Jacob C. Deronde, John C. Cruikshank, DeWitt C. Mercan, Erastus C. Warren, Andrew Smith, Peter S. Van Orden, John D. Blauvelt, Henry H. Inglis, James A. Dingman, M. D., Christian E. Felter, Andrew Van Orden, Abram J. 'Hopper, W. Parker Smith, Wm. D. Kerr, George M. Dunlap. SOCIETIES. The Sabbath school, the Woman's Christian Association and the Society of Christian Endeavor. I. The Sabbath school. This was organized in 1865. Peter Tallman was its first superintendent. He has been followed in ofifice by I. C. Lets, Frank Charlton, J. A. Ball, the Rev. R. De- Witt, R. C. Haff, William Van Wagenen, P. T. Ackerman, Andrew Smith, W. Parker Smith. Wm. D. Kerr, J. M. Gibbs, Miss Maria R. Haskell. The present superintendent is Wm. D. Kerr. Before the pastorate of Dr. Crispell, no regular catechetical instruction had been given as a part of its exercises. When he took charge as pastor, and with the advice of the Consistory intro- duced the Shorter Catechism to aid him in his work, the Sabbath school, through his invitation and request, became by its choice his auxiliary. Thus the system of the doctrines of the Reformed Churches became and continues to be the system of truth taught weekly, and enforced monthly by the pastor. In this way, and through the official oversight and inspection, uniformity of the doc- trinal teaching of the Sabbath school with the pulpit is secured. The school has contributed yearly to Foreign Missions; and it has added during the last year a "Mission Circle." "The Twentieth Century Movement," recommended by Synod and en- dorsed by Classis, has been approved by the Consistory, and the Consistory has recommended to the Sabbath school to make contri- butions not only for Foreign Missions, but also for Domestic Mis- sions and the Board of Education. The variations of numbers HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 469 and average attendance are made known in the annual reports of Consistory to Classis. 2. The Woman's Christian Association. This had its origin during the present pastorate, in the desire of the pastor for its aid, and of the better elements of the Church for its work. And the hopes engendered by it have not been disappointed. At first it embraced two departments, the one for foreign missions, and the other for work within the congregation. Soon it added the work for domestic missions. This organ has done most com- mendable work in all its departments. It is nineteen years old. 3. The Society of Christian Endeavor. This is fully as prosperous as its sister societies. Its contributions for purposes outside of its own expenses are to its own Church and missions, and to other special objects presented by its pastor or otherwise. It gives what it can, but does not promise any specific sum to any object. ITEMS OF GENERAL INTEREST. In looking over the history of the Church, we find a few things worthy of special note. I. We have not in the number of the flock kept pace with the increase of the population of our village and its vicinity. The particular reasons which might be assigned for this would vary very much with the diverse views and feelings of fallible men. We know that while the revealed word of God is the instrument by which God's work of holiness-making is done, and that while the gospel ministry by its heralding and teaching functions, is the chief agency, appointed and blessed, to gather the harvest, that the efficient cause in saving is the Holy Spirit. "It is the Spirit that quickeneth. " It is not "by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord." It is not physical, or mental, or moral power, but by the exercise of God's own energy in exciting to action and giving efficiency to means of His appointment that holiness-making is carried on. We are, therefore, persuaded that the lack of greater success in gathering souls into the fold, is owing to the withholding of the Spirit's energy. We are also persuaded that, in such with- holdings, the Spirit acts towards us as a perfectl)'' holy, wise and good person, such as He is. When He is resisted and grieved. He often withholds His favors. Hence, the reasons for our lack of greater growth are to be found in our own states, and failures to 470 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS yield obedience to the Spirit's influences and to conform to His requirements. As a wise and good father He punishes sinners, and chastises and graciously rewards Flis children. The want of greater success, then, may be simply owing to our short comings and transgressions. It may, however, be owing it part, at least, to the need of our being thus tried or tested. To determine, whether the Spirit designs to try or test His Churches, or to chastise them by His withholding of grace-growth, we are to look carefully and primarily to the hearts and lives of the members of the Churches. It is there that we ordinarily will find why saving effects are wanting. 2. The debt, with which the Church was burdened at its birth, has been entirely removed. A few special efforts were made before the present pastorate, by which it was reduced to about $2,600. This remainder, by systematic working soon disappeared. In doing this work, and indeed in securing pecuniary means for any religious or church work during the present pastorate, only direct giving has been resorted to. For such means fairs, fes- tivals, suppers, dances, and the various devices often made use of to raise money, have not once been employed. Neither has the sacredness of God's house been once sacrificed to please the world or the worldly. We believe and teach that any deviation from direct giving is not only evidence of spiritual weakness, but a cause of it. Such deviations fail to express the required honor of God, to cultivate the graces of love to God and Christ, to show men and angels, good and bad, the true Christian character. They present a false appearance of the power of Christianity. They seem to combine, and often do combine, the worship of Jehovah and Baal. 3. At one time during the present pastorate different views of one of the elements to be used in the Lord's Supper, threatened the most serious trouble. It commenced in the Sabbath school. Some teachers, believing that it is a sin to use wine or fermented grape juice in the Lord's Supper, taught their scholars such views. And when some pupils thus taught, came forward to unite with the Church in full communion, they could not partake of the liquid element which had always been used in the Church, fer- mented grape juice. In view of this evil, the pastor, both in the pulpit and school, labored for uniformity of instructions on this as well as other subjects in the Sabbath school and pulpit. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 47 I At the same time as agents or a committee of an organiza- tion outside of the visible Church, some members waited upon the pastor to instruct him and request a change in the liquid element of the supper. The pastor, the one authorized to administer the sacraments, informed those who waited on him. and were seeking the change, that he could not conscientiously make the change they desired; that if they passed the cup presented to them with- out partaking of it, their conscientious convictions would screen them from ecclesiastical censure, and that, while he allowed their conscientious convictions, they should allow his. But this did not satisfy; and a complaint was made to Classis that they were not allowed the privileges of the Lord's Supper in their Church, and asked for relief. This complaint and request were signed by ten members. But as they were made without the knowledge of the pastor and Consistory, they were not entertained by the Classis. The complaint was then forwarded to the minis ters of the Classis individually, and they were informed that at the next meeting of Classis there would be a renewal of the complaint. Before such meeting, however, the ten learned that their first resort for relief was the Consistory. The ten then made a formal complaint to the Consistory that they were deprived of the Sacra- ment of the Supper of the Lord by being offered "the cup of devils," and petitioned for a change in the liquid element. When Consistory did not grant their petition, they appealed to Classis. That body, after full consideration, referred the matter back to the Consistory, and counseled them to do all they could for peace and harmony. Upon this counsel the Consistory resolved, that they would continue to do all they could to promote peace and harmony in the Church. When this resolution was communicated to the ten, their leader inquired of the pastor what they should do ? The answer was: If you cannot desist from agitating the question and dis- turbing the Church by teaching in her, views different from her teachings, you had better ask for certificates of dismission and join some Church holding your views. Hereupon, eight of the ten followed the advice, and the two ceased to teach their different view in the organs of the Church. Thus the Church-wrecking bomb, which has been throw^n into many Churches, did not cripple us, but our loss of numbers was felt. THE SECOND HOLLAND REFORMED CHURCH OF PATERSON BY The Rev. Theodoke W. Welles, D. D. THE Church bearing the corporate title, The Second Holland Reformed Dutch Church of Paterson, was organized Octo- ber 8, 1866, at a meeting held at Monumental Hall, sometimes called Crane's Hall, No. 199 Main street. "A sermon was preached by the Rev. W. C. Wust, after which the names of 138 persons were announced, and they were received as members on confession of their faith in Christ. Ten others were received by certificate of Church membership. The male members then selected as elders, Pauline Pyle, Jacob Quadland and Jan Van den Bleyker; as deacons, Jan Smith, Ab- raham Hurschap and Cornelius Van den Bork. " * The Rev. A. H. Bechthold. The Church thus constituted, at once called the I^ev. Arend Hendrick Bechthold, who was installed the first pastor of the Church November 4, 1866. He came to Paterson as the suc- cessor of the Rev. Jacobus De Rooy, who led the Holland Church of Paterson, which the Classis organized in 1856 to aflSliate with the True Reformed Dutch Church, so called, but his views being too liberal, the officers closed the doors of the church against him, causing about a hundred communicants to withdraw, and to apply to the Classis of Paramus for Church organization. f It was in compliance with this request that the Second Holland Church was organized. Mr. Bechthold, however, did not remain very long with the Church he founded, as January 14, 1868, the pastoral relation was dissolved. I\Ir. Bechthold was born at Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1822. He came to America in 1859, having been superintendent for a couple of years of a kind of orphan asylum named Surinaamsche Mettray, in Surinam, W. I. * Report to classis. f History of Bergen and Passaic Counties, p. 494-5. HISTOKir.S OF THE CHURCHES 473 Thh Rev. a. H. Bechthold. He had determineil to become a missionary in South Africa, tjut arriving- in Boston, siclcness and death in his houseliold caused him to wait until the following- spring. Hearing- of a colony of Hollanders at Roxbury, he sought them out and commenced religious services among them which led to the establishment of a Dutch Church, which, in 1S73. -was organized as the Holland Congre- gational Church of Boston Highlands. ^^'hile laboring in Boston, ^Ir. Becht- hold \\-as licensed and ordained by the North Suflblk Associa(i(_in of IMassa- chusetts, from which he was received by the Classis of Paranius, and July 17, 1871, dismissed to the Classis of New York, to becrune pastr the ministry. Mr. Ander- son graduated from Rutgers College in 1S70, and from the Theo- l(.)gical ,'^eminarv at New Brunswick in 1873. Uuring his tlieo- _. , logical Course he was chosen to de- liver the address in behalf of the Seminary students, at the dedica- tion of .^uydam Hall. ^Ir. Anderson's first settlement in the pastorate was at Flatbush, Ld- ster county, X. Y. . from July, 1873. to .'^eptemlier, 1876. Thence he re- moved to FishkiU \'illag-e, Dutchess countw X. Y. , and remained there until March. 1880, wlien he was called to this Church. In X'ovem- ber, 1S85, he was cf>mpelled to re- sign on ;LCCOunt of ill health, and accepted a call to the Congregational Church, of Bristol, Conn. He hd.)cu'ed in that parish until [anu- ary, 1891, when he assumed the duties of his present charge at ^Meriden, Conn. The First Congregational Church of that citv. of which he is jiastor, was organized in 1729, and is now the fourth largest Church in the state, having a meml)ership of nearly nine hundred. In 1S95, Mr. Anderson became secretary of the Board of Trustees of the X'ational C(nmcil of Congregational Churches. He has also held the office of president of the Connecticut .State Union of Christian Fhideavor societies, and moderator 1 if the Con- gregational State Association. In Julv, i 900, he tlelivered the an- nual address liefore the alumni association ot Rutgers College, upon "The Bible in the Curriculum." In December, 1900, he was elected secretary of the Provincial Committee of the X^'ational Council of Congretfatirjnal Churches, and editor <;jt the Year Briok I'he Rev. .Ashicr Axdekson. 484 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS of that denomination. He is also the author of a little volume, entitled "Steps for Beginners," intended for the use of those who are considering the duty of becoming members of the Church. Mr. Anderson was married, October second, 1873, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of the Hon. John Dorrance, of Freehold, N. J. Two of five children are living : John Dorrance Anderson, of New York, and Libbie Acker Anderson. After nearly four years of his ministry in the North Church had passed, Mr. Anderson delivered a sermon, December, 1883, in commemoration of the fifteenth anniversary of the organization, in which he refers to the condition of the congregation at that time, as follows : "The duties of this pastorate were begun under circumstances not a little discouraging. Owing to the long time when the Church had no pastor, some of the flock became disheartened. A few removed themselves to other Churches in this city and elsewhere. Others who had strayed during this time became attached to the Churches where they were then worshiping and applied for their letters, even after the present pastorate had begun. The life of the Church had by no means gone out, and, as it was aptly remarked by one of our members, Tt will live.' Soon the first signs of that vigorous life began to appear. Since that tiine zeal, activity, growth, harmon}', consecration have characterized the work of our Church. . Today it is our privilege to minister to a congregation of souls that is well characterized in the words of the second text of the dedication sermon of Dr. Smith, 'For the people had a mind to work.'" The condition of the Church continued to improve during the remaining years of Mr. Anderson's service. Many families became identified with the congregation, and the annual reports show a steady increase in membership. The various societies of the con- gregation grew in activity, and the bond of affection between the pastor and his people became an inspiration to good works. Dur- ing the nearly six years of Mr. Anderson's ministr)'- 52 persons united with the Church upon confession of their faith, and 105 b)'' certificate from other Churches, making a total of 157 additions. The Rev, Joseph Henry Whitehead. In this instance, there was only a brief vacancy in the pulpit. Mr. Anderson having resigned on November second, 1885, Mr. HISTORIES OK THE CHURCHES 48s Whitehead spent the last Saljbath of tliat month with the t'hurcli, was called early in December, accepted, and betjan his duties on the first Sabbath of the Xew Vear, 1886. The formal service of installation was deferred by the request of the pastor-elect, bein;;;- held on the thirteenth ijf the following INIav. (Jn that occasion the sermon was delivered by the Rev. Alexander R. Thompson, D. D., of Brooklyn, X, Y., from the text. First Corinthians, i: 18. ^Ir. Whitehead was born in the citv of New York, in 1847. His father's family were members of the Eleventh, — more recent- ly known as the [Memorial — Presbyterian Church. His father «'as for many years a member of its lioartl of Trustees. In his l)Oyho<"id, Mr. \Mritehead attended the ])ub- lic schools of the city. He is an alumnus of Williams College, class . of 1869, and of Union Theological Seminarv, class of 1872. He was licensed to ])reach the Gospel by the Presbyter\' of Ne\\' York. Immedi- ately upon his graduation from the seminarv, he acce])ted the call of the Reformed Church of Pompton Plaii'.s, X. J., being ordained to the ministry and installed as pastor July twenty-third, 1872. His pas- torate at Pfjmpton Plains continued twelve years. In the spring of 1884, he was called to become the pastor of the First Presby- terian Church of East Orange, X. 1. In XVivcmber, 1885, he re- signed, and soon afterward accepted the call of the X'orth Church. [Mr. Whitehead married, June twentieth, 1872, Helena, daug li- ter of F'.dwin iM. Haight, Esq., of X'ew York, a rulings elder of their childho(jd Church, ^^'hen, at the close of their summer vacation, 1884, the pastor's family had come to the parsonage at East Orange, iMrs. A\'liitehead died, after an illness of onlv a few davs. On the first of December, 1885, Mr. A\'hitehead married IM. FTiza- beth, daughter of Alexander Hamilton \A'allis. F.sq., of lerse}' City. Fi\'e children, two sons and three daughters, are li\'ing : Josephine, FaIwIii Haight, Henry Clarence, Lilian L^juise. and Alice Cecilia. At the time of [Mr. \\'hitehead's settlement in Passaic, exten- The Rkv- J. H. Whitehead. 486 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OB' PARAMUS sive improvements were made to the parsonage, and a debt of $3, 500 resting upon the Church property was removed by the close of the first year. During the summer months of 1886 evangelistic services were conducted on Sabbath evenings in the Music Hall on Main avenue, and in the spring of 1887, a success- ful series of union services were held in this city, by the Rev. B. F. Mills. In the autumn of 1886, religious work was begun in Garfield, an easterly suburb of Passaic, weekly cottage meetings being established there, and in 1888, with the co-operation of the mother Church of Acquackanonk, a chapel was erected. Its pul- pit was supplied by students from the New Brunswick Seminary, until the Reformed Church of Garfield was organized in January, 1891. In Clifton also, just beyond the northern boundary of Pas- saic, were the homes of several families identified with the North Church. It was deemed wise that steps should be taken toward the development of a Reformed Church there. This vi^as accom- plished in April, 1892, and the story of these faithful enterprises is related in this volume. Both received their main support — per- sonal and financial — from the North Church. At their organiza- tion, 1 9 members were dismissed to the Church at Garfield; 22 to the Church at Clifton. In the autumn of 1889, the rescue work of the Passaic Street Mission was begun, among those who toil in the mills and fac- tories of the city. For some time it was without a settled home, but early in 1892, by a contribution of $3,000 a permanent location and ample facilities were provided by the Consistory. A well- equipped reading-room was established, sewing and millinery classes for girls were gathered, and a large assembly hall erected on the rear of the premises, 277 Passaic street. This work was continued until, in the winter of 1893-4, it was decided wise to transfer the property to the care of Mr. James R. Morris and others as an independent mission. The need of more ample Church accommodations had long been a topic of discussion in the congregation. In the pamphlet already quoted from * we find the following sentence : "We are heartily glad that not a few are beginning to see the necessity of preparing ourselves against the day when the encour- aging success so far attained shall lead to the building of the * See the Rev. Mr. Anderson's .sermon, on fifteenth anniversary of the Church. HISTORIES or THE CHURCHES 487 Church, in which the worlc you so heartily enjoy can be yet more abundantly promoted." But the Church, never a wealthy body, had its strength quite fully occupied with its current work from year to year, and it was not until the New Yearmorning prayer meeting-* of 1889, that the project of a new church building was openly proposed. It was very fitting that this suggestion, at this time, should come from one who, in all the history of the North Church, had been so in- timately associated with its welfare. Elder Edo Kip. Acting upon this, the Consistory took the matter under careful consideration, at its Januar)'" meeting, and having decided that the time seemed to have come for building, called upon the Great Consistory for counsel. This body, composed of such wise and loyal men as Guild Copeland, John Hemion, .S. T. Zabriskie, William Burgess, De\^'itt C. Cowdrey, Abram H. Ackerman, George E. Dinsmore, at a meeting held Januarv twenty-eighth, unanimously con- firmed the action of the Consistory. Then a full meeting of Church members and pew holders was summoned for February fifth, afnd it was found that they, too, were quite unanimously in favor of the movement. The Consistory proceeded at once to ap- point a building cominittee, consisting of the following gentle- men : The Rev. J. H. Whitehead, chairman; Mr. Simeon T. Zabriskie, secretary; 'Sir. Henry P. Doremus, treasurer; Mr. Edo Kip, Mr. Thomas SI. Moore, Sir. John Hemion, Mr. Thomas A. R. Goodlatte, and ^Mr. Frank Hughes. An appeal was made to the congregation on Sabbath morn- ing, February eleventh, to raise the sum of $25,000, and it was subscribed at once. Of this, one-third was the gift of Mr. Edo Kip. The faithfulness of the subscribers was shown by the fact that less than one half of one per cent, of the entire amount re- mained unpaid at the time of the dedication of the Church, two years later. In aid of this movement, the women of the Church formed themselves into a Church Furnishing Society, of which Mrs. Henry P. Doremus was the gifted and untiring president, and by their efforts placed in the treasury the goodly sum of $4,200. They supplied the carpets, pews, cushions, pulpit furniture, and the furnishing of the ladies' parlor on the west side of the build- ing. Plans were prepared by Mr. Isaac Pursell, architect, of Phil- * The New Year morning ineeting for prayer has been a mo.st iuLeresting and profit- able custom of tliis Church since 1887. 455 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS adelphia, the work of excavation was begun, and on the twenty- sixth of October, 1889, the corner stone was laid, with appropriate exercises. A concise historical statement was read by Mr. S. T. Zabriskie, the secretary of the committee, and a masterly address was delivered by President Merrill E. Gates, LL. D., of Rutgers College, on the theme, " The Church, as the Conserver of Good." The construction of the building was completed in the spring The North Reformed Church of Passaic, — 1891. of 1891, and the service of dedication was held exactly one year and six months after the laying of the corner stone. The dedica- tion sermon was delivered on Sabbath morning, April twenty-sixth, 1 89 1, by the Rev. Edward P. Terhune, D. D., pastor of the First Reformed Church of Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, E. D. His text was PsaliTi 77:13, "Thy way, O God, is in the Sanctuary." Other HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 489 services were held in the afternoon and evening-, and on the evenings of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday following-. All phases of Church life and work were presented; the Sabbath school, the fellowship of the Churches, the prayer meeting. Young People's Societies, Domestic and Foreign Mis- sions. Sermons and addresses were delivered by the former pastors of the Church, the resident clergy of the city, and the Revs. Edward B. Coe, D. D., Carlos Marty n, D. D., Abbott. E. Kittredge, D. D., George H. Smythe, D. D. , and John W. Conklin. Altogether it was a royal feast of good things, exceptional in interest and spiritual stimulus in every department of Church life. The musical program for the week was under the direction of .Miss Fanny Osborne, the Church organist, and reflected credit upon the leader, the choir, and all who assisted them. The report of the secretary gives the following description of the building: The size of the ground plan is on a square of 86 feet. The audience room is 70 feet square and has a seating capacity for 650 people. It is built of a light gray limestone from the Avondale quarries in southern Pennsylvania, with cut trim- ming of Indiana limestone. The general style is pointed Gothic, with a graceful stone spire, rising 139 feet above the curb. The pulpit and choir gallery are situated in the corner opposite the spire, and the seats are arranged in an arc of a circle, in compact form, bringing the audience fully, yet comfortably, before the speaker. Besides the principal entrance with its commodious inner vestibule, there are ample vestibule entrances on Hamilton avenue and Jeiferson street. The floor is very slightly bowled, to secure an easy view of the pulpit froin all sides. Special ar- rangements have been made for ventilation, by means of a large shaft to which the lower body of air is continuallj' drawn. The pulpit platform, organ loft and wainscoting are of selected oak, the pews and pulpit furniture of sycamore, and the rest of the trimming is of white pine. Only the main portion of the building is as yet erected. The plan includes the future addition of a chapel for the use of the Sabbath school, a pastor's stud)', reading rooms, etc., occu- pying the ground on which the original church still stands. Several of the beautiful windows have been placed in the church as memorials. The Rose window on the north side, was given by the primary scholars in remembrance of Mrs. Richmond, 490 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS who for SO many years had charge of that department of the Sabbath school. The two large windows underneath this were given by the Sabbath school, one by the girls, the other by the boys. The two smaller ones by the pastor's sons, Edwin and Henry. The large window on the Jefferson street side, is in memory of Mrs. Edo Kip, of whom the older members of the Church cherish the most tender and grateful recollection. In addition to these, Mrs. Sarah L. Clark, since deceased, gave the large Bible now on the pulpit desk, and also an onyx baptismal font, in memory of her elder son, Andrew D. Phillips. Mr. and Mrs. Henry P. Doremus gave the onyx pedestal and jardiniere, in memory of their little son, Harry. Mrs. Copeland gave the communion service in memory of her husband. Guild Copeland, who for twenty years had been a pillar in the Church, having filled the office of elder a greater portion of that time. The communion table was given by Mr. and Mrs. A. Z. Van Houten, and the pulpit desk by the Rev. R. M. Offord. In the autumn of 1882, a pipe organ had been purchased, at an expense of $1,200. This was transferred, without change, from the old church to the new, and has held its place, doing ex- cellent service for nearly twenty years. It is hoped, however, that it may soon yield to an instrument of larger size and more modern equipment, — better adapted to our present auditorium. This Church has long had a reputation in the community for the culti- vation of the higher grades of sacred music. During the present pastorate, an evening service has been held on each Thanksgiving Day, and also on Good Friday. At these and other special ser- vices, such works as Farmer's "Mass in B fiat," Rossini's "Stabat Mater," Gounod's "Messe Solennelle, " Stainer's "Crucifixion," and "Daughter of Jairus, " Barnby's "Rebecca," Gaul's "Holy City," and "Ruth" have been sung. Very much of the success in the interpretation of these noble writers, and the musical interest of the congregation, is due to the leadership of the organist. Miss Fanny Osborne, of New York, who has directed the music since January, 1889. Five societies are in active operation in the Church: the Ladies' Missionary Society, the Ladies' Aid Society, the King's Daughters' Circle, and the Christian Endeavor societies. Senior and Junior. The Ladies' Missionary Society, "includes every woman in HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 49 1 the Church, on the ground that no one who has confessed Christ as her Lord can be loyal unless she engages in missionary work that extends to the ends of the earth. In whatever other lines of Church work we engage each must decide for herself, but in this there is no choice, unless we deliberately determine to disregard our ?4laster's command.'* The society is au.xiliar}- to the Woman's Board of Foreign Missions and to the \\'oman's Executive Commit- tee for Domestic ^lissions. At its monthly meetings, the interests of both the home and foreign work are presented, and the members' offerings are gathered by means of mite boxes, and monthly en- velopes. The present president is ^Irs. Thomas A. R. Goodlatte. The I-adies' Aid Society has been, in all the history of the Church, a peculiarly efficient helper in fostering the social life of the parish, in welcoming strangers to our circle, and in assisting the Consistory financially. This last service has been especially valufible in our recent movement towards the liquidation of the Church debt. The president for 1901-1902, is Mrs. DeWitt C. Cowdrey. The King's Daughters' Circle of "\Mlling Workers" was or- ganized June sixteenth, 1891, and is composed of upwards of twenty of the young inarried women of the congregation. Its chosen field has been among the sick and poor of the parish, as- sisting also the hospital and other benevolent work. The circle did valuable service in the liquidation of the Church debt. Its president is Mrs. Augustus F. Ploger. The Senior Society of Christian Endeavor is connected with the C. E. ^Missionary League, and through its missionar)'^ committee, gathers the offerings of its members for the Endeavor missionary in India, and for the Endeavor Church at the West. Miss Alice W. Tindall is now president. The Junior Endeavor Society is a busy company of little workers, numbering nearly sixty boys and girls, who meet in the chapel every Sabbath afternoon. They are sustaining a native teacher in the Arcot ^Mission. ]Miss Josephine Whitehead is their superintendent. For many years this Church has faithfully observed the monthly "Concert of Prayer" for the conversion of the world, at which reports are made from the various mission fields by a com- mittee of gentlemen who are appointed annually by the pastor. * See Year Book of the Church; 1893. 492 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PAKAMUS The Church is represented on the Board of Managers of the Woman's Board of Foreign Missions, by Mrs. T. A. R. Goodlatte and Mrs. Edward Phillips. The pastor has been a member of the Board of Foreign Missions for ten years, and during most of that time has served on its Executive Committee. His daughter. Miss Josephine Whitehead, is a member of the Young Ladies Branch of the Woman's Board. The mid-week prayer meetings of the Church are led by lay- men, although the minister is always present and participates. The announcement of topics, together with all other appointments of the parish for each week, is printed in the Calendar, a leaflet distributed at the Sabbath service, and now in its sixteenth volume. In order to simplify the reports of the Church to the Classis, it was decided in 1890, to change the date of the beginning of our fiscal year from January first to April first. In December, 1892, in order to keep pace with the development of the congregation, the membership of the Consistory was increased from eight to ten, — five elders and five deacons. The following summary of facts regarding the work of the Church during the present pastorate was given by Mr. Whitehead in his fifteenth anniversary sermon, delivered January sixth, 1901 : During the fifteen years, 360 members have been received, 250 of these upon confession of faith and no by certificate; 150 have been dismissed to other Churches, and 37 have died; 162 infants and 52 adults have been baptized. The total sum of $127,777.91 has been contributed to the work of the Church, of which $21,993 have been devoted to missionary purposes. For the first five years the average contribution for benevolence was $761; for the last ten years it has been f 1,818. The above figures do not include the result of the recent move- ment, by which the Church has been delivered from the incubus of the mortgage debt of §14,000, which had rested upon it since the erection of its new house of worship, ten years ago. By the will of the late elder Edo Kip, the sum of $5,000 was bequeathed to the Consistory, on condition that an equal amount should be contributed by the congregation towards the liquidation of its debt, within two years after his death. At the expiration of that time, February sixteenth, 1901, not only were the conditions of this lib- eral legacy complied with, but the entire debt had been extin- guished. For the accomplishment of this, we are humbly and de- HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 493 voutly thankful to Him who has inspired His people here to illus- trate again and most conspicuously, the prophecy suggested in the text of the sermon at the dedication of the first building, "For the people had a mind to work. ' Two members of the Church have prepared for the ministry of the Gospel, the Rev. Peter E. Kipp, * son of elder Edo Kip, and the Rev. John A. [NIcColl, of the Congregational Church, St. Al- bans, Vermont. Both of these brethren have made honorable records, in the proclamation of the Gospel, of which the Church is justly proud. We can not close this sketch of our career, as a Church, more appropriately than by recalling the faith and fidelity of the man who through so many years bore its interests upon his heart, and whose life was so thoroughly devoted to its welfare. The follow- ing memorial minute was adopted by the Consistory, upon^ the death of elder Edo Kip, who died February sixteenth, 1899, in his eighty-fourth year: "The recent decease of I\tr. Edo Kip has been an event of far more than ordinary meaning to our Church. The severing of the ties of Christian fellowship, the completion of a long and honored career of service, as the servant is called to the presence of his Master, the withdrawal from among us of his example of loyal, ripened Christian character, — these are losses which we feel most keenly, and which seem, humanly speaking, well nigh irreparable. Yet, in our bereavement we would look up, and for all the rich and manifold blessings of this life that has ended, for all that he was, and all that he was enabled to do for the Church and his fel- low men, we would render devout and hearty thanks to the Great Head of the Church, by whose wise and loving hand all worthy lives are directed. "In the strength of his early manhood he had recognized the claims of God upon him, and made a public confession of Christ, becoming a member of the First Reformed Church of Passaic. He was soon chosen as a deacon, and afterwards as an elder in that Church. He served also as superintendent of its Sabbath school. "In 1868, his foresight having recognized the need of greater sanctuary privileges in the northern section of the city, Mr. Kip was largely instruinental in the organization of the Xorth Re- * For sketch of Mr. Kipp. and portrait, see history of the Church of Spring VaUey, in this volume, pp. 462-4. 494 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PAEAMUS formed Church. From that time, through more than thirty years, his Christian course may be clearly traced in the records of this Consistory, in which this minute is to be inscribed. His very liberal gifts, at the inception of the enterprise as also in the erec- tion of the new church building, his practically uninterrupted ser- vice in the office of elder, his unwearied labor of love as Sabbath school teacher and superintendent, his identification with the great missionary cause in the home and foreign fields, and with every form of local Christian and philanthropic work, — these have served to make his life an integral part of the Church's history. "Noteworthy among the characteristics of Air. Kip's life were his clear perceptions of duty, and his steady, fearless adherence to his convictions. Yet, in the discharge of every obligation, he manifested a cheerful recognition of the judgment of others, and the most sensitive regard for their feelings. His was a faith that wrought by love. Not a hasty or unkind word is remembered to have fallen from his lips by those who for years have been most intimately associated with him. His cordial welcome for strangers to the fellowship of the Church, his prompt thoughtfulness for those in distress, his active interest in the children and youth, his delight, indeed, in everything that tended to advance the welfare of Zion — these have made an indelible impression upon all those who knew him. "And yet, the secret of this combination of estimable qualities lay evidently in this : His mind and heart were controlled by divine grace. His life was the normal outgrowth of Christian character, constantly nourished. He believed implicitly in the Word of God. It was the man of his counsel, and so became the lamp unto his feet. We took knowledge of him that he had been with Jesus and learned of Him. His features of strength and sweetness were gathered from his Master. He was faithful in ser- vice, because it was One whom he supremely loved that he owned as Lord. "Prayer was another factor in his life. His communion was uninterrupted, either by the claims of business or the infirmities of age and illness. Indeed, the periods of pain and weakness in the later years of his life seemed rather to deepen his sense of the need of these personal means of grace, in the precious Word of the Lord and in prayer. "Amid our thanksgiving for the tokens of our heavenly Father's HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 495 love in this life, we realize the solemn responsibilities that are now upon us, the pastor, elders and deacons, and upon ever)^ member of the Church whose interests were so dear to his heart. We are profoundly impressed with the need of earnest prayer that such a conspicuous example of Christian living may not be lost upon us who are called to take up the implements of service that Elder Kip has laid down." The Consistory is now ( 1901 ), composed of the following- gentlemen : ELDKRS Dewitt C. Cowdrey, Thomas A. R. Goodlatte, Frank Hughes, Thomas M. Moore, A. Zabriskie Van Houten, Treasurer. deacons Charles E. Coleman, Charles Hemion, John T. Van Riper, A. C. Vortendyke, Russell C. Winship, Clerk. THE HOLLAND REFORMED CHURCH OF WORTENDYKE The Rkv. D. Coknei.ius Ruigh. THE Holland Reformed Church of Wortendyke had its beg-in- ning in Hohokus, N. J. For nearly four years, commenc- ing in 1868, the Hollanders held bi-monthly services on week days in the Hohokus school house. These services were con- ducted by the Revs. James Huyssoon, A. K. Kasse and William Van Leeuwen. The number of families rapidly increasing-, the need of regular Sabbath services was felt. Accordingly, G. J. Busch-Keiser and Jan Boerendans were constituted a committee to investigate the feasibility of arranging these services, and, if pos- sible, to secure the co-operation of the Holland-speaking Re- formed Churches of Paterson. These Churches were not inclined to look with favor upon the project. It was therefore resolved to present the needs of the people to the Rev. Arend H. Bechthold, of Paterson, and ask him to lay the matter before the Board of Domestic Missions. The Board was favorably inclined and promised to assist, as much as possible, in securing regular preaching services. Encouraged by the attitude of the Board, steps were taked in 1 871, to secure a pastor. The choice fell on the Rev. Louis G. Jongeneel, who was employed as stated supply. He served the congregation for a period of eighteen months. It soon became manifest that the people were anxious to be organized as a Church, under the care of the Classis of Paramus. Acting upon this desire, the Classis appointed a committee, con- sisting of the Revs. Goyn Talmage, James Huyssoon and A. K. Kasse, to organize the Church. This was done on the twenty- fifth of September, 1872, with fifty-five members, who adopted the name of "The Holland Reformed Church of Hohokus." The members of the first Consistory were, G. J. Busch-Keiser and Garret Weyenberg, elders; with A. Smith and William Telgen, HISTORIES OF THE CHIKCHKS 497 deacons. The)' were installed by the Rev. James Hmssoon, Oc- tobersixth, 1S72. The sacrament of the Lord's ."^upper was adminis- tered for the tirst time by the Rev. W. A. Houbolt, of Paterson, January fourth, 1874. It was a season of refreshing and manv hearts were overflowing with g-ratitudc for the blessings they had re- ceived from the God of their fathers. On February thirteenth, 1874, in obedience to the wishes of the congregation, the Consistor)' e.xtentled a call to the Rev. William F. Betz, who was then on his way to this country from the Neth- erlands. The call was presented to him xis Rederus. The first pastor, the Rev. Francis Rederus, was called ^larch sixteenth, 1S74, and was installed the following April. He was born in Sebaldeburen, province of Groningen. His parents were well-to-do farmers and gave him a liberal education. In his early days he was owner and captain of a barge. After his conversion he felt called to the ministry, entered the ecclesiastical institution of Kampen, which had then been recently founded. He gradu- ated from said institution as one of its first students in 1853. His first charge was in the town of Stroobos and subsequently he was 5o6 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS pastor of the Churches of Beetgum and Uesep, and finally Apel- doorn, the summer residence of the kings of Holland. From there at the close of 1872, he emigrated to the United States, having accepted a call to the Independent Reformed Church at Paterson, N. J., whence he was called to Passaic as above noted. Notwithstanding the infancy of the Church and the hard times in the early seventies, the Church pro- gressed under his leadership. Dur- ing the summer of the first year, a church plot was purchased at the corner of Monroe and Elm streets. Thk rkv. f. rederus. Plans were made for a frame struc- ture, forty by sixty feet, and on the third of September, 1874, the pastor, with the happy congregation, laid the corner-stone of the prospective first church building. It was dedicated Janu- ary thirtieth, 1876. In November, 1876, the Rev. Mr. Rederus resigned, having accepted a call to the Third Reformed Church of Pella, Iowa, where he labored until his death, May eighth, 1886. A widow and seven children survive him. Two of his sons are in the Gospel ministry. The Rkv. William Hazenbekg. During the interval after the resignation of the Rev. Rederus, the pulpit was again sup- plied by neighboring pastors and by students until April, 1877, when the Rev. William Hazenberg, of Fulton, III, was installed. The congregation now seemed to enter upon the brightest prospects. The attendance at the services was larger than it ever had been. The seat- ing capacity of the Church was taxed to the utmost. Mr. Hazen- berg was a man of noble character and sincere in his principles. But his methods seemed impracticable, Mr. The Rev. W. Hazhnberg. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 507 though introduced with a good purpose. His work was not ap- proved by the people and the C(jngregation Ijecanie scattered, and finances were reduced, until it becaine necessar)' fur him to re- sign. This he did in the autumn of 18S0. He left Passaic in October ot that )'ear for South Africa, where, independent of any Church, he is still laboring. The Rev. ^^'lLI,I.UI \\'ok.-\isek. The congregation now turned its attention to the yoimg men of the seminary, and the students again took up the work. Among others was 'Sir. William W'ormser, to \vliom, upon his graduation, a call was extended. This call was accepted and he was ordained and installed as pastor of this Church in June, 18S2. '['he Kev. I\Ir. \\'ormser's labors were greatly blessed. The scattered Ihjck rallied around their new min- ister, S(.) th:it \'ery s(.)on the church was again filled. He exerted him- selt especially in his efforts for the young peojde and the children of the Church, b}' whom he was great- ly Ijeloved. His methods of work were wise and as a>'oung man in the ministry, liis first years promised a career of usefulness for the Church. His connection with the Passaic Church was, h(jwever, of f>rief duration. He accepted a call to the Reformed Church at Bethel, Iowa, and left Passaic in July, 1884. During his pastorate in this citv the Church codi, and the people found themselves some- / r E rt_^-j^ The Second Reformed Church of Lodi, — 1901. what strained to meet the current e.xpenses. It is worthy of note here that under these circumstances, the Re\'. \\'illiam Johnston, asked for a substantial reduction in his salary. His action stim- ulated the courage of his flock, and they ]iassed thi'iuigh the sea- son of dullness with faith and courage. At this writing, the Church is erecting a new house of wor- ship in accordance with plans, a sketch of which a]>]iears on this page. It will be of stone, simple antl chaste in character, and while not extravagant in any of its appointments, will be the most attractive building in the borough. The sum realized by the sale of the former church edifice to a new Holland organization, added HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 529 to the contributions from the conj^regation, with some little help from friends outside, will, it is believed, permit of the early com- pletion and dedication of the church. The ceremony of dedica- tion will not take place however, until every penny of indebted- ness incurred in building has been discharged. The pulpit and pastoral work has been in charge of the first pastor of the Church, the Rev. R. M. Offord, since the Rev. ^Ir. Johnston resigned the field. He has the hearty co-operatioi'Tof the Consistory and the people. The former consists of elders Peter H. Van Iderstine, James C. Vreeland, James H. Bogert and C. H. R. Sontag; deacons, Christopher Tattersall, George C. jNJer- cer, Stephen Massey, and William Brevoort. Deacon Mercer is the mayor of the borough, and a successful manufacturer. He has been all along a generous supporter of the cause, and to his liberality and good financial management is largely due the suc- cess of the plan to make Lodi's fairest structure an Ebenezer stone, a monument of this people's gratitude and praise to the triune God. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF CENTERVILLE By The Rkv. Anson DuBois, D. D. THE planting of a Reformed Church at Athenia, resulted from the efforts of Mr. Hugh Cheyne to secure local religious privileges to the people of the vicinity. Coming here in 1880, and finding no place of public worship nearer than Passaic, he at first attempted to foster religious services at Clifton, one mile from Athenia, but the chapel there having burned, he originated a re- ligious enterprise in his own immediate neighborhood. The plan at first was to make it a mission of the Church of Acquackanonk, but a little later a petition was circulated and signed by one hun- dred and two persons, and on September eighteenth, 1882, pre- sented to Classis asking for a Church organization at what was then called Centerville, a name changed afterwards, on the estab- lishment of a post office, to Athenia. "The Reformed Church of Centerville,' was constituted October fifth, 1882, with a member- ship of nineteen persons, Hugh Cheyne and Andrew Doremus, elders; Rutgers Clarkson and John B. Courter, deacons. Meanwhile, in the summer of 1882, Mr. Cheyne was provid- ing a place of worship for the prospective Church. By deeds bear- ing date of May fifth, and August second of that year, he pur- chased from Mr. Edward Clark of New York, suitable grounds for church and parsonage, and proceeded at once, at his own expense, aided by a few personal friends, to erect the church building. This important part of the enterprise was completed and ready for use in the early fall of the same year. By a deed bearing date of December twenty-third, 1882, Mr. Cheyne and his wife con- veyed this whole property, consisting of about 72 feet by 265 feet on the corner of Claverack road and Central avenue, with the completed church building and infant class room attached, and horse sheds, all free of debt, to the new Consistory as the legal HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 5J1 board of trustees. The conditions of this munificent yift to the people of Athenia, as expressed in the deed, are that if the prem- ises shall cease to be used as a jdace of public worship wherein the doctrines of the Bible as set forth in the Heidclberj^ catechism shall cease to be the rule of faith and practice, or if the trustees shall create a lien of any kind ujjon the property, or sell it for any other uses, then the said premises and appurtenances shall imme- Thk Refokjied Chi'rch of Cexter\tlle, 1S82. diately become vested in the General Synod of the Reformed Church of America for the use of said S3'nod, in fee simple absolute. The Rev. Alexander AfcKELVEV. The Consistory at once called the Rev. Alexander ^IcKeU'Cv, who became pastor, December twenty-eighth, 1882. The enter- prise was now hopefuU)' launched. The church attendance was large; the membership as reported to Classis, April, 1883, thirt)'-six and the Sabbath school, one hundred and forty-nine. The ministr)' 532 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OK PARAMUS of the Rev. Mr. McKelvey was short, however, terminating De- cember eighteenth, of the next year. * The Rev. John L. Stili.well. Supplies for the pulpit w^ere employed until March, 1884, when the Rev. John L. Stillwell assumed charge. He was born in Bayonne, N. ]., December seventeenth, 1859. His father was the Rev. Aaron L. Stillwell, who died in 1864. The son prepared for college under the Rev. William Cornell, D. D. , at Somerville, N. J. He graduated from Rutgers College in 1879, ^"d from the seminary at New Brunswick in 1882. The same year he was licensed by the Classis of Raritan. He was located at Montague, N. J., from 1882 to 1884. He re- mained at Athenia until ;886, when he was called to Bloomingburgh, N. Y., where he still remains. The conditions of the work were not devoid of encouragement, but unavoidable weakness in a new enterprise antl various difficulties were seriously tr)'ing the faith and energ)^ of the little band. When in September, 1886, the Rev. Mr. Still- well thought it his duty to resign, after a pastorate of two and a half years, seventeen of the membership, including two Consistory men, and all of them ccnstituting families well able to support the Church, felt that they must withdraw with him. There remained but twenty-eight in the membership, and the loss of so many members at one time was a severe calamity to the Church, endangering its very life. The Rev. Ansox DiiBois. Two months after this, November, 1886, the Rev. Anson Du- Bois, D. I)., supplied the pul]iit, and was called to the pastorate and began his work. His formal installation took place Januar)' eleventh, 1887. "Dr. Du Bois is of Huguenot descent, f In the language of his "Korskttcli of Mr. McKelvey and portrait, see p. ,^6i, fl'^ditorial addenda. Thr Rkv. John U. Stili.well. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 533 Thk Rk\-_ Ansos' DL'i-lois. ancestors 'dubois' signifies 'from the forest,' and was a family name in the old French provinces of Artois andNorniandy, before Wil- liam the Conqueror left his native shores. The genealog'y begins with Geffroi du Bois, a kni,<;-ht banneret, who accompanied this illustrious warrior in the year 1060, when he seized the sovereignty of England. "Eouis Du Bois, the progenitor of the American family, was born at Wicres, in Artois, France, October twenty-seventh, 1626. He came to America in 1661, and tradition de- clares that when he landed he gath- ered his famil}' aliout him, reverent- ly opened the old French bible that had l)een the companion of his voy- age, read the twenty-third Psalm and offered a ilevout prayer to God, acknowledging His providential care and imploring His future guidance. He was a magistrate at Hurle)^ N. Y., until 1677, when he became the first named of the twelve patentees, to whom the New Paltz Patent was granted. His sons, Abraham and Isaac, were also members of this body politic, kmjwn as the Duzine, or 'Twelve Men. 'which in behalf of the nine families, and in the entire absence of court, or constalile, or jail, ruled the Huguenot settlement of New Paltz, N. Y. , for more than a hun- dred years. "Catherine Blanchan, the wife of Louis DuBois, was a daugh- ter of ;\Iatth}'s Blanchan, of the same nationality and faith. He arrived at New Amsterdam in 1660, and a short time thereafter having commemorated the Savior's death, he is reported to ha^'e said that it was a solace for all that he had suffered and for the loss of property at his native place and in Flanders and elsewhere, to sit down with his wife and children at the Ford's supper. When Kingston and Hurley were burned by the Indians in 1663, iMrs. DuBois and two of her children were carried by them into captivity, along with others for a period of six months, until res- cued by the settlers and soldiers sent by Governor Stuyvesant. "It is somewhat remarkable that at the centennial anniver- sary of the Classis of Paramus, three of the pastors of the Classis 534 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS were descendants of this Matthys Blanchan; the Rev. Dr. Anson Du Bois, a descendant of Louis Du Bois and Catherine Blanchan; the Rev. Dr. Cornelius E. Crispell, a descendant of Anthonie Crepel and Maria Blanchan; and the Rev. Dr. Theodore W. Welles, a great-great grandson of Maria Du Bois, wife of Joannes Harden- bergh and thus a descendant of Louis DuBois and Catherine Blan- chan, the grandson also of Mary Margaret Lowe, wife of Jacob R. Hardenbergh, and thus a descendant of Peter Cornellessen Lowe and Elizabeth Blanchan. "Dr. DuBois traces his descent through Solomon DuBois, the fifth son of Louis DuBois, and an extensive land owner about Catskill, Greene county, N. Y. , and in Pennsylvania. He was born at Catskill, Wednesday, August twenty-ninth, 1821. His parents were Isaac J. DuBois and Catherine Hunter, a descend- ant of one of the Scotch-Irish families among the early settlers of Orange county, N. Y. He was educated at New Brunswick, graduated from Rutgers College in 1847, and from the theologi- cal seminary in 1850. He was immediately licensed and or- dained by the Classis of Greene and sent as a missionary to Thou- sand Islands, N. Y. In this delightful region he labored until 1854, when he was installed pastor of the Second Church, now Fair street, Kingston, N. Y. After a five years' pastorate in this Dutch-Huguenot city, he was elected corresponding secretary of the Board of Domestic Missions of the Reformed Church, and served as such until 1862, when he was called to the pulpit of the Second Church of Schenedady, N. Y. During his ministry at this seat of learning, he received from Union College in 1865, the honorary degree of D. D. His pastorate continuing until 1869, was followed by a year of teaching at Amelia Court House, Vir- ginia. In 1870 he was installed at Flatlands, L. I., and there remained until 1882, when he accepted a call from the Church of St. Thomas, West Indies. In 1886, after serving as a stated sup- ply at Owasco Outlet, he accepted the pastorate of the Church at Centerville." In April, 1887, the Church reported twenty-five persons in membership and twenty-one dismissals. The outlook was not bright. But more severe trials were to come. In the fall of 1888 Mr. Cheyne sold his property here and removed with his family to New York city. About the same time other useful families re- moved from the place, In April, 1889, the Church reported a resi- HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 535 dent membership of fifteen, of whom three were of the pastor's family; one death and twelve removals, six of whom were among- our most active workers. The case seemed desperate. God was our only hope. In the emergency the pastor called a meeting of gentlemen, irrespective of Church membership and laid the whole situation before them. Happily cheerful words were spoken and a liberal subscription by envelope system inaugurated, and the crisis in its acute form passed. From that time the Church mem- bership, though still painfully small, has been slowly rising. "At the stated spring session of the Classis of Paramus, April seventeenth, 1901, the pastoral relation between Dr. DuBois and the Church of Centerville was dissolved, at his own request, and Dr. DuBois, was declared CTnei'itus, and intending to make his home with his son at Newburgh, N. Y. , was dismissed to the ("lassis of Greene. "* One or two words of appreciation and gratitude must yet be spoken of our dear friend, "\\x. Hugh Cheyne. When in 1894 it became indispensable to build a parsonage, and the people as a whole, had nobly met the occasion. Wr. Cheyne supplemented their gifts with princely munificence, and made possible the com- pletion, without debt, of the present commodious residence of the pastor, and yet after all that he had done previously, there came flowing in, without a break, his monthly aid to the Church until his death, February twentieth, 1899. We have but few closing words. The work has been obscure and humble, yet not devoid of the Divine favor. For many years it has gone forward in the most delightful Christian harmon)'. In the membership, and among the most loyal and acflive friends are some from nearly all sister denominations. We are, perhaps, the smallest of our self-sustaining Churches. We have enjoyed blessed seasons of revival. Of members received since the organization, more than two-thirds are converts, gathered to God in this field. The Sabbath school, with an assured enrollment of never less than one hundred, is superintended nobly by one of our own con- verts, and most of the teachers have here made profession of their faith. The same is also true of nearly all the active members of an admirably conducted Christian Endeavor society. Our Church workers of today were most of them scholars in the Sabbath school at the coming of the present pastor, and a considerable number * Editorial addenda. 536 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS have joined neighboring- Churches. Our Ladies Church Aid Soci- ety, by its wise activity, does honor to its name; while beautiful Christian work has been done along other lines. Nor has the Church failed to contribute, though in a small way, to the great benevolences of our denomination. A section of this township which must almost certainly have otherwise been neglected, has now enjoyed the elevating and saving influences of the Gospel for eighteen years, by the minis- trations of this Church, and we must believe that there lies before it a long career of service to man's good and God's glory. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF GARFIELD The Rev. Wii.i.fam Guthrie Myi.es. THE First Reformed Church of Garfield was organized Janu- ary twenty-first, 1891, and was the outcome of the faitliful and energetic worlv of members of the Reformed Churches of Passaic who were residents of Garfield. For many years that en- tire territory had been under the religious watch and care of the Reformed Church. A union Sabbath school was organized in 1883. In November, 1886, a mid-week cottage prayer meeting was established, and carried on without intermission, summer and winter, under the guidance of a company of young men from the North Reformed Church. It was soon found necessar)', in order to meet the growing interest among the people, to secure the services of a student from the seminary at New Brunswick, and Mr. Philip T. Phelps, Jr., was engaged. He began his labors in IVIay, 1887, and was followed by Mr. G. Edwin Talmage, and Mr. Ferd. S. Wilson. These brethren have since been ordained to the Gospel ministry, and are doing faithful work in our denomi- nation. While at Garfield they not only conducted the Sabbath preaching services and taught in the Sabbath school, but spent several days each week in house to house visitation, and usually led the prayer meeting on Friday evening. As these movements progressed, they resulted in the further necessity for a more suitable house of worship than the public school building, where the services had thus far been held. A joint meeting of the Consistories of the First and North Reformed Churches of Passaic, was held in April, 1888, at which, after a full discussion of the matter, it was mutually agreed that each of the two Churches should donate the sum of four hundred dollars toward the building of cahapel in Garfield. This gift was speed- ily secured, and with a grant of seven hundred dollars from the 538 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS Church Buikhnf,^ Fund of the Board of Domestic Missions, the united Consistories erected and dedicated the modest, but service- able and comfortable chapel, which now stands on the hill. The land, both for this building and the parsonage, was the donation of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Marsellus, of Garfield. These worthy friends of the enterprise, who have reached a ripe old age, are descendants from old Holland stock, and are naturally interested in the Church of their fathers. The Church is sincerely grateful to them, and to the Rev. J. H. Whitehead, of Passaic, who. The Reformed Church of Garfield, — 1888. from the beginning of the movement here, has been closely identified with it. The missionary work of the seminary students developed also the necessity for the organization of a Church, and for the full services of a resident pastor. Accordingly, a petition was pre- sented to the Classis of Paramus, and that body having granted the request of the people, the First Reformed Church of Garfield was regularly organized on the twenty-first of January, 1891. The original membership consisted of twenty-three persons, eight- een of whom Vi-ere received by certificate from the North Re- HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 539 formed Church of Passaic, ami one was recei\'ed shortly after- ward. The Rev. George Seibert, Soon after the organization of the Church, the name of the Rev. George Seibert, of Schraalenburgh, N. J., was brouglit to the notice of the Consistory, and he was invited to preach. This re- sulted in a \'ery hearty and unanimous call being sent to iMr. Seibert, and, feeling it his duty to accept, he began his \\'ork in Garfield, on October first, 1891. iMr. .Seibert was born in Germany in 1S39. Two years later, the famil)' left Germany, and, coming to this country, settled in the town of Union, Hudson county, N. J., and there the boy spent his )-ounger years, attending the public school at New Durham. Thence he was sent to the Grammar School at New Brunswick, and after a further course of prn'ate study under the well known Dr. W. A'. V. ^ila- bon, of New Durham, he entered Rutgers College. This was in the days of the war of the Rebellion, and the young- stuilent gave up his college studies, and joined the First New jersey Volunteers. He served two years in Virginia, and while there became a sufferer from typhoid fever «diich doomed him to a long course of hospital treatment. Re- turning home, an invalid, after a time he entered the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, where he remained for three years, graduating in the summer of I 866. iNIr. Seibert was licensed to preach the Gospel by the Classis of Bergen, and the same vear, was ordained by the Classis of ^Monmouth, at jMiddletown, N. j. In 1872 he was sent by the Board of Domestic ^Missions to Ha-\'- ana, Illinois. He continued in this charge until Octofier, 1880, when he was called to succeed the Rev. ^^'. R. Gordon, D. D. , at Schraalenlnirgh, N. |. Coming to Garfield, as we have stateil, in October, 1891, Mr. Seibert took up the work with great enthusi- asm. But the ways of God are past finding out. After being about The Rev. George Seibert. 540 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS six months in his new charge, having- worked to the complete satisfaction of liis people and the admiration of all, he contracted a cold while attending a meeting of Classis; this quickly devel- oped into pneumonia, and in ten days from his first sense of ill- ness, he succumbed to this dire disease. Veiling the grief of the family, with which a stranger does not seek to intermeddle, the consternation and sorrow into which the young Church was thrown by this death, cannot be described. Mr. Seibert had been such a tireless and wise worker, and his particular genius seemed so essential to existing conditions, that it appeared to many that a man especially fitted for the work in Garfield, was gone; and had departed in the midst of his clays, for the pastor who had so endeared himself to his people, was but fifty-three years of age. " His eye was not dim, neither was his natural force abated. Yet death claimed him. He had decreed great things for the Reformed Church of Garfield. This applies to material affairs as well as spiritual interests, and is notably true of the beautiful and commodious parsonage, which was built from plans approved by the parsonage committee, of which he was the head. This home of the pastor cost in the neighborhood of f 4,000, 1 1,000 being ad- vanced by the Board of Domestic Missions, and the building is still $2,000 in debt. It was Mr. Seibert who roused the enthusi- asm to begin the undertaking, and there is no denying that he, better than any other man, could have completed the work. But we complain not at the ways of God. Mr. Seibert was a man whose views of truth were soundly evangelical and of a very pro- nounced kind. He could speak and preach, because he knew whom he had believed. Certainly, he was persuaded of these things, and sought very earnestly to persuade others; and he suc- ceeded, for he was a soul winner. Not in the pulpit alone did he seek his Master's glory. The visitation of the flock was considered by him the sacred duty of a Christian pastor, the sick and dying among them receiving his peculiar care. He entered deeply, by sympathy, into the trials of his people, and was most assiduous in waiting upon them, that he might minister the in- structions and consolations of religion. But while keeping the vineyards of others, his own vineyard was not neglected. He de- lighted in the enjoyments of home, and was attentive to all its duties, being affectionate and faithful as a husband, and kind and loving as a father. Altogether, he was a man well fitted to lead HISTORIES or THE CHURCHES 541 the enterprise in Garfield, and "when his death came, it was a calamity alike to the Church and the community. The Kv.v. Cjeokce (jur.xee Seibert. The Rev. George G. Seibert, a son of the Rev. George Std- bert, who succeeded his fattier in the work here, was born at Middletown, X. J., April tenth, 1867. His early education \\-as supervised with g-reat care by his parents, and in the autumn of 1885 he entered the New York Universitv. From this institu- tion he graduated in 18S9. In the autumn of the same year he entered the Xew Brunswick 'Iheological .'Seminary, and grad- uated in 1892. He was almost immediatelv called tn take up the work laid down \>y his father at (jarfield, and one of his first duties «-as to superintend tlie build- ing of the parsonage ])lanned bv his father. During this second ]ias- torate twentv-four new members were added to the Church, and the benevolences of the Church were greatly increased. Mr. Seibert was a good organizer and soon bri")ught the Church into order, after the con- fusion following the death of his father. He pro\'ed to be a good man in the pulpit also, and his ser- mons thoughtfully constructed ami eloquently e.vpressed are spoken of today with much approval. IVIr. Seibert labored in (Jarfield a little (jver fouryears and resigned. Possibl)f the fluctuati-. 552 HISTOKV OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS boyhood home, at Le Roysville, Peiin. After a pastorate of four years he was called to the Congregational Church, Newark Valley, N. Y. , which he served for nearly nine years. During this time he was made moderator of the Susquehanna Association of Con- gregational ministers four tmies, and preached the annual sermon before the New York State Association of Congregational minis- ters, in 1892. In 1891, in company with his wife he spent six months in travel and study in Bible lands. Owing to the poor health of his wife, Mr. Ellsworth resigned from the pastorate in Newark Valley, in 1896, and went to the hills of eastern Dutchess countjr, N. Y. , where he successively supplied the Presbyterian Churches at Amenia and Millerton. The health of his wife having been re-established, he accepted the call to the Clifton Church, beginning his pastorate December first, 1900, and was formally installed as its minister, January fourth, 1901. On this occasion the Rev. J. H. Whitehead presided, and read the form for instal- lation; the sermon was delivered by the Rev. David G. Wylie, D. D. , pastor of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, New York, a seminary classmate of Mr. Ells- worth; the charge to the pastor was given by the Rev. John A. Van Neste and the charge to the people by the Rev. Anie Vennema. The Clifton Church, which be- gins its present pastorate most aus- piciously, is a working Church. Its activities are displayed along literary, social, benevolent, as well as the regular Church lines. It has a Ladies Aid Society, a Young Peo- ple's Society of Christian Endeavor, a Literary Society and a King's , The Rev. J. S. Ellsworth. JJaughters Circle, besides its Sab- bath school. These societies are vigorously sustained, embrace a large membership, and have raised much money for Church purposes, missionary work and benevolent enterprises. This Church has a noble band of women helpers. The pres- ent prosperity of the Church is largeljr due to the enthusiasm and self-sacrificing efforts of the Ladies Aid Society. Under different names, this society has been in existence, with a break of a few HISTORIKS OF THE CHURCHES 553 years, since 1870, when the first religious movement was made in Clifton. Its first president was Mrs. Stephen Hemmingway. She was succeeded by Mrs. W. Snow; and from 1884 to 1897 Mrs. George E. Dinsmore was president, she being followed in that year by Mrs. A. C. Hascy. Mrs. William INlilligan is the present president. Helpers in spiritual work, successful in wise endeavor to raise money, and prompt and devoted in meeting the social needs of the place, the women, since the organization of the Church, as well as in the earlier movements of Clifton's religious life, have proved themselves worthy followers of the Apostle Paul's commended ''fellow helpers." The Church at Clifton has also been blessed in the men who have had to do with its history. They were men of character, zeal and devotion; men gifted with patience and clear vision. They advanced slowly and have kept pace with, not run before, providential leadings. Every movement was an unforced devel- opment wisely made and tenderly fostered until circumstances were ripe for its consummation. To their wise, watchful over- sight and leading are due the present stability and hopeful future of the organization. The present Consistory consists of the following: elders. deacons George E. Dinsmore, Joseph Hicki.nbottom, J. W, Meloney, W. J. Maharg, George Bailey, S. Grant Thorburn. M. jOHNbTONE McCaLL. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF NORTH PATERSON BY The Rkv. N. H. Van Aksdalk, D. D. WHEN the New York, Susquehanna and Western Raih'oad established its local terminus at North Paterson, and lo- cated its repair shops at that point, instead of a few small resi- dences there was soon a thriving village. Streets were laid out, and neat dwellings sprang up on every hand, the homes of con- ductors, engineers, and other employees of the company, and of operatives in the shops. In response to a request for religious privileges, the Rev. Dr. N. H. Van Arsdale, pastor of the Broadway Reformed Church, and the Rev. Dr. Theodore W. Welles, of the Second Reformed Church of Paterson, assisted by a raiload conductor, Mr. John A. Vrooman, and other residents of North Paterson, started a Sabbath school in the station, which soon filled both waiting rooms. Religious services, with preaching, immediately after the session of the Sabbath school, were also inaugurated and maintained. The standing committee on Church Extension, of the Classis of Par- amus, of which the Rev J. H. Whitehead, of Passaic, was chair- man, visited the field and concluded that it was a promising one for the planting of a Church. The committee proceeded to take steps with this end in view. The first necessity was a suitable building for Sabbath school and religious purposes. The Classis purchased a site costing $500, the different Churches contributing. For the erection of a building the Board of Domestic Missions granted a loan of $1,000, which was generously supplemented by a gift of I500 from Elder Peter Qua^kenbush, of the Broadway Reformed Church of Pater- son, and by the subscriptions of the people. Mr. Plenry Lockwood, a student in the New Brunswick semi- nary, was assigned to the field by the Board of Domestic Missions, daring the summer vacation of 1893. The following November, HlSTOKir.S OF THK CHURCHES 555 tlie Rev. Klias I\Iead took u]) the work, visiting the people and preaching- every Sabbath afternoon. On the completion of the neat edifice, it was dedicated to the service of God on Sabbath afternoon, lune 17, iSy4, the Rev. Elias IMead preaching- the sermon. The dedicatcjry .service was conducted by the Rev. J. H. ^^'hitehead, a.ssisteJ by the Re\-. N. H. Van Arsdale, D. D., and the Rev. Theodore W. Welles. D. D. The Rev. Charles H. Pool, D. D. , corresponding secretary of the Board of Domestic Missions, was also in attendance and made an ■'«^ The Reformed Church of North Paterso.v, — 1S94. address. There was a goodly congregation present, and the occa- sion was one long to be remembered, because witnessing the con- summation of fondly cherished hopes. C)n the eighteenth of De- cember, the same year, a Church was organized with fifteen mem- bers. Conductor John A. Vrooman who, from the inception of the enterprise had manifested the deepest interest and most active zeal in its behalf, was the first to be received on confession of his faith in Christ. Messrs. Warren H. Coburn and William H. Roat were chosen elders, and IMessrs. Henry Braen and John A. Vrooman, deacons. In the death of iMr. Vrooman, which occurred on the 556 HISTOKV OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS second of August, 1900, the Church has lost a valued leader. The Church was placed on the roll of the Classis of Paramus, at its spring session in 1895. The Rev. Gakrett M. Conover. In May 1895, a call was extended to Mr. Garrett M. Conover, who had just graduated from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick. The call was accepted, and he was ordained and installed pastor, June eleventh, of that year. December nine- teenth, 1897, he resigned to accept a call to the Reformed Church of Clarkstown, N. Y. A sketch of his life, together with his por- trait, is given in the history of that Church. The Rev. William Johnston. April eighth, 1898, the Rev. William Johnston of Lodi, N. J., accepted a call to the pastorate and was installed Wednesday even- ing. May twenty-fifth. He also, as did Mr. Conover, served the neighboring Church of Hawthorne, the two congregations form- ing one charge. His ministry, also like that of his predecessor, was of short duration. He resigned November twelfth, 190c, and is now pastor of the Reformed Church of Peapack, N. J. His portrait and a sketch of his life are given in connection with the history of the Hawthorne Church. The Board of Domestic Mis- sions has appointed Mr. James M. Martin, of the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, to serve North Paterson and Glen Rock for the summer of 1901. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF HAWTHORNE Thk Rev. Thkodore W. Wellks, D, D. HAWTHORNE is the name orig-inally given to School Distridl number Ten, of Manchester township, Passaic county, N. J. It has since become the name of an incorporated borough, with- in whose limits, with a population of 2,096 in 1900, are the thriv- ing hamlets of Hawthorne, North Paterson, and Ashley Heights. Hawthorne, the first named of these small villages, occupies the extreme southeastern portion of Manchester township, as well as of the borough whose name it bears. It is separated from Paterson by the Passaic river on the south, touches Bergen county on the east, extends to Diamond Bridge avenue on the north, and is bordered by fertile fields stretching to the Goffle road on the west. The Reformed Church of Hawthorne received its name from this picturesque village. The story of the origin and develop- ment of the Church is somewhat unique, and is gi\'en substantial- ly as related by the Rev. John M.Stevenson, D.D., recently deceased, who resided at Hawthorne for many years. He was a Presby- terian clergyman and for a long time was one of the secretaries of the American Tract Society. On ^londay evening, January thirteenth, 1873, eight ladies met at the house of the Rev. Dr. Stevenson, at Hawthorne, for the purpose of forming a benevolent society. The purpose was realized by the organization of the "Hawthorne Mite Society," and the election of the following officers: Mrs. John M. Steven- son, president; Mrs. Dorus W. Warren, vice-president; INlrs. E. S. Janes, treasurer, and i\lrs. T. H. Acres, secretary. At the end of the first month the confidence of the ladies in the success of the enterprise they had undertaken and Iheir cour- age to enlarge its scope, led them to work for means to build a chapel for religious services at Hawthorne. At the end of the 558 HISTOR* OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS year they had in their treasury the result of their handicraft and voluntary offerings, the sum of two hundred dollars. The pre- vailing financial pressure resting upon the country at that time, caused the Mite Society to suspend further action until March, 1880. The funds of the society at this time amounting to two hundred and ninety-five dollars, its members were incorporated as a religious organization, purchased the lot on Lafayette avenue, where the Reformed church now stands, and elected as trustees to hold the property, the Rev. Dr. John M. Stevenson, Mr. Dorus W. Warren and Mr. William E. Janes. The only duty of these trustees during the decade ending in 1890, was to keep the pur- chased lot free from incumbrance. But in 1891 the society com- menced holding Sabbath afternoon services in three of the central houses of the village, and continued them until they were super- seded by services in the chapel. In August of this year the Rev. Henry Dater, a clergyman of the Reformed Church, residing at Hawthorne, was elected a trustee in place of Mr. Janes, who had removed to a distant city, and the trustees were instructed to secure subscriptions, if possible, for building a chapel. 'I'heir success was so gratifying and encouraging that in October, the Mite Society changed its name, and assumed as its corporate title, "The Hawthorne Christian Union Chapel Association.'' On Sab- bath, December thirteenth, with hearty thanksgiving to Al- mighty God for the realization of long cherished hopes, they dedi- cated to the service of the triune Jehovah, the beautiful chapel the association had erected, — the building since known as the Re- formed church of Hawthorne. The cost of the edifice, exclusive of the land on which it stands, was about $2,700. This amount, so far as obtained, had been contributed by representatives of various religious denomi- nations, as follows: Presbyterians, $1782. 23; Reformed, $152.25; Episcopalians, $138; Baptists, #110; Methodists, 1 10; not classi- fied, $140.80; making a total of $2333.28, and leaving an unpaid balance of less than $375. The dedication of the chapel was followed by the inaugura- tion of Sabbath services, morning and evening, a mid-week prayer meeting, and a Sabbath school. These services were maintained by the resident ministers, the Rev. Dr. Stevenson and the Rev. Henry Dater, and by other clergymen representing the denomina- tions that had aided in erecting the chapel. Theological students HISTORIKS OF THE CHURCHES 55 were also employed and labored acceptably. After a year of gen- eral harmony, the Lord's Supper was administered X()\'ember twenty-seventh, 1892. Following,'- this communion service, there ■was a general expression of tlesire for the organization of a Church. As the congregation contained members of the Reformed, Episcopal, Presbyterian, Baptist and i\Iethodist Churches, and some claiming no denominational affinity, it became a most per- plexing question: To what branch of the Church of Christ shall the Church when organized belong.? After prayerful deliberation it was at length resolved to form a union evangelical Church. In the execution of this purpose, the Union Church of Hawthorne was organized January third, 1893; the Rev. John 'SI. ."Steven- son, D. D. , pastor, iNIr. Joseph Beaven and Mr. George W. Page, deacons. This action was taken with the strong hope that those of different denominational preferences, in accordance with the Savior's desire and prayer, might "all be one.' This Christly hope was not realized. It soon became evident to those having the chief responsi- bility and bearing an undue proportion of the expense, that a union Church cannot attain the highest and most permanent suc- cess. The members of the Union Church of Hawthorne there- fore declared, at a public meeting held November fifth, 1893, that the idea of maintaining a union Church should be relinquished in favor of the formation of a Church in connection with some one of the denominations of the land, and placed on record the fol- lowing reasons for their action: "1. The religious education and conscientious views of the Church members and of the community adjacent, who must con- stitute the Church in the future, take on five or six different names. While they may worship in a union Church for a time when one of tlieir choice is not accessible, as soon as their own denomina- tion comes near their home they feel it their duty to give it their allegiance. There is no bond in a union Church strong enough to overcome this preference. "2. The mode of conducting divine service, aside from the sermon, is so different that those trained from youth to worship in the elaborate and graceful forms of a fixed ritual, find it almost impossible to enjoy and profit by that extemporary and varied service which is the only pleasing and profitable manner of re- ligious worship to others. It has been found impracticable to 560 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS Of PARAMUS construdt a form of divine worship that will attract the people and make them feel at home. "3. The greatest obstacle to success, however, is found in the impossibility of having a permanent minister to live among the people, form their acquaintance, visit their sick and attach the children to the Sabbath school and to the Church. This permanent minister a union Church cannot secure, because the union principle demands ministers of different denominations in rotation." The Hawthorne Union Church having reached these conclu- sions, unaniinously expressed a desire to be received under the care of the Reformed Church. The Hawthorne Christian Union Chapel Association, at a meeting held in the chapel November twenty-second, 1893, assenting to the action of the Union Church to relinquish its existence as such and to off«r itself and the chapel to the Reformed Church, authorized and directed the Board of Trustees "to take all legal steps necessary for the trans- fer of the property of the organization to the ownership and future control of the Classis of Paramus, and through that body to the Reformed Church in America." This action of the Union Church of Hawthorne was formally announced to the Classis of Paramus convened in extra session November twenty-ninth, and the following resolutions were adopted: "I. That the enterprise at Hawthorne be taken under the care of the Classis of Paramus. "2. That the Revs.iJ. H. Whitehead, C. E. Crispell, N. H. Van Arsdale and Theodore W. Welles, with the elder Peter Quackenbush, are hereby appointed trustees to take all proper legal measures to receive and hold in the name of the Reformed Church, the title to the property involved. "3. That the small amount due on the property aforesaid, be paid by the trustees as soon as the transfer of the property may he consummated." At the following spring session of Classis, April tenth, 1894, a petition was received from certain residents of Hawthorne to be organized as a Reformed Church. This petition was referred to the Committee on Church Extension, which complied with the request of the petitioners January thirty-first, 1895, by organizing HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 561 the Reformed Church of Hawthorne. During this apparent delay, special services were held, under the supervision of the Rev. Elias I\Iead, of Passaic Bridge, to whom the spiritual work of the field had been committed in connection with North Paterson, only a mile awa3^ These services resulted "in the awakening of new religious interest on the part of the people, and decision in several cases for personal acceptance of the Lord, Jesus Christ." The organization of the Church was effected with twent)^- three members. Seven were received on confession of their The Reformed Church of Hawthorne, — 1894. faith; the others by certificate of Church membership. Messrs; Walter C. Zabriskie and George W. Page were elected elders, Messrs. Joseph E. Beaven and H. W. Slimmon, deacons, and these brethren were duly inducted into their respective offices. The Rev. Garrett ^I. Coxover. The following April a call was extended to the Rev. Garrett M. Conover, who was about completing his theological studies and he was ordained and installed July first, 1895, and served 562 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS 01' PARAMUS this Church jointl}' with that at North Paterson. He resigned the charge of both Churches December nineteenth, 1897.* The Rev. William Johnston. The successor of the Rev. Mr. Conover in the pastorate of the Church at Hawthorne was the Rev. William Johnston, who was in- stalled May twenty-fifth, 1898, and resigned his call November twelfth, 1900. He was born at Toronto, Canada, July nineteenth, 1855. His father, the Rev. William A. Johnston, of the Presbyterian Church, was pastor in 1890 at ]\Iar- low. Province of Quebec, Canada. Mr. Johnston sought first to qualify himself as a teacher, and with this object in view, attended the Model School at Toronto, the Thk Rkv. William Johnston. r~•■^^ -kj i n i, i i. t\ r x i j Gill Normal School at Montreal, and the Art Department at Queens University, Kingston, Province of Ontario, Canada. In 1876 he was licensed to teach in the Prov- ince of Quebec. The following year he was received into the communion of the Stanley Street Presbyterian Church, Montreal, and a short time thereafter was principal of a school at Hudson on the Ottawa river, about thirty miles from Montreal. In Oc- tober, 1886, under the auspices of the Champlain Presbytery, he became a member of the junior class of the Theological Seminary at Princeton, N. J. While pursuing his studies at this institution, he supplied the Presbyterian Churches of Plainsboro and Mon- mouth Junction, N. J. In 1888 he entered the middle class of the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, and May twenty- fourth, 1890, was licensed by the Classis of New Brunswick. Be- fore the expiration of the month he was ordained and installed by the Classis of Bergen, pastor of the Reformed Church of Gutten- berg. In 1891 he removed to Lodi, and in 1898 to Hawthorne, and in 1901 to Peapack, N. J. October twenty-fourth, 1893, he became a citizen of the United States and in 1899 was elected a " For sketch of Mr, Conover and portrait, seepages 288-9. HISTORIES OF THE CHURCHES 563 member of the Board of Education of the borough of Hawthorne, and was clerk of the Board. During the first five years following the organization of the Hawthorne Church, forty-six persons were added to the commu- nion, and twenty-nine persons were baptized, six adults and twenty-three children. Since the close of Mr. Johnston's pastorate the Church at Hawthorne has maintained the services of the sanctuary with such encouraging results that the people are anxious to secure a pas- tor who will have no other Church to serve; feeling confident that under such conditions, a continuance of the aid the)' have re- ceived in the past from the Board of Domestic Missions, will enable them in a few years to declare the Church self-sustaining. THE REFORMED CHURCH OF GLEN ROCK The Rev. Elias W. Thompson AT a meeting- of the Classis held at Warwick, N. Y., in October 1895, the Rev. J. A. Van Neste, pastor of the Church at Ridgewood, requested the appointment of a committee to exam- ine the conditions existing at Glen Rock, Bergen county, N. J., with a view to ascertaining if it would be wise and desirable to organize a Reformed Church in that locality. The Classis ap- pointed as such a committee, the Revs. Theodore W. Welles, D. D., William H. Vroom, D. D., and Elder Andrew H. Van ^^'agoner. Svutable notice having been g-iven the committee met at the school house at Glen Rock, Monday evening, November eight- eenth, 1895, and, after a conference with the residents, and as free expression of opinion from others present, were so impressed with the necessity of organizing a Church, that they resolved to call a meeting of the Classis for the purpose. This meeting was held in the school house on Monday, December second, 1895, at half past seven o'clock. At this meeting a petition signed by nineteen communicants and twenty-six residents of the commun- ity was presented. This petition was as follows : " To The Classis of Paramus : Dear Brethren, — Believing that for the good, both moral and temporal, of the community in which we reside, and for the furtherance of the cause of Christianity, a Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is neces- sary, and further believing that an organization of the polity and standards of the Reformed Church in America is best adapted for the purposes of government, religious instruction, and develop- ment of Christian character, we therefore, who subscribe our names respectfully petition that we be organized into what shall be called the Reformed Church of Glen Rock, N. J." HISTORIKS OF THE CHIKCHES ^6,- This application having- been considereil in upen Classis it was ''Resolved, That the petition of tlie people of (Jlen Ivock to be organized as a Reformed Church in accordance with and subject to the requirements of the Constitution of the Reformed Church in America, be and the same is, hereb\- granted. •'Resolved, 'i'hat Classis at once proceed to receive and enroll as members of the Church at(;ien Rock all those present who may The Reformed Church of Glen Rock. 1S96. present properly authenticated certificates of Church membershi]i, or who may make confession of their faith in jesus Christ. "Resolved, That the Rev. J. A. \nn Xeste and ]'"lder jardine be a committee to examine such as may desire to make a con- fession of faith. In comphance with this action of the Classis twentv persons were enrolled as members of the Church. Tweh-e of these had letters of dismissal from the I\.eformed Church of Ridgewood, four from the Reformed Church of Paramus, three from the Re- formed Church of ^^'arwick, X. v., and one was received on con- fession of faith. The members of the Church then proceeded to the election of 566 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS a Consistory. George J. Hopper was chosen elder for one year, and John A. Marinus for two years. David Courter was elected deacon for one year, and John Bingham for two years. The Rev. J. A. Van Neste ordained them in their respective offices in accord- ance with the prescribed formula of the Constitution, when the Reformed Church of Glen Rock was declared fully organized and the stated clerk was directed to place its name on the roll of Classis. On April eleventh, 1896, articles of incorporation were granted by the civil authorities, and soon afterward land was purchased and steps taken for the erection of a church edifice. The build- ing was used for public services the same year, but was not com- plete and furnished until the following summer. Its total cost was about $2,500. The funds were secured through the efforts of the Consistory aided by the Ladies Aid Society. The Church Building Fund of the Reformed Church in America furnished $800. At the present writing the church is entirely free from debt. The Rev. George Albert Luckenbill. The Sabbath school has held its sessions continuously ever since the Church was organized. Public worship has also been maintained for the larger part of the time. For four successive summers the Woman's F^lxecutive Committee of the Board of Domestic Missions has furnished funds for the salary of a student missionary. In the spring of 1900, the Church Extension com- mittee of the Classis, consisting of the Revs. J. H. Whitehead, and E. W. Thompson, and Elder Peter J. Kip, desiring to secure reg- ular preaching services for the congregation, met at Glen Rock and after a conference with the people, the Rev. Mr. Thomp- son was requested to enter into correspondence with the Rev. George Albert Luckenbill, pastor of the Congregational Church of Clarendon, Vermont, to ascertain whether his services could be secured as stated supply until November first, 1900. Mr. Luck- enbill gave a favorable answer and on July ninth, took charge of the work. The Board of Domestic Missions becaine responsible for his salary under the usual arrangements for summer mis- sionaries. After a few weeks of successful preliminary work the Church saw its way clear to call him as its first settled pastor. On Tuesday, October second, 1900, a meeting of the congre- gation was held at the home of Elder Marinus for the purpose of HISTORIES OF THE CHIRCHES 567 securing- Mr. Luckenbill's SL-rvites as permanent jiastor. At tin's meeting; a resolution, asserting the approval of :\Ir. I.uckenbiirs work and requesting the Consistor_v to extend him a formal call, was unanimously carried. A meeting of the Consistory was im- mediately held and the call made out in due form. Mr. Lucken- bill accompanied :\Ir. Thompson to Ferndale station, on the Krie railroad, near the residence of Elder :\larinus. After bidding his companion farewell, he attempted to cross the track from the out- going train. At that instant an express train going in the ojiposite direction dashed Ijy. Though he made an attempt to leap from the track, he was struck by the locomotive and receiveil injuries from which he died an hour later at the Paterson General Hcjsjiital, to which he had been remrjxx-d. George Albert Luckenbill was born in Wayne t'J\^•nship, Schuylkill County, Peini., July fourteenth, 1862. His ]-)arents S(jon aftcrwan.! remo^-ed to Branchdale in the same vicinit}-. \\'hile still a ymith lie labored with his father ami brothers in the coal mines of the region, lle recei\"ed his religious training from a pious m(ither. By her inspir- ation and the encouragement of the pastor of the German Reformed Church which the family at- tended, he was led to look forward to a life of wider usefulness. (Jne day while lying wrapped in a piece of canvas at the bottom of a mine, he resolved to become a minister of the Gospel. He arose frcjm the place, leaving his tools behind him, went to the pastor's home, and after a conversation with him, decided to be- gin his preijaration for the ministry. He received his education at the Palatinate school, Myerstown, Penn., and had a partial collegiate course at Ursinus College, CoUegeville, Penn. lie en- tered the Theological Seminary at Xew Brunswick in September, 1889, and soon after became a member of the Suvdam Street Re- formed Church in Xew Brunswick. He was licensed by the Classis of Xew Brunswick in 1892, and was ordained by the Classis of Passaic in the Reformed Church at Montville, in lune. Haying accepted a call to ?iIont"\'ille, he labored there suc- 'rHi-: Rf.v. GKOKr : A. I.t-cki-:nhill 500 HISTORY OF THE CLASSIS OF PARAMUS cessfuUy for two years and a half, when he was compelled to re- sign on account of a severe attack of rheumatism. After spend- ing a few months at Hot Springs, Ark., he was stated supply of the Reformed Churches of Fort Miller and Bacon Hill in the Classis of Saratoga. He afterwards supplied Churches in the Classis of Orange for a short period. In 1889 he became pastor of the Congregational Church at Clarendon, Vermont, which rela- tionship was terminated by the overtures from Glen Rock already mentioned. In his death the Church at Glen Rock received a severe blow. The man whom they had chosen seemed especially adapted to the needs of the field. His genial character and decisive manner won for him the love and respect of all who knew him. A large con- course of friends gathered at his funeral services, which were held in the Broadway Reformed Church at Paterson, on October fifth, 1900. The interment took place in the family burial plot, near Minersville, Penn. The Classis, at its business meeting held after the Centennial exercises, passed resolutions of sympathy with the Church and made arrangements for supplying the pulpit for a time. The Con- sistory has firmly resolved to go forward in the enterprise, and the people having a mind to work, the future of the youngest Church in the Classis of Paramus is assured. INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES Ackermaii; — Aaron, 243 Abraham, 123, 137 Araham, H., 126, 273. Abraham J., 107, 13C Abram A., 378. Abram D., 125. Abram H., 133, 478, 4S7. Albert A., 126. Albert, D., 127, 273. Andrew, 126, 137, 299, 339. Andrew, G., 125, 137. Cornelius I., 127. David, 314. David G., 261. Rev. Edward G., 110, 117, 119. Klizabeth, 3i5. Garret A,, 127. Garret, A. N., 126, 137. Garret I., 127, 13S. Garret D., 125. Garret, J., 352. Henry A., 126. John, 128, 261. John, A., 126. John H., 130. John, I., 133, 138, 476. Mary, 273. Peter T., 133, 138, 468. Richard, 123, 137. Ackerson: — Abraham, 131. Edward P., 339. Garret J., 349. John G., 339. John J., 128. Acquackanonk, Church of, 167-204; early records 168; early rules for governing 173; edifices 170, 179, 189, 195, 198, 203; Elders at- tending- Classis, 123; Elders at- tending Synod, 137; incorpora- tion, 181; land acquired, 171; mentioned, 33, 35, 39, 44, 48, 50, 65, 87, 106, 107, 109, 114-117, 121-127, 140, 15S, 160, 224, 226, 241, 243, 290, 291, 293, 298, 475, 476, 481, 486, 504- 530; pastoral record, 149; statis- tics, 144-146, 148, 149, 151, 152. Acquackanonk Patent, purchas- ers of, 167. Acres, Mrs. T. H., 557. Addisville, Pa., Church of, 550. Adickes, Mrs. Catherine, 521. Albany, Classis of S3, 44, 110, 112, 114, 116, 117, 119, 121, 421, 519. Albany, N. T., Fourth Presbyteri- an Church of, 316; Holland Church of, 435, 497, 511; Normal School at, 397; Presbvtery of, 114, 115, 117; Third Church of, 450. Albert Lea, Minn., Presbyterian Church of, 367. Alexandria, Va., Theological Sem- inary at, 460. Allen:— Rev. John K., 307. Rev. Peter, 115, 135, 141, 142, 144; sketch of life, 305-307, 331, 332. Alton, la.. Church of, 508. Abea: — Albert A., 370. David A., 130, 370. David I., 130, 138. Nicholas, 476. Thomas, 400. Amenia, N. T., Presbyterian Church of, 344, 552. American Churches, 49, 33, 80. American Classis, 163. American Reformed Church, 227. Amity, N. Y., Church of, 335; Pres- byterian Church of, 311. Amsterdam, Classis of, 39-41, 43, 44, 87, 90, 160-162, 22S, 229, 244, 249, 295, 499. Amsterdam Correspondence, Publi- cation of, 268; quoted from, 161, 247. Amsterdam, N. T., Presbyterian Church of, 341. Anderson: — Rev. Asher, 119, 135, 143, 519; sketch of life, 482-484. John D., 484. Libbie A., 484. Andre, Major, 45, 225, 230, 232. Andrus, William L., 123. Annandale, N. J., Church of, 238, 288. Apeldoorn, Neth., Church of, 506. Antonides, Rev. Vincentius, 162. Ariaens: — Cathalina, 206, 218. Willemtje, 213. Ariensen, Lambert, 206, 207, 208, 209. Arminian Controversy, 78. Aspen, Col., Presbyterian Church of, 427. Astoria, N. T., Church of, 464. Athenia, N. J. See Centerville, N. J. Athens, N. Y., Church of, 305, 351; Second Church of, 269. 572 INDEX* OF PKRSONh AM) PT.ACKS Athens. Pa., Presbyterian Church of, 423. Aurora College, 483. Auryansen, James, 428. B Bacon Hill, N. Y., Church of, 481, B6S. Bahler: — Rev. Louis H., 436. Rev. Pierre B., 43, 117, 143; sketch of life, 435, 436. Rev. Pierre G. M,, 436. Bailey, George, 553. Bainbridge, N. Y., Presbyterian Church of, 199. Baird, Francis, 338. Baker :— Jacob, 133 512. Marenus, 132. Baldwin, Truman H., 131. Baldwin, Wis., Presbyterian Church of, 443. Ball, Joseph A., 467, 468. Bancus: — Joseph, 482. Mary J., 482. Banta: — Aaron, 416. Abraham A., 129. Abram, 129, 138, 333. Eliza, 378. Henry A., 127. Henry H., 125. Jacob, 125, 127, 352. John D., 123. John G., 123. John Hendrikse, 161. John J., 259. Richard, 123. Samuel, 370. Thomas, 125. Thomas A., 129. Baptisms, 151, 173, 176, 1T9-184, 188, 190, 265, 275. Bardan, Jan, 161. Barnes, Rev. Albert, 463. Barr, Rev. Robert H., 110, 119, 450. Barrowclouf^h, Emma, 449. Bartels, Geertruyt, 217. Bartholf:— Rev. Benjamin A., 117, 135, 142; sketch of life, 355. Rev. Guilliam, (see Bertholf). Basking Ridge, N. J., Presbyterian Church of, 359. Bassett, Rev. John, 55. Batavia, 111., Church of, 332; Con- gregational Church of, 452. Battle Creek, Mich., Presbyterian Church of, 450. Bayard; — Blandina, 290. Petrus, 290. Bay City, Mich., First Presbyteri- an Church of, 451. Bayonne, N. J., First Church of. 399. Beaven, Joseph E., 559, 561. Beaver Dams, N. Y., Church of, 333 Becht'hold, Rev. Arend H., 117, 143, 496; sketch of life, 472, 473. Bedminster, N. J., Church of, 340. Beetg-um, Netherlands, Church of, 506. Bell, James, 129. Belleville, N. J., Church of, 87. 313, 269, 479. Beloit College, 367. Benson:— David, 125, 130, 138, :99, 370. Elizabeth, 370. Isabella, 460. Richard, 370. Berdan; — Cornelius Z., 134, 514. Mrs. Cornelius Z., 134. Elenor J., 370. George, 107, 134. Jacob, 131, 370. John, 258, 299, 370. John, Jr., 126. Rev. John, 505. John D., 123. John 1., 130, 138, 378. Richard I., 370. Richard, 370, 371. John R., 378, 391. Rinear, 370. Stephen S., 242, Berea, N. Y., Church of, 397. Bergen, Classis of, 33, 46, E5, 57, 64, 105, 112, 114-117, 119, 120, 157, 165, 267, 341, 420, 539, 665: South Classis of, 119. Bergen, N. J.. Church of, 38, 44, 66, 86, 87, 187, 211, 216, 224, 406. Bergen Neck, N. J., Church of, 398. Berkhoff, Vincent, 133. Berne, N. Y., First Church of, 333. Berry, Rev. J| Bomeyn, 116, 194, 142; sketch of Ufe, 420, 421. Bertholf: — Rev. Guiliam. 48, 140, 141, 158, 159, 223, 236, 243; orthography ot name, 226; sketch of life, 168, 170. "Rev. James Henry, 110, 117, 347. James Holly, 347. Bethel, Iowa. Church of, 507. Bethlehem, N. Y., First Church of, 334. Bethune. Rev. George W., 406. Betten:— Rev. A. J., 437. Rev. D. Dawrence, 312. 12>., sketch of life. 437. Betz, Rev. William F., 118, 143, 497, 505; sketch of life, 442. Bingham, John, 566. Binghamton, Presbytery of, 121. Birdsall: — Rev. Edward, 120, 135, 144; sketch of hfe, 549. Edward C, 550. James, 549. May W., 550. Blairstown, N. J., Presbyterian Church of, 323. Blanch, Mrs. Thomas E., 416. Blanchan:— Catherine, 533, 534. Elizabeth, 534. Maria. 465. Matthys, 465, 533, 534. Blanchard, John, 312. Blanck. John, 131. Blauvelt:— Aaron, 125, 127, 128, 306. Aaron D., 468. Abraham A., 136, 243, 273. Mrs. Abraham A., 243. Abraham J., 134. INDEX OF PERSOXS AND PLACES 573 Abram, 207, 212. Abram C. J., (67. Abram J., 137. Abram P., 124. Alexander, 131. Ann E., 416. Charles B., 126. Charles J., .312. Rev. Cornelius, 401. Cornelius A., 128, 137, 304 Cornelius C, 130, 376, 37S, 405 r'ornellus D., 124. Cornelius B., 107, 128, 312. Cornelius I., 131, 132. Mrs. Cornelius I., 416. Cornelius J., 122. Rev. Cornelius J., 378. Rev. Cornelius R., 107, 120. Daniel J., 126. David D., 124. David J., 131, 138. David T., 131, 140. Dirckje H., 213. Bleanor, 416. Elizabeth M., 273. Garret C, 124. Garret I., 130, 138, 140, 390, 395, 5i3, 517. Garret J., 416. Garret S. for Garret I., 513. Rev. Georg-e M. S., 22, 117, 135, 139, 141, 213, 423, 476, 479, 520,: sketch of life, 236-237. Gerrits H., 220. Hendrick, 206. Hendrlck G., 213. Isaac, 124. Rev. Isaac, 141; ministry at Sad- dle River, 315; sketch of life, 252, 253. Rev. Isaac A., 237. Isaac G., 220. Isaac T., 124. Jacob, 126, 137. Jacob I., 131. James, 125, 126, 129. James D., 126. James I., 131, 416. Mrs. James I., 416. James P., 137. Johannes, 206. Johannes (Gerretsen), 226. Johannes P., 124. John, 127. John A., 126. John D., 131, 468. John G. and wife, 416. John H., 429. John I., 124, 429. John J., 124, 130, 138, 299, 350, 370, 371, 378. John P., 126. John T., 124. John W., 131. Joseph, 126. Joseph C, 128, 306, 456. Joseph G., 124. Margrietje, 206, 208, 212, 213. Maria, 206, 212, 214. Marretje H., 213. Nicholas C, 132, 467. Nicholas L., 124. Rachel, 370. Richard, 124. Samuel P., 12S. Teunis, 124. Teunis C 126. Rev. William W., 237. Blauvelt, N. Y., Presbyterian Church, 2.32, 423. Blauw, Rev. Cornelius, 141, 293, 294. Bloomingburgh Academy, 394. Bloomingburg-h, N. Y., Church of, 394, 423, 532. Bloomingdale, N. Y., Church of, 341. Bloomington University, 324. Board: — Cornelius Z., 242. Peter, 126, 137. Mrs. Peter, 242. Board of Domestic Missions. ■^"'^- 317, 346, 421, 422, 427, 445, 455, 496, 508, 613, 514, 516, 534, 538, 539, 540, 556, 663. Board of Education, 201, 441. 455. Board of Foreign Missions, 140. 3 5, 360, 361, 445. Board of Publication, 140. Board of Superintendents, 139. Bodln, Jean, 453. Eodine: — Abraham, 453. Juda, 453. Boerendans, Jan, 133, 490. Bogardus: — Rev. WiUiam E., 113, 118, l:a, 142; sketch of life, 321, 322. Rev. William R., 135, 139, 140, 144, 191; sketch of life, 192-194. Bogart: — Aeltje, 207, 210. Albert, 248. Grietje Jans, 207, 214. Jan. L., 214. Steve, 248. Teunis, 210. Eogartman, Daniel, 434. Eogert: — Albert, 122. Albert M., 122, 124. Augustus, 126. Casparus, 258. Cornelius J., 126. Rev. David S., 63. Henry, 122. Jacob, 186. James H., 529. John C, 126. Matthew, 137. Roeloff, 122. Rev. Samuel, 110, 114. Seba, 332. Bogertman, Nicolaas,, 132. Boice:— Isaac F., 132. Garret, 449. Bolton:— Charles W., 203. Rev. James, 120, 143; sketch of life, 525, 526. Boogaart, Leenderd, 132. Boogartman, Nicholaas, 439. Bookey, Abraham, 167. Boonton, N. J., Church of, 87, 293. 294, 335, 362, 423; Presbyterian Church of, 254. Bork, Rev. Christian, 379. Boskirck, John, 245. Boston, Mass., Holland Congrega- tional Church, 473. Boudet, 86. Bound Brook, N. J., Church of, 287, 308, 333, 410. Boynton, John H., 107, 124. Braen, Henry, 555. Brain, Jacob, 512. 574 INDKX OF PERSONS AND PLACES Breen: — Aart, 132. Aart J., 132, 433, Cornelius, 434. Peter, 107, 132. Brett:— Rev. Cornelius, 406, 411. Isaac, 207, 216. Rev. Philip M., 109, 112, 115, 13&. 142; sketch of life, 405-406. Brevoort; — Elias, 122. William, 529. Bridgeport, Conn., North Congre- gational Church, 408. Brighton, N. Y., Church of, 437. 438. Brink, Rev. Henry W., 107, 112, 121, 141, 303, 336; sketch of life, 311. Brinkerhoff : — Garret, 122. George, 123. Rev. George G., 35, 106, 111, 141, 142, 304; sketch of life, 3i9, 330. Jacob, 56. James, 122, 137. Rev. James G., 110, 115. Nicanor, 122. Seba, 122. Bristol, Conn., Congregational Church of, 483. Brock:— Charles R., 459. Mrs. Charles, 460. Rev. John R., 112, 117, 135, 141, 143, 307, 458, 467; sketch of life, 459-460. Brockholst, Henry, 291, 292, 293. Brockholts, Anthony, 290. Brodhead:— Ann, 239. Daniel, 239. Brokaw, Rev. Abraham, 59. Brooklyn, N. Y., Church of, 38, 222, 224; Bedford Church of, 462; Greenwood Heights Church of 452; North Church of, 450; Will- iams>,urgh Church of, 431, 488. Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, 481. Brooklyn, Presbytery of, 118. Brown: — Angeline N., 325. William, 370. Bryan, Cathrine B., 482. Buck:— Rev. Charles D., 549. Dudley, 19. Buffalo, N. Y., Holland Church of, 474. Buhlig, Clara L. 478. Burfl, Thomas, 303. Burgess, William, 487. Burhans: — John, 370, 372, 374. Sally, 370. Burr, Aaron, courtship of, 45. Busch-Kelser, Gerard J., 132, 133. 439, 496, 501. Buskirk, for Bush wick, L. I., Church of, 188. Butler, Henry V., 446. Buys: — Aert, 215. Johannes, 215. Neeltje, 215, 216. Pieter, 215. Cadmus: — Andrew, 23. Cornelius G., 123. Campbell: — Abraham, 129, 317, 318, 349. David, 123. Ellen, 479. John, 128, 352. Margaret, 349. Marian, 290. Rev. William H., 479. Canajoharie, N. Y., Church of, 407. Cannon, Rev. James S., 63. Carlock, Abraham, 126. Carlyle, quoted, 98. Carrier, Francis, 15. Carroll, Rev. Vernon B., 118, 135, 142; sketch of life, 343, 344. Carteret and Berkeley concessions, 88, 89. Case:— Rev. Clifford P., 110, 121, 450. Philip, 449. Caspers, Barbara, 211, 217. Caspersen, Melchert, 207, 217, 219. Catechetical instruction, 35, 100. Cayuga, Classis of, 115, 116, 355. Cemeteries: — Cedar Lawn, Pater- son, N. J., 360; Greenwood. Brooklyn, N. Y., 334; Grey court. Orange Co., N. Y., 393; New York Bay, Jersey City, N. J., 282; Oak Hill, Nyack, N. Y., 412; Port Ewen, Ulster Co., N. Y., 321; Totowa, Paterson, N. J., 383; Valleau, Paramus, N. J.. 249, 261; Weston, Somerset Co., N. J., 308. Cenniff, Jeremiah, 206, 207, 217. Census reports, of churches, 49; of Tappan, 207. Centennial celebration, the, 13-16. Centennial Services, 18. Centerville, N. J., Church of, 530- 536; elders attending classis, 134; elders attending Synod, 139: mentioned, 107, 109, 362; pastoral record, 143, 144; statistics, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152. Chamberlain, Sarah A., 401. Chambers, Rev. Talbot W., 451. Cliamplain, Presbytery of, 562. Chapman, George M., 134, 521. Charles II., 89. Charlton:— Frank, 468. John, 131, 138. Chatham, N. Y., Church of, 452. Cherry Hill, N. J., French Church of, 86. Chester, N. J., Presbyterian Church of, 236. Cheyne, Hugh, 134, 139, 530, 531, 535. Chicago, Presbytery of, 118, 431. Christian Intelligence, 41. Christian Refortnpd Church. The. 120, 157; of Huizen, Neth., 499; of Passaic, 605; of Wortendyke, 501. Christie : — David. 128. David I.. 128. James, 122, 1?8, 137, 303. Tames C, 449. James R.. U9. I.VDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES 575 John D., 128. Rev. John I., 58, 61. 110. 114, 110. 135, 139, 142, 331; sketch of life. 341. John W., 122. Louise, 449. Peter D., 122. Peter W., 122. Church extension, 68-70, 91, 195, 197. 448, 513, 554, 560. Church in Holland, The, 81; modifi- cation of, 80; priority in Mission- work, 82; spirit of. 81. Church of England, The, attempts to establish in New Jersey, 90. Church, ^Villlam E., 200. Churches: — American, 39, 43, 80; Colonial, 36, 38, 39. 83, 88; Dutch in America, 83; Dutch in New Jersey and New York, 86-88, 90. 262; German, of Pennsylvania. 79; Holland, 98-102; Holland, of .Paterson, N. J., 496; increase of, S9, 278; of Long- Island, 158, 162. 165; of the Netherlands, 435; of New Jersey, 291; of Passaic, 536; of Paterson, 433; of Rockland County, 280; organized by Classis, 91; pastoral record of the, 140; present roll of, 107; statistics of the, 146, 148, 149. 151. 152. Churchville, Pa., Church of, 188. Claes, Vroutje, 215. Claesen, Johan, 207. Clarendon, Vt.. Congregational Church of, 566, 568. Clark:— Abraham, 124. Cornelius, 131, Daniel, 209. David, 416. Sarah L.. 490. Rev. William H., 109, 118, 135, 140. 142, 143, 446, 449, 513, 517, 520, 521: ministry in Nyack, 411; sketch of life, 450, 461. Clarkson, Rutgers, 530. Clarkstown, N. Y., Church of, 274- 289; early families, 279; editices, 278, 283, 284; elders attending Classis, 124, 126, 127; elders at- tending Synod, 137; mentioned, 33, 36, 42, 50, 69, 87, 94, 96, 97, 106. 107, 114, 115, 117, 119, 120, 229, 231, 232, 234, 403, 404, 556; pastoral re- cord, 141; revival, 280; statistics, 144-146, 148, 149, 151, 162. Classical Reports, The first, 145. Classical visitation of 1875, 97. Classis, (each Classis is indexed by name). Claverack, N. T., Church of, 413. Cleveland, Ohio, Cass Ave., Pres- byterian Church of, 474, 508. Clifton, N. J., Church of, 544-553 elders attending Classis, 134; elders attending Synod, 139; mentioned, 107, 109, 120, 121, 450, 625; pastoral record, 144; rela- tion to North Church of Pas- saic, 486; societies in, 662, 533 statistics, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152 union prayer meeting at, 545 union Sabbath School at, 544. Closter, N. J., Church of 237. Clove, Ulster Co., N. Y., Church of, 272, 452. Clover Hill, N. J., Church of, 239, 333. Clymer, N. Y., Church of, 508. Clymerhil, N. Y., Church of, 436. Clymer Village, N. Y., Church of. 434. Coburn, Warren H., 134, 555. Coe:— Alpheus J., 128, 312. Rev. Edward B., 489. John J., 128, 306. Lawrence D. N., 128. Coens, Rev. Henricus, 140, 244; sketch of life, 170-173. Coetus, 40-43, 45, 47, 51, 52, 87, 162, 163, 174, 176, 179, 228, 244, 246, 249, 278, 293, 294. Coeymans, N. Y., Church of, 360. Cogg, Johannes W., 303. Cohoes, N. Y., Church of, 479, 480. Cold Spring, N. Y., Church of, 413. Cole:— Cornelius C, 239. David, 128, 137, 304, 378, 456. Rev. David, 6, 378, 550. Gitty, 239. Rev. Isaac D., 112 116, 135, 139, 141, 142, 144, 216, 218, 223, 382, 40U, 403, 405; assistant pastor with Lansing, 234; sketch of life, 233, 236, 378, 379. Isaac J., 304. Coleman: — Charles E., 496. Henry, 133. College of the City of New York. 267, 464. College of New Jersey (see Prince- ton College). Colonial Churches, 85. Colts Neck, N. J., Church of, 526. Columbia College, 184, 296, 333, 341, 346. Columbia, Presbytery of, 451. Communicants, statistics concern- ing, 148, 149. Concklin, Lewis, 316. Conferentle, 40, 41, 43, 45, 51, 80, 246, 249, 278, L93-195. Confession of Faith, 79. Congregational Association, of New York state, 552; of North Suf- folk, Mass., 117, 473. Conklin: — John, 128. Rev. John ^y., 489. Samuel, 207, 218. ^William, 128, Conover: Alsey, 370. Rev. Garrett M., 107, 112, 121, 136, 141, 144, 661; pastorate at North Paterson, 556; sketch of lite, 288, 289 Henry, 370. Mary, 370. Samuel, 123. Constant, Jane, 549. Constitution of the Reformed Church, 80; history of, 42-44. Contributions, table of, 152. Controversies, Arminian and Cal- vinistic, 79; at Hackensack and Sehraalenburgh, 42, 49, 52, 54, 58; at Lodi, 71, 441; at old Totowa, 576 INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES 302; at Pararaus, 264; at Saddle River, 262; at Wortendyke, 500. Convention to organize the Re- formed Church, 43. Cooke, Daniel, 132. Cool, Jacob, 206, 217, 234. Cooper:— Cornelius, 122. Gilbert G., 132, 138, 140, 446, 449. James, 128. John H., 131. Mahlon, 129. Copeland: — Guild, 487, 490. Mrs. Guild, 490. Margaret, 416. Cornells, Catherine, 213. Cornell, Rev. William, 532. Corning, William B., 132. Corsa, James, 126. Corwin, Rev. B. Tanjore, 21, 112. 116, 135, 141, 161, 244, 333; centen- nial address by. S3; quoted con- cerning Froeligh, 166; sketch of life, 267, 268. Cosyns, Grietje, 207, 209, 214. Couch, Walter, 463. Couenhoven, John H., 123. Courter: — David, 666. John B., 107, 134, 530. Cowdrey, 'De Witt C, 487, 495. Mrs. De Witt C, 491. Coxsackie, N. Y., First Church of, 269, 361; Second Church of, 362, 366. Crawford: — Mary, 393. Samuel, 393. Crepel, Anthonie, 465. Crispell:— Rev. CorneUus B., IS, 107, HI, 113, 116, 119, 135, 139, 142, 143, 392, 426, 459, 461, 499, 501, 534, 548, 560; ad- dress by, 418, 419; prayer by, 25; sketch of life, 465-467. Peter (M. D.), 345, 465. Rev. Peter, 112, 120, 135, 142, £92, 397; sketch of Ute, 343, 345. Crolius, Clarkson, 614. Crom: — Ariaen, 207, 218. Floris, 207. Floris Willenisen. 206, 218. Gysbert, 207, 218. Teuntje Floris, 206, 218. Willem, 207, 218. Willem P., 223. Cromwell, Edgar, 134. Crouter:— Cornelius P., 126. Jacob, 336. Cruikshank, John C, 468. Cruse, J. Frederick, 134. Cruson, Jacob, 107, 132. Cunningham, Henry, 127, 138. Curler, Mary, 459. Curtenius, Rev. Antonius, 51, 140, 141, 177, 245, 248; sketch of life 161. Cuyler, Rev. Cornelius C, 63. Cuyper:— Annetje, Cornelius, 206. Class, 223. Cornells, 207. Cornells Claesen, 206, 210. Jan Claesen, 207. Tryntje C. 206, 223. D Dailee, Rev. Peter, 86. Dakota, Classis of, 121. Danner, Rev. J. LaMoyne, 446; sketch of life, 366, 367. Dashville Falls, N. Y., Church of 322.. Dater: — Rev. Henry, 110. 116, 121, 401, 558, John S. 519. Davenport, la.. Church of, 272, 346, 423. Davidson, George P., 133. Day, William, 168. Debaan:— Abraham, 303. Abram, 127. David, 127. Jacob A. 127. John, 127. Joseph, 127. Debau: — Samuel J. 127. Debaun: — Abraham, 131. Abram I. 126. Abram J. 126, 137. Andrew, 127. Bernard, 128 304 Cornelius, 131. Bdward, 325. Bdwin, 128. Gitty, 325. Jacob, 362, 371. Jacob A. 317, 318. Jacob J. 127. John, 128, 131, 352. Rev. John A. 110, 116, 2s:-!. Joseph, 352. De Bliek, Jacob, 133. Decker, Rev. Henry E., 117, 137, 1451; sketch of life, 422, 423. De Clerk: Daniel, '206, 207, 2U9, 214, 226. Jacob, 207, 210. William, 210. Dederer, Isaac M. for Diederer, 416, 424 428. Deerpark. N. Y., Church of, 201. 202, 465. De Graaf, George, 132. De Gray: — Helen, 370. John, 370. Jude, 371. Mary, 370. Richard, 370. De Groot:— Cornelia, 211. Jacob, 161. Metje, 211. Pieter. 211. Rebecca, 211. Staats, 206, 210, 217. De Keyser, Peter, 504. Dekker, Rev. Frederick G. 107, 110, 112, 121, 143; sketch of Ufe, 438, 501. Delamater, Abraham. 127. De Dancey. John, 329. Delaware "^^ater Gap, Pa., Pres- byterian Church of, 411. rXDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES 577 Dellius, Rev. Godfreidus, 80, 86. Demarest: — Abram C. 120. Cornelius, 129, 333. Cornelius C. 138. Cornelius, E., 124. Cornelius H., 129, 517, Rev. Cornelius T., 11, 110, Ut Daniel, 123, 199, 211. David, 86, 123. David A., 122, 130. David C, 129, 339. David D., 130. Rev. David D., 211, 285. Frederick, 129, 138. George, 126. Henry P., 107, 129. Jacob, 53, 125, 137, 260. Jacob E., 131. Rev. James, 135.. James A., 621, 528. Rev. James D., 5S, 61, 109, 110, 114, 141 142; secession of, 65, 304; sketch of life, 304. James J., 124, 126. Rev. John, 114. John L., 352. John J., 349. Rev. John T., 116, 118, 131, 135, 139, 142, 458; described, 95; literary works, 354; sketch of life, 353, 354. Justis, 124, 137. Petrus, 303. Petrus S. 124. Simon, 122. Rev. William, 116, 135, 139, 142; sketch of life,, 333. William E., 133, 467. De Moll, Maria, 209. DeMott:— George V., 124. John, 124. De Mund: — Rev. Isaac S., 117, 136, 141, 517; sketch of life, 268, 269. John F., (M. D.) 269. Den Boer, Cornelius, 133. Dennison,' John, 338. De Puis, Nicholas, 218. Depew, Chauncey M., 218. De Puw: — Grietje, 207, 218. Jannetje, 207, 218, 219. John, 207, 218. De Revier, Ametje, 217. De Ronde, Jacob C, 133. De Rooy, Rev. Jacobus, 143, 432, 472, 5C6. De Runde, J. C, 467,, 468. Deryea, Garret, 35. Detroit, Mich., Immanuel Presby- terian Church of, 450. Deventer, Neth., Church of, 435, 436. De Vogel, Leendert, 132. De Vrede', Peter, 504. De Vries: — D. P., Capt., 211. Jan, 207. John, 207, 504. John, Jr., 206, 212. John, Sr., 206, 211. Picter R., 211. De VVilm, Nicholas, 20. De Witt:— Rev. Richard, 118, 143, 459 467, 468, 517; sketch of life, 461, 462. Teneyck, 461. Rev. Thomas, 63. Diderick, Hanse, 167. Dlederer, Isaac M., 131, 138, 140, 416, 424, 4-S. Dietrich, E. G. W., 344. Diephuis, Rev. Jacobus. 120, 143, sketch of life, 499, 500. Dingman's FerrA'. Pa., Church of, 544. Dinsmore; — George E., 487, 544, 647, 548, 649, 663. Mrs. George E., 545, 553. Dircks, Ariantje, 212. Discipline for popular vices, 36, 262. Dixon:— Jonathan (Judge), 72. Robert, 444, 445. Doctrines, 58, 67, 78. Dodge, John F., 134, 517. Domestic Missions, see Board of Dongan, Colonial Governor, 205. Doolittle, Rev. T. Sanford, 482, 483. Dordrecht, Synod of, 78. Doremus: — Andrew, 134, 630. Benjamin D., 130, 138. Cornelius G., 370. David D., 123. George, 122. Harry, 490. Hasel, 376. Henry, 123. Henry P., 123, 487, 490. Mrs. Henry P., 487, 490. Henry W., 123. John, 299. John H. 130. Peter, 123. Peter H., 123. Peter W., 123. Ralph, 123, 370, 374, 375, 382. WiUiam P., 123. Dorrance: — John, 484. Mary E., 484. Dorsuis, Rev. G. H., 162. Drenthe, Mich., Church of, 435. Du Bois:— Abraham, 633. Rev. Anson 21, 107, 119, 136, 144, 392, 481, 530, 584; prayer by, 27; sketch of lite, 632, 535. Geffroi, 533. Rev. Gideon, 110, 115, 140. Rev. Gaulterus, 160. Isaac, 533. Isaac J., 634. Louis, 465, 533, 634. Maria, 295, 534. Rachel, 340. Solomon, 534. Dun, Nicholas, 132. Dundee, Sabbath School organiza- tion, 482. Dunlap, George M., 468. Dunning, John E., 107, 132, 448, 449. 578 INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES Duryea:— Albert, 129, 138. Albert D. B., 130. Benjamin J., 130. Garret, 106, 122, 137, 352. George, 393. John, 317. Rev. John H., 97, 109, 116, 135, 136, 139, 140, 142 144, 332, 376, 377, 380, 387, 397, 400, 446, 461, 479, 513, 520, 521; fiftieth anniversary, 392; quoted, 296, 306; sketch of Ufe, 388-395. John P., 129. Mattie B., 401. Rev. Philip H., 60. Dusinberre:— Daniel C, 129, 138. Henry C, 129. Peter 129 347 Rev. Thomas S., 107, 110, 117, 120 136, 141, 343, 347; sketch of life, 310—311. Dutch Church, 190, 303, 440. Dutch Churches in America, 83; in New York and New Jersey, 86, 88, 90, 262. Dutch East India Company, 36. Dutch West India Company, 37, 38. Barle, Esther, Mrs., 514. East Brooklyn, N. T., Church of. i'l. East Greenbush, N. Y., Church of 310, 382. Erist Millstone, N. J., Church of 480. East New York, N. Y., Church of, 194, 464. Easton, Pa., Church of, 236. East Orange, N. J., First Presby- terian Church of, 485; Munn avenue Presbyterian Church of, 367. Eccerson, David D., 127. Eccorson: — Christian, 127. John, 127, 138. Eckerson:— Abraham, 124, 126, 127, 129. Abram C, 124. Abram I., 127. Albert B., 124. Christian D., 133, 468. Cornelius, 124. Edmund J., 130. Edward, 129, 352. Garret, 303. Jacob J., 126. John G., 129. John J., 304. John T., 352. Thomas I., 127. Thomas J., 317, 318. Jan, 211. Eckhart, William, 331. Edam, Neth., Church of. 602. Eddyville, N. Y., Methodist Episco- pal Church of, 288. Education, see Board of. Bells, Richard P., 131. Elders, attending Classis 122; at- tending General Synod, 137; present at Cetennial session of Classis, 107. Election and Reprobation, 67. Elizabeth of England, 453. Elizabeth, Presbytery of, 115—117. Ellenville Academy, 287. Ellsworth, Rev. John S., 121, 144; sketch of life, 651, 552. Elmendorf:— Blandina, 465. Rev. Joachim, 199. Elmer, Rev. Jonathan, 108; Presby- terian pastor at Warwick, 337. BlSworth, Rachel, 459. Eltinge: — felandina, 465. Catherine, 465. Cornelius, 465. ftev. Cornelius C, 465. Rev. Wilhemus, 68, 62, 64, 69, 70. 106, 109, 112, 114, 135, 136, 139, 141. 142, 144, 190, 192, 304, 339, 360, 374, ponent of secession, 62, 264; de- scription of the great revival at Paramus, 256, 266; first sermon after ordination, 255; homestead of, near Passaic, 264; ministry in Old Church of Totowa, 264, 299, 300; ministry at Saddle River 315, 318; monument at Paramus, 266; pastorate in the first Church of Totowa, 358; release from Saddle River, 262', 317; sketch of life, 254, 266; stated clerk, 35. Emigration from the Netherlands, 37. Endowment of Theological Chair, 56. England, The Church of, 90. English Neighborhood, N. J. Church of, 44, 87. Episcopal Church The. L'."". Episcopal services in Reformed Church, 38. Erasmus Hall Academy, 483. Erickzon. Rev. Reinhardt, 140-141; called to Schenectady, 160; min- istry in Hackensack, Schraalen- burgh, and Paramus, 160; sketch of life, 244. Bsopus, N. Y., Church of, 80, 288, 320, 341. Everett, Metcalf. 478. Expansion of the Kingdom, 92. Fairfield, N. J.. Church of, 87, 181, r93 294. Fairhaven, N. Y., Church of, 355. Fairview, 111., Church of, 286 Fallsburf, N. Y.. Chi'.rch of, 310. Families, at organization ol classis, 50, 145; divided by controversy, 67, increase nf, 146, 147. Family visitation, 100. Fancher Sylvanus, 129. INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES Farmer Village, N. T., Church of, b34. Fauconier, Peter, 245, 246, 248, ?60. Felter;— Christian E., 468. Edward, 405. P'erdon, John W., 324, 131, 135, 138, 140, 424, 427. Ferris, Rev. John M., 446, 452. Field, Rev. Jacob T., 115, 136, 142, l&S, 190, 192, 400; sketch of life, 376, 377,. Finn, Alzimore, 448. Fisher, Rev. Samuel, 299. Fishkill. N. Y., Church of, 165, 252, 298, 462, 482, 483. Fishkill on Hudson, or Fishlull Landing-, N. T., Church of, 420. Fitch, Henry, 429. Flatbush, L. I., Church of, 38; er- ror for Flatlands, 513. Flatbush, Ulster Co., N.T., Church of, 308, 462. Flatlands, L. I., Church of, 38, 534, see also 513, Flatbush should be Flatlands. Flierboom : — Cathalina. 206, 214, 218. Jacob, 129, 207. Jacob T., 215, 218. Marretje Jacobs, 207, 218, 219. Plipse, Rev. Martin, 22, 107, 121, 143. 439, 504; centennial address 98; sketch of life, 511, 512. Flood, John, 370. Florida, N. T. Presbyterian Church of, 338, 423. Flushing, N. T., Church of, 450. Fonda, Rev. Jesse, 63, 64. Foos, Maria, 207, 220, 221. Fordham, N. T., Church of, 525. land Churches, 79, 82; see Board of. Foreign Missions, attitude of Hol- land Churches, 79, 82; represen- tatives of Classis in Board of, 140; see under Board of. Foreword. 5. Porshee, John S., 370. Forshur, Baurent, 314. Fort Edward, N. Y., Presbyterian Church of, 482. Fort Miller, N. Y., Church of, 481. 568. Forts built by the Dutch, 37. Fox:— Conrad, 127, 325. John E., 129. John G., 134. Fox Hill, N. J., Presbyterian Church of, 359. Franklin Park, N. J., Church of, 236. Fredericks : — Henry, 130. William, 469. Freehold, N. J., First Church of, 244, 399; Second Church of, 407. Freeland: — Abraham, 134. Abram, 134. Blias J., 123. Freeman, Rev. Bernardus, 80. Friendsvllle, Pa., Presbyterian Church of, 266. Frelinghuysen : — John, 63. Rev. Theodore, 42. Rev. Theodorus J., 39, 162. 229. French Church, near Cherry Hill, 86. French Reformed Church, 361. Froeligh;— Rev. Peter D., 58, 61, 64, 65, 110, 114, 115, 136, 140; secession, 65; sketch of life, 184—186. Rev. Solomon, 35, 49, 106, 110 113, 114, 136, 140, 141, 144, 184, 185, 253, 265, 330, 340, 466, career as leader of secession, 52 — 61, 157; preach- ed at organization of Classis, 34; professor of theology, 55, 165; sketch of life, 165-166; trial and deposition, 60, 61,, 166. Frost, F. F., 132, 429, 430. Gahagan, Catherine M. C, and J. M. 416. Gallatin, X. T., Church of, Z22. Galloup, L. C, 383. Galway, N. Y., Presbyterian Church of, 341. Gano, 111., Church of, 60S. Gansegat, N. J., Church or, 8i'. Gardner, Rev. John S., 513. Garfield, N. J., Church of 537-^43; Chapel erected for, 199, 5.38; elders attending Classis, 134; elders attending Synod, 139; mentioned, 107, 109, 120, 121; par- sonage built, 540, 541; pastoral record, 144; statistics concern- ing, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152. Garretsie, Henry, 181. Garretson, Garrett, 167. Garrison: — Garret, 370. Garret G., 378. Garritse, Cornelius, 293. Gaston: — Rev. John, 19, 72, 95, 107, 113, 117, 139, 140, 144, 167, 395, 460, 481, 505, 513, 520, 524, 548; sketch of life, 197—201; twenty-fifth anniversary of pastorate celebrated, 199. William B., 197. Gates. Merrill E., 488. General Synod, The act of. consti- tuting Classis of Paramus, 33; act of, dividing Classis of Hack- ensack, 34; act of, establishing Theological professorship at Holland, Mich., 466: contrasted with Synod of Holland, 80, 81; decision In Blauvelt case, 253, 315; decision in Hopper case, 386, decision in Secession contro- versy, 53, 58, 60-64; lay delegates attending, 137; meetings of, dur- ing century, 135; mentioned, 49, 51, 54—66, 59, 70, UO, 113, 119, 139. 166, 184, 268, 285, 288, 384, 387—389. 5«o INDEX or PERSONS AND PLACES 399, 421, 445, 531; ministerial dele- gates attending, 135-139; organ- ization of, 43. Geneva Classis of, 117-119, 435, 474. 508. Geneva, N. Y., Church of, 410, 519. George II., 248. Georgetown, D. C, Presbyterian Church of, 425. German Churches of Pennsylvania, 79. German Reformed Church, The, 72, 117, 600, 551, 667. German Valley, N. J., Presbyterian Church of, 359. Gerrits:— Cathalina, 215. Grietje, 215. Janneke, 216. Margrietje, 208. Gerritsen: — Abram, 214. G. J., 543. Hendrick, 207, 212, 213. Huvbert, 206, 212, 213. Isaac, 207, 212, 213, 214. Jan, 211. Johannes, 206, 207, 212, 213, 23'i. Jonas, 211. Ghent, N. T., Church of, 335, 359. Gibbs, J. M., 468. ( = ilboa, N. T., Church of, 335. Glasgow, College, 382. Glenham, N. Y., Church of, 272, 412. Glen Rock, N. J., Church of 564- 568; edifice erected. 566; elders at- tending Classis, 134; elders at- tending Synod, 139: mentioned, 107, 109, 311, 616; pastoral record 144; statistics concerning, 146. 148, 149, 151, 152. Godwin:— Abraham, 299, 370, 374. Henry, 299. Goetschius:— Rev. Johannes, 51, 140 141, 163, 165. 177, 229, 318; sketch of life, 162. John, 370, 371. Rev. John M., 41. Joseph. 35, 106, 128. Rev. Stephen, 58, 61, 64, 116, 136, 142 350, 353, 371; sketch of life, 318, 319, 352. Rev. Stephen Z., 110, 115. William, 130. Gordon, Rev. AVilllam R., 364, 639. 'Grammar School, at New Bruns- wick,, N. J., 288, 362, 639; at Somerville, N. J., 309, 423. Grand Rapids, Mich., Business Col- lege of, 323; First Church of, 238, 423; Fourth Church of, 568. Gray, Andrew, 253. Greenbush, N. Y., Church of. 366; Presbyterian Church of, 232. Greene, Classis of, 115-117, 120, 305, 534, 535. Greenpoint, N. Y., Church of, 362. Greenport, N. Y., Church of, 268, 270. Greenville, N. Y., Church of, 626. Groenendyk, H., 132. Groningen University, 294. Groocock, Samuel, 544—546, 548. Goodlatte: — T. A. R., 133, 478, 487, 495. Mrs. T. A. R., 491, 492. Gowdy, George A., 449. Guelph, Ontario, Congregational Church of. 525. Guilderland, Center, N. Y., Helder- bergh Church of, 641. Guilford, N. Y., Church of, 461. Gunnison Presbytery, 121. Gurnee, John J., 128, 312. Guttenberg, N. J., Church of, 562. H Haan, Rev. Enno R., 73, 120, 143, 500, 501. Hackensack and Schraalenburgh Churches, 157-166; coetus con- troversy in, 41; elders attend- ing Classis, 122; elders attend- ing Synod, 137; mentioned, 106, 107, 154, 184; secession of, 61, 63; see also Hackensack, N. J., and Schraalenburgh, N. J. Hackensack, Classis of, 33, 44, 47, 54, ! 68, 105, 167, 248, 250, 252-254, 315, 327, 348. Hackensack, N. J., Church of, 33, 35, 41 44, 47-63, 61, 62, 87, 109, 140, 168, 170, 224, 226, 243, 244, 251, 282, 318; pastoral record of, 140: statistics concerning, 50, 144-146. 148, 149 161; First Church of, I 169, 211,' 438; Second Church of, \ 294; seminary at, 251. i Hackney Theological Seminary, 1 51:4. Haff, Robert C, 468. Hagaman:— Rev. Charles S., 109, 112, 116, 136, 142, 287, 411, 414, 421, 430; sketch of life, 406, 407. L,ue, 478. Hagerstown, Md., Presbyterian Church of, 425. Haight:— Edwin M., 485. Helena, 485. Hall ;— Carpenter, 238. Magdaleni!, 238. Halloway, Rev. William W.. 117. 143, 446, 476, 476, 479; sketch of life, 450. Halsey:— Rev. Abram O., 431. Luther, 431. Halstead: — Abraham, 518. Isaac W., 517, 518. Jacob D. B., 1^9, 134, 517, 518. Jonas, 128. William F., 129, 138, 618, 619. Hamilton: — * Alexander, 297. Sir William. 453. Hnmmond, Katherine, 461. Hanham, Walter, 273 INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES Hans, Barbara, 206, 217. Hansen, Coenraet, 2U7, 218. Hardenbergh,— Rev. Charles, 110-112, 114, 142; sketch of life, 340. Jacob R., 534. Kev. Jacob R., 42, 63, 2S.5, 315, 340, 454. Joanna, 39S. Joannes, 295, 534. Johannes, 340. Kachel, 295. JHardIng:— John, 448. William, 126, 273. Haring: — Abraham, 125. Abraham A., 124. Abraham B., 124. Abraham F., 124. Abraham G., 127. Abram, 207, 214, 215, 316. Mrs. A. B. 426. Brechtje, 206, 214, 222. Cornelis, 206-207. 214, 218 Cornelius R., 124. Cosyn, 206, 207, 209, 212-214, 218, 226. Daniel J., 124. :Elizabeth, 210. Frederick J., 124. Garrett A., 127. Garrett G.. 126. Mrs. Ira B., 215. Isaac, 124. Isaac C. (M. D.), 126, 137, 139. Isaac D., 131. Jacob C 126. Jan P.. 209, 214. John, 214. John B., 128, 456. John C, 107, 132, 1.38. John D., 124 260. John J., 124. ' John T. 107, 124, 137, 215. Maria, 207, 214, 218. Peter, 316. P. G., 316. Pieter, 206, 207, 209, 214, 218, 226. Rachel, 416. Tennis, 124, 137. Vroutje, 214. Harlem, N. T., Church or, 38, 416, 426. Harrisburg Academy, 311. Harslmus, 216. Hartman, Ellas, 167. Hasbrouck: — Rev. Howard C, 107, 121, 142; sketch of life, 427. 428. Rev. Jacob R. H., 110. 114. Jane, 465. Joseph. -: Earliest Government of, 39; proprietors of, 88; set- tlement of, 36. New Paltz, N. Y., Church of, 175, 184. 191, 192, 202, 296, 319, 359, 361. Newport, Ky., Congregational Church of, 427. New Prospect, N. Y., Church of, 354. Newton Presbytery of, 118, 119. New York, Classis of, 15, 44, 112, 114- 119, 121, 354, 379, 405, 430. 4V3, 526, 551; Presbytery of, 119, 121, 337, 525; settlement of, 36; South Classis of, 112, 115, 116, 430. New York, N. Y., Broome St. Chnrch of. 410; Canal St., Pres- byterian Church of, 362; Col- legiate Church of. 37, 56, 251. 252, 314, 346, 347. 403, 420, 451; Frank- lin St. Church of, 281, 379; Garden St. Church of, 251; Greenwich Church of, 340, 409; Holland Church of. 473; Hous- ton St. Church of, 269; Man- hattan Church of, 359; Memo- rial Presbyterian Church of, 486; Scotch Presbyterian Church of, 523, 552; Sixth avenue Church of, 367; Washington Heights Church of, 410; West Farms Church of, 526; Univelrsitv Heights Church of, 285. Nickerson. George, 126. Nicollos. William H., 134. Niskayuna, N. Y., Church of, 270. North Hampton. Pa., Church of, 283, 431. North Paterson, N. J., Church of, 554-556; elders attending classis, 134; elders attending Synod, 139; mentioned, 107, 109, 121, 288, 527, 561; pastoral record. 144; sta- tistics concerning, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152. North River, Presbyter}' of, 121. Northwestern Classical Academy, 336. Norton, James A., 133. Norwich. Conn.. Congregational Church of, 419. Norwood, N. Y., Presbyterian Church of. 237. Nyack, N. Y. :— Church of. 408, 415; elders attend- ing Classis, 131; elders attending Synod, 138; mentioned, 69, 96, 97. 107, 115-117. 119, 120, 451; past- I oral record, 142; statistics con- cerning, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152. Presbyterian Church of, 232, 403. 419. I The phrase "21 at Nyack," should I be inserted after Paterson, in 7th line of page 109. Oath taken by Trustees, 182, 375. O'Blenis, John H., 131. "Ode to the Old Clock" by George "Wurts, 364. Offord, Rev.' Robert M., 107, 119, 143. 490, 526, 529; sketch of life, 521-523. Oggel, Rev. Pieter J., 466. Olcott, Catharine B., 481. Old Town Clock Church. Extract from the Paterson Dailv Press, 363. Oliver : — James, 239. Rev. Matthew N., 15. 107, 120 isr, 141, 236; sketch of life, 239-241, Olree, Peter, 434. Onderdonk: — Abram, 128. Andrew,339. Adrian, 128, 303, 304. Adrian R., 304. Garrett, 124. Oostburg, Wis., Church of, 502. Orange, Classis of, 96. 116-121, 266, 322, 397, 568; Presbytery of, 119. Orangetown Patent, 205. Ordination, American, Struggle for the right of, 40. Ordinations, List of, 112. Organ of Paramus Church, 273. Osborne, Fanny, 15, 489. Ostrander, Rev. Henry, 35, 36, 94, 110, 114. Ottignon, James A., 124. Outwater, John, 210. Overbagh, Rev. Peter, 110, 114. Owasco, N. Y., Church of, 330. Owasco Outlet, N. Y., Church of, 534. Page, George W., 134, 559, 565. Palmer: — Abram, 133, 468. Rev. Sylvanus, 59. Palmyra, N. Y., Church of, 502. Paramus, Classis of, 14, 33-74, 105- 153; act of organization, 33, 103, act organizing; the Second Church of Totowa, 371; act or- ganizing the Church at Saddle River, 263; acts relating to sub- jects of baptism, 185; act rela- tive controversy to between the Churches of Paramus and Pascack, 350; delegates attend- ing General Synod, 135-1C9: delegates to Board of Super intendents, 139; elders attend- ing sessions of, 122-134; licenti- ates, 110; long pastorates in, 144; mentioned. 25, 77. 82. 157. 184, 254-266, 25S. 261, 264. 265. 274. 304 311, 317, 31S. 322. 323. 330, 335. S88 INDEX OK PERSONS AND PLACES 337, 339, 340, 346, 351, 352, 355, 404, 429 430, 432, 433, 436, 438, 441, 444, 460, 461, 465, 472, 473, 475, 496, 509, 510, 513, 514, 519, 521, 524, 633, 535, 538, 654, 556, 560, 664, 566, 568; minutes of, 169; ordinations, 112; 1 epresentations on Boards of the Church, 139-140; roll at its organization, 36, 106; roll, for a hundred years, 114-121; sessions of, 109; stated clerks of, 109; statistics of, "So, 145, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152; sympathy of, for Dr. Froeligh, 60-58; trial of Rev. J. D. Demarest, 331; visited by a commission of General Synod 63. Paramus, N. J., Church of, 5, 6, 13, 15, 242-273; a prison in Revo- lutionary war, 34, 248; buildings of, erected and repaired, 33, 34, 245, 257, 259, 271, 273; Classis organized in, 33; connection with Saddle River, 260. 262; with Totowa, 204; difficulty with Pascack, 350; with pew own- ers, 269; elders attending Clas- sis, 126-126; elders attending Synod, 137; incorporation of, 200; inscription on bell, 259; lands of, 260; mentioned, 35, 39, 44, 50, 80, 87, 97, 107, 109, 114, 116. 117, 119, 120, 124, 127, 130, 160, 165, 300, 304, 313-318, 323, 326-329, 348, 349, 351, 368, 384-388, 411, 613, 565; pastoral record, 141, 144; re- vivals, 34, 255, statistics con- cerning, 146, 148, 149, 161, 152; territorial extent of congrega- tion, 246. Paramus, N. J., description of, 243; patent of, 242. Parkhurst, Rev. Samuel, 337. Parlaman, John, 128, 331. Parsons, A., 376. Particular Synod, 53. 55, 62, 64, 79, 81, 252, 253, 262, 263, 264, 266, 280, 314, 384, 386, 387. Particular Synod of New Bruns- wick, 14. Pascack. N. J., Church of, 348-356; buildings erected and repaired, 349, 350. 353, 355, 356; controversy with Paramus, 350; elders at- tending Classis, 129-130; elders attending Synod, 138; mention- ed, 61. 107-109, 115-117, 127, 250, 264, 318-320, 331; name, 348; organ- ization, 68, 318, 348, 351,: pastoral record, 142, 144,; societies in. 356; Union with Saddle River. 349. PassPic Classis of, 107. 112. 117, 118. 1?0, 130, 322, 362, 363, 384-386, 392, 567. Passaic. N. J. :— First Church of, 491, 537, see Ac- quackanonk. First Holland Church of, 504-512: edifices erected, 506. 612; elders attending Classis, 133, 134; eld- ers attending Synod. 139; liber- ality of. 310; mentioneld, 98, 107, 109, 119-121; pastoral record. 143; schism In. 509; statistics. 146. 148. 149. 151, 152. North Church of. 475-495; debt liciuldated, 492; edifices, 476, 477, 487. 490; elders attending Classis. 133; elders attending Synod, 138-139; fifteenth anni- versary of, 484; land donated by by Bdo Kip, 476; mentioned, 107, 109, 117-119, 194, 197, 199, 537, 548; mission in Passaic St., 486; organized, 196; pastoral record. 143; relations with Garfield and Clifton, 486; Sabbath Schools, 478, 482; societies in, 490, 491, statistics, 146, 148, 149, 1d1, 162, 194. Presbyterian Church of, 236, 605, 545. St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church of, 460. Passaic Valley, Early development of, 297. Pastorates, Long, 144. Patentees at Tappan, Paterson, William, 298. Paterson, N. J. : — Broadway Church of, 444-455; ed- ifiices, 446-447; elders attending Classis, 132; elders attending Synod, 138; mentioned. 107, 109, 117, 119, 362, 411, 521, 554. 568; pas- toral record, 143; societies, 449: sons in the ministry, 450; sta- tistics, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152. Churches of, 433. First Church of, see Totowa, First Chorch of. First Holland Church of, 432- 438; elders attending Classis. 132; mentioned, 98, 102, 107, 109, 117, 121, 440, 501; organization of, 434; pastoral record, 143; sta- First Presbyterian Church of, 299 Holland Church of, 432. 433. 472. Independent Holland Church of, 606. People's Park. Church of. 499. Presbyterian Church of the Re- deemer, of. 392. Riverside, Church of, 435. Second Church of, see Totowa Second Church of. Second Holland Church of, 472- 474; elders attending Classis, 133; mentioned, 107-117; pas- toral record, 143; statistics. 146, 148. 149. 151. 152. Patriotism in the Revolution, 45. Paulison; — Rev. Christian Z., 65, 115, 140; secession of, 65, 169, 190; sketch of life, 188-191; trial by Classis, 191. Paulus, 36, 103, 12:3. Peter, 123. Richard, 123. Paulsie, Paul, 181. Payne, Wiliam R., 134, 546, 548, 549. Peapack. N. J.. Church of, 556. Peekskill. N, Y.. Academy at, 481. Church of, 549,550. Pell, Mrs. John H., 271. Pella, la.. Third Church of, 499, 506. Pennington Seminary, 335. Pelton:— Henry. 129, 138. IXDEX OF PERSONS A\D PLACES 589 John, 129, 3S9. Robert, 129. Samuel, 129. Peltz, Rev. Philip, 109, 116, 136, 140, 444, 445; slcetch of lite, 360, 361. Perins, Peter, 133. Perry: — James, 124. Jan, 208 220. John, 316. Peter, 58, 124. J»ersippany, N. J., Church of, 44, 87. Peterse, Hessel, 181, 184. Peterson, Thomas, 127. Phelps, Rev. Philip T., Jr., 537. Philadelphia, Classls of, 112 115, 118-121, 410, 454, 550. Philadelphia, Pa: First Church of, 397, 455; Fourth Church of, 346, 399; Second Church of, 238, 451; Talmage Memorial Church of, 455. Philadelphia, Presbytery of, 115, 424. Philhps: — Andrew D., 490. Mrs. E., 492. JPiermont^ N. Y. :— Church of, 416-428; edifices, 417, 418, 424, 425; elders attending Classis, 131-132; elders attend- ing Synod, 138; mentioned, 97, 107, 109, 116-118, 120, 121, 237, 408. 429; organized, 69; pastoral record, 142; sixth anniversary, 426; statistics, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152. Presbyterian Church of, 419, 429, 430. Second Church of, 429, 431; elders attending Classis, 132; men- tioned, 107, 116; pastoral record, 109 143; statistics, 146, 148, 149. 15l! Pierson; — Isaac, 328. Jeremiah H., 328. Josiah G., 328. Tieters, Maria, 207, 214, 220. Pioneers in the Ministry, 47. Pittenger, Louis P., 397. Pittstown, N. J., 184. Plan of Union, 43, 44. Plainfleld N. J., Trinity Church of, 366. Plainsboro, N. J., Presbyterian Church of, 562. Ploger, Mrs. Augustus F., 491. Polhemus: — Aurt, 124. John, (M. D.), 126. Politics in the Hackensack trouble, 164. Polkton, Mich, Holland Church of, 436. Pomeroy, John B., 131. Pompton, N. J., Church of, 44, 87. 175, 177, 178, ISO, 197, 269, 291, 293, 294, 376. Pompton Plains, N. J., Church of, 87, 181. 295 327, 377, 485. Tonds, N. J., Church of, 44, 87, 247, 252, 290, 322, 327, 329, :]35, 454. Pool, Rev. Charles H., 555. Porter: — Rev. Elbert S., 431. Maria E., 272. Port Byron, Presbyterian Church of, 332. Port Ewen, X Y., Church of, 283. Port Jervis, N. Y., Church of, 272. Portraits. 10. Post:— Abraham, 45u. -A.drian, 167. Anthony, 131, 138. Casperus, 123. Cornelius G., 370. Cornelius H., 13u. Daniel A., 130. Frans, 291. Garret A., 370. Jacobus, 291. Johannes, 123, ISl. John, 58, 127, 317, 370. John P., 12s, 132, 445. John R., 123. Joseph, 518. Peter, 130. Richard R. 123. Samuel, 373. Posthumus, Lourens, 132. Pottersville, N. J., Church of, 308. 344. Poughkeepsie, Classis ot, 114-121, 306. Poughkeepsie, N. Y., First Church of, 165, 298; Second Church of. 407. Powles, Stephen, 124. Powless, Margaretta B., 215. Pratt:— Aurella L,., 521. Temperance, Mrs. 521. Prattsvllle, N. Y., Church of, 311. Prayer Meeting, Controversy In Paramus, 264. Prayers at the Centennial by. Rev. C. E. Crispell, 25; Rev. Ame Vennema, 26; Rev. Anson Du- Bois, 27. Preakness, N. J., Church of, 87, 265, 425. Predestination, 67. Presbyterian Church, The, 562. Presbyterian General Assembb' 276. Princess Anne, Maryland, Presby- terian Church of, 410. Princeton College or College of New Jersey, 188, 254, 285, 315, 377 424, 481. Princeton Theological Seminary 236, 335, 336, 409, 422, 424, 431, 481 526. Program of Centennial Exercises, 17-22. Protestant Episcopal Church, The, 117, 119, 263. Protestant Methodist Church, The, 119. Protestant Reformed Church of the Netherlands, 78. Publication, see Board of. PulUs, W. W., Jr., 445. 590 INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES Pulpit, Primitive at Saddle River, 319. Pultneyville, N. Y., Holland Church of, 474. Pursell, Isaac, 487. Pyle:— Paul, 133. Pauline, 472. Quaclienbos, Rynier A., 303. Quackenbush: — Abram, A., 130. James N., 134. Jane, 370, Peter, 132, 128, 1C9, 370, 446, 448, 554, 660. Quadland, Jacob, 133, 472. Queen's College, 43, 66, 163, 164, 237, 295, 359; See also Rutger's Col- lege. Queen's University, 562. Quicii: — Rev. Peter J., 112, 115, 136 141-144, 280, 405; sketch of life, 282. Teunis, 214. R Racine, Wis., Presbyterian Church of, 236. Ralston, Rev. Edward S., 121, 131, 142; sketch of life, 425-427. Ramapo, N. J.: Church of, 326-336; elders attending Classls. 128, 129; elders attending Synod, 137, 138; mentioned, 33, 35, 44, 50, 65, 87, 106, 107, 109, 111, 114-116, 119-121, 260. 304-306, 517, 519; par- sonage, 332; pastoral record, 142; secession in, 330, 331; sep- aration from West New Hemp- stead, 332; statistics concern- ing, 145, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152. Ramsey; — David P., 332. Peter R., 332. Ramseys, N. J., Church of, 517-519; elders attending Classis, 134; mentioned, 107, 109, 119, 269, 335; pastoral record, 143; statistics concerning, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152. Randlett:— Rev. Asa, 459. Jacob, 459. Ranson, Alfred, 628. Rapelje, Rev. Daniel, 480. Raritan, Classis of, 112, 118-121, 272, 454, 532. Raritan, N. J., Church of, 80. Raymond, Rev, Andrew V. V., sketch of life and ministry, 366." Rederus : — Rev. Francis, 118, 143; sketch of life, 605, 606. Rev. Sipko, 110, 118. Reformed Church, The, dependent on Plolland, 39; divided on Education, 40; independent, 42 44; mentioned, 38, 58, 59, 61, 62, 68, 611. /I, Ti. 99, 122, 144, 157. 197, 201, 226, 228, 237, 330, 338, 340, 436, 445, 454, 465, 648, 560, 564; planted; on American shores, 37, 44; rapid growth, 37; struggle over ordination, 40; union of 1772 42; in United States, 72. Reformed Church in America, 13, 73, 115, 150, 203, 278, 287, 441, 460, 500, 548, 565, 566. Reformed Dutch Church, 57, 63, 66,. 67, 94, 157, 166, 403, 430. Reformed Episcopal Church, 119, 461. Reformed Faith, The, 37. Reformed Protestant, Dutch Church in America, 78, 444. Regenboog, Johanis, 133. Reinhout, Mr., 610.. Reitmulder, G. A., supply at JL-odf with false credentials, 441, 4,42, Religious Freedom in New Jersey ancient documents, 88, 90. Rensselaer, Classis of, 112, 114-117, 119-121, 184, 323, 422. Reports to Classis, 145. Reurind, Jan., 133. Revolutionary war, 34, 46, 46, 248. Revivals: Clarkstown, 280; Hack- ensack, 160; Dodi, 526; New Jersey under Frelinghuysen, 39;. Paramus, 34, 266, 267; Pier- mont, 238; Tappan, 238. Rhenish Missionary Society, 442. Rhinebeck, N. Y., Church of, 271, 420. Rhinehart, Lottie, 288. Richmond, Mrs. Edwin J., 478, 479, Riddle, James; 623. Ridgewood. N. J. : — Baptist Church of, 516. Church of, 613-516; elders at- tending Classis, 134; elders at- tending- Synod, 139; mentioned,- 107, 109, 665; pastoral record, 143, 144; statistics, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152. Methodist Episcopal Church of, 516. Protestant Episcopal Church of,, 513. Riker, Jacob, 124. Riley, John, 127. Ritzema, Rev. Johannes, 294. Robinson, John, S3. Roberts: — Edward, 478. Paul. 15. Rochester. Monroe Co., N. Y. : Hol- land Church of, 435; Second Church of. 202. Rochester, T'lster Co., N, Y.. Church of, 164, 282. Rockland County, 206, 275. Rockland Female Institute, 407. Roll of Classis in 1800 35; from 1800 to 1900, 114-121. Roll of Churches, 107. Romaine, Albert A., 134. Romer, Henry. 370. Romeyn; — Rev. Dirok, 140, 141, 254; instruc- , tor of Froeligh, 165; Professor INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES 591 of Theology and founder of Union College, 164; sketch of life, 163, 164. Rev. James, 5.0, 29G. Rev. James V. C, 57, 58, 163, 234, 420; leader against Froeligh, 53. IRomyn, Jan., 248. Rosendale, N. T., Church of, 239, 288. Rot, William H., 555. JHoosevelt, James C, 63. Jloulofson, Cornelius, 167. Row:— Christiana, 2.33. John, 131, 381, 395, 396. William, 131, 384, 39o, L97. Iloycefleld, N. J., 526. Rozenboom, Bart, 498. Ruigh, Rev. D. Cornelius, 107, 121, 143, 496; sketch of life, 502. 503 Rutgers College, 43 194, 197, 199, 201 230, 238, 265-267, 281-283, 2S5-288, 295, 311, 319, 321, 322, 342, 344, 346, 354-356, 359, 362, 366 394, 397, 398 405, 407, 420, 421, 423, 431. 4£0, 452 454, 460, 461, 466, 4C7, 479, 482 483 488, 508, 532, 534, 539. Rutgers, Henry, 63. Hutgers Scientific School, 366. Rutherford, N. J., Baptist Church of, 542. Jlutte, Rev. J. M., 435, 508, 509. Rutsen, Cathrine, 340. Ryder, A., 127. Ryer, Michael, 13S, 317. 31S. JRyerson: — Rev. Abram G., 334. Caty, 370. Francis, 290. George, 390. George I., 370. Ira, 130, 138, 390. Jacob, 131, 291. Jacob, 397. John G., 299. Jane, 370. Jane I., 370. John D., 370. John F. 370. John G., 370. Mary, 370. Richard, 370. Ryer, 290. Sabbath School talk of, 151. ■Saboroweski, Albert, First of the Zabriskies, 242. Saddle River, N. J.: Church of, 313- 325: customs of the past. 325; difficulty with singing, 316; ed- ifices, 250, 314, 319, .322, 323; elders attending Classis, 125, 127, 128; elders attending Synod, 138; en- rolled, 45; incorporated. 260, 316; legacies, 325; mentioned,- 49, 61, 70, 87 106, 107, 109, 114, 115, 117, 119, 120.' 124, 129, 251, 259-261, 263, 348-353; pastoral record, 141, 144; relations with Paramus. 106, 313, 314, 316, 317, 250, 262; re- lations Pascack, 318, 319, 349; statistics concerning, 146, 14.S. 149, 151, 152. Sage Library, 109. Saintsbury, Critic and Historian, 453. Salver, Henr>-, 518. Sand Beach, N. Y., Church of. 266, see Owasco, Outlet. Sandford: — Ferdinand V., Ii9. 1:18. John, 132. Perrigrine, 370. San Diego, Cal., First Presbyterian Church of, 463. Sandy Hill. N. Y., Presbyterian Church of, 482. Saratoga, Classis of, 117, 119, 568. Saugerties, N. Y., Church of 197. Saun, Albert V., 299. Saure, Elizabeth, 551. Sayville, N. Y., Church of, 443. Schaghticoke, X. Y., Presbyterian Church of, 346. Schenectady, Classis of, 119. 120. Schenectady, N. Y., Church of. 47 164, 244, 296; Second Church ot, 463, 534. Schenck: — Rev. Ferdinand S., 21, 112, 118, 136, 141; centennial address by, 94, sketch of life, 2S.5. Maria L., 238. Rev. Martin L., 2SD. Schisms, 65^ 185, 191, 509. Schodack Landing, X. Y"., Church of, 334, 413, 549, 550. Schoemaker, George, 397. Schoharie, Classis of, 421. Schoharie, N. Y., Church of, 423, 466. Schooley, Grant, 543. Schoonmaker :— Rev. Henricus, 35, 106, 113, 114, 140, 141, 144; ministry at To- 181; sketch of life, 180- 110. 114, 183. towa 183. Rev. Jacob James, 124. Schraalenburgh, N. J. : — Church of, 33, 34, 39, 41, 44, 49-51, 53, 57, 58, 62, 64, 66, 87, 106-109, 114, 122, 164, 234, 244, 245, 251, 348, 539; edifices erected, 160; elders at- tending Synod, 137; organized, 160; pastoral record, 141; sta- tistics, 145, 146, 148, 149, 151; see Hackensack and Schraalen- burgh. North and South Churches of. 54, 157. Schut, George, 132. Schuyler: — Arent, 249. Catharine, 231. Rev. Johannes, 164. Rev. John, 294. Nicholas, 231. Scott. John M., 3.38. Scudder; — Jane, 281. Rev. John, 2S1. Rev. Joseph, 401. Seamen. Henry. 456. 592 INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES Searle, Rev. Samuel T., 395. "Seceders", 67. Secession, 54, 59, 63, g5, 66, 71, 87, 165, 166, 1S5, 190, 304, 330. Secession of 1822: Cause of, 51; crisis of, 59; memorial in rela- tion to, 265; precedents, 54; report on to Synod, 60; results of, 66. Second River, N. J., Church of, 44, 87, 171, 172, see Belleville. Seibert:— Rev. George, 120, 140, 144; sketch of life, 639-541. Rev. George G., 112, 120, 136, 144; sketch of life, 541. Selyns, 86, 87. Servant, Jacob, 303. Serven, James H., 312. Servern: — Abraham, 12S. Garret, 128, 137. Settlers at Acquackanonk, 167; at Paramus, 242; at Tappan, 205; at Totowa, 290. Seymour: — Mr. and Mrs. H. H., 416, 417. Louise, 417. M. S. 429. Shatzel, Anna Maria, 234. Shaw, Rev. Charles D., 15. Sherwood: — Harvey, 468. Henry, 466, 457 Henry L., 128, 132, 138, 458, 467. Isaac L., 128, 137; 456. Levi, 306. Shokan, N. Y., Church of, 319. Shreve, Benjamin, 617. Sickles: — Rev. Jacob, 63. Martha, 416. William, 124, 138. Sie, (See) Pieter, 222. Simmons : — Henry T., 123, 130, 137. James, 123. Sincock, N. Y., Church of, 184. I Sip:— Cornelius, 123. Jannetje, 373. John, 123, 137. John I., 123. Slade, Anna H., 15 Six Mile Run, N. J., Church of. 329. summon:— Haddon, 134. H. W. 661. Smit:— Berend H., 132, 439. Rev. John (Jan.), 110, 112, 119, 143; sketch of life, 499. Smith:— Abraham P., 131. Abram, 208. Albert, 133, 496. Albin M., Sr., 448, 449. Andrew, 133, 468. Mrs. Cora A., Missionary to Mountain Whites, 616. Cornelius, 303. Cornelius J., 124, 137. Cornelius T., 131, 403, .404. David D., 131. 138, 140, 406, 409. Garret G., 127, 370. Gerret, 303. Gerrit, 209. Henry, 133, 467, 468. Henry A., 129. Isaac P., 131. James, 124. Jan, 472. Jan. H., 133. Johannes, 303. John B., 132. John H., 133. Lambert, (Ariaensen), 226. Lammert A., 208. Lena, 208. Rev. Marshal] B., 95, 109, 117, 119, 136, 143, 459, 467, 477, 484; sketch, of life, 460-461. Peter, 126, 131, 137, 403, 406. Petrus C, 127. Pieterje, 208. Richard, 133, 467. Tryntje, 208. Tunis, 403, 405, 406, 410. W. Parker, 468. Smythe, Rev. George H., 489. Snow, Mrs. W. 553. Snyder : — Andrew, 130. George I., 127. Jacob, 127, 324. John, 370. John J., 130. Somerville, N. J., First Church, of, 423; Grammar School at, 309, 423. Sontag, Charles, H. R., 134, 629. South Bound Brook, N. J., Churcli of, 423. South Bushwick, N. Y., Church of, 410. Souin Hampton, Pa., Church of, 283, 431. Spaulding: — Rev. Arthur, 121; sketch of life, 199. Rev. Cyril, 199. Spear:— John A., 123. John T., 132, 446. Tunis I., 130. Spears, John Hendrick, 167. Speer, Henry, 123. Spencer: — Charles D., 544, 545, 546. Lucius F., 544. Spencertown, N. Y., Presbyterian. Church of, 451. Spiritual Declension, A result or Secession, 67. Spoer, Rev. Hans H., 110, 121. Sprakers, N. Y., Church of, 407. Springsteel, S. C, 370. Springteen:— Barbara, 217. Casper, 207, 217, 219, 220, 221, 222. Johannes, 217. Spring "Valley, N. Y:— Church of, 456-471; debt liqui- dated, 470; edifices, 457;;. elders and deacons, 467, 468; elders attending Classis, 132, 133; elders "attending Synod, 138; incorporation of, 418.; INDEX OV PERSONS AND PLACES 593 mentioned. 107, 109, 117-119, 307; pastoral record, 143; societies, 468, 469; statistics concerning, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152; wine at the Lord's Supper, 470, 471; Union Sabbath School at, 307. Sproul, Thomas, 129. Sproull, James A., 133. Spurgeon, Charles H. Rev., 541, 54i. Stage, John, 158. Stags:— Isaac, 130. Isaac I., 370, 373. John, 370. Thomas, 131. William, 370. William I., 373, 374. St. Andrews College, 382. Stanlev, Elizabeth, 427. Stanton, N. J., Church of, 526. Stated Clerks of Classis, 109. Staten Island, N. T,, Church of. 44, 310. Statesir, Rev. Benjamin T., 118, 141: sketch of life, 309, 310. Statistical Tables, Baptism and Sabbath Schools, 154; candi- dates ordained, 112; classical representation on Boards of the Church, 139; communi- cants, increase and loss, 148; communicants, unreported loss- es, 149; contributions, 152; delegates Board of Superin- tendents, 139; elders attending Classis, 121-134; elders attend- ing General Synod. 137-139: families increase and loss, 146; first report to Classis, 50, 145: long pastorates, 144; meetings of Classis, 109; ministers at- tending General Synod, 135; minutes of Classis, 109; pas- toral record of the Churches, 140, 144; roll of Classis in 1800, 106; roll of Classis from 1800 to 1900 inclusive, 114-121; roll of Classis in 1900, 107; stated clerks, 109. Steele, Rev. John, 117, 142, 423; sketch of life, 362-366. Steenland, Marinus. 133, 512. Stek, Johannes, 248. Stephens:— Abraham, 391. Abraham B.. 126. Henry R., 126. Stevens : — Henry R., 137. James, 128. Peter T., 126. Stehhen C, 127. Steven. 456. Stevenson:— Rev. John M.. 557, 558, 559. Mrs. John M., 557. Stewart:— Edwin. 131. Rev. James W.. 115, 136, 142. 342. John, 131. Steynmets: — Casparis, 215. Gerrit, 206, 215. Stillwell:— Rev. Aaron I>., 532.. Rev. John L., 119, 136, 144; sketch of life, 532. Stitt, Rev. William C, 118, 136. 142, 426, 427; sketch of life, 424, 425. St. Johnsvllle, N. T., Church of, 308. St. Louis, Presbytery of, 431. Stone Church, N. Y., Congrega- tional Church or, 355. Stone House Plains, N. J., Church of, 87, 309, 376, 377, 383. Storm: — Aeltje, 221. David, 221. Dirck, 208, 212, 221, 226, 227. Gregoris, 221. Hendric, 352. Maria, 221. Pieter, 221. Pietronella, 221. Storms: — Albert C, 126. Albert H., 273. Edwin R., 519. Henry C, 126. John J., 130. Straat, Dirck, 208, 222. Stratemaker, Dirck, 215. Jan, 206, 215, 216. Tryntje, 207, 215. Strayer, Joshua, 543. Streng, Rev. Samuel, 112, 118, 136, 141; sketch of life, 286. Strong:— Catherine H., 481. Cornelia W., 478, 481. Mrs. Cornelia ^V., 481. Elizabeth G., 481. Rev. J. Pascal, 109, 116, 136, 140, 143, 444, 445, 446, 475; ministry at Acquackanonk, 194-197; re- vivals under, 195; sudden death, 480; sketch of life, 478- 481. Mason R., 481. Rev. Thomas M., 194, 479. Stroudsburg, Pa., Presbyterian Church of. 377. Struyke, John, 133. St. Thomas, W. I., Church of, 405, 534. Stypers. Catrina, 220. Suart, Adolph, 127. Suffern:— James, 332. John, 128, 328, 329, 331. Superintendents, Board of. Dele- gates to, 139. Suspensions, 186, 191, 228. Susquehanna Collegiate Institute, 551. Sutphen: — Josephine. 462. Rev. Paul F., 463. Surrender of the Colonv to the English. 38. Suydam, Rev. J. Howard, 480. Swin, Peter, 259, 260. 594 INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES Synod; First Provincial of Hol- land, 78; Provisional o£ Amer- ica, 55; of Amsterdam, 364; of Dort, 78; of North Holland, 41. Sj'racuse, N. T., Church of, 405. Table of Contents, 7. Talema, (or Talman):— Dirckje, 215. Teunis D., 214. Tallraan:— Abraham, 131, 138, 403, 404, 405. Andrew, 127, 138. Andrew A. I., 467. Andrew I., 128, 132. Isaac, 132, 467. Isaac I., 126, 137. Peter, 126, 133, 138, 468. Tunis, 152, 467. Talman, Teunis, 206, 208, 222. Talmage: — David, 270. Rev. David M., 119, 136, 141; sketch of life, 287. Rev. G. Edwin, 537. Rev. Goyn, 118, 136, 138, 140, 141, 446, 481, 496, 513, 517; sketch of life, 97, 270-272. Rev. John V. N., 287, 519. Tappan, N. T. :— Census at beginning of 18th cen- tury, 207. Church of, 203-241; bi-centennial, 240; edifices, 225, 226, 235; elders attending Classis, 124; elders attending Synod, 137; lands held by, 226, 229; men- tioned, 33, 35, 39, 44, 48, 50, 87, 97, 106, 107, 109, 114, 117, 119, 120, 145, 158, 243, 274, 276, 278, 280, 348, 379, 416; pastoral record, 141, 144; relations with Clarks- town, 229; revival in, 238; statistics concerning, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152. Historic events associated with, 230. Patent and patentees of, 205. Tarrytown, N. Y., Church of, 217, 218, 222-224; Second Church of, 346. Tattersall, Christopher, 529. Taylor:— Aaron, 58, 1£9, 339. Rev. Benjamin C, 46, 115, 136, 140, 187; sketch of life, 186-lSS. Edward, 128. Rev. Wesley, 110, 116. Telgen, William, 133, 496. Tenafly, N. J., Presbyterian Church of, 344. Terhune: — Abraham J., 128. Abram J., 107. Albert, 314, 370. Albert A., 131. Albert J., 818. Albert T., 317. ■Calvin, 134. Rev. Edward P., 200, 488. Henry, 316. Henry A., 123. Henry S., 125. Herman, 128, 138, 321, 324. Jacob, 122. Jacob A., 125. John, 122. John N., 123, 133, 138, 140, 475. Mrs. John N., 478. Mary, 370. Nicholas, 123. Stephen, 370. Steven, 248. Thomas, 130, 370, 378. Tesschenmaeker, Rev. Peter, 47, 86, 87, 140, 158, 167, 168. Teunis, Grietje, 211. Theological Professorate, Founded, 55, 466. Theological Seminary, 45, 49, each seminary is indexed by its name. Three Bridges, N. J., Church of, 288, 550. Thomas:— Rev. Eugene E., 120. John, 128. Thompson: — Aaron J., 454. Rev. Abraham, 454. Ackerson, 134. Rev. Alexander R., 477, 485. Anna de P., 454. Rev. Augustus C, 418. Rev. Ellas Wortman, 6, 14, 107, 121 136, 139, 143, 444, 446, 449, 564, 566, 567; sketch of life, 453-455. Rev. Henry P., 454. Rev. John B., 423, 454. Joseph, 454. Rev. William I. 454. Thomson:— John, 453. Juda, 454. Thorburn, S. Grant, 548, 549, 56:i. Tindall, Alice W., 491. Tinkey, John, 304, see also 128 where the name is erroneously printed Linkey. Tjurcksen, Paulus, 208. Todd;— Rev. Augustus F., 117, 136, 142, 426; sketch of life, 423, 424. Cornelius, 132. Rev. John A., 423. Rev. WiUiam N., 119, 142; sketch of life, 322, 323. Toll, Rev. John C, 59. Tollman, Dowah I., 137. Tolman:— Dowah J., 126. Teunis T., 35, 106. Tunis J., 124. Tomason, Urian, 167. Tompkinsville, N. Y., Church of, 405. Totowa, N. J. :— A preaching station, 291. Church of, 290-303; corporate title of, 299; divided, 301; elders attending Classis, 122. 123, 125, 127; elders attending INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES 595 Synod, 137; mentioned, 33, 35, 44, 49, 50, 68, 87, lOB, 107, 109, 114, 304, 327, 357, 369, 370: organized, 178, 293; pastoral record, 141; relations with Acquackanonck and Pompton, 178, 180-182, 298, with Paramus, 2G4, 265, 299, 300; statistics concerning, 145, 146, 148, 149, 151. First Church of, 357-368; consis- tory of, 362; edifices, 358, 363, 365; elders attending Classis, 130; elders attending Synod, 138; location, 357; mentioned, 106, 107, 109, 115-117, 127, 299, 320, 374, 444, 445; pastoral record. 142; statistics concerning, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152; transferred to Classis of Passaic, 363. Second Church of, 369-402; cor- porate title, 373, 375; edifices built and repaired, 372, 380-382, 389, 390, 396; elders attending Classis, 130, 131; attending Synod, 138; Hopper Contro- versy, in, 384, 388; mentioned, 68, 107_, 109, 115, 116, J-,.9, 120, 234, ;:96, 3o7, 554; organization, 68, 369-371; pastoral record, 142, 144; pews and pew owners, 373, 391; Sabbath School and other societies, 399, 400; sig- nificant extracts from consis- torial minutes, 390, 391; statis- tics concerning, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152, 400; trustees, 374, 391. Toronto, Ont., Model School of, 562. Trading posts, centers of Colonial Churches, 84. Trenton Academy, 461. Triangle, used instead of bell, 390. Troost, John, 123. Troy, Presbytery of, 118, 409. True Reformed Dutch Church the, 50, 56, 69, 66, 67, 157, 232, 433, 472; of Acquackanonck, 186; of Paramus, 264, 265; of Monsey, 304. Trustees: Second Church of To- towa, 373. 374; State law relat- ing to, 374, 375. Tulbagh, Classis of, 443. Turcksen, Paulus, 223. Turin, Presbytery of, 423. Tyng, Rev. Stephen II. Jr., 424. u Uesep, Xeth., Church of, 50C. Ulster, Classis of, 94, 112, 114-119. 121. Union College, 164, 192. 239, 320, 331, 342, 366, 409, 525, 534, 567. Union Theological Seminar^', 119, 346, 367, 451, 485, 525, 547, 551. Union Village, N. T., Church of, 366, 4117. 409. Unionville, N. T., Church of, 3:9, 346. University of the Citv of XeT\' Vork, 236, ZCS, 397, 462, 540. University of Pennsylvania, 360, 419, 425. Utica, N. Y.. Church of, 345. Utrecht University, 47. Vacation, Pastoral, early provision for, 180. Valentine: — Brewster, 424. Uavid, 129. Mart, 370. Richard, 33C. Valleau Cemetery, A'alleau :— Magdalen to Paramus Church, 248 dition of burial, 249. "\ an Aele, Hendrick, 248. A'an Allen: — Maria, 370. Peter, 370. Peter I., 370. A'an Antwerp; — Cornelius, 124. Simon, 404. AVandel, 124. Van Arsdale: — Rev. Ellas B., 110, 120, 450. Rev. Nathaniel Hixon, 107, 119, 136, 140, 143, 395, 446, 449, 554, '555, 560; sketch of life, 452, 453. Van Aulen: — 249. Donor of land tra- Lucas, 370. Peter, 370. Van Blarcom: — Abraham, 199. Ann, 370. Anthony, 370. James, 130. Jane, 416. Johannes, 293. John, 125,130, 190, 299. Martin, 3i0. Mary, 370. Van Eussum: — Peter, 123. Philip, 181. Van Cleef, Rev. Paul D., 330. Van Dalsen, William, 124, 137. Van Dalssen, Jan, 212, 227. Vanden Bleyker, Jan, 472. A^anden Bork, Cornelius, 472. Vandenburgh, Rev. Louis, 121, 142; sketch of life, 336. Van Den Houten, "U^illem, 132. Vanderbeck, Conradus, 246. Van Der Beck, Harmon, 125. Van Derbilt:— Jacob, 124, 126. John J., 126. Van der Bleyker, Jacob, 133. Van der Houten: — Willem, 434. William, 132. Vander Linde, Rev. Benjamin, 141, 165, 229, 303, 314, 315, 326, 327, 329; Call described, 247; place of burial, 252; sketch of life, 246. 251. Van Der Kooi, Jacob, 133, 512. Van der Plaat, Johannes, 132. Van der Stad, Mattheus, 133. 596 INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES Vanderveer: — Rev. Cyrus G., 110, 112, 116, 346. Rev. Ferdinand H., 116, 136, 139, 142-144, 412, 444, 517; described, 95; sketch of life, 342, 343, 346. Van Dervoort, Rev. John C, 116, 136, 139, 142, 382, 504; sketch of life, 359. Vanderwart:— Rev. Herman, 43S. Hetty, 419. Van Deventer Rev. John C, 109, 119, 136, 139, 141, 142, 392, 395, 519; ministry in Paramus, 272; sketch of life, 411-413. Van de Vrede: — Cornells, 132, 439. Pieter, 132, 439. Van Dien:— Albert, 248. Garret G., 514. Garret H., 125. Richard, 124. Van Doren: — Rev. Isaac, 430. Rev. John L. 431. Rev. Luther H., 431. Rev. William H., 116, 136, 143, 421. 429; sketch of life, 430, 431. Rev. William T., 116, 136, 142, 194, 306; sketch of life, 332, 333. Van Driessen:— Rev. Johannes, 80, 140, 141, 245, 291; sketch of life, 174-176; re- sult of ministry, 175. Mrs. Johannes, Remarkable re- freshments at obsequies of, 176. Rev. Petrus, 174. Van Dyck:— Bngeltje, 221. Thomas, 221. Van Dyke: — Cornelius C, 134. H. J., 501. Van Emaus: — Jacob, 501. Tunis, 107, 133. Van Bmburg-h, Stephen T., 273. Van Ess:— John, 370, 372. S. T., 370. Vaneyher, Garrett H., 318. Van Gieson:— Rev. Acmon P., 200. Dierk, 291. Hendrick, 161. Van Haagen:— Rev. Henry C, 121, 144; sketch of life, 651. Rev. John, 561. Van Hassel, Huibert, 132, 133. Van Heest:— Cornelius, 498. Corstiaan, 133, 349. Peter, 133, 439, 505. Van Hoorn, Barent, 248. Van Horn: — Abram, 332. Daniel, 370, Van Houte: — Cornelius, 248. Garret, 293. Jacob, 291. Raelof, 248. Van Houten: — Aaron A., 123. Abraham R., 370. Abram, 123. Adrian, 299. Adrian R., 130, 370-372, 374. Albert, 130. Ann, 370. Annetje, 207, 210. A. Zabriskie, 107, 133, 475, 476, 478, 490, 495. Mrs. A. Z., 490. Catherine, 223, 370, 378. Claes, 208. Cornelius, 123. Elizabeth, 370. Garrabrant, 123, 130, 299, 370-373. Garrett, 128, 178, 303. Gerritje, 207, 218. Halmagh, 290. Helmich, 291. Herman, 312. Jacob, 299. John H., 129, 130. John R., 372. Margaret, 370. Nicholas, 128. Ralph, 290, 370. Richard, 124, 128, 130, 137, 370, 376 399 Sarah, 370. Robert, 293. Roelof, 208, 223. Roelof Cornellssen, 373. Teunls, 206, 208, 210, 223. Van Iderstine:— Henry, 123, 445. John S., 123, 137. Peter H., 107, 134, 529. Van Kampen, Rev. Isaac, 107, 112, 120,, 136, 142, 313, 336; sketch of life, 323, 324. Van Keuren, Rev. Benjamin, 115, 136, 142; sketch of life, 341. Van Leeuwen, Rev. William, 496. Van Nest, Abraham, 63. Van Neste: — Alfred Wikoft, 516. Rev. George J., 117, 136, 141, 423; sketch of life, 308. Rev. John A., 107, 110, 111, 112, 118, 136, 143, 144, 613, 642, 664-666; sketch of life, 514-516. Van Norden, Andrew, 370. Van Nostrand: — Amanda, 414. Garret, 131, 138, 140, 414., Van Oostenbrugge, Martin, 133. Van Orden:— Andrew, 468. Rev. John S., 110, 120. Peter S., 107, 127, 133, 138, 468. Sophia, 370. Van Pelt, Rev. Daniel, 21, 112, lis, 143, 459, 467; centennial address by, 77; sketch of life, 464, 466. Van Pelts, Rev. Peter, 298. Van Raallie, Rev. Albertus C, Van Raetsvelt, Anna, 212. Van Reen, Peter, 132. Van Rensselaer, The Patroon, Van Ripen, Richard, 181. 440. 174. INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES 597 Van Riper; — Aljraham, 123. Cornelius, (M. U.) 475, 470. Cornelius G., 123, 137. Frederick, 68. Garret I., 12.3, 137. Harman, 125. Harnon G., 130. John G., 123. John T., 496. Richard, 123. Uriah, 172. "Van Rype, Frederick, 249. Van Rypen, Harmon, 125. Van Ryper:— Frederick, 125. George, 123. Van Saun: — Isaac, 122. John I., 126. Samuel A., 130, 376, 3S2. Samuel J., 129. Van Slyke, Wilberforce, 107, 131. Van Varick, Rev. Rudolphus, 140, persecution of, 47; supply at Hackensack, 5S. Van Vorst: — Annetje I., 207, 216, 220. Iden, 206, 21S. Van Wagenen, William, 468.. Van Wagening, Henry G. Jr., 37-i. Van Wageninge, John, 505. Van Wagoner; — Andrew H., 131, 564. Cornelius, 370. Cornelius S., 130, 371, 372, 378 382, 386, 399 Peter H., 131, 396, 397. Van Winckel, Simon, 291. Van Winkle: — Cornelius, 123, 125, 299. Edo, 370. Hilegont, 373. Jacob, 181. James, 123. John, 123. John S., 125. John v.. 130. Richard, 521. Simon, 125, 137, 248. Willing I., 123. Van Worert, Lewis. 429. Van Wyck, Paul, 132. Van Zandt:— Abram, 468. Rev. Benjamin, 116, 136, 142, founder of Rockland Female Institute, 407; sketch of life, m. Lanninff, 468. Varick, Rev. Rudolphus, 86, 87. Veenschoten, Rev. William, 286. Vennema, Rev. Ame, 107, 121, 136, 139, 140, 167, 551, 552; prayer by, 26; sketch of life, 201, 202. Verbryck— Verbrycke ;— John, 131. Rev. J. Russel, 120, 142; sketch of life, 425, 426. John S., 124, 416. Mrs. John S., 416. Rev. Samuel, 42, 43, 141; sketch of life, 229-231; pastorate at Clarkstown, 274; secured first charter for Queens College, 43, 230. W illiam, 131. Vernoll, Rev. Thomas Powell, 257; sketch of life, 368. Vermeule, Rev. Cornelius C, sketch of life, 416, 418. VerVale:— Abraham D., 1,!1, 138, 416. Henry, 124. John, 126. Vlierboom, Elizabeth, 416. Voorhees: — Albert H., 122. Rev. Henry V.. 97, 117, 136, 142; described, 96; sketch of life, 410. Voorhis; — Garret D., 132. Mrs. Garret D., 449. Voorleser. at Acquackanonk, 168; at Hackensack, 168; at Tap- pan, 227; mentioned, 48, 169, 173, 176, 177, 222, 224, 292. Vreeland: — Cornelius I., 130. Edo E., 131, 381. Enoch, 123. James C, 134, 529. John M., 123. Co'-n°Uus, 130, 181. 444. Vreelandt, John James, 172. Vroom, Rev. William H., 6, 13, 15, 20, 107, 120, 136, 139-141, 151, 242, 272, 273, 326, 397, 501, 564; Histori- cal Discourse by, 33; sketch of life, 272. Vroon^an, John A., 554, 555. w Waard, Jan., 207, 208, 218, 223. \^'ade, N., 260. Waldron;— John D., 138. Marretje, 206, 213. Victor S. H., 131. Wanamaker ; — Adolphus, 325. Mrs. Adolphus, 325. Richard, 129, 336. Wallis:— Alexander H., 485. M. Elizabeth, 485. Wallkill Valley, N. T., Church of, 283, 462. Walpack, Pa., Church of, 269. Warner, Rev. Alexander H., 109. 112, 115, 136, 141, 403; sketch of life, 282. Warnshuis : — Rev. John W., 119, 143, 500, 509; sketch of life, 507, 508. Livingston, 508. Warren ; — Dorus ^V., 558. Mrs. Dorus W. , 557. Erastus C. 468. Warwick, N. Y. : — Church of, 334, 347; antecedents of, 338; dual organization in, 338; elders attending Classis, INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES 129; elders attending Synod, 138; incorporation of, 340, mentioned, 50, 61, 68, 107-109, 111, 114-116, 120, 121, 565; pastoral record, 142; Sabbath School of, 341; statistics concerning, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152. Presbyterian Church of, 68, lOS, 129, 337-340. Wasdylte, Garret, 512. Washington, Classis of, 115. Washington, D. C.,;— Gurley Me- morial Presbyterian Church of, 425; Presbytery of, 120. Washington, George, 248, 297. Washington's Headquarters al Tappan, 216. Wawarsing, N. Y., Church of, 164, 394. "W^eelistein, 86. Weller, James, 208, 223. Welles :— Rev. Theo. W., 6, 13, 14, 16, 105, 107, 109, 120, 136, 139, 142, 244, 290, 369, 392, 429, 432, 472, 517, 634, 554, 555, 557, 560, 561; sketch of life, 397-399; Statistical History by, 105-153. Thomas, 398. Welling, Thomas, 129, 138, 140. Wells:— Rev. Cornelius L., 398. Rev. Ransford, 398, 466. Wendell, Elsie, 231. Wentink, Kryn, 505. Wessels: — Catherine L. 271. Nancv, 370. West, Rev. Jacob, 116, 136, 142, 310, 514; sketch of life, 421. Westbrook, Rev. Cornelius D., 63. Westchester, Classis of, 117, 120, 347, 526, 550. West Coxsackle, N. Y., Church of, 288. Westdyke, Teunis, 132. Westfield, N. J., Presbyterian Church of, 362. Westerhoff:— Jacob, 133. J. W., 501. Westerlo, N. Y., Church of, 333. Westervelt:— Abraham, 35, 106, 125. Albert, 126. Cornelius, 122, 293, 370. Cornelius J., 372. Daniel, 125, 137, 260, David, 123. James, 128. James P., 130, 132, 446. John. 58, 128. John D., 137. John R., 122, 126, 259. Jurien, 161. Luke, 373. Peter A., 125, 264. Rev. Ralph, 110, 114. I'riah, 290. Warner W., 138. Westhoven, Jacob, 107, 131. AN'estern Reser"\'e College, 450. \\'estern Theological Seminary, 466. West New Hempstead, N. Y. :— Church of, 303-312; elders at- tending Classis, 128; elders at- tending Synod, 137; mentioned, 30, 33, 44, 49, 65, 87, 106, 107, 109, 111, 114, 115, 117, 119-121, 232, 347,. 456-468, 460, 467; pastoral record, 141, 144; relations with Ramapo,. 304-306, 329-332; statistics con- cerning, 146, 148, 149, 151, 152. Westwood, N. J., Church of, 287. Wey, Frans, 208, 223. Weyenberg, Garret, 133, 496. Wheeler, John, 338. Whitehead:— Alice C. 485. Edwin H., 486, 4D0. Henry C, 485, 490. Rev. Jos. H., 6, 14, 107, 119, 136, 140, 143, 200, 475, 481, 635, 548, 550,- 661, 662, 554, 656, 560, 666; sketch of life, 484, 486. Josephine, 486, 491, 492. Lilian L., 485. White House, N. J., Church of,. 270. Whitney, Isaac, 128, 466, 467. Whiton, William PL, 417, 424. Whritenour, Edward, 134. Wickham, William, 338. Wiggins, Rev. Bbenezwr, 109, 112, 115, 136, 139, 142; sketch of lite, 3E9, 360. "William and Mary, 47. i WilUam, The Silent, 393. I William, The Third, 90, 394. 1 Williams:— Charles, 426. P. H., 649. William L., 132, 138, 448. Williams College, 421, 422, 485. Williamson: — Cornelius, 238. I Isaac V. D., 238. Rev. Wilham H., 119, 136, 141, 236; sketch of life, 238, 239. Willocks, George. 290. Wills, Thomas, 259. Wilmington, Del:— First Presbyterian Church of, 481; Church of, 481. Wilson: — Rev. Ferdinand S., 637. Peter, 251. Rev. Peter Q., 513. Winants, Rev. ^^■alter, 110, 120. Windhower, Jan., 498. Winfleld, Rev. Aaron B., 116, 136, 139, 141, 242, 430; sketch of life, 266, 267. Winship, Russell C, and Mrs. R- C, 478. Winter: — Albert Z., 127, 138, 324. Andrew, 129, 138. Andrew J., 107, 129, 336. Garret H., 107, 126, 273. John, 332. John A., 129. Winters, Joseph P., 273. Wisconsin, Classis of, 118 Wisner, James, 129, 133. Witman, Jacob, 131. INDEX OF PERSONS AND PLACES 599 Woelfs, Annetje, 206, 217. Wood:— Abraham C, 107, 127. Bbenezer, 2J5, 280. Jacob, 312. Joseph, 456. WoodhuU, Rev. Dr., 377. Woods William, 134. Woodstock, N. Y., Church of, 332. Wormser, Rev. William, 112, 119, 143, 499, 609; sltetch of lite, 507. ■Worship, Primitive, in Bergen Co., ss. "Wortendyke :— Abram A., 130. A. C, 478, 495. Albert, 350. C. A., 498. lYederick F., 130. Frederick P., 129. Garret F., 130, 138. Isaac, 126, 513. Jacob, 127. James F. 130, 138. Matze, 349. I'etei P., 353. "Wortendyke, N. J. :— Christian Reformed Church of, 501 Holland Church of, 496-503; eld- ers attending Classis, lii3; mentioned, 72, 73, 98, 107, 119-121; pastoral record, 143; statistics, 14(j, 148, 149, 151, 152. The words "2 at Wortendyke'' should be inserted after Hemp- stead In the 11th line of page 1C9. Wortman, Rev. Denis, 463. Wynkoop : — Rev Jeiferson, 112, 115, 136, 141, 142, 192, 371, 376; ministry at Ramapo, 331; ministry at West New Hempstead, 304, 305. Johannes, 245, 246. Wurts, George, Ode to the Old Clock by, 364. Wurtsboro, N. T., Church of, 423. Wust, Rev. William C, 71. 72, 117, 123, 472, 505; sketch of life, 440- 442. Wyckoff:— Rev. Benjamin "V. D., 455. Rev. Henry V., 59. Rev. Isaac N., 306. Sarah W., 550. Wyckoff, N. J., Church of, 265, 454. Wylie, Rev. David G., 552. Yale College, 43, 175. Yeomans, William H., 127. Yereance, Garrabrant, 58. Yeurry, WilUam J., 127. Yeury, John, 138. Yonkers, N. Y., Church of, 269. Young, Jacob, 331. Yureance, Garrabrant, 123, 137. Yurey, John, 352. Yurry : — John, 127. William, 128. Zabriskie :— Albert, 125, 1.37. Albert A., 370. Albert C, 122. Albert G.. 126. 137, 273. Albert I., 125, 370, 37S. A. S. (M. D.,) 327. Andrew J., 126, 513. Christian, 123, 137, 242, 258. Christian A., 123, 260. Cornelius, 125. Garret, 260. Garret A. L., 127. Garret H., 125. George, 242. Guilliam, 125. Henry, 242. Jacob, 242, 324. Jacob A. L., 127. John, 242, 260. John A., 370. John C, 126, 137. John H., 261. Kleas, 248. Peter A., 125. Rachel, 370.' Samuel T., 487. Stephen, 249. Thomas V. B., 120, 137. Walter C, 107, 134, 561. Zandam, Neth., Church of, 502. Zwemer: — Rev. Adrian 497. Samuel M.. 287. THE END.