HISTORY Books: Ecclesiastical History of Flatbush; Kings co., NY

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Book Title: History Of Flatbush

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

  In commencing the Ecclesiastical History of Flatbush, it is proper to premise,
that as all the early settlers of this and the neighboring towns, came from
Holland, they were united in one religious faith. They all professed the
doctrines, and order, which were established by the national Synod, which met at
Dordrecht, in the year 1618-19. This Synod was summoned by the authority of the
Staats General of Holland, and was attended by the most eminent divines of the
United Provinces, and deputies from the reformed churches of England, Scotland,
Switzerland, Bremen and other places. Seldom, if ever, has a more learned, pious
and venerable assembly convened. The early inhabitants of the west end of Long
Island, received as the symbols of their faith, the Belgic Confession, the
Heidleburgh Catechism, and the Canons of this Synod. But as there was no
ecclesiastical organization in this country, at that time, they were placed
under the oversight and authority of the Classis of Amsterdam, to whom the
interests of all the Dutch and German churches in America were confided. A
standing committee was appointed by this Classis, called the committee ad
exteras and sometimes ad res maritimas to whom the affairs of these churches
were referred, during the intervals of session by the Classis. This committee
managed all the correspondence with these churches, provided them with
ministers, and gave them such counsel as they needed.

This arrangement continued until the year 1772, when the organization of the
present Reformed Dutch Church, in this country took place, and independent
Classes and Synods were established, on the model of the church in Holland. On
Long-Island, each town had its own consistory, or bench of church officers; but
all the churches in Kings county were combined, and constituted one charge, for
the period of about one hundred and fifty years. Their ministers were
colleagues; preached in turn in all the churches, and drew their salaries in
certain fixed proportions from the several congregations. The place of their
residence was Flatbush.

REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH OF FLATBUSH.

  Although it is known that the inhabitants of Long-Island had among them the
ordinances of the gospel at a | very early date, yet the first account of
building a church, is not till the year 1654. On the 15th of December, of that
year, Governor Stuyvesant issued an order appointing the Rev. Mr. Megapolensis,
who was one of the ministers of New-Amsterdam; John Snedicor and John Stryker,
commissioners to build a church at Midwout. On the 13th of October, in the same
year, it appears that an order was passed by the Governor, who seems to have
exercised a controlling power in ecclesiastical as well as civil and military
affairs, permitting the Rev. Johannes Theodoras Polhemus, a minister of the
Reformed Church of Holland, to preach at Midwout and Amersfort, (or Flatlands.)
The spot selected for the building of the church, was the site now occupied by
the present building. The order of the Governor, directed that it should be
sixty, or sixty-five feet long, twenty-eight feet broad, and from twelve to
fourteen feet under the beams; that it should be built in the form of a cross,
and that the rear should be reserved for the ministers dwelling. It is most
probable that this building, which was the first church erected in the county,
was of wood, and that it was commenced, if not completed, in the succeeding
year. For on the 9th of February, 1655, the Governor ordered the inhabitants of
Brooklyn and Amersfort, which were then connected together, with Flatbush, as
one pastoral charge, and continued so for a number of years, to assist the
people of Midwout in cutting timber to build their house of worship. The entries
in the Deacons book of the church of Flatbush, of collections taken up on the
Sabbath commence on the first Sabbath of January, 1655, and these entries are
regularly continued, at intervals of seven days, from that time forward. From
this, it is evident that divine service was statedly performed on every Sabbath
after that period, in Flatbush. How long previously to this time this was the
case, cannot be ascertained. Nor is there any record by which it can be known,
when the first Consistory was ordained and the church organized. But it appears
from subsequent minutes, that until the year 1681, the Consistory consisted of
only two Elders and two Deacons.

  In September, 1660, those who had the charge of erecting the building,
reported that it had cost 4,637 guilders, or about $1,800. Of this sum, a very
considerable amount was collected by voluntary subscription, in New-Amsterdam,
Fort Orange, (now Albany,) and in the different settlements on Long-Island. An
account of these several subscriptions, is still preserved in the records of the
Reformed Dutch Church of Flatbush. It is as follows:—
  
76
  " To the building received."                    Guilders. Stivers.
>From Fort Orange,                                     90
  "     Esopus,                                       50
  "     New-Amsterdam,                              1,876      3
  "     Gowanus,                                       35     10
  "     Brooklyn,                                     112     10
  "     Amersfort,                                    120
  "     New-Utrecht,                                   17     10
  "     Midwout,                                      427
  "     E. (India probably,) Company,                 588
  "     the first preaching, (collection probably,)    90
  "     The Hon. Fiscal, or Attorney General,          30
  "     Also, in addition,                            113
  "     Marriage fees,                                 43
  "     Hempstead, by bequest,                         50

  To aid in liquidating the debt which still remained upon the building, the
Governor himself, contributed 400 guilders, leaving still a balance of 800
against the church.

  From the Dutch Records in the office of the Secretary of State at Albany, we
gather the following facts. "On the 6th, of August, 1655, the Governor ordered
the Sheriff, to convene the inhabitants of Brooklyn, Flatbush and Flatlands, for
the purpose of inquiring whether they were satisfied with their minister, and if
they were satisfied, what sallary they would pay him. The Sheriff reported, that
they approved of their minister, and would pay him a sum equal to $416.66 per
year. This was approved as a good call, and accepted." The minister concerning
whom this order was made, was the Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemus, who was the
first Pastor of these churches. "February, 8th, 1656, the above towns applied to
the Governor for an order to raise money by a tax, to pay their minister,
Granted." "December, 20th, 1659, the Rev. J. Polhemus represented to the
Governor that his church wanted painting, to preserve it, and requested
assistance from the Governor. Reply,—this request shall be transmitted to the
directors by the first opportunity." "September 18th, 1660, the minister
petitioned for windows for his church, Ordered that one window be furnished him."

  It having been reported, that the church was indebted to the amount of 624
guilders, it was ordered to be satisfied out of the treasury, as soon as funds
should be received. On the 15th of March, 1656, an ordinance was passed by the
Governor, on petition, regulating the times and places of public worship on the
sabbath. It was directed that the morning service for Brooklyn, Flatbush and
Flatlands, should be held at Midwout, or Flatbush, and the afternoon service
alternately, at Brooklyn and Flatlands. The first church at Flatlands was
ordered to be erected in the year 1662, and that at Brooklyn, in the year 1666.
The Rev. Mr. Polhemus the first pastor, was at this time quite advanced in life,
and unable to perform the services appertaining to so extended a charge. In
consequence of this, on application to Governor Stuyvesant, permission was
granted to the church of Brooklyn, to call another minister. A request to this
effect was sent to Holland, and on the 16th, of February, 1660, a call upon the
Rev. Henry Solyns, or Henricus Selwyn, was approved by the Classis of Amsterdam,
and an honorable dismission given to Mr. Solyns, wishing him a safe and
prosperous journey by land, and by water, to his congregation, in the
New-Netherlands. He was installed in the church at Brooklyn, on the 3d, of
September, 1660, in the presence of the Fiscal and Burgomaster Krigier, by the
order of Governor Stuyvesant. His salary was six hundred guilders per annum,
equal to a little rising two hundred dollars.

  Although nothing certainly is known of the services of Mr. Solyns, in
Flatbush, it is probable, from the infirmities of Mr. Polhemus, and the
friendship which existed between them, that occasionally, at least, he must have
preached in Flatbush; although he was regarded as more especially the minister
of the church of Brooklyn, and received as such, from the Rev. J. Polhemus, on
the 12th, of September, 1660, a list of his members, containing thirty-seven
names. Mr. Solyns was a man of more than ordinary talents and learning. This was
soon discovered, and in the year 1662, an arrangement was made, by which he
preached at the Governor's house, on his "Bowerie," or Farm, on Sunday
afternoons. His ministry at this time, in this country however, was of short
continuance; for on the 22d, of July, 1664, he took leave of his congregation,
and sailed in the ship Beaver, for Holland. He subsequently returned to this
country, and was pastor of the Dutch church, in New-York, from 1682, to 1700. He
was a man of classical taste and learning, and highly esteemed in his day. He
prefixed a Latin poem to Cotton Mather's "Magnalia Christi Americana," bearing
date, October, 16th, 1697.

  After the departure of Mr. Solyns, the churches were left to such services as
the Rev. Mr. Polhemus, in his old age could confer upon them. He appears however
to have been assisted at this period by the Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, one of
the ministers of the city of New-Amsterdam. This arrangement continued till the
year 1676, on the 8th, of June, in which year, Mr. Polhemus died. Application
was then made to the Classic of Amsterdam, for another minister, by whom the
Rev. Casparus Van Zuren who had been settled at Gouderack, was sent out. He was
installed on the 6th, of September, 1677. It is probable, that about this time,
the church of New-Utrecht was organized, and received into the combination: for
the first election of Elders and Deacons in this church, took place in the month
of October, 1677. The record in the hand writing of the Rev. Mr. Van Zuren,
under date 1677, which gives the account of the change of Elders and Deacons in
the several churches of Brooklyn, Amersfort, Flatbush and New-Utrecht contains
the following minute relative to the last named church "At New-Utrecht, while
there has never heretofore been an election of Elders and Deacons, the assembled
congregation have now chosen for Elders Jan Gysbertse and Mainderd Courtes; for
deacons, Auris Williamse Brower and Jan Hanse, and this has all taken place in
the beginning of October, and they have been ordained about the same time and at
the same place."

  In the year 1681, the Consistory of the church of Flat-bush was enlarged, by
the addition of one Elder and one Deacon, chosen from among the members at
New-Lots. None of the consistories of the churches on the island as yet,
consisted of more than two Elders and two Deacons, and this appears to have been
the case for some years subsequent to this period, with the exception of the
church of Flatbush. The minute relative to the enlargement of the Consistory of
the church of Flatbush is as follows:

  "N. B. In consequence of the increase of the communicants and housekeepers, at
Oostwoud, together with that of the children (where for the instruction and
edification of the young and aged, a schoolmaster is required.) It is
unanimously ordained and approved of by the Honorable Consistory of Midwoud,
that at Oostwoud, under the jurisdiction of Midwoud, there ought to be chosen an
Elder and a Deacon, who shall be members of the Consistory of Midwoud, to have
the oversight of the members of Oostwoud, in particular and over those of
Midwoud in general, and in matters of importance, whenever the members of the
Consistory are assembled, they must always be requested to meet with them to
obtain their advice as well as that of others. And to that end, are chosen for
Elder, William Jacobse Van Boerum; for Deacon, Rem Rem-sen. Concluded in
Consistory of Midwoud, on the 6th of January, 1681. The above elected persons
having been several times proclaimed, were ordained at Midwoud, on the 30th, of
January."

  Little is known with regard to the Rev. Mr. Van Zuren's ministry or character.
He appears to have been a man of great industry and system. He has left the most
copious minutes of the services which he performed. In addition to the lists of
the members of the churches, and the records of baptisms and marriages, he has
noted the times and places of administering the Lord's Supper, together with the
texts of scripture from which he preached, and the election of new Elders and
Deacons in the several churches in each year, together with the time of their
induction into their respective offices. His record of baptisms commences on the
16th of September, 1677, and of marriages on the 29th of September, 1677. He
continued to serve these congregations till the year 1685, when be received a
call from his former church in Holland, and returned to his native land. He was
succeeded by the Rev. Rudolphus Varick in the same year. He continued till the
year 1694, when the Rev. Wilhemus Lupandus was called, who officiated until the
time of his death, which occurred in the year 1701 or 2. Of these two gentlemen
nothing now is known.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

1908 Reprint of Thomas M. Strong's "The History of the Town of Flatbush in Kings
County, Long Island" originally published in 1842.