HISTORY Books: Ecclesiastical History of Flatbush; Kings co., NY submitted by Joy Fisher (sdgenweb at yahoo.com) ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ny/nyfiles.htm Submitted Date: May 18, 2006 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/nyfiles/ File size: 14.5 Kb ************************************************ 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.