The New York herald., 1877-10-15
Hon. S. p. CHAsE
ANNIVERSARY OF AN OLD CHURCH.
THE REFORMED CHURCH OF NEW UTRECHT
TWO HUNDRED YEARS oLD-sKETCH OF ITS
PAST HIsroRY AND PRESENT CONDITION.

TWO HUNDRED YEARS oLD-sKETCH OF ITS
PAST HIsroRY AND PRESENT CONDITION.
An event which does not often in the history
OF a single church-namely, the two hundreth ami
versary of It's organzaon-will be suitably observed
next Thursday, in the Reformed Church OF New
Utrecht Long Island Rarely indeed, is any orgauiza-
on perpeuated through SIX or seven generations con-
tinuousy and manifest vitality III It's two hun.
dredth year than it did in It's nrst twenty-fr
sketch OF the venerable society and church wll
doubt not provo interesting to the readers OF the
HERALD.
The town or township Of New Utrecht estab-
Iished about the year 1857 The property was under
the control of person who camo from Utrecht Ia
Holland 1t was sub-dlvdod into about thirteen parts
each Of which was occupied by Dutch settlcr In
1877 a Reformed Protestant Dutch Church was organ.
ized This church formed part Of the carly collcgi
ate system Long Island, known as tho Dutch
churches oi Kings county That system is still con.
tinued in New York city. At nrst the Long Island
system comprised Flatbush, Flstlands Brooklyn and
Now Utrecht. Later, the churches OF Gravesend and
BushwicK were added. This collegiate system con.
tnued down through the W ar Of the Revolution and
In form dissolved in lS0S although II was In some
OF its practical workings continued until ls24 Al nrst
one minister served the four churches, but owing
the increase population, and for other reasons,
after tho year 1902 pastors jointly served these
churches until the combination was dissolved From
1917 to 1908 the church had eleven minister's; from
1909 TIL the present three ministers, namely Rev.
John Beattie, d. d., VINO served them twenty-iour
years; Rev. Robert Ormiston Currie, D. D., who
served them thrty-one years. he died IN 1865, aud
Rev. u. s. Sutphen was ordained and installed
In 1867 and Is tho pastor now. In the year 100
church edllce built II was a peculiar building.
Ii OF octagonal shape, WITH roof running up TO
point with bclfry IN the centre. In 1877 or 1928
that building was taken down, aud from It's materials
the sono structure erected. Not many OF
the old relics been preserved. One OF the lady
members OF the church sketcned the old church from
memory. The church has three Sabbath schools.
Mr. Noses Aen whose death occurred last week,
and superintendent Ot one OF tue Sabbath schools.
The descendants of four OF the original founders OF
the church arc still living and ure members OF the
present society. More than onehalf OF Its members
and supporters descendants OF those who were It's
mem bers ana supporters before the Revolution. Tho
present church ed lnce dedicated IN 1879 II oc-
cupes the OF the old academy, about once ehth
OF a miie from the site oil the old church.
THIS venerable church is to-day OF the strongest,
as wch wealthiest, Reformed churches IN uniou
with the South Chassis OF Long Island 1t has 245
communicates, aud large congregation attending
every sabbath the Rev. Mr.. Suiphens ministry.
In Sunday schools $50 scholars taught and its
pastor the stated clerk Of his Classic AT the ann
vcrsary Thursday morning the Rev. Mr.. Sutphen
delivered by the Rev. g. L. Wells, of Fatbush In the
afternoon Mr.. Tcunls G. Bergen Will deliver his.
torical address, and brief remarks Will be made by
Drs Du Bois Ii. s. Carpenter, j. Van Buren, Ingals
and other ministers from Brooklyn and from the IN.
terror OF Long Island many OF whom sous OF tnis
venerable church. Tho South Chassis OF Long Island,
at It's recent New Utrecht. accepted IN.
sion is expected in tho old Dutch village on Thursday