The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-27
THE OLD KINGSTON CHURCH.
HERE CONGREGATIONS HAZE HOR-
SHIPPkD ron aS5 YEARS
Dutch and Husueuots-Fastors' Salaries IN
Farm Produce, Game, aud Peltries-
0unint Records and Relics.


holding an unbroken line Of services on the
same spot that can be found In the State Of
New York and probably In the United States.
II was founded In 1857. and the present pastor.
the Rev. DR.. J. G. Slyke. is the lineal descend
ant OF tho voorleser Andrus Van Slyk. whowas
first In charge Of the church. The building
In which the congregation now worships is the
fourth that has stood on the SPOT not count
ing the log building which temporarily was
used by the settlers In the beginning The
foundations. greatly extended to meet the
growth Of the congregation. have included
part Of the surrounding graveyard. The
families whose past generations filled the first
graves still worship in the church. and in the
last reconstruction OF the edifce their pews
we're placed over the tombs OF their ancestors.
each family over It's own dead. Thus the name
s. Bruyn on the pew door marks both the pew
OF the Bruyn family and the tomb OF the first
Bruyn beneath. So 1t is with the old De Witt
family and many others. the mcmbers ofwhich
for generations sat In the pews while living.
and. when they died. were buried In the vault
underneath.
Tho old church records show the race and
language contest which. waged between the
Huguenots. the Dutch. and the English. on
the west bank Of the Hudson. lasted into the
present century. It was not until 1908. after
services had been conducted for century and
= half in Dutch. that English was substituted.
and the feeling OF some OF the old Dutch fami-
lies against the discontinuance oftheir tongue
In the pulpit has not yet ce"sed There are
mem ers Of the Congregation at times use this
language In their prayers,i -,
Holland. which came from Manhattan about
KINGSTON was then wit, ~ycf. Or Wild Village.
Dutch. The colonists settled on the land back
Of the ridge Of small hills along the, Hudson.
munity. with little trade. The town was
founded on the banks Of the Esopps Crock.
and tho church was built In the midst Of the
attend the services and no power in Manhat:
tan to ordain one: 50 yoorlcser was placed
ofiiciate at the services. although he was not
an ordained Clergyman
destroyed the original church building. The
settlers drove the Indians away and reestab-
lished themselves on the old site whore some
erected at that time still continue, one Of
these structures was used as State House OF
in another resides the Hon. Augustus Schoon-
maker. formerly Railroad missioner Of the
Huguenot Immigrants followed the Dutch to
Esopus. Though numerically fewer. they
seem to have been the dominant part Of the
for considerable period were kept wholly in
French The services we're held IN Dutch, The
letters on the title paGe:
Ssi S Saf :Hti e ps Ct Gs% 1sr q. 0''4
This journal begins on the 25th OF May. 1913.
The church OF that time owned large tracts OF
land and collected the rent mainly in farm
warden took in sloop to New York and sold.
In one year the rents. besides farm products
foxes. and Ia wildcats Among other articles
which had standard value, as payment Of
TS sss; 81 hs sS
they pleased At certain i5a assa ,yaIassions
ths sasas Of os TBS is told in man.
On With eSoss aee o4 oS Sefs
two inehes wi WIDE One Of TIE G5Settest hs.tt,
is hs
n the time Of the revocation Of the Ediet Of
Nantes. and the pastor's family have on their
esss Van ' sVS their nea ness had
The Dutch and the French did not get along
New Paltz about fourteen miles away In the
Waikiki Valley where they formed settle
eRsn ito 5 n
kept the records IN their own language. and
the h Il Of IF tSs oS sna
Ulster and Greene COUNTIES. These records.
which have been published in huge volume.
the name OF the child that was baptized. The
New eRs ssd at f0ES sopa s
gave rise to several sayings. carried down in
Ulster COUNTY 9 the tine One Of
" The Old Hssuenot and Dutch records tel
greet dea Of the and
Ssa AZ =
e oe G n"' Brought ofiernes of silver
spoons. buttons; buckles. and ornaments OF
Ends whch were ns sent to holland and
to the clock. strikes the hours from the church
steeple,,
Travelling was a serious thing in those DAYS.
When Harmanus Meyer. the pastor in 1852.
made trip to Albany; about fifty miles away.
Started. and the eonssory prepared the form
Of prayers Of the congregation for the special
q the his oGs. and
companied him as far as Catskil to protect
him. 1t now takes about. an hour to go from
The church has the two original communion
cups that were according to Tradition; nrs-
BILE 10 said to have been used BY the Prince OF
Orange; whose coat 81 arms Is over tho CHURCH
It th sSsG Tn r hsso ass n
supply. Of New England rum. pipes. and to-
bacco for the use Of the clergy at their meet
nnmes v: D.. NJ. the initials Tor the Latin
rerbg Pei minister. The rev rents averaged
payment was made would be OF as much value
now as the average pew rent in Fifth avenue
church.
During. the American Revolution the Rev.
George Leonard Doll apd his congregation
burned their church and houses. -, In answer
wrote this letter which Is framed and hung
within tho entrance Of the church:
g Gsntis,n~n:
II am happy In receiving this public mark
OF the esteem OF the minister elders and deI-
cons OF the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church
OF Kingston.
Convinced that our religious lbert los are as
essential as our civil. my endeayors have never
been wanting to encourage and promote the
other, and l am highly battered by finding
that my efforts have met with the appreciation
Of so respectable n body.
I'm return for your kind concern for my tenn
assure you that my wishes are reciprocal. and
that you may be enabled to hand down yonr
religion, pure and indebted. to q posterity
worthy OF their ancestors. is the fervent
praycrof.
Gentlemen.
Your most obedent servant.
q, WASHINGTON.
KINGSTON. 10th November. I7S2.