New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-08
ECCLESIASTICAL RECORDS
The Church in the State of Nesc-
York.

REGoEDs OF IT TIE sIs,s STATE Ada
the Supervision of Hugh Hastings. State His
torian- In two volumes. svo. PIP. 1.442 Albany:
James B. Lyon. State Printer
In these two volumes we have array OF &C.
clesiastical records, extending from 1921 to
100 that must prove Of great value TO the his
torian- Letters DEGREES. acts in council. doings
OF classes and consistories public addresses
church records petitions and protests-in fact
every kind OF document that might throw light
on the ecclesiastical establishment in its mani
fold relation is here brought together in mis-
ceIaneous chronological arrangement, ready TO
hand for the use of any who may be desir-
QUE OF investigating this field. The Dutch docu-
ments have been done into English under the
supervision Of the Rev. DR.. Edward T Corwin
and his assistant the Rev. DR.. Daniel Van
Pelt. the material having been gathered in
American and foreign research through a series
Of years prior to 1899 when the actual work of
editing began. There may be CLEANED many
curious and interesting bits of history from
these venerable documents. such a rather
vivid account, in the letter of the Commits
sioner at Albany. to Captain Brockholes of the
great comet Of 1850 which is described as fol-
lows:
Wee doubt not that you have seen ye Dreadful
Cornett Starr which appeared in ye Southwest
on We 9Th of December last, about two O'Clock
fn ye afternoon, fair SUNSHINE weather, little
g bove We Som which takes its course more
Northerly and was seen We Sunday night after.
q bout Twy-Light. with a very fyery tail or
Streemer in We West. To We great astonlshT1e ut
OF all Spectators and is now seen every night
with Clear weather. undoubtedly God Threatens
US with dreadful punishment if wee do not
Repent, would have caused ye Domino pro
claim Day Of Fasting and humiliation to-rnor-
row. 70 be kept on Wein esday. We 18th OF Janu-
airy, in We town Of Albany. and Dependencies, II
wee thought our Power and Authority did ex-
tend so farr and would have been well Resented
Nv or1- q Persons ought
Themselves in such Time and Pray to God to
withdraw his Righteous Judgements from US, as
He did to Nineve.
It would seem that Roger Williams and his
Rhode Island experiment did not constitute a
solitary experiment in religious liberty. The
following passage is from the royal charter
granted to New-York in 1858, the greater part
Of the charter appearing in these pages:
That no person or persons which profess faith
In God by Jesus Christ, shall at any time be In
any ways molested, punished, disquleteo, or
called in question for any difference IN oplIlloh
on the matter of religious concernment VINO
90 not actually disturb the civil peace OF the
Province. butt that all and every such person
or persons may. from this time and al all times
freely have and fully enjoy. his or their 3ucs-
r9ents or conscience in matters OF rens1oh
th-oughout the Province. they behaving them
selves peaoeably and quietly and nott usn isI
this liberty to Lcentiousness. nor 10 the clVlA
injury or outward disturbance of others
This role.ation. however, was accompanied by
sharp distinctions between religious bellet an"
civil practices, inasmuch as the petition OF lhe
Ouakers. In 1886 10 be relieved from training
printed in full in this book. was not gralteu'
and they were warned that If they refused 10 90
military service they must expect the PenaItles
provided The entire address Of Lelsler on the
eallows appears here, with much other interest
Ing matter relating TO his "reoeIhon ana Ihe
events connected Herewith 1t would seem from
tho Introductory statement prefxed to these
volumes that the records may be continued III
80 combinations. but no definite announce
roent of such an intention appears