New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-17

An EnSllSn force unQer COionel NICHOLS, the loTt
and its buildings were taken possession of by
the English troops.
In 1856. under Stuyvesant, who, with all his
Christian virtues. was religiously intolerant, a
few Lutherans attempted to hold religious meet
ings In the colony. but were proclaimed, and the
people were forbidden to assemble for any re-
ligious service not in harmony with the Re-
formed Church. Complaints were sent to Hol-
land regarding the affair. snd the directors Of
the company notified Stuyvesant as follows
1--WE would fain not have seen your worshfp's
hand set to the placard against the Lutherans.
nor have heard that you oppressed them. . &.
1t has always been our intention TO let them en-
joy all calmness and tranquility. Wherefore
you will not hereafter publish any similar pla-
cards without our previous consent, but allow
all the free exercise of their religion in their
houses"
Soon after the Lutherans IN Holland sent a
clergyman, the Rev. Ernestus Goetwater, to
New-Amsterdam, to organize a church. but the
company, in the instructions sent to Stuyvesant
put in proviso that there should be no CON
venticles." The Governor. however. used his own
Interpretation of the instructions he had re-
ceived, with disastrous results to the followers
of Luther.
In 1858 ship arrived, bringing some Quakers
who had been expelled from New-England. Two
of the Quaker women began to preach through
the streets They were arrested and taken to
the prison In the fort. After their examination
by the authorities they were placed on board
ship and sent TO Rhode Island Many other pun
ishments were melted out in this year to the
Quakers, but persecution seemed to make them
stronger in their faith and increase their conf
dence. and as the years rolled on they obtained
oil ha-
tween Liberty-st and Maiden Lane the first site
for worship was occupied by them.
During 1910. when The British Governor Love-
lace controlled the dessnies of the city. he Of
fered 1000 guilders per: annum. with a dwelling
house free OF rent, and shrewood gratis" to any
minister from Holland who would come and take
charge of the New-Yori church. Dominic Will
hemus Van Nieuwenhuysen accepted the propo-
sition, and IN 1871 was installed This was the
first Episcopal service in New-York
In 1916 ecclesiastical troubles broke out IN the
colony. The new dominic took exception TO the
clerical conduct of Dominic Van Rensselaer, at
Albany and declared that he was not qualified
to administer the sacrament in the Reformed
Dutch Church, having been ordained In England
by bishop. He forbade him to baptize chill
dren "occasioning much Ill feeling" Jacob Leis-
Ter also accused Dominic Van Rensselaer, OF
words" The latter was brought to New-York
for trial, but was acquitted. and the plaintiff
was ordered to pay all costs "for giving the first
occasion OF difference"
In 1850 1.-THE church in the FORT became too
small to accommodate the congregation. and
meeting was called TO consider the best meas
ures for building a new one. The Dutch and
English clergymen attended. and, with the men,
bers of the Council and other leading citizens,
voted to raise money by free will or gift" and
not by public tax. Certain fines were appro-
priated by the Mayor and aldermen toward the
fund. The movement languished until Deem
her 49, 1851 when Abraham De Peyster was
Mayor Then "a lot in the midst of beauti-
full and highly cultivated garden belonging to
Mrs Dominic Drisius and fronting on pictu-
rescue little lane called Garden Alley" (now Ex-
change Place was selected the site of the
new church. The work of building twas pushed
forward with dispatch" SO that in 1888 the
structure was ready for use.
The South Dutch Church, in Garden-st.
of an octagonal form, with brick steeple large
enough to afford space for consistory room.
The windows were large, with very small win
dow panes set in lead and curiously emblazoned
with the coats of arms Of the Church -dgnita-
ries Several escutcheons also hung against the
wall In 1766 il was enlarged and repaired. but
was not open for service. In 1907 1t was rebuilt,
with an open balcony on the tower, in which
was a bell which had been brought from Hol-
land and which was used at the time the first
church was built to convene all public meet
Ings Of the civil authorities tad citizens In
1885, during a great fire IN the city, this church
was destroyed, and from its ashes arose DR..
Hutton's church, which stood on Washington
Square and the South Reformed Dutch Church.
Dr. Macauley, pastor which stood on the
ner of FIfth-ave. and Twenty-irst-st.
In 1923 the Middle Dutch Church was built in
Nassau-st. without pillars gallery. the cell
Ing forming entire arch without support In
1884 the pulpit was removed from its original
place on the west side to the north end Of the
church. and galleries We're built on the east. west
and south sides. In 1874 it purchased by
The United States for the site Of the old Post
office. and on the Sunday evening before it was
turned over to the government farewell exer-
,ises were conducted in it In Dutch and Eng
fish, q sermon was preached. an historical
sketch OF the structure given. psalm sung
md the benediction pronounced-"the last words
IF prayer in the old building being in the Ian
yuage OF the ancient Knickerbocker."
The Fourth, or North. Dutch Church, founded
n 1859. stood in William-st.. between Fulton
md Ann 1t was a substantial building of
built originally with tiled roof
tor which shingles were afterward substituted |
Ita spire was two hundred feet in height, and
from the gallery In II zone OF the finest views
Of the city could be had" Other churches of the
Dutch Reformed denomination built before the
nineteenth century tho Harlem and the
Greenwich Village places Of worship. Although
many independent congregations OF the Reformed
Dutch Church have since been formed" saws
an authority. 'the Collegiate Church still exists
the mother Church OF the denomination In