New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-24
LITTLE OLD NEW-YORg
Some Odd Phases of Her Nc,.,
to Greatness.
XVII.

80 49, as governor or New-Yorx ana .,N
pennsylvania and Delaware. by rova, r.-s $50 q:
william and Mary. may be said to hav. S .-Nns' G:
advent also Oh the Protestant Episcon.t ~ IS
IN the colony. Next to his personal u-a'ea
lnenl-ano THIS was always the first eo,.,s -4'-
uon IN tne minds Of England's reprsss1.s.S-
IN the old days-Govcrnor Fletcher, ,-,'isss
was the introduction into the n-O,,s- s1'el am
English church and the Enelisb Iaro,.~ - VI TIA
Early in the government OF one =, -
predecessors. Dongan. the first act ~ . s'lasrs
Assembly elected by the people IN - Fss
with the instructions OF Dongan's suD.-,.-
Duke OF York. was 10 frame n CO.. 10
Liberties. one OF whose ordinations Va -, q
person protesting faith IN God h.
Christ. should at any time be in anv
quoted or questioned for any difference 40 -
Ion IN matters OF religion" But this w. W.
the Duke OF York succeeded to the thror. -
the title Of James II. With his -
Dongan received new instructions N f,v.--..a
Introduction OF the Roman Catholic rsI,v,,- ms
the province-a policy which he was clue 40
adopt, though a Catholic himself Tn -
OF the province wers mostly Protestant.
OF them Waldenses and Huguenots wbo L.z-5
from the religious prosecutions IN Eurons -.
protection under the tolerant Dutch govs-r---N.
and Dongan. despite his creed and thu -,
structions desired to preserve this rellpio,.
lection to them. He also saw the incrs,.1-..,V
huence OF the French In Canada over ~ -, -.
quois in matters Catholic. and believed !, -
necessary, in order to preserve the prov,r,. =
the English government, to exercise a tus,.,,a.
policy IN interpreting the orders OF his r,v,1
master. His apathy dispIeased James w..
settled purpose was to encourage the growth A.
Catholicism IN his dominions rather than -
h. e. -. 49, a.
critics. and Dongan was recalled. .Te aftsrwa,s
returned as a private citizen. and {, ok IN IA,
residence on an estate on Staten Is.eud p,
which he had previously procured a patent ana
which for many years was in the possession .,
his family.
II is not to be wondered at that with the 40.
cessIon to the throne Of the Prince and Princes,
OF Orange. stanch Protestants, an overturningo a
religious affairs should occur in the colony On
March 10. 1851. Governor Slaughter arrived
and brought with him the royal authority "a
tear down old laws and substitute others in con-
formity with the wishes Of the new sovsreigns
Slaughter was a weakling In character but his
orders to crush every symptom OF popular Id
erty IN the colony and TO rule It with a rod q
iron were carried out to the letter by his as.
sistants. The greatest evidence OF his weak
ness was when. overcome with wine, the enemies
OF Leisler. the last Dutch Governor OF New
York cajoled him into signing Leisler's death
warrant
Under Slaughter the Charter OF Liberties vas
declared null and void. and thus was the way
made for Benjamin Fletcher. his successor to
make the Church OF England the established
church OF the land This was contrary to the
wishes OF the majority Of the inhabitants. who
still spoke the Dutch language and adhered to
the Dutch Church. which they regarded as ths
established church OF the province. When TIA
first Assembly was convened after his arrival
Fletcher moved 70 have the Church OF England
made the established church. on the ground
that the Dutch Church was attached to ths
Chassis OF Amsterdam. and therefore not within
the control OF the crown. The Assembly re-
fused to listen 10 any such intimation. The next
Assembly. which convened in the latter part Of
1893. was more compliant. however. and passed
an act which provided for the building of six
churches-one in this city. one in Richmond. two
in westchester and two in Sufrolk-each to have
a Protestant minister with a salary OF from f40
to f1OO. TO be paid by a tax levied on the in
habitants. This act was sent TO the Governor
for his approval. and being less than he desired.
was returned with an amendment granting him
the power OF inducing every incumbent Tia
Assembly refused to pass the amendment. and
was called before the Governor He broke into
violent abuse. and told the members that no
would collate or suspend any minister he chose.
and while in control OF the government would
see that heresy. schism or rebellion was not
preached among them. He then dismissed them
with angry threats. The Assembly would not %
forced to accept the amendment. however. and
the bill subsequently was passed without it, thu
word Protestant IN IT being construed TO mean
Episcopal Through this construction all the IN
habitants were compelled to support the Church
OF England, no matter what their religious
opinions were
In 1894 the freehOlders OF New-York CITY
elected two wardens and ten vestrymen, Wno
met and voted TO raise 200 for the support OF
a minister. At their second meeting they de-
c!ded that "a Dissenting minister be called 10
have the Care OF Souls fer this City" Ths
Governor interviewed declaring that this oines
was already provided for. and that the chaplain
OF the garrison was by right minister OF the CITY
and entitled to the place. The Council refused 70
concur with the Governor. and it was not un'h
late In 1896 that William vesey. dissenting
clergyman. received the call
In 1896. under the provisions Of the act Of the
Assembly mentioned above. a building for re-
lisious worship was begun. and was completed
and opened on February Of the following year
by the Rev William vesey. In the charter
granted to It on May 6. 1897 by act Of the AS
sembIy, and approved and ratified BY the Gov
ernor and Council. "a certain church and sleeps
lately built IN the city OF New-YOrk together
with a parcel OF ground adjoining was 10 %
known as Trinity Church. The parcel o.
ground was what was known as the king
Farm" which had been set apart for the use OF
the Governor. and consisted OF a garden a
orchard. triangular graveyard in one corner,
and pasturage for cows and horses IL nav
been leased for twenty years. at sixty oEsnsls
of wheat a year. by Governor Andres. ana =
the time when a church site was being sousA-
n was recommended 10 Governor Fletcher tnal,