Coney Island

History of Flatbush, continued


Residence of Rev. Bernardus Freeman, 1735.  John C. Bergen, 1842.
Residence of Rev. Bernardus Freeman, 1735. John C. Bergen, 1842.

ditions were acceded to by the congregation of Flatbush. Previously however to this, it would appear that certain difficulties had arisen relative to this matter. Some, if not all, the persons who had been deputed from the several congregations to call the Rev. Mr. Freeman, for some cause which does not appear, became disaffected towards him. In consequence of this, they did not comply with the instructions which they had received-but not only neglected to answer the letter of Mr. Freeman, informing him that the congregation had complied with his stipulations, but addressed a letter to the Consistory of Schenectady, stating that the most part of the congregation were in favor of sending to Holland for a minister-but that only some "stiff heads," as they term them, had enjoined them to make a call upon Dom. Freeman. Eventually, Mr. Freeman visited the island himself, and having ascertained the true state of things, consented to accept the call. The matter, however, appears to have been in agitation for more than two years before he came. For he was not installed until the year 1705. This took place by proclamation of the Governor, in the church at New-Utrecht, in November of that year. The service was performed on the occasion, by the Rev. Mr. Dubois. In the mean time, however, the disaffected persons wrote a letter to the Classis of Amsterdam, bearing date, December 10th, 1703, requesting that a minister should be sent out to these churches from Holland. This letter was received by the Classis of Amsterdam, on the 2d, June, 1704, and on the 6th, of October, 1704, they commissioned the Rev. Vincentius Antonides, to proceed to America, for the purpose of becoming the pastor of the church of Flatbush, and of the Dutch churches adjoining. He was at the time pastor of the church of Bergen, in Friesland. In their letter to the churches, the Classis of Amsterdam, speak of him as a man of great learning, and of fine talents. He arrived in this country, and in connection with the Rev. Mr. Freeman, entered upon his duties in the year 1705. But a very unhappy controversy, which had its origin previously to his arrival, continued to agitate the churches. We need not enter into the particulars of it. It is sufficient to state that the contest was so warm between the friends of these respective ministers, that the civil authority had to interfere, and one or two orders were passed on the subject, by Lord Cornbury, the Governor. Some of these are curious, as exhibiting the powers which the Governor and his council exercised in the affairs of the church. These differences continued to agitate these several congregations, until the year 1714, when they were harmoniously reconciled. On the 27th, of December, in that year, a meeting was held in Flatbush, composed of delegates from the churches of Flatbush, Brooklyn, Flatlands, New-Utrecht, Bushwick and New-Jamaica, (as it is called in the document which gives the account of this meeting,) or the Reformed Dutch congregation of Queens County, which was then about being organized, and was supplied by the ministers from this county. This meeting was assembled in good friendship, as they state in the preamble to their transactions. They all agreed to lay aside their differences, and to receive the Rev. Messrs. Freeman and Antonides, as their pastors and teachers. They fixed the proportion of salary, to be raised by the several churches for their support, and the times and places of administering the Lord's Supper and of preaching. In regard to the communion, it was agreed, that Bushwick, Brooklyn and Flatbush, should commune together; Flatlands, Gravesend and New-Utrecht, together; and the con-



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