History of the Town of Flatbush

Classes, and Synods, as was the case in Holland, to whom should appertain all the rights and privileges belonging to such ecclesiastical bodies, in the mother country. The Conferentie party, on the other hand, maintained that all ministers should be ordained in Holland, and sent forth under the authority of the Classis of Amsterdam, or by their permission. The controversy was a very unhappy one, and continued to trouble the churches until the year 1772. This congregation was not exempt from the general difficulties. So divided and embittered against each other were many on this subject, that the different parties would not worship together, nor even speak to each other. Sometimes they would not turn out when they met on the road. On one occasion, it is said that two of these redoubtable opponents belonging to Flatbush, meeting each other in their waggons, and both refusing to give the road, they each deliberately took out their pipes, and began to smoke! How long they continued at this very pacific employment is not stated, nor is it said whether the difficulty between them was lost sight of by the cloud of smoke obscuring their vision, or whether their pipes were ever turned into the calumet of peace.

In August, 1759, the Rev. Johannes Casparus Rubel, was called, who continued as colleague with the Rev. Mr. Van Sinderen, until the year of his death.

The old or second church, which we have above described, continued without material change until about two years previous to the war of the American Revolution, when it was thought necessary to remodel or improve the seats, by introducing pews. Consequently, on the 6th of October, 1774, the church masters prepared a subscription paper, detailing the plan by which this desirable object should be accomplished. This paper was signed by every male adult person of the congregation who had an interest in the church. This document exhibits in a striking manner, the wisdom, foresight, sound discretion and piety of the men of that day. In this too, as well as in almost every other public ecclesiastical document, they refer to the articles of their faith, as established in the National Synod of Dordrecht, in the year 1618, 1619. The assent of the whole congregation having been thus prudently obtained, they commenced in the year 1775 to remodel the seats. The chairs were removed, and sixty-four pews, containing six seats each, were introduced. The work having been completed on the 28th, day of September, in the same year, the pews were drawn for, by the members of the congregation, and assigned to the respective owners by lot, and a record of the same accordingly made. The expense incurred by this improvement, amounted to £290.16.9. or $727.09, of which sum, the respective pew holders paid £190.4.6. equal to £475.56. John Berman, Thomas Lane, Isaac Martense, Adrian Martense and Vincent Antonides, were the carpenters who performed the work, and the painting was done by William Post. There were two galleries along the easterly side of the church, divided by the door; the one was occupied by the whites, and the other by coloured persons. The benches below, under these galleries were free, and usually occupied by non-residents. On each side of the church were two windows, and one upper window in each of the ends, at the north and south. These were all provided with shutters. The bell rope hung down in the centre of the church, was easy of access, and often used to give alarms, during the revolutionary war. Here were two benches with backs, one called the "Yefrows Bench," and the other the "Blue Bench." The former, was for the accommodation of the minister's wife and