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a man of God be called to help me as will be a blessing both to the Church and
school. May the Lord direct my goings, heal my infirmities, and restore former
life and comforts, that our last works may be better than our first, and our latter
end be peace. Amen.
27. This morning I am, for various reasons, detained from going down to New
York to attend the Synod. My own and my wife’s indisposition, want of good
company, the uncertainty of my arrival at the appointed time, for want of an
earlier opportunity, and also considering that no business will or can be transacted
of any great importance without the presence of another minister (Dominee
Romein also being detained and no elders) from this Classis, being further
informed of some competitions and dissensions which may take place with respect
to the funds; lastly, while the other work may be done without me, the examina,
and [crossed out: “the …. relating the minutes to Mr. Wilson,”] I have finally
determined to stay home, and write letters of advice to Dr. Livingston (to
postpone the full determination with respect to the funds, and to insert the several
reasons for the choice of one seminary to establish a Divinity Hall in the minutes
of the instant Synod, for the perusal and decision of the respective classes to be
repeated at next session of the Synod), and also to Mr. Wilson, with the minutes of
the consistory and Academy, requesting a speedy and favorable answer. May the
Father of mercies accept of my poor wishes and labors, and the Synod be blessed,
for Jesus’ sake. O Lord, pity, hear, heal, and spare, forgiving all our follies and
vices for Christ’s sake. Amen.
May ’87
15. Blessed be the Lord, who overrules all things to the prosperity of His Church
for His own glory! Being next day determined (on account of a happy change in
my dear consort’s bodily disposition) to attend the Synod and to prosecute the
business with Mr. Wilson, I went down with good company, and, though
somewhat distressed by a severe storm in the Highlands, we arrived Wednesday
afternoon at New York, where I found the brethren convened and was enabled to
perform my duty as deputatus Synodi in examining three young gentlemen, Mr.
Van Harlingen, 295 peremptorily, and Messrs. Low 296 and Steddifort 297
preparatorily; all received with joy and hope of future usefulness. The business of
the funds was already referred. Some other matters brought at the table (the
petition of the Synod for an amendment in the incorporation act must be backed
by others from the members at large, and a form was drawn up, which to be
subscribed not long before next session, a day of fasting, the third Thursday in
June next, a correspondence with the Coetus of Pennsylvania 298 etc., etc.). I also
295
Dominee John Martin Van Harlingen (1761- 1813). Son of Johannes Martinus (1724-1795,
ordained by Classis of Amsterdam in 1761, the year following Westerlo’s departure for North
America), Lic GenSyn, 1786; ord. 1787; Minister, Millstone, NJ, and Six Mile Run, NJ, 1787-1795.
296
Dominee Peter Lowe (1764 – 1813), studied under Livingston; Lic and Ord. GenSyn, 1787;
minister in Flatlands, Flatbush, Bushwick, New Utrecht, all in Brooklyn, NY, 1787-1808.
297
Dominee Peter Studdiford (1763-1826). Licensed and ordained GenSyn 1787; minister in
Readington, NJ, 1787-1800.
298
Coetus of German Reformed congregations, with whom the General Synod decided to open a
correspondence, “and that to this end, a kind, fraternal letter be first sent to the same by the President,
125