Identifier: historictownsofm02powe (find matches)
Title: Historic towns of the middle states
Year: 1899 (1890s)
Authors: Powell, Lyman P. (Lyman Pierson), b. 1866, ed
Subjects: Cities and towns -- Middle Atlantic States Middle Atlantic States -- History
Publisher: New York, London, G. P. Putnam's sons
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: Sloan Foundation

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a bold man who would venture tostate definitely the date at which the building-of this ancient edifice was begun ; on thatpoint a wide latitude must be permitted anddiscreet silence preserved. It answers allpurposes of intelligent curiosity to be toldthat the foundations were probably laid asearly as 1684, and that the building was com-pleted, probably, not later than 1697. The bellwhich still hangs in the little steeple and whichmay be heard on quiet Sunday afternoons inthe late summer or early autumn, when serv-ices are held in the ancient structure, wascast in 1685, and bears the inscription, SiDeus pro nobis quis contra nos. The churchwas built with characteristic solidity, the wallsbeing more than two feet thick ; a great pul-pit with a sounding-board projected from theeastern end ; the benches on which the con-ofresfation sat were without backs; and thedoctrine expounded from the sacred desk wasof a kindred soundness of fibre. Some con-cession to human weakness was shown to the
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o > I Q- J 154 Tarry town-Oil-Hudson lord of the manor, in die comfortable and im-posing arrangement of the large pews on therisfht and left of the minister. The farmersfilled the body of the little church, while slaves,redemptioners, and other obscure persons, withthe choir, sat in the tiny gallery. In 1697, theRev. Guiliam Bertholf began a kind of visi-torial ministry in the new church, coming threeor four times a year to preach and administerthe sacraments. He was a native of Sluis, inHolland, emigrated to the new world in 1684,and became a preacher nine years later. Hisability and zeal gave him wide influence, andhe was instrumental in organizing a number ofchurches of the Reformed faith and order.From this initial ministry until the presenttime, althouo;h the cono;reo^ation has moved toa larger and modern edifice, the succession offaithful preachers has never been broken, andthe historic pulpit of Tarrytown has neverbeen more thoroughly identified with generousdevotion, hiufh

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