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something must be done to gratify the friends of a
change, and also, if possible, to terminate the unhappy dispute, or the congregation "suffer a total
dissipation," — the Consistory resolved to call a minister to preach in the English language.
This was a decisive measure, — a measure teeming with the most momentous consequences to
the future welfare of the Church, — a measure which,
though it had to encounter a warm and determined
hostility, was agreed upon with singular moderation
and prudence. The Consistory had been accused
of unfriendliness to the Dutch Church, in meditating such a measure, or in showing any disposition to
favour the views of the English party; and, as they
knew that there were English Churches in some
cities of the United Netherlands, in connection with
the national Established Church, — to evince their
attachment to the Church, and hoping by this means
to restore peace, — they resolved, not merely to call
a minister to preach in the English language, but to
call one from Holland through the medium of the
Classis of Amsterdam. Accordingly, they prepared a blank call, and enclosed it in a letter to the
Classis, requesting that the call might be properly
filled up, and put into the hands of the individual
whom that rev. body should deem qualified for the
station. Upon the receipt of this letter, the Classic
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very promptly complied with the request it contained, and sent the call to Mr, Archibald Laidlie,
then a minister of the English Church, at Vlissingen, (or Flushing), in Zealand, and a member of
the Classis of Walcheren.
A more judicious and happy selection could not
have been made; and it was made under the
special guidance of the Great Head of the Church,
as the event proved.
Mr. Laidlie was a native of Scotland, and received his education in the University of Edinburgh.
In 1759, he settled at Flushing; and, during his
ministry in the Church of that place, which continued a little over four years, he was highly
esteemed for his enlightened and active zeal in the service
of his Master — for his extensive attainments in
theology and general literature — and for his warm
attachment to all the doctrines of grace. He received and accepted the call from New-York, in
Nov. 1763; and arrived at that city the latter part
of the March following. A fortnight after his arrival, April15, 1764, having been duly recognized
as one of the ministers of the Dutch Church, he
preached his first sermon, — the first ever delivered
in the English language in the Dutch Church — to a
very crowded and devoutly attentive auditory.
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