PAGE 300: CHAPTER VII
shall agree upon the selection from the respective
authors."
Upon this subject, he again writes to the same: —
"It was of consequence to us to obtain a copyright of our Psalm Book. As our Synod is not a body
corporate, I took it out in the name of our Dutch
Church of New-York; and, to ascertain the property for the Synod, I have got an instrument
sealed with the seal of the Consistory, in which a
declaration is made that this right is held in trust
for the Synod, and shall always be subject to the
direction of the same."
This step was taken at the suggestion of Dr.
Linn, and some other friends; and so rapid was
the sale of the book, that a second edition was
soon called for. Such a work was, indeed, much
needed: and with all its faults — for defective it
was, in several respects, it gave great satisfaction
at the time; and, wherever the use of it obtained,
had a beneficial influence.
Among the papers of the Doctor, copies have
been met with, of two letters, — the one to Dr. Hardenbergh, of New-Brunswick, having respect to
the College in that place, — the other to a private
friend, Mrs. Judge Livingston, the mother of the
|
PAGE 301: CHAPTER VII
late chancellor, relating to points upon which, as it
would appear, his advice had been asked: and
parts of the same, it may not be amiss to present
here, on account of the important opinions contained in them, and the evidence they furnish of the
deep interest he took in all the concerns of the
Church, whether they were of a general or a local
nature. — The first is dated March 4th, 1790:
"Reverend and dear Brother,
"The subject we often have conversed upon,
has never been brought to any decided point;
whether we differ in sentiment or are fully agreed,
when every preliminary respecting the execution of
the plan, is taken into consideration, we do not yet
know. I am sincerely glad that you have brought it
forward, in your very acceptable letter of the 23d
ult. and I will give you my thoughts in answer, with
candour and confidential freedom; for, if I know any
thing of my own heart, I have no particular advantage or interest in view, but wish to examine the
question, as I am sure you do, only as it relates to
the prosperity of the Church, and is calculated to
promote the general welfare of our Zion. Your
being at the head of the College, and my being
placed in the professorate, may, to others, appear
as an evidence of our being partial to whatever is
calculated to promote the one or the other of these
|