In the Seventeenth Century 1648-1700 Under the administration of the Dutch West India Company the Reformed Church was established in New Amsterdam in 1628. The policy of the Company was to maintain the Reformed religion to the exclusion of all other churches. But the cosmopolitan character of the future metropolis was evident even in its earliest history. In 1643 the Jesuit missionary Jogues reports that besides the Calvinists, Lutherans and Anabaptists were to be found in the colony. In 1644 ei

The Problem of Synods A synod is an assembly of delegates organized for the purpose of administering the affairs of the churches they represent. Fourteen synods are represented in Greater New York. Some are based on differences of doctrine. A volume published in 1893, entitled "Distinctive Doctrines and Usages" (See Bibliography), treats of these differences. Others are due to differences of language and race. In some countries a hyperchurchly trend of the national or state church is responsible

One seldom finds an epilogue in a book nowadays. Its purpose in the drama was to explain to the audience the meaning of the play. It does not speak well for a writer if the people miss the point of his essay. But it is just like a preacher to say something "in conclusion" to secure, if possible, the hesitating assent of some hearer. We have reached the 20th century. We are looking back upon 270 years of history on Manhattun Island. What we have done and what we have left undone is recorded in th

Abbreviations Synods - Min., Ministerium of New York; Mo., Missouri; N. Y., New York; N. E., New York and New England; Aug., Swedish Augustana; Nor., Norwegian; Fin., National Church of Finland; Pa., Pennsylvania; O.,Ohio; D., Danish; Suo., Suomi (Finnish); U.D., United Danish; Ap., Apostolic (Finnish); NN., National Church of Norway. Languages - G., German; E., English; S., Swedish; N., Norwegian; F., Finnish; D., Danish; Sl., Slovak, Bohemian and Magyar; Let., Lettish; Est., Esthonian; Pol., P