PAPERS RELATING' TO CHURCHES IN (QUEENS COUNTY.
201
Infidelity & deism, Methodism & New Light with every species & every degree of Scepticism &Enthusiasm, and without a Bishop upon the spot I fear it will be impossible to keep the Church herself pure & undefiled. And that it is of the last consequence to the State to support the Church here, the present times afford an alarming proof. ********
* IIEV D M R BLOOMER TO THE SECRETARY.
Jamaica Feby 15th 1770.
Rev j Sir
I preach at the three Churches of Jamaica Newtown and Flushing alternately & generally tocrowded assemblies who behave during divine Service witli the utmost decency & decorum, theChurches are neat, well finished buildings, But those of Newtown & Flushing rather small for theCongregations, the former of which the people propose to enlarge in the spring of the year, but altlio’I reap the satisfaction of enjoying the love & esteem of my hearers, yet I am sorry to acquaint theSociety that my happiness is much obstructed on acc 4 of a troublesome Lawsuit I am under theobligation of commencing against the parish for a Salary of £60 a year allowed by an Act of theProvince to the Minister who is legally inducted by the Gover 1 the law for raising this sum obligesthe people of the parish consisting of all denominations annually to elect 10 Vestrymen & 2 ChurchWardens who are to call within one year after a Vacancy, a sufficient protestant Minister of the Gospelwhom they are to present to the Governor or Commander in Chief of the Province for Induction &as Dissenters compose a great majority of the Parish, they are careful to admit none into thoseOffices, but such as are opposed to calling & presenting a Minister of the Church of England andin order to evade paying the Salary (which being raised by tax they complain of as a burthen) &at the same time comply with the law, they some years ago called & presented to the Gover r aMinister of the Presbyterian persuasion but he was refused induction: & as the act only specifiesthat he who is called, shall be a sufficient Protestant Minister of the Gospel, without confining themto any particular denomination, they imagine that the Law has been complied with on their parts& absolutely refuse paying me any money raised by Virtue of that Act, notwithstanding mybeing inducted, by Authority from his Excellency the Governor, as I am destitute of a call fromthem, who being dissenters & chiefly Presbyterians are averse to the supporting of the Church of England . This dispute has been once determined by a due course of Law in favor of Rev d M rPoyer, one of my predecessors, since which time they have constantly raised & paid it withouttrouble, but now appear resolved to stand another trial.
NOTES OF AN ARGUMENT
BEFORE THE COURT OF CHANCERY ON BEHALF OF THE MINISTER OF JAMAICA CHURCH.
Rever’d Joshua Bloomer T
it agt r
"incksman and Edsal. )
After briefly stating the Bill & Answer we shall observe that the Merits of this Cause have in agreat Measure been exhausted upon the Solemn Arguments which arose upon the Demurrer—Thatfor this Reason & to prevent useless Altercation with respect to Subjects on which the Court hasVol. TIT. 26