The Berbice Lutheran Church, 197 



confession of faith of Evangelical Lutherans. Differing from the 

 Reformed in some of the essentials of the Christian religion they 

 naturally desired to worship God according to the dictates of their own 

 consciences. 



Therefore, at the meeting held in the home of Mr. Abbensetts on the 

 15th of October, 1743, these Lutherans resolved to petition " The 

 Honourable The Court of Policy," " The Most Honourable The Directors 

 of the Colony," and " Their Highnesses The States General of the 

 Netherlands " praying for the privilege of free exercise of their religion ; 

 and at the same time making application by letter to The Reverend 

 Consistory of Amsterdam soliciting their aid and co-operation " in this 

 urgent vocation," and their good services in procuring a clergyman for 

 their community. 



The petition wss granted on the following conditions : — 

 First, The Clergyman of the Lutheran Body should previous to his 

 departure to the colony be presented to the Directors for their approba- 

 tion and confirmation. 



Second, All expenses for the maintenance of ministry and building 

 should be defrayed by the members of the congregation ; and that in 

 addition they should contribute to the Reformed Church Fund equally and 

 in the same proportion as all other inhabitants. 



This second stipulation was so rigidly enforced that in the year 

 1790 the Receiver General was instructed to proceed summarily against 

 them for arrears of acre-money. 



Third, All persons presenting free coloured children for baptism 

 were required to sign an engagement that these children should never 

 become a charge to the community or to the public. 



This regulation was the cause of converting the Lutheran Community 

 in Berbice into what Mr. May so aptly calls " a mutual benefit society." 

 At present, however, there are only two persons receiving pensions from 

 this community. 



Mr. May has suggested in his article that these hard conditions were 

 made on the part of the authorities because they feared that any 

 unauthorised body would be inclined to teach the slaves in such a manner 

 as would tend to cause them to revolt from their masters. 



We believe, however, that the opposition was the result of the 

 intolerance of the Dutch Reformed Church ; for the founders of the 

 Lutheran Community were themselves planters and slave holders, and 

 the Church as an organization owned slaves. 



The Reformed Church of that day was intolerant whenever in 

 authority as is instanced in the action of the Dutch Reformed when they 

 were in power in that other New Amsterdam which is now New York 

 City. 



