W. Burnet By his Excellencys Command Is: Bobin D: Sec'ry.

LICENCE TO MAKE A COLLECTION IN AID OF A NEW DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH AT N. YORK.

By his Excellency Jn° Montgomerie Esq*" &ca

To all Charitable and well Disposed Persons Inhabiting

the City of New York :

Whereas the Ministers Elders and Deacons of the Reformed

Protestant Dutch Church of the City of New York have by their

humble Petition presented to me Set forth, That the Congregation

of the said Church has Subsisted ever since this Province was

planted by Christians ; and Demeaned themselves in such

PAPERS RELATING TO THE CITY OF NEW- YORK. 483

orderly and Peaceable Manner, that by a Charter of Incorporation in the year 1696 their Church and real Estate and all their Religious Rights were confirmed unto them and their Successors for ever according to the Constitution and Directions of the Reformed Churches in Holland approved and instituted by the National Synod of Dort That by the blessing of God the said Congregation is now become so numerous that very often their present Church will not contain all the members of it, so that many of them are obliged to Refraine from coming to the Publick Worship for want of Room That for preventing the Inconveniences aforesaid, and to Promote Divine Worship for the Glory of God and the Salvation of Souls the Petitioners by and with the Consent and approbation of other members in Communion with them, purchased a Convenient Spot of Ground from M"" David Jamaison Lying and being to the northward of the French Church in the northward of this City, and built thereon another Larger Church so far as to get the same under Roof, the cost and charge whereof having already Exceeded their Stock, so that a considerable Sum will yet be requisit to Compleat the Same for the Pious use it is intended for And for as much as they and many of the Congregation of the said Dutch Church have at all times bountifully Contributed to the building and Embelhshing of other Protestant Churches more particularly the Church of England in this City, they are in hopes their voluntary assistance adding to those of the Dutch Congregation, will Enable them to finish, and Compleat the Church aforesaid Wherefore pray that I would be pleased to Grant the Pefs a Lycence to Crave the voluntary assistance and Contributions of aU well disposed Persons within the City of New York for Compkating a Structure altogether intended for Divine Worship according to the Disciphne and Government of the Reformed Dutch Church, as it is Established by the Synod held at Dort in the years 1618 & 1619. and to no other use or purpose whatsoever, which pious undertaking I being wiUing to promote and Encourage have thought fit to grant unto the said Ministers Elders and Deacons of the said Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of the City of New York, Leave Licence and Liberty to Collect and Receive the free Voluntary and Charitable Contri-