LIBRARY f>r .^RifTFTON 
 
 THEOLOGICAL S£,VM,-.nAY 
 
 .m. ..^..j 
 
 BX9620 .F38 
 
 1847 
 
 Faure, P. E 
 
 , 
 
 Waarheid : ( 
 
 detail of some 
 
 proceedings 
 
 of the 
 
 consistory < 
 
 and 
 
 minister of 
 
 the Dutch 
 
 Reformed Church 
 
Be WAARHEIP. 
 
 DETAIL 
 
 OF 
 
 SOME PROCEEDINGS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CONSISTORY AND MINISTER 
 
 OF THE 
 
 DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH 
 
 AT WYNBERG. 
 
 By the Reverend P. E. Faure, V.D.M. 
 
 Let all things be done decently and in order. — 1 Cor. xiv. 40. 
 
 WITH AN APPENDIX 
 
 CONTAINING 
 
 A FCW REMARKS BIT THE SAME 
 
 '' ON THE 
 
 "WYNBERG MISSION," 
 
 OR 
 
 «DE ECHTB WAARHEID." 
 
 €avt Coton : 
 
 Printed by B. J. van de Sandt de Villiers, No. 2, Castle-street:— 
 
 and Published by Messrs. A. S. Robertson, Heerengracht, J. H. 
 
 CoLLARD, Long-market-street, and F. W. van pe r Vliet. 
 
 Bree-street. ^0-^f?mCETO;f 
 
 1847. /\^ 
 
 .0^ ■.■ 20W 
 
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE WYNBERG CHURCH IN PARTI- 
 CULAR, AND TO ALL CHRISTIANS IN GENERAL. 
 
 ' Beloved ! 
 
 One of the most important situations in which man 
 can be placed upon earth, is that of Pastor, or Minister, 
 promotor of the spiritual interests of his fellow-creatures, 
 instructor of the ignorant in those truths which alone 
 can make wise unto salvation ; in the hand of God the 
 guide of his fellow mortals to a better life. 
 
 In order to be successful in the exercise of these im- 
 portant duties, it is required to have a fit disposition for 
 the work, which ought to be carefully developed, — that 
 he be full of the love of God, in Jesus Christ, and 
 feels an interest in the welfare of his fellow-creatures ; 
 that he diligently applies himself to the acquirement of 
 that knowledge and those sciences, which enable him 
 not only to instruct the ignorant, but to refute op- 
 ponents, — and more particularly, that such knowledge 
 be sanctified to his heart by the Holy Spirit, and in- 
 fluences his conduct so, that he instructs by walk and 
 conversation, — and finally, that the blessing of God 
 crowns his work. 
 
 It is under this conviction that the Dutch Reformed 
 Church in Southern Africa has, in accordance with the 
 most of the established Churches in the world, framed 
 Regulations for the training up and admission of those 
 who desire to exercise the oflice of Pastor or Minister, 
 or of Public Religious Instructor. 
 
 It would appear, however, that of late more than 
 one member of our Church, has viewed the matter in 
 a different light to what their Ministers, imploring the 
 light of the Holy Ghost, have thought proper to fix 
 and determine, with the view to comply with the rule 
 of the apostle Paul, who, in regard to the manner in 
 which every thing ought to be regulated in the Church 
 of Christ, gave no other precept than this : Let all 
 things be done decently and in order. 
 
 This was latterly evinced by more than one member 
 of our Church, by arbitrarily breaking through those 
 
2 
 
 rules, (contrary to solemn and openly confessed vows, 
 which in many Churches are also corroborated by sub- 
 scribing to the same, on being confirmed and admitted 
 as members of the Church,) by taking upon themselves 
 the right openly to act as Teachers, without any due 
 admission, thereby showing disrespect for the regu- 
 lations of the Synod, and indifference as to the pledges 
 on the ground of which membership of the Church was 
 granted to them. 
 
 This could not but be grievous to the Ministers and 
 Elders of the Church, not only on account of the bad 
 example thereby given to others to break through the 
 rules, which were made in the fear of God, for the 
 benefit of the Church; but more particularly, because 
 it proved, that they who pretend to be actuated by a 
 desire for the glory of God, had no respect for the ad- 
 monitions of the apostles: Hebr. xiii. 17. Ohey the7n 
 that hav0 the rule over you, and submit yourselves : for 
 they loatch for your souls, as they that must give account, 
 that they may do it with joy, and not luith grief : for that 
 is unprofitable for you. 1 Thess. v. 12, 13. And we 
 beseech you, brethren, to knoiv them ivhich labour among 
 you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you : 
 And to esteem them very highly in love for their works' sake. 
 
 If such proceedings were in themselves unpleasant 
 and to be regretted, they became the more so by 
 the encouragement which such transgressors deceived 
 from Christians and Ministers, belonging to other 
 congregations, — from men to whom Ave should so 
 willingly have extended the hand of brotherhood, — 
 who not only attached their approbation to such 
 members of our Church, who had upon their own 
 authority assumed the right to act as Teachers, but some 
 of them were even found the ready friends to induct 
 them in the sacred ministry, by the laying on of hands; 
 and should any Minister of the Reformed Church ven- 
 ture to complain about the breach of good order there- 
 by occasioned in his parish, — should he presume to re- 
 mark, as it happened to me, that he did not approve 
 of the preaching of lay-members of the congregation, 
 before they had been previously admitted thereto by 
 the Presbytery, — he was sure to be rewarded by being 
 held out, as well in private as in open assemblies, an 
 enemy to the good cause. 
 
This state of things, beloved Christians, has urged me 
 to develope to you, that, which has latterly happened 
 in my congregation, for two reasons. 
 
 First, — Because you should he in jTm/Z possession of 
 that which j^ou might otherwise only hear in part. 
 
 Second, — Because the responsible situation which 
 I fill renders it a duty, as much as possible to guard 
 for my good name, because a Minister whose name is 
 polluted, more particularly by an accusation of being 
 an enemy to the good cause, the cause of God and 
 Christ, is unworthy of his office, especially as I am 
 convinced that a perverted representation of facts has, 
 with some even pious people, made an injurious im- 
 pression with regard to myself, and that even, had it 
 not been the care of the Most High, who averted it, 
 many members of the congregation who formerly had 
 always shewn a great attachment to me, would thereby 
 have been severed from our community, whilst they 
 now, after a while of indifference, again show me that 
 love which the word of God demands from them, for 
 my work's sake. 
 
 I at first supposed that it would be sufficient for me 
 in order to make you acquainted with the case, merely 
 to lay before you a correspondence between the Revd. 
 Dr. Adamson and myself; but I find that such would 
 not put you in possession of the whole case, because 
 there are some who consider that I have acted foolish- 
 ly, whilst I continued for so long a time a member of 
 the Committee of the Christian Instruction Society , — 
 in not opposing myself to the preaching of lay-mem- 
 bers ; the reader will therefore require to be put in pos- 
 session of what took place between myself and the 
 Christian Instruction Society of Wynberg and Ronde- 
 boscli. 
 
 In the year 184], I was invited to aid in the forma- 
 tion of a Society, having for its object to employ one or 
 more Agents to visit the dwellings of those who ne- 
 glected themselves, who never visited any place of 
 religious worship. I signified my approval of the plan, 
 promised all my help and advice to the Society, but 
 requested to be excused from becoming a member, — 
 because I would not be able to assist regularly in per- 
 forming the duties, and because I had not much leisure 
 in tlie sphere in which I was placed. I was, however. 
 
persuaded, particularly by the argument that it would 
 serve to widen my sphere of usefulness : that there was 
 an abundance of means of grace at Wynberg, but 
 which many, very many, neglected to make use of. 
 
 In this manner I was persuaded to take a share in 
 the labours of the Society, as much as my leisure per- 
 mitted. Every thing went on well, as long as the So- 
 ciety confined itself faithfully to the original plan ; but 
 it will appear from the following correspondence, that 
 it soon took another turn, namely — the Agents who 
 had in the meetings of the Directors often been admo- 
 nished that they were merely to be scriptural readers, 
 soon transformed themselves into expounders of the 
 Scriptures, preachers, &c. 
 
 On several occasions, different opinions were express- 
 ed on the subject in the meetings, mostly disapproving 
 of the Agents conducting public worship ; this was par- 
 ticula]-ly the case when the Ministers of the Anglican 
 Church, the Rev, Messrs. Fannell and Hutton, were 
 members of the Committee : but after the departure 
 of these Gentlemen, a spirit prevailed in favor of the 
 holding of such worship, so that, when in October 1845 
 I received a note from Mr. Read, Secretary of the 
 Committee, requesting to know whether it was my de- 
 sire to remain a member of the Committee for another 
 year, I felt it my duty to return the following answer : 
 
 Waterloo, 20th October 1845. 
 
 My Christian Friends! 
 
 In reply to a note from your Secretary, requesting to 
 know, if it was my desire to remain for another year on the 
 Committee of the Christian Instruction Society, it is with 
 much regret I feel myself called upon to address to you this 
 present communication, requesting to have ray name withdrawn 
 as a member of the Committee of your Society. I would most 
 gladly have continued a member of the same, and have lent my 
 humble aid in its operations, as much as was in my power, but 
 the late proceedings have compelled me, after mature con- 
 sideration, to come to this painful resolution, which I should 
 have been most anxious to have avoided. It is but just that I 
 should candidly state to you the considerations which have 
 moved me in this matter. Far be it that any thing of a 
 sectarian nature should in the least have influenced my mind 
 in coming to this resolution, but the principle which was 
 formally acknowledged at the formation of the Christian In- 
 struction Society, and on which I joined your Society, having, 
 
in my view, been departed from, I will in candour state llic 
 difliculties in wliich I shall consequently be involved, in case I 
 continue my connection with the society on the principle, on 
 which yon are acting at present. 
 
 When the Christian Instruction Society was originally esta- 
 blished, it was intended to carry on its operations by means of 
 Agents, who were to act as Cathechists and Scripture Readers, 
 This was inculcated on the Agents, and on their departing from 
 that principle, it was resolved to enforce the rules for that pur- 
 pose laid down. 
 
 When the Committee afterwards considered it necessary that 
 their Agents should act as Preachers, I then stated, that 
 although it was a deviation from the original principle, I would 
 not object to the same, provided the Agents, of tvhutever deno- 
 mination, should be regularly examined and admitted as such 
 according to the rules and regulations of that Church of which 
 they are members ; as by the latest Regulations of the Dutch 
 Reformed Church, I could not sanction the preaching of laymen, 
 unless previously licenced by the proper Church Court. 
 
 I beg to repeat that I am favorable to laymen holding religious 
 meetings ; the Dutch Reformed Church also encourages its 
 members, often to meet for mutual edification by prayer and 
 scriptural reading, and has no prescribed rules for the same, — 
 but as the word of God declares, " that all things must be done 
 decently atid in order," (1 Cor. xiv. 40.) the Church has pre- 
 scribed, that all laymen, desirous of acting as Preachers, shall 
 be properly admitted as such. It declares concerning them, 
 Art. .58 : 
 
 " That they should have been resident in the congregation 
 at least two years ; that they have conducted themselves in an 
 irreproachable and exemplary manner, and have at least for 
 two years been exercising and preparing themselves expressly 
 for giving religious instruction, under the efficient training and 
 superintendence of some Minister or other of their community." 
 
 And regarding their admission, it is ordered, Art. 59 : 
 
 " That such Instructors, Cathechists, or Lay Preachers, shall, 
 for the said purpose, on the recommendation of the properly 
 qualified Church Court, within whose bounds they are, undergo 
 a suitable examination by the Presbytery, in Sacred History, 
 the contents of the Books of Scripture, the doctrines of the 
 Christian Faith and Morality, and the principal points of 
 Church History. Trial shall also be made as to their talent for 
 instructing. 
 
 It enjoins on all its Ministers, " that they shall properly 
 assist and train such as wish to qualify themselves for giving 
 religious instruction as subordinate instructors." — Art. 66. 
 
 In the act of admission it is enjoined on the Lay Preachers, 
 " that they guard against all expressions and statements, which 
 might give rise to party feeling and division in the community, 
 and on the other hand, that they exert themselves to preserve 
 the bond of affection and be careful not to cast reflections upon 
 government or its administration, or upon the Minister and his 
 doctrine and ministration ; that so far from drawing people 
 away from attendance at public worship, performed in and 
 
6 
 
 amongst their congregations, they vviil, on the contrary, both 
 by their precept and example, recommend the observance 
 thereof, and will consequently never hold a Meeting during the 
 hours of public worship, or so as to interfere in any manner 
 with the same." 
 
 At the annual investigation of the Presbytery, the consistory 
 is bound to answer, "whether these injunctions are observed 
 in the congregation, and uo unlicenced Preachers are allowed 
 to officiate." 
 
 These, my Christian Friends, are the regulations of the Dutch 
 Reformed Church,* and considering that members of the Dutch 
 Reformed Church have been appointed by you as Preachers, 
 contrary to the rules of the church, that is, without passing an 
 examination, and contrary to the promise they publicly made 
 on their being admitted communicants of that church, " that 
 they will subject themselves to the spiritual superintendence of 
 the Overseers of that Church, — I cannot conscientiously support 
 such proceedings, without being guilty of duplicity. 
 
 Messrs. Keet and Le Riche, being both members of the 
 Church of which I am the Pastor, I am glad that they are em- 
 ployed as Agents of your Society, as the Society was originally 
 constituted ; neither can I have the least objection to their 
 being your Agents, in the capacity of Preachers, provided they 
 are admitted as such according to the rules of the Church of 
 which they are members,- — in which case I am most ready, as I 
 have repeatedly declared, of rendering them every assistance to 
 have that object attained, and continue to assist the Society in 
 its benevolent endeavours, without any regard whom they era- 
 ploy as their vVgents, if properly authorized, for I disclaim all 
 " sectarianism." 
 
 Should this meet with any consideration, my request will fall 
 of itself: but should the Committee think otherwise and appoint 
 Preachers, without any regard to their being qualified to act 
 as such, I must state my regret, that I shall have to deny 
 myself the gratification of meeting you any longer as a mermber 
 of the Christian Instruction Society. 
 Believe me. 
 
 My Christian Friends, 
 
 Yours verv truly, 
 
 P. E. FAURE. 
 The Committee of the Christian 
 
 Instruction Society of Wynherg 
 and Rondebosch. 
 
 * And are not these salutary regulations ? Does a State allow that 
 every one appropriates to himself a self-assumed authority to appear before 
 a Court and act the Barrister ? that every one passes liimself off as a 
 Surgeon, or Doctor of Medicine ? And shall the Church permit, that 
 every one take upon liimself the Office of Propagator of the word of God 
 and Expounder of the Holy Scriptures .' Ought then a Church to be 
 reproved for institutmg such i-egulations, and it be thrown uncharitably 
 into their face, that these regulations only serve to lay obstructions in 
 the way of those who so much desire to promote the honor of God ! Is 
 it just, that, for that reason, the Dutch Reformed Church is said to be 
 against Missionary labor. 
 
To this letter I received the following reply in the 
 name of the Committee of the said Society, emanating 
 from the pen of Mr. Hawkins, already well known 
 through the South African Press. 
 
 Wynberg, Dec. 8tli, 1845. 
 
 Reverend and Dear Sir, 
 
 Having laid before the Committee of the Wynberg and 
 Rondebosch Christian Instruction Society, your letter of the 
 20th October last, I have received their instruction to communi- 
 cate to you the following- observations in reply. 
 
 Your letter appears to the Committee to involve a threefold 
 charge against their pooceedings. 
 
 First. — ^A departure from tlie original constitution of the 
 Society. 
 
 Second. — A departure in the appointment of what you term 
 " Preachers," from the rules of the Church of which those per- 
 sons are members. 
 
 Third.— The appointment of such " Preachers without any 
 regard being had as to their being properly qualified to act 
 as such." 
 
 The departure from the original constitution of the Society 
 alluded to in your letter, arises out of the fact that the Agents 
 of the Society are permitted to hold meetings for prayer and 
 christian instruction. The Committee desire me to observe that 
 the 2nd Resolution adopted at the original establishment of the 
 Society on the 11th May 1841, expressly states this as one of 
 the means contemplated for carrying out the objects of the 
 Institution. 
 
 The first Candidate offered himself as an Agent to the Society 
 
 was a Mr. ; and on the 8th June 1841, the following 
 
 Resolution among others, was adopted. 
 
 " Resolved that the Secretary prepare draft of a letter of in- 
 structions for the eventual guidance of Mr. , if engaged, 
 
 and adverting to his youth and inexperience, such portion of 
 the objects of the Society contained in the 2nd Resolution of the 
 proceedings of the 11th May last, which refers to meetings for 
 prayer and christian instruction, shall not be included in these 
 instructions." This Resolution distinctly* shews that the found- 
 ers of the Institution considered the means which you now 
 declare to be unconstitutional, to have been within its constitu- 
 tion ; but for special reasons, withheld them from the instruc- 
 tions proposed to be issued to Mr. , who ultimately was 
 
 not engaged by the Society. 
 
 The first Agent employed by the Society was Mr. Keet. He 
 was engaged at the meeting of the Committee held on the 11th 
 August 1841, the first of their meetings at which, according to 
 the minutes, you were present. The instructions issued to Mr, 
 Keet were to the same effect as those proposed for issue to 
 Mr. r-. 
 
 * Distinctly ? ! 
 
8 
 
 At a meeting of the Comiuittee held on the 9th March 1842, 
 Mr. Keet pointed out the practical inconvenience of the rule 
 in his instructions respecting the holdingof prayer meetings, &c. 
 It was unanimously resolved " that the restriction in tne Agents' 
 instructions as to the holding of meetings for prayer, and the 
 collecting together of persons for religious instruction, be 
 rescinded; and that the 2nd Resolution of the Society of the 
 11th May last be in future fully observed and carried out ;" the 
 terra " in future" evidently implying that it should be observed, 
 provided that the Society had Agents of mature age and ex- 
 perience. Up to this point there appears to have been no doubt 
 in the minds of the Committee as to the perfectly constitutional 
 use of these means. 
 
 On the 10th May 1843, Mr. Keet addressed a letter to the 
 Committee, suggesting the purchase of a large piece of ground, 
 at Noordhoek, the establishment of a village, and the formation 
 of a settlement in connection with the Society, to be placed 
 under his care, in respect to the religious instruction of the in- 
 habitants. This letter was, on the 7th June 1843, referred for 
 report to a Sub-committee, consisting of the following gentle- 
 men : Rev. P. Faure, and Messrs. Casamajor, Eksteen, Kotze, 
 and Steedman. The report of the Sub-committee, dated the 
 13th June 1843, in your own handwriting, is to the following 
 efiFect: 
 
 " Agreed to report to the General Committee, that the Sub- 
 committee are of opinion, that a settlement of the kind proposed 
 in Mr. Keet's letter, was not contemplated by the fundamental 
 rules of the Society, and even appears contrary to the provision 
 of the 2d rule, " that it should be the duty of the Society's 
 Agent, to stimulate those whom he visits to a regular attendance 
 upon the preaching of the gospel, by which expression your 
 Committee has no doubt, was intended the preaching at the 
 established places of worship." 
 
 This report involves a fact, and a reason for that fact.* As to 
 the fact, that such a settlement was not contemplated by the 
 fundamental rules of the Society, there cannot be a doubt. It 
 may well be doubted, however, whether the whole of the sub- 
 scribers to the report concurred in the reason,^ to the extent that 
 the holding of meetings for prayer and Christian instruction, is 
 incompatible with the fundamental rules of the Society. Three 
 of the gentlemen who subscribed the report, were present at the 
 meeting of the 9th March 1842, which removed every restriction 
 to the holding of such meetings, and concurred in its pro- 
 ceedings. The Committee at their meeting of the 15th June 
 1843, did not, in as many words adopt the report, but merely 
 resolved, " that in the opinion of this meeting, the subject of 
 any proposed establishment at Noordhoek be finally withdrawn 
 from the notice of the Society, as incompatible with its avowed 
 object." Not a word was recorded about the meetings for 
 
 * We request the reader to pay attention to the reasoning. 
 
 t Is there any ground for this doubt ! I declare that no one of the sub- 
 scribers has given vent to the least appearance of doubt, at the framing of 
 the report. 
 
prayer and Christian instruction.* It then appears, that for 
 upwards of two years from the date of its original formation, 
 the founders and conductors of the Society never doubted their 
 constitutional competenc}' to authorize their agents to hold 
 such meetings, and that, for the greater portion of this time, 
 sucli meetings were actually held. Nor does there appear to 
 have been any alteration in the constitution of the Society, at 
 any subsequent period. In August 1843, the rules of the Society 
 were revised, and agreeably to them, tlie Agents were to be 
 instructed, that they were not to hold meetings, "without the 
 approval of the Committee." This was, in fact, nothing more 
 than a repetition, in other words, of the existing practice. f It is 
 clear, that the conditional clause in the rules is declaratory of 
 the competency of the Committee, to grant permission to hold 
 the meetings to which you object. On the 1 1th September 1843, 
 the Committee directed the Agent to discontinue the meetings 
 held by him; and in their meeting of December 1844,1 they 
 granted permission to him to revive them. Thus the cotistitntion 
 of the Society never has been changed, though there have been 
 changes in the practical enforcement of some of its rules. The 
 Committee trust they have made it clear, that you are in error 
 in charging them with any departure from the original princi- 
 ples of the Society, in permitting their Agents to hold meetings 
 for prayer and Christian instruction ; and that the principle, 
 in consequence of the recognition of which you have now 
 seceded, has been a recognized principle of the Society, during 
 the four years and upwards, that you have been a member of 
 its Committee. 
 
 As to your second charge, the Committee desire me to state, 
 that they must be guided by their own rules, and not by those 
 of any particular section of the professing Church of Christ. 
 To submit to the terms you propose would be virtually tantamount 
 to the Committee placing itself, quoad the employment of some 
 of its Agents, in subjection to the ecclesiastical courts of the 
 Dutch Reformed Church. 
 
 In regard to the third charge you have urged against the Com- 
 mittee, I am also instructed to say, that they must take the 
 measures which their rules prescribe, for ascertaining the quali- 
 fication of their Agents. With reference to one of th^m, who 
 has been the longest in the employ of the society, the Committee 
 desired me to furnish you with the annexed extract of a letter 
 from the Rev. Dr. Robertson, of Sweilendam, the moderator of 
 
 * Reader ! you here jireceive that Mr. Hawkins wants to argue from 
 silence, that the Committee did not agree with it ; while we have the cus - 
 torn to be sUent when we agree, and to have our vote noted down when 
 we have a different opinion. 
 
 t Wherefore that repetition ? Was there no other reason for it than a 
 mere inclination to repeat .' 
 
 i That is, for 15 months. 
 
10 
 
 the Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church, written shortly before 
 the date of the engagement entered into with Mr. Keet.* 
 I am, Revd. and dear Sir, 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 T. HAWKINS, 
 To Sec. to the W. & R. Chr. 
 
 The Rev. P. E. Faure, Instr. Sty. 
 
 The reader who has paid any attention to my letter 
 of the 20th October, will readily perceive, how unsatis- 
 factory this last letter must have been in every respect, 
 written as it was by a man, who had on more than one 
 occasion proved, that, looking on others as if they 
 were erring, he considered himself in the right way, 
 and writing in the name of a Committee, the members 
 of which so often changed by the continual arrival and 
 departure of Indian visitors, that it is not to be won- 
 dered, that a deviation from the original plan had 
 taken place, without themselves being aware or sen- 
 sible of it. I thought it my duty, however, not to 
 leave this letter unanswered, and thereupon wrote the 
 following reply : 
 
 Waterloo, 2d January 1846. 
 
 Dear Sir, 
 
 I am sorry to observe from the tenor of your letter of 
 the 8th of December 1845, that an interpretation has been given 
 to the contents of my previous letter, which was not intended 
 by me. You state that my letter appears to the Committee, to 
 involve a threefold charge against their proceedings, which 
 you have taken the trouble to refute; but I must confess, that 
 your statements have not in the least convinced me, that I am 
 in error with regard to the grounds which would compel me to 
 seoede as a member from the Committee. Having been con- 
 nected with the society, almost from its very commencement, — 
 remembering yet several debates with regard to its constitution, 
 — remembering the speechesf of several members of the Com- 
 mittee at puUk general meetings, explaining the nature and 
 method of the Society's operations, and the duties required 
 from its Agents,— remembering public declarations that it was 
 in no way the Society's intention to draw people away from the 
 established places for public divine worship, but, on the con- 
 trary, to stir them to a regular attendance upon the preaching 
 of the gospel, upon the means of grace, which the Committee 
 
 * 1 am not at liberty to send this extract to press, because Dr. Robertson 
 told me, that it was an extract from a private letter , written to a private 
 individual. 
 
 t Among whi£h chiefly that of the Rev. Mr. Haddy, in the Infant 
 School Building at Wynberg. 
 
11 
 
 declared to be abundant, especially at Wynberg,* — considering 
 the present operations of the Society's Agents, — referring to the 
 printed regulations for the school at Hout Bay, viz : No. 2, 
 " That the Society's Agent shall, once in a month, on a Sab- 
 bath, visit the above mentioned place, and there hold public 
 divine worship in the school-house ;" — No. 10, " that besides the 
 regular divine worship on Sunday mornings at 10 o'clock ; he 
 shall also ou that day hold a religious meeting in the evening or 
 afternoon ;" [N.B. In this article a distinction is made between 
 public divine worship and a religious nieeti7ig^— and comparing all 
 this with the 2d resolution, which speaks only of meeting.s for 
 prayer and Christian instruction, and which was more than 
 once verbally explained to the Agents, (who complained, that 
 they could not prevent, when praying or reading with one 
 family, that members of a neighbouring family came in,) that 
 the Committee saw no objection to allow two or three families 
 to join in that way, — there rests no doubt on my mind, that the 
 changes of the Society have been such, that ihey mu.st be con- 
 sidered a change in its constitution. 
 
 I most positively stated in my communication, that I disclaim 
 all sectarianism; how then could I propose terms which would 
 virtually place the Committee itself in subjection to the Ecclesi- 
 astical Courts of the Dutch Reformed Church, as you declare 
 my terms involve? This would do it just as much as the em- 
 ployment of an office-bearer of the Wesleyan body,f as one of 
 the Agents of the Society, places it under the superintendence 
 and jurisdiction of the Wesleyan Section of the Christian 
 Church. I never spoke of the qualifications of your Agents, 
 but of their being authorised to act as such, i. e. as preachers 
 of the gospel. 
 
 With regard to the extract of a letter from the Rev. Dr. 
 Robertson of Svvellendam, allow me to observe that I am per- 
 fectly convinced, that my reverend friend did not give his 
 opinion in his capacity of Moderator of the Synod of the Dutch 
 Reformed Church, so that the addition of that title to his name, 
 rather weakens than strengthens your authority, as the opinion 
 given in such a capacity would make the non-observance of the 
 regulations of our church, which every minister is in duty bound 
 to obey the more obvious. Moreover this testimony to Mr. 
 Keet's qualification was not necessary for me, from whom the 
 Committee on several occasions has had the most favorable 
 opinions with regard to Mr. Keet, of which use has been made 
 by the Committee, in the public prints. 
 
 In the way the Committee is now carrying on the operations 
 of the Society, I take the liberty to request, that no endeavours 
 may ever be made to make those people who are members of 
 the Church, over which the Lord has constituted me the Pastor, 
 to discontinue their attendance on the instituted ordinances of 
 
 * How consistent, therefore, to have an Agent, who, at the same time 
 that public worship is held by me and others, regularly jureacAe* two or 
 three times a week, at some 7 or 800 yards' distance. 
 
 t At that time, namely, the Society employed an itinerating Preacher of 
 the Wesleyan body. 
 
12 
 
 religion aduiitjistcred by me. Let tliis, however, not be con- 
 strued as another charge against the Society ; I merely wish to 
 direct your attention to this point, if possible to prevent those 
 consequences, which I wish to avoid, whilst endeavouring to 
 do what my hands find to do, in the spreading of the savour of 
 the knowledge of Jesus Christ, I keep in viev/ the unity of the 
 Spirit in the bonds of love. 
 
 T remain dear Sir, 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 P. E. FAURE, v.D.M. 
 J. Hawkins, Esq. 
 Secretary &c. 
 
 Should any one perhaps, after the perusal of the 
 foregoing, imagine that there existed any difficulty for 
 the Committee of the Christian Instruction Society, to 
 disprove the grounds for my opinion and proceedings, 
 he would but deceive himself, — for nothing was easier 
 for them, and how well founded Ci) they have done it, 
 and with what a high degree of discretion (?) and with 
 what observance of the love to which a Minister is en- 
 titled for his work's sake, will clearly appear from the 
 following letter. 
 
 Wynberg, 1.5th January 1846. 
 
 Reverend and dear Sir, 
 
 The Committee of the Wynberg and Rondebosch Chris- 
 tian Instruction Society, request me to state, in reply to your 
 communication of the 2nd instant, that the further continuance 
 of the correspondence in regard to the points mooted in your 
 letter of the 20th October last, is not likely in their opinion, to be 
 attended with any satisfactory result, and accordingly, without 
 intending the slightest disrespect to you, they limit themselves 
 on those points to this acknowledgement of your letter. 
 
 One subject, however, requires notice. It is obvious from 
 the general tenor of your present communication, and especially 
 from its concluding paragraph, that you apprehend the Com- 
 mittee may make or allow to be made, endeavours to draw 
 away members of churches from the established places of public 
 worship. They instruct me to say, that they are anxious to 
 carry out the principles and regulations of the Society in this, 
 as in every other respect ; and that they are led to believe that 
 the labors of their Agents have never been accompanied by en- 
 deavours such as those to which you have considered it nec^s- 
 sary to direct their attention. 
 
 I have the honor to be, 
 Reverend and dear Sir, 
 
 Yours most faithfully, 
 
 D. CUNLIFFE, 
 To Sec. Ch. Ins. Sty. 
 
 Rev. P. E. Faure, 
 &c. &c. &c. 
 
13 
 
 And in this manner those L2;entlemen dismissed the 
 case, — with satisfaction, no doubt, at the manly and 
 polite step they had taken. It was customary at the 
 time when I belonged to the Coniiiiittee, to remind the 
 Agent,. at stated })criods, '' Owe no man any thing." 
 Had my friends, whilst reading this moral to their 
 Agent, applied to themselves what the apostle Paul 
 adds to it, (Rom. xiii. 8) "but to love one another," — 
 if they had in view this rule, when they directed the 
 otherwise so very civil Mr, Cunliffe to answer my letter, 
 — I doubt not, I would have received one, written in 
 quite a different spirit. But, let this suffice. My heart 
 does not condemn me. I will only add, it was not with- 
 out regret, that I was obliged to take leave of a Society, 
 (which I had joined from the purest motives, and which 
 had originally been so well calculated to be eminently 
 useful,) so completely altered and under such circum- 
 stances. 
 
 Under these circumstances lay-preaching continued 
 uninterrupted at more than one place. What I did in 
 the matter, or rather, how much I have, for weighty 
 reasons, withheld myself, in the face of the regulations 
 of our Church, from acting against such preachers, the 
 correspondence between the Rev. Dr. Adamson and 
 myself will, I trust, fully show, and the reader will 
 be himself convinced, whether the Society really meant 
 and believed what it wrote in the last letter, as it caused 
 an Agent to be ordained, for the purpose of forming 
 an entirely new congregation, separated from the pre- 
 viously existing Episcopalian, Wesleyan, and Reformed 
 congregations. 
 
 On the 2d September 1846, I received a letter from 
 Dr. Adamson, dated 
 
 Cape Town, 31st August 184G. 
 
 Reverend and dear Sir, 
 
 Mr. Keet, employed at present as Missionary by the 
 Christian Instruction Society at Wynberg, has applied by let- 
 ter to Mr. Stegmann and myself conjointly, requesting that he 
 may be ordained by us to the spiritual charge of a congregation ; 
 and assigning as a reason for this step, among others, that 
 having applied to the Colonial Reformed Church, to be by 
 them taken on trials for this purpose, he finds, that there is a 
 regulation forming a portion of the present ecclesiastical law of 
 that church, which prevents him from attaining his object. 
 
14 
 
 Being a member of the Reformed Cliureh, Mr. Keel must 
 necessarily consider it as having, in the first instance, a claim 
 to his sevices, and a right to judge whether his qualifications 
 can be rendered conducive to the cfl'ect and progress of the 
 gospel under its direction and superintendence, and we, to 
 whom he makes application, in the second instance, are inter- 
 ested in knowing whether the objections to ordain him are 
 merely constitutional, or whether there be any other obstacle 
 than the internal regulations which the Church may have found 
 it proper to enact for its own guidanee. 
 
 I shall therefore feel greatly obliged to you, if you will have 
 the kindness to inform me, — whether — 
 
 First — The peculiar regulations of the Church are the sole 
 ground in virtue of which the application of Mr. Keet has not 
 been complied with — or whether — - 
 
 Second — There be any objection on the score of conduct, 
 demeanour, belief, or qualifications generally, which may stand 
 in the way of his ordination. 
 
 Be so good as to excuse ray applying to you in this instance, 
 
 as being locally in charge of the interests of the Reformed 
 
 Church in the district, and as having been, as I understand, 
 
 the channel through which Mr. Keet has made his application. 
 
 Believe mc dear Sir, 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 To JAMES ADAMSON, 
 
 The Rev. Philip Faure, 
 Wynberg. 
 
 Dr. Adamson having thus frankly and kindly in- 
 vited me to communicate information respecting Mr. 
 Keet, I thought it proper to put that gentlemen in 
 possession of all the particulars of the occurrences be- 
 tween Mr. Keet, and the consistory of Wynberg and 
 myself; and in order to make the evidence speak for 
 itself, I have, as much as possible, supported my com- 
 munication with another correspondence which had 
 taken place. 
 
 My answer was as follows : 
 
 Waterloo, at Wynberg, Sept. 15, 1846. 
 
 Rev. and dear Sir! 
 
 Acknowledging the receipt of your letter dated 31st 
 August 1846, I must apologise for an answer so late as this, 
 having been prevented by a serious indisposition to do so at an 
 earlier period. 
 
 I must confess that I was not a little surprised, when I read 
 the contents of your letter, informing me of Mr. Keet's written 
 application to you and the Rev. Mr. Stegmann, requesting to 
 be "ordained to the spiritual charge of a congregation, and as- 
 
10 
 
 signing for a reason, ainongst others, that, having applied to 
 the colonial Reformed Church, to be by them taken on trial for 
 this purpose, lie finds that there is a regulation, formins? a 
 portion of the present ecclesiastical law of that Chajch, which 
 prevents him from attaining his object. 
 
 How Mr. Keet can make such an assertion, I cannot conceive. 
 I cannot presume, that he has exhibited to either yourself or 
 the Rev. Mr. Stegmann, the correspondence he had with me on 
 the subject; and as a query proposed by the consistory, in their 
 letter to Mr. Keet, dated 11th May, still remains unanswered, 
 it puzzles me, that he should apply tp you and one of his friends, 
 by whom he Las been advised to address his letter to me. 
 
 It has given me and others of my brethren of the Dutch Re- 
 formed Church of late pain to observe, that some young mem- 
 bers of our community have, contrary to their promise, when 
 admitted as such, been licenced or commissioned to preach, by 
 others than their avowed ecclesiastical superiors, which, should 
 the same course be still pursued, must unavoidably lead to con- 
 fusion and disunion ; but as we have both appended our names 
 to the document forwarded to the Evangelical Alliance, and as 
 you belong to a section of the Christian Church, in close com- 
 munion with the Dutch Reformed Church, I do not hesitate to 
 give you a full and impartial account of the transactions which 
 have taken place between Mr. Keet and myself, leaving it to 
 your own unbiassed judgment, to draw from the same an answer 
 to the j^r** question, " whether the peculiar regulations of the 
 Church are the sole ground, in virtue of which the application 
 of Mr. Keet, has not been complied with?" — for you will find, 
 that his application has not met vtilh a refusal, but the path 
 was pointed out, liov/ to obtain his wishes. And as he has 
 never been taken on trials, it is not possible to answer your 
 second question, " whether there be any objection on the score 
 of conduct, demeanor, or qualifications generally, which may 
 stand in the way of his ordination?"— the answer being included 
 in the first. I then beg to call your attention to the following 
 statement of facts. 
 
 Some time after Mr. Keet had been appointed nn Agent of 
 the Wynberg and Rondebosch Christian Instruction Society, 
 1 became aware that Mr. Keet was in the habit of holding re- 
 ligious meetings at stated periods and diiferent places. I felt it 
 my duty to speak to him about it, and, in an amicable way, I 
 reminded him of what had taken place at Riversdale. where he 
 had thro-wn up his membership of the Dutch Reformed Church, 
 in consequence of the consistory tf^king steps at that place, to 
 prevent his preaching as layman. I told him thattlie rules were 
 yet the same, that the Church does not allow any of her lay 
 members to be public religious teachers, unless they have been 
 taken on trials, and duly admitted as such by the Presbytery ; 
 that his doing so contrary to rule placed me in an unpleasant 
 position, as I couid not countenance it; that he was aware of all 
 this, when he had applied to me for being again admitted as a 
 member of the Dutch Reformed Church, and when he solcnjnly 
 promised obedience to the laws and regulations of the Church. 
 Knowing how soon tlie cry of " persecution " is raised, when 
 
16 
 
 steps are taken for enforcing the rules for the maintenance of 
 good order in the Church, I avoided forbidding his preaching 
 by the consistory, in forma; but I strongly advised him to apply 
 for a licence for holding religious meetings, and to oifer himself 
 to the Presbytery, to be taken on trials. Mr. Keet inquired 
 from me, what examination he would have to undergo, and at 
 the time observed that he did not know any thing of Church 
 History. I offered him my services, and assured him, that if 
 he would read with me two evenings in the week, during the 
 winter, he would be so well acquainted with the main facts of 
 Ecclesiastical History, that.I was sure he would pass well. Mr. 
 Keet promised to consider about it. More than once after that 
 I reminded him of the importance of taking that step, as he 
 knew that he was all the while acting contrary to his promise of 
 obedience to the Church, — pointingout to him the reasonableness 
 ofthatruleofthe Church, as there was also at that time, in another 
 part of my parish, another person holding " religious meetings," 
 who bore a very bad moral character, against whom I could not 
 act as long as I allowed Mr. Keet to go on. He observed, that 
 he thought the Christian Instruction Society would not like him 
 to take that step, as it would appear, that he was working more 
 especially for the Dutch Reformed Church, instead of equally 
 working for the different protestant denominations. So matters 
 remained; my advice was not followed, nor were my offered 
 services accepted. All at once, however, I received on the 
 same day, 21st January 1846, two letters from Mr. Keet, the 
 one enclosed in the other, (see copies annexed, La. A, B.) 
 containing a request of obtaining a document from the Presby- 
 tery /or iioldmg public divine worship. (I underline these words, 
 because it appears from them, that up to the 21st of January, 
 Mr. Keet did not ask for ordination to the spiritual charge of a 
 congregation.* ) 
 
 My reply to these was, a pointing out of those articles in the 
 Church regulations, to which he was to pay attention, for ob- 
 taining his wishes, mentioning that the Presbytery was to meet 
 in October next.f 
 
 After a lapse of two months and a half, during which time I 
 had no interview with Mr. Keet, I received a letter from him, 
 addressed to the consistory of the Dutch Reformed Church at 
 Wynberg, requesting his name to be taken from the list of com- 
 municants, see copy. La. C. 
 
 The consistory not wishing to slight Mr. Keet, by granting 
 him his request forthwith, addressed to him the letter annexed, 
 see La. D. 
 
 To this letter an answer was obtained on the 30th of April, 
 see annex, La. E, to which was replied, on the 11th May 1846, 
 see annex. La. F. 
 
 The consistory never was so much as honored with an ac- 
 
 * Which he did three months later, as the Reader will find, when he 
 intimates his wish to the Consistory. 
 
 t Of this letter I kept no copy. 
 
17 
 
 knovvledgment of the receipt of this letter, much less was the 
 proposed query ever answered.! 
 
 These, reverend and dear Sir, are the transactions between 
 Mr, Keet and the reverend consistory of the Dutch Reformed 
 Church at Wynberg and its Pastor. From them it will be diffi- 
 cult to make out that Mr. Keet has ever " applied to the Colonial 
 Reformed Church, to be by them taken on trials," as you men- 
 tion in the former part of your letter ; much less " that the 
 application of Mr. Keet has not been complied with," as is 
 stated in the latter part. 
 
 Trusting that I have given you all the necessary information 
 for your guidance in this matter, 
 
 I remain, dear Sir, 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
 P. E. FAURE. 
 The Rev. J. Adamson, d.d. 
 Cape Town. 
 
 La. A. Wynberg, 2lst January 1846. 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 Having had a communication with the Reverend Dr. 
 Robertson in Cape Town yesterday, which occasioned my 
 coming to the resolution, in case the Committee of the Christian 
 Instruction Society would consent to it, to apply to you (or the 
 Presbytery of the Reformed Church,) for a document of admis- 
 sion to the holding of religious worship, I now beg kindly to 
 request, that you will have the goodness, the Committee having 
 given me permission this morning, to forward to or lay the en- 
 closed letter before the Presbytery, and to favor me with an 
 answer as soon as possible. 
 
 Hereby you will oblige, 
 
 Your obedient Servant, 
 
 A. E. V. W. KEET. 
 Rev. Mr. P. E. Faure. 
 
 La. B. Wynberg, 21st January 1847. 
 
 Reverend Sir, 
 
 Having been informed by you, that it is a law with the 
 Reformed Church, that when any member of the congregation 
 
 X So late as the 24th September, and therefore on the 9th day after the 
 writing of this letter to Dr. Adamson, the consistory received a letter 
 from Mr. Keet, which was dated the 7th September mentioning that 
 he had applied to Messrs. Stegmann and Adamson to be ordained ; as he 
 saw that he would be exposed to but too many disappointments with the 
 Dutch Reformed Church. — The reader may have his own opinion about 
 the date, — let him but take in consideration that Mr. Keet's residence is 
 not yet ten minutes' walk from mine. 
 
wishes to be aduiitted to hold public worship, he must apply io 
 the Presbytery, I hereby kindly request you will, on my behalf, 
 make such application, in order that I may soon obtain such a 
 document. 
 
 In good expectation, I have the honor to be, 
 Reverend Sir, 
 Your obedient Servant, 
 
 IJev. Mr. P. E. Faure. 
 
 A. E. V. W. KEET. 
 
 La. C, Wynberg, 6th April 1846. 
 
 Reverend Gentlemen, 
 
 As I feci obliged from v/eighty reasons again to resign my 
 membership from your church, I kindly request that you will 
 erase m.y name from the register of members. 
 
 I have the honor to be. 
 
 Reverend Gentlemen, 
 
 Your obedient Servant, 
 To A. E. V. W. KEET, 
 
 The Consistory of the Dutch 
 Reformed Church at Wynberg. 
 
 La. D. Wynberg, 14th April 1847. 
 
 Dear Brother, 
 
 The Consistory of the Dutch Reformed Church at 
 "VVynberg has requested me to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 letter of the 6th instant, and as you state "to have weighty- 
 reasons again to resign your situation as member of our church 
 community," I am to request that you will communicate those 
 weighty reasons to the Consistory, as it cannot be indifferent 
 to the Consistory to be made acquainted with the moving causes 
 why a member, who, at his confirmation so solemnly signified 
 his wish, again to be accepted to the communion of our church, 
 expressed his regret that he had left it, and then declared de 
 noi'o to join himself to the Reformed Church as the dearest to 
 him of all churches, should now wish to leave the congregation. 
 
 The request in your letter appeared the more strange to the 
 Consistory, after they had seen the letter which you addressed 
 to the Minister on the 21st January last, whereby you state, 
 that you would apply to the Presbytery to have a proper licence 
 for holding public worship. 
 
 The Consistory therefore request your answer hereto as soon 
 as possible, before deciding on your request that your name be 
 erased from the register of members. 
 
 I remain. 
 Your obedient Servant and Brother, 
 
 • J. A. TRUTEK, Act. Sec. 
 Mr. A. E. v. W. Fur. 
 
19 
 
 La. E. Wynberg, 30tli Apii! 1846. 
 
 Reverend GenUeraeti, 
 
 In answer to both your letters of the 14th and 28th 
 instant, I wish to say that I heartily regret again to have found 
 myself conipelled to resign the membership of the Reformed 
 Chuvch of this place, and as you have now already requested 
 on two occasions, to state to you the weighty reasons which 
 have given rise to it, I have, after having earnestly consulted 
 the Lord, and afterwards some of my christian friends, come 
 to the resolution to comply with your request, and to communi- 
 cate the same to you, — for which purpose I beg first to remark, 
 that I have not taken the step in question on account of having 
 any thing in tlie least, against the principles of the Dutch 
 Reformed Church, as on the contrary, I confess that I have 
 truly and with all my heart embraced the same, and consider 
 those principles to be in complete accordance with the word of 
 God, I intend to persevere in the faith thereof, through Gods 
 help and mercy to the enCi. Wherefore I also whish further to 
 declare, that on that account I had not the least desire to resign 
 my membership. I tlierefore heartily feel grateful and rejoiced 
 at the opportunity which you have oGered me to assign the rea- 
 sons, which have induced me to the taking of the above step, 
 and for that purpose, I beg to call your attention to the fol- 
 lowing. 
 
 It is now about ten years ago, since, for the first time, I was 
 called by the Lord in the way of his providence (as I have every 
 reason to believe,) to preach the dear gospel, particularly to 
 the heathen. And (besides at other places,) I have also here, 
 where I have laboured amongst them for nearly five years, ex- 
 perienced no small degree of blessing in that work. I have 
 constantly been encouraged to proceed therein, amidst many 
 difficulties and temptations, and I <?ould clearly perceive the 
 bands of my God leading and instructing me. It would be un- 
 natural to suppose that my inclinations should not attach 
 themselves to this glorious work. The people whom I have 
 gathered and instructed, and among whom there are some, as 
 I trust, I may say, without presumption, that the}' have been 
 brought to the blessed knowledge of the truth, through Gods 
 grace, — felt themselves attached to me, as I do to them. It 
 has been repeatedly proposed to me, by my friends, that I 
 should endeavour to get ordained. — For a long while however, 
 I could not see that that was the will and the way of the Lord, 
 but as the subject was constantly pressed upon my mind as 
 well by the nature of my work itself, as by many amongst 
 whom I laboured, I made it a subject of prayer, and I brought 
 it for a long time earnestly and repeatedly in prayer before the 
 Lord. I have also endeavoured to search my heart and feelings, 
 and I cannot come to any other conclusion than that / ouffht to 
 try to get ordained. 
 
 I have however been led to believe that such ordination was 
 contrary to the fundamental principles of our church, composed 
 as they are at present. I am also inclined to think that thus 
 my ideas have not littlej contributed to the several unpleasant 
 occurrences, which have lately taken place. 
 
 But as I have nothing whatever against the doctrines of the 
 
20 
 
 Reformed Church, it is far from me, that I should whish to 
 separate myself, did I only know that I could get my ordination 
 from you, and I therefore particularly declare, that I have not 
 been induced by any other reasons to separate myself from the 
 Reformed Church, than 1st. because, of late, such an excessive 
 bitterness of mind has been evinced against myself and my 
 opinions ; for I have often remarked, that ray endeavours to be 
 ordained were looked upon as presumption and pride, and as a 
 thing which must be subdued, and 2nd., because I feel that it 
 would be in vain for me to expect from the Reformed Church, 
 an entire ordination, at least for this place, where I am now 
 labouring. 
 
 But it may be, that I have erred in these my views of the case. 
 It is therefore my most earnest request to know from you, 
 whether I may hope for an ordination, whereby I shall be al- 
 lowed, to exercise a// the duties of a minister, to the coloured 
 congregation which I have gathered around me. If so, then I 
 have no wish whatever to separate myself from the Reformed 
 Church, far from it, — with pleasure I would then rather endea- 
 vour to prepare myself for the necessary examination, but if 
 you should decide otherwise, — sliould there be obstacles in the 
 way, — then I wish to say, that I have resolved, in such case, to 
 join myself to some other body of christians, to which the Lord 
 may lead me in his providence, and that I shall endeavour to 
 obtain my ordination from them. 
 
 I conclude by recommending you in prayer to the Lord, and 
 to wish you, from my heart, all prosperity, and have the honor 
 to be. Reverend Gentlemen, 
 
 Your obedient Servant, 
 To A. E. V. W. KEET. 
 
 The Reverend the Consistory 
 of the Reformed Church Wynberg. 
 
 La. F. Wynberg, 11th May 1846. 
 
 Dear Brother, 
 
 The Consistory of the Dutch Reformed Church, at this 
 place, has requested me to acknowledge the receipt of your 
 letter of the 30th April last, in answer to their's of the 14th and 
 28th of the same month, in which they requested you to com- 
 municate the " weighty reasons" which had given rise again to 
 resign your membership of the Reformed Church community. 
 The Consistory return their thanks that after earnest consider- 
 ation and consulting with your christian friends, you have 
 resolved, unreservedly to lay open to them those grounds, 
 which you declare to consist solely, 
 
 1st. — "Because of late such an excessive bitterness of mind, 
 has been evinced against myself and my opinions, for I have 
 often remarked, that my endeavours to be ordained, were 
 looked upon as presumption and pride, and as a thing which 
 must be subdued." 
 
 Tiie consistory cannot oonceal that this accusation, if in- 
 tended for the Overseers of the Church, appears strange to them, 
 as they arc not aware of the existence of any excessive bitter- 
 ness of mind against yourself and your opinions. If the Ov»r- 
 
•21 
 
 seers have pointed out to you, that it was desirable that you 
 should make use of the Holy Sacrament, from which you had 
 withdrawn for some time ; they are conscious that such are- 
 mark, has been made wholly in the spirit of brotherly love, and 
 in no bitterness of mind whatever. It grieved the consistory, 
 that you, who as a religious instructor in the service of the 
 Christian Instruction Society, should, by your absence from the 
 Sacrament, at which you previously, when you came to the 
 congregation as Agent of that Society, regularly partook, give 
 an example to others in the congregation, which could not work 
 advantageously upon them, — but bitterness of mind did not. 
 nor does it now exist witii them. How could there exist bitter- 
 of mind on account of your opinions to he ordained, as those 
 opinions Avere not known to them, and as the consistory was 
 convinced, that the minister himself had, not long after your 
 coming into the congregation, encouraged you to endeavour to 
 obtain a proper act of admission for giving religions instmction 
 from a higher Church authority, with an offer of his support 
 and assistance, to enable you to get through your examination, 
 so that you could be aiding him in the Church service. 
 
 2d. Your second ground is, " because I feel, that it would be 
 in vain for me, to expect from the Reformed Church an entire 
 ordination, at least for this place where I am now laboring." 
 
 The consistory remarks, that the way to obtain admission for 
 the exercise of all the parts of the pastoral and ministerial office, 
 is open to you, as well as to any one else, who wishes to fit 
 himself for it, — and what and extensive sphere of action would 
 you not have, if you were a minister in a congregation, as 
 the want of ministers is acknowledged by the highest Church 
 Court, and as there are so many belonging to the Reformed 
 Church, as sheep without a shepherd. 
 
 But you say, " you wish to have a full ordination for this 
 place, and you feel, that to wish for such a thing in the 
 Dutch Reformed Church, would be in vain. On this the con- 
 sistory wish brotherly to remind you, — of which you also must 
 be fully conscious, — that in our Church, and particularly in this 
 congregation, no distinction is made between Whites and 
 Blacks, who desire to be accepted into it, as all jointly assemble 
 in the same house of prayer, receive the Baptism at the same 
 place, and the Sacrament at the same table. It has therefore 
 also been the particular care of the minister, ever since his in- 
 duction into this parish, to apply himself particularly to the 
 increasing of the number of heathen converts with such success, 
 that, even before the slave emancipation, masters and slaves sat 
 at the same table, and drank from the same cup, for — it was the 
 table of the Lord. It is also owing to the addition of so many 
 colored people to this community, that the present Church- 
 building required to be so much enlarged. 
 
 The consistory therefore give you to consider, whether your 
 ordination as minister in this parish, for a separate con- 
 gregation consisting exclusively of colored people, might and 
 would not tend to divide the congregation, and give rise to 
 disputes and discord, even among those people of color. 
 
 You say, however, " But it may perhaps be, that I have 
 erred in rny opinion in this case, and that is therefore my most 
 
22 
 
 earnest request, to know from the consistory, whether I may 
 hope for an ordination, whereby I shall be allowed to exercise 
 all the duties of a minister to the colored people which I have 
 gathered around me." 
 
 Please have the goodness to inform the consistory, where 
 that congregation of colored people is, which you, as a member 
 of this congregation, have gathered around you, who have not yet 
 been accepted and confirmed, as members of this congregation. 
 Not that the consistory should wish to exercise any influence 
 over these, but to enable them to represent your case to that 
 higher church authority, who is to decide on it, and whereby 
 the consistory shall the sooner be enabled, to comply more 
 freely with your earnest request, by telling you whether you 
 may hope for an ordination, to exercise the ministerial duties 
 in all its branches, for such a congregation in this parish. 
 The consistory is the more anxious to know it, because you 
 clearly signify, that in case such could be obtained, you would 
 have no wish to separate yourself from the Reformed Church, 
 but would the more endeavour to prepare yourself for the neces- 
 sary examination ; whereas in case of a refusal, you have re- 
 solved upon uniting yourself with some other body of Christians, 
 from whom you would endeavour to obtain your ordination. 
 
 The consistory declare that it cannot comprehend in what 
 light it has to consider this last remark. Unfortunately an 
 example exists in the Cape Town congregation, that an indi- 
 vidual having applied to the synod to be ordained, whilst he 
 was an agent to the Cape Town Christian Instruction Society, 
 and which application had been made at the request of that 
 society, and that request having been accepted, he, in order to 
 avoid an examination, left our church and got himself to be 
 taken up as a member elsewhere, and there received immediate 
 ordination. 
 
 The consistory having this example before them, and now 
 'ascertaining from you, that this would be the only reason which 
 would urge you to separate yourself from us, feel it, on 
 account of the interest they take in you, their duty, to acquaint 
 you with what the minister lately commnnicated them, namely : 
 that in order to promote christian unity, he, with the ministers of 
 the other protestant denominations in this colony, has subscribed 
 a document, addressed to the Christian Alliance, promising to 
 devote themselves to the promotion of christian unity, and that 
 it is not therefore possible for him to suppose that any minister 
 who has subscribed that document, would lend the aiding hand, 
 to the promotion of something, which must have a contrary 
 effect. 
 
 This however is the opinion of the minister; but the con- 
 sistory repeats what is herein before said, that upon receiving 
 your answer, it will submit your request to the superior church 
 court, and will communicate to you its decision as soon as 
 practicable. I have the honor to be. 
 
 Dear Brother, 
 
 Your obedient Servant, 
 J. A. TRUTER, 
 To Act. Sec. of the Consistory. 
 
 Mr. A. E. V. W. Kelt. 
 
23 
 
 I have now, reader, laid before you, all ray inter- 
 ference with the case of Mr. Keet, as an Agent to the 
 Christian Instruction Society, and as one who held 
 religious meetings in which he acted as Preacher. — 
 From the Rev. Dr. Adamson I have not heard another 
 word about the case, — and were it not from the assurance 
 of a friend, that he had himself delivered my letter at 
 the Doctor's residence, I would not, up to this moment, 
 know that he had ever received it. — Perhaps it w^as not 
 considered Avorthy of an answer. Or were its contents 
 not according to the wish of an old friend ? Did it 
 perhaps contain a remonstration of the blame, which 
 has been attached to me, that I was the great opponent 
 of Mr. Keet? This I cannot help, and whilst I regret 
 that a martyr's glory is thereby taken from Mr. Keet, 
 my friends will be inclined to rejoice with me, that I 
 had it in my power to prove to the world, that I have 
 not tightened the sinews of the rack. 
 
 But what has in the mean time become of Mr. Keet's 
 membership of the church ? I see it will be necessary 
 to answer this question also. When the consistory re- 
 ceived from Mr. Keet, instead of an answer to the 
 query put in their letter of the 11th May 1846, the in- 
 formation, that he had applied to the Revd. Messrs. 
 Adamson and Stegmann, to be ordained as a Mis- 
 sionary, the consistory resolved to take no further steps 
 in the matter, until it should have been ascertained what 
 reply these gentlemen had given to the application, 
 because the letter from Mr. Keet, of the 30th April 
 1846, gave reason to suppose, that it was his wish to 
 remain a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, 
 could he not obtain his ordination from any other 
 church, (and we do not even now know to what church 
 Mr. Keet belongs.) If however his application should 
 be complied with by those gentlemen, then the con- 
 sistory resolved to comply with Mr. Keet's request, 
 dated 6th April 1846, — and to publish it, according to 
 the prevailing custom in the church, to the community. 
 
 Several months now elapsed, during which nothino- 
 was heard of the case, so that I should have been led 
 to believe, that this application would not be acceded 
 to, if I had not now and then, in addressing Heathens, 
 and encouraging them to attend the School and Church, 
 in order to be instructed, been informed, " we are en- 
 
 d 
 
24 
 
 registered by Mr. Keet, who says, that we had but to 
 wait a little longer, and that lie would be enabled to 
 baptize also." -On the 10th February last, coming from 
 town, I met on the road near Wynberg, the Rev. Mr. 
 Stegmann and Mr. Keet, and in the evening of that 
 day I learned, that Mr. Keet had been laid hands on 
 by the Rev. Dr. Adamson, the Rev. Mr. Stegmann, 
 and Mr. J, Stegmann, in the building in which he was 
 accustomed to hold worship. 
 
 On the following Sunday it was published from the 
 pulpit, in conformity to the resolution of the consistory 
 of the 6th October 1846, that the member of the church 
 Albert Erasmus van Wyk Keet, having resigned his 
 membership, did no longer stand in connection with 
 the Dutch Reformed Church of this Settlement. 
 
 This is a full exposition of the Avhole case; judge for 
 yourself. Reader, whether the conduct of the minister of 
 the Reformed Church of Wynberg is blameable as it 
 was endeavoured to represent it, and conclude fromthis 
 impartial narrative, Avhether the proceedings related 
 therein, have not only an indirect, but a direct tendency 
 to disturb the established order, not only of the Re- 
 formed, but also of all other Christian congregations 
 in this country. 
 
 We therefore do not wonder, that our Wesleyan 
 brethren have refused the use of their chapel, for the 
 performance of an act, which must necessarily occasion 
 grief in the heai'ts of many, in whom is the love of Jesus 
 Christ, and who desire, by word and deed, not to divide 
 the believers, but to unite tliem as much as possible. 
 In all countries, in all times, and Avith all well-regulated 
 Churches," certain Regulations exist, which must be 
 complied with, before any one can be admitted as a 
 preacher. What those regulations are with the Dutch 
 Reformed Church, of which Mr. Keet was reminded in 
 the letter from the consistory of the Wynberg Church, 
 of the 1 1th May, will be found in Art. 62 of the Church 
 Regulations, and of subordinate Teachers mention is 
 made in my letter to the Christian Instruction Society, 
 dated 20th October 1845, page 4. 
 
 But it may be asked, according to the institutions and 
 regulations of what church has Mr. Keet been ordained? 
 He was no member of the Reformed Church, for he 
 had separated himself from it. He was not a member 
 
25 
 
 of the Lutheran Church ; — he was not one of the Pres- 
 byterians, — nor Free, nor Scottish, nor Episcopalian, 
 nor AVesleyan, nor of the Independent' Church. Or, 
 are the preachers who perform service in the St. Ste- 
 phen's Church, bishops ofa separate congregation, un- 
 connected with any other, — projectors of a new sect, 
 with whom, under the name of " Evangelical Union," 
 members of other congregations, besides the heathens, 
 christened by them, are accepted ? This simble question 
 I ask, and a direct answer to it, would be useful to 
 many ; if it be a new sect, to which this name has been 
 given, then it would appear, that, under the cloak of 
 that fine denomination, direct endeavours are made, 
 not to draw tighter the bonds of Christian fellowship, 
 but to increase and favor division and ruptures in the 
 Church of Christ, contrary to the clear dictates of the 
 word of God, Col. iii. 14, 15. A7id above all these things 
 put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let 
 the peace of God ride in your hearts, to the which also ye 
 are called in one body, — and 1 Tim. i. 5. The end of the 
 commandfient is charity out of a jyure heart, and of a 
 good conscience, and of faith unfeigned. 
 
 Did not the consistory, in their letter of the 11th 
 May, submit to the consideration of Mr. Keet, that 
 his ordination as Preacher in the parish, for a separate 
 congregation, consisting exclusively of coloured people, 
 would, at least here, tend to create a division in the 
 congregation, and give rise to disputes and discord, 
 even among the coloured ? This letter came to the 
 knowledge of those gentlemen, v/ho jDroceeded to lay 
 hands on him ; but never was any endeavour made to 
 clear up the difficulty to the consistory or to me ! — 
 That ordination has taken place without even the least 
 communication to us. — Is this drawing tighter the 
 bonds of love ? 
 
 It is not a strange feature, but one known to every 
 one of you, who is at all conversant in church history, 
 " to call one's self a /)ersr?c?«if<?<i for righteousness sake, 
 for the sake of the good cause," and to call his op- 
 ponent, " a friend of the world, who has not the spirit 
 of Christ," when one, feeling himself urged to remind 
 the members of the congregation of their sacred obli- 
 gation, makes use ofa v/ord of warning and admoni- 
 tion, that ihey should remain faithful in the observance 
 
26 
 
 and execution of what they have so solemnly promised t 
 In order to work on the minds of the weak, and some- 
 times also the religious, it is not uncommon to hear 
 the remark, " they are the regulations of the Reformed 
 Church, you have nothing to do vvitli them, these you 
 have not promised to follow ! ! ! — We are wanting the 
 proof, that the regulations of the Reformed Church 
 are not founded on the word of God. 
 
 It is better, as I have heard my respected brother 
 say on an occasion of presentation and confirmation of 
 members ; it is much better, it v/ould be more honest 
 and christian-like in you, not to make that promise, — 
 than to make and even confess it by your signatue, 
 and not to remain faithful, — or to withdraw you from 
 the obligation to perform this, — with the view and for 
 the purpose of attaining certain ends. — And it is re- 
 markable that those who have withdrawn from their 
 membership, did so for the purpose of obtaining the 
 Preacher's Office, in a manner not in use or allov/ed 
 by any Reformed Churcli, throughout the world. — 
 When Mr. Keet, being again received to thonnember- 
 ship of the Church, intended to leave it for a second 
 time, he was candid enough, to give that, as his only 
 reason, why he did not vv'ish to be any longer consi- 
 dered as a member of the Reformed Church, — (see 
 his letter of the 30th April 1846.) — He declared to be 
 in other respects much attached to that Church ! ! ! I 
 do not here ask whether his jiroceedings have given 
 proofs of his attachment and sincerity to preserve 
 the unity of the faith, and the bonds of love and peace : 
 on these subjects the i-eader will have formed his own 
 judgment. 
 
 Whatever others may think on the subject, I find 
 it contrary to the Bible and Apostolical institution, 
 yea, with the arrangements of the Primitive Church, 
 that separate congregations should be created, consist- 
 ing exclusively of colored people, whereby not onlj' a 
 distinction is made, but kept up between Christians 
 and Christians, in proportion as they are Shemmites, 
 or Japhitcs, or Hamites, i.e. descendants of Shem, Ja- 
 nhet or Ham, or of mixed origin. Does not the apostle 
 Paul ask, "who distiiiguishetli you?" In Christ Jesus 
 there is no Greek or Jew, Barbarian or Scyth, Bond 
 or Free. — I cannot also approve that among the white 
 
27 
 
 population the ministry of the Gospel is performed ex- 
 clusively by men, who, according to the rules of their 
 Church, received a regular education, whilst the colored 
 must be satisfied with the service of those, of the le- 
 gality of whose ordination doubts may reasonably be 
 entertained, and those baptized by them even stand 
 the chance of being considered and treated in some sec- 
 tions of the Protestant Church, as never having been 
 baptized. Will these not say, " why are we thus treated?" 
 The Heformed Church will, I trust, make provision 
 that young men may also, in this colony, have an op- 
 portunity to be regularly trained for the Church and 
 ministry. The members of the congregation will, I 
 trust, readily grant, to such a project all the support 
 and encouragement in their power: and any one, who 
 has the welfare of this ancient Church at heart, who 
 is a member of it, will certainly not attach their ap- 
 proval, either by word or deed, to those undertakings 
 which endeavour to undermine the existence of the 
 Reformed Church. — Among the several sections of the 
 Protest||(it Church in this settlement, there was for 
 some time a perceptible approaching to each other, on 
 account of which I tnuch rejoiced, and with me, every 
 one who had the interest of the Church of Christ at 
 heart. 
 
 By that fellowship, supported by the establishment 
 of the " Evangelical Alliance," in England, it was hoped 
 that the kingdom of darkness might be more effectually 
 injured, under God's merciful co-operation; but when 
 now, under the name of " Union," a new flag is put up, 
 under which people of all denominations are called to 
 place themselves, deserting their own standard, may 
 not, nay, must not the voice of warning be heard in the 
 congregation ? Is not that the way to pull down in- 
 stead of building up? Will the world, will unbelief 
 and superstition not rejoice at a division, wantonly 
 created there, where union and friendly co-operation was 
 and is so higly desirable? 
 
 We therefore call out to every one : Watch ! be on 
 your guard. From another quarter we have heard the 
 call, " We will not rest, until the Reformed Church of 
 this Settlement is turned upside down." He, who may 
 have said so, must have forgotten that the Lord rules ! 
 He who preserved it until now will continue to do so ! 
 
28 
 
 From its bosom, plants shooted up, which now florish 
 like trees, in the Heavenly Paradise ! It had and still 
 has bright stars, as well here as in other parts of the 
 world, by whose splendour the Lord lights many to 
 the rigions of eternity. Under the Lord's unrestrained 
 government, many sons and daughters are born, 
 who, fed by the pure and sincere milk of the word, 
 elevate its lustre more and more ; and the more her 
 downfall is contemplated the more her members cleave 
 faithfully unto her, and particularly by walking worthy 
 of their confession, glorify Jesus Christ, as their Head 
 and Lord, by their walk and conversation ; the more it is 
 the desire of him, who, in defiance of what has been done 
 to annoy him in his parish work, to spend and be spent 
 as a faithful servant of the Lord, in preaching, re- 
 proving, rebuking and exhorting, recommending his 
 work to God and the mighty working of his grace, whilst 
 he sincerely prays that the imperfections which accom- 
 pany it, will be mercifully pardoned for the sake of the 
 precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 % 
 Waterloo, Wynherg, March 1, 1847. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
REMARKS 
 
 ON 
 
 « THE WYNBERG MISSION," 
 
 OR 
 
 '' DE ECHTE WAARHEID." 
 
 In making my remarks on the above piece, I wish 
 to be as brief as possible. 
 
 It appears from the very introduction, that there 
 exists a Union which I was not even aware of, '^ an 
 Apostolical Union" and it is that Apostolical Union, 
 through which the famed Wynberg Ordination was 
 effected ! I must, therefore, be very cautious with 
 my remarks, for they concern Apostles. 
 
 But let it not be taken amiss that I cannot entertain 
 for them the same respect and reverence, which I feel 
 for those men, in the Primitive Church, who could 
 produce better testimonials of their dignity, than any 
 Son of Adam can in the 19th century. 
 
 I shall therefore take the liberty, regardless of the 
 elevated standingof an Apostolical (?) Union, taken by 
 ray opponent, to declare to him distinctly, 
 
 First, — That I do not concede to him. the right of 
 laying down rules for my conduct, dictatorial as is 
 his anti-calumny principle, which he alleges to have 
 been violated by me. A principle in it self /oo/is/i and 
 useless, — for, to what use is it, previously to show 
 any one, what I am going to print against him ? his 
 remarks, whatever they may be, cannot oblige me to 
 make any alteration in what I have written. The 
 anti-calumny principle is a very good one, to be 
 guided by for those who wish to write the Echte 
 Waarheid about any one ; but it is unnecessary for 
 those who merely write the Waarheid; for the Truth 
 may have her enemies, but it is never in danger of 
 being conquered by any attack ! Truth, but then 
 without any addition of Echte or Real, or any such 
 qualification, for the moment I see any such addition 
 
32 
 
 to denote the sort of truth, written or spoken, I in- 
 voluntarily think of an oath of confirmation, used by 
 any one who has reason to apprehend that he will 
 not be believed. Truth has that privilege, that it 
 may show itself to the world, naked and unadorned, 
 in defiance of those who take offence, or endeavour 
 to crush it, — but overthrown it shall not be. 
 
 SeconcUy, — I declare that I would have pre- 
 ferred from the writer for the Apostolicnl Union, 
 a blow in my face, to reading his eulogium 
 on me ; there, where he designates me, '^ a justly 
 respected and valued/' there, where he says, '^ if 
 every one truly followed the example of Mr. Philip 
 Faure in earnestness and diligence/' — Reader, what 
 do you think of it ? can there be any thing more 
 sickening than to see this self-same respected, and 
 valued, and diligent, and earnest man, the same man 
 to whom others are directed for an example (see page 
 16,) represented in a most hateful note, in the light 
 of a Uar, and accused of misrepresenting things ! — 
 Fire and water in the same hand, how is it possible ? 
 I must indeed have sunk very low in the estimation of 
 my fellow Christians and countrymen, if I should, 
 think it necessary to defend myself against the infor- 
 mation which Dr. Adamson received against me, and 
 vi'hich had made an unfavorable impression on the 
 mind of the Apostolical Union, in respect of the accu- 
 racy of my representation. It is sufficient for you 
 that 1 have become so well acquainted with the 
 Apostolical Missionary at Wynberg, also in respect 
 of his love for truth, that, previous to the publication 
 of the Waarheid, I declared to some of my friends 
 that, '' if I had not so much correspondence, I 
 would never have brought the case to light," — for I 
 knew Mr. Keet, and knew that he had sufficient im- 
 pudence to say of the whole " it is a lie," — but nov»^, 
 he even surpasses my expectation, — he says so in the 
 face of the proofs against him. Moreover, the reader 
 himself possesses the means of discovering the accu- 
 racy of the representation, as every thing that passed 
 between Mr. Keet and the Reformed Church, was 
 mere correspondence, therefore, facts, facts — and of 
 these also, he says, "they have been misrepresented." 
 Methinks that such a forehead must have had many a 
 
33 
 
 wrap to be thus steeled ! Oh ! Apostolical Union ! 
 What an excellent Missionary ! 
 
 Thirdly, — My third remark is, that the declaration 
 in the Echte Waarheid is unfounded, when it says, 
 that the consistory was aware that the church could 
 not grant the request made by Mr. Keet. It will be 
 seen from the Correspondence that two requests were 
 made by him. One (see his letter 21st January, 1846,) 
 to be allowed to hold religious meetings ; — to grant 
 this request the Church is authorized by Art. 59. 
 Another request was made by him (see his letter of 
 30th April, 1846,) to be ordained for the exercise of 
 the ministerial duties in all its parts ; — to grant this, 
 also, the church is empowered by Art. 62. For the 
 rest I take leave to thank Dr. Adamson for his kind 
 remarks on the Reforn}ed Church, the laws of which, 
 he considers, to be strange and preposterous. 
 
 The Dr. has assumed a strange line of conduct, after 
 subscribing with me his approbation and adherence 
 to the christian alliance. It would appear that the 
 working of a spirit, which establishes every thing but 
 alliance, dates from then. If he has to do with a 
 Minister of any j)articular church, why then attack 
 the Church also, to which such Minister belongs, 
 which was also done lately, when he attacked the 
 Ministers of the Free Church; notwithstanding the 
 Dr. would himself gladly have represented the Free 
 Church, it was sharply attacked by him as being the 
 daughter of inconsistency. 
 
 Fourthly, — It is with regret, I remark, that Echte 
 Waarheid, whose editor is otherwise renowned for 
 his good memory, cannot well recollect how it hap- 
 pened that nothing became of the making application 
 for a Building where that ordination could take place. 
 Can it, perhaps, arise from the fact, that the rever- 
 end gentleman called repeatedly on the Wesleyan 
 brethren, to ascertain whether it was agreeable to 
 have the use of their Chaj)el, but never received any 
 affirmative answer ? 
 
 The writer of the Echte Waarheid says, that the 
 place where the ordination took place had formerly 
 been used as amountebankery or puppet-show. Why 
 does he put us in mind of thai ? I sec as little propriety 
 in it as 1 do in the reasonin": which follows about 
 
3^ 
 
 great and small places, and in the communication 
 that it appears to him, that in the day of days, a 
 pitiful blank will be around St. Paul's, in comparison 
 with the circles of living- immortality around late 
 Meeting Houses. ^ 
 
 We had better be guarded in so freely communi- 
 cating to our fellow-creatures what our imagination 
 tells us — that imagination is of no use to them. We 
 know that God does not limit the working of His 
 Spirit to any particular place, — that comparisons are 
 odious. No one had reflected on the lowliness of the 
 place, where the ^^ so-called ordination'' took place. 
 The Dr. regrets that my Pamphlet is so large, on such 
 a trifling case, bat writes three pages about some- 
 thing which adds no weight whatever to Echte 
 Waarheid. 
 
 Fifthly, — As it is clear, that it was not at all intend- 
 ed to make "Ordination" a point of dispute, I leave 
 the Doctor unmolested in his speculr.tiors with regard 
 to Popish Heresy, Waldenses, Churches of France 
 and Scotland, Soldiers of the Bruce, the Celtic Church, 
 the Culdee Episcopal Authority, the Teakvvood Door, 
 &c. &c , and what further he has gathered, desiring 
 only to advise the Rev. Doctor, not to test the validity 
 of the ordination given by him and his brother at 
 Wynberg, in the Reformed Church of this settlement, 
 for the ordained would be sadly disappointed, as not 
 only would the ordination be declared null and void, 
 but also, as Mr. Kep.t, their "ordained," does 
 not possess either the civil, scientific, or clerical 
 qualifications, required for holding a living in the 
 Reformed Church of this settlement. 
 
 An injurious impression might perhaps be created 
 in the minds of our English brethren, or in that of the 
 Government, by his interpretation oi i\\Q \vov(\ foreign. 
 By that word, in our laws, is meant, beyond this settle- 
 ment, and nothing else. The Doctor, however, 
 knows better, and after saying that that word is of a 
 dubious interpretation, he continues, page 13, at the 
 top, — England is excluded by the word "foreign," 
 which is not the case. And is it not astounding, that 
 the Synod of 1834 should have referred to Dr. Adam- 
 son to obtain his opinion about the validity of an 
 ordination according to the rules of the Scottish 
 
35 
 
 Church? Indeed, it must occasion surprise, that 
 all the Ministers of the Dutch Reformed Church in 
 South Africa are such simpletons that they require to 
 be enlightened by the Doctor ! But allow me to un- 
 deceive you ; that assertion of Doctor Adamson is 
 not the Waarheidj but only a small sample of the 
 Echte Waarheid. 
 
 The Synod never consulted the Dr. on that subject, 
 as may, if need, be proved by the Records of the Synod. 
 The reference to him was made by the Political Com- 
 missioners, who would not allow a Resolution, taken 
 by the Synod, to pass, before they had for their in- 
 formation, taken the Doctor's opinion. I can even 
 affu'm that the Synod shewed itself all but pleased 
 with that reference. This is the Waarheid, Doctor 
 Adamson is therefore not justified in making it ap- 
 pear as if he had been the oracle of the Synod of the 
 Dutch Reformed Church in South Africa, and after 
 resigning a Ministry in the Christian Church, for the 
 giving of instruction in Languages and Philosophy, to 
 18 or 20 children, I doubt whether the Doctor shall 
 ever be troubled by any reference from the Synod. 
 
 On the remark concerning ministers in our Church, 
 who could not get livings as such in Holland, I beg 
 to say, that such is not the case with me. Were it 
 not that my native land had the first claim on my 
 humble services, I could, the day after I became S.S. 
 Min. Cand. have received a call in the vicinity of 
 Utrecht. This remark, however, applies to the Doc- 
 tor's brother in the Apostolical Union, who would not 
 be able to receive a call in the Lutheran Church in 
 Holland, nor would he be allowed to accept one. 
 
 Sixthly, — The Doctor " tells us," it would not do 
 for the Consistory to say, " the Consistory was in- 
 clined to give Mr. Keet what it knew he would not 
 accept of, that is, admission to act as Missionary be- 
 yond the limits of this Settlement." I say, no Doctor! 
 That certainly would not do ; and had Mr. Keet per- 
 severed in his application, then he would have ex- 
 perienced that the Consistory had by that time dis- 
 covered objections against his person, of another 
 nature than scientific and civil ; — then an insurmount- 
 able obstacle would have been, not, as is thought, the 
 Laws of the Dutch Reformed Church, but the Law- 
 
36 
 
 book of the Christian Church over the whole world^ 
 which the Apostolical Union would do well to pay 
 more attention to, that is, to the Bible, and more par- 
 ticularly, Luc. 16. V. 10, Jl, 12, and Rom. 13, v. 8. 
 
 And now I take leave of the Doctor, by declaring 
 my regret that he should have compelled me to make 
 the above remarks. 1 should gladly have left un- 
 noticed everything he has written in the " Southern 
 Witness,^' and nothing would indeed have been lost 
 by it, for the whole of his writing affects the point 
 that I had brought by " the Waarheid" before the 
 eyes of my fellow Christians, but very little — but 
 when the Southern Witness was converted into a 
 pamphlet, and to Wynberg mission was added, Echte 
 Waarheid, and when that spiteful note was added, 
 whereby the Doctor violated his own anti-calumny 
 principle, I could not remain silent — 1 was forced to 
 write, and do so, in a tone unpleasant to myself; but 
 due to the Waarheid, when so unblushingly attacked. 
 
 Go on, therefore. Apostolical Union ! make many 
 proselytes by means of your worthy missionary — 
 create disturbances and confusion where previously 
 peace and order prevailed. You will not be able to 
 silence the Waarheid. Truth is only one — come you 
 yourself to the conclusion, what that Waarheid \^ — 
 for as long as the two heads of a union do not agree 
 as to what they are to teach their congregation, con- 
 cerning the Sacrament of the Lord^s Supper, about 
 which the Lutherans and Presbyterians differ so 
 widely, so long Apostolic does not apply to that 
 union. The Apostles all agreed on the subject ; and 
 Avhilst you write down rules for others, which you 
 violate yourself, so apply to yourself the lesson of 
 true wisdom — Physician ! cure thyself. 
 
 Printed hy B. J. van de Sandt de VilUers, 2, Castle -street. 
 
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