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The Diary of Dina Van Bergh 1 The Diary of Dina Van Bergh 1 The Occasional Paper Series of the Historical Society of the Reformed Church in America No. 3 The Diary of Dina Van Bergh translated by Rev. Gerard Van Dyke with an introduction and notes by Rev. J. David Muyskens Historical Society of the Reformed Church in America New Brunswick, New Jersey 1993 2 The Diary of Dina Van Bergh This book is a part of the Occasional Paper Series of the Historical Society of the Reformed Church in America, Office of Historical Services, 21 Seminary Place, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08901. © 1993. All rights reserved. Other titles in the series are: Mission to Borneo, by Dr. Gerald De Jong Singing the Lord’s Song: A History of the English Lan- guage Hymnals in the Reformed Church in America, by Rev. James H. Brumm The Diary of Dina Van Bergh 3 Acknowledgments Thanks to Russell L. Gasero, Archivist of the Reformed Church in America supervising the publication of this book. Thanks to the staff of the Gardner Sage Library of New Brunswick Theological Seminary for their cooperation. The manuscripts of Dina Van Bergh’s diary written in 1747-48, her “Notes” regarding her marriage to Johannes Frelinghuysen and a letter to him of January 31, 1750, are in the possession of the Gardner Sage Library. Thanks to Dr. Hendrik Edelman for his expert assistance and to the staff of the Alexander Library at Rutgers University. The original manuscripts of Dina Van Bergh’s diary written in 1746, and letters contained in this book are in the Special Collections and Archives at Alexander Library. Thanks to Dr. James Tanis of Bryn Mawr College for his suggestions and most helpful advice. Thanks to Donna Muyskens for her proofreading. 4 The Diary of Dina Van Bergh Preface When the First Reformed Church in New Brunswick, New Jersey, celebrated its 240th anniversary in 1943, two large marble commemorative plaques were installed in the rear wall of the sanctuary. One was in memory of the first pastor of the church, Dominie Theodorus Jacobus Frelinghuysen. An evangelical preacher with an emphasis on spiritual experience, Frelinghuysen had contrib- uted to the religious revival in the colonies known as the Great Awakening. The other inscription recalled a woman named Dina Van Bergh: in memory of DINAH VAN BERGH wife of the Reverend John Frelinghuysen and after his death of the Reverend Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh Minister of this church and first President of Queen’s College, 1786-1790 elect lady—gifted in mind and spirit of rare piety and zeal for the faith counselor of ministers—teacher of youth—serving well her day and generation 1725-1807 The congregation wanted to remember this gifted lady. Her “rare piety and zeal” had inspired them. Dramatic stories from her life have been retold at historic celebrations and are constantly remembered at the Old Dutch Parsonage in Somerville which was once her home. Lectures have been given about her. Inspired by her faith, Eleanor Samuelson, a member of First Reformed Church in New Brunswick, wrote a play about Dina that was presented at the church. Eleanor was so enthused about Dina that she urged the translation and printing of Dina’s diary. Her interest inspired this publication. And the Women’s Guild for Christian Service in First Reformed Church decided to underwrite the initial expenses of publishing this book containing a translation of her diary. Who was this woman who was so highly respected in her generation and is still remembered with such interest two hundred years later? Dina was first of all a woman of faith. The presence of God, which was so profoundly real to her, gave her a warmth of concern for people and a hopeful attitude that generated enthusiasm in others. Her trust in God was transparent. She The Diary of Dina Van Bergh 5 had experienced the grace of God since she was young and her faith had stood the test of adversity and sorrow over the years. Out of the desire that others would experience the same peace and hope that she had been given, Dina was eager to share her experiences and insights. Her desire to serve her Lord was contagious. Her keen mind commanded respect. Her humility elicited the affection of those who knew her. We don’t know very much about her physical appearance. Her wedding dress is preserved in the special collections at the Alexander Library of Rutger’s University. William H.S. Demarest recorded a description of Dina given to him by a Mrs. Hageman who remembered Dina from personal acquaintance: She was “of medium stature, in complexion rather dark, with dark hair and eyes, as very neat and plain in her dress, and attractive in manner, and that no one could avoid loving her, so kind and gentle in disposition as not to have trouble with anyone, as endearing in intercourse.”1 6 The Diary of Dina Van Bergh Contents Acknowledgements 3 Preface 4 Introduction to Dina’s Diary 7 The Diary of Dina Van Bergh, 1746-1747 10 Decision to Marry Johannes Frelinghuysen 100 Letters and Commentary 112 Appendix 132 Endnotes 133 Bibliography 134 The Diary of Dina Van Bergh 7 Introduction to Dina’s Diary Dina Van Bergh’s early life in Amsterdam ina was born February 10, 1725, and grew up in Amsterdam. Her father, Louis Van Bergh, was a wealthy merchant engaged in D trade with the East Indies.2 Her parents sought to provide her with educational and cultural opportunities. To their dismay, however, Dina became more interested in going to church than taking the dancing lessons they had arranged for her. She came to have a deep faith in God. She came into contact with people who were part of a movement now known as Reformed Pietism. The movement emphasized spiritual experience and Christian living. As a teenager Dina expressed concern that her family practice moral behavior. At age fourteen she confronted her father about the card-playing for money which he was doing in their home. It is said that she entered the room where he sat with his friends playing cards and asked him to stop playing. One of the men ordered her out of the room. But on another day, when there was another game going on, Dina again entered the room. This time she said nothing to the men but offered a prayer to God. The result was that the games were discontinued.3 Certain dates stood out as milestones in Dina’s spiritual life. February 1, 1742, as Dina was nearly seventeen, was one such date. Years later it still stood out in her memory. February 1, 1747, she was to write in her diary, “It was five years since my soul was set free.” And in 1750 she asked her fiance to join her in making February 2 a day of commemoration because eight years before “the Lord broke my bonds, and set me at liberty, and saved me from the deep darkness I was in.” Another special date was September 18, 1744, when Dina experienced healing by the grace of God. On September 18, 1746, she wrote, “It was two years ago that by a miracle God had saved me.” She remembered “how sincerely and with an oath my soul committed itself to the Lord,” and pledged herself to use all her talents in his service. September 18, 1747, at another time when she was ill, she noted in her diary that it was the anniversary of “my former, wonderful recovery.” Dina found a group of friends from whom she drew support in her faith. They met every Tuesday as a prayer circle called a conventicle. Dina listened intently to the sermons she heard, studied the scriptures herself, and daily engaged in 8 The Diary of Dina Van Bergh private meditation and prayer. She enjoyed reading sacred poetry. She especially appreciated the writings of Jadocus van Lodenstein, a 17th Century pietistic poet and preacher. In 1746 and 1747, when Dina was twenty-one and twenty-two years old, she kept a journal of her spiritual reflections and prayers. They tell of her spiritual struggles and times of refreshment and direction. Her writings tell how she was nurtured by word and sacrament in the church. In her diary she wrote of her experiences of worship in Reformed churches in Amsterdam and other places which she visited. She recorded the insight and inspiration she received from the preaching she heard. She wrote of the encouragement she received from her prayer group. She expressed her concerns for her family and her country. She prayed that purely formal Christianity might give way to the experience of the power of God. For her friends and her family her hope was that they would experience the converting power of Christ and come under the influence of the Spirit of God. She spent much time in intercessory prayer as her country was under the threat of war. In the seventeenth century Dutch economic power declined. By the end of the century the Netherlands had lost its preeminent position in Europe ceding first place to Great Britain and second to France. As Dina was writing her diary the French were asserting their power. In April, 1747, they invaded Dutch Flanders. This prompted all the provinces to elect Willem IV of Orange Stadholder. He had been Stadholder of Friesland, Gronigen and Gelderland. He was ineffective as a general. He enlisted British military and financial support for the Netherlands and obliged the British, who had wanted to continue the war, to sign the peace of Aix- la-Chapelle in 1748.
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