William Elliot Griffis

“ One American printer, who recently mixed up the "stickit minister's" title with that of his Divine Master, thus misprinted the Vulgate Scriptures, "Dominie Quo Vadis"! The Dutch domines in America were university graduates in almost every instance, and most of them were gentlemen of high breeding and scholarship. Dominie means a schoolmaster, and in this form is not a Dutch word. It is always Domine in the records of Patria.
Without desiring to be a busybody, Michaelius gave his opinion as to what ought to be done to make the Manhattan settlement a model one. ”

“ All important is the history of "the Reformed Church in America," because the highest Dutch social life was closely associated with the Church, and was from the first found in its largest and fullest form in the congregations. The Church nourished a spirit of democracy, besides maintaining the schools and culture after the English conquered New Netherland and the royal governors abolished the public schools. ”

“ Here were read the grand sentences, with their rich cadences of Calvin's "Form for the Administration of the Lord's Supper," the heart of which beats in the words, "We seek our life out of ourselves in God." ”

“ In those ancient accumulations one rarely finds a perfect shell. The squaws were surprised to see such refuse burnt to make good white lime.
Michaelius concludes a long inventory of the resources of the New Netherland by saying, "The country is good and pleasant, the climate is healthy, notwithstanding the sudden changes of cold and heat. ”

“ Having been in Africa, he could judge fairly well concerning certain of the red man's deficiencies, but his theological prejudices, being those of his age, rendered him hardly able to appraise fairly the Indian's moral worth. ”

“ The sun is very warm, the winter is strong and severe, and continues fully as long as in our country." Plenty of furs and fuel were needed. "The best remedy is not to spare the wood, of which there is enough, and to cover one’s self with rough skins, which can be easily obtained."
This first Dutch pastor, like his American successors and his brethren at home, was always addressed as "Domine," which means master or rector. ”