Sluyter, Richard

Sluyter, Richard, a minister of the Reformed (Dutch) Church, born at Nassau, N.Y., 1787. He graduated at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1815, and became pastor at Claverack, Columbia Co., N.Y., from 1816 to 1843, when he died. He served also, in connection with his Claverack Church, one or two neighboring churches for some years. He was eminent as an apostolic spirit, and for the numerous remarkable revivals that blessed his labors. In some of these the converts were numbered by hundreds. He wore himself out in the work. His memory, as a man of God, is still fresh in the hearts of the people of all that region, which was spiritually transformed by his labors." He had "a fine, and even martial, appearance, great conversational powers, energy, hopefulness, courage, simplicity, and generosity. He was an unusually excellent singer. He was incessantly visiting his people and talking about their souls. He was active, self denying, in the establishment of new churches, in whole or part formed out of his own. His death bed was a scene of great spiritual beauty and power." His Memoir was prepared by Rev. R.O. Currie, D.D. See Corwin, Manual, p. 209. (W.J.R.T.)