Van Dyck, Leonard B

Van Dyck, Leonard B.

a Presbyterian minister, was educated for the ministry of the Reformed (Dutch) Church. He graduated at Union College in 1824 and at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in 1827. During the latter part of his seminary course a controversy was carried on between Princeton and Andover in regard to the doctrines of the extent of the atonement, the eternal generation of the Son, and the procession of the Holy Ghost. Young Van Dyck read what was said on both sides of this controversy, and was left in doubt as to the true doctrine. In consequence of his unsettled opinions on these great doctrines, he was advised to remain at the seminary until he should become settled, and was not recommended for licensure. Accordingly he returned to his house in Coxsackie, N. Y.; and was licensed by the presbytery of Columbia, N.Y in 1827. He was called to the Church at Osbornville (Windham),Greene Co., N.Y., and labored there faithfully and successfully from 1828 until about 1870, when the loss of his voice compelled him to retire. He then returned to his native village, Coxsackie, Where he died, Oct. 23,1877. See Corwin, Manual of the Ref. Church in America, s.v.