USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Longmeadow > Articles of faith and covenant, of the First Congregational Church in Longmeadow, Massachusetts; with a catalogue of members, and an historical notice > Part 1
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M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY FRELECTION
Gc
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 0822
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4484
ARTICLES OF FAITH
AND
COVENANT,
OF THE
First Congregational Church 1st
IN
LONGMEADOW, MASS.
WITH A
CATALOGUE OF MEMBERS,
AND AN
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
HISTORICAL NOTICE.
SPRINGFIELD : GEORGE W. WILSON, PRINTER. 1852. :
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HISTORICAL NOTICE.
LONGMEADOW was incorporated as a distinct precinct February 17, 1713, when there were about 40 families. In April, 1714, they voted "to proceed in building a meeting house ; and that the said house should be built 38 feet square, if the timber already gotten would allow it; or if the timber should be too scant, to make it some- thing less." This house appears to have been finished in the early part of 1716, and occupied a site a little south of the present meeting house. In March, 1715, they voted to give Mr. Stephen Williams a call to be their minister. The following is from the old Church records as kept by Mr. Williams :
"The 17th of October, 1716, I was ordained and we had a church gathered.
And those of us, whose names are hereto suffixed did give ourselves to God, and to Jesus Christ, and did promise to walk together in a faithful attendance of all God's holy institutions, in order to his glory, and the edification of our own souls and the souls of our chil- dren."
STEPHEN WILLIAMS, THOS. COLTON, Sen., DANIEL COOLEY,
GEORGE COLTON, NATA'L. BURT, Jr.
NATH'L. BLISS, 2d, JONATHAN ELY, THOS. BLISS,
SAM'L. BLISS, 4th,
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In January, 1766, the parish voted to build a new meeting house of brick, but at a subsequent meeting, voted that it should be of wood, 56 feet in length, and 42 feet in width. The house was completed in 1769.
Rev. Stephen Williams, D. D., died June 10, 1782, in the 90th year of his age, and the 66th of his ministry.
Dec. 7, 1785, Mr. Richard Salter Storrs was ordain- ed. He continued till Oct. 3, 1819, when his labors were suddenly terminated by death in the 57th year of his age, and the 34th of his ministry.
March 5th, 1823, Mr. Baxter Dickinson was ordain- ed. He was dismissed Oct. 20, 1829.
July 14th, 1831, Mr. Jonathan B. Condit was ordain- ed ; dismissed Oct. 4th, 1835.
Oct. 18th, 1837, Mr. Hubbard Beebe was ordained ; dismissed March 21, 1843.
Rev. Sam'l. Wolcott was installed Aug. 30, 1843; dismissed Dec. 27, 1847.
Jan. 1st, 1850, Mr. John W. Harding was ordained.
.
2
ARTICLES OF FAITH AND COVENANT.
ADDRESS.
BELOVED FRIENDS :
1
€
You have presented yourselves, in this public manner, to make a profession of your religious faith, and to enter into covenant, with God and with this Church. God, angels, and this assembly are witnesses to the transaction. The profession which you now make, and the engagements into which you now enter, are of the most solemn moment ; they will be heard on high, and will be exhibited on your trial at the last day.
Attend then to your
6
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
1. You believe that there is one only living and true God; a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, and possessed of all possible perfections.
2. You believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by in- spiration of God, and are the perfect rule of our faith and practice.
3. You believe that God is revealed in the Scriptures as the Father, the Son, and the Ho- ly Ghost ; that these three are the one God, and in all the divine attributes are equal.
4. You believe that the purposes of God are eternal and immutable ; that he created all things for his own glory; and that his providence and government are universal, wise and holy.
5. You believe that man was created holy ; that he fell from that state by sinning against God; and that in consequence of the fall, man- kind are, by nature, destitute of holiness, and sinners against God.
6. You believe that Jesus Christ is both God and man; that by his sufferings and death he
7
made an atonement sufficient for all mankind and that through him salvation is freely offer- ed to all, on condition of repentance and faith.
7. You believe that all who truly repent of their sins and believe in Christ, were chosen in him before the foundation of the world ; that they are regenerated by the special influ- ence of the Holy Spirit ; that they are justi- fied on account of Christ's righteousness, and will be kept by the mighty power of God through faith unto salvation.
8. You believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has a visible Church in the world, the terms of admission to which are a public profession of faith in him, sustained by credible evi- dence of a change of heart; and that the sac- raments of the New Testament are Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
9. You believe that there will be a general resurrection of the dead, when Jesus Christ shall judge the world in righteousness ; and that the wicked shall go into everlasting pun- ishment, and the righteous into life eternal. All these things you heartily profess and believe.
[The ordinance of Baptism is here administered.]
Attend now to your
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COVENANT.
IN the presence of God, his holy angels, and this assembly, you do now solemnly avow the Lord Jehovah to be your God and your portion forever. You do solemnly dedicate yourselves to God, the Father, as your Chief good, to the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and to the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier. You do solemnly devote to the one living and true God, all your faculties, powers, and posses- sions ; covenanting that you will be the Lord's forever ; engaging that through the aid of his Spirit, you will love him supremely and obey him faithfully ; that you will give diligent at- tendance to his word and ordinances ; that you will seek, above all things, the honor and in- terests of his kingdom; and that you will aim, without ceasing, to adorn your profession by a blameless life, and by holiness of heart.
You do also now cordially join yourselves to this Church of Christ, and engage to submit to the regular administration of its govern- ment and discipline ; to strive earnestly for
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its peace, edification, and purity ; and to walk with its members in Christian faithfulness, fellowship, and love.
Trusting in the grace of God, you thus cove- nant and' engage.
[The members of the Church here rise.]
In consequence of these professions and en- gagements, we, the members of this Church, do now affectionately receive you to our com- munion, and in the name of Christ declare you entitied to all its visible privileges ; we wel- come you to the fellowship with us in the blessings of the gospel, and on our part en- gage to watch over you with Christian fideli- ty and tenderness, and seek your spiritual edi- fication ; imploring of the great Head of the Church, that both you and me may be faithful to our Covenant, and glorify him with the ho- liness which becometh his house forever.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
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ADDRESS.
BELOVED IN THE LORD :
Let it never be forgotten, that you have here come under obligations from which you cannot escape ; you can never withdraw from the Covenant which has now been confirmed ; wherever you go, these vows will be with you ; they will follow you to the bar of God, and will abide upon you forever.
May the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy ; to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
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OFFICERS AND MEMBERS.
JANUARY 1, 1852.
PASTOR, JOHN W. HARDING, Ordained January 1st, 1850. DEACONS, EBENEZER BLISS, ALFORD COOLEY.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF MEMBERS.
1794. Nov. 2. Mrs. Elizabeth H. Colton.
1803. Dec. 25. Dolly Coomes.
1806. June 5. Mrs. Cynthia Colton.
1807. July 5. Mrs. Mehitable Colton.
1808.
Ap'124. Warham Colton. Mrs. Rebecca Hale.
June 19. ": Serviah Cooley. Freelove Colton. Aug. 7. Mrs. Laura C. Burbank. Sept. 1. Mrs. Esther Colton.
1813. Oct. 31. Mrs. Eunice C. Colton.
1814.
Ap'l 24. Moses Field. Mrs. Naomi C. Cooley. June 26.Luther Colton. Mrs. Lucy Colton. Lyman Colton.
Aug.28. Mrs. Lucy C. Bliss. Mrs. Elizabeth Coomes. Miss Marilla Chandler.
Nov. 6. Caleb C. Field. Mrs. Sarah Field. Mrs. Ann G. Burt.
Dec. 25. Mrs. Electa C. Hixon.
1815. Feb. 26. Mrs. Mary Fuller. Miss Abigail Colton. 1816. Nov. 3. Mrs. Lucretia Chandler.
1818. Oct. 25. Mrs. Amelia Taylor.
1821.
Sept. 2. Levi E. Taylor. Mrs. Laura Taylor. Mrs. Experience C. Hunt. Mrs. Jerusha B. Field. Miss Mary Evarts.
Nov. 5. Mrs. Sarah Kent. Miss Hannah Ely. Miss Lucy Booth. Mrs. Harriet C. Bliss.
Mrs. Clarinda C. Evarts. Calvin Chandler.
12
1822. June 30.Dea. Ebenezer Bliss.
1823. Jan. 26. Dan'l Burbank.
1825. Sept. 4. Mrs. Filia K. Colton. Samuel Kilbon. Nov. 6. Jacob Colton.
1826.
Jan. 1. Mrs. Marilla M. Bliss. Sept. 3. Asahel Colton.
Mrs. Wealthy Colton. Samnel C. Stebbins. Mrs. Laura M. Stebbins. Mrs. Naomi R. Colton. Samuel C. Booth.
Nov. 5. William Burt. Mrs. Sarah K. Burt. Miss Flavia C. Coomes.
1827.
Nov. 4. Loammi Simons. Mrs. Clarinda R. Colton.
1832.
July 1. Ethan Ely.
David Bowker.
Stephen T. Colton. Israel Gates. Mrs. Hannah Gates. Sabin Burt. Mrs. Sarah C. Burt. Miss Mercy S Cooley. Mrs. Sophia F. Colton. Oliver Field. Miss Theodosia Cooley. Sept. 2. Mrs. Belenda C. Cooley. Miss Sophia Robinson. Alonzo Coomes.
Oct 31. Dimond Chandler. Mrs. Laurinda C. Chan- dler. Miss Hannah Colton.
Nov: 4. William White. Mrs. Lois C. White.
1835. May 3. Mrs. Caroline B. Cooley. Mrs. Dinah C. Hale. July 5. Miss Eunice Keep.
1837.
Sept. 3. Cyrus Newell. Mrs. Salina S. Newell.
1838. May 6. Mrs. Sarah Coomes. July 1. Mrs. Lucinda C. Nevers.
1840.
July 5. Walter Bliss. Dea. Alford Cooley. Sylvester Bliss. Nelson C. Newell. Miss Mary W. Burbank.
Sept. 6. James Bliss. Mrs. Eunice C. Bliss. Miss Jerusha Bliss. Mrs. Arminda Allen.
Miss Eliza B. Collins.
Samuel Cooley. Horace S. Newell.
Noah Bliss. Miss Mary Ann Bliss. " Rhoda B. Goldthwait. Mrs. Flavia F. Newell. Miss Laura M. Stebbins. Edwin K. Colton.
Nov. 1. Mrs. Eliza J. Chandler.
1841. Jan. 3. Miss Caroline Keep. Williamn P. White.
May 2. Miss Mary C. Stebbins. Alexander F. Stebbins. Mrs. Frances W. Simons.
Sept. 5. " Susan L. Goldthwait.
1842. M'ch 6. Mrs. Eliza M. Cooley.
1843.
M'ch 5. Mrs. Cynthia T. Colton. May 7. Mrs. Amanda F. Burt.
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Oct. 1. George Hooker. Mrs. Rachel Hooker.
1844.
May 5. Nathaniel P. Newell. Edward Keep. June 30.Miss Naomi R. Colton. July 7. Mrs. Roxanna Chapin. Mrs. Mary Jane Coomes. June 23.Mrs. Abigail Goodrich.
Mrs. Sarah Ann Parker. Miss Amelia C. Cooley. Josiah C. Colton. Mrs. Lucinda E. Colton. Miss Cordelia A. Bliss. Samuel F. Chandler. Mrs. Chloe Chandler.
Sept. 1. Mrs. Abi S. Knox. William C. Silcox. Henry A. Keep. Edmund Coomes Mrs. Lavinia Coomes. George F. Wolcott. Miss Jeannette C. White. Miss Louisa P. Burbank.
1845.
June 5. George Ferre.
Mrs. Elizabeth M. Ferre. Mrs. Elizabeth D. Colton. Miss Emily N. Coomes.
1846.
Jan. 4. Rev. Sanford Lawton. Mrs.Mary Ann C.Lawton. Sanford Lawton, Jr.
Miss Mary Ann Lawton. M'ch 2. Mrs. Mary Ann Holister.
Nov. 1. Mrs. Julia N. Bliss.
1847.
M'ch 7. Mrs Elizabeth Stebbins. Sept 5. Miss Fanny G. Hale. Miss Mary Jane Silcox.
1849. Feb. 18. Dea. Ebenezer Burt.
Miss Amanda T. Burt. July 1. Miss Margaret Bartlett.
1850. Jan. 1. Rev. John W. Harding. " 6. Mrs. Cornelia S. Newell. M'ch 3. Miss Nancy E. Colion. Charles R. Bliss.
Miss Laura G. Goodrich.
July 7. David Hale. Miss Charlotte H. Steb- bins.
July 14.Mrs. Julia Colton. Sept. 1. Ethan Ely, Jr.
Mrs. Eliza Gates. Miss Susan Colton.
Miss Clarinda R. Colton.
Miss Maria Bliss. Miss Mary Jane Coomes. Sam'l W. Burbank.
Nov. 3. William J. Lawton. Miss Ellen Bliss. Miss Harriet Bliss.
Miss Julia M. Colton.
Miss Amelia Stebbins.
Mrs. Nancy M. Bradley.
1851.
Jan. 5. Mrs. Nancy A. Colton. Henry B. Noble. Ebenezer B. Clark.
Miss Cornelia L. Colton.
Miss Caroline Cooley. Miss Julia M. Bliss.
May 4. John B. Coomes. Mrs. Mary Atchison. Miss Jane Atchison.
Aug.17. Mrs. Emily Griswold.
1852.
Jan. 4. William W. Coomes. Mrs. Lucretia C. Coomes. Miss Georgiana M. Bliss.
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ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS.
A
Allen Mrs Arminda, Atchison Mrs Mary, Atchison Jane.
B
Bliss Dea. Ebenezer,
Bliss Mrs Marilla M.,
Bliss Mrs Harriet C.,
Bliss James,
Cooley Mercy S.,
Bliss Mrs Eunice C.,
Bliss Jerusha,
Bliss Sylvester,
Bliss Cordelia A.,
Cooley Samuel,
Bliss Harriet,
Colton Mrs Elizabeth H.,
Bliss Georgianna M.,
Colton Mrs Cynthia F.,
Bliss Walter,
Colton Mrs Mehitable,
Bliss Noah,
Colton Warham,
Bliss Mary Ann,
Colton Mrs Filia K.,
Bliss Mrs Julia N.,
Colton Mrs Eunice C.,
Bliss Ellen,
Colton Mrs Freelove,
Bliss Charles R.,
Colton Luther,
Burbank Daniel,
Colton Lyman,
Burbank Mary W.
Colton Abigal,
Burbank Louisa P.,
Colton Jacob,
Burbank Samuel W.
Colton Clarinda,
Burt Mrs Ann G.,
Colton Nancy E.,
Burt Mrs Sarah R.,
Burt Sabin,
Colton Mrs Wealthy,
Burt Mrs Amanda,
Colton Naomi R.,
Colton Stephen T.,
Burt Dea. Ebenezer, Burt Amanda T.,
Booth Samuel C.,
Booth Lucy,
Bowker David, Bartlet Margaret, Bradley Mrs Nancy M.
C
Cooley Dea. Alford,
Cooley Mrs Caroline S.,
Cooley Caroline,
Cooley Mrs Naomi C.,
Cooley Amelia C,
Cooley Mrs Serviah,
Cooley Theodosia,
Cooley Mrs Belinda C.,
Bliss Maria,
Cooley Mrs Eliza M.,
Bliss Mrs Lucy C.,
Colton Mrs Esther,
Bliss Julia M.,
Colton Mrs Lucy,
Burbank Mrs Laura C.,
Colton Mrs Sophia F.,
Burt Mrs Amanda F.,
Colton Mrs Clarinda R.,
Colton Asahel,
Burt Mrs Sarah C.,
Colton Mrs Cynthia,
Colton Hannah,
Colton Mrs Naomi R.,
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Colton Edwin K., Colton Mrs Lucinda E., Colton Mrs Elizabeth D., Colton Julia, Colton Mrs Julia, Colton Josiah, Colton Mrs Nancy A., Colton Susan, Colton Cornelia, Coomes Dolly,
Coomes Alonzo,
Coomes Mrs Mary Jane,
Coomes Mrs Sarah,
Coomes Mary Jane Coomes Edmund, Coomes Mrs Lavinia, Coomes Emily N., Coomes John B.,
Coomes William W., Coomes Mrs Lucretia C., Collins Eliza B.,
Chapin Mrs Roxanna,
Chandler Marilla, Chandler Calvin S, Chandler Mrs Lucretia, Chandler Dimond,
Chandler Mrs Laurinda C., Chandler Samuel F., Chandler Mrs Chloe, Chandler Mrs Eliza J., Clark Ebenezer B.
E
Ely Ethan, Elv Hannah,
Ely Ethan, Jr., Evarts Mary,
Evarts Mrs Clarinda C., Eastman Charlotte.
F
Field Moses, Field Caleb C., Field Mrs Sarah, Field Oliver, Field Mrs Jerusha B., Fuller Mrs Mary C., Ferre George,
Ferre Mrs Elizabeth M.
G
Gates Israel, Gates Mrs Hannah, Gates Mrs Eliza,
Goldthwait Rhoda B., Goldthwait Mrs Susan L.,
Goodrich Mrs Abigal,
Goodrich Laura G.,
Griswold Mrs Emily.
H
Harding Rev John W.,
Hixon Mrs Electa C.,
Hunt Mrs Experience C.,
Hooker George,
Hooker Mrs,
Hale David,
Hale Mrs Rebecca,
Hale Mrs Dinah C.,
Hale Fanny, Holister Mrs Mary Ann.
K
Keep Eunice,
Keep Henry A.,
Keep Edward,
Keep Caroline,
Kent Mrs Sarah,
Kilbon Samuel,
Knox Mrs Abi S.
L
Lawton Rev Sanford Lawton Mrs Mary Ann C., Lawton Mary Ann, Lawton Sanford, Lawton William.
N
Newell Cyrus, Newell Mrs Salina S.,
Newell Nelson C., Newell Horace S., Newell Mrs Cornelia S.,
Newell Nathaniel P., Newell Mrs Flavia F.,
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Nevers Mrs Lucinda C., Noble Henry. P Parker Mrs Sarah Ann.
S
Stebbins Samuel C., Stebbins Mrs Laura M., Stebbins Laura M., Stebbins Alexander F., Stebbins Charlotte H.,
Stebbins Mary C., Stebbins Mrs Elizabeth, Stebbins Amelia, Silcox William C.,
. Silcox Mary Jane, Simons Loammi, Simons Mrs Frances W.
T
Taylor Levi E., Taylor Mrs Laura, Taylor Mrs Amelia.
W
White William,
White Mrs Lois C.,
White William P.,
White Jeannette C.,
Wolcott George F.
D 284451.2
£
581
MAY 75
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA
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