USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Confession of faith, covenant, forms of admission, ecclesiastical principles and rules, with an historical sketch and list of members (Orthodox Congregation Church of Arlington) > Part 1
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M.L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01104 4234
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https://archive.org/details/confessionoffait00orth
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D284404.1
Orthodox Clowich Arlington, Mass THE
CONFESSION OF FAITH, Orthodox Church, arlington MAN. COVENANT, .
FORMS OF ADMISSION,
ECCLESIASTICAL PRINCIPLES AND RULES,
WITH AN
HISTORICAL SKETCH
AND
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Walk about Zion, and go round about her; till the towers there of. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following -I's. is: 12, 1.1.
The Lord shall count when he writeth up the people, that this man Was born there. Of Zion It shall be said, this and that man was born la her; and the Highest himself shall establish inc. = 's. 57 6, 6.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
JANUARY, 1880.
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ARLINGTON,. MASS. ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. The confession of faith, covenant, forms of admission, ecclesiastical principles and rules, with an historical sketch and list of members ... [Boston, Jones_ 1880. 3Sp.
1825703
2545
NL 35-3198
1.(.IL1901
1 BOSTON D. F. JONES & CO., PRINTERS 31 Exchange Street
")
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HISTORICAL SKETCH.
Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee. - Dont. vill. ..
N the evening of the 8th of June, 1812, several members of Orthodox churches, residing in West. Cambridge, now Arlington, and its vicinity, met at the residence of Miss Anna Bradshaw, for religious worship. Rev. Dr. Albro, of Cambridge, was present and addressed the meeting. It was at this time determined to establish a weekly meeting, for conference and prayer.
On the 10th day of the following July, the Rev. Hubbard Winslow, of the Bowdoin Street Church, Boston, preached under a large tent. erected upon the grounds of Miss Anna Bradshaw for the celebration of our national independence. At the close of this service, an appointment was made for preaching on the ensuing Sabbath, at the house of Miss Bradshaw.
The First Baptist Society of West Cambridge, kindly offered this little company of worshipers the use of their Meeting-house, which was accepted four Sabbath evenings ; after which, a Hall was used as a place of worship.
November 20, a meeting was held at the house of Mr. E. R. Walker, to consider the expediency of forming a church. Rev. Dr. Altro was Chairman, and Rey. A. R. Baker, Secretary. After prayer, and a free and full disenssion. it was unanimously voted.
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that it is expedient to organize an Orthodos Congregational Church in West Cambridge. committee was appointed to prepare a Confession of Faith and Covenant. At a subsequent meeting. the Confession of Faith and Church Covenant. were manimously adopted, subject to the approval of an Ecclesiastical Council. A committee was chosen to call a Comeil to organize the Church.
Ou the 14th day of December, 1812. a Council for the foregoing purpose, assembled in " Bethel Hall :" of which the Rev. Mr. Bennett. of Woburn. was Moderator, and Rey. Mr. Baker, of Medford, was Scribe. The Articles of Faith and the Church Covenant, and also the testimonials of the Christian character and standing of the individuals proposing to be gathered into the Church, were submitted to the Council, and approved. A vote to organize the Church was passed. The public services were held on the afternoon of the same day, in the Baptist Church. The original members of the Church numbered thirty-eight.
" The Orthodox Congregational Society " was organized January 2d, 1813. " for the purpose of maintaining the gospel, as understood by those who worship with the evangelical denominations."
In July 1811, " in consideration of the cause of evangelical truth," Miss Anna Bradshaw gave a lot of land to the Orthodox Congregational Church and Society. This land was given " for a site for a Meeting-house for said Church and Society and for no other purpose." The Meeting-house was built
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immediately and in the following November. was dedicated to the service of God. In 1857 it was repaired and enlarged at an expense equaling its original cost.
In August, 1867, Miss Bradshaw being eighty-two years of age, conveyed to the Society " in fee simple her homestead estate on Pleasant Street, consisting of about two acres of land with buildings thereon." The Society accepted the conveyance and in consideration thereof paid Miss Bradshaw $775, and agreed to pay her $150 each year so long as she should live. She died November 80, 1869, aged 81. This land was then divided into five lots, a narrow court running into the land being widened into the present Maple Street. Four of these lots were in due time sold, and upon the remaining lot the present parsonage of the Society was erected.
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PASTORS.
REV. FRANCES HORTON was the first pastor. Mr. Horton was born in Boston, Mass., November 29th, 1803. United with the Church in 1820. Graduated from Brown University in 1828. December 2d. 1829, he was ordained at Dartmouth, Mass., where he preached two years. He was installed at West Brookfield, August 13th, 1332. There he remained ten years. May 17th, 1813 he was installed as pastor of the Church in West Cambridge, in which charge he remained eleven years, being dismissed March 29th, 1851. During Mr. Horton's pastorale 93 were admitted to the Church. He went to Barrington in 1856, preaching there till his death. His last sermon was preached March 3d. 1872 and his death occurred on the 19th of that month.
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REV. DANIEL R. CADY. D. D. was installed the second pastor, February 11th, 1556. Dr. Cady was born in Malta, Saratoga Comty, N. Y., October 8th, 1813. Graduated at Williams College in 1838. During his senior year he united with the College Church. He studied law with Judge Curtis in Western N. Y., and was his partner for two years. In the midst of a large practice his mind was constantly turning towards the work of the ministry. At length he sought it. He graduated at Andover in 1815. was ordained and installed at Rutland. Mas. in the following October, and remained pastor there four years. In Nov., 1819, he was installed over the Congregational Church in Westboro. In February 1856, after an illness of fifteen months, he was dismissed and came to West Cambridge. The Honorary degree of D. D. was conferied upon him by Williams College in 1870.
Dr. Cady held many important positions in connection with the work of our denomination. He was a director in the American Educational Society; one of the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Home Missionary Society: served on the Board of Managers of the old Massachusetts Sabbath School Society, and then took the same office when the Congregational Publishing Society was organized.
He was dismissed from the pastorate of this Church June 29th, 1877, and returned to Westboro' for a home. He died May 17th, 1879. There were admitted to the Church during Dr. Cady's pastorate. 211.
Rev. J. LEWIS Minami, was installed pastor of the Church, January 3d. 1878. Mr. Merrill was born in Hebron, Oxford County, Maine, November 3d. 1813. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1870, and was at Andover in 1871; was ordained as an evangelist October 28th, 1874, at South Royalston, Mass., and remained with the Church there about one year. He was installed pastor of the Congregational Church in North Chelsea, Mass., February 3d. 1876, and dismissed December 19th, 1877.
DEACONS.
LIKE WYMES. elected December 26, 1812. Died in office, August, 1870
MILES GARDNER, elected December 26, 1812. Die in office. October. 1863.
Jons Find, elected February 6. 1857. Died in office, July 31, 1876.
JOSEPH BURBAGE, elected February 6, 1857. Died in office Angust, 1873.
WARREN S. FROST, elected December 5, 1873. HENRY MOTT, elected October 1. 1876.
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,
SABBATH SCHOOL.
THE Sabbath School was organized and its first session held February, 1813. The following is a complete list of its Superintendents, with date of election and term of service :
E. R. Walker, 1813 to 1846.
John Field,
1816 . 1848.
Moses Proctor, Ists : 1850.
Dr. Geo. S. Woodman, 1850 . 1851.
J. JI. Wood, . 1851 .. 1852. 1852 - 1853. 1853
Jos. Burrage, Sauml. Teel,
L. B. Horton,
J. F. Nichols,
John Field,
J. W. Field, .
E. B. Lane. Jos. Burrage, .
W. S. Frost,
G. M. Morse,
Myron Taylor.
1857 - 1860. 1860 - 1863. 1863 - 1865. 1865 - 1867. 1867 - 1865. 1868 - 1870. 1870 - 1871. 1871 - 1878. 1878
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FORM OF ADMISSION TO THE CHURCH.
THE candidates having been requested to come forward, the minister shall address them as follows :
Dearly Beloved: - Our Lord has left us this blessed promise, .. Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in Heaven." "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."
You now appear in the presence of Almighty God and this assembly to make profession of your faith. We trust that you appreciate the solemnity and privilege of this act. Beings seen and unseen are witnessing it and its memory will survive the great day of accounts. We pray that He who has begun a
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good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. You will now attend to our
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
Stand fast in the faith .- 1 Cor. xvi : 13.
WE confess our faith in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, the only living and true God ; in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word, who is exalted to be our Redeemer and King; and in the Holy Comforter, who is present in the Church to regenerate and sanctify the soul.
With the whole Church we confess the common sinfulness and ruin of our race, and acknowledge that it is only through the work accomplished by the life and expiatory death of Christ, that we are justified before God, and receive the remission of sins; and that it is through the presence and grace of the Holy Comforter alone that we hope to be delivered from the power of sin, and to be perfected in holiness.
We believe also in an organized and visible Church ; in the Ministry of the Word ; in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper ; in the resurrection of the dead, and in the final judgment, the issues of which are eternal life and everlasting punishment.
We receive these truths on the testimony of God, given originally through prophets and apostles, and in the life, the miracles, the death, the resurrection of
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His Son, our divine Redeemer,- a testimony preserved for the Church in the Old and New Testaments, which were composed by holy men as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Do you thus profess and believe ? [ the candidates shall assent by bowing.]
Then the minister, addressing those who have been baptized in infancy, if such there are, shall say :
You who in childhood were dedicated to God in baptism by believing parents, do now accept their act, with the obligations and privileged it involves, as your own, and declare your belief that the regeneration thereby symbolized has been wrought in you by the Holy Spirit.
[ Those addressed shall bow in assent. ]
To the others, if there are any who have not been baptized, the minister shall say !
You who trust your hearts have been renewed. but who never have been privileged to receive the outward seal of the covenant, will now present yourselves for baptism.
[The candidates for baptism shall here kneel together ]
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When baptism has been administered, the minister shall proceed
In the presence of God and this assembly, you do now freely and cordially enter into the everlasting
COVENANT.
" Come, let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten."-Jer. I. a.
You who now present yourselves to be received into our fellowship, do, by this act, avow your personal sense of the love of God in the forgiveness of your sins; and. trusting that He who hears and answers prayer will uphold and strengthen you, you do give Yourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, and covenant to be His disciples. You dedicate yourselves to God as the object of your highest love and to His service as your highest joy. You engage in all your public and private life, by precept and example to honor God. and you pledge to Him the loyalty of your heart, the service of your hands and the consecration of your earthly substance.
[Those uniting by letter will come forward ]
Having received evidence of your christian faith and standing in other Churches, you now come to unite with this. Do you covenant with us, to seek the peace, purity and edification of this Church; to
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sustain the stated means of grace; to aid us in turning to Christ the souls of others, and to submit to christian watch and discipline? And will you seek. by prayer and faithful endeavor, a constant growth in grace, and such a likeness to Christ, that. when the scenes of earth are passed. we may rejoice together in the fellowship of Heaven?
[ The Church will rise ]
We then, members of this Church. joyfully and cordially receive you into our number. We promise to bear with you, to watch for you. to love you, to aid you by our counsel and our prayers, to walk with you in joy and in sorrow, and to endeavor, by all means in our power, to advance you in the divine life. And when our conflicts all are over, and our work on earth is done, may He bring us all to that Heavenly Fellowship, where our communion shall be forever perfect, and our joy forever full.
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*FORM FOR THE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN.
For the promise is unto you and your coldren - les it : !
Dearly Beloved : - Encouraged by the terms of the everlasting promise, and animated by the tender regard which the Saviour manifested towards little children. you present your child to receive upon it the seal of God's covenant.
In so doing, you covenant on your part to train it in the nurture and admonition of the Lord ; to instruct it in the knowledge of divine truth, and in the way of salvation through Jesus Christ ; to walk before it in the way of christian example; to seek its carly conversion, and in every way, as God may give you grace, to secure its highest usefulness in this world. and its happiness in the world to come.
This you truly and heartily engage?
. sometime during the week the name of the child must be given to the parents.
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The parents having assented by bowing, the ordinance of baptism shall now be administered.
We the members of this church. The church shall here rise. ]
do now receive this child into a special relationship of love and care. We promise, with Divine aid. to watch over it, to pray for it, and to endeavor to influence it to become a child of God and an heir of glory.
ECCLESIASTICAL PRINCIPLES AND
RULES.
Let all things be done decently and in order .- 1 Cor. xiv : 10.
One is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren. - Matt. Axiil : 8.
1. RIGHTS OF THE CHURCH.
This Church regards the Scriptures as the only infallible guide in matters of Church order and discipline; and is. therefore, so far as relates to its internal organization and the regulation of its affairs. independent, and amenable to no other ecclesiastical body, except by its own consent, and in accordance with established Congregational principles. With these exceptions, it controls the admission, discipline, and removal of its members, according to its own understanding of the Word of God.
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1. CONNECTION WITH ORIER CHURCHES.
This Church will extend to other Evangelical Congregational Churches, and receive from them. that fellowship, advice, and assistance, which the laws of Christ require. It will extend the usual rights of communion, and practice the usual transfer of members, according to its conviction of duty. It holds itself bound to regard the decisions of Mutual Councils, and to seek the promotion of peace with all the Churches of our Lord Jesus Christ.
HI. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS.
All persons uniting with this church. either In letter of upon profession of their faith, shall be publicly propounded before the congregation at least two weeks before their admission (except in special cases), and shall in all cases previously meet the Examining Committee and be recommended by them. If. dming the two weeks no objections be brought against a candidate, he shall be duly received into the church.
It a member knows of any reason why a candidate for admission should not be received, he shall first make such reason known to the Examining Committee, and not to the whole church, unless the committed refuse to act.
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IV. DIEMISSION OF MEMBERS.
Letters of dismission to Evangelical Churches shall be given, by vote of the Church, to all members in good and regular standing who request them.
The form of dismission and recommendation is as follows :
The Orthodox Congregational Church in Arlington. To the Church in .. . Circeting : This certifies that is a member of this Church in good and ingatar standing. 1 ... on request is dismissed from us and recommended to your christian watch and fellowship. When icried by well ... membership with us will ruse. By cute of the Church.
Members who remove their residence beyond the reach of this church should. if practicable, at once transfer their relation to some other church. If such do not apply for letters within one year from the time of leaving, satisfactory reasons must be given for the delay of the application, or they shall not be entitled to an unqualified certificate of good standing.
1. MEMBERS OF OTHER CHERCHE.
It is expected that members of other churches. residing and worshiping with us, and who may wish to commune with this church, will request dismission from their respective churches, and allmission to this.
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VI. DISCIPLINE.
1. The rule of discipline is the law of Christ recorded in Matt. xviii : 15-17.
2. Offences subject to discipline are, unchristian conduct, neglect of acknowledged religions duty, and avowed disbelief in the vital principles of the Gospel of Christ.
3. In private offences, the offended one is, by a fraternal, prayerful conference, to seek a spiritual healing, and so to " gain a brother." Failing in this, let him " take one or more," and again strive to exert a loving, patient, healing power, which shall soften and subdue, and avert the necessity of resorting to the law and the penalty of a church trial.
1. In public offences, inasmuch as every member suffers in the wrongs done to the church, every member cognizant of the same, shall be responsible for laboring in the spirit of Christ, to bring the offender to repentance, or, in failure of success, for communicating the case to the church.
5. The presentation of complaints shall in all cases be first made to the Examining Committee, who shall upon sufficient cause, prefer charges before the whole church. In case the committee refuse to do so the complainant may, if he insists on the charges, present his complaint in person to the church.
6. The methods of censure are, private reproof. suspension from church privileges, and excommunica- tion.
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7. An excommunicated person cannot return to the church except upon profession of faith in Christ.
VIL. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES.
1. The permanent officers of this church shall be a Pastor and two or more Deacons. The other officers shall be a Clerk. Treasurer, and Auditor Call of whom shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting). and the Superintendent of the Sabbath School
2. The Deacons shall aid the Pastor in the celebration of the Lord's Supper; shall take the charge of the communion service and of providing for the communion table ; shall have the oversight of the poor members for visitation and relief. and shall assist the Pastor generally in the spiritual care of the congregation.
3. The Examining or Standing Committee shall consist of the pastor, deacons, clerk and two other brethren of the church. It shall be their duty to provide for the examination of all candidates for admission to the church ; to advise respecting objects to be presented for benevolent contributions; to bring before the church such cases and measures of discipline as shall be necessary, and to conduct amy other business that may be referred to it by the church.
1. It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep distinct and full minutes of all the business transactions of the church; a record of all receptions, dismissions and deaths of members; of all baptisms. both of infants
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and adults; of all non-resident members of this church, with the length of time they have been absent ; and he shall make a full written report of all these matters at the annual meeting of the church. He shall also act as clerk of the Standing Committee ; he shall conduct the correspondence of the church ; shall issue letters of dismission and recommendation, in accor- dance with its rules ; shall have charge of its archives, and shall prepare and keep a proper catalogne and index of all its members.
5. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to take charge of all money contributed for the expenses and poor of the church, and to disburse it under the direction of the Standing Committee; to receive and pay over to the proper officers all money contributed by the congregation to charitable objects, and to make at the annual meeting a written and detailed report of all receipts and payments, and so far as possible of the entire charities of the congregation. which report shall be andited by the auditor.
6. The Superintendent of the Sabbath School is an officer of this church, and the choice of the school is not valid till approved by vote of the church.
VI. STANDING RULES.
1. All meetings for business shall be opened with prayer.
2. All members of the church, male and female. shall have a vote in all matters coming before the church, and possess equal rights in it.
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3. A meeting for the choice of officers and committees, and for other business, shall be held annually in the month of January. At this meeting the records of the last year shall be read. the catalogue of members revised. and accounts presented by the treasurer of all monies received. expended. or held by him on behalf of the church. during the year. A report shall also be presented by the clerk.
1. The animal and other regular meetings of the church, for the transaction of business. shall be announced from the pulpit on the preceding Sabbath.
5. Business may be transacted at any regular meeting of the church. But no business of importance shall be transacted at any church meeting unless notice has been given from the pulpit on the previous Sabbath.
6. This church sustains a weekly prayer meeting on Friday evening.
7. There shall be a concert of prayer for missions on the first Sabbath evening of each month. and a Sabbath School Concert the second Sabbath evening of each month.
8. The sacrament of the Lord's Supper is observed on the first Sabbaths in January, March, May. July . September and November; and a preparatory lecture is preached on the Friday evening preceding.
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
SABBATH SCHOOL.
Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy Stranger that is within the gates, that they may bear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the word- of this lawy And that their children, which have not known anything, may hear, and learn to fear the lord your God, as long as vehyein the land whither Je go over Jordan to possess it-Det ANsi- 19, 95
This Sabbath School shall be called the Orthodox Congregational Sabbath School, of Arlington. Mass.
ARTICLE IL.
Section 1. The officers of this School shall consist of a Superintendent, Secretary, Treasurer and Librarian.
Sec. 2. In the absence of the Superintendent his duties shall be performed by the Secretary.
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Section 1. The Superintendent. who must be a member of the Church, shall be elected by ballot at the Annual meeting of the Sabbath School, on the third Monday of December of each year. the choice subject to the approval of the Church.
Sec. 2. All other officers shall be elected by ballot at the same meeting, but any vacancy in any office in this School shall be filled in the same manner as required at the annual meetings. provided one week's notice is given.
Sec. 8. All members of the school, eighteen years of age and upwards. shall be entitled to vote at ally regular meeting.
Set. 1. Thirteen members shall constitute a
The Superintendent shall nominate an Advisory Committee of three, whose duty shall be to confer with him in relation to the allais of the school. such nomination to be approved by the school.
Section 1. The school shall be reorganized on the first Sabbath in January of each year, and each term of office shall commence at that time.
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Sec. 2. All teachers shall be appointed by the Superintendent, subject to the approval of the advisory committee.
ARTICLE. VI.
Collections for some good object may be taken at any regular session of the school.
Annual reports shall be submitted at each annual meeting by the Superintendent. Secretary. Treasurer and Librarian, from which the Secretary shall prepare an abstract for record.
There shall be an Anniversary meeting each year, on the second Sabbath in May, at which a written report shall be made by the Secretary, upon the general interests of the school.
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