USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Historical manual of the Church of Christ in Lincoln, Mass > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Ge 974.402 163r
Gc 974.402 L63r 1281149
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 0855
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historicalmanual00rich
HISTORICAL MANUAL C
OF THE
CHURCH OF CHRIST
IN
LINCOLN, MASS.
H. J. Richardson
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Rev. iii. 8.
BOSTON: TOLMAN & WHITE, PRINTERS, 221 WASHINGTON STREET. 1872.
19/3/11
L. - $7.50
1281149 PREFATORY NOTE.
THE pastor of this church has long felt the need of a printed Manual for the use of its members. That it was not sooner prepared, after its want was manifest, is a matter both of regret and satisfaction ; of regret, because some of the aged members who would have been especially interested in its appearance have passed away : of satisfaction, because, if the first thought had been carried out, it would have been after the usual plan of such hand-books, simply a statement of the articles of faith held by the church, with its covenant, and a roll of its members from the beginning.
The more familiar the compiler has become with the early history of the church, the more has he felt that the Manual should be something more than a mere record of names. Its history covers four generations. The young disciples, who are entering into the labors of the fathers, need the stimulus and encouragement which some knowledge of the standard-bearers of former days is likely to impart. The children of the church,- and I do not here limit the meaning of this expression to those who have had the seal of baptism set upon them, but would rather embrace all whose privilege it is to remember that their fathers and mothers of former generations were of the house- hold of faith,-cannot thoughtfully receive the testimony of such lives without some deep impressions.
Sir David Brewster says in his sketch of Hugh Miller,-" the defender of revealed truth and the champion of the church of his fathers," in tracing his lineage to Donald Roy, his great-
22 ml
4
PREFATORY NOTE.
grandfather on his mother's side, "an ancient champion of Non-Intrusion," " a man of genuine piety,"-" the savor of his ennobling beliefs and his strict morals has survived in his family for generations."
The thought of this descent of ennobling beliefs and ster- ling character, the writer fondly hopes may be an inspiration to the present generation of Lincoln youth to noble and pious endeavors, as they get some glimpses, in these brief records of. past generations, of the lives and efforts of men whom it is their privilege to call fathers, whose character is their greatest legacy, and whose faith is a sacred trust.
In preparing this work, the records of the church, parish, town, and precinct, have been very carefully examined.
Valuable information has been gathered also from Shat- tuck's History of Concord, Bond's History of Watertown, and other like sources.
LINCOLN, June 26, 1872.
H. J. R.
CONTENTS.
Page.
Apostles' Creed
7
Articles of Faith
9-10
Covenant
11
Form of Professing Religion by Owning the Covenant
12
Rules and Regulations of the Church . . 13-14
By-Laws of the Parish 15-16
Sketch of the Church 17-24
Sketch of the Parish
25-53
Pastors-The Rev. William Lawrence 54-58
66 The Rev. Charles Stearns, D. D. 58-63
66 Elijah Demond 63-67
66 Ebenezer Newhall 67-68
66 William Chamberlain Jackson 68-69
Henry Jackson Richardson 69-71
Deacons - Dea. Benjamin Brown
Dea. Joshua Brooks 72-73
66 Dea. John Gove 73
Dea. Samuel Farrar 73-74
66 Dea. Joshua Brooks, Jr. 74
66 Dea. Edmund Wheeler 74-75
66 Dea. Samuel Farrar, Jr. 75
66 Dea. Eleazer Brooks 75-77
Dea. John Hartwell 77
Dea. Thomas Wheeler 77-78
66 Dea. James Farrar 78
Dea. Eleazer Brooks, Jr. 78-79
Contributions to the Ministry
81-83
Donors to the Church 84-86
Early Families.
ยท
87-94
Catalogue of Members
95-107
72
APOSTLES' CREED.
We believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost; born of the Virgin Mary; suffered death under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into the grave ; the third day He rose from the dead; He as- cended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Ghost; the Holy Catholic Church; the communion of Saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlast- ing. Amen.
I. ARTICLES OF FAITH .*
1. We believe that there is but one God, the Creator, Preserver and Governor of the Universe ; a Being of perfect and adorable attributes.
2. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration.
3. That the Godhead is revealed in the Scriptures, as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and that these three, equal in all divine attributes, are one God.
4. That God's eternal purposes respect all actual events ; that in forming and executing them He takes counsel only of himself, and that the principles and administration of his gov- ernment are holy, just and good.
5. That man was originally holy; but that by sinning against God, he fell from that state, and that, in consequence of the fall, all mankind are by nature entirely destitute of holiness and disposed to sin.
6. That Jesus Christ, by His humiliation, suffering and death, has made an atonement, sufficient for the redemption of all mankind ; and that pardon and eternal life are, through Him, freely offered to all.
7. That repentance and faith in Christ are the only con- ditions on which any can avail themselves of the offers thus graciously made ; and that all, while left to themselves, do refuse to comply with these conditions.
8. That the Holy Spirit, by his regenerating energies, doth influence some to comply with these conditions ; and those whom He renews are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation.
*Adopted Feb. 27th, 1863.
10
CHURCH MANUAL.
9. We believe in the resurrection of the dead, and in a day of judgment, when all mankind are to receive a sentence of retribution, according to what they have done, and that the righteous will then enter into life, and that the wicked will go away into punishment, both of which will be without end.
10. Moreover, we believe that, in this world, the Lord Jesus Christ has a visible Church, the terms of admission to which, are a public profession of faith in Christ, sustained by credible evidence; that Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances to be observed in the Church to the end of time ; that none but members of the visible Church, in regular stand- ing, should partake of the Lord's Supper, and that only they and their households are proper subjects for the ordinance of baptism.
II. COVENANT.
Professing a sincere and hearty belief in the sacred Scrip- tures, you do now, in an everlasting covenant, give up yourself to God in Jesus Christ.
You humbly ask of God the remission of all your sins, original and actual, through the blood of Christ ; do exercise true repentance towards God; and, with all your heart, do accept of Jesus Christ for your Redeemer and only Saviour, as he is offered to poor sinners in the Gospel.
You do, also, solemnly promise, before God, his holy angels and this assembly, that, by the help of the Holy Spirit, denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, you will live soberly, right- eously and godly, in this present world; that you will work out your own salvation with fear and trembling ; that you will forsake the vanities of this evil world, and that you will approve yourself, a disciple of Jesus Christ, in all good carriage, both towards God and towards man.
You do, likewise, submit yourself to the government of Christ in his Church, and to all the laws and discipline of his kingdom, as administered in this church.
Particularly, you promise that, so long as God shall con- tinue you among us, you will walk in regular communion with the Church of Christ in this place, will attend with God's people all the holy institutions and ordinances of his house, will conduct here according to the rules of the Gospel, and in all things will do what you know, or shall know, to be your duty.
DO YOU THUS PROMISE ?
I do now, in the name of Jesus Christ, declare you to be a member of this Church of Christ, in full communion ; and, in the name of the Church, I do promise, that, by the help of the Divine Spirit, we will conduct towards you, as a member of the same body with ourselves, watching over you for good with a spirit of meekness, love and tenderness, and earnestly pray- ing that the Lord will take delight in us and dwell among us ; that his blessing may be upon us, and that his kingdom may be advanced by us. AMEN.
III. FORM OF PROFESSING RELIGION BY OWNING THE COVENANT .*
You do thankfully acknowledge the goodness of God, that you have been, by the act of your parents, given up to God in your infancy, and had the seal of the Covenant put upon you in your Baptism, and having, by their care, been educated in the Christian Religion, you do now willingly ratify their act, and avouch the Lord to be your God, and in a very serious and solemn manner, choose the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, into the profession of whose name you have been baptized, for your God and portion, and do dedicate yourself to the Father, as your Creator, Preserver and moral Governor,- to Christ as your Saviour and Redeemer,-to the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier and Guide,-begging of God the pardon of all your sins, through the merits of Christ, and grace to live to the glory of God. And, as an heir of eternal life, you engage to bring up all under your care in the nurture and admonition of the Lord ; that you will seek further light, whereby you may be emboldened to come to all the ordinances, and walk in all the commandments of the Lord, blameless, and being sensible of, and acknowledging your own unworthiness to be in cove- nant with God, and utter inability to keep covenant with Him, by any strength of your own, you depend upon the Lord Jesus Christ, the Mediator of the new Covenant, for righteous- ness and strength, that you may be pardoned and accepted of God, and enabled to keep covenant with Him, and to walk in all sincerity and godliness before Him. You do also submit yourselves to the government of Christ in his Church, to the laws of his kingdom and discipline regularly administered in this church so long as God in his providence shall continue you here.
* Used only in the early history of the Church.
IV.
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CHURCH.
1. The permanent officers of the Church shall be a Pastor and two or more Deacons. The other officers shall be a Clerk, Treasurer and Standing Committee, to be elected, annually, on the first Friday in January.
2. All officers shall be elected by ballot.
3. The Pastor and Deacons, ex-officiis, and two other brethren shall constitute the Standing Committee.
4. The Deacons shall aid the Pastor in the discharge of his duties, care for the wants of needy members, see that the discipline of the church is not neglected, take charge of the communion service and provide for the communion table.
5. The Standing Committee shall examine candidates for admission to the Church by profession or letter, and make such suggestions and recommendations, from time to time, as may seem to them fitted to promote the best interests of the Church.
6. The Clerk shall keep a faithful record of the business meetings of the Church, with a roll of admissions, dismissions and baptisms, issue letters of dismission when authorized, have the charge of the books and valuable papers of the Church, and audit the accounts of the Treasurer.
7. The Treasurer shall take charge of the funds of the Church, and shall forward all benevolent contributions to their respective destinations, and shall make a report to the Church at the annual meeting in January.
8. Candidates for admission to the Church, if approved by the Examining Committee, shall be propounded two weeks before the Communion, unless the Church order otherwise, and a vote shall be taken on their admission at the Preparatory Lecture, and at their reception, they shall publicly assent to the Articles of Faith and Covenant. If, however, they hold other views respect- ing baptism than those expressed in the tenth article of the creed,
14
CHURCH MANUAL.
they may be received to membership without assenting to the views held by this Church.
9. It is expected that the members of the Church, on their removal to other places, will apply for letters of admission and recommendation to some other Church within one year. Fail- ing for any reason to do this, they are expected to communicate annually, to the Church Committee, reasons for the delay until their connection with this Church terminates.
10. Members of other churches, worshipping with us, are invited to become members of this Church.
11. Matters of discipline shall be conducted according to the approved methods of procedure in Congregational churches. In cases of personal offence or private wrong, those means of reconciliation and restoration must be observed which our Lord requires. [Matt. v. 23-24, and xviii. 15-17.]
12. The Lord's Supper is observed on the first Sabbath in January, March, May, July, September and November; the Preparatory Lecture is given on the preceding Friday.
13. The regular prayer meeting for the Congregation is held on Friday evening; the Monthly Concert of prayer for missions on the evening of the first Sabbath of each month ; the Sabbath School Concert on the afternoon of the third Sabbath of each month.
14. Contributions shall be taken in the Church, annually, for the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, for the American Home Missionary Society, and for such other religious and benevolent causes as the Standing Committee shall authorize.
V. BY-LAWS OF THE PARISH.
REPORTED AND ADOPTED MARCH 13TH, 1848.
Article 1st. The name of this religious Society shall con- tinue to be the First Parish in Lincoln.
Art. 2d. The qualifications of admittance to this Parish shall be a vote of acceptance of the person proposed, by a ma- jority of the members present, at any legal meeting of said parish, and his signing these By-Laws.
Art. 3d. The Officers of this Parish shall be a Prudential Committee of three, who shall also be Assessors, a Clerk, a Treasurer and Collector, with any others the Parish may deter- mine to elect, all of which officers shall be chosen by ballot at the annual meeting of said Parish, which shall be holden on the second Monday in March.
Art. 4th. The Prudential Committee shall have the general charge of the financial and prudential concerns of the Parish ; and shall call a special meeting of said Parish, whenever re- quested in writing by seven or more legal voters of said Parish, and shall make a report of the state of the finances of said Parish at their annual meeting.
Art. 5th. All meetings of said Parish shall be called by the Prudential Committee, or Assessors, by a warrant signed by them and directed to the Collector, a copy of which, certified by him, shall be posted in the entry between the doors of the Church of said Parish seven days, at the least, before the time of meeting.
Art. 6th. The funds for the payment of the salary of the minister, and for the necessary expenses of supporting public worship, shall be raised by voluntary subscription.
[In 1860 this article was so amended " that a part of the expenses of the Society may be raised by the rent of the pews."]
16
CHURCH MANUAL.
Art. 7th. In the choice of a minister, the Church connected with this Parish shall have the right of nomination, and a call shall be given only on a concurrent vote of the Parish, and for the dismission of a minister, the concurrent vote of Church and Parish shall be required.
Art. 8th. These By-Laws may be amended, or added to, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, at any legal meeting called for that purpose.
All of which is submitted by your Committee.
JAMES FARRAR SR., SEWALL FISKE, ELISHA HAGAR, WILLIAM COLBURN, GREGORY STONE.
VI. SKETCH OF THE CHURCH.
" CONCORD, LEXINGTON AND WESTON, SECOND PRECINCT, AUG. 18TH, 1747.
" We, whose names are underwritten, being members of the church in the towns above said, having, on the fourth day of the above said month, mutually agreed to endeavor to be embodied into a distinct church, and having since desired leave of the respective churches in the towns aforesaid for that pur- pose, and being now met by agreement to hear the answers of said churches, and for further conference in the affair, upon finding the churches have granted us the leave asked for, agree to enter into a solemn covenant, obliging ourselves to endeavor to obtain and settle an orthodox gospel minister, and all the ordinances and institutions of the Gospel among us, and to endeavor to demean ourselves both towards God and man, as becomes a faithful church of Christ.
A List of those who first met.
EDWARD FLINT, THOS. GARFIELD, JR. JOSIAH PARKS,
THOS. GARFIELD,
Jos. BROWN, JOSHUA BROOKS,
JOHN HEADLEY,
JOHN GARFIELD, JOHN GOVE,
JOS. PIERCE, BENJAMIN BROWN, GEORGE PIERCE,
STEPHEN WESSON,
SAMUEL BOND,
JONAS PIERCE,
THOS. WHEELER,
BENJAMIN MUNROE,
WOODIS LEE.
EPHRAIM FLINT,
JOSEPH BROOKS,
NATHAN BROWN,
TIMOTHY WESSON, Afterwards signed :
BENJAMIN BROWN, JR. JONATHAN GOVE, JUDAH CLARK." " AUG. 20th, 1747.
" Being a day set apart by the Precinct, above mentioned, for fasting and prayer, to seek the divine conduct and blessing,
18
CHURCH MANUAL.
the persons, above mentioned, completed their church covenant ; and were embodied into a distinct church, in the presence of Rev. John Hancock of Lexington, Rev. Israel Lord of Sudbury, Rev. William Williams of Weston and Rev. Wareham Wil- liams of Waltham, who were desired to assist us in carrying on the public worship of God that day ; as also in the presence of the public assembly. After which things, the Church pro- ceeded to make choice of Benjamin Brown for their standing moderator until further order."
The Covenant completed und signed by the Church, is as follows :
" A Covenant, which sundry church members, inhabitants of the Precinct lately appointed by the Great and General Court, consisting partly of the town of Concord, partly of the town of Weston, and partly of Lexington, entered into, in order to their embodying into a distinct church, Aug. 18th, 1747. We do, under an abasing sense of our unworthiness, of such a favor, and unfitness for such a business, yet apprehending ourselves to be called of God to put ourselves in a way of church com- munion together, and to seek the settlement of all Gospel insti- tutions among us, therefore, in order thereunto, and for the better promoting thereof, as much as in us lies, knowing how prone we are to err, abjuring all confidence in ourselves, and relying on the Lord Jesus Christ for help, covenant as follows :
First. Having perused the Confession of Faith put forth by the last Synod of Churches, held in Boston, in New Eng- land, we do heartily close in with it, as to the substance of it, as agreeable to the Holy Scriptures, and promise to stand by, maintain, and if need be, contend for the faith therein delivered to the people of God ; and if any among us shall go about to undermine it, we will bear a due testimony against them.
2ndly. We do, also, combine to walk together, as a particu- lar church of Christ, according to all those holy rules of the gospel prescribed to such a society so far as we do, or shall, understand the mind of God revealed to us in this respect.
3dly. We do recognize the covenant of grace, in which, we
19
SKETCH OF THE CHURCH.
do professedly acknowledge ourselves devoted to the fear and service of the only true God, our Supreme Lord, and to the Lord Jesus Christ, the High Priest, Prophet and King of his church, unto the conduct of whose Spirit we submit ourselves, and on whom alone we rely for pardon, grace and glory, to whom we bind ourselves in an everlasting covenant never to be forgotten.
4thly. We likewise give up ourselves one unto another, in the Lord, resolving by his help to cleave to each other, as fel- low members of one body, in brotherly love and holy watchful- ness over one another, for mutual edification, and to submit ourselves to all the holy administrations, appointed by him who is the Head of the Church, dispensed according to the rules of the gospel, and to give our steady attendance on all the public ordinances of Christ's institutions, walking orderly as becometh saints.
5thly. We do all acknowledge our posterity to be included with us in the gospel covenant ; and, blessing God for such a favor, do promise to bring them up in the nurture and admoni- tion of the Lord with the greatest care.
6thly. Further, we promise to be careful to procure the settlement and continuance among us of such officer, or officers, as are appointed by Christ, the chief Shepherd, for the edifica- tion of his church; and accordingly to do our duty faithfully for their maintenance and encouragement, and to carry towards them as becomes us.
7thly. Finally, we do acknowledge, and promise to pre- serve communion with the faithful churches of Christ, for the giving and receiving mutual counsel and assistance in all cases wherein it shall be needful. Now the good Lord be merciful to us, and as he hath put it into our hearts thus to devote our- selves to him, may he pity and pardon our frailty, humble us out of all carnal confidence, and keep it forever upon our hearts to be faithful to himself and one another, for his praise and our everlasting comfort for Christ Jesus' sake, to whom be glory forever. Amen."
[Signed by the persons whose names have already been given.]
20
CHURCH MANUAL.
Shattuck says that " this church has never had a confession of faith." This statement is likely to make an erroneous impres- sion. While it is true, that, at the time he wrote, the church had not adopted articles of faith, in the compact form that it now holds them, for the use of the church, yet it will be observed that the covenant, which was the basis of the organi- zation of the church, in the very first paragraph, makes a con- fession of faith in the following terms : "Having perused the confession of faith put forth by the last Synod of Churches held in Boston, in New England, we do heartily close in with it as to the substance of it, as agreeable to the Holy Scriptures, and prom- ise to stand by, maintain, and if need be contend for the faith therein delivered to the people of God, and if any among us shall go about to undermine it, we will bear a due testimony against them."
It is to be said, in explanation of the above, that in the early history of the churches of Massachusetts, four Synods were held by " the Elders and Messengers of the Churches :" one in 1637, at Cambridge ; the second in 1648, at Cambridge ; the third in 1662, at Boston ; the fourth in 1679-80, at Boston. The results of these Synods are entirely harmonious, both in matters of doctrine and discipline. The allusion in the cove- nant is, undoubtedly, to the Confession of Faith set forth by the last Synod, at its second session in 1680.
" The Synod, at their second session, which was May 12, 1680, consulted and considered of a confession of faith. That which was consented unto by the Elders and Messengers of the Congregational Churches in England, who met at the Savoy, (being for the most part, some small variations excepted, the same with that which was agreed upon first by the Assembly at Westminster, and was approved of by the Synod at Cambridge, in N. E., A. D. 1648, as also by a General Assembly in Scot- land), was twice publickly read, examined and approved of.
" That little variation, which we have made from the one in compliance with the other, may be seen by those, who please to compare them. But we have, (for the main), chosen to express ourselves in the words of those Reverend Assemblies,
21
SKETCH OF THE CHURCH.
so that we might not only with one heart, but with one mouth, glorify God and our Lord Jesus Christ."
It will be seen, from the above extract from the preface to the result of the Synod of 1680, what the views of the mem- bers of the Synod were, respecting doctrinal symbols, and how much importance they attached to a clear, biblical confession of faith ; and also, if the subject be pursued, the substantial agreement of the Reformed Churches in matters of doctrine. This church was organized on the basis of the Confession of 1680, which was an affirmation of declarations made by pre- vious Councils. The position of the Congregational churches, at the present time, is the same, substantially, as in 1680, as may be shown from the doctrinal basis adopted by the General Council of Congregational Churches, at Boston, in June, 1665, (on Burial Hill, Plymouth). "Standing on the Rock where the Pilgrims set foot upon these shores, upon the spot where they worshipped God, and among the graves of the early genera- tions, we, elders and messengers of the Congregational churches of the United States, in National Council assembled,-like them, acknowledging no rule of faith but the word of God,- do now declare our adherence to the faith and order of the apostolic and primitive churches, held by our fathers, and as substantially embodied in the Confessions and Platforms which our Synods of 1648 and 1680 set forth, or reaffirmed. We de- clare that the experience of the nearly two and a half centuries which have elapsed since the memorable day when our sires founded here a Christian Commonwealth, with all the develop- ment of new forms of error since their times, have only deep- ened our confidence in the faith and polity of these fathers. We bless the God of our fathers for the inheritance of these doctrines, which have been transmitted to us, their children, etc." So also the National Council of Congregational Churches, held at Oberlin, Nov., 1871, made the following declaration :
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.