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M.L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00084 1004
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MANUAL
OF THE
Igregational Church,
BELCHERTOWN, MASS.
CONTAINING
An Historical Sketch of the Church, its Principles, Arti- cles of Faith, Covenant, Rules and Catalogue.
COMPILED JANUARY, 1874.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
SPRINGFIELD, MASS .: CLARK W. BRYAN & COMPANY, PRINTERS: 1874.
NL 35-7824
1820251
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RI
PHINTIRG
AN & CO.
CL
SP
ELD.MASS.
RING
2541
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
I. ORGANIZATION AND HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
THIS church was organized, as nearly as can now be deter- mined, in the spring of 1737. What is known respecting it, prior to February 26, 1756, is gathered from other sources than its records.
Samuel Bascom, Benjamin Stebbins and Aaron Lyman from Northampton, John Bardwell and Jonathan Graves of Hatfield, were pioneer settlers of the place. To these names the following persons must be added as the probable original male members of the church : John Smith, Ebenezer Bridg- man, Moses Hannum, Eliakim Phelps, Joseph Bardwell, Nathaniel Dwight, Oliver Smith, Joseph Bridgman, Thomas Graves, Benjamin Billings, Stephen Crawfoot, Joseph King, and Robert Brown.
The subject of erecting a meeting-house was brought up in 1737. A year after, the building was ready for use, though . not finished till 1746, and then " done in a manner suited to their embarrassed circumstances."
The house now occupied as a place of public worship was erected in 1789, the birth year of our Constitutional Repub- lic, but it was not dedicated till September 12, 1792. In 1828, during Dr. Coleman's ministry, it was much enlarged, and the interior entirely reconstructed at an expense of over three thousand dollars. Again, in 1850, during the minis- try of Dr. Wolcott, it was remodeled and better adapted to the wants of the minister and congregation. It was put into
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its present condition in the summer of 1872, being recon- structed and refurnished at a cost of seven thousand dollars. It was rededicated September 12, 1872, on the eightieth an- niversary of its first dedication. The exercises of the occa- sion included a sermon by the pastor, Rev. P. W. Lyman, an historical address by Rev. G. A. Oviatt, and dedicatory prayer by Rev. H. B. Blake, former pastors.
The Brainerd Church was organized September 30, 1834 ; between ninety and a hundred persons were then, or shortly after, dismissed from the First Church to constitute it. It continued a separate existence until August 31, 1841, when, with about a hundred and eighty members, it was reunited to the parent church, its pastor, Rev. G. A. Oviatt, becoming the pastor of the united people.
About 1680 persons have been members of this church since its organization.
II. PASTORS.
The first pastor of this church was Rev. Edward Billing, a native of Sunderland, and a graduate of Harvard College. He accepted the call, in a letter dated February 22, 1739, and was probably ordained in April, 1739. He was dis- missed in April, 1752. In 1754 he became the first pastor of the church in Greenfield, where he died about the year 1757.
Rev. Justus Forward, the second pastor, was born in Suffield, Ct., May 11, 1730 ; graduated from Yale College in 1754; taught school in Hatfield, where he studied the- ology ; was licensed to preach in the fall of 1755, and was ordained February 25, 1756. He was sole pastor till March, 1812, when a colleague was settled. He died March 8, 1814, in the fifty-ninth year of his ministry, and the eighty-fourth year of his age, having followed to the
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grave more than nine hundred of his people. During his ministry three hundred and eighty members were received into the church, of whom two hundred and ninety-four joined on profession of faith. Several revivals of religion occurred during his connection with the church-the most remarkable of which was in the years 1785-6.
Rev. Experience Porter, the third pastor, was a native of Lebanon, N. H .; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1803 ; was tutor in Middlebury College one year ; studied theology with Rev. Asahel Hooker in Goshen, Ct .; was ordained over the church in Winchester, N. H., November 12, 1807, and settled over this church early in 1812. He retained his pas- torate till March 9, 1825. During these thirteen years, four hundred and twenty-five persons were received into the church, three hundred and forty-five of them on profession. This number was about equal to the whole number added during the previous eighty years. Two remarkable revivals occurred during his ministry. In 1813, one hundred and seven persons were added to the church upon profession, and from the fall of 1818 through 1819, two hundred and eight persons united with it. Mr. Porter died August 25, 1828.
Rev. Lyman Coleman, the fourth pastor, was born in Mid- dlefield, June 14, 1796 ; graduated at Yale College in 1817 ; taught three years in the Latin Grammar School at Hartford, Ct .; was a tutor in Yale College four years and a half. While there he studied theology, and was ordained here, Oc- tober 19, 1825, and was dismissed in September, 1832, having received one hundred and seventy-eight persons into the church, of whom one hundred and thirty-three were upon profession of faith. Since his dismission he has been Princi- pal of Burr Seminary, Vermont, also of the English depart- ment of Phillips Academy in Andover, a teacher in Amherst, Mass., and Philadelphia, Pa., Professor of German in Prince-
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ton College (from which he received the degree of D. D.,) and now of Ancient Languages in Lafayette College, Easton, Pa. He is the author of several valuable works upon Sacred Geography and subjects connected with Christian Antiquities.
Rev. Jared Reid, the fifth pastor, was born in Preston, Ct., February, 1788; graduated at Yale College, 1817 ; studied theology at Andover; licensed to preach, April, 1822; was settled in the ministry at Reading, November 20, 1823 ; dis- missed in 1833 ; installed here, September 4, 1833; was dis- missed here, January 6, 1841. He was afterwards at Tiver- ton, R. I.
Rev. George A. Oviatt, the sixth pastor, is a native of Bridgeport, Ct. ; graduated at Yale College, 1835 ; where he also studied theology. He was ordained pastor of the Brai- nerd Church in this place, August 28, 1838 ; when (upon the resignation of Mr. Reid) the two churches were reunited, he was invited to become their pastor, and was installed over this church, August 31, 1841. He was dismissed July, 1845, and took the pastorate of the Suffolk Street Church, Boston ; afterwards of the churches in Chicopee, Somers, Ct., and Talcotville, Ct., of which last he is at present the pastor.
Rev. John Clancey, the seventh pastor, graduated at Mid- dlebury College, 1818 ; studied theology at Andover ; set- tled in the ministry at Charlton, N. Y., twenty years. He was installed here February 25, 1846, and remained until March 27, 1849, when, having been dismissed, he returned to Charlton.
Rev. Samuel Wolcott, the eighth pastor, was born in what is now South Windsor, Ct., July 1813; graduated at Yale College in 1833 ; completed theological study at Andover in 1837. For two years afterward, he assisted the Secretary of the A. B. C. F. M. November 13, 1839, he was ordained,
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and went to Syria as a missionary. He continued his labors in that region till January, 1843, when, on account of the death of his wife and the unsettled condition of affairs in Syria, he returned to America. In August, 1843, he be- came pastor of the church in Longmeadow, from which he was dismissed in December, 1847. He was installed over this church October 2, 1849, and dismissed March 29, 1853. At that time he became pastor of a church in Providence, R. I., where he remained six and a half years; then spent two years in connection with the New England Church, in Chicago, Ill. For the past twelve years he has been settled over a church in Cleveland, Ohio. A noteworthy revival visited the church during the first year of his ministry here, and one hundred more added to the church, eighty-nine on profession of faith.
Rev. Henry B. Blake, the ninth pastor, was born in Win- chester Center, Ct., May 20, 1817 ; united with the church in 1832 ; graduated at Williams College in 1841 ; studied theology at East Windsor, Ct., and graduated in 1844. He was ordained at South Coventry, Ct., January 1, 1845; dismissed in May, 1855 ; installed here June 26, 1855, and dismissed at the end of ten years, June 26, 1865. He went to Wilmington, N. C., as an agent of the American Mission- ary Association, in 1868. He is at present Chairman of the County Board of Examiners and Superintendent of the City Schools in Wilmington, and is also employed in the training of colored preachers.
Rev. W. W. Woodworth, the tenth pastor, was born at Cromwell Ct., October 16, 1813; graduated at Yale College in 1838, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1841. He was pastor at Berlin, Ct , 1842-52; at Waterbury, Ct., 1852-58 ; stated supply at Mansfield, Ohio, 1858-60; at the Olivet Church, Springfield, 1860-62 ; at Plymouth,
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1862-64; at Painesville, Ohio, 1864-66; pastor of this church, 1866-70. Since then he has been pastor at Grin- nell, Iowa.
Rev. Payson W. Lyman, the present pastor, was born at Easthampton, February 28, 1842; graduated at Amherst College, 1867, and at Union Theological Seminary, New York, in 1870; ordained and installed over this church, May 10, 1871, having previously preached a short time in Ashfield.
III. DEACONS.
The following persons have served the church in the office of deacon, since its organization :
John Smith, chosen 1737, died 1777. Aaron Lyman, chosen 1737, died 1780. Elijah Smith, chosen 1761, died 1770. Joseph Bridgman, chosen 1770, died 1773. Joseph Smith, chosen 1770, died 1803. Edward Smith, chosen 1781, removed 1793. Elijah Dwight, chosen 1793, died 1795. Amasa Smith, chosen 1795, removed 1802. Eliakim Phelps, chosen 1803, died 1824. James Walker, chosen 1804, resigned 1827. Oliver S. Taylor, chosen 1816, removed 1817. Daniel Phelps, chosen 1816, resigned 1854. John M. Spooner, chosen 1827, removed 1846. Anson Moody, chosen 1827, removed 1829.
Henry A. Bridgman, chosen 1828, resigned 1850. Israel Towne, chosen 1829, died 1853. William Phelps, chosen 1838, resigned 1850.
Elisha Abbey, chosen 1841, died 1863. Elijah Amidon, chosen 1841, resigned 1850. Ephraim Montague, chosen 1850, resigned 1873.
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Amasa Towne, chosen 1854, died 1871. Warcham C. Gilbert, chosen 1854, died 1859. Harrison Root, chosen 1859. Lyman Sabin, chosen 1863. Charles L. Washburn, chosen 1871.
Heman C. Moody, chosen 1871. Tertius Cowles, chosen 1873.
At the time of the union of the two churches in 1841, Daniel Phelps, John M. Spooner, Israel Towne aud Wm. Phelps were the officiating deacons in the First Church, and Henry A. Bridgman, Elijah Amidon and Elisha Abbey, in the Brainerd Church. After the union, they all officiated until 1850, when all resigned, and the church then chose Daniel Phelps, Israel Towne, Elisha Abbey and Ephraim Montague.
NOTE .- The authority for the history prior to 1852, is chiefly the " Historical Sketch " by Hon. Mark Doolittle.
CONGREGATIONAL PRINCIPLES.
COMPILED FROM EMINENT AUTHORITIES.
I. CONGREGATIONALISM.
CONGREGATIONALISM is a form of church order and govern- ment, rather than a system of doctrinal faith. The form is the democratic, in which all ecclesiastical power, under Christ, is vested in the associated brotherhood of each local church, as an independent body. At the same time it recognizes a fraternal and equal fellowship between these independent churches, which invests each with the right and duty of ad- vice and reproof, and even of the public withdrawal of that fellowship, in case the course pursued by another of the sis- terhood, should demand such action for the preservation of its own purity and consistency.
II. THE CHURCH.
Any company of people believing, and publicly professing themselves to be Christians, associated, by voluntary compact, on gospel principles, for Christian work and worship, is a true Church of Christ. Every member of such church has equal essential rights, powers and privileges with every other, (ex- cept so far as it is fitting that some special abridgment be made in the case of female and youthful members, ) and the membership together, by majority vote, have the right and duty of choosing all necessary officers; of admitting, dismissing and disciplining their own members ; of forming their own creed,
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according to their understanding of the Scriptures; of regu- lating the details of worship and business procedure, and of independency ; i. e. each church has these powers, in and of itself, which it may exercise without responsibility to any ecclesiastical authority above itself. It is answerable directly and only to Christ its Head. And yet, each church ought gratefully and meekly to receive, and candidly and prayerfully to weigh advice and, if need be, admonition from its sister churches. Every such church, whatever may be the lowliness of its worldly estate, is on a level of inherent genuineness, dignity, and authority, with every other church on earth,
III. CHURCH OFFICERS.
Church officers, according to the arrangement which the Apostles instituted in every church, are of two sorts, Bishops or Elders (now usually styled Pastors), and Deacons. Con- gregational churches intrust no ecclesiastical power to their officers. The original function of the bishop was to labor in word and doctrine, and to rule, i. e. to teach, and to preside in the assembly of the church. The function of the deacons is to assist in distributing the elements of the Lord's Supper ; to attend to the secular business of the church; to visit the members, especially the sick, for the purpose of spiritual ed- ification ; and, in behalf of the church, to minister to the wants of the poor.
Besides these permanent officers, a church may designate any member or members, to any definite work in its behalf.
IV. REMOVAL OF MEMBERS.
Members are removed from their visible connection with, and standing in the Christian church, by death, by suspen- sion, and by excommunication.
Suspension deprives a member of all church privileges for
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the time of its continuance. At the expiration of the time specified, should no further action be taken by the church, full church privileges revert to him, unless his suspension had been made operative " until he shall show penitence and ask to be restored," in which case it would continue until terminated by a vote of excommunication or restoration.
Excommunication cuts a member off ignominiously, from all relations of privilege to the church, while it would leave upon him all relations of duty, because his covenant with God still binds him, though he has forfeited his church privi- leges. He remains an excommunicated church-member; not a non-church-member. The church may at any time lift the sentence of excommunication from him, on his penitent con- fession ; by which act, he would be restored to good and regu- lar standing.
V. FELLOWSHIP OF THE CHURCHES.
Though the churches are equal and independent, yet a fra- ternal fellowship should be maintained, with affectionate care- fulness for each other's soundness of doctrine and general welfare. When important matters are pending, or difficulties arise, it is not only competent, but desirable, that such churches shall in a fraternal manner advise each other ; the advice, however, is not of the nature of authority. And if any church seems to the others, wrongfully to disregard their advice, they may revoke their existing fellowship with the offending church, until it returns to what seems to them to be the path of duty, though they can not control the action of the individual church.
VI. COUNCILS.
The advice of the churches is sought through a council. A council is a meeting of specially invited churches, by their
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delegates, chosen for the occasion. The pastor of a church having been fully recognized as its presiding elder, is always expected to be one of its delegates. Yet in the council there is no distinction of authority between pastors and other dele- gates.
COUNCILS are called by churches, or by individuals, and are of two kinds, mutual, and ex-parte. The former is when both parties to the difficulty, or question, unite ; the latter is one which is called by one of the parties, when every proper effort has failed to secure the calling of a mutual council.
No ex-parte council may proceed to consider the case be- fore it, until it is satisfied that every reasonable effort to se- cure a mutual council has been made and has failed, and until it has offered itself as a mutual council to both parties, and been rejected as such. Councils are not authoritative, but advisory bodies. There is just so much force in their de- cision, as there is force in the reason of it. No council can act on any matter not mentioned in the letter missive, or re- main in existence after adjournment at the close of business.
VII. PERMANENT ASSEMBLIES.
A CONFERENCE is an assembly of pastors and delegates, assembled, not like a council, on the special call of a sister church, for some isolated service toward light and peace, but in virtue of a constitution providing for periodical meetings for mutual prayer, communion, advice, and helpfulness.
AN ASSOCIATION is a meeting of pastors and other clergy- men, in the aim to help each other in their common work. They have no direct connection with the churches. The licensing of candidates for the pulpit is generally referred to them.
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FORM OF ADMISSION TO THE CHURCH.
As a Church of Jesus Christ, associated in accordance with the teachings of the New Testament, for the public wor- ship of God, for the observance of Gospel Sacraments and Ordinances, for mutual edification and encouragement in the Christian life, and for the advancement of the Redeemer's kingdom, we receive the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the only infallible rule of religious faith and practice. But for a condensed statement of the body of doctrine which we hold and teach, we set forth the following Articles of Doctrinal Belief, the same being, with slight al- teration, those adopted by the Council of Congregational Churches held in Boston, in June, 1865. .
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
We confess our faith in the one living and true God, (a,) revealed as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; (b,) the Creator and Preserver of all things, (c, ) whose purposes and providence extend to all events, (d,) and who exercises a righteous government over all his creatures, (e.)
(a) Deut. vi. 4; 1 Cor. viii. 4; Isa. xlv. 22.
(b) Matt. xxviii. 19; 2 Cor. xiii. 14 ; John i. 1, x. 80; 1 Tim. iii. 16; Heb. i. 8; Phil. ii. 6; Col. ii. 9; Heb. xiii. 8; 1 John v. 20; Rom. ix. 5 ; Acts. xx. 28, v. 3, 4 ; John xv. 26.
(c) Heb. iii. 4; Is. xxiv. 24; Acts xvii. 24; Col. i. 16 ; Rev. iv. 11; Heb. i. 8; Ps. xxxvi. 6.
(d) Ps. cxxxv. 6; Eph i. 11; Ps. cxv. 3 ; Jer. x. 23; Rom. xi. 86; Eph. i. 4, 5; Matt. vi. 26-30, x. 29; Prov. xvi. 9.
(e) Ps. xlvii. 2, ciii. 19.
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We believe the Son to be Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word, who is exalted to be our Redeemer and King, (f;) and the Holy Ghost to be the Comforter, who is present in the church to regenerate and sanctify the soul, (g. ) With the whole church, we confess the common sinfulness and ruin of our race, (h, ) and acknowledge that it is only through the work accomplished by the life and expiatory death of Christ, that believers in him are justified before God, receive the remission of sins, (i,) and, through the presence and grace of the Holy Comforter, are delivered from the power of sin and perfected in holiness, (j.)
We also believe in the organized and visible church, (k, ) in the ministry of the Word, (1, ) in the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, (m, ) in the resurrection of the body, (n,) and in final judgment, (o, ) the issues of which are eter- nal life and everlasting punishment, (p. ) We receive these truths on the testimony of God, given through Prophets and Apostles, in the life, the miracles, the death, the resurrection of his Son, our Divine Redeemer, a testimony preserved for
(f) John i. xiv. 29; Acts v. 31; 1 Cor. xv. 24, 25.
(g) John xv. 16, 17; Eph. iv. 30; 1 Peter i. 2.
(h) Rom. v. 12, 15-19; vii. 18; Ps. xiv. 1-3, li. 5; lviii. 3; Eph. ii. 3.
(i) Rom. v. 1; Gal. iii. 13; 1 Tim. ii. 6; Heb. ii. 10; Rev. v. 9; John ili. 16, 17; 1 Tim. i. 16; Rom. iii. 20-25; Heb. ix. 22; Acts iv. 12.
(j) 2 Thes. ii. 13; Titus iii. 5; Rom. v. 5.
(k) Matt. xvi. 18, xviii. 17 ; Acts ii. 47; 1 Cor. i. 2; 2 Cor. vi. 14-18.
(!) Acts xiv. 23, xx. 28; Titus i. 5; 1 Peter v. 1-3.
(m) Matt. xxvi. 26-30, xxviii. 19; Acts xvi. 33; 1 Cor. xi. 23, 26.
(n) Dan. xii. 2; Rom. viii. 11; 1 Cor. xv. 53; Phil. iii. 21 ; John v. 28, 29; Acts xxiv. 15.
(0) 2 Cor. v. 10; Eccl. xii. 14; Matt. xii. 36; Acts xvii. 31 ; Rom. xiv. 12; Heb ix. 17.
(p) Matt. xix. 29, xxv. 34, 41, 46 ; Rom. ii. 6-9, vi. 22.
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the church, in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- ments, which were composed by holy men, as they were inoved by the Holy Ghost, (q.)
Affirming now our belief that those who thus hold "one faith, one Lord, one baptism," together constitute the one Catholic church, the several households of which, though called by different names, are the one body of Christ, and that these members of his body are sacredly bound to keep " the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace," wo declare that we will co-operate with all who hold these truths, (r. )
Do you so confess and declare ?
[The ordinance of baptism, if required, is now to be adminis- tered.]
COVENANT.
Accepting this as your confession of faith, you, who now present yourselves to be received into the fellowship of this church, 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, before God and this assembly, give yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ, to be his disciple, receiving Him as your only Priest and Propitiation, your great Teacher, Law- giver, and King ; you dedicate yourself to God as the object of your highest love, and to his service as your highest joy ; you consecrate your possessions to such uses as may be pleas- ing to Him ; and you engage that, in reliance upon the aid of the Divine Spirit, you will aim continually to adorn your profession by a consistent Christian life.
(q) 2 Tim. iii. 16; 2 Peter i. 21; Gal. i. 11, 12; Is. viii. 20; Jolın v. 39.
(r) Gal. iii: 23.
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You do also now cordially join yourselves to this Church of Christ, and engage to submit to the regular administration of its government and discipline, to strive earnestly for 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 covenant and engage.
[The members of the church will here rise.]
In consequence of these professions and engagements, we, the members of this church, do now affectionately receive you to our communion, and, in the name of Christ, declare you entitled to its visible privileges ; we welcome you to fellow- ship with us in the blessings of the gospel, and, on our part, engage to watch over you with Christian fidelity and tender- ness, and seek your spiritual edification, imploring of the great Head of the church, that both you and we may be faithful to our covenant and glorify Him with the holiness that becometh his house forever.
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STANDING RULES.
I. MEETINGS.
I. STATED SERVICE.S
This church will sustain, upon the Lord's Day, public worship and a Sabbath School.
Upon the evening of the Sabbath there shall be held a re- ligious service of such character as the church shall prescribe.
The meeting of the church for prayer and conference, shall be held on the evening of each Friday, excepting that the meeting next preceding the first Sabbath of the month, shall be held in the afternoon.
A majority of the members voting at. any business meeting shall be competent to change the time of this meeting.
The ordinance of the Lord's Supper shall be observed ou the first Sabbath of each alternate month, beginning with Jan- uary. Upon the day preceding the administration of the Supper, shall be held a service preparatory to the reception of that ordinance.
II. MEETINGS FOR BUSINESS.
All meetings for business shall be opened by prayer. The pastor of the church shall be its Standing Moderator. In his absence, as in any case where he may become a party in in- terest to church action, the senior deacon, or some other spe- cially appointed, shall be Moderator, pro-tempore.
Ordinary routine business may be done at any regular
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service of the church. Of any business, requiring special attention, previous notice shall be given from the pulpit on the Sabbath.
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