USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Natick > Manual of the first congregational church, Natick, Mass. > Part 1
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Natick > Manual of the first congregational church, Natick, Mass. > Part 1
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MANUAL
OF THE
irst
ongregational
burch,
NATICK, MASS.
1877.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
http://archive.org/details/manualoffirstcon00unse 0
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
BUILT 1875.
First Congregational Church,
NATICK, MASS.
THE
CONFESSION OF FAITH,
COVENANT, FORMS OF ADMISSION, ECCLESIASTICAL PRINCIPLES AND RULES,
WITH AN
HISTORICAL SKETCH,
AND
LIST OF MEMBERS.
1877.
THOMAS TODD, PRINTER, CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE, BOSTON. IS77.
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. 1877.
PASTOR.
REV. FRANCIS N. PELOUBET .
Installed January, 1872.
DEACONS.
WILLARD A. WIGHT
Term expires January, 1884.
JOHN O. WILSON
66
66 January, ISS2.
JOHN R. ADAMS
. January, 1880.
WILLIAM L. COOLIDGE
.
66
66 January, 1878.
STANDING COMMITTEE FOR 1877.
REV. DANIEL WIGHT.
MRS. MARY A. PELOUBET.
JOSEPH WILDE.
MRS. S. B. HAYES. MRS. JOHN R. ADAMS.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SABBATH SCHOOL. GEORGE L. BARTLETT.
CLERK. WILLARD A. WIGHT.
TREASURER. AUDITOR. E. E. KINSMAN. WYMAN FAY.
COMMITTEE ON RELIGIOUS PAPERS. ARTHUR COOLIDGE.
Committee on Missionary Concerts and Magazines. REV. DANIEL WIGHT.
USHERS.
MARK B. BABB. FRANK DAKIN.
WILLIAM I. TOWNE.
WILLIAM H. COOLIDGE.
OFFICERS OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
1877.
President
Superintendent
Assistant Superintendent
Superintendent Junior Department Assistant Sup't 66
Librarian
66
Secretary .
Librarian
Treasurer
Chorister
REV. F. N. PELOUBET. GEORGE L. BARTLETT. Jos. G. ADAMS. MRS. ISAAC K. FELCII. MRS. JOHN R. ADAMS. FRED. RICE. , WILLIAM H. COOLIDGE. GEORGE A. SWALLOW. HENRY HOWARD. J. ELIOT FISKE.
Pianiste ALICE EDWARDS. Executive Committee .- THE PASTOR, SUPERINTENDENT, ASSIST- ANT SUPERINTENDENT, SUPERINTENDENT OF JUNIOR DE- PARTMENT, MRS. LEONARD WINCH, MRS. JOHN R. ADAMS.
OFFICERS OF THE PARISH.
Parish Committee, Jos. WILDE, J. ELIOT FISKE, E. E. KINSMAN. Clerk ERWIN H. WALCOTT. Treasurer. WILLARD A. WIGHT. Chorister J. ELIOT FISKE.
Treasurer of the Fund WILLARD A. WIGHT. Building Committee, LEONARD WINCH, RILEY PEBELES, G. W. HOWE, WILLIAM L. COOLIDGE.
CHURCHI NOTICES.
PREACHING SERVICE. Half past ten each Sabbath morning. SABBATH SCHOOL. Immediately after the Morning Service. PRAYER MEETING. Sabbath and Thursday Evenings. YOUNG PEOPLE'S MEETING. Tuesday Evenings. COMMUNION SUNDAYS. The First Sunday in January, March, May, July, September and November.
PREPARATORY LECTURE. The Friday preceding each Communion Sabbath.
MONTHLY CONCERT FOR PRAYER for the conversion of the world, the First Sabbath Evening of each month. SABBATH SCHOOL CONCERT. Second Sabbath Evening of each month.
LADIES' SOCIAL CIRCLE.
Meetings, First Wednesday Afternoon and Evening of each month.
LADIES' MISSIONARY SOCIETY. (BRANCH OF THE WOMAN'S BOARD OF MISSIONS.) Meetings, Quarterly.
YOUNG LADIES' MISSION CIRCLE.
Number of Members, 63. Meetings, Last Wednesday of each month.
THE BUSY BEES.
Number of Members, 43. Meetings, First Saturday of each month.
Confession of Faith.
ART. I. We believe in one only living and true God,1 the Creator, Preserver and Governor of the universe,2 a Spirit,3 infinite, eternal and unchangeable in his being,4 wisdom,5 power,6 holiness,7 justice,8 goodness,9 truth10 and love.11
IDeut. 6 : 4. Isa. 44: 6. Jer. 10: 10. 2Gen. I. Neh. 9: 6. Ps. 22: 28. 3Jo. 4 : 24. Ps. 139 : 7-12. 4Ps. 90 : 2. I Tim. 1 : 17. Mal. 3 : 6. 5Ps. 147 : 5. Rom. 16: 27. 6Gen. 17 : I. Rev. 4 : 8; 19: 6. 7Isa. 6 : 3. Ps. 99 : 9. 8Ps. 89 : 14. Rev. 15 : 3. 9Matt. 19: 17. Ps. 145 : 8, 9. 10Deut. 32 : 4. Ps. 100 : 5. III Jo. 4 : 8, 16.
ART. II. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are given by inspiration of God ;1 and that they are the only perfect rule of religious faith and practice.2
III Tim. 3 : 16, 17. II Pet. I : 21. Lk. I : 70. Heb. I : 1, 2. Gal. I : II, 12. 2Ps. 119: 105. Lk. 24: 27, 44. II Ki. 17 : 13. Rev. 22 : 18, 19.
ART. III. We believe that God is revealed in the Scriptures as the Father, Son and Holy Ghost ;1 and that these three are one God,2 and in all divine attributes equal.3
IMatt. 28 : 19. II Cor. 13 : 14. I Pet. I : 2. Eph. 2 : 18. 2Isa. 9 : 6; 44 : 6. Jo. 10 : 30; 14 : 9. Acts 5 : 3, 4. 3Gen. I : I. Col. I : 16-19. Jo. 5 : 22, 23; 10 : 15. Rev. 2 : 23. Jer. 17 : 10. Heb. 13: 8. I Cor. 12 : II.
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First Congregational Church.
ART. IV. We believe that our first parents were cre- ated holy,1 but by transgressing the divine command,2 they fell from their original state ;3 that in consequence thereof all their posterity are personally involved in sin and death,4 and until renewed by divine grace5 are alien- ated from God" and destitute of holiness.7
'Gen. I : 27. Eccl. 7: 29. 2Gen. 2: 17; 3: 6, 17. 3Gen. 3 : 23, 24; 6: 5. 4Rom. 5, 12, 19 ; 3: 9-12. Eph. 2: 3. 5Eph. 2 : 1,5. Col. 2 : 13. 6Rom. 8 : 7. Col. 1 : 20, 21. Eph. 4 : 18. 7Job 14: 4. Tit. 3 : 5-7. II Cor. 7: I. Eph. 4 : 22-24.
ART. V. We believe that our Heavenly Father in His infinite love and mercy gave His Son to die for the sins of the world ;1 and that Jesus Christ by his obedi- ence, sufferings and death has made an atonement sufficient for the redemption of all mankind ,2 so that pardon and eternal life are freely offered to all3 upon condition of repentance toward God4 and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.5
IJo. 3: 16. Rom. 5: 8; 8: 32. I Jo. 4: 9. 2Lev. 17: 11. Isa. 53: 2-12. Matt. 13: 11 ; 26 : 28. Acts 20 : 23. Rom. 5 : 6-9. I Pet. 2 : 24. Heb. 2 : 9 ; 9: 12-14; 13 : 20, 21. 3Isa. 55: 1-3. Matt. II : 28-30. Jo. 7: 37. Rev. 3 : 20 ; 22 : 17. Jo. 5 : 40. 4Acts 2 : 38 ; 3 : 19; 20 : 21. Lk. 13 : 3, 5. 5Acts 13: 39. Gal. 2 : 16; 3: 22-24.
ART. VI. We believe that all men must be born again by the Holy Spirit, in order to salvation,1 and that this new birth is a radical change of the moral charac- ter,2 by which men, from being enemies, become the friends of God and holiness.3
I I Cor. 2: 14. Matt. 18 : 3. Jo. 1 : 12, 13; 3: 3, 5-7. I Pet. I : 22, 23. 2 Ezek. 36 : 25-27. Gal. 6: 15. II Cor. 5: 17. Eph. 4: 22, 23. Rom. 2 : 28, 29. 3Eph. 2 : 13-19. II Cor. 5 : 18, 19. Rom. 5 : 10. Col. I : 20-22.
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Confession of Faith.
ART. VII. We believe that those who are truly con- verted from sin to holiness,1 being renewed by the Holy Spirit,2 and justified by faith in Christ,3 according to the eternal purpose of the Father,4 will be kept by His power, through faith, unto salvation.3
IEzek. 14: 6. Jo. 8 : 31. 2Tit. 3 : 5. Jo. 3 : 5, 6. 3Rom. 3 : 26, 28. I Cor. 6: II. 4Isa. 46: 9, 10. Eph. 1 : 4-6, 11; 3: II. Jo. 15: 16, 19. Rom. 8 : 28-30. II Thes. 2: 13. I Pet. I : 2. 5 Prov. 4 : 18. Jer. 32 : 40. Jo. 5 : 24 ; 10 : 27-29. Rom. 8 : 38, 39. I Pet. I : 3-5, 9. Phil. I : 6; 2: 12, 13.
ART. VIII. We believe in the immortality of the soul,1 in the resurrection of the dead,2 and in a final judgment ,3 and that the wicked will go away into ever- lasting punishment,4 but the righteous into life eternal.5
IGen. I : 27. Mat. 25: 46. I Cor. 15 : 53, 54. II Tim. 1 : 10. 2 Dan. 12 : 2. Lk. 20 : 37, 38. Jo. 5 : 28, 29. Acts 24 : 15. I Cor. 15 : 22, seq. 3Acts 17: 31. II Tim. 4: I. II Cor. 5 : 10. Matt. 25 : 31-46. Rev. 20 : II-15. 4Lk. 16: 22-31. Mk. 9 : 43-48. Rev. 20 : 10. Matt. 25 : 41. II Thes. I : 7-9. Rev. 14 : 10, II. 5Ps. 16 : II. Lk. 23 : 43. Matt. 25 : 34, 46. I Pet. I : 3-5.
ART. IX. We believe that Jesus Christ has a Visible Church in the world ;1 in which the terms of membership are a public profession of faith in Christ,2 sustained by credible evidence in the daily life and religious belief.3
IMatt. 16: 18; 18 : 17. Acts 2 : 47. Gal. I : 2. Eph. 1 : 22, 23. I Tim. 3 : 15. 2Matt. 10 : 32, 33. Acts 8 : 37. Rom. 10 : 9, 10. Heb. 10 :23. 3II Tim. 2 : 19. Matt. 7 : 18-20. I Jo. 5 : 1-4.
ART. X. We believe that the Christian Sabbath is a divine institution,1 vital to the welfare of the Church,2 and to the highest prosperity of every community,3 requiring us to abstain on that day from all worldly toil,4 except
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First Congregational Church.
works of necessity and mercy," and to spend the day in divine worship," religious improvement and rest.7
IGen. 2 : 1-3. Ex. 20 : S-II. Mk. 2 : 27, 28; 16: 9. Jo. 20; 19, 26. Ps. 118 : 24. Rev. 1 : 10. Acts 20 : 7. 2Isa. 56 : 2, 6, 7. 3Isa. 58 : 13, 14. Jer. 17 : 24-27. 4Ex. 20 : 10, 11 ; 23 : 12. 5Matt. 12 : 1-5, 11, 12. LK. 13 : 11-17. Jo. 5 : 5-16. 6Ezek. 46 : 3, 4. Lev. 23 : 3; 24: 8. II Chr. 2 : 4. Mk. 6 : 2. Lk. 4 : 16-32. Acts 13 : 14, 15, 27, 44; 15 : 21. Heb. 10 : 25. 7 see 4.
ART. XI. We believe that the special ordinances of the Church are Baptism1 and the Lord's Supper ,2 the first of which is to be administered to none but believ- ers" and their infant children," the second to believers only.5
1 Matt. 28 : 19. Acts 2 : 38 ; 22 : 16. 2Matt. 26 : 26-30. I Cor. II : 23-26. 3Acts 8 : 37 ; IO : 47, 48. +Gen. 17 : 7, 10-13. Ps. 103: 17, 18. Rom. 15: S. Heb. 8 : 6. Gal. 3 : 29. Matt. 19 : 14. Acts 2 : 39 ; 16 : 14, 15, 29-33. I Cor. 1 : 16; 7: 14. 5Matt. 26 : 20. I Cor. II : 27-30 ; 5 : 7, 8.
Form for the Admission of Members,
UPON CONFESSION OF FAITH.
The names of those who desire to enter the Church upon Confession of their Faith, having been read, they present themselves before the Table of the Lord, and the minister addresses them as follows :
BELOVED FRIENDS : In obedience to the command of Christ, and His promise that "Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in Heaven," you now desire to make a public Profession of your Faith in Him. The act you now perform is great and solemn, and in its influence will be eternal. The vows which you have made in secret, you here, in public, are to confess and ratify. Within these walls which have been dedicated to God ; before these human witnesses of your faith; beneath that cloud of unseen spirits, whose hearts rejoice at your repentance ; under the view of Him who died, but who now liveth forevermore, your risen Lord ; you come, to take Christ's vows upon you, to own yourselves His glad disciples, and to enter into communion and fellow- ship with His Church.
The following is the summary of Christian Doctrine, adopted by this Church :
[Here read The Confession of Faith.]
All this, for substance of doctrine, you heartily pro- fess and believe.
[The candidate assents by bowing.]
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First Congregational Church.
[Those who are to be baptized will here receive the Sacra- ment of Baptism.]
You will now publicly enter into Covenant with God and this Church.
Coupnant.
In the presence of God, His holy angels, and this assembly, you solemnly avow the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to be your God, the object of your supreme affection, and your portion forever. You cor- dially acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as your only Saviour ; and the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier, Com- forter and Guide. You humbly and cheerfully devote yourselves to God, in the everlasting covenant of His grace ; you consecrate all your powers and faculties to His service and glory ; and you promise that, through the assistance of His Spirit, you will cleave to Him as your chief good ; that you will give diligent attendance to His word and ordinances; to family and secret prayer, and the observance of the Sabbath ; that you will seek the honor and interest of His kingdom ; and that henceforth, denying all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, you will live soberly, righteously and godly in the world.
[Individuals joining by letter will be here introduced.]
You do now cordially join yourselves to this Church of Christ, engaging to submit to its scriptural discipline, to walk with its members in charity, meekness and love, and to strive earnestly for its edification and purity.
This you severally profess and engage.
Most affectionately, now, do we, the members of this Church, receive you to our communion.
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Covenant.
[Here all members of the Church rise, to signify their partici- pation in the welcome given to those who are received.]
With praising hearts we now own you as our kindred in Christ. We welcome you to all the ordinances and privileges of His Church. We break with you this Bread of Life. We share with you this Cup of Blessing. We ask your aid in turning to our Master the souls of others. And, on our part, we covenant with you, to offer for you our prayers ; to walk with you, in sorrow or in joy, while you are with us, as Christian friends, seeking advice and strength from you, and giving in return the counsel and the aid which you may ask. We promise gladly to render our offices of love; and in all ways, so far as in us lies, to seek your growth in knowledge and in grace, your sweet and calm experi- ence of Christ's love, your perfect meetness for the Heavenly Home !
[Here the minister will give the right hand of fellowship to each.]
And now, beloved, we commend you unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named ; that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strength- ened with might by His Spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to compre- hend with all saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge ; that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
The God of peace, who brought again from the dead the Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,
First Congregational Church.
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 who 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 ever. AMEN.
Form for the Baptism of Children.
Immediately after the Invocation, at the opening of the Morning Service on the appointed Sunday, or at the Preparatory Lecture, an invitation is given to parents to present their children for Baptism. The Minister addresses the parents in substance as follows :
You, who now present your children, to receive upon them the seal of God's covenant, confess yourselves believers in God and in His Son, and in the verity and the continuance of His promise to His children, to be a Father to them, and to their seed after them. You covenant, on your part, in the presence of God, and of these witnesses, to train these children, whom he hath given you, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord ; to instruct them in the knowledge of all Divine Truth, as you may have opportunity, but especially in the way of salvation through Jesus Christ ; to walk before them daily, as God may give you grace, in the cheerful and
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Form for the Baptism of Children.
holy beauty of the Christian life ; to seek, as your chief end concerning them, their renewal of heart, and their salvation in the Redeemer ; and to labor, in all ways, with devout and prayerful endeavor, to prepare them to accomplish God's will on earth, and to enter His rest and glory in the skies. DO YOU THUS PROMISE ?
As the Minister of Christ, then, I baptize them, "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
After the children have been baptized, prayer is offered by the Minis- ter ; and a chant is sung by the choir, as the parents, at the close of the prayer, withdraw.
[The name of the child must be given to the Minister in writing, with the date of its birth, and the names of its parents. ]
Ecclesiastical Principles and Rules.
I. 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.
II. CONNECTION WITH OTHER 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 mem- bers, according to its conviction of duty. It holds itself bound to regard the decisions of Mutual Councils, and to seek the promo- tion of peace with all the Churches of our Lord Jesus Christ.
III. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS.
All persons who desire to make a profession of religion, and to unite with this Church, shall be examined by the Examining Com- mittee, before such members of the Church as desire to be present, with reference to their Christian experience, and to their doctrinal opinions. The names of such as are approved shall be pro- pounded to the Church, in the presence of the congregation, at least one week previous to their admission; and they shall become members by a vote of the Church, on giving public assent to the Confession of Faith and Covenant, receiving the sacrament of Baptism, if they have not been before baptized to their acceptance.
Members of other churches, submitting the proper testimonials
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Ecclesiastical Principles and Rules.
to the Examining Committee, shall be conferred with by them; and if approved, shall be also propounded before the congregation for one week, and be received, by a vote of the Church, on pub- licly entering into covenant with the Church.
A member who may know of any reason why a candidate for admission should not be received into this Church, shall first make such reason known to the Examining Committee, and not to the whole Church, unless the Committee refuse to act.
IV. DISMISSION 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 First Congregational Church in Natick,
To the Church in Greeting : This certifies that is a member of this Church in good and regular standing. At . . own request . . . dis- missed from us and recommended to your Christian watch and fel- lowship. When received by you membership with us will cease. By vote of the Church, Clerk.
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.
V. MEMBERS OF OTHER CHURCHES.
It is expected that members of other churches, residing and wor- shiping with us, and who may wish to commune with this Church, will request dismission from their respective Churches, and admis- sion to this.
VI. RIGHTS OF MEMBERS.
Every member has a right to Church privileges, unless forfeited by misconduct; and when thus forfeited, he can be deprived of them only by regular process.
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When a member is accused, he shall be seasonably furnished with a copy of the complaint, and shall have a full hearing. While the trial is pending, the accused is expected to abstain from par- ticipating in the Lord's Supper.
VII. DISCIPLINE.
I. Discipline shall be conducted according to the rules laid down in Matt. 18: 15-17, and II Thessalonians 3: 11-15.
2. Offences subject to discipline are, unchristian conduct, neglect of acknowledged religious duty, and avowed disbelief in the vital principles of the Gospel of Christ.
3. It shall be a disciplinable offence to encourage the cause of intemperance by selling or using intoxicating liquors as a beverage, or renting buildings for that purpose.
4. In private offences, the offended one is, by a fraternal, prayer- ful conference, to seek a spiritual healing, and so to "gain the brother." Failing in this, let him take one or two more, and again strive to exert a loving, patient, healing power, which shall soften and subdue, and avert the necessity of resorting to the penalty of a Church trial.
5. 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 communi- cating the case to the Church.
6. 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. And in case the Committee refuse so to do, the complainant may nevertheless, if he insist upon the charges, present his complaint in person to the Church.
7. The methods of censure are private reproof, suspension from church privileges, withdrawal of fellowship, and excommuni- cation.
8. Censure by suspension shall always be for a definite time, and any one sentence shall not be for more than six months. The time of suspension having expired, the member is again entitled to church privileges, unless further action is taken by the Church.
9. Persons from whom fellowship is withdrawn may be restored
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Ecclesiastical Principles and Rules.
to membership, and have their names replaced, by vote of the Church.
IO. An excommunicated person cannot return to the Church, except upon profession of faith in Christ.
II. The method of censure by withdrawal of fellowship shall not be employed except for minor causes, not involving the per- son's moral character. In all cases of immoral, unchristian and scandalous behavior, sentence of separation shall be by excom- munication.
VIII. OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES.
I. The stated officers of this Church shall be Pastor or Pastors, Deacons, Clerk, Treasurer, Auditor, Committee, and Superintend- ent of the Sabbath School. All of whom shall be elected by a majority ballot.
2. The Pastor shall be a member of this Church and the mod- erator of its meetings. In case there is no pastor, or in his absence, or during the consideration of matters affecting him per- sonally, one of the deacons shall preside, or a moderator for the meeting may be chosen.
3. The term of the office of Deacon shall be eight years, one Deacon to be chosen every other year at the annual meeting. No deacon who has held the office for four years or more shall be eligible for reëlection at the time his term of office expires, but he may again be chosen at any subsequent election. Their duty is to assist in the administration of the sacraments, to preside at the meetings in the absence of the pastor, to distribute the charities of the Church, and to look after the sick, the destitute, and stran- gers. Elections to fill vacancies shall be by ballot at a meeting called for the purpose.
4. No person shall be eligible to the office of pastor or deacon in this Church, who cannot give full consent to the Creed of the Church.
5. If a clergyman is employed to minister to this Church with- out installment by council, he cannot, consistently with the princi- ples of Congregational polity, be considered an officer of the Church. He shall not, therefore, act as moderator in the Church meeting, or serve on the standing committee, or represent the Church in any council, conference or other ecclesiastical body, except by vote of the Church.
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First Congregational Church.
6. The Examining Committee shall consist of the pastor, dea- cons, and five others, at least two of whom shall be ladies. It shall be their duty to provide for the examination of all candidates for admission to the Church; to advise respecting objects to be pre- sented for benevolent contributions; to bring before the Church such cases and measures of discipline as shall be necessary, and to conduct any other business that may be referred to it by the Church.
7. 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 bap- tisms, both of infants 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 accordance with its rules; shall have charge of its archives, and shall prepare and keep a proper catalogue and index of all its members.
S. 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 deacons ; to receive and pay over to the proper officers all money contributed by the con- gregation 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 audited by the auditor.
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