USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > North Congregational Church, Middleboro, Mass.; organized Feb. 26, 1748, incorp. May 10, 1900 > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 N7924n 1904582
M. L.
REYNOLD HOTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01145 6891
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2010 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/northcongregatio00nort
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North Congregational Church,
MIDDLEBORO, MASS.
ORGANIZED FEBRUARY 26, 1748.
INCORPORATED MAY 10, 1900.
Hc 974. 402 N7924n
Pastors of the Church Since Organization.
Name.
Isaac Backus, Solomon Reed, David Gurney, Philip Colby,
January 26, 1757.
December 5, 1787.
January 1, 1817.
Thomas Eliakim Bliss,
June 2, 1852.
Charles Packard,
October 17, 1855.
Elbridge Gerry Little,
April 13, 1859.
Henry L. Edwards,
March 3, 1868.
Samuel Hopkins Emery, Ephraim W. Allen,
June 1, 1874. January 1, 1877. July 1, 1884.
July 8, 1883. September 12, 1886.
October 24, 1886. September 1, 1890. November 13, 1898.
October 28, 1891. February 1, 1899.
Date of Removal. January 16, 1756.
May 7, 1785. July 30, 1815. February 27, 1851. May 15, 1855.
October 22, 1857. September 15. 1867. June 30, 1873. October 1, 1876.
Dwight N. Prentice, Clarence Eddy,
Herbert Keightley Job, Charles L. Tomblen,
Commenced Service. April 13, 1748.
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BY-LAWS
OF THE
North Congregational Church Corporation,
MIDDLEBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS.
INCORPORATED JUNE 5, 1900.
ARTICLE I. Name.
This organization shall be called the North Congregational Church.
ARTICLE II. Character.
This church is independent in its organization, in its government, and in the management of its affairs. It is amenable to no other ecclesiastical body except by its own consent. and according to the regular and established principles of Congregational Church polity.
This church will extend to, and receive from, all other Christian churches that fellowship, advice and assistance which the law of Christ requires : and it recognizes its duty and privilege to join with sister churches of the same faith and order in the various councils, confer- ences and associations which are customary with them.
ARTICLE III. Membership.
SEC. I. This church recognizes the right of all who are in sipritual fellowship with Christ to membership.
SEC. 2. The membership of this church shall consist of such
persons of hopeful Christian experience as. after due examination, and after proposal from the pulpit on some Lord's Day prior to that of reception, are accepted by vote of the church and given public assent to its Covenant and By-Laws. Membership shall begin ordinarily on some Lord's Day.
SEC. 3. The continuance of membership shall be subject to the principles and usages of the Congregational Church.
SEC. 4. Letters of dismission and recommendation shall be addressed to some particular church, and shall be valid for one year only after their date.
SEC. 5. If any member shall withdraw from our communion for any reason not involving immoral or unchristian conduct, or deliberate breach of the covenant, the church may at such time and in such man- ner as it deems best, drop such member's name from the roll, without censure, by vote, reciting the facts.
SEC. 6. This church considers immoral or unchristian conduct, deliberate breach of the covenant, or the effort to disseminate essential error, sufficient cause for discipline : and if persisted in after proper admonition, for excommunication.
In such case it shall be the duty of the Church Committee to adjust the difficulty if possible ; but if they fail in this, they shall present the matter to the church in a written report. If the church votes to entertain the complaint, a written statement of the charges shall be communicated to the offender at least ten days before he shall be re- quired to appear before the church for trial.
SEC. 7. No member shall be deprived of church privileges except in an orderly manner, and after due notice from the church, as pro- vided in Sec. 6, this article. No vote of censure or excommunication shall be passed except upon the concurrence of three- fourths of the legal voters of the church present at any regular or special meeting.
ARTICLE IV.
Officers and Committees.
SEC. I. The officers and committees of this church shall consist of a Pastor, two or more Deacons, a Clerk, a Treasurer, a Church Com- mittee which shall consist of the Pastor, Deacons, Superintendent of
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Sunday School. and two members of the church. and a Standing Com- mittee which shall consist of three members, one to be chosen at each annual meeting, whose term of office shall be three years. A majority of this Committee shall be members of the church.
The church shall at its annual meeting choose a Collector (who may be Treasurer) and an Auditor, to serve under the direction of the Standing Committee.
SEC. 2. The officers and committees of this church with the excep- tion of the Pastor, shall be chosen at the annual meeting to serve for one year (except as otherwise provided) and until others are chosen and qualified. The term of office of Deacon shall be five years, to be chosen as terms of office expire.
SEC. 3. The duties of the several officers shall be those apper- taining to those offices in the Congregational Church.
SEC. 4. The Clerk shall keep a distinct and full record of all business transactions of the church : a record of the time and mode of the reception and dismission of members : of the baptisms ; shall con- duct all the correspondence of the church ; shall issue letters of dis- mission and recommendation in accordance with its votes; shall preserve its archives, which shall be open for the inspection at all proper times by any member of the church, and he shall make an annual detailed report in writing.
SEC. 5. The Treasurer shall receive, hold, disburse, according to the order of the Standing Committee, except as otherwise provided, all moneys or securities belonging to the church, or contributed by the church and congregation for missionary or benevolent purposes.
He shall keep books of account in which shall be entered each item of receipts and disbursements. He shall keep separate accounts as follows : (1) Moneys raised for the objects of Christian benevolence, to be paid by him to the several persons or societies entitled thereto : and (2) Moneys raised or received for the support of public worship, subject to the order of the Standing Committee. He shall make an annual written detailed report. properly audited.
SEC. 6. The Standing Committee shall have the general care and management of the property of the church, and of the financial affairs other than charitable or benevolent ; the appointment of Ushers and Janitor, the raising of money for the support of public worship, and
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the manner thereof, in the absence of action by the church : and perform such duties as legally belong to such a committee in religious societies.
SEC. 7. The Church Committee shall examine candidates for admission to the church : decide upon the objects for public benevo- lent contributions, when the church does not act thereon ; provide for the supply of the pulpit in any vacation of the Pastor : have regard to discipline : the administration of relief for the poor ; and generally shall have cognizance of the spiritual affairs of the church.
ARTICLE V. Meetings.
SEC. I. The Lord's Supper shall be administered on the first Sunday in January, March. May, July, September, and November ; and the Thursday evening next preceding each may be occupied as a preparatory service.
SEC. 2. Meetings for worship shall be held each Sunday morning and evening, and on each Thursday evening ; and at any of such meetings it shall be competent for the church without special notice to act upon the appointment of delegates to councils and conferences of churches and the admission of members.
SEC. 3. Services of an unusual nature shall be held only by the consent of the Church Committee.
SEC. 4. The business meetings of this church shall be an Annual Meeting and Annual Roll call of the members, and such special meet- ings as may be called in accordance with Section IX of this article.
SEC. 5. The Annual meeting shall be held on the second Monday in March of each year, the hour and place to be specified in the war- rant, for the presentation of reports, the choice of officers, the raising and appropriation of money, and the transaction of any business that may legally come before the meeting. Said meeting shall be called by the Standing Committee who shall issue a warrant for the same to the Clerk, directing him to notify and warn the voting members by post- ing an attested copy of said warrant in some conspicuous place on or in the Meeting-house at least seven days before the holding of said meeting, and no business shall be there transacted the subject matter
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of which is not specified in the warrant. Notice of this meeting may also be given from the pulpit. The financial year of the church shall close on the last day of February of each year.
SEC. 6. The Annual Roll Call of the members of the church shall be held on the Thursday next after the first Sunday in January, every member being notified thereof at least one week previous ; and it shall be the duty of every member to answer either in person or by letter at this meeting : and the neglect of this requirement by any member for three successive years shall be deemed a sufficient cause for belief on the part of the church that fellowship with us has been abandoned, and for dropping such person from our membership as provided in Section V. Article 3.
SEC. 7. The Pastor may, from the pulpit, call special business meetings for such purposes as do not require a notification in manner prescribed by law, and he shall call such meetings when requested by the Church Committee.
SEC. 8. Special meetings for the transaction of business required by law to be notified by warrant may be called by the Standing Com- mittee in the same manner as the Annual Meeting. and said committee shall call such a meeting on the written request of seven members of the church entitled to vote : at such a meeting no business shall be transacted the subject matter of which has not been specified in the warrant.
SEC. 9. In the special meetings noted in Section 7, this Article, the Pastor, or in his absence the Senior Deacon present, may preside.
SEC. 10. At all business meetings except those of Section 7, this Article, and the Annual Roll Call meeting, a Moderator shall be chosen : and seven members shall be necessary for a quorum, except that a less number may adjourn a meeting to a fixed date.
SEC. IT. Such persons as are in full and regular standing and do not hold letters of dismission and have attained the age of twenty-one years, and such only, may act and vote in the transactions of this church.
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ARTICLE VI.
Societies Within. or Connected with the Church.
The members of this church may organize and maintain, either by themselves or with the assistance of well disposed persons, not members, various societies for the assistance of the church in its religious or benevolent work.
These societies may, with the consent of the Church Committee, use the church edifice as a place of meeting, and may select their own officers and system of working. All such societies shall make a report to the church at the Annual Meeting.
ARTICLE VII. Amendments.
SEC. I. These By-Laws may be altered or amended by the con- currence of two-thirds of the voting members present at any meeting called by the Clerk in the manner prescribed by law, the proposed amendment being stated in the notice of the meeting.
SEC. 2. Fifteen members shall constitute a quorum under this article.
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CREED.
1. We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son. our Lord, who is of one sub- stance with the Father : by whom all things were made ;
And in the Holy Spirit. the Lord and Giver of Life, who is sent from the Father and Son. and who together with the Father and Son is worshipped and glorified.
II. We believe that the Providence of God. by which he executes his eternal purposes in the government of the world, is in and over all events : yet so that the freedom and responsibility of man are not impaired, and sin is the act of the creature alone.
III. We believe that man was made in the image of God, that he might know, love, and obey God, and enjoy him forever : that our first parents by disobedience fell under the righteous condemnation of God; and that all men are so alienated from God that there is no salvation from the guilt and power of sin except through God's redeeming grace.
IV. We believe that God would have all men return to him; that to this end he has made himself known, not only through the works of nature. the course of his Providence, and the conscience of men. but also through supernatural revelations made especially to a chosen people, and above all, when the fullness of time was come. through Jesus Christ his Son
V. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Record of God's revelations of himself in the work of redemp- tion : that they were written by men under the special guidance of the Holy Spirit ; that they are able to make wise unto salvation ; and that they constitute the authoritative standard by which religious teaching and human conduct are to be regulated and judged.
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VI. We believe that the love of God to sinful men has found its highest expression in the redemptive work of his Son: who became man, uniting his divine nature with our human nature in one person ; who was tempted like other men, yet without sin ; who, by his humil- iation, his holy obedience, his sufferings, his death on the cross, and his resurrection, became a perfect Redeemer ; whose sacrifice of him- self for the sins of the world declares the righteousness of God, and is the sole and sufficient ground of forgiveness and reconciliation with him.
VII. We believe that Jesus Christ, after he had risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, where, as the one Mediator between God and man. he carries forward his work of saving men: that he sends the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin. and to lead them to repentance and faith : and that those who through renewing grace turn to righteousness, and trust in Jesus Christ as their Redeemer, receive for his sake the forgiveness of their sins, and are made the children of God.
VIII. We believe that those who are thus regenerated and justified grow in sanctified character through fellowship with Christ, the in- dwelling of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to the truth ; that a holy life is the fruit and evidence of saving faith : and that the believer's hope of continuance in such a life is in the preserving grace of God.
IX. We believe that Jesus Christ came to establish among men the kingdom of God, the reign of truth and love, righteousness and peace : that to Jesus Christ, the Head of this kingdom, Christians are directly responsible in faith and conduct ; and that to him all have immediate access without mediatorial or priestly intervention.
X. We believe that the Church of Christ, invisible and spiritual, comprises all true believers, whose duty it is to associate themselves in churches, for the maintenance of worship, for the promotion of spiritual growth and fellowship, and for the conversion of men: that these churches, under the guidance of the Holy Scriptures and in fel- lowship with one another, may determine - each for itself- their organization, statements of belief, and forms of worship; may appoint and set apart their own ministers, and should co-operate in the work which Christ has committed to them for the furtherance of the gospel throughout the world.
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XI. We believe in the observance of the Lord's Day as a day of holy rest and worship ; in the ministry of the Word : and in the two Sacraments which' Christ has appointed for his Church : Baptism. to be administered to believers and their children, as the sign of cleans- ing from sin, of union to Christ. and of the impartation of the Holy Spirit : and the Lord's Supper, as a symbol of his atoning death, a seal of its efficacy, and a means whereby he confirms and strengthens the spiritual union and communion of believers with himself.
XII. We believe in the ultimate prevalence of the kingdom of Christ over all the earth : in the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ ; in the resurrection of the dead ; and in a final judgment, the issues of which are everlasting punishment and everlasting life.
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FORMS OF ADMISSION.
Those who are to be received being arranged in convenient order for the service, with such announcement and introduction as may be customary, the minister will say :
Dearly beloved. called of God to be his children through Jesus Christ, we give hearty thanks to God, who, by his spirit, has opened your eyes to see, and your hearts to receive Jesus as Lord, and who has inclined you to present yourselves at this time to make confession of Him.
With us and with the church throughout the world you confess the common faith, saying : (the congregation joining.)
I 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 under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried : the third day He arose from the dead: He ascended 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. I believe in the Holy Ghost: the holy catholic Church ; the communion of saints ; the forgiveness of sin ; the resur- rection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
(In place of the Apostle's Creed may be used any brief statement preferred by the church.)
Thus confessing with us and with all saints your Christian faith, before the Lord Jesus, and in the presence of His people, you devote yourselves to the love, obedience and service of Jesus Christ ; to walk in all His ways now known, or hereafter to be made known to you, whatever it may cost you, according to your best endeavor, the Lord assisting you.
Response, I do.
Then should baptism be administered to those who have not been baptized.
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The baptism shall be with these words : I baptize thee. N- into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
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(Here, and wherever in this service Amen is used, it may, if desired. be said by the congregation.)
Then should those who have letters from other churches come forward, as by previous arrangement, or rise.
(The minister may greet these, saying : Beloved in the Lord, we bid you welcome who come to renew the vows before made when else- where you declared your faith in Christ. We greet you as kinsmen in Him, as fellow-laborers in His service and fellow-travelers to His promised rest.)
The minister, addressing all who are to enter into fellowship with the church. will say : Beloved in the Lord, you have all been baptized into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, have confessed the faith of Christ before witnesses and have given yourselves to God in an everlasting covenant of grace. You do now cordially unite yourselves with this church of Christ : to share with us in its worship and work : to walk with us in love and faithfulness, so long as your relation to us shall continue.
( Here may be added such specific pledges as the church may desire.) Response, I do.
The members of the church will rise and the minister will say (either alone or leading the church, as may be desired) : We, then, the members of this church. receive you into our communion and wel- come you with joy to our fellowship.
We promise to pray for you, to watch over you and help you so long as you shall continue with us. God grant, that loving and being loved, serving and being served, blessing and being blessed, we may be prepared while we dwell together on earth for the perfect fellowship of the saints above. Amen.
(Here the minister may give to each the hand of fellowship, with some appropriate passage of Scripture, in this or like manner: In token of our welcome receive the hand of fellowship, and remember the word of Scripture which saith, " Ye are my friends, if ye do what- soever I command you.")
And the service shall be ended with one of these benedictions
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(except that where it is the usage may be sung by the church, still standing, after the benediction, the ancient doxology, "Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost ; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen ")
" The Lord bless you and keep you: the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you ; the Lord lift up His coun- tenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.
"Now unto Him who is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of His glory without blemish, in exceeding joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and power, before all time, and now and evermore." Amen.
(This form can be abbreviated by disregarding the portions in parenthesis.)
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LIST OF MEMBERS.
Sarah Shaw ( Hathaway) Clark.
Eunice Aldrich.
Mary Elizabeth (Shaw) Andrews. Elvira Williams Shaw.
Job Harrington Johnson. Dordania Keith (Pratt) Pratt. Ellen Maria (Shaw) Keith. Sarah Dennis White.
Mary Elizabeth ( Richmond ) Eaton. Naham Williams Keith. .. Isaac Eaton Macomber. Celia Shaw (White) Macomber. 1862.
James Monroe Alden.
May 4. July 6. Susan Elizabeth ( Weston) Alden. Lydia Jane ( Holmes) Clark. Charles Henry Lawrence. Annie Maria ( Pratt) Pratt. Cordania Elizabeth (Perkins) Gracey.
Sept. 7. Sarah Emily (Davis) Cushing. James Richmond. Annie Gardner (Thompson) Sampson. 1866.
March I. Julia Pratt. Louisa Pratt.
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1831. Oct 16 1842. Nov. 27. 1843. Jan. 8. 1853. March 6. July 4. Sept. 4. 1858. July 4.
1 868.
March I. Augustus Pratt. Emily Maria ( Eaton) Pratt.
July 3. Lucy Maria ( Williams) Pratt.
IS70.
Eliza Frances (Gurney) Johnson.
May I. 1871. Jan. 1 .
George Melvin Wilbar.
Sept. 3. Emma Roberts Hathaway.
1874. March 1. Harriet Maria (Drake) Perkins. .. Eliza Jane ( Harrington) Richmond.
July 5. Joseph Warren Shaw Gibbs. Emma Eliza (Sherman) Gibbs.
.. Ellen Frances (Macomber) Ames. Mary Sawyer (Perkins) Holmes. Enoch Pratt.
..
Lysander Richmond. Lucy Eveline (Richmond) Pratt. Mary Jane (Shields) Merrick. Charles Sumner Tinkham.
. .
Sept. 6. Charles Herbert Alden. Herbert Augustus Pratt. Helen Maria (Sherman) Macomber. 1875.
Jan. 3. Edward Clinton Andrews. Emma Louise (Andrews) Tinkham. Albion Augustus Keith Abiathar Williams Leonard. . . Mary Elizabeth (Andrews) Leonard. 1877.
July I . Bradford Harris Leonard. Lucinda Watson Leonard. Mary Anthony (Johnson) Wood. Cora Agnes (Forbes) Whitmarsh. Nov. 4. Lucy Frances Perkins.
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1883. March 4. May 6 Edith Foster (Alden) Kelly. Eva Gertrude (Gardner) Eaton. Abbie Leach Hall.
Sarah Amanda Perkins.
Percy Williams Keith.
Harry Eaton Macomber.
Horace White Macomber.
..
Emma Louise (Pratt) Richmond.
.. Nathan Williams Pratt.
Theodore Alden Richmond.
.July
I. Emma Marie Alden. Mary Abbie Alden. May ( Alden) Smith.
..
. . Elizabeth (Moore) Gregson.
. .
Benjamin Edwin Holmes.
,٠ Catherine Frances (Pratt) Leonard.
. . . . Lucy Hall Pratt. Arthur Warren Stubbs.
. . Clifford Dean White.
.. Laura Hathaway ( White) Keith.
1887. Sept. II. Jessie Chisholm.
1888. May 3. Charles O. Hall. Laura Augusta ( Yaw) Hall.
May
Clara Williams Eaton.
..
1889. 5. Nov. 3. Fred A. Weatherby. Sarah C. Weatherby.
Mabel Pratt Richmond.
1890. Jan. 5. 1891. Nov. I. Edward Barstow Whitmarsh. Williams Eaton. 19
1892.
Jan. I . Ella Frances Dunham.
July 2. Rebecca Hersey Pratt.
1893.
Jan. I. Abbie M. Hayden. . . Louise Howard. Thomas F. Conway.
March 5. David Albert Alden.
I895.
March 3. Charles Onslow White. Florence Adelaide Dunham.
Mary Andrews Leonard.
Miriam Elizabeth Pratt.
Mabelle Atwood Sampson.
Elizabeth Frances (Sampson) Temple.
I 896.
Jan. 5. Rufus J. Nourse. Sally Nourse. .. Gabriel Abbott.
1900. Jan. IS. Charles L. Tomblen. Helen E. Tomblen.
May 6. Emily McCrossen.
Nov. 4. Emily E. (Miller) Cushing. David P. Cushing. Lydia Augusta (Cole) Loud.
Lavinia F. Chisholm.
1901. March 3. Sept. I. Clara Delle Eaton. Bessie Robinson Dunham. Helen Wadsworth Bradbury. Grace Andrews Tinkham.
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1902.
March I. Mabel Warren Hall. Francis Robert Bradbury.
٠٠ Mattie Kingman Dunham.
Hattie Richmond Dunham. Georgianna Mabry Dorr. Miriam Mangan.
.. Louise Wardwell.
Mabel Coleman.
Annie I. Kupkee.
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