USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > New Bedford > Catalogue of the members of the North Congregational Church, New-Bedford, 1829 > Part 2
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Standing Rules.
lief, keeping a record of the persons relieved and of the amount expended during the year, and gen- erally to aid the Pastor in the ministry of the Church, as occasion may require.
ART. 7. The following officers and committees shall be chosen by ballot ( unless otherwise ordered by unanimous consent) at the Annual Business Meeting :
(a.) To fill any vacancies in the Board of Dea- cons.
(b.) A Clerk ; who shall keep the records of the Church ; a chronological list of its members, show- ing the time and mode of their admission and dis- mission ; a record of the adult and infant baptisms ; issue letters of dismission ; and shall report at the Annual Business Meeting the numerical condition of the Church, in the following particulars,-num- ber of members, male and female, on the first day of January, with the number of absentees, additions the year preceding by profession and letter, remov- als the year preceding by death, dismission and ex- communication, baptisms, adult and infant, the membership in the Sabbath School, the average attendance; also present a list of those Church members (not at sea) who have been absent two years or more.
(c.) A Treasurer, who shall take charge of all moneys belonging to the Church and contributions for religious and charitable purposes (except such
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North Cong. Church, New Bedford.
as are designed for the poor of the Church,) pay- ing over the same to the authorized agents, and present a written report of the same ( including the amount of contributions for the poor of the Church) at the Annual Business Meeting.
(d.) An Auditor, who shall examine and audit the Treasurer's annual account.
(e.) A Standing Committee, to consist of not less than eleven persons, of which the Pastor, Dea- cons and Clerk shall constitute a part; whose duty it shall be to provide a supply for the pulpit in the temporary absence of the Pastor; to examine all applicants for admission to the Church ; to act as a committee of inquiry in cases of discipline; to de- cide what benevolent objects shall be presented to the Church for their contributions; and to exercise a general supervision over the interests of the Church.
(f.) A Superintendent of the Sabbath School, who shall furnish the Clerk of the Church, on or before the second Friday in January in each year, with a written report of its work during the previ- vious year, and of its numerical condition at the close of the year.
(g.) A Committee on Visitation, consisting of five or more ladies, whose duty it shall be to visit the sick; to bring cases of need within the Church to the knowledge of the Deacons; to call upon new families and invite them to the house of God, and
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Standing Rules.
their children to the Sabbath School; and in any other way to assist the Pastor and Deacons in their work; also to record the doings of the Committee, and make an annual report to the Pastor or Stand- ing Committee when required.
(h.) A Music Committee, to act jointly with members appointed by the Society, whose duty it shall be to appoint suitable persons to conduct the music of the Church, and to make all necessary ar- rangements to furnish a well disciplined choir, and for the practical development of musical talent in the congregation.
( ¿. ) Vacancies occurring during the year in any of the above named offices, may be filled for the unexpired term at any regular meeting of the Church.
SECTION II. MEETINGS.
ART. I. The weekly Prayer and Conference Meeting of the Church shall be on Wednesday evening.
ART. 2. The Annual Meeting (Church Fast) for devotional exercises shall be held on the first Monday evening in January following the first Sun- day.
ART. 3. . The Lord's Supper shall be celebrated on the first Sabbath of January, March, May, July, September, November, at such time as the Stand- ing Committee may direct.
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North Cong. Church, New Bedford.
ART. 4. The Preparatory Lecture shall be on the Friday evening preceding the Communion Ser- vice.
ART. 5. The regular meeting of the Standing Committee for the examination of candidates shall be held on the second Wednesday evening preced- ing the Preparatory Lecture. Five members shall constitute a quorum.
ART. 6. Business not requiring discussion may be done at the close of any regular Church service or prayer-meeting.
ART. 7. The Annual Business Meeting shall be on the third Friday in January, in the following order of procedure :
(a.) Prayer.
(b.) Reading the Minutes.
(c.) Annual reports of the Clerk, Treasurer, and Committees.
(d.) Election of officers.
(e.) Proposed amendments to these Rules, the Articles of Faith, Covenant, or Form of Admis- sion.
(f.) Other business.
ART. 8. In all other respects business meetings shall be regulated by the Manual or settled usage of the Church ; and in cases not provided for there- by, by Cushing's Manual.
ART. 9. All meetings for business shall be
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Standing Rules.
opened with prayer. Ten members shall constitute a quorum.
ART. 10. All members of this Church, eighteen years of age and in good standing, may vote at its business meetings.
ART. II. Special meetings shall be called by the Standing Committee whenever they deem it ad- visable to do so, or whenever a written request is presented to the Pastor or Clerk by six members of the Church ; and public notice of the meeting shall be given from the pulpit on the previous Sabbath.
SECTION III. MEMBERSHIP.
ART. 1. Candidates for admission to the Church, either by profession or letter, shall appear before the Standing Committee for examination, and (if so decided by the committee) be propounded be- fore the Church and Congregation at least one Sab- bath prior to their public admission.
ART. 2. On the evening of the Preparatory Lec- ture, the Church shall vote on the question of re- ceiving the candidates on the condition that they shall afterwards publicly assent to the Confession of Faith and adopt the Covenant; but those who unite by letter will assent only to that section of the Cov- enant which applies to membership in this Church.
ART. 3. It is the duty of every member who may know of any reason why a candidate for ad- mission should not be received into the Church, to
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North Cong. Church, New Bedford.
make such reason known to the Standing Commit- tee.
ART. 4. It is expected that members removing from the city, or to other churches in the city, will ask for letters of dismission and recommendation within one year from the time of such change, un- less a reasonable excuse is given to the Standing Committee for the omission.
ART. 5. All requests for letters of dismission and recommendation shall be read at the Church meeting on Wednesday evening, and (unless other- wise ordered) shall on the next succeeding Wednes- day evening be acted upon by the Church. Such letters shall be considered valid one year only from their date.
ART. 6. It is expected that any members of other churches who may wish to commune with this church for more than one year, will request dismission from their respective churches and ad- mission to this.
ART. 7. The Church may by vote suspend rec- ognition of membership, when members (not at sea) absent themselves from the worship and com- munion of the Church for two years or more, and fail to satisfy the Standing Committee of their rea- son for so doing. When recognition of member- ship is suspended, such members shall be consid- ered as absentees. In case any such members shall afterward report themselves and satisfy the Stand-
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ing Committee regarding their absence, the Church may by vote restore recognition of membership.
SECTION IV. DISCIPLINE.
ART. I. This Church considers immoral con- duct, breach of express covenant vows, neglect of acknowledged religious duties, and avowed disbe- lief of the Articles of Faith to which the members have assented, as offences subject to the censure of the Church.
ART. 2. The following shall be deemed the reg- ular course of procedure in all cases of discipline :
(a.) The member offended or aggrieved should seek the removal of the offence in the spirit of the Gospel, by fraternal conference with the offender alone.
(b.) Failing in the removal of the difficulty thus, he or she should take one or two judicious mem- bers, and with their mediation strive for Christian satisfaction.
(c.) This proving in vain, he or she should bring the matter to the notice of the Standing Commit- tee, who shall endeavor to bring about a reconcilia- tion, and who (if this cannot be effected or does not result in harmony) shall prefer a formal com- plaint before the Church against the offending member.
(d.) If the Church entertain the complaint, they shall appoint a time for hearing the case, and sum-
£
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mon the offender to be present at that hearing, fur- nishing the offender at least one week before the time of the hearing with a copy of the charges.
(e.) If, on such hearing, the Church is satisfied of the guilt of the party accused, it may vote to admonish the accused publicly, to suspend for some definite period from the privileges of the Church, or to excommunicate from its membership, accord- ing to the aggravation of the offence and the state of mind in which the accused is.
(f.) No such vote of censure shall be passed except by the concurrent vote of two thirds of the members present and voting at a regular meeting.
(g.) In cases of excommunication, notice there- of shall be given from the pulpit on the Sabbath following the excommunication.
SECTION V. COLLECTIONS.
ART. I. A collection shall be taken up after each communion service, and the fund thus ob- tained shall be used to defray the expenses of the occasion and in assisting the necessitous members of the Church. This fund is to be administered by the board of Deacons.
ART. 2. A contribution for benevolent objects may be taken up in the church on the first Sunday in February, April, June, August, October and De- cember, the Standing Committee to decide upon the object and method of taking such contributions.
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ART. 3. A special contribution may be taken at any time, if authorized by the Pastor or Standing Committee.
SECTION VI. MISCELLANEOUS.
ART. I. The necessary expenses of the Pastor in attendance upon Ecclesiastical Councils as rep- resentative of the Church, shall be paid by the Treasurer from the Church funds. Delegates to Ecclesiastical Councils shall make brief reports of their doings and of the action of the Council, as soon thereafter as practicable.
ART. 2. This Church recognizes the Sabbath School as an important branch of its ministry, and in the exercise of a supervision of the school will require, in the selection of teachers, that only those be appointed who are judged to give credible evi- dence of piety, of a good understanding of the Bible, and of a substantial agreement in the Arti- cles of Doctrine professed by this Church.
ART. 3. Infant Baptism .- Baptism may be ad- ministered to infant children of believing parents who request it. The parents must furnish to the Pastor or Clerk, in writing, a statement of their own names, the full name of each child presented for baptism, and the date of its birth, which shall be entered on the records of the Church.
ART. 4. Deaths to be recorded .- In case of the death of any member of this Church, it shall be the
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North Cong. Church, New Bedford.
duty of any member acquainted with the fact, to inform the Clerk of the same, that it may be en- tered upon the records.
ART. 5. Alterations of Rules .- No alteration shall be made in the Standing Rules, the Confession of Faith, or the Covenant of this Church, except by proposing such alteration in writing at an An- nual Meeting, and adjourning said meeting for four weeks or more, when such alteration may be made by vote of three fourths of the members then pres- ent and voting. This rule shall not be so construed as to forbid the temporary suspension of any rule, excepting the one relating to a quorum, when the Church shall see fit to do so, by a vote of three fourths of the members present and voting at a regular meeting.
RULES OF ORDER.
[ Extract from the Church Records ( No. 2,) p. 232.]
After the adoption of the Standing Rules, the Pastor explained the rea. son for adopting Rules of Order for the government of business meetings, stating that those prepared had been read- and approved at a previous meeting. He suggested that the Clerk read them again, which was done and the following Rules of Order were then adopted, to take effect from this date (April 9, 1879.)
I. It is the duty of the Clerk to call the meet- ing to order at the time appointed, and when a Moderator has been nominated, to put the question upon the choice. In the absence of the Clerk, any member may call the meeting to order, nominate a Moderator, and put the question. A Clerk pro tem should then be chosen. If the meeting is ad- journed to another day, the same Moderator pre- sides.
2. Every motion must be reduced to writing, if required by any member.
3. When a motion is made and seconded, it should be read or stated by the Moderator, and is then before the meeting for consideration ; and un- til it is disposed of, no other business is in order. It may be withdrawn by the mover (if no one ob- jects) at any time, if no vote has been taken on it or an amendment of it.
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North Cong. Church, New Bedford.
4. Several amendments may be moved to a proposition.
5. A motion to amend an amendment may be made, but not to amend the second amendment.
6. A motion to strike out all the words after " resolved," and to substitute a new proposition on the same subject, is in order.
7. Precedence of Motions .- The following mo- tions shall take precedence of each other in the order in which they stand :
(1.) To fix the time and place to which the as- sembly shall adjourn.
(2.) To adjourn.
(3.) To lay on the table.
(4.) The previous question.
(5.) To postpone to a time fixed.
(6.) To commit.
(7.) To postpone indefinitely.
(8.) To amend an amendment.
(9.) To amend.
(10.) The main question.
The fifth and sixth may be amended to improve, but not to suppress them, and the first four are not debatable.
8. All incidental questions shall take precedence of the questions out of which they arise.
9. If the previous question is carried, no fur- ther debate is in order, and the pending motion, with amendments offered, must be immediately put
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Rules of Order.
to vote. The refusal of the previous question has no other effect than to allow debate to proceed for the time.
IO. Motions to amend are to be put in inverse order.
II. In filling a blank, if several sums are pro- posed, the largest is put to the question first, and of several times the longest.
12. When a vote is to be taken, the Moderator, after stating the question to be decided, calls first upon those who are in favor of the motion, and then upon those who are opposed, to rise, or raise the hands, and announces his decision ; any mem- ber may, before another motion is made, call for a count, when the Moderator must first call upon the "ays" and then upon the " noes" to rise and stand until counted. Upon the demand of five members, the names of members voting must be recorded by yeas and nays upon the minutes.
13. While a vote is being taken, debate is out of order.
14. When two or more resolutions are offered at once, any member has a right to demand a di- vision of the question so as to take a vote upon each separately ; but in other cases a division of the question cannot be demanded as of right.
15. A member who voted with the majority may, during the same or the next meeting, move a
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reconsideration of the vote, which motion opens the subject again to debate.
16. While a member has the floor, no motion can be made without his consent.
17. The Moderator is bound to confine debate to the point under discussion.
18. If a point of order is raised during debate, it must be decided by the Moderator, subject to an appeal to the meeting, before the debate proceeds.
19. An appeal to the meeting may be taken from any decision of the Moderator. On such ap- peal the appellant and the Moderator may cach make a brief argument, and no other debate is in order.
20. Debate is not in order unless there is a mo- tion before the meeting; but one who makes a motion may preface it with remarks.
21. If the floor is claimed by more than one member, the Moderator decides who is entitled to it.
22. The question before the meeting must be stated by the Moderator on the request of any member.
23. A vote to accept a report is not equivalent to its adoption, but simply directs the paper to be received for consideration and placed on file.
24. A vote to adopt the report of the commit- tee makes the action of the committee, as stated in the report, the action of the meeting.
OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION.
1880.
TRUSTEES. THATCHER C. HATCH, JOSHUA C. HITCH, E. WILLIAMS HERVEY.
SECRETARY, TREASURER, AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES. JOSHUA C. HITCH.
COMMITTEE ON MUSIC.
W.M. C. PAKKER, JR.,
F. A. MILLIKEN, A. H. SEABURY. Organist. Chorister. JAMES W. HIERVEY.
B. FRANK JENNEY.
AUDITORS.
THATCHER C. HATCH, E. WILLIAMS HERVEY.
USHERS. THATCHER C. HATCH,
F. A. MILLIKEN, ROBERT G. REED, M. D.
CHARLES D. STICKNEY, JR., ISAAC BARNES.
SEXTON.
ISAAC BARNES.
Pews rented by J. C. HITCH, Treasurer. Inquire of CHARLES H. HASKELL, No. 138 Union street.
£
BY-LAWS OF THE CORPORATION.
ART. I. The privileges and benefits of this act of incorporation shall extend to all the regular members of this Church and Society; but none shall be entitled to vote or be eligible to office ex- cept the male members of the Church and such members of the Society as shall be the owners of a pew in said Church, who are twenty-one years of age and upwards, and shall have subscribed these By-Laws, and paid all assessments made upon the same six months previous to any meeting of the Corporation.
ART. 2. There shall be an Annual Meeting of this incorporated body, in the month of March or April, for the choice of officers and the transaction of other necessary business.
ART. 3. The officers of this Corporation shall be a Secretary, Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, and a Board of Trustees of three, who shall be a Stand- ing Committee to be chosen annually by ballot.
ART. 4. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record of all the doings of the Corporation ; to notify all meetings, both annual and special, by
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By-Laws.
posting notifications at the place of holding our meetings for public worship, eight days before such meeting, and stating distinctly all the business to be acted upon at said meeting, and attend with his books and preside as Moderator until one is chosen ; and to attend to all the records of said Corporation. ART. 5. It shall be the duty of the Collector to collect all the taxes on pews, and other moneys due said Corporation, at such time and in such manner as the Corporation shall direct, and pay the same over to the Treasurer. If the assessments against any pew remain unpaid for more than twelve months, it shall be his duty to advertise and sell the same, according to the Statute.
ART. 6. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to take charge of all the funds belonging to the Cor- poration, and to keep a correct account of the same. He shall pay out no money except on de- mands approved by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, or by the chairman of any committee au- thorized by the Corporation to expend the same. All notes, deeds, or other instruments authorized by the Board of Trustees or by the Corporation, shall be signed by the Treasurer. He shall prepare and lay before the Corporation, at its Annual Meet- ing, a full and complete statement of its finances, showing all the receipts and expenditures, the debts of the Corporation and the amount due from taxes, distinguishing between debts considered good and
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North Cong. Church, New Bedford.
such as may not have any value; and also an esti- mate of the amount necessary to be assessed on the pews for the ensuing year.
ART. 7. It shall be the duty of the Board of Trustees to exercise a general supervision over the temporal concerns of the Corporation; have the care of the buildings and other property belonging to the same, and the management and control of its business affairs; to examine, and if found cor- rect, approve all bills against the Corporation, ex- cept such as may be contracted by committees ap- pointed for specific objects ; and annually to examine and audit the accounts of the Treasurer. They shall receive all bequests, legacies, donations, and grants of real estate which may be made to the Corporation for the support of the Gospel and for all benevolent purposes, and they shall put the same to use, and the income only shall be expended ; and all the personal property shall be put to use by re- quiring two or more sureties, and the interest on said securities shall be paid annually ; if not so paid, the principal shall be required.
ART. 8. As the great and leading objects of this Church, from its foundation, have been to establish and support the Calvinistic Trinitarian sentiments, which sentiments we believe to be contained in the Covenant and Confession of Faith adopted by and now in use in this Church, we therefore aver that the funds of this Church shall be appropriated to
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By-Laws.
the support and defence of such sentiments, and such only.
ART. 9. These By-Laws may be altered and amended only by proposing such alteration and amendment at an Annual Meeting, and adjourning said meeting four weeks at least, when such alter- ation and amendment may be made by the concur- rence of three fourths of the voters then present.
ART. 10. The following right and privileges shall be secured by covenant to the Church : When- ever the pulpit shall be without a settled Pastor, or by his sickness or absence be vacant, the Church shall direct the supply, the expense of which to be paid by the Society. Whenever a Pastor is to be chosen, the Church shall have the exclusive right to nominate the same, and propose the person to the Society for its concurrence; the salary to be determined by the Society.
THE NEWBERRY LIB: MARY CHICAGO
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS IN REGULAR STANDING, MARCH, ISSO.
(Please notify the Clerk of errors in the list.)
Where the State is not designated, the town referred to is in Mas- sachusetts.
I .. Those received by letter. + Non-attendant. * Untraced. ? Information wanted. () Inclose husband's initials. [] Inclose maiden name and name by prior marriage.
1876. Akin, William. 1876. Akin, Sarah J., Mrs. (Wm.) [Latta.]
1878. Albert, Rebecca S. 1837. Allen, Martha D., Mrs. (Uriah P.) [Knight.] 1837. Allen, Julia A., Mrs. (Abram) [Richmond.] 1840. Allen, Rebecca S. 1851. Allen, Mary Elizabeth.
1872. Allen, Mary E., Mrs. (George J.) [Lawton.] 1 ..
1877. Almy, Josephine. Little Compton, R. I.
1858. Anthony, [Winslow ] Joanna M., Mrs. (I. A.) [Taber. ]t Acushnet. 1858. Anthony, Edmund, Jr.t 1861. Arey, Sophronia, Mrs. (Capt. E. G.) [Lathrop.] L. Salem. 1861. Arey, Allen C. L.
1877. Arey, Clara G., Mrs. (Allen C.) [Andrews.] 1866. Arey, Hannah C.t 1866. Arey, Elbridge G. 1873. Arey, Sarah E., Mrs. (E. G.) [Bennett.] 1877. Ashley, Eliza J., Mrs. (Simeon) [Caswell.]
1867. Bacheller, Herbert J. Lynn.
1867. Bacheller, Permelia, Mrs. (H. J.) [Hine.] Lynn.
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List of Members.
1877. Bailey, Alice E.
1874. Baker, Huldah, Mrs. (Asa) [Berry.] 1 .. 1842. Barker, Emily, Mrs. (Capt. H. P.) [ Eastham.] 1 ..
1852. Barnes, Isaac.
1855. Barnes, Emily W., Mrs. (Isaac.)
1866. Barnes, Isaac A. New York, N. Y.
1877. Barnes, Sarah C.
1877. Barnes, Mary A.
1872. Barstow, Abby. I ..
1878. Bartlett, Susan E., Mrs. (Abner) [Case.] 1 ..
1878. Bartlett, Mercy K. 1 .. 1866. Bartlett, Susan E.
1879. Bartlett, Robert W. -
1879. Bartlett, Catharine N., Mrs. (R. W.) [Nye.] 1 ..
1858. Bates, Almira L.t
1864. Beauvais, Joseph A. I ..
1879. Bennett, Samuel. L.
1879. Bennett, Abbie S.
1870. Bodfish, Mary E., Mrs. (J. W.) [Bowe.] Barnstable.
1870. Boyden, Catharine C., Mrs., (A. C.) [Allen.] Bridgewater.
1865. Bradford, Frederick A. 1 ..
1831. Braley, Reuamy S., Mrs. (Alden.). I ..
1871. Braley, Alden. I ..
1866. Briggs, Elizabeth P.
1878. Brown, Sallie C. 1 .. 1877. Brownell, Mattie B., Mrs. (Charles W.) [Tripp.]
1834. Bryant, Seth.
1834. Bryant, Hope S., Mrs. (Seth.)
1834. Bryant, Thomas R.
1834. Bryant, Nancy, Mrs. (T. R.)
1834. Bryant, Nancy. 1851. Bryant, Ann E.
1858. Bryant, Abby F.
Lonsdale, R. I.
1858. Bryant, Samuel N. I .. 1860. Buckley, Olive P., Mrs. (George O.) [Sawyer.]
1834. Burgess, William H. Goodyear's Bar, Cal. 1877. Burgess, Joseph H.
32 North Cong. Church, New Bedford.
1877. Burgess, Mary C., Mrs. (J. H.) [Aikin.] 1878. Burgess, Mercy K. 1 ..
1877. Burgess, Franklin. 1878. Burke, Matthew. L.
1878. Burke, Rebecca, Mrs. (M.) [Thompson.] I ..
1878. Burke, William.
1852. Burr, Nancy.
1857. Burt, Rowena, Mrs. (E. N.) [French.] Boston. 1858. Burt, Samuel P.
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