USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Springfield > Christ Church Parish : Springfield, Massachusetts, 1817-1927 > Part 14
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Copies of Notices from Springfield Gazette on laying the Corner Stone of the old church Aug. 20, 1839.
From Hampden Post on Consecration of Church and installa- tion of Rev. Henry W. Lee, D. D., as Rector, April 1, 1840. Church Almanac for 1874.
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The Church Journal, November 5, 1874.
The Churchman, November 7, 1874.
The Spirit of Missions, Sept. 1874.
Springfield Daily Union November 7 and 9, 1874.
Springfield Republican November 9 and 10, 1874.
Municipal Register of the City of Springfield for 1874.
Annual Report of the City Library Association of the City of Springfield for 1874.
The Office used at the laying of the Corner Stone November 10, 1874.
Specifications for building the New Church with names of architects, contractors and builders.
Invitations on Postal Cards sent for the laying of the Corner Stone, November 10, 1874.
United States Coins.
Manuscript; A brief history of the Parish from November 29, 1863 to date, with the list of the officers of the Parish for 1874. The Executive Committee and Building Commit- tee and date of the death of Rt. Rev. Henry W. Lee of Iowa September 26, 1874.
BY-LAWS
BY-LAWS OF THE PARISH OF CHRIST CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
As adopted at the Annual Meeting in 1908.
I. NAME The name of the Parish shall be CHRIST CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD.
II. AUTHORITY-ACKNOWLEDGED
This Parish accedes to the Constitution, Canons, Doctrine, Discipline, and Worship of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and to the Constitution and Canons of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, and acknow- ledges their authority.
III. MEMBERSHIP
Any person of the age of twenty-one years, who has signed the By-laws of the Parish, and who has aided in maintaining public worship therein for a period of twelve months immed- iately preceding any meeting of the Parish by regular attend- ance on such public worship and by pecuniary aid therefor, shall be considered a member of the Parish, and entitled to vote in its affairs; and any member who, for the space of twelve consecutive months, shall have refrained from regular worship, and from contributing toward the support of the
244
Parish, may, after due notice, and an opportunity to be heard thereon, by a vote of the Parish, be dropped from the list of members. No person who disclaims or refuses conformity to the authority of the Protestant Episcopal Church shall be eligible to office in the Parish or entitled to vote in its affairs.
IV. ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting shall be held on the second Monday of January of each year in such place as the Wardens and Vestry may appoint for the choice by ballot of two Wardens, a Treas- urer, Collector, Auditor, and a Clerk; and they shall serve until the next Annual Meeting. There shall also be chosen at the first Annual Meeting after these by-laws go into effect, nine Vestrymen, to hold office as follows :- three for three years, three for two years, and three for one year. At each Annual Meeting thereafter there shall be chosen three Vestrymen to serve for three years. All the above named officers shall hold their offices for the time for which they are chosen and until others are elected and qualified in their stead. The Treasurer, Collector, and Clerk shall be sworn. The Wardens, Vestrymen, and Rector shall constitute the Board of Rector, Wardens, and Vestry, hereinafter denominated "The Vestry." Delegates to the Diocesan Convention shall also be chosen at the Annual Meeting in such manner as the members present may determine. All said officers and delegates shall be communicants of this Church. If a vacancy occur in any office after the Annual Meet- ing it may be filled by a majority of the Vestry, at a duly called meeting of the same.
AMENDMENT TO ARTICLE IV ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting shall be held on the second Monday of January in each year and in such place as the Wardens and Vestry may appoint for the choice by ballot of two Wardens,
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a Treasurer, Collector, Auditor and a Clerk; and they shall serve until the next annual meeting. There shall also be chosen at the first Annual Meeting after these by-laws go into effect, fifteen Vestrymen, to hold office as follows: five for three years, five for two years, and five for one year. At each Annual Meeting thereafter there shall be chosen five Vestrymen for three years. All the above named officers shall hold their offices for the time for which they are chosen and until others are elected and qualified in their stead. The Treasurer, Col- lector and Clerk shall be sworn. The Wardens, Vestrymen and the Rector shall constitute the Board of Rector, Wardens and Vestry, hereinafter denominated "The Vestry." Delegates to the Diocesan Convention shall also be chosen at the Annual Meeting in such manner as the members present may determine. All said officers and delegates shall be communicants of this Church. If a vacancy occur in any office after the Annual Meeting it may be filled by a majority of the Vestry at a duly called meeting of the same.
V. SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special Meetings may be called by the Wardens, or Vestry at any time, and shall be called by the Wardens whenever so requested in writing by the Rector, or by five members of the Parish.
VI. WARRANT AND PRESIDING OFFICER
All meetings of the Parish shall be warned by posting an attested copy of the warrant calling the same upon one of the doors of usual public entrance to the church or place of worship occupied by the Parish at least seven days before the day fixed for the meeting. The Rector, if present, or in his absence one of the Wardens, shall preside; in the absence of the Rector and Wardens, a moderator shall be chosen by ballot; seven mem- bers present shall suffice for a quorum. Nothing acted upon at
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a special meeting shall have legal operation unless the subject matter thereof was inserted in the warrant for such meeting.
VII. RECTOR
The Rector shall be chosen by the Vestry at a meeting duly called for that purpose. No person shall be eligible to the office of Rector unless he is a qualified minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in good standing.
VIII. WARDENS
It shall be the duty of the Wardens to provide the furniture, books, vestments, and all things necessary for the celebration of divine service; to collect the alms, and to distribute the same when the Parish is destitute of a Rector; and, in the absence of the Rector, or during a vacancy in that office, to provide for the temporary performance of its duties. In case of the absence or disability of either Warden, or of a vacancy in the office, the powers and duties of the Wardens shall devolve upon the remaining Warden until such vacancy be filled.
IX TREASURER
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive from the Collector all moneys collected by him, and to receive and re- ceipt for all pecuniary gifts and legacies to the Parish. He shall keep a true record of his receipts and disbursements, and present a full statement thereof, and of the financial condition of the Parish, at each Annual Meeting, and whenever so re- quired by vote of the Vestry. He shall pay no sum exceeding ten dollars without the approval of at least one Warden or two Vestrymen, or the standing order of the Parish or the Vestry. He shall give bonds, whenever required by the Vestry, for the faithful performance of his duties.
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X.
COLLECTOR
It shall be the duty of the Collector to collect all pew rents and all other moneys which shall be due the Parish from time to time, and as collected he shall pay the same to the Treasurer. He shall make a full report at the Annual Meeting of the Parish of all moneys collected by him during the year. He shall give bonds, whenever requested by the vestry, for the faithful performance of his duties.
XI. CLERK
It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep the records of the Parish and of the Vestry, and also to keep a roll of the mem- bers of the Parish entitled to vote in its affairs.
XII. VESTRY
The Vestry shall constitute the Standing Committee of the Parish, and exercise all the powers thereof in accordance with the usage and discipline of the Protestant Episcopal Church and in compliance with the Statutes of the Commonwealth. It shall be the duty of the Vestry to manage the prudential affairs, and to care for the property of the Parish; to supervise and direct the officers, except the Rector, in the discharge of their duties, and to audit the accounts of the Treasurer and Collector. Their records shall be open to the examination of members of the Parish at its meetings. Meetings of the Vestry may be called by the Rector, either of the Wardens, or any three mem- bers of the vestry, but the Vestry may appoint stated meetings and determine the manner of notifying their meetings. The Rector, when present, shall preside. Five members present shall constitute a quorum except at a meeting for the election of a Rector. At such a meeting, two-thirds of the Vestry shall be present.
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XIII. AMENDMENTS
These By-laws may be amended at any Parish Meeting by a two-thirds vote of those present, if notice has been given of the amendment proposed at a previous Parish Meeting, and if the subject matter thereof is inserted in the warrant calling the meeting at which the amendment is to be adopted.
PROVIDED ALWAYS, that no amendment shall ever be made which shall in any degree release the Parish from its allegiance to the authority of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, or the Diocese within the limits of which the Parish may be; nor which shall deduct anything from the qualifications required for eligibility to the office of Rector, or from the rights of the Rector as they may be defined by the General Convention of the Church.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
List of Books in City Library for Those Interested in Christ Church History
Ministers of Christ The. Rt. Rev. Alexander F. Griswold
History of Christ Church
Major-General James Barnes
Consecration of Christ Church
William Lawrence John Cotton Brooks John Cotton Brooks Daniel Dulany Addison
The Episcopalians
The Clergy in American Life and Letters
Edward Lincoln Atkinson
Charles Lewis Slattery
Seventy Years
The Rt. Rev. Alexander H. Vinton, D. D. Donald N. Alexander
John Cotton Brooks
St. James Parish
Chronicles of Old Chestnut Street
Conn. Valley History Papers : Old Springfield in England
Old State Street Scrap Book Vol. III pp. 126-130
Charles E. Hill C. Morton Murray James Clement Sharp John B. Whiteman Charlotte Warner
Mary L. Dunbar Frank G. Tobey
Titus Strong Henry W. Lee George H. McKnight
Anniversary Sermon
INDEX
APPENDA
225
ASSISTANT MINISTERS 97
ARMORY CHAPEL 12 BUILDINGS 159
BY-LAWS
243
CATALOGUE OF WINDOWS 146
CHRIST CHURCH AND THE ARMY AND SPRINGFIELD ARMORY 113
CHRIST CHURCH AND THE WORLD WAR 125
CHRIST CHURCH BOYS WHO BECAME CANDIDATES FOR HOLY ORDERS
109
FUNDS
234
INTRODUCTION
9
INTERIOR OF CHURCH
188
MEMORIAL WINDOWS
133
MISSIONS
201
MUSIC IN OUR PARISH 128
ORATORY OF ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS 186
ORGANIZATIONS 207
PARISH HOUSE 182
RECTORIES
175
RECTORS
30
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SUVISIN 22-
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HECKMAN
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JUNE 01
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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