USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fall River > History, annals and sketches of the Central Church of Fall River, Massachusetts : A.D. 1842-A.D. 1905 : with portraits and views > Part 22
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Do you thus promise?
[The minister then announcing the name of each child, will say:]
I baptize thee into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
[After baptism prayer is offered by the minister, and another chant is sung by the choir, as the parents withdraw.]
NOTE. - The name of the child, together with the date of its birth and the names of its parents, should be given to the minister in writing.
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Form of Admission with Confession and Covenant, A.D. 1903
FORM OF ADMISSION
All who are to be received come forward as their names are read, those who unite on confession standing, those who unite by letter being seated.
" What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? " Micah 6: 8.
" Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
" Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Matthew 22: 37, 39.
" I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." Romans 1: 16.
" With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10: 10.
Dearly Beloved :
Because you believe that it is a part of the duty and the privilege of a true christian life to give public witness to one's faith, you have come to-day to declare that you are a follower of Christ and that you desire to be received into covenant relations with his Church. We rejoice with you in your faith and purpose, and welcome you to our Church on the basis of your acceptance of our Confession and Covenant to which we ask you now to give your cordial assent.
CONFESSION OF FAITH
I believe that God is my loving Heavenly Father, and that He has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to reveal His character and His will, and to redeem humanity from sin.
Believing that I have been led by the Holy Spirit, I accept Jesus Christ as my Saviour, my Teacher, my Example.
I accept the Bible as the record of God's revelation of His will.
I declare it to be my purpose, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to be conscientious in regard to prayer and the study of the Bible, and to make the teachings of the Bible, especially as revealed in the life and words of Jesus Christ, the final standard for my faith; for my conduct in all business and social relations; and in my personal life.
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Do you accept this statement as expressing your present faith and purpose?
Response: I do.
BAPTISM
You who now, for the first time, enter into covenant with the Church of Christ, do receive baptism, as the token of the new life wrought in you by the Holy Spirit, and as the sign of your purpose to be forever the Lord's.
The candidate kneeling, baptism is here administered with these words:
I baptize thee into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
To those who were baptized in childhood the pastor will say:
You who were baptized in childhood do accept for yourselves, as your own free act, the seal of baptism, to which faith and love brought you.
Response: We do.
The pastor greets those who bring letters from other churches with these words:
Beloved in the Lord, who come to renew the vows, and the declara- tion of faith in Christ, which you have made elsewhere, we bid you welcome. We greet you as kinsmen in Him, and fellow-laborers in His service, and fellow-travelers to His promised rest.
We now ask you all to assent to the following
COVENANT
I declare it to be my purpose to be loyal to the interests of the Central Congregational Church as long as I am a member of it. I promise that - to the extent of my ability - I will conscientiously cooperate in sustaining its worship and its ordinances by my attendance and fellowship; in upholding its good name by a careful christian life; and in forwarding its work by my sympathy and financial support.
Do you enter cordially into this covenant?
Response: I do.
The Church rises and repeats:
We, the members of the Central Congregational Church, do most affectionately receive you into our communion, and renew, with you, our covenant. We break with you the bread, and drink with you the cup, at the table of the Lord, in token of our recognition of your mem- bership with us in this household of faith. We give you welcome to all the duties, and all the privileges of this house of God. We pledge
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to you that same loyalty and fellowship and helpfulness which you have promised to us.
The pastor here extends the right hand of fellowship, after which all will repeat together:
" For this cause we bow our knees unto the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that ye may be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inward man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strong to apprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye may be filled with all the fulness of God.
" Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be the glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus unto all generations for ever and ever. Amen." Ephesians 3: 14-21.
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[REPRINT] ORDER OF EXERCISES
AT THE
LAYING OF THE CORNERSTONE
NEW CHURCH EDIFICE FALL RIVER, JULY 22, 1874
1. - SINGING BY THE CONGREGATION
Lord of hosts! to thee we raise Here a house of prayer and praise:
Thou thy people's hearts prepare, Here to meet for praise and prayer.
Let the living here be fed
With thy word, the heavenly bread:
Here, in hope of glory blest, May the dead be laid to rest.
Here to thee a temple stand,
While the sea shall gird the land:
Here reveal thy mercy sure, While the sun and moon endure.
Hallelujah! - earth and sky To the joyful sound reply : Hallelujah! hence ascend Prayer and praise till time shall end.
2. - PRAYER By the Pastor, Rev. M. BURNHAM
3. - READING OF THE SCRIPTURES.
4. -- REPORT OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE,
By THOMAS J. BORDEN, Chairman
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5. - SINGING.
God of the universe, to thee This sacred fane we rear, And now, with songs and bended knee, Invoke thy presence here.
Long may this echoing dome resound The praises of thy name, These hallowed walls to all around The triune God proclaim.
Here let thy love, thy presence dwell; Thy glory here make known; Thy people's home, oh, come and fill, And seal it as thine own.
And when the last long Sabbath morn Upon the just shall rise, May all who own thee here be borne To mansions in the skies.
6. - ADDRESS BY THE PASTOR 7. - SINGING.
Christ is our Cornerstone; On him alone we build; With his true saints alone The courts of heaven are filled : On his great love our hopes we place, Of present grace and joys above.
Oh, then, with hymns of praise These hallowed courts shall ring! Our voices we will raise, The Three in One to sing; And thus proclaim in joyful song, Both loud and long, that glorious Name.
Here may we gain from heaven The grace which we implore, And may that grace, once given, Be with us evermore, --- Until that day when all the blest To endless rest are called away.
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8. - LAYING THE CORNERSTONE
By the Senior Deacons, BENJAMIN EARL, Dr. NATHAN DURFEE. 9. - PRAYER by Rev. W. W. ADAMS, of First Congregational Church. 10. - DOXOLOGY.
SINGING UNDER THE DIRECTION OF CHARLES DURFEE.
LYMAN W. DEANE, Organist.
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[REPRINT] ORDER OF EXERCISES
AT THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW CHURCH EDIFICE FALL RIVER, DECEMBER 13, 1875
ORGAN VOLUNTARY.
Mozart ANTHEM, " Praise the Lord "
CHOIR.
INVOCATION Rev. THATCHER THAYER, D.D.
RESPONSE, " Ponder My Words, O Lord " Haydn
CHOIR.
READING OF THE SCRIPTURES
Rev. W. W. ADAMS, D.D.
HYMN 1030 BY THE CONGREGATION
Christ is our Cornerstone; On him alone we build; With his true saints alone The courts of heaven are filled:
On his great love our hopes we place,
Of present grace and joys above.
Oh, then, with hymns of praise These hallowed courts shall ring!
Our voices we will raise, The Three in One to sing; And thus proclaim in joyful song,
Both loud and long, that glorious Name.
Here, gracious God, do thou Forevermore draw nigh; Accept each faithful vow, And mark each suppliant sigh; In copious shower, on all who pray, Each holy day, thy blessings pour.
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Here may we gain from heaven The grace which we implore, And may that grace, once given, Be with us evermore, - Until that day when all the blest To endless rest are called away.
SERMON Rev. R. S. STORRS, D.D., Brooklyn, N. Y. HYMN 1016 BY THE CONGREGATION
Oh, bow thine ear, Eternal One! On thee our heart adoring calls; To thee, the followers of thy Son Have raised, and now devote these walls.
Here let thy holy days be kept; And be this place to worship given, Like that bright spot where Jacob slept, The house of God, the gate of heaven.
Here may thine honor dwell; and here, As incense, let thy children's prayer, From contrite hearts and lips sincere, Rise on the still and holy air.
Here be thy praise devoutly sung; Here let thy truth beam forth to save, As when, of old, thy Spirit hung, On wings of light, o'er Jordan's wave.
And when the lips, that with thy name Are vocal now, to dust shall turn, On others may devotion's flame Be kindled here and purely burn!
DEDICATORY PRAYER BY THE PASTOR Rev. M. BURNHAM ANTHEM, " How Beautiful are Thy Dwellings Leach CHOIR. DOXOLOGY. BENEDICTION.
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CHURCH FORMED NOVEMBER 16, 1842
FIRST CHURCH EDIFICE BUILT, 1844
First Pastor REV. SAMUEL WASHBURN
Second Pastor REV. ELI THURSTON, D.D.
Present Pastor REV. MICHAEL BURNHAM
"I WILL FILL THIS HOUSE WITH GLORY, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. THE SILVER IS MINE, AND THE GOLD IS MINE, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS. THE GLORY OF THIS LATTER HOUSE SHALL BE GREATER THAN OF THE FORMER, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS: AND IN THIS PLACE WILL I GIVE PEACE, SAITH THE LORD OF HOSTS." - Haggai 2 : 7-10.
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[REPRINT] OUR CHURCH MESSENGER
CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Cor. Rock and Franklin Streets Fall River, Mass.
REV. WILLIAM ALLEN KNIGHT, Pastor. Residence, 87 School Street. REV. EDWIN A. BUCK, Parish Missionary. Residence, 114 Prospect Street.
REV. GEORGE W. HINMAN. Foreign Missionary, Residence, Shaowu, China.
"Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness."
Week of February 12-19, 1899
OUR CHURCH MESSENGER. - Its mission is to free the pulpit from announcements; to reach the whole parish with messages and items about our church life; to preserve matters of interest for reference. Put notices into the box at the cloister door or send them to Miss N. EVELYN BUCK, 114 Prospect St., not later than Thursday evening. CHESTER D. BORDEN, Business Manager.
Regular Meetings
SUNDAY - Public Worship at 10.30 A.M., in the auditorium. Bible Schools: 9.15 at the Mission; 12.05 in the Chapel and church. Chinese C. E. Society at 1 P.M., in the North Parlor. Fathers and Mothers' Bible Class at 2.30 in the Mission. Y. M. C. A. meeting at 4 P.M., in Music Hall. Preaching Service at 5.45 P.M., at the Mission. Y. P. S. C. E. meeting at 6 o'clock in the Chapel. General Preaching Service at 7 o'clock in the auditorium. TUESDAY - Prayer-Meeting at 7.30 at the Mission.
WEDNESDAY - Junior C. E. Society at 4.30 P.M., in the South Parlor. THURSDAY - The General Prayer-Meeting at 7.45 P.M. in the Chapel. FRIDAY - Temperance Meeting at 7.45 P.M. at the Mission.
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Particulars
Home Missionary Collection will be taken at the close of the morning service.
Bible school lesson topic is "Christ's Divine Authority." John 5: 17-27.
Y. M. C. A. have a special service for men in the Music Hall. All men are welcome.
Y. P. S. C. E. have their missionary meeting this evening. Subject, " A Missionary Church." Acts 13: 1-12.
Wednesday, the Juniors will meet in the Chapel. Topic, " What lesson can we learn from Christ's boyhood?" Luke 2: 40-52.
Wednesday evening at 7.45 the cantata entitled "The Happy Family of Father Time," will be given by the Mission School Primary Department in the church chapel.
Thursday evening, in the general prayer and conference meeting, we will have a missionary concert on " Ceylon, the Key to India."
Friday. Monthly social supper at 6.30.
Pastor's Page
Our missionaries have reached China. The clerk's annual report for the national year book is reassuring. Central Church received 56 new members in 1898. We lost 5 by letter, 7 by death. We gave $1,275 to foreign missions. We gave $3,280 to home missions. This does not include the salary of our parish missionary. We gave $84 to the Educational Society. We gave $77 to the Church Building Society. We gave $513 to the American Missionary Association. We gave $117 to the Sunday-School Society. We gave $2,047 to other christian and philanthropic work. We gave, in all, to benevolence, $7,492. Our parish expenses were about $10,000. The clerk reports that 450 families looked to the pastor for ministry. We are glad he has reached a definite conclusion. Pastor's 'phone, 255-3.
Speak with Mr. Walter E. Dow concerning the Home Department of the Bible School.
Next Sunday evening Mr. DeMotte, of the Y. M. C. A. lecture course, will speak in our general service.
It was a furious night, but a fine cottage meeting was held Wednes- day evening. Next Wednesday, at 7.30 P.M., another will be held at 405 Warren Street. Be there, brethren of the neighborhood.
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Dr. Clark who speaks to-day, is at the head of our National Home Missionary Society. He knows a thousand and one things of interest to us. Meet him and ask him anything you would like to know about.
Twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents have gone this week from Central Church to the support of the Chinese missionary for New England; $5 from the Senior Endeavor Society, $10 from the Chinese Society; the remainder was individual.
A delightful letter has just come from Miss Yeomans of Fiske de- scribing how the contents of our recent box were utilized. We wish the whole Church could hear it. It will be read Friday afternoon or evening; perhaps at the supper table. It would be a good condiment.
SPECIAL. - The February social supper comes next Friday evening at 6.30. About 7.45 an entertainment will begin in the Chapel, a genuine Old Folks' Concert. That word genuine tells the whole story. The suppers are excellent, the fellowship is hearty, the attendance is large, the old folks' concert will be - genuine. Parishioner, it is all for you. The women meet for work at two o'clock.
Sunday morning, March 5, is the next opportunity for being re- ceived into church fellowship. Next Thursday evening is the regular conference meeting for those who are thinking of coming into member- ship. We want you to come; you who desire to live the Christian life; Christ wants you to come; it is his method to bring his followers into companies. Now, will you not decide the matter and come? We re- ceive either by church letter or by confession of Christ as Lord.
First Hinman Letter from Asiatic Soil
On a beautiful picture-postal card, the following arrived this week :
YOKOHAMA, January 16, 1899. After a week and a half of very stormy weather, culminating in a gale of extreme violence for one day, we reached Yokohama this morning, four and a half days late. We suffered very little from sea- sickness; and have to-day enjoyed a pleasant ride about town in jinrikishas. It is a beautiful place. With kindest regards,
GEORGE W. HINMAN.
To-night at seven o'clock we shall have a twenty-five minute song service, familiarizing ourselves with the choice songs in the new service book. Then we will have a twenty-minute sermon, leaving time for a
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fifteen-minute after-meeting in the South Parlor. It will be a good meeting if the night is bad and there are only 200 present, but it will be still better if the night is good and twice that number are present. What say you who are able to come regardless of weather, to a good hearty gathering to-night? Will you help by being there? Take your nap before you come, for you will not find this meeting a good place for that. So, come to enjoy it.
The pastor notes with pleasure the regular attendance in our gen- eral services of brethren from the Armenian department of our Bible School. Some of the most regular are not members of this Church, but they are welcome to our fellowship. With the excellent workers who have recently joined the teachers in this department, our Church may feel confident concerning the ministry afforded these Christians from a New Testament land.
The first anniversary of our Chinese Endeavor Society was held last Sunday. It began with two active and two associate members. The present membership is fifteen. The average attendance for the year is twenty-five; the total contributions $38.69, of which $13 went to help build a church in Nam Tsin, China, and $17 towards the support of Mr. and Mrs. Hinman at Shaowu. The attendance of members has been 16% per cent higher than that of the banner society of the Fall River district. The society has enrolled now, and intends to win the banner. The members attend our public services regularly.
Our assistant in the Pleasant Street Mission, Mr. J. B. Richardson, has been called to be pastor's assistant in the Thirty-fourth Street Reformed Church of New York. The call was so pressing that his engagement was dated from February 1, with the request that he come at once. Our Standing Committee therefore granted his request for immediate release, and he went to New York on Thursday. Mr. Rich- ardson said in his letter of resignation: "The years here have been years of great joy, and will simply be invaluable to me in my future life." The Church Committee gave a testimonial to the pastor, Rev. John H. Elliott, closing: " He has been earnest, faithful, and efficient, giving evidence of personal Christian experience and growth, as well as of love for the cause in which he is steadily growing in adaptation and resources." The new position affords a large increase of salary, and all in all is such that the many among us who will miss him, may rejoice in the marked advantages in his life work which the change affords. His duties at the Mission will be divided among good lay workers of our Church.
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[REPRINT]
OUR CHURCH MESSENGER
CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Cor. Rock and Franklin Streets Fall River, Mass.
REV. WILLIAM ALLEN KNIGHT, Pastor. Residence, 87 School Street. REV. EDWIN A. BUCK, Missionary Emeritus. Residence, 114 Prospect Street.
REV. GEORGE W. HINMAN, Foreign Missionary. Residence, Foochow, China.
" Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness."
Week of May 7-14, 1899
Regular Meetings
SUNDAY - Public Worship at 10.30 A.M., in the auditorium.
Bible Schools: 9.15 at the Mission; 12.05 in the Chapel and church.
Chinese C. E. Society at 1 P.M., in the North Parlor.
Fathers and Mothers' Bible Class at 2.30 in the Mission.
Y. M. C. A. meeting at 4 P.M., in the Gymnasium on Pine Street.
Preaching Service at 6.00 P.M., at the Mission.
Y. P. S. C. E. meeting at 6.30 o'clock in the Chapel. General Preaching Service at 7.30 in the auditorium.
TUESDAY - Prayer-Meeting at 7.45 at the Mission.
WEDNESDAY - Junior C. E. Society at 4.30 P.M., in the South Parlor. THURSDAY - The General Prayer-Meeting at 7.45 P.M., in the Chapel.
These Meetings are for all. A cordial welcome to all, in Christ's name.
Particulars
The Lord's Supper will be administered at the close of the morning service.
Bible school lesson is found in John 15: 1-11. Subject, " The Vine and the Branches."
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The Y. M. C. A. meeting, held in the gymnasium, will be addressed by Mr. C. V. S. Remington.
Y. P. S. C. E. topic, found in Rom. 2: 1-11, is " Patient Continuance in Well-doing."
The Juniors' question to be answered Wednesday is, " What are some little talents to be used for Christ?" Matt. 25: 14-30. Business meeting.
Thursday is the regular missionary meeting.
Friday evening is the Church Committee meeting.
Pastor's Page 'PHONE 255-3
An interesting letter from Mr. and Mrs. Hinman comes as the "Messenger " goes to press. It will be read in the monthly missionary meeting next Thursday evening.
Will pew-holders kindly remember on coming into the morning serv- ice, to mention to the ushers that they can welcome one or more in their pew for that service? It will prove a helpful habit.
The topic Thursday evening is, " Our new national possessions and what American churches are preparing to do for their betterment." Several men who have kept informed on these movements will speak.
The new Executive Committee of the Men's League consists of the officers, Wm. M. Batt, Thomas R. Whipp, and Benjamin B. Earl, to- gether with Walter C. Hadley, Samuel Smith, M. Hartwell Adams, and George S. Brigham.
According to a vote of the last church meeting, the committee for visitation of the sick and needy was enlarged by two members, Mrs. D. H. Cornell and Mrs. George Congdon being chosen to this very important committee.
The General Association of the Congregational churches of Massa- chusetts holds the ninety-seventh annual meeting in the First Church of Brockton, May 16-18. Can you not manage to take in something of this occasion? Speak with any of the deacons or the pastor if you are thinking about trying to do so.
Kasper Asadoorian and Asadoor Garabedian, who took church letters from this Church some time ago on returning to their native land (Armenia, Turkey), lost their letters in the outrages then perpetrated in that country. Having returned to this city, they were by vote of the Church last Monday evening restored to full membership here.
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To-night we shall have a service for all to have part, prepared and printed for this evening service. The pastor's short address will be on " Henry Drummond and Rudyard Kipling - two young men and their strange religious might." Two or three Sunday evenings will be thus occupied under the auspices of the Men's League. Of course you know how much good it does for you to be there. We do our part the best we can. If you want to see this meeting effective these May even- ings, will you come and join in the short, carefully prepared service?
" Will you not give us a few words, some time, on when NOT to give?" said an earnest parishioner a little while ago. It has become necessary to say that solicitors who come in at random, about whom we know nothing, whose credentials are signed by men we do not know, are not men to whom we can safely give. Most of us have learned to our sorrow the worthlessness of recommendations as a rule, even from men whose names we know. A man has been soliciting funds lately, giving the impression that the pastor had sent him. The pastor never saw the fellow nor heard of him before. We hope our people will not give to men without authoritative CREDENTIALS.
To-day the Sunday school so long held in the Mission building meets for the last time in those rooms of blessed memories. Naturally we all feel the sadness of such a " last time." But let us each and all set our faces cheerfully, joyously, toward the good days that are before, with deep gratitude to the Father in heaven for the long years of His loving kindness in the old Mission building. In the beautiful Chapel of Central Church, the morning school will keep classes and teachers to- gether, and much of the life which has centered in the Mission building can go on just the same. The Fathers and Mothers' Bible Class is already happily planning to enjoy the Bible-class room in the Chapel. Their first meeting there is held to-day. The kindergarten, with its group of children appealing to any onlooker's heart, has been provided for, temporarily, in a public-school building recently sold. Mr. Buck will have his desk and office hours in the room of the Chapel by the Rock Street entrance. He has planned with the Church Committee to confer there with all who wish to see him, and to aid as he has so long done, in the visitation of our members, so many of whom he knows as a father. So, all in all, everything is completely provided for, and from this week onward we move forward with the activities which for a generation we have maintained on Pleasant Street, consolidated with the activities centering in the home church. Surely, God who knows our hearts will lead us to the large achievements which this combina- tion of forces prepares us to attain in the days that are before.
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[REPRINT] " Here let no man be stranger"
THE CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH FALL RIVER, MASS.
Week beginning October 25, 1903
Central Church extends a cordial welcome to every stranger who enters its doors.
If you are here for a day only, the pastor will be glad to meet you. May you take with you, from the service, new strength and purpose for the duties of the week.
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