USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > North Adams > History of the North Adams Baptist Church from October 30, 1808 to October 30, 1878 > Part 5
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The North Adams church remained a member of this associ- ation until, by reason of doctrinal differences already noticed, it withdrew and was received into the Stephentown Associa- tion at its session in Hancock in 1834. In the minutes of the Berkshire Association for 1834 is this entry :
"N. B .- The church in North Adams withdrew from the "association because of the innovation of doctrine and practice "on the part of a number of the churches and ministers of the "association."
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HISTORY OF THE NORTH ADAMS BAPTIST CHURCH.
Thus the association itself concedes that the charge of the North Adams church was correct; that there had been innova- tions, both of doctrine and practice.
The church remained in connection with this association five years. But at the annual session of the Berkshire Association, held at Tyringham in 1839, the church appeared by its dele- gates and asked to be readmitted, "believing the cause of grief to be removed." The church was received and has continued a member of the association to the present day.
The church has ever been ready to extend its hospitality to associational gatherings. In 1820 the Shaftsbury Association, then numbering twenty-six churches, with 3,377 members, held its annual session in North Adams; and in 1832 the Berkshire Association, with sixteen churches, 1,233 members, met in North Adams; in 1838 the Stephentown Association, with seventeen churches and 1,518 members, met with this church; and in 1849 the Berkshire Association, with nineteen churches and 1,648 members, and again in 1869, with eighteen churches and 2,066 members. From this it will be seen that the largest associational gathering that ever met with the church was the first, in 1820.
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HISTORY OF THE NORTH ADAMS BAPTIST CHURCH.
Discipline
To a remarkable degree the church has, from the first, been unwearied in watching over its members, faithful in dealing with delinquents, and zealous in maintaining its purity. To this, probably, more than to any other one thing, may be as- cribed its healthful, vigorous life. By their fidelity in discip- line the fathers of the church laid a solid foundation for future enlargement. In the early days the members were expected to attend regularly the Sabbath services, the Covenant meetings and 'the Lord's supper, and to live, in all their intercourse and relations with others, temperately, soberly and righteously. If one failed in any of these points his case was at once taken up by the church, upon the presentation of the fact by any member. As the church increased in members it was found impossible to determine always who were and who were not present at the meetings. It was accordingly ordered, on October 9, 1841, "That an account be taken of the members present at all Cove- "nant and church meetings."
About four months after the organization of the church a standing committee was appointed, "to search into any matter "of difficulty or complaint." This wsa, in fact, a committee on discipline. But, in addition to this, special committees were appointed on special cases as they arose. The first case of dis- cipline that appears in the records will illustrate the methods adopted and the fidelity, tempered with forbearance, that was shown. Under date of December 20, 1809, is the following :
"Called upon a committee, viz., Elder Witherell, Otis Black- "inton and Gideon Mixer, that was sent to labor with D- - "D- for neglect of travel. Heard their report. Accepted "of their labor.
"Voted to send another committee to take another labor with "him.
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"August 16, 1810. Heard report of committee authorized to "visit D- D-, December 21, 1809. Satisfied with their "labor. Agreed to send him a letter of admonition by Otis "Blackinton, a copy of which is as follows, viz .:
"Dear Brother : As you have never traveled with the church "in gospel ordinances since you joined with us, we feel our- "selves bound in duty, after the repeated labor with you accord- "ing to the gospel rule, to admonish you to attend to your duty, "and to the covenant you made with your brethren, and the "vows you made with your God. It is a painful task to lay a "brother, and one who ought to be a father in Israel, under "admonition. But we must lay aside feelings which do not "correspond to the gospel and attend to the gospel rule. There- "fore, dear brother, we by this letter call upon you to come and "see your brethren, and meet with them in the Covenant meet- "ings, and inform them what your feelings towards them are; "and if you feel a desire to walk with them according to the "rule of the gospel, and to attend to gospel ordinances, mani- "fest it to them and inform them what the difficulty is that you "have so long neglected your duty, and take up your cross and "follow with them in the ordinances of the gospel. If this "friendly admonition has no influence, we must put discipline "in force and withdraw our fellowship from you. O brother, "did we let our natural feelings rule we should neglect the "order of the gospel and the rule of discipline; but we feel a "desire to do honor to the cause of our Dear Redeemer.
"Signed in behalf of the church.
"GIDEON MIXER, Church Clerk. "North Adams, August 19, 1810."
After this nothing was done in the case that was put on 1
record for nearly a year. The next mention is under date of July 6, 1811 :
"Took up the case of D- D-, and finding still some "brethren with some drawings towards him, postponed the "matter of excommunication till the Saturday preceding the "second Sunday in August."
August 10, 1811. "Took up the matter of D- D-, and "after some deliberation adjourned to September 7."
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HISTORY OF THE NORTH ADAMS BAPTIST CHURCH.
The church met according to adjournment and adjourned to October 12th. On that day adjourned again to October 13th ; then again to the 24th; then still again to November 4th, on which date is the following entry :
"Took up the matter of D- D -- , and after calling upon "the brethren and hearing their observations, and D- D- "not being present, we voted him a letter of excommunication. "Voted Elder Witherell should write the letter of excom- "munication."
Then, under date of November 9th :
"Chose Elder Witherell to carry the above letter of excom- "munication to D- D -. "
Thus the hand of fellowship was withdrawn from D- D- for the reason that he failed to "travel with the church." But before it was done his case was two years under consideration, at eleven church meetings ; he was waited upon by two special committees, and received from the church a letter of admonition. All this to induce him, if possible, to walk orderly with the church. When it was evident, and not till then, that all efforts were vain, the church withdrew from him.
In church discipline our fathers used the word "labor" in a sense that has now become nearly, if not quite, obsolete. The church, or a committee, in dealing with delinquents, previous to final action, were said to "labor" with them. On January 12, 1814, the church, in church meeting, "called on Sister Hodge "to know what success she had in laboring with Sister Sister Hodge stated that "she had labored with her, but got "no satisfaction." On August 13th the same case came up again in this way :
"Took up the labor about Sister Voted to drop "this business on account of some brethren feeling to do "some labor with her." When the church took up a case of dis-
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cipline it was said "to take up labor" with the brother; and persons under discipline were said "to be under labor." The language, to most modern ears, is peculiar ; but it is thoroughly expressive of the effort made by the church to save the weak or restore the erring. The church did really labor with them.
In a like peculiar manner the word "travel" was technically used. Persons were again and again "put under labor" be- cause they did not "travel." In one place we read, Brother came before the church, confessed, and took up his "travel." In another place, "Brother - came forward and "manifested a desire to travel, so far as he could see his way "clear."
For the first quarter of a century, or more, the term "excom- munication" was used, as it appears above. At a later period this term does not occur, but the more appropriate and correct expression "withdrawn from" or "withdraw the hand of fel- lowship from" are used in its stead.
Letters of admonition were usually sent in all cases of dis- cipline, but not until after a committee had failed to secure satisfaction. A number of these letters are copied into the records. The tone varies with the peculiarities of each case. Some are mild and persuasive; others are short, sharp and decisive. We have already given one such when showing how the church dealt with those holding the doctrines of the Uni- versalists.
Sometimes these letters were for offenses that in modern times would not have been deemed very grave. As, for instance, on March 30, 1820, the church voted to send letters of admoni- tion to a brother and his wife for going away without taking letters of dismission to the church near to which they had removed. Indeed sometimes for such offense the church went even further. In 1824, the church voted to send "Letters of
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Exclusion" to three persons "for a breach of covenant in going away from us and not taking letters."
In the fulness of its charity the church usually assumed that those who neglected its services or absented themselves from its worship might have been wronged by the church. They were, therefore, in the first instance called upon to come before the church and state their "grievance." If this call were in vain, they were laid under admonition. After letters of admonition were sent, the delinquent frequently came in response, and made acknowledgment and confession. If satisfactory the church then passed a vote of satisfaction. If, however, the transgression were public and notorious, the transgressor was sometimes required to make a public confession. In case of one who had openly sinned and who came and confessed to the church, the church, the records say,
"Voted to forbear at present, admonishing him to make pub- "lic confession of his evils."
Every possible opportunity was given to members who sinned to repent and confess, and to return to their allegiance to God and to his church. For this purpose the several steps were often taken very slowly; the church never losing sight of the issue, nor ceasing its efforts! and that even where fellowship had been actually withdrawn, in the hope that the wanderer might return. Thus in one case a person was excluded on March 6, 1824. The matter rested then until February 5, 1825, when the church voted that a Letter of Excommunication be sent. Thus it stood until April 2, when the church appointed a committee to write the Letter of Excommunication. No fur- ther action was taken till August 5, when it appearing that the offender could not be induced to return to the church, the com- mittee read to the church the Letter they had prepared. It was approved and ordered to be delivered. Thus a year and five
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HISTORY OF THE NORTH ADAMS BAPTIST CHURCH.
months passed after the vote of exclusion; during which time the case was brought three times before the church, before the act of separation was deemed to be fully consummated. And after that the church was ever ready to restore every one who should return to an orderly walk with the church.
In administering its discipline the church in the olden time carried its supervision into all the details of the every day life of every member. Persons were called to account for not paying their bills at the grocers ; for not paying notes of hand ; for not keeping business engagements, and for any and every- thing which occasioned variance between brethren, or which, before the public, brought a brother into disrepute, or brought a reproach upon the church. When the parties in interest in any difference were both members of the church, they were per- mitted to state the case, each in his own behalf, and present any proof or evidence they might desire. The church then ex- pressed by vote its opinion as to where the right lay, and en- forced its judgment, if necessary, by admonition and excom- munication. Thus under date of October 22, 1822, we read :
"Brother Cummings brings a complaint against Brother Wm. "Balcomb for not paying him his just debt.
"Received the complaint.
"Brother Balcomb came forward and said he claimed it of "Brother Cummings for giving a wrong judgment against him "as a magistrate.
"Proceeded to hear them.
"Voted that Brother Balcomb's excuse for not paying Bro- "ther Cummings was not sufficient, and that he is bound to pay "the note which Brother Cummings holds against him for about "seven dollars.
"Brother Balcomb refuses to comply and reflects upon the "brethren for giving such a judgment.
"Voted to put Brother Balcomb under admonition for not "complying with the decision of the church, in not paying the "debt and for reflections on the church."
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HISTORY OF THE NORTH ADAMS BAPTIST CHURCH.
The next mention is under date of January 4, 1823.
"Voted to send Brother Wm. Balcomb a letter of admoni- "tion to appear at our next meeting and remove his wrong or "we shall proceed against him."
The difficulty was thereupon adjusted.
In other cases when the matter was complicated the church named certain brethren to serve as referees, or arbitrators, and required the parties to abide by their decision.
At different times when brethren were financially embar- rassed, and there was danger of their failing to meet their obli- gations and thereby of compromising their reputations for up- rightness and integrity, their difficulties were laid volun- tarily before the church, and a committee appointed to advise with them in regard to their temporal affairs. Thus as honest men, desirous of dealing justly and doing right, they bore one another's burdens.
The church, however, avoided occupying itself with trifling issues that might be presented by first voting whether it would entertain a complaint or request. And when, as was sometimes the case, it found itself discussing a groundless issue it meted out justice with a very even hand. On one occasion a brother and a sister of the church got into personal difficulty. The sister charged the brother with lying. A committee was ap- pointed to investigate. They reported the charge not sus- tained. The church thereupon passed the following vote:
"Voted, that Brother be reproved for want of pati- "ence, and Sister for want of prudence."
That which occasioned the church the most trouble, which has brought before it more cases of discipline than anything else, is intemperance.
From the organization of the church, although it was many years before the Washington temperance movement, and was
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HISTORY OF THE NORTH ADAMS BAPTIST CHURCH.
when alcoholic drinks were a common beverage in almost every family, intoxication was deemed an offence meriting the severest discipline. Again and again has the church been called to see the wreck and the loss of those that it loved and honored. It has mourned and admonished and disciplined in vain. From time to time the sad scenes continued to be en- acted, and blasted lives and ruined souls went forth, even from the Church of Christ, to run a brief course of sin and go down to physical and moral death. Will society also ever learn to look upon drunkenness as a crime, and upon him that makes gain out of the producing of it as its very worst offender? God speed the day.
That which next to drunkenness has been most frequently a course of discipline has been the amusement of dancing. The church has ever regarded this as inconsistent and incompatible with the Christian life. In the first four volumes of the records no less than twenty-three cases appear in which dancing was before the church as a matter of discipline; and among the many cases of discipline for "unchristian conduct" others doubtless refer to this. The hand of fellowship has been re- peatedly withdrawn from those who preferred indulgence in a mere amusement to acquiescing in the judgment and mind of the church with regard to it. For fifty years, however, the church never deviated, but regarded ball-going and dancing as so inconsistent with the Christian profession as to call for con- fession and renunciation or exclusion from the fellowship of the church. As an illustration of the views and mode of action of the church in this matter, the following is given from the records of a church meeting held February 11, 1837:
"A charge was brought before the church by Bro. E. Rich- mond against Sister -, for attending a ball at hall on the evening of the 10th February. As Sister has been labored with by the pastor, and others of the church, and has neglected her duty to the church, and on the day of the ball
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HISTORY OF THE NORTH ADAMS BAPTIST CHURCH.
above-mentioned was talked with, and said she should go to the ball,-after a full discussion on the subject, it was moved to withdraw the hand of fellowship from her. After prayer by our pastor, the vote was taken. Voted unanimously to with- draw the hand of fellowship from her."
From this it will be seen that the offence was committed on February 10th ; that the sister had been remonstrated with pre- vious to the offence; that she had been seen and labored with by the pastor and others after the offence, and that the fellow- ship of the church was withdrawn from her the next day, Feb- ruary 11th. This prompt, summary and unanimous action could leave doubt upon no mind as to the attitude of the church upon this point.
Again, on June 10th of the same year, we find in the records the following entry :
"A charge was brought against by Bro. Blackinton for attending a ball on or about the 1st of March last at South Adams. Voted a committee of two to converse with her on the subject and report at our next meeting. Com .: Bros. Black- inton and Mixer."
Under date of June 24th is the following in reference to the same case :
"The committee to labor with Sister reported that they could not get that satisfaction which was desirable and that they had requested her to attend this present meeting."
Sister not being present, the case was taken into con- sideration. After an expression by a number of the members of the church, in a christianlike manner, considering her neglect of attending when once or twice requested, voted to withdraw the hand of fellowship from her. In August following, this person, after confession of wrong, was restored to membership. In 1855 a person was withdrawn from, in the words of the records, for "unchristianlike conduct, such as card playing."
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HISTORY OF THE NORTH ADAMS BAPTIST CHURCH.
Thus the church endeavored to keep itself unspotted from the world.
The church has ever been exceedingly careful lest it should needlessly wound the feelings of a brother. On two occasions at least the church proffered aggrieved brethren the privilege of laying their grievances before a council. At different times acts of the church were reconsidered or rescinded because it was afterwards learned that some brother or sister was aggrieved by the action. Even a vote to dissolve a meeting was recalled at a meeting held two months afterwards, because the vote to dissolve was "to the grief" of a certain brother.
The unity and harmony of the church has been carefully guarded. On December 12, 1835, a sister asked membership upon a letter of dismission from another church. The record says :
"As there was a difficulty existing between her and a member of this church her request was rejected until the dif- ficulty was settled."
The difficulty was soon settled, the sister was received and remains a member to this day.
In cases of open, notorious crime or immorality the action of the church has usually been prompt and decisive. In such cases where the fact was established as open and notorious no committee was appointed, but the hand of fellowship at once withdrawn. That this was done in love, is evinced by the fact that in two cases committees to endeavor to restore the erring were appointed immediately after fellowship was with- drawn.
In 1811, it was voted to make it a rule to publish, "on some public day of worship, all excommunicated members, and state the reasons of their excommunication." The records give us no clue as to how long this rule was observed. It is certain
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HISTORY OF THE NORTH ADAMS BAPTIST CHURCH.
that it has never been rescinded. But the oldest member cannot recall the time when it was obeyed.
On November 11, 1837, it was:
"Resolved, That no member of this church receive a letter of dismission until all subscriptions and dues from such individual be paid to the church."
September 24, 1857 :
"Voted that when members of this church move beyond its proper bounds, and nothing is heard from them for one year, their names be erased from the list of members.
"Voted, also, that this rule be read at each communion season of the church."
The church had no standing rules or regulations for the ad- ministration of discipline until the year 1833. Previous to that it had applied the precepts of the gospel as interpreted by the church to each particular case as it occurred. In April, 1833, Otis Blackinton and Loring Darby were a committee "to draft some articles of discipline." The committee reported methods of procedure in cases of discipline, which were adopted by the church.
On September 11, 1847, the church adopted "Rules and Regu- lations for the Government and Discipline of the Church." These were printed in a small pamphlet and were in force until revised and reprinted, in 1872, in the present Manual of the church.
These rules provide for a Standing Committee, which, with other duties, was made a permanent committee on discipline. Since 1847, therefore, all matters pertaining to discipline have either originated with or been referred to this committee for investigation. To the efficient services of this committee is to be ascribed much of the peace and harmony and consequent. continuous prosperity of the church.
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HISTORY OF THE NORTH ADAMS BAPTIST CHURCH.
Revivals
The times of refreshing that God has given to this church have been frequent and marked. The brethren believed in and prayed and worked for special outpourings of God's spirit for the reviving of his people and the conversion of sinners. The early records are brief and imperfect. Yet it is evident that seasons of ingatherings were not infrequent. Beside those that came in smaller numbers, within a year after the organization of the church nine were baptized at one time, greatly strength- ening the little band. The year 1819 was a year of marked fruitfulness.
In this revival several were added that were afterwards prominent in the church ; among them Nathan Putnam, Samuel Browning, Jr., Loring Darby and Edward Richmond, each of whom afterward served several years, in the order in which their names are given, as church clerk. Edward Richmond was elected to the office of deacon in 1844, and served the church faithfully in this capacity also until his death. Benja- min F. Remington, also received at this time, was afterwards licensed to preach, and then ordained pastor at Savoy, and was for many years a faithful and efficient minister of the gospel. During the pastorate of Mr. Keyes, from his ordination in November, 1828, to the spring of 1834, there was no marked revival, but a continuous and healthful growth. Up to this time the strictest simplicity of the primitive Baptists had been maintained in the church. About the time of this revival in- strumental music was introduced in the Lord's Day service. Some most worthy brethren never became fully reconciled to it. They could never sound the praises of God by machinery. One excellent brother declared to the church that "music being introduced he could not travel with the church ;" but he did.
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And as ancient Israel praised God with the harp, the timbrel and the loud sounding cymbal, so this church learned that it could retain the instruments and praise God withal.
In the winter of 1834, during the pastorate of Mr. Palmer, there was a precious revival. This was characterized especially by the quickening of the backsliders and the restoration to the church of a member who had been excluded. , In all about fifty united with the church.
The first Monday of January, 1837, was set apart by a vote of the church as a day of fasting and prayer. It was a time of spiritual dearth. But God heard the cry of His people. Within two weeks six rejoicing converts were baptized. Then others followed. Before the association met, in the following September, twenty-eight persons had united with the church. The fasting and the prayer were succeeded by gladness and joy. The religious interest continued into the next year ; and on September 8, 1838, there was another special ingathering.
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