USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Williamstown > Manual of the First Congregational Church, Williamstown, Mass. ; revised Jan. 1, 1879 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
ARTICLE XI.
We believe that there will be a resurrection of the body, and that all mankind must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, to receive a just and final retribution, according to the deeds done in the body ; and that the wicked will be sent away into everlasting punishment, and the righteous received into life eternal.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corrup- tion : it is raised in incorruption. It is sown a natural body : it is raised a spiritual body. 1 Cor. xv. 42, 44. He hath appointed
15
a day in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained. Acts xvii. 31. So shall it be in the end of the world. The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity : and shall cast them into a furnace of fire : there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun. in the kingdom of their Father. Math. xiii. 40 to 43. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you ; and to you who are troubled. rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire. taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ : who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power : when he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and to be admired in all them that believe in that day. 2 Thess. i. 6 to 10. Then shall the King say unto then on his right hand. Come, ve blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Then shall the king say unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed. into everlasting fire. prepared for the Devil and his angels : and these shall go away into everlasting punishment : but the righteous into life eternal. Math. xxv. 34, 41, 46.
We, as a Church, do hereby reaffirm the foregoing Arti- cles as sufficiently indicating our doctrinal position. We expect all officers, teachers, and members of this Church, to be sound in the Faith as here indicated.
We regard the essential qualifications for membership in any Christian Church, however, to be, Repentance toward God and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. While we are not allowed to receive any who lack these essential qualiti- cations, we desire to exclude none who possess them, and who, knowing our Doctrinal position and our Polity, are willing to co-operate with us in advancing the Redeemer's kingdom.
We have therefore adopted the following form for the ad- mission of members :
16
FORM OF ADMISSION.
[The names of the candidates having been read, they shall take their places in front of the pulpit, and the minister shall address them, saying :]
You are here before God and these witnesses, to confess the Lord Jesus Christ, and to dedicate yourselves to Him in the everlasting covenant of His grace. Feeling the solen - nity and blessedness of this privilege, you now unite with us in this
CONFESSION.
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 bu- ried ; 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 Ile shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost ; the Holy Cath- olic Church ; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins ; the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
COVENANT.
Accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior, you do now enter into solemn covenant with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, promising that, henceforth, it shall be your chief aim and endeavor, through searching the Scriptures and by prayer, to know and to do Ilis will.
(The candidates shall assent by bowing.)
BAPTISM.
You who in childhood were admitted by baptism to a place in the covenant of God, do now, of your own accord, as- sume its full obligations and privileges ; and,
(The foregoing shall be omitted if none have been baptized.)
17
To you who have had no part, by baptism, among the people of God, we do now apply the seal of the covenant.
(The foregoing shall be omitted if all have been baptized.) "
(Here the minister shall baptize those who have never been baptized, saying to each, and using only the Christian names :)
-, I baptize thee into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
COVENANT WITH THE CHURCH.
(Here those who unite by letter, and who shall be seated in front, shall rise, and for them (in case none join in confession; the form of admission shall be in the following words :)
In uniting with this Church you promise to devote your- selves [yourself ] especially to its interests; to aid in its support, to attend upon its services, to submit to its rules and discipline, to study the Scriptures diligently that you may comprehend its doctrines, and to co-operate with it in endeavoring to advance the cause of Christ here and throughout the whole world. This you heartily promise ?
We then, as members of this Church,
(Here the members of the Church shall rise.)
do affectionately welcome you in the name of Christ, to His discipleship ; to a part with us in the blessings and promises of His covenant; to a share in the duties, privileges and glories of His Church ; and to the fellowship of that great multitude, which no man can number, who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
And we promise, through the help of Christ, to co-ope- rate with you in all holy endeavor. For this cause,
(Here all bow in prayer.)
we make supplication unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that he would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints, what is the length, and breadth, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His
18
face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you ; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
BENEVOLENCE.
In fulfillment of the foregoing covenant it is expected that each member of the Church will give of his substance as the Lord prospers him, for the maintenance of the Church and Sabbath School, for the aid of the poor, and for the ex- tension of the kingdom of our blessed Redeemer, both at home and abroad.
It is strongly recommended that each adopt some system of giving. So important a matter should not be left to oc- casional feeling.
The Church, as such, has adopted " The Worship of God by Offerings." The boxes are passed during the Sabbath morning service, to receive the gifts of those who wish thus to express their gratitude and love to God. It is left op- tional with each contributor to designate where his gift shall go. All undesignated gifts are distributed by vote of the Church, such vote being announced from the pulpit.
For the teaching of the Scripture respecting Benevolence, see Matt. 25: 14-30, Luke 16: 1-9, 1 Tim. 6, 9, 10, 17-19. 1 Cor. 16: 2, Prov. 11 : 24, 25, and kindred passages.
RULES AS REVISED.
I .- RESPECTING MEMBERSHIP.
1. Persons wishing to unite with this Church by confes- sion of faith, shall be examined by the Prudential Committee, and, it approved by them, shall be publicly recommended to the Church at a Sabbath service at least one week before Communion. If accepted by vote of the Church, they shall be received according to the foregoing Form of Admission. at the Sabbath service immediately preceding Communion.
2. Letters of recommendation from other churches shall be read at a Sabbath service at least one week before com- munion, and persons so recommended and accepted by vote of the Church shall be received at the Sabbath service immediately preceding Communion, by entering into cov- enant with the Church according to the foregoing Form.
3. The covenant made with God is irrevocable ; that made with the Church at the consummation of membership may be dissolved in one of four ways only, viz :
(1) By dismission and recommendation to some other Church.
(2) By death.
(3) By excommunication.
(4) By release.
The Covenant of Membership is consummated in view of two supposed conditions, viz :
Agreement of the candidate with the church. 1st: In its vital union with Christ the Head. 2d: In the spirit of mu- tual co-operation.
Should any member discover in himself the absence of ei- ther or both of these conditions, and be for this cause con- scientiously impelled to request a release from covenant ob-
20
ligations, it shall be competent to the Church to grant such request.
Persons whose covenant relations are so dissolved shall be termed simply "released." They may at any time be admitted to the Church again, as provided in Rule No. 1. This method of dissolving covenant shall in no case be re- sorted to as an escape from discipline.
For any member to withdraw from the discharge of cov- enant obligations for more than one year without asking and receiving regular dismissal or release, or giving suffi- cient reason for such withdrawal, shall be deemed a breach of covenant, and must be immediately acted upon by the Church.
Those who remove from town are expected to apply for letters of dismissal within one year from the time of re- moval. If for any reason such a letter is not applied for within one year, the cause must be communicated to the clerk, and by him to the Church. Three years absence, ei- ther in case of a resident or non-resident member, without asking for a letter of dismissal, or requesting release, or rendering to the Church suthicient reason, shall render the member liable to suspension : five years to excommunica- tion.
4. No member can be deprived of church privileges for any other reason except by regular process of discipline.
5. No letters in blank, or " to whatever Church God in His Providence may assign your lot," and the like, shall be given.
6. In case of those regularly dismissed from the Church by letter, membership shall cease when the letter given has been accepted by the Church to which it was addressed and notice of the same has been received by the clerk of this Church. Letters shall be granted by vote of the Church.
7. One of the privileges of membership shall be the right to vote upon all questions which come before the Church.
--
21
II .- RULES OF DISCIPLINE.
1. The purpose of discipline shall be, first,-the resto- ration, if possible, of the person offending ; second,-the purification of the Church and so the honor of Christ its head.
2. Any violation of covenant vows and whatever is in- consistent with Christian character, may be made a subject of discipline.
3. In all cases of personal grievance the course pursued shall be that enjoined by Christ in Matt. xviii : 15-17.
4. In all other cases of unchristian conduct it shall be the duty of the brother or sister first discovering the wrong to obey, if possible, the exhortation found in Gal. vi : 1-2. If no good result is thus accomplished let a second brother or sister be associated with the first as directed in Matt. xviii : 16. All cases not yielding to this faithful personal endeavor shall be made known to the Prudential Committee.
5. The Committee shall, at their discretion, delegate one or more of their members to investigate the case, see the of- fender, urge him to make such voluntary redress or confes- sion as may be deemed wise, and report to them at the ear- liest opportunity.
6. No unchristian conduct of a member shall be made known to another unless in the jugdment of the one having knowledge of it, the good of the offender, the purity of the Church, and the honor of Christ demand it.
Any member who shall otherwise publish the fault of another shall be deemed worthy of censure for circulating seandal. See 1st Peter, iii : 8, iv : 8, and Leviticus xix : 16.
7. Cases of discipline shall be brought before the church at the discretion of the Prudential Committee, and shall be conducted as follows :
The Committee, after receiving the report of those dele- gated to make private investigation, shall present the case to the Church in writing, stating, as far as possible, the time, place and character of the offence, the witnesses who may be ealled, and whether the previous steps have been
2*
22
faithfully taken. If the Church thinks best to proceed with a formal trial it shall cite both the offender and the witness- es to appear before it at a stated meeting, furnishing each with a copy of the charges and the names of witnesses for the Church. No more shall be done at the first meeting ex- cept by consent of the accused, and the time intervening be- tween the serving of the citation and the next meeting shall be at least one week. If the accused fail to appear in res- ponse to the first citation he shall be cited a second time, the third meeting being removed from the second by at least one week. If he then fail to appear he may be suspended for contumacy, and the case may or may not proceed, at the discretion of the Church. If the case proceed, the ac- cused whether present or absent, shall be allowed the fair- est hearing and any counsel that he may desire. It shall, however, be at the discretion of the Church whether to ad- mit counsel, not a member or members of the Church. If the accused is, by vote of the Church, found guilty, censure shall be inflicted in the form of private reproof, public ad- monition, suspension, or excommunication, as may be deem- ed necessary.
Final action without trial may be taken only with consent of the accused.
8. The longest period of suspension shall be one year. If the offender is not previously restored, definite action shall be taken at the close of that period, either to restore, pro- long suspension, or excommunicate.
9. The fact of excommunication shall be announced from the pulpit.
10. No course of discipline shall be considered ended un- til the accused shall have been either acquitted, restored, or excommunicated.
11. These rules may be altered or amended by a two- thirds vote of the members present at any regularly called church meeting, such alteration or amendment having been presented to the church in writing at a previous meeting regularly called. A meeting shall be considered regularly called when at least five days intervene between the public notice from the pulpit and the day when it is to be held.
CONSTITUTION
OF THE
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
ARTICLE I. NAME.
SEC. 1. The name of this School shall be-THE SUNDAY SCHOOL OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of Wil- liamstown, Mass.
SEC. 2. As such, it shall be considered as being under the especial care of the Church, to which reports shall be made as hereinafter specified.
ARTICLE II. OFFICERS.
SEC. 1. The Officers of the School shall be the Pastor of the Church, a Superintendent, an Assistant Superinten- dent, a Librarian, an Assistant Librarian, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Leader of the Singing.
SEC. 2. The Officers shall be nominated at the first Teachers' meeting in December of each year. They shall be elected at the Teachers' meeting next following, the adult members of the School having previously been invited to participate.
ARTICLE III. DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
SEC. 1. It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to have general oversight of the School; to conduct its open- ing and closing exercises ; to see that the work of the other Officers and of the Teachers is faithfully performed; to transfer scholars ; to form new classes and appoint teach- ers (see however Art. V, See. 2) ; to welcome new scholars and assign them places, and to perform such other duties appropriate to his office as consultation at the Teachers'
24
meeting may suggest. He shall make an Annual Report of the School at the Annual Sunday School meeting, and again to the Church at its Annual Meeting, including in this last report the Officers chosen for the year then current.
SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of the Assistant Superinten- dent to supply the place of Teachers who may be tempora- rily absent (see however Article IV, Sec. 2) ; to distribute lesson and other papers: to collect and pay over to the Treasurer all monies belonging to the School, reporting the same to the Secretary, and to assist the Superintendent in such other ways as may become necessary. In the ab- sence of the Superintendent he shall see that the place is filled.
SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of the Librarian to have the care of the Library, and see that no unauthorized person has access to it. He shall distribute and gather up books, and report the condition of the Library at the Teachers' meet- ing, annually or oftener, if called upon by the Superinten- dent.
SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of the Assistant Librarian to distribute and collect the singing books and class boxes, and aid the Librarian in such other ways as may be found necessary.
SEC. 5. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep an accurate record of the School as respects officers chosen, attendance of officers, teachers and pupils, amount of monthly collections, and other monies reported by the As- sistant Superintendent, and to report to the School each week the record of the preceding session, and to furnish to the Superintendent at the close of the year an Annual Re- port of the School. He shall also be the Secretary of the Teachers' meeting, of which, in a separate book, he shall keep an accurate record.
SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive and disburse all monies belonging to the School; to keep an accurate record of the same, and to report in full at the close of the school year.
SEC. 7. It shall be the duty of the Leader of the Singing to conduct the singing at the opening and closing exercises
25
of the School, and on all other occasions not otherwise pro- vided for at the Teachers' meeting.
ARTICLE IV. TEACHERS.
SEC. 1. Teachers shall be appointed by the Superinten- dent, with the approval of the Teachers' meeting.
SEC. 2. Beside duties to the class, it shall be the duty of each Teacher to sign, abide by, and maintain the Constitu- tion ; to keep a class record ; to attend the Teachers' meet- ings; to inform the Assistant Superintendent of intended absence, and provide, if possible, a substitute ; and to re- port annually to the Superintendent the progress of the class.
ARTICLE V. MEETINGS.
SEC. 1. An Annual Meeting of the School shall be held on the last Sabbath of December next preceding the Annual Church and Parish meeting, at which time the reports of the Superintendent, Secretary, Treasurer and Teachers, shall be read, the Officers and Teachers for the ensuing year shall be announced, and shall assent to the Constitution, which shall then be read, and there shall be some exercise inter- esting to the whole School, to be decided upon at the Teachers' meeting.
SEC. 2. Weekly Teachers' meetings shall be held for the study of the Lesson and the transaction of business. To these meetings all who desire to attend shall be welcome. but the transaction of business shall be limited to the Teachers, Officers, and such other persons as may be by them specially invited to co-operate. Of these, one-third of the whole number of Teachers and Officers shall form a quorum, and shall be competent to transact the following business : viz.,
1st. To nominate and elect Officers, and procure sup- plies, (such as Library and other books, lesson and other papers, etc.)
2d. To advise with the Superintendent with reference to 3
26
the transfer of scholars, the formation of new classes, and appointment of Teachers.
3d. To review and pronounce upon the work of any Officer or Teacher.
4th. To determine with reference to all festivals, pic- nics, excursions, celebrations and the like, singing schools or singing classes for the School, concerts and such other matters of importance as are not provided for in the Consti- tution or By-Laws.
5th. To make and enforce By-Laws.
ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS.
This Constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the whole number of Officers and Teachers: but no amendment shall be accepted until one week after it is pro- posed in writing, nor at any other than a regular Teachers' meeting.
OFFICERS FOR 1879.
Pastor of the Church,
Rev A. C. SEWALL.
Superintendent,
CHAS. S. COLE.
Assistant Superintendent,
EDGAR A. MAYNARD.
Librarian, BUSHNELL DANFORTII.
Assistant Libra ian,
JOHN ADRIANCE.
Secretary,
BLISS PERRY.
Treasurer, ABBY M. MATHER.
Leader of Singing,
M. B. WALLEY.
DIRECTORY.
The Lord's Supper is administered on the first Sabbath of January, March, May, July, September and November.
A Preparatory Service is held in the Lecture Room of the Church on the Friday afternoon next preceding cach Com- munion.
Persons wishing to unite with the Church, either by letter or profession of faith, should make application to the Pas- tor, or in his absence, the Clerk of the Church, at least two weeks before Communion.
Parents are requested to present their children for Bap- tism in the Church on the morning of Communion Sabbath, or at the Preparatory Lecture. If necessity require, chil- dren may be baptized at home.
There are at present in the Church, two Ladies' Mission- ary Societies, with one or the other of which all the ladies of the Church are cordially invited to unite.
There is also a Boys' Missionary Society, and a Mission- ary Class for the children.
The first Sabbath evening of each month is devoted to the Missionary cause.
The last Sabbath evening in cach quarter is devoted to the Sabbath School.
The Sabbath School is held immediately after the Sab- bath morning service, and is designed not only for the children and youth, but for the entire Church and congre- gation. All are cordially invited to attend it.
28
A Church Prayer Meeting is held in the Lecture Room each Tuesday evening. (See Heb. 10: 24, 25.)
The Social interests of the Church and Congregation are in charge of the Ladies' Benevolent Society.
The Annual Meeting of the Church, in connection with the Annual Parish Meeting, is held in the Lecture Room of the Church early in January. All the members of the Church are expected to be present, if possible, both morn- ing and afternoon.
A New Year's Morning Prayer Meeting is held at sunrise on the morning of each New Year.
The Annual Meeting of the Sabbath School is held on the last Sabbath of December, next preceding the Annual Church and Parish Meeting. (See Constitution of the Sab- bath School.)
RATES
CATALOGUE
OF THE MEMBERS OF THE FIRST CHURCH,
FROM 1779 TO 1879.
ABBREVIATIONS EXPLAINED.
CZ" Astar (*) denotes that the person against whose name it stands is dead; the letter 1, that the person came from a sister church, with letter of recom- mendation ; d, that the person has been dismissed ; w, withdrawn to a church of another denomination ; r, removed to distant parts ; s, suspended ; and x, excommunicated. The family names of married women are printed in Italics and, when not ascertained, a blank is left.
[NOTE .- As all whose names appear in the following catalogue of members, from 1779 to 1812, are dead, the star (*) is omitted. ]
Members of the Church at the time of Rev. Mr. Swift's settlement in 1779.
Elisha Baker
Phebe Nichols Baker
Lucy Rugg Meacham
Martha Young Blair, w.
Jonathan Meacham, r.
Daniel Burbank
Thankful Rugg Meacham, r. David Noble
Mary Marks Burbank
Samuel Burchard
Elizabeth Hamilton Burchard
Sarah Byam, d.
Hannah Davis
Elizabeth Downs Downing
Thomas Dunton. d.
Mary Davis Dunton, d.
Nathan Foot, d.
Marianne Foot, d.
Israel Harris, d.
Sarah Moss Harris, d.
Hannah Torrey Hatfield
Rachel Baldwin Hawkins Sampson Howe, d.
Hannah Foot Howe, d.
Henry Johnson, d.
Mary Dormer Stratton
Ruth Tyrrel Torrey, d.
Hannah Wheeler Torrey, w.
Samuel Kellogg
Chloe Bacon Kellogg
Dea. James Meacham
Abigail Bennet Noble
Isaac Ovits, d.
Esther Wilson Ovits, d.
Moses Rich
Mary Roberts, d.
Thomas Roe
Mary Wells Roe
Anna Dwight Sabin
Nathaniel Sanford
Catharine Davis Smith
David Southwick
Thankful Daris Southwick
Deborah Spencer, d.
Isaac Stratton, r.
Mary Fox Stratton, r.
Abiah Johnson, d. Perris Johnson, d.
Marvin Gaylord Welch, d. William Wells
30
Rebecca Stoddard Wells Elizabeth Leiris Williams
Mary Wilson. d. Deac. Nathan Wheeler. d.
Sarah Wheeler. d. Nathan Wheeler, jun. d. Hannah Brister Woodcock, r. Josiah Wright Abigail Wright Gideon Wright, r.
Sarah Wright, r. -61
Members added in 1779.
Elizabeth Eggleston. 1, d.
Daniel Hosford, 1. d.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.