USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Minutes of the annual meeting Congregational Churches of Massachusetts 1906 > Part 3
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MINISTERIAL STANDING.
Voted, That whenever a name is reported to the secretary by two ecclesiastical bodies that guard ministerial standing, he be instructed to call the attention of the bodies so reporting the name to this matter; and to recommend that such associations or conferences take action to rectify such irregularities and confusion in ministerial standing.
RESOLUTIONS OF SYMPATHY WITH CALIFORNIA BRETHREN.
The Business Committee presented the following resolutions which were adopted :
Whereas, The Massachusetts Association of Congregational Churches has learned with profound sorrow of the terrible calamity that has befallen the people of California ;
Resolved, That we extend to our brethren in California our heartfelt sympathy in their distress, and assure them of our practical cooperation in their efforts to reestablish their desolated churches.
Resolved, That we recognize with gratitude and admiration the faith and courage with which the afflicted churches have met this disaster and are girding themselves for the heavy tasks of the future; and we are grateful, also, for the expressions of sympathy which this disaster has called forth.
Resolved, That we 'heartily commend the action of the Boston Congre- gational Club and the Boston Ministers' Meeting looking to the raising of a special fund for the relief of the stricken chuches of California, and we appeal to our Congregational churches of Massachusetts, always foremost in all good works, to contribute promptly and generously to this relief fund, that Congregationalists of Massachusetts may not be behind other Christian bodies in coming to the help of their burdened and needy brethren in California.
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COMMITTEES.
On motion of the Nominating Committee the following committees were elected :
On Federation of Churches and Co-operation with Other Denominations in this State. - Rev. L. Clark Seelve, Northampton; Rev. W. V. W. Davis, Pittsfield; Rev. Reuen Thomas, Brookline; Rev. Wm. T. McElveen, Boston; Rev. F. E. Emrich, Boston; Rev. C. H. Oliphant, Methuen; J. P. Bates, Brookline; F. G. Cook, Cambridge; G. E. Copeland, Worcester; H. S. Conant, Boston; S. A. Holton, Falmouth; C. A. Brodeur, Westfield.
On Erangelistic Work. - Rev. F. S. Hunnewell, Reading; Rev. Edwin N. Hardy, Quincy; Rev. E. Victor Bigelow, Lowell; Rev. Richard Wright, Newburyport; F. L. Willis, Worcester.
Auditors. - Franklin P. Shumway, Melrose; F. W. B. Pratt, Reading. Congregational Board of Pastoral Supply .- (To serve three years) Rev. W. H. Allbright, Dorchester; Rev. Frank W. Merrick, West Roxbury; Edward B. Bayley, Boston; Henry H. Proctor, Boston.
Committee on Polity. -- Rev. Albert E. Dunning, Boston; Rev. Calvin M. Clark, Haverhill; Rev. Charles F. Carter, Lexington; Rev. Wm. R. Campbell, Roxbury; Prof. John W. Platner, Andover; Rev. Philip S. Moxom, Springfield; Rev. A. W. Hitchcock, Worcester; Arthur S. John- son, Boston; Herbert A. Wilder, Newton.
On Gambling. - William Shaw, Ballardvale; Arthur Wellman, Malden; Rev. George F. Kenngott, Lowell.
Member of Advisory Committee of General Theological Library. - Rev. F. F. Emrich, Boston.
On Missionary Work. - Rev. C. H. Daniels. South Framingham; Rev. W. W. Jordan, Clinton; Rev. H. N. Hoyt, Hyde Park; Rev. John J. Walker, Westboro; Walcott Johnson, Boston.
Provisional Committee. - Rev. William C. Gordon, Westfield; Rev. Francis J. Marsh, Leominster; Rev. Newton M. Hall, Springfield; James C. Greenough, Westfield; Rev. George W. Winch, Holyoke.
BUSINESS.
Voted, That the Dayton resolution be taken from the table and referred to a special committee of three, who shall report after the addresses in the evening.
On motion of Rev. S. A. Norton, of Woburn, it was
Voted, That the Association send a message to the Pacific Coast Congre- gational Congress, now in session.
On motion, Rev. Mr. Norton and the moderator were ap- pointed to prepare this message.
On motion of the Business Committee it was
Voted, To accept the invitation of the Second Church. Westfield, to hold the next annual session of the Association with theni.
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The following named persons were elected special committee on the Dayton resolution: Rev. D. S. Clark, Salem; Rev. J. L. Sewall, Randolph; Rev. J. G. Taylor, Arlington Heights.
On motion of the Business Committee, Rev. C. M. Southgate, of Newtonville, was given three minutes to speak in behalf of the Massachusetts Bible Society.
The Association then took a recess until 7.30 P.M.
EVENING SESSION.
The evening session of Wednesday was opened at 7.30 o'clock by a devotional service in which the scripture was read by Rev. J. T. Stocking, of Newtonville, and prayer was offered by Rev. C. W. Merriam, of Greenfield.
The hymn, " I love thy kingdom, Lord," was sung.
An address was given by President Mary E. Woolley, of Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, on the subject, " Rela- tion of the College to the Training of the Public Conscience."
The hymn, " Jesus shall reign where'er the sun," was sung.
An address on " Permanent Evangelism " was delivered by Rev. G. A. Gordon, of Boston.
The hymn, " All hail the power of Jesus' name," was sung, after which the Association went into business session, the moderator in the chair.
DAYTON RESOLUTION.
The report of the special committee on the Dayton resolu- tion was called and presented by Rev. J. L. Sewall, of Randolph.
The following is the report, which, without debate, was carried unanimously :
Resolved, That we express our hearty sympathy with, and approval of, the movement represented by the Dayton Council toward the organic union of the Congregational, United Brethren, and Methodist Protestant denomi- nations. We further express the hope that a wise and harmonious result of these deliberations may be reached under the guidance of the Spirit of God, whose presence in remarkable measure pervaded that body.
BUSINESS.
On motion of the Business Committee, it was
Voted, That the General Association of the Congregational Churches of Massachusetts authorizes its Industria! Committee at its discretion, to represent the Association before committees of the General Court in regard to bills relating to industrial questions where moral issues are involved.
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ACTION ON PROPOSED AMENDMENT.
The Business Committee presented for action the proposed amendment (1905) to the Constitution, relative to the election of the Nominating Committee by the conferences.
It was voted to lay the amendment on the table.
The benediction was pronounced by Rev. G. A. Gordon, of Boston, and at 9.23 o'clock the Association took a recess until 8.45 o'clock Thursday morning.
THURSDAY.
MORNING SESSION.
The closing session on Thursday morning was opened at S.45 o'clock, by a devotional service led by Rev. J. E. Enman, of Fall River.
At 9 o'clock the Association was called to order by the moderator.
The following telegram from the New York Association was read :
The Empire State Congregationalists rejoice in the reception of the fraternal message from their brethren of the Pilgrim home and affection- ately return greetings with best wishes for the coming year.
SHELTON BISSELL, Scribe.
The minutes of the proceedings of the previous day were read and accepted.
On motion of the Business Committee it was
Voted, To give H. S. Conant, general secretary of the Massachusetts Sunday School Association, five minutes to speak of the Summer School at Northfield.
APPORTIONMENT OF EXPENSES. On motion of the Budget Committee it was
Voted, That the churches be requested to contribute through the treas- urers of their conferences for the expenses of the General Association a sum equivalent to five cents for each member, based upon the total men- bership of January 1, 1906, and that the treasurers of the conferences be requested to bring this matter before their conferences at their fall meetings, and to forward the amounts collected as soon as possible to the treasurer.
Voted, That a proportionate part of the expenses of the Massachusetts Federation of Churches legitimately falling to the churches of our denomi- nation in this state be included in the Budget of this Association, viz .: $445.00 covering the time from Jan. 1, 1906, to May 1, 1907.
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Rev. C. B. Rice, of Danvers, secretary of the Board of Pastoral Supply, read the annual report for that body. This was accepted and its recommendation referred to the Business Committee.
BUSINESS.
The annual election of officers was ordered and the following tellers appointed: Rev. P. H. Epler, of Worcester; Rev. J. E. Enman, of Fall River, and Rev. Richard Wright, of Newbury- port.
On motion of the Nominating Committee, Rev. J. G. Taylor, Arlington Heights, was substituted on the Committee on Polity for Rev. A. W. Hitchcock, resigned.
On motion of the Business Committee, it was ordered that a committee of three be appointed to prepare and submit at the next annual meeting suitable forms or models of organic union between neighboring churches.
On motion of the Nominating Committee, the following persons were elected as the above named committee: Rev. A. W. Hitchcock, of Worcester; Rev. T. E. Babb, of Holden; Hon. Frederick Fosdick, of Fitchburg.
On motion the following minute was passed :
The Massachusetts General Association of Congregational Churches, in annual session at Worcester, sends sympathy and loving greetings to Rev. Lyman Whiting, D.D., of East Charlemont, our oldest pastor in service, whose presence and counsels we miss from our gathering.
Voted, That the Publishing Committee be authorized to print such papers as in their judgment are desirable.
VOTE OF THANKS.
On motion of the Business Committee, the following resolu- tions of thanks, presented by Rev. W. J. Batt, of Concord, was adopted :
Whereas, The Massachusetts General Association of Congregational Churches is now concluding its one hundred and fourth annual meeting, held in the Central Church in the city of Worcester, a meeting which we are confident will be memorable in this long series of meetings:
Resolved, That our sincere thanks are due and are hereby expressed to the Central Church and to its honored pastor, Rev. A. W. Hitchcock, and to the families of the congregation and to the people of this greatly favored city.
We would gladly include in this expression of our gratitude the efficient committees which have aided in the laborious preparations for our coming, -the choir, the railroads that have offered us reduced fares, the hotels that have sheltered and favored us, the newspapers that have circulated
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so widely full and friendly reports of our proceedings, the Young Men's Christian Association that offered us the freedom of their rooms, and the officers of the Art Museum who also offered all possible privileges.
RESULT OF BALLOTS.
The tellers reported the result of ballots for officers and Executive Committee, and the following persons were declared elected .:.
Moderator. - Charles N. Prouty, of Spencer.
Vice-Moderator. - Rev. Samuel C. Bushnell, of Arlington.
Registrar. - Rev. Francis J. Marsh, of Leominster.
Assistant Registrar. - Rev. Almon J. Dyer, of Sharon.
Other Members of the Executive Committee. -- Rev. Charles L. Noyes, of Somerville; Rev. Winfred C. Rhoades, of Roxbury; Herbert R. Gibbs, of Newtonville.
By vote of the Association, Rev. E. T. Root, secretary of the Massachusetts Federation of Churches, spoke briefly concerning his work.
Rev. C. F. Swift, of Fall River, then delivered the closing address of the meeting on " The Method and the Man."
On motion of the Business Committee, it was
Voted, To change the name of the Committee on Federation of Churches to Committee on Federation of Churches and on Cooperation with other Denominations in this State.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS.
The Committee on Credentials reported as follows:
Whole number of churches represented 255
By delegate only 4S
By pastor only 101
By pastor and delegate 106
Conferences represented .
12
Associations represented 8
Officers 5
280
This report was accepted. On motion of H. S. Conant, it was
Resolved, That, in view of the very great courtesy and efficiency of our moderator during the sessions of this meeting of the Association, we place on record our great appreciation of his ability and service; and that the other officers be included also in this expression of our appreciation.
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A brief response to this motion was made by the moderator. The minutes of the session thus far were read and accepted and the registrar was authorized to complete the minutes.
Prayer was offered by the moderator, the hymn, " Blest be. the tie that binds," was sung, and the Association adjourned without day.
EDWARD M. NOYES, Moderator.
FRANCIS J. MARSH, Registrar.
ALMON J. DYER, Assistant Registrar.
The following telegram was received after the close of the meeting:
DUBUQUE, IOWA, May 17, 1906. To Congregational State Association, Worcester, Mass .:
Congregational State Association of Iowa joins in prayer and efforts for the Kingdom. 1 Cor. 15: 58. J. H. OLMSTEAD, Scribe.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF AUDITORS.
The auditors would also call the attention of the Association to the fact that, although the Executive Committee voted, "To request that all the committees of the Association return reports of all money received and expended by them, and voted that full reports of such money appear in the Treasurer's Report," the treasurer reports to the auditors that he has not received such reports from any of the committees of the Association, and, therefore, could not embody them in his report.
The auditors recommend that the treasurer be requested to furnish the Association each year, with his Annual Report, a statement showing the amount charged to each conference at the beginning of the year, the amounts paid on same during the year, the balances due at end of year, with any information he may have as to why the amount charged has not been paid in full; and that he also furnish the Association a statement showing the total assets and liabilities of the Association on May 1 of each year.
We recommend that the churches be requested to contribute through the treasurers of their conferences for the expenses of the General Associa- tion, a sum equivalent to five cents for each member, based upon the total membership of January 1, 1906, and that the treasurers of the conferences be requested to bring this matter before their conferences at their October meeting, and to forward the amounts collected as soon as possible to the treasurer.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.
From the numbering of our Israel for the year of grace 1905 we glean the following results for this report: The number of churches is 612; they have a total membership of 117,471. There are 100,371 families. The membership of the Sunday schools is 123,326, and of the various societies of young people 30,121. The sum of the reported benevolence is $603,909.
There are changes in our family to note: One church, the Union, of North Brookfield, has been dissolved; two, the First and Third of Chelsea, have been consolidated; the John Street Church, Lowell, has " a name to live " in our register, but has dismissed all its members. Four new names appear on our rolls for the first time this year: The French Church, Pittsfield, the church at Nahant, the Swedish Church of Cambridge and the Second Church, Winchester. The French Church of Pittsfield was organ- ized in 1903 and should have been reported before. The church at Nahant was organized in 1850 in another fellowship and was recognized as a Con- gregational church last October. The Swedish Church of Cambridge is new, and the Second of Winchester is brand-new, having been organized since January of this year. We place its name on the roll of the churches, but wait another season to add its numbers to our membership.
In three important particulars there has been gain in 1905: There has been a gain in benevolence of $1,279 over the preceding year. There has been a gain in the membership of the Sunday schools of 2,481 over the previous year. There has been a gain in membership of the churches of 840 over the previous year. The largest enrollment of our Sunday- schools was in 1898. If the Sunday schools gain less than 1,000 members in 1906, the enrollment January 1, 1907, will exceed the largest ever before reported.
The changes in the membership of the churches by admissions mark this as a year of unusual increase. The total additions in 1905 are 7,175. The additions by confession of faith, 4,094, are the largest additions thus received since 1895. There were 231 churches that received additions by confession and letter of ten or more members, and of this number 19 churches received additions of 50 or more. The five years since 1850 which show the largest accessions to the churches of this Association are 1877, 1878, 1895, 1898 and 1905. The year 1905 ranks fourth in this group of fruitful years in its additions by confession, and third in its addi- tions by letter and in its total additions.
The Secretary would call attention to the fact that a few ministers are reported as members of two Congregational bodies within our state that guard ministerial standing. In most cases one report comes from an association and the other from a conference. Will the Association
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instruct the Secretary how to deal with such names in the printing of the " Minutes "?
The Association's file of Annual Minutes is still incomplete. Copies issued previous to 1885 are needed. Rev. John J. Walker of Westboro presented three copies to the Association. Other contributions to the missing numbers of our file are solicited.
COLLINS G. BURNHAM, Secretary.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER
HENRY P. EMERSON, Treasurer, in account with the GENERAL ASSOCIATION OF CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHES OF MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING MAY 1, 1906
RECEIPTS
1905-1906.
To cash on hand at last report
$876.70
Receipts from Conference
5,000.33
Interest
Rev. C. B. Rice, Board of Pastoral Supply
1,067.82
Copy of " Minutes "
.30
Total
$6,954.31
1905-1906. EXPENDITURES
By Rev. Samuel B. Forbes, National Congregational Council
$1,749.46
Rev. Collins G. Burnham, salary
stationery, etc.
60.36
Rev. A. J. Dyer, expenses attending annual meeting
2.54
Rev. Parris T. Farwell, committee on labor organization Samuel Usher, printing
5.00
Pilgrim Press, printing
19.40
Postage
3.30
G. W. Andrews, stationery for conference
8.74
Lillian D. Powers, copying missionary report
2.22
David Evans, work at Conference
18.50
Middlesex Odd Fellows Building Association, rent of hall
15.00
Adams Express Company, sending " Minutes "
81.06
Insurance
9.00
Charles A. Ratcliffe, committee on missionary work
Rev. S. F. Hunnewell, committee on state missionary work
Rev. Francis J. Marsh, expenses, etc.
8.15
Rev. C. B. Rice, Secretary Board of Pastoral Supply
3,084.44
Cash on hand
537.74
$6,954.31
HENRY P. EMERSON, Treasurer.
The Auditing Committee of the General Association of Congregational Churches of Massachusetts have examined the accounts of the Treasurer, Henry P. Emerson, and find them correct with proper vouchers; showing a balance of $537.74 in his hands and deposited in the Beacon Trust Company.
FRANKLIN P. SHUMWAY, JOSEPH H. CURRIER, Auditing Committee.
1906]
Report of the Treasurer
2.76
2.80
Total
9.16
687.50
656.34
REPORT OF THE CONGREGATIONAL BOARD OF PASTORAL SUPPLY
REV. CHARLES B. RICE, SECRETARY CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE, BOSTON, MASS.
The Congregational Board of Pastoral Supply respectfully submits its twelfth annual report.
The Directors have held six meetings during the year. They have given attention to the work of the office so far as concerns the general rules by which it is conducted, and they have become acquainted with its details to the extent of what is practicable or desirable. They are assured that the office under their direction is fully mindful of its complete responsibility to the General Association and to the churches represented in it.
We have rendered service during the year to 189 churches. Of these there were in Massachusetts, 94; in Maine, 15; in New Hampshire, 32; in Vermont, 14; in Rhode Island, 3; in Connecticut, 6; in New York, 6; in Pennsylvania, 2; in North Carolina, 1; in Maryland, 1; in the District of Columbia, 1; in Florida, 4; in Ohio, 1; in Iowa, 2; in Kansas, 1; in Utah, 1; in Idaho, 2; in Oregon, 2; and in Washington, 1.
We count here nothing except that which has been done in direct response to requests from persons officially representing the churches. The number would be increased if we were to count, as we do not, inquiries from persons - members of churches or friends of members - who have no official authority. Business in the furnishing of occasional or temporary supplies is not included. It is not meant that pastoral settlements answer- ing to this number of churches have been directly brought about through the work of our office, but that official consultations relative to the filling of the pastorate have been had to the extent stated.
The whole number of churches thus making use of our office is larger than in any preceding year with but one exception. The number of actual settlements in which we have had an important share has been 64. This number is less than in two or three former years. The reason for the falling off is chiefly, if not wholly, in the increasing difficulty of finding men for the smaller churches.
Of the whole number of churches conferring with us there were 38 having a membership of over 300; 55 having a membership of from 100 to 300; and 96 with a membership of less than 100. Of these churches 27 pay a salary of more than $2,000; 58 a salary of between $1,000 and $2,000; and 104 a salary of less than $1,000. The rental of the parsonage
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Report of Board of Pastoral Supply
is included. The proportion of larger churches conferring with our office has increased year by year, and it is now fully equal to the ratio of such churches to the whole number of churches making pastoral changes.
On the first of May the number of churches in Massachusetts that were without pastors was 35. This is about the average number for recent years, but very much less than the usual number before the opening of our office. It should be noted that our reckonings may differ from those of the Secretary of the General Association. His accounting is properly from an ecclesiastical point of view, and it may have respect often to the action of the council in dissolving, or failing to dissolve, the pastoral rela- tion; and it may not regard arrangements whose permanency is not officially assured or reported. Our enumeration is for direct working purposes and follows closely the changing conditions of which we have need to be carefully informed.
Opportunities for preaching have been furnished directly from our office to 189 men; and of these 96 were candidates for settlement. In many cases these opportunities were several times repeated. The whole number of occasional supplies furnished was 341. This does not include the preaching of candidates, nor of men who have supplied for a limited but considerable period of time in one place, nor the preaching of the Secretary.
The Secretary has preached on forty-five Sundays during the year. The number is smaller than has been usual. In the early part of the year, in the months of May and June, there were four Sundays on which no opportunities for preaching were offered - a very uncommon occur- rence. The Secretary was absent for three Sundays in the early fall upon a trip to the western coast, with leave heartily given by the Directors. His longest absence before was for eight days in one instance, and besides that it had never been for more than six days during the twelve years since the opening of the office. The preaching of the Secretary is in part in connection with his visiting the churches that have no pastors, to become acquainted with the situation and to confer with the committees. Aside from this, and in so far as it is in the way of the ordinary supplying of pulpits for pay, it has been for the purpose of assisting a little in the support of the office and of relieving to that extent the burden that falls upon the churches. But it enters into the thoughts of the Secretary that this mode of indirect taxation may prove more grievous than direct assess- ment! The work of Sunday is often not light, involving, besides the ordinary services, prolonged conferences with committees. It has been the habit of the Secretary, in theory, to take a half day for rest, or for some other kind of work, during the week when thus busied on Sundays. But during the last six months of the year he was not absent except upon business connected with the office for a single half day, saving only the legal holidays. During the coming summer months, however, he pur- poses to devote the half days strictly to the raising of fruits and vege-
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tables. These things are spoken of only that it may be understood that the obligations of carefulness and diligence are not forgotten. The bread which the Secretary eats at the expense of the churches is not the bread of idleness, though in another light it may appear to the churches as the bread of affliction.
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