USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Pittsfield > Pittsfield, Mass., church and other records from manuscripts copied by Rollin Hillyer Cooke, Vol. I > Part 10
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By vote of the church Wm Allen, Pastor .'
Voted, also, that the confession signed by 2] females, members of this church, who in violation of their solemn covenant engagements have withdrawn from our communion, is unsatisfactory. It is drawn up in so equivocal a man- ner that we are unable to determine, whether they are peni- tent for their conduct or not . Although they confess, "that the ir covenant engagements have been broken, " & say, "they do not pretend entirely to justify or excuse themselves,' & wish not to extenuate their guilt, "yet they nowhere, as can perceive, express their penitence for their separa- tion from us. On the contrary they declare, that they chose " what they believed to be the least of two evils, " & that " the coverant engagements of all, whose duty it was to attend to discipline in this church, were also broken." Although in the concluding paragraph, they ack- nowledge, that" so far as they have been instrumental of bringing the church & the concerns of it into so unhappy a situation either by their negligence, their unfaithful- ness, or their misconduct, they are guilty. "yet they do not say, that they have been megligent, unfaithful, or erroneous in their conduct,& they mention no particular act, for which they ask forgiveness.
We are not disposed to think, that these females inten- tionally
P.121-
357
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
signed a confession of an equivocal character,& we trust that in their frankness they will soon remove our doubts by stating to us in explicit terms their views respecting the manner, in which they departed from our communion, & whether they are peni - tent for the violation of their solemn convenant in their irreg- ular withdrawment from us in order to be united with other irreg- ular members in a new church. By vote of the chh. Wm. Allen, Pastor
P.122-Voted also, that Mr. Eli Maynard be admitted a member in full com- munion with this church.
The meeting was then dissolved . WVm. Allen , Pastor . 1811 July 14 The following confession of a church member who had been attached to the Methodists was read to the church & accepted
"To the Church of Christ in Pittsfield.
Having for several years absented myself from your com- munion & being convinced, that in so doing, I was in er - ror, I hereby acknowledge my fault,& desire to be restor- ed to your Christian affection & fellowship. July 13, 1811 Anna Strong
(wife of Noble Strong )
Sep 8 Sophia Stevens, wife of Abner Stevens, recommended from the church of Christ in Westfield in a letter signed by Isaac Knapp, Pastor , was received into full communion in this church, Wm. Allen, Pastor.
Nov 3 Mehitable Forbs was recommended to Truxton.
1812
Jan 5 Mrs. Susannah Richards, recommended from the second church in Bridgewater, by Rev. Dr. Sanger, to Ashfield , was received into this church.
Mr. Abraham White & his wife Mrs. Polly White recommended from the church in Ashfield , by Rev . Mr. Sander son, were received into this church.
Mrs. Lucy Hale was received into full communion in this church. W.Allen, Pastor.
May 3
Jane Allen, wife of Horace Allen, received into full com'n
11 Vivus Osborn,& his wife Hannah Osborn 11 = "1 Harriet Danforth
=
" "1 =
Lucy Holmes, received into full communion, recommended from the Church in New Braintree by John Fiske , its pastor .
W.Allen, Pastor.
P.123-Jul 12 Bersha Butler , wife of Josiah Butler was rec'd into the ch
11 Ruby Walker
11 Sep 6 John Churchill 11 =
7 Mary Churchill, wife of John Churchill was bap & rec'd into full com'n.
Jerusha Walker received into full communion.
Nov 1 Martha Jarvis , recommended from hichmond & rec'd into full communion.
=
358
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1813 Jan 3 Ahab Jinks , formerly a preacher among the Methodists
rec'd into full communion
11 Lois Howland, recommended from Poultney , Vt.
"
11
=
Ebenezer Burt,
=
C
=
= His dau, Roxana Burt,
11 11
:
"
11 Martha Churchill
11
=
=
Eunice Clark
11
=
=
= Joseph Lewis , Jr.
2= Mrs . Daniels
Tamar Daniels
= Clarissa Dickinson, wife of Oli- ver D. "
"
=
=
=
=
=
Sep
5 Almira Nichols, wife of Wm. Nichols
11
11
11
= Mary Strong
Sep 29 At a church meeting, that Eli Maynard be a committee of the church to receive from Mr. Jacob Ward, money due to the church from the estate of the late deacon Brat- tle & to give a receipt in full. Attest Wm. Allen , Pastor.
Nov Dec
7 Sylvester Larned was received to full communion.
1 At a church meeting at the house of Eli Maynard, he the said Maynard, was elected a deacon of the church in the place of deacon James Hubbard, deceased. Voted, that deacon Maynard, deacon Crowfoot, & Mr. Burt, be a committee to settle with the executor on the es- tate of Deacon James Hubbard.
Attest Wm. Allen, Pastor
P.124-1814 July 3 John Lanckton & wife, recommended from the church of Christ in Washington were received into full communion.
Widov Millard 11 Sep 11
=
Millard, wife of Royal
= Millard = 11 Oct 9 Abigail Bartlett, rec.from chh.in Springfield rec'd into full com'n.
1815
Jan 1 Esther Sabin,
= in Williamstown rec'd into full com'n.
= Abraham White & wife were recommended to Albany .
1! Deacon Crowfoot & Maynard & J. Hubbard were appointed a committee for appropriating the funds of the church if they see fit, for the benefit of the poor of the churc Beulah Clarke was recommended to the church in Albany
Mar 5 June 5 At a meeting of the church the following confession was presented "To the church of the first parish in Pittsfield- We, the subscribers, do frankly confess, that in leaving you in the manner we did, without hav- ing recourse to such means of reconciliation, as have since been pointed out to us, we did wrong, for which we ask not only the divine forgiveness, but yours also & that of every person, that has been offended thereby.
May
= Calvin Dunham Palmater
11
"1
"
=
11
=
11
11
= Tirza Strong Siar Butler
359
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH , PITTSFIELD.
1815 Amelia Goodrich Hannah Goodrich Hannah Clark
Mary Newell Ellin Newell Rachel Wright
Abigail Barnard Sally White Martha Gold
Abigail Root Huldah Colt Hepzibah Whitney 1
Olive Tremain
Mary Strong Thankful Fairfield )
Sarah Colt
P.125- Whereupon Voted, that as these females, who withdraw from our communion in violation of their solemn covenant, have at length acknowledged, that they have done wrong & ask our forgiveness, we do forgive them. And, as they think themselves bound to continue in the church, with which, as they acknowledge, they have irregularly connected them- selves, we hereby ourselves discharged of any further in- spection over them.
Yet we are ready to restore them to our communion, when they shall return, declaring, that they take upon them their former covenant .
Attest Wm. Allen, Pastor (N.B. A few days after passing the preceding & subsequent votes, the names of H. Whitney & T. Fairfield were added by themselves to the confession of the females. W. Allen) Voted also unanimously, that we are ready to restore to our communion those members of the church of Union Parish who were formerly members of this church,& to renew with them our covenant ; & also to receive into our fellowship all the other members of the church of Union Parish if they will unite in the same covenant .
Attest , Wm. Allen Pastor
P.126 -
June 30 At a meeting of the church, the following Vote was passed. Whereas several years ago certain members of this church were , in violation of their covenant, in a hasty & irregular manner, without dismissi on & without necessity embodied into the Church of Union Parish in this town, being a ma- jori ty of said church of Union Parish; & whereas they have presented to us a written confession of their fault, ack- knowledging, that they have done wrong ,we have taken the same, with attending circumstances, into serious considera- tion. We think, that the offending members would more fully observe the rules of ecclesiastical order & discharge their duty by returning to the church from which they have depar t ed, especially as they are generally convinced, that but om religious society is required in this village . Yet, as they consider themselves bound by their new covenant, by which they are connected with others never belonging to this church,& as they prof ess repentance of their sin in leav- ing us in an irregular manner .
P.127 -
Now , there fore , although re taining our persuasion, that "the foundation of the church of Union Parish was laid
360
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
in error & irregularity, "yet influenced by the desire of pro- moting the interests of the gospel of peace, we think our selves allowed to vote & we do hereby vote, that we will hereafter over - look, in our measures of discipline, the offence which has been acknowledged, & that herafter we will treat the church of Union Parish as a christian church. Attest Wm. Allen , Pastor
P.128-1815 Sep 3 Clarissa Lathrop
was rec'd into the church
1816
Jan 7 Lemuel Bingham
11
11
=
11 Lucy Chapel
" Parthenia Little Dickinson
=
= Joseph How land, recom. from
Poultney , Vt. 11
=
=
=
11 Merab Root , 11
from Conway
Lucy Luther , 11
11 Wind sor
11
11
=
"1
=
Maria Mallerville Allen recom.from Pres.Ch.Dartmouth Col- lege rec'd into the church.
11 Phebe Ann Jacobs lege rec'd into the church.
11
11
11
Col-
Mar 3 Mary Moseley
was rec'd into the church
May 26 King Strong
11
Jul 14 Seth Montague
=
11
11
=
=
11
=
= Hannah Meriam
= Mrs. Janes, wife of John Janes
11
=
11
Sep 11
15 Allen White
29 Tirzah Gibbs ( formerly Strong) was Christ in town of Gates, on Genesce River, N. Y.
recom. to church of
Nov
13 At a meeting of the church the following communication was read; -
"To the First Church & Parish of Pittsfield.
The subscriber , who has been for the last six years your minister, with many proofs of your attachment, has of ten deplored the unhappy effects of the division of the town into two religious societies, & wished that they might be re-united. To facilitate the attainment of this object he has made some exertions , particularly , in respect to a settlement of the difficulty, between the churches.
The great obstacle to the communion of the two churches having been for some time past removed, & other circum- stances, appearing to him to be at the present moment more favourable to a union, than they have ever before been, the subscriber deems it his duty earnestly to re commend to the people of his charge an effort to combine harmon- iously the two churches & parishes into one. For the ac- complishment of this object, which he thinks is important both to the interests of religion & to the temporal pros - perity of the town, he hereby expresses what he has often declared to individuals , -his readiness to be dismissed from his pastor al office. Pittsfield Nov.12,1816 Wm Allen . "
P.129-
11
=
"
=
11
11 Roxana Day , "Williamstown"
Lucy Montague
=
11
=
11
11
11
=
361
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1816 A disposition to comply with the preceding recommenda- tion was unanimously expressed by the members present, & a committee consisting of Deacons Crowfoot & Maynard , Mr. Daniel Foot, Mr . James Hubbard, & Mr. Ebenezer Burt was ap- pointed to confer on the subject of union with my commit- tee, which may be appointed on the part of the church of the other parish. Attest Wm Allen, Pastor .
P.130-Dec 4 At a meeting of the church, duly notified to take into consideration the report of the joint committees of this church & of the church of Union Parish , an pointed to confer on the subject of the Union of the two churches ; - Voted, that we are willing to form a union on the follow- ing conditions, recommended by the said Committee ; namely 1. That the male members of each church, living in town, shall express their readiness to fellowship all the num- bers of the other church , who may be in regular standing; 2. That the members of the two churches shall have a separate vote in the choice of the first minister of the united Society, & a majority, consisting of at least two thirds of the members of each church, present, shall be ne- cessary in order to the settlement of said minister. Voted, that as all the male members of this church living in town, excepting two, have expressed their readiness to fellow ship, all the members of the other church, who are in regular standing, - Mr. James Hubbard be a committee to inquire of the said two members, whether they also' can fellow ship the members of the other church,& that he re- port to the Moderator .
P.131- Voted, that for the purpose of Union we are willing that our Pastor should be dismissed at such a time , as may be mutually agreed on by him & the parish; & that deacon Maynard be a committee to act with a committee of the parish in calling, if it should be found necessary, a mu- tual council for the dismission of our pastor & the com- pletion of the prosed union.
Voted, that Mrs . Theodosis Brewer be at her request recom- mended to the Church in Tyringham.
Voted, that the Moderator be authorized to write to Mr. Isaac Goodale , of Berkshire, N. Y .- a member of this church on his neglect of Christian duty,& also to request the church of Berkshire to interpose, if necessary, in order to reclaim him. Attest -Wm Allen, Moderator
1817
Jan 5 Hannah Ingersoll, wife of Jared Inger soll Junr-was admitted into the church = Mary Peters was admitted into the church
P.132-1817 ยท
Feb 5 At a mutual Ecclesiastical Council, convened at Pittsfield, Mass., at the house of the Rev. William Allen, by letters missive for himself,& in behalf of the joint committee of the first church & Parish in
1
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
362
1817
Pittsfield, on Wednesday, the fifth day of February eighteen hundred & seventeen, for the purpose of dissol- ving the relation between Mr. Allen & the said church & parish, - were present from the churches the
Rev. James Bradford & Deacon Hosmer Kellogg, from the chh. in Sheffield.
Rev. Ralph W. Gridley & Deacon Ben jamin Skinner from the chh. in Williamstown,& Deacon Joseph Davis = = = New Lebanon.
The Rev. James Bradford was chosen Moderator & the Rev. Ralph W. Cridley, scribe. The Council was opened with prayer by the Moderator .Mr. Allen then laid before the Council the proceedings of the first church & par ish, & likewise papers, containing the proceedings of the "Union church & Parish. " relative to an union of the two churches & parishes ; From which it appears, that these churches & Parishes lament ing the unhappy division, which has for some time existed among them, are now desirous to unite in Christian harmony & fellowship in the public worship of God & in the celebration of the ordiances of Christ. To facilitate this object, the pastors of these churches have given their consent & manifested their willingness to be dismissed, & the churches & parishes have according- ly voted, that they should be dismissed. They have like- wise voted to be united into one church & parish, & the church of the one society have voted that they would fel- lowship the members of the church of the other society. With these proceedings before them the Council see no difficulty in the way of their expected union, & have therefore agreed unanimously , that the pastoral relation existing between the Rev. William Allen & the first church & parish in this place should be dissolved on the twenty sixth day of February, 1817-where by mutual agreement his labors & salary are to cease.
At the same time we cannot forget to mention, that it is with peculiar pleasure it appears, that the only cause why the separation should take place between Mr. Allen & his church & people is the anticipated union of the two churches & parishes; - that nothing is alleged against the character of Mr. Allen either as a private gentleman or as a minister of Christ. On the other hand,we have the strongest evidence that they are united by ties, which could never have been broken but by considerations aris- ing from a sense of their obligations to God, to them- selves,& the church of Christ. The character of Mr. Allen stands unimpeached ; his motives for desiring a dis- mission, so far as we are able to judge, are not of a pri- vate nature, but the good of this people & the prosper ity of Christ's kingdom. As a minister we believe him sound in the faith, -possessed of sincere & ardent piety, -willing to labor unceasingly & prayerfully for the salvation of souls & the extension of the boundaries of the Redeemer's kingdom; -
P.134 -
P.133-
363
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1817
& as such we do most cheerfully & conscientiously re com- men him to the employment of the churches of our Lord.
To the brethren & people of this church & congregation we feel constrained to say, that the occasion, which has called us together , is a truly mournful & at the same time joyful occasion; - mournful, because your pastor was loved, esteemed, & honored by you, & because he was strongly at - tached to those, to whom he had so long broken the bread of life; - joyful, becuse your anticipated union resembles that oneness of spirit required of the followers of Jesus, & because you are brethren & ought not to be separated for reasons, which will not separate you at the the bar of God. With you then we unite in rendering praise to Him, who over - ruleth all things for his glory.
P.135 We trust, that you are not unmindful, that there is a throne of grace, to which you can go & lay all your wants before a prayer hearing & a prayer answering God.
There remember, that the only disposition, with which you can be regarded with complacency, is love to God & love to man. Cherish this disposition, maintain brotherly love, watch over your heart & tongue, live in peace, & may the God of peace be with you & sanctify you wholly .
In the selection of a minister be governed by the spirit of the gospel, act with the day of judgment before you, & may the great Shepherd of the sheep in his own time send you a pastor after his own heart. To Him we commend you , praying, that He would preserve & bless you ,& at last present you spotless before the presence of his glory with exceeding James Bradford , Moderator Ralph W. Gridley , Scribe . joy.
A true copy .
Attest , William Allen.
P.136-
Feb 21 At a meeting of the church, the following vote was passed unanimously, in order to facilitate the proposed union of the two churches ; -
Whereas the confessions of faith & covenants of the two Congregational churches in this town have upon examination been found to be in substance the same & expressed nearly in the same words, but whereas these confessions of faith are thought to be longer, than is necessary. Therefore , Voted that the following , which is considered as a faithful sum- mary, shall be adopted as the Confession & Covenant of the proposed United Church; viz;
A Confession of Faith
We believe, that there is one God , self-existing , eternal, infinitely perfect,& glorious , unchangeable in his being & perfections, the creator & owner of all things, & the sover- eign of the universe; -
That this one God subsists, in a manner at present mysteri- ous
364
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
P.137-
1817 to us , as Father, Son & Holy Ghost , three in one, & one in three; - That God has revealed his will to mankind in the Bible,which was given by his inspiration, & which is the only sufficient & unerring rule of faith & practice. "- That God created our first parents in his own image, per - fectly holy & happy; but that in consequence of their sin, all the ir posterity are born with corrupted or depraved hearts, so that they become sinful & exposed to the wrath of God forever; - That God of his sovereign grace has de- vised a scheme of redemption, by which the exercise of mercy, is made consistent with the maintenance of justice & with the honor of his government. That the Son of God , the eternal Word, was made flesh or became man, & by his death upon the cross is the propitation for the sins of the world ;- & that he arosed from the dead, & is seated at the right hand of God the Father, being invested with all power in heaven & on earth; -
That every one who believes in the name of Jesus Christ, or who receives him as he is offered in the gospel is pardoned & restored to the favor of God, however numerous & great may have been his sins; -
P.138-
That all, who truly believe in Jesus Christ, are entitled to everlasting life, & will assuredly, according to the divine promise, be kept through faith & holiness unto sal - vation ; - That man is so depraved, that he will not repent & believe in Jesus Christ , unless by the Spirit of God a new heart is given him,; a heart to love the Lord his God su- premely ; - That no sinner, by anything which he does, lays God under any obligation to grant him his regenerating grace, but that God bestows this gift in a free & sover - eign manner, having mercy on whom he will have mercy; - That believers, though delivered from the curse, are bound to yield a perfect obedience to the divine law, & are therefore sinful in all the defects of their holy exer - cises & actions; -
That Jesus Christ has a church in the world,& that among his institutions he has appointed Baptism & the Lord's supper to be received by all, who cordially believe in him & make profession of their faith; & that the infant children of such are proper subjects of Baptism; -
P.139-
That there is appointed a day of judgment, at which peri- od Jesus Christ will raise the dead & judge the world ,& will doom the wicked to everlasting destruction, & receive the redeemed to the happiness & glory of his eternal king - dom. Covenant.
As we consider ourselves to be under great & indispensable obligations to confess Jesus Christ before men & to unite with his visible church on earth, we do now enter into covenant with this church ; -
365
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1817
We do renounce all the ways of sin & publickly & solemnly devote ourselves to the Lord our Ogd, taking his word to be our rule of faith & practice, receiving the Lord Jesus Christ, as our teacher & Saviour ,& relying for sanctification upon the influences of the Holy Spir- it ;-
We promise to attend constantly upon the institutions of the gospel, -to maintain family & secret prayer, - to present our children for baptism & to bring them up in the nurture & admonition of the Lord-to commemorate as we have opportunity, the death of our Savior in the sup- per,- to assemble for the worship of God in the Lord's day & to keep the sabbath holy , - to maintain & submit to the discipline of Christ 's house according to the rules of his word."- And we finally promise diligently to promote the interests of the religion of Christ our Lord, & particularly to recommend it to others, by present- ing in our own lives an example of justice, temperance, beneficence,& godliness; - Relying on the aids of the Divine Spirit ,we do make these solemn engagements in the presence of Cod , of angels, & of this congregation. Declaration of Admission.
-
We then, the church of Christ , do receive you into full communion, promising to conduct towards you as become th saints & to watch over you with Christian affection, praying God, that both you & we may be at last present ed faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. Amen. Attest Wm Allen, Pastor .
P.141 - The Pastor having requested letters of recommendation for himself his wife, & his servant woman, Mr. Vivus Osborn was chosen Moderator
Voted that letters from this church, recommending the Rev. William Allen, Maria Mallerville Allen,& Phebe Ann Jacobs to such church as they may be called in providence to join, be given & signed by the Moderator .
Letters were accordingly given to the above named per sons dated Feb.24 ,1817. Attest Vivus Osborn, Moderator 1817
Attest Vivus Osborn, Moderator
Mar 4 Esther Sabin was recommended to the church of Christ in Williamstown by a vote of the church.
Vivus Osborn , Moderator . Mar 8 Agreeably to a vote of this church , a letter was given to Calvin Parmenter, recommending him to such church as he may be called in Providence to join,& signed by the Mod - erator. Attest Vivus Osborn, Moderator .
366
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1817 June 21 Agreeably to a vote of this church , a letter was given to Lucretia Mellen, recommending her to the church in Hudson.
Attest Vivus Osborn, Moderator .
P.142-July 3 At a meeting of the church at the house of Deacon Maynard the following vote was passed to call a Council to complete the union of the two churches; - Whereas the two religious societies in this town are now united into one,& as it has long been wished that the two churches become united, & whereas the members of each church have expressed their reading to fel- lowship each other & have agreed upon one confession of faith & covenant to be adopted by the united church & as it is extremely desirous that this union be made complete without further delay, therefore , Voted, that *Deacon Maynard & Vivus Osborn be a committee on the part of this church to unite with a committee of the church of Union Parish to call a council of three Ministers with their delegates, Viz; the Rev. Messrs. Collins of Lanesborough, Shepard of Lenox & Jennings of Dalton, to declare us one church by mutual agreement , Attest Vivus Osborn, Moderator. Doings of the Council.
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