USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Pittsfield > Pittsfield, Mass., church and other records from manuscripts copied by Rollin Hillyer Cooke, Vol. I > Part 8
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Mr. Wilson, aged Charles Bailey Miss Sylvia Bow
Sep Oct 8 Mrs. Moseley, wife of Chester
Aged 36
14 Mrs. Dickinson, " Capt John
34
Nov
7 Mrs. Bishop
8 Julius Clary, of Leverett,
lake fever 11 22
Mrs. Burdick Mrs. Jeffards
Mrs . Edson Mr. Dellmester
Mrs.Cassell
child of Mr.Newell
tt 11 Mr.Brown
Mr. Chest .Colt
11 Mr. Jenks
Mr. Fred Drake
Mr . A. Hooper
Mr .Bage
= Mr. Wm Pomeroy
= Mr.F. Goodman
= = Capt Burdick
=
= Mr.Pixley
11 Mr. N. Fairfield
11
= Rody Freedom 40
1811 Lewis Grent (black) Mr.Adino Pomeroy
Mrs . Row land Mr. Smith Mrs.Miriam Colt Mr. Stevens Mr.Zeb Herrick 3rd Mr. Purvis
ged Consumption Aged 65
335
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
Deaths
1811 Miss Lavinia Stocking Mr.Luke Tuttle Mrs. Mead
April James, child of Mr.J.Brown
Mr.R.Campbell
Aped 10 yrs
11 11 Mr.Spring 11 Mr.Z.But
= = Mr.Ste Mead
= Mr . Hor ton
Mr. Chauncey Osborn
yr s
= Mr.E.White
Capt Jon'n Allen
Mr.Calvin Sears 21
P.76 1812
Jan 4 Matthew Millard Dis Liver-Paralysis
69 yrs
2 yrs
= 6 Mrs. Merry Old Age
89
"
= James Eldridge Frozen
30 =
31 W.of Benjamin Keiler Phthysis Pulmonalis
50
= 4 ms
Feb 4 ch.of Pat Mullen-black-Hydroceph Intem.
1
2 ms
Mar 12
= Zenas Burt =
Exammed 3
4 ms
= 21 1 = " Milton Whitney-Spindle of wheel) penetrated the brain 1
1 wk
26 Ruth Root, relict of Ezek: Dis , liv Hemiphlegia 70"
1 m.
= 30 Albert, ch.of Horace Allen, Inft.of Brain 5"
12 ds
Apr 4 Peter Haron, Frenchman Pneumonia Notha
72 "
6 ds
May 1 Widow Huldah Merrill Phthisis Pulm.
50 !!
1 yr
June 3 child of Albert Wilson
Enteritis
7m
1 m
Jul 15 Mother of Chester Moseley Phthisis Pulm
70"
2 yrs
Aug 1 child of Theodore Hinsdale Jr. Erysipilis
4m
2 đ
=
5 Joseph Gasper Obstruct, Duct . Com. chol Exammed 54"
9m
12 d
= 26 Thos . Hunt Seret . U. S. Infantry Pleur & Infl. Bn 32"
Sep 17 Jas. Childs, Soldier" "Noth & Dys 75"
= 22 Nancy Maynard Phthisis Pulm. 16 "
8 w
Oct 3 Widow Elither Childs Concuss . drops, brain ( Exm) 71" 10ms 8 Martha Hubbard, w. of Dea. Paraphlegia & old age71" 4 yrs
Nov 26 Mrs . McKnight Apoplexy 90"
15 h
Jul or
Aug child of Appleton Whitney Stillborn
Dec 26 = Mr. Mills Imperf.conformation 4 ms
24
6 Mark Patterson, soldier U.S. Hosp. Malig . Typhus 27 yrs 15 đ
22 Peggy Williams( black)
Consumption 18 "
4 m
" 18 Jacob Ensign
Old Age 89 few ds
Feb 1 child of R.Campbell
3 Moses Graves
Intemperance
60 yrs 52 .
6 ds
27 John Baker
Pleurisy Old Age
85
Mar 5 Wife of Olcott Chapman
Pleurisy
48 11 ds
1
Age
Sick
6 Two infants of John Ward
fever 5
Jan = child Mr.Hubbard, south
1813
25 Eli, son of Eli Maynard Infl.Brain
3 yrs
4 W
3 w
20 Mr. Miller-west end
336
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
P.77 1813 Mar
Deaths
Age
Sick
8 Sarah Peck
Infl. Brain
51 yrs
4 w
11
9 Doctor Olds
Epid . Fever
50
5 d
11
19 Nathan Leonard
Peripneumony 67
"
7 d
11
22 Salome Wright
Epid . Fever 28
2 d
11
25
Mrs . Tracy
Per ipneumony
75
10 d
=
24 Abigail Johnson
Epid . Fever
47
11
5 d
Apr
9 Zebulon Herrick
52
=
7 d
11
10 Win. A. Stiles ( soldier U. S. Hosp) Pleurisy
42
7 đ
=
13 Tim º Burnham 11
Peripneumony
43 11
5 đ
11
14 Sam'l Butler
=
= ) Infl. Brain 23 "
2 d
11
17
Tim o Wilson ( soldier U.S. Hosp) Infl.
=
27
Jno .Stearns
" "Hosp) Peripneumony 46 80
=
May
5
Reuben Nelson, soldier Infl.Pleura & Brain20
Epid . Fever 39
=
9
d
11
13
Simon Langworthy
=
40
=
8
d
11
16 Daniel Hubbard
=
38
=
đ
=
17 Sarah Ann Brown
Infl. Bra in
5
5
d
=
Henry Webb
Per ipneumo ny
30
8
d
11
20
Eliakim Whit mouth-soldier
=
34
6
đ
=
25 Pelatiah Mason
Pleurisy
39
19 d
June 15
Wm.H.Clarke
"
47
16 d
11
18 Horace Waddoms
22
4
5
23 Doctor Wm Kittredge
Erysipelas
50
8
a
July 8 Child of Am Jeffords
11
13 Infant of James Root
/
Aug.
1
Moses Hurd, of Dover , N. H. soldier Abscess in lungs 18 d
12
13 Mrs. Hamblin
Palsy
72
14 d
14 child of Conant, soldier
Fits
1 wk
20
W.of Nathaniel Fairfield
Pleurisy
80
30 đ
23 Fanny Hinsdale, wife T.H.Jr. Puerperal fev33 yrs
5
d
26 Child of Theo. Hinsdale Junr
2
W
30 Jon'n Gardner Horse fell on hin
20
Sep 16 Deacon James Hubbard Hydro thorax & Ana-
sarca
69
4
m
21 Elder John Francis
Infl . Abdomen
55
5
d
23 Harriet Griswold
Consumption
19
1 yr
Oct
7 Rufus Allen Derangement
64 =
9 Spencer Baxter
Affection of Brain
24
2 wk
14 Fred West
Consumption
43
11
13 d
28
Tabitha Yale
A man at Mr. Ely's
=
7 Calvin Gunn
11
34
11
4 5
d
=
26 Dau.of Edw. Eells
Epid . fever
8
11
21 Woodbridge Little Esq.
old age
72
15 m
12 Rebecca Leicester
Old Age
72 yrs
9
Child of Jedediah Foster Mr . Cheney
Gemeral swelling
20 yrs ,
9
B. Cranger
18 = Nathaniel Satchwell
Epid . Fever
16
18 đ
of Carlisle , P.one of Hull's troops)
Pericardium 42 "
4 d
19 d
"
yr s P.78
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH , PITTSFIELD.
337
1813
Deaths
Oct
19 David Breton, soldier
Aged 50 yr s
11
22 David Ashley
Aged
25 Mr .Hazard
Nov
8 Ten Eyck , prisoner of war
11
30
Dec
14 Mrs. Strong
= =
= Mr.Stow
19 Mr.Eells
child of Mr . Hungerford
11
1 hr
1814
68 deaths
Wife of Samuel Root
Miss
west end
Mr. Ford
Aged 11
Apr
1 Wife of Tho. Melville Junr
11
8
.of Peregr. Bush
=
3
W
11
17
Allan Melville son of Q Melville
=
5 yr s
16
Wife of Peregr. Bush
11
24
11
23
Josiah Bentley child of Lord
=
22 11
P.79
9
11
prisoner Affray in barracks Age d Mrs. Francis
16
23 child of Mr. Hough
Aug
6
Dr. Luther Gunn Typhus fever
Aged 26 yrs
8 soldier Hard Drinking
child of James McKnight
Miss Hubbard
Aged 19 yrs 11
Son of Js. Hubbard
11
Sep
child of G.B.R.Root
11
4
m
23
Church Hicock
"
19 yrs
25 Aaron Hicock v
11
45 "
Elias Kieler child of Rufus Merry
6
W
Miss Kieler
19 yrs
Martin Bage Junr
37 =
Mrs . Churchill
65 =
=
11
T.Melville
25
27 Chas.Thorn, pris. of war black girl
29
Mr. Chester Moseley
May
Mrs. Salome Danforth
Child of Jesse Goodrich
Aged 6 yrs
Mr.Solomon Sackett
13
8 A soldier- instantly
3
W
20 Sally Francis
22
30
26 Mrs. Bishop
11
71
62
=
28 = = Mr . Bis hop
Child of Mr. Center
17 m
= " Jason Clapp
42 =
Mr.Francis
338
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH , PITTSFIELD.
.
1814 Deaths Child of Butler Bement Mrs . Kenny Child of Mr. Adams = 11 Mr.Roberts
P.80- 1815
40
Jan
16 Morss, soldier
=
20 Mrs. Loomis
fever decline 36 yrs
=
31 Thankful Bush
=
10
=
= 23 Thomas Punder son
Inflam. lungs " 1
yr
=
27 Olive Strong, wife of - suddenly deranged" 27
Mar 5 Miss Hitchcock
relapse of fever "
14
=
= Mrs. Clark, dau of Mr. Adams
Apr
21 Wife of King Strong Junr
11
Timothy Cadwell
=
80
May
11 Dau.of Gen . Villis
eysipel . = 2 1/2
June 28 - Sweetzer; soldier
consumption
!!
= Enoch Weller Junr-Consequence of ill treatment as a prisoner Aged -
11
Child of Ciar Butler
Aged 4 w
Aug
20 Mrs. Smith
11
59
=
Mr. Easton
11
57
=
child of Mr . Moody
Injury in mill
11
10
Sept
John Francis
17
15
Nov 11 Mary Merrill
palsy 11
78
=
12 Morcall Trotter (black)
=
35
=
13
Hannah Ward
96 & 4 m
95 & 7 m
11
Mrs . Whitney -
=
3 m
Dec
24 Mrs.Wood
child bed
= child of J. Y. ( ?) Clark
cold & worms 31
2
P.81- 1816 Jan
Dau of Grant-black consumption
18 or 20 yrs
5 child of Joshua N. Robbins -McDonald consumption
1 .wk 30
=
25 Capt . Orimill Fanning-Infinities occ.by Intemper ance
46
=
= Son of Caleb Edwards
Infl. of brain
6
26 Inf. child of Cheesebrough
=
= Sally Cadwell
29 Samuel West old age, pleurisy
84
Feb 6 Mrs. Randow
Mar 8 Mrs.Sackett
88
Apr
12 Ralph Warriner
Consumption
28
= Mr.Goddard
=
child of Mrs. Noble
;
19 Child of Jobunn's wife (black)
11
63
15
Charles Goodrich Esq.
21 Lucy Randall
35
child of Mr. Ellis
3
94
Feb 10 child of Mr. Tracy =
= Mr. Button
16 child of Mr.Adams
Aged 9 yrs
40
20
Miss Luther
339
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH , PITTSFIELD.
1816 Apr July :
Deaths
Child of a Black ( I believe )
14 Emily H. Osborn
Infl. of brain Aged 2 1/2 yrs "
Mrs. Lindsey
73 11
Child of Allen Butler
Oct
Son of late Fred West
Dropsy of brain " 15 11
"
27
26
=
30 Miss Abigail Ward dau of Josiah Ward
Consumption =
11
33
P.82-1817
Jan 28 Mr. Chamberlin
. Feb
24 Bet sey Brown -black woman
17
Mar 2 Gordon Hall
3 Mr . Dean
5 Constant Luce's daughter's child =
2
wk
17 Rolly's (?) West Subject to Fits
32 15
yrs
11
22 Capt . Jonathan Allen's child
Apr 9 Mrs. Drake long confinement
16 Black man
Pages 83 & 84 on one leaf have been cut out by some one )
Pages 85 to 88 inclusive are blank
Pape 89 Members of this Church, their Names, and when received.
1803
Sep 25 Mr. Billy Buckley & Mary Bulkley, his wife by letter from West Stockbridge.
1804 Wife of Mr. Uriah Root
Feb 19 Reuben Clark and his Tife
Adino Pomeroy, by rec from Church in Middletown
1805 May 4 Mr. Barnard & his wife
= Widow Brewer
11 Mrs. Olive Cadwe ll
July 14 Mr.Daniel Clark & his wife
= The wife of Mr. Plummer =
19
= Mr. Eliphalet Case
Aug Sep 1
Noble Strong & his wife
= Frederick West 11
= Capt Trueman &
& son Isaac
11 & dau , Olive
11 Wife of William
11 Wife of Cato (10)
6 Zer mah Bow
by le tter
Oct 1806 Jan 5 Mr. Bough
1807 .
Wife of Mr.Lathr ..
Tan 4 Mr. Timothy Haskell by 1.
May
4 Deborah, wife of John Wilson by letter
Ely Nichols,& wir :
= July 13 L'rs. Abigail Adam 11 11
23
11
Mrs. Lucy Hale Irf . child of Maj. Brom child of Mr.Clap Mrs . Strong, widow of late Ashbel S. Esq. =
50
=
25
7
R.H.C.
George a Prussian Mrs. Clough
340
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1807 Admissions Mr. Che ster Moseley Miss Betsy Lee Miss Ruth Ripley Mr.Peter Adams
May
3 Wife of Charles Goodrich Junr Miss Huldah Merrills
Sep 6 Widow Crowfoot
Wife of Mir. Daniel Crow foot
= Wife of Mr . Fanning:
1808 Jan 3 Mr.Solomon M.Allen Miss Eunice Wright =
my son was in his 18th year of his age
May
7 Mrs. Sarah Allen, widow of late Thomas Allen Esq.
= Miss Anna Cleveland Miss Newel Miss Sophia Lathrop Polly Ingersoll Hannah Hasking
P.90-1809 May James Hubbard Junr Perhaps others
181.0
Jan 7 life of Mr. Thompson = = Mr.William Smith
Zebulon Herrick Lucy Rand all Church members received during the ministry of Rev. William Allen.
1811
Gad Day Eli Maynard Sophia Stevens Abraham White )
Polly White 1 Lucy Hale Susannah Richards
1812
Jane Allen
Vivus Osborn ) Hannah Osborn) Harriet Danforth Lucy Holmes Ber sha Butler Ruby Walker
John Churchill
1813
Jerusha Walker Martha Jarvis Ahab Jinks Lois Howland Ebenezer Burt Raxana Burt
341
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH , PITTSFIELD.
1813 Admissions
Martha Churchill Eunice Clark Joseph Lewis Jr. Calvin D.Palmater Tirs. Daniels Tamar Daniels Clarissa Dickinson
Tirzah Strong
Siar Butler Almira Nichols
Mary Strong Sylvester Larned
1814
John Lanckton) Mrs. Lanckton ) Mrs.Millard, widow
Mrs. Millard, wife of Royal
Abigail Bartlett
1815
Esther Sabin Clarissa Lathrop
1816
Lemuel Bingham
Lucy Chapel
Parthenia L.Dickinson
Joseph Howland
Merab Root
Lucy Luther Roxana Day
Maria M.Allen
Phebe Ann Jacobs
Mary Moseley
King Strong
Seth Montague
Lucy Mont ague Hannah Meriam Mrs. Janes, wife of John Allen White
1817
Hannah Inger soll Mary Peters 57 P.95-
(From 89 there only two pages numbered & they are numbered 90 & 95 in error R.H.C. ) ( The next three pages are blank and no further pages have numbers through this book. The actual page I give , starting from "89" as correct R.H.C.)
95 th page 1808 Apr 13 At a meeting of the Church, Deacon West & Mr. Jonathan Weston, having acknowledged that they had taken a wrong step in signing a paper of separation from this church. the church voted to restore the m-
Apr 20 At a meeting of the Church regularly warned & convened at the meeting house for the purpose of attending to complaints against Woodbridge Little Esq. for drawing up a paper of separation from this
342
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1808
Meetings
this Church,& against four other members for signing the said paper & absenting themselves from divine ordinances in this church; The Rev. Mr. Jud son, of Shef- field , opened the meeting by prayer, but was not allowed to afford the pastor under his infirmities any other assistance. The complaints were read, but no vote was taken concerning them. A complaint against the past or was offered by Mr. Joseph Fairfield , who resumed it af- ter by vote it was laid unon the table. Mr. Nathaniel Fairfield made an acknowledgment similar to that made, as recorded, April 13th & was restored. The meeting was dissolved.
Apr
29 At a meeting of the church regularly warned for the express purpose of attending to the complaints against Woodbridge Little Esq. for his agency in promoting a separation from this Church & against Timothy Cadwell Capt Tremain, Joseph Fairfield & Isaac Goodale, for separating from us in all gospel ordinances for about a year past , -the question was put, will the Church attend to & act on the said complaints; - when it was voted in the affirmative.
1809 96 th page Jan 12 Complaint against Mr. Charles Goodrich, Jun by Mr. Daniel Foot · To the Rev. Pastor & Church of Christ, in Pitts- field ; Rev. & Beloved. Mr. Charles Goodrich Junr has joined the separation made in this church & town by signing a petition to the Legislature to incorporate them into a Poll parish, & has used his influence with others to induce them to to the like , which con- duct of his has grieved the minds of many in this Church as being destructive of its peace, security, & of Christian love in the body,& is viewed as being a violation of his covenant engagements of friendship to Christ & this body. I have accordingly taken the steps of the gospel with him to reclaim him from his fauly, but to no effect. I have not been able to gain him to his duty. And now tell it to the church to hear & act on the same, as to them shall appear agreeable to the gospel of Christ. From your Brother in the faith & fellowship of the Gospel. Daniel Foot. .
97th page Jan 12
To the Rev. Pastor & Church of Christ in Pittsfield Rev. & Beloved. Mr.Timothy Haskell & Mr. Jonathan Weston, members of this Church, have joined the separa- tion in this church & town, by signing a petition to the Legislature to incorporate them into a poll parish, which conduct of theirs has grieved the minds of many members of this church as being destructive of its po ace & unity & Christian love, & a violation of their covenant engagements of friendship to Christ & this Church. I have accordingly taken the steps of the Gos- pel with them to reclaim them from their fault, but to no effect. I have not been able to gain them to their duty ; & now tell it to the church to hear & act on the same, as to them shall appear agreeable to the gospel of Christ. From your brother in the faith & fellowship the gospel. Josiah Lawrence
343
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1809 Jan
Voted by the Church, that the Pastor be requested to return the thanks of this Church to those female mem- bers, who have made a donation of four silver canns or tumblers for the use of the communion table. (They cost #60.)
P.98- Apr 21
At a meeting of the church it was voted, that whenever the pulpit shall be vacant , by whatever cause, public worship be supported by this church by prayer , singing & reading a sermon.
P.99
To Mr. Foot , I hereby acknowledge that I signed the peti- tion for a Poll Parish in this Town & used my Influence to induce others to do so. But should the immediate Ob- ject of the Petition be obtained I am still a member of this Church & have still a right to retain my present relation to it or to withdraw. Should I retain my rela- tion & still be a member of the Poll Parish for years my situation in this respect is the same which yours is I did not sign the Petition till I had endeavoured to bring the Difficulties to issue by the Steps of the Gos- pel & then did it as a duty which I dare no longer neg- lect. If as I suppose you intend to bring the matter before the Church, I wish no time may be lost & should I be satisfied of my Error, I hope I shall most freely re- tract it. Jan.15,1809 Yours, Charles Goodrich Junr
Feb 4 Pittsfield, Feb.4,1809
To the Rev. Pastor & Church of Christ in Pittsfield. Rev. & Beloved. Mr. Richard Barnard, a member in this Church has Joyned the separation in this Church & Town by signing one or more papers of separation from us, & by actually withdrawing from our Communion in violation of his covenant Engagements with us. I have accordingly taken the steps of the Gospel with him to reclaim him from his fault, but have not been able to gain him and now tell it to the Church to act on the same as they think proper . From your brother in the faith & fellow- ship of the Gospel. Josiah Lawrence
No matter of scandal can pro erly be brought before the Church unless the rule given by our Saviour in the 18th of Mat. concerning dealing with offenders, has first been observed, & that no complaint is to be received by the church against any Member , unless it particularly specifies that private Measures have according to Christ's rule been taken to reclaim the Offender, but to no pur - pose,& if the Offence itself be particularly stated in the Complaint to the Church.
P.100-1810 Feb 23 Pittsfield , Feb.23,1810 To the Church of Christ in Pittsfield, late under the pastoral care of the Rev. Thos Allen Charles Goodrich Esq. a member of this Church has Joyned the separation in this church & Town by sign ing a petition to the legislature
344
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1810 to incorporate them into a Poll Parish,& has with- drawn from communion in this Church , which conduct is destructive of the peace & unity of this church & a violation of his Covenant Engagements of friend- ship to Christ & this Church. The steps of the Gospel have accordingly been taken with him to reclaim him from his fault but to no effect, I now tell it to the Church to hear & act on the same as to them shall appear agreeable to the Gospel of Christ. From your Brother in the faith & fellowship of the Gospel. Daniel Foot .
Pittsfield Feb.23,1810
To the Church of Christ in Pittsfield, late under the pastoral care of Rev. Thomas Allen .
Deacon Daniel Chapman, a member of this church has Joyned the Separation in this Church & Town by signing for a Poll parish & withdrawing from Communion with us contrary to the peace & unity of this Church & his covenant Engagements walk with us in a church state. The steps of the Gospel have been taken with him to reclaim him from his Error, but to no effect, It is hereby told to the Church to act thereon as to them shall appear agreeable to the Gospel of Christ from your brother in the faith of the Gospel. James Hubbard
(Note, Mar 1902. The two above complaints were origin- ally dated "March 1809. "and Nathaniel Fairfield was included with Charles Goodrich, but the dates and word- ing were changed to read as above. R.H.C. )
P.101-1809 Feb 7 Mr.Jona. Weston was cited to appear before this church to make answer to a complaint against him for joining the separation in this church & town by signing a pe- tition to the General Court for a Poll parish. He did not appear.
Feb 7 At a meeting of the Church of Christ in Pittsfield duly notified. Voted unanimously, that those members of this church, who signed paper of separation from this church near two years ago, & have withdrawn from our communion, & those, who have of late joined with said separation by signing a petition to the General Court for a Poll parish, & with whom the gospel steps have been taken to reclaim them in vain, are disorderly walkers, have violated their covenant vows to walk with us in a church state in all the commandments & ordinances of the Lord blameless,& are hereby put un- der the censure of this church & suspended from com- munion with us until they give us gospel satisfaction. Apr 21 At a meeting of the church duly notified. Voted, that regular Baptists, who believe us to be a church of Christ,& wish to unite with us in full communion, on giving us Christian satisfaction as to their Christian character & agreeing not to vote in the church on the subject of baptism, may be admitted to our full com- munion & participate with us in the privileges of a church state.
Adjourned to May 5th.
345
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1809 May 5 Met according to adjournment Voted to adjourn to Friday, May 12th for the purpose of then electing some suitable persons to the office of deacons in this Church.
P.102-May 12 Met according to adjournment. Voted, that we disapprove of the organization of a separate church in this town of those members who are under censure here for their disorderly separation from us
Voted also to proceed to the election of one deacon, when Mr. Daniel Crowfoot was accordingly elected by ballot to the office of deacon in this church. Voted also, that this church will meet on the Friday after election at 3 o'clock P.M. for the purpose of prayer, especially for their Pastor, expected then to be on a journey for his health, & for other sick per - sons .
P.103-Aug 7 A church meeting was held at the meeting house & ad- journed to Monday, Aug. 14 th at 4 o'clock P.M.
Aug 14 Met according to ad journment & adjourned again to Friday 25th of August , 1809 4 o'clock P.M. to meet at meeting house, meeting ended without doing business, Sep 18 At a Meeting of the Church voted to call on ecclesias- tical Council to advise us under our Difficulties & to give us their Opinion on subjects which shall be laid before them- And that the Council consist of five churches & the ir Pastors, viz; The Church of Sheffield, Green River, Richmond, New Lebanon & Bennington, and their pastors. The time of holding said Council was appointed to be on Tuesday the 3d Day of October next. Oct 1 Voted by this Church to adjourn the Council proposed to be held here on Tuesday the 3d Instant for One Week viz. to Tuesday the 10th Instant Oct at 10 o'clock A.M. and that the Pastor & a Delegate from the church of Christ in Great Barrington be added to the Council.
Oct 10 Agreeably to letters Missive from the Rev. Thomas Allen of Pittsfield, & the Church under his Pastoral Care an Ecclesiastical Council convened at the Meeting house in said Town, composed of the following members & Delegates viz; Ministers Delegates
Rev. Ephraim Judson, Sheffield Daniel Marsh, Bennington John Mor se , Green River. James Platt Esq. & Dr. Eleazer Barret of G. Barrington.
Dea. Jonathan Hubbard
Hon .Moses Robinson
The Rev. Ephraim Judson was chosen Moderator & the Rev. John Morse , Scribe. The Council was opened by prayer, after which they expressed their willingness & desire to receive all the Information which the seceding Mem- bers of the Church in Pittsfield were able & willing to communicate. A number of the above Members being pres- ent, the Council having received all the light they are able to obtain from the Members, Mr. Allen, & the Church
34 6
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH , PITTSFIELD.
P.104 on the several particulars submitted to their consid- eration & advice; & after having maturely deliberated thereon, were unanimously of Opinion.
1. That the Members who had for saken the assembling themselves with the Church for public worship on the Lord's Day, & the Communion of the Church did wrong & in doing which they have violated their Covenant En- gagement s with the Church. No information being re- ceived that the preceeding members viewed the Church as a body guilty of any Crime which forbad their wor - shipping & communing with them & the Council believes that no Complaint against any Individual though well founded could Justify a member in forsaking the whole Church.
2. That the Manner of the withdrawing of the preceding members was irregular & not according to the Gospel Rule. No information being received. That the seceding members ever exercised any Gospel labor with the Church or even ever having made any request to the church to be regularly dismissed from them.
3. That they have not made Christian Satisfaction to the Church for withdrawing from them. No information being received that the seceding Members ever made any confession to the Church of refusing to meet with them
to attend to Divine Institutions. In Examining the Manner in which the pastor & the Church has exercised Gospel Discipline towards the above Members who had violated their Covenant Engagements with the church to walk with them in the Commands & Ordinances of their Divine Lord & Master. Though the Council discovered a Zeal in pastor & Church to maintain the Discipline of Christ's house, yet in their Opinion they discovered some irregularities in the mode of their proceeding in passing a Church censure upon several of the members with whom the first & second step had been taken when the Members of the Church had not general notice of said meeting & several of the members who were then censured had received no regular citation to attend said meeting.
The Council deem the Manner of proceeding not fully to correspond with the holy Rules given by the Savior for all his churches to observe when laboring with any of their Offending Brethren to reclaim them from the Error of their doings, or to prepare the way to inflict the last Censure of Gospel Discipline upon incorrigible of- fenders. The Council do therefore recommend to Mr. Allen & the Church to make a public acknowledgment of the Er- ror of their Proceedings. When the Walls of Zion are broken down, all her Cordial friends mourn & it is characteristical of all who love her posperity to unite their Exertions to build up her waste places,& when the people have a Mind to work, the ruins will be repaired & God will appear in his Glory. Under these Impressions we exhort Mr. Allen & the Church to exercise brotherly love & to let it continue, To worship the Lord in the
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