USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Pittsfield > Pittsfield, Mass., church and other records from manuscripts copied by Rollin Hillyer Cooke, Vol. I > Part 9
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P.105
34 7
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1809
beauty of holiness, unitedly seek the advancement of the Redeemer's Kingdom,& be vigorously employed in bringing forth much good fruit which their father who is in Heaven will be glorified & they prospered. Ephraim Judson, Moderator. John Morse , Scribe .
The Council then Voted that a Copy of their proceed- ing be given to this Church, & that they give a Copy of the same if desired to the seceeding members of the church.
Oct 16 At a meeting of the church of Christ in Pittsfield duly warned at the Meeting house , Monday Oct. 16,1809 Voted. That we do accept of the above result of Coun- cil & publickly acknowledge agreeably to advice of Council some irregularities in the mode of their pro- ceeding in passing a Church Censure upon several of the Members with whom the first and second steps of Discipline had been taken, when the Members of the Church had not gemral notice of said meeting & sev- eral of the members who were then censured had re - ceived no regular Citation to attend said Meeting. The Churches Apology for not Citing the Members to appear at the Church Meeting on the 7th of Feb.1809 for which they are blamed by Council,& in not communi- cating more general. Notice to the Members of the Church of said Meeting, is as follows; Unusual pains was taken by the Pastor & two of the Church to give notice of the Church meeting. It was agreed on by the Pastor & two Deacons five Days before, The two Deacons agreed to warn the East & West End of the Town & the Pastor to give usual notice of it on the Sabbath, & more than all this was done, the Pastor sent a special Messenger into different parts of the Town on Monday & Tuesday following because the Congregation the pre- ceeding Sabbath was thin by reason of a storm, after all it proved the several Members of the Church had received no notice,& in respect of our fault in not sending a particular Citation to the seceding Members to attend the Church Members to attend the Church Meeting at which they were censured we apologize. They had gone off from us by signing a paper of sepa- ration, renounced all Communion with us, denied our Jur - isdiction over them, asserting as was reported that they were a Majority of the church & some of them declared they did not belong to us & refused to have anything to do with us, or admit of any steps of Discipline from us. They contemned our Authority, Government in the Church was parilized by its Derision. Moreover the Church had good reason to believe they would not come if cited, & one was Cited, another warned of the Meetings neither of which seceding members did appear ,& the Trial of One would have determined the Cases of all. They all had confessed the charges to be true & the Censure was but suspension not Excommunication, the ultimate Censure before which would take place
P.106
1
346
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1809 particular notice would be given -for these reasons it was thought in the time of it we had given sufficient notice of the Church meeting & a particular Citation of each one was not necessary when we add further that 5 of said members had been cited to a former church meet- ing came & defeated the trial which was sufficient evi- dence to us that they would attend our meetings for church order no further. The reasons we believe will justify us in the View of many, we do not however Justi- fy ourselves but stand corrected by said Council & in our own Consciences.
P.107-
Charles Goodrich Junr was cited to appear at the Church Meeting above to make answer to a Complaint lodged a- gainst him in this church for Joyning the separation in it & inducing others to do so. The above Church meeting was adjourned to Tuesday of the next week, being October 24 chiefly for the purpose of attending to the case of Mr. Charles Goodrich Junr & of any others who may be cited to attend said meeting as offenders.
It appeared abundantly proved before the Council by the Records which were not to be disputed that the Complaints against the 5 members were prior to Mr. Fairfield's com- plaint against the Pastor; who the pastor believes ought first to have cast the beam out of his own Eye &c-Living personal Evidence of the same was offered but Judged un- necessary by the Council.
Oct 16 At a meeting of the Church regularly warned.
Voted to accept of the result of Council & we do acknowl- edge "the irregularities, ascribed to us in in the mode of our 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 no- tice of said meting & several of the members who were then censured had received no regular Citation to attend said meeting ." This Informality it is believed does not vacate the Censure, if it did, said members were regu- larly under Discipline & Complaints against them were regularly before the Church. The first & second steps hav- ing been regularly taken with them,& complaints lodged in the Church against them.
The meeting was then adjourned to Oct 24 th, Tuesday, at one o'clock
Oct 24 Met according to ad journment .
Mr.Charles Goodrich Jur , Mr. Timothy Haskell & Mr. Jonathan Weston, being cited to appear at said Meeting and make answer to the Complaints lodged against them in this Church.
Mr. Goodrich was heard.
Voted by the Church that Mr. Charles Goodrich Junr -a Mem - ber of this Church has violated his Covenant Engagement s with us to walk in a Church state, & that he has used his Influere, as he confesseth, to induce others so to do , & Gospel steps having been taken with him to no Effect he is hereby excluded from all Christian Communion with us without repentance after the term of three months.
P.108-
1
1
349
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH , PITTSFIELD.
1809 Mr. Goodrich was asked -do you acknowledge any Connec- tion with this Church or relation ot it, his answer was by no means. He was then asked -when did that relation cease, his asnwer was, That this Church unchurched itself by the Feby meeting last, & the Council the first of August last dissolved the Relation. He was then asked- do you believe that a Legislature act to incorporate you & others into a Poll Parish in this Town released you from your connection with this Church-his answer was- by no means . He was asked-Do you believe a Council of Ministers & Churches have power to dissolve Covenant ob- ligations .His answer was- The conduct of the church at the Feb. meeting released me not only from my particular obligations to this Church, but destroyed the regular existence of the Church.
Voted, That Mr. Timothy Harskel & Mr. Jonathan Weston have contemned the Authority of Christ in this Church by re- fusing to comply with a Citation of this Church to appear to answer before it to a Complaint lying against them in this Church & that they are hereby excommunicated from our Communion after three months without repentance , un- less the Church should leng then out the term.
Deacon Crowfoot then requested a dismission from this chirch & recommendation to the Church in Richmond, offer- ing as a Reason of such request that his heart was not with us
Voted to take his request under consideration & act on it at a future meeting as soon as may be convenient. The meeting was then dissolved by a vote of the Church.
Pittsfield Jan.12th, 1810.
To the Rev. Pastor & Church of Christ in Pittsfield . Rev. & beloved, Whereas Mr.Zebediah Stiles &
Isaac Truman, Members in this Church have Joyned the Sepa- ration in this Church & Town & withdrawn from Christian Communion with us in a disorderly manner , & in violation of their Covenant Engagements with us according to the sense of this Church in their vote at a meeting on Feb. 7,1809. I have accordingly taken the steps of the Gospel with them to reclaim them from their faults, but to no Effect. I have not been able to gain them & now tell it to the Church to act thereon as they shall think proper. From your Brother in the faith & fellowship of the Gospel. Daniel Foot.
Whereupon the above persons were Cited to appear before this Church at a Church meeting to be held at the meet- ing house on Friday Jan.19,1810,& make answer to the a- bove Complaint & give satisfaction to it for the above offence, which they have owned & confessed in respect to their Departure from us & signing a Paper of separation from us by petitioning for a Poll Parish. Pittsfield Jan.18,1810.
P.109- 1810
350
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1810 Feb 9 Friday. The Church met at the house of the Rev. Mr. Allen & as he was very dangerously sick, instead of attending to any business they employed the meeting in prayer for him.
P.110-
The Rev . Thomas Allen
the first pastor of this Church, who was ordained April 18,1764, died in the peace, hope & triumph of the Chris- tian at two o'clock in the morning of the Lord's day, February 11 ,1810, aged 67 years
P.111-1810 Feb 28 At a meeting of the church for the purpose of trying the disorderly members of the church against whom com- plaints had been regular ly introduced, Deacon James Hub- bard was chosen moderator. The following votes were passed. Where as Woodbridge Little Esq. ,Mr. Joseph Fair - field , Mr. Nathaniel Fairfield , Mr . Zebediah Stiles, Charles Goodrich Esq., Capt. Nathaniel Tremain, Deacon Daniel
Chapman, Mr. Isaac Tremain, Mr. Timothy Cadwell & Mr. Richard Barnard, members of this church , have drawn up or signed a paper of separation from us , have violated this cove- nant engagements with us to walk in a church state, have irregularly withdrawn from our communion, or have joined what they consider as another church without any dismis - sion or recommendation from this, & whereas the gospel steps to reclaim them from the error of their ways have been taken with them to no effect; & whereas they have contemned the authority of Christ in this Church, by re- fusing to comply with a C tation from this church to ap- pear before it, & to answer to complaints, which have been exhibited against them by their Christian brethren; Therefore voted, that they be hereby suspemed from our communion, & at the end of six months be entirely exclud- ed from our communion except they manifest repentance & unless the church prolongs the time.
This was an unamimous vote; pre sent, Deacon James Hubbard James Hubbard Junr, Capt . Daniel Sacket, George Butler , Amos Delano, Josiah Lawrence, Daniel Foot
James Hubbard, Moderator Voted also , that Mr. Charles Goodrich Junr . Mr . Timothy Has- kell, & Mr .Jonathan Weston, upon whom a similar vote of entire exclusion from communion, or of excommunication after a limited time has been passed, be further continued under suspension from our communion,& be excommunicated at the end of six months from this period unless they manifest repentance or the church prolongs the time still further .
Voted unamimously. The meeting was then dissolved. James Hubbard, Moderator.
P.112-
351
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
1810 Mar 15 At a meeting of the church, Deacon James Hubbard was chosen Moderator ,& Josiah Lawrence , Scri be .
Voted that Miss Olive Cadwell have a dismission from our church & be recommended to any Congregational church where God in his providence shall call her; That widow Sarah Marsh have a letter to the church of Christ in Dalton;
That Mrs. Huldah WWard be recommended to the church of Christ in Ashfield .
Accordingly letters were given, except to Miss O.Cadwell James Hubbard , Moderator.
Aug 13 At a meeting of the Church.
Voted to give Mr. William Allen a call to settle in the gospel ministry with us.
Jams Hubbard, Moderator . Voted also, at the same time, that those members, who on the 28th of February last were suspended from our com- munion & made liable to excommunication at the end of six months , have letters sent to them previously to the 28th of this month.
The following form was adopted; " The Church of Pittsfield to
Whereas in consequence of your despising the authority of this church, of which you are a member in refusing to appear before it to answer to charges, regu- larly brought against you, it was unamimously voted on the 28th of February last , that unless you manifested repentance, you be excommunicated at the end of six mon- ths; we do in the spirit of Christian love remind you, that on the 28th of this month this vote will go into operation, & our watch over you will be withdrawn, unless as we sincerely pray, a sense of your error & sin shall induce you to make confession of your fault, & to re- turn to our communion. By vote of the church. Aug . 13 ,1810. James Hubbard , Moderator
Aug 28 At a church meeting .- Voted to prolong the time of those members, belonging to our church, under censure & liable to excommunication (which time expires this day) until Thursday the 25th of September, & that the said members be notified by letters.
Voted that this meeting be adjourned to Sept .25. J. Hubbard , Moderator.
Sep
9 Previously to the adjourned meeting the church concluded, that it was unncessary & inexpedient to notify the said members, & therefore voted, that they be not notified. Voted, also, that Mrs.Elizabeth Ellis have a letter of recommendation to the church of Christ in Onondago. J. Hubbard , Moderator.
Sep
14 At a church meeting, voted to choose a committee of five members to have an interview with Mr. William Allen, repsecting his
P.113-
352
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD .
1810
settlement with us in the ministry. The committee were Deacon J.Hubbard, D. Crowfoot , J. Lawrence , J . Hubbard Junr. & D. Foot. who accordingly waited on Mr. Allen. J. Hubbard, Moderator.
P.114 Sep 25 At a meeting. The time of ordination was appointed to be Wednesday, Oct.10th. The following ministers were sent to in order to constitute the Council-The Rev. Dr.West & Mr. Swift, of Stockbridge, the Rev. Mr . Judson of Sheffield-the Rev. Messrs, Perry , of Richmond , Turmer of New Marlborough, Wheeler of Great Barrington, Edwards of West Stockbridge, keep of Blandford, Morse of Green River , Churchill of New Lebanon, Marsh of Bennington, & Rev. Dr. Morse of Charlestown, Rev . Dr . Eckley & Mr . Hunting- ton of Boston, Rev. Messrs. Pierce of Brookline & Codman of Dorchester.
Voted, also that Miss Anna Cleveland have a letter to the church of Christ in Pompey.
The following vote was also passed ; -
Whereas Woodbridge Little Esq., Mr. Joseph Fairfield, Mr. Nathaniel Fairfield , Mr. Zebediah Stiles, Charles Good- rich Esq., Capt . Nathaniel Tremain, deacon Daniel Chapman Mr. Isaac Tremain , Mr . Timothy Cadwell , Mr . Richard Bernard, Mr. Charles Goodrich Junr. Mr .Timothy Haskell & Mr. Jona- than Weston, members of this church, bound by solemn covenant to continue in its fellowship & to be subject to its rules, have drawn up or signed a paper of separa- tion from us, have violated their covenant engagement s with us, have irregularly withdrawn from our communion, or have been formed, by an exparte council, into another church, without any dismission or recommendation from this;& whereas the gospel steps to reclaim them from the error of their ways have been taken with them to no effect; & whereas they have contemned the authority of Christ in this church by explicitly denying its juris- diction, or by refusing to comply with a citation, to ap- pear before it ,& to answer to complaints, which have been exhibited against them by their Christian brethren; & whereas, notwithstanding all their unchristian conduct, they have made no suitable confession of their fault; & whereas the exemplary forbearance of this church in de- laying its final sentence against those disorderly mem- bers has made no good impression on their minds,& if further continued furnishes no prospects of any bene- ficial effect; Therefore , Voted, that the aforemention- ed persons be entirely excluded from our communion, or excommunicated, & that our brotherly watch over them be now complet ely withdrawn . James Hubbard, Moderator
Ordination.
Oct 9 Agreeably to letters missive from the first congregation- al church of Christ in Pittsfield ,& convened in council at Pittsfield Hotel Oct.9,1810, the following ministers & delegates were present; Rev . Dr.West, Rev. Ephr. Swift & deacon Plumb from Stock- bridge.
P.115-
:
353
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD .
1810 Rev. Eph. Judson & deacon Callender from Sheffield. Rev. Joseph Eckley , D.D. ) & deacon Salisbury-Boston. Rev . Joseph Huntington )
Rev. Daniel Marsh & Capt Jon'n E. Robinson -Bennington, Vt. Rev. John Mor se & Mr. Eph. Gleason - Green River , N. Y. Rev. Mr. Wheeler & Capt. George Beckwith-Great Barrington Rev. John Keep & deacon Just in Bishop-Bland ford Rev . Mr . Edwards & descon Reed -W. Stockbridge
& deacon Benjamin Abbot-New Lebanon , N. Y. Rev. Mr. Judson was chosen Moderator , & Rev . Mr . Wheeler , Scribe. The Council was opened with prayer by the Moderator , af- ter which the church & society laid before the council the call, which they had given to Mr. Williamn Allen to settle with them in the work of the gospel ministry & likewise Mr. Allen's acceptance of said call.After at- tending to which & to the state of said church & society the council voted to proceed to the examination of Mr. Allen with a view to his ordination. Mr. Wheeler finding it inconvenient to serve as a scribe, Mr. Marsh was chosen to supply his place.
P.116 -
Ad journed to meet tomorrow morning at sunrise.
Oct 10 Wednesday Met according to adjournment & the council was opened with prayer by Mr. Morse. An inquiry was made respecting Mr. Allen's regular church member ship,& good standing as a candidate preacher , Mr. Allen was then ex- amined upon the general system of gospel truths , his views in entering into the ministry, & his christian ex- perience, Mr. Allen's examination was sustained.
Voted, that in the opinion of the Council it is expe- dient to proceed to the ordination of Mr. Allen at 11 o'clock, A.M.
Mr. Keep to lead in the Introductory Prayer;
Dr. Eckley to preach the sermon; Mr. Marsh to lead in the ordaining prayer; Mr. Judson to give the charge; & Mr. Morse to give the right hand of fellowship,& lead in the concluding prayer.
Agreeably to the above vote Mr. William Allen was or- dained to the work of the gospel ministry.
A prayer was made by the Rev. Mr. Huntington & the council Ephraim Judson Moderator was dissolved. ( co py ) Daniel Mar sh, Scri be .
Brookline Sep 30,1810.
At the request of brother William Allen, the church of Christ in Brookline voted, this day, to dismiss him from their fellowship, & to recommend him to the first con- gregational church of Christ in Pittsfield, devoutly praying, that the union, about to be cemented between them, may contribute to their mutual comfort & christian edi-
fication . Attest John Pierce , pastor .
Accordingly Mr.Allen was received into the fellowship of the church of Pittsfield
:
354
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH , PITTSFIELD.
P.117-1810 Nov 2 Friday. At a meeting of the church it was voted, that a paper which has lately been presented to us, called the confession of Oct 23,1809, signed by eight persons, who have been excommunicated from this church, is in itself unsatisfactory, as it confesses no parti- cular fault for which they were excommunicated. W. Allen, Pastor.
1811 Jan
27 It was voted by the church that the following confes- sion of Merab Maynard is satisfactory,& tht she be restored to our communion.
" The Subscriber , a member of the church of Christ in Pittsfield, having for some time absented her self from communion & worship with said church, & now being sensible , that this practice is not agreeable to gospel discipline & the order of said church takes this op- por tunity publickly to confess her fault to God & this chirch & prays for Divine forgiveness & the forgiveness of all, whom she has offended & wishes to be restored to fellowship & communion in said church. Pittsfield 24th Jan.1811. Mer ab Maynard."
Mrs. Maynard was one of those, who without any dismission abandoned the church, with which she was connected, & joined the church of Union Parish,& this is the fault confessed above.
Jan
27 Mr. Gad Day, recommended by letter from Dr. Joseph Lathrop, pastor of the church in West Springfield was admitted into full communion.
H. Allen , pastor.
Apr
19 Friday. At a meeting of the church, the following con- fessions were presented by the pastor & considered. "To the church of the first parish in Pittsfield, We, the subscribers, do voluntarily & cheerfully confess that in the manner of our leaving you, "we are charge- able both with error in judgment & irregularity in practice (agreeable to the opinion of the two ecclesi- astical councils which have been convened in this place, & which have attended to our difficulties. ) This ack- nowile dement , which we consider ourselves as having made to you on the 23rd of Oct. last ,we again frankly make , & ask not only the Divine forgiveness but also yours & that of every person who has been offended thereby. Pittsfield Oct.24,1810. Woodbridge Little Joseph Fairfield Timothy Cadwell Nathaniel Tremain Daniel Chapman Nathaniel Fairfield Jon'n Weston Richard Bar nard
355
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
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 having 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 there- by.
Pittsfield Oct 24,1810
Isaac Tremain Cha . Good rich , Junr . Cha.Goodrich Zebediah Stiles Tim'o Haskell
Mr. Haskell, confession is dated Nov . 11, 1810.
After attending to the se confessions, which were not considered sooner in consequence of the delay in bringing in the confession of the females,& in consequence of the long illness of the pas- tor , the following Vote was passed with great unanimity.
P.119-Messers Woodbridge Little, Joseph Fairfield , Richard Barnard , Timo- thy Cadwell , Nathaniel Tremain, Daniel Chapman, Nathaniel Fairfield Jona Weston, Isaac Tremain, Chas. Good rich Junr . , Chas. Goodrich, Zebediah Stiles & Timothy Haskell, members of the church, who in violation of their solemn engagements have withdrawn from our communion & taken upon them a new covenant , having sent in to us a confession of their fault , we have given it our serious consid- eration. We should have been glad if the confession had been more precise & definite; yet, considering the circumstances of the case, remembering that the confession, followed the sentence of excommunication, which had been passed upon them, we must think, that by "the manner of their leaving us," they mean the irregularity in departing from us, for which they have been dis- ciplined.
A majority of the above mentioned persons have said in their confession of Oct.23,1809 , that "the course , which they have pur - sued, did not originate in any disaffection to the church ." We are fully sensible that the chirch gave them no just occasion for their secession from it, & that their conduct has been ir- reconcileable with gospel rules & contrary to the gospel spirit. They " acknowledge , that in the manner of their leaving us they are chargeable both with error in judgment & irregularity in practice (agreeable to the opinions of the two ecclesiastical councils, which have been convened in this place ,& which have at- tended to our difficulties." Whatever may have been the opinion of the first council, whose result has never been presented to us, there can be no doubt respecting that of the second council, with whose result a compliame is professed. This council declared, that the censured members, above named. "had violated
356
RECORDS OF FIRST CHURCH, PITTSFIELD.
P.120-
"their covenant engagements with the church "-that the manner of their withdrawing was irregular & not accord- ing to the gospel rule." & & that they had not made Christian satisfaction to the church for withdrawing from them." If the confession of the persons, referred to, relate as they say, to the irregularity pointed out by this Council; then they confess, that they have violated their solemn covenant engagements with us. In this light we must view the confession of all the above named per- sons; & it is only in this light that we are disposed to view it with any complacency. We believe, that in order fully to discharge their duty they are under obligation to return to our communion . But although at present they neglect to return to us; yet as they express their peni- tence for the irregular manner in which they left us, we trust, that our congregational churches will not censure us as abandoning the whole some discipline of the gospel, if on account of their professed repentance we, take off the sentence of excommunication ยท This we now do. We
cannot however adopt this measure without explicitly de- claring our belief, that the foundation of the church, with which they have connected themselves, was laid in error & irregularity. We are still ready to restore these per- sons to our communion & to receive them into the church, if they shall return to us, declaring that they take upon them again their former covenant.
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