USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Pittsfield > Pittsfield, Mass., church and other records from manuscripts copied by Rollin Hillyer Cooke, Vol. II > Part 4
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At a meeting of the Church Jan . 21,1818
The last named committee submitted the following which was ac- cepted a adopted nem-con.
The committee to whom several questions of order & expediency were recently referred by the church having deliberately at- tended to the sam, have unanimously agreed to recommend the following votes to the consideration & adoption of the Church 1. Voted that the preparetory lecture shall be statedly attend - ed on the friday preceding the administration of the Lord's Supper
P.4- Voted- that we will have a contribution for the support of the table, and other purposes as often as the sacrament of the supper shall be administered.
3. Voted that records of the church be kept in future in a new to begin with the vote inviting the Rev. Dr. Humphrey to settle with us in the ministry & that the new book, the old church rec- ords & the book containing the records of Union Parish Church be kept together for the use of the church.
4. Voted- that all persons wishing to make a profession of re- ligion & unite themselves to this church shall be examined , & shall be requested if convenient to appear before the church, or such of the church as may wish to attend for the purpose. 5. Voted -that after such examination every person who may be approved shall be propounded at least two sabbaths before ad- mission 1
6. Voted- that all persons who may hereafter come recommended to this church by letter, shall be examined by the Pastor , or at his
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request by the assistance of a commtee, that before they are propounded they shall give their assent to the Confession of Faith & Covenant of this Church & that they shall be propound - ed at least two weeks previous to admission.
7. Voted -- that we will admit members of sister churches in good standing who may reside among us to occasional communion for the space of one year & no longer , unless they can give satisfactory reasons to the Church why the indulgence should be prolonged.
Attest Heman Humphrey, Pastor.
1818.
· Mar 18. Dea. Daniel Chapman was, at his particular request, & on account of age & infirmities, excused from the ordinary ac - tive duties of his office. Attest Heman Humphrey , Pastor 1818.
Apr 15 At a meeting of the church, the committee appointed at a former meeting to enquire whether any members of this church have withdrawn from its communion &c made a report which was accepted. Whereupon it was
Voted - that the same committee-viz- Dea. Goodrich & Mr. Vivus Osborn be a committee to consider what is the next step proper to be taken with regard to members who have withdrawn in an irregular manner from the church & make report to a subsequent meeting.
1818
May 3 At a meeting of the church, the committee apointed on the 15th of April to consider what course shall be taken with those persons who have irregularly withdrawn themselves from the church & beg leave to report ~
That in the ir opinion it is expedient to appoint a Committee of seven to labour with the delinquent s & if possible persuade them to return to their duty & that the same committee be im- powered & directed to attend to such other cases of discipline as in their judgment may demand immediate attention & that they make report of their doings to the church as soon as convenient. That if any offend ing member or members shall refuse to hear this committee & to return to the path of duty & to make Chris- tian satisfaction, it shall be the duty of the committee to specify their names, the reasons by which they may attempt to
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justify themselves in the course they have taken & recommend such further steps with regard to them as said Committee may think right & proper . The above report- being read was accepted by vote of the Church & the following persons were appointed a committee-viz-
Vivus Osborn, Dea. D.Crowfoot , Dea. C. Goodrich, Josiah Bissell , - Nathaniel Tremain, -- Lawrence & Ebenezer Burt.
1818
P.6-May 20 At a meeting of the Church, the last named committee re por ted in part, whereupon it was voted that Dea. Good - rich be requested to converse further with Bar - ber,who is reported to have scandalized her profession by intemperance & that he assist her in preparing a sui table confession.
Voted- that whereas · Adams & his wife, members of this church have represented to the Committee that they cannot attend public worship for want of decent apparel, Nathaniel Tremain be requested to furnish them with the necessary summer garments at the expense of the church.
1818 July 3 At a meeting of the church- Where as Jacob Bow & his wife Zernah have withdrawn the m- selves from the communion of this church & joined the Methodist communion & whereas they have signified to a committee of this church their deliberate wish & inten- tion to remain where they are-
Voted that the said Jacob Bow & his wife having thus withdrawn & refused to return, can no longer be regarded as membersof this church & our watch & care is hereby accordingly withdrawn.
Attest Heman Humphrey, Pastor .
1818 July
22 At a church meeting Voted -that Dea. C. Goodrich & Charles Williams Esq. be a committee to make a settlement with Dea. Maynard & see whether any & if any what is the balance of money belong- ing , to the church now in his hands. Also
Voted- that the same Brethren be a committee to call on Mr .James Hubbard & make a settlement regarding all the money that was received, paid out &c. by the father of Mr. Hubbard while he was Dea. & managed the funds of the church .
Attest Heman Humphrey , Pastor.
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1818 P.7- Aug 12 At a meeting of the church Whereas sundry reports have gone abroad very unfavor- able to the christian character of Dea. Eli Maynard & Where as several Brethren of the Church have at various times dealt plainly & faithfully with him as an offend - ing Brother , & whereas reports still more unfavourable to Dea.Maynard have recently spread through the town, & even far beyond its limits; Therefore
Voted- that Vivus Osborn, Ebenz. Burt , Jabez Peck & Dea. Chapman be a committee to inquire into the truth of these reports & deal with Dea. Maynard in such a manner as his offences may be found to require; that this shall be considered as taking the second step of dsicipline, with Dea. Maynard & that the said Committee make report of their doings to the church, with as little delay as possible.
Voted to adjourn this meeting to Monday next at 4 0' clock P.M. to receive the re port of the above named committee.
Monday Aug. 17 . The church met according to ad journment. The meeting being opened with prayer , Mr. Osborn stated in behalf of the committee that they had attended to the business for which they were appointed & that Dea. Maynard had declared his willingness to make a full & humble confession of his sins against God & the church; but hoped he might be indulged with a little time to prove by a thorough reformation his sincerity in the proposed confession.
Whereupon, after mature consideration it was unanimous- ly
Voted- that a probation of three months be granted to Dea. Maynard, after which period he must make such a confession of the heinous sins laid to his charge & acknowledge by him as the church can accept, & that un- til such confession be made & accepted, he is hereby sus- nended from the enjoyment of Church privilepes.
Nov
18
At a meeting of the church.
Voted- that whereas the church has no further use for certain cups presented many years since, by the late Charles Goodrich Esq. for the communion table , that the said cups be delivered to his son Dea. Charles Goodrich & they may by him be presented in the name of the
P.8-
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Church to the Congregational Church in Pittsfield , Ver mont . At the same time John C. Williams Esq. was appointed Church Treasurer.
At this meeting also , Dea. Eli Maynard appeared before the Church & signified that he was now ready to make confession of his sins against God & the church, Thereupon
Voted to adjourn this meeting to Thursday the 3rd day of Decem. next, for the purpose of receiving & considering said confession preparatory to its being publicly read.
Met according to adjournment. Said confession being read in hear - ing of the Church, it was voted to receive it with two or three slight verbal alterations on condition that it shall be signed by Dea. Maynard & publicly read on the Lord's Day, he being pre sent as soon as convenient.
Dec.16 At a meeting of the church.
1 Whereas the name of the Wd . . Barber cannot be found on the Church records, whereas she says is not & never was a member with us, though she has often communed,& whereas it does not appear as yet that any positive testimony can be adduced to prove that she was received by us therefore .
Voted-that all further proceedings in the way of discipline be for the present suspended.
Where as some weeks have elapsed since Dea. Maynard expressed his readiness to make a confession & instead of doing it ,he has lately expressed to some members of the church considerable hesitation P.9- about fulfilling his engagement in regard to the confession. Voted- that Josiah Lawrence, King Strong & Isaac Tremain be a com- mit tee to wait on Dea. Maynard, confer with him on the subject of the confession & such other matters connected with it as they may think proper , & & report his answer & determination as soon as may be, to the church.
1819
Jan 20 At a meeting of the church.
Whereas Mr. Oswald Williams, once a regular member of this church according to his own declaration & the remembrance of some of us many years ago apply for a dismission from our communion that he might unite with the Baptists or Separates.
Whereas we cannot find from the church records that this
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request was ever granted, though to have granted it would have accorded with the ancient usage of the church in cases of con- scientious dissent by its regular & sober members.
Whereas the said Oswald Williams did nevertheless leave the Church & has not communed with us for more than twenty years. Whereas the general impression in the church has long been that he was not a member &
Whereas he has recently signified to a committee sent to him from the church that he has not considered himself nor supposed that we considered him a member since he left us & that he is fixed in his resolution not to return, therefore
Voted, that although in our opinion no act of a member , or neglect of the church, can dissolve his covenant relation without their consent, & of course that Mr. Williams is still in covenant with us, still in view of all the circumstances, it is expedient to dis - - solve the connection, & to this end we hereby declare that he is no longer to be considered as under our watch & care, or as en- titled to any church privileg .
F.10- Feb.17. At a meeting of the church.
The committee last appointed to attend further to the case of Dea. Eli Maynard, reported that they had attended to the duties of their appointment & that he again expressed his readiness to make confession in manner & form as had been agreed uron at a former meeting. Some difficulties arising in consequence of the delay since Dea. Maynard first agreed to make confession which could not easily be accounted for & for other reasons it was moved & carried to adjourn the meeting to Friday March 5th & Dea. Chapman & Dea . Goodrich were appointed to wait on Dea. Maynard & request him per- sonally to attend said meeting that the church might have oppor- tunity to confer with him freely & fully on the subject.
March 5. The church met according to adjournment. Dea. Maynard was present , explained the reasons of the delay mentioned above & pro - posed to make his confession before the church & congregation next Lord's day. Thereupon the church by their vote acceded to the proposal & the meeting was dissolved.
March 7. - Lord's Day- Dea. Bli Maynard appeared before the church &
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1819
congregation & made the following confession which was unami- mously accepted.
To the Church of Christ in Pittsfield
Dear Brethren,
Before you & in the presence of my Almighty Judge I now stand convicted of several sins for which I am to make confes- sion in presence of this assembly. In committing these sins , I have greatly wounded the cause of our holy religion which I have for many years professed, grieved &; offended my Brethren & Sisters in the church & by my ungodly walk & conversation I have interrupted my own peace & happiness & endangered the eternal welfare of my own soul & the welfare of the souls of others a- round me. I pray Cod. to humble me & grant me a penitent & con- trite spirit that I may now make suitable confession of my P.ll-faults.
The sin of which I am convicted so injurious & so unbecoming a profession of religion & more especially an officer in the church who ought to be blameless, sober , of good behaviour, not given to wine, nor greedy of filthy lucre are the following -
1. Intemperance -2. Imprudent conversation -3. Mismanagement in my store-4. Breach of the Sabbath-5 Cord playing . I now ack- nowledge myself guilty of these sins alledeed against me & pray God to forgive me. I believe I have never been so much under the power of ardent spirits & not to be able to manage my own affairs but several times have been so much under its influence as to ap- pear to others foolishly & very unbecomingly for a profession of religion. I have not been at all times prudent in my conversation but have so expressed myself several times, particular ly when speaking of universalism & to be understood by those who have heard me to have changed my religious sentiments though, I did not intend to be so understood neither have I changed my sentiments in religion. And when talking upon other subjects I have been imprudent & have given gainsayers occasion to speak against our holy religion & herein have deeply wounded the cause of Christ in the house of his professed friends.
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I have wished to keep good order in my store but have it to regret that hemtofore some disorder has happened in conse- quence of my going too much indulgence to a class of men whose misfortune has been to have ruined themselves by an excessive use of ardent spirits.
I have sometimes unnecessarily travelled on the Sabbath in violation of the fourth commandment , which en joins a remembrance of the Sabbath day to keep it holy. On my way from New York some time ago, I played several gammes at cards, intending myself to play for diversion only; but in one instance when I won after the money was urged upon me & left upon the table, I did P.12- take it & apply to pay for the liquor which was drunk among us, the use for which the money was designed. I am very sorry breth- ren to have been left so greatly to dishonour my profession & to grieve & of fend you.
I am ready & do now confess my faults to my Almighty Father in heaven against whom I have sinned & done this evil & humbly & devoutly implore his for egiveness.
I also ask the forgiveness of my brothers & sisters in the church who have been grieved & hurt by my unchristian life. I do now resolve by the assistance of the Holy Spirit to break off my sins by righteousness & particularly to refrain from an excessive use of strong drink which has been the cause of so much evil to myself & I pray God by the power of his grace to restrain one from sin, especially from those sins which most easily beset me; & I earnestly request my brethren to receive me into their charity again & to pray for me & watch over me that I may go no more astray, that when I shall stand before the awful tribunal of Christ I may give up my account with joy & not with grief, & when he who in the believer's life shall appear I may also appear with him in glory.
Pittsfield March 7,1819
Signed Eli Maynard
A true copy of the original
Attest Heman Humphrey, Pastor.
1819
P.13- June 15 At a church meeting.
Whereas a meeting of the General Association of Massachusetts Proper
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is to be holden in the town in the present month, and whereas it is customary on such occasions to have a general Communion, therefore
Voted, that this Church will unite with the Association in the celebration of the Lord's supper, at some convenient time during the ensuing sessionof that body.
Voted, that the Pastor of this church be authorized & requested to give a general invitation through their Pastors to sister Churches in this vicinity to unite with us & the Association in the holy ordinance of the supper & that this church will make provision of bread & wine for the occasion.
The substance of these votes was communicated to the ministers in the vicinity & by them to their churches & Wednesday the 23rd inst. having been agreed upon as the day of Communion a large number of our Brethren & sisters attended from the adjoining towns & the professed friends of the Redeemer to the number of between six and seven hundred set down at the table of their common Lord. It was an interesting & joyful season & will long be remembered with gratitude by many who at tended.
July 21. At a meeting of the Church.
Voted, that Dea. Charles Goodrich be requested in the name of the Church, to present the tankards which were formerly given us by his honoured Father, & for which we have no further use, to the Congregational Church of Pittsfield in Vermont.
Nov.24 At a meeting of the Church.
Voted, to empower the Deacons to draw on the Treasurer from time to time according to their discretion for such sums of money as they may judge necessary & expedient for the relief & comfort of indigent members of the church.
At the same meeting a proposal from the American Education So- P.14 -ciety that the church should agree to raise the sum of one hun- dred dollars annually to aid in the education of pious indigent young men for the Gospel ministry being under consideration, on motion.
Voted, to refer the whole subject to a committee of five & that they make report to the church at the next stated meting for prayer on the third Wednesday in December.
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Voted that Josiah Bissell, J. C. Williams Esq. Dea . Goodrich , Dea. Crowfoot & Solomon Warriner be said committee.
Dec.21. At a meeting of the church, the above named committee presented their report, which was read & ordered to be taken up & disposed of at the next stated in eting.
1820
Jan 19 At a meeting of the church, the Report of the committee in reference to the education of pious indigent young men for the Gospel Ministry was taken up & is as follows-
" The Committee of the Church in the Congregational Society in the town of Pittsfield appointed at the church meeting held on the 17th day of Nov . last to consider the proposals made by Mr. Dewy at the request of the American Education Society for edu- cating pious youth for the Gospel ministry have attended that service & report thereon that your committee do approve of the plan & most sincerely hope that it may succeed.
Bur when we consider the small number of the male me :bers com- prising the church nearly a fourth part of whom are in strait- ened circumstances & find that the calls which are upon the church & society already for aiding in the various efforts that are making for evangelizing the world; none of which can at present be given up, we confess ourselves at a loss how to ad- vise the church on the present occasion; or what method to rec- ommend for adoption in aid of this very imported purpose . How - ever we would not despair of success but hoping for the blessing of God on our exertions we would recommend to the Church that there should be two contributions for the coming year , one in the month of March & the other in the month of Nov. to be taken after the communion in those months. We trust that at those contributions the sum of at least sixty dollars might be collected in money & that a further sum might be raised in necessary articles of wear - ing apparel, for the young men students of Williams College in this county & which should be delivered there without expense to the society, so that in such manner this church would contribute the requisite sum of one hundred dollars. But we do not at pres- ent think it expedient that the Church should pledge themselves for the full amount until we can judge better of our resources after
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finding what will be the result of the proposed contributions . And now Brethren we recommend you to God & the word of his grace beseeching him to show us all that we ought to support & aid the weak & to teach us to remember the words of our Lord Jesus , how he said it is more blessed to give than to receive. Which is submitted.
Josiah Bis sell John C. Williams Charles Goodrich Committee Solomon Warriner 1
After a full discussion it was
Voted to accept the above report & that the first shall be made on the 1st sabbath in March next . Attest, Heman Humphrey , Pastor .
At the same meeting it was
- Voted, that when members are to be received into the church the vote of admission shall be taken on the day of the Lecture previ- ous to the communion & not on the sabbath when they are admitted as heretofore; but that the Confession of Faith & Covenant shall be publicly read & assented to on the sabbath according to ancient & regular usage in this church .
Voted also that Col.Solomon Warriner be associated with the pas- tor as a committee to cause a suitable number of copies of the Confession of Faith & Covenant of this Church together with a list of names of all those who now belong to it to be printed & distributed among the members at the expense of the church. March 3. At a meeting of the church the following votes were passed.
Whereas Lucy Montague , a member of this church has lately expres- sed a desire to be dismissed from our watch & care with a view of uniting with the Methodists.
Voted, that Vivus Osborn & Deacon Goodrich, with the Pastor, be a committee to go & converse with her & endeavour to dissuade her from her purpose & report to the Church on the subject .
Also voted, that Vivus Osborn, Dea . Goodrich & Josiah Bissell, with the Pastor, be a committee to consider in what manner application for dismission from us in order to join Churches of other
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denominations ought to be disposed of & to report thereon to the church
April 19. At a meeting of the church both the Committees above named presented the following reports which were unanimously accepted.
The committee appointed on the 3rd day of March last to converse with Miss Lucy Montague, a member of this church, on the subject of removing her relation from us to the Methodists & endeavour to dissuade her from such a step, beg leave to Report-That they lost no time in fulfilling the duty of their appointment , & they regret to say that es they found so they left her enter taining a decided preference for the Methodist system to ours, & fully persuaded as she said that it was her duty to join them. Vivus Osborn ) Committee Charles Goodrich )
The Committee which was appointed on the 3rd day of March last to consider in what manner applications for dismission from this church with the view of joining churches of other denominations ought to be disposed of & to report thereon to the church, have deliberately attended to the subject & now ask leave to submit the following as their Report.
1. That it is inexpedient to adopt any general rule of proceed- ing in such cases, because each case may be attended with cirsum- stances peculiar to itself & ought to stand & be decided upon its own merits.
2. Whereas Miss Lucy Montague , a member of this church, sometime ago applied for a dismission from us with a view of attaching herself to the Methodist communion, And
Whereas the communion which was appointed to hold a free con- versation with Miss Montague on the subject & endeavour , if pos - sible to relieve her mind from existing doubts in respect to our articles & worship have reported that she still adheres to her purpose & renews her request for a dismission therefore- Re- solved -as the sense of this church.
That we exceedingly regret the derarture of any of our members from that Confession of Faith which we have all public & solemn- ly recognized as true & agreeable to the
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holy Scripture & we sincerely desire the continuance of our sister Montague with us on this basis of our mutual & volun- tary engagements. That we cannot consistently with our views of duty & church order comply with her request by giving her a certificate in the manner & from requested, But that far from wishing her to remain with us in violation of her conscience if her present views of duty remain unaltered & she should actually become a member of the Methodist Church; & will furnish us with a certificate of her having been regularly received by them then we will consent that her convenant relation to us be dissolved & will withdraw our watch & care from her as no longer a member with us.
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