USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Halifax > Records of the Church of Christ in Halifax, 1734-1833 > Part 5
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af Durch, for this & the fare mentioned are ca .;- And defire the Prayers " of God's People, that he would give me Repentance for all my fins, and enable me a to be more watch ful over my self a ways for the time to come,- Tolah sturtevant? upon the reading of this, the Church voted to restore him to their Comunion .- May. 11.1755. Eliza felfor the wife of Nehemiah Action made a Confesion of actual unchastity before marriage .. and the Church voted to restore her to their Communion & Charity .-
at a lhh meeting held at Halifax ap" to vis. To confiter a Complaint exhibited against our Brother Samuel Palmer changing him with ablenting himself from the Communion of od Ohh for the space of two years or more and also with indult. ging himself in prophanenchi- and also to confiden of some method for reviving the ancient Discipline of this 6hk ~ The Party referring to appear before the the they duely Notified the Ehh powered to hear the Complaint, exhibited against him and also the Exercer to support them, but as by reason of the inclemency of the Jealou but a small part of the Ohh were present the chle hoping that I Palmer might be hereafter prevails with to appear before them, they prafied the following Vote. vir: That the 6th will suffer their Determination of the affair till a further Opportunity and then after hearing come proposals which were made by the Pastor in order to revive Deayer Discipline the meeting was Difmified
at a Chh meeting held at Halifax June 10 vyho To Confiden of some method for reviving the Discipline of this Ohh and to hear a Petition hom Sofiah Stur: tévant. Voto That Baptized Verfons commonly called Children of the Chi are under the watch & care of the lhh x therefore lat years of Direction ,subjects of
Is That the Covenant of this Chhints which they explicas ly gave their Content when they were finster hod into a Church State be publicly seat in the Congregation on a Love-Day when the Taller shall think Conscient
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95 and that the Duties resulting from as well as the Sims forbidden. in a Covenant be briefly explained not only to members in full Communion but alfo to baptize Pertous in over that they may offerte the one and avoid the other.
3 That the Church would chufe some fit Perfors to inspect the morals of church members, & Baptized Besjons, & that it should be their officer peculiary (the not to the exclusion of Other) to enter complaints against such as walk Dividerly.
4 That Deacon Buchman Mehr- The Eben" Fuller anthony Waterman & Noah Tinkhow persone id Service 5 That the Petition of Folial Sturtevant ; us be grant. ( that i) that he should have a rehearing of his Cafe 6 That the affair be refer to the Determination of 000. Neighbouring Grafton
7 That it should be refer to Mels- Show Conantan 8 That Deacon Guthman & M. Eben" Filler te. Committee to join with the Pastor in Signing the Letter to the above Named Gentlemen, & alle that 2 Committee show collect the evidences in the above Cafe, & represent the cht before them when met upon that affair
At a Chh Meeting held at Halifax Dec? o. obo The church naples the following Voter- ( Voted That as the Neighbouring Minister to whom the affair of sofiah Sturtevant "in" was refere, have declined Rating therefore the Vote enletting him to a schearing of
96. 1 Sofian Sturtevant then he queste the Chl tojoin with him in calling a Connect to confiden his cafe 2 The chh Vote not to comply with his Request
at a Chi Meeting held at Halifax Octo? 28 it62 to hear a complaint exhibited againft our Sister abigail Drew (the Wife of The? Dust changing her with ablenting" herfell from the Communion of this the for some Time All & D firing that she might be called upon to give her Reasons for so doing The party, Quelle appeared and owned the charge, & justified his conduct by the following Reasons.
! That the Afton had Delivered enormous Doctrine ina se, mon sometime l'aff &had denged that he Delivered such Doctrine
That in Convenation the after that said he could prove a particular fact by one Witness & that she had converted with the vituals he referred to thats Withif word not teftific to it The Vator Denye both her chealow- and obterved to the owl that with thegon to the first they were able to judge having heard the dermon, he also repeatin to the the the head of the clermon ( there not beingtime to repeat the whole of it with respect to the decores reason the Valtor decland that he was still ready to prove the matter of fact mentioned by the withif he citests in conversation, and that said witness stood ready to justifie what he had afrented. Ainda W. Drew not intimating that she had the least shadow of isvoor to support her lification, The the refer the following Côte in That they do not look upon the Mealors which Na! new has q were a sufficient to justifies her in her withdraw from the Communion of this Chh.
If a chh Meeting held at Hallifax, april 2v, ylos To hear several boticles of Phavous sahibitid againfour filter
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97. abigail
The first charge turas that notweltiflanding the this debating will be Call fall she still continued to alfert herself from the Public Worth and Ordinances of God. She owned the charge and cadeauou valory tifie her lowwel by the first Realon that she gave left fall y bychan ing the after with altering or reading his Notes wrong whose of lateh. Repeater them to her, the Ohh after hearing her herford, Volu
1 That the Realand she has given for has withdraw from the Commun of this Chh & the Publick Worthige of God are not sufficient to Fuffifc I That in so affecting herself she has been guilty of a Confutablets The second Charge was that she evidently wanted that Charity found her fellow Member of the lake which is the band of Perfect hats an that she has indulged herfell in uncharitable Reflections on these Reproaches of them to such a Degree as is inconsistent with the Char = ter ofacitizen of vion who backbitith not with his Jou que nor Land. up attheport against his Neighbour - This change theart dery? and after hearing the lawrences to support it y the Parties Defence the date voler. - L
( That the Charges was sufficiently Prove-
2 That she was in this Reflect guilty of a Censurable Dail. The thin Changes was that she has been quilty of such incontest = cies Contradictions in her Conversation of one wordently acknow of the ninth Commandment ycontrary to the Character of the People of you who are Children that will not lie This Change the Party Denied, and upon hearing the loideas. to support it and what the Party had to say inCher con Vind's The och Voler.
('That this charges was supported by sufficient Evidence. 2 That she was upon this beccount quilty of a centurable toil.
Octo: 27, vy63_) The the for some time poff having har io. Ropotals for reviving Dikipling under Confidenation, were lloyd a Lecture (according to their own Proposal) to act therese por - The Propofol were as follows ... ( That the the chute a Number of the most serious judicious Decenni 1% of their Number to infect the Morale of Perforto under their Fate. & Care. This is not proposed to create others from the Necessary Duty of Christian Watchfulsett, but as there is evidently alot of this Duty. it be hoped that those to whom this huft shall be affecially committed will a iscitu to the faithful performance of it by Virtue of the huff report is there . - That the Ha. In of the Pistou is chelenthey
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what it shall we eager of the welford to chofen that they join with the latter in visiting xdifcourting with such as have or shall fall into Scandal, Affe if and shall be aculto by common Fame of walking diforderly" it shall be expected that the Perfor ators, hall make inquiry into the Trette of Reports. This seems to be Necessary, as particular expon, often Vuftain a bad Character by common Fame, whereby Scandal is Got you Religion, & yet the ehh have not sufficient foundation by any thing that appears to proceed against them; and if particular members underthe to make enquing, they are changed either with (Prejudice, or doing what is none of their Butinch; which would be in a great meafure portes if some fit Perfore were chosen for this end. This has als been formuly practied by this ehh ...
3 That there Perfom with the Pafter have Power to call Offender before them, or alle howdences, a to proceed to the having of laufer; not to take the final Determination of them out of the Hands of the Ch, but to prepare lafes for an easy heaving before the thha
That if a Porfor occuper appear innocent upon a hearing of his Cafe then the Charges against him be difinifil, unless his acceler infilt on a hearing before the chh. and if a Person accepted appear to them quilly, then the aculation, the luivence to Support it, & the Parties Defence be committed to writing, xin a true & clear light be laid before the Ohh for them finally to Determine the laufe The Realous for this Method are these
This deprives the Body of the the of wo Privilege; for if the (Perfor aceufa be acquitted, yet if the Queufer perligt in his ausculation the Matter is still to be brot before the chh; or if the acute Porfor be condemned the sentence does not take place, till laid before and confirmed by the Chh.
) Autour acceler ant deprived of any Privilege, for they ant concerns but by the whole ah-
This is agreeable to our common Method of Lifeinline, wherein Specially in difficult lafer, we efter it prudent to consult the most serious judicious of the Chh, & obtain their Opinion & advice, before a Matter be laid before the Chh; and their being the choices reacting is only to do that at the Defire of the Chle which they before De. Voluntarily
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4. This is agreeable to the vraclice of Other than pure: The thb of Portland practices this with this Difference that of final Determination of causes is in the Power of thete Performs with = and the Content of the eth. This is the Method of Discipline in the thing of Connecticut as far as I can learn, seof many in this Movie's particularly of Cambridge, several of Boflow that in particular the the late with Colmen had the Change of
5 In this Way it is more than likely the Ohh may be caud much hout Things being made ready to their flaws, the hearing a taufe will require bad little Time or pains compared with what is now requr 6 This Method is agreeable to the example in lect, 15. 6. Where for the man = ging the affairs of the the the another filiera come together, a which Were we must understand Peryour chosen by the thh to add i matter relating to their Purity wellbeing, and alfo agreeable to 1 Cor. 12.28 Where the Bottle mentioning the various officers intel - to you the Dification of the ehh mentions Helps ~~ 7 In this way it is probable by the Divine Blefing that ofow). . might oftentimes be bot to a range of their offenens & au iknow = ment of them, without any trouble to the the; and lihawife man Contentions Difficulties might havemore &healed without un = lich Scandal given to any
These Moneyals being Red ( V.S. they had been read before several to the chk- They paid the following Votes -
1 That they approved of s. Propofals &word comply with there. 2 They chofe Decons buchman, Tomfor & Nojworth, &Mfin Ley Dubar Ve Noch Linkhow to act agreable to the Topofali
October 28 oft4 - Samuel Palmer mare a Publick Confection of the Sims charge. him April 10, viga - age of his being quen to interference & quilty is it There to Time on aile of his giving the post a Liberty to his Vaficada xaque
reflow-line to their Compturion & charity
at a church Meeting held at Halliface March 28, 0,65- The following Persons vir Josiah Sturtevant jonathan Ripley, Hofer Ingles, John Til. Noch Tankham Nathan Tinhham & samuel Fuller, were called por by the Church to give their Reasons for their withdrawing Someunits from the Communion of the Church caff fall, They Declaring that they, ha givere their theafour in a Paper Directed to the Factor (Date Chto" 18. 064 ) The Pastor read and Paper together with the complaint on which it was founded,to 1.
the river ...
in the following bote was put to the church.
Whether the Brethren who have now appeared before the Church & given the Ruafon of their withdraw from the Communion of the church, are guilty of a Breach of Covenant in their withdraw, - 19 votes in the affirmative and 5 in the Negative ~ Then the following Votes were put_
Whether any infon, who is not a Member in full communion, has a right of Complaint against either a Member or Minister. ~ 18 Votes in the Nega- tive and bin the affirmative __
Whether a Person who has wife & Spread a Scandalous Report concerning ano= ther ought to be eftermed a good Evidence in Support of his own Stories i Voted in the Negative by all but one or two
Then the after read to the church a Paper signed by The" Drew &his Wife Date Det" 5. 064, together with one vigno by eight of the Brethren Dated Dit 11. 0764 with another Paper signo by nine of the Brethren Date March 12. 0169. and then put the following Vote .. -
*I Whether the Brethren who call themselves diffactiffeed have made them filier joint Complainants with Drew & his Wife in their Von aper now alar-19 Voted in the affirmative & one in the Negative At the Request of one of the Brethren it was put to Vote .
whether the church will receive the Complaint which has been rea, as exs hibited by Drew & his Wife jointly .... Vote in the Negative by all but two un whether the Church are of Opinion that the Complainants are obliged to mention weh Circumstances to the Pastor, relative to their articles of change againff him, as may enable him to vindicate himself if he is able to do it Vote in the affirmative by all save one.
at the Request of Sofian Sturtevant in the two following Votes were put- 7 Whether the church will reconsider their Vote of June 21. 0750, whereby disk Sturtevantjust
at is infuentes from Communion _ Votes in the Negative -
Whether the church will join with him in Council reflecting said affair Vote in the Negative __
It a chle Meeting held at Halifax May. 9. 0765- To Confider & act what the thr think proper relative to lome Papers which the Pafter has received from The. Drew his Wife the Dissatisfied Brethren the following Votes were put to the ehh.
1 Whether the Chle will reconsider their Vote of the 28℃ of March Coff. wir that no perfon not Being"a Member in full Communion has a right of complaint against either a Member or Minifter~16 Voted in the Nega tive & 3 in the affirmative
2 Whether the chh will reconfider that Vote walid at the Time about? viz That the Brethren who call themselves Difiatisfied have made them file joint cony Cainants with You & his life in it .. Capers which have bar
of Reading 16 voted in the s legative & B on the
3 Whether the chhe will reconfider that Vote papir at the Time abory wir That they are of Opinion that the Complainants are obliged to m ation such Circumstances to the Pastor relative to their articles of change against him, as may enable him to vindicate himself of the. able to Do it- 16 Voted in the Negative & 2 in the affirmative- 4 Whether upon the Difratified Brethrens compliance with the vial Gite of left the meeting, as explained by the after in his Letter to the Difratified Date april p. of by- The Ohh are ready to enter upon a hearing the articles of Charge exhibited, & to join in Council if upon a heaving of the affair there shall appear sufficient realon for 18 Vole in the affirmative & 1. in the Negative. 5 Whether the chl will join in Council with The Draw and h Wife agreeable to their Request of age"29 Loft Voted in the Vigation unanimously
at the Request of Majer Inglee seconded by one or two more of the Fifatiffito The two following boter beve put __
6 Whether the Ohh will join with The Drew his Wife Gothere fatifind in calling a Council to Consider the articles of charge hibited against the Pafter under the project situation of afair 16 Voti in the Negative of three in the affirmations .
7Whether the chhe will at this Time join with seven of the Brethren whom they Voted at their laft meeting to be quilly of a Breach of Covenant in withdrawing from the Commune of the chh, in calling a Council to Consider the affair of sair Vote- Vote in the Negative unanimously -- .
N. B. after the loft Vote the Pafter publicly declared before the che that he was ready, agreeable to the Request of the Diliaitific Brethren, to noite a Neighbouring Minutter to Moderate in a the meeting for the Configuration of the articles of change against him upon their compliance with the Vote of the
Haitifax June 13. 065 The after having receives a volte, from The Trade &g; in the Name of the Hitratiofine Brethrenthe captor with that they rothen has sent out Letter to five Chik" defining them to meet in touneine Le Living allo the Poltor with to attend the Meeting ofs. Count
grievance & paffection to the determination The ihh met this Day when the above dette, wasread at alfo a copy of the Dipatiffici Letter mifives to the ehh, string for Council, Vit was just to Vote.
Whether the chle will comply with the Request of the Brethren, is ho call themselves dificatiffice, in their Letter of the 8th infland
"inich has been read, - Vole in the Negative unanimously 2 Whether the Ehh will choose a Committee to join with the iffer in waiting on a Council vent for by the Difratified, it's Council shall meet & define it vin the Name of the the de ny their juridiction, difown them as ludger in the affair. for the confidenation of which they are applied to allo that "? committee with the Vajte, be Empowered to informe Is Count - il if they define it not in the Capacity of Judges, but only of Christian ighbours, of the several Steps that have been
1 taken by the Chle with the ground & Reasons of them .. Ind if, Council notwithstanding the Motiftation of the ehh hall see fit to enter upon the Consideration of vaid affairs that the Committee with the Valter be directed to apply to Council for a Copy of all the luidences &all other Vapen that shall be laid before them - Volio in the affirmative 1
13 Veter that Deacon Jomfon Melis Totenh Dunbar V Eben?
. Fuller ju? be a Committee to join with the Vaptor for the purposes abovementione?
Halifax July 18. 1165 The Pafter having this, all'aper from the Difratified Dated the 12 haftaret the Och Met this Day to confiden the same after much conversation proceeded to the following Vote ...
Valid to your with the dificitivid. Brethren in atting the avecce of a Council on the Matter of grievance Specified in the" Letter of July 12. 065 voted to apply for Council to six this.
sold That the Red? Meles Parties With Angies Policy (Fort & Conant with the chho to which they severally tant Relations be applied to Voter that they be fined to meet on Inplay the 23 of angriff next at the House ofour there Poltor
3. Tom coller-14 if it is in his power to supply vous proficiencies is the Roseis, of this elle.
august yill. viby The Chh bring Toppt after Divers , was Vold that Deacons Jamfor Batworth the Mede Jotenla Sec .. Withor Water man be a Committee to represent the able locker. Que Council to be conoued outtre 20 cftante
auguff 30, 4765- The Chle being Met, the Result of the love will which conwered on the 20 Infant, was communicated to the . whereing the Dofter was acquitted of the several Charges bro. against him by the Difiatisfied, but at the same time out. for some bold bath simprudent locpressions, after reading, Refult the following Votes were put
( Whether the Chhe will accept of the Result of the late Causac. which has now been read Voli) in the affirmative 2 Whether upon the Advice of the Council &in Consideration the difictisfaction of some of the Brethren, the will reconfis .. their Vote of Octo. 27. 963 wheneley a Committee was Chofer to . the management of the prosentials of the Chle, Voted in o affiniour 3 Whether the Chh will reconfider their 20 Vote of 28 of March Com . so far as it may seem inconsistent with the advice of the Case. one that thead Votos in the affirmative
4 Whether agreeable to the advice of the Council the Cake will the of the Conjure valid upon Leven of the Brethren on the 28th of March left a Voted in the affirmative
Sept 1.0765- Jofiale Sturtevant just made a publick confessions before the Chle Congregation in these words, "althey have "wer that untill the result of the Cato council that I was no "quilty of a cendurable Evil int many of my Conduce isin that affair which I stood Confused for, but in Compliance " with said thefull I do now aknowledge that I might be quiet "of deting with that Od con under the great Provocation, wine " was unbecoming a Christian, & do now of the forgiveness "and of all his People whom. I have in that thing given;
Upon reading ! Confezione, the hh ve I to accept of it as Satisfactory for the offence committed in the fran with James Ittentevalet & take of their Conjure from him in
Jw? 6, 0765- The Ohh met to Consider a complaint ability againfor our Brother Josiah Sturtevant , w! - and after some Conversation relative to it but without entering into the merits of the Cause the ah Voted to the Requisitiaf lati foliah To ad journ their meeting to the Consideration of . Compte ain't to Theday the 16 of Jany next
Jany, 16, 0166. The thhomer according to adjournment, but on the Party against whom the Complaint above was entered was confined by Wichnels, ( could not attend the meeting of the Ch, after they had heard a thequest which the Pastor had to lay before them they adjourned their meeting to Monday the 3. of Fel y, real time JEy 3,0,66, The ihh Met according to adjournment, when The Pol tor Islove them a che eft D fring their content to a Difiolution of his Pastoral Relation to them be on which they unanimously Fotodinot to comply with it Request
later that the (after in the Name of the Chk Define the Preferes of the first Ohh in Middlebord by their Der & Delegate at aMeeting of this ehh, to give them their advice reflecting the affair. of Jejich sturtevant sur
Voto that this meeting Consideration of It affair be adjourned The Day the 25 Infant .
7 6725,0766 The Chh met according to adjournment, The 1th Chh of millions wing Present by Mein lider & Delegates y entre pour the Confidenation of the complaint Exhibits against Doctor Sturtwant The articles of charge were-1 Speaking reproachfully of Gospel Ordinances saying that Baptifre was only a Ceremony - 2 for day my that he has mas no contefion for he had none to make & that he should not have got into the (hh only they had not time to whipper to one another to he outwitter them &getin-3 For saying to Hannah Ripley you do not like me inaute i don't like you should have a Drunken Minefter - The Doctor move that the Witnesses right give their Evidence under Oath, Which the the related isnot icing Sytomas otte lia q te finde es ' vippart of the above
105. Charger It the car. Defining some time to draw up their sentiments sadece the muting was Difmit ___ -
april of Mybb The Ohh met & the avoice of Middlebord Chk wa communicated wherein they condemn the Doctor on the two firf! Diticles of Charge, Iarto the third as no name was mentioned either ·by him or the Witnefies they judged it ought to be let Drop, pone the reading of which it was put to the Doctor whether he acceptis of X advice, to which he answered affirmatively in and after some Dela the Pafter being Defined by a Vote of the thin put the following Com Whether the chle will accept of the acknowledgement which the first the of middleboro have advice Doctor Sturtwant to make at Satisfactory for the offences lately changed upon him & will after waiting a proper time to res. if this Conversation be agreeable receive him to their Communion & Charity upon his making of it publi which rafie in the affirmative
NB The claude in the above Vote concerning waiting the was founded of this Onle prafred and 25, 1742 which are page SO who'd on his continuing, withstanding of alsove conceptions, to treat hin Brethren in the do abusive Monner es before. -
Hlavy 8, 1th The Chh Met to confiter a Complaint inhibit. ling toteach eftertevant in? aydinft Le muel Sturtevant, tem Nimer John Waterman harnabar Briggs, charging thema afronteding in a Riotour Manner making an Efficient Ul rice coroplains is trucified, after some Debate on a Motion me I dontis the following vote was part.
I whether the the will enter into aconfiguration of the com Complaint or Dilmitt it on Vote to Difor its of did at vam Palmer was further Charges with curtis 1 aun il that sometime ago cate at Hallifax, on ingreso into the late it appearing to the The that he wes an an that cached that way, but that he immediately recalled cose ted it & alle he cuntarily now doing the ina better off. 2 TheyVater theoddlane satisfied of that his arnoud quence to this not to be made publick
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Whether the nos save the whale wars of thevolution This as it stands or into the imitation with which 6 th & Besuch
it was veci left ink meeting -Voted the latter -
August 231781. the Church mut to confites. a complaint Exhibited against our Brother Mich Allen by Dea" Jacob Formfor Cap John Wahrung mr Mata Ingles . Arate of Change os fall (1) That he had been quity of heating thay non via To wed fav is algo of felted in that malty
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