USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Washington > Washington, Mass., Records > Part 9
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Amos Babcock Jonathan Chapel Jr. ) Amanda Chapel )
)
Dept.30, 1827 Horace Avery, son of Asa & Melinda Herrick
Oct. 7, = Roena Jane ) daus. of Lurota & Dorcas Thorp
Sarah Wood )
= Luther ) Edwin 1 Samuel )children of Lyman & Annah White James ) Julia 1 Annah )
Nov. 4, 1827 Sally Pease( on profession. Mary Porter)
Dec. 12, Martha, dau. of Wm. & Mary Noble
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23
= June 29,
=
Deborah Streeter, on profession of faith 1828 Sarah, dau. of Alson & Electa Bill John Franklin, son of Amos & Clarissa = Whittemore
= 11 Hosea Milton 11 Seth & Mary Case March 2, 1829 Dorothy Clapp, dau. of John & Dorothy Millikan June 7 = Martha Roxana, = Oliver & Amanda Chapel Martha Ann, dau. of Asa & Melinda Herrick
Sept . 4, 1831
Samuel Turner ) children of Eli T. & Marshal Nelson ) Elizabeth Barnum.
=
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WASHINGTON, MASS. - Church
Baptisms
Sept.18, 1831. Lydia Kezia) daus. of Isaac & Laomi Holmes Polly Elvira)
Oct.30, = Celestia Haskin on profession of faith
August 28 Mary Barns, wife of Almon Barns on profession.
Aug.24, 1832 Levi Spelman )children of
Henry James )Orin & Celestia Haskin Sophrone Crossman )
Aug.26 James Henry, son of Alson & Electa Bills Melinda Amelia, dau.of Asa & Melinda Herrick Mary Jane = 11 = = = =
Aug. 3, 1834
July 3, 1836 = = =
William Morgan ) Orra Morgan )on profession of faith by Harriet Morgan)Rev. Nathan Shaw
May 7, 1837 John Lewis )children of Rev. Nathan Shaw. Martha Lucretia)
July 2 Almira, child of Alson & Electa Bills by Rev. Nathan Shaw
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Nov.19 Albert Francis)children of Capt. Philip Eames by Edwin Hooker ) Rev. Nathan Shaw
= John Reuben, child of Servius Ellis by Rev. Nathan Shaw
Ap1 26,1840 Filura Elizabeth child of Servius Ellis by Rev. Kinsman Atkinson
Sept. Mary, child of Rev. K. Atkinson
Nov. 1 Milo Ashley, child of Philip & Hannah Eames Oct. 1843 Robert Milliken, child of Hervy & Nancy Savery
=
11 George Dwight, son of Philip & Hannah Eames, by Rev. Sam'l. Allen
Sept.1, 1846 Adeline Tehoate(?) child of Rev.Francis Norwood.
Sept.5, 1847 Marian Corey
Ap1.26, 1849 Catherine Francis, dau. of Francis & Adeline A. Norwood,
the last day of meeting in the old meeting house.
Nov 3 1850 William Foster Bell
=
Rhoda Melissa Bell
May 1851 Clara Bacon, dau. of Rev. F. & A.A.Norwood. May 4, 1853 Frederick W. Manley
P.24 Jan.3, 1854 Ella Jane, child of Orlando clark
Oct.2, 1859 Mrs. Aurelia Tyler, on profession
Dec. 1859
Miss Hannah Jane Morgan
Henry Ira Higgins
Feb.5, 1860 William Beach Joined M.E. Chh.
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WASHINGTON, MASS. - Church.
Baptisms
April 8, 1860 Henry A. son of M.M. & M.R. Longley July 15, James M. Chapel Amos Chapel his wife Maria G. Chapel Charles Hathaway Sarah T. Hathaway
Sept.16
A. E. Hart
March 10, 1861 L. Warren Brooker Charlotte L. Beach tt Alanson B. Pomeroy
Jan. 4, 1863 Mary Elizabeth Lyman Mary Lucinda Higgins
July 13, 1860 By immersion Curtis Messenger, Did not present himself for membership.
Dec.18, 1859 Hamah Jane Morgan Henry J. Higgins
Oct. 2, 1859 Mrs. Aurelia T. Tyler
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Baptized & Received to M. E. Church
Feb. 5, 1860 William Beach July 7, N. T. Barnum Garolino Barnum
P.26 Blank
P.27 Infant Baptisms During Pastorate Of Rev. M.M.Longley, which Commenced March 1857.
April 8, 1860 Henry Ashley, son of Rev.M.M.&M.R. Longley Nov. 18, 1862 charles Louis, " = Charles Perret ( French )
P.28 Blank
P.29 Records of Marriages.
For record of marriages during the Rev. Mr. Bal lan tine 's ministry, reference may be had to the records kept by him.
P.30 Record of Deaths of Church Members
Aug 16 Daniel Manley ages 74
P.31 Blank
P.32 Blank P.33 Cases of Discipline
July 19, 1875 Elijah Crane & wife Sarah made public confession of the sin of fornication
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WASHINGTON, MASS. - Church.
July 4, 1776 George Sloan & wife made confession of bedding together before marriage, before the Church only, and that thereby they had broken the rules of Christian modesty. After the said Huldah was accused by some that were without the Church attempts were made to settle the difficulty, but in vain. The church at length thought best to call for a council of Ministers.
In consequence of letters missive the Rev. Messrs. Allen of Pittsfield, Hunn, of Becket, and Bascom of Murrayfield came July 16, 1776. After forming the council the charges were exhibited against Huldah, the wife of George Sloan, viz: Ist. That she was guilty of Lascivious Conduct. 2ndly. That she was guilty of fornication.
The judgment of the Council was that said charges were not well supported by evidence, but that the said Sloan and wife were guilty of indecent carriage in bedding together before marriage which they themselves confessed before the Council. Extract from the result of the Council.
April 6, 1779 Asenath Arnold made public confession of the sin of fornication.
April 25,1779 Philip root and Isable his wife made confession of the sin of fornication
Likewise Abel Mattoon and Mary his wife
June 6, 1779 Nabby Beard of the sam sin
June 15,1783 Amos Beard and Hannah his wife of the same sin
Feb. 10, 1788 David Martin & wife, of Granville made a like confession
Aug. 22, 1790 Norman Sloan and Sarah his wife made confession of the sin of fornication.
Sept.11, 1793 Ebenezer Clark made confession of Repeated in- stances of Intemperance and of fornication
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Nov. 3, 1796. It appears that disaffection in the church existed Respecting the conduct of Ezekiel Case and Sarah Mattoon in going after the Methodists, that various church meetings were called to consider the matter, and that the church voted to call a council, but as no record is found of the meeting of the Council or of the ultimate result, we deem it proper to omit a record so imperfect.
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WASHINGTON, MASS. - Church
March 10, 1803 A Complaint of Deacon Jasper Brewster. Mr. Elijah Crane which humbly sheweth that the said Elijah not having the fear of God before his eyes has violated the laws of Christ and given offence to the Christian Brethren in the following particulars.
Viz: 1st By making advances towards Mrs. Byxbe's bed mani - festing a desire to get into bed with her at a time when Col. Byxbe, her husband was ab sent. This took place at a time when Col. Byxbe's family lived in Mr. Crane's house, and at the time when Mr. Crane was building a back lintel to his house.
2nd. By endeavoring to vilify the character of the Rev. William G. Ballantine in the following instances
Viz: Ist, Saying that the said Wm. G. Ballantine was a dis- honest man, One instance of the alledged dishonesty was exhibited in a deal respecting a yoke of oxen said Crane bought of W.G.B. Another instance of alledged dishonesty consisted in refusing to pay Nathaniel Hardy and Samuel Daniels a contribution which the sd W.G.B. agreed to make to Maj. Stephens for removing a certain rock out of the road.
2nd By declaring that the sd W.G.B. blasphimed whenever he went into the pulpit.
3rd. Repeatedly declaring that W. G.B. was a dam'd fool.
4 th. Repeatedly defaming W.G.B. in his own family and be - fore strangers.
5th By allowing a horse to be brought into his house on Saturday evening, of the 11th Dec last, and joining in the
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sport made with the horse while in the house. 6th By forsaking our worship and following after strange preachers thereby violating his Covenant engagements with this Church .
And I the complainant further say that I have been and told Mr. Crare the above faults according to the direction of our divine Lord in the 18th of Matt. and that he the said Elijah Crane did not hear me. And, in further compliance with divine Rule I have taken with me two more of our Brethren, Viz: Mr. Jesse Ladd and Dr. Asa Hillyer, and that he, Mr. Crane , did not hear them in the sense of Christ in Matt. 18th. I now therefore tell the church of the matters of Complaint against Mr. Crane and pray you to take them into your serious consideration.
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WASHINGTON, MASS. - Church.
Jesse Ladd. March 10, 1803
Signed by Jasper Brewster
Washington, March 17, 1803.
Agreeable to an appointment of a church meeting in the aforesaid Town the members met and after opening the meet - ing by prayer voted, Ist to act upon the complaint brought forward by Dea Jasper Brewster against Mr. Elijah Crane, 2nd. Voted to adjourn the meeting to the last Wednesday of April next following, being the 27th day, at one o'clock afternoon.
April 27, 1803. Agreeable to adjournment the church met at the time and place : After the meeting was opened Mrs. Byxbe made the following declaration before the church, Viz: That in the year that the meeting house was built & while Mr. Byxbe was gone to New York one Night on toward day some person trod upon her feet as she lay in bed: She perceiving it to be Mr. Crane called out to him and says, - Mr. Crane be gone ! he said that if she would say no more
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he would go. That then she got up and called up Mr. Haws and sat up the remainder of the night.
The Church at this meeting voted
1st. To suspend the first article in the complaint for the present.
2nd. That 2nd, 3rd & 4th articles in the complaint were sufficiently supported by evidence.
3rdly. To adjourn this meeting to the 9th day of June follow- ing afternoon to the meeting house, being a Lecture day.
June 9. At the meeting house adjourned the Chh meeting to the sixth of July following
July 6. The Church met agreeable to adjournment
After opening the meeting in the usual way, voted- 1st. To suspend judgment further on the first article in the complaint and that Mrs. Byxbe be notified that it was the opinion of the Chh her incumbent duty to procure further evidence to support the first article in the complaint if further evidence was to be had.
voted 2ndly, That Mr. Sloan be the person to notify Mrs. Byxbe. Then voted to adjourn the meeting to the first Wednesday in
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WASHINGTON, MASS. - Church.
Sept. following, being the 7th day.
Sept.7, 1803. Agreeable to adjournment the Church met and after opening the meeting in the usual way, the Chh. voted that they could not accept the Confession which Mr. Crane made.
2ndly Voted to admonish Mr. Crane by letter. Two letters were written of that nature which prov- ing insufficient to bring Mr. Crane to his duty, the Chh appointed a meeting June 7, 1804. Agreeable to appoint- ment the Chh met and opened in the usual way. Mr. Crane appeared and desired Council
The Church voted
Ist. To join with Mr. Crane in calling a Council of five Ministers of the Congregational order to consider of the matters of complaint against Mr. Crane. 2ndly. The following Gentlemen were chosen Viz: Rev. Messrs. Allen of Pittsfield, Nash of Middlefield, Churchill of New Lebanon, Hyde of Lee, and Shepherd of Lenox.
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3rdly. Voted that the Council convene Tuesday the 25th of Sept. next and sit in Council on Wednesday the 26th at 9 o'clock in the morning at the meeting house
4th Agreed that should there be a failure of or even two of the Council the pending matters be submitted to the remaining three.
5thly. Voted that Deac. Jasper Brewster and Deac. Thomas Martin be a committee to serve the church at the time of the Council.
6thly. Voted that the meeting be adjourned to the 28th Sept next at 9 o'clock in the morning.
Sept. 26, 1804 At the appointed time four of the above Gentlemen who were chosen appeared and sat in council Viz:
The Rev. Thomas Allen, of Pittsfield Rev. Alvan Hyde, of Lee Rev. Jonathan Nash, of Middlefield Rev. Samuel Shepherd, of Lenox
The se Gentlemen in the result of their deliberations on the matters which were laid before them say as follows ----
The Council are of the opinion that the evidence exhibited in support of the first article of charge in the complaint tho' it
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WASHINGTON, MASS. - Church.
is such as may excite strong suspicions against Mr. Crane, yet is not so clear and full as warrants us to condemn him of Lascivious Conduct.
Respecting the 2nd article of charge in the complaint the council agree that it stands supported and that Mr. Crane from his own Confession before us, has been guilt of vilify- ing the character of the Rev. Mr. Bal lantine and of wounding the cause of Christ.
In regard to the 3rd article of charge the council are of opinion that Mr. Crane was guilty of unchristian Conduct in the affairs which took place at his house on the Saturday evening specified in the charge, and that as a friend to the holy sabbath he ought to condemn himself therefor
Respecting his forsaking the worship of God in this place, and going after strange preachers as specified in the last
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article of charge his proceedings notwithstanding all the provocations which he supposes he had we are unanimously of opinion were unwise and irregular.
The Council exhort Mr. Crane to review his Conduct and to his duty, That he may let his light shine before his Brethren and before the world.
They are well pleased with the candor which has appeared in him under the hearing of his case- and they say if he accepts the result of this council he will be considered as taking blame to himself as we in our best Judgment have pointed out to him, and they furthermore press it as their opinion that if Mr. Crane publicly on the Lord's day accedes to this result, it will be the duty of this Church to forgive him, and to consider all matters specified in the complaint to be settled.
The Church voted their acceptance of the result in pres- ence of the Council.
The Council urged upon Mr. Crane the duty and importance of his speedy compliance with their result, by his submitting to have it read publicly on the Lord's day. The Church willing to give him sufficient time for consid- eration and in hopes of his compliance with the result waited until the 6th of Dec. 1804. At that time the church being met according to appointment, unanimously voted that unless Mr. Crane did acceed to the Result of the
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WASHINGTON, MASS. - Church
Council next Lord's day then following that they withdraw their Christian watch from and deny him fellowship in gospel ordinances until he give evidence of gospel humili- ation and Repentance.
As Mr. crane did not acceed to the result at the time specified nor has since done it, He is by the foregoing Resolve of the church cut off from any special relation to it.
This read publicly April 14, 1805. Wm. Gay Ballantine, Pastor.
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A complaint against Dr. Asa Hillyer brot before the church by Isaac Holmes Sen'r. sheweth
That Dr. Asa Hillyer not having the fear of God before his eyes and unmindful of his covenant engagements to renounce sin has been repeatedly guilty of the sin of uncleanness by the solicited aid of young men and boys, or has asked of them to perform that office for him which if they did perform, it would uncleanness in him, whereby he has broken the seventh commandment of the law, dishonored the Christian Profession & given occasion of Just offence to his Christian Brethren and furthermore I the complainant say that I have been to Dr. Asa Hillyer and told him his fault between myself and him alone and have endeavored to convince him of the truth of the matter alledged against him and to bring him to a sense of his sin, according to the directions given by our divine Lord in Matt. 18th, and as he did not hear me I have in further compliance with divine rule taken with me one of our Brethren, Viz: John Lanckton and that the said Dr. Asa Hillyer did not hear us in the sense of Christ meant in Matt. 18th. I therefore tell the Church of the matter of complaint against said Dr. Hillyer, and pray you to take it into your serious consideration
signed by Isaac Holmes Sen'r. John Lanckton
June 25, 1804 On said June 25th, according to appoint- ment the Church in this Town met at 7 o'clock in the morning to attend to the above complaint having cited Dr. Hillyer to attend by a special messenger
167
voted to accept and act upon the complaint exhibited against Dr. Hillyer. The n examined & heard what witnesses had to say in support of the charge. The witnesses were Richard Chapel, Ebenezer Chapel, Jabez Dto Isaac Holmes and Thomas Chapel .
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After hearing their testimony- voted to adjourn the meeting to the nineteenth of september next at 12 o'clock.
The above aujourned meeting by agreement of several members postponed to the 20th of September.
Sept. 20. The Church met Attended to a Confession sent in to the church meeting by Dr. Hillyer
It was agreed upon by the Church that it was necessary to inquire into the meaning of it, it being expressed very am- biguously - The Dr. tho cited not present .
Mr. Chaffee and myself delegated by the Church to go and enquire of the Dr. whether in his confession he had any respect to the matter of charge in the complaint. The meeting then adjourned to the 26th Sent. at 9 o'clock. At this adjourned meeting the committee appointed to enquire the meaning of the Dr's confession reported that the Dr. would by no means allow that in the confession sent to the church meeting he had any Respect to the matter with which he was charged in the complaint he was assured that if he would say that he had refference to that affair it would be considered as satisfactory provided also we would allow the church to make it public
Nov. 14. According to an appointment the church convened at my house further to attend to the complaint against Dr. Hillyer. After opening in the usual way, it was stated to the Church that the Dr. objected to the beginning of the process against him as irregular because those Brethren that dealt with him divulged the matter to others before they delt with him. The Church took this matter into consideration am after enquiry it appeared that the con- plaint was brought before the church in a regular way, yet to remove objections on that ground - Voted to begin a new process.
-
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WASHINGTON, MASS. - Church.
2ndly. That Deac. Thos. Martin go first and deal with Dr. Hillyer and that Mr. Ballantine go with him on the 2nd visit. Adjourned thursday the 22nd of this month at 1 o'clock P.M.
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The adjourned meeting deferred on acct of a funeral Deac Martin made the Dr a visit on the second visit I attended with him
The Dr. did not hear us. The same complaint that was exhibited by Mr. Holmes in June last is now bro't before this Chh under the signature of Deac Thos Martin Dated Dec 6, 1804. On the same day the Chh met according to an appointment and after opening the meeting in the usual way voted Ist. To act upon the Complaint as bro't in by Deac Martin
2ndly, The Church were unanimous in their Judgment that the charge in the Complaint against Dr. Hillyer was supported by evidence. The n adjourned till the first tuesday in Jan. 1805.
Agreeable to Chh met and appointed two, Viz: Myself and Deac Brewster to go to the Dr and admonish him for his contemptuous slight of the authority of this church, in never appearing before this Church, tho' in every instance of a meeting cited to appear, and to inform him that in the Judgment of the Chh the Charge against him in the complaint was sufficiently supported & that the church would be constrianed to proceed further with him if he did not exhibit tokens of Humiliation. Then the meeting was adjourned to tuesday the 15th day of Jan. The messengers of the Church waited upon the Dr to admonish him but to no purpose.
Jan 15, 1805. Agreeable to adjournment the Chh met and voted to excommunicate Dr Hillyer from the chh and he is hereby excommunicated.
This read publicly Ap1 14, 1805 Wm Gay Bal lan ti ne Pastor.
The foregoing appear to be all the cases on Record during the Rev. Mr. Ballantine's Ministry
Attest, Absalom Deming Scribe to the Chh in 1829
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WASHINGTON, MASS. - Church.
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At a Church meeting holden at the meeting house on the 21st of July 1822 - certain difficulties between Sam'l Gray ard George Nickerson a person propounded for admissions into the Chh the Rev. Jonathan Nash & Rev. Wm A Hawley present the Rev. Mr. Nash was chosen Moderator ard Rev. Mr. Hawley acted as Scribe. The
Meeting being opened by prayer by the Moderator, a settlement of difficulties was effected by the inter- vention of the Rev. Gentlemen present and the contending parties agreed to pass by past misunderstandings and receive each other as brethren, the Record of which is the substance and from which this is taken, is Attested by Mr. A. Hubbard a Licentiate hired for a short time to preach in Washington.
June 8, 1823. At a Church meeting this day was pres- ented the following complaint against William Spear May
This may certify that I, John Kent, being aggrieved at the immoral conduct of William Spear May, a Member of the Church of Christ in Washington, of which I am also a member went to him and privately and told him his fault and endeavored to the best of my ability to gain him. Failing in this object I took with me Brother Henry Pitt and we conversed with him upon this subject as the gospel directs. Being still unsuccessful I now as the gospel directs present the following charges against him Viz: Ist Profanity - 2nd Intemperance - 3rd Heresy. Jere w. Kingsbury, Absalom Deming, William Cross and Jere Bill being witnesses. The offences were committed at Cant. Wm. Morgan's tavern on the 15th day of June, 1822. The se offences have been repeated in various instances and I now present them before the Chh for their consideration.
Signed John Kent
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May 26, 1823 Having heard this complaint as Mr. May was out of town the Church voted to leave the matter for further consideration.
Adjourned J.A . Hempsted Pastor.
At a meeting of the church holden at Washington on Friday the 25th day of July 1833, the charges against Mr. William Crear May were exhibited before the church he being present to answer to the charge, the meeting was opened by prayer.
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WASHINGTON, MASS. - Church.
The Citation and Complaint against him were read: To the charges he plead not guilty. Witnesses were produced to prove the charges but owing to an error in the date and to the fact that in the first and second steps of discip- line the brethren acted not according to Scripture not telling him his faults, the Business was stopped the meeting dissolved
Attest J. A. lempsted Pastor
Here arpears to be a vacancy in the Records of the church but we find the following Relative to the fore- going case.
Washington Oct. 5, 1827
Agreeable to adjournment the Church met, After opening the meeting by prayer - proceeded to examine the complaint against Mr. William Spear May. Brother Sibley was appointed by the Church to manage the trial on the part of the Brother complained of that Brother being absent.
Brother Absalom Deming being called as a witness on the Ist charge, Viz: Heresy testified that some time in the month of Sept. 1822 that the offending Brother asked witness this question Viz: "What do you think about this son of God. Ans. by witness- I think him the Savior of
lost men. Brother May said he did not believe God had a
son. Brother Henry Pitt stated that in the fore part of June 1823 Brother May told him that he did not believe Christ to be the son of God, if any such person he was but a man. Subsequently he told the witness he did not believe the Bible to be the word of God. Brother John Kent said that he was present and heard the conversation between Brother Deming am Mr. May heard him say he did not believe Christ was the son of God, and has several times heard him say the same.
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2nd charge Viz: Intemperence and Profanity. Intemperance br Absalom Deming testified that at the time of the fore- mentioned conversation with Br May and at sundry other times has thought him to be considerably intoxicated. Br Oliver Chapel testifies that in the Fall of 1822 at Maj. Morgan's has seen Mr. May in his opinion intoxicated Br. John Kent saw Mr. May at Maj. Morgan's Sept. 1822 and considered him to be intoxicated. 2nd Profanity Br O. P. Chapel saw Br May in the fall of 1822 at Morgan 's
17]
WASHINGTON, MASS. - Church
quarreling with some person that he then said by Jesus christ I can whip any flax dresser and that we would be damned if he could not whip any flax dresser and that he made use of much profane language Br John Kent testified to the same effect. With Respect to all the charges Deac Alvah Eames that at the time he went to take the 2nd step Brother May on being presented with a list of the Charges alledged against him said he did not deny them & that they were true. Deac Henry Pitt accompanied Deac. Eames heard the conversation with Br May and agrees with beac Eames in his testimony. Br Put nam says that on the 18th Oct he delivered to Br May a 2nd citation to appear before the Chh & answer to the complaint against him that Br May said he never did nor does now deny the charges against him but that they were true that the church had done all that was re- quired of them - and he wished they would take the last step.
After hearing the testimony the Church voted unanimous- ly that they consider the charges in the complaint fully proved by the evidence and that of contumacy for not attending Voted that the Brother complained of be excommunicated & cut off from the communion of this church unless he shall soon manifest a spirit of repent- ance and return, voted that there be delivered to Br May a first and second letter of admonition from the
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