USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Great Falls > Historical sketch, standing rules, creed, covenant, and list of members of the First Congregational Church of Great Falls, N. H. Feb. 1, 1866 > Part 1
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M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01096 3574
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00grea
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HISTORICAL SKETCH, ·
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Standing Rules, Creed, Covenant, and
LIST OF MEMBERS
' OF THE
First Congregational Church
1st.
OF GREAT FALLS, N. H.
Feb. 1, 1866.
NEWS : L !: 1
GREAT FALLS, N. H. PRINTED BY B. F. THORNDIKE. 1866.
D GREAT FALLS, N.H. FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
284236
: Historical sketch, standing rules, creed,
.3 covenant, and list of members of the First Con- gregational church of Great Falls, N.H. Feb. 1, 1866. Great Falls, N.H.,B.F.Thorndike, 1866. 16p.
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Historical Sketch
PRIOR to the incorporation of the Great Falls Manufacturing Company, in 1823, the site of the present village of Great Falls was used for farming purposes, and the few inhab- itants of the neighborhood were numbered among the parishioners of Rev. JOSEPH HIL .. LIARD, in Berwick, Me., and Rev. REUBEN POR- TER of the old church in Somersworth. Soon after the settlement of the village commenced, however, religious meetings were holden, and Rev. Mr. Porter statedly preached in an unfin . ished dwelling house on Bridge street, belonging to the Manufacturing Company. Meanwhile, measures were being taken for the organi- zation of a church, and on the 16th day of January, 1827, " The Piscataqua Association of Ministers " met in the village, approved of the proposed creed and covenant, and organ- ized the "First Congregational Church of Great Falls," consisting of eight members. Rev. Mr. Porter continued to preach as " stated
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supply," during that year, but early in the next year, Mr. Josiah T. Hawes was ordained the first settled minister. A meeting of citi- zens favorable to the purpose was holden in the village school house September 13, 1827, and " The First Congregational Society of Great Falls" was organized under the then new law of the State, relating to Religious Societies .- Arrangements were immediately made for the erection of a suitable House of public worship. The Manufacturing Co. generously contributed an appropriate lot and $500, and in the follow- ing year the church edifice was completed at a further expense of about $4000. It was dedi- cated in August 1828, Rev. Dr. Lyman Beecher preaching the sermon on the occasion. Four religious societies of as many different denomi- nations were established in the village at about the same time, hence each was small, and all were more or less dependent upon foreign as- sistance. This Society was aided for several years in the support of its pastor, by the Pis- cataqua Association, the New Hampshire Mis- sionary Society and the Massachusetts Society for the promotion of Christian knowledge-but its ability gradually increasing with its addi- tional numbers, it soon became independent, and now pays its pastor double the salary of
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its first one, and annually contributes nearly $500 for benevolent purposes.
The first general revival of religion in the history of the church occurred in 1830-1 --- when more than one hundred names were added to its list of members, and in 1840, under the influence of another outpouring of the Spirit, nearly forty others were converted.
May such revivals be more frequent.
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PASTORS.
REV. REUBEN PORTER, "Stated supply" for several years.
Mr. JOSIAHI T. HAWES-ordained Jan. 23, 1828-dismissed Jan. 6, 1830. Mr. WILLIAM TWINING-ordained as an Evangelist, Jan. 6, 1830.
Mr. JAMES A. SMITH-ordained April 17, 1832-dismissed July 19, 1837.
Mr. ALFRED GOLDSMITH- ord. Sept. 13, 1837 dismissed Aug. 24, 1838. . Rev. JOHN R. ADAMS, supplied as Acting Pastor, from Sept. 1838, to Jan. 1841.
+. Mr. SAMUEL BEANE-ordained July 7, 1841-dismissed May 24, 1844. Rev. James T. McCOLLOM-installed Oct. 2, 1844-dismissed Dec. 27, 1853. Rev. JAMES B. THORNTON-acting pastor from Apr. 11, 1854, to Oct. 3d, 1855. Mr. GEORGE N. ANTHONY-ord. Oct. 3d, 1855-dismissed Sept. 21. 1860. Rev. HORATIO Q. BUTTERFIELD-in- stalled May 23d, 1861-dismissed Jan, 5,1865.
Rev. EPHRAIM N. HIDDEN-installed Jan. 5, 1865.
*Deceased.
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DEACONS.
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JOIIN CROSBY, chosen Jan. 16, 1827, Ab- sent.
DAVID SELLICK, chosen Jan. 16, 1827, Absent.
THOMAS SHAPLEIGHI, chosen Aug. 19, 1830-dismissed Jan. 7, 1835.
JOSIAH BEANE, chosen Feb. 1, 1835,- Died Aug. 7, 1841.
JEREMY W. ORANGE, chosen Feb. 1, 1835. JOSEPH STACKPOLE, chosen June 24, 1850-Dismissed March 7, 1854. BENJAMIN COOK, chosen June 24, 1850, Died Aug. 11, 1862.
GEORGE L. DEARBORN, chosen July 19, 1858, dismissed March 31, 1859. SAMUEL S. ROLLINS, chosen July 19, 1858.
WILLIAM SYMES, chosen May 12, 1859. OLIVER D. MORSE, chosen Feb. 1, 1864 Dismissed June 4, 1865.
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Articles of Faith.
1. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the word of God, and to be observed as the rule of our faith and practice.
2. We believe that there is ONE GOD, in- finite in power, wisdom and goodness, existing in three persons. the FATHER, Sov, and HOLY GHOST, possessing distinct and equal attributes, and in some unrevealed manner so united as to constitute one God.
3. This God, we believe, is the Creator of all things, the moral governor of all worlds, working all things which take place in the uni- verse after the counsel of his own will.
4. We believe that our first parents were created in the image of God, perfectly holy; by disobedience fell from this holy and happy state, and that in consequence of their fall, all mankind, as soon as they become capable of accountable action, do most freely and wickedly withhold from God, the obedience which his law requires, and continue trasgress-
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ors of the law and under its penalty until re- newed by the Holy Spirit in the exercise of' repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
5. We believe that men are entirely free in their moral actions, and therefore without excuse for transgression.
6. We believe that Christ the second per- son of the adorable Trinity, as a mediator, was manifested in the flesh, became man, and be- ing obedient unto the law, by his sufferings and death made an atonement for the sins of the world.
7. We believe that those who repent of their sins and believe in Him, being born of' the Spirit, are pardoned and restored to the favor of God.
8. We believe that those who thus repent of their sins, and believe in Christ, being born of the Spirit, are not justified by the deeds of the law, but by the grace of God, through faith in Christ, and that, in the use of the ap- pointed means of sanctification they will con- tinue to advance in a course of increasing conformity to the will of God until death ; when they will become perfectly holy and happy.
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9. We believe that there are two Gospel ordinances, BAPTISM and the LORD'S SUPPER, which are to be observed by all who believe in Christ and make profession of their faith, and that the infaut children of such are prop- er subjects of baptism.
10. We believe in the immortality of the soul, in the resurrection of the dead, in the final judgement, and in a state of eternal retri- bution, in which the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment, and the righteous into life eternal.
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Covenant.
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You do now in the presence of God, angels and men, solemnly consecrate yourselves and all that you have to the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, in an everlast- ing Covenant, to be his willing servants for- ever. Relying upon the assistance of his Spirit, you resolve and promise to discharge faithfully and conscientiously the duties ap- propriately devolving upon you in the sanctu- ary, social prayer meeting, family and closet. You will strive to deny all ungodliness and worldly lust; to avoid even the appearance of evil, and to live in strict accordance with the doctrines, precepts, and ordinances which you have now acknowledged in the articles of our faith.
You also covenant with this church of Christ, that you will regularly worship and commune with them, watch over and walk with them in Christian fellowship and love ; that you will bear your proportion according
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to your ability in maintaining the worship of God in this church and congregation ; and you will also devote a portion of your substance to promote the Redeemer's Kingdom in the world. You will conform to the discipline of this church as enjoined by Christ in his Gos- pel, and particularly in the 18th chapter of Matthew, and so long as you shall contime members, you will endeavor to promote its purity, peace and edification. Do you thus covenant and engage ?
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Declaration.
· We now receive you to the communion and care of this church, regarding you as meme bers of the body of Christ. We ourselves ac- knowledge the same covenant obligations into which you have now entered. We pray that God would grant us grace to be faithful to this covenant, and to glorify Ilim with that holiness which becomes his house.
And now, beloved, let it be impressed upon your minds, that the vows of the Lord are upon you, they will follow you through life, to the retribution; of eternity, and in what- ever world you may be found, will abide with you forever.
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Standing Rules,
ARTICLE I. This Church shall be called . the First Congregational Church of Great Falls, N. II.
ARTICLE II. Its officers shall be a Pastor and two or more Deacons who shall be chosen by ballot as vacancies occur : a Clerk, who shall be chosen by ballot at the annual meet- ing ; who shall keep the records of the church, furnish certificates to members dismissed and recommended to other churches, and conduct the correspondence of the church generally : a Treasurer chosen at the annual meeting; who shall have charge of all moneys and . other property belonging to the church and shall present a written report at the annual meet- ing, or at the expiration of his term of office, and file the same with the Clerk : and a stand- ing Committee of five members, to be chosen at the annual meeting; who shall unite with the pastor in the examination of candidates for admission, institute inquiries in cases of' alleged immorality of members and report the
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facts ascertained to the church, whose general interests they shall at all times superintend.
ARTICLE ILI. There shall be a meeting for such business as may properly come before the church at the close of each Preparatory Lec- ture ; and at the Lecture next preceding the first Sabbath of January, shall be the annual meeting for the choice of officers as before designated ; and the standing Committee may call an extra meeting when they deem it advis- able or if requested in writing by ten members of the church : of which due notice shall be given.
ARTICLE IV. The Communion of the Lord's Supper shall be administered on the afternoon of the first Sabbath of every other month, be- ginning with January, and the Preparatory Lecture shall be on the previous Thursday.
ARTICLE V. All non-resident members of this Church, having been absent more than a year, are required to remove their relation to some church where they reside, or assign some satisfactory reason for not doing so ; and not complying with this requisition may for such neglect be exscinded by a majority vote of the church ; and members of other churches residing and communing- with us for more than a year, are requested to transfer their
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relation to us or give some satisfactory reason for not doing so.
ARTICLE VI. All candidates for admission to the church by profession, shall be examin- ed before the church unless they request a private examination, when they may be pro- pounded on the approval of the pastor and standing committee ; they shall be propounded two weeks before their admission, unless the church otherwise direct, and be recieved by vote of the church ; and all applications for admission by letter shall be referred to the standing committee and upon their recommend- ation be received by vote of the church.
ARTICLE VII. It is the duty of members to attend the Communion and all church meet- ings unless providentially prevented.
ARTICLE VIII. Any member having cause of complaint against another shall seek to have it removed as directed in Math. 18: 15, 16, 17.
ARTICLE IX. Members are proper subjects of discipline, whose conduct is inconsistent with the rules and covenants of this church and the spirit of the gospel.
ARTICLE X. The standing committee may decide upon the expediency of allowing agents of Benevolent Societies to present their claims
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