USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Manual of the Central Congregational Church, city of Brooklyn, N.Y., comp. by order of the Prudential Comm., No. 3 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Gc 974.702 879abrh
Gc 974.702 B792brh 1851619
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01152 2791
MANUAL
OF THE
Central Congregational Church.
( CORNER OF ORMOND PLACE & JEFFERSON ST ).,
CITY OF BROOKLYN, N. Y. CHICAGO LIBRARY NEWBERRY THE
No. 3.
COMPILED BY ORDER OF THE PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE. 1867.
1851619
CONTENTS.
1. History of the Church
PAGE.
2. Officers of the Church.
7
3. Standing Rules of the Church
9
4. Form of Admission.
15
5. Form for the Recognition of Deacons.
19
6. Form for the Baptism of Children.
21
7. The Lord's Supper.
8. Servicos and Their Time
23
9. Removals
22
10. List of Benevolent Contributions,
24
11. Requests and Suggestions
25
12. Roll of the Church
26
13. Officers of the Society ..
37
14. Standing Rules of the Society
38
15. Regulations for Business Meetings
41
16. By-Laws of Board of Trustees
43
17, Digest of State Laws,
46
History of the Church.
THE church edifice in Ormond Place, now occupied by this Society, was erected in the year 1853, by Mr. R. L. Crook, with the intention of disposing of it, at a reduc- tion from its cost, to such Protestant religious association as should seem to embrace a majority of the surround- ing population, and manifest sufficient interest to render the permanency of their organization probable.
In February, 1854, soveral gentlemen, residing in the neighborhood, rented the building from Mr. Crook for two years, commencing May 1st, 1854.
The Rev. Henry W. Parker was engaged to supply the pulpit, and on the second Sabbath in April the house was opened for public worship.
An ecclesiastical society was formed under the style of "The Central Congregational Society of Brooklyn," and on the 27th November, 1854, a church of thirty mem- bers was organized by a council of pastors and delegates from the Congregational churches of Brooklyn and vicinity.
On the expiration of the lease, strenuous efforts were made to raise the amount necessary for the purchase of the edifice, which for a time were unsuccessful; and the
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/manualofcentralc00broo
6
Society was compelled to vacate the building, and tem- porarily worshipped in the Mission School House, in Van Buren Street, the use of which was kindly tendered by its Trustees.
At length, however, being largely aided by the Ply- mouth Church, and the Church of the Pilgrims, the Society was enabled to effect the purchase of the pro- perty, and on Sabbath, 16th November, 1856, the house was reopened for the public worship of Ahnighty God.
The Rev. Mr. Parker having removed to another field of labor, the pulpit was occupied by various clergymen, as temporary supplies, until the Rev. J. Clement French, having accepted the unanimous call of the Church and Society, was ordained and installed as Pastor on the 5th of March, 1857.
In 1863, the church was closed for three months, during which time it was thoroughly renovated and improved both within and without, and a new organ placed in the gallery, all at a cost of about six thousand dollars.
Two years later, the house and lot, No. 13 Ormond Place, adjoining the church, were purchased for a parsonage.
During May, 1867, the building was again closed for three weeks for the addition of galleries, affording ac- commodations for one hundred and seventy-five persons, and greatly increasing both the value and the beauty of the edifice. A few months later, the basement of the building was extensively improved at a cost of several thousand dollars,
1
Officers of the Church.
PASTOR :
Rev. JUSTUS CLEMENT FRENCH.
DEACONS:
ANDREW VAN TUYL,
-
Term of Office expires,
ASA PARKER. April, 1868.
EDWARD P. TAYLOR
Term of Office expire:,
FREDERICK A. BROWN
S
April, 1869.
PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE :
SETH B. COLE.
Term of Office capires,
DAVID NEEF US.
May, 1868.
HENRY GRIFFIN
3
Term of Office capires,
RADZIE J. FULLER.
May, 1869.
CLERK AND TREASURER:
JAMES H. PRATT.
Standing Bules.
-
I.
PRINCIPLES OR RIGHTS OF THE CHURCH.
THIS Church receives the Scriptures as the only infallible guide in matters of church order and discipline; and is there- fore independent, and amenable to no other ecclasiastical body.
II.
CONNECTION WITH OTHER CHURCHES.
This Church will extend to other evangelical churches, and receive from them, that fellowship, advice, and assistance, which the laws of Christ require.
III.
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH.
The officers of this Church shall be a Pastor, four or more Deacons, a Clerk, a Treasurer, and a Prudential Committee.
IV.
DEACONS.
It shall be the duty of the Deacons to assist in the adminis- tration of the Lord's Supper, to distribute the charities of the Church, to provide for the supply of the pulpit when necessary, and to aid the Pastor generally, in the spiritual care of the Church. Two or more Deacons shall be elected every year. They shall hold their office for two years, and shall be ineligible
A*
9
10
for re-election for one year after the expiration of their terms of office.
V.
CLERK.
It shall be the duty of the Clerk to keep a Record, containing Minutes of the doings of the Church, as well as the Covenant, Confession of Faith, Form of Admission and Standing Rules, a Chronological List of Members, with time of their ad mission, dismission, or death (as far as he can ascertain the same) ; also, a Record of all Baptisms.
IVI.
TREASURER.
It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all contribu- tions made for the use of the Church, disburse the same on the order of the Deacons, and render an account at the Annual Meeting.
VII.
PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE.
The Prudential Committee shall consist of the. Pastor, Dea- cons, and four brethren-two of whom shall be elected annually, and shall hold their office for two years. They shall have a general oversight of the interests of the Church, examine all applicants for admission, and report to the Church the names of such as they deem suitable candidates; and at each Annual Meeting they shall present a report of the condition of the Church and its history during the previous year.
VIII.
BUSINESS MEETINGS.
The Annual Meeting shall be held on the first Monday in April of cach year, when the stated officers shall be elected
11
by ballot, without public nomination ; the Reports of the Pru- dential Committee and Treasurer shall be presented, and the catalogue of members revised. A regular Business Meeting shall also be held on some evening during the week previous to each Communion Sabbath. The Pastor shall preside over all Business Meetings of the Church when present.
IX.
SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETINGS.
Special meetings for business shall be called by the Clerk, the Deacons, or the Pastor, on the request of seven members.
X.
NOTICE OF MEETINGS.
Notice shall be given from the pulpit on the Sabbath previous to any Business Meeting.
XI.
WEEKLY MEETINGS.
The regular meetings of this Church, other than those of the Sabbath, shall be a Prayer Meeting on Friday evening, unless otherwise notified from the pulpit, by direction of the Pru- dential Committee.
XII.
THE COMMUNION.
The Lord's Supper will be celebrated on the first Sabbath in January, March, May, July, and November, and on the third Sabbath in September, unless otherwise ordered, for special reasons, by the Prudential Committee.
XIII.
ADMISSION OF MEMBERS.
Applicants for admission to membership on profession of their faith, shall be examined by the Prudential Committee, before
12
such members of the Church as desire to be present; and appli- cants by letter from other churches, shall submit their testimo- nials to the same Committee. The names of such as are approved shall be propounded from the pulpit, at least one week before the Communion. They shall become members by a vote of the Church; and those admitted on profession, shall, at the Com- munion service, publicly assent to the confession of faith and covenant, and receive the Sacrament of Baptism-if they have not been previously baptized-and, together with those admitted by letter, publicly enter into covenant with this Church.
XIV.
DISMISSION OF MEMBERS.
Members, on removing, shall ask for letters of dismission and recommendation. Such requests may be announced at any regular meeting of the Church, and if at the end of one week no objection has been made, such letters shall be issued, signed by the Clerk or Pastor, and shall purport to be valid for one year only from the date thereof; and letters shall not be granted to persons who have delayed applying for them for more than one year after their removal from us, unless by a vote of the Church, after satisfactory reasons shall be assigned for such delay.
XV.
OFFENCES.
A member having canse of complaint against another, should immediately seek to have it removed in a Christian manner, ac- cording to the directions given by our Lord, in Matthew xviii, 15-17. If unsuccessful, the complaint shall in all cases be first made to the Prudential Committee, who shall, on sufficient cause, prefer charges before the Church at a business meeting, and in case the Committee omit to do so, the complainant may present his complaint in person to the Church. When a member is accused, he shall be seasonably furnished by the Clerk with a copy of the charges, and shall have a full hearing.
13-14
XVI.
1
PENALTIES.
Any member of the Church who shall have been proceeded with according to the rules of discipline, and shall fail to render any satisfaction to the Church, may be visited with penalty, ac- cording to the nature and degree of the offence, which penalty may take the form of reproof, suspension, or publie excommuni- cation from the Church.
XVII.
VACANCIES.
Official vacancies, occurring between the Annual Meeting's, may be filled at any regular Business Meeting, notice having been given from the pulpit on the previous Sabbath.
XVIII.
CONTRIBUTIONS.
A contribution shall be made at every Communion service, and the funds thus obtained shall be used in assisting neces- sitous members, and for such other purposes as the Deacons shall direct.
XIX.
RESOLUTIONS.
No resolution shall be adopted at the same meeting at which it is offered, if objection be made thereto; but it shall be re- duced to writing by the mover and referred to the next meeting, unless the objection be overruled by a vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting.
XX.
ALTERATIONS.
The Confession of Faith, Covenant, Form of Admission and Standing Rules shall not be altered, except by a vote of two- thirds of the members present and voting at an Annual Meet- ing; a written notice, containing the substance of such altera- tion, having been given at a previous meeting.
1
form of Admission.
ON PROFESSION OF FAITH, AND BY LETTERS FROM OTHER CHURCHES.
Those to be admitted upon Profession of Faith, will present them- selves before the Communion Table as the Paster calls their names.]
[Tle Pastor then addresses them as follows :]
BELOVED FRIENDS, -- You have presented yourselves in this public manner before God to dedicate yourselves to Ilis service, and unite yourselves with His avowed people. The vows which you have made in secret, you are now to repeat and ratify before these witnesses ; before that great cloud of unseen spirits who have re- joiced over your repentance ; before your Saviour, who diedl for you; before the Omniscient Eye, which " searcheth the heart and trieth the reins of the chil- dren of men."
The act is solemn, and to be attended with eternal consequences. Your vous will be recorded in Heaven, and will be known to all men at the judgment of the final day. Yet the truths to which you now assent, and the purposes you now declare, may be your rejoicing now, if you are truly Christ's, and in the day when He makes up His jewels.
15
16
Attend now to the
CONFESSION OF FAITH. 1
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, and are the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
We believe that these Scriptures teach that there is one only living and true God, subsisting in Three Di- vine Persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and that these three are one God, who is a spirit, abso- lute, personal, holy ; in His Being and attributes infi- nite and eternal ; the Creator, Prosorver, and Governor of the universe.
We believe that by consequence of the apostasy of our first parents, sin and misery have been introduced into the world, and that all men are destitute of holiness until renewed by the Holy Spirit.
We believe that God, in infinite mercy, gave His Son in the flesh to die for the sins of the world, and thus an atonement has been made, sufficient for the redemption of all mankind; that pardon and eternal life are offered to all, only on condition of repentance of sin, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
We believe that the renewal of the heart is by the special agency of the Holy Spirit; that God, of His own free grace, is willing to give the Spirit to them that ask Him, and that all those who are thus renewed are kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation.
We believe that Jesus Christ has established in this world a visible Church, the terms of whose membership are, a public profession of faith in Christ, sustained by credible evidence ; that its divinely appointed sacra- ments are Baptism and the Lord's Supper; that the
17
subjects of Baptism are believers, and their children ; and that none but those who are members of Christ by a living faith have a right to partake of the Lord's Supper.
We believe that there will be Resurrection of all the dead, and a final judgment before Jesus Christ, when the wicked "shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal."
Do you (sererally) assent to this summary of Faith ?
[Those admitted by letter will here rise.]
COVENANT.
You will now enter into public corenant with God.
You do now avouch the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to be your God. You receive the Father as your Father, Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and the Holy Ghost as your Sanctifier and Comforter.
You do now renounce all sin, and consecrate yourself, (yourselves,) soul and body, for time and for eternity, unto God.
[Ilere the ordinance of Baptism to be administered. The Pastor resuming :- ]
And now you thus covenant with this Church : You do receive God's Word, with us, as your rule of life ; you receive these brethren in Christ as your brethren ; you promise to study the peace and purity of this Church, to labor together with us to maintain its publie worship and ordinances, to submit to all necessary dis- cipline so long as, in the Providence of God, you shall continue among us ; and if you remove your residence, and cease to worship statedly with us, to seek dismis- sion and recommendation to another church of Christ,
1 -
18
remembering that you can never withdraw from the watch and communion of the saints so long as God grants you life.
Do you assent to this covenant ?
We, then, the members of this church, [here all the members of the Church will rise, ] do most affectionately receive you to our communion ; we welcome you from this hour as our brethren in Christ ; we welcome you to fellowship in our worship; we welcome you to our places of prayer ; we break with you this Bread of Life; we drink with you this Cup of Blessing; we rely upon your aid in the work of our Master; we ask your sympathies and prayers, and we cordially offer you ours.
We promise, so far as in us lies, to seek your growth in grace and in knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, your continued experience of Christian peace and joy, and your perfect meetness for the " inheritance of the saints in light."
"And now, beloved, the Lord bless you and keep you ; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you ; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. 'Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you fault- less before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy ; to the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and ma- jesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.' "
fform for the Recognition of Deacons.
The Pastor requests the newly elected Deacons to present themselves before the Communion Table. Then, descending from the platform, and taking the Bible he may say :
Hear now the Scriptural warrant for the appointment of Deacons to a placo among the spiritual guardians of the Church.
(Here read Acts vi., 1-8, inclusive; when, resuming, he may say-or in offeet- as follows)
Dear Brethren : In accor lance with this Scriptural sanction, this Church has appointed you as Deacons, believing in your competence and willingness to discharge the obligations of the office with fidelity and zeal. Your duties are not onerous, but they are sacred. They are explicitly named in the Manual of our Church, as follows :
"To assist in the administration of the Lord's Supper ; to distribute the charities of the Church; to provide for the supply of the pulpit, when necessary; and to aid the Pastor generally in the spiritual care of the Church."
By virtue of your office, also, you are members of the Prudential Committee, It is expected that you will attend, whenever possible, its meetings, and engage heartily in its work. It is hoped and believed that you will magnify your office by being men of faith, prayer, and labor.
As we behold our Heavenly Master, who said, " My
f
he y u
the od
20
Father worketh hitherto, and I work," so let us all bo ablo to say, "We then are workers together with Him."
Do you accept these obligations ?
It is now my delightful duty to publicly recognize you as Deacons, according to the will of this Church and the warrant of the Word of God, and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to extend to you the right hand of fellowship and consecration.
(Then the Pastor, advancing to each, takes him by the right hand, repeating to each the words):
We thus publicly and solemnly set you apart to the office of Deacon in this Church, and may grace, mercy, and peace remain evor with you.
Following with a brief prayer.)
form for the Baptism of Children.
Parents presenting children for Baptism should be ready at the opening of the morning service, as the rite is administered immediately after the invocation and the reading of a few verses of Scripture.
You, who now present your child (children) to receive the rite of Baptism, profess yourselves believers in God and his Son, and in the verity and continuance of His promise to His children to be a Father to them, and to their seed after them. You covenant, on your part, in the presence of God and of these witnesses to train this child (these children), whom God has given you, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; to instruct him (her, or them) in the knowledge of divine truth, as you may have opportunity, but especially in the way of salvation, through Jesus Christ; to walk before them daily, as God may give you grace, in the cheerful and holy beauty of the Christian life; to seek, as your chief end concerning them, their renewal of heart and their salvation in the Redeemer, and to labor in all ways and prayerful endeavor to prepare them to accomplish God's will on earth, and to enter His rest and glory in the skies.
Do you thus engage ?
Then the ordinance of Baptism may be appropriately and profitably administered.
(The stated Sabbath for the presentation of children for Baptism is that which follows next to each Communion. If either parent is a professing Christian, the children may receive the ordinance.)
0 ,
The Lord's Supper.
The Sacrament is administered upon the morning of the first Sabbath of January, March, May, July, November, and on the morning of the third Sabbath in September.
It is expected that every Church Member, not provi- dentially detained, will be present at the ordinance.
All fellow Christians, in good standing, are always welcomed to participation with us in this celebration.
Remobals.
Membership of the Church can be terminated only by death or the regular process of discipline.
No person's name can be stricken from the Roll for the purpose of releasing him from his covenant obliga tions, but Members may be transferred from one church to another by asking for a letter and presenting the usual certificate of good and regular standing. It is, there- fore, the duty of any Member who has permanently removed his residence, or lives at so great a distance as to prevent regular attendance upon this Communion, to transfer his relation to some Church which he can attend, being subject, however, until such transference is made, to the discipline of this Church.
22
Services in the Central Congregational Church, with their Cime.
SABBATH SERVICES.
Morning Service 101g o'clock, A.M Evening Service, from Ist Sabbath in Septem-
ber to 1st Sabbath in May 7/5 o'clock, P.M. Evening Service, from 1st Sabbath in May to 1st Sabbath in September 73/
Sabbath School Session 3
Sabbath School Mission Association Meeting,
last Sabbath of each month 3
WEEK-DAY SERVICES.
Preparatory Lecture, Friday Evening preced- ing each Communion 8
Prayer Meetings, Tuesday and Friday Even- ings, (except Preparatory Lecture). 8 66 Monthly Concert, 1st Monday Evening each month 8 ..
During Monthly Concert Weeks the Tuesday Evening Prayer Meeting is omitted.)
Children's Meeting, 2d Thursday Evening cach month . 715 .. ¥
Week of Prayer, week succeeding 1st Sabbath in January.
23
Wist of Benevolent Contributions,
·
For the American Board of Com. for Foreign Missions, First Sabbath Evening of each Month.
For the American Bible Society, Second Sabbath in February.
For the American Tract Society, Second Sabbath in April.
For the Sabbath School Cause, Second Sabbath in June.
For the Seamen's Friend Society, Second Sabbath in August. .
For the American and Foreign Christian Union, Second Sabbath in October.
For the Home Missionary Society, Second Sabbath in December.
For the Poor,
Every Communion Sabbath.
For any object decided by the Benevolence Committee, Thanksgiving Day.
24
Requests and Suggestions.
The Pastor particularly requests the earliest informa- tion upon the following points :
1. Any case of sickness or need, in which his presence may be desired.
2. The death of any Church Member, with the date, full name of the person, and any facts of interest con- nected therewith.
3. He would suggest that, in arranging for funerals, he should be consulted before the hour is appointed.
4. That parents offering their children for Baptism should write the name, or names, in full, and hand them to him previous to the Baptismal Sabbath.
5. That interviews with him should be sought, as far as possible, in the afternoon hours, and never, unless most pressing in importance, upon the Sabbath.
B 25
-
Boll of the Church, from its Organization to November, 1867.
EXPLANATIONS.
1. The names are aringel alphabetically. The letter P denotes those admittel by Profession ; C, those by Certificate.
2. The month and year of admission are also stated.
3. A star (*) appenlel to a nume signifies deceased. An obelisk (+), denotes dismission to another Church; if louble (;), it denotes suspension. Husbands and wives names are in parenthesis ( ).
A.
P .. . May, 1858. . Abbot, Thomas W.
P ... . . . Abbot, Helen T. (Thomas W.)
C. .. July, 1862. . Adams, Martha C ... . . Adams, William .
C ... " 1865. . Adams, Robert# 1866.
P .. . Mar., 1866. . Adams, Tilly
P .. . May, 1866 .. Acchternacht, Henry A. P ... .. Acchternacht, Mary J. (Henry A.)
C .. . July, 1863. . Anderson, Henry S.
B
C ..: May, 1860. . Badger, Elizabeth+ 1866.
P .. . Mar., 1866. . Baker, J. Comstock
P ... Jan., 1864. . Baker, Emma Linda| 1867.
C ... Nov., 1854. . Bailey, John T. C ... « . . Bailey, Catharine K. (John T.)
C .. . Mar., 1865. . Bailey, Benjamin F. C ... « .. Bailey, Mary (Benjamin F.) P. . . May, 1866. . Bailey, Ella Hamilton P ... " 1864. . Bailey, Sarah Anne
26
1
27
C. .. Mar., 1855 .. Barton, Mary M.
C ... « . . Barton, Angusta I.
P ... " .. Barton, Benjamin G.# 1862. P ... Sept., 1865. . Barstow, Marie L.
C .. . July, 1855. . Bates, HAward S.# 1865. C ... .. . . Bates, Mary E. (Edward S.)| 1867.
P ... . 1857 .. Bates, Phobe R.F 1867.
C ... Nov., 1854. . Baylis, Catharine* 1863.
P. . . July, 1864. . Bedell, James W.
C .. . May, 1859 . . Bell, William H.
C ... " " .. Bell, Frances _1. (William II.) P ... « 1863. . Bell, Warren P.
P. . . July, 1869. . Bell, Hamah Amelia
C. . . Mar., 1863. . Bonnet, David S. B.
C ... .. .. Bennet, Catharine 1. (David S. B.)
P .. . Mar., 1866 .. Bennet, Eva L.
P .. . May, 1866 .. Bennet, Emily B. K.
P .. . Mar., 1866. . Bemet, Jenny W.
C .. . Jan., 1866. . Bird, Dr. James R.
C ... . . Bird, Maria L. (Dr. James R.)
C .. . Mar., 1859. . Bleeker, Eliza D. | 1866.
P .. . Nov., 1865. . Bleeker, Kate Ellison (Mrs. H. C. Fuller.)
P. . . Mar., 1866. . Bonto, Samuel R.| 1866. C .. . Nov., 1851. . Boorum, Cornelius C ... . .. . . Boormn, Catharine L. (Cornelius)} 1866.
C ... “ . . Boorum, Phobe Ann# 1860. C ... . . Boormm, Ellent 1866.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.