USA > Ohio > Ashtabula County > Jefferson in Ashtabula County > Historic manual of the First Congregational Church of Jefferson, Ohio on the occasion of the celebration of the 75th anniversary 1906 > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02493 0627
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historicmanualof00jeff
Historic Manual
of the
Lt First Congregational Church
of
Jefferson, Ohio
On the occasion of the celebration of the
Seventy-fifth Anniversary
August 11 and 12, 1906
History of the First Congregational Church Jefferson, Ohio.
1825677
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289244 .2975
JEFFERSON, Ohio. First Congregational Church.
Historic manual of the First Con- gregational. Church of Jefferson, Ohio on the occasion of the celebration of. the seventy-fifth anniversary . . . 1906 .. [ Jefferson? 1906?]
35 p. 2 inserted plates. 22 cm.
67-2903 OC PC (Sh A ASh Gr GrSh
ICN 68
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1831-1906
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
THE PARSONAGE
作了 中華:
ACT OF INCORPORATION.
AN ACT to incorporate the "Congregational Presbyterian Society of Jefferson, in the county of Ashtabula."
See. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, of the State of Ohio, That J. R. Giddings, Lynds Jones, Almon Hawley, John K. Hawley, Philetus S. Hall, Archibald Grandison, James Hoyt, George W. Hawley, Jun., Samuel Hendry, and James E. Dunn, and their associates for the time being, be, and they are hereby appointed a body corporate and politie, by the name and style of "The Congregational Presbyterian Society of Jefferson," and as such shall remain and have perpetual succession, and shall be capable in law, by the name aforesaid, of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, in any court either of law or of equity, having competent jurisdiction.
Sec. 2. That the said corporation shall be capable in law of having, receiving, acquiring and holding either by trust, grant, devise, or por- chase, any estate, real, personal or mixed, which may become the property of the corporation, and may alien and convey the same; and shall have power to take possession of, and occupy, according to the intention of the donor or donors, any and all real estate to which said
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society may be entitled by gift, grant, or otherwise, the anunal income of which shall not exceed two thousand dollars.
Sec. 3. That the officers of said society shall consist of not more than five, nor less than three trustees, one treasurer and one secretary, and that any or either of said trustees may also be elected treasurer or secretary or secretary and treasurer.
See. 4. That the members of said society shall have power to make and pass from time to time, such rules, by laws and regulations as they may deem proper for the regulation of their association, and the trustees thereof shall have power to enforce the same, (Provided,) that such laws and regulations are not contrary to the constitution and laws of the United States and of the state of Ohio.
Sec. 5. That Lynds Jones, George W. Hawley, and Almon Hawley, be, and they are hereby appointed trustees of said society, and Samuel Hendry is appointed treasurer and secretary of said society until others are elected or appointed in conformity with the rules, and regulations of the association.
DAVID T. DISNEY
Speaker of the House of Representatives. SAMUEL R. MILLER, Speaker of the Senate.
February 19th, 1833.
CONFESSION OF FAITIL. Adopted Ang. 12, 1831.
ART. I .- You believe there is one God the Creator, Preserver and Governor of the Universe; that He is self existent, independent, un- changeable, infinite in mercy, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.
ART. II .- You believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, that they contain a com plete and harmonions system of divine truth, and are the only perfect rule of religious faith and practice.
ART. HI .- Yon believe that there are three persons in the God- head-Father, Son and Holy Ghost -- that these three are in essence one, and in all divine perfection equal.
ART. IV .- You believe that God governs all things according to
His eternal and infinitely wise purpose, so as to render them conducive to His own glory and the greatest good of the universe and in perfect consistency with His hatred of sin, the liberty of man and the impor- tance of the use of means.
ART. V .- You believe that God first created man in His own moral image consisting in righteousness and true holiness, that he fell from that holy and happy state by sinning against God, and that since the fall of Adam, all mankind came into the world destitute of true holiness.
ART. VI .- You believe that in reference to the fall of man, God did from eternity appoint the Lord Jesus Christ, His own and well beloved Son, Mediator, who assumed our nature and made atonement for sin; that God can now consistently exercise merey toward sinners and that He will pardon all those who repent and believe the Gospel, and that it is the duty of all immediately thus to repent and believe.
ART. VII .- As all men in their natural state are disposed to reject Christ, you believe that God in perfect consistency with the free ageney of man, did choose some in Christ before the foundation of the world, that they should be holy through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth ; that they will be renewed sanctified and kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.
ART. VIII. -- You believe that christians are justified freely by grace through faith, and that although they are thus freely justified, still the law of God, as a rule of duty, remains in full force and that all men are under obligation perfectly to obey it.
ART. IX-You believe that personal holiness is the certain effect of the renewing operation of the holy spirit, and affords to believers the only scriptural evidence of their justification and title to the heavenly inheritance.
ART. X-You believe that men are free and voluntary in all their condnet, that the requirements of God are perfectly reasonable, and that the sinners are inexensable for impenitence and unbelief.
ART. XI-You believe that the visible church of Christ consists of visible saints, who publicly profess their faith in Him and that baptized children so belong to the church as to be under its care and instruction.
ART. XII-You believe in the divine appointment of the Christian
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Sabbath and the Sacraments of the New Testament, Baptism and the Lord's Supper which all are under obligation in the exercise of faith to observe and that it is the duty of parents to dedicate their children to God in baptismn and train them up in the nurture and admomition of the Lord.
ART. XIII-You believe that the soul is immortal and that at the last day Christ will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness; that all who die impenitent will go away into endless punishment, and the righteous be received to heaven to enjoy eternal felicity.
COVENANT. Entered into August 12th, 1831.
Yon viewing yourselves subject of special divine grace do now in the presence of God, Angels and men renounce the service of sin and choose the Lord Jehovah to be your God and eternal portion-the Lord Jesus Christ to be your only saviour, and the Holy Ghost to be your sanctifier and comforter.
You promise to take God's Holy Word for your directory and by divine grace to comply with all its injunetions. You solemnly engage duly to observe all the ordinances of the Gospel.
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You promise to encourage family prayer and instruction the seasonable dedication of children to God in baptism and to govern and restrain from vicions practices and company all who may be under your carc.
You promise daily to maintain secret prayer, statedly to attend on the Lord's Supper and to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
You promise to refrain from unnecessarily associating with the vicions and from vain conversation and finally to watch over the members of the church and if necessary to reprove them with Christian meekness and brotherly love, to submit to the watch and discipline of this church endeavoring in all things to promote its prosperity and to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called.
Relying on divine grace thus you covenant with God and this church.
We, then, the members of this church do cordially receive you
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into our communion and fellowship. We welcome you as members of the body of Christ and as fellow travellers to His rest.
We promise by the grace of God to watch over you with meekness and love and by conusel and prayer to help you forward in the way to heaven; and we pray God that we may live together as brethren, glorify Him on earth and finally join the church triumphant in heaven, there to nuite in the praises of God and the Lamb.
ARTICLES OF PRACTICE. Adopted Sept. 27th. 1834.
No. 1 .- This church shall have a standing committee chosen an- mually, consisting of not less than two of the brethren, whose duty it shall be to manage the prudential concerns of the church and to exert their influence to maintain a faithful discipline.
No. 2 .- Persons applying for admission into the church shall in ordinary cases be examined in the presence of the members at a meeting duly appointed, and previous to their being received they shall be re- ynired to give their assent to the Confession of Faith, Covenant and Rules.
No. 3 .-- Members of sister churches applying for admission by letter shall be examined with respect to their present religious views and feelings and must also give their assent to the Confession of Faith, Covenant and Rules.
No. 4-Members of sister churches residing among us, in order to their acceptable communion with us for more than one year shall be required, except in extraordinary cases, to apply by letter for admission into this church.
No. 4-Such therefore as transgress this rule shall be considered as acting contrary to gospel order and it shall be the duty of the pastor or church committee to labor with them accordingly, and if nusuccessful to report them to the church to which they belong.
No. 5-It shall be the duty of members on removing within the bounds of a sister church to apply for a letter of dismission from this and commendation to that where they expect to reside and to present such letters, if practicable, within one year. Members also expecting to be absent for any considerable time shall be required in ordinary
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cases, to obtain from the pastor or clerk certificates of their good stand- ing such as may entitle them to the fellowship of christian churches wherever they may be.
No. 6-It shall be required of male members who are heads of families and when circumstances render it proper, for females, daily to read the holy scriptures and pray in their families, and it is recommend- ed, also, that singing, when practicable, constitute a part of family worship.
No. 7-It will be required of heads of families that they faithfully endeavor to train up their children and all under their care, according to the word of God, carefully restraining them from evil practices, and from vicious company and also using all proper means to encourage their attendance on Sabbath Schools, Bible Classes and the public preaching of the Gospel
No. 8-It shall be required of all members to refrain wholly from engaging in or contenancing games of chance, lotteries, horse racing or vain amusements, such as those of the ball room, plays, etc.
No. 9-It shall be the duty of members that they strictly observe the Christian Sabbath, that they endeavor to promote its sanetification by their examples and influences and that they be careful not to profane it by travelling or visiting except in cases of sickness, or by any worldly labor, business, or communication that can be dispensed with.
No. 10-In all cases of discipline the instructions of our Saviour as recorded in Matt. 18:15-17 must be carefully observed.
No. 11-Any member in pursuing a course of discipline against a brother or sister in church shall be required previous to the third step to present the charges in writing to the person acensed, and when he brings the matter before the church he shall be required to present an exact copy of said charge with the names of at least two responsible withesse- annexed.
No. 12-When a member believes it his duty to bring a case of discipline before the church he shall make it known to the pastor or standing committee, whose duty it shall be to call a meeting of the clinreh and to cite the person accused and the witnesses to appear at the time and place appointed
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No. 13-Confession for offenses known publicly shall, if the church require, be made before the congregation.
No. 14-These rules shall be read publiely before the church at least once a year.
CONFESSION OF FAITH. Adopted January 25th, 1906.
I believe in God the Father Ahnighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontins Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Ahnighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit; the Holy Church Universal; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the dead; and the life everlasting. Amen.
COVENANT.
Having truly repented of your sins and heartily forsaken them, you devote yourselves to the love, obedience, and service of Jesus Christ; you take his word as the law of your life and the Holy Spirit as your Comforter and Guide; and trusting in his grace to confirm and strength- en you, you promise to follow him im all things, to walk with his disciples in love, and to live for his glory. Do you so promise?
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CHURCH HISTORY
By J. A. HOWELLS.
I have been asked to review the history of this church since its or- ganization, seventy-five years ago.
Ilow easy and pleasant this task would be if the church clerk had, cach Sunday noted who filled the pulpit, the names of those received into the church, infants baptized, and the names of those who died during the week. Five or six lines, at the most, would have covered the story and often a single line would have been sufficient.
RECORD.
August 11, 1831 .- At a meeting held in Jefferson, Aug. 11, under the direction of Rev. Giles Hooker Cowles, pastor of Austinburg Con- gregational church, and Rev'ds. Perry Pratt and Ward Childs, the following persons having expressed a desire to form a Church of Christ, were for that purpose examined, in the presence of each other as touch- ing their religious views and feelings, and the evidences of their christian character, viz:
Ebenezer and Jerusha Goodale; Sylvanus and Sarah Norton; Quintus F. and Sarah Atkins; Samuel and Stella Hendry; Archibald and Isabella Grandison; Lynds and Pheobe Jones; Joshua R. and Laura Giddings; Philetus and Elvira Hall; James and Polly Hoyt; and Margaret Grandi- son, Ophelia Atkins, Sarah Palmer, Chloe Dougal, Helen Atkins, Lucy Hoyt, Adaline Jones, John K. Hawley, Lynds Lysander Jones and Erastus Norton, were examined by the above named ministers and approved as suitable candidates for membership. On the following day, Ang. 12, the candidates and ministers met and adopted a "Con- fession of Faith" and a "Covenant". (For which see Page ().
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From the organization of the church, Ang. 12, to Nov. 7, 1831, Rev. Giles H. Cowles of Austinburg acted as pastor.
Nov. 7 .- Rev. William Beardsley was employed by the church and society as the first regular pastor, beginning Nov. 1, but he was to officiate but one-half the time. (The other half we suppose was devoted to the Congregational church in Lenox or Andover.)
Feb. 7, 1832. - Brother Lynds Jones, who was a delegate to the Presbytery at Morgan, made application that the Jefferson church be admitted to membership in that body, which was done.
Nov. 1, 1832 .- The arrangement was renewed for another year, for Rev. Wm. Beards'ey to serve the Jefferson church one-half the time, the other half being given to the West Andover church. For the reason that the Pastor wished to change to Freedom, Ohio, his connection with this church closed in September, 183%.
The State Legislature passed an act incorporating the Congrega- tional Presbyterian Church, of Jefferson, in 1833, see pages 2 and 3.
On April 27, 1833 .- a committee consisting of J. R. Giddings, Samuel Hendry and the pastor, Mr. Beardsley, was appointed to draft certain rules to regulate the practice of the church.
Sept. 20, 1833 .- A letter of dismission and commendation was granted to Bertha Beardsley; probably the wife of Pastor Beardsley, as after this date the records were signed by the Clerk of the Church, and Mr. Beardsley left in September.
Dec. 15, 1833 .-- Rev. Jason Chapin was employed as pastor and served for one year, supplying at the same time the churches in Lenox and Millsford, now Dorset.
Jan. 11, 1834 .- A meeting was held, at which Rev. Jason Chapin presided. At the same meeting it was voted to meet in four weeks for a conference and prayer-meeting.
Sept. 13, 1834 .- Brother Lynds Jones was added to the Commit tee to prepare a set of Rules for the Regulation of the Church, and two weeks later, Sept. 27, the Committee presented "Articles of Practice." (See page 6). Under these Rules and Practice, a committee consisting of J. R. Giddings J. K. Hawley was appointed.
There is no record of the retirement of Mr. Chapin, but we find
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that from Jan. to July, 1835, Rev. Perry Pratt was serving as pastor, and at the same time tanght in the village Academy.
The church building was erected in 1835, according to the tablet on the front, but there is no record of that important event save the following from the sermon of Rev. S. W. Dickinson, on the 29th of July, 1883-the last sermon preached in the church before it was remodeled.
"In 1833 preparations for the erection of this building were be- gnn. From the most authentic memory, it appears that the prime mover and leading spirit, was Samuel Hendry-then County Clerk, a man who was universally regarded as one of the best men in the com- munity.
We can hardly go back to those times and understand them. What an undertaking it was to build such a house.
Here was a village of three or four hundred people. Where are now pleasant lawns and residences, was the untamed forest. From the hotel to Mr. Giddings', there was not a house, and none from there . north to the hill. Some of the timbers in this building were ent from the woods near where Mr. N. E. French now hves. Labor was 75ets a day. What was sold was low ; what was bought was high.
With Mr. Hendry, were associated in the enterprise, prominently, J. R. Giddings and Lynds Jones.
According to the custom of those times and of the present too, the west went east for benevolent help. It appears that one Haw ley, of Rock Creek, Uncle Jesse Hawley, as he was called, made a tonr of Connectient and other states, soliciting funds for the churches in Rome, Rock Creek and Jefferson. After some time, perhaps two years, hav- ing received quite a per cent. of the receipts for his tronble, he turned over to this society abont four thousand dollars There is nothing, however, to show this to be the exact sum, but it gave substantial help. We do well to remember that the larger part of the cost of this build- ing was borne by friends in Connectient, to the branch of the family in New Connecticut, as an accompaniment to religious principals be- greathed to her children, who had gone out from her to establish these new homes.
With these four men are to be mentioned Mr. John Lucas, an
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excellent man, Deacon Norton, who started the first prayer meeting in town, Erastus Goodale and others, all ardent friends of the movement.
The work was all done by the day. Willis Smith was the master builder. Mr. Crosby and Dr. Hawley delivered the brick, made in Austinburg. Mr. Atwell and Mr. Crosby, the sand. Some remember yet the scenes of those days. One spoke particularly of carrying din- ners to the workmen, it being caten under the trees in pienie style. It so attracted the boys of the neighborhood, that they finally consumed the greater part and left the poor artisans to go hungry.
In 1835, the building was completed, costing about six thousand dollars, and I think, dedicated in September or October.
Pieture this room as it then was, with a high pulpit and extension gallery, unshaded windows, and seats running up on both sides.
It was an honor to religion for all this region."
There is a fugitive serap of history which says that the famous Henry Clay, of Kentucky, contributed ten dollars to help build this church on condition that at no time should sentiments hostile to slavery, be expressed within its walls.
If the idol of Kentucky could have been in Jefferson during the '50's, and attended some of the meetings in which "the sum of all villainie ." --- the crime of slavery, was denonneed, he would have found his wish most emphatically disregarded.
From his coming to Jefferson, when he immediately united with the church, in 1835, until he moved to Cleveland, in 1863-twenty- eight years, James Whitmore was one of its most faithful members. His home was the stopping place for candidates or transient preachers, colporteurs, missionaries, and church workers of every degree, all of whom were welcome. For years his sons took care of the church without pay.
May 29, 1836 .- Note is made of Rev. Rufus Pratt as acting pas- tor, but no regularly employed minister is mentioned.
Aug. 9, 1836 .- Rev. Lucius Pratt is referred to as the pastor, and Cornelius Udell, in his notes on the churches in Jefferson, says Mr. P. supplied the pulpit for a short time in the summer of 1836. An evan- gelist, Rev. Orson Parker, assisted the pastor-and it may be inferred that brother Lucius Pratt was the pastor. The revival under the
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preaching and exhortation of evangelist Parker, is reported to have been quite successful, and all of the churches added to their member- ship through his efforts. These meetings were held during October and November. One of the results of the meetings, was the enrolhnent of thirty-four new members in the Congregational church.
Feb. 11, 1837 .- Rev. Lncins Foot, although a Baptist, officiated as pastor until the autumn of 1838. In May, of 1837, a committee, con- sisting of the pastor, and brothers J. R. Giddings, Lucius M. Austin, S. Bissell, and H. N. Hurlburt, were to inquire into the conduct of certain members and make report at a later meeting. The report of the committee resulted in dropping from the church rolls, six members, who were excluded from the communion and fellowship of the church. At these meetings, Rev. L. Miller acted as moderator and pastor. The records do not state with what church he was connected at the time, for Mr. Foot was then pastor of the church. It is probable, Mr. Miller was connected with the Wayne church. He is referred to in Septem- ber, 1838 and April, 1839, but not as the pastor of the Jefferson church.
There appears to have been a break of ahnost four years in the service, or at least in the church records, from the fall of 1838, until Nov. 18, 1812. At that date, Rev. Phineas Blakeman was commissioned by the Home Missionary society for one year, at the expiration of which, he was again commissioned by the same society, for another year.
The records make no mention of the presence of Mr. Blakeman, but say, on Nov. 20, 1842, sacrament was administered by Rev. Sereno Streeter, who preached in Austinburg, for some time.
In Nov., 1842, during the pastorate of Mr. Blakeman, the "Con- fession of Faith and Covenant," adopted by the Grand River Presbytery, Feb. 5, 1840, was read and adopted by the church, the same to super- cede those adopted Ang. 12, 1831, at the organization of the Society.
Feb. 18, 1843 .-- Sacrament was administered by Rev. Seth H. Waldo. a teacher at Austinburg. Sacrament was again administered by Rev. Mr. Streeter, 18th of June.
April 20, 1845 .- The church voted to elect a Ruling Elder, and Joshua R. Giddings, then in his fiftieth year, was chosen.
Here again, a silence of ahnost five years prevails in the record,
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and who served as pastor-if there was one or more, we have no means of knowing.
Ang. 31, 1850,-Rev. William Burton is spoken of as the pastor, and Mrs. Elizabeth Burton, his wife, was received as a member in the church. He came in the summer of 1850, and moved to Austinburg, Aprtl 23, 1853, and retired from the ministry. It was while he was a resident of Jefferson, Dee. 20, 1851, that his son, the well known mem- ber of Congress, Hon. Theodore E. Burton, was born.
The coming of Mr. Burton to Jefferson, was fortunate, and his go- ing was equally unfortunate. He was a gentleman of the old school, and his sermons'were on the orthodox plane, and far superior to the average of the day. It is a question, even if he had remained, whether he could have withstood the wave of skepticism which engulfed our community. His memory is sweet to the remaining few who knew him.
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