USA > Ohio > Washington County > Marietta > A century of church life. A history of the First Congregational church of Marietta, Ohio, with an introduction by Rev. John W. Simpson > Part 12
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Article I. We believe that there is only one living and true God, who is the creator, preserver and governor of the universe ; and that he is infinite in his being and in every natural and moral perfection.
Article II. That this one God exists in three persons, called,
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in Scripture, Father, Son and Holy Ghost; that they are in es- sence one, and in all divine attributes equal.
Article III. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- ments are given by inspiration of God, and are the only un- erring rule of faith and practice.
Article IV. That God as an infinitely wise being has a per- fect and unalterable plan of government, which, in the execu- tion thereof, will issue in the highest possible good of his moral kingdom, and the greatest glory of his own name.
Article V. That the law of God is an eternal, perfect and unalterable rule of righteousness, requiring perfect obedience on pain of eternal damnation.
Article VI. That man was, at first, created in a state of per- fect holiness, but that he fell from this state by transgression.
Article VII. That he was so placed as public head, or repre- sentative, of all his posterity, as that, in consequence of his disobedience, they were constituted sinners, and came into the world in a state of total moral depravity.
Article VIII. That while in this their natural state they can do nothing which will bring the Divine Being under any obli- gation on the ground of merit or promise, to grant them regen- erating grace, which must therefore be, when bestowed, a free and sovereign gift.
Article IX. That God foreseeing this their state, and that they would persist in it, if left to themselves, notwithstanding any means that might be used to reclaim them (being so bent upon iniquity), did, to glorify his sovereign grace, elect, in Christ, before the foundation of the world, those to salvation who are finally saved. Yet notwithstanding the inadequacy of means to the bringing in of his elect, He has been pleased, in His infinite wisdom, to ordain them particularly the preaching of the word, accompanied with prayer; and which are rendered effectual unto salvation, when attended with the special influ- ences of the Holy Spirit; that all, therefore, are under obliga- tion to attend upon them; though, at the same time, with honest and obedient hearts.
Article X. That such is the method of salvation, through the obedience and death of Christ, as that complete atonement being thereby made for sin, sinners can be pardoned and saved consistently with the honor of the Divine law and government.
Article XI. That all who truly repent, and by faith cordially accept of and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, as their surety, shall for his merits' sake alone, be pardoned and received to favor.
Article XII. That regeneration, which is a renewal of the heart, in "knowledge, righteousness and true holiness," is pro-
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duced solely and instantaneously by the special influence of the Holy Spirit; and inasmuch as it lays a foundation for the exercise of every grace, as well as for all acceptable obedience and holy enjoyment, is indispensably necessary to salvation.
Article XIII. That all who have been renewed will persevere in holiness to the end of life; being kept by the power and promise of God, through faith unto salvation; and that such by coming to a certain knowledge of their own holy exercises, as they may, (even though morally imperfect in themselves), seeing the promise of eternal life is made to such exercises, can obtain an assurance of their own salvation.
Article XIV. That the Christian Sabbath, which is the first day of the week, is of Divine institution; and as such, is to be duly observed by a holy resting from all worldly labor and recreation, and spending the day in public and private exercises of worship, except so much as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy.
Article XV. That Jesus Christ has a true church in the world consisting of those who are friends to and believers in him; and that all such, upon a visible profession of their faith in him, have a right to the sealing ordinances, and to baptism for their infant offspring. Also that he hath for the regulation and benefit of his church, instituted in the same the office of Bishop or pastor and that of deacon. (Phil. I, 1.)
Article XVI. That there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
Article XVII. That there will be a day of judgment in which all will receive a sentence of just and final retribution,-the wicked doomed to endless punishment, but the righteous re- ceived to life everlasting.
The Covenant remained substantially the same.
This was the Confession of Faith and Covenant of the Church until revised and printed in an edition of the Manual in 1867. This was as follows :
ADDRESS.
BELOVED IN THE LORD: You have presented yourselves be- fore God, in this public manner, to make profession of your Christian faith, and unite with the visible church. You are about to ratify publicly that covenant, which you have already entered into, to receive the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, as offered in the gospel, and to walk in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
We trust that you have well considered the nature of this transaction; and that you perform it under a deep sense of
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your weakness, and your unworthiness to utter these vows unto the living God.
Yet if, weary and heavy laden, you have obeyed the call of Christ, and found rest unto your souls, with humble confidence and joy, you may hear this day the voice, and trust the faith- fulness of your new, your divine Master: "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
You will now listen to the Articles of Faith adopted by this church, and publicly profess the same.
CONFESSION OF FAITH.
We believe that there is one only living and true God, self- existent and infinite in every perfection, the Creator, Preserver and Governor of the Universe.
We believe that God is revealed in the Scriptures as the Father, Son and Holy Ghost; that these three are in essence one, and in all divine attributes equal.
We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- ments are the Word of God, given by inspiration, and are the only unerring rule of faith and practice.
We believe that man was created in a state of perfection, from which he fell by transgressing the divine command; and that, in consequence of his disobedience, the hearts of all men, until renewed by divine grace, are without holiness, and wholly alienated from God.
We believe that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son to die for its redemption, who, taking upon him our nature by being born of a woman, became a sacrifice for sin, and was ordained a High Priest forever, to make atonement by his obedience unto death for human guilt, that thus forgive- ness and eternal life might be freely extended to all who by faith will accept of his mediation, and be justified by his right- eousness.
We believe that through the gracious influence of the Holy Spirit alone, making the truth effectual, men are convinced of sin and brought to repentance; and that those who are thus re- newed, having been chosen in Christ from the foundation of the world, are kept by the power of God, according to the promise, through faith unto salvation.
We believe that Jesus Christ has a true church in the world, consisting of those who are friends to and believers in him, and that all such, upon a visible profession of their faith, have a right to its sealing ordinance (baptism and the Lord's supper,) and to baptism for their infant offspring.
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We believe that the Christian Sabbath is of divine appoint- ment, and its observance of perpetual obligation.
We believe that Christ Jesus will come again to judge the world in righteousness, and that the dead will be raised, the wicked being doomed to endless punishment, and the righteous received to life everlasting.
DO YOU THUS PROFESS?
The ordinance of baptism will here be administered to those who have not already received it in their infancy, while the lat- ter will now adopt the act of their parents as their own.
COVENANT.
In the presence of God and this assembly, you do now sol- emnly avouch the Great Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, to be your God. Renouncing all the ways of sin, you give your- self to God in an everlasting covenant; choosing him as your Father, Lawgiver and Portion; his Son as your only Redeemer, and the Holy Ghost as your Sanctifier and Comforter; cordially embracing the way of salvation revealed in the gospel. Conse- crating your powers, property and being to the Lord, you prom- ise that, through the assistance of his grace, you will cleave to him as your chief good; that you will give dilligent attendance to his word and ordinances; that, denying all ungodliness and every worldly lust, you will live soberly, righteously and godly in this world.
You do cordially join yourselves to this church, engaging to submit to its government and discipline; to strive earnestly for its purity, peace and edification; and to walk with its members in charity, faithfulness, circumspection and meekness.
You covenant also to regularly attend the worship of God in public, in the family, and in the closet, and to attend the devo- tional, and other meetings of the church, when not providen- tially prevented.
Do you thus covenant and engage?
(The church will rise.)
We do now affectionately receive you as members of this church, and in the name of Christ declare you entitled to all its privileges. We welcome you to our fellowship in the blessings of the gospel, and on our part engage to watch over you, seeking your edification, and endeavoring to promote your present and everlasting welfare.
And now, beloved in the Lord, let the solemn relations into which you have thus entered, ever be impressed upon your
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minds. Let it never be forgotten by you that you bear the sa- cred name of Christ, and have now been baptized into him. Henceforth Christ is your Lord and Master, and by his dying love we charge you to follow and obey him; to endure faithful- ly unto the end, that at the last the crown may be yours.
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. Amen.
These Confessions placed together give us a good illustration of the evolution of church creeds during the century. At the time the church was organized, Pastor Story and his associates were removed from the theological discussions of the time, and were governed by the practical necessity of forming a bond of union between Christians holding different views. They therefore formulated a Confession and Covenant which were models of brevity and conciseness.
But at that time the New England divines supposed them- selves bound to defend all points of their theological system. It was not strange that Pastor Robbins, fresh from theological studies, should introduce a new Confession which embraced the subtle doctrinal statements of that time. This creed was soon found to be cumbersome in practical use, and the members of the church suggested a revision, which was made, although the long creed was regarded as the standard until the present brief confession was adopted. The tendency is still to reduce doc- trinal statements to essentials, and when the next revision is made this confession will probably be shortened.
This seeems an appropriate place to add the rules which have been adopted for the government of the church.
STANDING RULES.
1. Persons offering themselves for admission to this church by profession, shall give satisfactory evidence of regeneration, be examined by the church, or the Church Committee, and be approved by vote of the church, and in ordinary cases be pro- pounded publicly two weeks previous to full admission, when they shall make public profession by adopting its articles and covenant. If coming from another church, they shall bring a letter of dismission and recommendation, or a certificate of good standing in said church, give assent to the articles of faith and covenant, and be received by vote of the church.
2. Members of this church, who desire to remove their rela-
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tion, must procure a letter of dismission and recommendation to some other evangelical church, near the place where they reside, within one year after removal, unless they give satisfac- tory reasons for delay ; and after a year's absence, application for letter having been presented will lie over at least one week before action is taken thereon. Any person absent for two years without reporting to the church may be dropped from the roll of members.
3. If any person be convinced that he is not truly regen- erated, but professed religion under self-deception, and shall request a dissolution of his connection with this church, if there is nothing in his life requiring discipline, this request may be granted, after he has been duly labored with, by a sim- ple vote declarative of the fact.
4. Members of other churches who may wish to commune here for more than one year, are expected to remove their rela- tion to us, unless they shall give satisfactory reasons for delay.
5. The Lord's Supper shall be administered to this church on the first Sabbath in March, June, September and December, to which members present, in regular standing, from other evangelical churches, shall be cordially invited.
6. A collection shall be taken up at each communion ser- vice, to defray the ordinary expenses of the church, and to provide for its indigent members.
7. The preparatory lecture shall be held on the Wednesday or Friday evening preceding each communion.
8. Members of this church are expected to present their children as early as possible for baptism; and, that the bless- ings of the covenant, of which baptism is the seal, may follow, they shall train them diligently in the fear and love of God, in the knowledge of his word, and in attendance upon his public and social worship.
9. All persons who have not previously received this ordi- nance shall be baptized upon professing their faith and joining this church.
10. Regular church meetings shall also be held for devo- tional exercises, conference, and the transaction of business, on the second Wednesday of January and of the month immedi- ately preceding each communion season. The annual meeting shall be held on the third Wednesday of December, when the reports of the officers shall be made and the following officers shall be chosen :
11. A Clerk, who shall keep the records of all business trans- actions, and present them for approval.
12. A Treasurer, who, at each annual meeting, shall make a written report of the amount and application of all money re-
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ceived during the year, including all sums contributed for benevolent purposes.
13. A Committee on Benevolent Contributions, consisting of one person for each cause to which the church shall vote at annual meeting to contribute, who shall collect the sums con- tributed, and account for the same to the Treasurer.
14. A Church Committee, consisting of the Pastor, Deacons, and four others, whose duty it shall be to propound for admis- sion those persons whom they may approve, after examination, and also to notice whatever may call for discipline. In case of failure to correct whatever may thus call for discipline, they shall without delay bring the matter before the church.
15. All officers of the church shall be elected by ballot, and shall hold their offices for one year, and until their successors are chosen, except the Pastor and Deacons. The Deacons shall hold their office for six years, and the terms of office shall be so arranged that two shall expire at the annual meeting in Janu- ary, 1890, and two each alternate year thereafter. An election to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term. In the elec- tion of officers, as well as in all other business, the right of voting belongs to every member.
16. The Sabbath School, with Bible classes for adults, shall be under the general superintendence of the Pastor, aided by a special superintendent and librarian, to be chosen annually by the teachers and older portion of the scholars.
17. The Monthly Concert of Prayer for Missions shall be observed on the first Wednesday evening of each month; at which a collection shall be taken, to be appropriated equally for the benefit of home and foreign missions.
18. A weekly prayer meeting shall be held on Wednesday evening. The church also recommends a weekly prayer meet- ing on Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock, for all the female mem- bers of the church and congregation, and that the mothers of the church shall co-operate with the other evangelical churches of the place in the meetings of the Maternal Association.
19. It is considered the solemn duty of members of this church, in all ordinary circumstances, to attend with constancy all the regular meetings of this church, both for public and so- cial worship, and also for business; to contribute their propor- tion toward the support of the gospel, and also, as the Lord shall prosper them, to different charitable and benevolent objects.
20. This church disapproves the use or sale of intoxicating liquors as a beverage, and also discountenances all forms of worldly amusements which are injurious to the Christian name or inconsistent with a Christian profession.
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21. These rules may be altered, or new ones adopted, at any regular meeting for business, by a majority of the members present, provided said alteration has been submitted in writing at a previous regular meeting.
CHAPTER XII.
THE FIRST RELIGIOUS SOCIETY IN MARIETTA.
When we study the genesis of the civil and religious insti- tutions established by the first settlers of Marietta, we shall find that they were transplanted in large measure from New Eng- land. These settlers had been educated under the system of partial union of church and state, which then prevailed there. This involved what is known as the "Parish system" in the management of church finances, and an appropriation of land, which was held in trust for the support of the church, some- what similar to the church glebes in England. In the survey and distribution of its public lands, the United States govern- ment adopted the following principles, which are directly trace- able to the New England colonies: (1) The survey of the land by a sworn surveyor, and a public record of the same. (2) The division of the land into townships of six miles square, and a sub-division into convenient lots, which were to be deeded in (3) A reservation of one section fee simple to actual settlers. in each township for schools. By an ordinance of Congress, passed May 20th, 1785, provision was made to secure the sur- vey of the public domain, which was to be laid out in town- ships of six miles square. Section 16 in each township was to be reserved for the support of public schools. Sections 8, 11, 26 and 29 were also to be reserved, but for what purpose is not stated in the act.
The special act of Congress, passed in 1787, under which the Ohio Company purchased land in Southeastern Ohio, provided that in this particular purchase, "Section 16 should be given perpetually for schools, and section 29 should be given perpetu- ally for the support of religion." This last provision was limit- ed to the Ohio Company's purchase, and that of Judge Symmes in the vicinity of Cincinnati, called the "Scioto Purchase." It was the practice in the Massachusetts colony from the first, to
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set apart one share in each township for the support of relig- ion, and the fact that the Ohio Company employed Rev. Man- asseh Cutler, LL. D., a Massachusetts clergyman, to negotiate for the land, explains why this reservation was made in their purchase. Judge Symmes petitioned Congress to make a con- tract with him for land "in all respects similar in form and mat- ter to the grant made to Messrs Sargeant and Cutler" (the Ohio Company's agents.)
This explains why the reservation of a ministerial section is found in the "Scioto Purchase." The policy of a complete sep- aration of church and state, adopted in the Federal Constitution, explains why subsequent reservations of the same kind have not been made. It is doubtful whether the reservation in these purchases has really fostered the best religious development of these regions, but the settlers adopted the system with good motives. Section 29, in Marietta township, fell within the city limits, and soon became valuable. These lands seem to have been occupied quite early, but we cannot learn that any pro- vision was made to collect rents from them for several years.
When Rev. Daniel Story was settled in 1789, it was agreed that he should be allowed to cultivate some portion of these lands if he desired. When the Muskingum Academy was erect- ted in 1798, it was decided to assess those holding ministerial lands according to the value of the same, and the amounts so assessed and paid were to be credited to the possessor when provision should be made for renting these lands. The first territorial legislature in Ohio convened in 1799, and at its sec- ond session, Nov. 29th, 1800, passed an act creating "A Board of Trustees to manage the lands in Washington County, re- served for the support of religion." These trustees were au- thorized to rent these lands under permanent leases, and the proceeds were to be appropriated to such religious societies as should be subsequently organized, three-fourths to be paid for the support of such teachers of Piety, Religion and Morality, as should be employed by these societies; and one-fourth reserved in the treasury, or put on interest for the purpose of erecting houses of public worship.
The First Religious Society in Marietta was organized March
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2nd, 1801, and was doubtless the first society of the kind organ- ized under that act. The original preamble and constitution were as follows:
"MARIETTA, March 2nd, 1801.
We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the fractional township number two, in the eighth range of townships surveyed agreea- bly to the ordinance of Congress of the twentieth of May, 1785, desirous to avail ourselves and families of the provisions and benefits which may be derived by forming ourselves into a re- ligious society agreeable to an act of the legislature of this ter- ritory, entitled, "An Act Authorizing the Leasing of Land Granted for the Support of Schools and for Religious Purposes in the County of Washington," in conformity to the aforesaid act, do form and hereby declare that we have formed ourselves into a religious society on the following principles, and by these Articles of Association :
Article 1. Wishing to participate with all mankind in the solemnities of Divine and Public Worship, and together to re- ceive instruction in Piety, Religion and Morality, all persons (qualified according to the aforesaid law) of every denomina- tion and sect whatever, are invited freely to join this Associa- tion, and shall be equally benefitted by any funds possessed by said society.
Article 2. This Society shall be denominated the First Relig- ious Society in Marietta.
Article 3. The Society shall determine, by a majority vote, what public teacher or teachers of Piety, Religion and Morality they will employ, for what time, and on what terms, which shall be by ballot (always provided that such sums to be paid the teacher shall not exceed the proportion of the money to be drawn from the ministerial funds) of all persons duly assem- bled, and qualified to vote; and shall annually choose a com- mittee of five of their number, which shall be a Standing Com- mittee for the year, whose duty it shall be to call a meeting or meetings of the Society when they shall think it necessary. They shall also in behalf of the Society contract with the pub- lic teacher or teachers, chosen as aforesaid, to settle with them, and under the direction of the Society, to engage a teacher or teachers on trial, or occasionally, collect of the several members of the Society, certificates and lodge them with the clerk of the Trustees, according to the fourteenth section of the act afore- said; attend to any business of the Society, either before the said Trustees, or the Court of Quarter Sessions, and to do and transact any matters or thing according to the just rights of the Society.
Article 4. The day of assembling for public worship shall be
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on every first day of the week; the hours of commencement, and the manner of notice thereof, shall be determined by the Society. Lectures shall be delivered at such times and at such places as the public teacher shall fix upon.
Article 5. In order to accommodate the persons of this Soci- ety who may reside at an inconvenient distance from the pres- ent place of public worship in Marietta, there shall be places of public worship, and certain times determined on for the conven- ience of such persons, which places and times, and the propor- tion of preaching at each place, shall be regulated at a meeting of this society, due regard being had to the number to be accom- modated.
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