USA > Ohio > Lorain County > Elyria > Manual of the First Congregational church in Elyria, Ohio, September 1, 1880 > Part 2
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In the vicinity of the town there are six Sunday Schools, all under the charge of members of this Church, each having an enrollment of from forty to more than one hundred and fifty. These schools meet together once a year, when reports are submitted by their Officers, giving interesting statements of progress which show clearly that the blessing of God attends the labors of those engaged in this work.
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16
History of the Church.
The following is a list of those who have served as Superintend- ents of the Sunday School, with term of service, from the organi- zation of the School to the present time.
SUPERINTENDENTS.
NAMES.
TIME OF SERVICE.
TERM OF OFFICE.
Dea. Elijah Clary
1824-1825
2 Years.
66
Luther Lane.
1824-1827
4 Years.
Rev.
Daniel W. Lathrop
1826-1828
3 Years.
Nathan Stevens
1829 -1830
2 Years.
Schuyler Putnam
1831-1834
4 Years.
Ransom Redington
1835-1837
3 Years.
Oliver R. Ryder
1838-1841
4 Years.
William F. Church
1842-1843
2 Years.
Norman Crandall
1844-1852
9 Years.
Henry J. Brooks
1853-1862
10 Years.
Isaac S. Metcalf_
1863-1867
5 Years.
Rev.
Fergus L. Kenyon
1868-
1 Year.
Heman Ely
1869-1871
3 Years.
Isaac S. Metcalf.
1872-1875
4 Years.
Heman Ely
1876-
ENROLLMENT FOR 1879.
MALE.
FEMALE. TOTAL.
Main School, Officers
9
4
13
Teachers
9
26
35
66 Scholars
193
199
392
Primary Department, Teachers
4
4
66 Scholars
61
62
123
TOTAL ENROLLMENT 567
From which deduct :
Withdrawn
5
8=13
Left Town
23
18=41
Transient
15
18=33= 87
ENROLLMENT JAN'Y 1, 1880 480
CHURCH.
HOHUMOD
CE.
GROWTH OF THE CHURCH.
ADDITIONS.
REMOVALS.
TOTAL.
Total
ship.
Con-
fession.
Letter.
Restored
mission.
Death.
cipline.
Gain.
Loss.
Member-
Con-
fession.
Letter.
Restored
mission.
Death.
Dis-
Gain.
Loss.
Member-
195
1824
Nov.
25
1825
2
5
17
1855
1
1856
5
3
1827
--
1
6
3
36
1858
15
18
1829
5
2
41
1859
6
9
3
I
17
1831
66
6
6
-
--
1861
3
7
5
6
5
108
1862
2
3
1833
4
15
16
1
2
196
1834
20
30
7
3
3
148
1863
2
1
1
1
2
194
174
1864
2
9
9
4
1835
16
23
=
2
26
1
1836
12
15
39
3
0
157
1865
4
14
13
6
1837
23
15
7
1838
9
16
2
4
1839
6
4
3
1840
4
12
=
2
200
1870
2
5
1841
33
13
1842
8
00
1
1
199
187L
3
7
1
22
209
1872
26
12
8
1843
14
5
1844
1874
1
14
2
12
00
2
4
334
1846
15
=
18-17
2
1848
1
9
1849
2
4
1850
6
6
2
9
4
1
CO
00
197
1880
Co
1851
7
190
1852
1
1
10
2
1
8
2
1
106
6
198
1832
10
1
29
1857
4
10
5
2
1828
2
226
1830
13
1
107
1860
66
5
204
19
1854
2
11
19
28
6
1826
1
1
2
2
171
9
1
26
3
54
232
7
1
5
209
17
1853
3
9
3
2
2
5
TOTAL.
ADDITIONS.
REMOVALS.
Total
ship.
Years.
Years.
Dis-
Dis-
167
2
173
10
178
6
2
193
17
241
170
1866
15
13
8
2
48
3
13
254
2
172
1867
6
15
20
2
1
166
1868
17
1
169
1869
3
12
3
4
2
1
278
10
45
323
210
1873
34
16
13
1
1
1
327
1845
202
1875
5
9
3
10
5
41
375
201
3
198
1877
7
=
6
192
1878
=
6
12
3
2
9
9
1
2
194
1879
7
2
1
3
74
67
301
8
19
6
9
4
2
370
2
368
6
6
2
9
9
1
1
214
7
7
12
11
1
1876
00
13
1
6
3
9
11
2
2
31
1
256
7
1
11
8
00
4
1
13
22
273
19
269
260
368
NOTE .- The large number entered as removed by Discipline in 1880, includes all those whose names have been standing on the roll for many years, of whom nothing is now known. Owing to the imperfect keeping of the Records, at times, doubtless a con- siderable portion of these received letters of dismission, and others after leaving Elyria, having no permanent residence for a considerable time, failed to apply for letters, and finally united with other churches on confession of faith.
cipline.
Dis-
II. GOVERNMENT OF THE CHURCH,
" That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the Church of the living God." I Tim., III: 15.
CONSTITUTION. (Adopted May 16, 1879.)
ARTICLE I .- NAME.
This Church shall be called "The First Congregational Church of Elyria."
ARTICLE II .- ORGANIC PRINCIPLES.
SECTION I. Church Rights and Privileges. The Bible is the only infallible and authoritative directory of the principles of Church organization and discipline.
SEC. 2. According to the Scriptures, a congregation, or com- pany of Christians, voluntarily associating and covenanting to- gether to worship God and celebrate his ordinances, is a Church.
As such, it is invested with all the rights, privileges and duties attached by Christ to his visible Church, is authorized to adopt and administer its own government and laws; to elect its own officers ; admit and discipline its members ; provide for the proper ministration of worship and the ordinances; and to act authori- tatively and conclusively on all appropriate business, independently of external control.
SEC. 3. The sovereignty of the individual Church, under Christ, is in the membership of that Church, all authority and office within it emanating from their will, ascertained by a majority of suffrages.
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19
Government of the Church.
SEC. 4. While the individual Church, in matters of doctrine, order and discipline, is an independent body, and amenable to no ecclesiastical authority, it is still under obligation to extend to other Churches of Christ, and to receive from them that fellow- ship, advice and assistance commanded by the word of God, and required by common discipleship to a common Saviour.
SEC. 5. SUFFRAGE. - This Church recognizes credible evi- dence of Christian character as entitling the possessor to Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and to Christian watch and fellowship, but not as necessarily conferring the right to co-ordinate power in the government of the Church. All members over eighteen years of age, not under Church censure or discipline, and adhering to the belief and covenant of the Church, have a right of suffrage within it.
· ARTICLE III .- OFFICERS AND THEIR DUTIES.
SEC. I. The stated officers of this church shall be a PASTOR, AN EXAMINING COMMITTEE, CLERK, TREASURER, COMMITTEE ON MISSIONS, and a LADIES COMMITTEE.
SEC. 2. All officers shall be elected by ballot, except the Com- mittee on Missions and the Ladies Committee ; provided, that the pastor shall be chosen by the concurrent vote of the Church and Society, the Church to take the initiative in the election. All elections shall be determined by a vote of the majority of the members of the Church present and voting. All officers, except the Pastor, shall serve during the term for which they are elected, and until their successors, duly elected, shall assume their duties. Official vacancies (except in the Pastorate) occurring at any time, may be filled, for the unexpired term, at any business meeting of the Church, notice to such effect having been given from the pulpit on the previous Sabbath.
SEC. 3. In the settlement of a Pastor, the Church shall act by an Ecclesiastical Council, called in the usual manner. In the dis- mission of a Pastor, such Council shall be mutually called to act upon the question, whenever the Pastor shall desire it, or when- ever the Church shall so vote in a meeting for that specified pur- pose, of which notice shall be given from the pulpit on the preced- ing Sabbath. The decision of the Mutual Council, so called, shall be binding upon both parties.
20
Government of the Church.
SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of the Pastor to watch over the spiritual interests of the Church, preach the Gospel, administer the Sacraments, and ordinarily to act as Moderator in the meetings of the Church and Examining Committee.
SEC. 5. THE EXAMINING COMMITTEE shall consist of six, who shall be so elected that the term of two members shall expire each year after the 31st day of December next. In addition to the above the Clerk shall be a member ex officio, and act as clerk, or recording officer, of said Committee, and Brothers Elijah DeWitt and Edmund W. West, who have heretofore been elected Deacons for life, shall, during their lives, be members, any four of whom shall constitute a quorum. In case of a tie on any question, the Moderator shall have a casting vote. In the absence of the Pastor, the Committee may appoint one of its own number Moderator pro tem., except when a member of the Committee shall be before them for discipline, when the Pastor of a sister church shall be called to act as Moderator.
SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the Examining Committee :
To make provision for the regular observance of the Lord's Supper, and to assist in its administration.
To distribute the charities of the Church, to minister especially to such as are poor, or in any affliction, and to act as peacemakers where differences arise in the Church.
In the temporary absence, or disability, or at the request of the Pastor, to provide a supply for the pulpit, in connection, or co- operation, with the Trustees of the Society.
To take charge, personally or by proxy, of religious meetings of the Church, for which provision is not otherwise made.
This committee shall be charged with the general supervision of the spiritual affairs of the Church and congregation, examine and recommend candidates for admission to the Church, grant letters of dismission and recommendation, and examine and decide all cases of discipline, in conformity with, and subject to, the provisions hereinafter prescribed.
Stated meetings shall be held as often as once in two months, for the consideration and transaction of appropriate business, of which meetings a record shall be kept, which shall be submitted to the inspection of the Church at each regular meeting, and at such other times as occasion shall require or the Church shall direct.
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21
Government of the Church.
The Pastor shall have power to convene the Examining Com- mittee at any time, and he shall always convene them on request of any two members of the Church.
SEC. 7. THE CLERK shall keep a full record of the business meetings of the Church and of the Examining Committee; a register of the members of the Church, with dates of admission, dismission, or death, together with a record of baptisms. He shall give seasonable notice of the meetings of the Church, notify offi- cers, delegates and committees of their appointment, and conduct the official correspondence of the Church.
SEC. 8. THE TREASURER shall receive and keep the moneys of the Church, subject to its order, receive the benevolent contribu- tions not otherwise herein provided for, and pay them over to those authorized to receive them, whose orders or receipts shall be his vouchers. He shall present his report at the meeting in January, annually.
SEC. 9. THE COMMITTEE ON MISSIONS shall consist of a num- ber corresponding with the number of regular objects for which contributions are taken in this Church, one member of which shall be assigned to, and have charge of, the particular object to which he is assigned. He shall receive all moneys contributed during the year for the Society or cause he represents, transmit the same to the proper receiving officer of such Society, and make report to the Church, at the meeting in January, of the amount collected and remitted.
SEC. IO. THE LADIES COMMITTEE shall consist of three mem- bers, whose duty it shall be to promote acquaintance and social intercourse in the Church and Society ; to have regard to the sick, the destitute, the afflicted, and the thoughtful ; to encourage attendance upon Divine Worship and the Sabbath School, and in general to aid the Pastor in his pastoral work.
ARTICLE IV .- BUSINESS MEETINGS.
SEC. 1. The regular business meetings of the Church shall be held as follows, to-wit: On the second Friday of January, May and October, in each year, and should it be deemed desirable, the meetings so designated may be adjourned to any other day which shall not postpone the election of officers for a longer period than sixty days beyond the day designated for such election.
22
Government of the Church.
SEC. 2. At the meeting in January reports shall be presented by the Pastor, by the Clerk, the Treasurer, the several Committees of the Church, and by the Superintendent of the Sabbath School, giving full statements of the state of the Church, its membership, admissions, dismissions, baptisms and deaths, the contributions for the Church and for benevolent objects, the condition of the Sabbath School, number of scholars, the attendance, number of additions to the Church, and such other items in each department as shall give all desirable information -- the reports, in all cases, to be for the calendar year next preceding, which reports, as presented, shall be entered by the Clerk in the records of the Church.
SEC. 3. At the meeting in October, in each year, there shall be elected two members of the Examining Committee ; provided, that at the meeting in October, 1879, two members shall be elected whose term shall expire on the 31st day of December, 1880, two on the 31st day of December, 1881, and two on the 31st day of December, 1882 ; and provided further, that the present members of the Church Committee shall hold their offices and discharge the duties prescribed for the Examining Committee in this Constitu- tion, until the 31st day of December next, and that any vacancies occurring in this interval shall be filled by the Church.
There shall also be elected annually at the October meeting a Clerk, Treasurer, Committee on Missions, and the Ladies Com- mittee, (these two Committees may be elected by a viva voce vote), whose term of office shall commence on the first day of January next thereafter, and close on the 31st day of December following.
SEC. 4. SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETINGS of the Church may be called by the Pastor or a majority of the Examining Committee, and shall be called by the Clerk on the written request of any seven Church voters of lawful age.
SEC. 5. All regular and special business meetings, except such as are herein otherwise provided for, shall be announced from the pulpit on the preceding Sabbath.
ARTICLE V .- MEMBERSHIP.
SEC. I. ADMISSION OF MEMBERS. Application for membership in this Church, either upon profession of faith, or upon recommen- dation from other churches, shall be made to the Pastor or to the
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23
Government of the Church.
Examining Committee ; at the meetings of which Committee to ict upon such application any member of the Church may be present and participate in the examination of candidates ; provided, hat applicants may come before the Church in the first instance, f they prefer.
The Committee, on satisfactory evidence of the fitness of the applicants, shall cause their names to be propounded to the con- gregation at least one week previous to their public admission, and, 10 objection having been made meantime, they shall, at a sub- sequent meeting of the Church (which for action on the admission and dismission of members, may be on the day of the Preparatory Lecture previous to the Communion), be recommended by the Examining Committee, and if approved by the Church they shall De received as members-those on profession, on a public state- nent of their faith and by entering into public covenant with God and this Church, and those on the recommendation of other Churches, on entering into covenant relations with this Church.
SEC. 2. Objection to the admission of individuals propounded must be presented to the Examining Committee on or before the day of the vote for their admission, at which time the Committee shall present such objection, with their advisement, for the action of the Church, or the objector may make his own statement directly to the Church.
SEC. 3. In special cases the Church or the Examining Com- mittee may, by vote, instruct the Pastor and a sub-committee to examine candidates in private, and in case of their inability to be present in the Church, to admit to membership and to the sacra- ments at their residences.
SEC. 4. DISMISSION OF MEMBERS. - Letters of dismission and recommendation to Evangelical Churches, shall be given by vote of the Church or by the Examining Committee to members in good standing who apply for them. All requests for letters should be made in writing.
A letter of dismission and recommendation from this Church is given to some particular Church, and is not to be regarded as valid unless presented within one year from its date and this Church notified of its acceptance. Members who remove from the bounds of this Church, or are absent therefrom more than twelve months, shall either take letters and unite with some other Evangelical Church, or as often as once a year, by letter addressed to the
24
Government of the Church. '
Clerk, inform the Church of their spiritual state and the reason why they do not unite with some other Church. Failing to d either for the space of two years, the name of such person shall b dropped from the roll of members, but may be reinstated at an time upon good cause shown.
If any member be convinced that he or she is not truly regen erate, but that a profession was made under self-deception, and shall request a dissolution of connection with this Church, if ther be no scandal requiring discipline, the request shall be granted after due labor first used, by a simple declaration of the facts which vote shall be publicly annonnced at the next communion season.
Any member desiring to withdraw from this to unite with an other Church on account of any offense, or for better edification shall, in a letter signifying his wishes and reasons, apply to be firs released from obligation to this Church. Any other mode of with drawing will be deemed irregular and censurable.
SEC. 5. MEMBERS OF OTHER CHURCHES .- It is expected tha members of other Churches, who may commune with this Churcl for more than one year, will request dismission from their respec tive Churches and admission to this, unless satisfactory reason shall be assigned for the delay.
ARTICLE VI .- DISCIPLINE.
SEC. I. This Church regards Matthew XVIII: 15-17, as a divine directory of the principle, the spirit, and, so far as practicable, of the process of Church Discipline.
SEC. 2. In all cases of private offense, where the preliminary measures prescribed in the XVIIIth of Matthew shall have been taken, and no satisfactory result obtained, complaint may be made to the Examining Committee.
SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of the Examining Committee to inquire after all public offenses which shall come to their know- ledge, by complaint or otherwise.
SEC. 4. All complaints made to the Committee shall be in writing, stating explicitly the several charges, and be signed by the person making them.
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25
Government of the Church.
SEC. 5. It shall be the duty of the Committee to ascertain the facts in each case which shall come before them, and if they shall vote to proceed to a formal trial, which shall be had in all cases before censure shall be inflicted, except on the confession and waiver of trial by the accused, they shall appoint a time for a hearing, and summon the accused to be present, furnishing him with a written copy of the charges and the names of witnesses relied on for proof, at least one week before the trial.
SEC. 6. At the trial the accused may call to his aid any mem- ber of the Church, and in case of the non-appearance of the accused a member shall be appointed to defend his case.
The confession of the accused, the concurrence of two credible witnesses to the same fact, or circumstantial evidence which is fairly equivalent, shall be requisite for conviction.
SEC. 7. If after a fair and impartial trial the Committee shall find the charges sustained, they shall so inform the accused, per- sonally if present, and through the person appointed to defend him if absent. From the decision of the Committee, notice being given at the time of rendering such decision, an appeal may be taken at any time within twenty days by the aggrieved party to an Ecclesiastical Council, or to a Board of Referees, mutually selected from approved Christian men (the accused to have the privilege of electing as to a Council or Board of Referees), who shall proceed to an examination of the case, having full authority to take any and all steps necessary to arrive at a just and righteous conclusion, which being attained shall be announced, with the censure to be nflicted in case of the sustaining of the charge or charges, and the action and decision so had and declared shall be final and binding upon all parties.
In case of no appeal the Committee shall, in case the charge or charges are sustained, determine upon the censure to be inflicted, and administer the same.
SEC. 8. The censures to be inflicted on offenders are private reproof, public admonition, suspension, or excommunication, according to the aggravation of the offense. Any act of extreme censure shall be publicly announced to the congregation from the pulpit on the Sabbath.
26
Government of the Church.
ARTICLE VII .- ORDINANCES.
SEC. I. THE LORD'S SUPPER shall be celebrated ordinarily on the first Sabbath of each alternate month, beginning with the first Sabbath in February. Preparatory Lecture on Thursday evening preceding.
SEC. 2. BAPTISM will be administered to those uniting with the Church, on profession of faith, who have not been previously baptized.
Children, one or both of whose parents are believers, may be baptized on the second Sabbath in June and October, and at other times at the discretion of the Minister.
Parents will furnish to the Clerk or Pastor, in writing, their own names, and THE NAMES IN FULL AND DATE OF BIRTH of chil- dren presented for baptism, for the permanent records of the Church.
ARTICLE VIII .- CONTRIBUTIONS.
SEC. I. Contributions for benevolent objects shall be solicited in the Congregation according to the following schedule :
Foreign Missions, on first Sabbath in January.
Home Missions, on first Sabbath in March.
Tract Society and Freedmen, on first Sabbath in May. American Congregational Union, on first Sabbath in July. Church Sabbath School, on first Sabbath in September.
American Bible Society, on first Sabbath in November.
And for the Church Fund and for the poor of the Church, on Communion Sabbaths.
SEC. 2. Contributions to other objects may be made on the recommendation of the Examining Committee.
ARTICLE IX .- THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
SEC. I. The Sabbath School shall be under the special care of the Church and its officers.
SEC. 2. The officers of the School shall be a Superintendent, one or more Assistant Superintendents, a Secretary and Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer, Librarians, Chorister and Organist, who shall be chosen annually, either by ballot or viva voce vote by the teachers and scholars.
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Government of the Church.
ARTICLE X .- AMENDMENTS AND BY-LAWS.
SEC. I. No alteration of this Constitution shall be considered unless a notice containing the proposed alteration shall have been given in writing at a previous business meeting.
SEC. 2. No amendment shall be adopted except by a vote of two-thirds of those legally entitled to vote, who are present and voting on such amendment at a regular business meeting, or one adjourned therefrom, or one specially called therefor, by notice not less than four weeks previous from the pulpit on the Sabbath.
SEC. 3. BY-LAWS to carry out the provisions of this Constitu- tion may be enacted at any business meeting.
COMPACT BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND THE SOCIETY.
ARTICLE I .- PRINCIPLE OF AGREEMENT.
All the spiritual interests and arrangements of the Church, in- cluding the conduct of public worship and religious meetings, and the Sabbath School with its superintendence, shall be under the exclusive control of the Church; and all the financial and other secular interests and arrangements of the Congregation, shall be under the exclusive control of the Society.
PROVIDED, That the control and disposition of all moneys col- lected for the benevolent objects of the Church and for the administration of its ordinances, shall be under the control of the Church. This principle shall determine all doubtful cases ; and in the spirit of this rule the succeeding articles are adopted.
ARTICLE II .- PROPERTY.
The Society, through its Trustees, shall hold the property, receive and disburse the income, appoint the Sexton, and make all pecuniary engagements and payments.
ART. III .- CALLING AND DISMISSING A PASTOR.
In the choice, settlement, and dismissal of a Pastor, the Society shall never act in advance of the Church. If a call shall be voted by the Church, such vote shall be certified by the Clerk of the Church to the Society, with a request from the Church that the
28
Government of the Church.
Society concur. The Society shall then vote to concur or not to concur, and shall have the exclusive right to fix the salary. In calling a Council to advise respecting the dismissal of a Pastor, the concurrence of the Society with the Church need not be asked ; but the Society alone can vote compensation.
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