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MANUAL
OF THE
First Church in Bristol, R. L.,
1687 - 1872%
Gc 974.502 B7768 1134196
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01067 1706
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/manualoffirstcon00lane_0
MANUAL
OF THE
BRISTOL, R. I.,
1687-1872.
CONTAINING
FORMS, PRINCIPLES AND RULES ADOPTED BY THE CHURCH ; THE DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF CONGREGATIONALISM AS HELD AND PRACTICED BY THE CHURCHES OF OUR ORDER FROM THE DAYS OF THE PIL- GRIMS TO THE PRESENT TIME; ALSO,
A HISTORY OF THE CHURCH, WITH BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES OF THE EARLY MEMBERS AND SUCCESSIVE PASTORS, FROM THE FIRST SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN IN 1680 TO THE CLOSE OF THE YEAR 1872;
AND A
CATALOGUE OF THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS.
COMPILED BY J. P. LANE, PASTOR.
PROVIDENCE : PROVIDENCE PRESS COMPANY, PRINTERS 1873.
1134196
GENERAL INDEX.
FORMS, PRINCIPLES AND RULES.
PAGE.
I .- RECEPTION OF MEMBERS, -
13
II .- BAPTISM OF CHILDREN,
18
III .- LETTER OF DISMISSION, AND RETURN CERTIFI- CATE, -
19
IV .- ARTICLES OF FAITH AND THE COVENANT.
Adopted 1833, March 7, -
- 20
V .- DECLARATION OF FAITH. National Council,
-
Boston, Mass., 1865,
-
-
25
VI .- PRINCIPLES OF CONGREGATIONALISM, - 29
I .- Officers, - -
- 29
II .- Powers and Duties of Officers, - 29
III .- Power of the Church, - 30
1. The Power of Electing its own Officers, - 30
2. Admitting or Excluding its own Members, - 31 -
3. Forming its own Creed, -
31
4. Details of Worship, and Modes of Procedure, 31
5. Independence, 31
IV .- Ecclesiastical Bodies, - 34 V .- Ecclesiastical Councils, -
35
Leraar: 2.00
iv.
PAGE.
VI .- Conditions of Membership, - 26 VII .- Intercourse with other Denominations, 37 VII .- RULES FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS, -
38
VIII .- BY-LAWS. Adopted 1869, May 14, - 42
I .- Officers, 42
II .- Annual Meeting, - 42
III .- Special Meetings, - 43
IV .- Ordinary Business, - -
43
V .- Decision by Majority Vote, etc., 43
43 VI .- Quorum, - - -
VII .- Admission and Dismission of Members, 43
VIII .- The Lord's Supper, - - 44
HISTORY.
I .- THE FOUNDATIONS LAID. 1620-1691, - 47
Preliminary survey of the ground, 48
Settlement of the town of Bristol, -
50
Efforts to settle a Gospel Ministry, -
54
Erection of a House of Worship, 65
Organization of the Church,
-
-
68
Biographical notes of the Early Members, 72
JOHN WALLEY, - 72 -
NATHANIEL BYFIELD, 74
MRS. DEBORAH BYFIELD, -
- 82
MRS. SARAH BYFIELD, -
82
BENJAMIN CHURCH, - -
84
JOHN CARY, 90 -
NATHANIEL REYNOLDS,
- 91
HUGH WOODBURY,
-
-
91
V.
PAGE.
WILLIAM THROOP, - 91
NATHANIEL BOSWORTH, 92
Samuel Lee, D. D., Founder and First
Pastor,
-
93
The Ministry Lands, - 107 -
II. THE BUILDING GOING FORWARD. 1691-1718,
109
Efforts to obtain a Pastor,
-
109
John Sparhawk, Second Pastor,
-
110
III .- STORM AND PERIL. 1718-1740,
112
112
The McSparran difficulties,
-
Day of Prayer and Choice of Pastor,
-
115
Nathaniel Cotton, Third Pastor, -
-
116
Barnabas Taylor, Fourth Pastor,
119
IV .- PEACE AND PROSPERITY. 1740-1775,
120
John Burt, Fifth Pastor,
-
-
120
V .- HALTING OF THE WORK. 1775-1785,
124
Scattered without a Shepherd. -
124
VI .- THE WORK RENEWED. 1785-1812,
132
The Catholic Society organized, -
-
132
Erection of the Second House of Worship,
133
Henry Wight, D. D., Sixth Pastor,
-
134
VII .- THE PERIOD OF REVIVALS. 1812-1830,
138
The Revival of 1812, - 138
Joel Mann, Seventh Pastor, 141
The Sabbath School begun, 142
The Revival of 1820, 143
Erection of " the Hall," 145
Isaac Lewis, D. D., Eighth Pastor,
-
147
The Revival of 1830. -
-
-
152
vi.
PAGE
VIII .- THE BUILDING STILL GOING FORWARD. 1830-1872, - 154
John Starkweather, Ninth Pastor, - 154
Thos. Sheperd, D. D., Tenth Pastor, - 154
Erection of the Third House of Worship, 156
Cyrus P. Osborne, Eleventh Pastor, -
160
Payment of the Debt, - 161
Erection of "the Memorial Chapel," - 162
James P. Lane, Twelfth Pastor, - 166
Funds and Charitable Contributions, - 167
Sacramental Furniture,
169
CATALOGUE OF THE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS.
Officers, - -
-
- 175
Members, - - 176
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS. 1872.
Officers,
-
- 221
Members, -
- 222
Manual of the First Church, Bristol, B. 3.
FORMS, PRINCIPLES AND RULES.
I.et all things be done decently and in order. I COR. XIV. 40.
MANUAL.
I.
RECEPTION OF MEMBERS.
During the reading of the Scriptures, candidates who are to be received on Profession of Faith will come forward.
I. READING OF THE SCRIPTURES.
Jesus saith, " Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest; take my yoke upon you and learn of me, and ye shall find rest unto your souls ; for my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
" And the Spirit and the Bride say Come ; and let him that heareth say Come; and let him that is athirst come ; and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."
II. PROFESSION OF FAITH.
We believe in the one living and true God- Father, Son and Holy Ghost-who hath made Heaven and Earth and all that in them is; who still main- tains and governs them according to the counsel of His holy will; who is supremely to be loved and obeyed, and alone to be adored.
2
14
In God, the Father Almighty, Being of Absolute perfection, who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son for its redemption ;
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord ; who was in the beginning with God and was God ; who became man, and suffered to take away the sin of the world; in whom alone we have redemption, being justified freely through faith in His blood ; who rose from the dead, ascended into Heaven and sitteth on the right hand of the Father; who shall come again with glory to judge the quick and the dead ; whose kingdom shall have no end ;
And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life ; who proceedeth from the Father and the Son ; through whom alone, we, being sinners, are renewed and sanctified ; by whose inspiration the Holy Scrip- tures were given, which are able to make us wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus ;
And in one Church on Earth and in Heaven, and in one Baptism for the remission of sins; and in one Communion of the body and blood of Christ; and we look for the resurrection of the dead and the Life immortal. Amen.
Professing repentance toward God, and faith to- ward our Lord Jesus Christ, we declare our purpose always to lead a Christian life ; with prayerful en- deavor to walk with all Christian Disciples in faith- fulness, purity and love; and to continue in the communion of the Church on Earth, till we are called to the Church triumphant in Heaven. Amen.
15
This you heartily believe and truly profess ? Assent is given by bowing.
III. BAPTISM.
You who received in childhood the outward sign and seal of the Covenant of Grace, do now declare your personal acknowledgment of the same?
Assent is given by bowing.
You who have never received the outward sign and seal of the Covenant of Grace, will now present yourselves for Baptism.
Brief prayer will be offered by the Pastor, after which each Candidate, kneeling in succession at the Font, will receive Baptism, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY GHOST. AMEN. The service closing with prayer by the Pas- tor.
At the close of the Baptismal Service, Candidates, who are to be received by Letter from other Churches, will come forward, and, together with those who have now professed the Christian Faith, will assent to the Covenant with this Church.
IV. THE COVENANT.
Dearly Beloved in the Lord :- You have been bap- tized IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY GHOST : You have professed the Christian Faith and Covenanted with God to lead a Christian Life ; with prayerful endeavor to walk with all Christian Disciples in faithfulness, pu- rity and love ; and 10 continue in the Communion of the Church on Earth till you are called to the
16
Church triumphant in Heaven. You do, therefore, cheerfully join yourselves to this Church ; promising to walk with us in fidelity in the observance and support of all Christian ordinances, and to strive earnestly for our peace, edification and purity, so long as your membership with us shall continue ?
Assent is giving by bowing.
We then, the members of this Church, [Here the members rise,] affectionately receive you to our Communion. We welcome you in the name of Christ to a part with us in the blessings of His Covenant, and to a share in the duties, privileges and glories of His Church, that great multitude who have con- fessed Him on Earth and who follow the Lamb for- ever.
In token of our confidence, and as a pledge of our sympathy and love, our counsel and prayers, we give you this Right Hand of Fellowship.
Here the Pastor will take each new member by the hand. Then the Church, still standing, he will say,
And now Beloved in the Lord, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the Saints and of the Household of God ; and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone.
For this cause, [Here all bow the head in prayer,] we bow our knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in Heaven and Earth is named ; that He would grant you according to the riches of His glory to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man ; that Christ
17
may dwell in your hearts by faith ; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to compre- hend with all saints, what is the breadth and length and depth and height, and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abund- antly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
18
II.
BAPTISM OF CHILDREN.
I. INVOCATION.
II. ADDRESS.
You present this child unto God, seeking his blessing, who hath said, " The promise is unto you and to your children."
You covenant to train him [her] in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; to instruct him [her] in the Holy Scriptures ; to walk before him [her] in the beauty of the Christian life ; and to seek as your chief end concerning him [her] his [her] salvation through Jesus Christ, relying upon His grace whose blessing is upon " them that fear him, and his right- eousness unto children's children to such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember his command- ments to do them."
" And they brought young children to Jesus that he should touch them ; and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it He was much displeased, and said unto them, 'Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God.' And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them and blessed them."
III. BAPTISM.
N. I baptise thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
IV. PRAYER.
19
*
III. LETTER OF DISMISSION.
The Congregational Church in Bristol, R. I. To the Church in sendeth greeting :
Dear Brethren : The bearer
a member with us in regular standing, having re- quested a letter of dismission from us to unite with you, we do hereby recommend .... to your Christian fellowship. When received by you, .... membership with us will cease, of which fact you will please no- tify us by returning the enclosed certificate.
By vote of the Church, this . .. day of ... 18 .. Wishing you grace, mercy and peace, We are yours in the Lord,
Clerk.
RETURN CERTIFICATE.
This certifies that
a member of the Congregational Church, in Bristol, R. I., was received by letter to membership in the . . Church in this day of 18 ..
Clerk.
20
IV.
ARTICLES OF FAITH AND THE COVENANT.
Adopted 1833, March 17.
We believe
I. That the Bible was written by holy men as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and is a perfect rule of faith and practice.
Proof Texts, II Tim. iii. 16. II Pet. i. 21. I Cor. ii. 13. Gal. i. 11, 12. Rev. xxii. 18, 19.
II. That the only living and true God exists in three distinct persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, and is the self-existent, independent and unchangable moral Governor of the Universe, infinitely holy, wise, just and good.
Proof Texts, Isa. xiv. 5. Matt. xxviii. 19. II Cor. xiii. 14. John i. 1. Acts v. 3, 4.
III. That in consequence of the sin of our first parents, all mankind are, by nature, voluntarily and entirely depraved or sinful, displeased with the true character of God, and unreconciled to his law and government.
Proof Texts, Rom. v. 12, 18, 19., viii. 7, 8, and iii. 9-12, 18. Job xv. 14. Eph. ii 1-3. John v. 42.
IV. That since the law and justice of God re-
21
quired the death of every transgressor, the death of Christ-God manifest in the flesh-was necessary, and has availed to render it consistent for Him to treat us as though we had never sinned.
Proof Texts., Matt. xxii. 37. Ezek. xviii. 4. Gal. ii. 16. John i. 1, 3, 14. I Tim. iii. 16. Rom. iii. 25, 26. Rom. v. 8. I Pet. i. 18-20.
V. That a cordial acceptance of Christ in his true character and in all his offices by a faith which is characterized by repentance of sin and a holy life is the indispensible condition of salvation.
Proof Texts, Mark xvi. 16. John iii. 15. and viii. 24. Rom. iii. 28., and v. 1. Gal. ii. 16. Luke xiii. 3. Acts ii. 38 and iii. 19. Heb. xii. 14. Eph. iv. 24. Rom. vi. 22. I Thess. iv. 7.
VI. That the voluntary alienation of men from God is so deep rooted and entire that without the special agency of the Holy Spirit, "reproving them of sin, of righteousness and of judgment," they never will comply with the conditions of salvation.
Proof Texts, John iii. 5. Titus iii. 5. II Cor. v. 17, 18. Rom. v. 5. 1 John iv. 7.
VII. That all those who do not become recon- ciled to God, through faith in Christ Jesus in this life, will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord.
Proof Texts, Matt. xxv. 41-46. II Thess. i. 9. John iii. 16. Rev. xiv. 11.
22
VIII. That all those who do comply with the conditions of salvation were "from the beginning chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" and that they will be kept, by the power of God, through faith unto salva- tion.
Proof Texts, Rom. viii. 29-39, ix. 11, and ii. 13. II Tim. i. 9. I John ii. 19.
John vi. 39, and x. 27-29. Phil. i. 6.
IX. That the sacraments of the New Testament are Baptism and the Lord's Supper ; Baptism to be administered only to covenanting believers and their households, and the Supper only to believers in regu- lar standing and communion with the church.
Proof Texts, Mat. xxviii. 19. Acts ii. 41. Matt. xxvi. 26-30. I Cor. xi. 23-26. Gen. xvii. 7-14, comp. with Rom. iv. 11-16, and Acts ii. 39, and Col. ii. 11, 12. Acts xvi. 15, 33. I Cor. i. 16. II Cor. vi. 14, 15. Ps. i. 16. I Cor. v. 11.
X. That it is the duty of all true disciples of Christ to acknowledge Him before men, by a public consecration of themselves to His service and by unit- ing in covenant for promoting each other's spiritual good and maintaining the faith and ordinances of the Gospel.
Proof Texts, Compare Matt. x. 32, 33. Mark xvi. 16. II Cor. vi. 17, and Luke xxii. 19, with Matt. xviii. 15-17.
23
THE COVENANT.
Humbly hoping that you have become united to Christ by faith, and esteeming it a delightful privi- lege to serve the Lord, and regarding your obliga- tions to Him as perfect freedom, you do now, in presence of God, his holy angels, and this assembly, with sincerity of soul, avouch the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to be your God, the object of your supreme affections, and your portion forever ; you cordially acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ, in all his mediatorial offices, Prophet, Priest, and King, as your only Saviour, and the Holy Spirit, as your Sanctifier, Comforter and Guide. You humbly and cheerfully devote yourselves to God, in the ever- lasting covenant of His grace ; you consecrate all your powers and faculties to His service and glory ; and you promise that, through the assistance of His Spirit, you will cleave to him as your chief good ; that you will give diligent attendance to His word and ordinances ; that you will seek the honor and interest of His kingdom ; and that henceforth, deny- ing all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, you will live soberly, righteously and godly in the world. [You, who are parents, do not only give up yourselves to the Lord, but also devote the children under your care to his fear and service ; promising, by divine assistance, to bring them up in the nurture and ad- monition of the Lord.] You likewise acknowledge this to be a true church of Christ, and do now cor- dially join yourselves to it, as such, promising to sub-
24
mit to the rules of government and discipline which it has adopted, and to strive earnestly for its peace, edification, and purity, and to walk with its members in love, faithfulness, circumspection, meekness and sobriety, as long as you live, unless your relation to it be regularly dissolved.
Thus you solemnly covenant and promise.
We, therefore, the members of this church, [here the members of the church rise,] affectionally receive you to our communion, and, in the name of Christ, declare you entitled to all church privileges, and promise to watch over you with Christian affection and faithfulness, according to our covenant and rules of discipline. And now, beloved in the Lord, let it be impressed on your minds, that you have volun- tarily and unalterably committed yourselves, and that thenceforth you will be regarded as the servants of God. Hereafter, the eyes of the world will be upon you, and as you demean yourselves, so religion will be honored or dishonored ; if you walk worthily of your profession you will be a credit and a comfort to us ; but if it be otherwise, it will be an occasion of grief and reproach. But, beloved, we are persua- ded better things of you, and things which accom- pany salvation, though we thus speak.
May the Lord guide and preserve you till death, and at last receive you and us to that blessed world where our love and joy shall be forever perfect. Amen.
25
V.
DECLARATION OF FAITH.
National Council. Boston, Mass., 1865.
Upon the suggestion of the Triennial Convention of the Chicago Theological Seminary, and by the call of a Conference of Committees of the General Association of the several States, a National Council of the Con- gregational Churches was held in Boston, June 14- 23, 1865. There were present five hundred and eighteen delegates, sixteen of whom were from for- eign countries. At this Council, discussion and ac- tion were had on the following topics : Evangeliza- tion in the West and South ; Church-Building ; Edu- cation for the Ministry; Parochial Evangelism ; Statement of Polity ; and Classification of Benevo- lent Organizations.
On the next to the last day of its session, the Council met on Burial Hill, Plymouth, on the spot where the first Meeting-House of the Pilgrims stood, and there adopted the following
DECLARATION OF FAITH.
Standing by the rock where the Pilgrims set foot upon these shores, upon the spot where they worship- ped God, and among the graves of the early genera- tions, we, Elders and Messengers of the Congrega- tional Churches of the United States, in National Council assembled-like them acknowledging no rule
3
26
of faith but the Word of God-do now declare our ad- herence to the faith and order of the Apostolic and Primitive Churches held by our fathers, and substan- tially embodied in the confessions and platforms which our Synods of 1648 and 1680 set forth or re-affirmed. We declare that the experience of the nearly two and a half centuries which have elapsed since the me- morable day when our sires founded here a Christian commonwealth, with all the development of new forms of error since their times, has only deepened our confidence in the faith and polity of those fathers. We bless God for the inheritance of those doctrines. We invoke the help of the Divine Redeemer, that, through the presence of the promised Comforter, he will enable us to transmit them in purity to our chil- dren. In the times that are before us as a nation, times at once of duty and of danger, we rest all our hope in the gospel of the Son of God. It was the grand peculiarity of our Puritan fathers, that they held this gospel, not merely as the ground of their personal salvation, but as declaring the worth of man by the incarnation and sacrifice of the Son of God; and therefore applied its principles to elevate society, to regulate education, to civilize humanity; to purify law, to reform the Church and .the State, to assert and defend liberty ; in short, to mould and redeem, by its all-transforming energy, every thing that belongs to man in his individual and social re- lations.
It was the faith of our fathers that gave us this free land in which we dwell. It is by this faith only
27
that we can transmit to our children a free and happy, because a Christian, commonwealth.
We hold it to be a distinctive excellence of our Congregational system, that it exalts that which is more above that which is less important ; and, by the simplicity of its organization, facilitates, in commu- nities where the population is limited, the union of all true believers in one Christian Church ; and that the division of such communities into several weak and jealous societies, holding the same common faith, is a sin against the unity of the body of Christ, and at once the shame and scandal of Christendom.
We rejoice, that, through the influence of our free system of Apostolic order, we can hold fellowship with all who acknowledge Christ, and act efficiently in the work of restoring unity to the divided Church, and of bringing back harmony and peace among all " who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."
Thus recognizing the unity of the Church of Christ in all the world, and knowing that we are but one branch of Christ's people, while adhering to our pe- culiar faith and order, we extend to all believers the hand of Christian fellowship, upon the basis of those great fundamental truths in which all Christians should agree. With them we confess our faith in God; in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word, who is exalted to be our Redeemer and King; and in the Holy Comforter, who is present in the Church to re- generate and sanctify the soul.
With the whole Church we confess the common sinfulness and ruin of our race, and acknowledge that it is only through the work accomplished by the
-
28
life and expiatory death of Christ, that believers in him are justified before God, receive the remission of sins, and, through the presence and grace of the Holy Comforter, are delivered from the power of sin and perfected in holiness.
We believe also in an organized and visible Church, in the ministry of the Word, in the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, in the resurrection of the body, and in the final judgment, the issues of which are eternal life and everlasting punishment.
We receive these truths on the testimony of God, given through prophets and apostles, and in the life, the miracles, the death, the resurrection of his Son, our Divine Redeemer,-a testimony preserved for the church in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- ments, which were composed by holy men as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Affirming now our belief that those who thus hold " One Faith, one Lord, one Baptism," together con- stitute the one Catholic Church, the several house- holds of which, though called by different names, are the one body of Christ ; and that these members of his body are sacredly bound to keep " The unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace," we declare that we will co-operate with all who hold these truths. With these we will carry the gospel into every part of the land, and with them we will go into all the world, and "Preach the gospel to every creature." May He to whom " all power is given in heaven and earth" ful- fil the promise which is all our hope : "Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world." To Him be praise in the Church forever. Amen.
29
VI.
PRINCIPLES OF CONGREGATIONALISM .*
I. OFFICERS .- Congregational Churches have two perpetual and regularly-elected classes of officers. These are Bishops (usually styled Pastors) and Dea- cons. Frequently, however, Committees are ap- pointed, either annually or occasionaly, for such pur- poses of mere business as the exigencies of the case may require.
The number of Deacons appointed by each Church may be two or more, two being the smallest number used.
The primitive Churches founded by the Apostles had these same officers, and no others. Those called " Elders " were the same as "Bishops." Compare Acts xx. 17, 28 ; I Pet. v. 1-5 ; Tit. i. 5-7.
II. POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS .- Congre- gational Churches intrust no ecclesiastical power to their officers. In all business meetings of the Church, the Bishop or Pastor is ex-officio moderator. This constitutes the only distinction or power he possesses above any other brother in the Church.
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