USA > Vermont > Orleans County > Greensboro > A history of Greensboro and the Congregational Church : a semi-centennial discourse delivered November 24, 1854 > Part 4
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SENEX.
. Ashbel Hale, Esq.
*Probably referring to Rev. William Chamberlain, Messrs. John C. Ellsworth and Frederick F.Ilsworth and their wives, Mise Hurriet Ellsworth, and Miss Lucinda Washburn, all sent to the Cherokres, and Mrs. Ward, late of the Ceylon mission, and Rev. William Walker, ordained a missionary 10 West Africa, at Greensboro', Sept. 4, 1811. The eight ministers mentioned as la- boring in this country, were, probably, Rev. Marvin Grow, and Rev. Alden E. Bailey, Baptists : Rev. E. J. Scott, und Rev. John Foster, Episcopal Methodists; Rev. Orange Scott, Rev. Ephraim Scott, and Rev. Samuel G. Scott, Wesleyans ; and Rev. Asahel Washburn, Congregationalist .- . Rev. Bradley Cutler, congregationalist, was born here, but it is thought he was not a member of this school. Rev. Schuyler Chamberlain, methodist, then a lad, left town about the time the School was organized. But was not Rev. Nathan W. Seott a member ?
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Sabbath School instruction, then, it would seem, was introduced into this section earlier than anywhere else in Vermont, and some have supposed earlier than anywhere else in New England. It has been stated that the first Sabbath School was in Middlebury. But that was not commenced till 1815. The one in Greensboro' began in 1814. But were there no Sabbath Schools in New England previous to 1814? Mis. Kiah Bayley, in her memoir, (the Pilgrim of ninety years,) speaks of Sabbath Schools at New Castle, Maine, as early as the year 1808.
III.
Names of persons regarded as members of the Congregation- al Church in Greensboro', January 1, 1855.
A.
Relief Alden. B.
Mary G. Babbitt, Elisha Babbitt, Sally Babbitt, Ancil C. Babbitt, Sarah P. Babbitt, Dea. Samuel Baker, Marinda Baker, John W. H. Baker, Henry Blake,
Jeyce F. Blake, Mary Blake, George W. Blake, William W. Blake, Hortensia F. Blako, Franklin Blake, Esther H. Blake, Sylvia A. Blake, Bertha E. Blake, Fanny Bailey, Mary W. Bayley, Anna Blanchard,* Hazen M. Bingham,* Leonora Bingham .* C.
Dea. William Conant, Betsey Conant, Ebenezer T. Conant, Mary J. Conant, Mary E. Conant, Benjamin Comings, Mary H. Comings, Ann C. Comings, Samuel H. Comings, Joseph Clark, Clarissa Clark, Caroline H. Clark, Charles Cook, Caroline H. Cook, Betsie P. Cook, John B. Cook,
Sarah O. Chapin,* Lucy J. Chapin,* Jane E. Chapin,* John O. Chapia,* Romanas E. Crane, Asenah P. Crane, Hannah B. Curtis,
Grace C. Cutting.
D.
Hannah Dowe .* E. John C. Ellsworth, Eliza Ellsworth,
Oliver W. Ellsworth, Amanda Ellsworth, Charles Ellsworth,* Alexander Esden, Isabella Esdou.
F.
Charles B. Field, Maroe C. Field, Charles Field, Caroline Field, Martha Faulds.
G.
Koriah Glines, Joseph A. Goodrich, Octavia A. Goodrich. H.
Ashbel Hale, Patience Hale, Josiah Hale, Betsey P. Hale, George W. Hale, Ellen S. Hale, Abigail Huntington, Ellen 8. Huntington, Eunice C. Huntington,* Eliza W. C. Hutchins, James W. Haskell, Harriet N. Haskell,
Wilbur F. Howard," Rebecca T. Howard .* K
Nathan Keniston, Abigail A. Keniston, Elliot F. Koniston. L.
Arta Littis, Eliza Cook Lincoln, George C. Lincoln,* William W. Lincoln, Maria T. Lincoln,
Albert E. Lincoln.
M.
Betsey J. Morey,* Ephraim L. Miles,* Mary M. Mann,* Matthew Marshall, Marion G. Marshall.
N.
William M. Nisbett, Elizabeth M. Nisbett, Charles C. Noyes, Diana L. Noyes.
P.
Dorothy L. Porter, John L. Porter, Mary J. Porter. R.
Rollins, Maria Ring,* Polly Rand,* Sarah A. Randall, Mariam G. Randall .*
S.
Lucy Stanley, Anna Scott,* Eleazer Scott, Olive Scott, Josiah N. Stevens, Roxana H. Stevens,
----
IV
Thigant G. Stimson
Thomas Smith, Lydin South, Nancy K. Stone
Ungall 'i'olan, Henry S. Tommas,
Farah C. Tolman
Vingalt F. Winslow . . Joimn P. Wallace, Jane O. Wallace,
Timothy Walker, Asa R. Wright.+
Nonresidenty
IV.
Communion.
The Lord's Supper is administored quarterly, viz : on the fist Sabbath in March, June, Septem bor, and December. This Church is accustomed to invite to its communion all persons who are in good and regular standing in other Evangelical Churches.
Candidates for admission to this Church are, in ordinary cases, required to stand propounded, at least ono wock previous to their being received.
Tho conditions of membership are, good moral character, satisfactory evidence of true picty, and a cheerful assent to the Articles of Faith and the Covenant.
Members of the Church are not to be tolerated in absenting themselves from the Communion without manifest necessity.
Members of this Church, on removing to another place, are required, in ordinary cases, to remove their relation to somo Church in the vicinity of their residence ; or, if there is no Church near there they live and with which they can unite, they are expected to report themselves frequently tothis Church, (at least once a year,) and not to do so is regarded as a breach of that covenant in which they promise to submit themselves to the watch and discipline of Christ's Church on earth.
Except for the mere public and scandalous offenses, members of this Church can be excominu- nicated only as the result of the regular process of disciplinary labor, the leading rules of which are given by our Savior, as recorded in Matthew, 18th chapter, 15, 16, and 17th verses. [ Sec Rules «J Government and Discipline, adopted by this Church at the time of its organization : Church Rec- wids, vol. 1; page 3.]
V.
Confession of Faith and Covenant.
CONFESSION OF FAITHI.
VOIRLE I. We believe that there is une God, and one only, the Credit, Presente, and Dis. roser of all worlds and beings ; who is possessed of every perfection, both natural and moral, which ian render him the object of supreme love, unreserved contad nee and religious worship.
Inr. 2. We believe that Girl exists in three persons, distinguished by the names of the Fa ther, son, and Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit.
. Art. 3. We believe that the Books of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration "f Gus, and that they contain a complete system of faith, and a perfect rulo of life for mankind.
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Aar. 4. We believe that mankind are by nature onemies to a holy God, and entirely destitute of that holiness which his law requires, and that they will continue in this state until renewed by the mighty power of God.
ART. 5. We believe that mankind as sinners are justly exposed to endless misery, from which no goodness of theirs is sufficient to save them ; and therefore if any are saved, it must be by the free, unmerited grace of God.
ART. 6. We believe that Jesus Christ has made an atonement for sin sufficient for any who cordially receive and trust in him as their Savior, and that God has engaged by a gracious promise to save all such persons.
ART. 7. We believe that water baptism and the Lord's Supper are sacraments designed for the use and improvement of all professing Christians, to the end of the world.
ART. 8. We believe that Christians ought to associate together in a Church form, for the pur- pose of having the ordinances of the Gospel regularly administered, and for watching over each other in love, for their perfecting in holiness.
ART. 9. Finally, we believe that there will be a Resurrection, of the just and of the umjust ; and that there will be a day of Judgment, in which all must give an account of the deeds done in the body ; and that the Righteous will enter Life Eternal, and the wicked will go away into Ever- lasting Punishment.
Do you thus believe ?
THE COVENANT.
You do now, in the presence of God, the holy angels, and this assembly, avouch the Lord Jeho- vah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to be your God ; choosing God the Father for your father, God the Son for your almighty intercessor and redeemer, and God the Holy Ghost for your sanctifier and comforter. You deeply lament the corruption of your own heart, and all your past transgres- sions, and humbly rest upon the righteousness of Christ alone for pardon of your sins, and accept- Ance with God. You sincerely take God's word to be the only rule of your faith and practice, ande do promise by the assistance of his grace to adorn the doctrine of God your Savior in all things; that you will be meek and gentle towards your enemies, kind to your neighbors, honest in your deslags, and benevolent to all mankind ; that you will exercise no bitterness in the families in which you may live ; that you will daily maintain secret prayer ; that you will reverence the holy Sabbath, and live in a strict attendance on all the ordinances and worship of God's house. You further solemnly promise that (whenever you shall be at the head of a family,) you will maintain social prayer, morning and evening, with your family; and that you will give to those who are, or may be committed to your care, a religious education. You further promise that you will constantly watch over the members of the Church, according to the rules and discipline of Christ's house ; and that you will cheerfully submit to the same, " lest you suffer sin upon a broth- er." You also promise that in all things respecting inward exercises of heart, and holiness of life, you will pattern after Jesus Christ, the great example of his people ; praying always that God will work in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Do you thus covenant and engage ?
(The ordinance of Baptism may here be administered, and the members of the Church arise. )
FORM OF ADMISSION.
As you have now professed your faith in Christ, and made a solemn covenant with God and this Church, we the members of this Church do cordially receive you to our communion, acknowledg- ing you to be members of the Church of Christ in general and of this branch of it in particular, and hence entitled to its privileges, We welcome you to this fellowship with us in the blessings of the
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gospel ; and on our part engage to watch over you, and seek your edification, as long as you shall continue among us. Should you have occasion to remove, it will be your duty + . seek, and ours to grant, a recommendation to another Church ; for hereafter you cannot withdraw from the watch and communton of the saints without a breach of covenant. And now, beloved in the Lord, let it bo impressed upon your minds that you have entered into solemn obligations from which you can not escape. Wherever you go, these vows will be upon you. They will follow you to the bar of God. You can never again be as you have been. You have unalterably committed yourselves, and honceforth you must be 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 disgraced. If you walk worthy of your profession, you will be a credit and a comfort to us ; but if otherwise, it will be an occasion of grief and reproach. " Det, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things which accompany salvation, though wo 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 per- fect. Amen.
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HECKMAN BINDERY INC.
APR 87 N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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