USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Norwich > The Congregational heritage : 1770-1961 in Norwich, Vermont > Part 5
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"If he who is spiritual cannot restore such alone, in the spirit of meekness he ought to feel it a great grief that he is obliged to proceed with one or two more: and here, the most free and earnest effort should be made to effect a reformation in the offender.
"We believe the last resort, to tell it unto the Church argues either an alarming de- gree of hardness in the offender, or an un- charitable and unreasonable conduct in the offended brother. We believe that if a Christian spirit is carried into the duty of discipline, the Church will be troubled with very few appeals to their decision: those will be extreme cases; and ought to be taken up after every other attempt has been made to bring the offender to repentance: and before proceeding to hear any cause, the Church ought to be well satisfied, in ordi- nary cases, that the previous steps have been taken in the spirit of the Gospel: as it was doubtless the design of our Savior to pre- vent frequent appeals to the church by the admirable course which He prescribed in order to effect a previous settlement of existing difficulties."
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FAITH AND POLITY TODAY
CONGREGATIONALISTS do not have an offi- cial creed, and the following should be un- derstood as a testimony rather than as a test of faith. It is based on the Kansas City Statement of Faith, adopted in 1915 by the National Council of Congregational Churches and widely used among our churches.
Faith-"We believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his Son our Lord, who for us and our salvation lived and died and rose again and lives forever- more; and in the Holy Spirit, who takes the things of Christ and reveals them to us, renewing, comforting, and inspiring the souls of men.
"We are united in striving to know the will of God as taught in the Holy Scrip- tures, and in our purpose to walk in the ways of the Lord, made known or to be made known to us.
"We believe in the Universal Church of Jesus Christ, and we hold it to be the mission of the Church to porclaim the gospel to all mankind, exalting the worship of the one true God, and laboring for the progress of knowledge, the promotion of justice, the reign of peace, and the reali- zation of human brotherhood.
"Depending, as did our fathers, upon the continued guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth, we work and pray for the consummation of the Kingdom of God; and we look with faith for the tri- umph of righteousness and the life ever- lasting."
Polity-"We believe in the freedom and responsibility of the individual soul, and the right of private judgment. We hold to the autonomy of the local church and its independence of all ecclesiastical control. We cherish the fellowship of the churches, united in district, state and national bodies, for counsel and cooperation in matters of common concern."
The Wider Fellowship-"While affirming the liberty of our churches, and the validity of our ministry, we hold to the unity and catholicity of the Church of Christ, and will unite with all its branches in hearty cooperation; and will earnestly seek, so far as in us lies, that the prayer of our Lord for His disciples may be answered that 'they all may be one.' "
FORM OF ADMISSION TO MEMBERSHIP (May be adapted)
(To the Congregation)
The Scriptures teach us that the Church is the household of God, the body of which Christ is the Head; and that it is the de- sign of the gospel to bring together into one all who are in Christ. The end of this fellowship is the salvation of men, and the establishment of the kingdom of God upon the earth.
(Addressing those who are to be baptized)
From the beginning of the Christian Church, those who wished to be numbered with the followers of Christ were baptized on confession of their faith. Are you now ready to receive such Christian baptism as a symbol of that inward purity which you seek, and as a sign that you dedicate your- self to the Christian Way, seeking to ful- fill your duty in glorifying God and serv- ing your fellow men?
Each person shall answer: I am.
Then shall the minister baptize each of them, saying:
, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. AMEN.
(Addressing those
who were baptized in childhood)
You who were baptized in childhood on the faith of your parents, and by baptism, were recognized as children of God and dedicated to the Christian life, do you
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--
now accept and confirm for yourselves that consecration?
Then shall each one answer: I do.
(Addressing both groups
uniting on confession of faith)
You who now unite with the Church on confession of faith, who have been called of God to be His children through Jesus Christ, we give hearty thanks to God, who by his spirit has opened your eyes to see and your hearts to receive Jesus as Lord, and who has inclined you to present your- selves in this holy place to make confession of Him and to enter into covenant with His Church.
You are about to perform one of the most solemn yet most joyful acts of your lives. We earnestly admonish you to re- member that it is not before this assembly alone that you stand, but in the presence of the living God, who knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. The sincerity of your vows will be measured by Him from whom nothing can be hid. The influence of the act you now perform will be eternal ; yet in the name of Christ you may come boldly to the God of all grace, and not- withstanding weakness or unworthiness may venture to take His vows upon you, trusting in Him for strength to perform them.
Having truly desired to turn away from sin and choose the nobler Way of life, do you now sincerely give yourself to the love, obedience, and service of God, as He gives you to see and understand it? And do you in like manner acknowledge Jesus Christ as vour Saviour and Lord, and express your purpose to learn of Him, and to accept His Way as the law of your life, and His Spirit as your comforter and guide, and trusting in His grace to strengthen you, do you desire to walk henceforth with His disciples in love, and glorify Him by a faithful life?
Then shall each one answer: 1 do. (Members of the Church rise to welcome those who are uniting.)
We, the members of this Church, by rising, do now express our willingness and gladness to enter into covenant with you.
We cordially welcome you to a communion of labors and privileges. We engage to watch over you in the Lord with Christian tenderness and affection, seeking, with you, to promote that mutual growth in grace, happiness and usefulness which should mu- tually enrich and bless our lives. (Then shall the minister say,)
Let us then, with one heart and with one voice, repeat together the Covenant of this Church saying:
THE COVENANT
(The members of this Church, and those who are uniting, shall repeat the Covenant.)
We covenant with the Lord and with one another, and do bind ourselves in the presence of God, to walk together in His holy ways.
We will strive to be doers of the Word, and not hearers only; to be firm in faith, quickened in hope, and constant in love.
And we will consecrate our time, talent, substance, and influence, as heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. AMEN. (Then shall the minister say,)
Beloved in the Lord, in joining this Church you also join the Holy Catholic Church, the Universal Church of Jesus Christ. You are not strangers and sojourners, but fellow-citizens with the saints-the faithful of the past, the faithful of the present, and the faithful of the time which is to come. You belong to the household of God, being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.
(At this point members of other churches may rise in greeting)
I, then, as a minister of Christ and of this Church, do, in His name, acknowledge and declare you a member of His visible kingdom in the followship of this Church, and entitled to all its privileges and bless- ings. His people are your people, and our God your God.
We pledge to you our prayers, our help, and our sympathy. God grant that loving and being loved, serving and being served, blessing and being blessed, we may truly
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Above: The Church in 1960, at worship, with THE REVEREND LOREN HOUSE, JR. in the pulpit. Below: Interior of the church prior to restoration of choir stalls in 1959, and with the old organ.
TT
THE FIDELIS BIBLE CLASS, organized in 1915
(Reading from left to right)
First Row: Mrs. John Hazen, Mrs. Gilman Rogers, Mabel Searles, Mrs. A. Meeken, Mrs. William Clogston, Mrs. Will Knight, Charlotte Bragg, Bessie Stockwell, Mary Hayes, Mrs. Judd Leonard.
Second Row: Mrs. George Bushnell, Mrs. Arthur Merrill, Mrs. George Densmore, Mrs. C. L. Harlow, Mrs. Henry Speare, Mrs. Charles Haskell, Mrs. Sprague Slack, Mrs. J. D. Thompson, Mrs. George Pryor.
Top Row: Mrs. Arthur Douglas, Mrs. Henry H. Barrett, Mrs. Lester Howard, Mrs. Conrad Howard, Mrs. E. G. Lord, Mrs. Charles Aldrich, Mrs. Charles Smith.
prepare while we dwell together on earth for the perfect fellowship of that life eternal.
Thus does this Church receive you, and give to you the right hand of Christian
fellowship, with the hope that we may love one another even as Christ has loved us. (Then shall the minister shake hands with each new member, and an appropriate hymn may be sung) .
RULES AND BY-LAWS
THIS CHURCH shall be called the Congre- gational Church of Norwich, Vermont.
GOVERNMENT
1. The government of this Church is vested exclusively in the active membership. It acknowledges the Lord Jesus Christ as its Supreme Head, and receives the Scrip- tures as a guide in matters of faith, order, and discipline.
2. All active members of this Church shall be entitled to the privileges of the floor, and all over sixteen years of age shall be entitled to vote in all meetings of the Church except on matters of finance, where the age shall be twenty-one and over.
3. The majority vote of the members present is final for all matters except amend- ing the by-laws.
4. While thus independent, this Church recognizes the obligations and privileges of the Communion of Churches, and will cordially extend to other churches holding a common faith, and receive from them, that fellowship, advice and assistance which the law of Christ requires.
MEMBERSHIP
1. The members of this Church shall be persons who have been received by vote of the Church and by public acceptance of its covenant,
(a) on confession of faith and baptism (if not previously baptized) or
(b) on presentation of satisfactory let- ters from other churches; or
(c) if letters are not available, by re-
affirmation of faith or by recognition of certificate of confirmation from a church that does not issue letters.
2. Persons recommended by the Mem- bership Committee and approved by vote at a business meeting or service of the church may be received at any subsequent service by public assent to the covenant.
3. Members wishing to unite with any other church in fellowship with us may request letters of recommendation to the church with which they wish to unite.
4. Any member in good standing is en- titled to termination of membership upon his written request.
5. Members whose addresses have be- come unknown or for a period of two years, in spite of kindly approaches, have not communicated with the church or con- tributed to its support, may be transferred by the Membership Committee to an in- active list. From the date of such transfer such persons shall cease to be reported on the active membership roll.
6. Upon request and in proper cases the Membership Committee may restore to ac- tive membership persons who have been placed on the inactive list.
7. Temporary residents of Norwich and vicinity who are members of a church in another community and wish to retain that membership, may upon approval by the Church and upon assenting to the Covenant, become associate members of this Church. Associate members shall have all the privi- leges and responsibilities of other members. Associate membership shall automatically cease upon removal from this area.
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OFFICERS
1. The officers of this Church shall be a Pastor, a Moderator, four Deacons, four Deaconesses, a Head Usher, a Clerk, an Assistant Clerk, a Treasurer, a Collector, and an Auditor.
2. A Moderator shall be elected annually for a term of one year. He shall preside at all business meetings of the Church. The Pastor shall be ex-officio Moderator of the Church.
3. The Deacons shall be chosen for a term of four years, one being chosen each year at the annual meeting, and shall be ineligible for reelection for a period of one year. It shall be their duty to assist in the administration of the Sacraments, to act on the Membership Committee, to aid in the distribution of the charities of the Church, to aid the Pastor in his duties and act with the Business Committee in se- curing pastors or supply for the pulpit.
4. The Deaconesses shall be chosen for a term of four years, one being chosen each year at the annual meeting, and shall be in- eligible for reelection for a period of one year. It shall be their duty to act on the Membership Committee, to aid the Dea- cons and the Pastor in distributing the charities of the Church, and to aid the Pastor in his duties.
5. The Head Usher shall assign ushers for all Church services and instruct these ushers in the proper method of fulfilling their duties.
6. The Clerk shall keep all records and do the work usually belonging to such an officer.
7. The Assistant Clerk shall assist the Clerk, in carrying out said Clerk's duties.
8. The Treasurer shall receive and dis- burse all funds contributed by the Church for benevolent purposes, according to its direction, and receive from the Collector or Business Committee of the Church, all funds for general expenses, and shall pay them out only on authorization from the Business Committee.
9. The Collector shall collect all sub- scriptions placed in his hands by the Busi-
ness Committe, and pay into the treasury of the Church.
10. The Auditor shall verify the ac- counts of the Church at the end of the fiscal year.
COMMITTEES
1. The Committes of the Church shall be a Membership Committee; a Business Committee; a Committee on Trust Funds; a Committee on Music; a Committee on Christian Education; a Nominating Com- mittee; a Flower Committee; and a Social Action Committee. The members of these Committees shall be ineligible for reelection for a period of one year. Other committees may be appointed by the Church or Church Council as needed.
2. The Membership Committee shall consist of the Pastor, the Deacons and Deaconesses. The duties of the Committee shall be to meet with applicants for admis- sion to the Church and report the names of those whom it may recommend.
3. The Business Committee shall con- sist of six members, two members to be chosen each year and to hold office three years each. The duties of the Committee shall be to take charge of any property be- longing to the Church, present annually to the Church a budget for the ensuing year and raise funds necessary to meet the same, and in concurrence with the Deacons to take the initiative in securing pastors or for the supply of the pulpit.
Provided, that no pastor shall be settled or dismissed, nor supply secured for a longer period than three months at a time, without express vote of the Church. The committee shall report to the annual meet- ing of the Church.
4. The Committee on Trust Funds shall consist of three members, one to be chosen each year, and to hold office three years each. The duties of the Committee shall be to receive, invest and supervise the funds given to the Church from time to time, in trust, and to pay the income from such funds into the treasury of the Church, semi-annually, and to report to the Church each annual meeting.
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5. The Music Committee shall consist of three members, one to be chosen each year, and to hold office three years each. The duties of the Committee shall be to provide for the music of the Church.
6. The Committee on Christian Educa- tion shall consist of three elected members, one to be chosen each year, and to hold office three years each. The Committee shall have supervision and direction of the educational work of the Church and shall appoint a Church School Superintendent. The Superintendent and the Pastor ex- officio shall be members of the Committee.
7. The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members, one to be chosen each year, and to hold office three years each. The duties of the Committee shall be to prepare a list of nominees for the elec- tive offices of the Church and submit it to the annual meeting of the Church.
8. The Flower Committee shall consist of three members, one to be chosen each vear, and to hold office three years each. The duties of the Committee shall be to provide flowers for the Church.
9. The Social Action Committee shall consist of three members, one to be chosen each year, and to hold office three years each. The duties of this committee shall be the consideration of Christian principles and social issues in the fields of interna- tional, governmental, civic, economic, inter- cultural, family and school affairs. The committee shall promote the consideration of such issues throughout the whole life of the Church. The committee shall seek to keep the congregation informed of its ac- tivities and regularly report to the appro- priate church bodies.
CHURCH COUNCIL
THE CHURCH COUNCIL shall consist of the minister as chairman, a vice-chairman chosen from the Council, the clerk (who shall be secretary), the treasurer, the chair- man of the several boards and permanent committee, and the heads of auxiliary or- ganizations. It shall be the function of the Church Council to visualize the entire task
of the Church, to give general direction to the Church's activities, and to cooperate with the minister in the formulation of a well-rounded program. The Council may act for the Church in minor matters, al- ways assuming that unless such action is taken with practical unanimity, it must have the confirmation of the Church. The Coun- cil may submit to the annual meeting a comprehensive program involving the chief objectives of the Church for the coming year. It shall be the duty of the Council to fill vacancies in elected offices for the re- mainder of the church year.
MEETINGS
1. The annual meeting of the Church shall be held on the Friday next preceding the first Sunday in June, to hear and act upon the reports of its officers, committees, and auxiliary organizations; to elect officers and committees for the ensuing year; and to do any business proper to be done. When said annual Church meeting falls on Me- morial Day, the Church Council shall be authorized to name another date within a week. The annual meeting shall be called by the Clerk, or in his failure to act, by the Business Committee. Notice of such meeting shall be given from the pulpit or distributed in printed form on the two Sundays immediately preceding said meet- ing and shall be posted near the main en- trance of the Church.
2. The order of business at the annual meeting shall be:
(a) Prayer.
(b) Reading records of last annual meet- ing.
(c) Reports of Officers and Committees.
(d) Election of Officers and Commit- tees.
(e) Any business specified in the call of the meeting.
(f) Adjournment.
3. Special business meetings may be called by the Clerk on request of the Mem- bership Committee, or on written request of three resident members of the Church. The call for such meeting must be by
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written notice, posted and announced as for the annual meeting, and must specify the business to be presented.
4. Notwithstanding Article 3, the Pas- tor may at any regular devotional service of the Church call a special business meeting to be held at the conclusion of that service for the following purposes: to accept new members, to recommend letters of transfer for old members, to elect delegates for Church meetings, and for other business considered urgent by the Pastor or Deacons.
5. The Lord's Supper shall be admin- istered at least six times a year; in Janu- ary, March, May, July, September, and November, on the first Sunday of the month, or at other appropriate times.
DISCIPLINE
THE DISCIPLINE of this Church shall be administered in accordance with the pre- cepts laid down by our Divine Lord. (The eighteenth chapter of Matthew is sug- gested).
AMENDMENTS
THESE BY-LAWS may be altered or amended by a three-fourths vote of the members present and voting at a regular or special meeting, provided that a notice specifying the time of the meeting and the substance of the proposed amendments shall have been given from the pulpit or distributed in printed form on the two Sundays im- mediately preceding said meeting.
A DIRECTORY OF MEMBERS (1819-1960)
E Discipline
L Letter of Transfer
P Profession of Faith
D Death
* Left
R Reaffirmation of Faith
Abbot, Daniel S. 1835P 1842E Abbot, Mrs. Harriet Fowler 1839L 1853L
Ackerson, George Jacob 1890P 1904D
Ackerson, Mrs. Lucia A. Hutton 1890P
1899D
Ackerson, Frank Lafayette 1890P IQIID Adams, Mrs. Lucy Walbridge 1820P L
Agan, Mrs. Pauline Sanborn 1948P
Aiken, George C. 1869L 1895D
Aiken, Mrs. Abbie S. Egerton 1869L
1877D
Aldrich, LeRoy William, Jr. 1955P
Aldrich, Mrs. May Davis 1929P Aldrich, Maurice C. 1928P
Aldrich, Mrs. Olive Manning 1928P
Aldrich, William M. 1955P
Alexander, Mrs. Marion Sanborn Arms 1948L
Alger, Richard A. 1950P 1955L
Alger, Mrs. Patricia Waterman 1950P 1955L
Allard, Adah E. Booth 1882P 1904L
Allen, Mrs. Clymana Johnson Currier 1859P 1877E
Allen, Mrs. Fannie Burton 1826P 1853D
Allen, Mrs. Jemima 1839P 1847D
Allen, Mrs. Lucy Ann Parkhurst 1820P D
Ammel, Fred 1937P
Ammel, Mrs. Madalyn Kew 1922P Ammel, Robert E. 1955P 1960L Ammel, Mrs. Corabelle Brown 1955P 1960L
Amsden, Eliza 1835P 1858D Amsden, Mary $840P 1884D Amsden, Mrs. Jerusha Brown 1843P 1844D Andrews, Mrs.
Clara F. Matthews 1894L 1915L
Andruss, Mrs.
Emeline A. Olds Hill 1859L 878L Annable, Angela D. 1889P 1893L Armstrong, Mrs.
Mary Sewall Goddard 1890P 1894L Armstrong, Samuel J. 1883P 1885L Armstrong, Mrs. Susan Robertson 1883L 1885L Armstrong, Mrs.
Anna Louisa Brigham 1890₽ 1903D Ashley, Jennie Lizzie : 18771 1883*
Atwood, Barbara Jean 1960P
Atwood, Phyllis Anne 1960P
Avery, Borden 1948L
Avery, Mrs. Louise Roberts 1948L Avery, Edith 1954P
Bailey, Mrs. Lucy C. Hatch 1820L D Baker, David 1832P 1838L
Ballam, Donald 1950P Ballam, Mrs. Eunice Poland 1950P
Ballam, Mrs. Mary Caswell 1927P 195OD
Barker, Mrs. Abia Hopson 1835P
_D
Barrett, Mrs. Ellen A. Martin 1875P 1886L
Barrett, Mrs. Eula Conner 1927P 1948D
Barrett, Henry H. 1927P 1953D
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MEMBERS . CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NORWICH, VERMONT
Barrett, Katherine Eula 1954P
Barrett, Richard 1925P
Barrett, Mrs. Marguerite Carley 1935L
Barrett, Mrs. Alma Bacon 1915L 1943D
Barrett, Truman R. 1915L 1934D
Barstow, Mrs. Sally Hale 1873L 1883D Bartlett, Daphne 1837P L
Bartlett, Mrs. Fanny Gordon 1950L
Bascomb, Mrs. Betsey Burton 1835P L Boardman, Nathaniel, Jr. 1854L 1867D Bascomb, Thomas S. 1839P 1844L Boardman, Mrs. Sarah Hunt 1854L 1870D Batchelder, Mrs. Jennie 1912L 1926L Boardman, Rev. Samuel W. 1858L 1879L Batchelder, Neal A. 1953L 1955L Batchelder, Mrs. Roberta Boardman, Mrs. Jennie Haskell 1858L 186OD Boardman, Mrs. Vollemer 1953L 1955L Mary H. Howard 1844L 1869D
Baxter, Alpa 1858P 1859L
Baxter, Charles M. 1858P 1869L
Baxter, Mrs. Eunice Hatch 1858P 1869L
Baxter, Elizabeth 1858P 1859L
Baxter, Harry 1839P L
Baxter, Mrs. Lora Partridge 1837P 1837D
Baxter, Marshall D. 1854L 1859L
Baxter, Mrs. Esther Goddard 1854L 1859L
Beadle, Hannah 1835P 1877*
Bean, Mrs. Clara L. Smith 1959L
Bean, Eaton 1937P
Bean, Mrs. Barbara Cloud 1924P
Bean, Milton 1937P
Bean, Mrs. Madeleine Lord 1937P
Bean, Patricia Mae 1954P
Bender, Mrs. Rose Ladd 1952P
Berry, John 1853L D
Berry, Mrs. Mary Bowen 1853L 1862L Berry, Leonard Clayton 1921P 1947D
Betts, Mrs. Marjorie Foster 1915P Bicknell, Mrs.
Charlotte Cummings 1875P 1929D Bicknell, Mrs. Gertrude Slack 1905L 1933D
Bicknell, Mrs. Lucretia Bean 1877P 1887D
Bissell, Mrs. Hannah Willis 1855L 1857D
Blair, Mrs. Milledge L. 1949L
Blair, Mrs. Hazel G. 1949L Blaisdell, Mrs. Fanny Hawes 1873D
Blaisdell, Mrs. Hannah Hammond 1826P D
Blaisdell, Michael 1826P L
Blaisdell, Mrs. Hannah Palmer 1826P Blanchard, Curtis 1954P L Blanchard, Jacob 1835P D
Blanchard, Mrs. Rebecca Gove 1835P L
Blanchard, Mrs. Eleanor Brown 1949L
Blanchard, Royal I. 1949L Bliss, George S. 1893P 1899L Blodgett, Ashley 1856L 189ID
Blodgett, Mrs. Orrill Haskell 1856L 1867D
Blood, Asa 1837L 1843L Blood, Mrs. Phebe 1837L 1843L
Blood, Mrs. Asenath Chamberlin 1822P D Brigham, Paul Andrew 1896P 1955* Brigham, Paul W. 1854L D
Blood, Lena L. 1890P 1913L Blood, Levi 1839L 1863D
Blood, Mrs. Fanny Smith 1853L 1876D
Blood, Rachel 1837L 1845L
Blood, Mrs. Eliza Seaver 1858P 188ID
Bly, Mrs. Betsey 1822P D
Bly, Betsey 1823P L Bly, Lucretia 1822P L
Boardman, Mrs. Betsey Neal 1835P 184ID Boardman, Lucy 1826P 1858D Boardman, Nathaniel 1819L 1844D Boardman, Mrs.
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