File #11551: "F104_N4_C46_1859.pdf"

I

HISTORY

,

CONFESSION
OFFAITH,COVENANTS,
AND

ST.ANDING R ULES,
OP' TBE

TOGETHER

WITH

A

CATALOGUE
OF ITS OFFICERS
, DIEDIBERS,
A ND

BAPTIZED

CH ILDREN

TO JANUARY

/

- - - -----

,

1, 1856.

.....,L
- - \ --------------

·

PUBLISB BD DY ORDER OF THE STANDING COlt:MI'ITEE,

w. B. LEE,

PASTOR.

·-- .~-- - -+ ----- -------

NE W

HAVEN:

T. J. STAFFORD, PRINTER.
1856.

V

i

--

HISTORICAL
SKETCH.
THE CENTER CHURCHof Fair Haven was organized
on May 3d, 1853, by an Ecclesiastical Counci l, consist ing of the following members:
Rev.
"

"
"
"

"

D. D., E ast Windsor ,
D. D., Fairfi eld,
D. WILLIAM HAVEN S, East Ha ven ,
BURDETT HART, Fair Haven,
E. L. CLEAVELAND,
D. D., _VewHaven,
N. HEWITT, D. D., Bridgeport,
EDWARD
LYMAN

Hoo

H.

K ER,

ATWATE R,

togethe r with Del egates from the Churc hes of which
the above were Pastors; and Deac . J. Russel, Delegat e
from the Church in Branford.
There were thirty -eight memb ers of the Church at
its organization, who had taken letters, in regular form,
from The Second Congregational Chu rch in Fair Haven, in order to establish a Church upon the basis of a
thoroughly Calvinisti c or Pauline Th eology.
The first meeting, for public worship, of the above
mentioned th irty-eight, with the congregat ion accompanying them, was at Granniss Hall, on the first Sabbath in Apri l, 1853 . On the second Sabbath in the
same month, they met in Walworth Hall, on Grand

'

4

street, where Public vVorship was regularly maintained
until their Church edifice was completed and dedicated, •
Sept. 6th, 1854.
On Aug. 9th, 1853, Rev. W. B. LEE was Ordained
and Inst alled as Pastor of The Center Church, by a
Council consisting of eleven Pastors, with Delegates
from their several Churches, and eleven other Clergy- _,
men, who were invited to sit as corresponding members.
The Services on the occasion of the Installation, were
opene d with Pra yer by Rev. LYMANH. ATWATER,
D. D.
Sermon by Rev. BENNETTTYLER,D. D.
HEWIT, D. D.
Ordaining Prayer, by Rev. NATHANIEL
Charge to the Pastor, by Rev. T. P. GrLLETT.
Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. E. L. CLEAVELAND
, D. D.
Charge to the People, by Rev. E. W. HomrnR, D. D .
Conclud ing Prayer, by Rev. C. A. G. BRIGHAM.
Benediction by the PASTOR.
It has pleased the Lord g raciously \ o be present with
us by His Spirit; and, giving all the praise and glory
to His marvelous grace, we believe that we can, in
truth, joyfully and gratefully nrnke the record: "The
Lord added un to the Church snuh as sl,ould be saved."

'N. B. LEE, Pastor.

CONFESSION
OF FAITH.

'

I. You believe in the one only living and true God,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; who is a
Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being,
power, knowledge, presence, wisdom, holiness, justice,
. goodness and truth ; that it is the duty of all His intelligent creatures to serve and to worship Him in spirit and
in truth; that He created all things; that He preserves
and governs all His creatures, and overrules all their
actions for His own Glory; and that in whatsoever
comes to pass, He is accomplishing His eternal purposes, according to the Council of His own will, in
such a way that man is a free agent and accountable
for all his actions.
II. You believe that God created man upright; that
our first parents freely sinned and fell, and that all
mankind in a state of nature, and before regeneration
by the Spirit of God, are dead in trespasses and sins,
without holiness and true love to God, and are justly
exposed to all the miseries of this life and to the pains
of hell forever.

6

III. You believe that God in His mercy has uot left

all mankind to perish forever, but out of His mere

good pleasure, has, from all eternity, elected some to
everlasting life; and that He has covenanted to deliver
them from sin and misery, and to ,bring them into a
state of salvation by a Redeemer.
IV. You believe that the only Redeemer of men is
the Lord Jesus Christ, who is very God and very man;
that taking upon Him our nature, He freely suffered
and died on the cross, making atonement for sin ; that
He arose from the dead and ascended into Heaven,
where He ever liveth to make intercession for His
people ; that " there is none other name under Heaven
given among men whereby we must be saved," and
that all who are saved are justified through faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ.
V. You believe that without a change of heart
wrought in the unregenerate, by the special agency of
the Holy Spirit, who is very God, no one can be an heir
of eternal life, and that the soul which is once made
partaker of renewing and saving grace will never be
permitted so to fall away as finally to perish.
VI. You believe that adoption, repentance, justification, sanctification and perseverance, are not bestowed
as the reward of any merit in him who receives them,
but all flow from the free and unmerited Grace of God.
VII. You believe that there will be a general resur-·

7
rection of the righteous and the wicked, and a general
judgment, at which all the righteous will be admitted
to everlasting happiness and all the wicked sentenc,ed
to mis\lry without end.
VIII. You believe that Baptism and the Lord's Supper are the Sacraments of the Kew Testament, and
that Baptism is to be administered to adults upon their
public confession of faith in Christ, and to the children
of visible believe;·s.
IX. Yon believe that the Scriptures of the Old ap.-1
New Testaments a.re given by inspiration of God, and
are the sufficient and only rule of faith and practice.
Thus you sincerely profess and believe.

COVEN ANT.
You do now, in the presence of God, and of this
assemb ly, and, as you hope, with sincerity, dedicate
yourself to God in Christ Jesus, humbly confes sing and
repent ing of your sins.
You do pub li cly acknowl edge and choo~e th e only
living and true· God, to be your God , the Lord J esns,
your Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, your Sanctifi er.
You covenant and promise that by the st rength of
Divine Grace, you will make it your endeavor to deny
all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this pre sent world, hoping
that you have a love of benevolence toward a11 mankind, and intending to do good as you h ave opportun it y, especia lly to those of the household of faith.
You do also covenant with this Chur ch, t h at so long
as yo u continue a member of the same, you will walk
with it in Christi an fellowship ; and in a due att endance on all the institutions of Christ.
Thus in the pr esenc e of God, yo u solemnly co ven ant
and promis e.
(Upon assent by the candidate, here expressed, the
Church rises, while in their name and behalf, the Pastor
says:)

We then, in consequence of these professions and
promises on your part, do affectionately receive you as
members of this Church-and
in the name of Christ,
declare you entit led to all its visible privileges . We
welcome you to this fellowship with us in the blessings
of the Gospel-and on our part engage according to
the opportunity and ability given unto us, to treat you
with Christian affection, watch over you with tender ness, and seek your edification in Christ, so long as you
shall continue among us. And may God enable us to
be mutually faithful to this solemn covenant , through
Jesus Christ our Lord , to whom be glory foreverAmen.

COYEN ANT,
TO BE USED .A.T THE BAPTISM OF CHILDREN".

As a membe_r (or members) of the Ch ur ch of Christ,
professing faith in the doctrines of His word, and r ecognizing His right to you and all you have, you do now
present yourself (or yourselves) before the Lord, to
ded icate this chi ld (or th ese children) to God in the
ord inance of Baptism.
Looking upon this child as an
immortal being, ( or upon these children as immortal
beings,) sta nding in need of the atoning and regenerating grace of God, you engage to make the salvation of
its soul (or their souls) an object of the deepest int erest. You will seek for it (or them) first the Kingdom
of God and His righteousness.
To this end yo u pro mise to teach thi s child (or t hese childre n) to read the
Word of God, t o in stru ct it (or them) in the principles
of our holy religion, as rev ealed in the Scriptures of th e
Old and New Testame nts, to pray for it, (or them,) to
set an example of piet y and godliness before it, (or
them,) and conscientiously endeavor by all the means of
divine appointment, to bring up this child ( or these
children) in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
Yo u also engage, both by precept and exa mpl e, to re-

11
strain this child (or these children) from those scenes
or employment s which are injurious to the soul; and
you promise .to pursue that course of Christian instruction and discipline, which your conscience and the
Bil1Ie assure you are best adapted to awaken a just conception for etemal realities, and to bring this child (or
these. children) to an early and saving acquaintance
with the Lord Jesus Christ, and prepare it (or them)
for an endless career of holiness and happiness.
Relying upon the sufficiency of Divine Grace to make
you faithful and to crown your efforts with success,
these things you solemnly promise in the presence of
the Omniscient God and this Church to perform?

STANDING
RULES.
I. MEMBERSHIP .

Persons are admitted to• membership either on profession of Faith, or on Certificate from other Churches.
In the former case they shall be approved by the Standing Committee, as giving, upon examination, credible
evidence of Christian character; and having stood propounded to the Church, a month, they maj be received
as members by a vote of the brethren ; after which
they shall give th eir public assent to the Confession of
Faith and Church Covenant.
II.

Persons bringing letters of dismission and recommendation from other Churches, and satisfying the
Standing Committee of their soundness in the faith and
Christian experience, may be received by a vote of the
Brotherhood, provided the question on their reception
be not taken until a month after their testimonials have
been read before the Church.
When received, they
shall publicly assent to that part of the Covenant, commencing with the words, "You do covenant with this
Church."

13
III. NON-RESIDENT MEMBERS.

Non-resident members are required to apply for letters of dismission and recommendation to other Churches within the first year of their absence, or notify the
Officers of the Church of their reasons for not doing so.
A failure to comply with this rule will be considered, in
all ordinary cases, as a breach of the Covenant, subjecting the party to the discipline of the Church.
IV. MEMBERS OF OTHER CHURCHES.

Members of other Churches who reside with us
more than one year, without presenting letters from
the Churches to which they belong, shall not be considered as invited to our Communion, except by a special vote of the Church.
V. DISMISSION OF MEMBERS.

Application for dismission from this Church must be
accompanied with a st,atement of the reasons for such
request, which statement may be put on record as a
part of the minutes in the case, and the application
shall lie one month before ultimate action thereonexcept in special cases, where instant action seems very
desirable, and evidence of its importance is presented
which is satisfactory to two thirds of the members
present, so much of this rule as obliges to a delay of
one month, may be suspended for the occasion.
2

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VI. STANDING COMMITTEE.

The Standing Committee consists of the Past or and
Deacons, and not less than thre e nor more than five
other members of the Church, chosen at the Annual
Meeting.
The pow ers and duties of this Committee are as follows :
1. They are to examine cand idates for adm ission into
the Church, and propo und such as they approv e, to the
brotherhood.
2. They are to investigate all cases of public scandal
in this Church, which may be broug ht to their know ledge; and in cases of private offense, when th e steps
prescribed iu Matthew xviii, have first been taken, complaint may be made to this Committe e, instead of the
Church. Prov ided, however, that all parties shall have
liberty to bring their cause directly before the Church ,
if they pr efer that course .
3. The Committee are to inv estigate the facts pertaining to every case which comes before them, and
report the same to the Church , with their opinion as to
the proper course to be taken.
4. This Committ ee is empowered to summon before
them all members of this Churc h accused of any
offense, to examine them, and give them such Christian
counsel , as in their judgment the case requires.

15
5. This Committee shall, at the Annual Meeting,
, present a written Report, respecting the history and
• general state of the Church during the year.
To prevent misapprehension, this Church deems it
proper to declare, that the great object of this Committee is simply to prepare matters of business for the
hearing and action of the Brotherhood ; and that it
leaves in full force the obligations of individual Church
members to watch over and admonish one another.
VII. SABBATH SCHOOL.
1. The Sabbat h School shall be under the direction
and care of the Church; its rules shall be prescribed
and its Officers chosen by the Church, with the consent
and approbation of the teachers.
2. The Officers of the School shall be a Superintendent, an Assistant Superintendent and a Librarian, who
shall be annually elected. The Superintendent shall
make an Annual Report to the Church of its history
and co::idition.
3. A Committee, consisting of three, chosen annually,
is charged with the duty of cooperating with the Superintendents and Teachers, by advice and assistance in all
matters pertaining to the Library, the course of study,
and the general interests of the School.

16
VIII. LIBRA.RY.

1. The Church Library is to be held as the sole
property of the Church, for the use of the whole congregation. It is to be strict ly religious in its ch·aracter.
No person (the Pastor excepted ) is allowed to draw
or retain more than one volum e at a time.
2. The Library Committee consists of three, including
the Pastor, and chosen at the pleasure of the Church.
It is empowered to make all purchases, to determine
what books shall be received, and to appoint the Libran an.
IX. MODERATOR.

At all 'usiness Meetings of the Church, when the
Pastor is absent, the oldest Deacon present sha)l preside. If no Deacon be present, then a Moderator shall
,be chosen in the usual manner.
X. ANNUAL MEETING.

The Annual Meeting of this Church shall be held
·immediate ly after . the Preparatory Lecture antecedent
to the first Communion of the New Year.
XI. SPECIAL MEETINGS.

It shall be the duty of the Pastor, or, in his absence,
of one of the Deacons, to call a Meeting of the Church

17
at the written request of one fourth of the resident male
members in regular standing .
XII. ALTERATIONS AND AMENDMENTS.

No alterations or amendments shall be made in the
Confession of Faith and Covenant of this Church, unless
the same shall ha,·e been proposed i~ writing, a month
previous, and is agreed to, by two third s of the members
present in a meeting of the Church especially warned
for that purpose.
The Standing '.Rulesmay be altered by a majorit_,. of
votes, after a month's written notice .

RELIGIOUS
SERVICES.
I. Preaching the Word, Prayer and Praise, Morning
and Afternoon, every Sabbath Day.
II. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated
in the Afternoon of the first Sabbath in January,
March, May, July, September and November .
\
III. A Sermon, preparatory to the ·Lord's Supper, is
preached on the Friday Evening preceding the Uom1nun10n season .
IV. Expository Preaching, or Religious Lecture, on
Tuesday Evening of each week.
V. Monthly Concert of Pray er on the Sabbath Evening preceding the first Monday of each month.
VI. A weekly Pray er Meeting on Friday Evening.
VIL Sabbath School Instruction in the interval of
Public Worship, on each Sabbath Day.
VIII. Religious conve rsation with the Pastor in his
Study, at any time desired.

OFFICERSOF THE CHURCH,1855.

PASTOR,

W . B. LEE.
DEACONS,

HARVEY ROWE,
STANDING

AUGUSTUS Y. CONKLING .
COMMITTEE,

WILLIS BARNES ,
WILLIS MALLORY,
J ARED MALLORY.

W. B. LEE,
HARVEY ROWE,
A. Y. CONKLING,

CATALOGUE
OF MEMBERSTO J"AN.1, 1856.
A.

Adams, Wm. B. (L.) Sept. 1853.
· Adams, Mary Ann, (Wm. B.) (L.) Sept. 1853.
Ames, Sarah A. (Wm.) (L.) May, 1853.
B.

J3aldwin, Cornelia, (Geo. H .) (P.) March, 1854.
Baldwin, George W. (L.) May, 1853.
Baldwin, Polly Cecilia, (G. W.) (P.) May, 1854.
Barnes, Willis, (L.) Sept. 1853.
Barnes, Lavinia , (Willis,) (L.) Sept. 1853.
Barnes , Maria E. (Willi s S.) (L.) Oct. 1853.

20
Bradley, Solomon, (L.) May, 1853.
Bradley, Lois, (Wd. Zebulon,) (L.) May, 18153.

c.
Clark, Charlotte A. (Wd. Henry H.) (L.) May, 1853.
Conkling, Deac. A. Y. (L.) May, 1853.
Conkling, Amoret R. (A. Y.) (L.) May, 1853.
E.
Eldridge, Clarissa, (Capt. Elbert,) (L.) May, 1854.
Ellis, Lydia E. (Capt. Obed,) (P.) May, 1855.
F.
Farren,
Farren,
Farren,
Farren,
Farren,

John, (L.) May, 18fi3.
Betsey, (Capt. Wm.) (L.) May, 1853.
Statira, (Capt. Eli,) (L.) Sept. 1853.
Flavia P. (Capt. Merit,) (L.) March, 1854.
Julia Ann Janet, (P.) July, 1854.

G.
Gaylord, Gilb ert, (L.) May, 1853. (Ds. )
Gaylord, Parnell, (Gilbert,) (L.) May, 1853. (Ds.)
Gillum, Mary, (L.) May, 1853.
Granniss, Hannah, (Wd. Alva ,) (L.) May, 1854.
Griswold, Samuel, (L.) Jan. 1855.
H.

Hopkins, Harriett,

(Elmore,) (P .) March, 1854.

J.
' Jones, Moses, (P.) Jan. 1855.

21
K.

Keep, Lester, M. D., (P.) March, 1854.
Keep, Lavin ia C. B. (Lester,) (L.) May, 1853.
Keep, Harriette E. (P.) March, 1854.
King, Sarah B. (Charles,) (L.) Sept. 1853.
L.
Lee, Elizab eth Payson, (W. B.) (L.) Jan . 1855.
Lewis, Capt. John, (L.) May, 1853.
Lewis , Harriette, (Capt. John,) (L.) May, 1853.
Lewis, Cornelia A. (P.) March, 1854.
Leete, Hannah W. (mar'd R. W. Benton, ) (L.). May, 1853.
(Ds.)
Leete, Anna, (Wd. Amos,) (L.) May, 1853. (D.)
Linsley, Eliza, (Wm.) (P.) Sept. 1853.
Linsley, Amelia, (Alfred,) (L.) Oct . 1853.
Linsley, Julia M. (L.) Oct. 1853.
Linsley, Harriett Maria, (P.) May, 1854.
Lyon, Mary R. (Chas. B.) (L.) Sept . 1853.
M.

· Mallory,
Mallory,
Mallory,
Mallory,
Mallory,
Mallory,
l\l.allory,
Mallory,
Mallory,

Jared, (L.) May, 1853.
Mary H. (Jared,) (L.) May, 1853.
Willis, (L.) May, 1853.
Betsey R. (Willis,) (L.) May, 1853.
Hannah R. (mar'd J. P. Seeley,) (P.) March, 1854.
James, (L .) May, 1853.
Sally, (James,) (L.) May, 1853.
Henry, (L.) May, 1853.
Sarah E. (Hen ry,) (L.) May, 1853.

22
Mallory, Eliada B. (P. ) March, 1854.
Mallory, Charlotte 0. (E. B.) (L.) May, 1853.
Mallory, Mary Birge, (Jas. F.) (L.) May, 1853.
Mallory, Willard, (L.) May, 1853.
Mallory, Elizabeth, (Willard,) (L.) May, 1853.
Mallory, Maria Melvina, (Jesse,) (P.) March, 1854.
Morley, Isaac, (L.) May, 1853.
Morley, Laura, (Isaac,) (L.) May, 1853.
Monroe, Elizabeth, (Wd. Edmond H. ) (L.) May, 1853.
P.

Parker, Harriett, (Wd. Charles,) (P.) May, 1854.
Peck, Lucretia, (Wm. A.) (L.) Nov. 1855.
R.

Rowe, Deac. Harvey, (L.) May, 1853.
Rowe, Wealthy, (Deac. H.) (L.) May, 1853.
Rowe, Betsey, (Wd. Ezra,) (L) May, 1853.
Rowe, Ann L. (Wd. Lewis,) (L.) Sept, 1853.
Rowe, John H. (L.) Sept. 1853.
Rowe, Harriett, (J. H.) (L.) Sept. 1853.
Rowe, Ellen N. (P.) March, 1854-. ·
Rowe, Ezra 0. (L.) May, 1854.
Rowe, Francis Jane, (E. C.) (L.) May, 1854.
Rowe, Mary Jane, (P.) Nov. 1854.
Rice, Joel Tuttle, (P.) July, 1854.
Rose, Alvan B. (L.) May, 1853.
Rose, Ruth L. (A. B.) (L.) May, 1853.

s.
Seeley, James Platt, (P.) July, 1854.
Sizer, Mehetable, (Wd. Lot,) (L.) Sept. 1853.

(D.)

23
Smith, Ann Eliza, (Henry F.) (P.) Nov. 1854.
Stedman, Stephen Foot, (L.) July, 1854.
Stetson, Capt. John, (L.) May, 1854.
Stetson, Harriett, (Capt. J.) (L.) May, 1854.

T.
Thompson, Ruel, (P.) July, 1855.
Thompson, Eliza, (Ruel ,) (P.) July, 1855.
Tuttle, Capt. Hezekiah, (L.) May, 1853.
Tuttle, Nancy, (Capt. H.) (L.) May, 1853.

w.
Wade, Julian J . F. (P.) March, 1854.
Wade, Maria Louis a, (Julian,) March, 1854.
Woodhouse, Charlotte, (Capt. James,) (L.) May, 1858.
Works, Prudence, (Alfred J.) (P.) March, 1855.
Total Number of Members, 90 .
Propounded-Eliza
Jane Peck.

EXPLANATION.
(L.) Signifies, joined this Church by Letter from anot he r
Church.
(P.) Prefession of Faith.
(Ds.) Regularly Dismiss ed and recommended to some other
Church.
(D.) Died .
(Wd.) Widow.
The Name in parenthes is, in conncetion with the name of a
Married female or a Widow , is the name of tke husband of such
female.
The Dates denote the time of admission to this Chur ch.

Catalogueof the BaptizedChildrenof the Church,

Not yet giving Evid ence of their Personal Faith in 01,rist.
Wm. Wirt Adams,
Sherman S. Peck,
Edward Payson Adams,
Nancy A. Peck,
Willis S. Barnes,
James H. Peck,
Augustus B. Barnes,
Emma L. Peck ,
Lavinia S. Barnes,
Clara M. Pe ck,
Mary A. C. Barnes,
Frances E. Rowe,
Harriet E. Rowe,
David B. B. Barnes,
George Merwin Baldwin ,
Samuel Rose,
Orton Rose,
Rodney Bradley,
Charlotte Bradley ,
Sarah Rose ,
Albert Bradley,
Emma Rose ,
Elizabeth R. Bradl ey,
Ella Rose,
William Bradlev ,
Willet Rowe,
Nancy El<lridge,
Albert Rowe,
Timothy R. Ellis,
Harriet A. Rowe ,
Willis Henry Farren,
John M. Rowe,
Ann Eliza Farren,
Mary A. F. Rowe(Luddington,)
Roswell Bradley F arre n,
Henry B. Rowe,
Dennis Barnes Farren ,
Justin B. Rowe,
Marv Griswold ,
Wm. Sherman Rowe ,
J. Lester Keep,
H. E. Stetson, (McDonough ,)
Samuel Hopkins Keep,
Elbert B. Stet son.
Edward Trumbull Lee,
Charles M. Stetson ,
Grace Elizabeth L ewi s,
Fanny Niven Stetson ,
John Fr ed'k . Lewis,
Mary Cornelia Stetson ,
Rockwell A. Linsl ey ,
Charlotte M. Tuttle. (Barnes,)
Geraldine Linsley,
Almira N. Tuttle, (Townsend,)
Fanny V. Lyon,
Hezekiah Tuttle,
John Jarvis Lyon ,
Horace L. Tuttle ,
Willis E. Mallory ,
George E. Tuttl e,
James F. Mallory,
John G. Tuttl e,
Lester P. Mallory ,
Reumnh Thompson , (Pedrick,)
Henry Lee Mallory,
Reuel Thompson ,
Dwight D. Mallory ,
Lucy Thompson ,
Jeremiah Mallory ,
Marcia Thompson,
Emma Maria Mallory ,
Saml. Elmore Wad e,
Mary Mallory,
James A. Works ,
Willis F. Monroe,
Winfield ,vorks,
Charles W. Monroe ,
Mary Louisa Works,
Caroline D. Peck,
William Bradley Woodhouse.
Wm. A. Peck,
Total Number , 82.
George L. Peck .