Initial commit of ebook 78832 filesHEADmain

1 files changed, 409 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/78832-0.txt b/78832-0.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..256b39e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/78832-0.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,409 @@
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78832 ***
+
+
+EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES AND MINUTES OF THE FREE CHRISTIAN BAPTIST
+GENERAL CONFERENCE OF NEW BRUNSWICK
+
+
+Held at Lincoln, N.B., 6th; 8th and 9th July, 1850
+
+
+SAINT JOHN, N.B.
+Printed by George W. Day.
+1850.
+
+The following extracts from the rules which govern our General
+Conference and District Meetings are published, in order to put our
+Churches in possession of the knowledge necessary for united action.
+We wish our brethren to make themselves acquainted with them. By
+reference to the extracts from the Minutes they will see the extent
+and time of each District Meeting; and we would remind every Church of
+the importance of sending at least one Messenger to the D. Meeting
+with which it stands connected, in order to preserve its union with
+the G. Conference, and to produce that action necessary for the
+continuance and extension of vital godliness among us as a people.
+
+It will be further observed, by reference to the Minutes, that the G.
+Conference contemplate publishing in a short time, for the benefit
+*and defence* of our Churches, our discipline, statistics, &c.
+
+
+EXTRACTS FROM THE RULES.
+
+That the General Conference be composed of Ordained Elders,
+Licentiates and Messengers from the District Meetings.
+
+That the General Conference shall have a Moderator, Clerk, and
+Treasurer, with such assistants as may be necessary, each to be
+appointed annually. The duties of the Moderator shall be to preside at
+the Conference, preserve order, &c.; the Clerk to keep a correct
+record of all business, rules, &c., for the Conference; and the
+Treasurer to receive and pay all monies belonging to the General
+Conference and render a strict account annually.
+
+That seven Ordained Elders and six Lay Messengers from District
+Meetings, shall constitute a quorum for business in the General
+Conference.
+
+That all Ordained Elders are required to attend every General
+Conference. Any Elder failing to do so, subjects himself to the
+censure of Conference, and if repeated shall be disciplined by the
+Conference, unless detained by circumstances beyond his control.
+
+That all Clerks of District Meetings attending General Conference
+shall be considered members of Conference.
+
+That every Church is bound to recognize the doings of General
+Conference and act on the same.
+
+That the General Conference shall define the boundaries of the
+District Meetings.
+
+That the District Meetings shall be composed of not less than two
+ordained Elders, Licentiates, and the Messengers of the churches
+embraced in said District.
+
+That each Church shall send one and not more than two Messengers to
+the District Meeting, said Messenger or Messengers to be appointed by
+the unanimous voice of the male members of the Church present.
+
+That each District Meeting shall have a Moderator and Clerk, whose
+duties shall be the same as those of the General Conference.
+
+That two ordained Elders, and six lay Messengers from Churches shall
+constitute a quorum for business in the District Meetings.
+
+That each District shall hold one meeting annually for business; shall
+control its own local affairs; attend to all trials on its own
+circuit; *and shall have power to recommend only* to the General
+Conference for action any rule which shall affect any Church beyond
+its own limits.
+
+That any trial of magnitude coming before a District Meeting *can be*
+referred to General Conference for decision.
+
+That in case of any trial, or any important business in *any* Church,
+said Church shall be allowed to apply for aid if it be needed, to the
+first District Meeting in Session after said application becomes
+necessary, and the District Meeting so applied to shall be bound to
+attend to such application, and render the necessary aid.
+
+That each District Meeting has power to receive newly organized
+Churches into union with it.
+
+That the Moderator of the General Conference shall appoint at *least*
+three Preachers to attend each District Meeting, and the Preachers so
+appointed be bound to attend *if the Lord will*.
+
+That each District Meeting shall send to General Conference two
+Messengers of Lay Brethren; said Messengers to be members of
+Conference, and to furnish Conference with the records of the District
+Meetings which they represent.
+
+That no alteration of any rule of Conference shall be made, but by the
+unanimous voice of the Conference.
+
+
+EXTRACTS FROM THE MINUTES.
+
+
+Lincoln, July 6th, 1850.
+
+The Elders and Messengers met on Saturday at 8 o,clock, A.M. Meeting
+opened by prayer, after which Elder Abner Mersereau was appointed
+Moderator.
+
+The Messengers and Clerks of the District meetings, read the records
+of said meetings, embracing the reports of churches, local business,
+and recommendations to General Conference. The reports show an
+important increase in some churches, and some new churches have been
+received into union. The result of District Meetings on the St. John
+River, especially above Fredericton, has been very blessed in several
+instances, and we hope for increasing showers of divine favour.
+
+Resolved—That Elders E. Wayman, W.E. Pennington, E. McLeod, and
+brethren B.J. Underhill, and E.M. Truesdale, be a Committee to draft
+certain additional rules relating to the General Conference and
+District Meetings, and submit the same on Monday.
+
+A public Conference being appointed for the afternoon, the business
+meeting adjourned by prayer, to meet on Monday, at 8 o’clock, A.M.
+
+
+MONDAY, 8 o’clock, A.M.
+
+Met pursuant to adjournment. Prayer by Brother Benjamin Noble.
+
+
+PRESENT.
+
+
+ELDERS.
+
+Samuel Hartt.
+
+Charles McMullen.
+
+Samuel Wormwood.
+
+Abner Mersereau.
+
+Edward Wayman.
+
+Wm. E. Penington.
+
+Joseph Noble.
+
+John G. Flanders.
+
+E. McLeod.
+
+Jacob Gunter.
+
+
+LAYMEN.
+
+Leonard Slipp.
+
+Daniel Clark.
+
+Robert McLeod.
+
+John Wallace.
+
+Solomon Smith.
+
+Alex. McLean.
+
+B.J. Underhill.
+
+John Mitchell.
+
+Benj. Noble.
+
+George Maxson.
+
+E.M. Truesdale.
+
+Richard Holmes.
+
+John Alexander.
+
+Brother R. Holmes was re-appointed Clerk of General Conference.
+Brother E.M. Truesdale, Assistant Clerk.
+
+The Committee appointed on Saturday to draft additional rules relating
+to the General Conference and District Meetings, submitted the same,
+which were adopted.
+
+These rules are embraced in the “Extracts from rules” published in
+the foregoing pages.
+
+The following from the record of the District Meeting held at Sussex,
+on Monday June 24th, was read:—
+
+First—Whereas our General Conference has found (from the experience of
+years) the necessity of having a fund subject to its control, to be
+appropriated in such ways as the Conference may deem expedient. And,
+whereas our efforts to “lengthen our cords, and strengthen our stakes”
+have sometimes been defeated from want of means to enable us to carry
+forward our labours. And moreover believing it to be our duty to use
+every Scriptural means in our power to promote and advance the true
+cause of God; this District Meeting therefore recommend to the General
+Conference the following propositions:
+
+1st. That we proceed to raise a fund, to be controlled and disbursed
+by the General Conference, and to be called the General Conference
+Fund.
+
+2nd. That said fund be raised in the following manner: Every church
+member (male and female) be requested to give a yearly subscription of
+*not less* than one shilling; (subscriptions from others *not* church
+members also received,) said subscriptions to be collected by the
+Deacons or, others appointed for that purpose in each church, and by
+them paid to the Treasurer appointed by the General Conference.
+
+3rd. That a strict account be published annually, with the Minutes of
+the Conference, of the amount of money received from each church, and
+the purposes for which said money is disbursed, and to whom paid.
+
+4th. That said account with minutes be distributed gratuitously among
+the churches.
+
+*Resolved*, 1st.—That the foregoing propositions be adopted by this
+Conference.
+
+2nd.—That all the Elders, Deacons and Clerks of Churches be requested
+to bring them before the Churches and endeavour to carry them into
+immediate effect.
+
+3rd.—That all subscriptions shall be voluntary.
+
+4th.—That this fund shall not prevent the raising of other funds in
+the Churches, necessary for the immediate support of the Gospel among
+them.
+
+5th.—That B.J. Underhill, St. John; and E.M. Truesdale, Woodstock, be
+joint Treasurers to the General Conference.
+
+Adjourned till Tuesday morning at 8 o’clock, A.M.
+
+
+TUESDAY, 8 o’clock, A.M.
+
+Met pursuant to adjournment.—Opened by Prayer.
+
+The second recommendation of the District Meeting, held at Sussex,
+June 24th, was read as follows:—
+
+*Second*—Whereas our enemies have endeavoured to destroy our influence
+and usefulness, by assailing our standing and sentiments, and
+spreading falsehoods calculated to destroy souls; and
+
+Whereas; We believe it to be our duty to set for our defence all the
+truth that God has taught us; and, moreover, feeling ourselves
+sustained in this by the example of the Primitive Christians; we
+therefore recommend that there be prepared and published (for the
+benefit *and defence* of our people and others,) a work embracing the
+following contents:—
+
+1st.—A brief outline of our origin and present standing, as a branch
+of the Christian Church, including the statistics of our Churches,
+Preachers, &c.
+
+2nd.—A Treatise of our faith.
+
+3rd.—The Constitution and Rules which govern our General Conference,
+and District Meetings, the Minutes of Conference, Church Covenant, &c.
+
+4th.—A concise system of Church Discipline, as we understand it from
+the word of God.
+
+5th.—Form of Marriage ceremony, and such other matters as may be
+necessary.
+
+And that such work be put into as plentiful circulation as possible.
+
+*Resolved*, That all the Elders of this Conference be a Committee to
+meet in Greenwich, K.C., on the 1st. Saturday in October next, to make
+such arrangements as may then be necessary to carry into effect the
+forgoing recommendations.
+
+*Resolved*, That Elder Joseph Noble be Messenger from this Conference
+to the Free Christian Baptist Conference in Nova Scotia, to be held in
+September next.
+
+*Resolved*, That our next General Conference be held at Victoria
+Corner, (so called,) Wakefield, commencing the first Saturday in July
+next 1851, at 10 o’clock, A.M.; and, that the Records of the D.
+Meetings be read before the public, at the opening of the afternoon
+Meeting on Saturday, and that the Business Meeting commence on Monday,
+at 8 o’clock, A.M.
+
+*Resolved*, That the times and places of the D. Meetings be as
+follows:—
+
+FIRST DISTRICT.—Extending from Restook, inclusive, to Brighton, upper
+line, embracing several Churches and Congregations. Meeting to
+commence on the last Saturday in August next, at 10 o’clock, A.M., at
+——. Elders appointed to attend, C. McMullin, G. Orser, W.E. Penington,
+and S. Hartt.
+
+SECOND DISTRICT.—Extending from Brighton inclusive to Eel River,
+embracing ten Churches. Meeting to commence at the Meeting House Lower
+Brighton, on the last Saturday in October next, at 10 o’clock, A.M.
+Elders appointed to attend, S. Hartt, J. Noble and E. Siprell.
+
+THIRD DISTRICT.—Extending from Eel River to Fredericton inclusive,
+embracing seven Churches. Meeting to commence at lower meeting house,
+Queensbury, the last Saturday in December next at 10 o’clock, A.M.
+Elders to attend, S. Hartt, W.E. Pennington, C. McMullin and B.
+Merritt.
+
+FOURTH DISTRICT.—To include the following Churches:
+
+Two Churches in the Parish of Lincoln;
+
+One Do. on the North branch Oromocto;
+
+Two Do. do. South do.;
+
+One Do. in Gary;
+
+One Do. in Gagetown; and
+
+One Do. in Hampstead.
+
+Meeting to commence at the Meeting House at Richagonish on the third
+Saturday in March next at 10 o’clock, A.M. Elders appointed to attend,
+A. Mesereau, J. Noble, J.G. Flander, and B. Merritt.
+
+FIFTH DISTRICT.—To include the following Churches:
+
+One Church at Little River, Long Island;
+
+One Do. Jerusalem;
+
+Two Do. in Greenwich;
+
+One Do. at Lands End;
+
+One Do. East side of Long Reach;
+
+One Do. at Henderson Settlement;
+
+One Do. at the Carpenter’s Settlement;
+
+One Do. at the Bald Hill;
+
+One Do. on the West side of Belisle;
+
+One Do. do. East do.;
+
+One Do. at Tenant’s Cove;
+
+One Do. in the Parish of Johnson; and
+
+One Do. in St. John.
+
+Meeting to commence at the Meeting House in Greenwich on the first
+Saturday in October next, at 10 o’clock, A.M. All the Elders belonging
+to the General Conference are appointed to attend.
+
+SIXTH DISTRICT.—To embrace the following Churches:
+
+One Church in Middleland;
+
+One Do. on Millstream;
+
+One Do. on Millstream Mountain;
+
+One Do. on Smith Creek;
+
+One Do. at the River lower end of Sussex and Studholm;
+
+One Do. at Upper Settlement, Sussex;
+
+One Do. at the North River, Salisbury;
+
+One Do. at Moncton; and
+
+Two Do. in Dorchester.
+
+Meeting to commence at the Meeting House, Middleland, on the fourth
+Saturday in June next, at 10 o’clock, A.M. Elders to attend, E.
+Wayman, A. Mersereau, J. Gunter, and E. McLeod.
+
+*Resolved*, That the Churches be reported by the Messengers in the
+public Conference on Saturday, P.M., and that the business be attended
+to on Monday.
+
+*Resolved*, That Elders J. Noble and E. McLeod, and Brother B.J.
+Underhill, be a Committee to publish such extracts from the Rules and
+Minutes of this Conference as are necessary,—for distribution among
+our Churches.
+
+ABNER MERSEREAU, *Moderator*,
+
+RICHARD HOLMES, *Clerk*.
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78832 ***