history

History

11-19-1831 Christian Brethren meet at School House #13 on Mason Rd for purpose of forming a church. The following people came forward to take the New Testament for their Rule of Faith and Practice: Hezekiah Mason, Sara Mason, Samuel Wilde, Margaret Wilson, James Ashley, Lucy R. Tobey,   Thomas Lucas, Mary Harvey, Bradford Braley, Elbridge G. Morton. Elders conducted the services along with visiting ministers when available. The meetings were held either in the School House #13 or in people’s houses.

1-24-1832 "The brethren and sisters met and read the ordinance at the home of James Taylor." This was the ordinance of Breaking of Bread and they kept a separate record of these services near the back of the record book. Within three months they had increased from 10-22 people

11-1832 They picked a committee of three to see if it would be expedient to build a house of "Publick Worship." Committee Hezekiah Mason, James White and Bradford Braley. They reported back at the next meeting that it would be expedient to build a new "House of Worship." One year later the group had grown to 34 people.

1833 In the clerk's books it was recorded "The land for the first Church was deeded to the Founders to hold forever, provided that it would never go back to the heirs of Samuel Macomber."

The building site was on the corner of Mason and Middleboro Road approximately where the Lopes Bogs are today.

The new House of Worship was erected in the shape of a barn like structure. The group gave materials, labor, donations and pews. The pew owners owned the Church, mostly.

Just after the opening of the first Church in 1833 a quote from the records reads, " The proprietor shall have liberty to invite any minister of regular standing to preach in said house providing it does not infringe on previous appointments made by the Church. Neither shall the Church make any appointments to infringe on the proprietors appointment." Read before said church and approved. Hezekiah Mason, James White, Bradford Braley, Enquiring Committee."

Many of the church members filled the needs of the church in these early years such as Hezekiah Mason, Levi Tobey and the rest of the 10 people who organized the Church.

3-1835 The first religious problem that is recorded "Cephas Chamberlain's request that the Church was not the same as it was when he joined it.
1. He was in trouble and no assistance appeared from the Church after it came to their knowledge.
2 Their preachers were not received as they once were.
3. The spiritual part of their worship was not the same."
They deliberated and then adjourned to the next meeting.

4-11-1835 They met "to deliberate on the course of Ben Chamberlain while prayer and intersession was made by the Church in behalf of our brother that he might be restored and the Church be more spiritual minded. After some deliberation, Ben Chamberlain submitted his cause to the better judgment of their advice and consents and withdrew his request.

1839     There was question as to whether the unconverted should be able to sing as to part of the worship service. (The unconverted as being non-members.)

4-25-1840 Elder William Shurtleff is currently with the church as preacher.

12-17-1840 Met in church meeting for the purpose of enquiring into providing of Deacon Bradford Braley. 1. Chose William Shurtleff moderator. 2. Deacon Braley came forward and took his discharge from the Church. 3. Chose a committee to give him a letter commendation.

At this point there seemed for some reason to be a break in the records and the next item looks to begin sometime in later part of 1841.

William Shurtleff was elected Clerk and the church passed a vote that there should not be any difficulties brought into their meeting of worship or Church meetings except said Church meeting be appointed as such.

4-23-1842 Had a season of communion Elder Morton broke bread and received five persons into the Church,

6-19-42 Church meeting and chose James Ashley as Clerk of the Church.

7-26-1842 A Church meeting for the following the request was made by Brethern of Fall River that Cephas Chamberlain be set apart for the Ministry which was granted. Again a break in the records

4-1848 Called a meeting for the purpose of supplying the desk. Voted to extend an invitation to J M Perry of Providence, RI to supply the desk ensuing year and labours to commence May 7th

5-3-1848 Received several candidates for Baptism. Voted request of Bro. Shurtleff as such he chooses to confer with the ordination of Br. Perry.

8-15-48     Church met in council with Elders Shurtleff, Morton and Thompson and after due deliberation it was thought best owing to circumstances on the part of the committee to defer the ordination until the conference set.

8-26-1848 Voted that the Church join the Conference and Bro James Ashley was chosen as delegate. Voted to renew the application for ordination of Bro. Perry to the Conference. Bro James Ashley esigned as clerk and voted that J A Perry fill his office.

9-12-1848 The Church join the RI and Mass Conference.

1-17-1849 Voted Benjamin White to fill the place as clerk as J A Perry had resigned.

Several others joined the Church during this time and the pulpit was filled by several Brothers. George Taylor in the early 40's, Elder Wm Faunce and Moses Howe. Elder Cushman left to preach in Smith Mills (Dartmouth).

One that was well liked was Rachel Howland who was a Quaker minister and she preached here in the    early 50's.

9-28-1850 Chose Br. James White as a leader to open or close their conference meetings.

1-11-1851 Met in Church meeting and decided to discharge J A Perry according to his request.

5-29-1852 Met in Church meeting then acted upon the following articles:
1. to see what we could do to revive our Church government
2. agreed to join into a committee as a whole then present to invite the members in belonging to the church to a meeting. Adjourned to June 26th.
(I find that many of the articles that are brought up at a meeting never have the conclusion in the minutes or such as above no record of the June 26th meeting.)

3-12-1853 Meet in special Church meeting for the purpose of looking out someone to officiate as Deacon of the Church. Agreed that James White should officiate and further agreed that James Ashley should act as treasurer of the church.

1-28-1854 Met in Church meeting and had a season of prayer and conference. Voted that James White should circulate a paper in the church and Society for the purpose of ascertaining what he could get for the purpose of preaching.

9-27-1855 As was the practice for people to come in front of the Church to give their experience to be accepted by the Church members the following occurred.

Met in church meeting for the purpose of hearing any objections why Br Patterson should not become a member of the Church Br Hervey came and state his objection but after some debate withdrew his action and Br Patterson was admitted into the Church.

1-11-1856 Met in Church meeting, prayer and conference after the usual exercises proceeded to business. Motion being made that the Church unite in society with others not members of the Church for the purpose of sustaining religious exercises. Voted meet at the call of the warrant and see if such bylaws can be made as will the approbation of the church.

3-27-1856 Requested that B G White should instruct the Pulpit Committee to engage Elder Tyler for the ensuing year.

1857 Several new members were received into the Church as well as settling difference between members and visiting them see why they did not attend meetings.

2-27-1857 Voted that the church should every three months partake of the Lords Supper and that the Church records should be read once in three months before the church.

5-18-1858 Met in Church meeting, prayer and confernence. The attention of the Church was called to see if they should adopt it as a rule to practice that persons offering themselves to the Church baptism in being approved and fellowship in the ordinance of should be considered members of the Church. Voted that they should.

2-26-1859 Elected H A Braley as clerk as the present clerk was not present, the Pulpit Committee agreed to have Elder George Taylor for the coming year.

10-29-1859 J P Chase stated before the Church that he had received a summons or a letter the design of which affected his moral Christian ministerial character. The letter came to him in behalf of the RI and Mass Conference therefore the Church voted that they protest against proceedings of the conference for the following reasons, 1.he was a member in good standing, 2. the church had no notice of their proceedings, 3. that his accusers had not dealt with him according to the scripture rule of faith and practice. Chose delegates to the Conference with full liberty to take as many to assist and advise with them as they saw fit.

11-1859 to 6-1860 Church meetings were held every month but no business was recorded

6-2-1860 The Church met for the purpose of considering the expediency of withdrawing fellowship from one of the members of the Church. After hearing several reasons the Church voted to do so.

12-1860 Met in Church meeting and chose Elihu Lawrence as committee of the Church to supply the Pulpit.

2-16-1861 Met in Church meeting for the purpose to excuse Bro. Lawrence from the Pulpit Committee. Second Bro. Lawrence stated that the member who was withdrawn from the Church in June desired a hearing as he was not informed of the purpose of that meeting. Therefore the clerk was ordered to send a letter inviting him to attend the next meeting 25th of this month.

2-25-1861John P. Chase was chosen moderator for the meeting and after discussion it was voted that the member in question should remain a member.

2-26-1861 A letter was written to the Christian Church of East Freetown by George Tyler that he wanted to be exonerated from the church, as several reports had come to him that Church was not happy with his preaching. It was not unanimous that he be exonerated but he asked that his letter and the reasons be entered in the church records.

3-2-1861 It was voted to give George Tylor an honorable discharge from preaching and also voted Elihu Lawrence should have a license to preach

6-29-61 It was noted that several members having absented themselves from the Church and holding meetings on opposition to the same that record be made of the same on the Church records.

12-1-1861 Bread was broken to the Church by Elder Howard Trip and three new members were received into the Church.

2-22-1862 Met in Church meeting and chose Galon Pirce to the Pulpit Committee. Met in Church meetings the rest of the year but no business was recorded.

3-29-1863 Met in Church meeting and chose Galin Pirce and Joseph White as Pulpit Committee for the ensuing year. Chose James Ashley Treasurer and Collector and for him to take care of the House (Church). Voted that the Sextant should not open the House to any persons or society disconnected to the House without the vote of the Church.

2-27-1864 Met in Church meeting and chose Joseph White and Eljah Chase to the Pulpit Committee. Chose to have James Ashley continue as Treasurer and Collector.

3-26-1864 Met in Chruch meeting and chose Joseph White as Deacon to fill the place of James White deceased.

6-25-1864 Met in Church meeting and after Jonathan Hervey having united and with the Church in sympathy and interest that so much as stands recorded in vote of June 29, 1861 against him be rescinded.

7-19-1864 Met in Church meeting, prayer and conference the Brethern much refreshed.

9-29-1864 Met in Church meeting and voted to send several members as delegates to the RI and Mass Christian Conference.

10-29-1864 Again met in Church meeting and then after at the close of business voted that so much of the vote recorded June 29, 1961 respecting James Harvey who was one of the members.