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 -A.I30I=TEID OCTOBER, 30, 187 J#. 
 
MANUAL 
 
 CoitcpcyiTiDNyiL Chuijch 
 
 OF CHRIST, 
 
 Glencoe, 111. 
 
 ^JDOF-rrEx;} octob£:e, 30 1, 
 
 f- 
 
 CHICAGO: 
 
 H. Willson & Co. 157 LaSalle St. 
 •1873. 
 
'-/ 
 
HISTORICAL SKETCH. 
 
 Regular preaching services upon the Sabbath were commenced in 
 the village ot'Glencoe but a short time after its incorporation in 1869. 
 For a year or more they were conducted by transient supplies. 
 
 During the year beginning November i, 1S70, Prof. S. C. Bartlett. 
 who had become a resident of the place, was invited to supply the 
 pulpit three-fourths of the time, and, the following year, every Sabbath. 
 The Communion of the Lord's Supper was occasionally observed. In 
 the Autumn of 1S72, the conviction had become deep and general that 
 some closer organization was required for the best interests of religion 
 in the community. 
 
 The first distinct proposal that a Congregational Church should 
 be formed, came from members of the Methodist and Baptist commun- 
 ions. Notice was given on Sunday, October 13,- 1S72, that this question 
 would form the subject of discussion at the next Wednesday evening 
 prayer meeting. The meeting on Wednesday was well attended, and 
 the question wtis fully discussed with absolute unanimity of feeling and 
 opinion, that a Congregational Church ought at once to be organized. 
 
 Several members of other communions proposed to join it, while 
 all pledged it their most cordial interest and co-operation. It was 
 voted to proceed, and S. C. Bartlett, S. T. Lockwood and P. N. Sher- 
 wood were chosen a Committee to arrange all the preliminaries of 
 such an organization. On the 23rd of October, the committee report- 
 ed a Confession of P'aith and Covenant, together with a Constitution 
 and By-Laws, which on Wednesday, October 30th, were discussed, 
 accepted and adopted, as herewith subjoined. Opportunities were 
 given for any persons to present themselves, who might wish.to unite 
 with the Church on profession ; and two persons were examined, pro- 
 pounded and accepted. 
 
, \^ u ' to meet at the -Church on Tuesday Nov. 12th, 
 
 ) '... mplete the organization. The Churches invited 
 
 v.ero the C< ngregatnnal Church of Evanston; and the First, Union 
 Park i.i 'itt Street and Tabernacle Congregational Churches of 
 Chi. j.,_, ;ind Profs. F, W. Fisk,J. T. Hj de and G. N. Boardman of 
 the Cii.O'go Theological Seminary. 
 
 The Council met at the time appointed, and after a full examin- 
 
 ! ationofailthe circumstances and documents, unanimously voted to 
 
 { proceed v\ith the cu-tomary exercises of organization and recognition. 
 These services were performed at 7^ o'clock in the evening, as followt. : 
 reading of the minutesofthe Council, by Rev. E. N. Packard, Scribe; 
 invocation and Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. E. F. Williams ; Ser- 
 mon, by Prof. F. W. Fisk; propounding the Confession of Faith and 
 Covenant, by Ret. Moses Smith; Prayer of recognition and conse- 
 (!fation,by Rev.%. L. Hammond; Fellowship of the Churches, by Rev. 
 
 ■ C D Heln-er; Address to r.he Church, by Rev. E. P. Goodwin. 
 
 i •■ . 
 
 I The following persons were orgnnized into the Congregational 
 
 'Churrh of Christ in Glencoe : 
 
 iler: — From the Union Park Congregational Church In 
 i '.nicagu, .-amuel C. Bartlett, Mrs. Mary L. Bartlett. Edwin J. P.art- 
 i lett, Miss Alice W. Bartlett, William A. Bartlett, Charles H. Howard, 
 1 .Mr^. Kate F. Howard, Samuel. T. Lockwood, Mrs. Juliette P. Lock- 
 ) Avo^d, Mrs. Annie E. Nutt; from the New England Congregational 
 Church in Chicago, Frederick W. Newhall. Mrs. Ellen Newhall ; from 
 the Forty Seventh St. Congregational Church,- Chicago, Henry Willson 
 Mrs. Jane Willson ; from the Congregational Church in D anbury, Conn.,. 
 Washington A. Nichols ; from the Congregational Church, Kenokha, 
 Wis., Miss Laura A. Newberry; from the Congregational Church in 
 Evan.ston,Mrs. Carrie L. Daggett; from the Methodist EpiscopalChurch 
 ;m Evanston, Augustus H. Ilovey, Mr.-^. Alice M. Hovey, Miss Hattie 
 M. Hovcy, Miss Sarah J. Hovey, Archibald W. Fletcher, Mrs. 
 '\Iizabeth Fletcher; from the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Kenosha, 
 VV is., Porter N. Sherv--^' M'- Sarah V. Sherwood : from the Pro- 
 testant Episcopal Ch. i-ston, Mrs Jeanettt C. Starr. By 
 profession:!— Alexan del 'iairii nd, George F. Newhall. 
 
CONSTITUTION. 
 
 Article I.— Name. 
 
 The name of tliis Church shall be the Congregational Church of 
 
 Christ, in Glencoe. 
 
 Article II.— Government. 
 
 Seo. 1. The Govern men t and aflFairs of this Church shall be co:i- 
 ducteft in general accordance with the principles and established 
 usages of Uongregationalisiu. 
 
 Sec. 2. This Church maintains as fundamental principles ofchurth 
 order, both the self government of the local Church and the fellowship 
 of the several churches. While amenable to no other ecclesiastical 
 body, and acknowledging no Head but the Lord Jesus Christ, it also re- 
 cognizes the duty of seeking the advice of Councils intheoiganlzation 
 of a church, in the settlement and dismission of pastors, in cases of 
 peculiar internal difficulty, and in matters of common interest ; and it 
 heartily proffers its Christian sympathy, commuuiou and co-operation 
 to all other bodies of true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. 
 
 Article III. — Membership. 
 
 All persons may become members of this Church who give credible i 
 evidence of regeneration, and who assent to the Confession of Faith 
 and Covenant. 
 
 Article. IV. — Officers 
 
 Sec 1. The essential oncers of the Church are a Pastor and 
 Deacons. They shall be elected by ballot. 
 
 Sec. 2. For the further ordering of its affairs, the church shall also 
 appoint a Clerk, a Treasurer, a Superintendent of the Sabbath School, 
 and five Trustees. These officers shall be chosen annually, but shall 
 in any case hold office untill their successors are appointed. 
 
 Sec. 3. The Pastor, who shall be expected to become a member of 
 the Church, shall have control of the pulpit and the exercises of pub- 
 lic worship, shall preach the W ird, shall ordinarily be the Moderator 
 in the meetings of the Church, shall take the spiritual oversight of the 
 flock, shall administer the Sacraments, and shall execute the discipline 
 of the Church, when so brdered. 
 
 In the settlement of a Pastor, the Church shall act by an Eiitle- 
 siastical Council, called in the usual manner: and such a Council shall 
 be mutually called by the Pastor and the Church, to act upon the 
 question of his dismission, whenever the Pastor shall desire it, or the 
 Church shall so vote in a meeting notified on t];> pi-eceding Sabbath 
 for thai specified purpose. 
 
Sec. 4. The Deacons shall aid the Pastor in the celebration of the 
 Lord's Supper, shall take charge of the communion service and of 
 providing for the communion table, shall have the oversight of the 
 poor members, for visitation and relief, and shall assist the Pastor 
 generally in the spiritual care of the congregation. 
 
 Sec. 5. The Clerk shall keep a faithful record of the proceedings 
 of all business meetings of the Church, and shall submit the same for 
 revision and correction at each meeting preparatory to the commun 
 ion. He shall keep a register of the Church members with the date of 
 their reception and of their removal, and a record of all baptisni. He 
 shall issue letters of dismission voted by the Church, keep on file all 
 important correspondence, all written official reports, and all other 
 valuable papers of the Church, shall audit the accounts of the Treasur- 
 er, and shall make an annual report. 
 
 Sec. 6. The Treasurer shall receive the funds of the Chureh ; the 
 charitable contributions, he shall dispense under the direction of the 
 Deacons; the benevolent contributions he shall forward to their res- 
 pective destinations ; and the funds for the support of the Church he 
 shall disburse upon the order of the Trustees, and shall make an annu- 
 al report to the Church. 
 
 Sec. 7. The Trustees shall see that they are legally incorporated 
 according to the laws of the State ; shall hold the property of the Church 
 manage its pecuniary aftairs, superintend the raisin^ of the minister's 
 salary, provide for the incidental expenses, subject always to the gen- 
 eral rules and the directing vote of the Church, but having no power to 
 buy, sell, mortgage, or transfer property, without a specific vote of 
 authority by the Church, at a meeting which has been notified on two 
 preceding Sabbaths ; and shall make an annual report of their doings 
 to the Church. A minority of the Trustees may be chosen from those 
 who are not members of this Church. 
 
 Sec. 8. The Pastor and Deacons shall constitute a Prudential 
 Committee of the Church. Their duty shall be to confer together con- 
 cerning the interests and wants of the Church, to watch for its purity, 
 to inaugurate measures needed for its welfare, to transact such 
 business as may from time to time be assigned to them by vote 
 of the Church, and in general to care for those matters of common 
 concern, which might otherwise be neglectetl. 
 
 Sec. 9/ The Prudential Committee and Sabbath School Superin- 
 tendent, shall constitute an executive Committee of the Sabbath School. 
 They shall decide upon its management, anange for its officers and 
 exercises, and have special charge of its interests, subject at all times 
 to a directing vote of the Church. 
 
 Article V.— Discipline. 
 Sec. 1. The rule of discipline is the law of Christ recorded in Matt. 
 xviii. 15-17. 
 
Sec. 2. Discipline may consist in admonition, suspension, public 
 withdrawal of fellowship, or excommunication. 
 
 Article VI. — Ordinances. 
 
 Sec. 1. This Church, while retaining tlie method of baptism 
 practiced by the Congregational Churches, will respect both in theory 
 and in practice, the preferences of any i)ersons, whose conscientious 
 convictions may hold them to other modes of baptism. 
 
 Sec. 2. It shall be the privilege of christian parents in regular 
 Church standing,to consecrate their households to the Lord in baptism. 
 
 Sec. 3. The invitation to the Lord's Supiier shall be extended to 
 members of i»ther Evangelical churches in good standing. 
 
 Article VI I.— Amendments and Bv-LAVirs. 
 
 Sec. 1 This Constitution, the Confession of Faith and the Covenant 
 may be altered by a vote of three-fourths of the members present and 
 voting, at an Annual Meeting.or at a meeting called specially for that 
 purpose by notice four weeks previously from the pulpit on the Sab- 
 bath, provided that the substance of the proposed alteration shall have 
 been publicly given in writing from the pulpit on the Sabbath four 
 weeks previously, and provided also that the change does not infringe 
 upon the doctrines or organicmincipl^ of the Churcl^ 
 
 Sec. 3. By-Laws, to carry outftuis Constitution, ftiay be enacted 
 at any regular business-meeting. ^ 
 
 CONFESSION OF FAITH. 
 
 Accepting the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the 
 Word of God and the only infallible rule of religious faith and practice, 
 we confess our faith in the one living and true God, revealed as the 
 Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; the Creator and Preserver of 
 all things, whose purposes and providence extend to all events, and 
 whose righteous government is over all his creatures. 
 
 We believe that man was created upright ; that he sinned and fell ; 
 and that in consetiuence of the Fall, all mankind in their natural state 
 are alienated from God, without holiness, and under the condemnation of 
 the Divine law. 
 
 We believe that .Jesus Christ, the Son of God, having taken upon 
 himself our nature, has by his voluntary sufferings and death, made an 
 atonement for the sins of the world ; that salvation is freely offered to 
 all ; and that all who truly repent and believe in Christ Avill be pardon- 
 ed, justified and saved. 
 
 We believe that all who are thus justified through faith in Christ, 
 are first renewed by the Holy Ghost, according to the eternal purpose 
 of God, and will owe their preservation in holiness and their final sal- 
 vation to grace alone. 
 
Yv'e 'lolieve that tht ,j\oral law of God remains in fuUfoJce as a 
 rule of ilui,y, and tlia.a lo e^eit heart will show itself in the acts 
 and duties of an obedient .lur uo!y life. 
 
 We hc!iev(! (Ijat the Chrisiian S^abbath, the Ministry of the Word, 
 the Visihk' CIiu.'tIi, and the Ovdiaauces of Baptism and the Lord's 
 Supper, are 'liviie I y appointed, and an- binding on the followers of 
 Christ until hi? eomiug. 
 
 We believe that there will be a resurrection of the dead and a day 
 of judgment, when every one will give account of the deeds done in 
 the body; and that the wicked will go away into everlasting punish- 
 ment, and the righteous into life eternal. 
 
 Do you thus solemnly profess to believe ? 
 
 [ The Pastor ivill address those who ■■■a/jte by profession, and who have 
 been baptized in infancy, as folloius :'\ 
 
 Do you, wlio were baptized in your infancy, now accept that bap- 
 tism as the sign o.' your present faith in Christ aud tlie seal of your 
 covenant with (^..m ? 
 
 .'■';//«,':'/',(/ to those loho have not been 
 
 COVENANT. 
 
 You do now, in the presence of God and mfn, solemnly declare the 
 Lord Jehovah, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, to be your 
 God and portion forever, accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your only 
 Saviour, and the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier, Comfprter and Guide. 
 You humbly and cheerfully devote yourself to God in the everlasting 
 covenant of his grace, You consecrate all your powers and faculties 
 to his service and glory, and relying upon the promised aid of the 
 Holy Spirit, you engage to walk in all the statutes and ordinances of 
 the Lord; to assemble yourself with his people foj- his worship ; to keep 
 holy his Sabbatli day; to maintain secret prayer and promote family 
 worship; to lead a life of piety toward God and benevolence toward 
 man ; to seek the lionor of Christ's name and the interests of his king- 
 dom; and,' denying ungodliness and evej-y wordly lust, to live soberly, 
 righteously and godly in this world. 
 
 \_17io:'i' rreciTcd by letter will /ere come foriuard .1 
 
 You do now cordially join yourself by Covenant to this Church of 
 Chi'ist solemnly engaging to submit to itsgoveiument and the discipline 
 which Christ has appointed; to strive earnestly for its peace, edifica- 
 tion and purity; and to walk v/ith its members iu fraternal love, faith- 
 fulness, circumspection, meekness and sobriety. 
 
 [Here the members of ihc Church will rise^\ 
 
We, tlien, the mcujbers ol tliischunliof Christ do no\y receive you 
 into onr comiounion, and (nonnseto \\atch ov'cry(»u with Christian 
 afFectioii stid ■tenderness, o\er treating you in love as a member of the 
 body of Chnst, Mho is Hea I over all things to tho church. 
 
 This we do, implorins-'the Great Siieiiherd of Israel, bur Lord and 
 Kedcemer, that we and you may havt; uisdom and grace to he faithful 
 in his covenant, and to glorify hiin with the holiness which bwometh 
 His house forever. 
 
 "Tlie Lord Idcss yoa arid keep you; the Lord jn:ike hU faceshino 
 upon you and he gracious unto you; the Lord lift uj> his cuuntenance 
 upon you, and give you peace. " Amen ! 
 
 BY-J^AWS. 
 
 Article L — Membership. 
 
 Sec. 1. Persons desirous of becoming member,? of this Church 
 upon profession of their faith, shall be examined oraliy, or by a written 
 account ol' their religious experience, in the presence of the t iiurch, at 
 any regularly-called meeting, as to their religioius history and their 
 present Christian experience. If the examination be deemed satis- 
 factory, their names s^all be publicly announced on the Subbath pre- 
 ceding the Communion Sabbath, the*ote of the Church upon their 
 reception, shall be taken at the ChurA meeting preparatory to the 
 Communion, and they shall be receive! into fellowship on the Com- 
 munion Salibath, by publicly assenting to the Confession of Faith, re- 
 ceiving baptism, ( unless previously baptizeil,) and entering into 
 Covenant. In special cases the Church may however, by vote, instruct 
 the Pastor and Deacons to examine candidates ill: private, and report 
 the substance of the examination to the Church for action. 
 
 Sec. 2. jNIembers of othe Evangelical Churches, applying for ad- 
 mission by letter, may be received by vote of the Church, and by public- 
 ly assenting to the Confession of Faith and Covenant. It is the right 
 and privilege of the Church to seek acquaintance with the Ch istian life 
 of such applicant members, by asking for a narrative of theii- religious 
 history. 
 
 Sec. :>. Letters of dismission to Evangelical Churches shall be given 
 by vote ol the Church, to all members in good and unimpeachable stand- 
 ing ^^ho desire them. Members who remove their residence beyond 
 the reach of this Church should, ifpracticaldeat once transfer their re- 
 lation to some other Church. If such do not apidy for letters within 
 one year from the time of leaving, satisfactory reasons must be given 
 for the delay of the application, before the disnnssion will be granted. 
 
Article II. — Business Meetings. 
 
 Sec. 1. There shall be an Annual Business Meeting of the Church 
 on the third Wednesday in December of each year, at which the follow- 
 ing business shall be transacted : 1. Reports of Officers— (a) Clerk's Re- 
 port; (b) Treasurer's Report ;(c) Report of S.S. Superintendent; (d) Re- 
 port of the Trustees; (e) Report of Prudential Committee. 2. Election 
 of Officers. 3. Miscellaneous Business. 
 
 Sec. 3. The ordinary and regular business meeting of the Church, 
 shall be upon the first Wednesday of each month ; but business may be 
 transacted at any regular meeting of the Church, or at a special meet- 
 ing called from the pulpit on the preceding Sabbath by the Officers of 
 the Church, or by tne written request of five adult members of the 
 Church. 
 
 Sec. 3. Deacons shall be elected for the term of three years. The 
 Pastor, when installed by Council, shall hold office until regularly dis- 
 missed by Council. Other officers shall be elected annually. 
 
 Sec. 4. A vacancy in the Pastoral office is to be filled only after 
 careful inquiry and prayerful deliberation. Vacancies in the office of 
 Deacon, may be filled at any regular business meeting, after a notice 
 given four, weeks previously from the pulpit on the Sabbath; other 
 vacancies may be filled at any regular business meeting, after notice 
 given on the previous Sabbath. 
 
 Sec 5. In the transaction of business, this Church will be governed 
 by the established rules of parlimentary proceedings. 
 
 Article III. — Stated Religious Services. 
 
 Sec. 1. Besides the regular services of the Sabbath, the Church 
 will hold a prayer meeting ordinarily on Wednesday evening of each 
 week. 
 
 Sec 2. The Sacr|ment of the Lord's Supper shall be adminstered 
 upon the first Sabbath of January, March, May, July, September and 
 November. Preparatory services shall be held at such time as 
 the Pastormay deem most suitable. In connection with each Com- 
 munion service, a special collection shall be taken to aid the poor of 
 the Church, and for other purposes. 
 
 Sec 2. A monthly concert of prayer for the conversion of the world 
 shall be observed upon the first Sunday evening of each month, at the 
 close of which a collection shall be taken for Missionary purposes. 
 
 Sec 4. Contributions shall be solicited in the Congregation for the 
 leading objects of Christian beneficence, according to a schedule adopt- 
 ed by the Church from time to time. 
 
 Sec. 5. In the absence or lack of a Pastor, the supply of the Pulpit 
 shall be provided for by the Prudential Committee, subject at any time 
 
to a directing vote of the church. But no person shall be employed as 
 a supply for a longer period than three months, without a vote of the 
 church. 
 
 Sec. 6. The Superintendence and control of the Sacred Music con- 
 nected with the Sabbath services, shall be under the charge of the 
 Prudential Committee, subject to the direction of the Church. But no 
 expenses shall be incurred by them for the purpose, except as author- 
 ized by the Trustees or directly by vote of the Church." 
 
 Article IV. — Discipline. 
 
 Sec. 1. While. every member of the Church is alike under obligation 
 to watch and to labor for its purity, it shall be a special duty of the 
 Prudential Committee to secure its effectual discipline. 
 
 Sec. 2. It shall be deemed orderly for any member who has failed 
 in the effort privately to rectify a Church offence, to make known the 
 fact first to the Prudential Committee. If, however, they shall fail to 
 give attention to the case, it shall be his right and duty to bring it in 
 person before the Church. 
 
 Sec. o. In presenting the case to the Church, aggrieved persons 
 must state their charges in writing. If the Church vote to entertain the 
 complaint, they will then appoint a time for hearing of the case, 
 and summon the accused to be present to take his trial, furnishing him 
 with a written copy of the charges, and the names of the witnesses 
 relied on for proof, at least a week before the trial. 
 
 Sec. 4. Upon the trial the accused Aay call to his aid any member 
 of the Church ; in case of his non-appearance, a member shall be 
 appointed to defend his case. The confession of the accused, or the 
 testimony of two witnesses, or that which is fairly equivalent, shall be 
 requisite for conviction. 
 
 Sec. 5. Excommunication or withdrawal of^ellowship, shall be 
 publicly announced. 
 
 Sec. 6, An excommunicated person may, upon evidence of repent- 
 ance, confession of sin, and reformation of his conduct, be re-admitted 
 to the Church on profession. 
 
 Article V. — Ecclesiastical Connection. 
 
 This Church will place itself in the customary connection with the 
 Association or Conference of Congregational churches. 
 
 Article V I. — Alterations and Amendments. 
 
 These by laws may be altered or amended at any regular business 
 meeting of the church, notice of the proposed change havingbeen given 
 publicly, at least or\e month previously, and also announced the Sab- 
 bath next preceding the meeting. 
 
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