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Churches Section
First Christian Church of Washington Pages 26, 27 and 28 of Record Church records transcribed by Mrs. Martha
Lacock Nicholl, deceased, late of Washington, PA Submitted by Paula Schlichter Aug. 2006
PAGE TWENTY-SIX: (note: They weren't to meet until Jan. 25th 1851 but met earlier...) Jan. 12, 1851 Br. Johnathan MARTIN offered the following letter of resignation as Elder of the congregation at Williamsburg. "Brothers and Sisters after deliberate consideration and believing that the interest of this church in the cause of Christ will be promoted I tender to you my resignation of the office of one of the Elders of the church. I resign the office from the best of motives. May (sic=My) son-in-law L. P. STREATOR is an Elder also my Br. John MARTIN is an officer in the church and to all grounds of my family connexion (sic=connection) having any influence or control with or over the congregation is one motive why I have thought best to resign the trust conferred upon me. Hoping you will appreciate my motive and accept my resignation I subscribe myself yours in hope of Eternal Life (signed) Jonathan Martin." Feb. 25, 1851 The elders of the church met agreeable to adjournment. Br. STREATOR having been called away to preach a funeral Br. MILLIGAN was chosen Moderator. The officers preceeded (sic=preceded) to the investigation of the charge presented by Br. Jon. MARTIN against Sister Mary HAND. She was called upon for any testimony that she might have in support of the report which she circulated [Webmaster - e.g. gossiping] against him whereupon she produced an affidavit which she made before Squire BAIRD and stated that was all the testimony that she had to offer except that he [Webmaster's note: Br. Jon. MARTIN] came to their house which they lived on Rhinard HATFIELD's place. The testimony was not considered sufficient by the officers. Wherefore it was resolved that Whereas Mary HAND had circulated a report prejudicial to the character of Br. Jonathan MARTIN and failing to sustain the same by proper testimony that she be excluded from the privileges of the church. (space added) The case of Br. HAND was taken into consideration but one of the witnesses being absent it was postponed until our next meeting. (space added) On motion that we adjourn to meet the first Saturday after court week that Br. STREATOR can be present.
PAGE TWENTY-SEVEN: Feb. 25, 1851 [Note: same date given] At a called meeting of the officers it was moved that a reconsideration be had of the charge preferred by Br. Jonathan MARTIN against Mary HAND and that the following witnefses (sic=witnesses) be called to give testimony in the case. viz. David MILLER, Louis LEWIS and wife, Charles RETTIG, Sister Henry MILLER (sic=Sister Henry), Abner STOUT and wife, Washington LACOCK and Henry PLYMIRE. On motion J. C. CHAMBERS, F. NICHOL and J. HUGHES were appointed to request these persons to attend and if they could not attend to obtain their testimony in writing. On motion Br. LACOCK's case was postponed until after a trial by court. On motion that we adjourn to meet on Saturday, March 8th and 1 (and) 1/2 P.M. March 8th, 1851 The officers met agreeable to adjournment. The witnefses (sic=witnesses) not being present in Br. HANDs case it was moved that the case be pafsed over with an admonition. On motion that the Deacons be a committee to take up subscriptions for building a meeting house in Washington City. On motion that we recommend to the the Deacons the propriety of taking up an annual subscription for the purpose of aiding in the missionary operations in Pennsylvania. The officers then proceeded to to a reconsideration of the charge preferred by Br. Jonathan (sic= e.g. probably MARTIN) against Mary HAND. The witnefses (sic=witnesses) who had been cited to attend were present except two or three. The amount of their testimony was that they had seen Br. MARTIN at HAND's a number of times. After an investigation of the case the following resolutions were drawn up by Br. MILLIGAN and pafsed (sic=passed). 1st Whereas Mrs. Mary HAND has publickly (sic) circulated a report prejudicial to the character Br. Jonathan MARTIN which she has failed to sustain by proper testimony; and whereas she has for some time been negligent in the discharge of her duties as a member of this church. Therefore, Resolved That we withdraw fellowship from the said Mrs. HAND until she gives evidence of repentance and reformation of life.
PAGE TWENTY-EIGHT: 2nd Resolved That while we thus decide that the charge preferred by Mrs. HAND against Br. Jonathan MARTIN has not been sustained by legal testimony we neverthe lefs (sic=less) believe in view of all the circumstances of the case that Br. MARTIN has acted very imprudently, and therefore we do hereby affectionatly (sic=affectionately) and earnestly exhort him to be more guarded in his future deportment. 3rd Resolved That in the judgment of the Presbytery those members of the church who have absented themselves from its regular appointed meetings for public and social worship on account of certain alleged objection against certain members have acted very improperly and therefore that we do hereby affectionately and most earnestly exhort them to abstain from a course of conduct the direct and ultimate tendency of which must be to destroy their own happinefs (sic=happiness) and the prosperity and influence of the congregation. (space added) On motion we adjourn Sine Die. (underlined in the transcription) Lord's Day April 27th 1851 After the regular exercises of the day the church made a selection of Evangelists to be employed for the present. Whereupon it was unanimously agreed that Br. STREATOR be employed one fourth of his time and Br. MILLIGAN one half. March 2nd 1851 After the regular exercises the church (agreeable to a previous resolution) elected four additional Elders and two Deacons. The persons elected Elders were
For Deacons Benjamin PRALL and John McELROY. Br. W. T. COAL and wife admitted on letter of recommendation. Br. Robert CHAMBERLAIN who had been immersed by Br. STREATOR at Pleasant Valley was admitted into the church. Brothers John SHIPE and Henry MARSH who had been immersed (were) admitted into the church. Sept. 19th 1851 A letter of recommendation was granted to Br. Leroy NORTON and wife. Sept. 1851 A letter of recommendation was given to Br. Robert MILLIGAN.
[Webmaster's note: Tables added for easier reading.) The spellings were double-checked against the pdf file of the original typing.
THIS LONG DOCUMENT IS SPLIT INTO MANY WEBPAGES CLICK BELOW FOR CHURCH HISTORY
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