THE MINUTES OF THE WEST FORK CHURCH 1826 – 1828

Transcribed by Kasia S. Johnson 2005 (kasialido@aol.com)

 

 

          The church met on the 3^rd Saturday in February 1826 and after prayer Proceed to business;

1^st JONATHAN SALMON layed under censure for intoxication.

2^nd JACOB SLUSHER having neglected to attend meeting for sometime and we hearing that he has umbridge against some of the members and neglects to take legal steps with them. We therefore appoint Brethren SAMUEL AGNEW, HENRY JONES, and JOHN WADE to cite him to our next meeting.  Then dismissed in order.

 

          The church assembled together on the 3^rd Saturday in March and after prayer Proceed to business.

1^st The Reference Respecting JONATHAN SALMONS called over and referred to our next meeting.

2^nd The Reference concerning JACOB SLUSHER called over and the Brethren appointed to labour with him reported that they complied and he not being present was left as a reference. Then dismissed in order.

           

          The church being assembled in order the 3^rd Saturday in April 1826 and after Prayer Proceed to business.

1^st The reference concerning JONATHAN SALMONS called and refered to our next meeting. 

2^nd The reference concerning JACOB SLUSHER called over and referred to our next meeting. Then chose Brethren JESSE JONES, NATHANIEL THOMPSON, and SAMUEL AGNEW our members to the association, then dismissed in order.

 

          The church being assembled on the 3^rd Saturday in May 1826 after prayer Procced to business.

1^st The reference respecting JONATHAN SALMONS called over and it being made appear to the satisfaction of the church that the said SALMONS instead of appearing a penitent has repeated the same sin of intoxication again and again and guilty of other misconduct is by the unanimous voice of the church excommunicated from our fellship and privilidges. 

2^nd The reference respecting JACOB SLUSHER called over and he not appearing to give the church any satisfaction for the afore named crimes was by the unanimous voice of the church excommunicated.

3^rd and as PETER SLUSHER has neglected to attend meeting for some time we appoint Brethren JESSE JONES and SAMUEL AGNEW to labour with him and report to us.

Then dismissed in order.

                                                         

          The church assembled in the 3^rd Saturday in July 1826 and after prayer proceed to business.

1^st The Brethren appointed to labour with Brother PETER SLUSHER reported they complied with the order of the church and were discharged, and Brother PETER SLUSHER being present gave the church full satisfaction. Then dismissed in order.

                  

 

          The church assembled the 3^rd Saturday in August 1826 and after prayer proceed to business. 

1^st POLLY STEGALL was received by letter.

2^nd ELIZABETH WEBB who formerly received a letter from us and did not move, agreeable to expectation and returned the same to us again. 

3^rd Chose Brethren JESSE JONES, NATHANIEL THOMPSON, and SAMUEL AGNEW our messengers to the association, Then dismissed in order.

 

          The church assembled the 3^rd Saturday in September and after prayer proceed to business; then dismissed in order.

         

          The church assembled the 3^rd Saturday in October 1826 and after prayer proceed to business.  Then dismissed in order.

 

          The church assembled the 3^rd Saturday in November 1826 and after prayer proceed to business.  Then dismissed in order.

 

          The church assembled the 3^rd Saturday in December 1826 and after prayer proceed to business.  Then dismissed in order.

 

END OF 1826

 

BEGINNING OF 1827

 

The church assembled the 3^rd Saturday in January 1827 and after prayer proceed to business; then dismissed in order.

 

February 3^rd Saturday the church assembled and after prayer proceed to business. Then dismissed in order.

 

The church assembled on the 3^rd Saturday in March 1827 and after prayer proceed to business then dismissed in order.

 

The church met on the 3^rd Saturday in April and after prayer proceed to business.

1^st Chose Brethren JESSE JONES, NATHANIEL THOMPSON, and SAMUEL AGNEW our messengers to the association then dismissed in order.

 

The church met on the 3^rd Saturday in May and after prayer proceed to business, then dismissed in order.

 

The church met on the 3^rd Saturday in July and after prayer proceed to business, then dismissed in order.

 

The church assembled on the 3^rd Saturday in August and after prayer proceed to business.

1^st Their being a matter of difficulty between Brother HENRY JONES and Brother JOHN WADE referred to our next meeting

2^nd Chose Brethren JESSE JONES, NATHANIEL THOMPSON and JOHN LESTER

our messengers to the association. Then dismissed in order.

 

The church being assembled the 3^rd Saturday in September and after prayer proceed to business.

1^st The reference respecting Brother JONES and WADE called over and they came to reconciliation between themselves which was satisfactory to the church.

2^nd Chose Brother JOHN LESTER clerk and Brother ELISHA THOMPSON assistant  clerk. Then dismissed in order.

 

October 20^th 1827 The church met according to order and after prayer then procede to business. Then dismissed.

                                                          John Lester Clerk

 

November the 17^th day 1827 The church met according to order after prayer procede to business.

1^st The door opened for experience.

2^nd WILLIAM HOLLIDAY came forward and was received by experience. 

3^rd ISAIAH SUMNER was recd by experience.  Then dismissed in order.

                                                          John Lester Clerk

 

December the 15^th day 1827 The Church met according to order and after prayer then procede to business then dismissed in order.

                                                          John Lester CLK

 

END OF 1827

 

BEGINNING OF 1828

January the 20^th day 1828

The church met and after prayer procede to business.

1^st The church lay Sister SARAH HELTON under a censury

2^nd Then appointed Brethren to attend Berks fork and set in church order to inquire to the aligation against SARAH HELTON. Also to talk with BROTHER JAMES KEETH and Sister REBECA KEETH for failing to attend their church meetings. Then dismissed in order. 

                                                          John Lester CLK

 

February the 17^th day 1828

The church met and after prayer procede to business.

1^st The reference respecting SARAH HELTON called for the Brethren appointed to attend Berks fork responded that they attended and Excommunicated SARAH HELTON for hard and unbecombed language and for quivocating the report being read and they discharged.

2^nd Also they reported that they had talked with Brother JAMES KEETH and Sister REBECCA KEETH.  They not being present the case being deferred to the next meeting. Then dismissed. 

                                                          John Lester CLK

 

March the 17^th day 1828

The church met and after prayer then procede to business.

1^st.The reference respecting Brother JAMES KEETH and Sister KEETH being called for Brother KEETH being present and give the church satisfaction for his long absence that we forgive him and we agree to dismiss the reference  respecting Sister KEETH.

2^ND We agree to appoint Brethren JESSE JONES, NATHANIEL THOMPSON, JOHN LESTER and in case of failure PETER SLUSHER our messenger to the next Association.  Then dismissed in order.

                                                          John Lester CLK

June the 21st 1828

The church met and after prayer then procede to business, then dismissed in order.

                                                          John Lester CLK

 

July the 19^th day 1828

The church met and after prayer then procede to business.

1^st We agree to meet a Brother LESTER’S and set in church order and receive experience and baptize them. Dismissed in order.

                                                          John Lester CLK

 

August the 16^th day 1828

The church met and offered prayer then procede to business. 

1^st We report that we attended at Brother LESTER’S according to appointment and received NANCY SUMNER by experience and Baptism. 

2^nd We agree to send Brother JESSE JONES, SAMUEL AGNEW, JOHN LESTER to visit Pine Creek Church to see if they will unite with us in settling a difficulty with us between Brother DANIEL BOOTH  and Sister PATSEY WEDDLE.

3^rd Then chose our messengers to our next association Brethren JESSE JONES, NATHANIEL THOMPSON, JOHN LESTER.  Then dismissed in order.

                                                         John Lester CLK

 

September the 20^th Day 1828

The church met and offered prayer then procede to business. 

1^st The Brethren appointed to visit Pine Creek Church reported that they was received by the church and is discharged. 

2nd.  A greevince(grievance) layed in by Brethren ISAIAH SUMNER against Brother SAMUEL HARRIS for a slanderest talk against Brother SUMNER’S WIFE.

3^rd The church took it up and excommunicated SAMUEL HARRIS for the same. 

4^th Sister DELILAH PLASTERS applied for her letter of dismission which the church granted her.  Then dismissed in order.

October the 19^th 1828

Crossed out

 

September the 26^th 1828

The two churches met according to a former appointment and after prayer set in ? for business and after ? inquisision being made it appears from the statements of Brethren DANIEL BOOTH, THOMAS SIMMONS, OWEN SUMNER  members of Pine Creek Church that they charge PATEY WEDDLE a member of West Fork Church with either stealing or conceiling one sheep belonging to GEORGE BOOTH, son of DANIEL BOOTH . The property being in said DANIEL BOOTH care.  He being informed by the two Brethren OWEN SUMNER and THOMAS SIMMONS.  They believe that they saw it at MARTIN WEDDLES. He proceded there to get it but did not get it.  They believe the Brethren went back to reclaim the sheep but getting into confusion time after time. It appears they charge her with stating fal ?? so we agree to ? a commity(committee) for the purpose of their consulting each others minds and ?.ing us in a report and for that purpose we chose Brethren JESSE JONES, SAMUEL AGNEW, ELISHA THOMPSON, members of West Fork Church. JOHN BE???(illegible) MICHAEL HOWERY members of Pine Creek Church. ?? which they consented too and brought in a report as follows. We your committee agree that they Brethren THOMAS SIMMONS, OWEN SUMNERS was in error in going and telling Brother DANIEL BOOTH they believed they saw his sheep in a pen at WEDDLES, and did not go to Sister PATEY WEDDLE in the bonds of the gospel.  Also we think Brother DANIEL BOOTH in error in taking a ? with him and giving him a charge on the way to take particular notice what was said about sheep when he was a going to WEDDLES to inquire for some in stead of taking gospel steps and in consideration of Sister PATEY WEDDLE steeling or conceiling this property the laws of our land has acquitted her and we think that the evidence not sufficient to condemn her and in reguard of her making different statements we think she was liable so to do in her confused state of mind not withstanding we cannot pass it by without a retraction. We do not charge the Brethren with willingly or knowingly ? Sister PATEY WEDDLE wrongfully . The report of the committee being made was received by the body of the churches, but objected by indivigils(individuals)so we refer it and agree to call for help form our sister Churches.  Then Dismissed.

                                                                   John Lester CLK

 

October 1828

          The church met and after prayer procede to business.

1^st We lay brother ALEXANDER under a sensour for three qurries? to Pine Creek Church. 

2^nd Some of the Brethren from Pine Creek Church being present with us we agree to call ? help churches Jack Creek, Charity First, Long Branch, Reed Island, Meadow Creek in settling of a distress between members of each Church to meet at West Fork Meeting  House on Saturday before the third Sunday in November Next. Then dismissed in order.

                                                                   John Lester CLK

 

November the 15^th 1828

          The church met and after prayer procede to Business.

1^st Of the case of Brother ALEXANDER MCALEXANDER called and refered.

2^nd A number of members of Pine Creek Church being present with us agree to write with us agreeable to a former appointment in silling? of a distress between members of each Church, helps from four churches being present with us we agree to take up the distress between each church and after getting all the information that was got the churches agree to leave it to a commity of Brethren from the sister ? and then to choose members out of Pine Creek Church and West Fork Church to assist them in setting of a distress and each church agree to abide by what the committee does.

3^rd We your committee are of opinion that Brother DANIEL BOOTH was in an error by not taking gospel steps with SISTER WEEDLE. Also the Brethren OWEN SUMNER and THOMAS SIMMONS did not take gospel steps with Sister WEDDLE. We are of opinion that the evidence against Sister PATEY WEDDLE is not sufficient to condemn her. So we your committee refer the Brethren DANIEL BOOTH, OWEN SUMNER, THOMAS SIMMONS and Sister WEDDLE to those churches to be delt with as they shall think most agreeable the gospel. Then dismissed in order.

                                                                   John Lester CLK

 

December the 20^th 1828

          The church met and after prayer then procede to Business.

1^st The case of Brother ALEXANDER MCALEXANDER called and the church took it up and after a considerable talking on the subject by the Brethren request the church agree to refer it to our next meeting.

2^nd The case of Sister PATTY WEDDLE called and refered to our next meeting.

Then dismissed in order.

                                                                   John Lester CLK

 

END OF 1828