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.