16 Getting Together - Christian Comity 1784-86
16 - GETTING TOGETHER-CHRISTIAN COMITY 1784-1786 THE new year, 1784, found Mr. Randall confined to his bed because of sickness. But his energy and interest in the churches prompted him to resume work while yet quite feeble. With Isaac Town-send as companion, he attended the March session of the Quarterly Meeting, which was held at New Gloucester. The attendance was large, and the constituent churches reported hearty approval of the Quarterly Meeting plan and organization. As this was the first regular session since the organization of the body, and as its order of procedure was for many years regarded as a model, it seems fitting that it have a somewhat detailed report. It appears that Mr. Randall had, with characteristic forecast, worked out a program for the session which, subject to such changes as the nature of the case might suggest, was adopted by the conference. And here we have it:
Quarterly Meeting Program Saturday Afternoon 1. Devotional. Consisting of prayer, singing, and if time favors, exhortation.
2. Choice of officers. Moderator, clerk, and committees.
3. Letters and verbal reports from constituent churches.
4. Examination of members as to doctrine, fellowship, and so forth.
5. Efforts to restore harmony, where such efforts may be needed.
Saturday Evening Preaching, followed by exhortation and general worship.
Sunday Services Morning. Prayer and general devotions, Forenoon. Preaching.
Afternoon. Preaching. Evening. Preaching.
Devotional services immediately preceding or immediately following sermons, as conditions may suggest.
Monday Devotional. Unfinished business. New business named in letters or otherwise presented.
All business interspersed with much prayer, singing, and devotions.
It appears here that while Mr. Randall, for economy of time and the discipline of good order, would have these assemblies governed by p rearrangement of a general nature, he would not foist upon them inflexible rules. The wisdom of this system was proved by its harmonious working, with slight changes to suit conditions, for a whole century.
Another measure for the benefit of the churches, inaugurated at this session, and continued for many years, was the issuance of a Quarterly Meeting circular epistle. This method of reaching the entire membership had its origin in the fertile brain of Mr. Randall. The quarterly letter generally contained a summarized statement of session proceedings, any special business requiring the attention of the local church, and doctrinal statements or corrections, with many injunctions to hearty piety and right living. Printing-presses were not then so generally distributed over the country as now, and transcripts were made by pen. Randall was a ready writer, and was not only author, for the most part, of these letters, but probably made most of the reproductions, although as churches increased and burdens multiplied, a part of the clerical work fell to Tingley and others. As soon as possible after’ the Quarterly Meeting session a copy of the’ epistle was sent to each of the constituent churches, to be read in the presence of the next assembly. The unifying influence of these epistles, in fellowship, doctrine, and church methods, was great, but cannot be measured by exact calculation. The September Quarterly Meeting was held at Woolwich. Randall served as moderator and Ting-ley as clerk. After routine business had been disposed of, Shakerism, which was still proving rather troublesome, both in New Hampshire and in Maine, was considered. It was agreed that in all the constituent churches, October thirteenth should be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, " that God would sweep away this delusion by the breath of his Spirit." This session proved a rich blessing to the cause of religion in the east. There, brethren of similar religious sentiments met, who had been strangers to each other and unaware of what was being accomplished for Christ in the general field. There they were enabled to take larger views of Christianity than ever before, and could unitedly devise broader plans for work iff which mutual helpfulness might result. A special feature of this session was the alertness of the churches in conforming to the arrangement of reporting by letter. The pile of these letters before us would make an interesting chapter of church history, as illustrative of the times in which they were written. But the determined limits of this work will admit of only a summarized statement. They were interesting as exponents of Christian union, biblical sentiment, gospel order, and intelligent formulation. Furthermore, they gave a hint as to the general intelligence and culture of the people who then embraced the doctrines that Mr. Randall held and taught.
During the year 1784 Mr. Randall traveled in his religious work over a thousand miles, attended more than three hundred meetings of worship, besides those of business, and preached on an average a sermon each day. As may be seen later, 1785 was a busy year for Mr. Randall. In addition to his accustomed visits to the churches and attendance at Quarterly Meetings, he pushed his work into regions beyond. A few cases of discipline required attention, but for the most part the churches were orderly, vigorous, and cheered by increased membership. Quarterly Meeting sessions were well attended, their proceedings harmonious, and their influence beneficial to communities entertaining them. In some cases, revivals beginning in these meetings spread to adjacent towns. In one session the question was asked as to the relations of the ruling elder to the church and ministry. The answer given at the next session was that the ruling elder is a church officer between a deacon and a teaching elder, or pastor; that he might conduct general religious meetings, and, by consent of the local church, administer the ordinances in the absence of a teaching elder or pastor. During the early years of our denomination, the ruling elder filled an important niche in church economy. But as the installment of settled pastors became more common, his office, with its necessity, ceased.
During this year Joseph Boody was ordained a ruling elder, and John Whitney a teaching elder. Also the New Canaan, later Lincolnville, church was received. A question submitted to the September session was, "Is it proper to commune with one who, though not having been immersed, gives evidence of a change of heart, and daily leads a Christian life?" Answer by unanimous vote, less one, " It is."
Among the good things in one of the general epistles this year, ministers are exhorted to watchfulness, humility, and purity of life. In another, the unconverted are warned against a hope of salvation simply on the ground that its possibility had been provided through Christ. In referring to this so-called liberal doctrine the statement runs thus: This is a tenet we fear has destroyed its thousands, though it is a groundless doctrine, and can easily be confuted by the Scriptures. The plain assertion is before us, that, " Except ye be converted ... ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven."
Mr. Randall closes his record for 1785 with this sentence:
I have traveled this year about twelve hundred miles in religious work, and attended over five hundred meetings. At the opening of 1786 the Randall family was saddened by the sickness and death of Mrs. Oram, Mrs. Randall’s mother, who died in that home February tenth. A little later Mr. Randall visited the churches in western Maine. He found some of these churches suffering from certain discordant elements, some enjoying revival grace, and others rejoicing over recent accessions. By all he was heartily welcomed, and to all he preached the Lord’s gospel with freedom.
Some business of special interest was considered and transacted at the June session, held at New Durham. Measures were taken to create what, for the lack of a better name, might be called an emergency fund. The proposed fund was not intended for ministerial support, but to meet other ordinary and needful expenses, among which would be the aiding of any brother or sister who, by sickness or otherwise, might fall in need. Such a fund was raised; it may have further mention later. The Calvinistic churches of New Hampshire and Maine had formed a union somewhat similar to that into which Mr. Randall’s churches had entered, only its associated meetings, instead of being quarterly, were held but once a year, and the body was called the New Hampshire Baptist Association. At this session it was agreed by unanimous vote, save one, to send an initial letter to the Baptist Association, which, if the members of that body should be like-minded, might lead to continued correspondence. As that letter is of interest as showing the spirit of Christian comity held and exercised thus early by our fathers, a transcript of 4, slightly abridged, is subjoined: To the New Hampshire Association. Dearly Beloved in the Lord:
Feeling our hearts expand with love for the world, and with complacency toward all, of every name and denomination, where we find the divine image, we hereby testify our prayer for your prosperity.
We wish that all shyness, evil surmising, evil thinking in any of your hearts, or our own, against our neighbors or brethren, may be forever expelled. Let us mutually lay aside every weight, and set the Lord, the worth of his cause, and immortal souls constantly before our eyes. Our hearts and our doors have been, and still are, open to messengers of Jesus, of whatever name. We pray for and rejoice in the advancing reign of him who is King of kings and Lord of lords. From your sincere friends of the Baptist Quarterly Meeting, held at New Durham, New Hampshire, June 3, 1786.
Pelatiah Tingley, Clerk. This letter speaks frankly, and yet manifests a kind, conciliatory spirit. It shows a desire that, while holding up the truth on either side, there be no feeling of acrimony or censoriousness, and that, while honestly holding some different sentiments, they fraternize so far as could be, in efforts to promote the cause which all Christians hold dear, the cause which has as its end the good of the world and the glory of God.
After a time an answer was received and another letter sent by the Quarterly Meeting. But, as neither was recorded, we can know nothing of their contents. Thus the correspondence ended. But thus it would not have been a hundred years later. At the September session it was agreed to reaffirm a former vote on communion, that " It is proper to commune with one who, though not baptized by immersion, yet gives evidence of a change of heart, and daily leads a Christian life."
Near the close of the year, Mr. Randall traveled somewhat extensively in Maine, during which he attended some sixty meetings and saw many displays of God’s grace. He says:
I met crowds nocking together from all directions; both by water and by land. I enjoyed great freedom in preaching Jesus, and had much success all along those islands of the sea.