The Christian Church and Society New London and East Nottingham Townships, Chester County

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND SOCIETY NEW LONDON AND EAST NOTTINGHAM TOWNSHIPS, CHESTER COUNTY (CONTINUED FROM 44:375) n this issue we conclude our transcription of the records of this small church, having observed both its creation and decline. The last of the continuous minutes, those of 4 November 1855, are followed by a single meeting, 20 July 1884. That the building was in use from 1884 to 1909 is apparent from the records for rent and maintenance. The church roll lists sixty-four members, of whom sixteen were disowned, ten died, and two moved west, significant factors in the decline of the congregation. i CHURCH RECORDS Mount Olivet September 9Ul 1853 Agreeable to a resolution past the 28th of last month the regular C. Meeting was held this day in the Church at 2 O clock P.M. present— T. Stern J. Scott, J. D. Kerns, G. Pratt, I. Davidson, Sister Benge, Sister Davidson, & J. K. Steele, After reading of Scripture singing & prayer the meeting organized president Kerns— in the Chair;— On Motion the Minutes of August Meeting was read & adopted, the unfinished business being first in order was brought before the Meeting & considered And on Motion resolved that— Brrn Scott, Stern and Steele, be a committee to draft a preamble & resolutions, expressing the course this Church should adopt, with her Members who have so long neglected to meet with us and present them at our next Monthly Meeting to be held on the first Saturday in October next for its Consideration & Adoption or Rejection. On Motion Bl Thomas Slack, & Sister Lavinia Slack, was received as Member of this Church by a Unanimous VoteOn Motion adjourned— Closed with prayer John K. Steele Clerk Mount Olivet October 1st 1853. The Regular C. Meeting of the Christian Society was held this day in the church at 2 O clock P.M. Members present T. Stern, J. Scott, J. D. Kerns, I. Davidson & J. K. Steele. After reading of Scripture & prayers the meeting organized president Kerns in the Chair On Motion the minutes of September meeting read & adopted Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 45 (2007) 73 74 Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine Vol. 45 On Motion the report of the committee appointed at last meeting was sub¬ mitted was read & considered & on motion adopted & the committee dis¬ charged— Report— Whereas there are several members of this Church who have contin¬ ued to absent themselves from the regular appointed meetings of this Church for some cause unknown to her, and have not considered the exortation of the Apostle Paul cease not to assemble yourselves together & to exhort one another &c. And Christ the great head of the Church has said. I am the Vine. Ye are the Branches, he that abideth in me & I in him the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me or out of me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me (or in my church) he is cast forth as a branch & is withered &c Herein is my Farther glorified that ye bring forth much fruit, so shall ye be my deciples, And here the inference is if we do not bring forth fruit to the Glory of God, we can not be his deciples. If we do not attend the Meetings of his Church, we cannot be living members. IT therefore becomes the duty of this church, as she Loves Christ as she loves herself, as she Loves the Soul’s of Men, to enquire into the Cause of such neglect on the part of those who have been absent; Therefore Resolved— that a coppy of the above preamble & this resolution be sent to each of the members therein alluded to, & that they are hereby re¬ quested to attend the church meeting to take place on the first Saturday in November next & satisfy the church that they are living in conformity to the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; or manifest a disposition to become recon¬ ciled thereto by obedience to its requirements On Motion resolved that the preamble be sent to— E. Sumerel & Wife, C. W. Kimble & Wife, Rebecca Strickland, L. Moore, Elizabeth Morrison, Angeline Gibson, & Betsy McCleary On Motion. Br J. D. Kerns was appointed to deliver the preamble & resolu¬ tion to the persons already named with Bounds. & the Clerk to send by mail Carried to those at a DistanceClosed with Singing & prayer On Motion adjourned John K. Steele, Clerk Mount Olivet November 5th. 1853 The regular C. Meeting was held this day in the Chapel at 2. O clock P.M. pre¬ sent J. Scoot, Isaac Davidson, J. D. Kerns T. Stern & J. K. Steele after reading of Scripture & prayer the Meeting organised president Kerns in the Chair Minutes of October Meeting was read & on Motion adopted; hearing of re¬ ports first in order— Brothr Kerns reported he had delivered the preamble and resolution agree¬ able to appointment to the persons directed by the Church of her last regular meeting; Whereas there are none of those members present who have been requested by the Church to attend this meeting & show cause why they have absented themselves from the regular appointed meetings of the Church & Whereas we wish to exorcise towards them all that Christian charity so beau¬ tifully set forth in Paul to the Corinthians & that they may have no cause to think we acted indiscreetly or injudiciously on our part: & that they may have an other opportunity of answering for themselves, be it therefore resolved 2007 The Christian Church and Society, Chester County 75 that further action in their cares be postponed until our next regular Church Meeting in February next (Carried) On Motion resolved that our next quarterly meeting be held on Lords day the 27 of the present Month. On Motion adjourned Closed with prayer John K. Steele Clerk Mount Olivet January 1st 1854. A special Church Meeting was held this day to appoint a committe or com¬ mittee: to wait upon those persons convenient to whom were addressed the preamble & resolution’s, in regard to their none [sic] attendence to the regu¬ lar meetings of the Church. On Motion— J. Scoot, & T. Stern was appointed to wait on Mr. C. Kimble & Wife, E. Somerel & Wife, & Elis' McCleary & J. K. Steele & J. D. Kerns to wait on Mrs. Jo. Strickland & report to the next regular Church Meeting Adjourned with prayer J. K. Steele Clerk [ With this entry the ink changes, but the handwriting is unchanged. ] Mount Olivet February 4th 1854 The regular Church Meeting of the Christian Society was held this day in the Church at 2 Oclock P.M. Members present T. Stern, J. Scott, Wm Benge, Wm Vinsinger, J. D. Kerns, & J. K. Steele, after reading of Scriptures and prayer, Meeting organized president Kerns in the Chair.— Minutes of November meeting read and adopted, Defered business being first in order, the com¬ mitte [s»c] in Sister Strickland’s case which was defered at last meeting— do now report that they visited her & she manifested a disposition friendly to the Church and desired to retain a membership with us. On Motion the report of the committee in Sister Strickland [ s] case— be & is hereby received as satisfactory to the Church at 'present/On Motion the Committee was discharged. Brethern— Scott & Stern report— they visited brother & sister Somerel [E. Sumerel & wife in earlier minutes].— they at first were somewhat iritated [sic] but on further conversation, desired to retain a Membership with us, & prom¬ ised to try & do better for time to come; received as satisfactory to the Church [& the?] Said committee also report they also visited Sister McCleary. She said she intended to attend the Meetings whenever she could & wished to retain a membership with us. On Motion the report in her behalf received as satisfactory to the Church at present— carried. Said committee also report they visited Br Kimble & he said their [ sic j was some difficulty existed between & some member or members of the church & he might or might not attend the Meetings of the Church untill that was setled, & they might dispose of his Case as they thought proper and he would not think hard of it— . On Motion his case was defered until May C[hurch] meeting. Said Committee also report that Sister Kimble desired to retain her member¬ ship & wished to attend the Meetings as often as she could—