THEIR MASONIC BRETHREN AND OTHERS,

AND BEING FORMED INTO A DISTINCT
AND SEPARATE CHURCH.

REASONS,

ASSIGNED BY

Bass

THE CHURCH IN(NORTH) WRENTHAM,

FOR WITHDRAWING FROM

THEIR MASONIC BRETHREN AND OTHERS,

AND BEING FORMED INTO A DISTINCT
AND SEPARATE CHURCH.

"Wo unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in
the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?"—
PROPHET ISAIAH.

WU513583.10.9

18492069
Gift of Chances Sumner &
of Berta

*

** In consequence of serious difficulties, hereinafter stated, having arisen, and existed for a very considerable time, in the Church in the North Parish in Wrentham, the following petition, signed by eleven of the Brethren, including the Pastor, and thirtyseven of the Sisters, was presented to said Church, Oct. 24, 1830.

"To the Church of Christ in the North Parish in Wrentham.

"We, the undersigned, in view of the present state of things in this Church, request that we may be dismissed from our relation to this body, for the purpose of being organized into a distinct and separate Church.

"North Wrentham, Oct. 21, 1830.".

6

This request not being granted, the most of those who had signed it, including two
others, convened in the Meeting House, Oct. 25th, and after prayer, and a delib-
erate discussion of the Resolutions contained in the following document, it was
"Voted, That we withdraw from the Church in the North Parish in Wrentham,' and
form ourselves into a distinct and separate church." The members present, being assist-
ed by Rev. Mr. Williams of Attleborough, who was providentially with us, and invited to
preside on the occasion, accordingly entered into solemn covenant with God and with one
another, and were pronounced a distinct and regular Church of Christ. It was likewise
"Voted, That, in distinction from the Church from which we have been separated, we
style ourselves 'The Church in North Wrentham."
As our reasons have been demanded, those contained in the following document are
presented; which we also publish, in order to counteract false statements disseminated

999

abroad.

コー

REASONS, &c.

To the members of "The Church in the North Parish in Wrentham :"

BRETHREN,

It is always an unpleasant task to trace the origin and progress of difficulties, which have existed in the Church of Christ; especially when those difficulties, instead of being amicably settled, have resulted in a final division of the body Gladly would we, therefore, having been parted from you, and formed into a distinct and separate church, suffer those things which have effected this division, to rest in oblivion. We have no desire to tear open old wounds, or to ruminate upon those evils and abuses, a recital of which will only create unpleasant sensations in your breasts, and cause our own hearts to bleed afresh. Be assured, then, brethren, that the tale of wrongs which we are about to rehearse, is not to gratify our own ears, already wearied with the din of contention; but is called forth by your own voluntary and official

acts.

It appears by certain votes, passed in a meeting of your church, Nov. 6th, that "a Committee of three" was appointed, "to consider the request of certain brethren and sisters, to be separated from said church, and make report;" that this Committee reported that they "cannot consent to give their votes in favor of the dismissal of those who have requested it for the purpose of forming a separate body, as no reasons have been given by them why a separation should take place;" and "that the Clerk" was "requested to present the last report of the Committee to Rev. Moses Thacher, and request the reasons for their dismissal to be given the church, at their adjourned meeting, on Saturday, 13th instant, at 2 o'clock, P. M.”

In reply to what is here stated of the official acts of your church, we will answer, That it appears to us not a little singular, that you should appoint a Committee "to consider" our "request to be separated from said church, and make report," almost two weeks after the separation had taken place, and we had already been formed into a distinct and separate body. You must be aware also, that it is now