Constitution of the Mill Shoal Church, Madison County, Adopted 30th of October 1856. Submitted by Mary Love Berryman 29 November 2002 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ***************************************************************** All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ***************************************************************** Covenant of the Baptist Church of Christ at Mill Shoal, Madison County, Georgia. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we do voluntarily and jointly separate ourselves from the world and give ourselves to the Lord who hath promised to receive such and be their God, holding ourselves henceforth as his and no longer our own. We do also voluntarioly and mutually give ourselves to one another and receive one another in the Lord meaning hereby to become on body jointly to exist and jointly to act by the bond and rules of the gospel. Each esteeming himself henceforth as a spiritual body accountable to it, and subject to it's control and not otherwise separable there from than by consent first had or unreasonably refused. We do further voluntarily and jointly engage, the Lord helping us to do all things whatsoever he hath commanded us that he may be with us always, particularly to deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Christ and keep the faith which was once delivered to the Saints, which we think includes the following sublime and important doctrines. Viz The being of a God. A trinity of persons in the godhead. The fall of Adam and the imputation of total depravity of his posterity, the corruption of human nature. the impotency of man to do any thing spiritually good which in nature. The covenant of grace and redemption. the doctrine of election, the effectual calling, pardon and reconcilition by the Blood of Christ. Justification by his grace and righteousness imputed by faith, sanctification by his grace imputed. The final Perserverance of the saints in grace. Believers baptism by immersion, particular communion, the resurrection of the body and judgement and eternal life for which we think it our duty to earnestlhy contend. Also to assemble ourselves together as often as we conveniently can to worship God, to attend our conferences and keep up a Godly discipline that we may be blameless in the sight of God and man, that we may live as brethern and submit to one another in the Lord. Finally we do voluntarily and jointly engage to know, maintain and obey them who shall have the rule over us as far s we shall see it our duty in the word of the Lord. This is the covenant we now solomnly enter into in the fear of the Lord. In testimony and ratification whereof each assign their names here unto and may the Lord enable us to walk there under. Richard Fortson Elizabeth Scarborough Isham Smith Lucy J. Fortson Charlos W. Hall Elmira D. Fortson Jeremiah Thompson Selah H. Ginn Richard Bragg Treacy Hall Walton Ginn Mary J. Scarborough Frederick Scarborough Elizabeth C. Scarborough Wm. B. Scarborough Susan Thompson Wm. D. Bragg Elizbeth Thompson Wm. M. Crumpton Rebecca Bryant Silas N. Scarborough Melica C. Smith Daniel C. Scarborough Nancy Thompson Charles T. Berryman Sintha Scarborough John Saylors Nancy Bragg George W. Ginn Sarah Ann Scarborough Isaac Bryant Mary Smith William Bryant Nepsa Bryant John Coker Tempy Pearson Burges Coker Sarah Landers Mill Shoal Church Book - October 1st. 1856 the arm of the Mineral Springs church at Mill Shoal after preaching by E. B. Dover of Clarksville, GA, met in conference: 1. Agreed to draw letters from our churches to constitute a church at this place. 2. Agreed to petition the following ministers to wit; rev. J. G. York, J. H. Aderhold, Asa Duncan. Also the eldership of following churches ato witt: Mineral Wells, Holly Springs, Rohoboth, Henrys. also appointed messengers to go to each other church to request them to meet the arm on the 30th of Oct. 1856. 3. Requested A. Duncan to prepare us a constitution. Oct. 30th - Branch met after sermon by J. G. York. Met in conference took up the reference from last conference respecting a constitution of a church here (1) Called for the letters of brethern and sisters which is annext to the constitution. (2) Called for the brethern to compose the presbytery. Present. J. G. York, J. H. Adorhold, A. Duncan, ministers. Deacons from Rehoboth, J. Moore; Wm. White, from Henrys, E. J. Brown, J. Bell W. Bowers; from Holly Spsrings, W. T. Maxwell; from Mineral Springs E. Sartain, L. Sartain, B. Bray. (3) The presbytery AP. J. G. York Mod. A. Duncan C. Ch. (4) Received and adopted the covenant and constitution. (5) Made the constitution, Brother A. Duncan prayer. (6) Bro. J. H. Aderhold gave the right hand of fellowship followed by the presbytery. (7) J. G. York gave the church the charge. The work being done the presbytery adjourned. The church being constituted opened the door for members. Received by letter sister Tempy Pearson & Nepsa Bryan, and received by experience Sara Landers. the conference then adjourned to meet Saturday before the 3rd sunday in November. J. G. York, Mod. Asa Duncan C. Ch. Decorum of the Baptist Church of Christ at Mill Shoal in conference agree to adop the following rutes of decorum. Art. 1st. The Moderator shall endeaver to keep order, to state the proposition of the church and when he wishes to speak in debate to appoint some brother to act while he is speaking. Art. 2nd. The pastor shall act as moderator when present, when absent the church shall choose one. Art. 3rd. When a brother wishes to speak it shall b e his duty to rise from his seat and address the moderator, if two rise at the same time the moderator may determine which shall speak first but one shall speak at a time and the members avoid whispering while he is speaking. Art. 4th. When a subject is in debate no person shall speak more than twice without leave of the church. Art. 5th. A motion without second is lost but if the mover obtains a second he has a right to the voice of the church. Art. 6th. All questions shall be decided by majority except concerning fellowship. Art. 7th. No person shall leave his seat without leave of the moderator. Art. 8th. It shall be the duty of every free person to attend every conference and ay such failing to attend three meetings in succession with out giving satisfaction shall be liable to censure of the church. Art. 9th. It shall be the duty of all the brothern to attend all communion days and any male member failing to attend on such days shall render his excuse the next conference. Art. 10th. It shall be the duty of all members of the church to aid in the support of the gospel. Art. 11th. These rules shall be subject to alteration by addition or diminution at any regular conference.