Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1937-08-12
FIRST CHURCH ORGANIZATION
IN NORTH AMERICA

Editor of the Democrat
Dear Sir:-Unless they have very
recently looked the matter up in the
text books or histories, | seriously
doubt if very many of your readers
could tell when and under what cir
cumstances the first church organ
ization in North America was per-
fected.
1t is my very good fortune to have
access to the papers of my grand
father, E. NJ Stanbery, and recent
Investigation of some of them dis
closed very many that should be pre-
served as original sources Of his
torical data. While they have an
especial interest to members of the
Stanbery family, for their genealogl :
cal references, they also are flllcd
with information, some of which
has never been published, of a gen
eral historical interest.
| thought very likely many of
your readers would be interested in
learning something of the organiza-
ton of the first church in North
America, and so | am giving you a
condensed sketch, the data being
taken from original letters and
diaries and ether papers now in my
possession, and being the property
of the Stanbery family.
The foundation Of the first church
in Salem. Mass, is identical with
the founding of the town itself. The
Massachusetts Bay company, hay-
ing sent over Captain John Endi-
colt. and others, in 1923, to carry
on the plantation at Naumkeag, at
a meeting of the company, held in
London, England, on April 8, 1929,
appointed Mr. Endicott to be the
governor and Francis Higginson
Samuel Shelton and Francis Bright
whom they had engaged as min
listers, to be members of his coun-
Gil. These, together with Ralph
Smith, another minister, and large
number of people, arrived at Naum-
keag on the Goth of June, 1929 Mr.
Smith soon went to Plymouth anC
Mr. Bright, pursuant to the instruc
tions of the company removed tc
Charlestown. The name of Naum
keag was then changed to Salem, a
Hebrew word meaning peace, M
Higginson and others, being earnest
to have it designated by a term
significant of their enjoying free
dom from civil and ecclesiastical
oppression. On the 29th of July
1929, members of the church voted
to choose Mr.. Shelton to be the pas
tor and Mr.. Higginson to be the
teacher. 1t was an agreed principle
with the founders Of the church
"that the authority of ordination
should not exist in the clergy, but
should depend entirely upon the
full election Of the members Of the
church" Instead Of being styled
reverend, then, and for a consider
able time afterwards, congregation
al ministers were called elders.
Reverend Francis Higginson was
the first pastor, serving from 1929
to 1880. when he died. He was a
minister of one Of the parish church
es in Leicester, England. but becom-
ing a on-Conformist. BY his con-
scientious study Of the scriptures,
he was elected from his living and
forbidden TO preach in England Dr..
Bentley writes: He, lived to secure
the foundation Of his church; to de
serve the esteem of the colony. and
to provide himself a name anon =
the worthless of New England
When he died he left a widow, Ann
and eight children.
Reverend Samuel Shelton, who
served from 1920 to 1884 was edu
Gated at Clare Hall, Cambridge,
England He survived Mr.. Higgin-
son about four years, during which
period he was the sole pastor, eX-
cept for two brief periods, when
Roger Williams was his assistant.
Mr.. SHELTON died in 1884
Reverend John Higginson, who
served from 1850 to 170S, was or
dained pastor on the 29tb day of
August. 1850, with prayers, fasting
and laying on Of hands" At meet
ing of the church. September 10,
1850. it was voted that every mem
Der of the church, except the poor,
bring unto the deacons a half crown,
so often as might be necessary fos'
the expenses, and that on days of
humiliation and Thanksgiving, a
contribution should be taken for the
poor of the church. A public feast