CHARGES

“The Baptist church in Low Hampton make the following statements, as the grounds of their grievances with the majority of the church, whom they consider as having left the original platform of the Baptist denomination, affording their countenance to doctrines which time has proved to be false, and which have been the occasion of dissension and discord among brethren:MWM 289.5

“1st. We are grieved that the brethren claiming to be the church should have employed, in the year 1843, contrary to our expressed wishes, a man of avowed sentiments that the Second Advent of Christ would take place in the year 1843, and whose known purpose was to preach this doctrine.MWM 289.6

“2nd. We are grieved that the brethren above named should take up a labor with a number of esteemed brethren and sisters, and, as far as their authority went, to exclude them from the church, because they could not conscientiously attend meetings where doctrines were preached which were so manifestly unscriptural, and of pernicious tendency.MWM 290.1

“3rd. We are grieved that a test, not known in the Bible, of Christian character, should be set up by the above-named brethren, namely: A belief in the second coming of Christ in the year 1844, - a test which has been brought to view both private and public.MWM 290.2

“4th. We are grieved to hear from the above-named brethren all those churches who do not accord with them in their views, denounced as Babylon, the mother of harlots, etc.; and the ministry calumniated in a most slanderous manner.MWM 290.3

“5th. We are grieved to see the above-named brethren countenance a departure from the usages of the Baptist church, and from scriptural examples, in administering the ordinance of baptism to persons without any relation of Christian experience, or other evidence of piety than belief in their peculiar dogmas.MWM 290.4

“6th. We are grieved that the above-named brethren should violate their covenant engagements, and adopt a resolution disfellowshipping all those who deserted from them, without taking any previous steps of labor.MWM 290.5

“7th. We are grieved that the above-named brethren should take away and withhold from us the church and society books, and communion furniture, and other property belonging to the meeting-house.MWM 290.6

“We would further state that the circumstances are a grief to us, inasmuch as they afford evident intimations of a purpose to change the character of this church into that of a Second Advent church, as has been done in many other places, when similar preliminary measures have been adopted.MWM 290.7

“HEZEKIAH WHITTOCK,) “SETH PECK,) Committee. “PAULINUS MILLARD,)MWM 290.8

“Hampton, November 10, 1844.”MWM 290.9

[Here follow the names of twenty females, and four males.]MWM 290.10

“Report of the Council in the case of the Baptist Church in Hampton.MWM 291.1

“In the judgment of the Council -MWM 291.2

“1. Resolved, That the first charge has been sustained, and that it is not profitable to the cause of Christ to make the Second Advent of Christ at any definite time the common topic of discussion from the desk.MWM 291.3

“2. Resolved, That the second charge was sustained.MWM 291.4

“3. Resolved, That the third charge was sustained.MWM 291.5

“4. Resolved, That the fourth charge was sustained.MWM 291.6

“5. Resolved, That the fifth charge was sustained.MWM 291.7

“6. Resolved, That the sixth charge was sustained.MWM 291.8

“Therefore, we Resolve, 1st. That in sustaining the minority in the above charges, we regard them to be the regular Baptist church in Hampton.MWM 291.9

“2nd. That we recommend this church to hold itself to receive members of the majority upon suitable confession.MWM 291.10

“R. O. DWYER, Chairman. “LEVI PARMELY, Secretary. “Hampton, January 29th, 1845.”MWM 291.11