2002.088.003

Series record of the record Books of the Clerk of the Parish of the First Universal Society in Methuen, MA. Record book # 1 covers dates 1872 - 1891. The first page reads: " Church Record of the first Universalist Church in Methuen." Pasted inside the front cover is a letter of resignation, dated March 8, 1875, and written by Charles Trow to Brother Smith. The book has minutes of meetings, a copy of the Constitution and By-Laws and Profession of Faith and Covenant. This book begins with a meeting on July 1872 to re-organize the church on the " basis of the old church." The clerk - treasurer is Edgar Smith. This book lists the adult members, children and marriages as well as a number of committees: Committee to Visit the Sick; Committee of Visitation and Inquiry; Committee of Entertainment and Decoration; Committee on the Cruelty to Animals; Benevolence Committee; Temperance Committee. The adoption of the Winchester Profession of Faith is noted as well as admission may be by Baptism as long as " no particular form of water baptism shall be imposed." Two resignations are noted: one by Edgar Smith, Clerk and Treasurer, in 1877 and the other by Charles Trow, Church Deacon, in 1875.
Book #2 dates from 1892 - 1924. It covers minutes of annual, quarterly and special meetings of the First Universalist Society in Methuen. These two record books record church meetings and as such not required to post warrants to notify members of annual meetings as the Clerk of the Parish is required to do.
One letter-sized folder is in the series. It contains miscellaneous papers from record book #1 (1872 - 1891) mostly referring to membership issues. Approximately 15 letters are collected. Also, a printed notice dated March 17, 1891, asking members to respond to a Fellowship Meeting and social re-union is in the folder.

admin: The clerk of the " First Universall Society" in Methuen was an elected individual, chosen annually by ballot of the male church members and "sworn to the faithful discharge of his duty" according to the Constitution, Article 1 drafted April 6, 1824 in Methuen. Within First Universalist Society, Methuen collection there are also clerk's records of the church, which are not the same as the clerk's records of the parish. The statistic book combines data from both records. Gleason Memorial Universalist Church refers to the meeting house itself. It was rededicated in 1901 and re-named Gleason Memorial after Mrs. Charles Gleason Tenney paid to renovate the church in honor of her parents.

Record Book #1 is an 8 x 10 in book with a marble cover and a black binding. It has 127 lined pages with entries up to page 64. The book is in fair condition. Record Book #2 is 7.75 x 10.25 in. with a black cover with red corners and no binding. The book has 288 lined pages with entries on 109 pages. The book is in poor condition. It is tied with a cotton cord. The folder is letter-sized with loose sheets of paper inside.

Inventory created by B. Brown, October 2002. One copy in collection box; another copy in archivist's office.

Record Book #1 is an 8 x 10 in book with a marble cover and a black binding. It has 127 lined pages with entries up to page 64. The book is in fair condition. Record Book #2 is 7.75 x 10.25 in. with a black cover with red corners and no binding. The book has 288 lined pages with entries on 109 pages. The book is in poor condition. It is tied with a cotton cord. The folder is letter-sized with loose sheets of paper inside.