2002.088.002

Series contains the Record Books of the Clerk of the Parish of the First Universal Society in Methuen, MA. Within this series there are four record books and sixteen folders. Record Book #1 dates from 1824 to 1843. It contains the Constitution, By-Laws and Rules, minutes of annual and special meetings and lists the early members of the society. Pasted inside the front cover is a newspaper clipping regarding the state law allowing a group of ten persons or more to organize a new society, parish or church; granting permission to a person to separate from his original religious society and to join a new society and that "such persons shall remain liable to pay all such taxes" previously assessed against him by said former religious society or parish. Information regarding the purchase of land and the dedication of a meeting house ( 1835-36) and pew sales are in this record.
Record Book #2 begins in1844 through 1869. The inside page reads, " The 2nd Book of Record for the first Universalist Society of Methuen." The next page reads," Book of Record for the first Universalist Society Methuen, Mass kept by the Clerk and Treasurer." The following page reads, " Constitution and Record of the 1st Universalist Society in Methuen - Re-organized March 11,1844." Mentioned in the record book is the list of families in1843; members who allowed their pews to be auctioned for fundraising for the church in 1850-51; warrants for the annual meetings, treasurer's reports.
Record Book #3 begins in 1869 - 1900. The second page of the book reads," 3rd Book of records of the First Universalist Society Methuen." ( 4th was originally written and later crossed out) A copy of the Constitution is written, with the official name of the church - First Universalist Society in Methuen. To be a member, according to the by-laws, one must believe in universal salvation through Christ, be approved by the Clerk and the Standing Committee and sign the by-laws. The by-laws were amended in 1870 and again in 1877. Members names are listed several times in the record. Minutes of meetings, treasurer's reports,and copies of meeting warrants.are included.
Record Book #4 covers dates from 1900 through 1944, when the church property was sold. This volume refers to a Ladies Social Union, a Sunday School and the church is referred to as a parish. Information includes the building of the church house in 1836; the remodelling of the church house in 1902; the Constitution of 1902 and amended in 1922; the Winchester Profession of Faith; legal members of the parish; and information regarding the Tenney Trust Fund and the Addison P. Russell Fund. The record covers an incident of the pastor being investigated for his use of a planchette. The record concludes with details about the disposal of church property and church money . Annual warrants have been removed and put in individual folders.
The sixteen folders within this series are labelled by year. The legal - sized folder, with papers from record book # 2, ( 1844 - 1866) contains a copy of "The Profession of Faith and Form of Church Government adopted by the First Universalist Church in Methuen, 1840." There is also a list of non-resident members and a copy of pew deed bought in 1836 by Daniel Merrill, 3rd, in the amount of sixty-five dollars. The remaining fifteen, letter-sized, folders date from 1903 through1928. Most include warrants and / or clerk's reports. Folder 1914 has a copy of the revised Constitution/ By-laws of 1914. Folder 1919 has a copy of the report of Methuen's part in the Universalist Church Great Drive of 1919. Folder 1928 contains a resolution about Kimball Gleason Colby.

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.

Record Book #1 is a slim volume, 6.5 x 8 inches, with a worn marble cover and a reddish-brown, leather binding, partially split. On the cover it reads " Universal Society's Book. 1824." The pages, handwritten in ink, are fragile, some are torn, stained and worn. Several pages have been removed from the back of the book. Record book #2 is slightly larger, 8.75 x 7 inches, also with a marble cover and worn leather binding. This book has no marks on the cover but reads " The 2nd Book of Record for the First Universal Society of Methuen" inside the cover. The next page indicates that it was kept by the Clerk and Treasurer. The book is in fair to poor condition. with the entries written by hand in ink, some more faded that others. The book appears to be intact. Record book #3 has very worn brown cover with black corners and a split black binding. In gold letters on the binding it reads " Records." The book measurers 8 x 10 inches and is in poor condition. The front cover is detached and the first several pages are loose. There are no identifying marks on the cover but inside the book it reads, "4th ( which is crossed out to read 3rd) Book of Records of the first Universalist Society Methuen." The book has approximately two hundred, lined pages. Some pages appear to have been removed from the back and additional pages have been pasted on to existing pages. The book is tied with cotton cord.. Record book #4, with a black cover and red corners and binding, measures at 8 x 10.25 inches. Th book is in poor condition, with both covers looses and the pages unbound. Inside the front cover it reads, " Record Book No.4 of the First Universalist Parish Methuen, Mass., Beginning April 19, 1900." The book numbers 284 pages, with entries on 230 pages. The book is tied with a cotton cord. There are sixteen folders; one is legal-sized and the other fifteen are letter-sized.

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

Record Book #1 is a slim volume, 6.5 x 8 inches, with a worn marble cover and a reddish-brown, leather binding, partially split. On the cover it reads " Universal Society's Book. 1824." The pages, handwritten in ink, are fragile, some are torn, stained and worn. Several pages have been removed from the back of the book. Record book #2 is slightly larger, 8.75 x 7 inches, also with a marble cover and worn leather binding. This book has no marks on the cover but reads " The 2nd Book of Record for the First Universal Society of Methuen" inside the cover. The next page indicates that it was kept by the Clerk and Treasurer. The book is in fair to poor condition. with the entries written by hand in ink, some more faded that others. The book appears to be intact. Record book #3 has very worn brown cover with black corners and a split black binding. In gold letters on the binding it reads " Records." The book measurers 8 x 10 inches and is in poor condition. The front cover is detached and the first several pages are loose. There are no identifying marks on the cover but inside the book it reads, "4th ( which is crossed out to read 3rd) Book of Records of the first Universalist Society Methuen." The book has approximately two hundred, lined pages. Some pages appear to have been removed from the back and additional pages have been pasted on to existing pages. The book is tied with cotton cord.. Record book #4, with a black cover and red corners and binding, measures at 8 x 10.25 inches. Th book is in poor condition, with both covers looses and the pages unbound. Inside the front cover it reads, " Record Book No.4 of the First Universalist Parish Methuen, Mass., Beginning April 19, 1900." The book numbers 284 pages, with entries on 230 pages. The book is tied with a cotton cord.