First Baptist Church of Geneva records, 1825-1890.
Collection Number: 6003

These minutes begin with an entry at the organization of the church on August 29, 1825, detailing the various official appointments of the church (moderators, trustees and Sunday school class leaders) and deal with the church's finances. The minutes are followed by three pages of lists of children, school lessons and notes on the church building. Following this is a page entitled "The records of the board of Trustees of the first Baptist Society in Geneva," which cover only four pages, the last page being a series of figures (March 29, 1827-Oct. 16, 1830). They cover various appointments to the Board and notes on church finances.

The records of the Social Aid Society covering both the organization and functions of the group, include drafts of the Society's constitution, accounts of Society funds and lists of members. A list entitled "Visitors," has contributions to the society noted next to each name. Receipts are pasted into four pages of the volume. There are 36 pages of minutes (November 12, 1855-May 29, 1864; no entries 1859-1863). Minutes include the election of officers, planned activities, changes in membership, governmental resolutions, and records of collections and expenditures. Also noted are meeting activities including readings, singing and prayer.

Ministerial Conference meetings were divided into morning, afternoon and evening sessions of two consecutive days for each meeting. #6003 continued Included in the minutes are notes on prayers and sermons as veil as mention of essays delivered at meetings e.g. "Universalism - a system of Infidelity having no affinity with the Gospel." Critiques of the sermons and essays were also delivered. The minutes record the selection of moderators and arrangements for succeeding meetings. Also included is a list entitled "Members of Ontario Baptist Ministerial Conference l86o-6l," containing the names of 21 ministers and their respective churches. Also included is a list entitled "Brethren meeting with Ont. Bap. Con." with names, residences, age and year ordained; and a list of eight towns with unidentified figures.

This book contains both covenant and regular meeting minutes, opening with an index of important events and a key to various letter symbols denoting baptisms, additions by letter, restoration, dismission, exclusion and deaths. The records include appointments to various church offices, organizational resolutions and some brief notes on church finances. Of particular note in the minutes are entries interspersed between 1831-1838 concerning black members, including entries referring to a partition constructed between blacks and whites, a resolution to give the gallery over to black use, concluding on June 3$ 1837 when the church's black members receive permission to form their own church. Another entry of note (Sept. 2, 1826) notes the formation of an auxiliary to the Ontario Baptist Association to spread the Gospel "and promote Indian reform."

These sheets note the exclusion of three male church members who had "in their possession the Book or papers Containing the Articles and Covinant" and refused to return them. The articles and covenant are then restated and a list of members included.

These minutes include the appointments of church officials (moderators, conference delegates, trustees and Sunday school class leaders), dealing additionally with some church finances and church discipline. There is significant revival activity, particularly during November 1842-March 1843.

Entries on the activities of the congregation focus heavily on concerns for unity within the church. A noteworthy entry (March 4, 1848) contains the report of a "Vigialance Committee" stating that many in the church were "Unworthy members making use of their standing in the church to accomplish unholy objects" and called for strict discipline." The committee concluded its extensive report by saying "in our humble opinion this church cannot reasonable expect the blessing of God."