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    a copy : < f The first Classis in the couiitie Palatine of Lancaster , containing the parishes of Manchester ,

    Pres twitch , Ouldham , Ashton , Eccles and Ashton-under-line . As by an ordinance of both Houses of Parliament , Dat . die Veneris 2 do Oetobris , 1646 , may appeare . "

    The Meetings of the Classis commenced in 1646 , February 16 . They were held monthly ; and the Register contains an uninterrupted and seemingly a pretty full account of them , till they were discontinued . The last Meeting was held in August 14 , 1660 ,

    being in all 163 Meetings , regularly numbered in the Register . It will be perceived that the last Meeting was held nearly three months after the return of Charles II . As it is not , perhaps , known to all your readers , it will not be deemed amiss to state ,

    that during the time comprehended in the Register , Presbyterianism was the State-religion , and the Presbyterian ministers were in possession of the parish churches . —Concerning the revenues I have as yet seen nothing in the Register , but I promise vour readers

    to keep a good look out . I will now proceed to transcribe an account of the first Meeting fully , verbatim et literatim ; as this will give a better notion of the order of things and of the tone or taste of the times , than an abstract or abridgement can possibly do .

    " The first Meeting at Manchester , February 1 ( J ° , 1646 . cc Mr . Heyricke chosen Moderator ; begun with prayer . " 1 . Elders for the Congregation at Manchester , elected for the Classis appear'd . John Gaskell , Edward Johnson , Raph Briddocke , Thomas Smith , Elders ,

    " Elders for the Congregation at Prestwich . Mr . Tobid Furnard , Minister ; Peter Sergeant , James Wroe , James Taylor , Elders . " Elders for Eccles . Thomas Barlow , Thomas Rogers , Tho . Warburton , Tho . Fylds , Elders .

    " Elders for the Congregation of Ashton-under-line . Mr . John Hanson , Minister ; Capt »» . Ashton of Shepley , Robert Bardsley , Edmund Heywood , Robert Leech , Elders . ?< That none appear'd from Newton . It is answered that the reason was

    because of some difference betwixt Minister ^ ind People . " Mr . Jones , Minister of Eccles , ap-

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    pear'd not . It is answered that hee was not able to come by reason of Sicknesse * Mr . Wilmore , Minister at Flixton , appear'd not . i ( 2 . Orders agreed on by this Classis to be observed by the members of all subsequent Meetings . " 1 . That a Moderator bee chosen

    for the next Meeting . " 2 . That hee beginne and end with prayer . " 3 . That none shall speake but to the Moderator with his hatt off . fe 4 . That none shall beginne to speake till hee who spake before bee satt downe . t

    ( 5 . That hee who first stands up to speake shall first speake . < c 6 . That hee who hath not spoken to the present businesse shall speake ( if hee desire it ) before

    any that hath formerly spoken . " 7 . That the precedent businesse be fully determined before the following be begunne . " 3 It is agreed that all the Ministers

    . in this Classis , for uniformity , shall , in the celebration of the Sacrament of the Lord ' s Supper , blesse the bread and wine severally . <( 4 . Elders are to goe to instruct such as have not given satisfaction to the EidersPP [ Eldership ] in point of knowledge .

    " 5 . It is agreed that none shall be admitted to the Sacrament from Congregations where Eldershipps are constituted , except they bring a testimoniall of their good life and conversation from the Eldershipp they live under , to the Eldershipp they come to receive under . " 6 . That all that come to the Lord ' s

    Supper from other Congregations , if they live within the same Classis that the congregation is where they come to receive , they shall submitt to examination by that Eldershipp they come to receive under , as the members of that congregation doe .

    " 7 . That such as come to the Sacrament and live not within the Classis where they come to receive , shall give satisfaction to the Eldershipp of their knowledge and good life ; otherwise are not to bee admitted .

    " 8 . That the Lord ' s day next before the Sacrament of the Lo . Supper , notice be given to the Congregation , that if any person take offence at any publique scandall given by any who pretend to receive , they informing the Eldershipp , the Eldershipp shall examine the same .

    " 9 . Thursday , 4 to Martii 1646 , preparation for ordination ; Mr , Martindale , Mr . Holland , Mr . Clayton , have offered themselves to be examined .

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    388 Account of the Establishment of Presbyterianism in Manchester .

• Citation
  • Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), July 2, 1821, page 388, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2502/page/8/