The Acts of Famous National Councils of the Reformed Churches in France, 22 (2nd Vitré) · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. The Dividend made according to the Catalogue of Paſtors brought in by the Deputies of every Province.
Montpellier, Obſ. 5. upon the Diſcipl. & g. m. 16. 3. of Rochel. g. m. 4. Privas g.m. 16.1. ACcording to the Canons of former National Synods, there was brought into this Aſſembly the Catalogue of Paſtors actually ſerving our Churches. And foraſmuch as the greater part of the Deputies of our Provinces do declare, that divers Churches are unprovided, being deſtitute of Paſtors, ſome being removed by Death, and others by ſome other Accident very lately: This Aſſembly having weighed all circumſtances, do now in their diſtribution of his Majeſty's liberality ordain, That there ſhall be put upon the Catalogue in every Province ſuch Churches as are immediately to be ſupplied, that ſo a Portion may be drawn out for every Church, but on this condition, that the Provinces ſhall make proof unto the next National Synod by Acts of their Provincial Synods duly atteſted, that the ſaid Churches have been provided for, and at what times. And in caſe of failure herein, the Moneys ſo received by them on this occaſion, ſhall be detained for the future from them. Moreover, this Aſſembly, conſidering the great Neceſſities of all the Provinces, hath added to each of them ſome Other Portions.
2. The Roll of Paſtors in actual ſervice, in the Province of Lower Guyenne was peruſed, and whereas the Deputies remonſtrated, that heretofore the Church of Sommieres had never leſs than two Paſtors at once, a Portion was granted them for a ſecond Miniſter, and another for the Church of Villefort, and a third Portion for the Church of Pecquay, unto which Churches the ſaid Province ſhall out of hand ſend them Paſtors, and give in full proof of their obedience unto this Order at the next National Synod: And over and above all this, there was granted it a ſupernumerary Portion, to be appropriated according to the deſignation of the Deputies of this Province unto the Church of St. Ceſarca and its annexed Congregations.
3. The Deputies of Poictou reported, that they had ſix Churches to provide for, being lately deſtitute of Paſtors, to wit, that of Rochefoucault, Luſignan, Sivray, La Chaſtaigneraye, Chantonnay, Puisbeliart, and Poiré; for which ſix Portions were ordained, but on this condition, that they be accountable for theſe Sums unto that next National Synod; and by way of augmentation, they had given them one Portion ſupernumerary.
4. Two Portions were appointed the Province of Berry, one for the Church of Bourges, and another for that of Suilly and its annexed Congregations, on this condition, that they be carefully ſupplied, and that an account hereof be given in unto the next National Synod. And whereas the Deputies demanded another Portion for the Church of Ouchant, at preſent ſerved by the Miniſters of Blois, it being neceſſary that they ſhould have a Paſtor of their own, this Aſſembly would not grant them, becauſe the ſaid Church may be conveniently ſupplied by the aforeſaid Miniſters, and in conſideration of the great Neceſſities of the ſaid Province, there were ſeven ſupernumerary Portions appointed for them, whereof two ſhall be given free of all Taxes and Charges unto Monſieur Guerin, Paſtor of Baugency, for divers good and valid Reaſons moving this Aſſembly thereunto.
5. The Province of the Iſle of France was injoyned to provide the Church of Langres of a Paſtor, to which purpoſe there was aſſigned it one Portion, and moreover, becauſe of the multitude of poor Churches in it, there were twelve ſupernumerary Portions more granted, to be diſpoſed by them for the relief of the moſt neceſſitous and indigent Congregations.
6. The Province of Burgundy ſhall make proof of their Care and Duty in providing for the Church of Noyers an able Paſtor at the next National Synod, to which purpoſe they had one Portion aſſigned them, and thoſe two formerly granted, were ordered to be continued to the Churches of Maringues and Paillac, and over and above this, ſeven ſupernumerary Portions.
7. Pour Portions were granted unto the Province of Xaintonge, that the Churches at preſent deſtitute of Paſtors there might be provided for, viz. a ſecond Paſtor for St. John D' Angely, one for Villefaignan, one for Tonnay Boutonnay, and another for Genonſac. And whereas they demand another Portion for Baigne, Chenonceaux and Monlieu, when as they ſhall have brought in their account for theſe before-mention'd Portions unto the next National Synod, then care ſhall be taken about ſome proviſion for the ſaid Church, it ſo be it be ſupplied by a Paſtor. Moreover, the ſaid Province ſhall have two ſupernumerary Portions, compriſing in them that Moiety granted by the Synod of Tonneins for the relief of Meſſieurs Roſſignol, Gabard, Paris, du Plot, Velez, and Touſſain, who were Paſtors Emeriti, by reaſon of their Age and Infirmities, and otherwiſe very much afflicted with Wants.
8. The Deputies of Higher Languedoc proteſted, that theſe ten Churches were become lately vacant by the death of their Paſtors, or by ſome other accident, and that there be ſeveral others to be provided for by that Province as ſoon as may be; to wit, Caſtelnau, Braſſac, Cormies, Aiſones, Caumont, Manoſques, Pairaſque, Figeac, Sevenieres, and la Tronquiere; to every one of which there was a Portion aſſigned, provided they were really vacant, and care taken they be ſupplied. And that Portion and half aſſigned them by the Synod of Tonneins is continued to them, on this condition, that the whole Portion ſhall be imployed for the relief and aſſiſtance of the Church of Leyran, and the half unto Monſieur Aubriot, a Paſtor Emeritus.
9. The Province of Anjou declared, that they were juſt now preſenting a Paſtor unto the Church of Chaſteau du Loir, and another unto that of Mondoubleau; for which cauſe two Portions have been adjudged to them, and another under the name of Monſieur Gomarus, Profeſſor of Divinity in the Univerſity of Saumur, and two ſupernumerary Portions were added by way of augmentation unto the poorer Churches; and whereas Monſieur de la Coſte, late Paſtor of the Church of Dijon, is given unto the Univerſity of Saumur for a Profeſſor in Divinity, another Portion is alſo granted the ſaid Province.
10. One Portion was aſſigned the Province of Sevennes for the Church of Maruejols, and another ſhall be divided between the Churches of Combes, and St. Baſilc.
11. Seven Portions were appointed unto the Province of Normandy, one for the Church of St. Peter on the Dine, another for the ſecond Miniſter of St. Lo, another for the Church of Cheffreine, another for that of Gauré, another for that of Giſors, another for that of Feſcamp, and laſtly, another for that of Havre de Grace; all which are lately become vacant by the deceaſe or removal of their Paſtors, and theſe ſhall be ſupplied with able Men as ſoon as poſſible, whereof the next National Synod ſhall take cognizance; and ſix Portions ſhall be farther added for the relief of the poorer Churches.
12. The Deputies of Vivaretz proteſted, that theſe five Churches following are lately deſtitute of Paſtors, and that the Province will ſee they he ſupplied out of hand, to wit, St. Saviour, La Baſtide, de Viral, St. Pons, de Mirabel, Rochers, and laſtly, le Pouſſin. For every one of theſe this Synod ordained a Portion, on condition that the Province ſhould notifie their Care and Duty in providing able Miniſters for them unto the next National Synod; and ſix Portions more were added, including thoſe two for St. Stephen's which had been allotted it by former National Synods, and of the four remaining a half Portion ſhall be given unto Monſieur Chanforan, becauſe of his great poverty.
In the Province of Provence there were three Churches to be provided for, viz. la Coſte, Sederac, and la Charſe: and that Provincial Synod was ordered to give unto each of them a Paſtor, and therefore three Portions were added to them, for which they ſhall be accountable unto the next National Synod; and there were given them more to be diſtributed among their poorer Churches ſix Portions.
14. The Deputies of Lower Guyenne aſſured this Aſſembly, that they were now getting Paſtors for theſe Churches following, viz. for Nerac a third Paſtor, for Beaune, Benac, Condom, Eſpiens, Sauſe de Miſné, Haſtingues, Bayonne, Le Mas and Caumont, and Pellegrue, all which are lately become vacant; for which there were aſſigned nine Portions, and the Province ſhall give account of them unto the next National Synod.
15. Two Portions were laid by for the Province of Dolphiny, to wit, for the Church of Montbrun, and Beaurepaire, and becauſe of the great poverty of divers Churches in the ſaid Province, this Aſſembly hath granted them ſeven ſupernumerary Portions.
16. The Province of Brittain had the Priviledge of taking out one Portion under the Name of Monſieur Marmet, Paſtor of the Church gathered in the Houſe of the Lord Duke of Rohan; and becauſe of the great poverty of the Churches in that Province, there were eight ſupernumerary Portions more allotted to it, whereof one ſhall go to the Church of Nants free of all charges, and out of the ſeven others ſhall be taken an hundred and fifty Livers to be thus employed, to wit, one hundred Livers to the College of vielle Vigne, and fifty Livers to the relief of the ſaid Church.
17. The Deputies of Lower Languedoc reported,Alez. p. m. 72. that in the dividend of the Portions for the ſaid Province, there was but one Portion only aſſigned to Monſieur Scoffier an ancient Paſtor and Emeritus, altho' there was formerly allowed him one and an half. This Aſſembly gave order to the Lord of Candal, that he ſhould give annually a Portion and half unto the ſaid Scoffier, who ſhall give an Acquittance for the Money unto the Receiver of the ſaid Province, and this to be continued until the next National Synod.