On the 5th day of August, 1803, Rev. Peter Fish and Rev. Timothy M. Cooley, missionaries, one a Presbyterian and the other a Congregationalist, met with a number of professing Christians to take the preliminary steps for the formation of a Christian Church. The gathering took the form of an experience meeting, which being satisfactory, it was resolved to adopt a Confession of Faith and Covenant as follows:

Articles of Faith

1st. You believe there is one living and true God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the same in essence and equal in power and glory.

2nd. That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament are a revelation from God, and a perfect rule of faith and practice.

3rd. That God hath foreordained all things according to the counsel of His own will.

4th. That He created, preserves and governs all creatures and actions, consistent with man's free agency and the use of means.

5th. That God made man after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness and true holiness.

6th. That the first man sinned, and being the public head of his posterity, they became sinners by his disobedience, and consequently are wholly indisposed to moral good, and inclined to moral evil.

7th. That God of His mere good pleasure, elected some of mankind to everlasting life, and gave His Son to die, that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have eternal life; and thereby hath laid the foundation for the offer of salvation to mankind, and by His special grace and Holy Spirit doth regenerate and sanctify them who shall be saved and enable them to persevere in holiness.

8th. That Jesus, who is God and man in one divine person, arose from the dead on the third day, and ever lives to make intercession for his people, and governs all things for their good; and by virtue of His atonement as the only meritorious cause, procures their justification, adoption and final salvation in consequence of their repentance and faith.

9th. That at the end of this world there will be a resurrection of the dead and the final judgment of all mankind, when the righteous shall be perfectly acquitted and received to everlasting life and glory, and the wicked shall be condemned to everlasting punishment.

*From "A History of the First Presbyterian Church and Society of Verona, N. Y.", page 8, 9.

A compilation commenced by the late Elder John Wardell Dodge and finished by his son, Bert J. Dodge. Published by the Session in 1900.