USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Gathered in 1707 : a history of the First Congregational Church, Braintree, Massachusetts, 1707-1957 > Part 8
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The present church is placed still farther north and more to the east - "more and more toward the Atlantic or the rising sun and not so much westward as was the original push or migration of the people," according to Dr. Granville Yager. Although no description of this building is necessary for those who live in Braintree and attend services there many Sundays of the year, such an excellent description was found on a piece of faded newspaper dated September 10, 1912 (just 205 years to the day since this Church was gathered), the temptation could not be resisted to include it here for those now "absent from us" and
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for anyone who might care to read how the Church of 1912 looked many years ago, for changes have since been wrought.
"The church is of Weymouth seam-face granite with a liberal amount of cut stone. The Parish House adjoins the church and seam- face granite is also used in the exterior in combination with cement plaster. A semi-circle drive leads from Elm Street to the tower entrance and a wrought iron dialed clock appears on the parapet above the belfry window arches. The architecture of the building is Gothic in the spirit of English parish churches.
"The church is entered through a spacious vestibule. Two stair- cases lead to a gallery above. The auditorium contains pews for 306 and a gallery has seating capacity of 57. Handsome Gothic trusses span from wall to wall with angels heads carved on the hammer beams. The chancel is interesting with pulpit, choir benches and organ rail in carved oak, the organ in the rear lighted from a pointed leaded glass window on the right.
"The woodwork of the church is of oak; all windows are of mellow-leaded cathedral glass. At the left of the chancel a door leads to the Parish House through the vestibule, into which there is also an entrance from the exterior. From this vestibule a staircase leads to the basement supper room and dressing rooms.
"The first story of the parish house contains a Sunday School room, accommodating 21 classes, 11 of which are arranged to be enclosed by portieres on brass rods. Wide sliding doors join the Sunday School rooms with the ladies' parlor, which has an attractive bay window and fireplace.
"The basement has windows well above ground, and provides a supper room or entertainment room, with kitchen at one end, also a stage and two dressing rooms at the other end. The building com- mittee of the parish is Walter O. Hastings, chairman; Frank W. Couillard, secretary; Charles S. Bates, Frank H. Dearing, Mrs. William Gallagher, Mrs. Atherton N. Hunt, Mrs. Frank H. Palmer, William E. Sheldon and Marcus L. Urann. George F. Newton of Boston is the architect."
A few major changes have been made in the building since 1912 and many minor ones. The first big alteration was in 1923 when, at a cost of $18,000, new Sunday School rooms and other spaces were made available by excavating under the sanctuary. In 1928, the stage in the lower Parish Hall being little used, another stage was erected in the Upper Parish Hall at the north end with "dressing rooms" at either
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side. In the early 1940's, an attempt was made to raise money to build a large addition to the Parish House, and in 1948 and 1949, largely through the efforts of this earlier fund-raising committee, and the will of Miss E. Gertrude Lang, sufficient funds were raised to enlarge the Parish House, adding two rooms in a wing to the east, and offices and a stage with dressing rooms in a smaller wing to the west.
At the same time the upper Parish Hall was remodeled, a very modern, stainless steel countered kitchen was built using the room of the old kitchen plus two additional small rooms; and a new ladies' dressing room was outfitted.
Now, in 1957, ground has been broken for a large Christian Education building adjacent to the east wing of the Parish House and accessible to the sanctuary of the Church. This building will contain a large assembly hall, especially for the use of the older young people and several individual class rooms and offices. This structure will cost not to exceed $145,000, the money for which was raised by a building fund drive in late 1955.
At the time the 1912 building was dedicated, three Tiffany stained glass windows were installed and dedicated. Since that time, others have been added: A Connick window in 1940; three Murphy windows in 1951, and 1953; and on Palm Sunday, 1957, another Con- ick window, leaving only two windows of cathedral glass. Details of these windows and of many other gifts to the church will be found under the chapter heading of "Gifts and Wills," elsewhere in this book.
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NORTH
-
1
-
LYCEUM LAND
1830
HORSE SHEDS
FOURTH CHURCH. 1857
FIFTHS CHURCH
1913
HORSE SHEDS
LYCEUM CELLAR DOLFED LINES 3'
THIRD CHURCH
1590
LYCEUM LAND
STONE WALL
OND CHURCH 1759 4
FIRST
ISTLYCEUM SQ 1000STORAS SQ
EL AT ST AFTER 1760
PORCHE
CHURCH
PUMP
LAND OF NILES DEED
1706
THAYER CORNER
OLD ELM
IN 1760 ELM
CROSS ROAD TO PLY NOUTH HOAD LAID OUT_IN _ 1706
0
ELM ST
SCALE 20'0 '
A THEORETICAL CHART BY MISS MARION ARNOLD SHOWING LOCATION OF FIVE CHURCH BUILDINGS
WASHINGTON ST OR OLD BRIDGEWATER ROAD - --- -.
15-5
JOHN THAYER
-
DECO GIYEN
"DR. STORRS' CHURCH" SHOWING SECOND TOWER AFTER HURRICANE OF 1868. AT LEFT, LYCEUM HALL
CHAPTER 4 THE LADIES - GOD BLESS 'EM
"Many daughters have done virtuously" - Proverbs 31:29
Although the number of female members outnumbered the male in nearly every year of the Church's history, it was over 160 years after its founding before the women were given any recognition in the records (other than on occasions of individual discipline), when in 1869, two women were named to a committee by vote of the male members present. And in 1873, at a meeting to vote on a colleague minister to serve with Dr. Storrs, it was voted "that the female members present be invited to vote" which they did; and the recorded vote shows they outnumbered the men present. In 1879, an all-women committee to "visit the sick and strangers" was appointed to be later known as the "Visiting Committee" or "Friendly Service" committee but not until 1930 was the first board of Deaconesses organized.
This lack of recognition in the 18th and 19th centuries is not remarkable in view of the general attitude toward women and their place in society; but it is remarkable considering that a women's society was formed in 1812 and has continued successfully since its beginning.
LADIES' AID SOCIETY Founded April 7, 1812
The founder of the present day Ladies' Aid Society was Mrs. Sarah Strong Storrs, young wife of Rev. Richard Salter Storrs. Mrs. Storrs died in 1818 at the age of 25, yet during her brief years in this com- munity (Rev. Storrs having become the minister of the First Congre- gational Church in 1811) she founded the early women's society and the Sunday School, both movements still receiving criticism in many places at that time.
Inspired by the "Cent Institutions" which has been established in other communities, Mrs. Storrs helped to draw up the following "agree- ment" which was signed by the charter members on Monday, the 7th day of April, 1812:
"Viewing with deep concern the apparently great de- cline of the power of Godliness among us, and the great increase of moral stupidity, error and wickedness; impressed
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also with our own want of zeal and engagedness in the great things that pertain to Zion's prosperity; desirous to arouse ourselves and others from our guilty slumbers, to provoke each other to love and good works, to help each other forward in our pilgrimage to the Heavenly Jerusalem, to revive the true spirit of evangelical religion among us and around us, and in all things to glorify God our Saviour; with these great and interesting objects in view:
"We, the subscribers, in the love and fear of God, form ourselves into a Society by the name of The Female Religious Society in Braintree, on this 7th day of April, 1812, and agree to the following regulations:
"We herein agree to meet on the first Monday in each month for the purpose of imploring the blessing of God on the exertions making throughout the Christian world, to evangelize the heathen; and for the revival of religion in this and adjacent Towns and to contribute yearly at least fifty cents for Missionary purposes."
In September 1819, following the death of his first wife, Rev. Storrs married Harriet Moore, who continued the good work Sarah had begun in the Society, serving as its secretary-treasurer until her death in 1834. In 1821, the Rev. Daniel Temple, a close friend of Dr. Storrs, together with the Rev. Samuel Bird, was ordained as a missionary to Palestine. The ceremony took place in Randolph, under the auspices of the Norfolk Palestine Missionary Society, with Dr. Storrs delivering the ordination sermon.
Because of the interest of Dr. Storrs in his friend and his particular mission field, a few years later the Female Religious Society agreed to give their offerings toward Mr. Temple's support and to become an auxiliary to the Palestine Missionary Society. At the 15th anni- versary meeting, September 3, 1827, having heard a stirring communi- cation from Rev. Daniel Temple who was serving in Smyrna at that time, the members voted to change their name to the Palestine Mission- ary Society and to contribute annually to that society, under the direction of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The treasurer, Mrs. Storrs, reported: "Since the founding of the Female Religious Society, there has annually been paid in $40, which has usually been increased by contributions to $50. Thus, in the course of fifteen years, not far from $750 has been raised. This little stream
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has flowed regularly into the River of the Lord; but we feel that little has been done compared to what must be done if ever the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ."
The beginnings of a Home Missions project were recorded in 1829, and the first entry reads: "For the last 12 or 14 years several ladies in Braintree have contributed to the funds of the Education Society. Desir- ous of adding to this number of subscribers and forwarding the interests of the Education Society as expressed in their printed circular, We, the subcribers, agree to pay the sums annexed to our respective names." There follows a list of 36 additional names and one contribution marked simply "donation by a friend," the pledges varying from 25c to $1. The sum of $29.75 was thus realized, half of which was sent to the Norfolk Education Society, and another half expended for articles to make up. These were: 1 bedquilt, 1 pr. each sheets and pillowcases, 6 prs. socks, 8 shirts, 4 cravats, 4 waistcoats, 1 pocket handkerchief; all of which went to Mrs. Cornelius at Andover, the first theological school in the country. This group was to be known as the Benevolent Female Education Society of Braintree, an auxiliary to the American Education Society.
Mrs. Harriet Storrs died July 10, 1834, and the following report appears in the annual record: "We meet today, the seventh anniversary of our Society under peculiar circumstances. We look around in vain for one whose presence has always cheered us on similar occasions. One whose life was an exhibition of 'whatsoever thinge are true, honest, just, pure, lovely and of good report,' one who has faithfully discharged her duties as secretary-treasurer since the formation of this Society, and to whose prayers and labors for its success every member will bear testimony. May the same spirit which pervaded every action of our late loved and lamented Mrs. Harriet Storrs influence us in all our efforts to promote the interests of the dear Redeemer's kingdom."
This Benevolent Female Education Society of Braintree continued to flourish, changing its name in 1844 to the Home Missionary Society, but still continuing to aid the Education Society; for, they said "We have full testimony of experience with regard to the timely aid of both of these societies as 'twin sisters' to the infant churches of both East and West." In October, 1835, Dr. Storrs married Ann Stebbins, who at once took her place as a leader in all women's work. As long as the Storrs family lived, meetings of both Home and Foreign Missionary Societies were usually held in the parsonage. Dr. Storrs customarily
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appeared in time to close the meetings with a solemn prayer. In 1875, after both Rev. and Mrs. Storrs had died, a pathetic record is found in the Foreign Missionary book: "We met at our former Parsonage, where we have met so many times. How many hallowed associations cluster around the dear old spot, where we shall probably never meet again. The dear old Pastor and wife gone to their home in heaven."
There are several books of minutes recorded by secretaries of the parent Ladies' Aid group and a great deal of research in them might reveal the actual date when the name "Ladies' Aid" was first adopted for the organization. An annual Church report of 1886 uses the name "Ladies' Aid" so it has been in use at least for 71 years and probably much longer, at the same time that "Home" and "Foreign Missionary" societies were in existence.
By 1903, the Ladies' Aid records say: "Our annual meeting has come again and it is with pleasure that we can give a good report financially, having gathered $81, although we have not been able to meet but a few times; but those that are left have always had it in mind when the month came around." The next year, 1904, they began meeting with the Auxiliary part of the time and in 1907 there was a merger between the two organizations. In 1909, a proposal was made to unite all three into one group and the name Ladies' Aid was kept and special committees set up for the Home and Foreign Missionary meetings, and Wednesday became Ladies' Aid day at Church and has remained so until the present. Another interesting sidelight on the background of this organization - in 1812, the members pledged one cent a week or fifty cents a year to the Female Religious Society of Braintree, and 145 years later, the annual dues are still fifty cents.
There are too many references in the Church records to recount of the numbers of times the Ladies' Aid, or one of its predecessors, has come to the rescue of the Church, particularly in raising money for needed repairs. In good years and lean, the members have somehow planned their activities so that a bank account of sizeable proportions has been available to assist the Church wherever needed. The following items, chosen at random, will give only a small indication of the extent of their assistance:
In 1886, when the Assessors were considering the possibility of adding a "chapel" to the back of the Church, they reported that the cost would be in the neighborhood of $5,000, and "the Ladies' Aid Society have pledged one thousand dollars, of which over eight hundred are already deposited in the Braintree Savings Bank."
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In 1887, "the Ladies' Aid deserves the thanks of the Parish, for through their efforts the Parsonage Association has reduced the mort- gage on the parsonage this year $200, and has just secured, since March 1st, $900 more for the same purpose, which cancels the entire mortgage, thus leaving the Parsonage free from all debt."
In 1893, "the ladies have paid off one of the Parish notes, thus reducing the debt five hundred dollars, and also paid the taxes on the parsonage."
In 1909, "with the valuable assistance of the Ladies' Aid, the Parish was this year without a debt."
In 1910, "A vote of thanks be sent to the Ladies' Aid for their generosity in providing funds to defray the cost of painting the outside of the Church."
In 1928, "the ladies of the Church have outdone themselves in the aid which has been given, not only for current expenses, but benev- olences as well. Altogether the Ladies' Aid and Co-Workers have contributed $2,256.29 for current expenses and benevolences, which compares with $1,000 given in recent years. This result has been accomplished through the concerted effort of all the ladies in the two organizations."
In 1931, "The gift of one thousand dollars from the Ladies' Aid was greatly appreciated and out of this amount the unsecured loan was reduced six hundred dollars which makes the loan now fifteen hundred. The Ladies' Aid should be highly praised and receive the unanimous thanks of all concerned for their splendid accomplishment and their magnificent gift in a time of such financial distress as has prevailed during this past year."
In 1940, "We extend our sincere thanks to the Ladies' Aid Society who not only met their pledge of $400 for current expenses but have given an additional $100. and a magnificent thousand dollar memorial stained glass window."
There have been many other contributions to the Church in addition to the fine example and inspiration this organization has been to all women of the Church. In recent years, there have been curtains for the upper Parish Hall; a large portion of the cost of new carpeting in the sanctuary; new window shades for the Parish House; $1,000 towards the new equipment in the remodeled kitchen; and in the spring of 1957, new curtains for the dining room and kitchen, and 50 new "Pilgrim" hymnals to completely supply the sanctuary.
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And as their historian, Mrs. Sylvia Stoddard, wrote in the manu- script for the "Looking Backward" program presented by the Ladies' Aid Society on April 3, 1957, "So we go on, doing whatever comes to hand, 'Aiding' whenever possible, trying to live up to our splendid heritage, for we know that only as long as we keep the whole task of the whole church before us can we claim kinship with our founders."
SODALITAS CLUB Founded November 29, 1912
The history of this organization makes interesting reading since it started as a Sunday School class under the leadership of Mrs. Harry Grimes and has "grown up" considerably in the 45 years of its existence. The Sodalitas Club was organized on November 29th, 1912 with 17 members and 4 directors, Mrs. Harry Grimes, Mrs. Perley Barbour, Mrs. Myron Barlow and Miss Marjorie White. A few years later, the Sunday School class of Miss Emma Keith was invited to join the group. And as is only natural with any group of young ladies, ("16 years and older,") as the early reports state, the first years were spent in showers for members getting married, parties with a boys' class of similar age, the X.B.K. club, and programs of a more entertaining than an intellec- ual nature.
This Club from its beginning had a definite interest in the Sunday School and in 1928 reported that of the membership of 30, over half were teachers or workers in that department. Although the proportions may not be as great in teachers at this time, the interest has not lagged and the Sodalitas Club has made many contributions towards its financial support - the support of the girls' basketball team, a lecturer for the High School Sunday School classes, purchase of equipment and assist- ance with the High School Fellowship projects, to mention a few.
One distinction of this Club has been the fact that all meetings, with the possible exception of the annual, were held in the homes of members from its inauguration until 1942 when "lack of adequate heat and transportation" resulted in a change from two meetings a month to one, to be held in the Parish House, and "open membership" in 1945, the membership having been limited to 50 for some years since a larger number could not be comfortably accommodated in a home.
From a modest beginning with one table at the Church fair, (for many years dressed dolls were their specialty) this group assumed more and more responsibility until in 1940 they supplied four tables of articles
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and prepared and served a cafeteria supper. Abandoning the practice of having many money-raising projects throughout the year, a year-round committee now concentrates everyone's efforts on the annual Church fair. With this money, the annual pledge to the Church has been increased from a modest $100 of the 20's and most of the 30's to $600 in 1956 in addition to the support of the Building Fund. Other service projects include the Walker Missionary Home, Second Mile Gift, special gifts to Rev. and Mrs. William Booth, and local causes, such as the United Community Fund, American Red Cross, Norfolk County Health Association and the Braintree Visiting Nurse Association. In addition to financial support, several layettes have been donated and many collections of canned goods, hand-knit mittens and good used clothing have been contributed to the Visiting Nurse Association.
For many years, mission schools in the southern part of the United States have received special yearly attention and many barrels of clothing and household articles have been sent to such places as the Tougaloo School in Mississippi, Allen Normal School in Georgia, and the Little Red Brick School; and in 1956, four hundred pounds of clothing were packed for "Parcels for Peace" sponsored by the United Church Women of Braintree, of which the Club is a member. For four years, the children of the men in the House of Correction in East Cambridge have been remembered with Christmas gifts of toys, wearing apparel and candy.
In 1951, a stained glass window fund was established and special project chairmen concentrated their efforts, yearly, to add to the fund until the goal was reached on April 14th, 1957, when a beautiful window from the studios of Connick Associates was dedicated. To quote from the service of dedication: "This window represents the ideals of Sodalitas, love and service. The two figures are allegorical, although to a degree they personify Ruth and Dorcas of the Old and New Testa- ments, Ruth suggesting love, and Dorcas, service. Ruth holds the scroll, characteristic of the Old Testament and in the field are the symbols of her gleanings. Her scroll is inscribed with the text from Proverbs 31:26 'She openeth her mouth with wisdom.' The text is continued and completed in Dorcas' book, 'In her tongue is the law of kindness.' Above each are angels of praise with trumpets, while angels of prayer with censors are represented at either side of the inscription 'Given by the Sodalitas Club, 1957.' Stained glass windows throughout the ages have been bits of jewelled glass put together to catch every ray of light
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and to create beauty and loveliness. We hope that this window will give to all who look at it inspiration, courage and peace."
Sodalitas has grown in membership, in its interests and in its participation in all Church affairs during its 45 years of existence but it has striven to always fulfill its object "To promote the spirit of Chris- tian friendliness and good-will among the young women of the Church and community." To carry out this object, the Club welcomes all women of the church to its membership, and strives to maintain the interest and support of its members by varied programs and many worthwhile projects not only within the Church, but in the community and the world.
CO-WORKERS Founded January 26, 1920
"January 26, 1920. An auxiliary to the Ladies' Aid Society which has taken the name of Co-Workers was organized at the home of Mrs. Henry E. Reynolds of Monatiquot Avenue. This group is to be composed largely of the young matrons who find it hard to attend the all-day meetings of the Ladies' Aid. The work of this group will be carried on in conjunction with the Ladies' Aid, with the following elected officers: chairman, Mrs. Arthur Hastings; secretary, Mrs. Charles E. Thomas; treasurer, Mrs. Harold Ripley. Meetings will be held on the first and third Mondays of each month in the homes of members. Appli- cations for membership should be given to the chairman or secretary." And that is how Co-Workers had their beginning, according to the Church records. It was Mrs. Reynolds who had the idea of forming this group, and Mrs. Harry Grimes, who named it the "Co-Workers of the Ladies' Aid."
Of the thirteen members present at the first meeting, the following are still active members: Mrs. Arthur (Addie May) Hastings; Mrs. George H. (Augusta) Jones; Mrs. Frederick O. (Anne) Greenough; and Mrs. Orra K. (Effie) Horsman and Mrs. Henry Reynolds is an honorary member. The membership grew so rapidly after its first meeting that the meetings have been held, not in the homes of members as originally planned, but at the Church since February 16, 1920. By 1921, the membership had grown to 61 and the Co-Workers made their initial contribution to the Church, an extra communion tray for the communion service in addition to raising $250 for other Church purposes. That same year, 1921, they initiated a custom which was to continue for many, many years: "At the request of Mr. Grimes, a com- mittee of Co-Workers arranged to bring a number of the mothers in
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automobiles to the morning service on Mothers' Day, sent cards to others, and presented a pansy to each mother as she came into Church."
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