USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Gathered in 1707 : a history of the First Congregational Church, Braintree, Massachusetts, 1707-1957 > Part 9
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Until 1935, the two organizations, Co-Workers and Ladies' Aid, were financially combined and made one contribution to the Church, although they had individual slates of officers and separate meetings, but in that year the team work plan having proven so successful in 1934, the Co-Workers became a separate unit. From that time until the present, they have pledgd at least $500 yearly to the Church with addi- tional contributions to such worthwhile groups as the American Red Cross, Braintree Visiting Nurse Association, United Community Fund, Norfolk County Health Association, "Care" packages, and the Second Mile gift. In addition, they financed, until 1950, an annual Christmas party for the Cradle Roll and Kindergarten children; contributed towards the carpet for the sanctuary; new hymnals; song books for the Sunday School; kitchen equipment; and folding chairs and tables for the dining room. Undoubtedly, the most unique public service recorded in the annual reports was "a pile of mending in the basket of a burdened mother was materially reduced."
The Co-Worker stained glass window was presented on May 27, 1951 and was executed by the studio of T. J. Murphy & Co. of Boston. The theme for the window is found in the Gospel according to St. John, Chapter 20: 16: "Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say Master." The glass is mostly of imported antique and is treated in the period of the 15th Century English composition. The presentation of the window culminated over seven years of special money raising projects and benefits making possible "this beautiful window which will stand in all its beauty through the years, reminding us that the inner spiritual peace which our Lord offers must become part of our individual experience before we can expect permanent peace on earth."
In 1934 the first Co-Worker cookbook was published and the second book in 1949 was even more financially and gastronomically successful and the proceeds enabled the purchase of a grand piano, a public address system for the upper Parish hall and in 1952 the estab- lishment of a Religious Education Scholarship Fund to assist theo- logical or religious education students. Annually, since 1927, the awarding of Bibles to the graduates of a department of the Sunday School has been one of the highlights of not only the Sunday School Children's Day exercises but of the Co-Workers, as well.
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The monthly meetings are varied and usually a year's program will cover such subjects as travel, education, book reviews, inspiration and entertainment. The annual dinner and meeting in May is one of the highlights of the year, as well as the opening fall meeting which is usually a supper meeting and get-together. As a member of the Women's Council, Co-Workers have shared in the planning of Friend- ship Nights and carried a full share of the load of the annual Church fair.
As secretary of the Co-Workers, Mrs. Robert Wade in her annual report in 1937 summed up the purposes and ideals of Co-Workers thus: "The financial part of our work looms large but it represents only a small portion of what we accomplish. Through our speakers and our meetings we contribute a great deal to the social, educational and religious life of the community. To many of our members the Co-Workers was the first link which connected them with this Church; to many, indeed, the first friendly contact with Braintree when they moved here as strangers. In this particular respect the Co-Workers occupy a unique position in our Church life." And Mrs. Percy F. Hayes added this comment in 1945 in her report as secretary: "We believe the Church is made up of individuals, but it can do nothing except as its members work, and work together. You will find us ready at any time to do all we possibly can, with God's help, in the upbuilding of our beloved Church."
YOUNG WOMEN'S CLUB Founded September 11, 1940
In the spring of 1940, only a few months before she moved away from Braintree, Mrs. Ruth McCorison, wife of Rev. Joseph Lyle Mc- Corison, with the help of other interested women of the Church organ- ized a society for the young women, to be known as the Young Women's Club. On September 11th, 1940, the first officers were elected and Miss Mary Pierce (later to become Mrs. George A. Ellis, Jr.) became the first president. When the Charter Night was held during the Christmas holidays, thirty-eight charter members, a constitution and by-laws, and a membership of forty-six assured this young organization of permanency and a promising future.
As originally planned, the meetings are held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month September through early May, and the membership is open to all young women of the Church between
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the ages of 18 and 35. This Club's first public financial venture was a musicale and one-act play presented during the Church fair in 1940 and netted the group twenty-five dollars. Their first donation was a literature rack for the vestry, and at the annual meeting of the Church on January 22, 1942, when the group had been in existence only 16 months, their president announced, "We proudly present, tonight, the sum of one hundred dollars to be used in the work of the Church, fulfilling the Club's purpose of 'enlisting the co-operation of the younger women of the Church to promote closer fellowship among themselves and with the Church'."
For the first few years, meetings were held in the homes of members but having reached a membership of 55 in 1948, it was voted to hold the semi-monthly meetings in the Church where they have continued. As the members reach the age of graduation, they are presented with a gift. One of the first outside interests of the Young Women's Club was the Massachusetts Correctional Institution and since 1946, there have been many boxes of toys and clothing, and many group visits made to the Framingham Institution. At first taking part only in a small way, the Young Women's Club gradually took on larger tasks in the annual Church fair until in 1949 they had their own program just for the children in connection with "The Country Fair" and this practice has been continued very successfully since. This afternoon program usually includes an entertainment, a grab bag, inexpensive refreshments and gifts for the children to buy and a very gay, happy time. It takes a great deal of preparation and a special knack of selecting just what will appeal to the children, and the results have shown that this hard working group has this special talent.
As the group has grown older in birthdays, they have accepted more and more of their share of responsibility in the Women's Council, Friendship Nights, teas for new Church members, refreshments for the choir and special occasions. No better idea can be given of the scope of their interests than to quote from their 1955 annual report to the Church:
"Our home missionary projects included the Protestant Chapel at Norfolk Prison, the Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Framing- ham, a Christmas donation to the Braintree Visiting Nurse Association for a needy family, and the Lincoln Congregational Church in Brockton. For our foreign missionary work, we have supported the Booths (the Church's missionary representatives in Africa) and outfitted a teacher's room in a Turkish school, and made a contribution to the Second Mile.
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The Club participated in the annual Church Fair, Friendship Night, World Community Day and provided memorial flowers for morning church services. We belong to the United Church Women of Braintree, the Pilgrim District Department of Women's Work, and the Women's Council." Yearly banquets, Men's Night, Alumnae Night and Christ- mas parties are also special events on the calendar.
With such a background of Christian service and an appreciation of what it means to unite in a common effort for the Church, it is small wonder that upon graduation, Young Women's Club members are much sought after to become members of the older women's organizations of the Church. But careers and husbands have necessi- tated moving away from Braintree and many members have gone to other communities to live. Wherever they live, however, with such an experience as they have found in this thriving organization, all Young Women's Club members will serve their church in friendliness and Christian love.
WOMEN'S COUNCIL Founded in 1950
The Women's Council of the Church is a group of eight repre- sentatives and an elected chairman from the four women's organiza- tions. The object of the Council is to co-ordinate the work of these organizations by acting as a clearing house for dates, special hostess activities, and by compiling a yearbook listing the activities; supervising the annual all-Church fair for which the Council appoints a chairman and a co-chairman; and sponsoring "friendship nights." In its first year, 1950, the Council compiled a yearbook which proved a success and saved the expense of four yearbooks and provided a convenient listing of all organization members and officers. This practice has been continued, yearly, and the book has proven to be an invaluable refer- ence.
In 1954-55, the Council sponsored two meetings: the Braintree Council of Church Women in October which observed a "World Community Day" and on January 25th, 1955, the Pilgrim District Department of Women's Work held a mid-winter meeting in the Church. Having an organized Council was invaluable in carrying out these activities, with all the organizations co-operating.
During the seven years of its existence, yearly Church-wide fairs have been held, lasting for two days, with the general fair committee
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assuming the responsibility for table assignments, theme, decorations, publicity, program, etc. Its first venture having been a great success, the Young Women's Club has continued the yearly practice of spon- soring a children's entertainment and sale of articles of interest to children, the second afternoon of the fair. The Co-Workers and the Sodalitas Club have alternated in preparing the luncheon and dinners so no group will have to assume the entire responsibility. The themes have been so varied and the decorations correspondingly original that the annual Church fair has been an event of great anticipation to say nothing of its great financial success. The greatest profits reported to date was "The Christmas Festival" of 1956 when $3,387.81 was realized and the 1955 "Christmas Festival" with over $3,355.
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CHAPTER 5 THE SABBATH SCHOOL AND CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6
The religious education of the boys and girls of the Church has been an active program for 141 years and valuable information con- cerning the first Sunday School has been found in a paper on the "History of the First Congregational Sunday School" presented by Charles S. Bates, as superintendent of the Sunday School at the 200th Anniversary of the Church, May 5, 1907. The following is quoted from this paper:
"More than seventeen centuries after our Lord said 'suffer little children to come unto me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven' the first Sunday School, so called, was started by Robert Raikes, in Glou- cester, England, on November 3, 1783. Only about 35 years later, the first Sunday School was organized at the First Congregational Church, Braintree. About this time, both in England and America, there was quite a little opposition to the Sunday School. A young lady in Connecticut gathered a class in the Church gallery but was forbidden by the Church authorities to continue it, on the ground of desecrating God's day and house. The old Pastor of the Church shook his cane at the young girl and her class, saying in his indignation: 'You imps of Satin, doing the devil's work.'
"In significant contrast is the remark of Horace Bushnell shortly before his death to one whom he had earlier tried to persuade to give up Sunday School work and enter the ministry 'Now I have come to see the work you are doing is the greatest in the world, and sometimes I think it is the only work in the world."
The credit for the organization of this Sunday school belongs to the women of the Church, led by Mrs. Sarah Strong Woodhull Storrs, first wife of Dr. Richard Salter Storrs, the fourth minister of the Church. The School was organized in 1816, Mrs. Storrs being superintendent and holding the position until her death in April 1818. She was succeeded by Mrs. Mary Powers (widow) who later married Mr. Robert Sugden and was the mother of the Misses Mary and Elizabeth
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Sugden, two of the oldest (in 1907) and most respected Church mem- bers. A tribute to Mrs. Powers and of great value now are the clear, business-like records of the Sunday School she conducted. These class papers, all written out for each teacher, in her fine Spencerian hand- writing were presented to the Church on the occasion of its 200th Anniversary by the Misses Sugden and are preserved in the Church vault.
The class papers are ruled off in six columns - A for absence; D doctrinal catechism; C assembly catechism; E evangelical primer; V verses in New Testament; and H hymns. Rules are written on the back of each class paper, as follows:
"The scholars shall be divided into clafses having one Teacher each whose businefs it shall be to - 1st, Hear the lefsons of each child in her clafs in catechism, in hymns and in the Bible. 2nd, Notice on her clafs paper the absence of any of her scholars, their lefsons, etc. 3rd, after hearing the lefsons of each child separately, she shall let them all read in the Bible untill the school has finished their lefsons. 4th, allow of no talking or whispering, no laughing or levity of any kind. 5th, the Teachers will engage in no conversation with each other or any one else while in school and when out of it observe that propriety of conduct which is becoming the day and service of the Lord, remembering that the children will be much influenced by their example."
The records for the year 1818 show the following membership: teachers, 21; boys, 26; girls, 65, making a total of 113. Of the teachers, 19 were unmarried ladies, one married lady and one man. Mary Ann J. Tower, it was reported, the last Sunday in June and the four Sundays in July (as Sunday School continued throughout the year) "averaged to learn on the 5 Sundays 1320 verses and 11 hymns - the largest number on any Sunday being 240 and the smallest 92. Ann French, for thirteen consecutive Sundays, averaged to learn 178 verses and 7 hymns; largest number on any one Sunday being 325 and the smallest 100."
The learning of a large number of verses seems to have run to an extreme for in 1826 the American Sunday School Union declared for a limitation of the number of verses, and one Sunday School voted that no scholar be required to learn, nor allowed to write, over fifteen verses at any one lesson. Included in the information on the back of the old class papers is the following system of "Rewards";
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"Every child shall for reciting 20 answers in the Assembly Cate- chism have I Ticket; for reciting 20 answers with the proofs, 1 Ticket; for reciting 25 verses in the Bible, 1 Ticket; and for reciting 6 hymns, 1 Ticket. For 4 tickets they received 1 Tract; for 10 Tracts, 1 book worth 25 cents; for 40 Tracts, 1 Testament; for 75 Tracts, 1 Bible; and for Emerson's Doctrinal and Historical Catechism, the Sabbath School Catechism."
In 1820, the church voted to take the Sabbath School under their direction and appointed a committee of five to form arrangements, the first committee being Dr. Storrs, R. Hayden, Jr., Deacons Hollis, E. Thayer and L. Thayer. This committee was increased to seven in 1823 and ten in 1824 and so remained for many years. The first mention of the Sunday School library was a collection amounting to $12.50 for the "support of the Sabbath School library in 1820." This collection was made at least once a year through the rest of Dr. Storrs' ministry and for many years afterwards and varied considerably with the "times": $45 in 1824; $23.50 in 1846; $35 in 1879, etc.
The library was under the care of one designated member of the Sabbath School committee, and at a meeting on April 30, 1838, at the home of the pastor, it was voted: "That each Sabbath School scholar have the liberty to change his book, once a fortnight,, and that the boys and girls change their books on alternate Sabbaths; that the books be returned and taken out before the opening of School." It was further voted: "That there be a collection every month for the asisstance of the Sabbath School; that three dollars, now in the Treasurer's hands, be paid for the use of Lyceum Hall during the past year; that the School be held in the Hall the summer ensuing and open at the close of the first ringing of the bell (at 9) before the morning service; that New- comb's Questions on the First Corinthians be the textbook of the School for the ensuing year; that the Superintendents be a committee to provide the books for the Library; and that the Sabbath School be opened with prayer, throughout the year."
The first Sunday Schools were held in the Meeting-House before the morning services, and after the first bell, winter and summer. This practice of holding the Sunday School classes before the morning services was continued for many years. The custom of holding two or more services each Sunday was carried on for many years, too. The interim between services of one hour in winter and one hour and a half in sum- mer presumably was for the purpose of allowing church-goers to have a noon meal. In some churches a "noon house" was provided where in a
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REV. PAUL M. DIETTERICH, 1953 - 1957 ASSISTANT MINISTER AND DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
BASTILLE MALSEY ASSOCIATES, ARCHITECTS
ARCHITECT'S SKETCH OF THE EDUCATIONAL BUILDING, NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION
small building near the site of the church, families could gather between morning and afternoon services in the winter months to "thaw out" and eat a cold lunch brought from home. There is no mention of such a building in the Church records and in all probability the Meeting-House was located near enough so most of the people could go home during the intermission. But the fact that the Sabbath School until 1842 was held at 9, Church services at 10:15 or 10:30 and another service at 1 o'clock or soon after made a very long day for the children.
In 1911 a "morning class for Little Ones under the direction of Miss Margery White" was held at 10:30, during Church services, and this was a forerunner of Nursery Classes or Kindergarten as churches have these days. Classes were held in Lyceum Hall, after it was built in 1829, from May 1st to November 1st in the meeting rooms on the second floor and the Church contributed varying amounts for its use - $23.50 in 1846, $3. in 1839, and for many years there was no charge.
Beginning in 1840, "infants as well as older youth were accom- modated" in Sabbath School, and the enrollment was gradually in- creased from 75 in 1826 to 128 in 1830, 145 in 1838 (when they voted to "recommend larger classes so that fewer teachers would be needed") to 165 in 1839. The only mention of public schooling in the Church records is a-notation under date of January 6, 1842, "the central school house which for many years was used as the only vestry of the Parish was burnt down between the hours of 11 and 12 p.m., origin of the fire unknown."
In addition to "Newcomb's Quotations on the First Corinthians" and "Emerson's Doctrinal and Historical Catechism," already men- tioned, "The Assembly's Catechism" and "A History of Christ" are other textbooks referred to in the records as having been in use. Mention is made of a "graded system of lessons in use for the past two years" which ideas has continued, almost uninterrupted, since 1911. In 1935, "The Pilgrim Boys' and Girls' Quarterly," and work books were intro- duced.
Until 1889, the Sabbath School department held separate annual meetings and frequent monthly meetings and the annual report of 1889 lists "receipts of $194 with expenses of $152 including $50 to the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society." In 1890, the meetings were held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Church, continuing, however to have separate treasuries. In fact, not until 1927 were the Sunday School expenses included in the Church budget, to be discontinued again in 1934 "as they wish to be financially
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independent." In another reversal, in 1956, the Sunday School (now called Christian Education) budget was again incorporated in the Church budget.
In a report of the superintendent, Charles S. Bates, in 1911, he mentions that "the envelope system has been continued and has proven beneficial to the children." Whether or not the children made pledges for their contributions is not known, but in 1939 Elmer F. Wilcox reported "the Sunday School is now using pledge boxes for the first time, with gratifying results" and he also mentioned very "crowded conditions."
For over 20 years, a Home Department was conducted in con- junction with the Sunday School and the following is quoted from the Superintendent's report for 1921 by way of explanation: "The Home Department takes the Church School to those who cannot attend the class sessions in the Church and has nine classes with an enrollment of 130. Mrs. Henry A. Putnam, the superintendent of this department, has the assistance of eight visitors. The Home Study books are taken into the homes and there members are kept in touch with the Church." The most recent mention of this department was in the superintendent's report of 1939.
The timing of the Sunday School classes has varied with the years. After the class for small children was introduced during the morning service, a Kindergarten class was introduced in 1912 to be held during the Church service, and the Sunday School continued to meet at noon until as recently as 1930. In 1932, Sunday School was transferred to 9:30 and this had its advantages as long as there was enough room and until they began to conflict with the Sunday morning choir practice. It was the custom to hold Sunday School in the Parish House and some of the older classes in the sanctuary. By mutual agreement these latter classes closed at 10:15 to give the choir a chance to rehearse with the organ from 10:15 to 10:30. Of course, with the incorporation of two church services in 1951 and the beginning of double sessions in the Sunday School in 1950, this practice was dropped.
Overcrowded conditions in the Sunday School facilities are not a new problem as a report of 1935 shows: "We are very fortunate in having in charge here a professionally trained superintendent in the person of Mrs. Josephine R. Gale (a minister's widow). There are about sixty pupils in the Beginners' group and all the room they have is the Ladies' Parlor (now called the Reception Room). This lack of space is one of our difficult problems. The children range in age from four
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to six years, and in addition to their regular program of Bible stories, prayer, game periods and song service, they have carried out a number of very interesting projects. Among these is the day in the spring when these little tots carried a bright flowering pansy plant and a message to 30 shutins who were unable to enjoy the beauty of the spring days out of doors. Birthday pennies are contributed to missionary work in a very unique service and thus the little ones are taught their first lesson in Christian giving." Attention has been focused each year since on the need for more space for the Sunday School and as the enrollment has grown rapidly, the problem has become more and more acute. At first, in 1950, double sessions were introduced. This alleviated the problem for a while; then departments were reversed in their location as some of the younger departments outnumbered the older ones. Now in the fall of 1957, it is anticipated that with the completion of the new educational wing on the Parish House not only will the Church School have sufficient room but the surroundings will be pleasanter and more conducive to religious teaching.
Mr. Clinton Kew who served as an assistant minister and part-time Sunday School assistant in 1935 was the first of many fine directors of religious education that this Church has had since. Each year for the next ten, the Religious Education Committee reported the need for professional help but not until 1946 was it voted to hire a Religious Education Director for 10 months, Mrs. Jennie (George) Winsor, who remained with the Sunday School until 1948 when she was reluctantly released to accept a similar position at the First Congregational Church, St. Petersburg, Florida. In the Church calendar under date of December 26, 1948, it says: "The profound impression she has made on students and teachers alike merits our deep gratitude." She returned to First Church in July, 1949 to remain for another year, and as reported in the Church calendar "it is good to have her back to take up the leader- ship of our program of Religious Education."
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