USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fall River > History, annals and sketches of the Central Church of Fall River, Massachusetts : A.D. 1842-A.D. 1905 : with portraits and views > Part 12
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After ten years of service, Miss Seymour, in 1877, returned to America for a short season of rest. She spent nearly a
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year with her friends. We were favored with her presence at a special meeting of the Society, and the ladies who met her, felt their respect merged into love, and into a warm personal interest. A more intimate acquaintance with her, speedily confirmed their judgment that she was one among a thousand.
Her health was fully established by the year's rest, and she returned again to her field of work, in August, 1878, from whence we received from time to time, most encouraging accounts of the success of her labors.
A beautiful personal gift sent to her in later years, was in the form of a silk bed-quilt, each square in varied fashion. Some were embroidered; some were painted; it was in very truth a " work of art," and proved to be a great magnet to draw the girls to school, since it furnished thirty-one varieties of embroidery which they were anxious to learn for the wed- ding trousseau, which each girl in the Orient prepares for herself. This bed-quilt was stolen by the Turks, but was sub- sequently redeemed and sent immediately to America for safe keeping.
After the terrible massacres and the destruction of property in Harpoot and vicinity in 1895-96, the Society sent to Miss Seymour the sum of four hundred dollars to be used at her pleasure among the sufferers.
In 1895, Miss Seymour was compelled to relinquish touring work with Miss Bush, because of its too great severity for her health and strength. She then devoted all her energies to loving ministry in the Orphanage and relief work in Har- poot, which the dreadful massacres had made necessary.
In 1904, Miss Seymour decided that diminishing strength made it expedient for her to return to home life in America; she arrived in August of the same year.
Thus, for upwards of thirty-five years, she maintained a conscientious, laboricus, and successful work in foreign fields, and has now, in the providence of God, returned to spend her
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declining years among friends, and to reap the reward of those who with Paul "have fought the good fight and now await the crown of righteousness which the Lord shall give to all them that have loved his appearing."
Rev. and Mrs. George Warren Hinman Missionaries to China
GEORGE WARREN HINMAN. Mr. Hinman was born in Baraboo, Sauk County, Wis., February 22, 1869. He is the son of Rev. Horace H. Hinman, who, with his wife, was a missionary in Sierra Leone, West Africa, 1860-66, and later in home missionary work in Wisconsin. Mr. Hinman first united with the College Congregational Church, at Wheaton, Ill. He graduated from Oberlin College in 1893, and attended the theological seminaries at Oberlin and Harvard, graduating from the latter in 1898. He became a student volunteer in the fall of 1890. He was at one time for two years in Wash- ington, D. C., engaged as a printer, and also two years in Chicago at the same trade. He was a professor of mathe- matics in the college at Benzonia, Mich., and later acting president of Gates College at Neligh, Neb. Before her mar- riage his mother did missionary work among the Indians of northern Minnesota.
Mr. Hinman was married to Kate Rumsey Bailey, Decem- ber 28, 1893, at Moreland, N. Y. They were appointed as missionaries of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, October, 1898, and sailed for their field from San Francisco on December 24 of that same year. Mr. and Mrs. Hinman were released from the Board in 1903, that Mr. Hinman might engage in Christian Endeavor work at Shanghai, China, under the auspices of the United Society of Christian Endeavor.
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KATE RUMSEY HINMAN. Mrs. Hinman, whose maiden name was Kate R. Bailey, was born in Elmira, N. Y., July 12, 1871. She was converted at Moreland, N. Y., in 1885, during a revival, and united with the Presbyterian church. She studied at the academy at Montour Falls, N. Y., and at Oberlin College. Mrs. Hinman states that she was led to think of foreign missionary work in 1892, " on account of Oberlin associations."
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hinman, having volunteered for foreign missionary work, were accepted by the American Board and assigned to the Shaowu station on the river Min, about two hundred miles west from Foochow, China. Their support was assumed by Central Church in October, 1898. Prior to their departure they visited Fall River, and met our peo- ple at a Thursday evening prayer-meeting, where greetings were exchanged, acquaintances made, and friendships formed which have continued to the present time. On their arrival in the foreign field, letters were frequently sent to and fro, gifts of books and useful articles for the new home were for- warded, and their names placed upon the church " Messenger," as the " foreign missionaries of Central Church."
When Mr. Hinman was invited to the oversight of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor work as general secretary at Shanghai, China, - a position he was well adapted to fill, -- and accepted the same with the approval of the American Board and our own Church, the special represen- tative relations between us were terminated. But our in- terest in Mr. and Mrs. Hinman and their work has been so cordial, that we have continued to follow them in their new relations to Christ and the Church, as they have labored to develop the youth of China in christian fellowship and help- fulness.
Mr. and Mrs. Hinman were re-appointed missionaries of the American Board, in February, 1905, and designated to the Foochow mission.
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Rev. and Mrs. Edward Scribner Cobb Missionaries to Japan
EDWARD SCRIBNER COBB. Mr. Cobb first made application to the American Board for appointment, on October 6, 1903. His letter was accompanied by an application from his fiancée, Miss Florence Brooks. Mr. Cobb's papers were approved on the 26th of January, 1904, and on the 23d of February he received appointment to Japan.
Mr. Cobb was born on August 24, 1878, at Medfield, Mass. His parents moved to Uxbridge, Mass., when he was about one year of age, where he resided for eight years. They then moved to Newton Centre, Mass., where his home has remained until the present time (1904).
Beginning with private school instruction at Uxbridge, Mr. Cobb passed through the grammar grades and entered the high school at Newton Centre. He entered Amherst College in 1896, graduating with the class of 1900. During college days at Amherst, his fondness for books found expression in the high grade of scholarship, which placed him fifth in his class at graduation and brought to him on different occasions special mention. He was elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society.
While in college, Mr. Cobb participated little in athletics, his natural bent being in the direction of music and scholar- ship. These special gifts found expression constantly during his three years' course of study at Union Theological Semi- nary, New York City, beginning in the fall of 1900. After graduating from the seminary in 1903, Mr. Cobb devoted himself to post-graduate study for one year, specializing in subjects fitting him peculiarly for foreign missionary service.
In his papers addressed to the officers of the American Board, Mr. Cobb says, "I have always been in the church. I became a 'member' in 1894." This statement suggests the
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christian character of the home in which he received his training. He says further: "My father was pastor of the church at Uxbridge, and as far back as I can remember, I learned from him to know God as a loving Father, and to take the life of Christ, as interpreted to me by him and in my home, as my standard of conduct. Every Sunday after- noon he used to spend with us children, showing us Bible pictures and telling Bible stories; or he used to walk with us through the fields, where we played a sort of game of naming the beautiful things that God had made. Family worship is also among my earliest memories, conducted by my father. Thus my early religious training was very careful."
Mr. Cobb joined the church (Congregational) in May, 1894. During his senior year at college, he experienced what he has called an " awakening " of his religious nature, brought about largely by the influence of the pastor and his wife over a church in Amherst in which Mr. Cobb played the organ. It was during this year, that he felt called to enter the ministry of Christ. This awakening was stimulated greatly by his visit to the Northfield Student Summer Conference of 1900. He says of this experience: "I there became convinced of my ability to go as a foreign missionary. The problem had al- ready been faced, but I had not sufficient evidence. The case seemed now perfectly clear, - there was far greater need in the foreign field. There was now nothing to prevent my going, while many who could not go would take care of the work at home. Therefore I 'volunteered.' "
During his second year at the seminary, Mr. Cobb began work in a mission church on the lower East Side. It was in connection with this work that he met Miss Florence Brooks, his fiancée. Mr. Cobb and Miss Brooks were married September 27, 1904, and sailed for Japan early in the fall of the same year.
FLORENCE BROOKS COBB. Mrs. Cobb, as Miss Florence Brooks, was a graduate of Smith College, in the class of 1900.
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After her graduation she engaged in teaching botany and nature study in two private schools. During this period, she also began to do settlement work on the lower East Side of New York City, having clubs at both the " College Settle- ment " and at the "Church of the Sea and the Land " (Presby- terian). During the third year after graduation, she resided at the Church House of the Sea and the Land, and did fresh- air work and tenement visiting all summer. In the fall of 1901, she took a ten weeks' course in stenography and type- writing and then filled a position as secretary to Dr. Smith Ely Jelliffe. Her settlement work continued, through the conduct of two girls' clubs at the Church of the Sea and the Land. During the following summer, she resided at the same Church House, as secretary to Rev. John Hopkins Denison, then in charge. During the summer of 1903, she undertook special preparation for the mission field, part of the year having been devoted to study at Teachers' College, New York, and one course of lectures having been taken under Dr. Hall at Union Theological Seminary.
Mrs. Cobb as Miss Brooks, was a member of the Presby- terian church. Her long experience in mission work in New York City, combined with her college and musical education, fitted her unusually well for foreign missionary service.
Mr. and Mrs. Cobb are now (1905) fully established in their home at Niigata, Japan. Just before sailing for their new field of labor, they both became members of Central Church, and their names are entered on our "Church Calendar " as " associate workers " in Japan.
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Ladies' Beneficent Society A.D. 1843 - 1905
Organization, January, 1843. Young People's Society, 1845. Patriotic Resolutions as to Dress, 1857. Lines by Mrs. Henry H. Fish. Annals of the Society, 1857-1862. Work for Home Mis- sions [in United States], 1865. Work for Mission School Children, 1873-74. New Church Edifice Furnishings, 1875. Annals of Society, 1878-1902. Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration, December, 1902. Annals of Society, 1902-1905.
THIS society was formed in January, 1843, in connection with the Central Church, for the purpose of assisting any children of the Sabbath school who might be in need of cloth- ing, and to do any charitable work which might commend itself as worthy. The name was originally the Sabbath School Beneficent Society.
There were seventeen charter members, namely, Mrs. Amelia Simmons (mother of Mrs. Benjamin Earl), Mrs. Susannah Bennett, Mrs. William Coggeshall, Mrs. Ann Glazier, Mrs. Nathan Durfee, Miss Betsey Cook, Mrs. Fidelia B. Durfee, Mrs. Charles C. Dillingham, Mrs. Seth Durfee, Mrs. Prince G. Hayden, Mrs. Joseph Durfee, Mrs. Richard Borden, Mrs. Mary Durfee, Mrs. Jesse Eddy, Mrs. S. Angier Chace, Mrs. Ruth Durfee, Mrs. William Carr.
Mrs. Carr is now the only surviving charter member of this society and of the Church.
At the time of the formation of the Beneficent Society and until the opening of the Mission School, there could have been little need among the children of the Sabbath school, and the work in those first years was principally the furnishing and filling barrels for home missionaries. In addition to this work, the ladies raised money by soliciting orders and making garments for which they received pay. Shirts were cut and
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made, kerchiefs hemmed, and quite a business done in making gentlemen's pants, coats, and vests.
For the first years the officers of the society were a presi- dent, whose duties included those of secretary, treasurer, and collector, and three directresses, who were expected to look up the objects of charity and report to the president. The first annual meeting was held with Mrs. Fidelia B. Durfee, January 4, 1844, at which meeting the following officers were elected: President, Mrs. Fidelia B. Durfee; directresses, Mrs. Jesse Eddy, Mrs. Patience Cook, Mrs. Eliza Ann Woods.
The membership fee was established at one cent a week for members, and one dollar a year for gentlemen, who might thus become honorary members. This schedule of fees has continued the same up to the present time (1905). As soon as the vestry of the church building on Bedford Street was completed, the ladies held their meetings in the northeast room, which was then used as the pastor's study, and which Mr. Washburn gave up to the society on these occasions. It was a small, dismal room, lighted by one window only, heated by a box wood-stove with one cover, and furnished with an iron teakettle. The sideboard was a pine cupboard, upon the shelves of which stood eighteen plates, eighteen mugs, one sugar-bowl, and one cream pitcher, - a plate and mug for each member and one for the pastor, who always came to tea.
The supper, which was prepared and cleared away by one family, designated for each meeting, while the others sat and sewed, was as simple as possible. Bread and butter, plain cake or doughnuts, coffee and tea, made up the repast.
The society increased rapidly in numbers and interest, and soon outgrew the little room in the vestry, and the meetings began to be held at the homes of the members. In the even- ing, the ladies were joined by the gentlemen, and these social gatherings are still remembered as the most delightful of occa- sions, for their harmony and good-fellowship in a common interest.
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The Young People's Society
Early in the fall of 1845, the young people of the Church proposed to form a society independent of the mother branch, raising their own funds for whatever especial work appealed to them. It took the name of the YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETY.
This society was organized at the residence of Mrs. William Coggeshall, on Purchase Street. Miss Julia A. Sessions (now Mrs. Eli Thurston) was chosen president; Miss Almira Chace, vice-president; Miss Elizabeth V. Durfee (Mrs. William Carr), secretary and treasurer. This venture was so popular and so many desired to join the society, that an age limit had to be established for members, sixteen years being the youngest allowed. The young gentlemen also became members, and faithfully attended the young ladies who attended the meet- ings. The gatherings were so delightful and social that no refreshments were necessary to call out the members. The following record gives some clew to the interest felt by the young ladies in their work.
October 23, 1849. The thirty-third meeting was held at the resi- dence of Mr. Morville. A fine moonlight evening. There were twelve members present. The young ladies were so well provided for, that one of the gentlemen went away alone, his services not being needed -- a rare occurrence, truly !
H. E. COGGESHALL, Secretary,
The work of the Young People's Society was mostly fancy- work. Black-walnut showcases, with glass doors, were built into the sides of the saloons in the ladies' cabin, both on the Bay State and on the Empire State, the "Fall River Line " of New York boats of that day, where some of the handsomest articles were placed for sale, the stewardess acting as sales- woman.
The society pledged itself to raise one hundred and fifty dollars annually as long as it should exist, to assist in the support of some home missionary, and the Rev. J. J. Hill, of Fayette County, Iowa, was the beneficiary of the society
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during the seven years of its separate existence. Mr. and Mrs. Hill visited Fall River in 1850, and met the young ladies, who were deeply interested in the account they gave of their work on the frontier.
In 1852, after accomplishing much work, the Young People's Society was merged into the Beneficent Society, in which the young ladies had always retained membership.
The mother society, the LADIES' BENEFICENT SOCIETY, had been steadily increasing in usefulness as time went on. Mis- sionary boxes and barrels were sent every year, and no trouble was experienced in raising money for the support of the work, until in 1857, when there came the great commer- cial depression and business panic and the following item is of interest in this connection:
At a meeting of the Ladies' Beneficent Society, holden at the resi- dence of Nathan Durfee, Esq., on the evening of the 5th instant, Mrs. H. H. Fish in the chair, the following motion was unanimously adopted:
Moved, That the present embarrassed state of the commercial interests of our country are in a great measure attributable to the fact that the " American people are so willing to purchase articles of foreign manufacture." In view of the foregoing, it was unani- mously voted, that hereafter the members of this society appear at its meetings dressed in fabrics of American manufacture and they most cheerfully recommend to similar benevolent societies, to adopt the same. Per order of secretary.
The following lines were written in connection with this incident by Mrs. Henry H. Fish.
'Twas a stately mansion begirt with charms, And adorned with gems of art, Where the bountiful lady and " good mine host " Performed the welcoming part.
An alms-giving, alms-loving company Assembled within those walls, Where willing hands and ready ear Ever heeded humanity's calls.
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Yet all were arrayed in costly robes Befitting the tasteful place,- With expensive silks, and gew-gaws, too, And collars of honiton lace.
A few there were, I would not forget, Of more staid and sober degree, Who wondered much that this should be called A Circle of Industry.
They thought of the costly and showy array, And how better far, they were sure, It would be to change it for silver and gold To give to God's perishing poor.
Scarce had this gleam of charity entered their hearts Than they quickly found tongue to confess That to their simple taste 'twere better to wear A bona fide calico dress.
The gentlemen all, with unanimous voice, Accepted this righteous plan : And the Lady Bountiful found among her guests A truly patriot man [Mr. Hale Remington]
Who promised to wear a gingham cravat And cloth of American make, With only such charms, fob-chains, and rings As are worn for such charity's sake.
It was well understood, ere the hour of ten, What the standard of dress should be, And henceforth we call it, with truer zest, A Circle of Industry.
From this time the society often held their meetings in the large vestry, though the practice of meeting frequently at private houses was not discontinued until many years later.
One of the memorable meetings, held in April of 1857, was at the home of Col. Richard Borden, when the invitation was given from the pulpit, and Miss Fidelia Fiske related, in the
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most entertaining and thrilling manner, her experience as a missionary among the Nestorians in the mountains of Persia. On that evening there were over three hundred present. There were many other occasions of peculiar interest, sometimes when generous gifts were presented to the pastor and his wife, as in January, 1861, when the ladies met at the home of the pastor, Dr. Eli Thurston, and presented Mrs. Thurston with a silver service and a set of china.
In 1862, several meetings were devoted to making clothes for the soldiers of the Civil War, who were then in great need.
Some time during the year 1865, a barrel was sent to a Mr. Hill in Iowa, who proved to be the same Mr. Hill whom the Young People's Society had helped during its separate existence.
This particular barrel cannot be dismissed without special notice, as it was a remarkable one in point of value. This was during the war, when money was plenty, and the table linen, woolen goods, and all the gifts were exceptionally good and bountiful, and above all was a lovely china doll with a complete wardrobe, beautifully made, and accompanied with its own poetical autobiography, all furnished by Mrs. H. H. Fish. Many a middle-aged, sober woman of to-day, feels again the same thrill of envy as she recalls the reluctance and regret with which, as a little girl, she saw that beautiful doll packed to go " out West." At this same time, a check for fifty dollars was sent to Mr. Hill, who immediately insured his life with it, and then wrote us about it. Later another barrel was sent to Mr. Hill, and a very valuable one to Mr. Arnold. The latter had a most interesting, highly educated wife, a German lady, who wrote to the society for several years, letters so unique in their literary charm and in their spirit of devotion and enthusiasm, that they have been type- written and preserved by her correspondent. A check for fifty dollars was also sent to Mr. Arnold.
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We were soon asked by Mr. Hill for another fifty dollars, as he wished to increase his insurance. The society, thinking him rather presuming, voted not to give it. Mr. Hale Reming- ton immediately sent him the fifty dollars from his own pocket, and before that year was out, word came that Mr. Hill had died and that Mrs. Hill, having received one thousand dollars insurance money, was able to meet the demands made by his long and suffering illness and to pay all his debts.
Another example of the generosity which our society has always experienced from the gentlemen of the church may be of interest. At the close of one year, the society's funds had become very low, only about six dollars being in the treasury to meet a debt of fifty dollars. It was suggested that the treasurer, Mrs. William Carr, call upon Dr. Durfee and Colonel Borden and ask for a little help. Dr. Durfee said he would give as much as Colonel Borden. Colonel Borden without hesitation, handing Mrs. Carr some money, said, "Tell the doctor, I have given seventy-five dollars." Another call upon Dr. Durfee resulted in a second seventy-five dollars and the debt was paid and one hundred dollars added for the new year of work.
In the early days of the society, the labor of making gar- ments for the children was much more difficult than it is to-day. Sewing machines were unknown. Tailor-made boys' clothes and ready-made garments of any description had not been dreamed of. Everything was to be stitched by hand, and often the small garments were fashioned from larger ones which had been worn, and much ripping, pressing, and con- triving was necessary. Many hundreds of boys' jackets, trousers, and vests, were cut and made by the ladies of the society, and this was no light and easy task, but required strength, patience, and skill. Mrs. Sarah Marble was one of the chief reliances in this most difficult part of the work, and through long years, her devoted services were cheerfully and untiringly given and gratefully appreciated.
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Although the work was constantly growing, the year 1873 ushered in a new era, when the demands upon the ladies were greatly increased, owing to the labors of our devoted mission- ary, Mr. Buck. He gathered the children in from the high- ways and the hedges, and the vestry became a veritable beehive. All the ladies of the Church felt inspired to help in the good work, and the meetings for sewing often numbered over eighty. The records show that during the season of 1873 and 1874, nearly twice as many garments were distributed as in any previous year, - two hundred and fifty-one gar- ments having been made in twenty meetings. Mr. John H. Boone kindly volunteered to cut the boys' suits, and this very helpful service he continued for many years. All the cloth for the same was given year after year by Messrs. Thomas F. and James C. Eddy, generous gifts which saved the society many dollars.
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