USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > History of the Central Congregational Church, Middleborough, Massachusetts 1847-1947 > Part 4
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(Hon. J. C. Sullivan at 50th Anniversary Banquet )
REV. HENRY M. GRANT 1879-1888
Rev. Henry M. Grant's pastorate was one of three of the longest in the history of the church and the longest at the time he was pastor of this church. He was installed September 25, 1879 and dismissed May 15, 1888. He was much beloved and when it was necessary for him to resign because of ill health, the church passed resolutions in which "they recognized with thankfulness the spirit of peacefulness and harmony which has characterized his pastorate of more than nine years; we ap-
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preciate his gentlemanly instincts, his social ability, his scholarship, his virtue and above all his noble Christian character."
REV. JOHN B. LAWRENCE 1889-1893
Rev. John B. Lawrence came to the Central Congregational Church from South Norwalk, Connecticut, being installed March 26, 1889. Mr. Lawrence was a fiery and dynamic preacher and had the courage of his convictions, bearing down hard on whist playing, dancing and other amusements he regarded as vice. His views were somewhat ahead of his time and were not always looked upon with approval by his parishioners. He favored having a band concert to attract persons not accustomed to attending church. He tried it once and among the large group present were seventy persons who were not church-goers. One project he tried very hard to carry through was to make the chapel, not then in use, into a gymnasium. The scheme was smothered. He was described as a man thin and wiry, with blue-black eyes and wavy black hair and a deter- mined chin. But his four years were among the most prosperous in the church history. The church grew numerically and physically. It was during Mr. Lawrence's pastorate that the church was remodelled, being raised from a one story building to the two story edifice it is today.
Mr. Lawrence resigned March 13, 1893 because of ill health. He later became pastor of the Congregational Church at Claremont, New Hampshire.
REV. RICHARD G. WOODBRIDGE 1893-1901
Rev. Richard G. Woodbridge was born in England and came to this country when a boy of fifteen years of age. His early education was received in Christ Church School, Hampstead, London. In Mr. Woodbridge's words, "the same spirit that brought me across the water- the spirit of liberty-carried me out of the Episcopal Church in which I was baptized and confirmed, into the Congregational church." Interested in business, he took a business course in New York City and entered
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business life. Becoming active in church work, he resolved to give his entire energies to the Christian ministry.
Mr. Woodbridge prepared for the ministry by study at Bangor Seminary from which he graduated with honor in 1880. He accepted a call to a church in Iowa City, Iowa, going from there to a six year term of service at the Forest Avenue Congregational Church of New York City. On November 9, 1893 he began his pastorate in Middleborough. From the Central Congregational Church, which he left on December 31, 1901, Mr. Woodbridge went to the Prospect Hill Congregational Church of Somerville, Massachusetts, and later was pastor of the Congregational Church at Vergennes, Vermont. Following this term of service, Mr. Woodbridge retired and returned to Middleborough where he lived until his death, July 6, 1921. Mrs. Woodbridge died June 6, 1943 and both are buried at the Nemasket Hill Cemetery in Middleborough.
The years of Mr. Woodbridge's ministry were distinguished as being among the most active in the history of the church. He organized num- erous societies among the young people and older groups and gave courses of lectures each winter. In 1898 he was awarded a prize of $1000.00 in a sermon contest sponsored by the New York Herald. This sermon, "The Power of Gentleness," Mr. Woodbridge preached in the Central Congre- gational Church Sunday morning, September 26, 1897. During Mr. Woodbridge's pastorate the church observed its Fiftieth Anniversary.
REV. SAMUEL M. CATHCART 1902-1907
Rev. Samuel M. Cathcart received his early training at the Mt. Hermon School at Northfield where he spent four years. While at Northfield, he met and married Miss Harriett Hall, a close friend of Mrs. Dwight L. Moody. After leaving Northfield, Mr. Cathcart engaged in an evangelistic tour of New York State with the late Dwight L. Moody, and then spent some months abroad. On his return he accepted a call to the Congregational Society in Westerly, Rhode Island, after which he enrolled in the Yale Theological School, graduating in 1895 with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. He took a post graduate course the fol- lowing year and in 1896 accepted a call to the Third Congregational Church of Chelsea, Massachusetts.
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Mr. Cathcart began his pastorate in Middleborough September 21, 1902 and concluded it January 31, 1907. Returning to Rhode Island, he preached in the Pawcatuck Congregational Church of Westerly, Rhode Island and at his death, October 1, 1937, Mr. Cathcart was Pastor Emeritus of this church. Mrs. Cathcart died March 15, 1930.
Mr. Cathcart was prominently identified with denominational work in this part of the State, serving with distinction in several important capacities.
REV. NORMAN MCKINNON 1907-1914
Rev. Norman Mckinnon was a native of Ayrshire, Scotland, com- ing to the United States in 1862. His early education was received in the common schools of Scotland. When his parents sailed to America, they arrived in Boston and there made their home. Mr. Mckinnon entered the Boston Classical Institute and later attended the Bangor Theological School of Bangor, Maine, graduating in 1892. Two years later he was graduated from Bowdoin College, after which he accepted a call to St. John, New Brunswick, where he remained a year, returning to Boston to enter Harvard Divinity School. He was graduated from this school in 1896 with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. He served parishes in Foxcroft and Augusta, Maine and in Cliftondale, Massachusetts.
Mr. McKinnon began his pastorate in Middleborough October 25, 1907 and remained until January 31, 1914. From Middleborough he went to Utica, New York where he remained five years, returning to Massa- chusetts to the Congregational Church at Franklin.
In 1896, Mr. McKinnon married Miss Etta Whitehouse of Topsham, Maine and there are six children, Elizabeth, Francis, Donald, Mary, Normena and Marjorie, who, with Mrs. McKinnon, survive him. Mr. McKinnon died in December, 1919.
Of a very congenial, friendly nature, Mr. McKinnon had an unusually large circle of friends in Middleborough. He was revered, respected and loved by all who knew him. He drew many people into the church and during his ministry the church attained the largest membership in its career.
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REV. NEWELL C. MAYNARD 1915-1917
Rev. Newell C. Maynard was born in Marshfield, Maine, November 26, 1880 and received his early education in the schools of Marshfield, at Machias High School and Bucksport Seminary, Bucksport, Maine. In 1901 he was licensed as a local preacher by the East Maine Methodist Episcopal Conference, Bucksport district. In 1902 he was called to the pastorate of the Methodist church in China, Maine and the following year accepted a call to become pastor of the Congregational church in Milford, Maine.
In 1904 Mr. Maynard entered Bangor Theological Seminary. In 1905 he was called to the pastorate of the Congregational church in Lincoln, Maine and in 1907 was graduated from the Bangor Theological Seminary. The same year he became assistant pastor of the Eliot Con- gregational Church of Newton, Massachusetts. After a year of travel in Europe, he entered Dartmouth College, specializing in psychology and graduating in 1910 with an A.B. degree. For another year he travelled on this continent and in 1911 accepted a call to the South Congregational Church of Peabody, Massachusetts. In 1913, Mr. Maynard was selected by the National Society for Broader Education to lecture on psychology with residence at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Mr. Maynard began his pastor- ate in Middleborough on May 29, 1915, remaining as pastor of the Central Congregational Church for two years. He then accepted a call to the Center Church at Haverhill, Massachusetts, concluding his ministry in Middleborough December 31, 1917.
Shortly after Mr. Maynard's removal to Haverhill, an endowment was given Tufts College stipulating that Mr. Maynard should head the department of Oratory and Public Speaking. This position Mr. Maynard held until his death which occurred on February 25, 1943.
Mr. Maynard married Miss Olive Henderson Dunne, who survives him. They had one son, Paul, who recently met a tragic death when the plane on which he was travelling from New York to Boston exploded and burned.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Maynard were much interested in young people.
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Mr. Maynard was superintendent of the Sunday School and greatly in- creased the membership. Mrs. Maynard organized the White Church Guild, a society for young women which has grown to be the largest or- ganization in the church.
REV. JOSEPH B. KETTLE 1918-1921
Rev. Joseph B. Kettle was born in Elton, New York. He was gradu- ated from the Jamestown, New York, High School and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Colorado College and the degree of Bach- elor of Divinity from the Yale School of Religion, Yale University. Dur- ing college and seminary vacations, Mr. Kettle was employed by the Home Missionary Society in the East and West, working among miners, fishermen and factory workers, experiences which proved valuable train- ing for his future work. Before graduating from Yale School of Religion, Mr. Kettle received a call to the church of Greenfield Hill, Connecticut, and was ordained and installed at this historic church.
From Greenfield Hill, Mr. Kettle went to Rapid City, South Dakota. After three years he accepted a call to Amboy, Illinois and from there went to St. Joseph, Missouri. Remaining here a little more than five years, Mr. Kettle was called to Leominster, Massachusetts, where he served the Congregational Church for nearly eight years.
Mr. Kettle began his pastorate in Middleborough on April 1, 1918. After a ministry of three years, he resigned to take effect March 21, 1921, having accepted a call to the South Congregational Church of Rochester, New York. In 1926, Mr. Kettle answered a call to the South Congrega- tional Church at Utica, New York and during his ministry a new church was built and the membership more than doubled. From Utica, Mr. Kettle went to Spencerport in 1930, later accepting a call to Holly, New York, where he died at his home on September 18, 1944.
During the early years of his first pastorate Mr. Kettle married Miss Grace Gilbert of Grand Junction, Colorado. They had three sons, Joseph, Lester and Arthur. Mrs. Kettle died on the first New Year's Day of their stay in Middleborough. Before leaving Middleborough, Mr. Kettle mar-
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ried Miss Anna L. McMillan of Gloucester, Massachusetts, who survives him, making her home in Holly, New York.
Mr. Kettle was devoted to his spiritual duties. He held many meet- ings on the Sabbath and weekdays, and during the week he spent much time calling on the aged and ill members of the parish.
REV. JOHN P. GARFIELD 1921-1936
Rev. John P. Garfield was born in Peterboro, New Hampshire, March 5, 1873. Mr. Garfield prepared for college by four years of study at Worcester Academy, graduating in 1894, and graduated from Amherst College in 1898, following which he was appointed principal of the Conant High School in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. After one year of teaching he began a three years course of study at the Hartford Theological Sem- inary. Graduating in 1902, he accepted a call to the Congregational Church in Enfield, Connecticut, where he remained five years. While there he was ordained to the ministry on October 30, 1902. From Enfield Mr. Garfield went to the East Congregational Church of Cleveland, Ohio and in 1909 was called to the Congregational Church in Claremont, New Hampshire. From 1917 to 1921 he served as pastor of the Congregational Church of Rochester, New Hampshire, resigning to begin his work at the Central Congregational Church of Middleborough. His term of service began September 11, 1921 and was concluded May 15, 1936, his being the longest pastorate in the history of the church as well as in Mr. Garfield's thirty-four years of Christian ministry.
On December 30, 1902, Mr. Garfield married Miss Julia French Owen. They have two sons, Owen R. and John F. Garfield.
At the close of his ministry in Middleborough, Mr. Garfield retired from active service and became ad-interim pastor, serving many churches in the vicinity of Taunton, where Mr. and Mrs. Garfield have established their permanent home, and in Rhode Island.
While in Middleborough, Mr. Garfield instituted a vigorous recruiting of membership. During his pastorate, 304 united with the church and he baptized 419 adults and infants. Mr. Garfield was instrumental in
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establishing the Larger Parish which provided preaching services for Lakeville and Rochester. He organized a young people's discussion group which developed into an organization found in churches throughout the State, known as the Pilgrim Fellowship. In addition to his duties as min- ister, Mr. Garfield found time for active participation in other Christian work, serving as chairman and member of many important committees locally and in the State.
REV. DAVID J. JULIUS 1936-1945
Rev. David J. Julius was born in Spring Grove, Pennsylvania. He attended Spring Grove High School and was graduated from Gettysburg College in 1927 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Until 1930 he represented the American Board of Foreign Missions in Aleppo, Syria, where he taught in a junior college and served as assistant to the President.
On his return from Syria he entered the Hartford Theological Sem- inary and was graduated in 1933 with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity. Ordained in the North Berkshire Association of Congregational Churches at Middlefield, Massachusetts, in 1934, he was pastor of the Middlefield Congregational Church until he accepted the call to Middleborough in October, 1936.
Mr. Julius served our church for eight years and nine months, the second longest pastorate in the history of the church. He resigned in July, 1945 to become Associate Pastor of the Plymouth Congregational Church of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
While teaching in Syria, Mr. Julius met Miss Dorothy Barker, who was also teaching at the college, and they were married August 2, 1933. They have three children, William, Phebe Ann and Peter.
During his pastorate in Middleborough, Mr. Julius placed special em- phasis on youth and devoted much of his attention to the younger group. He inaugurated the Annual Fall Church night, carried through success- ful preaching missions during the Lenten period, strengthened the organ- izational work of the church and laid the foundation for the observance of the One Hundredth Anniversary of the church.
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REV. RALPH B. EDWARDS 1946-
Rev. Ralph B. Edwards came to the Central Congregational Church from the Atlantic Memorial Congregational Church of Quincy, Massachusetts, where he served from 1934 to 1946. He assumed his new duties in Middleborough February 3, 1946.
Mr. Edwards was born in Magnolia, Iowa. He was graduated from Taber College, Taber, Iowa, and the Intermountain Union College of Helena, Montana. He took his divinity course at the Hartford Theolog- ical Seminary and was ordained in 1928 by the Berkshire South Associa- tion of Congregational Churches. Prior to his Quincy pastorate he was pastor of the New Marlboro Congregational Churches in Southfield, Massachusetts.
Mr. Edwards and Miss Miriam Moyer were married at Logan, Iowa, December 29, 1921. They have two children, Burris and Douglas.
In his previous pastorates, Mr. Edwards has been active in promot- ing youth organizations and is continuing this interest in Middleborough. He has been pastoral councillor of the Colonial Christian Endeavor Union and of the Norfolk County Christian Endeavor Union.
On January 29, 1947, a Service of Recognition was held when the Old Colony Association of Congregational Christian Churches met as a council to extend to Mr. Edwards the fellowship of the churches and their ministers.
To Mr. Edwards falls the task and privilege of guiding the church through the celebration of its One Hundredth Anniversary. Mr. Edwards has projected innovations into the church services which have met with the enthusiastic approval of church members. He has brought new light, new vision and inspiration in his excellent sermons. The Central Con- gregational Church looks forward with faith to a bright and fruitful future as it embarks on its second century under the earnest and spiritual leadership of Rev. and Mrs. Ralph B. Edwards.
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REV. RALPH B. EDWARDS 1946 -
DEACONS
In 1851, the question arose as to whether there should be more than one deacon. By a small majority it was voted that Horatio G. Wood, who had served as the one deacon since the organization of the church, should be regarded as Senior deacon and three more appointed to serve indefinite terms. No deacons were elected regularly until Feb- ruary 3, 1878 when it was voted the number of deacons should be four, one being chosen each year to serve four years.
1847 Horatio G. Wood
1907 Edward C. Wood
1851 Ebenezer Pickens
James D. Wilder
Henry D. Bassett
1908 William W. Tinkham Henry W. Sears John B. Thomas
1861 Abiel Wood
1909 Leonard O. Tillson David B. Monroe
1868 Ivory H. Harlow James M. Pickens
1910 Arthur H. Denham
1878 Calvin D. Kingman
George H. Doane
1911 Edward C. Wood Charles S. Tinkham
1880 Ivory H. Harlow Joshua Sherman
1912 Henry W. Sears John B. Thomas John J. Fowler, Jr.
1883 James M. Pickens
1884 Foster A. Harlow
1913 David B. Monroe Leonard O. Tillson
1886 Joshua Sherman
1914 Arthur H. Denham
1889 Calvin D. Kingman David B. Monroe
1915 Edward C. Wood Ernest S. Pratt
1890 Joshua Sherman
1916 Henry W. Sears John B. Thomas
1891 James M. Pickens
1892 David B. Monroe
1893 Calvin D. Kingman
1917 Leonard O. Tillson Alvin C. Howes
David B. Monroe
1918 Arthur H. Denham
James M. Pickens
Clifton F. Babbitt
Darius C. Wentworth
Henry W. Sears
1897 Arthur H. Denham
1899 David S. Surrey Henry W. Sears
1902 Leonard O. Tillson
1919 Martin L. Saunders Edward C. Wood John J. Fowler, Jr.
1920 John B. Thomas Edwin A. Sherman
1921 Leonard O. Tillson
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1882 Joshua Sherman
1887 James M. Pickens
1922 Henry W. Sears Arthur H. Denham Ernest S. Pratt
1934 Arthur H. Denham William J. Thibault
1935 Leonard O. Tillson Adnah H. Harlow
1923 John R. Thompson I. Bradford Thomas, Jr.
1936 Chester L. Shaw
Donald A. Morrison
1924 Edward C. Wood Edwin A. Sherman
1937
Boyd A. Iseminger Matthew W. Hanscom
1925 Ernest S. Pratt Howard C. Holden Leonard O. Tillson
1938 Ralph W. Cromwell Elwyn B. Lynde
1939
Leonard O. Tillson Adnah H. Harlow
1927
I. Bradford Thomas, Jr.
1928 Chester L. Shaw
Arthur J. Jackson
1941 I. Bradford Thomas, Jr. Frank G. Minott Arthur H. Denham
1929 Ernest S. Pratt
John R. Thompson
Nelson H. Manwaring
1930 Arthur H. Denham
William J. Thibault
1943 Maynard H. Goodridge Christie B. Crowell Kurt Jellinek, M.D.
1931 Adnah H. Harlow Leonard O. Tillson
1944 Chester L. Shaw Roderick G. Matheson
1932 Chester L. Shaw
Harry G. Norris
Martin L. Saunders
1945 Harry R. Belmont
1933 Boyd A. Iseminger Matthew W. Hanscom
1946 Adnah H. Harlow Edward L. Perry, M.D.
CLERKS
1847
Nathan King
1888
Ebenezer Pickens
1849 Rev. Isaiah C. Thacher
1892
Henry W. Sears
1852 Joseph Sampson, Jr.
1929
Leonard O. Tillson
1853
Noah C. Perkins
1942 Adnah H. Harlow (in service)
1854 Rev. William C. Dickinson
1856 Rev. Isaiah C. Thacher
Stanley D. Benson
1860 Noah C. Perkins
Acting Clerk
1878 George H. Doane
1946
Stanley D. Benson
1878 Andrew L. Tinkham
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1926 Henry W. Sears Arthur H. Denham
1940 Chester L. Shaw Joseph B. MacAllister
1942
Ralph W. Cromwell Arthur H. Denham
TREASURERS
1847 Branch Harlow
1871
George H. Shaw
1850 Ebenezer Pickens
1872
Jeremiah Doane
1852
Joseph Sampson, Jr.
1873
James E. Peirce
1854 Nathan King
1883
George E. Doane
1856
Noah C. Perkins
1887
Edmund O. Parker
1859
John Shaw, Jr.
1893
Edward S. Hathaway
1860
George L. Soule
1899
William R. Mitchell
1862
George H. Doane
1902
Arthur E. Shaw
1865
William C. Wood
1904
William R. Mitchell
1867
Calvin D. Kingman
1905
Edward S. Hathaway
1869
Cornelius B. Wood
1907
Albert A. Thomas
1870
William H. Wood
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HISTORY OF ORGANIZATIONS BY ROSE S. PRATT
FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY
The Middleboro Auxiliary of the Woman's Board of Foreign Mis- - sions was organized in 1867, the first year the Woman's Board of Mis- sions was formed. Its object was to extend the knowledge of Christ and His teachings in other lands.
Its first President was Mrs. Philander Washburn. The first Secre- tary and Treasurer was her daughter, Miss Mary L. Washburn. Very soon after the formation of the society, Miss Washburn was chosen as Corresponding Secretary of the Old Colony Branch of the Woman's Board. She was also teacher in the Sunday School of the Infant Depart- ment, and the children were formed into a Missionary Band, called the Henrietta Band, the name chosen in honor of her brother's wife. Rev. George Washburn at that time was a teacher in Roberts College, Con- stantinople, afterwards its President, and his wife, Henrietta, was a daughter of Dr. Cyrus Hamblin. The efforts of this family were crowned with great success in this work.
The meetings of the society were held once a month in the church parlor. Letters from missionaries were read, members read missionary books and missionaries on furlough were guest speakers. Our own Miss Miriam Hathaway (now Mrs. Harry LeBaron Sampson) was a teacher in the American College for Girls (now Amerikan Kiz Koleji), Turkey, from 1909 to 1913. Upon her return home, she gave a splendid account of customs, manners and occupations of Turkish women.
The Society was fortunate to have at one time as a member Mrs. Corda Gracey, who lived for several years in Foochow, China. She was conversant with conditions, customs and needs of the Chinese people, and gave several most interesting talks about the country.
Each year, beginning in 1894, a Thank Offering Meeting was held, and money was subscribed for a special branch of missionary work, such as salaries, hospitals, scholarships, and supplies.
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Membership varied from thirty-four to the high water mark of ninety-six in 1895. Always the members were interested and most generous in their gifts. The last meeting of the society was held in May, 1928.
HOME MISSION CIRCLE
The Young Ladies' Home Missionary Society was organized on December 6, 1870 with Mrs. James Pierce, President; Miss Lottie Wood, Treasurer; and Miss Sallie R. Kingman, Secretary.
The Young Ladies believed it to be a privilege and duty to aid the Home Missionary cause, and to help such persons in their town as were deemed worthy. Meetings were held each Tuesday evening in the homes of the members. A young lady could become a member by signing the constitution and paying 25c. A gentleman could become an honorary member by the payment of 50c a year.
On December 9, 1873 the society's name was changed to Young Ladies' Home Mission Circle. On January 20, 1891, it was shortened to Home Mission Circle, and meetings were thereafter held in the church. In February, 1896 it became an Auxiliary to the Woman's Home Mis- sion Association. (For a short time, there were "Misses of the Home Mission Circle"). Under any name, the ladies were always busy sewing. They made clothes, quilts, sheets, pillow cases, aprons and fancy work. Some were sold, some were given to the needy.
Since many parishes in the South and West were a long distance from supplies, the Circle packed barrels every year which they sent to pastor's families, as requests came to them. New material, books, maga- zines and used clothing were solicited. It is reported that in some in- stances buttons were cut from dresses before they were donated for packing.
Contents of a typical barrel: one shawl, one waterproof, two winter cloaks, one spring saque, one velvet skirt, material for dress, one suit men's clothes, three pairs panteloons, one coat, three overcoats, one woolen scarf, one pair chemises, one shirt, two pairs corsets, two pairs rubbers, one pair boots, one book, five yards edging, fifteen handker- chiefs, twelve pairs hose, one pair gloves, three linen collars, two pairs mittens, $10.00 in money, reading matter.
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Sources of income were fees, and fines, sales of comforters, sheets, pillow cases and aprons. Annually they opened "Mite Boxes" with due ceremony. Many can remember their abundant Harvest Suppers which were annual events in the life of the church. Gifts were received from many generous members. Mrs. Mary Kingman bequeathed $1000.00, the interest to be used as needed every year. All gave their time faith- fully. Mrs. Katherine S. Wood was Secretary for 24 years. Because of the passing of many members, the society disbanded in 1926.
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