USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > History of the First Universalist Church in Somerville, Mass., illustrated : a souvenir of the fiftieth anniversary, celebrated February 15-21, 1904 > Part 6
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
ary, 1880, but resigned in September of the same year, being succeeded by Mr. Murch, who merely filled out the unexpired term.
At the annual meeting on January 5, 1881, Irving Smith was elected to the position, and served two years ; after which Augustus Hodgman occupied the place with marked success for five years, followed by George M. Stevens, who served during 1888-1889; Seth Mason in 1890; Arthur W. Glines, 1891 to 1895, inclusive; and A. A. Wyman from 1895 to the present time. In 1895 the school reached high-water mark in membership, as the report shows a total of 453 active members in at- tendance.
Friday night was decided upon as the regular meeting night of the teachers in September, 1881. And in 1884 the first teachers' sociable, as they are now known, was held at the house of John F. Ayer.
The pastor, Rev. C. A. Skinner, entertained the next year, and Mr. and Mrs. John F. Nickerson the following year. Since that time the gatherings have been held in the vestry, although on several regular meeting nights the teachers were pleasantly entertained by Miss Mary Clark, who conducted the infant class successfully for so many years. The school met with an irreparable loss when this good woman died two years ago. Three gen- erations of Sunday School scholars had grown up under her guidance, and her influence is still felt in the world, in a manifold degree, through the many young men and women who to-day remember her kind and helpful words and her infinite love for child life.
The most notable event of late years was the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of the school, which oc- curred February 23, 1894. All who had at any time been connected with it as officers or teachers were in- vited, and about 200 were present. Many old friends met for the first time in years, and it was, in consequence, a most enjoyable occasion.
There are doubtless many things that should be men-
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FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
tioned in an article of this sort which, for lack of infor- mation, are omitted. I recollect, however, one matter of which no mention is made in the records. It is the kindness of four classes in the school, by whose efforts there have been placed upon the vestry walls five pic- tures, which have greatly added to its appearance.
Mrs. A. H. Carvill's class gave the one in the infant class room, Mrs. G. D. Haven's class that which repre- sents Jesus among the doctors, Mrs. S. W. Fuller's class the two on the opposite wall, and Mr. A. Hodgman's class the one of St. Cecilia. The good example set by these classes should be emulated by others, until our vestry walls are "embellished" by ten or more fine pictures.
Our Sunday School may well take pride in the knowl- edge that at least five of its members have entered the Universalist ministry : Rev. E. H. Chapin, Rev. R. A. White, Rev. Leslie Moore, Rev. George F. Fortier, Rev. Gertrude A. Earle, the latter being one of the first women to graduate from Tufts Theological School, and be ordained to the Universalist ministry.
The school to-day is modern in every sense. No effort is spared to make it the leading Universalist Sun- day School in the Metropolitan district in training methods, as it already is in numbers. Stereopticon lec- tures reviewing the lesson are given several times during the year ; a kindergarten class, with a trained teacher at its head, cares for the youngest scholars, while every effort along social lines is made to attract and keep the older scholars interested. The teachers are given op- portunities to hear lectures by expert Sunday School workers, and, in fact, no branch is neglected that will help in any way to aid in the upbuilding of moral characters in the youths of to-day.
The present officers of the school are : Superintendent, A. A. Wyman ; vice-superintendent, Mrs. G. D. Haven ; secretary, Joseph Mess ; assistant secretary, Mrs. Joseph Mess; treasurer, Mrs. Robert Hayes.
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HISTORY OF YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHRISTIAN UNION
BY REV. GEORGE F. FORTIER
On January 8, 1888, Rev. C. A. Skinner gave notice from his pulpit that on that evening a meeting of the young people (fifteen to eighty years of age) would be held for the purpose of forming a religious society. In response to the call, about sixty persons gathered in the vestry, and after the plan had been explained by H. E. Robinson and H. R. Rose, students at Tufts Divinity School, it was voted to form a society; and committees were appointed to draw up a constitution, decide upon a name for the society, and bring in a list of names for officers.
At the next meeting of the society, the name Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was adopted, and the following officers were elected: President, F. M. Hawes; vice-president, Lillian F. Ayer; secretary and treasurer, William Moore. It was voted to hold weekly devotional meetings and monthly business meetings. It was also voted that all funds be raised by voluntary contribution. It may be interesting to note the first year's work of the society. Forty-one devotional meet- ings were held, in charge of twenty-one persons, nine being members of the society, and twelve being ministers, divinity students, etc. These meetings averaged seventy-five in attendance. The society sent money to both the state and general convention of Uni- versalists, and did considerable missionary work.
In January, 1889, Leslie Moore was elected president, · and served six months, During his term of office, Sun-
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day schools at Dover, N. H., and Blenheim, Canada, were aided. At this time the formation of a national confederation of young people's societies was being agi- tated, and our constitution was made the basis of the proposed society. Alfred Cardall was at the head of the movement, and the result was our present national Y. P. C. U.
Miss Gertrude Earle was the next president, serving from June, 1889, to June, 1890. Her term of office was an exceedingly busy one. Aid was given the new so- cieties at Cambridge and Arlington, leaders being sup- plied for their meetings at times. Money was given toward the scholarship at Tufts, founded by the Ladies' Society, toward the Bethany Home for Women, and toward the Japan Mission. On January 4, 1890, the so- ciety joined the national Y. P. C. U.
Miss Mary E. Ferguson held the office of president for the next six months. As the fair was held at this time, all the energies of the society were devoted to that.
F. H. Safford was the next president, holding office from January, 1891, to January, 1892. So many calls were made upon the society at this time, that an enter- tainment committee was formed to raise funds, and they were, and have been, successful. Much outside work was done, and our own church helped.
Mr. Safford was succeeded by H. T. Harwood (Janu- ary, 1892, to June, 1892). The society devoted their whole strength to the church at this time, and $100 was paid toward defraying the expenses of an unfortunate lawsuit.
Mrs. F. H. Safford was elected president June, 1892, and served until June, 1893. During her term of office, more outside work was done than at any other time.
In June, 1893, George F. Fortier was elected president. He resigned February 4, 1896, and Miss Amy Meserve was elected president. This same year $25 was con- tributed toward the Social Hall fund.
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
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Other presidents have been: Miss Minnie Flagg, 1897; Mrs. Fanny B. Kelly, 1898, January to June; Miss Mabel G. Delano, 1898, July to December; Miss Abbie Southworth, 1899; Miss Mabel Leavitt, 1900; Miss Lottie Draper, 1901; Miss Florence Stacey, 1902; Miss Nellie Quinnell, 1902-3; Miss Dorothea Benson, 1903-4.
During the fifteen years the society was in existence, the interest in its meetings and the missionary work done both inside and outside the parish was largely due to the efficient committees in charge of the work, and through- out its life it well exemplified its name by its many en- deavors for Christ and His church.
THE MEN'S CLUB
BY FRED L. COBURN
The suggestion of Rev. L. M. Powers that the social life of the membership in the church could be greatly strengthened by the organization of a men's club, whose work should aim to quicken a spirit of human brother- hood, and to advocate a deeper feeling of Christian kind- ness toward each other within the church circle, and to many without, led to the first meeting, which was held in the vestry on the evening of March 3, 1898.
Its first president was John F. Mills, and the board of officers was completed by the choice of Frank M. Rus- sell as vice-president; Fred L. Coburn as secretary; F. M. Wilson as treasurer ; and Charles S. Soule, Frank M. Hawes, and I. H. Wiley as executive committee.
The meetings were frequently held, and the attendance was very gratifying, for the programmes offered for the consideration of the members were invariably of a high order. Within a month from its first meeting, thirty- eight new members were enrolled, many of whom were in no other way connected with the church.
It has been the policy of the executive committee to secure talent of a wide range, of good reputation, and of abundant worth for entertainment and instruction. The labor performed by the board of officers along these lines has been wonderfully successful from the beginning, as a brief recital of some of the names of our entertainers will indicate: Rev. J. M. Pullman, D. D., Dr. E. H. Capen, D. D., Rev. George W. Bicknell, D. D., General Bancroft, Rev. C. W. Biddle, D. D., Frederick G. Petti- grove, Rev. R. Perry Bush, George W. Wilson, Judge W. H. H. Emmons, Mayor Edward Glines, Rev. A. E.
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
Winship, Hon. Robert Luce, Rev. Frank O. Hall, Koda Koaymar, Dr. Parker, of Harvard College, Rev. Peter MacQueen, Brigadier-General Aaron S. Daggett, Colonel Edwin C. Bennett, and many others, whose names will readily occur to those of our members who were fortunate enough to be present at the particular en- tertainments at which they presided.
It should be mentioned here, and gratefully, too, that many of them, in fact, most of them, cheerfully con- tributed their services gratuitously to the cause, and oftentimes, too, at considerable personal inconvenience. They were satisfied with the rather meagre reward of grateful and enthusiastic audiences, and the conscious- ness of having aided in the commendable objects of the club.
It has been the custom of the club now for many years to set aside one evening of the season as Ladies' Night, which should be foremost in many respects of all the club offerings. One of the features would be a banquet, followed by a varied entertainment of musical and liter- ary excellence, the artists frequently coming from long distances to be present.
The rapid growth of the club under the vigorous ad- ministration of its first president, Mr. Mills, and his able corps of officers amply shows how well and heartily were these efforts supported by our members.
Isaiah H. Wiley was our second president, being elected December 21, 1899, and continuing in office for six years. The other officers were F. W. Marden, vice-president, A. M. Haines, secretary, F. M. Wilson, treasurer, and Rev. H. D. Maxwell, Harry Haven, and A. E. Southworth as executive committee, who have ably assisted him in his many and varied successes, both from the standpoint of rapid gains in membership and from the delightful programmes brought for our consideration.
The season of 1904 opened with the following board
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FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
of officers : President, I. H. Wiley ; vice-president, F. W. Marden ; secretary, Roy K. Goodill; treasurer, F. L. Co- burn; executive committee, A. M. Haines, F. DeWitt Lapham, and Frank Lowell; and a membership of 125 members, all of whom entered cordially and with a har- monious and co-operating ambition into the social and self-educating principles of the club. There seemed to be a strong undercurrent of good feeling, and a desire to attain larger and larger successes. The first of the pro- grammes for the season was soon arranged, indicating that a good beginning had been made, and that all now needed was a continuance of the spirit that animated the start, and which rapidly developed with the season.
THE MISSION CIRCLE
BY REV. H. D. MAXWELL
This organization was formed in our parish on Janu- ary 22, 1901. On that day a meeting of ladies was held in the church parlors for the purpose of listening to an address upon the subject of "Mission Circles" by Mrs. Zelia E. Harris, of Worcester, then president of the Woman's Universalist Missionary Society of Massachu- setts. After she had presented the claims of the work, Rev. J. F. Albion, of Malden, and Miss Emma F. Foster, president of the Malden circle, gave interesting descrip- tions of the purposes and opportunities of societies of this kind. The pastor of the Cross-street Church gave the work his warmest and most enthusiastic approval.
At the conclusion of the speaking an organization was effected, and the following officers were provisionally elected: President, Mrs. Clara P. Haven; vice-president, Mrs. Mary Prescott; secretary, Mrs. Robert Hayes; treasurer, Mrs. Achsa M. Mills. The president and pas- tor were appointed a committee to draft and report a set of by-laws, and at a later meeting the following by-laws were submitted and adopted :-
BY-LAWS. ARTICLE 1.
This organization shall be known as the Mission Circle of the First Universalist Parish in Somerville. It shall be considered a branch of and auxiliary to the Woman's Missionary Society of Massachusetts.
ARTICLE 2.
Purpose .- It shall have for its object the planning and doing of all kinds of missionary work. So far as it has opportunity, it will minister unto all those who are in any
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way afflicted in body or mind. It shall have charge of the raising of all moneys with which to pay church quotas to conventions, hospitals, homes, charities, etc.
Its members will ever place foremost among their duties the work of church extension. They shall do all they can to bring strangers to our church and services, to interest them in our faith, and in the spirit of the Master to do the best they can to establish real friend- ship among the members of our parish.
The members shall be well organized for calling, and shall be ready to go to the homes of new-comers and bid them welcome to our fellowship.
ARTICLE 3.
Officers .- The officers of this Mission Circle shall con- sist of a president, vice-president, secretary, and a treas- urer, who shall be elected annually, and serve for one year, or until such time as their successors shall be chosen.
The meetings of this circle shall be held the second Tuesday of each month, beginning at 2.30 p. m., the an- nual meeting to be held on the second Tuesday in January.
ARTICLE 4.
Membership .- The circle shall be composed of women (or men), who shall pay into its treasury the sum of ten cents, and the annual dues shall be ten cents. Those de- siring to become members of the W. U. M. S. may do so by paying $1.
From the first well-attended and interesting meetings have been held. At several of the meetings valuable papers have been read by the members, and at various times well-known and able speakers from beyond the parish borders have been present and addressed the ' circle. We recall with pleasure visits from Rev. Charles Conklin, state superintendent of Massachusetts, Rev.
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
Thomas B. Payne, of Scranton, Penn., Miss Olga White, of Alabama, and others. On one or two occasions papers prepared by members of other circles have been heard with pleasure and profit.
Each year the Easter offering is in charge of the Mis- sion Circle. Money to pay parish quotas and for local philanthropic enterprises to the amount of many hun- dreds of dollars has thus been raised. Every winter sev- eral needy families are helped to tide over times when the wage-earner is out of work, and the problem of pro- viding food, clothing, and shelter becomes more than the members of the household can solve.
The social work of calling upon new people and non- churchgoers has been and is a prominent feature of our work. One year over 100 such calls were made, to the advantage of the church.
Our meetings are opened with Scripture reading and prayer, and close with the Lord's prayer. Reports bear- ing upon the work of the Universalist Church in the United States, Cuba, and Japan are presented every month, and serve a good purpose in keeping the mem- bers in touch with the larger endeavors of our church.
We recognize that Christianity is essentially a mis- sionary religion; that those who have the spirit of the Master in their hearts will never rest content until they have done all they can to extend the borders of His dominion. To feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to comfort the broken-hearted, and to bring souls into closer fellowship with Him who is the life and the light of the world-to these high ends the work of the Mission Circle is dedicated.
THE LEND-A-HAND CLUB
On September 29, 1896, a society of young ladies, known as the Lend-a-Hand Club, was started, through the influence of Rev. L. M. Powers, then the pastor of our church.
The object of the organization was primarily to re- member the sick of the parish with flowers, call on new- comers, and in other ways to supplement the pastor's efforts in building up the congregation.
The work of the club was soon broadened, however, so that it included sewing for the families of working women, providing Christmas gifts for poor children, and other work along distinctly charitable lines.
The first president was Miss Nellie M. Briggs. Other presidents have been : Miss Alice Niles, Mrs. Fred U. Burrows, and the present incumbent, Mrs. Frank E. Bateman. During the last year the society has worked under the direction of the Associated Charities agent. Although but little has been heard of the organization, it has, in its seven years' existence, been ever ready to "lend a hand" in all good work, whether connected with the church or not. And this meagre chronicle of its good works is not because they were few, but because the members to-day are looking forward and not back- forgetting the things of the past, and pressing onward.
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THE MISSION WORKERS
A most interesting and helpful organization is the Mission Workers, a society of young misses. The in- ception of this society was made in November, 1884, by Mrs. G. D. Haven. She took charge of a class of young girls in the Sunday School, and for about two years en- tertained them every two weeks in the afternoon at her house. A wish to join was expressed by others, and to unite them in friendship for each other and in loving service for the church and its work, Mrs. Haven formed them into the "Busy Bees." Later the older members were organized into the "Merry Workers."
On January 25, 1902, it was decided to reorganize these two societies into one, to be known as the Mission Workers. It was also voted that the new organization should work under the auspices of the Mission Circle.
Mrs. Haven, who has been in charge since the begin- ning, has had several earnest and faithful helpers at vari- ous times during the twenty years, among them being Mrs. H. Williams, Mrs. Arthur W. Glines, Mrs. William Wilkins, Mrs. J. F. Mills, Mrs. R. Y. Gifford, Miss Alice Nickerson, and Miss Abbie Southworth.
Since 1888 these young misses have raised and con- tributed about $1,000 to the church, and to other parish and denominational interests nearly $300 more. . At every fair they have had a table. They have gone into the houses of the poor and given food and clothing, and gladdened homes with well-laden Christmas trees.
To-day this band of young workers is as useful and as full of energy as were the earlier "Merry Workers" twenty years ago. Some of its members are children of those original little girls who as "Busy Bees" took so much pride in helping their church and Sunday School. As Rip Van Winkle says, "May they all live long and prosper."
LIST OF OFFICERS
STANDING COMMITTEES.
1854-Edwin Munroe, Jr., Erastus E. Cole, Reuben Horton.
1855-Edwin Munroe, Jr., Erastus E. Cole, Reuben Horton, Abram Welch, George W. Ireland.
1856-Edwin Munroe, Jr., Erastus E. Cole, Reuben Horton, Abram Welch, George W. Ireland.
1857-Edwin Munroe, Jr., Erastus E. Cole, Reuben Horton, Abram Welch, George W. Ireland.
1858-Edwin Munroe, Jr., Erastus E. Cole, Reuben Horton, Abram Welch, George W. Ireland.
1859-Edwin Munroe, Jr., Reuben Horton, George W. Ireland.
1860-Edwin Munroe, Jr., Reuben Horton, Charles Williams, R. Carver.
1861-Edwin Munroe, Jr., George W. Ireland, Charles Williams, R. Carver, E. E. Cole, David Elliot, Reuben Horton.
1862-Edwin Munroe, Jr., George W. Ireland, Charles Williams, R. Carver, E. E. Cole, David Elliot, J. T. Glines.
1863-Edwin Munroe, Jr., George W. Ireland, Charles Williams, R. Carver, E. E. Cole, David Elliot, J. T. Glines.
1864-Edwin Munroe, Jr., George W. Ireland, Charles Williams, R. Carver, E. E. Cole, David Elliot, J. T. Glines.
1865-Edwin Munroe, Jr., George W. Ireland, Charles Williams, R. Carver, E. E. Cole, David Elliot, J. T. Glines.
1866-Edwin Munroe, Jr., E. E. Cole, Charles Wil- liams, George W. Ireland, David Elliot, H. Haskins, G. W. Hadley.
1867-George W. Ireland, G. W. Hadley, H. Haskins, A. Eddy, J. Q. Twombly.
B.S. BINNEY GOL. 1859-62
S.W.FULLER 1865-1876
W. P. MITCHELL 1877-1891
JAS.RUNEY COL. 1854 -'58
AARON SARGENT COL. 1858
EDWIN MUNROE TREAS. 1854 -64
A.HODGMAN 1891-1897
A. W.GLINES 1897 - 1902
J. Q. TWOMBLY COL 1863-64
FORMER TREASURERS AND COLLECTORS OF THE PARISH
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
1868-B. S. Binney, G. W. Hadley, H. Haskins, A. Eddy, J. Q. Twombly.
1869-B. S. Binney, G. W. Hadley, Caleb Rand, Be- noni Bixby, J. Q. Twombly.
1870-B. S. Binney, S. W. Fuller, Caleb Rand, Benoni Bixby, J. Q. Twombly.
1871-B. S. Binney, S. W. Fuller, Caleb Rand, Benoni Bixby, J. Q. Twombly.
1872-J. F. Ayer, S. W. Fuller, George W. Ireland, J. F. Nickerson, J. Q. Twombly.
1873-J. F. Ayer, S. W. Fuller, George W. Ireland, J. F. Nickerson, J. Q. Twombly.
1874-H. R. Bishop, S. W. Fuller, W. P. Mitchell, J. F. Nickerson, J. Q. Twombly.
1875-J. Q. Twombly, S. W. Fuller, J. F. Nickerson, W. P. Mitchell, H. R. Bishop.
1876-H. Williams, C. A. Jenks, J. F. Nickerson, W. P. Mitchell, A. J. Taylor.
1877-J. Q. Twombly, Sears Condit, J. F. Nickerson, H. D. Jerauld, William Taylor.
1878-J. Q. Twombly, Sears Condit, H. Haskins, H. D. Jerauld, H. Williams.
1879-J. Q. Twombly, Sears Condit, H. Haskins, H. D. Jerauld, H. Williams.
1880-S. W. Fuller, J. F. Nickerson, George Stephens, S. R. Briggs, F. G. Lombard.
1881-J. Walter Sanborn, J. F. Nickerson, George Stephens, S. R. Briggs, F. G. Lombard.
1882-J. F. Nickerson, S. W. Fuller, S. R. Briggs, George Stephens.
1883-A. Hodgman, J. Walter Sanborn, O. J. Davis, S. W. Fuller, George Stephens.
1884-George Stephens, J. Walter Sanborn, A. Hodg- man, E. B. Sears, S. W. Fuller.
1885-O. A. Jenkins, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Carvill, · E. B. Sears, S. R. Briggs.
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FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
1886-O. A. Jenkins, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Carvill, J. W. Sanborn, S. R. Briggs.
1887-S. W. Fuller, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Carvill, Irving Smith, George Stephens.
1888-S. W. Fuller, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Carvill, Irving Smith, George Stephens.
1889-A. Hodgman, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Carvill, Irving Smith, George Stepliens.
1890-A. Hodgman, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Carvill, Irving Smith, George Stephens.
1891-W. P. Mitchell, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Carvill, J. A. Munroe, George Stephens.
1892-W. P. Mitchell, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Carvill, J. A. Munroe, George Stephens.
1893-W. P. Mitchell, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Carvill, J. A. Munroe, George Stephens.
1894-W. P. Mitchell, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Carvill, J. A. Munroe, George Stephens.
1895-W. P. Mitchell, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Carvill, L. V. Niles, C. E. Giles.
1896-George Stephens, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Car- vill, L. V. Niles, C. E. Giles.
1897-George Stephens, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Car- vill, L. V. Niles, C. E. Giles.
1898-George Stephens, J. F. Nickerson, A. H. Car- vill, L. V. Niles, C. E. Giles.
1899-S. C. Earle, J. F. Nickerson, J. W. Sanborn, L. V. Niles, C. E. Giles.
1900-J. W. Sanborn, J. F. Nickerson, J. F. Mills, L. V. Niles, C. E. Giles.
1901-J. W. Sanborn, J. F. Nickerson, J. F. Mills, L. V. Niles, C. E. Giles.
1902-D. W. Sanborn, I. H. Wiley, J. F. Mills, L. V. Niles, F. W. Marden.
1903-D. W. Sanborn, I. H. Wiley, J. F. Mills, L. V. Niles, F. W. Marden.
JOHN HUNNEWELL 1871 -1876
CHAS. WILLIAMS 1854-1871
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P.M. HARWOOD 1876-1896
SETH MASON 1896-1898
FORMER CLERKS OF THE PARISH
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FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Charles Williams, 1854 to 1865. Charles Williams, Jr., 1865 to 1873. L. P. Hollander, 1873. John Viall, 1873. John F. Ayer, 1873 to 1878.
Rev. W. S. Ralph, 1878 to 1880.
Fred Farnsworth, 1880.
Mr. Murch, 1880. Irving Smith, 1881 to 1883.
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