USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > One hundred years of Mount Vernon Church, 1842-1942 > Part 10
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THE SOLDIERS AID ASSOCIATION DURING THE CIVIL WAR
At a meeting of Mount Vernon Church and Society, held on October 21, 1861, Mr. E. S. Tobey, Mr. Benjamin Bradley, Mr. J. C. Tyler, the Reverend I. P. Warren, and Mr. W. R. Butler were chosen a committee to propose "a plan of organization & recommending measures to secure associated efforts in furnishing clothing & other articles of necessity & comfort to the Soldiers of the U. S. Army now in active service." At a subsequent meeting, the Reverend Edward N. Kirk was chosen president of the Association.
On October 29 of that year the committee voted to raise "a sum not less than three hundred dollars" to purchase materials. It is evident that
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ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF MOUNT VERNON CHURCH
there was no difficulty in immediately raising the money, because two days later the "ladies held their first meeting to sew," and "the good number present" were able to cut out 9 flannel night gowns, 35 shirts, 37 drawers, 70 pillow ticks, and 62 pillow slips. Yarn was also distributed to the ladies for knitting. It is amazing how much work was accomplished at the weekly Thursday meetings.
In November, 1861, Mrs. Bremer donated a sewing machine,18 valued at $80. It would be interesting to know if this is the same sewing machine which continues to raise the blood pressure of the workers, to-day.
On November 8, the first box was sent away to Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Palfrey, Twentieth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, Camp Ben- ton, Poolesville, Maryland. The box, valued at $162.52, contained 361 articles. You will be interested in the following itemized list: 16 pairs of drawers, 2 U. S. Army blankets, I white wool blanket, 84 pairs of stock- ings, 6 small pillows, 12 pillow cases, 3 flannel night-shirts, 12 flannel under-shirts, 37 pairs of slippers, 3 cotton night-shirts, 180 pairs of gloves, 2 white cotton flannel hospital under-shirts, 2 knit gloves, and I flannel hospital gown.
On December 14, two boxes19 were packed and sent to Virginia. The first box, valued at $110.46, contained 223 articles of clothing and food, and the second, valued at $142.86, contained 390 articles. This record was continued during the successive months of the war. The "patriotic sentiments and energetic support" of these mothers, wives, and sweet- hearts should merit permanent recognition.
THE YOUNG LADIES' FOREIGN MISSIONARY CIRCLE
Mrs. Samuel E. Herrick called the young ladies of the parish together on January 24, 1879, and formed the Young Ladies' Foreign Mis- sionary Circle. Miss Elisabeth S. Tobey20 was elected president, and
18 The sewing machine was invented by Elias Howe in 1846.
19 See Margaret Leech, Reveille in Washington, 1860-1865, p. 212.
"In the spring of 1861, while everything connected with the army organization was in chaos, ladies' relief societies were devotedly working in every city and town and village in the country. Then boxes of clothing and food overloaded the freight cars on the Wash- ington railroad. Side tracked to make way for the movement of troops and army stores, these cars frequently yielded moldy cakes, broken glass, and garments stained by ferment- ing jellies." (Quoted by permission of HARPER & BROTHERS.)
20 Miss Tobey, the daughter of Edward S. Tobey, Postmaster of Boston, was born in 1842. She was a very prominent figure in Boston. In 1884 she was elected president of the Massachusetts Woman's Christian Temperance Union. For fourteen years she con- ducted special services in connection with churches of various denominations in each of the New England states. She preached in the Orthodox Congregational Church in Berkeley, of which her great-great-grandfather was pastor a century and a half before.
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Miss Cornelia L. Warren21 and Miss Emma F. Leland,22 vice-presidents.
The next year the Circle pledged itself "to support the Girls' School at Midyat, Turkey, under the care of Miss Sarah E. Sears and her native assistant, Illie, and also a Bible woman in Cesarea under Mrs. Fowle." The letters from Illie, written in Arabic, together with the translations by Miss Sears are extant, and are a valuable document of conditions in Tur- key in the late nineteenth century.
At many of the meetings several children came to sew, to make scrap- books and to participate in the programs "with recitations and dialogues." How many children could be intrigued today to help with the sewing at a missionary meeting!
The Circle raised almost one thousand dollars in the first five years, from sociables, teas, entertainments, microscopic lectures, Turkish sup- pers, "reception of nations," fan drills, quilting parties, flag drills, and "Calico receptions." Income also came from fairs, although "very few articles were sold, the largest and most expensive being left on the table." After the fair in 1880, the treasurer recorded the familiar complaint: "To say the young people were discouraged would not express it and many resolved never to have another Fair." At some of these social meet- ings, to which gentlemen were invited, the young people enjoyed their favorite game of "Clumps."
In 1887 young men were invited to become members, and the name was changed to The Young People's Foreign Mission Society. As one would expect, new life and enthusiasm resulted. The opening evening meeting in the fall of 1887 was a great success, with Albert Murdoch leading the devotional services, and Margaret Herrick reading "a very interesting sketch on her trip across the water."
A new constitution was adopted in April, 1907, based on the Manual for Young Women's Foreign Missionary Societies, and the name was changed to Young Foreign Mission Society, Auxiliary to the Suffolk Branch of the Woman's Board of Missions, Boston.23 Mrs. George Me- haffey was elected president, with twenty-three charter members.
Among many items of interest is the vote on October 22, 1907, to establish a "Mission Band for children of the Sunday School," with Mrs. Frank H. Wiggin as leader. Within a few days the contemplated "Mis-
21 Miss Warren, the author of Miss Wilton, was the daughter of Samuel D. Warren, the paper manufacturer. The Warren estate in Waltham-Cedar Hill-is now the prop- erty of the Massachusetts Girls' Scouts. Miss Warren was a close friend of Miss Katha- rine Lee Bates, professor at Wellesley College.
22 Miss Emma F. Leland, who joined the church in 1872, is now Mrs. U. Waldo Cut- ler of Worcester. She is the daughter of Joseph D. Leland, who was elected deacon in 1875. Mrs. Cutler loaned the church an engraving of Dr. Kirk for the centenary exhibit.
23 The secretary's book closes with April 13, 1908.
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sion Band" was organized under the name of the Junior Missionary So- ciety.24
MOUNT VERNON CHURCH MITE SOCIETY
At the regular meeting of the Young Ladies' Mission Circle on Feb- ruary 19, 1887, it was voted to form a new society to be called the Mount Vernon Church Mite Society. Miss Emma Bird (Mrs. Albert Murdoch) and Miss Helen Woods (Mrs. David R. Craig) were appointed a com- mittee to draw up a constitution.
The object of the society was "collecting money and working for Home Missions" and membership consisted in "holding a Mite-Box, and pledg- ing at least $.o1 a week." Miss Minnie C. Woods (Mrs. Le Boutillier) was elected the first president.
The sewing meetings, followed always by devotional services, were held on alternate Saturday mornings. The older young people made aprons, needle-books, hemmed handkerchiefs, dressed dolls, marble bags, button bags, spool bags, candy bags, sewed and filled pin-balls, and made match-scratchers. These were packed in Christmas boxes and sent to poor children and their families in the home missionary field.
The very young children, who always accompanied their mothers to these Saturday morning meetings, helped the cause by "busying them- selves cutting out pictures, pasting scrap-books, sorting over buttons, making maps, and stringing beads."
On March 22, 1890, Miss Serena F. Perry read a letter "written from Mexico by Miss Helen Woods." The next month, Miss Woods, having returned from Mexico, told "interesting anecdotes of her trip . . . " and showed "a diminutive cooking stove, and dishes, fac-similes of those used in Mexico, and . . . photographs of views."
Another interesting meeting was held on February 16, 1889, when Miss Gertrude Hance, the missionary of Mount Vernon Church in Africa, spoke "of her work in Natal." For many years Miss Hance was connected with the Zulu Mission, and later wrote a book on the Zulus.
It is impossible to state when the society was discontinued. The secre- tary's book closes with the minutes of October 22, 1892.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD WOMEN'S CLUB
The Neighborhood Women's Club was established at Mount Vernon Church in 1905, under the supervision of Miss Mary A. Ballou, the minister's assistant and the City Missionary for this parish district, which
24 See Chapter IX.
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extended from Exeter Street to the Robert Treat Paine house. Among Miss Ballou's many activities was "making eight calls a day for six days each week upon the families in the district," many of whom were not members of the church. This calling from house to house and getting per- sonally interested in the mothers of eight different nationalities was the beginning of the Club.
In making those calls {wrote Miss Ballou in October, 1941} I met many women with children who had no connection with church or any organization. They just lived from day to day with no object in view but to make both ends meet. The club met twice each month. There were no records kept and no formal ceremonies. Some of the women could not read very well but they liked to hear talks and to take part in discussions on family matters. We had tea every meeting and we had two suppers every year, the food being cooked by the women.
The fathers and mothers who sent their children to Sunday School were in- terested in the church services for the evening and some came regularly to that service. One woman, who never had heard the Lord's Prayer, learned it by its being repeated at every Sunday evening's service.
There were many of the ladies of the church who were interested in the Women's Club and also the girls' club for girls from ten to eighteen years old. The church women did many kind things for the sick and the very poor, and gave talks on various subjects, exhibited pictures, and gave musicales.
Among the interesting programs were Jumble sales, demonstrations of economical dinners, lectures on household economics, stereoptican talks, and an annual outing to Nantasket Beach. The average member- ship each year was about fifty.
THE GUILD
The Guild, originally organized for the study and support of home and foreign missions, has expanded its scope to include not only missions but a discussion of current world events and social issues. The monthly meetings are often of a lighter nature, including monologues, moving pic- tures, travel talks illustrated with colored slides, and book reviews. For many years delegates have been sent to the summer conferences at Silver Bay and Northfield.
The Guild has been in continuous existence since its organization in 1908. The early records are lost, but the following letter, dated April 12, 1908, written to Mrs. Mehaffey by Helen M. Fitch, determines the date of organization: "If Miss Adams (Stella Adams) is not present she wishes me to report for her that the new Guild is to vote on its Constitu- tion Tuesday evening, and the girls are in hopes of having a very suc- cessful society." The Society has been successful, and several of the
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ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF MOUNT VERNON CHURCH
charter members-who called themselves "The Guild Girls"-continue their active interest and support.
, To raise money for its many philanthropic enterprises at home and abroad, the Guild has had varied entertainments, including bridge parties, concerts, lectures, and most ambitious of all, performances of H.M.S. Pinafore and Mikado, under the musical leadership of Miss Marian L. Chapin and Mrs. William H. Warren, director of the Mount Vernon Church orchestra.
The Guild contributes annually to the American Board, the City Mis- sionary Society, the American Red Cross, and other relief organizations. The members are knitting for the American Red Cross and the British War Relief Society. The president during the centenary year is Miss Edna Brunt.
YOUNG MATRONS' FORTNIGHTLY CLUB
Sixteen of the younger married women of the church organized the Young Matrons' Fortnightly Club on November 6, 1919, with the object of "promoting good will and fellowship among the young matrons, broadening their grasp of world events, and working for the advance- ment of Mount Vernon Church."
The following officers were elected: Mrs. Joseph E. Goodbar, pres- ident; Mrs. Frank G. Conkling, vice-president; Mrs. Robert E. Wilson, secretary and treasurer; Mrs. A. Vere Shaw, chairman of programs; Mrs. George Dernier, chairman of hospitality; and Mrs. Harry L. Bowman, chairman of ways and means.
The Club existed for only a few years. Several of the "young matrons" then joined the Women's Association.
THE OLLA PODRIDA CLUB
It is due to the Reverend Sidney Lovett's keen perception that the Olla Podrida Club25 for business and professional girls was organized in 1926. He recognized the fact that while most churches work tirelessly for the guidance and amusement of students, they often fail to properly evaluate the needs of that group which has just finished school and has entered into business and professional life. To members of young people's organizations, the persons in the business and professional group seem "old," although their diplomas are still very new.
Dr. Lovett reasoned that such a group could be an important and active
25 For the material about the Olla Podrida the writer is indebted to Miss Sally M. Usher.
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ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS
element in any church. Completely agreeing with him were Margaret Con- ant, minister's assistant in charge of student activities, and Dorothy A. Hickie, whose unselfish and energetic efforts have been largely responsible for its continued success.
The first meeting of the "Business and Professional Girls Club" was held on February 23, 1926, but it was not until February 9, 1927, that the name "Olla Podrida" was adopted. In Spanish the name means "stew" or "a general mixture of things." It has been interpreted "all in the stew together."
This group, composed of teachers, nurses, social service workers, li- brarians, and secretaries, has carried out the original object "to promote social service work in the form of personal contacts." It has developed this interest along different lines: members have worked in settlement houses; meetings have been devoted to making scrap books for hospitals and dressing dolls; needy families have been helped at Christmas time; children have been sent to summer camps; and about fifteen, needy chil- dren are invited to an annual Christmas party.
The Club has shared in the life of the church by co-operating in the Lenten supper series, by caring for the communion service a certain period each year, by furnishing flowers for the altar on Mother's Sunday, by contributing to the annual gasoline fund for Mr. Neipp in Africa, and by joining other organizations in socials. To meet the financial obligations, funds have been raised by bridge parties, dramatics, teas, fashion shows, dues, and personal donations.
Its meetings, held twice a month, satisfy the wide variety of interests. Two or three times a season suppers precede the meetings. Speakers are provided on many subjects, including world affairs, politics, travel, re- ligion, health, hygiene, social service work, interior decorating, and new books. The Club has expanded to include all women in business or pro- fessional work, regardless of age or experience. The Reverend Carl Heath Kopf has carried on Dr. Lovett's tradition, and has made the Club feel its definite place in the life of the church. The president during the centenary year is Miss Elizabeth Whitcher.
The members {recorded Miss Sally M. Usher ] feel, too, that while great has been the satisfaction of participating in social service activities, and valuable the mental stimulation gained from listening to inspiring speakers, it is also unmistakably true that the investment in membership in the Club has paid enviable dividends in the form of firm and lasting friendships which have been made there.
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ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF MOUNT VERNON CHURCH
THE MEN OF MOUNT VERNON
The Men of Mount Vernon, organized in the fall of 1933, had its origin in the Mount Vernon League which was in existence in 1894 or possibly earlier. There may have been an organization for adult men26 in the Ashburton Place church, but there are no records extant. Also the records of the Mount Vernon League are lost, but an undated printed in- vitation from the secretary, Mr. Charles G. Norton, for a meeting on Thursday, March I, at the church "on the corner of Beacon Street and West Chester Park,"27 determines the year as 1894. There is one other document28-a ticket of the Mount Vernon League "Deestrick Skewl Examination" for December 19, 1895.
The immediate origin of the Men of Mount Vernon was the Mount Vernon Men's Club,29 established in 1901 under the direction of Dr. Herrick for "any gentleman of good character of the age of eighteen years or more." The Club was at that time a member of the Boston Federa- tion of Men's Church Organizations.
Among the most interesting programs of the Men's Club were lectures by the following: Dr. Albert Parker Fitch, on Oxford; John D. Graham, on Some Queer Incidents of a Law Practice; Dr. James A. Honeij, of South Africa, on Personal Incidents of the Boer War; and Dr. Edward O. Otis, on The International Congress of Tuberculosis held in Rome in 1912, to which he was a United States delegate.
In 1913 the Men's Club was disbanded, with a vote to organize a new Club "with performance of definite church work as its central idea." This new Club-the Mount Vernon Brotherhood-met for organization on April 2, 1913, and became heir to funds left by the Men's Club. The Brotherhood30 was discontinued within a few years and, in 1916, the Church Committee voted that Dr. Richards confer with Mr. E. H. Chand- ler "with regard to the re-formation of the Men's Club." The Mount
26 The Association of Young Men was established in 1850.
27 West Chester Park was named Massachusetts Avenue in 1894. Also, in 1894, March 1 was a Thursday.
In Mr. George H. Bradford's scrap-book.
The presidents were: Dr. Edward O. Otis, John D. Graham, Albert Murdoch, George W. Mehaffey, Rowland B. French, David R. Craig, and the Reverend James Aus- tin Richards. The charter members were: Dr. Herrick, David R. Craig, Elon E. Forbes, Rowland B. French, Richard L. Gay, K. M. Giragosian, William H. Goodnow, John D. Graham, Walter W. Hodges, Nathan H. Holbrook, John G. Hosmer, Sandford Keith, George B. Knapp, Fred W. Mansur, Elias Maria, Walter D. Middleton, C. Herbert Morton, Dr. E. O. Otis, Charles H. Paine, Harwood S. Palmer, George L. Partridge, Al- bert W. Pratt, James D. Rawles, Dr. E. Sawabini, Henry H. Stevens, Frank H. Wiggin, the Reverend Edward C. Winslow, and Henry Woods.
30 During the war, the men joined the evening meetings of the War Work Unit.
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ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES FOR ADULTS
Vernon Young Men's Service League31 was established in 1920, and continued for only a few years.
In the fall of 1928 a new Men's Club was organized at the home of Dr. Washburn. This was discontinued within a few years, and in 1933 the present Men of Mount Vernon was reorganized. The meetings today, following the precedent of the parent Club, are varied, including lectures on literary, political, scientific, technical, and religious subjects, socials, musicals, public speaking, dinners, debates, and an annual picnic. During this centenary year, under the leadership of Mr. Homer Coursey, pres- ident, the Men of Mount Vernon are keeping in touch with the men of the church who have been called into service.
THE COUPLE'S CLUB
The Couple's Club, with a present membership averaging from thirty- six to fifty persons, was organized in 1934, "to provide wholesome and enjoyable contacts with other young couples." The monthly meetings are held at Herrick House. The programs are varied, with educational and religious lectures, recreational activities, dinners, and tours of interest. The president during the centenary year is Mr. Albert Waldstein.
THE DWIGHT L. MOODY BIBLE CLASS
From the beginning of the church, there have been Bible classes for adults, conducted by the ministers and their assistants. Several laymen32 have also conducted Bible classes, including Mr. Edward Kimball, who taught the seventeen-year-old lad, Dwight L. Moody.
The Dwight L. Moody Bible Class was organized on April 16, 1939, under the leadership of the Reverend Carl Heath Kopf and his assistant, the Reverend Keith Kanaga. The aim of the class is "to afford men the opportunity of religious education and to further the activities of the church." In true Moody-Sankey manner, the class opens each session with prayer followed by fifteen minutes of singing. Original songs have been written, which add variety to the programs.
The class publishes a mimeographed Bulletin, under the supervision of Mr. Franklin Cross, editor. Recording the varied activities of the group, this Bulletin will prove valuable source material for future historians.
The present leader is the assistant minister, the Reverend Arlan Baillie. The president is Mr. C. Howard Ellinwood, whose letter of October 15, 1941, is a fitting conclusion to this brief history:
31 There are no records of the Service League after 1921.
32 Mr. George W. Bardwell conducted a Bible class for several years.
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ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF MOUNT VERNON CHURCH
As members of the Dwight L. Moody Bible Class in the year of our Lord 1941, we face unparalleled opportunities for spiritual growth as individuals and as a group: but only in proportion to the manner in which we meet the mighty challenge which Christ Jesus presents to us through our beloved Mount Vernon Church in this, its 100th year of service, will we continue to grow in "His Grace and Knowledge."
Our class has had a most enviable record during the two years of its existence. It has had a healthy steady growth. Our lives have been broadened. The study of God's Word has helped us mightily. Lasting friendships have been made. All of these facts are of vital importance as a foundation upon which to build a much closer companionship with our Master. .
THE MISSIONARY INSTITUTE
The Missionary Institute has been in continuous existence since 1922, when it was organized under the leadership of the Reverend Sidney Lovett. The Institute is held each spring for a series of five weeks. The last meeting is the annual Missionary Dinner, following which funds are raised by various unique projects, to support the work of our mission- aries in Africa.
THE SCHOOL OF LIFE
The School of Life, established in the fall of 1940, is held twice a year for a series of five consecutive Thursday evenings. After a supper, a de- votional service is held in the Chapel. Then the classes meet for an hour: Bible Study, led by the Reverend Carl Heath Kopf; pencil sketching, by Mr. Roy Morse; handcrafts, by the Reverend David Kibbe; and current social problems, under the chairmanship of Miss Frances Pettee. The School of Life, which solves the problem of the mid-week prayer service, has proved very successful, with an average attendance of over one hundred.
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The Church School and Organizations for Boys and Girls
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
-PROVERBS, XXII: 6
THE CHURCH SCHOOL
B EFORE REVIEWING the history of the old Sunday School in the Ashburton Place Church, a few historical facts concerning the es- tablishment of Sunday Schools in Boston will give the necessary back- ground.1 It was not until 1816 that Sunday Schools {Schools on Sunday } were established in Boston by the Society for the Religious and Moral Instruction of the Poor-later named the City Missionary Society-the object being to teach poor, neglected children to read and write, thus laying a foundation for subsequent religious and moral training. As early as 1791, the Proprietors of the Duck Manufactory {manufacturers of cotton duck } requested the selectmen "to permit them to open a Sunday School, but this was refused on the ground that the Law respecting Schools had not in contemplation such as is requested."2
The establishment of these private Sunday Schools in Boston in 1816 brought out the fact that a large proportion of children could neither read nor write, and to them, therefore, under the law of 1789, the doors of the public reading and writing schools were closed. In the light of this illiteracy, it is interesting to note that in the membership book of this church from 1844 to 1888 eighteen members-seventeen women and one man-could not write their own names and accordingly made a cross as "her mark" or "his mark."
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