USA > New Hampshire > Grafton County > Littleton > Manual of the First Congregational Church, Littleton, N.H., issued in 1896 > Part 2
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XVIII.
Official vacancies occurring between the annual meetings may be filled for the unexpired term at any business meeting, notice of the business proposed being given from the pulpit on the previous Sunday.
XIX.
The rules given by Christ (Matt. 18: 15-18.) are to be followed by members of this church in case of private offense; the spirit of this scripture must govern all disciplin- ing action of the church when wrong has been done to the church by immoral conduct, cherished disbelief or continued neglect of covenant obligations. Fellowship may be with- drawn when a member still resident has abandoned his con- nection with the church by two years of absence, or by neg- lect of its service and communion, after due notice has been given of the action intended.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
.Y.Y.
The sacrament of the Lord's Supper shall be observed on the first Sunday in January, March, May, July, September and November. At each communion service a contribution shall be made to assist needy members and to defray neces- sary expenses.
Two deaconesses shall be elected, one for two years and one for one year, subject to re-election as the church shall vote at its annual meeting. It shall be their duty to visit strangers and invite them to identify themselves with some church; to visit the aged and sick, or to apprise the pastor of his needed presence. They shall be the pastor's "Lookout Committee" with reference to any person or persons in the parish who may in their judgment need the watch and care of the church and pastor. They shall be ready to perform any duty which may properly come under the supervision of said deaconesses. They shall be members of the standing committee.
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MANUAL OF THE
Sunday School.
The first Sunday school of which anything is known was held in the year 1816 on the Meadows, in a log house which was the home of Nathaniel K. Hardy, a licensed preacher. Mrs. Hardy gathered eight or ten children about her on Sun- day afternoon and taught them verses from the Bible. When the family left town two years later, the school was given up.
Another school, formed some years later than the first, was held in the old meeting house on the hill, and in 1833, when the church building was erected in the village, united with the school in existence there. The latter was formed by some good people who, feeling that their children ought to study the Bible, gathered about twenty of the boys and girls on Sunday afternoon and passed the time in learning verses which some one would explain. At first the place of meeting was in a schoolhouse on what is now Pleasant street. Later · a building on the present site of Robinson's drug store was used. Among the first teachers were Hon. Henry A. Bellows, Miss Eliza Bellows and Mrs. Kate Sumner.
Graded question books were introduced in 1840, were ex- changed in 1873 for the International lessons, which in turn gave place to Peloubet's, and these in 1893 to the Blakeslie series.
In 1856 there were about fifteen classes. The order of exercises was much the same as at present.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
The year 1865 marks the adoption of a constitution which was as follows: "Constitution of the First Congregational Sunday school of Littleton, N. H. The officers of the society shall consist of a superintendent. secretary, treasurer and li- brarian. The annual meeting for the choice of officers shall be the first Sabbath in June (afterwards changed to the see- ond Sunday in May. ) The officers chosen at the organiza- tion of the society to hold their office until the first Sunday in June, or until their successors are chosen." This consti- tution was used until 1889, when another was drawn up which has been used since that time.
Soon after the opening of the village Sunday school a li- brary was begun by each member furnishing a certain amount of money. This library was exchanged several times previous to 1876, at which time it contained about 300 vol- umes. These were finally exchanged with the Methodist Sunday school. Soon $150 was raised by subscription and new books were purchased. In 1878 Mr. B. W. Kilburn gave to the school $33 which was used for books, and in 1889 he gave $100 for the same purpose. At present the library consists of some 700 volumes, numbered and catalogued.
In 1884 the school undertook the furnishing of a double room at Whitman college and sent $33, besides bedding for the same. When the first missionary ship, "The Morning Star," was built, nearly every scholar took a share in it, re- ceiving a certificate of stock on the payment of 25 cents. For several years $25 was sent annually to Turkey to be used in educating a native boy. Two years ago money was con- tributed to build a schoolhouse in India. In 1894 the school assumed the tuition of a colored boy at Hampton, Va. In July of 1895 the congregation were much interested in lis- tening to Mr. David Yeretsian, who, by the gifts of this Sun- day school and church had been enabled to take a two-years' course in a Protestant educational institution in America.
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MANUAL OF THE
List of the Different Superintendents of the Sebool.
SIMEON B. DODGE.
NELSON C. FARR.
Hos. HENRY A. BELLOWS.
JOHN J. LADD.
EDMUND CARLETON.
THOMAS CARLETON.
REV. EVARTS WORCESTER.
S. C SAWYER.
ISAAC WORCESTER.
CHARLES L. CLAY.
DR. EZRA C. WORCESTER.
MYRON HI. RICHARDSON.
DEACON JOHN MERAL .. WARREN W. LOVEJOY.
FRANKLIN TILTON.
In the year 1864 the ladies formed a Sabbath School Sew- ing Society and organized for the benefit of the Sunday school. In three meetings they numbered 50, meeting from house to house, paying an admission ice of five cents and an annual fee of 25 cents. When three meetings had been held they had raised the sum of $60 for Sunday school books. At the sixth meeting, by the proceeds of a levee they had raised $90. In 1ss7 and 1888 one of the classes in the school formed themselves into a society, calling them the "Hillside Gleaners." They met to sew, and devoted the proceeds to assisting a little India girl. These societies were in existence about a year.
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Constitution of Sunday School, Adopted 1896. I.
Src. 1. The name of this school shall be the Congrega- tional Sabbath School of Littleton, N. H.
SEC. 2. Its object shall be to acquire a knowledge of the Bible for the purpose of bringing souls to Christ and of building up souls in Christ.
Il.
Ske. 1. Any person may become a member of this school by regularly attending it for three months and signing this
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
constitution, or causing his (or her) name to be signed by the teacher of his (or her) class.
SEC. 2. The school shall consist of three departments, viz., Senior, Junior and Intermediate.
SEC. 3. The Junior department in general shall embrace all those scholars who in the day schools are not beyond the third reader, to about 12 years of age. The Intermediate do- partment shall embrace scholars from 12 to 18 years of age, and the Senior all those above 18 years of age.
III.
SEC. 1. The officers of the school shall consist of a super- intendent, secretary, treasurer, librarian and an executive committee of five, two of which committee shall be the pastor of the church and the superintendent, ex officio.
SEC. 2. All the officers except the assistant superintendent and librarian shall be elected by ballot.
SEC. 3. The superintendent, secretary, treasurer, and the three elective members of the executive committee shall be chosen by electors consisting of the pastor, deacons of the church and teachers of the school.
Sec. 4. The assistant superintendent and librarian shall be appointed by the superintendent, subject to the approval of a majority of the executive committee.
SEC. 5. The officers shall be chosen or appointed to serve for one year, or, if to fill vacancies, to serve till the end of the school year.
IV.
SEC. 1. It shall be the duty of the superintendent to pre- side at all the meetings and sessions of the school, and to con- duet its exercises.
SEC. 2. It shall be the duty of the assistant superintend- ent to exercise the duties of the superintendent in his absence, and to assist the superintendent as he may desire.
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MANUAL OF THE
SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep a record of all the meetings of the school and the attendance upon its sessions.
SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to receive and take care of all collections and funds of the school, and pay them out as the school may direct.
SEc. 5. It shall be the duty of the librarian to take care of the library of the school.
SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the executive committee to classify and promote scholars, select teachers, appoint music, library, concert, festival and other committees, and to look after the general welfare of the school and to promote its interests.
v.
SEC. 1. The school year shall begin July 1.
SEC. 2. The time for the election of officers shall be called by the secretary upon dne notice, and shall be held on or about the twentieth of June of each year.
VI.
SEC. 1. This constitution can be altered or amended by a two-thirds vote of the school at any regular session, notice of the same having been given in writing at least one week pre- vions to the meeting called for that purpose. %
Officers for 1896.
JOHN HI. HOFFMAN, Pastor.
WARREN W. LOVEJOY,
Superintendent.
MRS. J. IL. HOFFMAN, Assistant Superintendent.
JOHN F. TILTON, Secretary. KATHERINE SANGER, Treasurer. GUY C. BINBY, Librarian. Assistant Librarian.
GRACE BARNUM.
MRS. J. 11. HOFFMAN, Pianist.
The pastor, superintendent, Mrs. Henry Merrill, Mrs. George C. Furber and John F. Tilton, executive committee.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
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Senior Classes.
Class Number.
Teacher.
Number in Class.
1.
Rev. John II. Hoffman.
24.
2.
Mrs. Kate Chickering.
3. Frederick G. Chutter. 15.
5.
Miss Ellen I. Sanger.
8.
6. Mrs. George C. Furber.
10.
7.
John F. Tilton.
7.
10.
Mrs. John H. Hoffman. 15.
11.
Mrs. Henry Merrill. 6.
12. Mrs. Charles Bingham. 16.
Intermediate Classes.
Teacher. Number in Class.
8.
Mrs. Guy C. Bixby.
6.
13.
Mrs. John C. Goodenough.
15.
Mrs. Charles S. Pushee. 10.
16.
Mrs. George Walker. 8.
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Junior Classes.
Class Number.
Teacher.
Number in Class.
4. Miss Anna MeIntire. 7.
9. Miss Sophie Dearth.
17.
Mrs. R. P. White. 5.
Infant Class.
Class Number. 14.
Teacher. Number in Class.
Miss Fannie Merrill.
Total membership, 183.
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Class Number.
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MANUAL OF THE
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Christian Endeavor.
FOR CHRIST
THE CHURCH
Distory of the Christian Endeavor Society.
On May 22, 1885, there was held in the chapel parlor the first of a series of young people's meetings, which led to the formal organization of a Y. P. S. C. E. on September 18 of the same year, with Robert C. Langford as president. This was at first a union society, but as the other churches formed similar societies their young people withdrew and this society became nominally, though not strictly, denominational in April, 1886, when M. D. Cobleigh was elected president.
During the next year the society degenerated, the members failed to live up to its rules, and in the fall of 1887 the pastor thought best to disband the society and hold instead young people's meetings, which he led himself.
Ou January 2, 1891, the present Y. P. S. C. E. society was organized, the constitution of the National society was adopt- ed, and I. C. Renfrew elected president.
Though many of the charter members have gone on to broader fields of work, the society, augmented by new men- bers, has been slowly but steadily growing ever since, the largest addition being at a special consecration meeting De- cember 3, 1893, when 32 active and two associate members
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
were received. There are now 87 members, active and asso- ciate. The officers of the society have been elected semi- annually. The number of committees has varied from six to nine, but the most efficient work has been done by the out- look and prayer-meeting committees. The regular prayer meetings of the society were held on Friday evening until January, 1892, when they were changed to Sunday evening. In July, 1895, it was voted to combine the Christian Endeav- or and the regular Tuesday evening meeting, temporarily, an arrangement which has been harmoniously carried out.
On July 14, 1895, the society entertained the White Mountain Union, and a very interesting and inspiring con- vention was the result. There have since been two similar "rallies" here on the occasion of the State president's visit.
The society sent a delegate to the National conventions of 1892, 1894, 1895 and 1896, and one or more delegates each of these years to the State convention. Beginning in Novem- ber, 1891, 840 has been sent annually for the support of a native preacher in Madura, India, and in January, 1895, two barrels of clothing were sent to the Nebraska sufferers.
Three times death has entered the society, taking Eddie Heath in the beginning of his Christian life, Fred Renfrew, who joined the society from Bradford, Vt., a short time before his last illness, and Minnie B. Tilton, one of its most helpful workers and supporters. She had been president and was vice-president at that time. She was always at her post and faithful to her pledge, sending from her deathbed her last response to the roll call.
The following is the list of presidents: M. D. Cobleigh, I. C. Renfrew, M. B. Tilton, C. A. Williams and E. I. Sanger.
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MANUAL OF THE
Officers for 1896-first Dalf.
MISS ELLEN I. SANGER.
President.
IRVIN C. RENFREW, Vice President.
MISS MYRTIE E. POWERS, Recording Secretary
HERBERT R. BLODGETT, Cor. Secretary and Treasurer.
CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES: Lookont, Herbert R. Blodgett; Prayer meeting, Irvin C. Renfrew; Social, Miss Louisa Wellman; Sunday school, Mrs. C. C. Morris; Missionary, Mrs. John H. Hoffman: Temperance, Mrs. Solon L. Simonds; Music, Mrs. Fred E. Green: Advertising, Edmund R. Lucas.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE; The pastor and officers of the church ex-officio, and the above chairmen.
MEETINGS: Tuesday evening at 7.30 o'clock. Business meeting the first Tuesday of each month. Consecration meeting the last Tuesday in each month.
MOTTO: For Christ and the Church.
Object.
To promote an earnest Christian life among our members, to increase their mutual acquaintance, and to make them more useful in the service of God.
The following is the active members' pledge :
Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I promise Him that I will strive to do whatever he would like to have me do; that I will make it the rule of my life to pray and to read the Bible every day, and to support my own church in every way, especially by attending all her regular Sunday and mid-week services, unless prevented by some reason which Hean conscientiously give to my Saviour; and that, just so far as I know how, throughout my whole life, I will endeavor to lead a Christian life.
As an active member I promise to be true to all my duties, to be present at and to take some part, aside from singing, in every Christian Endeavor prayer meeting, unless hindered by some reason which I ean conscientiously give to my Lord and Master. If obliged to be absent from the monthly conse- eration of the society, I will, if possible, send at least a verse of Scripture to be read in response to my name at the roll-call.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
Woman's Missionary Society.
ORGANIZED 1876.
Officers for 1896.
MRS. B. F. PAGE,
President-
MRS. JOHN II. HOFFMAN,
Vice President.
MRS. GEORGE C. FURBER,
Secretary.
MRS. JOHN C. GOODENOUGH,
Treasurer.
Constitution.
ART. 1. This society shall be called the Woman's Mission- ary Society of Littleton, N. II., auxiliary to the New Hamp- shire branch of the Woman's Board of Missions.
ART. 2. The officers of this society shall be a president, secretary and treasurer, chosen annually.
ART. 3. The object of this society shall be the cultivation of a missionary spirit and the collection of money for mis- sionary purposes.
ART. 4. All money received by this society shall be sent to the treasurer of the New Hampshire branch of the Woman's Board.
ART. 5. Any person may become a member of this society by the payment of $1 annually.
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MANUAL OF THE
Ladies' Tome Missionary Society.
ORGANIZED 1:15.
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In 1804 the first woman's missionary society in this conn- try was instigated by Mrs. Elizabeth MeFarland, wife of Rev. Asa MeFarland, pastor of the First Congregational church of Concord, N. Il. The object was to raise funds to assist in carrying on the work of the New Hampshire Home Mission- ary Society, which was organized in [>0]. The woman's society was called the New Hampshire Female Cent Institu- tion. The women of the Littleton church, (the Congrega- tional, the only church in the town at that time and for many years later) made a contribution to the New Hampshire Fe- male Cent Institution without any official organization, rules or by-laws, except that each member should pay one cent a week or 52 cents yearly. The first contribution was made in 1815 withont any paraphernalia of officers or by-laws. The collection of a few dollars has been continued annually and sent to the treasurer of the Female Cent Institution vitually up to date, 1896.
In 1836, at a monthly concert of prayer for foreign mis- sions, (then observed on the first Monday of each month, ) Mr. Evarts Worcester, who was present as a candidate for the pastorate of the church, proposed a collection for foreign missions in connection with the monthly meetings. The pro- posal was accepted, and a monthly contribution to the Amer.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
ican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions was con- tinned for 45 years. The old Bible and traet societies were recipients of contributions from this church, and as the vari- rious other societies have been organized and carried on by the Congregational church this church has co-operated to some extent, with what degree of faithfulness is known to the Great Head of the church.
An auxiliary to the New Hampshire branch of the Wom- an's Board of Missions has been sustained since 1876, the contributions of the two ladies' societies to home and foreign missions amounting to $50 yearly. The Christian Endeavor Society has given $40 annually toward the support of a boy in a mission school in India. The Sunday school gave $30 in 1.92 and 1895 to help a colored boy at Hampton Institute.
The Congregational Year Book shows a commendable ad- vance in the benevolences of this church for the last ten years. This is not, perhaps, to be attributed to an enlarged spirit of the church in general, but to the ability and gener- osity of a very few individuals.
The ladies of this church and society have from time to time sent valuable boxes of clothing to the Orphans' Home in Franklin, also to the Home Missionary families in the far west. The benevolences of 1895 were $960.
Constitution.
ART. 1. This society shall be called the Home Missionary Society of Littleton, N. IL., auxiliary to the New Hampshire Female Cent Institution and Home Missionary Union.
Anr. 2. Its object shall be to diffuse home missionary in- telligence, to increase an interest in home missionary work, and to raise funds for carrying it forward.
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MANUAL OF THE
ART. 3. Its officers shall be a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and executive committee consisting of three members.
Agr. 4. At least one-third of the annual receipts of the society shall be given to the New Hampshire Home Mission- ary Society for the benefit of feeble churches in our own state. The remainder may be expended for missionary work through any of the existing Home Missionary societies, and in such proportion as the members may determine.
ART. 5. Any woman may become a member of this socie- ty by the payment of not less than 52 cents a year. Gentle- men are invited to become honorary members by the payment of one dollar annually.
ART. 6. Mission Bands may be auxiliary to this society, membership fee 25 cents or two cents a month. Infant class membership fee one cent a month.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI
1822065
Ladies' Social and Charitable Society.
Officers.
MRS. DANIEL W. HARRINGTON,
President.
MRS. A. J. BARRETT,
First Vice President.
MRS. D. C. REMICH, Second Vice President.
MISS JULIA A. EATON, Treasurer. Secretary.
MRS. L. D. HYDE,
DIRECTRESSES: Mrs. Theron A. Farr, Mrs. Frank Glazier. Mrs. Isaac Calhoun, Mrs. John Renfrew, Mrs Mary Jackman. Mrs. Mary Redington, Miss Eloise Jackman.
RECEPTION COMMITTEE: Mrs. S. L. Simonds, Mrs. W. H. Bellows, Mrs. Irving Renfrew, Mrs. G. C. Furber, Mrs. 11. A. Eaton, Mrs. C. C. Morris.
FLOWER COMMITTEE: Mrs. T. E. Sanger, Mrs. D. C. Rem- ich, Mrs. Edgar Aldrich, Mrs. Myron Richardson.
ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE: Mrs. Henry Merrill, Miss Myra Eaton, Miss E. I. Sanger, Mrs. Isabelle Jarvis.
The first society of which any record is known was in 1849. A few ladies met and formed what was called the Ladies' Charitable Society. The meetings were held in pri- vate houses, to which all ladies were invited to come as soon after dinner as possible and make garments, bedding, com- fortables, ete., and the gentlemen were invited to a mite so- ciety in the evening. Many were the families helped by
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MANUAL OF THE
these good ladies, and the proceeds of the evening went towards some object to benefit the church. The following were the officers: Mrs. Otis Batchellor, president; Mrs. Syl- vanus Balch, vice president: Mrs. John W. Balch, secretary and treasurer; Miss Maria Moore and Miss Adelia Brackett ( Tilton, ) directresses. By the result of the mite societies the ladies were able to re-carpet the aisles of the church and the pulpit stand, each pew being furnished by the person oe- enpying it, and adding a new sofa. chairs, desk, etc.
The bell was purchased by subscription. Many were the objects discussed and enterprises contemplated at these meet- ings. As one outgrowth of these meetings the cemetery so- ciety was formed in 1851, and the ladies have continued their interest there to the present time. Another part of this soci- ety made their special object the formation of the Littleton Village Library. This movement of the formation of a li- brary was started in 1861, and articles of incorporation were issued in 1867. 'The library was carried on entirely by the ladies until merged into the town library in 1888. Again in the year 1866 were the ladies of the society in the midst of the battle. The men had met time after time but did not. seem to progress any, and were about ready to give up the prospect of having a system of graded schools and a first- class building instead of three old ones, because there were many who thought it would cost too much. This condition of affairs coming to the ears of the ladies, at one of their meetings they appointed a committee to visit places where the graded school had been tried, looked over different loca- tions, and offered, if the men would buy the place now occu- pied on School street, to give the sum of $200 toward paying for the same. A new organ was bought by the ladies society about the year 1864. When the church was remodeled in 1874, the ladies furnished carpets, cushions, etc. The pulpit furniture was given in memory of Mrs. Susan T. Eastman and Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Tilton by their children.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
For many years the ladies have sent bedding, clothing, etc., to the Children's Home in Franklin. They have a room there called the "Littleton Room" which is always kept in repair by them.
Again during the war these good ladies were not behind those in other towns in helping the soldiers who were away. At the building of the chapel in 1883, and up to the present time, the furniture and fixtures have been furnished by the ladies. A festival given in 1885 allowed them to procure a piano for the chapel, Mr. J. C. Goodenough kindly giving $100 towards the same. In 1882 Mrs. Richard Taft and Mrs. Ida T. Eastman presented the church with a fine pipe organ in memory of their husband and father, Richard Taft. Many of the furnishings at the parsonage were the result of the work of the ladies' society, while in 1895 they applied 8639 toward the debt on the parsonage.
Constitution.
ART. 1. The object of this society is to promote sociabili- ty, and work or raise funds for such objects as the society think best to aid.
ART. 2. The officers of this society shall be a president, two vice presidents, a secretary, treasurer, and seven di- rectresses.
ART. 3. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at each meeting and preserve order.
ART. 4. It shall be the duty of the vice president to pre- side in the absence of the president.
ART. 5. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep a careful record of the members and all business transactions, also a report of each meeting, and to read the same when called for.
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MANUAL OF THE
ART. 6. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to take charge of and keep correct account of the funds of the socie- ty, and pay ont the same according to the vote of the society, and give a report when called for.
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