USA > New York > Erie County > Buffalo > Manual of the First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, N.Y., with Historical sketch and account of the centennial celebration, February 2nd to 5th, 1912 > Part 6
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MISS MABEL MATTHEWS, Chairman,
MRS. ALBERT MATTHEWS, MRS. WILLIAM D. KNIGHT,
MRS. CLARENCE CARRUTH,
MISS MARGARET VOLGER,
MRS. A. BURT ARMSTRONG,
MISS MARTHA L. BRADEN.
AUDITING.
MRS. ARTHUR W. HURD, Chairman. MRS. S. M. RATCLIFFE.
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COMMUNION.
MRS. VAN LOAN WHITEHEAD, Chairman.
MRS. CARLTON FREDERICK, MRS. WILLIAM H. FRYE,
MRS. CLARENCE POTTER, MRS. HENRY D. WATERS, MRS. JOHN L. DANIELS.
FLOWERS.
MRS. HENRY H. BOSWELL, Chairman.
MISS CORNELIA E. GREEN,
MISS LAURA WILSON,
MISS MARGARET OSBORNE,
MISS RUTH IRENE FREDERICK,
MISS MILDRED PIERCE,
MISS ADDIE ISABEL WOOD.
HOUSEKEEPING.
MRS. FRANK H. GOODYEAR, Chairman.
MRS. CARL K. FRIEDMAN, MRS. WILLIAM A. ROGERS,
MRS. LAWRENCE E. HARMON, MRS. VAN LOAN WHITEHEAD, MRS. JOHN L. DANIELS.
WELCOME HALL.
MISS MIRIAM H. RAYMOND, Chairman. MRS. WILLIAM B. HOYT, MRS. GEORGE OLMSTED,
MRS. CHARLES H. WOOD.
DISTRICT NURSE.
MISS FRANCES E. BEECHER, Chairman.
MRS. PETER C. CORNELL,
MRS. BRONSON C. RUMSEY,
MRS. EDMUND P. FISH,
MISS LILY R. OLMSTED,
MRS. GEORGE A. MITCHELL,
MRS. CHARLES H. WOOD,
MRS. JOHN A. MANN,
MRS. JOHN L. DANIELS,
MRS. WILLIAM S. WAITH.
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Welcome Mall.
The Board of General Directors.
THE COUNCIL.
President
WILLIAM H. GRATWICK
Vice-President RAYMOND K. ALBRIGHT
Secretary
MRS. A. W. GUILD
Treasurer
CHARLES J. NORTH
LANGDON ALBRIGHT, MRS. FRANK H. GOODYEAR,
MISS FRANCES E. BEECHER,
REV. WILLIAM E. McLENNAN,
MRS. A. W. GUILD,
ALLAN N. MACNABB,
JAMES L. CRANE,
CHARLES P. NORTON,
WILLIAM A. ROGERS,
ROBERT W. POMEROY,
CONWAY W. BALL,
CLINTON R. WYCKOFF.
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.
President MRS. J. J. ALBRIGHT
Vice-President MRS. WILLIAM A. ROGERS
Secretary.
MRS. A. W. GUILD
MISS FRANCES E. BEECHER,
MRS. ROBERT W. POMEROY,
MRS. JOSEPH DART, MISS MIRIAM H. RAYMOND,
MRS. WILLIAM H. GRATWICK,
MRS. WILLIAM C. WARREN.
RESIDENT REGULAR WORKERS.
C
Director REV. WILLIAM E. MCLENNAN, D. D.
Assistant Director MISS HELEN SAFFORD KNOWLES
Visiting Nurse MISS MABEL CALDWELL
Director of Industrial Work MISS CAROLINE K. JONES
Settlement Visitor
OTHER RESIDENTS.
MRS. ISABEL P. MCLENNAN, DOROTHY M. MCLENNAN, DONALD MCLENNAN.
85
NON-RESIDENT WORKERS.
Instructor in Cooking . MISS FLORENCE ALBERGER
Instructor in Lace-making. MRS. S. AMARANTI
Instructor in Cooking and Sewing. MISS CHARLOTTE BANGERT
Instructor in Sewing . MISS VIOLET BURLEY
Instructor in Cooking MISS IDA MAE BRODIE
Instructor in Cooking. MISS ALICE BRELOS
Assistant in Game Club MR. IRVING BEACH
Assistant in Game Club. MR. KENNETH BUGBEE
In Charge of Surgical Clinic. . DR. OTIS J. CASE
Instructor in Sewing. MISS BESSIE D. COAN
Instructor in Cooking MISS THEO. CAUDELL
Assistant in Game Club MR. HAROLD CURRAN
Assistant in Game Club MR. ROBERT CASSIDY
Instructor in Music MISS GRACE DYER
Instructor in Hand-work. .MISS MARY J. DOMBROSKY
Instructor in Manual Training MR. ROBERT L. H. DAWSON
Assistant in Girls' Social Club MISS FLORENCE FRANCIS
Instructor in Sewing MISS GRACE FUNK
Instructor in Sewing .
MISS EMMA FRICK
Instructor in Leather Tooling
MISS CORNELIA FUCHS
Assistant in Game Club
MR. ROY FALES
Assistant in Game Club.
MR. LOTHROP FREDERICKS
Instructor in Sewing. MISS EMMA GAMAGE
Instructor in Manual Training MISS CORNELIA GREEN
Instructor in Copper. .MISS LOUISE GREEN
Instructor in Manual Training MISS ALBERTINE HOYT
Instructor in Drawing
MISS ESTHER HOYT
Assistant in Sewing. MISS MARION S. HAMLEN
Instructor in Hand-work MISS ALICE HELFINGER
Instructor in Cooking MISS GRACE S. HOBSON
Instructor in Sewing .. MISS JEAN HURLEY
Supervisor of Housekeeping MISS ALICE HOPKINS Assistant in Game Club. . MR. NELSON HOFF
Instructor in Arts and Crafts. MISS MARION KNIGHT
Instructor in Punctured Brass MISS GENEVIEVE G. KRAFT
Instructor in Manual Training
.MR. CARL P. KRAUS Instructor in Young Women's Gymnastic Class
MISS BLANCHE KEMPNER
Instructor in Sewing MISS MARION C. LAKE Instructor in Cooking . MISS LILLIAN MUGLER
Instructor in Sewing. MISS EMILY MCCRAY Instructor in Manual Training MR. LEVI H. MINER
Instructor in Cooking MISS ARLIE L. MORTON
Story Hour Leader MISS EDITH MERRIMAN
Instructor in Music. . MISS FLORA J. MILLER
Instructor in Mechanical Drawing MR. EILBERT NESDAHL
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Assistant in Game Club. . MR. FRANCIS NEWBROOK
Assistant in Game Club. MR. IRVING MILLER Assistant in Game Club. MR. THORNTON MCDOUGALL
Instructor in Leather Tooling MISS ALICE O'BRIAN
Assistant in Game Club. . MR. JOHN OTTO
Instructor in Arts and Crafts MRS. F. C. PARKER
Accompanist in Music. MISS FRANCES PETIT
Assistant in Milk Dispensary MISS MILDRED PIERCE
Leader Boy Scouts .. MR. A. C. RICHARDSON
Leader Girls' Social Club MISS ANNA SHEPARD
Instructor in Sewing. MISS MARGUERITE SMALL
Instructor in Cooking. MISS LAURA SKIFF
Instructor in Manual Training MR. CLIFFORD SMITH
Instructor in Machine Shop MR. JOSEPH SPRIECH
Instructor in Sewing MISS FLORENCE H. STEWART
Leader Children's Game Club. . . MISS HELEN STIMSON
Instructor in Cooking and Sewing MISS FLORENCE SCHAEFER
Instructor in Sewing MISS STUART
Assistant in Game Club. MR. PORTER STEELE
Instructor in Sewing. MISS EDITH THOMAS
Assistant in Game Club MR. CHARLES TUTTON
Instructor in Copper MR. F. Y. WOOLENWEBER
Instructor in Shoe Repairing MR. EDMUND T. WUENST
Leader Women's Social Club. MISS MABEL WILCOX
Assistant Women's Social Club MRS. WHITBECK
Assistant in Game Club. MR. JOHN WADSWORTH Assistant in Game Club. MR. HAMILTON WENDE
Physician of Clinic for Nervous Diseases
Physician of Medical Clinic.
DR. R. MONTFORT SCHLEY
.DR. J. C. WALLACE Physician for Babies Receiving Modified Milk. DR. JOHN A. RAGONE
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL STAFF.
Superintendent MRS. A. W. GUILD
ASSISTANTS.
MISS ADELAIDE BARTH,
MRS. MCLENNAN,
MISS MARY CARLSEN,
MISS CAROLINE MACNEIL,
MISS ALEXA GUILD,
MISS EMILY MCCRAY,
MRS. GERTRUDE WILLS,
MRS. SUSAN C. PARTINGTON.
ALLIED WORKERS.
Besides the work carried on under the general management of the Hall, there are three agencies under the direction of the City of
87
Buffalo-the Kindergarten, the Library and the Playground-which are operated in connection with the Settlement.
KINDERGARTEN TEACHERS.
MISS JESSIE M. CHASE, MISS ANNA C. RYAN.
LIBRARY ASSISTANTS.
MISS HARRIET E. PROVOOST, MISS MARY ELLEN BLOSSOM.
PLAYGROUND OFFICIALS.
Director
MR. H. G. BERBERICH Assistant Director
Caretaker MR. F. J. MCGREEVY
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Representation of the first Church in Buffalo Institutions and Charities.
BUFFALO GENERAL HOSPITAL.
MR. TRUEMAN G. AVERY,
MRS. TRUEMAN G. AVERY,
MR. JOSIAH LETCHWORTH,
MR. F. S. MCGRAW,
MR. FREDERICK H. STEVENS, MR. R. W. POMEROY.
BUFFALO HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL.
MRS. T. G. AVERY,
MRS. C. J. NORTH,
MRS. W. H. BOOCOCK,
MRS. W. H. OSBORNE,
MRS. H. H. BOSWELL,
MISS MIRIAM H. RAYMOND,
MRS. J. R. BRODHEAD,
MRS. CHARLES ROHLFS,
MRS. W. G. BRYAN,
MRS. W. J. SHEPARD,
MISS H. M. BUCK,
MISS ANNA SHEPARD,
MRS. GEORGE S. BUCK,
MRS. R. H. THOMPSON,
MRS. JAMES L. CRANE,
MRS. C. E. WETTLAUFER,
MRS. H. E. CROUCH,
MRS. V. L. WHITEHEAD,
MRS. WILLIAM H. FARNSWORTH,
MISS MARGARET WILSON,
MRS. F. H. GOODYEAR,
MRS. W. MORSE WILSON,
MRS. W. H. GRATWICK,
MRS. W. M. WHEELER,
MRS. F. G. MITCHELL,
MR. H. E. CROUCH,
MRS. A. S. MATHEWS,
DR. J. T. COOK,
MRS. J. MCC. MITCHELL,
MR. M. M. DARR,
BUFFALO ASSOCIATION FOR RELIEF AND CONTROL OF TUBERCULOSIS.
REV. A. V. V. RAYMOND,
MRS. C. E. WETTLAUFER,
MR. THOMAS B. LOCKWOOD,
MRS. R. B. ADAM.
BUFFALO ORPHAN ASYLUM,
MR. T. G. AVERY,
MRS. T. C. BECKER,
MRS. J. B. SWEET,
MISS CAROLYN M. LOOMIS,
CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.
MRS. C. R. WYCKOFF,
MRS. R. W. POMEROY.
CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY.
MRS. JOHN T. STEWART,
MRS. L. E. HARMON.
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CHARITY ORGANIZATION SOCIETY.
MRS. R. W. POMEROY,
MRS. WILLIAM B. HOYT,
MR. JOHN A. MANN,
MRS. F. S. MCGRAW,
MR. W. H. GRATWICK,
MRS. GEORGE B. MATHEWS,
REV. W. H. BOOCOCK,
MRS. W. H. FARNSWORTH,
REV. W. E. MCLENNAN,
MRS. CHARLES ROHLFS,
MRS. DANIEL UPTON,
MRS. WILLIAM H. GRATWICK,
MRS. WILLIAM M. WHEELER,
MISS LUCY PLIMPTON.
HOME FOR THE FRIENDLESS.
MISS FRANCES E. BEECHER,
MRS. WILLIAM C. WARREN,
MRS. F. H. GOODYEAR,
MRS. E. G. FELTHOUSEN,
MISS ALBERTINE SHERMAN,
MRS. FRANK F. HENRY.
INGLESIDE HOME.
MRS. I. D. WHITE,
MRS. A. E. MARCY,
MRS. F. H. COFFRAN, MRS. JOHN T. STEWART,
MRS. GEORGE W. FARNHAM.
WOMEN'S EDUCATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL UNION.
MRS. JOHN LAPEY,
MRS. W. M. HAMILTON,
MRS. HENRY W. BOX,
MISS HARRIET M. BUCK,
MRS. A. T. LYTLE,
MRS. A. H. BRIGGS,
MRS. JOSIAH LETCHWORTH,
MRS. E. N. BARGAR,
MRS. WILLIAM L. MARCY,
MRS. H. P. EMERSON,
MRS. E. G. FELTHOUSEN,
MRS. GEORGE W. FARNHAM,
MISS CAROLINE MACNEIL,
MRS. F. S. MCGRAW,
MISS FLORENCE MISNER,
MRS. HARRIET E. POTTER,
MRS. E. P. REYNOLDS,
MRS. CHARLES ROHLFS,
MRS. W. C. WARREN,
MRS. T. C. BECKER,
MRS. V. L. WHITEHEAD,
MRS. CHARLES W. GOODYEAR,
MRS. GEORGE P. WARNER,
YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
MRS. R. W. POMEROY, MRS. DANIEL UPTON, MISS FLORENCE MISNER.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
MR. WILLIAM A. ROGERS, MR. GEORGE S. BUCK, MR. H. P. EMERSON,
MR. W. H. FARNSWORTH,
MR. W. H. GRATWICK, DR. P. H. HAYES, MR. N. M. PIERCE,
MR. GEORGE W. FARNHAM.
90
MRS. WILLIAM H. HOTCHKISS,
MRS. G. M. MISNER,
MRS. HARRIET MACNEIL,
first Church Choir.
Sopranos.
MRS. WILLIAM S. ALLEN,
MISS LEONA E. COLLINS,
MISS ROWENA DE LABARRE,
MISS LULU C. DIETZ,
MISS GRACE B. DYER,
MRS. LAWRENCE H. HART,
MISS LUCILE JAMES,
MISS GLADYS E. MILLER,
MISS GERTRUDE MILLER,
MRS. WILLIAM S. WAITH.
Altos.
MRS. CLARA BARNES HOLMES, MISS E. REGENA MILLER,
MISS MARION B. MANN, MRS. CHARLES S. WEILL,
MRS. CARL P. WRIGHT.
Tenors.
MR. PHILIP CATALANO, MR. HOMER M. CLARKE, MR. W. W. SPRAGGE.
Bassos.
MR. LAURENCE H. HART, MR. J. U. HICKEY, MR. GEORGE C. SWEET.
WILLIAM S. WAITH, Mus. Doc. Organist and Director.
Sertons.
ROBERT WILKINSON, 104 Northland Avenue. CHARLES MAIER, 1363 Michigan Street.
91
Congregational Financial Report, 1911=1912.
Cash on hand April 1, 1911.
$ 268.68
INCOME-
Current pew rentals
$13,797.44
Current pledges to maintenance
10,639.12
Former pledges to maintenance
413.70
Old accounts
67.50
Check drawn last year, not used
43.00
Fire loss at the Manse
40.00
Hymn books sold.
5.00
Centenary pledges to indebtedness
14,000.00
Total from Congregational sources ..
39,005.76
Cash borrowed at sundry times
6,100.00
45,105.76
Total on hand and received from all sources $45,374.44
OUTGO-
As shown in detail
44,925.65
Balance to credit of Congregational Fund, April 1, 1912.
448.79
+
DETAIL OF OUTGO FOR CHURCH MAINTENANCE, 1911-1912
PULPIT :- Salaries
$13,000.00
MUSIC :- Choir salaries and special services
$6,532.58
Organ expense
859.03
Music supplies
27.04
7,418.65
CARETAKING :- Wages of Sexton and Assistant
1,120.00
CHURCH SECRETARY :- Salary
720.00
Car fare to Welcome Hall. 26.25
746.25
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TREASURER'S ALLOWANCE
LIGHTING :- Electricity 456.60
Illuminating gas.
62.90
519.50
HEATING :- Coal bills, ($70.93 last year's) . 830.22
Natural gas
2.74
Electric power for fans.
144.00
Wages of engineer
900.00
1,876.96
PRINTING, POSTAGE AND STATIONERY :
Treasurer, postage. $98.37
Treasurer, printing, books and supplies 41.25
139.62
Church office, postage 113.03
Church office, printing, supplies, etc. 114.40
Church office, typewriter, exchg'd 40.00
267.48
Subscriptions, postage 53.84
Subscriptions, printing & supplies 58.51
112.35
Session, postage on envelopes. .. 8.00
Session, printing and special. 70.07
78.07
Church Bulletin, publishing
232.80
Year Book, printing. 88.40
Year Book, envelopes & postage.
21.30
109.70
940.02
TELEPHONES
110.70
CITY WATER BILLS.
97.80
SUNDRY SMALL ITEMS NOT CLASSIFIED 51.01
LOCAL TAXES FOR CLEANING AND PAVING
59.03
FIRE INSURANCE PREMIUMS 361.90
REPAIRS, BETTERMENTS AND FURNISHINGS 2,124.65
INTEREST ON BORROWED MONEY. 872.83
SUNDAY SCHOOL MAINTENANCE. 945.51
600.00
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THE MANSE :-
Interest on mortgage of $15,000.00. . 675.00
Taxes
369.53
Repairs and betterments.
272.05
1,316.58
THE CHURCH HOUSE :-
Taxes
147.46
Repairs and betterments
16.80
164.26
TOTAL SUM FOR CHURCH MAINTENANCE
$32,325.65
LOANS RETIRED
12,600.00
TOTAL OUTGO FOR ALL PURPOSES
$44,925.65
NOTE :- In addition to the foregoing, the Basement, Sunday School and Kindergarten Rooms were newly furnished and carpeted at an expense of $1,696.82, for which receipted bills were presented to the Treasurer by certain members of the Church.
+ CHURCH PERMANENT FUNDS.
Cash on hand April 1, 1911. $ 963.96 RECEIVED :-
Estate of Mrs. Elizabeth B. White. $10,000.00
Session, account sundry funds. 777.71
District Nurse Committee to Elizabeth Marshall Fund
1,000.00
Current income
1,378.50
13,156.21
Total on hand and received $14,120.17
PAID OUT :-
Welcome Hall from current income ... $ 1,336.41
Welcome Hall from accrued income ... 289.84
District Nurse from "Marshall Fund"' 100.00
Rent of Safe Deposit Box 10.00
Bonds purchased 11,387.08
13,123.33
BALANCE :- Cash on hand April 1, 1912. $ 996.84
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GENERAL STATEMENT :-
DEBIT. CREDIT.
Andrew J. Holden Fund,.
$ 3,700.11
(also 24 shares common and 57 shares preferred Wheeler-Holden Company).
Frank H. Goodyear Fund.
10,000.00
Elizabeth B. White Fund
10,000.00
Clementine L. Fobes Fund
589.35
Harriette W. Curtiss Fund
57.00
Margaret Johnston Fund.
353.65
The "Elizabeth Marshall Fund"'
4,476.96
Bonds, all first fives at par.
$30,000.00
Cash, Fidelity Trust Company
996.84
Surplus
1,819.77
$30,996.84
$30,996.84
PAYMENTS FROM THE SESSION BENEVOLENCE FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1912.
Foreign Mission Board
$ 8,000.00
Home Mission Board. 3,000.00
Church Erection Fund Board
200.00
Publication and Sunday School Work Board. 100.00
The College Board. 350.00
Board of Education.
200.00
Board of (Ministerial) Relief.
800.00
Board of Missions for Freedmen
100.00
Temperance Committee of the General Assembly
50.00
American Sunday School Union.
100.00
N. Y. State Sunday School Association.
25.00
American Tract Society 50.00
Religious Education Association 50.00
Buffalo City and Erie County Bible Society 50.00
Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America 25.00
Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute. 140.00
Men and Religion Forward Movement.
200.00
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Stanton Street Presbyterian Church, per Presbyterian Union
300.00
Lebanon Presbyterian Church, per Presbyterian Union. 180.00
Presbyterial Assessment 406.70
General Assembly Assessment.
225.00
Social Research Committee, Welcome Hall District
250.00
Board of Deacons, Requisitions.
126.69
Rev. John Mooshie.
25.00
Cartage to Lackawanna City
3.50
Treasurer's Allowance.
300.00
Total Outgo to Benevolences
$15,256.89
CHARLES J. NORTH, Treasurer.
Buffalo, N. Y., April 10, 1912.
SUMMARY OF BENEVOLENCES.
Session (see above) .
$15,256.80
Sunday School (see page 102) 350.00
Woman's Circle (see page 113)
5,592.37
Welcome Hall Maintenance (see page 123)
13,983.71
District Nurse Maintenance (see page 128)
1,557.94
Total
$36,740.82
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MR. JASPER CORNING FIRST SUPERINTENDENT OF SUNDAY SCHOOL.
First Church Sunday School.
Not long after the War of 1812, and the destruction of the little Village of Buffalo by the British and Indians, and nearly ten years before the opening of the Erie Canal, two enterprising and consecrated women, Miss Mary Martin and Miss Abigail Kibbe, gathered together a few children in a private house, and organized a Sunday School. This was in the fall of 1816. A tradition exists to the effect that this was the first Sunday School established west of Albany. Whether this is true or not, it was certainly in the early days of the Sunday School movement, and the School was still regarded as a very questionable institution.
In 1817, Jasper Corning emigrated from New York, and, uniting with the First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, be- came the first Superintendent of the Sunday School. He married Miss Abigail Kibbe. When, two years later, Mr. and Mrs. Corning moved to New York, Abner Bryant became the Superintendent.
From incidental sources of information, it is known that the School first met in the parlor of a private house, but, soon outgrowing these limited accommodations, it was housed in the school house on Main Street, between Eagle and Niagara, or in the Court House. A minute book that has survived the lapse of years is dated November 7, 1824. It was the day of small things. Nine teachers taught 31 pupils, but these few students of the Word recited that day 873 verses from the Bible. Co-education was regarded as dangerous, and boys and girls were taught separately. The titles of some of the books in the Sunday School library are of interest: The Panoplist, Jay's Discourses, Beauties of the Bible, Celestial Comforter, Danger of Delay-or Tomorrow, The Shepherd of Salisbury Plains. In all there were 166 volumes.
97
G
The following note is also found within the cover of the First Church Sunday School record book, an ancient-looking volume, in the handwriting of Jasper Corning:
Sunday Schools in 1825.
May 11, 1817 No. 1 Male in Buffalo, First Presbyterian.
May 11, 1817
No. 2, Female in Buffalo, First Presbyterian.
July 3, 1825 No. 3, Male and Female under the Hill.
May 1819 No. 4, Cold Springs.
May 1824 No. 5, Baptist, Buffalo Village.
May
1825 No. 6, At Mrs. Ely's, Black Rock Road.
"The Buffalo Sunday School Society," organized August 6, 1817, with nearly all the officers from the First Church, had evidently done good work. We find that "The 4th Anni- versary of this Society was held at the Court House, August 6, 1821. At 2 P. M. scholars and teachers to the number of nearly 200 assembled at the District School House and went in procession to the Court House." The officers were First Church men. So this church may be called the "Mother of Sunday Schools" in Buffalo, as well as the "Mother of Churches."
In 1825, the Erie Canal was completed through the wilderness, and Buffalo began to grow. In 1827, the school moved into the new church building, and met in the big Sun- day School rooms in the basement, which, in December, were so cold that the school had to be discontinued for two weeks, as the building was heated with wood stoves. In 1828, the room was rented to the High School, and the children of the Sun- day School were crowded into the Singing Room over the vestibule. There must have been a rebellion among the teach- ers, for in January the school was allowed to share with the High School the old quarters under the brick church.
98
0
THE REV. WILLIAM H. BOOCOCK DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.
The School grew in numbers until, in July, 1829, 179 pupils and 35 teachers were enrolled. In 1834, Abner Bry- ant was succeeded as Superintendent by P. G. Cook. In 1859, Joseph C. Barnes was Superintendent; in 1865, S. S. Guthrie. It is said that only four absences were recorded against him during his term of about nine years as Superintendent. The Infant Department at this time seems to have been particu- larly efficient. It was in charge of Miss Harriet Beecher, who taught in it for twenty-five years, and Miss Harriet Lay, her co-worker. A catechism for children was prepared by these teachers which was used in 300 schools throughout the country. Two letters in Japanese, which now hang upon the walls of the Sunday School room, acknowledge the receipt of $20 and $24 and convey the assurance that the money had been used in winning converts to Christianity. The largest attendance recorded in 1865 was 219, and the largest collection was $2.06. Without mentioning the de- tailed happenings in the later history of the School, the names of the Superintendents, so far as records in hand show, are: 1867, Mr. F. Gridley; 1875, Mr. W. H. Gardner; 1879, Mr. Spencer S. Kingsley; he was succeeded by Mr. J. E. McWil- liams ; 1884, Mr. C. Townsend Wilson; 1885, Mr. P. H. Miner; 1886, Mr. O. P. Letchworth; in 1888, Mr. Walter J. Shepard was also Acting Superintendent for a time.
In the fall of 1909, the increasing demand for higher effi- ciency in religious education being recognized, Rev. William H. Boocock was invited to become Director of Religious Edu- cation. The plan of the School, which is taking shape under his direction, may be thus described: To the organization responsible for the educational work of the church has been given the name, "The Church School." In the Church School there are two main divisions: A Young People's Division, or Undergraduate School, including young people from 4 to 20 years of age; and an Adult, or Graded School, including adults from 20 years up. The Undergraduate School has two divisions: One, a School of Instruction, divided into the regular departments and grades, of which the present Sunday School is the nucleus; and the other a School of Training for
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Service, with departments and grades as in the Sunday School, of which the Young People's Societies furnish the nucleus. Both schools are completely graded, and the effort is being made to correlate the School of Training with the School of Instruction and with the Adult School. For ex- ample, the Junior Department of the Sunday School is re- garded as also the Junior Society. The young people in this department (9 to 12 years of age) meet on Sunday morning for instruction in Christian knowledge, and at some other hour in the week for instruction in fields of service and for training in service. The course of lessons in use is eclectic, the aim being to select the best lesson treatment for a par- ticular subject. An efficient body of teachers is in charge of the classes. Teacher-training classes are held. Training in worship and in benevolence is given the pupils. The teachers remain in grade, and the pupils are promoted each year on Children's Day.
In the Adult Division are included the Teacher-training Classes, the Adult Bible Classes, Parent's Classes, Missionary Classes, and any other classes or organizations whose aim is chiefly educational. These classes are organized and meet whenever and wherever the class elects.
In all this the effort is being made to secure a comprehen- sive and unitary plan for the gradual development of the entire church in Christian knowledge and in Christian service.
REPORT OF THE CHURCH SCHOOL OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BUFFALO, N. Y.
April 1, 1911-April 1, 1912.
As the Director of Religious Education, I beg leave to submit the Annual Report of what I like to call "The Church School of the First Presbyterian Church."
The use of this term for the larger school of the local church is recommended by the Religious Education Com-
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mittee of the General Assembly. Under it are included the Sunday School, the Young People's Societies, the various Adult Classes, and all the distinctively educational agencies of the church.
Reports have been submitted by the Secretaries and Treas- urers of each organization to their respective Superintendents or Presidents, and these in turn have reported to me. From these reports have been taken the data which appears herein.
AIM.
The aim of the Church School is to secure "instructed and trained Christian lives consecrated to the realization of God's Kingdom on Earth." (The Church School differs from the other agencies which the church employs, not in aim, for all agencies have avowedly the same aim, but in the use of the educational method. It interests itself in intensive work of instruction and training.)
I. The Sunday School.
The Sunday School is the School of Instruction for all the young people under 20 years of age.
The Sunday School has five departments: Kindergarten, Primary, Junior, Intermediate and Senior Departments, and 12 grades. A different course of study is used in each grade. The teachers remain in grade and the pupils are advanced each year. The Sunday School is thus fully graded. The following statistical summary will be of value:
Number of Sessions
.36
C
Enroll- ment.
Average Attendance.
Beginners
21
13
Primary
37
30
Junior
47
41
Intermediate
26
14
Senior
25
20
Total
156
118
101
OFFICERS AND TEACHERS.
Officers 12
...
Teachers (Regular). 30
24
Teachers (Substitute) 13
...
Total
.55
SUMMARY FOR THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Pupils
156 118
Officers and Teachers 55 24
Total
211
142
FINANCES.
Cost of Maintenance (from Church Treasury) .
$333.90
Gifts to Benevolence ($50 more than last year) 350.00
As follows :
Endowment Cradle Beach Cot. .$ 30.00
Buffalo Sunday School Association 10.00
Foreign Missions :
Japanese Scholarship 40.00
Chinese Scholarship. 40.00
Women's Board-Home Missions 25.00
Board of Home Missions 25.00
Freedman's Board. 25.00
Board of Sunday Schools and Y. P. Work. 25.00
District Nurse-Welcome Hall 100.00
Children's Hospital. 30.00
$350.00
The gain in benevolent contributions is the more notice- able in view of the fact that the two senior classes have been spending their own money.
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Both the Young Woman's Class, numbering 13, in charge of Miss May Churchill, and the Young Men's Class, number- ing 15, with an average attendance, since reorganization, of 12, in charge of Mr. Edward P. Lupfer, are regularly organ- ized classes, with full sets of officers, distinctive work, and their own treasury.
In General.
Each department is fully officered. Occasional sociables and parties have been held during the year. Speakers have addressed the Sunday School from time to time. The order has been good. Programs for guiding the worship of the school have been printed each month. The increase in atten- dance has been mainly in the Primary and Senior Depart- ments. The monthly supper of the officers and teachers has been successful and has done much to promote the esprit de corps of the school. The principal credit for whatever success the school has had this year is due to the faithful and efficient work of the Superintendent, Mr. William M. Wheeler, and those who have been associated with him as officers and teachers.
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