USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > Historical manual of the Central Congregational Church, Providence, R.I. 1852-1902 > Part 7
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HISTORICAL MANUAL.
Central Church Auxiliary.
R. I. BRANCH, W. B. M.
PRESIDENT-Mrs. Harriet N. Lathrop.
VICE-PRESIDENT-Mrs. Ellsworth Torrey. SECRETARY-Mrs. J. Irving Manatt.
TREASURER-Miss Lucy N. Lathrop.
The women of the Central Church formed an Auxiliary to the Woman's Board in January, 1868, eight months after the incorpora- tion of the Woman's Board in Boston. The number has not been large at any of the meetings, but the money paid to the Treasurer of the Woman's Board has amounted to $12,947.50, besides $3,000 in special gifts during the past two years. The first officers were Mrs. William J. King, President, and Mrs. Henry W. Wilkinson, Corresponding Secretary.
When the Rhode Island Branch was formed, in 1873, the Central Church furnished the President in Mrs. King, who served three years as President of the Branch after serving the Auxiliary six years. Mrs. Wilkinson was Corresponding Secretary until 1893. Mrs. Amos D. Lockwood succeeded Mrs. King after her retirement in 1876. The eight years Mrs. Lockwood was President were the most prosperous ones for the Auxiliary. For the third time the Auxiliary gave a Presi- dent to the Branch in Mrs. Jeremiah Taylor until her removal from the city in 1885; and again, for the fourth time, a President had been trained in the Auxiliary, and Mrs. Wilkinson was made President of the Branch. Mrs. Harriet N. Lathrop was Home Secretary of the Branch twenty-five years, and has been President of the Auxiliary twenty-two years. She made a gift to the Branch in 1900, of $1,000, the income to be used for local expenses.
A society of young girls called the Willing Hands, and made Aux- iliary to the Woman's Board of Foreign Missions, was formed in 1872 with forty members, and continued until the year ISS7. Their first
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CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
gift of money was to the Constantinople Home (now the American College for Girls), $270. In the year 1883 the name was changed to Junior Auxiliary. They sent fourteen boxes of clothing to different mission fields, and contributed $1,268.76 in money to the Woman's Board. Miss Bessie Jillson, one of their own number, sailed for Smyrna, her chosen field of missionary labor, July 30, ISS5.
The women interested in training boys in mission work formed a plan which became a model. The O. B. (Our Boys) Mission Club was organized at the house of Mrs. Henry W. Wilkinson in the year 1876, and continued until the year 1885. The aim of the club, in addition to its missionary object, was to awaken a spirit of personal responsibility and to cultivate politeness and nobleness of character in all its mem- bers. Their first money was sent to a girls' school in Japan. They educated a boy and girl in India, two girls in Madura, and a student in Aintab, Turkey, who is now a valuable missionary worker. The amount contributed by them to the Woman's Board was $$50. S7. .
Women's Foreign Missionary Society.
PRESIDENT-Mrs. Francis W. Carpenter.
VICE-PRESIDENTS-Mrs. Edward C. Moore, Miss Esther D. R. Ban- croft, Mrs. Cornelius Barrows, Mrs. Charles R. Makepeace.
RECORDING SECRETARY-Mrs. Johns H. Congdon.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY-Mrs. Edward C. Moore.
TREASURER-Mrs. Theodore P. Bogert.
ASSISTANT TREASURER-Miss Alice Haskell.
CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES-MMissionary-Mrs. Francis W. Carpen- ter; Supervisor of Handiwork-Miss Emma A. Taft; Purchasing- Miss Emma A. Taft: Packing and Forwarding-Mrs. Cornelius Barrows; Appraisal-Mrs. Albion S. Doane; Lunch-Mrs. Walter L. Preston: Librarian-Mrs. Joseph T. Day; Nominating-Mrs. William B. Greenough.
This society was organized in March, 1893. The meetings are held every Wednesday morning for an hour and a half. One of them is a monthly meeting for the reading of records and transaction of business. After the devotional studies, the ladies sew for missionary families, hospitals, and schools, while they listen to papers, informal talks or readings prepared by a few of their number. The society has the use of a gradually accumulated missionary library of nearly a hundred volumes. The funds of the society are derived from weekly offerings, membership fees, and special gifts. Its resources have been recently much increased by the addition of an auxiliary membership which con- tributes both money and work done at home. Two or more mission- aries have been entertained every year, and friendly correspondence maintained with many in the field. The object of this society is the study of all forms of missionary labor in their bearing on the gradual development of the Kingdom of God in the world. The lives and teachings of the Hebrew prophets have been touched upon, also the history of the early church, the biographies of some of its leaders, and the ever advancing body of its truth. A sympathetic understanding of the problems of the missionaries themselves has been sought through missionary intelligence, acquaintance with the religions and character- istics of foreign people, the climate and geography of foreign countries, and the bearing of current events on the welfare of communities and the progress of Christian truth.
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CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Girls' Mission Circle.
DIRECTORS-Mrs. Robert W. Burbank, Miss Lucy N. Lathrop, Miss Alice Kimball.
PRESIDENT-Miss Mildred A. Carnes.
VICE-PRESIDENT-Miss Alene O. Williams.
SECRETARY-Miss Grace I. Fairchild.
TREASURER-Miss Isabel Scott.
In 1881 a Mission Circle was formed, called the Cheerful Workers. After working under this name for four years and contributing $185, the Circle became known by the name of Young Girls' Mission Circle, and has continued its work all these years. Beginning in ISS9, for eight years they supported a girl in Mrs. Humes' School in Bombay. During the four years beginning in 1897, $25 was sent each year towards Miss Long's salary in Mexico. Since then the money has gone to a different object each year. The total amount sent since ISSI has been nearly $700.
Ministering Children's League.
DIRECTORS-Mrs. Edwin Barrows, Mrs. Frederic H. Fuller, Miss Sarah T. Carpenter, Miss Idelette Carpenter, Mrs. James C. Kimball. RECORDING SECRETARY-Margaret W. Kimball.
CORRESPONDING SECRETARY-Gwendolen Blodgett.
TREASURER-Ivory Littlefield.
CHAIRMAN INFORMATION COMMITTEE-John A. Day.
The League was formed January, 1887. Its object is to cultivate in children habits of unselfishness by loving, helpful service for others. Essentially missionary in spirit, it is most simple in organization, . having but one rule, that of trying to do one kind deed every day. Through the use of mite boxes it has contributed to the helping of needy children in our own and other lands.
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HISTORICAL MANUAL.
Portuguese Mission.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE-Seeber Edwards, Mrs. Franklin J. Saw- telle, Frederic H. Fuller, Charles W. Bubier.
MISSIONARY-Manuel R. Martin.
Sunday and Friday evening services, in charge of Gregory D. Wal- cott.
MEN'S CLASS-In charge of Frederic H. Fuller.
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
.
SUPERINTENDENT-Seeber Edwards.
TEACHERS-Miss Esther D. R. Bancroft, Miss Emma T. Bradford, Miss Jessie B. Campbell, Miss Annie W. Carpenter, Miss Edith Gray, Miss Jessie H. Hunt, James C. Kimball, Miss Laura B. Kimball, Miss Annie L. Makepeace, Miss Alice H. Mason, Miss Edith Nichols, Miss Helen A. Thomas, Miss Caroline L. Walker.
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
SUPERINTENDENT-Mrs. Franklin J. Sawtelle.
TEACHERS-Mrs. Edwin Barrows, Mrs. Edward O. Bartlett, Miss Sarah T. Carpenter, Mrs. Frederic H. Fuller, Mrs. Samuel Hopkins, Miss Laura B. Kimball, Miss Alice H. Mason, Mrs. Josiah S. Packard. CHILDREN'S CLASS-In charge of Mrs. Nathan H. Baker.
SCHOOL AT LINK STREET-In charge of Miss Harriet C. Richards.
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CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Central Congregational Society.
ORGANIZATION, 1902.
PRESIDENT-John W. Danielson.
VICE-PRESIDENT-Stephen (). Edwards.
SECRETARY-Charles F. Taylor.
. TREASURER-Horatio A. Hunt.
STANDING COMMITTEE-Stephen O. Edwards, Frederick H. Jackson, Charles R. Makepeace, Arthur W. Claflin, Charles A. Catlin, John W. Danielson, Francis W. Carpenter, Frederic H. Fuller, Eugene W. Mason.
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE-Francis W. Carpenter, John W. Danielson, Eugene W. Mason.
COMMITTEE ON MUSIC-Charles A. Catlin, Arthur W. Claflin, Charles R. Makepeace.
COMMITTEE ON BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS - Frederic H. Fuller, Frederick H. Jackson, Charles R. Makepeace.
COMMITTEE ON PULPIT SUPPLY-Francis W. Carpenter, John W. Danielson, Frederic H. Fuller.
AUDITORS-Francis E. Bates, Engelhart C. Ostby.
USHERS-R. Clinton Fuller, Charles R. Makepeace, Edwin A. Bar- rows, Royal C. Taft, Jr., Seeber Edwards, Henry K. Metcalf, Allan P. Stevens, William S. Fairchild, Howard D. Wilcox.
SEXTON-Henry Turner.
CHOIR-Director - John H. Mason; Organist - Miss Fannie Cliff Berry. QUARTETTE-Soprano-Mrs. Henrietta Hascall; Contralto- Miss Lora Holmes; Tenor-George A. Freeman; Bass-Gustav Saacke.
Annual society meeting. second Tuesday in October.
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HISTORICAL MANUAL.
PRESIDENTS.
Amos D. Smith, 1851-1857: James Y. Smith, 1857-1876; Royal C. Taft, 1876-ISSI; Amos D. Lockwood. ISSI-1884; John Eddy, 1884-1898 ; John W. Danielson, IS9S
VICE-PRESIDENTS.
Solomon Gilbert, 1851-1855; William J. King, 1855-1876; Amos D. Lockwood, IS76-ISSI; William J. Cross, ISS1-1885 ; John W. Danielson, ISS5-ISOS; Zephaniah Williams, IS98-1899; Robert W. Burbank, IS99- 1900; Stephen O. Edwards, 1900.
SECRETARIES.
John Kingsbury, IS50-1871 : Charles F. Taylor, IS71-
TREASURERS.
William J. Cross, 1850-1855; Royal C. Taft, 1855-1856; Benjamin H. Gladding, 1856-1864; Lorenzo B. Makepeace, 1864-ISSI; Philip H. Durfee, ISSI-ISSS; Orin A. Read. ISSS-IS9S; Horatio A. Hunt, IS9S.
The following members have served the society as members of the standing committee under the old by-laws, IS52-1900:
James Y. Smith, John Kingsbury, William Foster, William J. King, Royal C. Taft, James M. Kimball, Jacob Symonds, John Eddy, Francis W. Carpenter, Frederic Talbot. Frederic H. Fuller, and Eugene W. Mason.
Under the revised by-laws of 1900, the members now composing the standing committee.
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CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Charter.
GRANTED AT JANUARY SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, A. D. 1850.
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Josiah Chapin, Shubael Hutchins, Amos D. Smith, Billings Brastow, William Foster, John Kingsbury, and Joseph Car- penter, and their associates, together with such others as may be here- after elected by them, they and their successors are hereby created a body corporate and politic, with perpetual succession, by the name of " The Benefit Street Congregational Society, in the City of Providence," for the purpose of erecting and maintaining a Meeting House for the publie worship of Almighty God, in the City of Providence, and for the purpose of supporting and promulgating the Christian Religion accord- ing to the rights and usages of the Trinitarian Congregational Churches in the United States; and, by that name, shall be able and capable in law to sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, to defend and be de- fended against, in all courts and places, and before all proper judges and magistrates whomsoever; to take, secure, and hold all monies and other property, by voluntary subscription, donation, or other- wise; also, all Legacies, Devises, and Bequests of Real and Personal Estate: and also to have, hold, possess, and acquire Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, Goods, Chattles, and Property of every description, not exceeding in amount in all the sum of one hundred thousand dollars. And all and singular the estate and property aforesaid, to lease, grant, convey, or dispose of in such manner as they shall judge expedient, at their will and pleasure; to have and use a common seal, and the same to break, alter, and renew at pleasure ; and at any of their meetings to enact and pass such rules, regulations, and by-laws, for the government of said Corporation, and the management of the property and affairs thereof, as they may think proper and necessary: Provided, the same be not repugnant to this Act of Incorporation, the Laws of this State, and of the United States.
\By let of the Legislature, February 17, 1851, the name was changed from Benefit Street to Central Congregational Society. ]
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HISTORICAL MANUAL.
[At the January Session, 1890, Section i of original Act was amended to read as if the words one hundred thousand dollars had been stricken out and two hundred thousand inserted in its place. ]
SEC. 2. The Corporation shall hold an annual meeting on the second Tuesday in October, in each and every year, and such other meetings at other times, as they may deem expedient, to be called and notified in such way and manner as they shall prescribe; and at any of such meetings, five of the members of the Corporation shall be necessary to form a quorum.
SEC. 3. The Corporation, at their annual meeting, shall elect out of their own body, a Treasurer and Secretary, and such other officers as they may deem expedient, who shall hold their respective offices one year therefrom, or until others are elected in their stead.
SEC. 4. If the Corporation shall fail at any time to hold any of their annual meetings, or to elect all or any of their officers thereat, such failure shall not in any way impair or invalidate this Act, but said Corporation may elect their said officers, and transact other business of said annual meeting, at any other meeting called and notified in the manner prescribed by the Corporation, within one year from the day appointed for the annual meeting.
SEC. 5. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to record, in a book kept for the purpose, all the proceedings of the Corporation, particu- larly the first sale or lease of the Pews, and to minute every subsequent transfer of the same whether by sale, or by lease, for one year or longer; and his records and minutes shall be the general evidence by which the proprietors and lessees are to be ascertained. The Records shall be at all times open to the inspection of members of the Corpor- ation.
SEC. 6. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to hold the funds of the Corporation, and apply the same in such manner and under such regulations as the Corporation may direct ; to keep a regular account of all monies received and expended, and make a regular statement thereof, in a report to the Corporation, at their annual meeting, and at such other times as they may require.
SEC. 7. Each owner, lessee, or hirer of a Pew or Pews, in any meet- ing house hereafter erected or occupied by said Corporation, may be elected a member of said Corporation, by a majority of two-thirds of the members present, having been first propounded at a previous
CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
meeting, provided, that no member shall be entitled to more than one vote, and that one Pew shall at no time qualify more than one person to vote, and provided further, that any person ceasing to be an owner, lessee, or hiver of a Pew or Pews, in said meeting house (if a member of said Corporation) shall therefrom cease to be a member.
SEC. . The said Corporation at any meeting (previous to which reasonable notice shall have been given that such business will be acted on) shall be, and hereby are empowered to assess and levy upon the Pews of said meeting house in a ratable proportion to the fixed valuation of such Pews, whether sold or leased by said Corporation, and to collect from the owners, lessees, or hirers of such Pews, all sums of money they may vote to be necessary and requisite for the repairs, improvements and insurance of said meeting house, for the enclosure and improvement of the lot on which it stands, and for all necessary and usual current expenditures in conducting public worship in said meeting house, according to the rites and usages of the Trinitarian Congregational Churches in the United States, and for which assess- ments the Pews only shall be liable.
And in case said taxes so assessed upon any Pew or Pews, holden by individuals, shall remain unpaid for the term of ninety days after such assessment, (and demand being first made upon the owner or owners, or at his, her, or their last usual place of residence,) the Pews on which the same are assessed and remain unpaid, may be sold at public auction, at such time as said Corporation shall direct, and the surplus (if any) remaining after the payment of said taxes, and the expenses of sale shall be paid over to the owner or owners of such Pew or Pews.
SEC. 9. Josiah Chapin, Billings Brastow, and Amos D. Smith, are authorized to call a meeting of the Corporators, for the purpose of organizing said Corporation, and for the purpose of choosing officers, and the officers then chosen shall continue in their respective offices until the second Tuesday in October next, or, until others are chosen in their stead, as provided in the fourth section of this Act.
True copy-Witness:
CHRIS. E. ROBBINS,
Secretary.
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HISTORICAL MANUAL.
By - Laws.
ADOPTED DECEMBER 29, 1851.
I. That in addition to the Treasurer and Secretary, the officers named in the charter, a President, Vice-President, and Standing Com- mittee of three be appointed.
II. The annual and stated meetings of the society shall be called by the Secretary. Special meetings shall be called by the Secretary at the request of the Standing Committee or of any five members of the society.
III. Notice of these meetings from the pulpit shall be deemed legal.
[Adopted September 20, 1852.]
IV. That no owner or lessee of a pew or pews shall make any alter- ation or improvement in their pew without the consent of the society or that of the Standing Committee.
By - Laws.
ADOPTED OCTOBER 9, 1900.
ARTICLE I.
MEETINGS.
SECTION 1. Special Meetings .- Special meetings of the society may be called at any time by the Secretary, upon request in writing of a majority of the Standing Committee, or of not less than five members of the society.
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CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
SEC. 2. Notice of Meetings. - Notice of the annual and of all special meetings of the society shall be given at the morning service on the Sunday next preceding the date of the meeting, by reading from the pulpit a written notice of the meeting, signed by the Secretary.
ARTICLE 1I.
OFFICERS.
SECTION 1. Enumeration of .- The officers of the society shall con- sist of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, a Standing Committee to consist of nine members, and two Auditors.
SEC. 2. Standing Committee, how elected .- The society shall, at its annual meeting, elect the members of the Standing Committee. Va- cancies occurring at times other than the annual meeting may be filled by the remaining members of the committee. Members of the com- mittee shall be placed upon the list of members in the order of their election: Provided, however, that members elected by the committee to fill vacancies shall take the place in the list of the members whom they respectively succeed. New members elected at the annual meet- ing shall be placed at the foot of the list of members, and members re- elected shall be placed upon the list in the order in which they have theretofore stood. Of the members elected at the meeting at which these by-laws are adopted, the first three on the list shall (if re-elected) after a continuous service of three years be ineligible to re-election for one year, and thereafter the first three members on the list shall be ineligible to re-election for one year.
ARTICLE III.
DUTIES OF OFFICERS.
SECTION 1. Of President and Vice-President .- The President shall preside at all meetings of the society and of the Standing Committee, and shall, with the Treasurer, sign all notes, contracts, leases, and other instruments made by the society. In case of absence or disability of the President the Vice-President shall perform the duties of the Presi- cent.
SEC. 2. Of the Treasurer and Secretary .- In addition to the duties prescribed by the charter, the Treasurer shall attend all meetings of the Standing Committee and advise with the Standing Committee, but
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HISTORICAL MANUAL.
without the right to vote. He shall, with the President, sign all notes, contracts, leases, and other instruments made by the society. He shall, under the direction of the Standing Committee, have charge of the leasing of pews.
The Secretary, in addition to the duties prescribed by the charter, shall notify all meetings of the society, and shall record the proceed- ings of the meetings of the Standing Committee.
SEC. 3. Of the Auditors .- It shall be the duty of the Auditors to examine all statements of the finances of the society made by the Treas- urer to the society, and all vouchers, and report to the annual meeting thereon. The Auditors shall, whenever thereunto requested by the Standing Committee, make an examination of the accounts of the Treasurer.
SEC. 4. Of the Standing Committee .- The Standing Committee shall, as soon as practicable, after the annual meeting, elect from their own number a President, Vice-President, committees on finance, music, buildings and grounds, and such other committees as they may think fit. Each committee shall consist of three members. They shall also elect two Auditors who shall not be members of the Standing Com- mittee.
The Standing Committee shall have full charge, control, and manage- ment of all the property, business, and affairs of the corporation: Provided, however, that this section shall not be construed to limit or abridge the right of the society to act upon any business it may see fit at any time. They shall not, however, unless authorized by special vote of the society, have power to act upon any matter with reference to the calling or employing a minister, except temporarily, nor shall they have power to act upon the dismissal of a minister. No contract, other than the employment of a minister, shall be entered into on be- half of the society, except by authorization of the Standing Committee, or as provided by these by-laws. They shall, through the Treasurer, lease pews and fix the rent of the same. They shall appropriate and apportion all moneys of the society required for the several purposes of the society. They shall make written report of their doings to the society at its annual meeting.
SEC. 5. Quorum .- A majority of the Standing Committee shall con- stitute a quorum for the transaction of all business.
.
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CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
ARTICLE IV.
DUTIES OF SUB-COMMITTEES.
SECTION 1. Committee on Finance .- The Committee on Finance, sub- jest to the direction of the Standing Committee, shall have the general charge and management of the financial affairs of the society. They shall appoint the place of deposit of all moneys of the society; and shall perform such other duties as the Standing Committee may prescribe.
SEC. 2. Committee on Buildings and Grounds .- The Committee on Buildings and Grounds, subject to the direction of the Standing Com- mittee, shall have the general charge and care of the buildings, furnish- ings, and grounds of the society. They shall employ a janitor to care for the buildings, shall look after all repairs and improvements and purchase all furnishings and fuel, and attend to such other duties as the Standing Committee may from time to time prescribe. They shall have no authority to incur any debt beyond the amount of money appropriated for their use.
SEC. 3. Committee on Music .- It shall be the duty of the Com- mittee on Music to manage and control all musical affairs of the society, and to hire all singers, musicians, or other persons necessary to properly render and conduct the musical services of the Church; and, if desir- able, they may make contracts therefor of not longer than one year's duration. It shall further be their duty to care for and control all musical instruments, hymn books, and bound and unbound music be- longing to the society, together with all furniture, furnishings, or other appurtenances relating to the musical affairs of the society. They shall make no contract in excess of the appropriations made by the Standing Committee for their use, unless specially authorized by the Standing Commitee.
ARTICLE V.
AMENDMENTS.
1
SECTION 1. These by-laws may be amended, added to, or revised at any annual meeting of the society, by a majority vote; provided, that notice of the proposed amendment, addition, or revision shall be given in the call for the meeting.
ALPHABETICAL LIST
OF
MEMBERS,
March 18, 1852, to May 21, 1902.
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CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
MEMBERSHIP.
* denotes charter members (82 received March 18, 1852). L denotes received by letter ; C, on confession.
Where a church is Congregational that word is omitted.
The location of a church is understood to be in Providence unless otherwise stated.
Bracketed (Christian) names are those of husbands where known.
A bracketed name at end of a line denotes marriage since joining church, which name is entered again under husband's name and the original name placed after in brackets.
Adams, Lucy B (L), First, Burlington, Vt., November 10, ISSI. To
Beneficent, May 28, ISS5.
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