The first century of Central Congregational Church, 1852-1952, Part 5

Author:
Publication date: 1952
Publisher: Providence, R.I. : [The Committee]
Number of Pages: 120


USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > Providence > The first century of Central Congregational Church, 1852-1952 > Part 5


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5


A paragraph in the calendar for December 28, 1947, ap- parently in the minister's own words, contains a vivid de- scription of the Christmas season in the Church.


"When we think of the Christmas season in our Church this year, how many things come to mind. Such things for example as these: the organ music at all the services .. . the Christmas Play 'Why the Chimes Rang', the reverent spirit in which it was given, the singing of the quartet, the chorus, the girls' choir, the beauty of the chancel .. . the great number who came that night, many of them at home from school and college, with so many children who had such a good time with Santa Claus."


Due to the large attendance at the Easter service two morning services were inaugurated for Easter in the early 1940's, an earlier service conducted by the Assistant Minis- ter at which the attendance has always been good, and the


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later 11 o'clock service thronged by a large congregation and conducted by Dr. Bradford. The masses of Easter lilies and other memorial flowers year after year on Easter Sunday have filled the Church with rare, vernal beauty. On some of the Palm Sunday afternoons during the thirties passion and other plays were given in the Church.


Nor are these services the only ones that have assumed significant places in the minds of the congregation. We think also of the family service at Thanksgiving, of the Children's Day service in May, with the exercises of promo- tion and the promise of growth and with the children's ser- mon in which Dr. Bradford is so ably assisted by the little blue boy, of the service of Dedication for Church School Teachers and Officers of the Church Ministry of Music, of the Communion Service on the evening of Holy Thursday, of the Wednesday evening Lenten Services, conducted by laymen as well as by clergymen, and of many others.


But fairness demands that in chronicling the history of the last thirty years, there should be recorded some decided losses in worship. Vesper services, common at the beginning of the period have all but been given up. The Thursday evening meetings (including the preparatory services before Communion which were always faithfully attended by the stauncher members of the Church and at which new mem- bers of the Church were voted upon) were discontinued in the early thirties. Even the average attendance at the morn- ing service is now somewhat less despite a considerably larger Church membership than it was in the early twenties. For these losses no minister can be held responsible. They


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result solely from the changing or rather more truly the lessening habits of worship of the Congregation.


An account of the worship and organization of the Church would be incomplete without a record of the Assistant Ministers and other religious leaders who have well served the Church. When Dr. Bradford came to the Church in 1918, the Rev. Mr. Frank E. Butler had then for seven years served the Church as Assistant Minister and Director of Religious Education. The position of Director of Religious Education had been a new one for the Church. But Mr. Butler brought to it proficiency and an eager religious and intellectual interest in the subject of religious education. For fourteen years his responsibility was to conduct the Church Sunday School which over the latter part of this period was rapidly expanding. Advancing age induced him in April, 1925, to submit his resignation, which was accepted at a Thursday evening meeting of the Church held on April 2, 1925. But a year later the Congregation, finding that he had occupied a place not easily filled, invited him to resume his service immediately as one of the Ministers of the Church. He continued to serve the Church actively as Associate Minister until November, 1936, when considerations of health and age again made it necessary for him to submit his resignation, which was accepted with regret on November 1, 1936.


The resolution accepting his resignation said among other things: "Although now past the allotted space of three score years and ten, one of the striking things about Mr. Butler is that he has always seen the hopes, the aspirations,


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and the problems of boys and girls, the young men and women of Central Church, as one of them, because he never permitted himself to become old in spirit. Above all, he has helped so many young people to an understanding of religion and to an understanding of their relationship to God and the teachings of Jesus."


Thereafter Mr. Butler was known as Associate Minister Emeritus and frequently appeared in the chancel of the Church at Communion and other services. He remained "eager in spirit" to the end of his life. His death at an ad- vanced age in 1948 did not occur until more than ten years after his final resignation.


We have been blessed, too, at Central Church in the other Assistant Pastors and Directors of Religious Education who have worked with us, grown in stature, and in many cases moved on to other responsibilities. The Rev. Rudolph W. Roth served as Assistant Minister for the Church year 1925-1926, following Mr. Butler's first withdrawal. After an interval he was succeeded by Mr. Paul S. McElroy, who came to us in 1932, and was ordained to the Christian Min- istry at an Ecclesiastical Council held in our own Church on November 18, 1932. Two years later, in October, 1934, Mr. McElroy left to assume his own pastorate in Massa- chusetts, followed by the esteem and affection of the con- gregation.


At the annual meeting in 1936 the appointment of Miss Mary Frances Thelen as Director of Religious Education was announced. A brilliant person scholastically, she also served the Church for two years.


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The new Assistant Minister of the Church, Bertrand Robert Crist, just out of Theological School, was ordained to the ministry in our church on October 26, 1938. After the entry of this country into the Second World War, he was granted leave of absence in October, 1942 to accept a com- mission as chaplain in the United States Naval Reserve. He was presently assigned to a ship and served for many months at advanced bases in the Pacific, and later as chaplain in charge of a large disciplinarian base in California. While in Australia he met his future wife. Extracts from "Bert" Crist's letters frequently appeared in the calendar. One told of his standing on a dock in San Pedro watching the transport that was bringing his wife for the first time to this country. During Dr. Bradford's serious illness in 1947, Bertrand Crist served with ability as the Acting Minister of the Church. During the latter days of his incumbency he was known as "Associate Minister". He finally left the Church in May, 1948, to accept the pastorate of a new Congrega- tional Church in San Marino, California.


In May, 1945, to aid Dr. Bradford in Mr. Crist's absence it was announced that the Rev. Lewis L. Gilbert would serve as interim Associate Minister of the Church. A gradu- ate of Yale Divinity School and a former American Board Missionary in China, he filled a notable place in the Church for two years and during that time the Gilbert family of six won a large place in the hearts of the people of Central Congregational Church. He was unable to return to China, as he had hoped, and afterward served in the State of Ohio Conference Ministry and has recently accepted a call to the


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College Street Congregational Church in Burlington, Ver- mont.


During the war years Rev. Charles F. Rodrigues, the minister of the Portuguese Chapel, with his fine reading voice, frequently took part in the services of the Church.


Since 1943 Miss Ruth E. Cameron has served ably as Director of Religious Education. The Rev. Thomas H. Campbell, the former Associate Minister of the Church, commenced his work in January, 1949, and he, his wife and three children contributed much to the life of the Church.


Central Church has cause to rejoice in the character of those who have served through the Ministry of Music. One of the most notable of these was Miss Helen Hogan (later Mrs. Coome). She had been the organist for some years before Dr. Bradford came and had become a member of the Church on October 2, 1919. In her work as organist and as a founder in 1918 of the Girls' Choir, she contributed en- thusiastically with her great musical ability and her warm and inspiring personality to the musical life of the Church. Girls, now women, who sang in the choir led by her, will never forget the debt that they owe to her leadership. She made frequent trips abroad to further her musical studies, and on one of these trips met her future husband, an English- man, Mr. Coome. Her marriage necessitated her resigna- tion as organist and choir director, but thereafter she re- mained in close touch with the Church, and occasionally prior to the Second World War returned on visits to this country. After that War started and London was incessantly bombed, she tirelessly labored at the expense of her own


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health to help the stricken people of London and the vicinity, and to alleviate their wants with funds that the people of Central Church contributed. After the close of the War she sent to the Church a pendant designed by an artist who had been aided by her ministrations as a token of the apprecia- tion of those who had been helped. This pendant now appears at the corner of the side aisle and the east transept.


After the departure of Mrs. Coome the Church was fortunate to have the services of Miss Frances Burnham, who filled the post of organist until 1943, and of Miss Elizabeth K. Bugbee, who now carries on the able tradition. One hesitates to write in detail of those who are still active in the Ministry of Music or have served recently, but it seems appropriate to say a word of two whose long associa- tion has given them a peculiar place in the affections of the Church. Of Miss Julia Gould, contralto soloist for twenty- six years, Dr. Bradford wrote on her retirement: "Now as the year draws to its close, we hope she realized how strong and deep is the affection of the peoples of the Church for her and how profoundly grateful we are for all that she has done for us. The many girls who were in the Girls' Choir when she was its Director will never forget the devoted leadership which she gave them. The hundreds of babies for whom she sang the Baptismal Chant may not have realized what they owe to her but their parents and friends blessed her for singing as she did."


And we recall also that Mr. Harry Hughes has sung, with only one interval since the start of Dr. Bradford's ministry. He is now the Director of the Youth Choir and in


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addition to his generous contribution to the Sunday Services, he has time after time contributed by his singing to the pleasure of people attending meetings in Memorial Chapel.


As an essential part of its religious activities, Central Church has always been in the forefront of denominational support for both foreign and home missionaries in the field. In the calendar of November 4, 1928 it was announced that Central Church out of 5548 churches in the denomination stood 17th in amount and 12th in per capita giving. During the entire period of Dr. Bradford's ministry, the Church's missionary representatives have weekly been listed on the Church calendar. Among them have been in the foreign field: Reverend Paul L. Corbin, long located at Shansi, China, who was present at the annual meeting of the Church in 1929; Dr. Katherine Scott at Madura, India; Miss Alice Weir in South Africa; Miss G. Marion Holland and Miss Elizabeth Johnson, at Amednagor, India; Miss Florence Margaret Ridley, who on December 2, 1928 was com- missioned at this Church to the Marathi Mission, India, and who occupied the pulpit of the Church on October 14, 1934; and the Rev. and Mrs. Robert W. Wood, who were like- wise commissioned at a service in this Church on June 5, 1949 for service at Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan. In the home field: Miss Priscilla Chase of the Church Exten- sion Board; Rev. William T. Holmes, President of Tougaloo College and a former Associate Minister of this Church; President Judson L. Cross and President Harold C. Warren, both of Tougaloo and Rev. Abram Nightingale of the Cross- ville (Tennessee) Congregational Church. A notable event


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in Central Church's history was the holding of the annual meeting of the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions in the Church on November 21-23, 1924.


It was during the latter part of this period that the Portuguese Chapel, long a favored project of Central Church and ably served by a succession of ministers, reached its maturity. The final goal of independence was marked at an Ecclesiastical Council on October 23,1949, when the fruits of long years of effort culminated in the vote that established the Chapel as the Sheldon Street Congregational Church.


Although bricks and mortar admittedly do not make a Church, the enlargement of the Church properties along with the many intangible achievements during Dr. Bradford's ministry has been notable.


An amendment to the Corporate Charter in 1922 fixed the maximum value of property to be held at $500,000; in 1929 at $1,000,000.


At the time of the annual meeting in January, 1918, it was announced that two memorial windows had been com- pleted during the year, the "Labor" window given in mem- ory of Mr. and Mrs. Henry W. Wilkinson by their children, and the "Faith" window given in memory of Mr. Richmond Viall by his wife. By the fall of 1919 the remaining two memorial windows in the Church had been finished-the window "Prophet" given by Mrs. Harriet N. Lathrop in memory of the women who had helped to make this a Mis- sionary church; and the "Sacrifice and Loyalty" window in memory of those from this Church who had lost their lives in service in the First World War and in honor of all others


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from this Church who had served. A tablet containing the names of all men who had served in the armed forces had also been placed in the Church.


In April, 1922, the large Edwards residence on Stimson Avenue (owned by Mrs. Seeber Edwards, the widow of a former deacon of the Church) was acquired for a parsonage. This was later torn down to make room for the Church School Buildings. In May, 1925, the Church authorized the purchase of the property on Diman Place, known as the Watrous property (Mrs. Ralph C. Watrous being long head of the Social Committee) which is now used as a Church parsonage. The largest building project since the start of Dr. Bradford's ministry was the erection of the Church School and the remodelling of Memorial Chapel.


At the 74th annual meeting of the Church held on May 10, 1926, slides were shown of the tentative plans for the building project, and Deacon Frederic H. Fuller made a detailed statement. As usual the Church had to refer its desires to the Society, which was requested seriously to con- sider the need for the additions and to take such action in the premises as it should deem wise and practicable. The Society was not deaf to the request and promptly at its annual meet- ing held the next day appointed a committee to be known as the Committee on the Enlargement of the Church Plant. This Committee presented plans at the annual meeting in 1927 for a new Church School and for extensive remodelling of Memorial Hall at an estimated cost of $300,000. The proj- ect was approved in 1928, and at the annual meeting in 1931, Mr. Stockwell reported that the Church School Building had


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been completed and that plans for carrying out the remodel- ling of the Chapel were proceeding. At the annual meeting the following year the members assembled heard with sat- isfaction, if they did not already know it, that the building projects had been entirely completed.


The last important land acquisition to be made up to the present time was the purchase authorized at a special meeting of the Church held on February 11, 1945 of the property at Nos. 24 and 26 Diman Place, a part of which is now used as a residence for the Associate Minister. We recall also that the Carpenter estate immediately to the west of the church on Angell Street will ultimately become a part of our church property.


In the Book of Remembrance are recorded the gifts and memorials, rich in sentiment and devotion, that have been given by various individuals to the Church in past years. The beautiful memorial to those who lost their lives in the Second World War, was completed and dedicated in 1949.


The Church has at all times been able to enlist the aid of competent men of business who, without sacrifice of spiritual purpose, have devoted their wisdom and their energy to the necessary tasks of budgeting, appropriations, and canvasses. The latest major project has been the goal of $100,000.00 with which to meet the challenge of the Centennial Celebra- tion. For many years the widely spread activities of the Church, with its missionary enterprises and social services in addition to the expenses of the parish, have necessitated annual budgets well in excess of $50,000.00. The skill with which these financial obligations have been handled in order


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to maintain sound business practice and at the same time to cultivate a spirit of stewardship in giving, constitutes a monument to the wisdom and devotion of those who have served in this practical capacity.


The increasing financial scale of operation is, however, simply a barometer of the increased activity of the Church in its various branches of religious endeavor. We have grown familiar through the annual reports with the record of diverse Committee activities-the Sunday School, Youth Organiza- tions, societies dedicated to social service and to fellowship, the Ministry of Flowers and of Music, the work of the Deacons and of the Prudential Committee, and of all the varied activities which make up the busy life of the Church. And we feel gratitude for the foresight of those who devised that wise system of rotation in office which assures a con- stantly widening participation of the men and women of the Congregation in the work of the Church.


It will be fitting also to recall the increasing service that the Church has been able to render to the community as a whole by extending its facilities to organizations not tech- nically connected with the Church at all, such as units of the Red Cross which made use of Memorial Hall for a blood donation center during the Second World War, the Urban League, the World Affairs Council, and numerous agencies devoted to the collection of clothing for areas of the world, the most recent being Korea. Many of these activities, it is true, have no immediate relation to religious worship. But if people are to gather for wholesome and useful purposes, where better can they do so than within the four walls of a


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Church edifice? We count it a privilege to dedicate our Church, with its large and beautiful physical plant, to all these services of mankind.


Some important events in the Church life occuring the last thirty-four years should be specifically mentioned. Among these was the observance in 1927 of the Seventy- fifth Anniversary of the Founding of the Church, extending over a two-week period. It may be of interest to recall in brief summary the events of the celebration.


It began with anniversary services of the Church School on Sunday afternoon, March 6, 1927 at 4:30 o'clock, con- ducted by the boys and girls of the School. Addresses were given by Mr. Charles H. Philbrick, former Superintendent, and Mr. J. Harold Williams, the Superintendent at that time. On Thursday evening, March 10th, Deacon Frederic H. Fuller read an historical paper telling of the life of Central Church. On Sunday morning, March 13th, Dr. Bradford preached an appropriate sermon on the "Unseen Buildings of the Church". On Sunday afternoon a Com- munion service was conducted by Rev. Edward Caldwell Moore, a former pastor. On Monday evening, March 14, 1927 a community fellowship service was held. Greetings were conveyed by President W. H. P. Faunce of Brown University, Rabbi Samuel M. Gupp of the Temple Bethel, Dr. Richard D. Hollington of Mathewson Street Church, the Rev. Asbury Krom of Beneficent Congregational Church, the Rev. Augustus M. Lord of the First Congregational Church (Unitarian), and Bishop James DeWolfe Perry of the Episcopal Diocese. The service was followed by an


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informal reception. On Wednesday evening a service was held at the Portuguese Chapel. Addresses were given by Rev. Albert Edward Roraback, who had been in charge of the work at the Chapel from 1905 to 1910, and by Rev. William Trumbull Holmes, Assistant Minister from 1897 to 1901. On Thursday evening there were fellowship services in the Church, followed by an informal reception, after which addresses were delivered by Rev. Charles W. Huntington, Rev. Edward C. Moore, Dr. Gaius Glenn Atkins, Prof. George F. Moore, Rev. John Jairus Walker, Assistant Minister of the Church from 1894 to 1896, Rev. William T. Holmes, Rev. Lawrence Riggs Howard, As- sistant Minister in 1901 for six months, and Rev. Albert E. Roraback, all of whom had in the past been closely associ- ated with the Church. On Sunday morning, March 20th, Dr. Henry Sloane Coffin preached. More than 900 were present and on that same evening the Seventy-fifth Anniversary Celebrations came to a close with a service of praise, re- membrance, and consecration. During the period of the celebration an historical exhibit of pictures, programs, clip- pings and other material was on display.


Fresh in the memory of many today is the celebration of the Twenty-fifth Anniversary of Dr. Bradford's ministry ob- served on June 6, 1943. There was the morning service com- memorating the anniversary at which the then Chairman of the Board of Deacons, Prof. Matthew C. Mitchell, and the then Chairman of the Prudential Committee, Mr. J. Coles Hegeman, took part to represent the laity of the Church. Who of those who were present on that occasion can forget


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the reception to Dr. and Mrs. Bradford on the gorgeous June afternoon of the same day, to which throngs, waiting in queues, of the members of this Church and distinguished representatives of other churches came to attend in the Bradfords' honor? Who of those who attended can forget the scintillating remarks of the Chairman of the meeting that followed, Prof. Theodore Collier, of the permanent Dia- conate, and the notable addresses of Vice-President Adams of Brown University representing the Church, and of the Honorable Joseph H. Gainer, former Mayor of Providence, and of Rabbi William G. Braude, the representatives of other great faiths?


Little enough has been said in the period of the history of Dr. Bradford's ministry of Dr. Bradford himself. In a very real sense the foregoing account of the achievements of the Church is an account of his own achievements as a Christian leader. But a few events of his own life should be related. He has received different honorary degrees-an M. A. from Yale in 1925, a D. D. from Brown in 1934, and an L. H. D. from Bryant College in 1951. He was named to the Yale Board of Trustees in 1925 and is now the senior Trustee. He was elected at the meeting of the General Council in 1940 to the Executive Committee of the General Council of the Congregational Christian Churches and later served as Chairman of the Committee. He was in 1942 elected a member of the National Congregational Committee on War Victims and Services. In 1946 he was asked to be one of a small group of distinguished American Congregational clergymen who went abroad to visit and speak in the British


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Congregational Churches immediately after the close of the War. He has recently been named a member of the very important National Committee of the Denomination on Polity and Unity. Withal Dr. and Mrs. Bradford have reared a splendid family of six children, Amory Howe, Jean Price, Benjamin, Stella, Arthur Howe, and James Allyn, and we rejoice in the knowledge that the family tradition of service in the Christian ministry is maintained in the present generation. It was a moving experience and a rare privilege to witness the ordination of the Rev. Benjamin Bradford in the church of his father.


The members of the Church, since it is a big church, are unfortunately not always as keenly aware as they might be of the denominational life of Congregational Christian Churches. The union of the Congregational and Christian Churches in 1931 caused hardly a ripple of recognition in the individual Congregational Churches because no vote on their part was taken. The proposed merger of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church was, however, put to a vote of the churches of the denomination. A panel discussion was held in Memorial Chapel to acquaint our people with the problems involved. Later at a special meeting on May 7, 1948, the members of this Church voted to support the merger 204-2. Unfortunate- ly, litigation has blocked the consummation of the merger, but it is earnestly to be hoped that the difficulties can be surmounted, the merger effectuated, and the unity of the Christian Church thus furthered.


As one reads the calendars and the official records of the


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Church it becomes evident that the background of the times receives little mention except in the war periods. At the close of the First World War a hastily arranged service on the afternoon of November 11, 1918 allowed the people of the Church to pour out their spontaneous thanksgiving for the end of that bloody conflict.


At a meeting of the Church held on January 30, 1919, it was voted that it was the sense of those present that the State Legislature be requested to ratify the Federal Prohibi- tion Amendment. At a meeting on October 23, 1919 (the Church being less sure of itself) it was voted by a small majority (less than one-half of the members present voting) that the Legislature should be asked to rescind its vote in- structing the Attorney General to contest the 18th Amend- ment.


A note in the calendar on June 8, 1924 reminded the con- gregation of the last day for voters registration. Another note on December 6, 1925 spoke of a mass meeting on behalf of the World Court. In April 22, 1945 a note in the calendar stated that "To-day we join with people throughout our country in prayer for God's blessing on the San Francisco Conference".


As a result of a decision of the General Council, the Social Action Committee conducted among the members of the Church a peace plebiscite on October 16, 1935 and in November, 1936 a plebiscite on Economic questions. From time to time the Committee has also conducted in Chapel Hall open meetings dealing with important community or national subjects.


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The great depression of the thirties would be scarcely suggested except in the reduction of the Church budget and the falling off in numbers of those attending the suppers pre- ceding the annual meetings.


In the Second World War two hundred and eighty-three men and women of the Church served in the armed forces. Seven of these gave their lives:


Chester Coburn Darling, Jr.


Charles Elder Frederick


John Keats Hull


Houghton Letts


John Andrew McGreevy


Alan Winthrop Moses


Carter Palmer


Robert Meggett Steel Walker


A special committee of the Church was organized to maintain the contact of the Church with those of its sons and daughters who were in service. Mention of the War Memo- rial has already been made.


The last of the life deacons died during the years of Dr. Bradford's ministry. They were staunch men, loyal men, men of deep purpose and conviction. Mr. Frederic H. Fuller served for slightly more than 50 years as Deacon. He was the elder statesman of the Church. He served long as President of the Providence Y.M.C.A. His interest was keen in the Portuguese Chapel. The fiftieth anniversary of his election as Deacon was observed at the annual meeting in 1935, when Prof. Theodore F. Collier, Dr. Moore, and Dr. Atkins, the latter two former ministers of the Church,


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spoke with deep feeling. A large photograph of Mr. Fuller, now in Memorial Chapel, was unveiled. Illness prevented his presence, but he knew of the observance. He died within the following year. Mr. James C. Kimball, an upright, serious man, died in 1923. Mr. Arthur W. Claflin, long active in the Sunday School and because of his abundant good spirits loved by younger people, died early in 1926. Mr. H. Edward Thurston, a man of probity and deep convictions, for twelve years Secretary of the Society, died during the Church year 1923-1924. He was shortly followed in death by Mr. Charles R. Makepeace, a man of dependable judgment, a tower of strength in the spiritual life of the Church. With the excep- tion of Mr. Fuller, the last to die was Mr. Arthur W. Fairchild, like the rest, stalwart, loving the Church, moved to tears when he asked younger men to become deacons of the Church.


Mr. R. Clinton Fuller, the brother of Mr. Frederic C. Fuller, though never a deacon, served for twenty-six years as Church Treasurer. The duties of the position in those days were arduous. Each Sunday he took the plate collection home and counted it and credited the gifts in the envelopes to the proper givers. He was also a member of the Music Committee for the period 1926-1936 and Chairman for the last of these three years.


Much more could profitably be written of the last thirty- four years of the Church's life. What has been said must, however, suffice.


The future of the Church is a big, big subject. As far as its local or neighborhood problems are concerned, the East


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Side has remained a reasonably static community. However, the neighborhood of the Church is becoming gradually less and less a residential area. What problems this fact poses must remain a question mark.


Great problems as well as great opportunities confront Congregational Churches over the nation. There is a need to revive faith and the belief in the purposefulness of life. There is a need to extend the ecumenical Protestant movement. There is no room in the Christian Church for many of the sectarian divisions that exist. Finally, it is tremendously important to make Christians see the Christian ethical im- plications of all our problems, social, political, economic, and international.


We who know Central Congregational Church are con- fident that by tradition and experience it is well qualified to meet these problems.


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CONCLUSION


And so a century of Christian trusteeship has come to an end, and another century begins. The story of Central Con- gregational Church has been told in the words of those who have approached their task in varying aspects of historical perspective. Factual details have provided the basis for in- dependent judgment, yet critical appraisals have not been neglected: the names of men and women who have carried the responsibility of past endeavors have recalled many another name of those who have likewise shared in the task. And from the composite picture, necessarily abbreviated in narration, there emerges a pattern of endeavor that repre- sents in a world of turmoil and dissension a continuing tradi- tion of Christian faith. That is the story of the past. It is a record before which we of the present pause for a moment in pride and gratitude. But the moment is brief, for the tide of life moves steadily forward, and the mood of the Church, as it celebrates its first centenary, is one of vitality, of the conscious acceptance of responsibility, and of eyes turned courageously toward whatever the future may hold of op- portunity and of duty.


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This book was composed in the traditional bookface called Monotype Janson and typography by L & W Service Co. The typeface is based on types cut by the Dutch letter founder Anton Janson. Most of his work as a punch cutter was done between the years 1660 and 1687.


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