The Portland daily press., 1871-02-20

PREBLE CHAPEL REpoRT.-Rev. Mr.. Phelar
has made his second annual report as Minister
at Large, and announces that the success
the Chapel is encouraging although there nave
been no extraordinary achievements the pas'
year, and that material part of that success
cannot be put upon paper.
The Sunday School is in a prosperous condi-
tion. numbering ISL children, OF ten more than
year ago, and representing G6 families, and
divided into p classes with teacher to each
class. Average attendance for past three
months was 100, lowest number present during
the lime 70, highest 1856 The general charac-
ter of the school is better than year ago, the
children being generally we'll disposed and
obedent. About once in six weeks during the
year there has been Sunday School Concert
which has proved highly beneficial, and in the
summer the children were treated to delight
full excursion to the islands, and on Christmas
a beautiful tree was provided for them by the
teachers, to their great joy, every child getting
a present worth not less than fifty cents.
The church is not so prosperous. There is
not more than one.third of the 66 families, rep
resented in the Sunday School by their chill
dren, that turn out to church. Their excuse is
"nothing to wear" and while their excuse is
valid in many cases, the minister believes the
very habits that keep them from the church
make them poor and wretched and immoral.
There are some AZ families who attend the
Chapel more or less constantly, and as many
more to be minstered to, many OF them wild
ows with large families, some Of them old, sick
and intirm. The evening service held during
the year is usually two temperance meetings a
month. Sometimes O conference meeting
sometimes a sermon, and occasionally Sab
bath School Concert. This second service is
more largely attended than the other compos-
ed mostly of people outside of all church Or
ganizations, chiefly interested in temperance,
and who have been great help to the Minis
try at Large. The social circle, which holds a
meeting once week, has been productive of
much good with it adults library. The benev-
olent work of the ministry has been greatly as
sisted by the committee of six ladies from the
First Parish circle. From the chairman of
that committee. Mrs. I. P. harrington, we
learn that the receipts have been $1374O6 the
past year, of which sum 1915 was subscribed
by First Parish and Park Street Churches, and
after paying salaries, insurance, coal and wood
bills, $238.8 .83 remained on hand Jan. l, 1871.
The number of scholars connected with the
sewing school is 70, with superintendent, as
sistant, and 10 teachers; the average attend
ance of scholars %, teachers 8; number of gar
ments finished the past year 81. About $40
new and second hand articles of clothing have
been given out in 1870, including III pairs new
families have been assisted to clothing, and 14O
children wholly or in part clothed. The COM
nittee have expended ss215.63 in this work.
From the Treasurer of the First Parish circle
md the Sunday School $1347S has been re-
,eived for the "Poor's Purse" and balance of
s3 SO was left on hand the first of January,
ST. The circle has contributed most $40 for
library books, and several gentlemen furnished
s47 Ga to give 36 families Thanksgiving din
past year in cash, without taking into account
'econd hand cl.thing and private aid to the |
lick and needy. A new organ for the Chapel |
las been bought and paid for the past year,
costing $33457, procured by subscription of
s97 from gentlemen of the First Parish and
Park Street Churches, $3.50, the receipts
rom two fairs, $40 from the Misses Deering,
and $40 from the people.
In conclusion the minister thinks that the |
good work should be pushed vigorously, and ig |
gratified not only from the aid ex-
ended by Unitarians, but also from the EN-.
received fom members of Ortho.
lox churches who have told him they believ-
d that good work was being accomplished
" Preble Chapel. A liberal contribution was (
AIKEN up at the First Parish Church yesterday
morning in aid of this charity.