The Portland daily press., 1881-11-14
DoRcAs CIRCLE.
piftieth Anniversary of the Society.


The fiftieth anniversary of the Dorcas Circle
was observed at the Chestnut Street Methodist
Church yesterday. Mr. George N. KimbaH,
on behalf of the ladies presented the following
report:
On the afternoon of Oct. Goth, 1881, o few
young ladies, members of this church, four OF
whom are now living, viz: Miss Ellen Hall,
now Mrs. Ellen Robinson. Miss Lucy Holmes,
Miss Emma Brooks, now Mrs. Emma Bra dford
and Martha Evans, now Mrs. Martha Brooks
of Deering, met in the little school house three
doors below the church, for the purpose OF or
ganizing society for the relief OF she poor,
and helping to clothe the poor children that
they might come to the Sunday school. Miss
Lucy Holmes proposed that the Society adopt
the name of the Dorcas Circle of Chestnut
street Church. which was agreed to and that
name they have ever retained.
Their society though SO very small in Its begin
ming soon found favor in the eyes OF the churcn
and congregation, and its membership lncreas-
ed from year to year and became power ior
good, both to the church and Sunday scnool,
and also to many outside of these institutions.
Much of what we have to say of the doings
of the society for the past fifty years has been
gathered from some of the old members, for
/ in the great fire of 1866 when one hundred and
twenty of the families of our church and forty
business firms were burned out, our Dorcas
Circle was among the sufferers; the treasurer's
chest with all its fixingS and the records OF the
society were burned; but thanks are due to the
treasurer at that time, Miss Addie Babb, for
her thoughtfulness in saving what money there
was in the treasury and also railroad bond of
the value of one hundred dollars, which was
presented to the society by one OF our citizens
whose name we cannot now recall. he was not
member of our society or congregation, Dut
came in to listen to one of our anniversary ser
mons and was so much pleased with the society
that the next day he sent us this gift; SO he has
continued perpetual contributor to the soci-
ETY., for at favorable time the bond was eold
for its original value and the money placed IN
the savings bank, together with one hundred
dollars which was given US by the late Hon.
Chas Holden, who was always helping friend
to the society from very soon after It's organl-
zation. The interest of this little fund is
real help to the society and we hope that some
others of our good friends may be prompted to
go and do likewise. You will readily perceive
that it is impossible to give perfect history OF
the society on account OF the absence OF the re-
cords, but their labors have been abundant.
They have no. only helped the poor but they
have helped the church. They have given to
the trustees $1,000. to assist in paying the in
terest on the church debt and they have spent
several hundred dollars for furnishing suitable
conveniences and comforts for our minister's
and their families and we learn from an old
member, "a former secretary that one year
they helped sixty-eight persons. thirty OF whom
were Sunday school scholars. In the time OF
the late war they took an active part in work
ing for the soldiers. An accurate account Of
all their labors was kept but it shared the fate
of the other records. We are told by one who
kept these records that they made 1900 large
garments and as many small ones, such as
stockings, caps, slippers, pillows, &c.
In the next November after the ire, 1860,
the society was reorganized and new constl-
tuition was written by our pastor Rev. Dr. Chas.
It. Allen. From that time our charities have
principally, but not exclusively, been devoted
to our own church and Sunday school. We
now number ffty-fve members The Dorcas
Circle, whose fifteth anniversary we celebrate
to-day is distinct organization from the
Ladies' Circle which has been so active the
on the parsonage. For the past year we have
all worked together and shall continue thus to
do until the pledge of $1,000. towards the
debt of the church is redeemed and then we
will all rejoice together and make plans for the
future After the above report was written we
received from one of our former secretaries the
ninth annual report of the society which is so
interesting that we have decided to hear tread
on this occasion. Those young ladies little
thought what great good would be accomplish
ed by their small beginning, and the end Is not
yet.
MIR Kimball then read copy of the report
of the society made in 1S41, contrasting the con-
dition of the society at that time with the pres
ent and showing its large increase in numbers
and influence. Mr.. M. G. Palmer, mentioned
the idea of raising sum of money to increase
the fund and over $97. was Immediately
raised for that purpose.
Rev. DR.. McKeown preached sermon APP
propriate to the occasion, taking for his text,
"Help those women which labored with me in
the gospel"