The Portland daily press., 1895-02-18
PREBLE CHAPEL.
The Annual Report Read at the First Par
ish Church yesterday.


q The pulpit of the First .Parith chu ch
was occupied yesterday forenoon by kev.
W.T.. Phelan. pastor o.. the Freble Chapel,
who read his annual report of the chap
el's work. Passing to the subject prop
er he said: The ministry at large, es-
tablished nearly fifty years ago by the
humane people OF this parish, is still
sustained by your fostering care, stands
as practical example of their faith and
yours in Christian benevolence. Through
the relief of distress, the sewing school,
the Sunday school and Sunday worship,
you have adopted a good, if not the. best
practical method for the uplifting of the
poor. The class lists, of which there
were 10. gave 16l scholars on the roll, to
be provided for by good old st. Nicho-
las. The regular attendance has ranged
from So on a stormy Sunday to 145 on
a fine day.
To the regret of all concerned, our
genial and admirable superintendent,
George E. Thompson, resigned Septem..
Der 1st, after six years. service But
| against this we put it down as bit Of
good fortune that we have secured the
services of half a dozen promising
teachers from the First Parish
The poor's purse, from all sources, in
Guiding S25 from the Little Women, we
received $232.96. Of which $213 03 were
expended in the relief of want Oh in sick
ness or temporary distress that comes in
many forms, leaving a balance on hand
of S19.93. From the First Parish and a
dozen or more friends of the poor we
received S66. so, and also some stores for
Thanksgiving, with which we were able
to provide theI materials of substential
Thanksgiving dinner for 40 families.
Through the contribution box we took
s5s.55, all Of which was paid in meeting
current expenses.
Mrs. Phelan, who has charge OF the dis
tribution of clothing, reports as follows:
The vestry of.the chapel is open every
Tuesday afternoon, through the year, ,ex-
cept few weeks In summer. But in
single day against. claims Of distress.
During the year we have rendered aidsto
| needy applicants to this extent: ~
pairs of new shoes, 80 pairs rubbers, 253
| new garments, "a yards cloth, and over
| 1900 secondhand garments of all kinds,
and "a articles of furniture. Given as
a compensation for service rendered at
the chapel, and to sick families, sewing,
etc., three pairs new shoes, one pair
rubber boots, one pair rubbers, 10 new
garments, 13 yards cloth, good second
hand garments, and eight pieces. .of.. ..furni-
ture. On reasons Of sickness, nine fam
lilies have been assisted by loans of cloth.
| ing and bedding from our sick drawer.
| To meet all these demands we have re-
ceived many generous donations of new
| and partly worn clothing from respon-
sive friends. The shoe bills of 800. 40
were paid by the Unitarian Circle. Dur
ing the year I have received from the
Circle and Unity $147.3e, and have ex-
pended $76.40, leaving balance of
S7O.96 the first of January.for the ensu-
ing year. The Unity has also made
number of useful. garments to meet
special emergencies. and have replenished
the sick drawer. This portion.of the re-
port closes with expressions of thanks
to all who have aided.
The general report closes with graceful
| tributes to the memory of Frederick
Fox, Mr.. I. P. Harrington and Mrs. Frede-
| rick Storer, good friends of the Chapel,
who have died during the year.