The Press., 1897-02-11
Continued from last weekly OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF STAF- FORD SPRINGS.
BY REV. J. |. BARTHOLOMEW.


 tendents. More than twenty years wv. Ellis was continued in that position, put tinginto it energy and ability which char acterized his work in every department of church activity. Francis A. Harwood all so served in that capacity several years Under his administration the most marked feature was the high degree of excellence attained in the Sunday school concerts. Undfr the more recent leadership of D. E. Whiton, Chas. G. Ellis, William Lee and s. F Maine the school has continued it's excellent work. The school is fortunate in the large number of adults who attend |; in the regular attendance and careful work of rs teachers, and the proportion of young men and young women in it's ranks. By recent arrangement J. H. Reed, Esq. has -charge~sof a1young mems class, and the pastor teaches a young ladies' class. The present pastor is acquainted with many larger schools, but is not familiar with the working of any school which is doing more efficient work in regular Sun- day school lines. For the past three years the school has had Christmas box in connection with the Christmas exercises, to which valuable contributions have been made for the benefit of the poor. One class of girls, about 15 years of age, re- gently made articles for sale and pro- vided au entertainment for the same pur- pose, the proceeds of which, over $20, have already gladdened many homes.
 The concerts by the school have always been of high grade, but especial mention should be made of the excellent Christmas cantatas of the past three years, under the leadership of Herbert F. Parker.
 By the last annual report the enrolment was 215, with an average attendance of 147.
 THE LADIES' AID SOCIETY.
 Early in the life of the church the ladies formed society for social and financial purposes. In this case, also, the earliest records are lost. It is known that Mrs. W. H. Richards, whose husband was pas tor of the church in 1844, was very active and efficient in the society work, and from this fact there arises conjecture that it OTl2146U0O u1tucI uOl lCdOOAOAAP. h1oLAO oA the older members, however, think that the, society was in existence previous to that time. The oldest records bear date April 30, 1862. The meeting was held at the parsonage. Officers were elected al that meeting, and, while not the first off cers, they are the first officers now known For that !feason they. are here given Prx xidente Mrs ]. A. Townsend: vice president, Mrs. Laura A. Patten; secre- tary and treasurer, Miss Julia Townsend assistant secretary and treasurer, Miss A. M. Gay; collectress, Mrs. E. Burden; so- licitors, Mrs. Louisa A. Patten, Mrs. liar riet Bliss, Mrs. Martha Howe; managers Mrs. Ruth Coleman, Mrs. Clarissa liar wood, Mrs. Laura Patten, Mrs. Melina Akers, Mrs. Minerva Thrall, Mrs. Mary Ann Orcutt, Mrs. Ellice Hills, and Mrs Elvira Ellis.
 For many years the society met at pri vate houses. These meetings, sometimes in the village, and sometimes with mem bers out of town, were social occasions O. much interest, having, from the standpoint of hospitality, marked advantages ovel the present meetings.
 Gu May 18th, 1862, the constitution wa. revised, and the name adopted was thu Stafford Springs Methodist Circle of In tdustry." At this meeting it was decided that the entertainers be selected by lot June 11th it was voted. that thereafter la dies entertaining the society should dis pense with cake"
 | The meetings were evidently continues at times into the evening hours. Decem Der .31st, 1862, MT. and Mrs. Julius Con verse entertained the society, and ''som 20 in number saw the old year out and tn new year in" These were in war times and the records of this and similar ehurcl Isocieties of all denominations have pc culiar eloquence. We quote some entries
 July 9th, '62, Voted that Mrs. B. w Patten purchase a cut of cotton cloth t be made into articles for the soldiers"
 July 23d, Voted to purchasd two piece of cotton cloth in addition to the one al ready purchased, one piece to be made b the ladies of Orcuttville."
 l. August 9th, "The work was the sam | v
 as at the previous meeting.!'' | August 18th, <The box containing cloth ing for the soldiers was packed, and al ranghments made for sending it to the La dies Sanitary Association in New York. l. September 10th, ''The object of tn meeting was to prepare lint and bandage for the hospitals"
 September 24th, Work preparing lint i; Considerable work was done for the sol 
 lcles for. the hospitals ;' "A number c tquilts and other articles were made fo soldiers use,"' etc., etc.
 T < The ladies' society has always been a important factor in the financial work C the church. When the. new church. wa built they assisted largely in furnishing ii Whenever Improvements have been mad in church or parsonage property they hay contributed largely and have for man years, if not always, borne the entire es tpense of furnishing the parsonage: l. Soon after the rooms of the society wer fitted up in the church; some of the meet tings were held there, and in recent year all the meetings have been held thert During its history the society has heI sales and festivals and given various CT tertainments, endeavoring to turn an hor est penny, and at the same time to proyid helpful social life for the people
 | Of late years the May festival has bee a feature in it's work. The May festive in 1889, held as 8 centennial celebration ( } Washington's inauguration, under tn supervision of Mrs. E. K Taft, was tn most profitable, netting the society $25( -(Conttnued.)
 Appropriate Attitude. I Hc stood as if carved from stone. Those who know the circumstance manifested m surnfisa f