Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-01-13
REV. Mr., JEFF FERSON.
Piedmont Church Votes to Call
Him to Be It's Pastor.
c. II. Hutchins Depiores Loss Of Interest
in Sunday School by Young People
Various Reports.

At the annual meeting of Piedmont
| Church, Wednesday evening, Rev.
Charles E. Jefferson of the Central Con-
gregational Church, Chelsea was in
vited to become the pastor of the
church. The vote was practically
unanimous. there being 1853 yeas and 8
nays. The meeting was largely at
| tended and lengthy, lasting until after
1890 o'clock There can be little doubt
that Mr. Jefferson will accept the call.
Nothing regarding salary has been said,
but the figure will be probably the same
as paid Rev. DIR. Horr, which was $4,000
a year. Mr.. Jefferson S present salary
| is $4,000.
Hon E. T. Marble presided when the
meeting opened, and Clerk H, E. Miller
sat at the desk. c. NJ Dyer offered
prayer The clerk said that three
members were admitted during the year
on confession of faith, bringing the
membership up to 1888 OF that num-
ber, % removed from the city and 5
died, making the present total member
ship 705. OF this number, 25S are males
and 447 females.
| The treasurer DR.. A. w Eldred, re-
ported the income for the past year as
| $322611, and the expenditures $3142.53,
leaving a balance of $S3.62
The report of the auditor, E. w.
Hoxie, was heard and adopted.
The report of the standing committee
outlined, in brief, the work of the year.
G. H. Hutchins reported for the Sun
day school At the close of 1896, the
membership was So The figures for
1897 showed a loss of "a. Mr.. Hutchins
said that, in reviewing the work, he was
profoundly impressed that there was
need among certain portion of the peo-
pie who had, perhaps thoughtessly,
drifted out of the school, and thereby
had been entirely deprived of the study
Of the Scriptures. 81 refer particularly
to the young married people of the
church and congregation" he said, "and
those married or single people who are
hardly in middle life. If you will look
over our congregation any Sunday
morning, you will find a great many of
this class, many of whom used to be
in the school, but who, for various
causes, have gotten in the habit Of re-
naming away. What does this argue
for the future of our church? The older
people are attending in greater num-
bers, when you take into consideration
their many hindrances and infirmities.
| The children come to us in good num-
bers; but If the impression obtains that
as soon as they shall arrive at a GER
| tain age, it is the proper thing for them
/ to graduate from the Sunday school,
| who shall fill the places of the Cody
men and women who have stood by the
| church during the early years, but who
are fast passing away?"
| Again the quality of the church in
its best sense is largely determined, not
| by its social standing, nor by its liter
airy attainments, but by its spiritual
power Drifting away from the study of
the word brings poverty to the soul.
| Constant and prayerful study brings
divine energy to the soul. Let me then
urge every one here to come and take
your place in the school for your own
good, and also as help and inspira-
ton to u.s.
The membership of the various de-
partments was summarized as follows:
Main school, 236 scholars, % teachers,
10 officers; intermediate, 90 scholars, 10
teachers officers; kindergarten. 36
scholars, teachers; home department,
81 members, 8 teachers; making total
of 60 The average attendance was 33S
as against 352 for last year, decrease
of 10.
Reference was made to the progress
of the new home department under the
management of E. w HoXie, and the
need for more visitors. The success of
the normal school for teachers with Old
South Church was mentioned, and the
effectual work of the heads of various
departments given special attention. In
closing he asked for united work for the
Improvement in every way of the sun
day school.
Mr.. Miller resigned as the church
clerk, and the matter was referred 10
the standing committee. Treasurer Ell
dred was reelected; Mr.. Hoxie was re-
elected; George l. Alden was chosen a
deacon for years The standing COM
mittee was chosen as follows A. M.
stone. H. b. Lincoln, Thomas Hamilton,
Il. " K. Van de Mark, A. H. Stone, @.
NJ. Dyer, NJ P. Higgins, Horatio L. Mil
ler
Thirty dollars was voted as compensa-
tion to the treasurer. 1t was voted 70
turn the evening collections ana Soo
from the general fund.- over to the treas
urer of the parish
The lookout committee then presented
a renort which was read by Mr.. William
Woodward. A brief review was given
of the work of the committee during the
mast eight months in investigation and
search. Inquiries have been carefully
made regarding the qualifications OF the
MANY men presented as candidates. A
desire to find the one in all respects
best fitted for the church, mas governed
all actions of the committee Thorough
ness rather than dispatch has been the
ruling principle. yet no time mas peehi
wasted.
The name of Rev. Charles e. Jeffer
son of Chelsea, Mass, has been in the
minds of the committee longer than any
other. While other preachers have won
hearty admiration from the committee
for varied talents, yet one by one, with
out solicitation or argument, the mem
bers of the committee have individual
ly reached the conviction that Mr.. JEFF
ferson, on the whole, is the most suita-
BILE minister for this church.
Within the past year he has twice
spoken in Worcester once before the
Congregational Club. and again before
the State Association of Churches at
Plymouth Church, last May. In the pull
pit he is quiet, digni1ed, graceful and
fluent, man of great reserve power.
His sermons are characterized by great
earnestness and intellectual grasp. He
is especially successful in gaining the
interest of the young. and eives person.
al supervision to all departments of
work in church and Sunday school. His
record Of membership during the ten
years of his pastorate at Central Church,
Chelsea, is almost unequalled by that
of any other pastor in New England.
for the same length Of time. He is an
advocate of civic as well as personal
righteousness In his city he has been
a powerful factor for moral elevation,
yet his work has been accomplished so
wisely that he has gained friends, not
enemies. among people of all classes
Mr.. Jefferson has been Sc happy and
successful in his present home that the
committee realized he would change his