The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-22
Reading, Room Provi-
ded By Methodists.
VESTRY UTILIZED.
Clinton Church Has Pros
pered Wonderfully.

Clinton, March 21.-The vestry of the
Clifton Methodist church was opened
tonight as a reading room for the bene-
DIT Of those who will.
Pastor A. H. Osgood intends to keep
the church open every night in the
week. The idea is unique, IN this place
at least. The best results are hoped.
The plan is TO use the two rooms of
the vestry for reading rooms, three
nights of each week, Tuesday, Thurs
day and Saturday. OF course the
church is open for service on the four
other evenings.
One room will be used by the young
and older women and the other by men
and boys.
Each evening two persons will be
present to look after the wants of WISH
tors and make them welcome
Mr.. and MRS. d. II. Booth We're sell
ected for the pleasant duty this even
ing
Quite g few young men and women
were present, More will be, it is
thought, as the enterprise becomes bet
ter known. Tonight the tables were
covered with interesting reading mat
ter.
The quantity of this matter will in
crease as time moves, it is hoped. The
pastor will furnish books and papers
from his library. Members of the con-
gregation will make contributions from
their libraries. The committee hopes
that the newspapers will add copies of
their publications to the equipment Of
the reading room.
The idea Of having a reading room in
IN ol,Nt oh -,
For two months the church has been
open nearly every evening, while revi-
val meetings were in progress. Many
people, young and old, formed a habit
of coming to the church. The meet
ings are over now, and the question
comes up as to how these persons
might be confirmed in this pleasant
habit, and others converted to 1t.
Mrs Hattie e. Sawyer thought what
a good thing a reading room in the
church would be.
Mrs. A. NJ. Osgood had been thinking
the same thing about the same time.
So when the ladies met they were Of a
mind. The matter was laid before the
trustees OF the church Saturday eve
ming. The trustees approved, and the
idea became a fact. Mrs. Sawyer, Mrs.
Osgood and B. H. Booth were appoint
ed a committee to have charge of the
plan.
Later the plan may be developed into
evenings when illustrated lectures on
interesting subjects will be given.
There are not a few projects for inno-
cent and instructive amusement that
may be made to work in nicely.
A high compliment was paid to Rev.
A M. Osgood Saturday night, at the
quarterly conference, when, by a unani-
nous vote, accompanied by an ardent
expression of opinion, the presiding ell
der DR.. G. F. Eaton was requested to
use his influence with the bishop and
members of the bishops church cabinet
to retain Mr.. Osgood in Clinton for an
other year.
The Clinton Methodist Church has
been rarely prosperous in the two years
of Rev. Mr.. Osgood's ministration. I'M
provements have been made on the
church property and paid for that have
cost more than $1,000, and the indebt-
edness has been reduced to less than
$1,000. The expense for the past wear
up to April will not be greater than
the income, it is estimated.
officers for the ensuing year were
elected as follows: Trustees, S. D. AL
'en, T. S. Barrows. A. c. Downs, A. II
Dudley, F. &C. Harwood, A. w. Lowe,
c. H. Peters, f. P. Sawyer, J. NJ. Saw
yer; stewards, B. H. Booth, H. T. BRAY,
w. ]. Ferry, r. w. Finn, S. f. Hamii-
ton, S. H. Harran, ]. w. Lewis. ]. w.
Powell j. H. Rowell, J. r. Stott and
e. s. Burrows; temperance committee,
Rev. w. j. Hambleton, E. r. Leslie.
3, H. Booth, J. Potter, S. NJ. Church.
o: 5. Butler, S. II. Harran and Miss
Alice Lowe