Norwich bulletin., 1909-06-25
The Evolution Of The City Mission.
Present Branch of United Workers Org sanization the Fifth Stage of the Efforts to cal with Hard Problem

nhNlnE recently come Into the nanQS O.
 the city missionary, Rev. c. A. Nor
 throp, who conceived the plan of trac-
 ing briefly. for the present generation
 the growth of the charitable spirit, as
 organized, and set forth this short
 sketch by way of information and sug-
 gestion:
 The City Missionary Society.
 Tn the summer of 1865 certain be-
 nevolent gentlemen of the two Congre-
 gational churches then existing in Nor
 wich (the Second and Broaway), de-
 Biring Ito devise some better means
 Tor the bestowal of their charities, ? and also ito establish the regular wor-
 ship of God in such localities as were destitute of the means of grace" pro
 cured. the appointment of a joint com mitte out of which grew the engage ment of the Rev. Samuel Hopley of Windf1am, Ct, as city missionary and the formal organization, one year later, of the Norwich City Missionary so- ciety.
 The members of the committee through whom the appointment was made were: Dr.. c. B. Webster Eben- ezer Leaned and Deacon Dan Hunt ington of the Second church, and Dea- con Lewis Edwards, Deacon J.NLeav- ems and Amos w. Prentice of Broad way church.
 MT. Hopley began his services in February, 1866, at a salary of s1, 400, afterwards raised to s1,500, per year. The officers of the society were: Presi- dent Dr. c. B. Webster; secretary and treasurer, s. B. Bishop; executive committee, Dan Huntington, Ebenezer Learned, TGurdon A. Jones, Jr., and William A. Aiken.
 MT Hopley's first annual report is in print, from which it appears that food and clothing had ben bestowe1 upon many deserving families, that re- ligious services had been held on the wharf. and at both the mission chap, els. the Mt Plea sant and the (Old Providence), later Boswell Avenue chapel. with services on Sundays and week days, that services had been heli at the jail resulting in some pledges and some conversions, that there was much distribution of books and tracts to the prisoners, and some Bible vis- itation among the people, and that more than $1,600 was rece.-e3 for dis tribution, aside from the missionary's salary!
 The receipts for 1870 were: From the Second church. $1,045.5S; from Broadway church. S1.0S1; from other friends, s53159 The deep interest talk en by the men of Norwch in such work is evidenced by the size of the contri- buttons. There was one gift of $20o. eight of $100, fifteen of $50, one of $40, seven of $25, and so on. These were individual and church. and and festival receipts. The individual contributions were all from men. except two.
 After the election of 1870 the society seems to have suffered a relapse. In disappears so far as the records go, and after three years rises again under the name of the Prevalent associa- ton.
 The Prevalent Association.
 This organization came into being December s, 1873 at a meeting where In nine out of eleven invited churches were represented. It grew out of the disturbed financial conditions of that lime, and its object was "the relief of the poor and the suppression of street beggary." Its first officers were President, J. Lloyd Greene; secretary. Charles H. Dillaby; treasurer, E. B. directors, S. B. Bishop. M. H. Sisson, U. S. Gardner
 From extant notes on it's beginnings, 1t appears that it sought "to extend temporary help in time of necessity, relief in sickness and suffering, and assistance to those who would endeav or to help themselves" It made pro- visions for visitors and districts anl yeneral agent Corresponding to city It had valuable sugges- ions to make to its visitors, showing hat the men of that generation were llmost, or quite. as wise as we are. It lsked that the people be visited as far IS possible, the needy reported. and lot encouraged to look to the associa- ion for entire support, that the abil- ty of relatives be inquired into, that people old and young be- gotten into ,hurch and Sunday school, that conf lence be not betrayed that sympathy ,e not allowed to overpower judgment. | The membership was made up those vho contributed one or more dollars to ts treasury. I have seen list of the l irst members numbering 94. whose | Lggregate contributions were S361, in l ,luding two of $50 each, two of s15 and 1 10. sixteen of $5-$S.
 This association had a history of l nore than five years. Its first agent | vas s. E. Bishop, followed after a year | " H. E. Griswold Its money was l aised largely through public enter ailments. There was the Continental | Tea Party in December, '73, with J. P. | 'ollins and Charles E. Dyer for solic- | ting committee, which sold over 1,s00 l ickets and netted nearly $1300, and a Carnival the next year, the cleaning | ID after which gave Agent Griswold | is initia aon into the new agency.
 Tn the centennial year the associa- | ion published The Aloe Blossom: A | Gagazine devoted to the Interests of | antiquity and the Prevalent Associa- l ion: With an Annex giving Full and | Descriptive Catalogue of the Articles l