Putnam patriot., 1912-01-19
WOODSTOCK
Miss Nellie Chandler is visiting ir Hartford this week.

f1dIltofu lIliS Week.
 The Woodstock Academy seniors will give a s'College social'i in Acade- my hall Friday evening. Jan. 26th, at 7,30 o'clock. An "indoor track meetn will be the main attraction. Admis- sion Is cents. Homemade candies for sale. Everyone interested is invited.
 Miss Dorothy Richardson went to Boston on Saturday.
 Church Day at the First Congrega- tional church was held Saturday, Jan. 18th, and in spite of the intense cold more than sixty people were served to a bountiful and delicious chicken pie dinner under the direction of Mrs. Ia Der, NJ rs. John Clark, Mrs. Butts and Mrs. Ritch. Beautiful table decora- tions of roses, sweet peas and paper white narcissus were generously fur nished by F. D. Bowen. At the church meeting in the afternoon responses to the roll call were read from about thirty absent ones. Among these let ters was one from Mrs. Harriet Morse who has been member of thIs church for seventy years. The following church history was then read by Mrs. Henry Child:
 CHURCH HISTORY
 A backward look over the happen ings of the year just closed shows com mendable progress in the increase of our church membership by the addi- tion of thirteen with two dismissions and one death gives, therefore, a net increase of ten persons making a mem bership of l16. Eight have come to Us from other churches. We give them a most hearty welcome trusting they have come to take an active share in the work of this church with those who have so long carried its highest well-being so near their hearts. Five have pledged themselves to this cause by the profession of their faith. May their coming in the flower of their youth give us renewed courage with the hope that they may grow to be ef- ticient helpers in the future church. The only loss by death was that of Mrs. Ellen Bugbee Child who died July 5th. She became a Christian at the early age of ten years but did not connect herself with this church until 1S4S when she confessed her feith with twenty others. Of that large eompa- ny of men and women only two are living, one long since removed her re- lationship and is now living in Put
 
 this church. Mrs. Child combined ia her character in a rare degree the qualities of strength and beauty, a well stored mind and a literary taste that gave her a deep insight into the truths of Gods word all subject to the development ot a noble Christian life which sent forth from the quiet home a radiating influence that will long be remembered by her wide circle of friends in the community.
 The activities of church work have been carried on with little variation in method. A small increase in the ben evolent contributions is an encourag- ing fact.
 Early in the year the Ladies' Benev- olent society decided 10 purchase an electric lantern thereby making it pos sible to.become acquainted with mis- sion wotk in many lands, supplement- ed by the descriptions of the different fields given effectively by our pastor.
 Our Sunday school has varied great ly in numbers which is discouraging condition but new primary class has been formed and other changes are in contemplation.
 The Ladies' Auxiliary has carried on the mission study with continued in- terest varied with meetings upon the work of Home missions. We were greatly favored in being able to secure Miss Kyle to speak at the annual Thank-offering meeting. Her address was of unusual interest touching upon many phases of mission work, some of which are seldom brought to our at tention.
 A great improvement in the equip 4l l.as d. h n by the arrangement of cloak room for the ladies also the fresh decoration of walls gives an air of comfort and thrift.
 A number of, pleasant gatherings have been given in the form of regular church socials and by an occasional supper followed later in the season by several teas, all conducive to the pro- motion of sociability in church life. The erowning social event of the year was the Christmas entertainment which created general interest. It was very enjoyable and reflected great credit upon all who shared in the pro gram.
 It has often been said that church and school go hand in hand in the up building of community. This has been specially true of the relationship between this church and the academy. Year by year we have been exalted i'll privilege by the coming of many speakers of national reputation to give the address at the graduation exercises, but those of 1910 were of particular in- teresL to us as church from the fact that one of our number, even though he has attained an international repu- tation as speaker and author, was pleased to present the diplomas and la ter in the reunion MT. Holt further manifested his interest by bestowing upon us the honor of listening to his thoughtful lecture upon commercial- ism. Many of the statements given were of sufficient value to be read by him in his recent address before the Emperor of Japan.
 Let us now leave the backward look and adopt for the opening year the old but good motto of E. E. Hall so ire quently quoted, to Hook forward and not back, up not down, out not in, and above all, lend hand"
 SOUTH WOODSTOCK