Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1915-10-08

and financial standing. This fact has
made it possible to attempt large
things, not only in the matter of
buildings. but in the maintenance of
it's ministers and the prosecution of
various lines of Christian work In
1889 1898 and 1900 We entertained
respectively the State Association.
the State Christian Endeavor Society
and the State Conference In each
instance the effort meant the expend-
lures of much time. money. thought
and sacrifice, but SO successful was
the effort and so royal was the enter
tainment that these meetings stand
out in the records of these organiza-
tions as banner conventions for hos.
pitality and royal fellowship.
Membership
As was stated. the church started
with a membership of twenty-seven.
Since then over thousand names
have been added to the roll In the
beginning of the present pastorate
the books called for 32S names OF
that number less than - are with us
today although the names ON the
church book number 1891 have been
received into membership in the past
twenty-five years. In this connection
! might say that during my pastOrate
| have attended $50 funerals, per
formed d2i marriage services and
baptised 2o0 children.
Organizations
From the first this church has
evinced a disposition to keep abreast
the times in all moral and religious
movements. Ne theory for the bet
terment OF the community has ever
been allowed to pass by unnoted and
if found worthy, adopted. The men
and women OF the early church were
staunch supporters of the temperance
cause and never has this people been
found wanting in the prosecution and
the chamnioning of movements that
would tend to make Putnam a clean
and orderly community and a good
place to live ill., Not a few times has
the brick church been the target for
abuse and yitipulation from those.
whose idea of society was a license
that meant disregard for law and
liberty that was a menace to sobriety
and decency. Equally pronounced
has been the efforts in all matters
q
advancement of the people While the
early records of the church in connee-
ton with these movements are some
what meagre, yet We feel sure that
the membership has never been lax
in so administering affairs that this
feature OF church life has been ne
elected,
Particularly marked and fun of vi
gor have been the young peoples or
carnations. Early in the present
pastorate a Christian Endeayor Soci-
ETY. was formed which has proven
means of spiritual power and inspira-
ton to the young people and never
has the society been in any more
healthy condition than at the present
time The Junior Branch of this or
SANITATION has contributed not little
To the success OF the society for the
Seniors and has had the services of
some of our most devoted young
women as superintendent or leaders.
Nearly twenty years ago the first
boys camp was started, eight young
ladlads maEing mp the party and to-
gether with delegation from the
Y. NJ c, 4 of Southhridge. spending
a week or more at Alum Lake i'm Stur=
bridge, Mass Later other parties 81
boys went TO Crystal Lake in EastiOrd.
still later companies OF both boys and
girls made Oak Bluhs. en- Martha's
Vineyard. the summer mecca. where
in the woods and by the sea tuey found
that which is dear TO every boys
heart, the freedom of outdoor life and
communion with nature. Unlike most
camps for young people the free and
easy life OF the woods was made to
contribute to one great purpose. name
~. reaching the boys heart and instill-
ing manly ambition To identity the
life by an open confession ur Christ
Never were boys more happy than,
when under the canopy of blue all
needless restraint laid aside. they told
stories, cracked jokes, sang songs,
played pranks and developed muscles,
and never did those same boys come
any nearer the great warm heart of
the living Christ than they did when,