christian character of the home in which he received his training. He says further: "My father was pastor of the church at Uxbridge, and as far back as I can remember, I learned from him to know God as a loving Father, and to take the life of Christ, as interpreted to me by him and in my home, as my standard of conduct. Every Sunday afternoon he used to spend with us children, showing us Bible pictures and telling Bible stories; or he used to walk with us through the fields, where we played a sort of game of naming the beautiful things that God had made. Family worship is also among my earliest memories, conducted by my father. Thus my early religious training was very careful."

Mr. Cobb joined the church (Congregational) in May, 1894. During his senior year at college, he experienced what he has called an "awakening" of his religious nature, brought about largely by the influence of the pastor and his wife over a church in Amherst in which Mr. Cobb played the organ. It was during this year, that he felt called to enter the ministry of Christ. This awakening was stimulated greatly by his visit to the Northfield Student Summer Conference of 1900. says of this experience: "I there became convinced of my ability to go as a foreign missionary. The problem had already been faced, but I had not sufficient evidence. The case seemed now perfectly clear, there was far greater need in the foreign field. There was now nothing to prevent my going, while many who could not go would take care of the work at home. Therefore I volunteered.'"

He

During his second year at the seminary, Mr. Cobb began work in a mission church on the lower East Side. It was in connection with this work that he met Miss Florence Brooks, his fiancée. Mr. Cobb and Miss Brooks were married September 27, 1904, and sailed for Japan early in the fall of the same year.

FLORENCE BROOKS COBB. Mrs. Cobb, as Miss Florence Brooks, was a graduate of Smith College, in the class of 1900.

After her graduation she engaged in teaching botany and nature study in two private schools. During this period, she also began to do settlement work on the lower East Side of New York City, having clubs at both the "College Settlement" and at the "Church of the Sea and the Land" (Presbyterian). During the third year after graduation, she resided at the Church House of the Sea and the Land, and did freshair work and tenement visiting all summer. In the fall of 1901, she took a ten weeks' course in stenography and typewriting and then filled a position as secretary to Dr. Smith Ely Jelliffe. Her settlement work continued, through the conduct of two girls' clubs at the Church of the Sea and the Land. During the following summer, she resided at the same Church House, as secretary to Rev. John Hopkins Denison, then in charge. During the summer of 1903, she undertook special preparation for the mission field, part of the year having been devoted to study at Teachers' College, New York, and one course of lectures having been taken under Dr. Hall at Union Theological Seminary.

Mrs. Cobb as Miss Brooks, was a member of the Presbyterian church. Her long experience in mission work in New York City, combined with her college and musical education, fitted her unusually well for foreign missionary service.

Mr. and Mrs. Cobb are now (1905) fully established in their home at Niigata, Japan. Just before sailing for their new field of labor, they both became members of Central Church, and their names are entered on our Church Calendar "associate workers" in Japan.

as

Ladies' Beneficent Society

A.D. 1843-1905

Organization, January, 1843. Young People's Society, 1845. Patriotic Resolutions as to Dress, 1857. Lines by Mrs. Henry H. Fish. Annals of the Society, 1857-1862. Work for Home Missions [in United States], 1865. Work for Mission School Children, 1873-74. New Church Edifice Furnishings, 1875. Annals of Society, 1878-1902. Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration, December, 1902. Annals of Society, 1902-1905.

THIS Society was formed in January, 1843, in connection with the Central Church, for the purpose of assisting any children of the Sabbath school who might be in need of clothing, and to do any charitable work which might commend itself as worthy. The name was originally the Sabbath School Beneficent Society.

There were seventeen charter members, namely, Mrs. Amelia Simmons (mother of Mrs. Benjamin Earl), Mrs. Susannah Bennett, Mrs. William Coggeshall, Mrs. Ann Glazier, Mrs. Nathan Durfee, Miss Betsey Cook, Mrs. Fidelia B. Durfee, Mrs. Charles C. Dillingham, Mrs. Seth Durfee, Mrs. Prince G. Hayden, Mrs. Joseph Durfee, Mrs. Richard Borden, Mrs. Mary Durfee, Mrs. Jesse Eddy, Mrs. S. Angier Chace, Mrs. Ruth Durfee, Mrs. William Carr.

Mrs. Carr is now the only surviving charter member of this society and of the Church.

At the time of the formation of the Beneficent Society and until the opening of the Mission School, there could have been little need among the children of the Sabbath school, and the work in those first years was principally the furnishing and filling barrels for home missionaries. In addition to this work, the ladies raised money by soliciting orders and making garments for which they received pay. Shirts were cut and

made, kerchiefs hemmed, and quite a business done in making gentlemen's pants, coats, and vests.

For the first years the officers of the society were a president, whose duties included those of secretary, treasurer, and collector, and three directresses, who were expected to look up the objects of charity and report to the president. The first annual meeting was held with Mrs. Fidelia B. Durfee, January 4, 1844, at which meeting the following officers were elected: President, Mrs. Fidelia B. Durfee; directresses, Mrs. Jesse Eddy, Mrs. Patience Cook, Mrs. Eliza Ann Woods.

The membership fee was established at one cent a week for members, and one dollar a year for gentlemen, who might thus become honorary members. This schedule of fees has continued the same up to the present time (1905). As soon as the vestry of the church building on Bedford Street was completed, the ladies held their meetings in the northeast room, which was then used as the pastor's study, and which Mr. Washburn gave up to the society on these occasions. It was a small, dismal room, lighted by one window only, heated by a box wood-stove with one cover, and furnished with an iron teakettle. The sideboard was a pine cupboard, upon the shelves of which stood eighteen plates, eighteen mugs, one sugar-bowl, and one cream pitcher, a plate and mug for each member and one for the pastor, who always came to tea.

The supper, which was prepared and cleared away by one family, designated for each meeting, while the others sat and sewed, was as simple as possible. Bread and butter, plain cake or doughnuts, coffee and tea, made up the repast.

The society increased rapidly in numbers and interest, and soon outgrew the little room in the vestry, and the meetings began to be held at the homes of the members. In the evening, the ladies were joined by the gentlemen, and these social gatherings are still remembered as the most delightful of occasions, for their harmony and good-fellowship in a common interest.

The Young People's Society

Early in the fall of 1845, the young people of the Church proposed to form a society independent of the mother branch, raising their own funds for whatever especial work appealed to them. It took the name of the YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETY.

This society was organized at the residence of Mrs. William Coggeshall, on Purchase Street. Miss Julia A. Sessions (now Mrs. Eli Thurston) was chosen president; Miss Almira Chace, vice-president; Miss Elizabeth V. Durfee (Mrs. William Carr), secretary and treasurer. This venture was so popular and so many desired to join the society, that an age limit had to be established for members, sixteen years being the youngest allowed. The young gentlemen also became members, and faithfully attended the young ladies who attended the meetings. The gatherings were so delightful and social that no refreshments were necessary to call out the members. The following record gives some clew to the interest felt by the young ladies in their work.

October 23, 1849. The thirty-third meeting was held at the residence of Mr. Morville. A fine moonlight evening. There were twelve members present. The young ladies were so well provided for, that one of the gentlemen went away alone, his services not being needed - a rare occurrence, truly!

H. E. COGGESHALL, Secretary,

The work of the Young People's Society was mostly fancywork. Black-walnut showcases, with glass doors, were built into the sides of the saloons in the ladies' cabin, both on the Bay State and on the Empire State, the "Fall River Line" of New York boats of that day, where some of the handsomest articles were placed for sale, the stewardess acting as sales

woman.

The society pledged itself to raise one hundred and fifty dollars annually as long as it should exist, to assist in the support of some home missionary, and the Rev. J. J. Hill, of Fayette County, Iowa, was the beneficiary of the society