tage of such action, so that when the new church was being built the pew-holders generally relinquished their ownership. Some members, however, clung to the old idea of owning their pews, and several years were required to bring about the desired change in its completeness. In April, 1874, the assessors reported that only four pews remained as private property. The last one of these was conveyed to the Society in the same year in which the old church was sold. The ownership of the new church has, from the first, been vested in the Society, and money for the running expenses has been raised by an annual rental of pews, supplemented by voluntary contributions.

1875. On February 3, the Church was privileged to participate in the ordination of one of its own sons, Rev. William N. T. Dean, who had for eight years been a member of Central Church, and who was, on the above date, installed as pastor over the Congregational Church in Somerset, Mass. Mr. Dean received his education at Bangor Theological Seminary, graduating in 1873, and at the Union Theological Seminary, New York City, where he took special courses in 1873-74. He has held pastorates in Somerset, Norton, Orange, Oxford, and Whately, Mass., the latter of which he has held since. April 1, 1900.

Other sons who entered the ministry were Rev. William J. Batt and Rev. Nathaniel G. Bonney.

Mr. Batt was born in Fall River, graduated from Brown University in 1855, and from Andover Theological Seminary in 1858. He filled pastorates at Stoneham, New Bedford, and Leominster, Mass., and in 1885 was appointed chaplain of the Massachusetts Reformatory at Concord Junction, Mass., a position which he has ever since filled with marked success. He has served as president of the National Chaplains' Association since 1897.

Mr. Bonney was a student at Brown University, and graduated from Andover Theological Seminary in 1862. He was

pastor at Peru, Mass., Poquonnock, Falls Village, East Hartford, and Hanover, Conn., and died at Hartford, Conn., April 12, 1883. He assisted Rev. Dr. Thurston in his pulpit work in the winter of 1863-64, and was the author of various published sermons and historical sketches.

1875. At the annual meeting in April, an effort to increase the hospitality of the Church was made, by the appointment of a committee of ten, "to attend upon strangers who come among us, with a view to making their home with us," and the custom of appointing such a committee was continued for nine consecutive years.

Also, it was voted, "that the term of office of one deacon shall expire at the close of each year, in the order of seniority in office, and the vacancy shall be filled by election at the annual meeting. This rule shall not apply to the two present senior deacons."

The month of May was marked by the ordination to the christian ministry, under the auspices of the Church, of Rev. Robert F. Gordon, formerly of Scotland, who at the time was serving as leader in the Sabbath school work at Globe Village, in which certain members of the Church were especially interested.

We honor the memory of him who was the first chosen deacon of Central Church - DEACON BENJAMIN EARL and who, through thirty-one years of its history, had failed but once, and that because of absence from the city, to attend to supplying the communion table. Deacon Earl resigned that

The service was then per

especial duty in September, 1875. formed by Deacon Kilburn until his decease, in 1884, when it devolved upon Deacon Holmes, who has served to the present day. Thus the preparation of the communion table has been in charge of but three deacons during a period of sixty-one years. While we give the official record of this labor of love, we would also mention with appreciation, the large share which the deacons' wives have had in its accomplishment. The silver and linen have always received their personal care,

A.D. 1874-1875

and we feel that in the early days, when it was customary to do much of the work in the home, there must have been a special blessing which came from the preparation for this feast of our Lord's appointing.

We have now come to the time when the Church bade farewell to the meeting house on Bedford Street, in which it had worshiped since its earliest days, and formally entered a beautiful new edifice on Rock Street. On December 12, 1875, the people assembled in large numbers to take leave of the "Old Church" building. The pastor preached from the text found in II Peter 3: 1, "I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance," reviewing the history of the Church, and paying tribute to its former pastors, and to those who had helped to sustain it.

The inception of a desire for a larger and more substantial house of worship carries us back to Dr. Thurston's ministry, and, if the story of its realization were fully written, it would include tales of patient toil and devotion, through times of financial discouragement and great distress of heart. Dr. Thurston had time and again urged his people to "build for the Lord a house of stone and mortar," and the initial steps were already taken, a site selected, and a subscription list opened, when financial depression and Dr. Thurston's sudden death checked the work.

In March, 1872, a fresh effort was made, and Thomas J. Borden, Robert K. Remington, and William H. Jennings were appointed a committee to report upon a suitable location and to obtain plans for a building. This committee continued in office, with the later addition of Holder B. Durfee, until the completion of the enterprise, their duties being increased to include the raising of funds, the contracting for the building, and the supervising of its erection and furnishing; and to their faithful and efficient service we are in great measure indebted for the beautiful and homelike structure which quickly won its way into the affections of our people.