Eliot Circle. The June meeting was one of unusual interest. Our councillor, Mr. Eliot, gave us a helpful talk on "Our Relations." Our friend, Mr. Taylor, brought Mr. Babcock, who sang delightfully, and Master Flanders who gave most interesting readings. We also had the pleasure of hearing Miss Amy Jones who has returned from her trip abroad, and Miss Doris Hubert. Plans for the "Colonial Fete" which will take place in November, were well started, and some novel features were suggested. We ask our friends to remember us during the summer, by making useful and fancy articles, and especially when the pickling and preserving time comes. There is much to be done in order to make this the most successful sale we have ever had. If each one does her best, it certainly will be. It was voted to continue it for two days this year. The picnic is to be held at Waverley Oaks on Monday, July 1, if the day is fair; if not, on Tuesday, July 2. We had such a fine time at the Oaks last year, and so many went, that it seems best to try it again. In many respects it is an ideal place, perfectly safe for the children. The first party will leave Park St. subway on Cambridge trains at ten o'clock. Others will come as they can. Friends will remember to take Waverley cars on leaving train in Cambridge, and go to the end of the line, and walk a short distance to the Oaks. Invite all your friends, especially the children; bring lunch and drinking cups. Hot coffee will be served. Don't forget the games for girls, boys, and women, with prizes for the winners. Everybody come for a good time. May Festival. 15. The annual May Festival and sale of Hand clubs the Lend a was held on There were Wednesday, May booths for the sale of candy, flowers, There lemonade, ice-cream and cake. was also a fortune-teller, a moving pic ture show, and a Chinese laundry. All this made much fun, and quite a sum of money was realized. The entertainment consisted of the May-Pole dance by eight of the youngest members of the Sunday School, Folk dances by eight young girls, and a Spanish and Irish dance by Miss Adeline Pfleghaar and Miss Seavey, Old Ladies' Party. The sixty-sixth Old Ladies' Party was given on Wednesday, June 12, from 3.30 to 6.30 P. M. In spite of threatening weather, there the usual good attendance, one hundred and twenty-five at the supper table. was Never were the flowers for decoration and bouquets more abundant or more beautiful, thanks to many friends in Belmont, Concord, Dorchester, and other places. Never did the machinery work more smoothly, and seldom, if ever, have we had a happier time. Before the entertainment, Mr. Eliot spoke lovingly of Mr. Winkley, with whom the Old Ladies' Parties started, Then sixty-five years ago, in 1847. followed two dances by the Misses Adeline Pfleghaar and Rita Seavey, monologues by Mrs. H. H. Putnam, songs by Miss Florentine, and oldtime songs by a chorus of young people. After the entertainment came the supper. A pleasant feature of the afternoon was the christening of Bruce Poehler, whose mother, grandmother, and greatgrandmother, were all christened either in Bulfinch Place Church or Pitts Street Chapel. The hymn sung, "See Israel's Gentle Shepherd stand," was the same used for the baby's grandmother's christening. One of the ladies, bidding good-by, said, "I have had a joyful afternoon,” and that seemed to voice the feelings of all. The Winkley Guild. The annual meeting was held May 19, and the following officers and directors. were elected: President, Mr. Frederick May Eliot; Vice-President, Miss Emma J. Lang; Secretary, Miss Lillian Grant: Correspondent, Miss Huldah A. Laselle; Treasurer, Mr. George Easterman; Entertainment Committee Chairman-Miss Jones; Edith L. Service Committee, Chairman-Miss Martha Eliot; Counsellor-Rev. Christopher R. Eliot. Rev. Mr. Barber of Meadville Pa., spoke very interestingly of his acquaintance and association with Mr. Winkley. The arrangement of the program for next year was left to the directors. M. The picture printed in this number of Our Work was presented by the firm of R. and J. Farquhar, dealers in seeds and bulbs and garden supplies, in whose tree nursery it was taken. Bulfinch Place Church. Sunday services: Public Worship at 3.15. Howard Sunday School at 1.45. The Winkley Guild at 7. Open every week day from 10 to 12. Minister, Rev. Christopher R. Eliot, 2 West Cedar Street. Summer Calendar. June 16-July 14-Sunday Services at 3.15. June 16-Sunday School closes. Tuesdays and Thursdays-Mutual Help- The church will be open every week day from 10 to 12. Miss Stokes will be away during July, Miss Jones during August. Visitors always welcome. Kindly notify one of the ministers in case of sickness or need. Summer Readings. For several summers cards have been printed suggesting readings from the Bible for every Sunday during the Sunday School vacation. These have proved very acceptable and have been very generally used, both by Sunday School members and others. The readings this season have been selected from the Prophets, this choice having been suggested by the interesting picture of the Prophets recently presented to the Sunday School by the Women's Alliance. Anyone wishing one of the cards and willing to read the selections Sunday by Sunday, may receive one by applying to Miss Stokes, or Miss Jones, or the Superintendent. Lend a Hand Clubs. The annual meeting of the Lend a Hand clubs was held on Friday, April 26. There were about forty members and friends present, with delegates from nine clubs. Interesting reports were read from each club, showing much good work during the year. Mr. Eliot gave the clubs a word of encouragement and appreciation, and Miss Brown, superintendent of the Lend a Hand Society, told of some of the work done by the society in which the clubs are interested. She reported that the entertainment given at the church, under the auspices "Faithfulness is a covenant To all that I should be. Between my God and me, And hold me unto Thee. And make a covenant with Thee." The poem "Faithfulness" was written by a member of the Eliot Circle, after listening to an address upon the subject by Rev. B. R. Bulkeley, at the meeting in May. greeting to all its friends at the beginning of a new season. Looking back only long enough to remind itself that this number closes its eighth year, it quickly turns its face to the front with the eager look of one seeking new light and new ways. In the life of a church paper eight years is a very respectable age, and "Our Work" feels its dignity. but it is not old enough to have lost the enthusiasm of youth or the vision of better things to be. Consequently, it sends greetings of good cheer to all its readers, promising them its best and asking their continued friendship. It "Our Work" is supported by subscriptions from individuals and from societies connected with the church. is sent by mail to all paying postage and is given freely to others. But it depends upon the voluntary subscriptions of its friends for the amount needed each year, about one hundred dollars. Such gifts may be sent directly to Mr. O. A. McMurdie (at the church), who for a number of years has been its efficient treasurer. If you believe in "Our Work," renew your subseriptions promptly. If you have not subscribed before, do so now. Many small gifts from individuals and the larger sums from the societies are needed. A Summer Incident. It was a very warm afternoon in July when an expressman brought to the church door a large wooden box marked "Flowers for Bulfinch Place Chapel. It hardly seemed possible that any flower could live and breathe in such a box. Upon opening, it was found to be filled with beautiful pond lilies, well packed in moss and lily pads. Quickly the flower tanks were filled and each lily seemed to say "thank you" as it drank from the clear cool water. Now, to distribute them among those who would enjoy and appreciate their beauty! Here was a sick man across the way who must have a few. Here was a mother who came into the church just then, to ask for a flower for her sick child. Our good friends, the nurses came in, and went out again to carry others to cheer and bless their patients. Then one of the messengers was making her way down Cambridge Street when someone asked. "May I have just one?" Upon turning around she saw a man, advanced in years, roughly dressed, a teamster. He said, "Those make me think of my home, way back in the country, and the little pond where we used to go for them, and my mother. Please, may I have just one?" The good friend in Stow, Massachusetts, who gathered these lilies in the early morning, surely may feel that "the beautiful" was brought into many lives that day. E. L. J. Summer Outings. The summer brought to US many pleasant outings, the first of which was the Eliot Circle pienie at Waverly Oaks. Perfect weather, a large gathering and spirited games, helped to make a very good time. Another outing of special interest was one given to us by our friends of the Wollaston Sunday School, This party was made up almost entirely of children from families where our neighborhood nurses were in attendance. They came from homes made sad by sickness. However all troubles were forgotten in the prospect of a good time and it was a lively procession that hurried down to take the boat for Nahant, each one wearing a little American flag pinned to the shoulder as a means of identification. When we reached the Island I allowed each child to select a picture postal, write a message and send it home. Some of these were funny enough! How they did enjoy climbing over the rocks, visiting the old fort, the flowers, music, rides on the flying horses, and the ice cream horns! The sun was setting as we came home and the happy little crowd gathered about the musicians on the boat begging for popular airs which they sang so heartily that the other passengers joined in the singing. Truly it was a beautiful day for which we thank our good friends. Eliot Circle. K. R. S. The Colonial Fete, which will take place on Nov. 20-21, is a matter of absorbing interest to all the members of the Eliot Circle, as we all know this is our opportunity to make most of the money with which our work must be carried on for the next two years, and then we hope to get a little ahead for our Vacation House, which we need so much. Our friends are asked to con tribute to any or all of the tables, as they can, useful or fancy articles, pickles, preserves, dolls, candy, children's handkerchiefs. Costumes clothing or and decorations will be of the colonial more to type, of which we shall have say later. Women's Alliance. The Womens Alliance is looking forward to a most interesting season, and a full programme, with subjects and speakers, will soon be printed. The Study Class will take up "Social Questions," basing its work upon an outline prepared by the Study Class Alliance. committee of the National The first meeting will be held on Oct. 9, when three short papers will be read by members upon "The Inner Circle of Social Relations." On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the first regular business meeting will be held. Mrs. Claude U. Gilson, until recently the President of the New York League of Unitarian Women, will speak upon The Child and the Daily Newspaper," a timely subject. Howard Sunday School. The Sunday School opened on Sept. 15, with a good attendance. The lessons thus far have been taught by the superintendent, illustrated with stereopticon pictures. In a general way they have been a preparation for the regular lessons which begin on Oct. 5. These will be upon "The Beginning of on the Christianity," twenty lessons "Acts of the Apostles," published by the The Unitarian Sunday School Society. pictures shown were to illustrate the following subjects: Saints and Martyrs of the Christian Church; Cathedrals and Meeting Houses; Scenery in Palestine. ars. a On Friday evening, Sept. 27, the "Rally" was held. The attendance was good, especially of the younger scholAfter an hour of table games, the became "Vacation" entertainment meeting, with accounts of summer outings and excursions. given by several scholars, and a series of reflectoscope pictures from postal cards brought by others from their vacation wanderings. Ice cream and cake were served. During the summer the ceiling of the Sunday School room has been washed and whitened, the walls retinted, and the walls of the parlors thoroughly cleansed. For these good things we thank, for have various people to "cleanliness is next to godliness." Many of the teachers have returned. and others are on the way. The same The superinis true of the scholars. tendent urges both teachers and scholars to take hold now with a will. We need every one. The teachers' meetings have begun, Thursdays at 4.30; and plans for Sunday School entertainments are already making. Special attention is called to a series of Saturday morning Lectures and Conferences to be given under the auspices of the Tuckerman School for the benefit of all interested in Sunday School work. They will occupy every other Saturday morning from 9.30 to 12.30, during October, November and December. For full particulars enquire at 25 Beacon Street. The Autumn Meeting of the Unitarian Sunday School Society will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 8-9, at Greenfield, Mass., with an interesting programme. It is to be noted that the work of this Society has been dignified and lifted into greater importance by becoming definitely a department of the American Unitarian Association. Rev. Wm. I. Lawrance continues to direct its activities and two field secretaries have been appointed to assist him. Prof. Edwin D. Starbuck, Ph.D., and Rev. Florence Buck. the work will be greatly extended. Mildred Ellis Club. Thus The first meeting of the season was held on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 28. Plans were made for the Biennial Entertainment which will take place on Friday evening, October 25, at 7.30 o'clock. An Historical Pageant will be given, all members of the club taking part. An interesting evening is promised. Any one wishing to know the price of admission may find it out by asking for "Credentials" from any member of the club. Our motto for the month is as follows: "As the flower determines the fruit, So our life and purposes today Decide what our tomorrow shall be." Home-coming Sunday. Home-coming Sunday will be celebrated on Oct. 20. On that day we shall rejoice to welcome friends old and new, in the church or Sunday School. |