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"Not to be ministered unto but to minister."

VOL. 10

BULFINCH PLACE CHURCH, MARCH, 1914

No. 5

Go to Church Next
Sunday Also.

The habit of church-going somehow
lies at the foundation of steadfast
character and the maintenance of
the standards of life.

-Pres. Woodrow Wilson

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REGULAR CHURCH ATTENDANCE.

Our church joined with many others of Greater Boston in observing Go-toChurch Sunday on Feb. 8. The result was a very large attendance both afternoon and evening, about doubling the usual number in the afternoon and increasing it considerably in the evening. Why isn't it possible and really worth while for people to make the effort to come to church oftener and even regularly?

Mr. Eliot spoke upon "A Religion for Today and Everybody." In the course of the sermon he said that a religion for today must be one that is alive now, not one that was alive once and is now dead. He referred to the difference between dead and living lan

guages, and pointed out that living languages are in daily use. "Every word is alive with meaning and many words grow from year to year into larger and richer meanings. New words are born; new idioms develope; the language used is the very life of society, making business, sociability, good government and a common worship possible.

"So we need a living religion, one that can help and inspire us now, one we can use now, one that meets the needs of the individual and of society today, one that has life, one that can grow as truth is revealed and experiences deepen, one that lives because God lives. It must be a truth-loving religion, and it must answer the call of

the Twentieth Century for a higher and nobler type of manhood and womanhood, as well as a social order based upon justice and good-will. God is not dead and so our religion must be a living, growing religion."

After speaking of everyone's need of religion, rightly understood, as Jesus understood it, as St. Paul understood it, Mr. Eliot referred to the church as a means of strengthening the religious life, and closed with these words:

"The church, to do its part, needs you; and do you not need the church? Will you not be stronger for the cares, duties, temptations, sorrows and work of life, and will you not be worth more to your family, your business associ ates, and to yourself, to the city in which you live and to the kingdom of God, if you join regularly in the worship and work of the church? What would it not mean to our city and to the commonwealth, if this day of general church attendance should mark the beginning at least of a revival of the church-going habit?"

The Two Handles.

Everything has two handles-one by which it may be borne; another by which it cannot.-Epictetus.

Try it and see!

There are innumerable cups on the table of life. Some are gilded and beautiful. Some contain bitter mixtures. Others are sweet to the taste. Every man must take such of the cups as are given him. What happens? The most beautiful cup often becomes bitter. The most bitter cup often grows sweet. See how this is!

You can take the morning by the handle of a frown and the whole day will frown on you. Take the stormiest day with a smile and it will grow pleasant.

Take your work by the handle of reluctance and it will grow intolerable; you, the same man, take the same work by the handle of willingness and it becomes easy. Try it!

Take your pleasure by the handle of self-indulgence and the pleasure is spoiled; take it by the handle of generosity, share it, and it will last.

Take wealth by one handle and it loads you with cares: take it by the other handle and see what will happen!

Take your business as a means of getting a living and it becomes a vulgar drudgery: take it as a means of social service and it will be a noble religion.

Take marriage by the handle of your self-will and it turns out a failure; take it by the handle of love and you will be more happy every day.

Handle men with distrust and you will never get on with them; handle them by good will and the same men will be your friends.

Take yourself by the handle of egotism and you waste your power. Use the handle of modesty and the world is with you.

Take pain by the handle of fear and you will always have something to suifer. Take pain by the handle of courage and nothing can hurt you.

Take

Take sorrow with self-pity and you will become too lonely to live. it by the handle of your sympathy and your sorrow will be translated into new power to help all others who suffer.

Take the world by the handle of doubt and the day grows dark. Take it as God's world and the sun and stars will always be shining.

Take death with dread and you lessen the tide of life. Take death with hope and life broadens into an infinite meaning. Charles F. Dole.

The New Men's Club.

The second meeting of the Men's Club was held on Thursday evening, Feb. 19, with eighteen members present.

The committee on by-laws, Mr. Ellicott, chairman, made its report, and the articles were discussed and voted upon separately. Several names for the club were suggested and the following was chosen: The Bulfinch Place Fel

lowship Club. The object was defined as "Improvement, Sociability, and Assistance to the Pastor." The dues are to be an initiation fee of twenty-five cents and a monthly fee of twenty-five cents for every month in which there is a meeting. Meetings are to be held on the third Thursday of each month, except June, July and August. Open meetings every three months. Any man eighteen years of age or over may become a member by paying the initiation fee.

The followng officers were elected: President, Mr. Walter E. Lewis; VicePresident. Mr. O. A. McMurdie; Secretary, Mr. D. Edgar Nickerson; Treasurer, Mr. Joseph Jones: Trustee, Rev. C. R. Eliot.

The next meeting will be held on March 19 at 8 o'clock and will be in

charge of the following committee: Mr. Edwin C. Jacobson, Mr. Herbert Dodge and Mr. Orrin Robinson. They have planned a musical program as follows: Piano duets by the Misses Edna and Beulah Easter: violin solos by Miss Marian Spencer, Miss A. Seitz accompanist; banjo and guitar selections, by Mr. Vreland. There will be songs and readings, also, making a very interesting evening. Light refreshments will be served.

A very hearty invitation is extended to all to join the club. The name of the club, "Fellowship," indicates its spirit of welcoming hospitality. Everyone who joins now will contribute much to its success. The meeting on Mar. 19 will be an open one and all the members are asked to interest their friends to come.

Women's Alliance.

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The St. Valentine's Fair, so talked of, was held on February 11 and 12. The weather, both days, was extremely cold, but in spite of this many of our friends visited us and we had the good fortune to clear a little over $600.00.

We had an entertainment each evening at 8 o'clock. On Wednesday Mrs. George H. Root of Winchester read most delightfully. Miss Eaton sang and Mr. Melvin Bryant played on the violin. On Thursday evening Miss Marjorie Homer played on the piano, Miss Bigelow on the violin and Mr. Caleb Fox sang. The fair was a success socially as well as financially and the Alliance wishes to give hearty thanks to all friends who helped to make it so.

On Wednesday, February 25, the regular meeting of the Alliance was held. Mrs. Bush told of the work of the Palmer Memorial Institute at Sedalia, North Carolina, and after her talk the Alliance voted to give $5.00 to the school. Miss Bush sang several

songs.

The March meetings will be held on the 11th and 25th.

At the Study Class on the 11th, Prison Reform and Rev. Samuel June Barrows will be the subject.

A Neighborhood Meeting will be held on the 25th, at which Rev. Abraham M. Rihbany will speak on "The Bible and Its Home." Delegates from nearby Alliances will be invited. A cordial invitation is extended to all who wish to

come.

Eliot Circle.

At the fourteenth annual meeting of the Eliot Circle, held on Friday, Feb. 6, the report of the nominating committee was unanimously accepted, and the following officers were elected: President, Miss Katherine R. Stokes: Vice-President, Mrs. Eliza Roberts; Councillor, Rev. C. R. Eliot; Treasurer, Mrs. J. P. Lincoln; Recording Secretary, Mrs. M. A. Logan; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Virginia Lewis;; Librarian, Mrs. Wm. Strong.

Rev. Alfred Shurtleff gave a most helpful address, impressing the truth that each one is sent by God to fill his own special place in the world.

Our corner at the St. Valentine's Fair proved to be very attractive to our friends. We had a happy time and were able to turn over to the Alliance something over twenty-five dollars. We also sent to invalids and shut-ins three hundred and twenty valentines.

On Friday, March 20, we are invited to visit the Riverside Press in Cambridge. Members who wish to go will take River Street or Western avenue cars at Central square and get off at Blackstone street, going directly to the office, where I will meet them. Please be on hand at a quarter before two on Friday, March 20.

KATHARINE R. STOKES.

Washington's Birthday.

Miss

The usual party for the Infant Class was given on Monday, Feb. 23, at 2 o'clock, in the church parlors. Jones and her assistants were in charge and there were forty-five children and mothers present. A happy hour of songs and games, with a few recitations by the children, was followed by the "Washington Pie." This was gaily decorated with cherry paper and when opened by Mr. Eliot, who used a Washington hatchet, it was found full of giftlets for the children. Ice cream and brownie crackers were served. Mr. Eliot asked a number of questions about Washington. to which the children responded well.

A Children's Hour.

The Children's Hour has proved well worth while. There has been an attendance of from ten to fifteen every Tuesday afternoon, between four and five o'clock. The children are from the

immediate neighborhood and the group is comprised of different nationalities and creeds. It is a friendly hour and subjects of mutual interest are talked about, such as "What acts of kindness have we seen in our neighborhood this week?" "How can we help make Bulfinch place and our streets clean and free from rubbish ?” "What can we do towards having flower boxes in our windows this summer?"

A story is told and sometimes we have time for a song or two.

One of the children brought the following motto for one of our meetings, saying it was for everybody, never

mind where he was born or what his religion:

"Whoever you are, be noble; Whatever you do, do well; Whenever you speak, speak kindly; Give joy wherever you dwell.” Come in and see us some Tuesday afternoon, and if you have a good story to tell you will be specially welcome. E. L. JONES.

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The Pleasant Sunday Evenings have continued with increasing interest. The attendance has averaged about 125 and on two or three evenings there were over 150 present.

The next "Pleasant Sunday Evening," March 15, will be filled by musical selections rendered by the Edison Dise Phonograph, making amends for Our disappointment on March 1.

The Sunday-school Supper will be held on Mar. 20 at 6.30 P. M. The pupils will be the guests of the teachers as in previous years, classes sitting together. An interesting program is in preparation and all are urged to reserve this date for this pleasant and helpful occasion.

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The annual meeting of the club was held on Mar. 3. It was announced that the net proceeds from the dance amounted to over thirty-five dollars. following officers were elected: President, Mrs. Mary May Eliot; vice-president, Miss Gertrude Weeks; secretary, Miss Mildred Johnson; treasurer, Miss E. L. Jones.

"Our Work" will hereafter be issued on the second Sunday of the month instead of the first. Items for publication should be sent to Mr. Eliot on the Tuesday preceding

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