DIVISION SEVERN — SOCIETARY. 489 



had no seats, and he borrowed about two dozen chairs from the roller 

 skating rink to serve his purpose. The only names I found of persons 

 present at that first meeting were : Mrs. R. K. Burnham, Miss Etta Burn- 

 ham, Dr. Rachel F. Reid, F. R. Harris, Mr. and Mrs. M. D. Painter, Mr. 

 and Mrs. J. F. Steen, Mrs. C. P. Brown ; though there were some others. 

 There was some talk about organizing a church ; some favored it, and some 

 did not ; and no definite steps were taken. In July arrangements were 

 made for Rev. J. T. Ford, the Home Missionary of Southern California, to 

 come, which he did, and preached on August 2, in the same room. At this 

 meeting a few were ready (some ten or twelve at least) to organize and form 

 a nucleus of a Congregational church. But now it was strongly urged that 

 the Presbyterian church, was struggling with difficulties, trying to secure 

 and sustain a pastor ; that many of its members were old-time Congrega- 

 tionalists ; and if this new church were started it would tend to disintegrate, 

 cripple and embarrass that one. Upon this view of the case it was finally 

 ''Resolved, That as a matter of Christian courtesy and good will toward the 

 Presbyterian church, we defer the matter of oganization for the present." 

 This was adopted, and no further action taken on that line. Then in Oc- 

 tober following occurred the split in the Presbyterian church over the ques- 

 tion of removal [see page 476], and many of its members withdrew. A 

 conference was then held at Wm. T. Clapp's residence, and a committee 

 consisting of Mrs. Dr. Reid, Mrs. R. K. Burnham, Mrs, I. M. Hill, Miss 

 Annie Clapp, Miss Olive Eaton, Mrs. E. A. Nims, and Mrs. H. J. Holmes 

 was appointed to ascertain who in the community would unite to organize a 

 Congregational church. Another meeting was held at Mr. Clapp's house 

 on November 7, to hear the report of this committee, and they brought in 

 forty-two names asking for such an organization. Rev. Dr. Warren was 

 present by invitation and for counsel, and the following business committees 

 were then appointed : 



I. To procure a suitable place for holding church services tempor- 

 arily—James Cambell, I. M. Hill, H. J. Holmes, M. D. Painter. 2. To 

 procure site for a church edifice — Wm. T. Clapp, Thomas Green, I. B. 

 Clapp, M D. Painter, J. F. Steen. 3. To prepare a form of creed and 

 covenant—Rev. J. B. Ford, Dr. H. A. Reid, Mrs. I. B. Clapp.. 4. On 

 music — Miss Annie Clapp and Mrs. E. A. Nims. 



The ensuing Sunday, Nov. 8, 1885, services were held in the college 

 building on Columbia hill [now Mr. Daggett's residence] by Dr. Warren 

 and Rev. J. B. Ford. After the service a congregational meeting was held. 

 The report of committee on creed was read and adopted. Then Rev. Ford. 

 Dr. Reid, W. T. Clapp, John Ross, J. F. Steen, were appointed to issue 

 letters missive inviting the other Congregational churches to send delegates 

 to a council here, to examine the creed adopted, and other steps taken ; and 

 if approved, to give this new church their formal fellowship. At later 



