'26 A HALF CENTURY. 



tory of the Church was three hundred and twenty-six greater 

 than in 1872, and more than four and a half times as great as 

 the number enrolled at the close of the second decade, or 1852. 

 The chapel, church parlor, primary-class room, audience room, 

 and pastor's room, were occupied by the school, and still more 

 room was needed. Various plans for relief were proposed, as 

 the extension of the chapel, or some addition to the church, 

 when the late Cornelius B. Erwin, by his will, provided in part 

 for the erection of a new building. The requisite amount was 

 raised, satisfactory plans were obtained, and the new parish 

 chapel was completed in 1890, and was occupied by a portion of 

 the Sunday-school. With the accommodations afforded by this 

 addition, the school was provided with room for all its depart- 

 ments and for far more efficiency in its work. 



In March, 1881, the superintendent became a salaried officer 

 of the Church, devoting his whole time to the interests of the 

 school and to parish work. In 1891, the Church voted to es- 

 tablish a Home department of the Sunday-school. During the 

 first year, although only a part of the parish was thoroughly 

 canvassed, one hundred and eighty persons were enrolled, some 

 of whom soon became members of classes in the school; and 

 this department gave promise of becoming an important 

 auxiliary. 



The membership of the school at periods o*f ten years has 

 been as follows: 



1842. 1852. 1862. 1872. 1882. 1892. 



130 175 203 649 975 1131 



and 250 in the Home Department. 



The Sunday-school at first had no library, but a few books 

 were soon collected, principally for children, and a small library 

 established. This seems to have been not entirely acceptable, 

 for at a meeting of the Church, April 5, 1844, it was voted 

 '' that the officers of the school be a committee to select from 

 the library such books as they deem unfit for use and to pur- 

 chase such new books as they think necessary.'' At the annual 

 meeting of the Church, January 9, 1846, Rev. Samuel Rock- 

 well, Prof. E. A. Andrews, Horatio Waldo, and 0. B. Bassett 



