THE SOUTH CHURCH. 35 



lor, November, 1881, and Mrs. J. W. Tuck then had charge of 

 them. Since Mrs. Tuck's death in 1889, the nHUititiL's have 

 been under the care of Mrs. J. N. Bartlett. 



Juvenile Mite Society. — In the winter of 18GU-G1, Mrs. 

 G. L. Goodell invited girls too young to attend the Ladies' 

 Benevolent Society, to meet at her house, where she in- 

 terested them in missions. The meetings became regular, and 

 the girls to the number of twenty-five were organized into a 

 Society, November 2, 1861, under the name of the Juvenile 

 Mite Society. The number of members was soon increased to 

 thirty or more, who were accustomed to meet at the house of 

 the pastor to listen to missionary intelligence, and to sew or en- 

 gage in other work for the cause of missions. They also con- 

 tributed "money for the same cause. This Society continued its 

 work for eight or ten years, or until its members were old 

 enough to unite with other societies. 



Young Ladies' Sewing Society. — During a time of business 

 depression in 1871-72, when there were many families in need, 

 the older girls and young ladies of the Church, upon the invita- 

 tion of Mrs. Goodell, met at the parsonage regularly, to sew 

 and provide garments for the needy in the Sunday-school. 

 When this had been accomplished, the work was broadened to 

 include provision not only for the deserving poor of the Church 

 and congregation, but to some extent for others, who in a time 

 of lack of work, either by themselves, or families, would suffer 

 if relief were not provided. No formal constitution was 

 adopted at the time, but by request Miss Annie L. Smith served 

 as secretary, and Miss Ellen R. Camp as treasurer of this 

 circle. 



The visits to the needy were made by the young ladies indi- 

 vidually and unofficially, to avoid as far as possible arousing 

 the prejudices of such as would shrink from receiving aid from 

 a society. The work progressed so satisfactorily that other 

 young ladies joined the circle, and an organization was formed 

 which took the name of the Young Ladies' Sewing Society. 

 To the local work in New Britain was added sending boxes or 

 barrels of clothing to families of Home Missionaries, and fur- 



