38 A HALF cf:ntury. 



the parish much of what the Tract Society did for the whole 

 town. 



The German Mothers' Meeting was estal3lished under the 

 charge of Mrs. Horace H. Brown as directress, and Mrs. Wil- 

 liam S. Booth as secretary, in 1882. There were at first but 

 five members, but others joined, until twenty -two German 

 mothers have belonged to the Association, which has been to 

 them what the Maternal Association has been to other mothers 

 in the ^Church, a helpful means of elevating and strengthening 

 family life. 



Young Woman's Christian League. — In the autumn of 

 1882, the Board of Ladies for Home Work appointed a com- 

 mittee of three of their number, with Mrs. J. W. Tuck chair- 

 man, to consider what could be done for some of the girls who 

 were busily occu]3ied in shops or elsewhere through the day, 

 and had little opportunity for social and intellectual improve- 

 ment. On invitation, several members of classes of girls in the 

 senior department of the Sunday-school met the committee and 

 a society was formed, termed the Class Union. The regulations 

 were very simple. Meetings were held weekly, or fortnightly, 

 for social purposes, mutual improvement, and charitable work. 

 In 1889, after Mrs. Tuck's death, the plan and work of the So- 

 ciety were enlarged and tlie name changed to the Young 

 Woman's Christian League of New Britain, with Miss Elizabeth 

 R. Eastman president. When the parish chapel was completed, 

 classes w^ere organized in singing, dress-making, embroidery, 

 stenography, and cooking. The rooms of the Society in the 

 chapel were opened two evenings in a week, a teacher of 

 cooking was employed, and aid was given in other work. 

 Some other classes have been added, and some have been 

 dropped for a time. The committee having the matter in 

 charge endeavor to introduce exercises and employments which 

 will interest and instruct, and help to the formation of character, 

 and the making of pleasant homes. The members pay a regu- 

 lar fee, and contribute to the Ecclesiastical Society towards the 

 expenses of the parish chapel, and also engage in charitable 

 work for the needy and for missions. A prayer meeting is 



