THE SOUTH CHUKGH. l5o 



of the chapel. Under their careful attention and wise direction the 

 chapel was completed witliin the sum appropriated for that object, 

 Mr. Rogers especially giving a great part of his time and thought to it. 



The society has received by bequest from the late Cornelius B. Er- 

 wln, to be by it held in trust, the beautiful parsonage property on 

 Washington street (his former residence), and a fund of $2."), 000 to 

 assist in its maintenance. The trustees of this fund are Deacons 

 David N. Camp, John B. Talcott, and Mr. Philip Corbin. 



Such in brief has been the financial history of this society during its 

 tirst fifty years, a review of which impresses one with the broad- 

 minded, generous spirit which has been characteristic of its dealings, 

 its high conception and liberal execution, and the faithful meeting of 

 individual responsibilities by those who have been its contributors. 



OUR BENEVOLENT CONTRIBUTIONS. 

 Mil. William H. Hakt. 



It is my privilege to report the contributions of the South Church 

 for benevolence during the past fifty years. I have prepared a state- 

 ment showing the amounts contributed to each of the great missionary 

 societies of our Congregational Churches and for other objects, for 

 each year, which may be valuable for future reference ; but I will 

 only report the aggregate for each decade. 



The records show for the first decade items amounting to $7,370 ; 

 the second decade, $12,300; third $66,000; fourth, $60,200; fifth, 

 $78,300; making a total for the fifty years of $224,213.07. 



This sum is exclusive of the bequests of Dr. Lucius Woodruff, Rev. 

 Charles Nichols, and Cornelius B. Erwin. Dr. Woodruff, in addition 

 to his bequests to the South Church ($10,000 to the Church and $5,000 

 to the Sabbath-school), bequeathed to the New Britain Institute 

 $10,000, and Rev. Charles Nichols to the American Missionary Asso- 

 ciation, Berea College, etc., $2,200. The bequests of Mr. Cornelius B. 

 Erwin for Home Missions and Educational work and for various 

 benevolent objects already amount to $866,419. His residuary 

 estate, not yet divided, is to be given in equal shares to five 

 Christian colleges, four Western and one Southern. 



LESSONS FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. 



Deacon John B. Talcott. 



The statements you have just heard show more clearly than can 



any words of mine how dear to the hearts of this people are the 



cliurch and its institutions. Nor are these statements made in any spirit 



of boasting — but rather of grateful thanksgiving for having been 



