162 A HALF CENTURY. 



and besides, it has never tired of inviting us to its well-spread tables, 

 and to enjoy a social hour enlivened by song and speech. 



Think of the Maternal Associations, dating, one of them, from 1846, 

 the other from 1883, where many a mother, anxious for the salvation 

 of loved ones at home, has brought her burden to cast it upon the 

 Lord in the presence of kindred souls, who would help her to lift her 

 prayer. 



How many, think you, have come into the fold of this church in 

 answer to these prayers ? The history of these mothers' meetings is 

 intensely interesting. One of them originated in the parlor of the 

 sainted Mrs. Rockwell, and had its home there for thirty-flve years. 

 Under her fostering care it increased continually. We cannot over- 

 estimate the value and importance of these mothers' meetings. They 

 bring, in one hand, the heart of the home, and in the other, the heart 

 of the church, and they lay both upon the heart of Christ. 



The Ladies' Foreign jMissionary Society, dating from 1874, is a 

 branch of the great organization that undertakes to carry the Gospel 

 into all lands. The missionary intelligence and world-wide benevo- 

 lence that have come to this church, and the prayerful interest and 

 generous contributions that have gone from this church in conse- 

 quence of the existence of this society are known and remembered by 

 Him who gave Himself to save the world. The Young Ladies' Mis- 

 sionary Society, dating from 1883, shows that the spirit of the Gospel 

 which goes beyond our own surroundings is not confined to women 

 of mature years. 



The Young Women's Christian League, dating from 1882, and first 

 known as the "Class Union" — inseparably connected with the mem- 

 ory of Mrs. Tuck, is a club which interests many in self-improvement, 

 who are occupied during the day with the stern problems of self-sup- 

 port, and gives instruction in a variety of useful and practical indus- 

 tries, also in the principles of economy and frugality, as well as in the 

 broader fields of Christian benevolence. 



The Mission Circles, dating from 1887, are all under the guidance 

 of women of the church. What better work has been done for the 

 spread of the Gospel than this of enlisting our children in missionary 

 work, helping them to plant their missionary seed in heathen lands, 

 and then, with the faith of little children, to watch for the harvest. 

 This age offers no sight more inspiring than the hosts of children and 

 youth, led by woman's hand, marshaling under the banners of the 

 church for Christian service. The sight of their loyal ranks prompts 

 veterans to exclaim with Simeon, " Mine eyes have seen thy salvation." 



The songs of the sanctuary that lift us heavenward on pinions of 

 ecstatic joy send out their loftiest, sweetest notes from woman's voice 

 and soul. The Board of Ladies for Home Work systematically 



