fifteen-minute after-meeting in the South Parlor. It will be a good meeting if the night is bad and there are only 200 present, but it will be still better if the night is good and twice that number are present. What say you who are able to come regardless of weather, to a good hearty gathering to-night? Will you help by being there? Take your nap before you come, for you will not find this meeting a good place for that. So, come to enjoy it. The pastor notes with pleasure the regular attendance in our general services of brethren from the Armenian department of our Bible School. Some of the most regular are not members of this Church, but they are welcome to our fellowship. With the excellent workers who have recently joined the teachers in this department, our Church may feel confident concerning the ministry afforded these Christians from a New Testament land. The first anniversary of our Chinese Endeavor Society was held last Sunday. It began with two active and two associate members. The present membership is fifteen. The average attendance for the year is twenty-five; the total contributions $38.69, of which $13 went to help build a church in Nam Tsin, China, and $17 towards the support of Mr. and Mrs. Hinman at Shaowu. The attendance of members has been 16 per cent higher than that of the banner society of the Fall River district. The society has enrolled now, and intends to win the banner. The members attend our public services regularly. Our assistant in the Pleasant Street Mission, Mr. J. B. Richardson, has been called to be pastor's assistant in the Thirty-fourth Street Reformed Church of New York. The call was so pressing that his engagement was dated from February 1, with the request that he come at once. Our Standing Committee therefore granted his request for immediate release, and he went to New York on Thursday. Mr. Richardson said in his letter of resignation: "The years here have been years of great joy, and will simply be invaluable to me in my future life." The Church Committee gave a testimonial to the pastor, Rev. John H. Elliott, closing: "He has been earnest, faithful, and efficient, giving evidence of personal Christian experience and growth, as well as of love for the cause in which he is steadily growing in adaptation and resources." The new position affords a large increase of salary, and all in all is such that the many among us who will miss him, may rejoice in the marked advantages in his life work which the change affords. His duties at the Mission will be divided among good lay workers of our Church. [REPRINT] OUR CHURCH MESSENGER CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH Cor. Rock and Franklin Streets Fall River, Mass. REV. WILLIAM ALLEN KNIGHT, Pastor. Residence, 87 School Street. REV. EDWIN A. BUCK, Missionary Emeritus. Residence, 114 Prospect Street. REV. GEORGE W. HINMAN, Foreign Missionary. Residence, Foochow, China. "Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness." Week of May 7-14, 1899 Regular Meetings SUNDAY- Public Worship at 10.30 A.M., in the auditorium. Bible Schools: 9.15 at the Mission; 12.05 in the Chapel and church. Chinese C. E. Society at 1 P.M., in the North Parlor. Preaching Service at 6.00 P.M., at the Mission. Y. P. S. C. E. meeting at 6.30 o'clock in the Chapel. - Prayer-Meeting at 7.45 at the Mission. WEDNESDAY - Junior C. E. Society at 4.30 P.M., in the South Parlor. THURSDAY - The General Prayer-Meeting at 7.45 P.M., in the Chapel. These Meetings are for all. A cordial welcome to all, in Christ's name. Particulars The Lord's Supper will be administered at the close of the morning service. Bible school lesson is found in John 15:1-11. Subject, "The Vine and the Branches." The Y. M. C. A. meeting, held in the gymnasium, will be addressed by Mr. C. V. S. Remington. Y. P. S. C. E. topic, found in Rom. 2: 1-11, is "Patient Continuance in Well-doing." The Juniors' question to be answered Wednesday is, "What are some little talents to be used for Christ?" Matt. 25: 14-30. Business meeting. Thursday is the regular missionary meeting. Friday evening is the Church Committee meeting. Pastor's Page 'PHONE 255-3 An interesting letter from Mr. and Mrs. Hinman comes as the "Messenger" goes to press. It will be read in the monthly missionary meeting next Thursday evening. Will pew-holders kindly remember on coming into the morning service, to mention to the ushers that they can welcome one or more in their pew for that service? It will prove a helpful habit. The topic Thursday evening is, "Our new national possessions and what American churches are preparing to do for their betterment." Several men who have kept informed on these movements will speak. The new Executive Committee of the Men's League consists of the officers, Wm. M. Batt, Thomas R. Whipp, and Benjamin B. Earl, together with Walter C. Hadley, Samuel Smith, M. Hartwell Adams, and George S. Brigham. According to a vote of the last church meeting, the committee for visitation of the sick and needy was enlarged by two members, Mrs. D. H. Cornell and Mrs. George Congdon being chosen to this very important committee. The General Association of the Congregational churches of Massachusetts holds the ninety-seventh annual meeting in the First Church of Brockton, May 16-18. Can you not manage to take in something of this occasion? Speak with any of the deacons or the pastor if you are thinking about trying to do so. Kasper Asadoorian and Asadoor Garabedian, who took church letters from this Church some time ago on returning to their native land (Armenia, Turkey), lost their letters in the outrages then perpetrated in that country. Having returned to this city, they were by vote of the Church last Monday evening restored to full membership here. To-night we shall have a service for all to have part, prepared and printed for this evening service. The pastor's short address will be on Henry Drummond and Rudyard Kipling-two young men and their strange religious might." Two or three Sunday evenings will be thus occupied under the auspices of the Men's League. Of course you know how much good it does for you to be there. We do our part the best we can. If you want to see this meeting effective these May evenings, will you come and join in the short, carefully prepared service? "Will you not give us a few words, some time, on when NOT to give?" said an earnest parishioner a little while ago. It has become necessary to say that solicitors who come in at random, about whom we know nothing, whose credentials are signed by men we do not know, are not men to whom we can safely give. Most of us have learned to our sorrow the worthlessness of recommendations as a rule, even from men whose names we know. A man has been soliciting funds lately, giving the impression that the pastor had sent him. The pastor never saw the fellow nor heard of him before. We hope our people will not give to men without authoritative CREDENTIALS. To-day the Sunday school so long held in the Mission building meets for the last time in those rooms of blessed memories. Naturally we all feel the sadness of such a "last time." But let us each and all set our faces cheerfully, joyously, toward the good days that are before, with deep gratitude to the Father in heaven for the long years of His loving kindness in the old Mission building. In the beautiful Chapel of Central Church, the morning school will keep classes and teachers together, and much of the life which has centered in the Mission building can go on just the same. The Fathers and Mothers' Bible Class is already happily planning to enjoy the Bible-class room in the Chapel. Their first meeting there is held to-day. The kindergarten, with its group of children appealing to any onlooker's heart, has been provided for, temporarily, in a public-school building recently sold. Mr. Buck will have his desk and office hours in the room of the Chapel by the Rock Street entrance. He has planned with the Church Committee to confer there with all who wish to see him, and to aid as he has so long done, in the visitation of our members, so many of whom he knows as a father. So, all in all, everything is completely provided for, and from this week onward we move forward with the activities which for a generation we have maintained on Pleasant Street, consolidated with the activities centering in the home church. Surely, God who knows our hearts will lead us to the large achievements which this combination of forces prepares us to attain in the days that are before. [REPRINT] "Here let no man be stranger' THE CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH FALL RIVER, MASS. Week beginning October 25, 1903 Central Church extends a cordial welcome to every stranger who enters its doors. If you are here for a day only, the pastor will be glad to meet you. May you take with you, from the service, new strength and purpose for the duties of the week. If you are to make your home in the city, we shall be glad to number you among the regular attendants at our services. Kindly give your name and address to one of the ushers, or better still, tarry for a moment at the close of the service that the pastor may have an opportunity to meet you. Pastor, CLARENCE F. SWIFT, D.D. Residence, 339 Lincoln Avenue. Hours at the Chapel, Thursday, 2.30 to 5.30. Pastor's Assistant, Mrs. MARY H. SMITH. Telephone, Bell 481–22. Hours at the Chapel, Saturday, 2 to 5. Church Telephone, Bell 618-2. Mr. James W. Brigham, treasurer of the Society, will be in the South Parlor before and after the morning service, and will be glad to confer with any persons for their accommodation with sittings in the church. |