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Semi-Centennial supper (taken from Somerville Journal, February 26, 1904.)
The semi-centennial parish supper of the First Universalist Church on Friday evening of last week was a grand success in every way. Under the direction of the
Ladies' Sewing Circle, of which
Mrs. Lyman H. Brown is president, nine long tables were spread in the large vestry and two in each of the small vestries, from which was served one of the best suppers that these ladies have ever served, and but few societies have as fine a reputation.
Mrs. Lyman H. Brown,
Mrs. George D. Haven, and
Mrs. I. H. Wiley had charge of the supplies in the kitchen, and the guests were served by
Mesdames E. C. Hall,
Fannie Shaw Graves,
J. W. Peak,
Ida Smith,
Mabelle H. Gooding,
J. E. Kelley,
Henry S. Barron,
A. E. Southworth,
W. J. Pingree,
R. M. Richardson,
P. B. S. Thayer,
Frank M. Lowell,
Frank Thomas,
F. L. Pingree,
Robert Hayes,
Joseph W. Mess,
Edward H. Bolton,
Carrie D. Coulter,
Arthur W. Glines,
Mattie S. Rines,
Misses Ella Freeman,
Helen J. Whipple,
Mary C. Mills,
Ida R. Smith,
Abbie L. Day,
Annie G. Stover,
Mary F. Freeman,
Estella M. Royal,
Alice M. Nickerson,
Fannie M. Glines,
Mabel G. Delano, Emily Poor, under the direction of
Mrs. R. Y. Gifford, head waiter, and
Mrs. William Taylor, assistant.
During the supper
M. J. Messer and his wife and
Miss Nettie Coburn gave the following musical selections:
Mendelssohn's ‘Festival March’; Schlepegrell's overture, ‘
Narcissus’; a selection, ‘Foxy Quiller,’ De-
Koven; ‘Tone Pictures of the North and South,’
Bendix; and
Miss Coburn gave a cornet solo.
The church quartette sang ‘Spring Song’ and ‘Forget Me Not,’ and
Miss Smith, the soprano of the church quartette, sang ‘The Willows.’
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Following the serving of the supper,
Rev. H. D. Maxwell called the company to order, and gave a very happy address of welcome, interspersing his remarks with many apt stories.
He called upon
Rev. Chester Gore Miller, of the
Jamaica Plain church, to speak for young ministers of the denomination, who gave a very bright sermon upon ‘The Religious Tendency of the
Time.’
Rev. R. Perry Bush, of
Chelsea, responded for the ‘Women’ with an address full of pleasing sentiment.
Rev. Levi M. Powers, of
Buffalo, a former pastor, received a very hearty welcome when he arose to speak.
He made a very happy address full of stories, and feelingly told of the place in his heart for the people of this church.
Rev. William M. Kimmell brought the greeting of the mother church in
Charlestown.
The last speaker was
Rev. Charles A. Skinner, another former pastor, and who has a warm place in the hearts of the people of this church, if the way they greeted him as he rose to speak is any criterion, for the applause was long continued.
He gave one of his characteristic addresses, teeming with stories to illustrate the points he desired to make.
He paid a high tribute to the work of the present pastor,
Rev. H. D. Maxwell.
Following the speaking there was a general renewing of old acquaintance and hand-shaking.
The decorations consisted of greens wound about and from the pillars.
A large 1854-1904 motto was on the wall just above the centre of the head table.
At the head table were seated
Rev. H. D. Maxwell and wife,
Rev. Charles A. Skinner,
Rev. L. M. Powers,
Rev. R. Perry Bush,
Rev. William M. Kimmell,
Rev. Chester Gore Miller,
Charles A. Kirkpatrick,
Mrs. M. M. Runey,
Mrs. Parnell M. Hayes,
Miss Angie Williams,
Mrs. L. A. Shaw.
