The History of
The Ladies Benevolent Society
written by Dr. Raymond VanderWyk
1820-1838
For some time I have felt the urge to tell the history of our churchwomen and their organizations, but was somewhat overwhelmed by the voluminous records stored in the Archives Room. However with the encouragement of several members of the Women’s Association, I accepted the challenge.
It all began in 1820 when the Rev. Sewall Harding, pastor of the Second Religious Society, was dismissed from that body because his Trinitarian theology was in conflict with the Unitarian beliefs of the society. Eighteen members stood fast with Rev. Harding and left the society to follow him. In 1820 an Ecclesiastical Council consisting of pastors from churches in Newton, Charlestown and Medway, met at the home of Jonathon Morrill for the purpose of forming a new church. A covenant was proposed, the name Second Congregational Church was decided upon and the first signatures of membership were those of the 18 dissenters from the second religious society. Of these, 15 were women. The Rev. Sewall Harding was affirmed as pastor on Oct. 29, 1820. In 1827 articles of faith were written to acknowledge a belief in the Trinity and the name of the church became the Trinitarian Congregational Church, until 1908 when it was incorporated as the First Congregational Church of Waltham. While it is important to acknowledge the calling of an Ecclesiastical Council for its support and deliberations, the council was not the founder of our church. Rather, it was not until those three men and fifteen women attested by their signatures, that the founding of the church could be announced. The young church grew rapidly and in 1831 its membership was 154 of which 134 were women, a manifestation of their important influence and dedication as the church expanded, having constructed a
building on the corner of Main and Heard Streets in 1827. By its very nature the founding and early history of our church created the framework which provided a heritage within which all subsequent generations have followed.
I was curious as to the reason in the difference between the numbers of female to male members. It might well be that the population of Waltham, as a small farming community, grew dramatically between 1815 and 1820, because of the founding of the Boston Manufacturing Co. Women especially were attracted from many towns in New England to work as spinners and weavers. The company set up housing for them, provided a meeting place for church services within walking distance, and in general encouraged their spiritual life.
The first women to join were young and single with names like Foss, Willoughby, Danforth, Bicknell, Putnam, Phelps, Seaver and Rand, indicative of their English origin. One of the women found marital bliss by marrying one of the three men who joined at the same time. Of course, there were no women’s organizations at the time. The first organized group was named "Sabbath School," and it was certainly established by those women who realized their need for religious education. It happened very quickly in 1822.
As the church grew in membership and young ones came along it developed into the first children’s Sunday school while keeping the name Sabbath School until 1863, when it became Congregational Sunday School. On Sunday, June 8, 1980, it celebrated its 68th anniversary. The school had 23 female teachers teaching 401 children, with an average Sunday attendance of 274. The address to the children that day was given by Henry Whittemore, the grandfather of Winifred Kneisel, a former church treasurer and an exemplary deacon. In Chapter 2 we will be describing some of the early organizations, which were the forerunners of the Women’s Association, which was organized in 1935.
1838-1891.
It is known that a Ladies Society, under different names was formed very shortly after the founding of the church, but the earliest records are missing. However, the constitution of an organization named ''The Female Charitable Society of the Second Parish of Waltham" has been preserved, and of which Mrs. Sewall Harding, wife of the pastor, was elected president in 1838.
The constitution preamble of this society states: "Believing that socie-ties established on Christian principles have a tendency to improve the social and pious feelings of individuals of whom they are composed; and to excite and strengthen a spirit of benevolence towards our fellow creatures; believing likewise to be the duty to unite with the friends of humanity and religion in promoting the interest of the Redeemer's king-dom, we, the undersigned agree to form ourselves into a society by adopting the following constitution.
Some of the Societies' activities included sewing garments (sewing machines being unknown at that time) for missionary families, a patch-work quilt for a divinity student, or knitting stockings for children. Meetings were mostly held in a member's home with the hostess pro-viding supper to which gentlemen were invited. One of their reports of 1849 reads: "About 40 or more were present in the evening. Part of the company retired to another room where they entertained the rest with vocal and instrumental music. When the hour of departure came, it was unlooked for by all, for the evening had been spent so pleasantly that its moments had rapidly glided by".
When Mr. Thurston became pastor in 1859, the society adopted the name '' The Social Circle", and meetings were held only in the evening. There was no supper, and no work was done. There was music, social conversation, and games. Each person attending gave five cents into the treasury. When the new church was built in 1870, meetings were held in the chapel. The supper was simple, consisting only of bread and butter, tea, and cake, until one day someone brought hot baked beans, which evidently proved very popular, as they have held an im-portant place In church suppers ever since.
When Dr. Strong became pastor in 1865, the name was changed to become "The Ladies Benevolent Society," a name that continued until May 2,1935, when it was disbanded, and the present Women's Asso-ciation was founded. In 1879 the Society became an Auxiliary to the Women's Home Missionary Association. Support for this association came in gifts of money, boxes of clothing to missionary families, to teachers, and in sending delegates to Home Missionary conventions.
The records of the Ladies Benevolent Society are complete from Nov. 2, 1878, until its final meeting on May 2, 1935. Monthly meetings, open to all women of the church, as well as an annual meeting were held. The average at-tendance was 20. The min-utes of every meeting are written in great detail. A few excerpts follow: On Dec. 11 and 12, 1877 the first Church Fair was held in the chapel by the Society, the proceeds of which amounted to $377.46, which paid for the painting of the church. On May 5, 1882, it was voted to pledge $500.00 to be used for enlarging the Chapel. They also raised money for a kitchen, chairs for the chapel, pictures, rugs, and repairs. The final payment of $325.00 to dis-solve the debt of building the new church in 1870 was made by the Ladies Be-nevolent Society.
1892-1935
By 1922, the church membership had risen to 873, of which 596 were women and 277 were men. Several new women's organizations had been formed, such as the King's Daughter's, the histories of which will be told in future Steeplecocks. There seemed to be a group, or a committee, for each special church function. During this time a movement was initiated to combine all of the women's activities into one organization. The name "Women's Union" was proposed. The Benevolent Society was not receptive to the idea. On January 22, 1922, it voted not to participate. Its feisty reply, recorded at one of its meetings states, "Our Society is prosperous and harmonious. Our membership is increasing to twice as many as ten years ago. We are able, and willing, to do all that is asked of us. We have our own constitution, finely conceived and written, far broader in its field of activities, and in the recognition of individual members and workers, than we would obtain by change.
The Ladies Benevolent Society is the senior church society. It has been a spiritual force, and social and financial power in the church for over eighty years" (WOW, How about that retort!) That same year, the first telephone was installed in the pastor's office, and the first recorded report of a rummage sale, held In April brought in $78.25. The idea of combining the many women's groups lay dormant until 1935. The records of the Ladies Benevolent Society during that 13-year period give no indication of .any problems. But on January 17, 1935, a report of the Executive Committee of the Society states, "After a picnic lunch, the subject of uniting our women's societies was discussed. Several reasons for unification can be postulated.
During those down years in our country's history, it may well be that the women of the church had other aspects of their lives to think about. For example: the church fire of '25, which destroyed the organ, and the inte-rior of the steeple, left the church in a debt of $36,575, a considerable amount in those times. The market crash of '29, the deep depression of the thirties, and the threat of war with Hitler and his Nazis were other factors.
The membership fell to 782, and even Dr. Page's salary was reduced from $3000.00 to $1500.00. Whatever the reasons, in May the Women's Benevolent Society voted to disband after 97 years of faithful dedication and service, still having $234.22 remaining in the treasury. True to its principles and symbolic of its good works, it gave $200.00 to the Church, and $34.22 to the newly formed, and still very active, Women's Associa-tion of the First Congregational Church of Waltham to start it on its way.
Trinity Church
(First Congregational Church of Waltham)
730 Main
Street
Waltham, MA 02451
Copyright 2002
