The History of
The Baraca Class and Baraca Club
written by Dr. Raymond VanderWyk
The World Wide Baraca Union was founded in 1890 as a young Men's Bible Class. The name, Baraca comes from the Hebrew word, "Beracha", meaning "Blessedness" or Happiness". Its platform was, "young men at work for young men, and all standing by the Bible, and the Bible School". Its purpose was taken from the biblical quotation."so we all aim to bless, and make happy all that cometh into our circle". A charter was obtained in 1905. The Baraca Class represented the very first organization for men since the Church was founded in 1820.
The first meeting, held on May 14, 1905, was attended by 19 men who adopted a constitution, and elected officers. Robert Turner was elected President, and William Parkinson was chosen as spiritual leader, and Bible Study Teacher, positions he held until 1919. The following committees were formed: Devotional-Music, Literary, Social, Glee, and Athletic. Within a year, the membership had increased to 45 when Dr. Frederick Harlan became Pastor. A Benevolence Committee was then formed, 'and its first action was to approve the giving of money to support the Sunday School. In addition to Bible Study each Sunday, the Baraca Class was very much involved in other endeavors. The Literary Committee formed a debating team that vied with next door Asbury Temple and other churches. One of the issues that was hotly debated was whether women should be permitted to vote. It was not reported which stand the Baraca Club took. A Glee Club sang on special occasions, and spelling bees were very popular. The Social Committee put on monthly dinners and dances with their wives. The Athletic Club formed a Bowling Team, a Baseball Team, and later on, a Basket Ball team which was named the B.A.C'S. for Baraca Athletic Club. On February 14, 1914, the Bowling Team engaged in its first competition, but was defeated by the Allston Baraca Club 3 strings to 1. The Baseball Team lost its first game to the Somerville Day Class, 14 to 3. Undaunted a Banquet was held that year in October with 55 members and wives in attendance. This Banquet became an annual affair. At one of the meetings, it was voted to give $5.00 to any member who got married. Two members took advantage of this very generous offer. When an Interchurch Bowling League was formed among the churches in Newton, Watertown, and Waltham, the Baraca Class entered a team. The League was called the Norumbega Bowling League.
During World War I, two thirds of the members joined the ranks, led by Major Arthur Hansen, who later became mayor of Waltham. Only one member was lost in action. The Class purchased a $50.00 Liberty Bond, yielding a 4.5% interest rate. Following the resignation of William Parkinson as leader, Mr. Fred (3riggs was chosen to lead, assisted by Mr. George Davis. At one of its meetings, The Baraca Class met with The Men's Class, which had been formed by Dr. Page, to hear him speak on the Surrender of the German fleet.
In 1928, The Baraca Class was reorganized. Due to the several athletic teams which had been formed, and which were competing against other Protestant Churches in the city, the name Baraca Club was adopted. The Baraca Class continued to meet according to announcements in the Sunday Bulletins. Meetings were held in the room, now the office of Pastor Howard. It was renovated and paid for by the members, and given the name Baraca Room. The Baseball Team, led by twin brothers Benjamin and Burton Worth, came into its own by winning the Church League championship three years in a row. In 1931, it was feted at a banquet given by the Golden Rule Brotherhood. Jack Leary, the Coach of the Waltham High football team, and a legend in Waltham as a player, was the speaker. In 1928, The Waltham Interchurch Basketball League was formed, with its games being played at the South Junior High School gym. Adding a bit of personal history, I well remember those games as a pupil at SJH. All the Protestant Churches entered a Senior and a Junior team .In addition to the BAC's, there were the Nordics (Lutheran), the Maines, (Presbyterians), the Sir Galahads, (Episcopal), the Potter Club (Methodist), named after the pastor, and the two Baptists Churches. Admission was ten cents for us kids, and I seldom missed a game especially rooting for the Potter Club, since I attended the Methodist Church Sunday School. (sorry BAC's) The Junior League was for boys about my age, and I played for the Perkins Class (Methodist), named after Miss Evelena Perkins, our beloved teacher. Those were the days when a center court jump ball was called after every basket, and a typical score was 31 to 29. Scores and accounts of each game were featured in the News Tribune. I remember that Newell Havener was one of the stars of the BAC's.
The reorganized Baraca Club continued with its Sunday Classes, but with a change in format. Individuals were chosen or volunteered to present a topic of interest, and to lead in the discussion following the talk. Examples of topics were: "What should be the Christian attitude toward war?" by Ernest Garner; "Are you fit to live?", by Ben Worth; and "Does Christianity meet today's needs"?
This format was apparently short-lived, since there is no record that they met as a body on Sundays after January, 1929. It is possible that the Baraca Class, following its reorganization, as an athletic club disbanded, or that its members became associated with the Golden Rule Brotherhood, which will be included in a later edition of the Steeplecock. However, the Sunday Bulletin of March 8,1933 stated that the "Baracas" will hold a Bridge Party in the Baraca Room on Friday Evening. The Interchurch Athletic League discontinued its activities as interest faded.
Trinity Church
(First Congregational Church of Waltham)
730 Main
Street
Waltham, MA 02451
Copyright 2002
