Page:The Souvenir of Western Women.djvu/162

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
154
SOUVENIR OF WESTERN WOMEN

cost of the two lots, building and furnishings, had come to about four thousand dollars, one-fourth of this sum being the contribution of the Ladies' Sewing Society.

REV. T. L. ELIOT

It was not long after the arrival of the "young minister." as he at first was called, from his youthful appearance, before his parish began to realize that they were particularly fortunate in the minister who haa been selected for them, as he possessed a combination of qualities which especially fitted him for the work, largely missionary, which lay before him in this new country, and which made his future pastorate the success it has proved. His wife, too, rarely endowed intellectually and spiritually, seconded his et forts for the good of the church and the community generally so that in this, their life work, they labored together a.s one.

Dr. Eliot did not confine his efforts to the work of his church alone, but from the beginning took an active interest in all philanthropic and educational matters throughout the city and state. In all of this work he was ably assisted by the LadiesSewing Society. In 1876 whilst Dr. Eliot was absent for his health, never robust, a society was organized in the church called the "Christian Union," for the purpose of continuing the work of philanthropy, until this time carried on under Mr. Eliot's direction. Committees of the Christian Union, largely composed of women, kept up the work begun by their pastor of regularly vis-