Reminiscences of Children's Fair (Page 33-34)
A model for other churches (Continued Page 33-34)
Records and Reminiscences of Children’s Fair
“Seeking to make idle hours useful hours, I have written it in my old age Please accept my old RECORDS AND REMINISCENCES.” - C. H. Obear - July 8, 1911
( Pages 33 - 34)
Other churches wish to emulate our model
I have tried to show you a picture of scenes of the morning of Children's Fair Day. At this point it may be of interest to recall some of the letters which came to some of us known to have abiding interest in this "yearly," as one has said, "coming together to show our good will to men." Generally they came from co-laborers and participators in the pleasures of these scenes during all the years of their continuance with us. I remember these testimonials as notes of encouragement to "labor on " in hope when it might have looked a little disheartening.
Distant churches and congregations would send to us for information about the methods of our fair and how it had been kept up with unabated interest for so many years; these confirmed our faith in the wisdom and foresight of the founders of the Children's Fair of benevolence. If, as we did, we learned that these attempts to institute such a permanent harvest offering failed to make it lasting, it was because there was effort made to retain a part of what they raised for some home use, or to draw from it into some denominational channel or direction less truly democratic; and we resisted deviation. I remember many events seemingly trifling which stirred a ripple in the even course of our yearly returning festival. The letters of acknowledgment from those to whom the money results were sent gave us cheer and stimulated us to hold on our course.
From the New Hampshire Orphans' Home they told us that the sum sent had helped to procure conveyance to take the fatherless, and motherless, and homeless ones to church on the Sabbath; or of the number of warm garments provided for the children coming to Franklin Home, as the winter drew near, and the thinly clad little ones had come in unusual numbers.
From other institutions similar missives. And these gladdened our hearts, and gave the boys and girls keen pleasure and quickened their good resolves.
If there were few changes during the years between 1873 and 1887, here and there reviewing the years, we recall the pleasant tokens coming to us from former co-laborers and. participators in the pleasures of this day, as one expressed it, "of coming together to show our good will to men." Some times inquiries came from distant congregations asking information in regard to the methods of our fair. Sometimes hearty thanks and a recital of the work they had been able to do with the sum we had sent; sometimes gifts to increase our receipts on the birth of a child, to make him a member of the institution his father or mother had loved.
August 21, 2010
James Roger diary entry
2nd August 1913
Thunder and slight shower during the night; warm, muggy day with northwest wind. David and the two girls went to Greenville in forenoon for grain, and he hoed field potatoes in afternoon. I bugdeathed the potatoes in forenoon. Also picked five chickens: two for ourselves and three for Miss Barr, which Margaret and me delivered and went to library and store. Special day at Golf Club. Got letter from Elizabeth asking girls to come home on Tuesday
Upcoming Event
163rd Children’s Fair - August 17, 2024
New Ipswich Congregational Church
150 Main Street, New Ipswich, NH
10 AM - 3 PM