THE LADIES‘ AID SOCIETY 6

by Miss Katharine MacLennan

Although the church was founded in 1825, the first reference concerning women's organizations that has been found appears in an advertisement in the Islander on February 8, 1850, where mention is made of the Ladies' Committee hblding a bazaar in the Town Hall in aid of the funds of St. James' Church.

An advertisement appearing in the Examiner on December 10, 1889, states that The Willing Workers intend holding a tea and fancy sale in St. James' Hall.

Still another advertisement appears in the Guardian on April 2, 1891, announcing a fancy sale and tea sponsored by the Ladies of St. James.

In 1903 the Annual Report of St. James' Church states that the Ladies' Aid Society has functioned well during the year. This is the first time that the name Ladies‘ Aid Society appears.

By the turn of the century, in addition to the Ladies' Aid, two other important groups were functioning — the Women's Missionary Society and the Guild. These three groups, although self—sufficient in their efforts, worked in perfect harmony, each being complementary to the other. The specific aims of all groups were to promote the work of the church at home and the spreading of the gospel abroad.

Chief Functions

It would seem, however, that one of the chief functions of the Ladies' Aid Society had to do with financial matters, in connection withziterations and improvements in the church as well as with current expenses and debt

reduction. A letter of January 11, 1866, reads as follows:

At a meeting of the Bazaar Committee held this day in the Manse, to receive a note of thanks from the Trustees of St. James, it was decided upon unanimously, that the Treasurer be instructed to invest the balance of the Bazaar fund in Treasury Warrants and that a committee of two ladies be instructed to call upon the chairman of Trustees to suggest such improvements as the church requires: that new sills be put under the church, that the back pews of the gallery be raised and the front board be cut down all round, that the old pulpit be taken down and a square one be put up with doors, that the aisles be covered with carpet, that a latch be put on the porch door outside, and that a ventilator be put on the roof if the funds will allow; if this suggestion meet the approval of the Trustees, that the funds of the bazaar be placed at their disposal. J. Anderson, Secretary.

Teas and Sales

Raising money for such undertakings required hard work and a great deal of time. All through the years, bazaars have been held by our women. One such