Page:A History of Horncastle from the Earliest Period to the Present Time.djvu/106

 The following is a brief account of the Society's origin and progress, in Horncastle, from particulars furnished to the present writer, by the esteemed minister, Rev. R. Mayes, in 1903 (the second year of his ministry), and by Mr. Edwin Townell, who has been secretary for a quarter of a century. The Society was inaugurated on August 9, 1869, when Messrs. Bogg, Moore, Hall, Cook, Austin, and Bellamy, met at the house of Mr. E. J. Moore, 19, Queen Street; Mr. Moore being appointed Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. Bogg and Mr. Hall Trustees, and Mr. Bogg nominated as first Leader. Mr. Cook offered the use of a room in his house, rent free, and the first service was held on the following day, Sunday, the 10th of the same month.

As Mr. Bogg resided at Benniworth, nine miles from Horncastle, he could not undertake a service every Sunday; and, at first there was only an evening meeting, weather permitting.



There was a good deal of opposition for a time, especially from the Congregationalists, under their minister, Mr. J. E. Whitehead; this, however, served rather to increase the general interest in the new movement, and the evening congregations grew in numbers. The first tea meeting (which ultimately became an established monthly institution) was held March 14, 1870, in a room in the alley named "Tinker's Entry," there being then 14 members on the roll; when addresses were given by Mr. J. S. Bogg, Chairman; and by Messrs. Cook, Moore, T. Wemyss Bogg, and others.

In May of the same year Mr. Richard Gunton, of the Lincolnshire New Church Association, visited them, followed by Rev. John Hyde in October, Mr. Gunton coming again in December of the same year. We may here observe that this connection with Mr. Richard Gunton became, as will be hereafter shewn, a most valuable asset in the Society's favour, in more ways than one. He took up his residence in London, first in Oseney Crescent,