Title
Trusts and Funds Information of the First Universalist Society , Methuen, MA.
A folder containing an envelope with index cards and papers and copies of legal documents relating to trust funds of the Universalist Church. Within the 11 x 4.75 in envelope that reads, " Methuen Universalist Church Relating to Trust Funds," are found 5 (4x6 in,) index cards. The Nellie M. Simpson Trust Fund, the Methuen Fund - First Universalist Society, and the Parker-Locke Funds are included. The Nellie M. Simpson Fund ( $10,000.00) gave money to support both the Mission Circle ( otherwise called the Missionary Circle) and the Ladies' Union of the First Universalist Society of Lawrence.
The Methuen Fund - First Universalist Society of Methuen, refers to a fund set up after the Society disbanded in1944. The funds included were called the Methuen Fund, the Asa Simonds Fund and Low - Colby Funds. Half of the income was to be paid to the Convention and half of the income was to be paid to the First Universalist Society of Lawrence. In 1950's all these funds were invested in the Massachusetts Universalist Fund, an investment trust.
The Parker - Locke Fund was established as the Universalist Church Building Fund, established in 1922 and had a final accounting in 1942. The fund was held by the Merchants Trust Company Lawrence ( later transferred to the Bay State Merchants National Bank of Lawrence) for the First Universalist Society Lawrence.
In addition to the envelope of index cards there are copies of legal documents relating to administration of trust funds.
May 10, 1920, the Parish votes to accept $10,000.00 from the estate of Charles Henry Tenney of New York, NY. and to call it the Charles Henry Tenney Fund.
March 23, 1939 the First Universalist Society of Methuen transfers the trusteeship of the funds to the Bay State Merchants National Bank of Lawrence. The funds are the Charles Henry Tenney Fund and the Mrs.Addison P. Russell Fund. Various papers relate to this subject. Other papers in the folder include:
June 24, 1943 - September 1944: letters between the Massachusetts Universalist Convention and Rev. Charles Wyman of First Universalist Society of Methuen regarding the transfer of church securities to the Convention.
1944 : Letters between Mr. Cooper of First Universalist Society, Methuen and the Arlington Day Nursery and Children's Temporary home regarding the contribution of $500.00.
1944: Letters between Mr Cooper and First Universalist Society of Lawrence regarding a contribution of $1,000.00 for the re-furnishing the kitchen.
1959 : An accounting of income from the Funds ( Methuen, Low-Colby, Simmons) invested with the Massachusetts Universalist Convention.
1959: A list of Funds and Trusts benefitting the Association of Universalist Women, Revised June 5, 1959. These funds are held by the treasurer of the Association of Universalist Women.
admin: The First Universalist Society ceased using the church building in 1934, although the Society continued. In 1938 the Society had an annual meeting and Charles Cooper was elected as Clerk, Fred Woodbury as Treasurer and George Richardson as Moderator. By 1940 the Society was in process of deciding the distribution of property and assets. In1944 some donations were given to the Arlington Day Nursery and to First Universalist Society in Lawrence. By 1945 the building had been sold to the Bethel Armenian Church and the remaining assets were divided equally between the Massachusetts Universalist Convention in Boston and the First Universalist Society in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
Collection
First Universalist Society of Methuen
Creator
First Universalist Society of Methuen, MA.
Date (created)
1824 -1944.
The legal - sized folder contains papers which are in fair condition. The accounting of the "Funds and Trusts benefitting the Association of Universalist Women" has been reproduced by the LHC on to acid free paper.