55 Years' Service

After 55 years of service in the Congregational Church, the Rev. Charles C. Merrill '94 celebrated the anniversary of his ordination on October 12. In observing the occasion he preached on the subject, "Then and Now," at the First Congregational Church in Auburndale, Mass.

Dr. Merrill's first pastorate was the church where he was ordained in Steubenville, Ohio, in 1897. This was followed by one in Winchendon, Mass. He early became engaged in state and national activities related to his denomination. Even after his retirement in 1943 he continued to fill ad-interim pastorates and to take part in a variety of executive posts.

His work over the years has taken him to many parts of the country. In addition to conference work in Vermont and Illinois, for seven years he was head of the Commission on Missions, and later secretary of the Congregational Board of Pastoral Supply. In 1951 he was named chairman of the Commission on Inter-Church Relations and Christian Unity of the Congregational Churches of the United States. He was also Southworth Lecturer on Congregational Polity at Andover Newton Theological Seminary, and served as secretary of the General Council Apportionment Commission, as well as secretary for the Committee of Free Church Policy and Unity.

Numerous Dartmouth men are among Dr. Merrill's friends he has been secretary of the Class of '94 since his graduation and a goodly number of alumni are among his relatives. These include his father, John L. Merrill '56; his sons John L. '32 and Vincent N. '33; as well as several nephews and cousins.