1894

This is Phil Marden writing in substitution for our late class secretary, Charlie Merrill, whose death is recorded in the "In Memoriam" notes elsewhere in this issue. Of course there is only one topic of conversation for us of the '94 family today - Charlie Merrill, whose long service of almost seventy years as secretary of the class came to an end only a few days after his 89th birthday anniversary. He was chosen to fill that position - the most important position in every class - at our graduation in 1894, and a better secretary no class ever had — or ever can have. Through the 67 years of his faithful service, "C.C." as we all called him, was unremittingly active in all the manifold duties of his office, keeping track of us all, reporting our doings, seeing to it that our birthdays should not go unremembered, performing our marriage ceremonies, christening our offspring, officiating at many of our funerals - in short doing everything a good secretary must do, and many, many more that usually go undone. These things he did without interruption and without any diminution in his activity, so well sustained that we had come to look to him, as a matter of course, as destined to outlive us all and be what EddieGrover, our poet laureate, once said must be the most lonesome creature of all — "the last man out."

And now the blow has fallen. Our trusty and well-beloved C.C. is no more. Ninety-four has had several cherished "key men" but C.C. outshone them all and more truly than any other really kept the class together, and made of it, with our wives, children and grandchildren, one big and happy family. It is impossible to replace him. Charlie Merrill was incontestably "Mr. '94" and his going leaves an aching void that cannot possibly be filled. I am devoutly thankful that we had him with us so long and that he attained the completion of his 89th year, keenly appreciative of the more than 200 remembrances that were sent him.

The class of '94 is fortunate in having known both the old Dartmouth and the new. We graduated only 86 men, and our survivors at this date are little more than half a dozen - seven or eight, I believe. We had seen the old Dartmouth at its low ebb tide, and, as the first class to graduate under President Tucker, we had sniffed the invigorating breeze that betokened a new Dartmouth destined to attain new heights of which Eleazar Wheelock - and even William Jewett Tucker — never dreamed.

Dr. Merrill had served but two pastorates when he shifted to administrative work in the Congregational organization, but as secretary of the New England Board of Pulpit Supply he preached in some church every Sunday, or nearly every Sunday, for 65 years - a testimony to his amazing activity which literally wore him out. Still, he was granted a long life, far beyond the Psalmist's traditional span, and was able to be useful to the end. He was able to dictate the '94 class notes for the April issue of this MAGAZINE - his last direct service as our perpetual secretary - and had left four birthday cards, duly prepared for mailing at the proper date to surviving classmates, which Lucy has turned over to me. "C.C." will be mourned by us all. No man better deserves the final accolade in the words of the traditional hymn sung for so many years at our Commencement exercises:

"Oh that each in the day Of his coming may say, 'I have fought my way through, I have finished the work Thou didst give me to do.'

Oh that each from the Lord May receive the glad word, 'Well and faithfully done.

Enter into my joy and sit down on my Throne.' "

President, 84 Fairmount St., Lowell, Mass.

Class Agent, 18 Center St., Nutley, N. J.