} Sou By 2862 AY BIb oO lll 5 i) Garnell Mniversity Library Dthaca, Nem York CHARLES WILLIAM WASON COLLECTION CHINA AND THE CHINESE THE GIFT OF CHARLES WILLIAM WASON CLASS OF 1876 1918 5 ‘iA lin/Kroch Library DATE DUE ‘SUAGNVIA SIMA‘ ‘SUA AATLAG WITH M 'SHIV TUNA W WVITIIM ‘SUA ‘AUNGSONIM SYMOHL ‘SUM WaAMUVd 'M A SUN ‘HOIY SYNOH], ‘SUT ($6gr NANVL) ‘ALAIDOS AYVNOISSIW NDISYOI S\NVWOM FHL AO SYFGNNOA THE STORY OF THE WOMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 1869-1895, BY MISS FRANCES J. BAKER. REVISED EDITION. CINCINNATI: CURTS & JENNINGS NEW YORK: EATON & MAINS 1898, & \iasom BV25850 A¥BIo WG 21 COPYRIGHT BY FRANCES J. BAKER. 1895. PREFACE. ° HILE. many things have been written on the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, and much information has been published, there is no one work which supplies the information contained in this volume, or that preoccupies the field. In an experience as an itinerant for many years there has been found a demand for this very work, giving the scope of a Society which is as broad as the needs of heathen women, and the knowledge of what has been accomplished by Methodist women at home for their sisters across the sea. Restricted in limitations, it became an unfortunate necessity to omit much valu- able material, even the mention of the names of so many of the great leaders of the Society, who in many States and Territories have wrought and are still working, who by their faith have removed mount- ains, of whom the world is not worthy; and of many others who are not, for God has taken them; and for the same reason biographical sketches of the mission- aries have scarcely been touched upon, though the illustrations of the twelve pioneers have been fur- nished. Incidents which may be regarded as beneath the dignity of history have found a welcome place in this simple and familiar story. After all the time and labor expended, the book must be closed incomplete. This is as it should be. 3 4 PREFACE. The history of a living Missionary Society must be a diary unfinished until “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.” It was not possible to give due credit, as I pro- ceeded, to all the sources appropriated for this vol- ume. Among them may be specified the files of the General Executive Reports; (feathen Woman’s Friend; Annual Reports of the Missionary Society; various Branch Reports; the printed Reports and Minutes of the several India Conferences, Japan and Foochow; “India and Malaysia;” “Light in the East;” Church Weeklies; Woman's Work in the Far East; publica- tions on our Missions in India and China; Mission- ary Letters and Journals. I am also indebted to Mes- dames Gracey, Butler, L. N. Wheeler, Sites, S. L. Bald- win, O. W. Scott, Achard, L. F. Harrison, and Miss Dreyer; to many mission- aries on the field and at home, of our own and the General Society; to some of the Branch Secretaries, Corresponding and Recording; also Conference Secretaries; besides many other home workers. Scores of persons have placed me under obligation to them for some simple item of informa- tion. ‘Thank you. Miss FRANC BAKER. FRANCES J. BAKER. MORENCI, MICH. CONTENTS. PAGE. INTRODUCTION, ..... ie, CA ial ee Re We a 9 CHAPTER I. ORGANIZATION, yi ae Gee baie av PR ok cay A 13 CHAPTER II, INCREASING ACTIVITIES,, 6 we ee eee ee 35 CHAPTER III. BRANCH HISTORY,. ~ © we eee ee ee ee 46 CHAPTER IV. CAMP-MEETING AND OTHER ASSEMBLIES,.. . . . e 2 ee 64. CHAPTER V. LITERATURE, «6 6 ee ee ee ee ws 73. CHAPTER VI. GERMAN WORK,.. .- 6-0 ee et et ee ee ee 93 CHAPTER VII. MISCELLANEOUS,. ...-- ease te eee ite GE) aotdk ar Ge Gat aah 107 CHAPTER VIII. MEDICAL MISSIONS—INDIA, . . 6 6 6 6 ee ee he 117 CHPTER IX. MEDIcal, MIssions—CHINA, JAPAN, AND KOREA, .. . . 147 CHAPTER X. INDIA, . + 6 ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee 179 6 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XI. PAGE. GHINA, ‘6 oho. ome Poe RS Aw we aes 262 CHAPTER XII. JAPAN, KOREA, BULGARIA,- ee et ee » 315 CHAPTER XIII. ITALY, MEXICO, SOUTH AMERICA, AND AFRICA,. .... - 357 CHAPTER XIV. REMINISCENCES, . - : : d ete). Ue ee Sea ae gig 399 STATISTICAL, FOREIGN SUMMARY, 1894, en Grote aan wale ~ 0 ae ees 422 MISSIONARIES,.. - . : . ; + + 6 423 SESSIONS OF THE ore EXECUTIVE Commnrans, » » 432 List OF REAL ESTATE, . . 2... ee ee Sek ABS APPENDIX, » + + vt eh th he ew ee ee we eee « 6 A436 ILLUSTRATIONS. Se FOUNDERS OF THE WOMAN’S FOREIGN MISSION- ARY SociEety (taken 1895),. ..... . . Frontispiece. PAGE, Miss Franc BAKER, .... . S80 em Bes 4 TREMONT STREET CHURCH, Bosnan, Bethe Wa ah ae ec 14 Mrs. Lois E. PARKER ..... ee Nanya eeeahsochy ay ake Gel tye 16 Mrs. CLEMENTINA BUTLER, «+ .°. 0 6 ee ee ee ee 19 Mrs. JENNIE F. WILLING,. . 2... eel ee 27 Miss ISABEL HaRT,. ........ ¢ Wile Gnw «4 39 Mrs. J. T. GRacEy,. ...... dee? ave wi ws, Sal Mt io, Gets 4I Mrs. ADELINE M.SMITH,. .........-2.+808-- 44 CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES, 1889, . ok Pw Sew Ae OFFICERS OF THE NORTHWESTERN BRANCH, ... . 51 OUR AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS,..... . . facing page 73 First Map or INpIA MISSIONS, .... . . facing page 74 ZENANA PAPERS, . . - 6 ee eee ee eee facing page 83 INDIA’S CHILDREN, . - 6 ee ee ee ee ee 87 Miss Ciara A, Swain, M. D., First Medical Niedouary, - 120 BAREILLY HOSPITAL, INDIA, .. . a i se 7: Mrs. Nanclzk MONELLE Mansur, M. D., 20 hetad arash Goat ak QO: Miss LEONORA Howarp,M.D.,...- 2... ee eee 149 Miss SIGOURNEY TRASK, M. D.. oh & AD ete oe RUA ad Bie des Ht Kine Enc,..... BPS wt Bee be “159 Mervir SHIE AND IpA Kaun,...... . . facing page 167 KorEAN Hospital, SEOUL,. .---.-- ere ae page 170 ESTHER KIM PAK,......-5.-ee + es 07S PIONEERS (THE East),-....-. dak as in 48) ay She Mine OE Miss IsaBELLA THOBURN, First Micaionais, oe a ee USE DorMITORY GIRLS’ SCHOOL, LUCKNOW,...... 4 wr83 LucKNow CHRISTIAN SCHOOL-GIRIS,. . - . 1 eee ee 187 Miss ELLEN D’ABREU, B. M.,. ... eee ee oe ee + + 190 Mrs. SopHia D’ABREU THOMPSON, B.A, ... + ~~ . IOI 8 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Miss LinavaTa SINGH, B. A.,. . 6 ee ee ee ee et 192 Woman’s COLLEGE, LUCKNOW,....... facing page 193 Miss PHEBE ROWE, ..-. +--+ eee ee fet es 195 OFF FOR A PICNIC,. ..... SP a Sak Be Bi oo He Bs PE 207 Miss Mary REED, ... 1. 1 ee ee te es bc Be we BBE YOUNG MOHAMMEDAN WOMEN,. «+ + + + ee eerie es 237 Miss GRACE STEPHENS, «ee ee th ee ee - 242 Mrs. YEK Inc Kwan, the First School-girl Bupieed: - 263 MRS: AHOKy: 9 3 & Be Eee ee a SS ee SOE RS os 272 VETERANS SINCE 1872, . 6. 6 ee ee es facing page 285 FLORA DEACONESS Home, the First Built in the Foreign Field, ........ . . facing page 293 Mrs. WANG AND FAMILY, ».-. +e ee facing page 297 Miss MABEL HARTFORD,... +--+ ees facing page 304 HOOTBINDING,: 9.3 6 6 Qe Qa ear eS we ee 312 JAPANESE NURSE GIRLS, - - 6 eee ee ee es 339 Miss CLARA PROCA, «2. ee ee ee es fe ae a BAO BULGARIAN GIRLS, . «+. . ee eee Boia sigd Reise ik Seiad 350 PIONEERS (THE LATIN RACES),...- - a iy a 358 THE GIRLS’ INSTITUTE IN ROME, ... - ewe page 363 GirLs’ Home ScHOoL, ROME,....+-.++.-.-. 364 MEXICAN GROUP,. ...-- +e . . . facing page 378 OuR DECEASED MISSIONARIES,...- +... ++ «400%, 4or* COLUMBIAN MEDAL, .. . 6 ee ee ee ee _factag page 420 INTRODUCTION. FEMALE MISSIONARY SOCIETY. BOUT ninety days after the organization of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church—viz., July 5, 1819—a Woman’s Auxiliary was formed in the Wesleyan Seminary in Forsyth Street, New York City. Rev. Nathan Bangs offered prayer, and afterwards stated the objects of the meeting. Mrs. Mary W. Mason was elected “ First Directress,” and held the office during the whole period of the history of the ‘“‘ Female Missionary Society.” Mrs. Dr. Seaman was elected Treasurer, and Mrs. Caroline M. Thayer Secretary. The address to the ‘Female Members of the Methodist Episcopal Church,” sent out by this band of devoted women, is still on file, and worthy to be sent out again to the women of the Church. We quote a few words: “Shall we, who dwell in ease and plenty, whose tables are loaded with the bounties of Providence, and whose persons are clothed with the fine-wrought materials of the _ Eastern looms; shall we who sit under the droppings of the sanctuary, and are blessed with the stated or- dinances of the house of God, thus highly, thus graciously privileged,—shall we deny the small sub- scription this institution solicits to carry the glad _ tidings of free salvation to the scattered inhabitants of the wilderness?’” In 1855, the Society had become almost inactive, 9 10 INTRODUCTION. “crowded out of the field by the new missionary or- ganizations indroduced into the Churches.’ So far as we are able to learn, the last report was made in 1861, and says: “ Almost all our founders, with the earliest donors and subscribers, have passed away; several are still with us, striving to do what they can. Now each Church is desirous to report a large mis- sionary collection; every Sunday-school is anxious to excel in their contributions. This accounts for our diminished receipts. Now we can only be gleaners in this work. While we regret our shortcomings, yet, as a Society, we may be stimulated to renewed dili- gence by a short review of what has been done. We have reason to believe that our collections from the commencement in 1819, have been over $20,000, which, except for small expenses, have been paid to the Parent Society. Beside this, there have been contributions in clothing, bedding, books, etc., for mission schools. In earlier years we have done much in assisting mission schools under the care of Rev. William Case and Rev. John Clark. In later years, we also assisted the school of the late Ann Wilkins.” NEW YORK LADIES’ HOME MISSIONARY SOCIETY. In 1845 the ‘“‘ Ladies Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church” began its honored career of charity and benevolence among the poor of ” the city of New York, and with woman’s faith and heroic courage, in 1850, they said, ‘We must take Five Points for Christ,” and applied to the New York Conference for a missionary. By an act of the State Legislature, passed March 20, 1856, Mrs. Caroline R. Deuel (afterward Mrs. INTRODUCTION. 11 Governor Wright), Mrs. Phebe Palmer, Mrs. Helen M. Carlton, Mrs. Julia M. Olin, Mrs. Jane E. Barker, Mrs. Harriet B. Skidmore, and Mrs. L. A. Holdich, and their associates and successors, were constituted a body corporate by the name of the “New York Ladies’ Home Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal ‘Church.” The history of Five Points mission electrifies the land. Such heroism and achievement are rarely witnessed. LADIES’ CHINA MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF BALTIMORE. Contemporaneously with the planting of Meth- odist missions in China in 1847 was the formation of the ‘‘ Ladies’ China Missionary Society of Baltimore.” This, we believe, was a pioneer among ‘Methodist women, working specifically for heathen women, and during the twenty years of its separate existence, with patient continuance in well-doing, it worthily sustained the missionary work among the women of China. In 1859 this Society took under its fostering care the Baltimore Female Academy in Foochow, and granted $5,000 for suitable buildings. The Misses Woolston took charge of the school. For ten years it paid to the Parent Society $300 annually. On the 3d of March, 1871, passed away the Ladies’ China Missionary Society of Baltimore, and from it came the formative impulse to the Woman’s Foreign Mis- sionary Society in Baltimore, while it became merged in the Baltimore Brancl. of that Society. 12 INTRODUCTION. THE WOMAN'S UNION MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The Woman’s Union Missionary Society was or- ganized in the fall of 1860, comprising the women of half a dozen or more leading evangelical denomina- tions, including the Methodist Episcopal, under the leadership of Mrs. T. C. Doremus. It was patterned somewhat after the English “Society for Promoting Female Education in the East.” After seven years of union effort it was believed by many that the end sought could be better attained through denomina- tional organizations. The Congregationalists were the fitst to draw out in 1868, and the Methodist Epis- copal in 1869, others following in the succeeding years. The first donation made for distinctive woman’s work in the North India Conference was a check of $50 from this Society to Mrs. J. T. Gracey soon after her arrival in India, in 1861, for the em- ployment of some native Christian woman as Bible reader or teacher. This was the beginning thirty-four years ago of the $116,535 in 1895, for India from the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, THE WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. CHAPTER I. ORGANIZATION. REAT interest attaches to all the circumstances and stages of the first inception of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Twelve years after the movement was inaugurated, one of the original actors prepared a doc- ument which forever removes the Society from the perils of oblivion on the one hand, or of legend on the other, and had it personally signed by all the ladies present at the first meeting, with the exception of Mrs. E. W. Parker, in India. It is, therefore, a com- plete and authentic account of the origin of the So- ciety, and was written with great care by Mrs. William Butler: “After having labored ten years in India, Rev. E. W. Parker and wife returned to the United States in March, 1869, for rest and a renewal of health. On arrival they were met by Dr. William Butler, and ac- 13 14 Woman’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. companied him to his home in South Boston. Their visit gave opportunity for much conversation on the state and prospect of the work in India, and how it might be aided and enlarged. “On Sunday afternoon (March 14th) Dr. Butler preached a missionary sermon. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis TREMONT STREET CHURCH, BOSTON. Flanders, of ‘Tremont Street Church, were present to hear this discussion. After service, Mr. and Mrs. Flanders came to the parsonage to meet the newly ar- rived missionaries, and thus these three ladies—Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Flanders, and Mrs. Butler—were provi- dentially brought together, and were led earnestly to ORGANIZATION. 15 consider the subject of the condition of women in India, and the powerlessness of the missionaries to do anything to alleviate their state on account of their isolation. Mrs. Parker expressed her deep conviction that unless Christian women took up this work as a special and separate duty, it would not be practicable to evangelize India to any great extent. Women alone could have access to women there. “The question was then raised whether something could not be done to meet this state of things, and whether, if the New England ladies of the Church would take it up, the ladies of the West would be likely to sustain them. Mrs. Butler then described what the ladies of the Congregational Churches had done in the line of organizing a society, and showed some of the publications of the Woman’s Board, in- cluding a copy of Light and Life, and also their con- stitution, with a leaflet on zenana work; and turning to Mrs. Flanders, she said: ‘Mrs. Parker and I would like to see a Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society in our Methodist Episcopal Church. Can not you help us?? Mrs. Flanders replied: ‘If others can do this, the women of the Methodist Episcopal Church can, ' and it is clearly their duty to engage in this important work.’ Mrs. Flanders volunteered to present the sub- ject to the ladies of the Tremont Street Church and request their co-operation. “ Accordingly, on Tuesday afternoon, March 16th, at the meeting of the Ladies’ Benevolent Society of that Church, about thirty ladies being present, Mrs. Flanders spoke to most of them individually on the necessity of forming a Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. When the business of the evening was con- 16 WomaAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. cluded, the meeting was called to order, and Mrs. Flanders addressed the ladies on the subject. A favor- able response was given, and a committee, consisting of Mrs. Joshua Merrill and Mrs. Flanders, was ap- pointed to see Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Butler, and in- vite them to come on the following Tuesday (March 23d), and explain more fully to those present the im- portance and the practicability of such a society. Mrs. Parker and Mrs, Butler readily consented. Notices were sent to the Methodist Churches of Boston and vicinity, and were read on the next Sabbath (March arst) in all save one,—the notice having failed to reach Trinity Church, Charles- town. But Tuesday, the 23d, proved such a stormy day, Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Butler, on arriving at Tremont Street Church, found only six ladies to meet them. ‘These ladies were Mrs. Lewis Flanders, Mrs. Thomas A. Rich, Mrs. William B. Merrill, Mrs. Thomas Kingsbury, Mrs. P. T. Taylor, and Mrs. H. J. Stoddard. A resolution to organize was taken. Mrs. Flanders presided, Mrs. Butler offered prayer, and Mrs. -Parker addressed the little circle, showing in a thrilling and impressive way the need the women of India had of the gospel, and why it could only be brought to them by women who would consecrate themselves to the work. All pres- Mrs. Lcis PARKER. ORGANIZATION. 17 ent seemed to feel the responsibility and the impor- tance of this duty thus coming upon the women of the Church to send out single ladies as missionaries to women in heathen lands. “A Committee on Nomination of Officers was ap- pointed, of which Mrs. Flanders was President. They agreed on a list of names, which was presented and accepted. “After singing the doxology, the meeting was ad- journed to the following Tuesday (March 30th). An earnest effort was made to have the second meeting published in all our Boston churches. On the day of the meeting a furious rain again fell; yet, notwith- standing, an increased attendance of ladies was se- cured, including Mrs. Dr. Warren, Mrs. B. H. Barnes, and others, evidencing the growing interest of the ladies as they became acquainted with the object of the Society. “A carefully-prepared constitution was presented to, and adopted by and for, the ‘Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.’ “A large number of ladies joined, and some be- came life members of the Society. Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Butler, Mrs. Warren, and others, addressed the meet- ing. Matters now assumed a regular form. The Society was established, and earnest work and earnest prayer soon extended its influence in all the Churches around, as well as in the West. “The necessity of a periodical to represent this missionary work was soon discussed. Some feared it might not be sustained; but friendly hands were ready to support it, among the rest Mr. Lewis Flanders, 2 18 Woman's FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. who offered to aid the experiment to the extent of $500, if necessary. So encouraged, the first number of the Heathen Woman's Friend was issued in the month of May, under the editorship of Mrs. Wm. F.. Warren, and it has since proved its great value to the enterprise. It now ranks as one of the first mission- ary papers of the world. “On the 7th of May the Missionary Secretaries, Rev: Dr: Durbin and Rev. Dr. Harris, met the mem- bers and friends of the new Society in the vestry of Bromfield Street Church, Boston, and after full and candid discussion, everything was settled for cordial and harmonious working and relation with the Parent Society. The General Conference completed its rec- ognition as an institution of the whole Church, and from that hour on, its great influencing and extending power in all our foreign missions has evidenced how truly its origin was from Him whose glory it seeks, and whose redeemed creatures it is trying to bring to him as his inheritance. “This is a correct account of the origin of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. “(Signed,) Mrs. Rev. Dr. BUTLER, “Mrs. LEWIS FLANDERS, “Mrs. Tuomas A. RIcH, “Mrs. Wm. B. MERRILL, “Mrs. THos. KIncssury, “Mrs. O. T. Taytor, “Mrs. H. J. STODDARD, “Mrs. REv. E. W. PARKER (absent in India).” _ ORGANIZATION. Ig The names of these eight women are engraved on a beautiful memorial window in Tremont Street Church, Boston. It occupies a large space immedi- ately above the gallery in the church, and is as beauti- ful as a work of art as it is significant as a chapter of remarkable history. The window consists of five panels. On the one at either side are floral repre- sentations, mostly of the lily, while the other three contain the suggestive record which imparts to the window its unique in- terest. The central panel has, near the top, an illu- minated crown, while be- low it is a suggestive cross. Below these symbols are - the words: “The Wom- an’s Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church was or- ganized in this building, March 23,1869.” The two panels next the center are inscribed with the names of the eight women who on that day met in the convenient committee-room of the church and organized the Society. An opportunity had been extended the entire membership to share in perpetuating the memory of this wonderful beginning, by contributing to the ex- pense of the memorial. The window was unveiled on the twentieth anniversary, when seven of the eight “founders” were present, and at the close of the after- noon program formally “received” the numerous Mrs. CLEMENTINA BUTLER. 20 Woman's FoREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. guests in the very room where this Society was started on its soul-saving mission. The opening devotional exercises of the occasion were conducted by Mrs. E. F. Porter, whose faith and heroism in the beginning of the work were an inspiration to the little band of workers. The Secretary of the New England Branch, Mrs. L. A. Alderman, in behalf of the officers and members of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society the world over, formally presented to the trustees of Tremont Street Church—as custodians—the beautiful memorial window through their pastor, Rev. Dr. Brodbeck, who responded in a stirring address on the remarkable history of the Society. Greetings: from Mrs. Parker and Miss Thoburn were read; the Woman’s Board sent congratulations, and Dr. Clara Swain spoke on her experiences in Khetri. Then Mrs. Dr. Daniel Steele read a poem, from which we extract the closing stanzas: When yonder pictured crystal, Through which the sunlight gleams, Has faded like the phantoms Of evanescent dreams 3 When place shall be no longer For this material sun, In the new earth refurnished, And the new heaven begun,— Then shall memorial grander Than human artists frame, Commemorate forever Each worthy founder’s name. To crown the hills celestial, That monument shall rise, And all the assembled nations Behold with wondering eyes, ORGANIZATION. 2I From glittering foundation, Unto the topmost stone, Builded of ransomed spirits, Who stand before the throne. From every land and people, From every tribe and tongue, Shall silvery, treble voices Join the triumphant song,— They who, from darkest midnight, Bowed down with sin and shame, Lifted by these and rescued, Have trusted Jesus’ name. Such, our beloved sisters, Shall your memorial be, Its splendors multiplying To all eternity. At the evening meeting Mrs. Dr. Butler spoke briefly, the closing address being given by Dr. Butler, who described the “glorious vision” which he beheld while resting on the empty crystal throne in the king’s palace, Delhi, December 20, 1857, when the last of the Mogul emperors was being tried for the murder of Christians. He claims, by divine sug- gestion there originated, not only the thought of an orphanage to care for the many children that would soon be left in misery and starvation, many of them the sons and daughters of the Sepoy race, but also of a Woman’s Missionary Society in America, to send the means to help educate the orphan girls and carry the gospel into the secluded zenanas. At that second meeting of the Society, held March 30th, a constitution was adopted embodying the recom- mendations of Dr. Durbin that the ladies should raise 22 WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. funds for a particular portion of our mission work in India, perhaps also in China, and to leave the admin- istration of the work to the Board at home and the mission authorities abroad. The following were elected the officers: PRESIDENT. Mrs. Bishop Osmon C. Baker. VICE-PRESIDENTS. Mrs. Bishop Morris, Springfield, Ohio. Mrs. Bishop Janes, New York. Mrs. Bishop Scott, Odessa, Del. Mrs. Bishop Simpson, Philadelphia. Mrs. Bishop Ames, St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Bishop Clark, Cincinnati. Mrs. Bishop Thomson, Delaware, O. Mrs. Bishop Kingsley, Cleveland, O. Mrs. Dr. J P. Durbin, New York. Mrs. Dr. W. L. Harris, New York. Mrs. Dr. Thomas Carlton, New York. Mrs. Dr. Wm. Butler, Long Branch, N. Y. Mrs. Dr. T. M. Eddy, Baltimore, Md. Mrs. Dr. J. P. Newman, Washington, D. C, Mrs. Dr. Asbury Lowry, Jackson, O. Mrs. Dr. G. D. Carrow, Philadelphia. Mrs. Wm. H. Spencer, Philadelphia. Mrs. S. L. Gracey, Wilmington, Del. Mrs. Dr. E. O. Haven, Ann Arbor, Mich, Cook, Chicago. Mrs. Dr. D. P. Kidder, Evanston, Ill. Mrs. Rev. James Baume, Rockford, Il. Mrs. Rev. David Patten, Boston. Mrs. E. F. Porter, East Boston. Mrs. Isaac Rich, Boston. Mrs. Charles Woodbury, Boston, Mrs. Albert Ellis, South Boston. Mrs. Rev. J. H. Twombly, Charlestown, Mass. Mrs. C. W. Pierce, Newton, Mass. ORGANIZATION. 23 Mrs. Philip Holway, Boston, Mass. Mrs. Liverus Hull, Charlestown, Mass. Mrs. Lewis Flanders, Boston, Mass. Mrs. Benjamin H. Barnes, Chelsea, Mass. Mrs. Rev. C. N. Smith, Worcester, Mass. Mrs. Rev. Dr. E. Wentworth, Pittsfield, Mass. Mrs. Rev. E. Taylor, Portland, Me. Mrs. Rev. Dr. Joseph Cunimings, Middletown, Conn. Mrs. Rev. Mark Trafton, Providence, R. I. Mrs. Benjamin Badger, Coucord, N. H. Mrs. Paul Dillingham, Waterbury, Vt. Mrs. General Clinton B. Fisk. St. Louis, Mo. Mrs. Lee Claflin, Hopkinton, Mass. Mrs. Governor William Claflin, Boston. Mrs. Rev. Dr. G. M. Steele, Appleton, Wis. MANAGERS. Mrs. Edward Otheman. Mrs. Henry Bowen. Mrs. William B. Merrill. Mrs. L. J. Hall. Mrs. M. E. Cushnian. Mrs. —— Frost. Mrs. Dr. Woodvine. Mrs. Dr. Mayo. Mrs. E. M. Howe. Mrs. D. W. Gardener, Mrs. George L. Brown. Mrs. L. H. Daggett. RECORDING SECRETARY. Mrs. B. J. Pope, 47 Rutland Square, Boston. ASSISTANT RECORDING SECRETARY. Miss S. F. Haskill, 37% Beacon Street, Boston. CORRESPONDING SECRETARY. Mrs. Ruby Warfield Thayer, Newtonville, Mass. TREASURER. Mrs. Thos. A. Rich, 706 Tremont Street, Bostor. AUDITOR. Mr. James P. Magee, 5 Cornhill, Boston. On account of declining health, Mrs. Thayer re- signed, and Mrs. W. F. Warren, Cambridgeport, Mass., 24 WoMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Mrs. E. W. Parker, India, and Mrs. Jenny F. Willing, Rockford, Ill, were elected Corresponding Editors. The first public meeting of the Society was held in the Bromfield Street Church, Boston, May 26, 1869, presided over by Governor Claflin. Addresses were made by Drs. Warren, Butler, and Parker, the last two, returned missionaries from India, setting forth the great need for such a Society. At the close, the women held a special meeting, and voted to send out their first missionary. This was an important hour in the history of the Society. With large faith in God and in their work, but with very little money in the treasury, they took this advanced action. Miss Tho- burn, of Ohio, had been highly recommended by the Missionary Secretaries of the Parent Board, and others, and, after a general discussion, one of the com- mittee, Mrs. Porter, said: ‘Shall we lose Miss Tho- burn because we have not the needed money in our hands to send her? No, rather let us walk the streets of Boston in our calico dresses, and save the expense of more costly apparel. I move, then, the appoint- ment of Miss Thoburn as our missionary to India.” And they all said, ‘We will send her.’’ Part of the money for her expenses was borrowed, but it was soon paid. Very soon after this came an appeal from our missionaries in India for a medical woman, if such could be found, to take charge of a medical class which had been organized in the Orphanage at Ba- reilly. The hope was expressed that such a person might find her way into the zenanas, help the sick and suffering who were without any medical attention, and thus be able to present the gospel to them. ‘This seemed rather a heroic venture. In a few months the ORGANIZATION. 25 name of Miss Clara A. Swain, M. D., was presented. The highest testimonials were given to her ability, and she was accepted for this responsible undertaking. These two representatives, Miss Thoburn and Dr. Swain, sailed from New York November 3, 1869, via England, for India, and reached their destination early in January, 1870. Farewell meetings had been held in Boston and New York of thrilling interest. In those early days it was not always easy to get a gentleman to preside at a public meeting of this sort, and the brethren asked in the Boston “ Farewell,’ who had other en- gagements, were only equaled by the Scripture story - of the wedding guests. Gilbert Haven, always ready to champion the weak, did not refuse, and presided on this occasion, which developed great enthusiasm, and was hallowed by many prayers. Another farewell meeting was held in old Bedford Street Church in New York, from which Ann Wilkins had gone to Africa in 1836, and its walls never held a greater, a more enthusi- astic, or a more sympathetic audience than gathered on the evening of November 2, 1869, to see and bid God-speed to the pioneer missionaries of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, and at fifty cents a ticket too! In its pulpit sat Drs. J. M. Reid, Durbin, Har- ris, and Butler; and in its chancel, on the pulpit steps, and wherever there was room, sat a host of ministers from New York and adjacent cities, to see this strange thing that had come to pass, when two young women would leave their home and friends to sail thousands of miles away to a foreign shore, with no pledge of support save that of a handful of women! The work of organization went bravely on. Aux- 26 WoMmAN’Ss FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. iliary Societies sprang up everywhere, and missionary enthusiasm was kindled in the home and in the Church. Lynn, Mass., claims to be the first to re- spond, several Churches uniting in one Auxiliary. At first, in many of the cities, only union Auxiliaries were formed, as was the case in New York, when on June oth, inthe chapel of St. Paul’s Church a Society was organized auxiliary to the onein Boston. Brook- lyn churches organized June roth; then followed, in 1869, Bedford Street, Albany, Sing-Sing, and Troy. Journeying westward, the first Auxiliary in Ohio was organized in St. Clairsville, by Miss Thoburn, after her appointment as the first missionary of the new So- ciety. Then followed five others in their order—St. Paul’s, Delaware; Bellaire; Mt. Auburn, Cincinnati; Wheeling, West Virginia, and William Street, Delaware. Proceeding to Chicago as a center, we find Mrs. Jeanette G. Hauser, a returned missionary from India, then in Milwaukee, was in correspondence with Mrs. Parker in relation to the founding of the Society, and had promised her hearty support. As soon as she learned that the organization was really effected, she set out to have an Auxiliary in Milwaukee. Early in June she had secured ten members, collected the fees, and had thirty subscriptions to the Heathen Woman's friend. Sunday evening, June 2oth, Mrs. Jennie F. Willing organized an Auxiliary in Rockford, IIL, with twenty-five members and forty subscribers to the friend, and on the morning of that same day a notice was read in all the Methodist Churches in Milwaukee, calling the pledged members, and any others who would join, to meet on the following Wednesday and elect officers. ORGANIZATION. 27 Mrs. Willing was invited to visit St. Louis, and on April 3, 1870, Auxiliaries were formed in Union, Trinity, and Central Churches. Love and zeal deepened as the work was laid upon MRS. JENNIE F. WILLING. the Churches. The method adopted for raising funds and prosecuting the work of the Society was not by public collections for special work, but by every Christian woman laying aside two cents a week, or the payment of one dollar a year, which should consti- tute membership. So small was the amount that all 28 Woman’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. women, even the most humble, could have a share in the work. The aim was to have an Auxiliary in every Church, and every woman a member. ‘This was the first organization of the littles that have con- tinued to make a full and steady stream of beneficence. Not only was the seed sown in cities and villages, but at camp-meetings also. September 17, 1869, ac- cording to the receipts of the Treasurer, Mrs. Rich, the first money given at a camp-meeting was at Sing- Sing, N. Y., when several women contributed the sum of twenty dollars, and were thereby constituted life members. Others gave varying amounts, which, al- together, aggregated $278.25. REVISED ORGANIZATION. The original plan of leaving the entire manage- ment of the work at home to the General Society or Parent Board, and of the work abroad to its mis- sionaries on the field, proved within the first year impracticable through the rapid growth of Auxiliaries, and the fact that the whole scheme was based upon a constant and systematic gleaning of small sums, im- possible to accomplish except by special methods. Therefore, what had been planned to meet the re- quirements, so far as could then be anticipated, was found to be inadequate to meet the necessities of the growth of the work. Hence, in December, 1869, a new constitution was framed, on another plan, arranging for co-ordinate Branches, comprising certain districts with head- quarters at specified cities. The legislative power was vested in a General Executive Committee, composed of the Corresponding Secretary and two delegates ORGANIZATION. 29 from each Branch, who should meet annually and have the general management of the affairs of the Society. This new constitution, outlining a plan of work so admirable that there has never been oc- casion to change it in any important detail, was sub- mitted to the Parent Board Missionary Society for its approval and sanction, which it received. This comprehensive plan included, in 1895, some 6,223 organizations and 153,584 individuals, through whom, in steadily increasing amounts, about $3,500,000 has been realized, the money collected and applied directly to the work abroad without the intervention of a single salaried officer. The work of Branch organizations went rapidly forward in the following order: New England, March 1oth; New York, June 10, 1869. Philadelphia, March 3d; Northwestern, March 17th; Western, April 4th; and Cincinnati, April 6, 1870. In districting the Church, provision was made for the organization of Branches in the Southern and Pacific States. In what follows, for a time I shall keep close to the guidance of Mrs. Gracey’s “twenty years” of history. A year soon passed—a year of labor, of new experi- ences; a year in which prejudices had to be overcome among both ministers and members of the Church; for some feared that the Society in its operations might interfere with the collections of the Parent Board. — The women who were working had not been trained in business methods, but they realized they were being divinely led. The time drew near for the first annual meeting under the revised constitution. It was a gathering - 30 WomaAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. looked forward to with the deepest interest. Women who had been called out from the quiet seclusion of their homes to do this untried work, were to assemble from all parts of the country to rehearse their experi- ence. They had undertaken a work requiring human love and superhuman faith. The objects of their prayerful interest were thousands of miles away, far over the seas—women they had never seen. They had tried, during the year, to represent their condition to the women of the Church. They were to report their success in gleaning financial fields and in gather- ing the sheaves which had been let fall, ““some of the handfuls, of purpose, for her.” ‘This gathering meant much, and many eyes were turned towards the meet- ing-place of the tribes, and many hearts were uplifted in prayer. The first General Executive convened in Boston, at the house of Mrs. T. A. Rich, April 20, 1870, and the six organized Branches were represented by the following persons: The New England Branch, by Mrs. W. F. Warren, Mrs. Dr. Patten, Mrs. L. Flanders; the New York Branch, by Mrs. William Butler, Mrs. H. B. Skidmore, and Mrs. J. Olin; the Philadelphia Branch, by Mrs. J. T. Gracey, Mrs. A. V. Eastlake; the Cincinnati Branch, by Mrs. E. W. Parker, who had just organized that Branch;. the Northwestern Branch, by Mrs. J. F. Willing, Mrs. F. Jones; and the Western Branch, by Mrs. L. E. Prescott. Mrs. Dr. Patten presided at this meeting. The report showed that $4,546.86 had been raised during the year, and one hundred Auxiliaries had been organized. On Thursday, April 21st, an anniversary was held, and four returned missionaries were present, who, with ORGANIZATION. 31 others, made addresses on different phases of the foreign work and its home development. “During the session of this committee, estimates from India were received asking for $10,000, which was appropriated; and $300 was appropriated to China for work in Foochow, Kiukiang, and Peking. This seemed a large task to undertake. The previous year had been suc- cessful, possibly because the enterprise was new; but would it be wise to attempt to raise so large an amount for another year? But these were women of large faith, and Mrs. E. W. Parker made a motion that the amount for the coming year be made $20,000. The motion was unanimously adopted. It seemed almost impracticable for an association of ladies pledged to make no special efforts, like church collections, toward raising money, but simply by membership dues and private donations, to bring together in so few months so many thousands of dollars. This amount of money was apportioned among the Branches as follows: New England, ........2. ee eee $3,000 New Works 2 aul ei ti ee Kom GS 6,000 Philadelphia,.. 2... ee ee ee eee 2,500 Northwestern, . 2... 2... ee eee ee 6,000 ChICIIBAEL, oof 22 Sa ee OO 1,800 Westertys 6 6 6 2 Nee ee we ee 700 $20,000 Previous to this, some money had been paid over to Dr. Harris for the support of a Bible-reader in Moradabad, which was really the first work actually adopted by the Society. The Girls’ Orphanage at Bareilly, India, in which, at that time, were about 150 girls, was made over by 32 WomaAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. the General Missionary Committee of the Church to the Society at this meeting. Reports were made con- cerning girls’ schools that had been opened at special stations, and Bible women employed during the year. The magnitude of the work became clearer at this meeting than ever before. These women went out to the work of another year, burdened but hopeful, to make a combined movement forward. The next year the work became more thoroughly systemized at home, and they began to “strengthen the stakes and lengthen the cords.” At the second session of the Committee, which convened in Chicago May 16, 1871, we find the num- ber of Auxiliary Societies increased to 614, and over 26,000 members, and not only the $20,000 in hand, but $2,000 more. ‘The first business was the division of the Philadelphia Branch territory, ceding to the Baltimore ladies the territory of Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Eastern Virginia. These had given up their former organization, under which they had earnestly worked for years in behalf of the mission at Foochow, China, and had reorganized as a Branch of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. During this session came the news from Georgia that the eighth Branch had been formed. It received, accord- ing to request, permission to establish headquarters at Atlanta, Georgia. The estimates which came from India this year were nearly double in amount those of the previous year. This budget included the cost of sending out several new missionaries, and the support of those al- ready in the field, and increased appropriations for schools and Bible-readers. China now asked to be heard. From Peking a petition was received for ORGANIZATION. 33 over $5,000; besides, they desired the support of lady teachers and of school-work. Two ladies were appointed for Peking. In the autumn of 1870, Miss Fannie J. Sparkes had gone to join Miss Thoburn and Dr. Swain in India. From these ladies, and from the faithful wives of the missionaries, there came most encouraging and inspiring reports of the work in the mission field, proving that the year’s labor, here at home, in collecting funds, had been balanced by a year of constant activity in the mission, the results of which had been in every respect as great as those of the home workers. Miss Thoburn, at Lucknow, had organized schools, and put them in excellent opera- tion; made many personal visits to the naive women, and superintended the work of Bible-readers. Miss Swain’s medical ability had had constant exercise, gaining for her admission to many places which other- wise had remained resolutely closed, and preparing the way for others to follow, and care for the good seed sown. The class of girls she had under medical instruction made good progress. In these early days a word of encouragement meant very much. The bishops, almost without ex- ception, most heartily indorsed the work of the So- ciety, some of them enthusiastically addressing public meetings. Others, whose indorsement and commenda- tion are a matter of record, are the Missionary Secre- taries, Drs. Durbin and Harris; the Board of Mana- gers of the Missionary Society; the Maine Confer- ences; Cincinnati Methodist Preachers’ Meeting, through the President, Granville Moody; Boston Preachers’ Meeting, through its President, George Prentice; India Mission Conference; Dr. J. M. Trim- ble, always a warm friend and safe counselor; sduca- 3 WomAn’sS FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. 34 tors Warren, Cummings, Cooke, Donelson, Bugbee, Kidder, Raymond, and E. O. Haven; editors Lore, Merrill, House, Wiley, Reid, and Gilbert Haven; also Drs. Dashiell, Olin, Fowler, Hatfield, Spencer, and Mrs. Wittenmeyer and Frances E. Willard. The missionaries of the General Society were al- ways sure allies. Conspicuous among them, at first and through all the years, may be mentioned J. M. ‘Tho- burn and S. L. Baldwin. In 1873, very earnest applications were received for extending the work into Mexico and South Amer- ica. In 1877, Italy and Bulgaria were opened by the employment of Bible-readers at various points. In all these fields, every Christian agency was util- ized for reaching and saving the women and girls. Direct evangelistic work through missionaries, Chris- tian women, and Bible women; indirect evangelistic work, by establishing and sustaining day and board- ing schools; through benevolent agencies, such as or- phanages and medical work, carried on by American and native workers; the establishment of hospitals and dispensaries; and by creating a native Christian literature. At the close of 1879, or first decade, we find the work well established in India, China, Japan, Africa, Italy, South America, and Mexico: with 38 - missionaries in the field, 200 Bible women and native teachers; 6 hospitals and dispensaries; 15 boarding- schools, with 696 pupils; 115 day-schools, with nearly 3,000 pupils; 3 orphanages, with 347 pupils, and two homes for friendless women, the annual appropriation for the work having increased to $89,000. Homes had been built for the missionaries, school-buildings erected, and permanency given to every branch of the work. CuapTerR II. INCREASING ACTIVITIES. HE history of the Society for the next ten years is simply that of continued and increased activities as the way opened, and as there came the ability to occupy. Every effort was made to establish and strengthen the work in hand. Into all fields more missionaries were sent. At the Committee meeting in Buffalo, in May, 1881, the time of the annual meeting was changed so that the financial year would conform to that of the Parent Board. In 1883 the German work was com- menced, which has since extended to Switzerland and Germany. The territory of the Western Branch was divided into three separate Branches; viz., the Des Moines, Topeka, and Minneapolis. Possibly the most important part of the work that year was the estab- lishment in India, by the Society, of an illustrated Christian paper, called The Woman’s Friend. In 1884 the first missionary was sent to Bulgaria. The So- ciety was incorporated that year under the laws of the. State of New York. In 1885 a missionary was sent to Korea. The Society, on learning of the neglect and threat- ened obliteration of the grave of Ann Wilkins, one of the pioneers of woman’s missionary work, took ac- tion to provide a suitable resting-place for the remains of the honored dead. A magnificent site was do- nated by the trustees of Maple Grove Cemetery, 35 36 WomaAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Long Island, and a beautiful memorial service was held on the interment, June 19, 1886. Bishop Harris read the impressive burial service, and Dr. J. M. Reid, Missionary Secretary, made the address. Rev. Stephen Merritt removed the remains, as a loving service. Mrs. Kennard Chandler says: “On opening the grave, we found the casket, in which Ann Wilkins had rested for nearly thirty years, perfect and entire. Its plate bore the inscrip- tion: ‘Ann Wilkins. Died November, 1857. Aged 51 years, 4 months, 13 days.” “ With reverent hand the undertaker removed the precious remains to the casket we had brought. He re- marked, ‘Here is her right arm.’ ‘Give it to me,’ I said; and as I pressed it in my own, I gave this living hand in renewed consecration to the cause she loved so well, and kneeling over that wide-open grave, filled with the pure air of heaven, baptized with the glorious sun- light, across the more than a quarter of a century since that tired hand had rested on her breast, there came to me a quick vibration, almost as though the harp held by her magic hand had throbbed a double note of praise. O hands, that ministered to the lowliest, now striking clear notes of praise on harp whose quivering chords send out endless notes of melody! O feet, so many times weary with the march and countermarch of life, now laving in the crystal river, now tarrying be- neath the tree of life, whose branches, full-clustered, hang low, and now flying with speed, some angelic message of love to convey! Upon her head I placed my hand—head that ached and eyes that wept, as she cried, ‘O, Africa! Africa! would that I might gather thee into the fold! The crown rests now upon thine INCREASING ACTIVITIES. 37 uplifted brow, how richly studded with flashing jewels !” The monument bears the following inscription: “Here lies Ann Wilkins, a Missionary of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church to Liberia, from 1836 to 1856. Died November 13, 1857, aged 51 years. Having little money at command, she gave herself. Erected by the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society.” ‘he cost of the monument was $319.05. This amount was contributed by the various Branches. During the session of the seventeenth General Executive Committee in 1886, in Providence, tidings came of the death of that most honored veteran in missionary service, Miss Beulah Woolston, and the following was placed on record: _“ Resolved, That we recognize in the sisters Wool- ston the pioneers of-that distinctive work for women in the mission field of our Church which is now its crowning glory; that we believe, chiefly to the con- sistent beauty of their lives, the faithfulness of their labors, their spirit of self-sacrifice in the service of their Master, are due the solidity and success of our work in Foochow. They laid the foundations; others have entered into their labors.” The two sisters, Miss Beulah and Miss Sarah Woolston, sailed for China, with other missionaries, October 4, 1858. After a voyage of one hundred and forty-seven days around the Cape of Good Hope, they Janded at Shanghai, February 27, 1859, and reached Foochow March roth. They were sent out by the Parent Board, but their work was supported by the “China Female Missionary Society” of Baltimore, until the organization of the Woman’s Foreign Mis- 38 WomAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. sionary Society, when it was transferred to it. In 1882, both of them, much broken in health, returned to the United States. October 24, 1884, Miss Beulah fell asleep in Jesus. A memorial from the Pacific Coast was received in 1888, by the Committee, asking for the organiza- tion of a Pacific Branch, which was granted, and thus the work spreads from the Atlantic to the Pa- cific. Among the measures of special importance in 1889 was the appointment of a German editor for the fleiden Frauen Freund, and Miss Margaretha Dreyer as Superintendent of German work, and entitled to membership in the Committee; arrangements for a child’s monthly; the revision of by-laws, incor- porating among others, the resolution that the first year of missionary life shall be largely devoted to study, and that the salary shall be $200 less than subsequent years. A new experience came tc the Committee in its twentieth year. One of the leaders had fallen at her post. The Northwestern Branch had lost its stand- ard-bearer. Mrs. E. A. B. Hoag, the efficient Corre- sponding Secretary, died at her home in Albion, Mich., September 26th. Loving the Master and loving His work, she sacrificed comfort and strength to serve. The Society had the largest income in its history to report at its twentieth anniversary—$226,496.15, which was an advance over the preceding year of over $20,000. There had been general advancement in all departments of this growing work. ‘The total organ- izations were 5,531, with a membership of 135,229. There were xinety-eight missionaries in the various fields, and during the year unprecedented demands MISS ISABEL HART. 39 40 WoMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. came from mission fields for increased appropriations, almost overwhelming the Committee under the pressure. The General Executive Committee, held in Kansas City in 1891, was memorable in that it was saddened by the sense of loss of one of its most active and eff- cient members, Miss Isabel Hart, who had been re- leased from her sufferings September 5th. She was one of the first of the original Secretaries called home. She was missed in all the deliberations of the body. Clear in her discussions, practical in her suggestions, wise in advice, she was leaned upon, and looked up to by her associates. “JT shall still be remembered by what I have done.” Miss Hart has stood among the foremost workers, not only of the Society, but in all Church, benevolent and educational work. Her name carried with it something of the charm of her influence even to dis- tant lands; for she inspired by her devotion, not only workers for, but workers zz, our mission fields. With her pen she rendered valuable service to the cause of missions in her contributions to the Church papers and to the Heathen Woman's Friend, also in biograph- ical sketches and popular leaflets. Mrs. Gracey pre- pared a sketch of her life, by the request of friends in Baltimore, which was beautifully bound in silver and white. The Society in 1892 put itself on record against the opening of the World’s Fair at Chicago, in 1893, on the Sabbath. The eleventh Branch was author- ized, at that session, from the farthermost bounds of the Minneapolis Branch, to be called the Columbia INCREASING ACTIVITIES. 41 River Branch. When the next annual meeting con- vened in St. Paul, in 1893, there were two present of those who were at the first meeting in 1870 in Bos- ton. They were Mrs. Skidmore and Mrs. Gracey. The General Missionary Committee were in session in MRS. J. ‘I. GRACEY. Minneapolis. In view of the hard times, that Com- mittee sounded a retreat, and the Church retreated. Result, a decrease of over $47,000 from the receipts of the preceding year. The Woman's Society made an advance of $14,000, and at the close of the year 1894 the receipts totaled the sum of $311,925.96, which was an increase of more than $34,000. The 42 WoMmANn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. personnel of that twenty-fourth session, including its interested visitors, was quite remarkable. There were seven bishops and the wives of four, and the daughter of another, who were most valuable factors in the pleasure and profit of the meetings. There were also iifteen missionaries, representing seven fields of labor, as well as six others of the General Society. Some legislation affecting deaconess work was _ intro- duced, to the effect that all unmarried women em- ployed by the Methodist Episcopal Church shall be sent through the Woman’s Foreign Missionary So- ciety, and all money given for this purpose shall be paid into the treasury of the Woman’s Society, and that all matters pertaining to the property for Dea- coness Homes shall be under the control of the Woman’s Society. Ever mindful of the valuable serv- ice rendered by wives of missionaries, it was resolved that all such shall have a right to take part, and vote in all meetings relating to the business or work of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. The year 1894 marked an important epoch in the history of the So- ciety—the close of the first quarter of a century— and was duly celebrated asa Silver Anniversary, special effort being made to make the occasion noteworthy by a free-will offering worthy of the cause. About $25,000 enriched the treasury. The building of the Woman’s College in Lucknow was to proceed as a memorial to Mrs. William F. Warren. Through fire, floods, labor troubles, and financial depression, the Society, in its twenty-fifth year, marched with steady step, placing in its treasury the magnificent sum shown above. Over 150 boxes were sent that year to the various mission fields—veritable object-lessons of INCREASING ACTIVITIES. 43. Christian love. Fifteen new missionaries were sent out, and twelve othersaccepted. The Society became a pioneer in Sumatra, opened new work in Paraguay, among the Bhotiyas, and in West China. ‘There were present, at this session of the Committee in Washing- ton, those who had helped to lay the foundations of the Society. They had ceaselessly since aided in carrying its burdens, and their prayers and their wis- dom in council had through those years aided to guide the organization, till it has become a marvelous power in the Church and in the world. Before the time for another annual meeting, the Society had lost one of its most helpful friends, Mrs. Adaline M. Smith, of Chicago, who went to be with Christ the morning of July 4,1895. Her life had been a remarkable example of faithful Christian steward- ship, giving away to various Methodist causes during the twelve years of her widowhood, $135,428, or $10,000 more than the valuation of her estate when her husband, Philander Smith, a godly and generous man, died. She had done this deliberately, prayer- fully, most unostentatiously, and most wisely. India, China, Japan, and Africa join with us in the home land in sorrowing over her departure. ‘Three years before, Mrs. Elizabeth Sleeper Davis, of Boston, had been summoned to her reward. She was making a tour of the globe, visiting our mission fields, where she had founded schools and scholarships. Her long journey, of nearly two years, had brought her on her return as far as Berlin, Germany, and on the 8th of May, 1891, she heard the heavenly sum- mons to cross over. Loving hands brought her body across the sea, and placed it beside her precious dead 44 WomAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. in the cemetery at Augusta, Maine. Like her Master, she “ went about doing good.” She gave not only her money, but her hand, her heart, her love. The largest MRS. ADELINE M. SMITH. bequest the Society ever received, $25, 000 in 1894, was from the estate of Mrs. Davis. The work of the Society and the cause of missions generally have been advanced on some unusual oc- INCREASING ACTIVITIES. 45 casions. Mrs. Mary T. Lathrap, when Conference Secretary, “preached the annual missionary sermon before the Detroit Conference in Ann Arbor.” Mrs. L. A. Hagans, of Chicago, while traveling in Europe in 1886, attended the Swiss and German Conferences, and on being asked to speak in the interests of the Society—through Dr. Nippert, as interpreter—she proceeded to organize the women into a society, by proxy, their husbands, the members of the Confer- ences, giving their names. When Mrs. Bishop New- man was in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1890, she lec- tured on the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society before a large audience of women, and organized a Society, which, in 1894, reported seventy members. Mrs. Mary C. Nind was sent to London to attend the World’s Missionary Conference, June 9-20, 1888. Miss Franc Baker was one of three speakers (the other two being Chaplain McCabe and Bishop Wal- den) who gave addresses at the great missionary mass-meeting on Sunday afternoon, May 1, 1892, at the time of the General Conference in Omaha. During the time of the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, in 1893, Mrs. J. T. Gracey furnished two im- portant papers for the Congresses. ‘“‘ Woman’s Work for African Women” was read at the World’s Con- gress on Africa, in August; ‘“‘Woman’s Medical Work” was read at the Woman’s Congress of Missions in October. Miss Mary A. Danforth, returned missionary from Japan, spoke at Ocean Grove, Sunday morning in the summer of 1895, to an audience of ten thousand per- sons, the only lady ever invited to take the Sunday morning service. CHAPTER III. BRANCH HISTORY. HE New ENGLAND BRANCH was organized in the chapel of Tremont Street Church, March 10, 1870, embracing the New England States, with head- quarters in Boston. The annual meetings were held at headquarters until 1881. Since then they have been held in Haverhill, Springfield, Portland, Burling- ton, Lowell, New Haven, St. Johnsbury, Manchester, Meriden, Portland, and Lynn. Mrs. Dr. Patten, the first President, served seven years; Mrs. Dr. Warren, twelve years; Mrs. Dr. Park- hurst, five years, when Miss Louise Manning Hodg- kins was elected, in 1894. Mrs. Dr. Warren was the first Corresponding Sec- retary. She served three years, and was succeeded by Mrs. Dr. Latimer for a term of one year, when Mrs. C. P. Taplin was appointed and served four years. Failing health compelled her resignation, and Mrs. M. P. Alderman, who had served as Conference Secretary four years, was elected, and has served in that capacity since June 11, 1878, with Miss Clara M. Cushman as home Secretary since October, 1892. The Recording Secretaries have been Mrs. Daggett, Miss Fairfield, Miss Richardson, Mrs. Curtis, and Mrs. Buell. Mrs. T. A. Rich served nine years as Treasurer; Mrs. Magee, ten years and a half; Miss Holt, from 46 CORRESPONDING SECRETARIES OF THE WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF THE M. E. CHURCH, 1889. Mrs. Mary C. NINnp. Mrs. L. A. ALDERMAN. Miss ISABEL Hart. Mrs. CHARLOTTE O’NEAL. Miss MATILDA WATSON. Mrs. Mary S. Huston. Mrs. HARRIET SKIDMORE. Mrs. SARAH L. KEEN. Mrs. SARAH E. CRANDON, Mrs. ELLEN T. COWEN. BRANCH HISTORY. 49 October, 1889. In 1894, Conference Treasurers were elected. The NEw York BRANCH was first organized in the chapel of St. Paul’s Church, June 10, 1869, prior to any Auxiliaries, although the first one was organ- ized in Brooklyn the same day, with Mrs. Dr. W. L. Harris, President. The Branch was organized as an Auxiliary to the Society in Boston. Its officers were: President, Mrs. Wm. Butler; Corresponding Secretary, Miss Eleanor Burling; Recording Secretary, Miss Helen F. Smith; Treasurer, Mrs. John Elliott. Owing to the illness of Miss Burling’s mother a change was made, and Mrs. George Lansing Taylor was elected Corresponding Secretary. When the revised consti- tution was adopted, March, 1870, the proper date of the New York Branch as such began. The office of President has been filled successively by Mrs. William Butler, Mrs. Stephen Olin, Mrs. J. A. Wright, Mrs. S. L. Baldwin; that of Correspond- ing Secretary, by Miss Burling, Mrs. G. L. Taylor, Mrs. William Butler, Mrs. Wm. B. Skidmore; that of Recording Secretary, by Miss Helen F. Smith, Miss Henrietta H. Holdich, Mrs. O. H. Tiffany, Mrs. J. T. Crane, Mrs. J. H. Knowles; that of Treasurer, by Mrs. John Elliott, Mrs. J. A. Wright, Mrs. Orange Judd, Mrs. J. M. Cornell, Mrs. H. J. Heydecker. In 1872, Mrs. Butler went with her husband to open missions in Mexico, and Mrs. Skidmore was elected to fill the office, which she has since held. Mrs. Knowles was also elected Recording Secretary that year, and with the exception of two years has held the office to the present. 4 50 Woman's FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The PHILADELPHIA BRANCH was organized March 3, 1870, and the first four years was called ‘‘ Central Branch.” ‘The first officers were: President, Mrs. J. T. Gracey; Recording Secretary, Miss E. A. Town- send, who has always been her own successor; Cor- responding Secretary, Mrs. Dr. Eastlake; Treasurer, Mrs. A. W. Rand. It is a little singular that the Branch has had four Presidents, Mrs. Gracey, Mrs. Keen, Mrs. Long, Mrs. Wheeler; four Corresponding Secretaries, Mrs. Eastlake, Mrs. Gracey, Mrs. Long- acre, Mrs. J. F. Keen; four Treasurers, Mrs. Rand, Mrs. Whitaker, Mrs. Cahoon, Mrs. Bishop Foss. It is also interesting to note how Mrs. Gracey was as- sociated with the earliest history of the Branch. She opened the first meeting (before organization); she made the first missionary address, was elected first Presi- dent; her name stands first on the list of life mem- bers; the first ‘special work” was the support of an orphan named Annie Gracey. The first mite-box opened belonged to Mrs. Gracey’s little daughter, and the first money paid out by the Branch Treasurer was to Mrs. Gracey “ for expenses.” The NoRTHWESTERN BRANCH was organized in Clark Street Church, Chicago, March 17, 1870, with 66 Auxiliaries and 3,750 members.* The Presidents elected have been Mrs. Bishop Hamline, Mrs. Gover- nor Beveridge, and Mrs. I. R. Hitt since 1876, save * The officers of this branch, whose portraits are given on the opposite page, are: in the top row, Mrs. Mary B. Hitt, Mrs. Sarah EK, Crandon; in the middle row, Mrs. L. H. Jen- nings, Mrs. B. D. York; and in the lowest row, Mrs. Millie P. Meredith, Mrs. Gertrude Pooley. OFFICERS OF THE NORTHWESTRN BRANCH. BRANCH HISTORY. 53 one year, in 1882, when Mrs. Thos. A. Hill served. Mrs. Jennie F. Willing gave fourteen consecutive years as Corresponding Secretary; then Mrs. T. A. Hill, Mrs. EK. A. Hoag, and Miss Mary Raridan, each served short terms, death coming to Mrs. Hoag while in office. Since 1889, Mrs. F. P. Crandon has been elected annually. The labors of the treasury depart- ment have been shared early and late by Mesdames Fowler, Queal, Miller, Horton, Crandon, and Preston, the Misses Mary EK. Preston and Mary A. Gamble, and Mrs. B. D. York. Those who have been elected as Recording Secretaries are: Mesdames Kent, Dan- forth, Willard, Hill, Eddy, Quine, Fawcett, Miss Ella Patten, and Mesdames Calder, Henkle, and Jennings. Mrs. Calder served for eight years. Mrs. Jennings was elected in 1891. A First Vice-President was created in 1891, with Mrs. I. N. Danforth in office for two years; then Mrs. R. M. Pooley. A Secretary of the Home Department was also created in 1891, with Mrs. L. Meredith elected; and Conference Treasurers were also elected that year. The CINCINNATI BRANCH was organized with five Auxiliaries, April 6, 1870, in Trinity Church, Cincin- nati, by Mrs. E: W. Parker. Mrs. Bishop Clark was elected President, and filled the office over twenty- three years, giving to it her consecrated life and ripe experience. She had only laid down her work, it seemed, when summoned to the upper sanctuary, to be “ forever with the Lord.” Mrs. Bishop Joyce suc- ceeded her, and in 1894 Mrs. Wm. B. Davis, daughter of Mrs. Clark, was elected. Miss Delia Lathrop, Mrs. Gilbert, Mrs. W. A. 54 Woman's FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Gamble, and Mrs. Wesley Hamilton, in turn, served as Recording Secretary. Mrs. C. W. Barnes has been elected annually since 1886. The first Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. B. R. Cowen, left the Branch in 1872, and Mrs. R. R. Meredith filled the place one year. On her removal, Mrs. G. E. Doughty was elected. Two years later she was called home, and Mrs. M. B. Ingham took her place, and until 1878 prosecuted the work with vigor and enthusiasm. In April, 1878, Mrs. Cowen was again elected, and has held the office since. Miss H. A. Smith, the first Treasurer; was obliged to resign in 1873, and Mrs. Wm. B. Davis for over twenty years was Treasurer. When she could no longer carry the burden, it was determined to have a receiving and disbursing Treasurer, and Mrs. J. C. Kunz and Mrs. Oliver Kinsey were elected. The BALTIMORE BRANCH was organized, March 6, 1871, out of an older organization, the Ladies’ China Missionary Society of Baltimore. When the affiliations of the two Societies took place, the officers of the newly-formed Branch were those who had served so well and so faithfully in the old Society. Mrs. Frances A. Crook, President; Miss Isabel Hart, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. E. Hamilton, Treas- urer; Mrs. S. Morgan, Recording Secretary. In 1891 this strong and beautiful chain was broken. The first link removed was Mrs. Hamilton, who passed to her reward January 7th, her cloak falling upon the shoulders of her daughter, Mrs. E. R. Uhler, Sep- tember 5th, Miss Hart received the victor’s crown, and was followed by Mrs. Crook in November. Mrs. BRANCH HISTORY. 55 E. B. Stevens and Mrs. A. H. Eaton were elected to fill the vacancies. The WESTERN BRANCH was organized by Mrs. Willing, April 4, 1870, in Union Church, St. Louis, with the following officers: President, Mrs. Governor T. C. Fletcher; Recording Secretary, Mrs. J. N. Pierce; Treasurer, Mrs. Dr. W. A. Jones; Correspond- ing Secretary, Mrs. Lucy E. Prescott. By the action of the General Executive Committee in May, 1874, the headquarters were removed to Des Moines, and Mrs. Bishop Andrews was elected President; Mrs. E. K. Stanley, Treasurer; Mrs. W. W. Fink, Recording Secretary ; the Corresponding Secretary remaining the same. In 1882 Mrs. Mary C. Nind was elected Pres- ident and Mrs. L,. B. James, Recording Secretary. The following year this Branch was divided into three Branches as follows: The Des MoInES BRANCH was organized Novem- ber 12, 1883. Its Presidents have been in turn, Mrs. Mary E. Orwig, Mrs. Mary S. Huston; Mrs. M. W. Porter, M. D., who died the following year after elec- tion; Mrs. C. C. Mabee, and Miss Elizabeth Pearson, elected in 1889. The Corresponding Secretaries have been elected in order: Mrs. Lucy E. Prescott, Mrs. L. D. Carhart, and Mrs. M.S. Huston, elected in 1887. The Recording Secretaries are: Mrs. L. B. James, Mrs. B. Gatchell, Mrs. L. E. McEntire, Mrs. C. D. Miller; Mrs. Gatchell was re-elected in 1892. Mrs. E. H. Stanley has served continuously as Treasurer since 1874; that is, nine years in the old Branch. In 1895 an assistant was elected, Miss A. H. Field. The territory of this Branch consists of two States. 56 Woman's FoREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The TopEKA BRANCH was organized November 22, 1883, and the following officers were elected: President, Mrs. O. J. Cowles; Recording Secretary, Mrs. J. M. Torrington; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. H. M. Shattuck; Treasurer, Mrs. M. J. Shelley. Mrs. Cowles removed from the bounds of the Branch at the close of the first year, and Mrs. Bishop Ninde, who was about to take up her residence there, was chosen President, filling the office for eight years, until her removal. Her successor is Mrs. C. C. Adams. In 1885, Mrs. H. M. Pattee was elected Correspond- ing Secretary; her successor was Miss Matilda Watson, in 1888. The office of Recording Secretary has al- ways been filled by Mrs. Torrington. After seven years in the Treasurer’s office, Mrs. Shelley was suc- ceeded by Mrs. A. M. Davis in 1890. The MINNEAPOLIS BRANCH was organized De- cember 18, 1883, with one whole Conference, part of another, and two Mission Conferences; the largest in territory, smallest in numbers, richest in resources, vegetable and mineral, but poorest in money, stretch- ing across the continent. The officers have been as follows: Presideut, Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller, Mrs. Wardwell Couch, Mrs. C. N. Stowers, Mrs. M. H. Triggs; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Mary C, Nind, until 1888, then Mrs. C. S. Winchell. Mrs. Nind traveled over this vast domain from the Mississippi to the Pacific. In company with Mrs. Stanley, in 1885, a journey was made involving five thousand miles. She represented the various connectional in- terests of the Church, there being none of the Secre- taries on hand at five Conferences and missions, over BRANCH HISTORY. 57 which Bishop Harris presided. He was always sure to be present to hear her. Mrs. J. M. Head has con- tinuously served as Recording Secretary. The Treas- urers have been Mrs. W. M. Harrison, who died in 1886, Mrs. Couch, Mrs. Bishop Foss, Mrs. D. S. B. Johnston, Miss Lillian M. Quinby, and Mrs. W. M. McDonald. . The ATLANTA BRANCH was organized with thir- teen members and fifteen subscribers to the Heathen Woman's Friend, in Loyd Street Church, Atlanta, September 25, 1871, with the following officers: Presi- dent, Mrs. J. C. Kimball; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Ellie J. Knowles; Recording Secretary, Miss Ellen W. Coffin; Treasurer, Mrs. Dr. Fuller. Subse- quently, on the removal of Mrs. Knowles, Mrs. Fuller became Corresponding Secretary. Their receipts were sent through the Cincinnati Branch. The Pacific BRANCH was organized with sixteen Auxiliaries in 1889. The officers were: President, Mrs. J. P. Early; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Char- lotte O’Neal; Recording Secretary, Mrs. L. C. Spencer; Treasurer, Mrs. M. M. Bovard, who has been succeeded by Mrs. S. F. Johnson, Mrs. D. C. Cook, Mrs. Z. L. Parmelee. In 1892, Mrs. Early, “the missionary mother,” after years of feebleness, went to her heav- enly home, and Mrs. Alice K. Stalker was elected. Mrs. O'Neal has served as Corresponding Secretary, except two years in 1891-92, when Mrs. E. M. Crow took the work. Mrs. Crow was elected Secretary of the Home Department in 1894. 58 Woman’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The Coi.umBiA RIVER BRANCH was organized De- cember 7, 1892. The first Auxiliary had been organ- ized in 1882 by Mrs. W. S. Harrington, in Seattle, and made tributary to the Northwestern Branch. Two years later all that northwest territory became part of the Minneapolis Branch. At the request of Mrs. Mary C. Nind, Bishop Walden, when holding the Con- ferences, appointed two Conference Secretaries for the Society. The Branch officers as elected were: Presi- dent, Mrs. C. E. Locke; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. M. C. Wire; Recording Secretary, Mrs. A. J. Hanson; Treasurer, Miss Lizzie Y. Wead. In 1894, Mrs. F. W. Osburn was elected Treasurer, and Mrs. A. N. Fisher Secretary of the Home Department. METHODS. At the beginning very little machinery was needed to carry on the work. Auxiliaries reported direct to the Branch Corresponding Secretary, and, the work was easily held by one head and one pair of hands. But the rapid growth of the Society made some other plan necessary. First, Assistant, then State Secre- taries were introduced. A District meeting was held on the Albion District in Michigan in 1870, and one in Athens, O., the Mansfield District, December 31, 1872; and this was the beginning of an invaluable source of strength. The Northwestern Branch made provision for this new system by preparing a consti- tution in 1877 for District Associations. In 1876 the same Branch substituted Conference for State Secre- taries, which still further systematized perfection of work. Gradually these plans became the regular order, when Auxiliaries reported to District officers, BRANCH HISTORY. 59 they to the Conference, and these in turn to the Branch Secretary. This may seem a little indirect, but what arrangement could have been better? Every member of the body has its own adaptation and adjustment to the body’s wants and its own function and office, so that none can say to any other, “I have no need of thee.” : Again, at first, Auxiliaries remitted to the Branch Treasurer; but this, too, seemed unnecessarily burden- some to some, as the matter of receipting quarterly to over twelve hundred Societies in one of the Branches must have become. Since 1886 the New York Branch has had two Treasurers until in 1894, and during a period of two or three years both the Cin- cinnati and the Des Moines Branches had Assistant Treasurers. In 1889 the Northwestern Branch elected Conference Treasurers, who receive the money from the Auxiliaries, receipt to them, and remit to the Branch Treasurer. The Philadelphia Branch elected Conference Treasurers in 1893, and the New York and New England Branches in 1894. The Cincinnati Branch elected a receiving and a disbursing Treas- urer in 1893. These officers come under the legisla- tion of Branches. The Constitution provides that the Branch Treas- urers shall forward the money to Foreign Treasurers, who are instructed to return receipts for remittances, and a statement of balance in hand, quarterly, to the Branch Corresponding Secretaries and Treasurers, and a full financial statement, annually, to the Official Correspondent of the specific mission field. 60 WostAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The appropriations for the foreign fields are paid on the basis of the currency of the country, the ex- change therefrom accruing to home treasury, with the exception of the salaries of missionaties, which are paid on the basis of American gold. The Northwestern Branch, conscious that its Secre- tary was bearing burdens of responsibility and cor- respondence too great for one woman, and believing that the best interests of the work could be subserved by a division of the labor devolving upon her, elected a Secretary for the Home Department in 1890. The New England Branch elected a Home Secretary in 1892, the Columbia River in 1893, and the Pacific Branch in 1894. At first the District Secretary was the medium for the dissemination of missionary literature in many places, but the home side of the missionary work be- came constantly more complicated, and Bureaus of Literature were established, with a Secretary to sup- plement this work by the wider range of leaflets to be bought from all Boards as well as our own, letters from missionaries, pamphlets, periodicals, maps, and books of reference. This plan in turn gave way to Depots of Supplies, with an agent in charge, which in 1892 became general, each Branch adopting it. A majotity have their rooms in connection with the Methodist Book-rooms in the several cities. Some of the Branches from time to time have elected Young Ladies’ Conference Secretaries, Super- intendents of Bands, Organizing Secretaries, Branch BRANCH HISTORY. 61 Organizers, and Itinerating Committees, the better to carry forward the work. YOUNG PEOPLE. A “JUVENILE MISSIONARY SOCIETY” was organ- ized in Berea, Ohio, as early as 1873, which pledged $30 to support a girl in some mission school. This was followed by Greensburg in 1875, Mansfield in 1876, the “ Busy Bees,” in Trinity, Cincinnati, 1877, and Troy, Ohio, in 1878. Others were organized in each of the Branches, until in 1895 there were 741 Children’s Bands, the Cincinnati Branch leading with 152, the New England with 136, and the Northwestern with 114. There is a_ total membership of -13,412, the Northwestern having 2,758, and the New England 2,346 members. These children have been trained in intelligent methods. Many of them are as familiar with the names of our. missionaries and their stations as most of the older members. Early in 1893 a life-membership certificate was issued for children on receipt of ten dollars. In many places the YounGc LADIES are associated with the Auxiliaries, but more frequently separate or- ganizations have been formed. The work done by them has been educational, the results of which can not be calculated. Many have been led into a deeper spiritual life, through their connection with, and plan- ning for, the work. ‘The Central Young Ladies’ Aux- iliary in Detroit has for years been the banner So- ciety. It was the first to get out an annual pro- spectus, and for some years took an annual pledge of $400, which was duly appropriated by them at the be- 62 WoMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. ginning of their fiscal year. Not only in churches, but in schools and colleges, have Auxiliaries been formed; and not only talents, gifts, and zeal laid upon the altar, but some of the students have given them- selves to the work, and are now in the foreign field. The statistics for 1895 show 810 Young Women’s So- cieties, with 16,157 members. Making a place in our missionary fold for the tiny lambs of the flock had long been in the minds of some of our missionary leaders, and worked more or less. Hence, the LirrL—E LIGHT BEARER move- ment in 1891 simply gave this thought more definite shape, and was heartily welcomed. Mrs. Lucie F. Harrison, in the commencement of the year 1891, presented to the Executive Committee of the New England Branch the following plan: To invite our babies, under five years of age, to become members by the payment of twenty-five cents a year for five years, and suggested also that a new card certificate of membership be expressly prepared for these little ones to keep as a memorial. This plan was cordially welcomed, and 10,000 certificates were ordered, all bearing the stamp of the Methodist Epis- copal Church. Soon other Branches began adopting the method, and using the enrollment cards, or certifi- cates. Not only this, but many other denominations also began calling for them. This necessitated order- ing more, making them undenominational; and from that time the interest has steadily increased. Thirty-two thousand were printed, and over 20,000 had been called for up to January, 1895. The movement was BRANCH HISTORY. 63 officially indorsed in 1894, and the outfit made free to all. Previous to the inauguration of the Little Light Bearers movement, perhaps no one had done so much to secure the interest of the little children as had Miss Clara Cushman, through her “Penny Helper” cards, with the ‘“Forget-me-not,” speaking to the heart. Mrs. Harrison has also issued a “Jewel Gatherer” card, to gather the pennies for missions. Besides the missionaries sent out from this country, ' the Society has employed Miss Budden, whose father was one of the London Missionary Societies’ repre- sentatives; Miss Phoebe Rowe and Miss Grace Stephens, Eurasians; Miss Cecilia Guelphi, a South American; Miss Blackmore, from Australia; Miss Lydia and Miss Amelia Diem, from Switzerland ; Miss Jenny Locke, Japan; has accepted Dr. Hu King Eng, for China, and in 1896, two other Chinese girls—Miss Ida Kahn and Mary She—also educated in this country, will be ready as physicians. Added to these are Miss Elsie Wood, whose whole life has been spent in the South American Mission, and Miss Hettie Mansell, taken to India when a baby; Ruth Sites, only out of China long enough for her education; and Frances Wheeler, who was a very little girl when her parents became missionaries in China. CHAPTER IV. CAMP-MEETINGS AND OTHER ASSEMBLIES. HE work of the Society has had earnest repre- sentation at many of the camp-meetings all through the country. We can only mention a few in this connection. MARTHA’S VINEYARD.—As early as the summer of 1869 Mrs. Clementina Butler went to Martha’s Vineyard, and awakened an interest in the women of India, so that the support of two Bible readers was secured. The following year the interest was re- newed, mainly by the efforts of Mrs. Rev. J. H. Twombly. The required sum of $60 was again raised for the Bible readers. Mrs. J. D. Flint, of Fall River, generously gave, unsolicited, $100; Miss Belle Twombly collected $20, to make Mrs. Mary D. James a life member of the Society; also $9.30 for the Heathen Woman’s Friend, and $13.50 for orphan girls. The total amount for the season was $202.80. We are without farther data for later years. ALBION, Micu.—In June, 1870, Miss S. A. Rulison attended the State camp-meeting, “hoping in some way to interest the good women who should be pres- ent, so that each would be willing to organize an Aux- iliary in her home Church. After a day or two she was invited to speak from the stand at eight o’clock in the morning. ‘The audience was small, but there were more preachers than could sit on the stand.” After 64 CamP-MEETINGS AND OTHER ASSEMBLIES. 65 that service, a paper was handed her, signed by every presiding elder present, recommending her to all the Methodist preachers in Michigan for the privilege of addressing the people on the subject of Woman’s Missions, and to aid in organizing Societies. Before the camp-meeting closed, Rev. D. D. Gillett, presiding elder of Albion District, called his preachers to- gether, and made out a three weeks’ program, including every charge on the district, to commence immediately at the close of the camp-meeting, arranging with the preachers to take or send her from one charge to an- other until the circuit was completed. Ocran Grove.—At this charming “City of the Sea,” during the camp-meeting in 1872, two meetings were held in the interests of the Society. An enthusi- astic and prayerful spirit seemed to animate the ladies as they heard and talked of the progress of “Christian woman’s work among the women of heathen lands.” “The strong west wind, as it swept across the taber- nacle, and touched the billows that rolled and foamed a few hundred yards away, must have carried to the East many a prayer and hope that will yet be fulfilled in India and China when the ‘sea of glory shall spread from pole to pole.’” Two hundred and seventy dollars was given for “‘camp-meeting mercies,” to be applied on the Woman’s Hospital in Bareilly. Mrs. William Butler then organized the Ocean Grove Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, auxiliary to the New York Branch, enrolling 140 members and two life members. Mrs. Dr. E. H. Stokes was elected President, and has done much through all the years to infuse interest in the Society by her own zeal for the 5 66 WowAn’sS FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. cause. No special effort is made to secure members, the managers considering the prime object to be the spreading of missionary intelligence. Women return to their homes from this place, and become centers of missionary circles. Year after year, under the presi- dency of Mrs. Stokes, the work of this Auxiliary has been going on. Eternity alone can develop the ex- tent of its influence. Through the kindness and Christian sympathy of Dr. Stokes, the Society has been permitted to hold an anniversary every year, and Anniversary-day has become one of the important occasions of the place. It is usually held on Sunday afternoon, when thousands are in at- tendance. On August 13, 1876, thirteen thousand persons were said to be present. Dr. Stokes had given the Sabbath morning hour. Dr. William But- ler had been secured to speak, and his daughter Julia to singin Spanish. By a pressure brought upon him just as the service was about to open, Dr. Butler was induced to say that he must address that im- mense audience in the interests of his own work, and speak for the Woman’s Society in the afternoon. Surprise overcame their presence of mind, and, half bewildered by the sudden turn of affairs, the ladies were about to yield; but the one delegated to lead in prayer was not informed of the proposed change, and as she came before God she was impelled to offer a most earnest petition for Dr. Butler, ‘‘as he should speak for us to-day,” and for his daughter, that “her lips might be touched with heavenly unction while she sang,” and for Mrs. Butler, ‘‘so many miles away.” ‘There was power in that petition, aud Dr. Butler said it compelled him to vield. One result of CAMP-MEETINGS AND OTHER ASSEMBLIES. 67 his stirring address was a collection of $375, and at a special meeting of the ladies, another one of $187 to enable Dr. Butler to print the life of Alfred Cookman in Spanish. The addresses on these anniversaries are made by returned missionaries, native Christians from mission fields, and others. In 1892 the twentieth anniversary was a season of power and interest, greatly increased by the presence and words of Dr. and Mrs. Butler. From the commencement, there were unmistakable evidences of the Divine presence, and all the services were aglow with spiritual fervor. The love-feast on Saturday night was at white heat. Most of the per- sons speaking were,.or had been recently, in the mis- ‘sion field. The sermon on Sunday morning was by Dr. S. L. Baldwin, who announced the following text: “T entreat thee also, true yoke-fellow, help those woten who labored with me in the gospel.” He out- lined the work of this Society, showed what it had done, and what it needed to meet the obligations contin- ually pressing it, and did it in such a direct way that all hearts were touched, and each felt iike asking, Lord, what wilt thou have me do? The financial result of all these exercises, including the Young People’s Tem- ple, which contributed between $500 and $600, amounted to $1,899.62, by far the largest amount ever contributed for this object. In 1872 the amount given was $95.25; in 1894, $1,579.20. The total amount collected in the twenty-two years is $21,427.11. Rounp LAKE, N. Y.—A Society was organized at Round Lake in 1873, with 144 members, electing Mrs. Joseph Hillman President. That year Dr. Thoburn 68 Woman's FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. was the principal speaker, though short talks were given by Bishops Simpson and Peck. In 1878 the anniversary was held during the Union Evangelistical meetings conducted by Mrs. Earle, Mr. Hammond, and Chaplain McCabe. Mrs. Hillman presided. Miss Fanny J. Sparkes was the first speaker, and Dr. J. P. Newman followed briefly. While the canvass for mem- bers was going on, Dr. Newman called for life mem- bers. Enthusiasm ran high. One thousand and fifty dollars was raised, including eight life members at $20 each, the support of eight orphans, and a pledge of $600 from a lady for Miss Sparkes’s salary the next year in India. CLIFTON SPRINGS.—For several years the Society of Clifton Springs invited the Women’s Societies of the various denominations on the district to gather there for mutual aid and sweet counsel. At first these meetings were held in the audience-room of the church; but later the spacious pavilion would be crowded, until all around in the beautiful grove the. eager list- eners gave evidence of their deep enthusiasm in mis- sions. Among those present from time to time were Rev. C. P. Hard, of India; Mrs. A. J. Brown, of Evans- ton; Mrs. Eddy, widow of the late Dr. Thomas Eddy; the Misses Woolston, after two decades in China; Miss Cameron, under appointment to Africa. In 1875 addresses were made by Mrs. Gracey, Mrs. Dr. Hib- bard, and Mrs. J. H. Knowles. At the close Dr. and Mrs. Foster invited them to tea. After the delightful repast, the company was called to order, and Bishop Janes was introduced. He said the scene before him was ‘“‘poetic.” He commended the operations of the CAMP-MEETINGS AND OTHER ASSEMBLIES. 69 Society, and said that as the Parent Society and this were working together so harmoniously, and as the marital relation was the most sacred and delightful on earth, he proposed that the nuptials of the two be celebrated. Dr. Foster then said, that, as the bishop had “gone courting,” and as no man under such cir- cumstances liked to go away without an answer, he would call on Mrs. Hibbard to reply, either accepting or rejecting. She replied that “she had been taught to be very honest in such matters, and she was now too old to change her habit in this particular. She confessed that she saw two insuperable obstacles to the match: the first was, they were too near of kin— the bishop had just called one the Parent Society— and, secondly, there was too great a disparity in their ages, the one being fifty years older than the other.” She retired amidst great applause, but the bishop, un- daunted, arose to say that ‘a courageous man was not to be disheartened by one refusal.” LAKESIDE, O.—In 1876, Rev. J. M. Thoburn organ- ized an Auxiliary at Lakeside, under a tree. It has been kept up ever since. A Bible woman in India has been supported by this Auxiliary all these years. Florence Nickerson was converted here, and the fol- lowing year received her “call” at the same place. Many missionaries have spoken at the anniversaries and on other occasions. Phebe Rowe’s visit is still green in many memories. In 1881, Miss Thoburn was the speaker, and when she told her audience that Miss Ellen Warner was ready to go to India, and sorely needed there, but there was no money to send her, a preacher rose and said: “I know Miss Warner, She 70 WoMmAN’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. can stand as peer with any teacher in this State, and if she is willing to give up her fine education and congenial surroundings for the lowest and most igno- rant in a heathen land, I want to give the first $25 to send her.” Ina few minutes $400 was raised. Elizabeth Russell, when there, carried away a sub- stantial gift for Nagasaki, Japan. Besides the Bible reader, help has been given to many objects of the Society, and Missionary-day is part of the program. LANCASTER CAMP-MEETING, O.—While no special work has been carried on year after year at Lancaster camp-meeting, it has a history in this direction, and large gifts have been given to various places, or to missionaries. Among those whose names are connected with this camp-meeting are Mary Loyd, Lizzie Fisher, Anna Bing, Anna Jones-Thoburn, and Elizabeth Maxey. Much seed-sowing has been done on these grounds. At several other camp-meetings in Ohio missionary meetings are held each year and collec- tions taken. The same is true in many States. Acton camp-meeting near Indianapolis, Des Plaines and Watseka in Illinois, Crystal Springs and Reed City in Michigan, and others, furnish speakers who represent the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. TIPPECANOE BATTLE GRouUND, IND.—In the year 1882, through the influence of Mrs. Rev. Aaron Gour- ney, an Auxiliary of the Society was organized at the Battle Ground camp-meeting in Indiana. Each year since a Missionary-day has been part of the program. The Auxiliary has paid $434 dues. Collections taken CAMP-MEETINGS AND OTHER ASSEMBLIES. 71 at the anniversary meetings have been $129.53 for medical education, $30.25 for zenana paper, $44.26 for Bulgaria, $32.55 for Singapore, and $60 for life mem- bers. Leaflets and other missionary literature are freely distributed.. The following persons have given addresses: Mrs. Elizabeth Wheeler Andrew; Rev. J. C. Davison, of Japan; Rev. A. Marine, D. D., Miss Anna Downey, Miss Franc Baker, Rev. M. M. Park- hurst, D. D., Miss Thoburn, Rev. Messrs. Isham, Old- ham, and Floyd, of India; Curtis, of China; Miss Forbes, of Japan; Dr. and Mrs. West, of Singapore; and General Cowen, of Cincinnati. Lake Biurr.—The anniversary meeting at Lake Bluff Assembly grounds in 1886 was a memorable oc- casion. A special train of seven filled cars, six from Chicago and one from Evanston, carried over four hundred people to the grounds. In the forenoon there was an address by Dr. Alabaster, of Chicago, and a discussion of the “best methods of promoting the efficiency of Auxiliaries.” In the afternoon Dr. Spencer gave very excellent service in securing a col- lection, and Dr. Thoburn gave a grand address. He also donated fifty cents on each of his ‘“Apprentice- ship’ sold. One hundred copies were taken, and his donation, the collection, and the profits on the railroad tickets amounted to about $300. KANSAS CHAUTAUQUA.—In July, 1888, Miss Franc Baker conducted a four-o’clock Woman’s Hour daily in the interests of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. On “ India-day”’ short addresses were given by Dr. P. N. and Mrs. Buck and Rev. Dennis Osborne, 72 WoMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. of India, and by Miss Mary L. Ninde, recently re. turned from a visit to our missions in India. Miss Baker also gave one of the platform addresses, speak- ing on missions at the eleven-o’clock hour. SILVER Lake AssEMBLY.—An Institute of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society was conducted by Mrs. M. N. Van Benschoten, at Silver Lake Assem- bly, July 29 to August 5, 1895. The meetings were full of interest and enthusiasm, and resulted in the support of four Bible women and one orphan in India, and the planning of four new Auxiliaries, besides the consideration of much more special work in India. Mrs. Bishop Joyce conducted a Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society camp-meeting in Tennessee in 1894. The Wesleyan Home at Newton, Mass., for mis- sionaries’ children, made possible through the gen- erosity of Hons. Jacob Sleeper and Alden Speare, was placed under the management of the Society in 1894; and the following year Miss Emma L. Harvey, whose health did not permit her return to India, became superintendent of the Home, with a family of from six to fourteen persons. a . gen aaah %, OUR AMERICAN PUBLICATIONS. 74* CHAPTER V. LITERATURE. THE HEATHEN WOMAN’S FRIEND.—At the very beginning of the Society it was proposed that a monthly paper be issued, and the following prospectus was printed: ‘The paper will be devoted more espe- cially to the interests of the work among heathen women, and will be filled with interesting facts and incidents illustrating that work, furnished by those laboring in heathen lands. Information will be given concerning the customs and social life of the people, the various obstacles to be overcome in their Chris- tianization, and the success which attends the various departments of missionary labor among them. The design is to furnish just such a paper as will be read with interest by all the friends of the cause, and one which will assist in enlisting the sympathies of the children also, and educate them more fully in the mis- sionary work. The price of the paper will be only thirty cents per annum, so that it will be within the reach of all.” After the decision was reached to publish a paper, came the difficult matter of selecting an editor; a woman with ability and adaptability, with literary taste and clear judgment, that could launch a new en- terprise such as this, and do it successfully. Choice fell upon Mrs. Wm. F. Warren. ‘She was then only twenty-five years old. At that time papers and mag- azines conducted by women were something of a 73 74 WoMmAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. novelty, the field new and untried. With her char- acteristic energy she immediately went to work, and the first issue of the paper, starting modestly with eight pages, appeared in June, 1869.” Mr. Lewis Flanders stood ready with $500 to meet deficiencies, if at the end of the year it was needed. Other gentle- men also promised help. At the close of the first year its subscription list had reached four thousand ; it paid all running expenses, and had a margin on hand. It was then enlarged to twelve pages. Mr. James P. Magee acted as general agent. A twenty- thousand edition was required in 1870. The sub- scription price was raised from thirty to thirty-five cents, and Mrs. L. H. Daggett was appointed agent. The July number in 1871 contained a map, giving all the missions of the Methodist Episcopal Church in India, in their relation to each other and to the great cities. It was prepared by Miss Thoburn, and is the first cartographic view of these important missions ever laid before the Church. In July, 1872, four more pages were added, and it became a sixteen-page paper. Its circulation reached 25,000. During the first seven years a strong corps of contributing editors was annually elected. In May, 1872, the paper appeared with its first illustration. The engraving was that of the Mission House and Orphanage at Bareilly. Since then this has been a prominent feature. In 1875 the paper was increased to twenty-four pages, and a beautiful new heading, and the subscription price was raised to fifty cents, where it has since remained. In this year a new feature was added, called the “Home Department,” the material being contributed by the Branch Secretaries. Volume | \ 4 o A. CMAP 2. N6 Enon Nugeenah > anni 7 SEHE_ DY : RTH WEST Nyne elhi He Moradabad z° Q ® 4 s 423 ° ae €. Sumbhul ° 2 INCES Sa et Srvvennensennsese od OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. agar Khe | (( ‘5S Sajera ° “CIN DIA 1 it is | Nagpore un? 20 40 60 Se aon | : so i tt HL ae we i i a aS 4 irzapore *Matunpgysnnauaener casi a povatere tt) (| “hii| Ml rapa I} i ny bi, -Zyy) iy ™ mT a eat Ty I gla yey ei ngs: 7 Ag Ml Me Hel 1 mom “Lyypy ent Day, mn Y Wi pa It, “mt AF 85 |) LITERATURE. 75 VIII began with the attractive addition of Mrs. Mary B. Willard as editor of the Children’s Department. She filled this position most acceptably for two years, and was then reluctantly excused. During the tenth year, owing to financial depression, the subscription decreased to 13,388. Three years later the number again reached 20,000. In November, 1882, Mrs. Dag- gett’s resignation was accepted, and Miss Pauline J. Walden, the present publishing agent, was again ap- pointed. The paper has published full reports of the General Executive Committee in annual session, and the acknowledgment of all moneys to the Society through the Branch Treasurers, and kept the thread of the history of the work on every mission field abroad, as well as much of the detail of the work by the Auxiliaries at home. Since 1878 it has furnished the outline of what is entitled the Uniform Study of each month, by means of which the women of the Societies unite in pur- suing a systematic course of study of missionary sub- jects. It has received uniformly the heartiest com- mendation from missionaries and ministers and laymen. In 1880 the agent was instructed to send gratuitously a copy to each missionary, also to all the Methodist colleges and seminaries where ladies are admitted. Four more pages were added in 1886. The salary of the editor and the publisher was raised in 1888 from $500 to $700, and a sum sufficient to cover incidental expenses. The February number of 1893 contained an unwritten page with the name ‘Harriet Merrick Warren,” and underneath two dates, “ September 15, 1843—January 7, 1893.” “Widespread as Methodism was the bereavement ¥6 WOoOMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. caused by the sudden translation of Mrs. Warren.” For twenty-four years she had stood at the head of this enterprise. She had developed the paper so that it soon took rank as one of the model missionary period- icals of the world, and had reached the largest num- ber of subscribers of any woman’s missionary mag- azine published. After the death of Mrs. Warren, her daughter, Mrs. Mary Warren-Ayars, was appointed to take the mother’s place. She accepted, “ because in this way she could have the privilege of performing one more service for the mother who had gone be- fore.” In July the form of the paper was changed, as had long been contemplated, to that of a magazine, and contained thirty pages. In the Young Woman’s Department was included a column of bright notes about ‘Other Girls,” carrying out a desire expressed by the former editor. Mrs. Ayars carried on the work with ability and acceptability until the close of the year, thus rounding out a quarter of a century of editorial work on the same paper for her mother, and then declined a further appointment. At the General Executive Committee meeting in St. Paul, in Novem- ber, 1893, Miss Louise Manning Hodgkins was unani- mously elected to the important position of editor. She has introduced some new features, a department of ‘Family News,” also a “Post-office Box,” and has brought out some special numbers. The first was in March, 1894—the twenty-fifth anniversary number— which was embellished with photo-engravings of our founders, Mrs. E. W. Parker and Mrs. Wm. Butler; and first missionaries, Miss Isabella Thoburn and Dr. Clara Swain. The subscriptions in 1895 were nearly 22,000. It has always paid expenses and given LITERATURE. 77 large sums to the Society. From 1882 to 1893 it contributed $26,000 to other forms of work, and has aided in carrying the miscellaneous literature pub- lished by the Society, the annual reports, uniform studies, maps of our mission fields, life membership certificates for adults and for children, and a great variety of missionary leaflets. This remarkable show- ing deserves the commendation of every woman who believes in the business capacity of her sex. During its journalistic career the paper has gath- ered into its friendly columns the best missionary thought of the century. To run through the list of corresponding editors in the early days, and, later, of its contributors, is to call to mind nearly all the lead- ing women of philanthropic and missionary distinc- tion in our generation. LEAFLETS.—During the winter of 1877, in Au- burn, N. Y., two women—Mrs. D. D. Lore and Mrs. J. T. Gracey—day by day discussed many things relating to the development of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, so dear to their hearts. Especially were they impressed with the need of missionary literature, that might be distributed among the women of the Church, that would give information concerning the work and its needs, and thus awaken a missionary en- thusiasm, and they decided that this matter should be brought to the attention of the officers of the Society. Mrs. Lore was a delegate to the General Executive Committee which met that year in Minneapolis, and presented the matter of printing and disseminating missionary literature, but did not meet with the re- sponse these two had hoped. Some said, ‘“ We have 78 Woman's FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. no money for such purposes;” and others, ‘No one will read missionary literature.”’ However, after giv- ing the matter some consideration, they appointed a committee of six persons, representing various Branches, with Mrs. Gracey chairman, but made no appropriation of money, which effectually tied the hands of the committee, who could do nothing but agitate the matter. At the following session of the General Executive Committee in Boston, the chair- man stated the above facts, and the committee was continued, with instructions not only to print leaflets, but to arrange for lessons for the monthly meetings of Auxiliaries. Each Branch was authorized to appro- priate $25 from its provisional fund for printing the leaflets. The first work done was the publication of reports from two Bible women employed by the So- ciety in India, laboring in Budaon. Others followed; but as it was an experiment, the committee moved cautiously, but found at the close of the year it had issued over 180,000 pages. At the meeting in Chicago in 1879, the committee was continued, and the same appropriation made. During that year there was a great demand for these leaflets, for they met a great want, and applications for them came from every part of the country, and from various denominations. The number of pages this year was doubled. At Colum- bus, O., in 1880, resolutions of appreciation of the work of the committee and expressions of helpfulness concerning the leaflets were passed, and the appro- priation increased from $25 to $40 from each Branch. A request was also made that Mrs. Gracey should pre- pare a history of our ten years’ Woman’s Medical work, which she did, and had it ready when the Gen- LITERATURE. 79 eral Executive Committee met in Buffalo the following year. The issue of leaflets that year amounted to 350,000 pages. These were all distributed gratui- tously. At the meeting in Buffalo the committee was instructed to prepare a wall-map for use in Auxiliaries. It was this year, 1881, that the appropriation for this work was made from the surplus funds of the Heathen Woman's Friend, instead as formerly from the various Branches, and the sum of $300 was named. This was increased to $500 in 1882. Bible readings in connec- tion with the uniform studies were recommended, and small maps for the General Annual Report. In 1884, leaflets in German, and those especially adapted to the needs of the young ladies’ work were ordered pub- lished. During these years, the publication of leaflets was growing to great proportions, and the issue was from two to three million pages annually. The chair- man edited all the leaflets, superintended their print- ing, and distributed them, unjustly taxing both time and strength. Other arrangements had to be made. There was also some modification in the distribu- tion. For nine years these helps had been furnished gratuitously in another sense, and it seemed neces- sary that a nominal charge be made for all over four pages. During the year 1885, there were is- sued 473,230 leaflets, or 1,946,240 pages. Of these, there were thirty-six varieties, twenty-three that were . new, while thirteen were reprints. At the General Executive Committee in Nebraska, 1887, the pub- lishing interests were consolidated by the appointment of a Literature Committee, to take charge of the papers, and $2,000 appropriated for the work. Five persons were appointed—viz., Mrs. Dr. Warren, Mrs. Gracey, 6 80 Woman's FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Miss Hart, Mrs. I. R. Hitt, and Miss Walden—who met for organization at the home of Mrs. Warren, in Cambridgeport, Mass., January 11, 1888, appointing Mrs. Gracey chairman, Miss Walden treasurer, and Miss Hart secretary. Mrs. Hitt was unable to serve, and the committee remained without modification until the death of Miss Hart in 1890, when Miss Mary L. Nind and Mrs. E. J. Knowles were added, Mrs. Knowles being appointed secretary. In 1893 the committee again met with another loss in the death of Mrs. Warren, when Mrs. O. W. Scott was ap- pointed. At the organization of the committee, the publication of all matter was transferred to Boston. It is impossible to give a list of the literature issued during these years. The records show an expendi- ture of about $20,000, and an issue of over thirty million pages. An idea of the expansion of the work is gained by the one publication, the Annual Report. The first one occupied only a page or two in the Friend. ‘The story of the first year’s work could be told in a few minutes. But in the twenty-fifth year, the work of heathen women and children has grown to such dimensions, and sent out its branches in so many directions, that an Annnal Report of 172 pages does not tell the story. The Woman's Friend—India may be a land of books, voluminous and varied, but it has no literature fit for a woman to read, and the people have found a just defense for the illiteracy of the women in the im- moral character of the literature of the land. In 1883, at the meeting of the General Executive Com- mittee in Des Moines, a proposition was made by re- LITERATURE. 81 turned missionaries that a Christian paper be estab- lished in the vernacular of the women of India. There were present Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Craven, Mrs. Par- ker, Mrs. Johnson, Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Badley, and Mrs. Gracey. The actual need for such a paper was set forth, and some suggestions and encouragement of- fered. The committee decided to undertake the en- terprise, and instructed Dr. Craven, of the Mission Press in India, to take charge of it. During the meet- ing, Dr. Craven received a telegram from D.C. Cook, of Chicago, donating to him, for his general press- work in Lucknow, a steam-press worth $2,250, and on this the zenana paper would be printed. In referring to the action of the committee, the late Miss Hart said: “Probably the wisest and most significant, as certainly the bravest, work undertaken at this four- teenth session of the General Executive Committee, was the plan to create an endowment of $25,000 for the establishment of a zenana paper. ‘That there should be a necessity for this, is the best evidence of the success of the work wrought among these women. When, about a quarter of a century before, our mission was planted among the twenty millions of people given us to evangelize in the Northwestern Provinces, probably there were not twenty women among them that could read. It was deemed a ridiculous, if not an impossible, thing. ‘ ‘These missionaries teach our women to read,’ indignantly and scoffingly cried a priest; ‘why, next they will be wanting to teach our cows.’ Certainly we need to publish a paper, then. But they have been, and are being, taught by the thousands; and we had to face the fact that we had established a reading constituency, and had given 82 WomaAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. them almost nothing to read. We kad created the want, and were bound to supply it. The question of first importance became, What they shallread? Then the further very practical question, How this want was to be met? Bound up as a Society to certain well-defined specific work, to be done in a specific way, with all the means raised in the ordinary way pledged to this work, certainly some extraordinary method must be adopted to meet this extraordinary demand. But the time was auspicious. What could have been more fitting, as Methodist women, than thus to celebrate our entrance into the second cen- tennial of our Methodism? How could we have bet- ter attested our gratitude for all the way by which we had been led; for all the work that had been through us wrought, than to make this grand new departure in missionary enterprise? Then, was it not a goodly way in which to celebrate the entrance of our Church in its second quarter of a century of work in India? We commenced with nothing but prejudice and opposition. We had gathered about us a church, a community with Sabbath-schools and day- schools and boarding-schools and orphanages and hos- pitals, and all the appliances of earnest evangelistic and educational work. Yet one thing was lacking; aye, one thing was useful. And so we honored our centennial celebration as a Church, our quarter-cen- tennial as a Mission, by supporting a missionary liter- ature adapted to the wants of our women and the work.” The women-of the Church were asked to give twenty-five cents each, and in five years the endow- ment was complete, Mrs. Sleeper Davis, of Boston, Al . f paisa i i ss Liarpnagnooe M fie con OO GM ( pecwre “io panryie hare ™ wep PRE LOE Ss" " ap hihe A ae ZENANA PAPERS, % MOHILA BANDHUB (BENGALI). RAFIQ I NISWAN (URDU). ABLA HITKARAK (HINDI). MATHAR MITHIRI (TAMIL). MARATHI PAPER (MARATHI). | LITERATURE. 83 having given, as she promised, the last $5,000 of the $25,000 endowment. When Mrs. Davis was making a tour of the world, visiting the Methodist missions, she was privileged, in January, 1890, to go through the publishing-house in Lucknow, and see the various means and ways by which the paper is gotten up. It is called the Woman's Friend, and is issued twice a month in four dialects—the Urdu, Hindi, Ben- gali, and Tamil—and contains editorials on the leading topics of the day, especially pertaining to the condi- tion and needs of women; discussing such matters of interest as widowhood, infant marriage, and others of national importance; a picture of some noted build- ing, place, or person, with a full description ; also pic- tures of birds and animals ; a continued story of the life ot Christ, with an illustration for each number; col- umus for correspondence, for children, for medical notes; gems of thought, news notes, and Christian hymns, fill the pages. The first copy of the paper in Urdu appeared early in 1884. Miss L. E. Blackmar was elected editor but resigned in 1887, on account of the pressure of other work, and Mrs. B. H. Badley suc- ceeded her as editor of the Urdu and Hindi editions published in Lucknow. The Urdu is called “ Rafig-z- Niswan;” the Hindi, ‘dda Hitkarak.’ On Mrs. Badley’s return to America in 1892, Miss Thoburn was appointed editor, which position she now holds. The Bengali edition, published in~Calcutta, is called “ Mohila Bandhub.’ Its first editor was Mrs. Meik; then, in 1889, Miss Kate Blair was appointed. The Tamil edition, published in Madras, called the “A/athar Mithiri,’ was edited by Mrs. Rudisill two years, until her death in 1889, when Mrs. George Isham became 84 Woalan’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. her successor, until her return to America in 1890, when Miss Grace Stephens was appointed to the posi- tion, which she still holds. In 1893 a Marathi edi- tion was ordered, if the funds warranted the expense; but it was finally made possible by an annual dona- tion from the Erie Conference of $250, and Miss Sarah De Line was appointed editor. It is published in Bombay. A paper was established in 1895, in Singapore, called Sahabat (Friend). It is printed in Romanized Malay. It is estimated that 20,000 women in the zenanas read these papers. The Heiden Frauen Freund.—In 1885 the Gen- eral Executive Committee provided for the publica- tion of a German paper, to meet the want of the German constituency. For some time the German Secretary had realized the need of such help for the progress of the work and encouragement of the work- ers. The first numbers were sent out with much trep- idation, but freighted with prayer, as it was a strange thing for a German woman to edit a paper; but the Lord opened the hearts of the people, and Miss Dreyer, the courageous Secretary, received much en- couragement. She had had no previous preparation for such work; but trusting in God, she studied and worked on month by month, finding in Him her all- sufficient help. The present editor says: ‘As I look over the first little volume which lies before me, I am impressed with the wealth of material which this little four-leaf paper contains.” The first number was issued in January, 1886, and in December there were 1,200 subscribers. In 1887 the paper was doubled in size in order to contain the mission studies. During LITERATURE. 85 the years 1888 and 1889 Mrs. Warren, who had spent five years in Germany, and was an unusually good German scholar, became its editor. In 1888 Mrs. Ph. Achard, the present editor, visited Mrs. Warren, while a short time in America. As she was at the time preparing the German Friend, the two women talked together about its future and the good it was doing. Mrs, Warren said: “If you ever live in America, this wili be your work;” but the answer came in dismay: “ No, never, never can I do such work!” But when Mrs. Warren could carry the added burden and responsi- bilities no longer, editing all the time the English pa- per, and Mrs. Achard had come again to America to _live, ‘What could I do,” she asks, “ but take up the work prompted by my great love for the editor, though with many misgivings as to my own ability, and go forward trusting in the Lord? and he has been an ever present help.” In 1895, Mrs. Achard said to the writer: “I can not understand that the Heiden Frauen Freund is in my hands, if it was not for the words, ‘My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ I have often realized the help of .my Lord in this work, and though imperfectly done, yet I am so- thankful that the good Lord lets me help a little in His work.” Year by year the number of subscribers has increased. In 1894 there were 2,882, a good percentage when we consider that among the 5,229 members quite a num- ber take the English paper. There is evidence of much good accomplished through this little paper. In March, 1894, the German constituency celebrated the “Silver Anniversary” by an enlargement of the number for March, and each December number is also enlarged by four pages, to contain the proceedings of 86 WomaAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. the General Executive Committee. Mrs. Achard prays that “this little messenger may bring help and encouragement to the workers, interest those who stand afar, and be a means to spread out the gospel throughout the heathen world.” This is the only mis- sionary paper in the German Methodist Church of this country, and the only German paper in the world edited by a woman. The Heathen Children’s Friend.—After the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society was fully organized, the workers in various parts of the country saw the de- sirability of enlisting and educating the children as helpers. Bands were formed with this end in view; but with these new organizations a new question arose: “ Where shall we find suitable reading matter for them?” Appeals from all sections came to the editor-and publisher of the Heathen Woman's Friend, asking for something desirable for entertainments, for lessons, and for general information. A partial re- sponse was found to this demand, in the “ Children’s Department” of the /7zezd, and in Leaflets; but there was a gradually deepening conviction that nothing but a children’s paper would give full satisfaction. In 1884, at the meeting of the General Executive Com- mittee held in Baltimore, Mrs. Warren, the editor, and Miss Walden, the publisher of the A7zend, with others who had become deeply interested in the project, made a definite proposition that the Society immedi- ately establish a children’s missionary paper. ‘The matter was brought before the committee in proper form, was discussed, voted upon, and lost by two votes. The following year there was a similar discussion, ‘NHUCTIHO S.VIANI LITERATURE, 89 with a similar result; and it was not until four years later, in the Convention at Detroit in 1889, that a fa- vorable decision was reached. ‘The choice of an ed- itor was also then considered, and the name of Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller, presented by Western del- egates, was accepted. After mature deliberation, Mrs. Miller felt obliged to decline this appointment, and Mrs. O. W. Scott, of the New England Branch, was substituted. The name chosen for the new paper, by a majority of the Branch Corresponding Secretaries, was the Heathen Children’s Friend, and in January, 1890, the first number appeared. It started as an eight-page illustrated monthly, attractive in general appearance, and received a hearty welcome from inter- ested friends. Its list of subscribers the first year was 5,128. With the beginning of the second year it was enlarged to twelve pages, while its price remained the same—fifteen cents for single subscriptions, ten cents for a club of ten or more sent to one address. In five years it reached a subscription list of 17,000, with a fair prospect of increase. This bright little paper is filled with stories and sketches from our foreign mis- sionaries, who give their best to the children. The home side of the work is not forgotten, as articles for recitations are constantly furnished, while reports of Bands occupy one page each month. Another page is devoted to ‘Our Lesson,” while still another is set apart for the youngest corps of our great Mission Army—the Little Light Bearers. TRANSLATIONS.—The literary work that is being accomplished by Methodist women in mission fields in translation, school and song-book making, and tract 90 Woman's FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. writing, deserves more than an enumeration, since the circulation of Christian literature in heathen lands is one of the foremost demands of the age. Perhaps the married missionaries have done more of this work than those sent out by the Woman’s Society. Of these latter we find the following translations: “Short Stories for Children,” ‘The Christian’s Inheritance,” “Tife of Susannah Wesley,” “Life of Hester Ann Rogers,” Clarke’s ‘Scripture Promises;” also “ Me- morials of Christian Life during the Middle Ages” for the Gokyo, the Church paper, Miss M. A. Spencer, and the Woman’s Department in the Advocate, Miss Holbrook, Tokyo; Commentary on the First Epistle of John and First Thessalonians; also, ‘Outlines of Bible History,’ Mrs. Caroline Van Patten, Yokohama; Mrs. Meyer’s books for Children’s Meetings, Miss Phelps; a book illustrating the moral teachings of the Bible, Miss Baucus; A Bible History, prepared, and published by Miss Elizabeth Russell, Nagasaki, Japan; a School Geography, prepared by Miss Anna B. Sears, Peking, China; Berean Sunday-school Les- sons into Italian, Miss Emma Hall, Rome; ‘Peep of Day,” Mrs. M. F. Scranton, Seoul; A Bible Picture- book, from a Chinese translation by Mrs. Sites, Miss Louisa Rothweiler, Seoul, Korea; a Sunday-school Hymn-book, Miss Gertrude Howe, Kiukiang. She also edits a Children’s Department in the Central China Advocate. The Misses Woolston, when in China, edited a child’s paper, Glad Tidings, which Misses Johnson and Bonafield edit alternate months with A. B. C. F. M. School text-books, Miss Mary Robinson; Physiology, Dr. Lucy Hoag, Chinkiang. A sketch of the life of Susannah Wesley, “How to a I / LITERATURE. ol Win Souls,” and hymn translations, Miss Ruth Sites, Foochow, China. In Japan, in 1892, a system of prizes was awarded Japanese women by the mission- aries, on suggested topics. Miss Mary Reed, after her exile to Chandag Heights, engaged in the work of translation. The Ten Commandments into Bhotiya (which has no written characters), Dr. Martha Shel- don. Miss Kate Blair edited /uadza’s Young Folks, and Miss Eva Foster, the Malaysian Message. Other work has possibly been done which has not come to our notice. Booxs.—Of the books issued and sold in the interest of the Society by home workers may be mentioned: “Diamond Dust,” Mrs. Jennie Fowler Willing; ‘“‘Sis- ter Ridnour’s Sacrifice,’ Mrs. C. F. Wilder; ‘The Orient and Its People,’ Mrs. J. G. Hauser; “ First Decade of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society,” Mary Sparkes Wheeler; ‘‘ The Flowery Orient,’’ Mrs. Bishop Newman; ‘“‘ History of Medical Work,” Mrs. J. T. Gracey; “ Rosario,” Mrs. J. F. Willing and Mrs. E. J. M. Clemens; ‘“‘ Historical Sketch of the North- western Branch,” Miss Franc Baker; ‘‘ History of the Cincinnati Branch,’ Mrs. E. T. Cowen; “Bright Bits,’ Mrs. M. S. Budlong; ‘‘Flora’s Graduation,” W. E. Blackstone; “Gist,” Lily Rider Gracey; ‘‘ The Bishop’s Conversion,” Mrs. Ellen B. Maxwell; “Glimpses in Chinese Homes,” Miss E. U. Yates; “Famous Filials,” and ‘‘ Boats and Carts,” Miss Clara Cushman; Auxiliary Treasurer’s Books by Mrs. H. M. Pattee and Miss E. Pearson; and a “Set of Books for the two Secretaries and Treasurer,” by Mrs. Birch. 92 WomaAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY, Besides these are many booklets, memoirs, bio- - graphical and historical sketches, and tracts written by the women of the Society. The Missionary Lesson Leaf, prepared and pub- lished by Mrs. S. A. R. Fish since 1883, circulates widely, the monthly issue reaching 20,000 copies. She also began the publication of Zhe Foreign Mis- sion Field in 1888, for use in other denominations, which meets with favor. In 1887 she published a Children’s Lesson Leaf, which was edited by Miss Franc Baker. This was sold out to the Little Missionary the following year. A little paper called the Quarterly is published by some of the Branches. ‘The dates of first publication areas follows: Des Moines, April, 1891; Northwestern, August, 1891; .New England, January, 1893; Cincin- nati, October, 1893; New York, March, 1894. The Minneapolis and Pacific Branches also publish one. Mrs. Emma Moore Scott has rendered incalculable service in the preparation of a Hindustanee Tune- book, harmonizing the principal native airs sung in the missions of North India. It was a herculean task, involving some three years of time and no in- considerable expense. The musician will find much of interest in examining these quaint Oriental airs, even though he may regard them as mere curiosities in music, CHAPTER VI. GERMAN WORK. LANCING at German Methodism at large, we find the Church has never had more loyal sup- porters’ of its interests in all lines, be they evangel- istic, judiciary, literary or educational, than its Ger- man membership. What wonder, then, that the Ger- man sisterhood took a deep interest in the work of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society so soon as they knew enough of its aims and methods? Miss Margaretha Dreyer wrote in the Aeiden frauen Freund for March, 1894, a résumé of the Ger- man work in the Woman’s Foreign Missicnary So- ciety, of which the following is a free translation made by her: It is probably impossible to decide when, where, and by whom the first German Auxiliary of the Wom- an’s Foreign Missionary Society was organized, because the German sisters united with the English soon after the organization of the Society in 1869. But this was aot a methodical and united effort from the side of the German sisterhood, but rather the personal and indi- vidual impulse of those who came in contact with the English workers. We know that as early as 1872 the specific organization of German Societies be- gan, because the Woman’s Auxiliary of the first Ger- man Methodist Episcopal Church of St. Paul, Minne- sota dates its organization from that year. This or- 7 93 94 Woman's FoREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. ganization was effected by the united efforts of Mrs. Mary C. Nind and Mrs. L. Prescott, who also organ- ized our first German Auxiliary in Faribault, Minn., during the same year. In the territory of the present Central German Conference the work early gained a foothold in the German Churches of Cincinnati and Greenville, O.; also Jeffersonville and New Albany, Ind., and at other points. ‘The same can be said of the present Chicago Conference. St. Louis German Conference had them also, at least one in Farmington, Iowa. The first positive date we find is March 8, 1878, when Mrs. Davis, daughter of the sainted Bishop Clark, organized the Germania Young Ladies’ Society of the Third, or Buckeye Street, German Church of Cincinnati. T'wo years later, on the 24th of March, the Auxiliary at Enterprise, Kansas, was organized with Mrs. E. Hoffman as its organizer and President. In 1882 this same woman sent me a copy of the leaflet, “Wanted: Only a-Woman’s Hand!” by Mrs. Julia M. Olin. The appeal strangely thrilled me. I had asked God frequently for absolute contentment in the duties ‘‘which lie nearest,” and yet found no peace because of the conviction, “The Lord hath need of thee;’ whither and wherefore were unknown, but finally were placed unconditionally in the hands of the Father. The leaflet seemed to open my eyes, and also the floodgates of my heart, and brought me to a de- cision, though another year passed before it seemed possible to organize at Kansas City, Kan. (then Wyan- dotte), which was finally done April 13, 1883. I was deeply convinced of the truth that the heathen women had as much claim upon the German women of the GERMAN WoORR. 95 Church as upon the English-speaking portion, and as we at that time stood under the direction of the Sec- retaries of the English Conferences, I conferred with them as to what could be done to arouse a more gen- eral interest among the German-speaking Churches. Their opinion seemed to be that I was better ac- quainted with the German work than they, and requested me to write an essay on “ The Spirit of Mis- sions Among the Germans,” for the annual meeting of the old Western Branch, which convened in Topeka, Kan., October, 1883. I complied with the request, and, in company with three other members of our Auxiliary, attended this last Western Branch meeting; and as the Lord unex- ‘pectedly opened the way, I there organized my first Auxiliary. How little I knew what would become of these small beginnings! This Branch meeting, the first I had ever attended, was a great blessing to myself personally, yet when requested to accept the responsibilities of German Sec- retary, and as such visit among the Churches through- out the Branch, which embraced the entire country west of the Mississippi, and continue in the direction of the newly-founded work, I hesitated, and would have declined; for my wishes and hopes were in an- other direction, had I not recognized God’s hand, and for Him and by His grace I accepted it. What was done up to this time, in beginnings here and there throughout the land, I have already told. It is more difficult to state what the fruit of these ef- forts were, inasmuch as there was no one to keep the special records and accounts—the German work in- cluded in the English Conferences. The only source 96 Woman's FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. of information within reach is the Annual Minutes, and statistics of the various German Conferences, which were organized in the fall of 1864. Among their entries of contributions for various benevolences we find the first mention of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society in the year 1873. The receipts this first year from the then organized German Con- ferences—East, Central, Northwest and Southwest—to- taled $355.15. Though these statistics are far from satisfactory, it is interesting to note the fluctuations in the contribu- tions of the succeeding ten years. The largest annual contribution which the East German Conference reached in this time was $75; Central German Con- ference, $171; Chicago German Conference, $26.21. -° Northwest German Conference, $144.55; Southwest (now St. Louis) German Conference, $52.45; West German Conference, $176.90; Coast of the Pacific (later, California German), $38.75; South German Con- ference, $12.30. The total contributions of the decade amounted to $3,167.79. ‘This, the financial fruit of those times under the scattered supervision of English Conference Secretaries. But the fruit in point of or- ganization was far less satisfactory. For these I searched, when I accepted the trust proffered me in 1883. ‘True, I was primarily appointed only for the territory west of the Mississippi River, yet I was anx- ious to know how it stood in all parts. When I left home, January 2, 1884, for my first itinerating tour for the Society, I knew there were but five German Aux- tliaries in existence—the one named in St. Paul; the “Germania,” of Cincinnati, O.; the third in Enter- GERMAN WoORR. 97 prise, Kan., and the two which I had organized in 1883, Wyandotte and Topeka, Kan. The relation we had, up to this time, held toward the English-speaking part of the work, was unnatural, and for that reason the efforts put forth failed to bring forth fruit with enough vital power to live and grow. My first two weeks in the itinerary will not be for- gotten. The first week of January, when I began, was the coldest week of the season, and the railroad connections not the best, and I inexperienced in traveling. A ride in the hack from six to seven o’clock in the morning, with the mercury 28° below zero, a night in a little railway inn to catch an early train, which I missed because the clocks had stopped in consequence of the extreme cold; the same cause ditched a train ahead of us and gave me a lie-over in a dreary cross-road station with only rude men, from 9 P. M. Saturday to 1 A. M. Sunday, reaching my des- tination about 2.30 A. M., at a depot with neither light nor fire, and no conveyance to carry me to town, a half- mile distant. I took my grip (heavy with missionary literature), and followed some commercial travelers, who had shown me gentlemanly kindness, and would have assisted me had they not been similarly bur- dened. The way led up an incline, and I slipped continually. When I reached the hotel my feet were sorely blistered, and did not heal for weeks. This was the prelude of severer tests yet to follow. I had at another time, later on in my experience, made an appointment in a town for a Sunday. I stated the case plainly, and told the minister that if it could not be arranged for me to have one of the serv- 98 WomaAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. ices for the cause, I should be happy to spend the Sabbath there as their guest, if convenient, returning to my center of operations from a trip in another di- rection. I confidently expected word, but received none, and, it being Saturday afternoon, I could hope for nothing. After thinking the matter over carefully, I decided to go, and found the pastor’s family greatly afflicted through illness, and with this, and the usual care of the Church, the pastor had had extra work by sickness and death in the charge. He had therefore forgotten to write me. I requested to be shown or directed to a hotel; but the pastor said he knew of none (though he had lived there three years). I left the house, glad for the darkness of night to conceal my emotion. How I wanted to take the next train to loved ones more than a thousand miles away! I risked going to the next appointment, to which I had been made welcome by letter ; but fearing the pastor’s fam- ily might ask whether I had had supper, I first went to a grocery-store and bought two wafers and an apple for a penny or two, and ate them in the darkest street Icould find, so I could truthfully say “yes,” for my throat was too full and choked for eating. How much more I could relate of experiences akin to that of Paul in 2 Cor. xi! But why should I? I will rather praise God who made it possible to conquer through Christ our Lord, for whose sake and in whose name I had entered the field. As I look back I can truth- fully say, there is no feeling, neither was there then. against such opponents as I met; for I felt God only could know the motive, He alone had the right to judge, and I think we all learned to know and prize each other as members of one body. GERMAN WORK. 99 The ludicrous was not always lacking. I had had considerable trouble getting the Conference floor in a certain Conference, when I visited them the first time, and was free enough afterward to say that it looked much like a game of chess between myself and the Conference Secretary. Some one kindly informed him of the remark; and when I again stood before the Conference, a year or two later, warmly praising God for help vouchsafed, and inviting their co-opera- tion in ever-increasing proportion, the Secretary, who was sitting in the altar where I stood beside him, dis- tinctly whispered: ‘‘ You are making a good move on the chess-board to-day.” I went on, only looking him in the face to let him know I had heard. Afterward I told him privately I perceived some one had in- formed him of my comparison, but added: “ Though I had no desire to pain you, yet, had we had the op- portunity of talking the matter over, I would have toid you the same.” He laughed, shook my hand, and congratulated me on to-day’s success. But more preciously treasured in memory’s store- house are the hours of sweet communion with my God, when, in long days of travel or nights of delay in lonely depots, I so deeply felt that he had only led -me aside from the crowd that I might enjoy his nearness. That the acquaintance with so many consecrated women has been a source of endless pleasure and profit, none will doubt; but not all will comprehend the thrice-blessed hours that awaited me on retiring after a heavy day’s work, when sleep refused to come at my bidding, because of the nervous excitement. If not too tired, it was a jubilation; if too tired, I 100 WoMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. would cry, but not alone. Jesus was so consciously near that, had he opened my eyes as he did those of Elijah’s servant, I should not have been startled to see the “Beloved Master.” ’I‘were hard to say which was most precious; for in both I knew that he fully understood me. In 1884 I traveled within the bounds of the West and the St. Louis German Conferences; also, in the present North and Northwest German Confer- ences—all west of the Mississippi; but received in- vitations to come further east as well. I accepted, and in 1885 extended my work into the Chicago Ger- man Conference. During this time I organized the still-flourishing society of the First German Method- ist Episcopal Church, in Milwaukee. But the greater portion of the winter was spent in the Central Ger- man Conference; and the following autumn and win- ter I reached the Atlantic Coast, and labored for a time in the East German Conference. By this time I had associated with me a number of loved co-laborers, who assisted me in copying cir- cular letters, also in mailing supplies; which was a great help. So far as possible, I had such a one in each Conference. In the year 1887, nine Conferences reported work— seven in America, where I had labored, and the Con- ferences in Germany and in Switzerland, which had been called to life in 1886 by Mrs. Hagans, of Chi- cago, whose timely efforts in seed-sowing might have been less fruitful had I not followed with earnest let- ter-writing by way of remembrance. However, they were now at work, under the secretaryship of Mrs. P. Achard and Mrs. A. Spoerri, respectively. GERMAN WORK. IOI Mrs. Achard is the daughter of Dr. Jacoby, the father of Methodism in Germany and Switzerland; mother of eleven children, and matron, or “ Aazs-mut- ter,” for the students of Martin Institute, at Frank- fort, Germany. Very wise was her arrangement, ac- cording to which the membership fee is fixed at thirty’ cents- yearly. In this wise she enlisted the masses. ‘Those who can do more, and feel so inclined, can, and do so. The following is a translation, made by Mrs. Ber- tha S. Ohlinger, of a circular drawn up by Mrs. Ach- ard and Mrs. Mann, and sent throughout our work in Germany and Switzerland: “ DRAR SISTER,—Since our husbands have, with- out our knowledge, organized a Branch of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, thereby occasioning great joy among our sisters in America, it is our duty to go forward in this work. Although we, the under- signed, are among the number having the largest families to care for, we have nevertheless resolved, with the help of God, to accept the office which has been conferred upon us, but would ask you to assist us in the duties connected therewith—in the first place, by securing subscribers for the Mezden frauen Freund. “We are of the opinion that if every Sewing So- ciety, or any other society of sisters, were to sub- scribe for one copy, it would be a fair beginning. “ Secondly, we would ask you to find members for this Society. Inasmuch as our sisters are already taxed to the uttermost, we have concluded to fix the rate of membership at five pennies per month. Larger contributions will, of course, be accepted. 102 WomAn’sS FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. The paper will come to about thirty cents per annum, including postage. “You may, perhaps, think that we are already overburdened, and can not possibly do more. That is exactly what we thought at first; but after consid- ering the matter carefully, we feel confident that the Lord will aid us in this work if we put our trust in him. It is our duty to lend our sisters in America a helping hand. “Tf we but call to mind the many privileges we, as Christian women, enjoy, as compared with the women in heathen lands, surely the love of Christ must constrain us to do all we can for the further- ance of this cause. We would therefore entreat you not to let this matter rest, but to do all that is in your power to do. “All contributions are to be sent to Mrs. M. Mann, in Kaiserslautern, Bavaria; also, the number of sub- scribers for the Heiden Frauen Freund is to be re- ported to her. Other correspondence, in regard to the organization of Auxiliaries, membership, and the work of the separate Societies, etc.,is to be addressed to Mrs. Achard, Roderburg 88, Frankfort-on-the- Main. In the hope that we may soon have the pleasure of hearing from you, we close with sisterly greetings. Pu. Jacopy-ACHARD, M. Mann.” California reported its first German Auxiliary in 1890, which at once took rank under the leadership of Mrs. C. Meyer. This same energetic and loving sis- ter influenced the first organization in the North Pa- cific German Conference, at Tacoma, Washington, in 1891. Since then we have organizations in all but GERMAN WoRR. 103 one of the now thirteen German Conferences in Amer- ica and Europe. The first General Executive Committee meeting that I attended was held in Evanston, Ill., October, 1885. At this time I explained our efforts and hopes and desires, and was cheerfully granted the necessary literature; and in January, 1886, appeared the first number of the Heiden Frauen Freund. As I had no one, at that time, who was both capable and willing to assume the responsible work, I added it to my other duties, trusting the Lord for strength and wis- dom to do it. Two years I carried this combined work, and the next two our beloved (now sainted) Mrs. Warren piloted the little craft, until God sent us the right person for the place in the person of Mrs. P. J. Achard. I will not enumerate the other numer- ous casual publications which were, and still are, a great help; for, with the constant increase of the work, more were needed. Thus the end of another decade has come. Financially, we have done more than threefold as well, giving $35,242.65; and the five Auxiliaries with which the decade opened have grown to be 194, with 4,520 annual and 47 life members—enough to organ- ize a Branch, were it not that immense distances and other considerations prevented thus far. The Society recognized the peculiar situation early, and in 1889 gave me a seat and voice in the General Executive Committee, as ‘Superintendent of German Work of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society.” In the meantime my honored assistants have advanced from mere ornamental to veritable Conference Secretaries, who now form my link of 104 WomAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. communication with the organizations. Beside the names of Mrs. Anna Spoerri and Mrs. L. Kienast, Switzerland; Miss D. Gebhardt, South Germany; Mrs. L. Wunderlich and Mrs. A. Hempel, North Ger- many; Mrs. L. Edwards, East German Conference in the United States; Miss A. Baur, Cincinnati German Conference; Miss Julia Enderis, Chicago German Conference; Mrs. Maggie Zimmerman, North Ger- man Conference; Miss E. Schuette, Northwest Ger- man Conference; Mrs. E. Schnackenberg, St. Louis German Conference; Mrs. Bertha Kurtz, West Ger- man Conference; Mrs. C. Meyer, California German Conference; Mrs. B. Bauer, North Pacific German Conference, who are my assistants at this time, I wish to make grateful mention of the following, who preceded them: Mrs. H. A. Franz, the Misses Lizzie and Clara Bauer, Miss Bertha Rheinfrank, Mrs. Mary Snyder, Miss Anna Fiegenbaum, Miss Ida Hallsick, Miss Julia Reinhardt, Miss Mary Kaeser, and others, who succored in numberless ways. How has this been attained and maintained? It is not to be denied that in this decade, too, there has been a constant per cent of loss as well as gain; nevertheless, the present condition of the work is sufficient proof of the wisdom of carrying it on as a specifically German work, even though the workman- -ship displayed is of an apparently inferior order. With the better knowledge these workers had of Ger- man needs and peculiarities, we also received the needed helps in leaflets, blanks, etc., etc. As climax and crown of all, our dear Heiden Frauen Freund, which has already entered upon its eighth year, though it has both changed its form and increased its GERMAN WORK. 105 size, is stretching in a manner which indicates that the dress is again growing too small. In enumerating gifts and givers, we must not forget our own four German missionaries (besides a number who have been rocked in the arms of Ger- man mothers, but who have abandoned the language of their ancestry)—Miss L. C. Rothweiler, in 1887; Miss Bengel (now Mrs. Jones), three years later, both from the Central German Conference; and in 1893, Miss Lydia Diem, from Switzerland to Bulgaria, and her sister, Miss Amelia Diem. But have we only given? Far from that. We have received a German missionary literature from the hands of our generous Literature Committee, and to our own lives has come a broadening and spiritual and intellectual development which only so high and holy a cause could bring about. As a sisterhood, we have become united as nothing else could have made us; and we have learned to recognize causes for grat- itude in our humble spheres—all unknown before. We have become better, more grateful, more active, and happier. In ‘that day,’ side by side with the women of heathendom, will stand many German Methodist women of America and Europe, praising God for the benefits derived through the channels of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. CHICAGO, ILL., January 27, 1894. In 1890 the Superintendent of German work vis- ited the Switzerland and German Conferences, and brought back encouraging reports, exhorting us not to forget the poverty of our people in those countries, and the sacrifices which they bring to maintain the 106 WomAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. work of the Church among them; nevertheless, they who partake in these contributions to the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society do so with gladness that even the little they can do is not too small to be ac- cepted by the Society, to which they feel greatly in- debted for transmitting their gifts to their heathen sisters, and for aiding those more nearly home by sustaining Bible women both in Germany and Switz- erland. They have a very happy mode of making their collections monthly among xon-Church-goers, and taking this as an opportunity to reach them for their personal salvation. The work in the United States lies largely among the poorer people. The West German Conference, out of seventy-six appointments, has only thirty-one that are self-supporting; but has thirty-five organiza- tions of the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society. Mite-boxes are freely circulated on country circuits where monthly meetings could not be sustained. District meetings are held; the work is repre- sented at Annual Conferences and at camp-meetings; and the Secretaries attend the Branch meetings, catch- ing a flame of enthusiasm that burns brighter in their own hearts, and sends a glow into the hearts of the Auxiliaries. The Heiden Frauen Freund is much appreciated, as shown in its circulation of one paper for less than two members. In 1893, Mrs. Bishop Newman accompanied her husband to Europe on his episcopal visitation. Her addresses at the several women’s meetings of the three German and Swiss Conferences were published in the Evangelist, of Bremen. CHAPTER VII. MISCELLANEOUS. GENERAL CONFERENCE ACTION. HE General Conference of 1872 took action grant- ing the Society the most cordial recognition and encouragement, “officially authorizing the prosecu- tion of its work as a recognized agency of the Church, with no other than its present restrictions.” Impor- tant action was also taken in regard to tenure of prop- erty, both at home and abroad, by which the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church were to hold property for this Society. Each succeeding session the General Conference has put itself on record to the effect that the Society is a most important aux- iliary in missionary work. Section 4, Article VIII, in the Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church, concerning the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, reads: “ The funds of the Society shall not be raised by collections or subscriptions taken during any of our regular Church services, nor in any Sunday-school; but shall be raised by such methods as the constitu. tion of the Society shall provide, none of which shall interfere with the contributions of our people and Sunday-schools for the treasury of the Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church; and the amount so collected shall be reported by the pastor to the Annual Conference, and be entered in a column 107 108 WoMAN’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. among the benevolent collections in the Annual and General Minutes.” By an almost unanimous vote, in 1884, the follow- ing was adopted: “ Resolved, That § 4 of this paragraph, concerning Women’s Missicnary Societies, shall not be so inter- preted as to prevent the ladies from taking collections in ladies’ meetings convened in the interests of their Societies, nor from securing memberships, life mem- berships, etc., in audiences where their work is repre- sented; nor from holding festivals or arranging lec- tures in the interests of their work.” The collection-taking rights were made, in 1892, unmistakably clear, by expunging the word “regu- lar”? from before ‘‘ Church services,’ and omitting the clause, ‘‘nor in any promiscuous public meetings,” and now reads: “The provisions of § 4 of this para- graph (4/362) shall not be so interpreted as to pre- vent the women from taking collections in meetings convened in the interests of their Societies; nor from securing memberships and life memberships in au- diences where their work is represented; nor from holding festivals or arranging lectures in the interests of their work.” Plain, strong words of recognition were given the Society in the Episcopal Address to the General Con- ference, in 1892: “The Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society stands forth as one of the grandest agencies for the world’s evangelization, and the wisdom and efficiency with which its affairs are administered remain unabated. No branch of Christian work has been more ably con- ducted in the entire history of the Church. Deprived MISCELLANEOUS. 109 of it, the missionary cause would lose much of its strength. It should be cherished by the Church as one of her prime agencies, and should continue to receive her heartiest support.” SPECIAI, DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS. “Rarely has a cause been sanctified by offerings representing more of sacrifice and devotion than in some of these special gifts to the treasury. Gifts have been brought, hallowed by ‘the touch of those whom God has taken from hearts left desolate. Memorial buildings have been erected, and orphans supported in memory of the loved. These have been baptized with affection and prayer; and we find here some of the secrets of the success, under God, of the Society’s work. ‘These have come up for a memo- rial.’” The enumeration given includes sums of $1,000 and over. Perhaps the first donation for specific work was that of a native prince in India, of property valued at $15,000, for woman’s medical work; and very early in the history of the Society, Lady Li, the mother of China’s great viceroy—Li Hung Chang— left as a bequest to the “good Doctor’? Howard, for medical work, $1,000. Above and beyond the income of the Society, $25,000 have been raised for the endowment of the zenana paper, in India, $5,000 of which was contrib- uted by Mrs. Elizabeth Sleeper Davis, of Boston ; $1,000 by a gentleman in Baltimore; and $2,000 by a lady in Pennsylvania. As early as °71, Mrs. Sarah Kemp Slater, of Grand Rapids, Mich., willed half the annual interest from & 110 WomAn’S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. the sale of her property, which has amounted, in the years down to ’95,to over $4,635; Mrs. J. P. Newman donated $2,000 for a ‘‘ Home for Homeless Women” in North India; Mrs. Dr. Goucher gave $5,000 for the ‘“Tsabella Fisher’’ Hospital, in Tientsin, China; Mrs. Caroline Wright, $1,700 for a memorial school in Hakodati, Japan. Mrs. D. C. Scofield, of Elgin, Ill., beqeathed $7,- 000, of which $3,000 was for the medical educational fund of the Northwestern Branch, and $1,000 each for orphanages in Japan, China, India, and Mexico; Philander Smith gave $4,500 for school in Loftcha, Bulgaria; Mrs. Adeline Smith, $5,500 for school-build- ing in Nankin, $4,000 for Deaconess Home in Chung- king, China, and $1,566 to the general work; Mr. and Mrs. Wm. E. Blackstone, $5,000 for Deaconess Home and Training-school in Muttra, India; Mrs. W. E. Blackstone, $3,000 for school-building in Seoul, Korea. Mrs. Bertha Sigler, of Iowa, gave $3,000 for a school in Budaon, India; Mrs. C. D. Strong gave $1,000, and Mrs. Clews, of Iowa, $3,000; Mrs. F. C. DePauw, of Indiana, $1,000 for commenc- ing work in Japan; Mr. Le Huray, of New Jersey, and his daughter, Eleanor, $1,000 for outfit in Buenos Ayres; an invalid lady in Baltimore, not a Methodist, in gratitude to one who is, $1,262; Mrs. Frances Ste- vens, Joliet, Ill., for Bombay Home, $1,000; Mrs. P. L. Bennett, Wilkesbarre, Pa., $1,000; Mrs. H. W. War- ren, for work in Japan, $1,000; Mrs. Mary C. Nind, of Minneapolis, for opening work in Singapore, $3,000; Mrs. Wright, of Glen Hope, Philadelphia Branch, $3,000; Mrs. Louise Soules, of Michigan, to found a school in Aligarh, India, $7,000; Mr. and MISCELLANEOUS. ILE Mrs. J. W. Phillips, of Michigan, for general work, $2,000; Mr. and Mrs. Plested, Trinidad, Colo., $2,500 for Meerut, India; an aged couple in Topeka, Kan., $1,000. A gentleman in Bombay contributed $1,000 for the work in that city. -“ Jonathan,” of Baltimore, gave $1,000 for Bible Woman’s School in Yokohama. Among the bequests, we note $1,000 each from Mr. Aaron Devore, Illinois; Mrs. Adaline Slaughter, Indianapolis; a legacy in Baltimore; Miss McMillan, Michigan; Mrs. Betts, Michigan; Sheridan Baker, Mrs. Logan, and J. P. Leiter, of Ohio; Miss Isabel Hart, Baltimore; Mary A. Hammond, Indiana; Rev. J. W. Agard, Chicago; Mary J. Barclay, Johnsville, N.Y. Other bequests are: E. D. Boynton, New York Branch, $1,850; Mrs. Bramwell, Galesburg, IIL. $1,- 500; Mr. Jas. T. Fields, $5,000; Miss L. C. Kennedy, Illinois, $2,309; Isaac H. Koll, Wisconsin, $5,000; Mrs. Rachel Harford, Illinois, $1,500; Jane A. Wag- ner, Chicago, $2,000; Emily Kimball, Wisconsin, $1,362.58; sale of Chicago property, $2,941.30; Elvira Elliott, Michigan, $2,500; Caroline M. Pettinger, In- diana, $1,497.75; Alexander McClure, Illinois, $2,- 189.70; Mrs. J. T. Harrison, Minneapolis, for Indus- trial Home in Tokio, Japan, $5,000; also, Mrs. Coburn, for room in the Home; Miss M. J. Kunner, Mifflin, Pa., $1,900; Harvard bequest for Medical Fund in Northwestern Branch, $2,000; Mrs. Bishop Clark, $2,000; Miss Minerva Evans, Cincinnati Branch, $1,- 500; Mrs. Ellen M. Wagner and Mrs. Lucinda Button, Illinois, each $2,000; Mrs. James Abraham, Portland, Ore., for three schools in India, $1 5:000 Mrs. Sleeper Davis, $25,000. 112 WomaAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Besides the above, at a time of need in the Balti- more Branch, a bond for $5,000, to run thirteen years, bearing 5 per cent interest, was given by Rev. J. F. Goucher; and the beautiful home of Mrs. Charlotte O’Neal, Pasadena, Cal., has been given to the Society, reserving a life lease. A $4,000 missionary scholar- ship in Albion College was raised in the Northwest- ern Branch, as a memorial to Mrs. E. A. Hoag. These gifts have imparted fragrance to the whole work. He who “sat over against the treasury” has been keeping the record. BEQUESTS TO THE WOMAN’S FOREIGN MISSION- ARY SocieTy.—Careful attention to the wording and expressions of a will are necessary for its full accom- plishment. If persons disposed to make bequests to this Society will observe the following form, there can be no legal flaw: “I hereby give and bequeath to the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, dollars, to be paid to the Treasurer of said Society, whose receipts shall be a sufficient acquittance to my executors therefor.” Entered into Rest. OFFICERS. Mrs. G. E. Doucuty, Corresponding Secretary of Cincinnati Branch, 1875. Mrs. Dr. STEPHEN OLIN, President of New York Branch, May 2, 1879. Mrs. C. P. Tapriin, Corresponding Secretary of the New England Branch, April 29, 1881. Mrs. ArzA Brown, Vice-President of Northwestern Branch, February 19, 1882. MISCELLANEOUS. 113 Mrs. J. T. Harrison, Treasurer of Minneapolis Branch, April 3, 1886. Mrs. M. W. PorTER, M. D., President of Des Moines Branch, September 8, 1888. Mrs. E. A. B. Hoac, Corresponding Secretary, Northwestern Branch, September 27, 18809. Mrs. E. Hamiiron, Treasurer of Baltimore Branch, January 7, 1891. Miss IsaBELLA Hart, Corresponding Secretary, Baltimore Branch, September 5, 1891. Mrs. Francis A. CROOK, President, Baltimore Branch, No- vember, 1891. Mrs. J. P. EaR.y, President, Pacific Branch, February, 1893. Mrs. BisHoP CLARK, President, Cincinnati Branch, October 18, 1893. Mrs. REBECCA T. COMEGYS, Vice-President, Cincinnati Branch, July, 1895. Mrs. Dr. DANFORTH, First Vice-President of Northwestern Branch, August, 1895. Mrs. SUSAN J. STEELE, Vice-President, New England Branch, September 5, 1895. Mrs. ELLEN Hunt Curtis, Recording Secretary, New Eng- land, October 26, 1895. PHILANTHROPISTS. Mrs, ELIZABETH SLEEPER Davis, May 8, 1891. Mrs. ADELINE M. Smith, July 4, 1895. 8 114 WomAn’s FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. ‘ATELIZNY OL pepnpouy y zggz [gISPrjLrg1z|of€ jo6 |vob \LL |6CogiPeS‘eSr |EzzgizibC1j1bZ |ZSvgr Jorg |ggh‘ez1 |€Sgh)- + ‘JeIOL zse 1€I gSz waa weelece [ane wee| see [oreeseloccnus cee [ees seel|eoecce [revsee|seraceneelectcerlereeseses |soenee