■ ■'• i - ■ ■ • ■'■ ■ ■- '•"'■ 
 
 Brown, Minnie Mclver 
 
 History of Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
George Washington F lowers 
 Memorial Collection 
 
 DUKE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
 ESTABLISHED BY THE 
 
 FAMILY OF 
 
 COLONEL FLOWERS 
 
DUKE 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 DIVINITY SCHOOL 
 LIBRARY 
 
History of Wilmington | 
 Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 I 1888-1922 | 
 
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History 
 
 of 
 
 Wilmington 
 Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 1888-1922 
 
 By 
 
 Mrs. J. A. Brown 
 
 "Thou 'shalt remember all the 
 way which the Lord thy God led 
 thee." Deut. 8: 2. 
 
 RALEIGH, N. 0. 
 
 Edwards & Broughton Printing Company 
 
 1923 
 
PRESSES OF 
 
 EDWARDS a. BROCGHTON PRINTING COMPANY 
 
 RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 1923 
 

 
 ^BebicaUb to tip ^cntorg 
 
 of 
 
 JUferath Ptttemt Jforlrn^ ^lacg, <ji^ 
 
 $Bxse pastor, 
 
 <3lnieIIeriuaI dSmce, 
 
 jifijeet jimtjer, 
 
 ,3l*tB»traiioitaI ^Keaoer, 
 
 ^gntpa%itc Jfrumb, 
 
 Cfctlturea OUfrisltan (gentleman, to mljose ministry 
 
 anh influence % aufljor of fljts skeiclj 
 
 accoros grateful tribute. 
 
 [31 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 In the preparation of this history I have followed, for all his- 
 torical data, the written Minutes of our Presbyterial and of our 
 Presbytery; written records by Mrs. B. F. Hall and given by her to 
 the Secretary of the Presbyterial; also written data found among 
 her private papers. 
 
 The incidents recorded I received from those taking active part 
 in them, and vouched for by two or three witnesses of undoubted 
 veracity. 
 
 For the history of early Presbyterianism in our State and Pres- 
 bytery I have gathered my facts from "Foote's Sketches of North 
 Carolina History," and from church histories by Dr. W. S. Lacy, 
 Dr. W. W. Moore and Rev. W. P. M. Currie. 
 
 I wish to record my gratitude to Miss Jane Hall, our President, 
 and to members of the Executive Committee of the Presbyterial for 
 helpful criticisms and suggestions. 
 
 Minnie McIvee Brown. 
 Chadbourn, K C, 
 
 Feb. 8th, 1923. 
 
 [41 
 
CHAPTER I. 
 ORGANIZATION 
 
 Students of the early history of Presbyterianisni in North Carolina 
 are agreed that the two largest settlements of Presbyterians in the 
 State were the Scotch who settled the upper Cape Fear, with Cumber- 
 land county as the center, and those Scotch-Irish who occupied the 
 Piedmont region centering around Granville and Orange counties. 
 These sections remain today the great strongholds of Presbyterianism 
 in the State. 
 
 These historians are also agreed that the earliest Presbyterian 
 colony in the State was composed of Scotch-Irish emigrants from 
 Ulster, led by Henry McCulloch, who in 1776 settled upon a grant 
 of land in Duplin county, within the bounds of this Presbytery. 
 This colony formed the congregation of Goshen Grove, three miles 
 from the present site of Kenansville. 
 
 While both history and tradition are silent on the subject of 
 church building and pastor, may we not rightfully conjecture that 
 this band of Presbyterians, braving the hardships and dangers of 
 the new world for the sake of civil and religious liberty, forsook 
 not the assembling of themselves together for the worship of Almighty 
 God ? Since "the groves were God's first temples," is it not, probable 
 that in that "forest primeval" some godly man, doubtless at the 
 suggestion of a saintly mother, read from the Book to an assembled 
 congregation, and "in the darkling wood, amidst the cool and silence 
 they knelt down and oifered to the Mightiest solemn thanksgiving 
 and supplication ?" And while not yet was framed "the lofty vault 
 to gather and roll back the sound of anthems," yet with God's chosen 
 instrument of praise, the human voice, beneath the blue dome of 
 heaven, and the interlacing branches of cedar and' pine, these pioneer 
 worshipers joined in singing "Praise God from whom all blessings 
 flow," and old Scotia's grand and inspiring hymns, singing and 
 making melody in their hearts unto God. 
 
 The present Grove church at Kenansville traces its origin back to 
 this pioneer congregation. 
 
 Contemporary with this settlement was another Presbyterian one 
 in ]STew Hanover county on what was known as the Welsh Tract, 
 
 151 
 
6 The Wilmington Pkesbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 composed of Welsh emigrants, which was later reinforced by other 
 families. 
 
 It is believed that Rev. William Robinson, the first Presbyterian 
 minister to preach in North Carolina, visited these colonies in the 
 winter of 1742-43. However, conjecture is not history, and not 
 until the visit of Rev. Hugh McAden in 1755 does authentic history 
 of Presbyterianisni in this Presbytery begin. Mr. McAden kept 
 a full journal of his missionary tour and it has been preserved to 
 the present day. In it he tells us that he preached in Wilmington, 
 Febuary 15, 1756, "in the morning to a large and splendid audience," 
 but in the afternoon to only "about a dozen." The next two Sundays 
 he preached to the people of the Welsh Tract, who evidently liked 
 his preaching and him, for they extended him a call. 
 
 This is the first call issued to a Presbyterian minister by a 
 North Carolina congregation. As it was not recorded in writing, 
 or if so, not preserved, it probably did not constitute a formal call. 
 So we find that the first recorded call was issued in 1758 by the 
 congregations of Cumberland county, signed by twelve representative 
 men, to Rev. James Campbell, who had been sent to them the year 
 before by Rev. Mr. McAden. This call is recorded in the court 
 records of that county. 
 
 It would appear, however, that the Rev. Hugh McAden kept the 
 call of the Welsh Tract congregation in mind, for in 1759 we find 
 him installed as pastor of the Duplin and New Hanover congre- 
 gations, and presenting his credentials at a meeting of New Hanover 
 Presbytery on Rockfish, July 18, 1759. This would indicate that 
 there was an organized church here at which Presbytery was meet- 
 ing, and fits in with the well established tradition that Rockfish 
 church was organized in 1756. 
 
 Had records been preserved it would be interesting to tell in 
 a history of woman's work in the Presbytery the number of women 
 who were charter members of these first churches ministered to 
 by Mr. McAden. We know from given records that there was a 
 "Woman's Auxiliary" even though it may have counted but one 
 woman on its roll, for we read that Mr. McAden married Miss 
 Scott of Lunenburg county, Va., and that she came with him, 
 taking the long journey on horseback through many miles of wild 
 forest infested by hostile Indians, and like Rebecca of old, for 
 love's sweet sake took up her abode in a land that she knew not of. 
 And though no record of her life and deeds has come down to 
 us save the significant one that she bore and reared a family of 
 seven children, she must have been of heroic soul, intelligent and 
 
Organization 7 
 
 devout to have been chosen as life companion and helpmate by this 
 intellectual, highly educated man, a graduate of Nassau Hall, Prince- 
 ton. She must also have been missionary-hearted to have been 
 willing to come to this pioneer field. So we may justly claim Mrs. 
 McAden as the pioneer representative of woman's work in this 
 Presbytery. 
 
 From the beginning of Christ's ministry on down through the 
 history of the church we catch glimpses of the work of individual 
 women. Martha's consecrated gift was hospitality and service; 
 Mary was the lavish giver, and both were intercessors for Lazarus. 
 "Behold him whom thou lovest is sick." Dorcas consecrated her 
 needle to Christian service; the daughters of Philip proclaimed 
 the Gospel ; Lydia's hospitality and faithfulness to prayer-meeting 
 brought Christianity to Europe; the mother of Constantine founded 
 a home for travellers, while his daughters opened the first hospital, 
 and were the first to succor lepers. 
 
 Even Paul, whom we could not call partial to women, places 
 the names of women on his roll call of Eaith. "By faith, Sarah," 
 "by faith, Rahab," "by faith women received their dead;" he com- 
 mends "Phebe, our sister, which is a servant of the church," a 
 deaconess, sends his letter to the Romans by her faithful hand, 
 and requests that the church, "assist her in whatsoever business 
 she hath need of you ; for she hath been a succourer of many and 
 of myself also." He sends greetings to Priscilla, along with Aquila, 
 "my helpers in Christ Jesus; who have for my life laid down their 
 own necks, unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the 
 churches of the Gentiles." She was probably a deaconess also, 
 she shared the travels, labours and dangers of her husband, and is 
 always named along with him. He greets Mary as one "who 
 bestowed much labour on us ; also Tryphena and Tryphosa," probably 
 sisters, "who labour in the Lord," "beloved Persis, who laboured 
 much in the Lord" — a Christian woman of Rome, A. D. 55. He 
 commends Timothy for "the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which 
 dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice.' 5 " 
 
 Jesus gave only five special commendations, and four of these 
 were of women. A woman first rejoiced at the announcement of 
 His coming; women followed Him to Golgotha, and while the 
 disciples deserted Him and fled, they stood by to the end, annointed 
 His body for burial and saw where He was laid. 
 
 A woman discovered the empty tomb; a woman discovered the 
 risen Lord; women first proclaimed the resurrection, at Christ's 
 command, "Go tell my brethren." There were women in the group 
 
8 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 when He said, "Ye are my witnesses;" women were in the upper 
 chamber when the Holy Spirit descended with power, for Peter 
 declared it the fulfillment of the prophecy, "Your sons and daughters 
 shall prophesy. * * * And on my servants and on my hand- 
 maidens I will pour out in those days of my spirit ; and they shall 
 prophesy." On down through the ages He has been saying to her, 
 in accents of unspeakable tenderness, "Daughter, be of good comfort." 
 
 Not she with traitorous kiss her Saviour stung; 
 
 Not she denied Him with unholy tongue; 
 
 She, while apostles shrank, could dangers brave, 
 
 Last at the cross and earliest at the grave. 
 
 Mrs. W. C. Winsborough, Superintendent of Woman's Work 
 in the Presbyterian Church, U. S., gives as the first woman's organi- 
 zation in the South of which we have any authentic record,, "The 
 Female Benevolent Society of Richmond and Manchester," Va., 
 which was organized in 1817 (no month given) as an auxiliary to 
 the Bible Society of Virginia. It was interdenominational, and 
 seemed to have been strictly a Bible Society. 
 
 The second society in the South, Mrs., Winsborough gives as "The 
 Ladies' Benevolent Society" of New Providence Church (Lexington 
 Presbytery) Va., organized in 1819. It adopted a regular consti- 
 tution, setting forth as its object "to raise money for the support 
 of missionaries, to aid pious young men to qualify for the ministry, 
 or any other benevolent cause said society may think best." 
 
 The two oldest missionary societies in the Presbyterian church 
 in North Carolina were given by Mrs. Winsborough as the "Society 
 of Young Ladies of the Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville," and 
 "The Female Juvenile Missionary Society of Fayetteville Presby- 
 terian Church." No written records of these societies have been 
 preserved, and exact date of organization is not known. The minutes 
 of the Fayetteville Presbytery from 1816 to 1820 record each year 
 the contribution to Foreign Missions, of certain sums from "Women 
 of the First Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville." This would 
 indicate an organization, for otherwise their contributions would 
 lave naturally gone through the regular church channels, provided 
 -there were regular collections in our church for Foreign Mis- 
 sions at that early 1 date. 
 
 The first reference to the "Society of Young Ladies of the Pres- 
 byterian Church of Fayetteville" is an inspiration on a communion 
 service presented by the said society to the church September 20th, 
 1824. Again in 1831 the sessional record of the church refers to 
 "The Young Ladies' Missionary Society." 
 
Mistress Dorothy Boxey, 
 
 Treasurer of Rockfish Female Missionary 
 Society, 1817. 
 
Oeganization 9 
 
 On a monument in old Cross Creek Cemetery, Fayetteville, N". C, 
 is this inscription: "Sacred to the Memory of our Pastor, Rev. 
 James Douglas," etc. ''Erected by the Female Juvenile Society of 
 Fayetteville Presbyterian Church in 1837." 
 
 Another very old society is "The Female Cent Society" of Liberty 
 county, Georgia, April 1, 1817, but that, like the Female Benevolent 
 Society of Virginia was interdenominational and not strictly a Mis- 
 sionary Society. However, it was organized with a constitution, 
 officers, list of members ; and has had a continuous record from its 
 very beginning. 
 
 The earliest attempt at organized woman's work in Wilmington 
 Presbytery was in the old Rockfish congregation. Happily the records 
 of this organization have been preserved, and show that the "Rock- 
 fish Female Missionary Society" was in existence as early as 1817. 
 with the names of thirty women on its roll. They were accustomed 
 to meet in the spring and in the fall. The minutes recording the 
 first six months' contribution is dated March 23rd, 1818, so the 
 society was evidently organized early in the fall of 1817. The con- 
 tributions for the first year were: To the North Carolina Mission- 
 ary Society, $17.50; to the purchase of religious tracts for the 
 society, $6.50. So we see this early society carried the idea of 
 Missionary Education along with giving, though it may not have 
 had a secretary of literature. 
 
 The officers were : Mary Boney, president ; Mary Teaehey, vice- 
 president; Dorothy Boney, treasurer; Eliza Tate, secretary. 
 
 The following is an exact copy of the seven-page Minutes of 
 this old organization, including its roll of membership, believed to 
 be the oldest preserved original record of any woman's Foreign 
 Missionary Society in the Southern Presbyterian Church : 
 
 Page 1 
 $ cts 
 
 Mrs. Mary Boney, paid 1 
 
 Mrs Mary F. Teaehey 1 
 
 Rebecca Bloodworth 1 
 
 Dorothy Boney 50 
 
 Izbel Pigford 50 
 
 Ann Savage Paid 50 
 
 Elizar Pigford 50 
 
 Mary New 50 
 
 Ann Boney 50 
 
 Prisilla Wilson 50 
 
 Elizar Wilson 50 
 
 Elizar Filyaw 60 
 
 Sarah Bloodworth 1 
 
10 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 Page 2 
 
 Mary Ann Boney 50 
 
 Catherine Boney 50 
 
 Mary Holmes Teachey 50 
 
 Elizar Tate 1 
 
 Rebecca Tate 50 
 
 Mary Tate 50 
 
 Joseb Pigford 50 
 
 Tempy Wood 50 
 
 Marthew Pigford 50 
 
 Ann W. Boney 50 
 
 Catherine Sotherland 50 
 
 Susanna Boney 50 
 
 Mary Boney 50 
 
 Penelopy Newcerk 1 
 
 Sophia Rivenbark 50 
 
 Jane Hall 1 
 
 page 3. 
 
 $ cts 
 "Received of Mrs. Dorothy Boney 
 Treasurer to the Rockfish female missionary 
 
 Society Seventeen Dollars and fifty cents 17.59 
 
 to be sent to the Presbytery of Payetteville to 
 the Treasurer of the North Carolina missionary 
 Society by me 
 this the 23 of March 1818 
 
 Rob Tate 
 "Received of Mrs. Boney dollar 1.50 
 
 and fifty cents 
 
 Received of Mrs. D. Boney Six 
 dollars Seventeen & half cents for 
 
 purchase religious tracts for 6.17-1/2 
 
 the female Society of Rockfish 
 
 th 
 Fayetteville October 2 1818 Received of 
 the Reverend Robert Tate the sum of 
 $19 a donation from the Rockfish female 
 missionary society. 
 
 W. M'Pheeters. 
 Received Oct. 4, 1818 of Rev. Mr. Tate 
 Six Dollars for Tracts. 
 
 J. H. Hines. 
 
 "page 4, 
 $ cts 
 Elizabeth Pigford, 50 
 
 C. Sotherland 50 
 
 Is. Pigford 50 
 
 Jerusa Pigford 50 
 
Organization 11 
 
 Martha Pigford 50 
 
 Molsy Boney 59 
 
 Mary Teachey 50 
 
 Mary H. Teachey 50 
 
 Mary Boney 50 
 
 Sarsana Boney 50 
 
 Ann Savidge 55 
 
 Ann Boney 50 
 
 Dorothy Boney 50 
 
 Mary Ann Boney • 50 
 
 Catherine Boney 50 
 
 Temperance Wood 50 
 
 Penellope Newkirck 50 
 
 Eliza Wilson 50 
 
 Prissilla Wilson 50 
 
 Eliza Fillyaw 50 
 
 page 5. 
 Eliza Tate paid 1. 
 
 Margaret Tate 50 
 
 Sarah Filyaw . 50 
 
 Mary New 1 50 
 
 Sarah Bloodworth 1 
 
 Rebeckah Thommes 50 
 
 Edward Pigford 90 
 
 Received from the Treasurer of the female missionary 
 Society of Rockfish Meeting house to be given to the 
 treasurer of the North Carolina Missionary Society 
 this the 26 of Sept. 1819, 
 $15.60 fifteen dollars and by me 
 
 sixty cents, 
 
 Rob Tate. 
 Died the 24th of July 1819, Mrs. Rebecca Bloodworth, a 
 member of this society whose death we record with deep 
 sorrow. 
 
 Died on the 15th of October, 1819, Miss Mary Ann Boney 
 a member of this society whose death we record with deep 
 sorrow. 
 
 Hannah Pigford 
 Joshus Pigford 
 Martha Pigford 
 
 Sophea Rivenbark paid 50 ct each 
 
 Tempe Wood 
 Elizabeth Tate N 
 Margaret Tate 
 Izbel Pigford 
 
 Rebecca Thomas paid 50 
 
 Elizar Pigford 50 
 
 Mary Teachy 50 
 
 Mary Teachey 50 
 
12 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 Sarah Bloodworth 50 
 
 Mary Boney 60 
 
 Ann Savage 60 
 
 Jane Gilman 50 
 
 Ann W. Boney 50 
 
 Eliza Wilson 50 
 
 Pennelopy Newkirk 50 
 
 Mary Wilson 50 
 
 Prissiller Wilson 50 
 
 Dorothy Boney 59 
 
 Catherine Carr 50 
 
 Catherine Sotherland 50 
 
 [Exact copy] 
 
 "Cumberland County Tirzah Church 
 Oct. 4, 1819. 
 
 Received of Rev. Robt. Tate 
 fifteen dollars and sixty cents as a donation from the 
 female Missionary Society at Rockfish. 
 
 Colin Mclver" 
 The minutes preceeding this authorized Mr. Tate to pay this amount 
 to the Treasurer of North Carolina Missionary Society, so Mr. Mclver was 
 evidently Treasurer at that time. 
 

 
 
 
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 Facsimile of 3rd Page From Minutes op Rockfish Female Missionary Society 
 
Organization 13 
 
 Dr. W. W. Moore, writing of Dr. John Holt Rice, founder of 
 Union Theological Seminary, states that he organized the first 
 Young Men's Missionary Society that ever existed in the whole 
 of the territory extending from New Orleans to New York ; that 
 it was known as the Young Men's Missionary Society of Richmond, 
 and consisted of about forty members, and that this was in 1819. 
 
 Attention is herewith called to the fact that the "Rockfish Female 
 Missionary Society" antedates this organization by two years; that 
 it anedates the two in Fayetteville Presbytery; that it is of equal 
 date, at least, with the "Female Benevolent Society" of Virginia; 
 that it antidates the "Ladies' Benevolent Society of New Provi- 
 dence Church," Virginia, by two years; that these thirty women 
 at that early date in our church history led the way in recognizing 
 the great object of the church and of Christ's mission to the world; 
 that it is the oldest Women's Missionary Society in the Southern 
 Presbyterian Church, and the oldest one whose records are pre- 
 served with full names of members and officers. 
 
 It is worthy of note that the present Treasurer of the Rockfish 
 Auxiliary, Mrs. Mary Robinson Wells, is a great granddaughter 
 of Dorothy Boney, whose name appears as first treasurer of Rock- 
 fish Female Missionary Society. Mrs. R. Murphy Williams, wife 
 of the beloved pastor of the Church of the Covenant, Greensboro, 
 N. C, and recently Secretary of Foreign Missions of the Orange 
 Presbyterial, is also a great granddaughter of this same Mistress 
 Dorothy Boney. "The children of thy servants shall continue, 
 and their seed shall be established before thee." Our God is a 
 covenant-keeping God. 
 
 Since Rockfish Presbyterian Church has the honor of having the 
 oidest Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Southern Presby- 
 terian Church, a brief outline of her history will be of interest in 
 this sketch. From the History of Rockfish Church, by Rev. W. P. M, 
 Currie, present pastor of the church, I glean the following facts: 
 "Tradition, well-established, places the organization of the church, 
 1756, during the year of the missionary labors of the Rev. Hugh 
 McAden, sent out by New Castle Presbytery, Va." In 1759, 
 Mr. McAden returned and became the settled minister of Duplin 
 and New Hanover counties. Having been dismissed from New 
 Castle Presbytery to join New Hanover Presbytery, "He presented 
 his credentials at a meeting of the Presbytery at Rockfish, July 
 18th, 1759, having previously sat as a corresponding member." 
 This statement from history clearly indicates that Presbytery was 
 meeting with! some congregation which had a formal existence before 
 
14 The "Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 1759, and at sonie established place of worship on or near Rock- 
 fish Creek. The logical conclusion is that it was old Rockfish 
 Church, at or near its present site. Mr. McAden labored here 
 and in Eastern Carolina for ten years. The congregations in Duplin 
 and Xew Hanover were served afterwards by missionaries who 
 occasionally visited them until 1793. The Revolution was a con- 
 tributing cause for the desolation of the church work in this section. 
 In 1793, Rev. John Robinson settled in Duplin county and labored 
 here until 1800. In 1798 Rev. Robert Tate, a licentiate of Orange 
 Presbytery, during whose ministry Rockfish Female Missionary 
 Society was organized, visited Duplin and New Hanover counties 
 and became a resident minister. His first charge was South Wash- 
 ington and Rockfish, according to the Minutes of Synod for the 
 year 1799. He held his first communion "On Rockfish," which 
 would clearly imply a church and an organized congregation. The 
 work of this church was evidently revived, reorganized and grew 
 through the labors of Mr. Tate. It was during the ministry and 
 with the sympathy and co-operation of this good man that Rock- 
 fish Female Missionary Society was organized in the fall of 1817. 
 In 1836 there was a Men's Missionary Society in old Rockfish 
 church, known as the "Rockfish Missionary Association." The asso- 
 ciation seems to have had just one annual meeting when a special 
 sermon was preached, and a collection taken. The first collection 
 was $20.00, and Owen Pigford was treasurer. This also was 
 organized during Mr. Tate's ministry. 
 
 In the summer of 1817, on account of bodily infirmities, he 
 closed a pastorate with Rockfish church, of practically a half 
 century in duration. He retired to his plantation located on S ill's 
 creek, about five miles from Rockfish church, Pender county, where 
 he continued to reside until his death in 1867 in the 93d year of 
 his life. He was interred in the family burying ground near by. 
 In the fall of 1873 Wilmington Presbytery, in high appreciation 
 of his long and valuable service, adopted a resolution to "erect 
 a suitable monument to his memory." A committee was appointed 
 to collect funds for same. In 1877 the session of Rockfish reported 
 to Presbytery that the work had been done, and, quoting verbatim 
 from Rev. W. P. M. Currie's sketch of Rev. Robert Tate in his 
 History of Rockfish church: "This faithful 'servant of Christ 
 was a strong man, and one who did earnestly contend for the faith 
 which was once delivered unto the Saints. He was one of the 
 charter members of Fayetteville Presbytery which was organized 
 in 1813, and his death occurred just one year before the Pres- 
 
Rev. Robert Tate, 
 Pastor Rockfish Church at the Organiza- 
 tion of Rockfish Female Missionary 
 Society. Fall of 1817. 
 
Organization 15 
 
 bytery of Wilmington was set off. His was the longest ministry 
 np to this time of either of the two Presbyteries, reaching over a 
 period of sixty-nine years. Rockfish, which he served so long, 
 was one of the twenty-seven charter churches of Fayetteville Pres- 
 bytery and one of the twenty-two charter churches of Wilmington 
 Presbytery. It may be truly said that few men in our country 
 of any denomination have served one church as long as Mr. Tate 
 served Rockfish, and very few have served a ministry of sixty-nine 
 years. 
 
 He was not only an active and pious minister of the gospel, but 
 he was prominent in the affairs of the various church courts, being 
 five times moderator of the Presbytery. He preached to the Women's 
 Missionary Society from such passages of scripture as these : 
 Hebrews, 13:16, "But to do good and to communicate forget not, 
 for with such sacrifices God is well pleased," and Luke, 10 :33-34, 
 "And when he saw him he had compassion on him, and bound up 
 his wounds, pouring in oil and wine." 
 
 Mr. Tate was born in Alamance county, in the Hawfields, May 
 3, 1774, and was educated at Old Caldwell Institute. August 7, 
 1799, he married Margaret Bloodworth, whose name appears as 
 a charter member of Rockfish Female Missionary Society, a daughter 
 of Timothy Bloodworth, Collector of Customs at Wilmington, and 
 at one time a member of Congress. His second wife was Eliza- 
 beth Hunter. He had six children. His granddaughter, Miss 
 Mollie Tate, writes thus of him: "His zeal to promote the cause 
 of religion induced him to write several hymns, only one of which 
 is properly accredited to him, that being the familiar one whose 
 first verse is : 
 
 While shepherds watched their flocks by night, 
 
 All seated on the ground, 
 The angel of the Lord came down 
 
 And glory shone around. 
 
 As early as 1878 we find a Woman's Foreign Missionary Society 
 in Wilmington Second Presbyterian Church ; one in Clarkton Pres- 
 byterian Church, organized June 1886 ; one in Burgaw organized 
 May, 1886 ; and there were others in several churches of slightly 
 later date. 
 
 In the Treasurer's book of the First Church, Wilmington (trust 
 the Treasurer to appreciate the women, even if the session may 
 not), is found this record, following the annual financial report: 
 "While this report shows that little aid is extended to our poor, 
 still they are well cared for through our Ladies' Benevolent 
 
16 The Wilmington Peesbytebial Auxiliaey 
 
 Society, an adjunct of our church, which has been prosecuting 
 a successful and charitable work for several years past. It might 
 be interesting to the congregation if this society would make a 1 
 report of its work." Signed by Wm. R. Kenan, January 1, 1884.. 
 The historian can but regret that the ladies did not take his hint, 
 and make a report to the session so that we could have a full and* 
 permanent record of this old society. Another entry in the Treas- 
 urer's book is "December 30, 1883. Special from the Ladies for 
 Synod, $81.87." This was to help defray the expense of enter- 
 taining the meeting of Synod in the church in the fall of 1883. 
 
 In 1888 Dr. Peyton H. Hoge, pastor of the first Presbyterian 
 church of Wilmington, and Mrs. B. F. Hall, recognizing with proph- 
 etic vision the spirit and latent power for good in these young and 
 struggling Women's Foreign Missionary societies of the Presbytery, 
 conceived the idea of banding them together in a Union for mutual 
 helpfulness and inspiration. Pursuant to this vision a Woman's: 
 Foreign Missionary Society was organized in the First Church in 
 Wilmington, April 24th, 1888, and its president, Mrs. D. T. Lewis, 
 mother of Mrs. P. W. Hicks, issued an invitation to all the women's - - 
 and young people's societies in the Presbytery to meet with the- 
 society of the First Church for the purpose of organizing 1 a Woman's'. 
 Foreign Missionary Union. 
 
 Among Mrs. Hall's private papers were found letters from three' 
 of these societies. One was from Miss Mary Anderson of Clinton, 
 dated May 18, 1888, stating that the young people's Foreign Mis- 
 sionary Society of Clinton would gladly co-operate with the Ladies 
 Foreign Missionary Society of First Church, Wilmington, in this 
 Missionary movement and that she would represent the said society 
 at the Conference. Another, signed "Mary H. McMillan" of 
 Teachey's, was dated March 5th, 1888, and one from Miss Sallie 
 Morrison of Whiteville, dated May 11, 1888, told of the organization 
 of a Ladies Foreign Missionary Society in that church on May 9th, 
 and of having elected delegates to attend the conference at First 
 Church, Wilmington. These delegates were Misses Kittle McKin- 
 non and Sallie Morrison. Mrs. J. W. Stanley was first president 
 of the Whiteville society, and Miss Sallie Morrison was secretary 
 and treasurer. And while there was a period of four years in this 
 society when it had only three members, they did not give up, 
 and it was the banner society in gifts one year during this time. 
 
 Mrs. Hall had begun the work of forming missionary societies 
 in our Presbytery as early as January of that year. A letter from 
 Miss Jennie Hanna, St. Louis, Mo., dated January 18, 1888, tells 
 
Organization 17 
 
 of sending' circulars, and commends her efforts to form missionary 
 societies in the churches of her Presbytery. Referring to the ladies 
 of First Church, she says, "I think those of you who are support- 
 ing Dr. Woods could certainly call yourselves 'The Ladies Mission- 
 ary Society,' for you are doing an excellent missionary work." So 
 it is very evident that the women of First Church, Wilmington, had 
 been doing excellent missionary and benevolent work for many years 
 previous to this time, though they were not making any noise 
 about it. But they recognized the fact that the time had arrived 
 when they must take the lead and reach out beyond the bounds of 
 their own church. Hence the organization of the Union. 
 
 Representatives from eleven societies in nine churches responded 
 to the invitation, three of these representing young people's societies. 
 The societies sending delegates were : women's societies of Clark- 
 ton, Mt. Horeb, Goldsboro, Whiteville, Burgaw, Kenansville, Wil- 
 mington First Church, Wilmington Second Church ; young people's 
 societies of Clinton, Goldsboro, and First Church, Wilmington. 
 
 These represented a membership of 228, with contributions for 
 the year ending 188S, $273.75. 
 
 This first convention met in the Lecture Room of the First 
 Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, Wednesday, May 30th, 1888, 
 at 5 P. M. and proceeded to organize the Union. 
 
 In reading the minutes of this early meeting, we are impressed 
 with the business-like precision with which the convention moved. 
 
 Our first devotional was conducted by Dr. Hoge, assisted by 
 Rev. J. C. McMullen of Goldsboro. Mrs. Lewis called the meet- 
 ing to order and presided. Then followed in orderly succession 
 the enrollment of delegates; the election of officers, Mrs B. F. 
 Hall of Wilmington being elected president, and Miss Mary Ander- 
 son of Clinton, secretary; reading of reports from societies; ap- 
 pointment of a committee of five to prepare a constitution for the 
 permanent organization, said committee to submit the same to the 
 convention on the following day at 11 A.M.; the reading of a 
 telegram of greetings to the Union from the Woman's Foreign 
 Missionary Society of ~First Church, Charlotte ; appointment of a 
 committee to send a responsive telegram to the above ; announce- 
 ments; singing of the missionary hymn; adjournment. 
 
 The second day's session met in the same place at 11 A. M., 
 May 31st, 1888. The devotional was conducted by Rev. J. L. Stu- 
 art, returned missionary from China (Hangchow) and Rev. P. L. 
 2 
 
18 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 Hoge, the secretary's minutes stating "after this the gentlemen re- 
 tired." How very conservative and Paul-ine ! 
 
 The outstanding features of that second day's session were the 
 adoption of the constitution; the election of the Executive Com- 
 mittee, composed of the following: Mrs. B. F. Hall, Chairman, 
 Mesdames E. N". Sweet, Julia Fillyaw, J. ]STewton Green, Joseph 
 Archer, D. G. Robeson, Miss Mary Anderson; and the missionary 
 address on Woman's Work in China by Mrs. J. L. Stuart. The 
 meeting adjourned with prayer and the singing of the Doxology, 
 a fitting close to the birthday of the Union of Woman's Organized 
 Work in Wilmington Presbytery. 
 
 Wilmington Presbyterial Union is the second oldest in the Pres- 
 byterian Church, U. S., East Hanover, Va., having organized March 
 2nd, 1888. The following is the Constitution adopted at the organi- 
 zation of the Union in 1888 : 
 
 CONSTITUTION 
 
 OF 
 
 The Ladies' Foreign Missionary Union 
 
 OF 
 
 WILMINGTON PRESBYTERY 
 
 1888 
 
 ARTICLE I.— Name. 
 The name of this organization shall be the Woman's Foreign Mission- 
 ary Union of Wilmington Presbytery. 
 
 ARTICLE II.— Object. 
 The object of this Union shall be: 1. To plant a Woman's Foreign 
 Missionary Society in every church of the Presbytery where there is 
 not one now; 2. To increase the interest and promote the growth of 
 the societies already organized; 3. To aid the General Assembly's Execu- 
 tive Committee in selecting and sending to the field suitable lady mission- 
 aries; 4. To support and cheer our lady missionaries in the field. 
 
 ARTICLE III.— Constituency. 
 All Foreign Missionary Societies of ladies and girls in the churches 
 of this Presbytery shall, upon their enrollment, become constituent mem- 
 bers of this Union. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. — Management. 
 The affairs of this Union shall be in the hands of an Executive Com- 
 mittee of seven, three oT whom, including the Chairman, shall, for con- 
 venience, be located in one place, and shall be known as the Local Com- 
 mittee. 
 
Organization 19 
 
 ARTICLE V. — Annual Convention. 
 The Union shall meet in an Annual Convention to receive the reports 
 of the Societies, and of the Executive Committee, and to consult for the 
 general interests of the Union and of the Foreign Missionary cause. 
 
 ARTICLE VI.— Officers. 
 The officers of the Union shall be a President and Secretary, who shall 
 be elected upon the organization of the Annual Convention, and shall hold 
 their offices until their successors are chosen the following year. 
 
 BY-LAWS 
 
 ARTICLE I. — The Executive Committee. 
 It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee in general to carry 
 out the objects specified in Article II of the Constitution. To that end 
 they may send representatives to visit churches having no Society, or 
 whose Society may need encouragement; or they may accomplish the 
 same ends by correspondence; they shall seek out suitable lady workers 
 for the foreign field, and report them to the Assembly's Executive Com- 
 mittee; they shall endeavor to circulate useful Foreign Missionary litera- 
 ture to stimulate the interest of the women of the Presbytery in this 
 cause; they shall conduct such correspondence as shall seem desirable 
 with lady missionaries in the field; they shall disburse and account for 
 such funds as are placed in their hands; they shall prepare a programme 
 of exercises for the Annual Convention; they shall arrange a place 
 for the Annual Convention, and announce the same through the Sec- 
 retary of the Union not less than two months beforehand; and they 
 shall report their transactions in full to the Convention. Questions of 
 minor importance may be decided by the Local Committee, but on all 
 other matters they shall consult in regular called meetings of the whole 
 Committee (of which four shall constitute a quorum), or shall obtain the 
 consent of the other members by correspondence. 
 
 ARTICLE II. — Duties of Officers. 
 
 It shall be the duty of the President tq preside at the Annual Convention, 
 and open the following Convention with an appropriate address. 
 
 The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings of the 
 Convention, and shall give due notice of the time and place of the suc- 
 ceeding Convention. 
 
 In case either of these offices shall become vacant their places shall 
 be filled by the Executive Committee. 
 
 ARTICLE III.— Reports. 
 Each (Society shall send an annual report to the Convention for the 
 year ending March 31st, previous. The reports shall embrace the follow- 
 ing topics: 1. Date of organization; 2. Present membership; 3. Contribu- 
 tions for the year; 4. Any circumstances of interest in the work or 
 condition of the Society. These reports shall be tabulated and spread 
 upon the records of the Convention. 
 
20 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 ARTICLE IV.— Contingent Fund. 
 The running expenses of the Executive Committee shall he provided 
 for by an Assessment upon each Society at the rate of $1.00 for every 
 ten members. 
 
 ARTICLE V. — Representation. 
 Each Society may be represented in the Annual Convention by as 
 many delegates as they see fit to send; but at the call of any member 
 the Convention shall vote by delegations, the delegation from each Society 
 casting one vote. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. — Amendments. 
 The Constitution or By-Laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of 
 the delegation at any Annual Convention. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 WATERING AND PLANTING 
 
 The second Annual Convention of the Woman's Foreign Mission- 
 ary Union met again in the First Church of Wilmington, June 
 the sixth, 1889. There were twelve delegates from eleven societies 
 present and four new societies had been organized during the year. 
 These were at Faison, Mt. Horeb, Oak Plains and Duplin Roads. 
 There were now fifteen societies belonging to the Union and they 
 had contributed to missions that year $742.50. At this meeting 
 the Union pledged $800 for the support of two women mission- 
 aries. Those assigned us by the Executive Committee were Miss 
 Kate Bias in Brazil, and Miss Robertson, under appointment to 
 go to Japan. Miss Bias later became Mrs. Kate Bias Cowan, and 
 Mr. Cowan, dying in 1894, she continued her successful teaching and 
 evangelistic work at Piumhy Station, East Brazil Mission. Miss 
 Robertson became Mrs. Price, but has been retired on account of 
 ill health. 
 
 Rev. Edward E. Lane addressed this meeting on his work in 
 Brazil; Dr. Alexander Sprunt gave us a sermon at night, and 
 Mr. George C. Worth gave a short address. He had given himself 
 to Foreign Missions, and six years later went to China as a Medical 
 Missionary, where he has continued to labor as Dr. Worth. Mrs. 
 Nathan O'Berry also gave an address at this meeting. 
 
 At this early date we had no secretary of Literature, but , Miss 
 Pass offered a resolution that each society take active measures to 
 increase the circulation of "The Missionary" in their respective 
 congregations. 
 
 It was at this second convention that Mrs. Hall instituted the 
 "Consecration Service," which our Auxilliary has continued to 
 observe with great spiritual benefit at every annual meeting since. 
 It was at this first service that Miss Emma Chadbourn announced 
 the consecration of her life to the foreign field, which decision she 
 carried out later when she went to China in 1895 as Mrs. George 
 Worth. So it is a very natural consequence that our Union has 
 taken a lively and warmly affectionate interest in Dr. and Mrs. 
 Worth and their work to this good day. 
 
 May 7th, 1890, found us in third Annual Convention in the Pres- 
 byterian Church at Goldsboro, with ten delegates present. Miss 
 Robertson, one of the missionaries we were to support, was present 
 
 [211 
 
22 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 and spoke. Mrs. Wardlow of our Brazil Mission gave the mission- 
 ary address. Two young people's and thirteen ladies' societies re- 
 ported at this convention, but the secretary failed to record the 
 membership and the amount contributed. This would indicate that 
 she was more impressed with the program and the spiritual side of 
 the meeting than concerned with the material side. This 1890 con- 
 vention was our last meeting with the Goldsboro ladies, as they were 
 transferred to the Albemarle Presbytery the next year. 
 
 At the suggestion of Presbytery our name was changed to "Pres- 
 bytery's Committee of Foreign Mission Societies." This was done 
 to provide against the contingency that the General Assembly at its 
 next meeting might take adverse action against Woman's Missionary 
 Unions, as overtures from several Presbyteries opposed to Woman's 
 Work, had gone up to the Assembly. This was an unnecessary pre- 
 caution, for be it said to the lasting credit of our church, our General 
 Assembly seemed to hear the Master's voice saying, "Let her alone ; 
 why trouble ye her ? She hath wrought a good work," and it never 
 gave utterance on the question of Woman's organized work except 
 to approve. At the meeting of the General Assembly in 1890, 
 through their Foreign Mission Committee, they prepared a consti- 
 tution asking that it be adopted by all the Unions for the sake of 
 uniformity. It was adopted by ours later. 
 
 Prior to this, in April, 1889, the Wilmington Presbytery adopted 
 
 the following resolution : "That we recommend in all churches the 
 
 formation of Ladies Missionary Societies and their co-operation with 
 
 the Ladies Foreign Missionary Union of Wilmington Presbytery." 
 
 Signed by J. W. Primrose, F. M. Agent. 
 
 April, 1889. 
 
 Again, April, 1890, this report was recorded: 
 
 Our Ladies Missionary Societies have wrought zealously. Their financial 
 year has not yet come to a close, but they have made regular quarterly 
 payments, and fully expect to reach $800.00, the amount proposed. 
 
 J. W. Primrose, F. M. Agent. 
 April, 1890. 
 
 At a meeting of Wilmington Presbytery, First Church Wilming- 
 ton, April, 1890, Rev. Peyton H. Hoge, D. D., presented the following 
 resolution, which was adopted: 
 
 Whereas it appears not improbable from the reports of the different 
 Presbyteries, so far as they have been published, that the General Assem- 
 bly may decide adversely to the formation and maintenance of societies 
 or unions that extend beyond the limits of congregations; and, whereas, 
 
Watering and Planting 23 
 
 the Presbytery of Wilmington does not wish to run counter to the general 
 sentiment of the Church, but does earnestly desire to reap the great 
 benefits that have already resulted from co-operation and united effort in 
 the Foreign Mission work among the women of our churches; Therefore 
 be it resolved, 
 
 1. That the Presbytery of Wilmington appoint annually at its Spring 
 meeting a committee of seven ladies, to be called the Woman's Foreign 
 Missionary Committee of Wilmington Presbytery, whose duties shall be: 
 (1) To aid the women of churches not having Foreign Mission Societies 
 in organizing them; (2) To endeavor to increase the interest and promote 
 the growth of the Societies already organized; (3) To concert plans 
 by which the Societies can unite in the support of particular lady mis- 
 sionaries, and to keep the societies and missionaries in communication with 
 each other, for the stimulation of the societies and the encouragement of 
 the missionaries; (4) To aid the General Assembly's Executive Committee 
 in selecting suitable lady missionaries. These ends may carried out by 
 correspondence, visits to the societies, and by the holding of annual or other 
 conventions. Three of the Committee, including the Chairman, shall, for 
 convenience, be located at one place, and may be constituted a sub-com- 
 mittee to transact minor business; but for all important matters the con- 
 sent of the others should be obtained in writing, when a full meeting 
 cannot be had. The contributions of the societies shall be sent to the 
 Treasurer of the Presbytery, either directly or through the offices of the 
 church, or for convenience, through this Committee, and shall be trans- 
 mitted by him to the Treasurer of the Assembly's Executive Committee on 
 the order of the Chairman of the Woman's Committee. If any society 
 does not, wish any contribution to be subject to this order, it can so state in 
 sending it. It is recommended that the Societies should tax themselves 
 at the rate of $1.00 for every ten members for the running expenses of 
 the Committee, which tax shall be paid directly to the Treasurer of the 
 Committee. The Committee may elect a Secretary and Treasurer from 
 their own number, the Chairman being designated by Presbytery. The 
 Committee should consult with Presbytery's Agent of Foreign Missions 
 upon any matter of perplexity, and shall submit an annual report of all 
 their proceedings to the Spring meeting of Presbytery. 
 
 2. The Committee for the present year shall consist of Mrs. B. F. Hall, 
 Chairman, Mrs. R. N. Sweet, Mrs. W. J. Smith, of Wilmington; Miss Mary 
 Anderson, of Clinton, Mrs. Joseph Archer, of Kenansville, Mrs. D. G. 
 Robeson, of Westbrook, Mrs. J. P. Fearington, of Faison. 
 
 3. The Woman's Foreign Misionary Union as at present organized is here- 
 by dissolved — the dissolution to take effect after the next annual Con- 
 vention. 
 
 4. Rev. J. W. Primrose, Agent of Foreign Missions, with Rev. P. H. Hoge, 
 Alternate, is hereby appointed to visit the Convention and explain the 
 reasons for this action. 
 
 From Minutes of Presbytery, April, 1891. 
 
 The great value of Ladies Missionary Societies as an agency in this 
 work is now fully recognized, and they have received the endorsement of 
 
21 The "Wilmington Presbytekial Auxiliary 
 
 the church, and are worthy of our earnest support and sympathy. The fact 
 that they this year contributed more than one-third of the amount con- 
 tributed, demonstrates their importance and efficiency. The Woman's For- 
 eign Missionary Committee appointed at the last spring Presbytery has 
 wrought zealously and effectively in accomplishing its objects. The excel- 
 lent report of the Chairman, beneath submitted, speaks for itself. There- 
 fore, be it resolved, That Presbytery acknowledge the valuable labor of 
 the Ladies Foreign Missionary Committee, commend their diligence, prom- 
 ise all encouragement and help in their work, approve their report and 
 reappoint the present Committee. 
 
 W. MoO. Miller, Agent, F. M. 
 April, 1891. 
 
 Report of Rev. W. McC. Miller to Presbytery, 1892 at Burgaw 
 Church: "The great value of the Ladies' Missionary Societies 
 as an agency in this work is now more and more apparent." In 
 1893 : u The "Woman's F. M. Committee held two conventions 
 during the year, and your Agent would hereby commend the earnest 
 faithfulness of this Committee, and recommend its reappointment 
 in membership and powers." 
 
 While a few of the ministers in our Presbytery were opposed 
 to women's work, many were warm friends throughout this 
 period of criticism. We have already mentioned Rev. P. H. Hoge 
 as a moving spirit in the organization of our Union, and always a 
 cordial and helpful friend. Mrs. Hall pays grateful tribute to Rev. 
 W. M. Miller of Wilmington for his constant kindness and appreci- 
 ation of woman's work, stating that in public and private he was 
 always ready with advice and suggestion, laboring faithfully for 
 the success of our work. Other faithful and enthusiastic friends 
 and supporters were Rev. Peter Mclntyre, Rev. A. D. McClure of 
 blessed memory, and Rev. J. W. Primrose. 
 
 Of interest in this connection are the following extracts from a 
 letter to Mrs. B. P. Hall, dated Nashville, Tenn., Nov. 28, 1890. 
 
 "I have received today your letter enclosing $2.00 for Missionary Leaflets, 
 I have made a selection which I hope you will find to be very useful in 
 your visiting of the churches. Most of these selected have special reference 
 to the work of the ladies' societies. You will also find in the package 
 a few leaflets addressed especially to ministers. It may be that in some 
 of the churches the visiting Committee may hand a leaflet to the pastor, 
 without giving offense, which may do good. 
 
 "Your Synod is taking the lead in our foreign mission work. May our 
 ^Master make you in all things a noble example to the whole church. 
 
 Respectfully yours, 
 
 M. H. Houston." 
 
Watering and Planting 25 
 
 June, 1891, found us in annual session at Wallace, then Duplin 
 Roads, with, eleven delegates present. Dr. DuBose, of Soochoo, 
 China, gave the missionary address. Mr. Miller also addressed the 
 Union. Pledges amounting to $785.00 were made toward the now 
 necessary $1,100.00, for the support of our two missionaries. Miss 
 Anderson resigned as secretary, and Mrs. W. J. Smith was appointed 
 to fill the vacancy. 
 
 Mrs. DuBose had been invited to make the address at this meeting, 
 and had accepted the invitation, but as she was at her brother's 
 home in Mecklenburg Presbytery, and as he was one of the ministers 
 opposed to women's unions, she did not come to us, but sent Mr. 
 DuBose, while she went to Davidson College to speak to the men ! 
 
 Definite steps were taken at this meeting looking to the organiza- 
 tion of societies in all the churches of the Presbytery. A visiting 
 committee was appointed and asked to find out the churches in our 
 Presbytery having no woman's society, and to visit the same and 
 help them to organize. 
 
 It was at this meeting that the practical suggestion was made by 
 Mrs. S. G. Lewis, that each society pay the expenses of a delegate 
 to the Union, a goal not yet reached by all our auxiliaries. 
 
 June 7th, 1892, the Union met with the Whiteville society as 
 hostess. Though only five delegates were present, ten societies sent 
 reports, and their contributions amounted to $1,075.00, some nearly 
 doubling the contributions of the previous year. Mrs. . Hall being 
 detained on account of illness, Mrs. W. J. Smith presided at the 
 meeting, and Mrs. J. C. Powell acted as secretary pro tern. 
 
 Upon recommendation of the president and the executive com- 
 mittee, the societies were urged to have local conventions and visits 
 from the executive committee. There was no foreign missionary 
 present at this meeting but Dr. Hoge delivered a sermon and Dr. 
 McClure was also present. 
 
 June the 13th, 1893, the convention was held at Faison. The 
 ministers present were Rev. Mclntyre and Rev. A. D. McClure. 
 Mrs. B. F. Hall presided and the Union now embraced fourteen 
 societies. There were reports from twelve and eleven delegate 
 were present. South River was added as a new society. Dr. Butler 
 of Brazil, was the foreign mission speaker at this meeting. 
 
 Dr. McClure had just returned from a meeting of the General 
 Assembly and brought from that court approval and official endorse- 
 ment of woman's work. The contributions this year amounted to 
 twelve hundred and seventeen dollars. Mrs. Hall states that the 
 
26 The Wilmington" Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 meeting owed much of its success to Mrs. Fearington, who was 
 Miss Pass, at our first meeting of the Union, and who was always 
 a helpful and enthusiastic member of the executive committee till 
 she moved to Winston. 
 
 June the 7th, 1894, the Union was held at the Grove church at 
 Kenansville. Five ministers were present, these being Reverends 
 Mclntyre, McMillan, McClure, Sampson and Grinnan. The last 
 two were missionaries, and each delivered an address at this meeting. 
 There were seven delegates present and ten societies reported. The 
 treasurer's report showed that they had all paid their pledges. This 
 year there were eighteen societies in the Union, the largest num- 
 bered during Mrs. Hall's administration. 
 
 The suggestion was made at this meeting that a committee be 
 appointed in each church of the Presbytery to place the call of the 
 mission field before the young people by seeing that "The Mission- 
 ary" came into the home of every family. So, eighteen years ago 
 our Union stood for "Church Paper Week." 
 
 Mrs. W. J. Smith resigned as secretary at this meeting, since 
 she was taking up her residence in South Carolina. For four 
 years we were without a secretary. Mrs. Fearington acted as secre- 
 tary pro tern, at the 1894 meeting, and Miss P. Britt at the 1895 
 meeting. The minutes of this convention record the first service 
 given the young people, with Messrs. Grinnan and Sampson taking 
 part and adding to the interest by a display of curios from China 
 and Japan. 
 
 An interesting service was a missionary palaver conducted by the 
 two missionaries and the three ministers, with the audience asking 
 questions. 
 
 The contributions this year amounted to one thousand and fifty- 
 nine dollars. Mrs. Archer suggested that we have two meetings 
 a year, the second meeting to be held in the fall or winter. ISTo 
 action was taken on the suggestion. 
 
 From the minutes of Presbytery we get the information from 
 Mrs. Hall's report to Presbytery that Mrs. Randolph had been in- 
 vited to address this Convention, but was unable to come before 
 winter. So a second meeting was held in Wilmington (in the fall 
 or winter) and the societies invited. There was no further report 
 of this winter meeting. 
 
 Mrs. Hall tells us that this 1894 meeting was unusual in the 
 number of people at the public services and in the interest mani- 
 fested. 
 
Watering and Planting 27 
 
 In June, 1895, the Union met in St. Andrew's church, Wilmington, 
 with only five delegates present and eight societies reporting. These 
 faithful five who were present to keep the torch of woman's work 
 alive in this Presbytery were : Mrs. Pi. W. Price of First Church, 
 Wilmington, Miss P. Britt of St. Andrew's Church, Wilmington, 
 Miss Janie Cromartie of South River, Mrs. N. H. Sprunt of Grove 
 church, Kenansville and Miss Bell Bowen of Duplin Roads 
 (Wallace). Only two hundred and sixty eight dollars in gifts was 
 reported, though the First Church did not report its gift. This 
 was a year of general financial depression which in a measure ac- 
 counted for the meager attendance and the poor financial report. 
 
 This meeting adjourned after one afternoon session, and Mr. 
 G. W. Painter of our China mission gave the missionary address of 
 the evening. It was a time of discouragement to our faithful 
 president and her co-workers. The responsibility for the Union 
 and the great object that it represented must have borne heavily 
 upon the heart and mind of our consecrated president at that time. 
 One of less faith and courage would doubtless have given up the 
 fight. Mrs. Hall, writing of this meeting, says: "There was such a 
 small attendance and so little interest that those present discussed 
 the advisability of holding our meetings at the same time and place 
 as Presbytery, hoping for better attendance." It was so decided 
 and we find the Union meeting with Presbytery four years, but 
 without the hoped for interest or attendance. These were as follows : 
 In 1896 at Wilmington First Church; no record of delegates in 
 attendance; seven reports sent in; $751.00 contributed. In 1897 
 at Clarkton ; six delegates present ; seven reports were presented, 
 and $618.00 contributed. Mr. Lacanster, returned missionary from 
 China, addressed this meeting. Kew Hope Society joined the Union 
 at this meeting and sent two delegates, Miss Hattie McKeithan 
 and Mrs. Jackson Johnson. The other four delegates were from 
 the Whiteville society and constituted their entire membership. In 
 1898 at Burgaw; reports from nine societies; twelve delegates 
 present; a regular program carried out, and the missionary address 
 given by Mr. Fulton of Japan. The Union had been without a regu- 
 lar secretary for four years, but at this meeting Mrs. E. J. Fennell 
 was appointed secretary and accepted. Contributions reported 
 for this year, $558.00. In 1899, in St. Andrew's Church, Wilming- 
 ton; fourteen delegates present; twelve societies reported $487.00 
 contributed. The report of the number of members at this time 
 was incomplete. At this meeting we had reports from children's 
 societies and Dr. Chester, who was attending Presbytery, addressed 
 
28 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 the Union in the afternoon. Mrs. E. A. McKae, of sainted memory, 
 and Mrs. Jackson Johnson were present, and Mrs. Hall says, "by 
 their presence and participation cheered the heart of the President, 
 and made her feel that the Union was not a failure after all, as it 
 had seemed to be for the last few years." 
 
 The "Mother of our Presbyterial," as Mrs. Hall will always be 
 affectionately remembered, was much in prayer during these dark 
 days, and these two wonderful helpers were sent in direct answer 
 to prayer. 
 
 It was decided at this time not to meet again with Presbytery, so 
 the date of the next meeting was changed to June, and an invita- 
 tion from the Caswell Society to meet with them in 1900 was extend- 
 ed through Miss Eliza Murphy and accepted. This society had just 
 been received into the Union, though it was organized in 1891. 
 When Miss Murphy, upon her return, announced to her society that 
 she had invited the Union to meet with them, there was consterna- 
 tion in the camp. That a weak society in a small church should 
 undertake to entertain the Union and carry out the large program 
 that Miss Murphy had in mind and make it a success, seemed a gigan- 
 tic task. But Miss Murphy, knowing how much benefit her auxil- 
 iary would receive from such a meeting, held her ground, and said 
 the invitation was going to hold if she had to put up tents in her 
 own grove to take care of the delegates. Of course she "triumphed 
 gloriously," and soon her auxiliary was working enthusiastically, 
 assisted most ably by the pastor, Mr. Curtis, in the preliminary work. 
 
 For fully five years before Caswell organized, one of the leading 
 women of the church, Mrs. J. 1ST. Henry, relates that she was accus- 
 tomed to getting letters regularly from Mrs. Hall urging organiza- 
 tion, so finally she said to Miss Murphy, "We might as well organ- 
 ize a missionary society because Mrs. Hall is not going to let up 
 till we do," "Because this widow troubleth me." This illustrates 
 Mrs. Hall's patience and persistence in the pursuit of a purpose, and 
 the enthusiastic meeting at the Caswell church was the fulfillment 
 of the promise, "Let us not be weary in well doing for in due 
 season we shall reap if we faint not." 
 
 So it transpired that the thirteenth annual meeting at the Caswell 
 church was a most successful one as compared with the four preced- 
 ing ones. The) Executive Committee and nine official delegates were 
 present from the eleven societies then composing the Union, besides 
 a number of visitors from the societies whose names appeared on the 
 program. Eleven societies reported 214 members, and $504.00 in 
 
Watering and Planting 29 
 
 contributions. Five of these eleven, viz : Burgaw, Kenansville, St. 
 Andrews, Whiteville and Wilmington, First Church, were charter 
 members of the Union of 1888. Two of the original eleven had 
 been lost when Goldsboro went to Albemarle Presbytery, and the 
 others had "fallen on sleep," while new ones had arisen to take their 
 places. 
 
 Dr. D. C Rankin, Assembly's Foreign Mission Secretary and 
 editor of "The Missionary," was present, addressed the Union and 
 helped in the conferences. He was a man of wonderful personality, 
 and coming straight from the Eucumenical Conference in New 
 York, afire with missionary zeal, he alone was enough to put life 
 into any organization. Rev. E. E. Lane, son of the missionary who 
 was at our second meeting in 1889, gave the opening address. Mr. 
 Curtis, pastor of the church, and Miss Eliza Murphy had thorough- 
 ly advertised the meeting, and Mrs. Hall, reporting it, said, "All 
 the people in the country seemed to have given up their business to 
 come to this meeting." 
 
 At the close of the convention Mrs. Hall tendered her resigna- 
 tion as president, after twelve years of faithful, zealous, often dis- 
 couraged, but ever untiring service. The Union passed resolutions 
 of regret at her withdrawal from the presidency, of love and esteem 
 for her devoted and willing service, and of appreciation for her good 
 work in meeting and overcoming the many difficulties she had en- 
 countered in her efforts? to place the Union on a firm and permanent 
 basis. She was retained in the service of the Union as a member 
 of the Executive Committee. 
 
 Mrs. Jackson Johnson was elected president ; Miss Lillie Boney 
 and Miss Annie Graham, secretaries. The office of vice-president 
 was created at this meeting and Miss Eliza Murphy elected to serve 
 in that capacity. 
 
 Mrs. R. E". Sweet having died since the last meeting, resolutions 
 of respect to her memory were adopted by the Union. 
 
 It was on the night previous to one of these meetings of the 
 Union with Presbytery that the following incident took place. A 
 certain minister, on his way to Presbytery, was spending the night 
 in Mrs. Hall's home. In talking over the work, Mrs. Hall said 
 that there was so little interest and so much opposition from the 
 men, that she was considering the advisability of the Union's dis- 
 banding. This minister being one of those who did not favor 
 woman's work, heartily agreed. Whereupon Mrs. Hall brought a 
 determined foot down with a resounding thump, and laconically ex- 
 
30 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 claimed, "Well, it shan't ! " That "shan't" made history, and that 
 minister did woman's work in this Presbytery more good than he 
 intended, for he put the determination into the heart of our leader 
 that opposition often brings to the high-spirited, and she decided, 
 "Better, like Hector, in the field to die, 
 Than like a perfumed Paris, turn and fly." 
 
 Truly, "courage mounteth with occasion," and like David of old, 
 she resolved : "Thy servant shall go and fight with this Philistine." 
 
 There is no mention in the minutes of Executive Committee 
 meetings during Mrs. Hall's administration, but they were doubt- 
 less held regularly. As the minutes were not printed until 1901, 
 many things historically interesting were omitted from the written 
 minutes. It is a distinct loss that only two of Mrs. Hall's annual 
 addresses have come down to us. These are so characteristic that 
 it is a joy to preserve them in a work of this kind. 
 
 Convention of F. M. Societies at Goldsboro, 1890. 
 
 This is the third meeting of the Fw M. Societies of Wilmington Presbytery 
 in Convention, and we are especially glad to meet in Goldsboro this year 
 as besides being a first visit it will also be a farewell, the new Presby- 
 tery of Albemarle claiming the society now. 
 
 Though we are sorry to part with the ladies of Goldsboro we hope the 
 change will not lessen our interest in each other, and while they devote 
 their energies towards helping to increase the number of societies and to 
 deepening the interest in the cause of missions throughout the new Presby- 
 tery, we would pray that God's blessings may go with them to their new 
 field and hope that, however great their progress in the work, that ours 
 may keep up with it. 
 
 As Dr. Hoge will explain to you the action of Presbytery in taking us 
 under its immediate care and appointing our committees, I will say nothing 
 about it, except to express my belief that this action will be very gratifying 
 to many ladies and will doubtless add to the efficiency of our work. 
 
 Now that we are organized under the authority of Presbytery and have 
 our own missionary to inspire us, we ought to do more than ever before. 
 
 I hoped to have a letter from Miss Bias, but the convention being held 
 earlier this year, I have not given it time to reach us. Mrs. Fearington has, 
 however, promised me a letter from Miss Bias to her, written some years 
 ago, which will doubtless serve to make you more interested in her and 
 better acquainted with her work, and when her letter arrives I will have 
 it copied and sent to the societies. You remember we had Mr, Lane with us 
 at our last convention, and those who heard him will not forget his praise 
 of Miss Bias, who proved herself such a worthy assistant to Miss Kemper, 
 and was so devoted to her work during the epidemic of Yellow Fever. 
 A sad bit of news from Campinas is the death of Mr. Dabney on the 
 eve of his return home. 
 
Watering and Planting 31 
 
 We are happy today to have with us another missionary, who can not 
 only tell us of the work in Brazil, but also interesting news from our 
 own State of several who are getting ready to go as missionaries. Mrs. 
 Wardlow expects to leave for Brazil very soon and I know you will all be 
 glad to send greetings to our friends at Cearia. We have been praying that 
 the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into His harvest and 
 He is answering our prayer. 
 
 Now our conduct will show to ourselves whether we are in earnest or 
 not. Sometimes it seems that we really did not want what we ask for, 
 for when God opens His hand and gives us our desire we often do not 
 recognize it, and are slow to appropriate it. The church has so often 
 to call on Christians for more money to send those who offer to go, as 
 we believe, in answer to our prayers. 
 
 When I wrote to Dr. Houston asking that the contributions of the Union 
 should be applied to the support of Miss Bias, and Miss Robertson when 
 she should be appointed, he wrote — "Miss Robertson has already been ap- 
 pointed by the Executive Committee a missioner to Japan to go out in the 
 Fall if the state of the treasury will permit. This condition was mentioned 
 because we have had fourteen (14) missionaries added to our force in the 
 Foreign field during the last year, and we have ten other missionaries, in- 
 cluding Miss Robertson, now under appointment. The resources of our 
 Foreign missionary work will therefore be taxed to their utmost during the 
 present year. This is a loud call, I think, from the Master to all our churches 
 to rally to the support of the work as never before. He has been ex- 
 ceedingly good to us during the past year. All the expenses of the 
 work have been met without borrowing a dollar from any quarter. This 
 was owing in part to an increase in receipts from legacies, which we 
 can hardly expect to be repeated another year. The churches, however, 
 can easjly make up all that is needed for their work if they only have a 
 ready mind. Let us pray earnestly that this may be the case. The goodness 
 of our Master to us during the past year should certainly encourage us 
 to expect great things from Him and to attempt great things for Him." 
 I have quoted Dr. Houston for the benefit of us all. Mrs. Wardlaw will 
 tell us, I hope, of several North Carolinians who expect to go to Brazil, 
 and it is a matter of thanksgiving that our own State is coming forward 
 and offering her own sons and daughters as missionaries. 
 
 Now the question is, What will we do with them? Accept them as sent 
 from God and contribute what we can to send the Gospel by their hands, 
 or stand idly back, saying, in effect, we did not mean what we said 
 when we asked for more laborers. We have as much as we can do to 
 care for those we have. Oh, let us not mock God by asking for what we 
 don't want. The women of our State have a great responsibility upon 
 them. Their power is felt not only in the heathen world but in the church 
 at home. At the last meeting of Presbytery some of the churches had 
 unusually good reports of contributions during the year, and I notice that 
 those were the churches that had Ladies' Societies at work. 
 
 The ministers themselves feel encouraged and strengthened and as a matter 
 of course it does our missionaries good to know that loving hearts are 
 praying for them and loving hands working for them while they are 
 
32 The "Wilaiixgtox Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 far away from old ties of home and friends, and we are strengthened 
 ourselves. 
 
 Now for the work that is nearest our hands, and let us do it with all 
 our might. Let each one of us feel responsible for the success of the 
 Union. 
 
 We pledged ourselves the past year to raise $800. That is done, 
 I believe, but as it could not be appropriated in the way we expected, 
 we will have to work harder and do all we can to press others into the 
 service, as we need $300 more if we keep up with what we want to do, 
 which is to claim the honor of contributing the whole support of Miss 
 Robertson and Miss Bias. 
 
 We can do it if every member of each society will do what she can; 
 in fact we could do more. Will we be satisfied with less? 
 
 "Whatsoever He saith unto you do it," and the water we draw in His 
 cause will become wine in the drawing. 
 
 May we each be able to say "I know whom I believe," and working in His 
 strength prove that all things are possible to him that believeth." 
 
 (Thanking you again for your welcome.) 
 
 Report of Mrs. B. F. Hall to the Union, June 28, 1900. 
 
 It is now twelve years since this Foreign Missionary Union of Wil- 
 mington Presbytery was organized in Wilmington, during a visit of our 
 honored missionaries, Dr. and Mrs. Stuart, of China. There are some 
 here now, more than I know, I hope, who were at that first meeting, and 
 can testify to the enthusiasm manifested, and the general enjoyment in 
 the organization of the work. It was at this meeting that our young 
 member, who has since been in China for several years, first committed 
 herself to the foreign work. It was at this meeting, too, that the Ladies 
 Foreign Missionary Society of the First Church of Wilmington, as at 
 present constituted, was formed, and it has done much good work since, 
 though it has come through vicissitudes that affect not only itself, but 
 this Union as well. 
 
 The years immediately following the organization were working years 
 for the Union, and I have in the Minutes of Presbytery, for the year 1891, 
 the published report of your Chairman, to Presbytery, for the year end- 
 ing March 31, 1891, which I would like to read for your information, 
 as it is the only published report I have access to. 
 
 I would remind you that we organized as the Ladies Foreign Mission- 
 ary Union of Wilmington Presbytery, and we were the second Union in 
 the field, East Hanover being less than a month before us. There was 
 a feeling in the air, however, during the following winter, that the 
 women of our Southern Presbyterian Church were reaching out to do 
 more work than legitimately belonged to them, and some of our Presby- 
 teries were overturing the General Assembly to have them stopped. 
 The women of Wilmington Presbytery being very law abiding and very 
 much afraid of doing anything that would seem to call in question the 
 authority of Presbytery, there seemed to be a reason for our Presbytery 
 
Watering and Planting 33 
 
 to make some deliverance in view of a possible adverse decision of the 
 General Assembly to the existence of unions or societies that extend 
 beyond the limits of congregations. 
 
 So, at the Spring meeting of 1890, it was resolved: 
 
 "That the Presbytery of "Wilmington appoint annually, at its Spring 
 meeting, a committee of seven ladies, to be called the Woman's Foreign 
 Missionary Committee of Wilmington Presbytery, whose duties shall be, etc. 
 
 "The Committee for the present year shall consist of: Mrs. B. F. Hall, 
 Chairman; Mrs. R. N. Sweet, and Mrs. W. J. Smith, of Wilmington, Miss 
 Mary Anderson, of Clinton, Mrs. Joseph Archer, of Kenansville, Mrs. 
 D. G. Robeson, of Westbrook, and Mrs. Fearington, of Faison, and that 
 the Union, as now constituted, be dissolved." 
 
 There are only two of the original Committee left to serve now, 
 though the places have been filled by others, except one, and in the 
 discussion which is on the program, as to, "What changes can we make 
 to increase the influence and usefulness of the Union?" I hope you will 
 discuss thoroughly the change of officers, and the available material which 
 has not been brought out yet. Also, whether it is better, as some of us 
 think, to change back to our original name, as we have always called 
 ourselves the Union of Wilmington Presbytery. 
 
 Presbytery will be glad to sanction anything we may do now, as in 
 these past years, nothing has encouraged the officers of our church more 
 than the development of the work by the women. Our Secretary is 
 in full accord with it, as is also the Editor of "The Missionary," who is 
 with us at this meeting. (This is the report just after the change was 
 made.) 
 
 It has seemed to me desirable to give you this sketch of our earlier 
 years, partly to call your attention to the larger work which we did then, 
 and to ask if the time has not come to gather up our forces, take account 
 of them and of the work which is ours to do, with them, and see that 
 we use them to the best advantage. There is plenty of material in this 
 Presbytery to devise, and plenty to carry out plans, so let us pray for 
 God's guidance, and go forward. 
 
 We should pray for God's guidance, and then be on the lookout to see how 
 He leads us, not say, "I'll do what you want me to do, dear Lord, I'll 
 say what you want me to say," and then do what we are pretty sure, 
 without asking, He does not want us to do, and say what He never wants 
 anyone to say, "I can't." We are all here to use the talents He gives 
 us, and to every one He has given one talent, if not many, and we know 
 not how long we may keep them. We have no choice, but must use 
 them or be condemned. , 
 
 Since we last met one of our faithful ones has been called up higher, 
 to give account of how she used hers, and what a joy it must have been 
 to her to go from work to reward. Mrs. Sweet was one of the members 
 of this Union, one of the Executive Committee, and she was always 
 interested in its work. To her was given a place on the program, and 
 it would have been filled, I have no doubt, to the best of her ability. 
 3 
 
34 The Wilmington Pbesbytebial Auxiliary 
 
 She was teacher in Sunday School and spent much of her time in study and 
 preparation for that, and she was also much interested in the work of 
 the King's Daughters, and was State Secretary for some years. She 
 had been at home only a few days from the Annual meeting, and had, 
 the day she died, attended the meeting of her circle and given her report. 
 They say it was a very interesting meeting, and she was much moved. She 
 always strived to develop the spiritual side of every work, and the desire 
 was specially manifest on that day. A friend parted with her at the 
 door of her home, and in fifteen minutes afterwards she was found 
 dead — with her bonnet still on and her parasol beside her. What if we 
 were called in the same way? Would we be ready as she was? Let 
 us be up and doing while we may, feeling that we cannot do too 
 much, but may be sorry one day that we did not do more, and may God 
 bless and accept our work for the coming year, working in us to will 
 and to do of His good pleasure. 
 
 This, 1900, meeting closed Mrs. Hall's twelve years of arduous 
 and continuous service as president of the Union. Truly she had 
 borne the heat and burden of the day in these first critical, forma- 
 tive years, when our women were in the primer stage of systematic 
 giving, regular meetings, program building, accurate reporting and 
 the like; and when not only active opposition of church sessions, 
 but the more deadly inactive indifference of church women, had 
 to be combatted. She kept the missionary fires alight in our Pres- 
 byterial even in the darkest and stormiest years. Truly it could 
 have been said of her as of Solomon's model woman, "Her candle 
 goeth not out by night." "While the societies in the Union had 
 made no appreciable progress in numbers during these years, yet 
 the gifts in the most inactive years, with the exception of 1895, 
 more than doubled the amount reported at the organization of the 
 Union. In the majority of the years the increase in gifts was from 
 300 to 500 per cent. Moreover the leaven of unselfish, devoted 
 service and consecrated prayer was at work, and the seed then sown 
 bore abundant harvest in later years. 
 
 Her ambition was to have a missionary society in every church 
 and every woman a member of the society. She retired from the 
 active leadership of the Union, like the faithful one of old, "not 
 having received the promises but beholding them afar." 
 
Mks. Jackson Johnson, 
 
 Second President of the Presbyterial, 
 1900-1913. 
 
CHAPTEK III. 
 GROWTH AND EXPANSION 
 
 June 18 and 19, 1901, the Woman's Foreign Missionary Union 
 of Wilmington Presbytery met in Warsaw, with Mrs. Jackson John- 
 son, our new president, presiding. Ten societies reported at this, 
 representing a membership of 233, with contributions aggregating 
 $629.00. 
 
 Mrs. T. B. Peirce was elected second vice-president. Mesdames 
 G. W. McMillan, W. T. Bannerman and B. B. Witherington were 
 added to the Executive Committee. Dr. George Butler gave the 
 foreign mission address, on his work in Brazil. 
 
 The outstanding feature of the meeting was the wonderful inspi- 
 rational address by Dr. J. M. Wells, taking as his theme the 
 forward movement in missions, its importance, opportuneness and 
 significance. His text was from II Samuel, 5 :24 : "And let it be 
 when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry 
 trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord 
 go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines." It was 
 delivered with great earnestness and power, and is still talked of 
 by those present at that meeting. 
 
 During the two days' meeting, besides the business reports, eight 
 papers were read on mission topics of interest to the Union. 
 
 Recording this meeting, our first printed Minutes appear, a modest 
 leaflet of fouri pages and binding, containing the condensed Minutes, 
 the treasurer's report and a statistical table of the societies re- 
 porting. 
 
 In 1902 the Union met July 9th and 10th, at South River Church. 
 Mrs. Johnson having been detained by illness, First Vice-President 
 Miss Eliza Murphy presided. Fifteen societies sent in reports, 
 the new ones being Chadbourn, Oak Plains, Elizabeth McRae of 
 First Church, Wilmington, and Cronly Young People's Society. 
 Burgaw and Kenansville did not appear on the list this year, but 
 Black River, Clinton, Faison, Kerr and Caswell Young People 
 reappear. We now had reported 319 members, contributing 
 $678.00, an increase of $50.00 over the previous year. The pres- 
 ident's report showed that Wilmington First Church had the largest 
 gain in members (seven), and Whiteville showed the largest average 
 amount per member, ($5.50). The report showed also that our 
 
 [35] 
 
36 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 president had been doing active work, and she gave the following 
 excellent recommendations : First, that the Union embrace Home 
 Mission work in addition to Foreign ; second, that the young people's 
 work be pushed; third, that the circulation of our church literature 
 be emphasized; fourth, that our societies observe the Week of 
 Prayer, stating tersely and trenchantly, "Today, as of old, prayer 
 can divide every Red Sea and roll back every Jordan." 
 
 Following out the second recommendation, the office of Young 
 People's Agent was created at this convention, and Mrs. J. C. 
 Stewart was elected to fill it. Only three young people's societies 
 were reported at this meeting and were: The Earnest Workers of 
 Caswell Church, organized April, 1898 ; the Missionary Band of 
 Black River Church, organized September, 1898, and the Little 
 Workers of South River Church, organized March, 1899. Under 
 the efficient leadership of Mrs. Stewart, our young people's work 
 took on new life, as will be noted later on. 
 
 The following officers were elected : President, Mrs. Jackson John- 
 son; vice-presidents, Misses Eliza Murphy and J. D. Wood; record- 
 ing secretary and treasurer, Miss Katherine Cromartie. At an 
 executive committee meeting in August, 1902, Miss Annie Paddi- 
 son was elected corresponding secretary, the first mention we have 
 of this office except in our constitution. The names of Mrs. E. A. 
 McRae, Mrs. Ellen Fennell, Mrs. A. D. McClure and Mrs. J. B. 
 Moore appear as members of the executive committee. 
 
 The president, in her annual address (1902), asked that the ladies 
 present discuss the advisability of having a meeting each Fall, "for 
 the purpose of waiting on God in prayer." At least three members 
 had come to the Spring meeting of the Executive Committee eagerly 
 anxious that we establish a Day of Prayer, these being Mrs. Johnson, 
 Mrs. Hall and Miss Murphy. The idea had come to them from 
 reading an account of an all-day prayer meeting held during the 
 first week of the year in the First Presbyterian Church of Nash- 
 ville, ISTo action was taken at the annual meeting of 1902, but 
 at an executive committee meeting, August 18, 1902, it was decided 
 that a meeting be held in the Sunday School room of the First 
 Church, Wilmington, on Saturday, October 11th, 1902, and "that 
 this be a devotional meeting for the purpose of Prayer and Praise." 
 
 Another meeting of the executive committee was called for the 
 next morning to prepare a program for the Day of Prayer and 
 Praise. 
 
 The following notice was sent to the societies : 
 
Growth and Expansion 37 
 
 Wilmington, N. C, September 16th, 1902. 
 
 The Executive Committee of the Woman's Missionary Union of Wilming- 
 ton Presbytery has appointed October 11th for a day of prayer for missions, 
 to be observed by the whole Union, and has ordered a program arranged 
 for a devotional meeting. The Foreign Missionary Society of the First 
 Church, Wilmington, has invited the Union to meet there in the Lecture 
 Room. 
 
 The program tells of a very special treat in store for us, and the 
 Committee earnestly hopes for a large attendance. The ladies will be 
 guests of the First Church; and, since the day selected is Saturday, as 
 many as can are cordially invited to remain over Sunday. It will be 
 a help if those who hope to attend will send their names to Mrs. B. F. 
 Hall, Wilmington. 
 
 May God richly bless this Day of Prayer. 
 
 Annie Paddison, 
 Corresponding Secretary of the Union. 
 
 The following concise account of this first Day of Prayer, as 
 reported by Miss Eliza Murphy, secretary pro tern., appears in the 
 written minutes of 1902 and is of significant interest : 
 
 "The first annual Day of Prayer was held at the First Church, 
 Wilmington, in the Lecture Room, on October 11th, 1902. It was 
 truly a feast of good things. A warm and inspiring address of wel- 
 come from Dr. Wells, pastor; soul-stirring addresses by Mrs. H. C. 
 DuBose and our own missionary, Mrs. George Worth ; an address 
 on enthusiasm by our beloved Mrs. McRae; much prayer, silent 
 and voiced. We came away feeling that, having asked, we would 
 receive." 
 
 It was at this first Day of Prayer that Mrs. Worth told of the 
 poor hospital facilities at Kiangyin, and yet what wonderful work 
 was being done there by Dr. Worth. This great need was laid 
 upon our hearts, and the seed sown bore fruit later. 
 
 Ours was the first Presbyterial, and for many years the only 
 one in our Assembly to observe a Day of Prayer as a regular 
 and annual meeting. God has set His seal upon the day in many 
 and signal ways, and since its inauguration we have continued to 
 observe it with much spiritual benefit. Rev. R. L. Wharton, whom 
 we invited to speak to us on the Day of Prayer, 1905, said that 
 from the time he received the invitation there had been singing 
 in his heart and in his ears, "A Day of Prayer, A Day of Prayer!" 
 and that we could never know just how much it meant to him, 
 and to other missionaries who would hear of such a day, to know 
 that the women of this Presbytery had set aside a whole day and 
 
38 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 united in petitions for the work of the Master and His servants 
 in the Home and Foreign fields. He said, "This is holding up 
 the hands of your missionaries in the best possible way." 
 
 "More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." 
 I am moved to relate in this connection a true story of the pre- 
 vailing prayer life of Mrs. Elizabeth McRae, as told to me by 
 one of her close friends. They were discussing the needs of the 
 Kingdom, shortly before her death, and, speaking of a certain 
 wealthy friend, in a voice almost of awe at what she had done, she 
 said, "Do you know I have dared to ask the Lord that he give to 
 the Church, not by the thousands, as he now does, but by the ten 
 thousands!" Shortly afterwards, at the Birmingham Layman's 
 convention he was one of three laymen to give ten thousand to 
 missions, the beginning of his princely giving, which has since run 
 into the hundred thousands ! "Abundantly above all that we ask 
 or think." 
 
 Mrs. Johnson's annual report of 1902 recorded some discourage- 
 ments, too, as for instance, an Executive Committee meeting when 
 only the president was present ; and again, seeking to ascertain the 
 exact number of societies in the Presbytery, she wrote to every 
 minister within our bounds, and received four replies ! Did she 
 give up ? She wrote again asking them to send a woman delegate 
 from each of their churches to the Union convention at South River. 
 
 The annual meeting of 1903 convened at Chadbourn Church, 
 June 18th and 19th. There was a full attendance of both 
 adults and young people, interesting programs were carried out, 
 and delightful fellowship prevailed. In the Minutes it is described 
 as "a glorious gathering, full of new inspiration and blessed by 
 the presence of the Holy Spirit," The missionary address was 
 given by Dr. McClure. Eight new societies had been added during 
 the year; the Union now had twenty-four ladies' and twelve chil- 
 dren's societies, a total of thirty-six, with a membership of 550, and 
 contributions (reported), $848.00. Of these, eighteen ladies' and 
 eleven children's societies sent in reports. 
 
 Our Union was the first to embrace young people's work, and 
 this we had done from the beginning, but this was the first time 
 there had been a program given over to the young people. On 
 Wednesday afternoon the following program was rendered: Devo- 
 tional, Miss E. W. Murphy; report of children's work, Mrs. J. C. 
 Stewart; best method of developing children's work, Mrs. A. A. 
 Willard; papers, China, Mary Colvin; Brazil, Marie Russell; Mex- 
 
Growth and Expansion 39 
 
 ico, Edna McWilliams; Japan, Charlotte Duffy; Africa, Ethel 
 Hanna; Korea, Cora Moore; Cuba, Ethel Clark. Solos, Daisy 
 Maultsby, Mary Hannis Whitted; readings, Mary Sloan, Mary 
 Corbett and Florence/ Pearsall. 
 
 Though our Minutes show that at the 1902 convention a memorial 
 was read of Mrs. Rebecca Lamb, yet the first Memorial Service 
 recorded was conducted by Mrs. Jackson Johnson, at the annual 
 meeting at Chadbourn, June 18th, 1903. She read from the 21st 
 and 22nd chapters of Revelation and gave memorials of Rev. C. R. 
 Morton of Brazil and Dr. Rankin. Memorials were read of the 
 following society members who had fallen asleep since our last 
 meeting: Mrs. Hattie Corbett and Mrs. May Murphy Corbett of 
 Black River; Mrs. Patience Brown of Chadbourn; Miss Myrtle 
 Boney of Wallace and little Bradley Parker of South River. Miss 
 Murphy mentioned the death of Charles Lucas of Caswell, and 
 Jean Pond, small daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Worth. The 
 Memorial Service became a feature of our annual meetings. 
 
 Following the president's recommendation of the preceding annual 
 meeting, the Union this year embraced the Home Mission societies, 
 a forward step in broadening the work. 
 
 At the close of the convention, both a Woman's and a Young 
 People's Foreign Missionary Society were organized in Chadbourn 
 Church. There had been an active Home Mission Society in this 
 church from the erection of the church building. 
 
 The Day of Prayer in 1903 was held in the Burgaw Church. 
 The following account, which appeared in the "Presbyterian Stand- 
 ard," has been preserved: "On October 3 (1903) the Woman's 
 Missionary Union of Wilmington Presbytery held in the church at 
 Burgaw, a day of prayer and a farewell meeting in view of the 
 return of Dr. and Mrs. George C. Worth to China. Devotional exer- 
 cises were conducted by Rev. T. D. Johnson, pastor of the church, 
 and Dr. Worth delivered an address of rare excellence and help- 
 fulness. 
 
 "At 4 o'clock the special farewell service was conducted by Dr. 
 A. D. McClure. Dr. and Mrs. Worth are peculiarly our mission- 
 aries, going out from our Presbytery. Their desire for others to 
 go out from this Presbytery was emphasized, and prayer was made 
 especially for more laborers. The parting was tender, and all went 
 away resolved to do more for missions." 
 
40 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 Mrs. Johnson said of the meeting, "It was one never to be forgot- 
 ten by those of us who were there. We sat verily in heavenly places 
 those all too brief hours." 
 
 At this Day of Prayer, Miss Mary Henry having resigned as 
 corresponding secretary, the Executive Committee elected Miss Annie 
 Moore to that office. 
 
 Four meetings of the Executive Committee were held between 
 the annual meetings of 1903 and 1904. 
 
 The annual convention of 1904 was a notable one. The ladies 
 of Faison Church were our hostesses. There was a two days' ses- 
 sion, June 15th and 16th, with thirteen delegates from women's 
 societies and eleven from young people's bands. Our foreign mission 
 addresses were by Rev. L. L. Little and Mrs. J. L. Crowley. Rev. 
 T. D. Johnson gave an address at the first evening session. The 
 officers elected for the ensuing two years were : President, Mrs. 
 Jackson Johnson ; vice-presidents, Misses Eliza Murphy and Mar- 
 garet Pierce ; corresponding secretary, Miss Annie Moore ; recording 
 secretary and treasurer, Miss Mary DeVane; agent for Young Peo- 
 ple's Work, Mrs. J. C. Stewart. 
 
 It was at this meeting that the Union undertook to build the 
 Kiangyin Hospital for Dr. Worth, and Miss Eliza Murphy was ap- 
 pointed agent for the fund. The amount to be raised was $4,000.00. 
 Miss Murphy was also Chairman of the Organizing Committee, 
 and did efficient work for both these causes on her visits to the 
 societies. 
 
 For special home mission work, we undertook to raise a scholar- 
 ship for Lees-McRae Institute, the mountain school at Banner Elk. 
 This was to be given in honor of Mrs. E. A. McRae, who had 
 labored so faithfully and long for home and foreign missions, both 
 in the mountains and in Fayetteville and Wilmington Unions. Our 
 part was $500.00 and the Fayetteville Union was to raise the other 
 $500.00. 
 
 Twelve new societies were reported, making a total of forty-one, 
 with a membership of 821, and contributing $1,136.00. Our presi- 
 dent said that these figures marked the minimum of our development, 
 placing as of more importance our increased personal knowledge 
 of the work and devotion to it, the new life and interest manifested 
 in the local societies, and the willingness of members to respond to 
 the duties assigned them. The growth of our young people's work 
 was most gratifying. 
 
Growth and Expansion 41 
 
 At this convention we find onr wide-awake president making two 
 important recommendations, viz : 1. That our societies and bands 
 have mission study classes; 2. That one session of our annual 
 meeting be given to Bible study along the line of a Bible Institute. 
 
 The Day of Prayer was held this year (1904), October 15th, 
 at the Wallace Church. Mrs. Johnson said of it : "It was the most 
 blessed meeting of the kind we had ever had." Addresses were 
 made by Dr. Wells, Mr. Crowley, and Mr. Vass of the Congo 
 Mission, and Miss Mary Devane gives a full resume of the addresses 
 and other exercises of the day in the written Minutes of the secre- 
 tary's book. 
 
 The annual meeting of 1905 was held in the Lecture Room of 
 the First Church, Wilmington, June 14th and 15th. There were 
 eighteen societies represented, and about sixty delegates in attend- 
 ance. The chief features of this meeting were addresses by Dr. 
 Phillips on Japan and on Organization ; by Dr. Mattie Ingold 
 of Chunju, Korea, and by Dr. J. O. Reavis on Foreign Missions. 
 
 Contributions from women's and young people's societies aggre- 
 gated $1,451.00. The president's report showed that the work 
 was moving along satisfactorily, and that mission study classes 
 were growing. Nothing new had been launched this year. 
 
 The Day of Prayer for 1905 was held at Black River Church, 
 September 29th, and was well attended. Talks and addresses were 
 given by Rev. R. M. Mann, Rev. R. L. Wharton, of our Cuba 
 Mission, Rev. L. W. Curtis and Mrs. Price, of our Japan Mission. 
 
 Mrs. Hall reported the completion of the Lees-McRae scholar- 
 ship at this meeting, the last $15.00 having been contributed at 
 the executive committee meeting in August. Mrs. Jackson Johnson 
 had the honor of giving the first dollar on this fund. Miss Murphy 
 did the first field work for it, at Mrs. Hall's request, while solicit- 
 ing for the Hospital Fund, of which she was agent. 
 
 The year 1906 found us in annual convention, June 13th and 
 14th, at the Clariton Presbyterian Church, with sixteen societies 
 represented. Upon the suggestion of Mrs. Hall it was decided to 
 establish a scholarship for -James Sprunt Institute, our Presbyterial 
 School for Girls at Kenansville. Mrs. Hall was appointed to take 
 charge of this work. She had first made the suggestion at the exec- 
 utive committee meeting in August, when the Lees-McRae scholar- 
 ship had been completed, saying the committee had inspired her to 
 suggest this new work. Since that meeting, and on October the 15th, 
 1905, there had passed into the Beyond a much loved student of 
 
42 The Wilmingtok Peesbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 the Institute, May Johnson. In her first year at the institution she 
 had consecrated her life to mission service, and following her death, 
 faculty and students were planning to erect a memorial to her in 
 the form of a Loan Fund or scholarship at the Institute. Miss 
 ]\Iurphy learned of this decision, and suggested that we combine on 
 it, which wasi agreed upon, the school giving the initial contribution. 
 It was christened the "May Johnson Scholarship." 
 
 The financial work of the Union for the year had been the 
 raising of the fund for the Worth Hospital, and the completion of 
 the Elizabeth McRae Scholarship. 
 
 Four executive committee meetings had been held during the 
 year, at one of which a special! program on "The Study of Wilming- 
 ton Presbytery, and the Woman's Missionary Union" was prepared 
 and sent to all the societies to be used at their May meetings. 
 
 The name of Mrs. C. R. Knight appears as a member of the 
 Executive Committee. 
 
 Mr. Rowland, member of our Executive Committee at Nashville, 
 addressed an evening meeting on "Missions in the Sunday School," 
 and Rev. R. M. Williams gave a Home Mission address. 
 
 Five new societies had been organized during the year, and the 
 gifts from all societies and bands aggregated $2,044.00. 
 
 The following officers were elected for two years: 
 
 President, Mrs. Jackson Johnson; first vice-president, Mrs. J. 
 A. Brown ; second vice-president, Miss Margaret Pierce ; correspond- 
 ing secretary, Miss Annie Moore; recording secretary, Miss Miriam 
 McFadyen; agent of young people's work, Mrs. J. C. Stewart; as- 
 sistant agent of young people's work, Mrs. W. T. Bannerman. 
 
 The Day of Prayer for 1£06 was held at Warsaw, October 6th, 
 An address by Dr. A. L. Phillips, the Bible Hour, conducted by 
 Dr. McClure, and an "Open Parliament," conducted by Mrs. J. A. 
 Brown, were the special features of the meeting. 
 
 At an executive committee meeting March 21st, 1906, we note the 
 first mention in our Union of a North Carolina Synodical Union. 
 The subject was introduced by Mrs. Hall, and left open to dis- 
 cussion at the annual meeting in June. There is no record that 
 the matter was taken up at the June meeting, the time probably 
 not being ripe for this step. 
 
 The convention of 1907 was held in Wallace Presbyterian Church, 
 June 13th and 14th, having nineteen women's societies represented 
 by delegates and twenty-two sending reports, while nineteen reports 
 were sent in by young people's societies. 
 
Growth and Expansion 43 
 
 Mrs. Johnson urged the necessity of a Presbyterial Visitor to 
 organize new societies and encourage old ones. 
 
 Miss Jessie Hall, our third missionary to China, sailing the 
 following September, was present and conducted a Prayer and Praise 
 service. The subject of State organization was discussed at this 
 meeting, the suggestion coming from the Albemarle Union. It 
 received the enthusiastic endorsement of our president, Mrs. John- 
 son, who said in her report, "In my judgment it is a step forward 
 that will strengthen our work and multiply our usefulness." Fea- 
 turing this meeting were Picture Talks on Japan and Korea by 
 Mr. Cameron Johnson, a home mission address by Dr. McClure, 
 and a farewell message to the Union from Mrs. McRae, sent a few 
 days before her death. This message, so characteristic of this 
 militant saint, was as follows : "Hearty greetings and congratula- 
 tions. Go forward in the work! For the King's business requires 
 haste. "We must be up and doing, for the night cometh when no 
 man can work. Whatever else we leave undone, we must do the 
 Lord's work." 
 
 The memory of this great hearted, gifted woman lingers with us 
 as a fragrant ointment. The historian of Center Church, Fayette- 
 ville Presbytery, said of her, among other things : 
 
 "Perhaps her chief work was the organizing of Foreign Mission- 
 ary Societies in the different churches of the Presbytery, and later 
 in organizing these into the Missionary Union of the Presbytery. 
 She visited over sixty churches in the Fayetteville Presbytery at her 
 own expense, and endured, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, the 
 hardships and discouragement incident to such work. The Mission- 
 ary Union of this Presbytery, those of other Presbyteries, organized 
 or quickened by her zeal, the hundreds, yea, thousands of immortal 
 souls that have been, and will be in the future, won through agen- 
 cies launched by this woman, constitute her monument that will 
 endure in undiminished grandeur when the earth and! the works that 
 are therein have been burned up and the elements melted with 
 fervent heat. For more than fifty of the eighty-three years of her life 
 she was a member of Center Church, and her ashes lie in the ceme- 
 tery near us." 
 
 The Worth Hospital Fund of $4,000.00 was reported as com- 
 pleted by Miss Murphy, agent. This fund was undertaken by the 
 Union in 1904, and Miss Murphy deserves especial commendation 
 for her untiring efforts in completing it in so short a time. Though 
 often physically unfit, she went up and down the Presbytery, instant 
 
44 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 in season and out of season, and her enthusiasm was contagious, 
 her arguments convincing. She literally prayed the money for this 
 hospital into the Lord's treasury. The wisdom of erecting this 
 building has been amply proven by the reports from Dr. Worth 
 since occupancy. It may now be stated that the Worth Hospital, 
 (now called Kiangyin Hospital) is the heart of Kiangyin Mission, 
 and this Presbyterial should never neglect it. 
 
 It was at an Executive Committee meeting in the fall of 1907 
 that, following an earnest appeal made by Dr. Worth, who was 
 present, we promised to undertake the addition of a Woman's Ward 
 to our hospital, subject to the approval of the Union. 
 
 The Day of Prayer for 1907 was held at Emmanuel Church, 
 Wilmington. Dr. Eorsythe, of sainted memory, was the mission- 
 ary speaker. 
 
 The amount contributed by women's societies in 1907 was $1,900 ; 
 by young people's societies, $290.00. 
 
 The history of the Union for 1908-1911 is rather uneventful, 
 nothing new having been launched, and it may be briefly summarized 
 as follows: 1908, annual meeting at Clinton; delegates from twenty- 
 nine adult societies and ten young people's ; addresses by Mr. W. H. 
 Sprunt, on Christian Giving, and by Rev. C. H. Caldwell of China 
 Mission; again an appeal for a Presbyterial Visitor; State organ- 
 ization recommended by the president. Amount contributed: 
 women's societies, $1,981.00; young people's, $385.00; total, $2,366. 
 
 The Day of Prayer was at Burgaw, with addresses by Rev. 
 J. R. Carpenter of Richmond, Dr. McClure and Mrs. Crowley. 
 Miss Albaugh, under appointment to go as trained nurse to our 
 Kiangyin Hospital, was present and talked interestingly of her 
 call to mission work. 
 
 In 1909 the Union met at Mt. Olive, June 17th and 18th. 
 Delegates from women's societies, 18; from young people's socie- 
 ties, 13. Miss L. B. Tate of Korea gave the foreign mission 
 address, and Rev. M. McG. Shields the home mission message. There 
 was also an inspirational address by Mr. Sikes. February 4th, 1909, 
 the following members were added to the Executive Committee: 
 Mesdames C. T. Harper, W. H. Sprunt, W. M. Cummings, J. S. 
 Crowley, J. M. Plowden, A. O. Osbourn, H. Gr. Smallbones, W. H. 
 Chadbourn, D. M. Mcintosh; contributions from adult members, 
 $2,198.00; from 336 young people, $501.00. 
 
 The Day of Prayer (1909) was held at St. Andrew's Church, 
 Wilmington. 
 
Growth and Expansion 45 
 
 June 16th and 17tb, 1910, the Union convened at Chadbourn 
 Presbyterian Church; twenty women's and eleven young people's 
 societies represented by delegates; addresses by Dr. Homer Mc- 
 Millan and Dr. S. H. Chester; all officers re-elected and a vice- 
 president for each county added to the Executive Committee, these 
 being, Mesdames Ward, G. L. Clark, J. A. Brown, and Misses 
 Mary Sloan and Lina Hemenway. Dr. Worth's plea for an 
 assistant doctor was stressed both in the president's address and 
 in Miss Murphy's report; women's contributions, $2,398.00; young 
 people's, $330.00. The Day of Prayer was held at Rockfish Church. 
 
 In 1910 Miss Isabel Arnold, then missionary visitor for the As- 
 sembly, visited our Presbytery, meeting with the Executive Com- 
 mittee of the Union and laying before them the plan for a Prayer 
 Band in every society. To every society president and to every 
 member of the Executive Committee was sent a copy of Andrew 
 Murray's "Helps to Intercession," and a list of "Definite Petitions 
 for Prayer Bands." One of these petitions; was that from the Union 
 of Wilmington Presbytery God will give a laborer for the harvest 
 from each church and an average of one from each society. In 
 response to this appeal three Prayer Bands came into existence, 
 which met week by week and laid this petition before the Lord of 
 the harvest. Within the decade following to the three foreign 
 missionaries from our Presbytery then on the field were added, eleven 
 gone to the field and others under appointment. The complete list 
 to date follows: 
 
 Missionaries from Wilmington Presbytery 
 
 Dr. George C. Worth (1895), China. 
 
 Mrs. Emma Chadbourn Worth (1895), China. 
 
 Mrs. Lillian Johnson Curtis (1895-1900), Siam. 
 
 Miss Jessie D. Hall (1907), China. 
 
 Rev. Lekoy T. Newland (1911), Korea. 
 
 Rev. Neill Graham Stevens (1912-1915), Africa. 
 
 Mr. Stacy C. Farrior (1912), China. 
 
 Miss Leora James (1916), Brazil. 
 
 Mrs. Rosa Lee Clark Wayland (1916), China. 
 
 Rev. Albert Sydney Maxwell (1921), Brazil. 
 
 Miss Ida McLean Black (1921), Africa. 
 
 Rev. Norman Player Farrior (1921), Mexico. 
 
 Mrs. Hazel Black Farrior (1921), Mexico. 
 
 Miss Pattye Farrior Southerland (1921), Mexico. 
 
 Rev. Charles W. Worth (1922), China. 
 
46 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 Volunteers 
 
 Rev. William C. Cumming. 
 Rev. Edwin McCluke. 
 William Worth. 
 David W. Roberts. 
 
 In 1911 the Union convened at South River Church, June 15-16; 
 delegates from twelve ladies' and five young people's societies ; ad- 
 dresses by Dr. and Mrs. "Worth; the Union decided to hold a Week 
 of Prayer in the Spring and Fall for home and foreign missions ; 
 the need for money to complete our Woman's Ward in our Kiangyin 
 Hospital was stressed; contributions, ladies, $2,305.00, young peo- 
 ple, $294.00. The Day of Prayer was held at Black River Church, 
 at which Dr. Worth was speaker. 
 
 At a meeting of the Executive Committee, January 5th, 1912, 
 a letter from the Synodical Union of Missouri was read, asking 
 that our Union endorse an overture prepared by them to be sent to 
 the General Assembly of the Southern Church in May, asking 
 that body to appoint a woman as General Secretary of Woman's 
 Work in the Southern Church. The Executive Committee endorsed 
 the overture unanimously. On March 4th, 1912, the Executive 
 Committee in session heard the report from the Conference in Atlan- 
 ta, which informed us that they decided unanimously to ask the Gen- 
 eral Assembly for said secretary, and that her expenses be assumed 
 by the women's missionary societies for two years. Also that each 
 society be asked to give not less than a dollar per annum for this 
 purpose. The report of the Conference was unanimously adopted 
 by our committee. Mrs. Jackson Johnson, our president, was in- 
 vited, by Mrs. E. C. Murray of Orange Union, to attend a confer- 
 ence of presidents at Greensboro, for the purpose of considering State 
 organization. Our committee went on record as preferring a Synod- 
 ical Union to a Synodical Conference. 
 
 The 1912 annual meeting at Wilmington First Church had twenty- 
 seven delegates from women's societies, and twenty young people's 
 societies were represented. Mrs. B. F. Hall was appointed Historian, 
 the first mention we have of this office. She, therefore, became the 
 first Historian of Wilmington Presbyterial. 
 
 There were ten missionaries present at this meeting, viz. : Dr. 
 and Mrs. Worth, Rev. and Mrs. Crowley, Revs. "W. H. Hudson, Lacy 
 Moffit, L. W. Curtis and Mrs. Curtis, Misses Albaugh and Jourol- 
 man. 
 
Growth and Expansion 47 
 
 Mrs. Johnson reported that the General Assembly had promised 
 us a secretary of woman's work, and that the question of a Synodi- 
 cal Union would come up at Montreat in August. Mrs. W. M. 
 Cumming was elected as delegate to this Conference. 
 
 At an Executive Committee meeting, November 14, 1912, Mrs. 
 Johnson, having been elected President of the North Carolina Synod- 
 ical at Montreat the preceding August, tendered her resignation as 
 president of the Union. Upon the request of the committee she 
 agreed to continue as president until the June meeting. She re- 
 ported that the Committee at Montreat had changed our name from 
 "Woman's Missionary Union" to "Presbyterial Auxiliary of Wil- 
 mington Presbytery." 
 
 June 18, 19, and 20, 1913, marked the celebration of the Silver 
 Anniversary of our Union. We met at Whiteville Presbyterian 
 Church, and it was a memorable occasion. This Whiteville Society 
 was a charter member of the Union" at its organization. 
 
 The Minutes recording this meeting came out in a handsome 
 binding of dark gray with silver lettering, and the significant in- 
 scription, "Silver Anniversary 1888-1913. All the way the Lord 
 hath led us." Seventeen ladies' societies were represented by twenty- 
 two delegates, and many visitors. The young people had twelve 
 delegates representing ten societies. Addresses were given by Dr. 
 and Mrs. Worth, and by Dr. Caldwell of the Mid-China Mission. 
 A new constitution was adopted at this meeting, and the consti- 
 tution of the North Carolina Synodical was read and ratified by 
 the Presbyterial. The following ex-officers were made active and 
 honored members of the Executive Committee: Mesdames Jackson 
 Johnson, A. D. McClure, J. C. Stewart, W. M. Cumming, B. F. 
 Hall, J. S. Crowley and Miss Eliza Murphy. The following is 
 the constitution adopted : 
 
 Adopted June, 1913. 
 
 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Woman's Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 OF 
 
 WILMINGTON PRESBYTERY, N. C. 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 NAME 
 
 This organization shall be called the Woman's Presbyterial Auxiliary of 
 the Presbytery of Wilmington, North Carolina. 
 
48 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 OBJECT 
 
 The object of this Presbyterial shall be: 1 — To promote the formation 
 of women's and young people's Auxiliaries in the churches of the Presby- 
 tery. 2 — To diffuse missionary intelligence concerning the four executive 
 departments and other branches of our church work. 3 — To create mission- 
 ary interest among women and children of the Presbytery. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 MEMBERSHIP 
 
 All auxiliaries which are composed of women and young people in the 
 churches of the Presbytery of Wilmington shall be eligible to member- 
 ship in this Presbyterial Auxiliary. Any such Auxiliary shall become a 
 member of the Presbyterial Auxiliary upon signifying its desire so to do. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 OFFICERS 
 
 The officers of this organization shall be President, Vice-President, Honor- 
 ary President, Secretary and Treasurer, Secretary of Literature, Secretary of 
 Orphanage Work, and a Secretary for each of the following causes: For- 
 eign Missions, Assembly Home Missions, Christian Education and Minis- 
 terial Relief, Young People's Work and Sabath School Extension, Synodical 
 Presbyterial and Congregational Home Missions, Secretary of James Sprunt 
 Institute, Presbyterial Visitor and Historian. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 DUTIES OF OFFICERS. 
 PRESIDENT 
 
 The President shall preside at all meetings of the organization and shall 
 have general oversight of the work. She shall call meetings of the Execu- 
 tive Committee and appoint necessary committees. 
 
 VICE-PRESIDENT 
 
 Section Two. The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President 
 when she is unable to discharge them. 
 
 SECRETARY 
 
 Section Three. The Secretary shall: A — Keep accurate minutes of the 
 annual meetings. B — Notify new officers of their election and committees 
 of their appointment. C — Attend to all general correspondence of the 
 organization and write all notices for the newspapers. D — Prepare a 
 concise narration of the work done by the organization to be read at 
 the meeting of Presbytery by the Chairman of the Committee on Woman's 
 Work. E — 'Act as Secretary of the Executive meetings. F — Shall send to 
 the office of the Synodical Secretary a copy of the yearly report and a 
 revised list of officers to the Superintendent of Woman's Work. (This shall 
 be done immediately after the annual meeting.) G — Shall prepare and 
 tabulate Presbyterial Auxiliary reports and have them printed. 
 
Growth and Expansion 49 
 
 TEEASUEEE. 
 
 Section Four. The Treasurer shall: A — Receive and disburse the Contin- 
 gent Fund of the Presbyterial Auxiliary by the direction of the Executive 
 Committee. B — Present her report at the annual meeting. 
 
 SECRETARY OF LITERATURE. 
 
 Section Five. The Secretary of Literature shall: A— Correspond with 
 the Local Auxiliary Secretaries of Literature, and seek in every way 
 to act as a clearing house for gathering general data bearing upon the work 
 of all causes, which she shall classify, preserve and circulate. B — Have 
 for inspection or sale at meeting of Presbyterial Auxiliary a supply of 
 magazines, scrap books, charts, maps, clippings, sample programs and the 
 best and newest leaflets. She shall urge the Local Auxiliary Secretaries 
 of this department to endeavor to stimulate a greater intelligence and 
 higher efficiency by the organization of Mission Study Classes and Prayer 
 Circles in their Local Auxiliaries. C — Endeavor to enlarge the circulation 
 of the Missionary Survey and Church Calendar of Prayer. In addition she 
 shall handle all of our church literature needed in Woman's Work and 
 not embraced in the four causes, emphasizing especially the grace of Chris- 
 tian Stewardship by circulating literature on this subject. D — She shall 
 make a report of her work at the annual meeting of the Presbyterial 
 Auxiliary and send a copy to the Synodical Secretary of Literature. 
 
 SECRETARY OF FOREIGN MISSIONS 
 
 Section Six. The Secretary 01 Foreign Missions shall: A — Attend to 
 all correspondence pertaining to the Foreign Mission Work. B — Correspond 
 with the local Auxiliary Secretaries and Synodical Secretary of this cause 
 and endeavor to secure a wide diffusion of missionary letters, clippings, 
 leaflets, programs, magazines and books, and endeavor to stimulate interest 
 in foreign missions by the organization of Mission Study Classes and 
 observance of the Week of Prayer through the local Auxiliary Secretaries 
 of this department. C — She shall receive and disburse the money for our 
 special Foreign Mission object. D — She shall make a report of the For- 
 eign Mission work at the annual meeting of the Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 and send a copy to the Synodical Secretary for this cause. 
 
 SECRETARY OF ASSEMBLY'S HOME MISSION. 
 
 Section Seven. The Secretary of the Assembly's Home Mission shall: 
 A — Attend to all correspondence pertaining to Assembly's Home Mission 
 work. B — Correspond with the Synodical Secretary of this cause and en- 
 deavor, through the local Auxiliary Secretaries of this department, to 
 secure a wide diffusion of missionary letters, clippings, books, leaflets, 
 magazines and programs and endeavor to stimulate interest in Assembly's 
 Home Missions by the organization of Mission Study Classes and the 
 observance of the Week of Prayer. C — She shall make a report of her work 
 at the annual meeting of the Presbyterial Auxiliary and send a copy to 
 the Synodical Secretary of Assembly's Home Missions. 
 4 
 
50 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 secretary of christian education and ministerial relief. 
 Section Eight. The Secretary of Christian Education and Ministerial 
 Relief shall: A — Seek by correspondence with the Synodical Secretary and 
 the local Auxiliary Scretaries of this cause to increase the number of 
 trained capable ministers and lady teachers and missionaries to enter 
 the field, both at home and abroad. B — Urge the local Auxiliary Secretaries 
 to impress on the women of her congregation the importance of proper 
 religious influence in our schools and colleges where our future workers 
 are being trained, and may assist the Superintendent of her Sunday 
 School in presenting programs on her cause in the Sunday School. C — Urge 
 the Secretaries of the local Auxiliaries to arouse the women of their 
 congregation to a sense of their responsibility for the support and care 
 of our wornout and disabled workers. D — Secure literature from the 
 Executive Committee of Christian Education and Ministerial Relief and 
 circulate same. E — She shall make a report of her work at the annual 
 meeting of the Presbyterial Auxiliary and send a copy to the Synodical 
 Secretary of Christian Education and Ministerial Relief. 
 
 SECRETARY OF YOUNG PEOPLE'S WORK AND SUNDAY SCHOOL EXTENSION. 
 
 Section Nine. The Secretary of Young People's Work and Sunday School 
 Extension shall be in close correspondence with the Leader of Young 
 People's Auxiliaries and the Secretaries of Young People's Work and 
 Sunday School Extension in the local Auxiliaries. Her aim shall be: 
 A — To promote a missionary spirit in Sunday Schools and Young People's 
 Auxiliaries. B — To impart instructions as to the best methods of work 
 by the church for young people through the Sunday Schools and Young 
 People's Auxiliaries. To inform herself through correspondence with the 
 Synodical Secretary and local Auxiliary Secretaries concerning the progress 
 and needs of young people's work. 
 
 SECRETARY OF SYNODICAL PRESBYTERIAL AND CONGREGATIONAL HOME MISSIONS. 
 
 Section Ten. The Secretary of Synodical Presbyterial and Congregational 
 Home Missions shall: A — Be in close correspendence with the Synodical 
 Secretary and local Auxiliary Secretaries of this cause, Synod's Superin- 
 tendent of Home Missions and the Home Mission Committee of Wilming- 
 ton Presbytery. B — Inform herself regarding the Synodical Presbyterial 
 and Congregation Home Mission work of her Synod and Presbytery, 
 including evangelistic work and Mission Schools, gathering and circulating 
 information concerning their work and stimulating interest in the same. 
 C — Stimulate interest in all forms of congregational and mission work, 
 which embraces such duties as assisting the pastor in caring for the 
 sick and poor, looking up new members, co-operating with the Deacons 
 in raising funds for all congregational needs. D — She shall make a 
 report of her work at the annual meeting of the Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 and send a copy to the Synodical Secretary of this cause. 
 
 PRESBYTERIAL SECRETARY OF ORPHANAGE WORK. 
 
 (Section Eleven. The Presbyterial Secretary of Orphanage Work should 
 know every church, Sunday School and Auxiliary in her Presbytery. She 
 ishould urge every Sunday School to give its collection on one Sunday to 
 
Growth and Expansion 51 
 
 the Barium Springs Orphanage; every Auxiliary to appoint a local secretary; 
 to clothe one or more children; to give some definite thing at a specified 
 time, once or twice each year. She shall endeavor to promote the circula- 
 tion of the Orphanage paper, Our Fatherless Ones. She shall make a report 
 of her work at the annual meeting of the Presbyterial Auxiliary and 
 send a copy to the Synodical Secretary for this cause. 
 
 THE SECRETARY OF JAMES SPRUNT INSTITUTE. 
 
 Section Twelve. The Secretary of James Sprunt Institute shall: A — 
 Collect and disburse all funds received from Auxiliaries for May Johnson 
 Scholarship and James Sprunt Institute under the direction of the Exec- 
 utive Committee. B — Seek, by correspondence with local Auxiliaries, to 
 arouse interest and co-operation in the upbuilding of the James Sprunt 
 Institute under the direction of the President of the Institute and the 
 Executive Committee of the Presbyterial Auxiliary. C — She shall keep in 
 close touch with the student using the May Johnson Scholarship Fund 
 and inform the Presbyterial Auxiliary of student's progress. 
 
 PRESBYTERIAL VISITOR. 
 
 Section Thirteen. The Presbyterial Visitor shall: A — Visit at the ex- 
 pense of the Presbyterial Auxiliary such Auxiliaries within this Pres- 
 bytery as may desire assistance and advice in their work, organizing or 
 reorganizing Auxiliaries where needed. B — She shall gather literature and 
 first-hand information concerning the various ways in which the most 
 successful congregations have been organized for work, as suggestions to 
 those who are contemplating organization or desiring to improve upon 
 the organization which they have. C — 'She shall consider the peculiar prob- 
 lems connected with the work of the local Auxiliaries, and under the 
 direction of the Executive Committee shall furnish suggestions as to the 
 best methods of meeting them. She shall also seek to discover how the 
 latent energies of the women in the various congregations may be utilized 
 to the best advantage, so that they may embrace the opportunities for 
 every sort of service afforded by the needs of the 'Communities. D — She 
 shall co-operate with all of the Secretaries of causes in her work and 
 make an annual report to the Presbyterial Auxiliary. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 ELECTION OF OFFICERS. 
 
 The officers shall be elected for a term of three years, three being elected 
 each year. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. 
 VOTING. 
 
 The privilege of voting on1;he election of officers and all constitutional 
 questions shall be restricted to the official delegates and officers of this 
 organization. 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. 
 
 AMENDMENTS. 
 
 This Constitution may be annulled, altered or amended at the regular 
 meetings of the Presbyterial by the vote of two-thirds of the voting mem- 
 
52 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 bers present; Provided, notice of the intention to propose an amendment, 
 alteration or annulment shall be given to the Auxiliaries belonging to the 
 Presbyterial at least one month before the convening of the meeting at 
 which such proposition shall be submitted. 
 
 BY-LAWS 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 The Presbyterial Auxiliary shall be composed of Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 Officers, three representatives, including the President from each local 
 Auxiliary. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 PROGRAM. 
 
 Tbe Executive Committee shall arrange the program for the annual 
 meeting and the Day of Prayer. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 FINANCE. 
 
 Section 1. The expense of this organization for stationery, printing, 
 postage and other incidentals, including railroad fare of President and 
 Secretary to annual meeting and of those invited to the annual meeting, 
 shall be paid from the Contingent Fund. 
 
 Section 2. Each Auxiliary shall be requested to meet its share in the 
 Contingent Fund. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 The Presbyterial Auxiliary shall hold its annual meeting in the Spring, 
 the date of meeting to be determined by the Executive Committee. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 
 
 The Officers of the Presbyterial Auxiliary shall constitute and be an 
 Executive Committee. They shall fill vacancies as they occur on this 
 committee until the regular annual meeting, and transact all necessary 
 business. 
 
 Having adopted the new constitution, our Presbyterial added 
 to its officers, secretaries of Assembly's Home Missions, Local Home 
 Missions, and Christian Education and Ministerial Relief. That 
 of Young People's Work we had for eleven years with Mrs. J. C. 
 Stewart as secretary though we called her "agent." Our Foreign 
 Mission Secretary was known as Agent for the Kiangyin Hospital 
 Fund; our Home Mission Secretary was known as Agent for the 
 Lees-McRae Scholarship and later for the May Johnson Loan Fund, 
 though this would more correctly have been called "Christian 
 Education." We also had a Secretary of Literature for years. 
 
Growth and Expansion" 53 
 
 One of the features of the program at the Silver Anniversary was 
 the presentation of the work of four Assembly's Committees in a 
 splendid address by Mrs. L. J. Curtis, called "A Fully Rounded 
 Work." At the request of Assembly's Committees she gave the 
 address to our eight Unions, and it was afterwards published by 
 them in leaflet form for free distribution. 
 
 Miss Eliza Murphy, after ten years of untiring labor and prayer, 
 having finished most brilliantly the fund for our hospital in China, 
 $10,000.00 in all, gave an interesting history of the work of the 
 Presbyterial for this cause. We changed the name of this office 
 to Secretary of Foreign Missions, and Mrs. W. P. M. Currie, who, 
 as Annie Moore, had served the Presbyterial so acceptably from 
 1903 to 1908 as corresponding secretary, was elected to fill this 
 office. Mrs. J. C. Stewart, after having served most efficiently for 
 eleven years as secretary of young people's work, resigned and Mrs. 
 Edwin Taylor was elected to succeed her. Concerning Mrs. Stew- 
 art's work for the young people, it may be said of her as of the 
 Roman king, "she found it brick and left it marble." When she 
 became secretary of this work, there were only three young people's 
 bands in the Presbyterial. This number had grown to thirty-six. 
 with five hundred members, whose contributions had aggregated 
 $4,000.00, their gifts having gone to the Hospital, the scholarship 
 funds, Orphanage and other causes of the church. From the young 
 people's bands had grown up efficient officers for local church socie- 
 ties and for our Presbyterial, four missionaries to foreign fields, 
 and two volunteers, whom God in His wisdom had called up higher. 
 This development of the young people's work was largely due to 
 Mrs. Stewart's personal and persistent work among them. Mrs. 
 Jackson Johnson, who had for thirteen years served our Presby- 
 terial as president most ably, aggressively, loyally and lovingly, 
 having been elected to the larger office of Synodical president, re- 
 signed, and Mrs. A. J. Howell of Wilmington was elected to fill the 
 vacancy, with Mrs. L. D. Latta of Wilmington as recording secre- 
 tary and treasurer. 
 
 Though comparisons may be odious, they are not so in this 
 history, because in studying the different periods and phases of 
 the work of our Presbyterial in its forward march of thirty-five 
 years, we are impressed with the fact that each president, who was 
 selected and placed in charge, after waiting on God for Divine 
 guidance, brought to the work just the service most needed during 
 the period of her particular administration. 
 
54 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 Mrs. Johnson was a progressive. She had vision and was always 
 alert and ready to take up new and larger things in the Master's 
 service. She brought to the work courage, spirituality, optimism, 
 enthusiasm, and love for the service she was rendering. She met 
 and mastered many difficult problems in the development of the 
 work; of the Presbyterial. She was always ready to give new things 
 an honest trial, and had an unerring faculty for retaining of the 
 old that which was good, and of substituting for the old that which 
 was better. Her keen sense of humor tided her over many an awk- 
 ward or discouraging situation. For instance, at one annual meet- 
 ing the convention was met with a downpour of rain that threatened 
 to last throughout the entire session. In the midst of the general 
 depression her saving sense of humor singled out and enjoyed the 
 one amusing incident of the occasion. It was before the clay when 
 women rose to their feet to speak with the present assurance, and 
 most often without notes, but rather in the time when we arose 
 with knees a-tremble and clung desperately to a carefully prepared 
 manuscript, fearful even of looking up lest we lose our "place" and 
 be undone. The lady who was to give the "Address of Welcome" 
 (not "Greetings" in those days) was duly introduced and proceeded 
 to read her carefully prepared speech. While the few delegates 
 who had braved the weather to attend were leaning forward in 
 order to hear above the noise of the storm, she calmly read, "While 
 the sun sheds benignly upon you its glad rays of welcome, and 
 the birds in our historic grove chant their joyous notes of praise 
 and greeting, it gives me much pleasure to welcome also to our 
 church and community such a goodly number of delegates and 
 visitors." Her address had evidently been prepared under serene 
 skies, and she was not the kind to be "veered about by every wind 
 that blows." 
 
 The growth of the Presbyterial under Mrs. Johnson's guidance 
 may be glimpsed from the fact that in 1909, at the end of her first 
 year, she reported fifteen societies, with 319 members, contributing 
 for the year, $678.00, while in 1913, when she retired as president, 
 she reported seventy societies, 1,258 members, contributing $9,993.00. 
 
 She has been retained in the service of the Presbyterial as 
 Honorary President, and we still lean heavily upon her for coun- 
 sel and guidance. No annual meeting or Day of Prayer seems quite 
 complete without her, and she is a faithful attendant still upon our 
 Executive Committee meetings, driving the fifteen miles over country 
 roads in good and bad weather in order to meet with us. 
 
Growth and Expansion 55 
 
 The year 1913-1914 found us at the beginning of our second stage 
 on the road to our Golden Jubilee. 
 
 Under the leadership of Mrs. Andrew Howell of Wilmington, 
 the following excellent things took place that year: First, Eight 
 new adult societies joined our Presbyterial, viz. : Rocky Point, 
 Bethany, Winter Park, Currie Council, Pollocksville, Home Mis- 
 sion Auxiliary of First Church, Wilmington, and Oak Plains, and 
 three young people's societies were organized, Bethany, New Hope, 
 and Mt. Olive; second, Mrs. Johnson, who had been appointed 
 Presbyterial Visitor, visited most of the smaller societies, explain- 
 ing the new plan of work under Mrs. Winsboro, as our Secretary 
 of Woman's Work in the Southeren Church, also our Foreign Mis- 
 sion work and other plans of the Presbyterial. 
 
 The Day of Prayer was at Rose Hill, October 13th. Dr. Craw- 
 ford, out-going missionary to assist Dr. Worth at Kiangyin Hos- 
 pital, was present and made a fine impression. Dr. J. Mercer 
 Blain was also present and gave a talk. 
 
 The reports of the various secretaries of causes at the annual 
 meeting held at Burgaw, April 17-19, 1914, showed that the Pres- 
 byterial was taking hold of the new plan and that there was an 
 increased interest in all the benevolent objects of the church. Every 
 society in the Presbyterial reported their year's activities, a most 
 encouraging record. Distinguished visitors with us at this meeting 
 included Miss Jessie Hall, missionary from China; Miss Margaret 
 Rankin, recording secretary of Synodical, who gave an address on 
 Organization; Dr. J. Mercer Blain of China, who gave the Foreign 
 Mission Address, and Mrs. W. C. Winsboro, our Superintendent of 
 Woman's Work. She gave a most helpful address, outlining and 
 explaining Woman's Work under the new organization. She em- 
 phasized the power of prayer, of systematic Bible study and of the 
 training of young people. Mrs. Winsboro also emphasized the 
 fact that we, as a Presbyterial, were favored above others in having- 
 our own Foreign Mission object — the Kiangyin Hospital. In an- 
 swer to a question concerning the distribution of funds, under the; 
 sometimes perplexing new Order of things, she told the body that 
 it would be better to give one dollar to each of the other causes, there- 
 by acknowledging the claim, and give all the rest to our Hospital, 
 than ever at any time to fail in loyal support to our own object 
 already established before the "Auxiliary" days. 
 
 At this convention emphasis was laid upon Christian Educa- 
 tion and Ministerial Relief, and Mr. Baker and Mr. Cumming gave 
 
56 The "Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 helpful addresses on these causes. The question of the amount of 
 our pledge to foreign missions was settled as $1,200.00, the cost 
 of Dr. Crawford's support. Increase in members over the previous 
 year was; adults, 71; young people, 43; increase in contributions, 
 $325.00. 
 
 With much regret the Presbyterial accepted the resignation of 
 Mrs. Howell as President, which was made necessary by the press 
 of other duties. Mrs. J. A. Brown of Chadbourn was unanimously 
 chosen to take her place, and Mrs. James Thomas of Clinton was 
 elected vice-president. Announcement was made that Rev. Andrew 
 Howell had been chosen as Chairman of Woman's Work. 
 
 The year 1914-1915 saw two forward steps in our Presbyterial; 
 one, a greater interest in our Orphanage work, largely through the in- 
 fluence of visits to the societies of Miss Hudson, field agent of 
 Barium Springs Orphanage; the other, the inauguration of a young 
 people's Bally Day. Since the elate of the Presbyterial annual 
 meeting had been changed from June to April, there had been a 
 distressing falling off of attendance from the young people's societies, 
 with a consequent decrease in interest among them. This decrease 
 came about because of our young people being in school in April. 
 
 At an Executive Committee meeting, February 4th, 1915, this 
 question of the inability of the young people to attend in April was 
 discussed. Mrs. J. A. Brown, president, made the suggestion that 
 we have a young people's Bally Day in June, at a central point, 
 with a suitable program, conferences and discussions, and that the 
 young people give their reports at this meeting, also that the Secre- 
 tary of Young People have the day in charge. The suggestion was 
 enthusiastically received by the Executive Committee, and it was so 
 decided. St. Andrew's Church, Wilmington, gave cordial invitation 
 to hold this day with them. Thus was launched our first young peo- 
 ple's Bally Day, our Presbyterial being the first in North Caro- 
 lina to provide such a day for our young people. It is interesting to 
 note that the Synodical Committee on Recommendations at the Eall 
 meeting following our Bally, gave as their second recommendation, 
 "That the Presbyterials discuss the advisability of a Young People's 
 Day separate from the Presbyterial meeting." The recommenda- 
 tion was favorably received by many of the Presbyterials and out 
 of these Rallies has grown the young people's ten-day Conference, 
 held every June, and first begun in 1918, which has been such a 
 power for good in the lives of our young people. 
 
Mrs. B. F. Hall, 
 Organizer and First President of the 
 
 Presbyterial, 1888-1900. 
 
Growth and Expansion 57 
 
 The Day of Prayer was held in October, at Paison, with about 
 sixty ladies in attendance. Rev. Lacy L. Little was our speaker 
 on that occasion. Since our annual meeting Mrs. B. F. Hall, founder 
 and first president of our Presbyterial, had fallen on sleep. The 
 following memorial, written by Mrs. W. M. Cumming, was read 
 before the body : 
 
 Memorial to Mrs. B. P. Hall : 
 
 On the 26th of April, 1914, just a few days after the meeting of the 
 last Wilmington Presbyterial, Mrs. B. F. Hall, its first president, entered 
 into the rest that remaineth for the people of God. 
 
 The Presbyterial, not then called by this name, was organized in Wil- 
 mington First Church, April 30th, 1888, with Mrs. Hall as its first Presi- 
 dent. She served in this capacity for twelve years. She was indeed the 
 mother of the organization, carrying it tenderly, prayerfully. 
 
 By means of it she awakened interest in missions throughout the Pres- 
 bytery and set forward the work of her Lord and Master. Pioneer work 
 is ever hard, and no one knows the weariness and discouragements that 
 were overcome by her great love and perseverance — her abiding faith 
 in Him. 
 
 The next year, 1889, its second meeting was held again in her own 
 church in Wilmington. She had planned a great time and God sent 
 great blessings. Dr. and Mrs. J. L. Stewart, Sr., of China, were present 
 and she had the great joy of having from her own church two volun- 
 teers for the foreign field, Dr. George C. Worth and Miss Emma Chad- 
 bourn, who afterwards became Mrs. Worth. 
 
 The third year the Presbyterial met at the Old Duplin Roads Church, near 
 Wallace, and the warm welcome given her there never left her memory. 
 
 The fourth meeting was at St. Andrew's Church, and so on every year, 
 meeting here and there. There are notes of discouragement now and then 
 in her records of these years, because of lack of interest in Missions among 
 the people, but never a note of "give up." 
 
 At the twentieth anniversary of our Presbyterial, in 1908, Mrs. Hall 
 spoke of the great blessing God had given her in allowing her to have 
 a daughter in the Master's service in China. She expressed the hope that 
 when the Presbyterial should celebrate its fortieth anniversary, it might 
 have many sons and daughters bearing the message of salvation to China, 
 Japan, Korea, Africa, Mexico, South America and the Islands of the Sea. 
 
 In her vision of the great world need, she did not forget the homeland, 
 and those at her own door. Through her efforts the Presbyterial gave 
 sufficient money to endow a scholarship in the mountain school, Lees-McRae 
 Institute and every year a mountain girl is receiving Christian care and 
 training. When that was completed, she began raising funds for a scholar- 
 ship in James Sprunt Institute at Kenansville, known to us all as the 
 "May Johnson Loan Fund," and several young women have reaped the 
 benefit from this, although the scholarship has never been completed. "She 
 
58 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 stretched out her hand to the poor, yea, she reached forth her hands to 
 the needy." The history of the Wilmington Presbyterial is a history of 
 her service. 
 
 When, after twelve years, she turned over her well organized work 
 to a worthy successor, she still labored on, only laying down her work 
 when called to service at the courts above. 
 
 She was ever a woman of prayer — here lay her strength, here lay her 
 power. 
 
 She was ever wise in counsel, undaunted in service, brave, courageous, 
 gentle, prudent, delighting herself in Him and His work. She did great 
 things for her Lord without pride, she did the lowly things with all 
 gladness. 
 
 It was her ideal to have a missionary society in every church and every 
 woman a member of the society — thus setting forward the kingdom of her 
 Lord in our own and foreign lands. 
 
 May we who have entered into her labors not fall short of the standard 
 set for us. 
 
 I call upon the women of Wilmington Presbyterial to keep close to the 
 ideals of its first president — to follow close in the footsteps of its pioneer 
 leader, even as she follows in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, doing every- 
 thing with an eye single to His honor and glory. In the midst of vigor- 
 ous service, calm, sweet peace was hers, so may it be ours, 
 
 May we ever be able to say with her: 
 
 The Lord is my Shepherd ; I shall not want, 
 
 He maketh me down to lie 
 In pleasant fields where the lilies grow, 
 
 And the river runneth by. 
 The Lord is my Shepherd ; He f eedeth me 
 
 In the depths of a desert land, 
 And lest I should in the darkness slip 
 
 He holdeth me by the hand. 
 The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want, 
 
 My mind on Him is stayed, 
 And though through the valley of death I walk 
 
 I shall not be afraid. 
 The Lord is my Shepherd; Oh, Shepherd sweet, 
 
 Leave me not here to stray, 
 But guide me safe to Thy heavenly fold, 
 
 And keep me there, I pray. 
 
 Mrs. Maggie Sprimt Hall was born October 20, 1844, at Port 
 of Spain, Trinidad Island, of Scotch parents, who were living there 
 because her father was engaged in business on the island. They 
 returned to Scotland when she was very small. They moved to 
 America when she was eight years old, and her father founded the 
 well-known firm of cotton exporters, Alexander Sprunt & Sons, 
 of Wilmington, !N". C. Her father represented the seventh generation 
 of ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church, and the line has been con- 
 tinued to the ninth generation. The family is prominent and honored 
 
Growth and Expansion 59 
 
 on both sides of the Atlantic. Mrs. Hall passed to her reward April 
 26, 1914. 
 
 Our annual meeting for 1915 was held April 13-15, at Elizabeth- 
 town. There were twenty-four official delegates present, a good show- 
 ing for a meeting off the railroad. Mrs. Lacy Little of Kiangyin, 
 China, gave a stirring address, full of interest and appeal. Her 
 gracious personality was felt throughout the day, and it was a 
 great privilege to have her with us. Dr. Homer McMillan was de- 
 tained by missing connection. His place on the program was 
 filled acceptably by Miss Sue Hall, who gave an interesting talk 
 on her impressions of China, received on a recent visit, and on 
 woman's larger service for the Master. Helpful addresses were given 
 by Rev. Stanley White of Chadbourn, on Sunday School Extension, 
 and by Rev. R. A. Lapsley on Home Missions. 
 
 The Executive Committee had held three meetings during the year. 
 At one of these Mrs. D. B. Herring was elected Secretary of Local 
 Home Missions, to fill a vacancy that had occurred. Miss Sue Hall 
 was invited to become a member of the Executive Committee. 
 
 The reports showed that the societies were organizing according 
 to Auxiliary's Plan, and were undertaking work, educative and 
 financial, for an increased number of causes. Foreign Mission 
 Study classes had increased from two to twelve and the $1,200.00 
 for Dr. Crawford's support had been paid. Gifts to all causes were 
 $5,02-1.00, the president stating that while many churches had 
 fallen behind in their gifts, and while the Foreign Mission Com- 
 mittee at Nashville was facing a discouraging deficit owing to the 
 financial distress incident to the war in Europe, yet our Presby- 
 terial had exceeded the amount pledged to foreign missions and 
 had increased gifts to all causes. 
 
 The Presbyterial year 1915-16 began with the first Rally for 
 Young People held in St. Andrew's Church June 15th, 1915. It 
 was well attended and a gratifying success. The Executive Com- 
 mittee and Secretary of Young People heartily recommended its 
 continuance. 
 
 This year also marked the creation of the office of Orphanage 
 Secretary at the first Executive Committee meeting in May and 
 Mrs. J. T. French was appointed to the office. 
 
 The Day of Prayer was held at Wallace. Addresses were given 
 by Rev. W. M. Baker and Rev. Robert King. 
 
 The annual meeting for 1916 was held at Grove Church, Kenans- 
 ville, April 26-28. [Notable features of the convention were splendid 
 
60 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 addresses by Dr. Homer McMillan on Home Missions and by Dr. 
 Thornton Whaling on "The Breadth of the Kingdom." Delightful 
 Mission Study demonstrations both for adults and young people were 
 given by Miss Mary Kirk of Alabama. Miss McElwee, Synodical 
 secretary of Young People's work, Miss Arnold of Virginia and Miss 
 Hudson of Barium Springs were present and gave valuable assist- 
 ance in our conferences. 
 
 At the request of our secretary of Orphanage work the Presby- 
 terial adopted Round Knob Cottage as our special for that cause 
 the coming year. Through the good work of Mrs. French interest 
 in the Orphanage had greatly increased during the year. Gifts in 
 money to the cause had increased $308.00. Total gifts to all causes 
 were $5,717.00, an increase of approximately $700.00 over the 
 previous year. At this 1916 meeting Mrs. W. T. Bannerman, 
 having been elected Corresponding Secretary of the Synodical, re- 
 signed as Corresponding Secretary of the Presbyterial in which 
 office she had served faithfully and efficiently for nine years. 
 
 April 25-27th, 1917, found the Presbyterial Auxiliary in session 
 at Clarkton. There were twenty-nine delegates present at roll call. 
 An interesting program included : ISTormal classes in Mission Study, 
 given in three lessons ; a series of Model Devotionals for society 
 meetings; addresses by Rev. J. S. Crowley, Rev. A. P. Hassell of 
 Japan and Mrs. W. B. Ramsay, Synodical President. The presi- 
 dent's report showed a steady growth in the societies of the Presby- 
 terial, expressing itself in gifts and prayer for all causes ; 
 in the cheerful and prompt meeting of pledges to Dr. Craw- 
 ford's support; in a freer and more intelligent giving to Barium 
 Springs Orphanage; in a growth of Mission Study classes, and a 
 wider observance of Home and Foreign Mission weeks. Comparing 
 the gifts of the Presbyterial in 1914 with those of 1917, they were 
 found to have increased $1,844.00, and this in spite of the World 
 War. 
 
 The President had appointed a Committee on Recommendations, 
 hence her annual message contained no recommendations. This 
 appears to be the first Committee on Recommendations in our Pres- 
 byterial and was composed of the following: Mrs. A. J. Howell, 
 Mrs. Robert King and Mrs. James Farrior. Included in their 
 recommendations were the following new suggestions: (1) that the 
 officers of the Presbyterial constitute the Executive Committee; 
 (2) that the Committees on Recommendations and JSToininations be 
 appointed in advance of the Presbyterial; (3) that the Auxiliaries 
 
Growth and Expansion 61 
 
 make definite plans for the establishment of Family Altars and 
 report on this at the Day of Prayer; (4) that a secretary be ap- 
 pointed in the interest of James Sprimt Institute and the work 
 of the May Johnson Loan Fund be included among her duties. 
 The report of this committee was approved. The Day of Prayer 
 for this year was held at Warsaw, October, 1916. Seven new Aux- 
 iliaries — six Young People's and one Ladies' — were reported. 
 
 This meeting closed Mrs. Brown's term of three years as presi- 
 dent of the Presbyterial and she asked to be relieved of office. The 
 Executive Committee passed Resolutions of Appreciation for her 
 services during those years and published these in the Presbyterial 
 Minutes of 1917. Her largest work as Executive Head of the 
 Presbyterial was launching the new Auxiliary Plan. Many local 
 Auxiliaries had to be convinced of the advantages of the new plan, 
 others had to be persuaded to embrace the larger work and still 
 others disliked giving up their old names and becoming merely 
 one of many Auxiliaries, so the work was not all smooth sailing. 
 However, the results were satisfactory in the main, practically all 
 of the active societies having organized according to the new plan. 
 
 Mrs. TV". M. Baker of Wilmington was elected president, Mrs. 
 A. W. Southerland vice-president, and Mrs. Martin S. Willard, 
 secretary of James Sprunt Institute. 
 
 Mrs. Baker entered upon her new duties with earnestness and 
 enthusiasm. An Executive Committee meeting was called early in 
 May to outline plans for the year's work. The Secretary of Young 
 People having resigned, Mrs. J. C. Stewart was elected to this 
 office. Two other meetings of the committee took place during the 
 year, in October and February. 
 
 The Day of Prayer was held at Winter Park Church, October 
 25th, 1917. The meeting went into executive session and the fol- 
 lowing business was transacted: Mrs. A. O. Trust was elected 
 secretary of Christian Education and Ministerial Relief; Com- 
 mittee voted to undertake the support of a second missionary at 
 Kiangyin station; Mrs. Baker was selected to visit the Auxiliaries 
 and secure the necessary $1,200.00 for the support of the same 
 and the money for her expenses was pledged. Two Young People's 
 Rallies were held in June, one at Whiteville and one at First 
 Church, Wilmington. 
 
 At the committee meeting in February, the necessity for some 
 changes in our constitution, owing to the growth of the work 
 since 1913, was discussed and Mrs. Jackson Johnson, Mrs. W. T. 
 
62 The "Wilmington Peesbyteeial Auxiliaey 
 
 Bannerman and Mrs. L. D. Latta were appointed to draft a sug- 
 gested constitution to be presented to the Presbyterial at the spring 
 meeting. The following ad interim nominating committee was ap- 
 pointed: Mrs. A. D. McClure, Mrs. E. W. Hicks and Mrs. J. C. 
 
 Stewart. 
 
 The annual meeting of 1918 was held at Kose Hill, April 17-19th. 
 There were forty-nine delegates in attendance and a number of 
 visitors, among the latter being Mrs. W. B. Ramsay, Synoclical 
 President, Miss McElwee, Synodical Secretary of Young People, 
 Miss Mary O. Graham of Peace Institute, Raleigh, and Miss Hud- 
 son of Barium Springs. Rev. A. J. Crane, Evangelist of Albe- 
 marle Presbytery, presented the great need of Synodical Home 
 Missions and Mr. Andrew Allison, Principal of James Sprunt 
 Academy for Boys at Kiangyin, China, brought the Foreign Mis- 
 sion message. Other interesting features of the program were an 
 unique "clinical lecture" on the local Auxiliary by Mrs. Ramsay 
 and an illustrated talk on the work of the four Executive Com- 
 mittees of the church by Mrs. Baker. 
 
 The President's report showed much time and labor put into the 
 year's work, she having visited twenty churches in interest of the 
 support of the second missionary at Kiangyin, and having written 
 three hundred letters. She reported thirty-nine Auxiliaries, 966 
 members, and gifts, $6,301.00. There were eight new Auxiliaries, 
 increase in membership, 289 ; increase in gifts, $567.00. Thirty- 
 one Mission Study classes were reported. 
 
 At this meeting our Presbyterial adopted Synodical's recom- 
 mendation that we build a modern dining room and kitchen at 
 Barium Springs Orphanage and accepted our apportionment of 
 $2,500.00 to be raised in three years. This was apportioned among 
 the local Auxiliaries by a committee. The Secretary of Foreign 
 Missions reported all of Dr. Crawford's salary sent in and about 
 half of Mrs. Crawford's. A new standard of efficiency was adopted. 
 Among the recommendations adopted were that we give a banner 
 each year to the Auxiliary scoring the best record and that we re- 
 sume the printing of the statistical report in the Minutes. 
 
 Mrs. L. D. Latta resigned as secretary and treasurer and Mrs. 
 J. O. Carr was elected to this office. The office of Historian, vacant 
 since Mrs. Hall's death, was restored and Mrs. J. A. Brown was 
 elected to take up this( work. Other officers elected were : Honorary 
 President, Mrs. Jackson Johnson; Secretary of Foreign Missions, 
 Mrs. J. R. Phipps; Presbyterial Visitor, Miss Alice Behrends. 
 
Growth and Expansion 63 
 
 The new constitution was adopted and a hundred copies ordered 
 printed. 
 
 At an Executive Committee meeting held at Rose Hill imme- 
 diately after the adjournment of the Presbyterial in 1918, plans 
 for the Young People's Rally were discussed and a committee was 
 appointed to make necessary arrangements. The Committee on 
 Standard of Efficiency Card was retained and authorized to pur- 
 chase a banner to be presented to the Auxiliary making the highest 
 percentage at our next annual meeting. This banner, the gift of 
 Miss Eliza Murphy to the Presbyterial as a memorial to Mrs. 
 Elizabeth McRae, was awarded to the Mt. Olive Church for the 
 year ending June, 1919. 
 
 The Young People's Rally was held in the Church of the Cove- 
 nant, Wilmington, June 6th, 1918, with fifty-three delegates present. 
 Mr. Wade C. Smith made the inspirational address. Sixteen dollars 
 and seventy cents was received for the Synoclical scholarship, the 
 new object undertaken by the Young People. Twenty-six Young 
 People's Auxiliaries reported 451 members with gifts amounting 
 to $715.00. 
 
 The Day of Prayer was held at Mt. Olive Church in JSTovember. 
 Three meetings of the Executive Committee were held during the 
 year. 
 
 The thirty-first annual meeting of the Presbyterial convened in 
 St. Andrew's Church, Wilmington, April 16-18, 1919. The theme 
 of the meeting was "Stewardship," carried out in the several de- 
 votionals during the convention. There were seventy delegates in 
 attendance and twenty visitors. The outstanding address of the 
 occasion was that of Mrs. M. L. Swineheart of our Korean Mission. 
 Dressed in the native costume, she pictured graphically and im- 
 pressively the needs of the Korean people and her experiences as 
 a laborer among them. Other speakers were Mr. Wade C. Smith, 
 Rev. H. W. Koelling, Rev. J. O. Mann, Rev. W. F. Hollingsworth, 
 Rev. D. T. Caldwell, Dr. J. M. Wells and Dr. A. D. McClure. 
 
 Among the good things reported were : First, the completion of 
 the May Johnson Scholarship of $1,500.00 by Mrs. M. S. Willard, 
 elected secretary of this cause in 1917. This fund was begun in 
 1906, and a little less than half the amount had been collected by 
 preceding secretaries. Mrs. Willard was given a rising vote of 
 thanks for her zealous and successful work; Second, this meeting 
 inaugurated the District Auxiliary Day of Prayer. At the Execu- 
 tive Committee meeting in February, 1919, this new plan for the 
 
64 The Wilmington Pbesbytebial Auxiliary 
 
 Day of Prayer was suggested by Mrs. Baker, and a comrnittee with 
 Mrs. Jackson Johnson as chairman was appointed to work out the 
 details. The Recommendations Committee endorsed it as their 
 first number, and the Presbyterial accepted the recommendation. 
 The plan submitted by Mrs. Johnson's committee was the division 
 of the Presbyterial into eight districts with a chairman for each 
 district, the meetings to be held consecutively so that the speakers 
 for the week could go from one to the other of the meetings and 
 the general plan of program used at the former Days of Prayer 
 was to be followed. 
 
 The recommendation of the Secretary of Foreign Missions that 
 we adopt a Foreign Mission Budget of $3,600.00, $1,800.00 to go 
 to Kiangyin Hospital and $1,800.00 to be equally divided among 
 the other Foreign Mission fields was adopted as a goal, but we have 
 not held to this plan. 
 
 April 14th-15th, 1920, found us in session at Warsaw with 
 seventy-three delegates and thirty visitors present. The theme for the 
 meeting was "Power Through Prayer." At the first session Miss 
 Jane Hall presented a gavel to the Presbyterial, bearing the fol- 
 lowing inscription : "Presented April, 1920, to the Wilmington 
 Presbyterial Auxiliary by the Woman's Auxiliary of the First 
 Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, 1ST. C. Made of wood from the 
 old lecture room where the Presbyterial was organized May, 1888. 
 In memory of Margaret T. Hall, President, 1888-1900." 
 
 Mrs. E. C. Carson, appointed in October to fill an unexpired 
 term as Orphanage Secretary, reported all but $360.00 of the 
 $2,500.00 pledged by our Presbyterial, as in hand. This deficit 
 was immediately pledged from the floor. Mrs. Carson informed 
 the convention that owing to the increased cost of construction, our 
 building at Barium would cost $75,000.00 instead of $25,000.00 as 
 at first proposed. The delegates accepted the new figures, $7,500.00 
 for our Presbyterial apportionment. 
 
 Six new Auxiliaries reported, two of which were Juniors. This 
 brought the total to forty-four. Lula Hargrove was selected as 
 delegate to Tuscaloosa Conference for Colored Women, being held 
 for the first time. This conference was inaugurated by the Woman's 
 Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church South and represents an 
 effort to train leaders among the colored women in our midst. This 
 year three of these conferences were held in the South, with an 
 attendance of several hundred testifying to the need and the desire 
 
Growth and Expansion 65 
 
 among our colored women for better preparation for Christian 
 service. 
 
 Prominent features of the program at this annual meeting were: 
 A series of Bible studies on Mark, by Miss Angevine of Dr. 
 White's Bible School ; Foreign Mission address by Rev. W. M. 
 Buchanan of Japan. Miss McElwee was present and helped in the 
 Young People's conference. The Girls' Auxiliary of Mt. Olive 
 received the prize for the best Scrap Book. The Presbyterial ban- 
 ner for best work went to the Auxiliary of the First Church, Wil- 
 mington. The Young People's banner for Efficiency went to 
 Pearsall Memorial Junior Auxiliary. The reports of the Secre- 
 taries of Causes were most interesting, showing that each one had 
 been at work and was informed as to what had been accomplished 
 for her cause during the year and that there was increased interest 
 in all the work. At an Executive Committee meeting March 12th, 
 1920, the office of Secretary of Prayer Bands and Bible Study 
 was created. At the same meeting Mrs. J. A. Brown was asked 
 to write a full history of the Presbyterial Auxiliary. 
 
 The Young People's Rally had been held at Winter Park in 
 June with fifty-three young people in attendance. Rev. W. Hill of 
 Fayetteville gave the inspirational address. Thirty-three young 
 people from our Presbyterial had attended the Young People's 
 Conference at Queen's College, Charlotte. 
 
 Six districts had observed the Day of Prayer and the reports 
 showed that the new plan was highly successful. Three hundred 
 women had attended and the helpful programs had reached many 
 more than were formerly reached by the one place meeting. The 
 collections were $38.00. 
 
 This closed Mrs. Baker's three-year term as President. Though 
 on account of ill health she had not been able to give as much time 
 to the Presbyterial her last year, she had given the work such 
 impetus during her first two years that there was no break in 
 progress and activities. Mrs. J. O. Carr, our efficient Secretary, 
 and the other officers had wrought loyally and faithfully in carry- 
 ing out the year's program and the results were most satisfactory. 
 The following facts gleaned from Mrs. Baker's Report for 1920, 
 will speak eloquently of the growth during her administration : 
 Thirty-one Societies had grown to forty-four; 697 members had 
 increased to 1,213; gifts had increased from $5,726.00 to $16,- 
 481.00 ; Mission Study classes had grown from seventeen to thirty- 
 5 
 
66 The "Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 four. The movement for Bible Classes and Prayer Bands was 
 well under way and an excellent Standard of Efficiency had been 
 adopted. At the 1920 annual meeting it was decided to group our 
 Young People into districts and hold four district meetings instead 
 of one as formerly done. The work for Grove Institute (formerly 
 James Sprunt Institute) was continued and an annual appropria- 
 tion of $500.00 was recommended for this school. 
 
 Mrs. Baker had made a most efficient and progressive President. 
 She was a splendid executive as well, inspiring her co-workers to a 
 like zeal and interest. She was a good organizer, having the happy 
 faculty of selecting the right woman for the right place and when 
 she retired from office she left all departments in excellent working 
 order. As the wife of the pastor of Mt. Olive Presbyterian Church 
 she still labors among us, as witness that the banner for highest 
 efficiency in 1921 went to the Mt. Olive Auxiliary. 
 
 Miss Jane Hall, daughter of our first President, Mrs. B. P. Hall, 
 was elected President. This was a happy choice, for both by in- 
 heritance and training she is "thoroughly furnished unto all good 
 works." Other officers elected were: Vice-President, Mrs. Annie 
 Southerland; Secretary of Grove Institute, Miss Winifred Faison; 
 Secretary of Synodical, Presbyterial and Congregational Home 
 Missions, Mrs. H. A. Grady; Secretary of Young People, Miss 
 Alice Behrends ; Secretary of Orphanage Work, Mrs. R. C. Carson ; 
 Secretary of Bible Study and Prayer Bands, Mrs. W. M. Cum- 
 ming; Committee for Grove Institute, Mrs. M. H. Wooten, Mrs. 
 W. G. Whitehead and Miss Winnie Faison. The Nominating 
 Committee provided at this meeting for the proper rotation of office 
 in order to conform to Art. VI of the Constitution adopted in 1910. 
 
 The year ending 1921 was a full one both for our President and 
 other officers. Two successful Rallies for Young People were held 
 in the summer at which three-fourths of all the societies were repre- 
 sented. Thirty-five of our young people attended the Synodical 
 summer conference at Flora McDonald College. The Young People 
 reported thirteen Mission Study classes, twenty-one Bible Study 
 classes and Prayer Bands, twenty-nine societies, 584 members, con- 
 tributing $1,157.00. 
 
 In October came the Synodical Auxiliary meeting attended by 
 our President and several officers. Also an Executive Committee 
 meeting held in St. Andrew's Church, Wilmington with sixteen 
 members in attendance. The progress of the year's work was re- 
 ported ?r_d plans made for the Day of Prayer. These were held 
 
Growth and Expansion 67 
 
 in six districts and were well attended. Mrs. E. W. Orr of States- 
 ville, N. C, and Mrs. Jackson Johnson conducted delightful Bible 
 Hours; Dr. A. A. McFadyen of China Mission gave the Foreign 
 Mission talk. All districts reported much help spiritually from the 
 day. 
 
 The annual meeting was held at Wallace, April 19th and 20th, 
 1921. The theme of the meeting was "Spiritual Life," and the 
 motto "to deepen the spiritual life of our members." There were 
 one hundred and twenty-seven delegates, officers and out-of-town 
 visitors in attendance. The Home Mission address was by Mr. J. 
 J. Murray, the Foreign Mission address by Miss Ella Graham of 
 Korea. Wednesday morning was given to two conferences, one 
 for the leaders of the Women's Auxiliaries and one for the leaders 
 of the Young People's Auxiliaries, held at the same time but at 
 different places. These proved helpful and conserved time at the 
 convention. The Secretaries reported for the year forty-five mis- 
 sion study classes with 664 enrolled and seventeen Auxiliaries ob- 
 serving Home Mission Week in November. Eighteen had put 
 their churches on the Survey Honor Roll. At the request of Mrs. 
 Ramsay, Synodical President, Mrs. J. O. Carr made a careful 
 survey of the church membership in September, 1920. The re- 
 sult showed sixty-four churches with a woman membership of two 
 thousand one hundred and sixteen. Thirty-six of these churches 
 are represented by a membership of one thousand two hundred and 
 twenty in the Presbyterial Auxiliary, leaving eight hundred and 
 ninety-six women not enrolled. These are interesting figures. 
 Four hundred and fifty-eight dollars was given to Grove Institute ; 
 $5,418.00 had been collected toward the $7,500.00 goal for the 
 Orphanage Building; the Scrap Book had been prepared by the 
 Historian containing much interesting data; we were the only 
 Presbyterial in the Synodical to send a delegate, bearing her ex- 
 penses, to the Tuscaloosa Conference for Colored Women ; we had 
 six candidates for the ministry and two young women in training 
 for mission service ; our contributions were : from Young People, 
 $1,188.00; from Women's Auxiliaries, $22,125.00. 
 
 The Young People's banner for highest efficiency was awarded 
 to the Junior Auxiliary of the Church of the Covenant. Miss 
 Murphy presented a most interesting and arresting report of our 
 Kiangyin Hospital. 
 
 The following changes in our constitution were adopted: 
 
 That Section 13 of Article IV be stricken out and that the fol- 
 lowing be amended to read: 
 
6S The Wilmington Pkesbttekial Auxiliary 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 Officers 
 The officers of this organization shall be President, Vice-Presi- 
 dent, Honorary President, Secretary and Treasurer, Secretary of 
 Literature, Secretary of Orphaange Work and a Secretary for 
 each of the following causes : Foreign Missions, Assembly Home 
 Missions, Christian Education and Ministerial Relief, Young 
 People's Work and Sabbath School Extension, Synodical, Presby- 
 terial and Congregational Home Missions, Secretary of Grove In- 
 stitute, Historian, Secretary of Prayer Bands and Bible Study, 
 District Chairmen and the honorary members elected at the Pres- 
 bvterial meetins; in 1913. 
 
 AETICLE IV— Section 12. 
 The Secretary of Grove Institute shall seek by correspondence 
 with local Auxiliaries to arouse interest and co-operation in the up- 
 building of Grove Institute under the direction of the President 
 of the Institution and the Executive Committee of the Presbyterial 
 Auxiliary. She shall keep in close touch with the student using the 
 May Johnson Scholarship Fund and inform the Presbyterial Aux- 
 iliary of students' progress. 
 
 ARTICLE IV— Section 13. 
 The Secretary of Bible Study and Prayer Bands shall endeavor 
 to enlist every woman of the church in Bible Study and to have 
 every woman in a weekly Prayer Band. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 The Executive Committee. 
 
 The officers of the Presbyterial Auxiliary shall constitute and be 
 an Executive Committee. They shall fill vacancies as they occur 
 on this committee until the regular annual meeting, transact all 
 necessary business and appoint all nominating committees. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. 
 
 Election of Officers. 
 
 The officers shall be elected for a term of three years, four or 
 more beins; elected each Year. 
 
 Following out the recommendation of the President and Execu- 
 tive Committee the election of officers was by ballot and resulted 
 as follows: Recording Secretary and Treasurer, Mrs. W. M. 
 Boice; Secretarv of Christian Education and Ministerial Relief, 
 
Growth and Expansion 69 
 
 Miss Sallie Hill; Secretary of Foreign Missions, Mrs. J. O. Carr; 
 Historian, Mrs. J. A. Brown; Secretary of Young People's Work, 
 Mrs. J. M. Harvey; Secretary of Orphanage Work, Mrs. J. T, 
 French. A committee on Young People was also appointed and the 
 young people were grouped into five districts for their Rally Days. 
 
 The annual meeting of April, 1922, closed thirty-four years of 
 work for the organized woman's societies of Wilmington Presby- 
 terial Auxiliary. The convention was held at Clinton and was 
 blessed by having with us Dr. and Mrs. Worth, our missionaries 
 at Kiangyin, China, after an absence of nine years. They were 
 an inspiration throughout and Mrs. Worth's Bible Hours were 
 deeply spiritual and uplifting. Upon the suggestion of Mrs. J. O. 
 Carr that we make our annual report for this year a "Worth Num- 
 ber" our Minutes for 1922 were dedicated to them and contained 
 also a message from them to us. 
 
 Two meetings of the Executive Committee had transacted much 
 work during the year. We had lost our Recording Secretary by 
 removal from the Presbytery and Mrs. J. O. Carr had generously 
 stepped into the breach and in addition to her work as Foreign 
 Mission Secretary acted as Recording Secretary as well. 
 
 There were four Young People's Rallies held in the summer 
 with an attendance of 475, an increase of 325 over the previous 
 year. The young people themselves presided and took active part 
 on the program. Rev. J. W. Allen of Luebo, Africa, spoke at two 
 of these meetings. Mrs. Harvey's report showed a healthly growth 
 in Young People's work. She had stressed, not more organizations, 
 but stronger and more efficient ones and thirty-six Young People's 
 organizations reported an increase of membership from 584 to 977 ; 
 twenty-four Mission Study classes with an enrollment of 508, an 
 increase of 206 over the previous year. The banner for highest 
 efficiency went to the Junior Auxiliary of First Church, Wil- 
 mington. 
 
 The Day of Prayer had been held in five of the six districts. 
 The chief speakers were Mrs. Lacy Little and Miss Jessie Hall 
 of our China Mission. Miss Jane Hall and Mrs. J. O. Carr pre- 
 sented the needs of our Kiangyin Hospital. 
 
 The President's financial report at the annual meeting showed 
 a decrease in gifts of $4,000.00, this falling off being largely in 
 gifts to Miscellaneous Benevolences. While distressing, it was not 
 unexpected, owing to the financial depression all over our territory. 
 
70 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 The membership had increased 104 and 198 Tithers and 181 Family 
 Altars were reported. 
 
 Mrs. French reported only $1,246.00 lacking to complete our 
 apportionment of the Orphanage Building Fund, and this has since 
 been sent in. Miss Faison reported much building and repairing 
 at Grove Institute and contributions from the Presbyterial of 
 $345.00. 
 
 There were fifteen volunteers for Foreign Mission service and 
 gifts to Foreign Missions had totaled $4,938.00, an increase of 
 $449.00 over the previous year. 
 
 At the annual meeting the President recommended that the 
 Standard of Efficiency adopted by the Presbyterial be discontinued, 
 and in its stead the Presbyterial adopt the Standard of Excellence 
 sent out by the Woman's Auxiliary of the Southern Church. Also 
 that we send a delegate to the Conference for Colored Women at 
 Atlanta. Both recommendations were adopted, and Lillie Exum of 
 Chadbourn, wife of Rev. John Exum, was chosen by the committee 
 as delegate to the Atlanta Conference. The recommendation of 
 the Executive Committee that the Vice-President serve as Cor- 
 responding Secretary was adopted. The Elizabeth McRae ban- 
 ner for highest efficiency was awarded to the South River Aux- 
 iliary, Garland. After Miss Faison's report Mr. and Mrs. Hollings- 
 worth were given a rising vote of thanks for their excellent six 
 year's work at Grove Institute. 
 
 The Presbyterial voted to raise $2,000.00 to build a home for 
 Chinese doctors at Kiangyin Hospital, in addition to our regular 
 $1,600.00 for the support of the Hospital. The recommendation 
 of the Foreign Mission Secretary that all our Foreign Mission 
 money not otherwise pledged be given to this cause was adopted. 
 Dr. and Mrs. Worth presented the Young People of the Presby- 
 terial with a handsome engraved silver shield which had been pre- 
 sented to them by the Mayor, the Chamber of Commerce and other 
 gentry as a parting gift upon the departure from China for their 
 year's leave. This is to be used as a reward in some department 
 of Young People's work. 
 
Kiaxgyix Hospital, Kiangyix, China. 
 Built by Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary. 
 
®uv ^restopterial Special: i^tangpin Jloapttal 
 
 Sr. (George C. UQortfi in Charge 
 
 From the North Carolina Presbyterian, Wilmington, 1ST. C, April 
 2, 1896, I quote the following: 
 
 This week we present faces familiar and dear to many of our readers, 
 those of the two young missionaries who went forth last summer from 
 the First Presbyterian church of Wilmington, N. C. 
 
 George Clarkson Worth is the second (surviving) son of Mr. and Mrs. 
 David G. Worth, and grandson of Governor Worth. He was born in Wil- 
 mington, Oct. 29th, 1867. He very early manifested piety towards God 
 and fidelity to all the relations in life. He made confession of Christ and 
 was received into the communion of the First church, Wilmington, on 
 Jan. 11th, 1884. He at once became active in service and his influence in 
 the Bingham school was blessed in leading several of his companions to 
 the Saviour. In the Fall of 1887 he was at his home again and was in- 
 strumental in enlisting the co-operation of four other young men in organ- 
 izing the Young Men's Christian Association of this city. While at Chapel 
 Hill he threw himself heartily into the Students' Volunteer movement. 
 At the Y. M. C. A. convention held here in the Spring of 1889, he publicly 
 announced his purpose — formed several years before — of becoming a medi- 
 cal missionary, and visited several of the institutions of the State in the 
 interests of the movement. From Chapel Hill he went for his medical 
 course to the University of Virginia and thence to the University of New 
 York, where he completed his studies, and entered upon two successive 
 terms of hospital work, the last of which he completed in June, 1895. 
 
 Emma Marie Chadbourn was also a child of the First church the daugh- 
 ter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Chadbourn. When the present pastor, Dr. 
 Hoge, took charge of the congregation she was the first to come forward 
 to make confession of Christ, and was received at the first communion, 
 Jan. 1886, with twenty-one others into the full fellowship of the church. 
 She became one of the most active members of a band of young girls or- 
 ganized by her aunt, Mrs. George Chadbourn, and finally became its leader. 
 Early in 1888 she communicated to her pastor her desire to become a 
 foreign missionary, and in June, 1889, announced her purpose at the 
 Ladies Foreign Missionary Convention of the Presbytery. She had been 
 educated in the Tileston school in this city in which she had become a 
 teacher, but went to Bradford, Mass., to complete her education in that 
 school so associated wih the preparation of noble women for Christian 
 missionaries and workers. On her return she desired to devote her time 
 to home and Christian work, but yielded to the urgency of the Superin- 
 tendent of Public Schools, and for a year and a half taught the higher 
 branches in the schools. Meanwhile she was active in the Church mission 
 work and had one of the most important classes in the Sunday-school. 
 
 [71] 
 
72 The "Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 In January, 1895, the pastor returned from a public meeting and said 
 to his wife: "I saw two young people together tonight that ought to have 
 gotten together long ago, and they looked very well satisfied." In April 
 they called to tell him of their engagement, and received his congratula- 
 tions and blessing. July 21st he united their hands in marriage. August 
 1st an overflowing congregation assembled at the church to bid them 
 farewell and Godspeed, and the next day their friends bade them a tearful 
 goodbye as they set out on their long journey. They arrived in Shanghai 
 during the annual meeting of the Mission and were located at Wusih. 
 Their letters are a source of constant delight and inspiration to their 
 friends, and are full of happiness in their life work. 
 
 They went out from homes where they had every comfort and with the 
 brightest prospects at home to undergo the hardships and privations of 
 a missionary's life in China. They are practically self-supporting, as the 
 cost of the entire journey was paid by their own families, and Dr. Worth 
 and his father have provided for their entire salary. The Westminster 
 League of the church supplies Dr. Worth's medicines and the L. F. M. S. 
 is contributing for building him a hospital in Wusih. 
 
 From the same paper I quote the following: 
 
 First Church, Wilmington. — This Church addressed these noble and 
 pathetic words to two of its missionaries as they go away to the Foreign 
 field. The words are all the more touching because the departing mis- 
 sionaries are members who grew up in the Church: To Dr. and Mrs. George 
 C. Worth: 
 
 Your home Church bids you farewell and Godspeed. As you depart once 
 more from the Church of your youth, may it bring you no little comfort 
 to remember that your places there are not left vacant; that, not only on 
 her written records, but even in the very activities and worship of a 
 blessed and venerable Church, you have an honored part. 
 
 In the years to come, as the procossion lengthens from her doors, bear- 
 ing the Saving name of Him who is not willing that any should perish, 
 your Church will ever be mindful that you were the first who went to 
 serve the King in a land that is very far off. And now may you return 
 in the strength of the Lord and in the power of His might, with joy and 
 great rejoicing. For you are of the King's cup-bearers, offering Him in 
 your daily service the wine of utmost obedience. May the promised re- 
 ward of such obedience on the part of her children return upon the Church 
 at home, filling her with the spirit of surrender and of service with the 
 very spirit of Christ. 
 
 In our farewell we give you, as you go, the tender regard of friends and 
 the trust of fellow-workers. We pledge you our prayers, that they may 
 still be an overcoming power before you in the way you go. The grace of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 
 
 Attention has already been called to the fact that Miss Emma 
 Chadbourn who afterwards became Mrs. Worth first publicly an- 
 nounced her intention of becoming a foreign missionary at the 
 first Consecration Service in 1889. 
 
Growth and Expansion 73 
 
 These two went out from the Church in which our Union was 
 organized and while self-supporting, they are under care of our 
 Presbytery. So it was the natural and happy consequence that the 
 Presbyterial has always taken an active loving interest in them 
 and the work they represent. We adopted them as special objcets 
 of our prayers, and our foreign mission gifts. The following ex- 
 tracts from ]\Iiss Murphy's reports will best give the outline of our 
 work for this Presbyterial Special: 
 
 In the spring of 1903, the idea first came to us to build a hospital for 
 Dr. Worth's work in Kiangyin. Dr. Worth assured us that this building 
 was the greatest need of the station at that time. But it required some 
 time for the Union to grasp the proposed plan, and the object was formally 
 adopted at a called meeting of our Executive Committee in August, 1904. 
 
 Meanwhile the faith and enthusiasm of youth had grasped the idea at once. 
 The first contribution credited to the hospital fund was sent during Novem- 
 ber, 1903, by the "Earnest Workers" of Caswell church, a fact in which the 
 members of that band continue to exult to this day. 
 
 We set out to raise $4,000 in two years — 80 shares, of $50.00 each. During 
 that winter (1904) Dr. Worth sent us certificates printed in Shanghai, a 
 picture of himself with a group of patients in front of the native building 
 then being used as hospital quarters. 
 
 By June, 1905 33 shares were pledged and in less than three years the 
 fund of $4,000 raised and the hospital built. 
 
 In April, 1907, the first meeting of the Presbytery of our church in China 
 was held in Kiangyin in our hospital chapel — the first use of the building. 
 Dr. Worth came home just at that time, and gave account of what has 
 always seemed to us a wonderful achievement, in the way of making money 
 and space count in the buildings and grounds. 
 
 At the same time he brought us word that a separate woman's ward 
 must be added at a cost of $2,500. 
 
 To condense history, and to trace the over-ruling for our good, the fol- 
 lowing facts stand out: 
 
 It was never possible to buy additional land. In the hope of procuring 
 this land, the building of the ward was delayed. The money which was 
 sent was used for contingent needs. Water works were installed, a house 
 was built for storing fuel, and a small building of three (3) rooms for 
 contagious cases. Five hundred dollars remained when Dr. Worth came 
 home in February, 1911, and told us that the rapidly growing work de- 
 manded a woman's ward, an operating room, and proper surgical equip- 
 ment, all of which would cost $6,000, this fund to be in hand on his return 
 to China in September, 1912. Though the necessity and urgency for this 
 completing of our hospital plant were so apparent, and the finger pointing 
 so plainly to this as the next piece of work for us, our committee held 
 three meetings, and the third meeting adjourned with the question not 
 settled as to whether or not we could attempt o raise the $6,000 within 
 the limit of time. The decision was soon made, however, and the cam- 
 paign begun. 
 
74 The "Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 Just as the uniting of our forces at the beginning to build the hospital 
 strengthened and broadened our work, so this larger undertaking aroused 
 many societies to greater things, and brought gifts from many individuals. 
 
 The doctors of Wilmington, and Dr. Ben Graham, from outside the city, 
 gave a steam sterilizer; the Saint Andrew's Ladies' Society and "Christian 
 Endeavor" gave a private room of two cots, to be named in honor of Dr. 
 and Mrs. McClure; the Duplin Roads Ladies' Society and Girls' Band gave 
 a private room of one cot; Miss Margaret M. Craig gave a private room of 
 one cot; Mr. C. C. Murphy gave a private room of one cot, Mr. Paul Murphy 
 giving the cot. Other memorial cots have been given. 
 
 The necessary delay of Dr. Worth's return to China extended the time 
 for our raising the fund, but in February, 1913, only half the amount 
 ($3,000) was in hand. Just here we must turn back a few pages. 
 
 At Montreat, summer of 1910, the missionaries from China laid it upon 
 our hearts very earnestly that Dr. Worth's work had been for some time 
 entirely too heavy, and was increasingly so. In Dr. Worth's letter to the 
 Union received that fall, he said that the previous year had proved beyond 
 question that we must have another physician at Kiangyin, and he sent 
 request that we unite in the definite prayer for a consecrated, capable 
 physician to share the work in our hospital. 
 
 In February, of this year, the matter stood thus: Dr. Frank Crawford, 
 of Virginia, just such an one as Dr. Worth desired, was ready, after his 
 marriage, to go out in the fall to Kiangyin. The committee at Nashville 
 had given Dr. Crawford appointment to the Mid-China Mission. 
 
 At the same meeting the committee decided that no new missionaries 
 could be sent out unless a salary of $1,200 a year was pledged. On the 
 15th of February our Presbyterial Committee was called together to con- 
 sider the following proposal: Mrs. James Sprunt offered to complete the 
 hospital fund by a gift of $3,000, if the Presbyterial would take the sup- 
 port of Dr. Crawford and his wife — $2,400 a year. 
 
 This undertaking meant the raising of $1,000 by October 1st, 1913, for 
 out-going expenses. Their salary beginning the day they reached Kiangyin. 
 
 What did this mean to us? 
 
 Why, we had been afraid we could not raise the six thousand dollars! 
 With faltering faith we had begun the task. As we wrought on we had 
 asked Him, whose work it was to help, to enable, to give us this fund, and 
 He had given it. Let us dwell on this fact apart from other facts — seeing 
 clearly that wherein we lacked faith were we rebuked; in so far as our 
 faith reached up, we have received the "much more" from our Heavenly 
 Father. By this dealing we are bidden, that when the way is pointed out, 
 we may go forward and trust Him who points the way. 
 
 Now, consider other facts. This fund was not given us until the next 
 task was set before us, and so duty is plain. With grateful hearts we 
 accepted the three thousand dollars. Nor was this all. A little later 
 in the Spring it came to the ears of these gracious givers, Mr. and Mrs. 
 Sprunt, that the surgical equipment actually needed would require 
 another thousand dollars, and that the hospital chapel and the men's 
 
Growth and Expansion 75 
 
 ward needed enlarging at a cost of $2,000, so another gift of $3,000 was 
 gladly and readily made — "Exceeding abundantly above all we asked or 
 thought!" Without any effort of ours, there has come to us for this 
 beloved work as much from one giver as we set out to raise by a great 
 effort of our own. 
 
 From the 15th of February, 1913, all receipts have gone toward the 
 $1,000, due October 1st. This has reached about $600. It is with pleasure 
 I report the $1,000 more than half raised, but we must remind ourselves 
 that after June there are only three months of time. This fund 
 must be in Nashville by October 1st. This new work will train us into 
 habits of promptness. A building fund may wait, but the living salary 
 must be supplied. Twelve hundred dollars every six months is our pledge, 
 and we must be prompt and faithful. 
 
 It transpired that Dr. Crawford did not carry a wife out "with 
 him as we expected him to do, so we did not have to raise the 
 $2,400.00, but $1,200.00, which was promptly and easily secured 
 with the exception of the years 1914 and 1915. Dr. Crawford 
 married after being in the field a few years and in 1918-1919 
 $600.00 additional was raised to aid in the support of Mrs. Craw- 
 ford. In 1919 Dr. and Mrs. Crawford were transferred to another 
 mission field that had lost their only doctor and Miss Albaugh, the 
 trained nurse who went out to our Hospital in 1908, had died. 
 
 I quote from Miss Murphy's report in 1920 : 
 
 REPORT FROM OUR HOSPITAL 
 
 A letter received in February from Dr. Worth contains the following: 
 "We have finally decided that we cannot return home on furlough this 
 year, though it is the appointed time, for the reason that we just cannot 
 leave the hospital without either another doctor or a nurse. We had been 
 looking forward to a visit home this year, after seven years of absence, 
 and to us it is no small disappointment that the furlough must be aban- 
 doned for the present. 
 
 "My last letter to you spoke of our having secured the temporary serv- 
 ices of a nurse from the National Church of Scotland Mission, Miss Mc- 
 Farland, but we have lately been deeply disappointed to hear from her 
 that she cannot come. We have just tried to secure a nurse from the 
 Northern Presbyterian Mission, but failed. Here we are again without 
 the least prospect on the field and none that we hear of from home. Our 
 Nurses' Training School is registered under the Nurses' Association of 
 China as a hospital and school of the first-class, and our nurses are 
 eligible for diplomas from the Association in addition to our local diploma. 
 This is a position from which we shall be obliged to withdraw or be 
 deleted unless we soon secure a foreign trained nurse to become our 
 nurses' superintendent. It troubles us very much. If Mrs. Worth and 
 I should leave on furlough, the blow would fall at once, as the Nurses' 
 Association is trying to maintain a very high standard of excellence and 
 
76 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 they would be obliged to withdraw our registry. Such an event would 
 affect our standing in Chinese eyes and would give great distress to our 
 pupils. It is a matter of first importance to us that we have a nurse as 
 soon as a suitable one can be sent out. I am only mentioning this in 
 such detail so that you can ask our people to remember our hospital with 
 especial prayer that God will provide a nurse, as well as another doctor, 
 to take Dr. Crawford's place." 
 
 Just here, let me plead that the women of our Presbyterial read and 
 re-read what Dr. "Worth has said until it is laid upon your hearts in 
 such a way that from your hearts and lips there shall go up to God 
 daily prayer — the three-fold petition: That Dr. and Mrs. Worth shall have 
 strength and courage for this year of extended service when they so 
 sorely need the furlough that is due; for the nurse, that the "Lord of 
 the harvest" shall send the right one speedily; for the doctor, that if 
 it is God's will, Dr. Crawford be sent back to Kiangyin (this is the great 
 desire of both Dr. Crawford and Dr. Worth, though both defer to do that 
 which is right and best for the whole Mission). 
 
 In addition to these needs which urge us to think often and pray much, 
 there are items of encouragement gleaned from reports during recent 
 months. 
 
 During the epidemic of influenza and spinal meningitis they wrote: 
 "There have been many deaths all through the surrounding country. The 
 hospital has been kept full. We have been protected thus far, but there 
 have been deaths all around us." 
 
 Another letter gives numbers received into the church each year since 
 1916, that of a total between three and four hundred. We thank God for 
 these. 
 
 From the Calendar of First Church, Wilmington, December 28, 1919, 
 we quote: "Mr. Chas. W. Worth, Jr., a son of our beloved Elder and 
 Missionary, Dr. Geo. C. Worth, having completed his course at Davidson, 
 has gone to Union Theological Seminary as a theological student and 
 candidate for the Gospel Ministry." 
 
 It is a temptation to give verbatim the portion referring to our hospital 
 from the report to the Inter-Ghurch-World Movement Campaign Survey. 
 I will give a brief portion: "Our hospital is thus not only the sole hope 
 of a multitnde of people, and will remain so, but it is also the one 
 Christian hospital, stands for the great CAUSE, and must either be an 
 honor to that CAUSE and reflect credit upon it, or else by its inefficiency, 
 lack of essential equipment, or otherwise, attract criticism and depreciation, 
 which depreciation and criticism always is primarily directed at the Church, 
 the hospital being inseparable from the Church and being regarded by 
 the outsider as simply a part of the Church visible. If the hospital or 
 the school is not up-to-date they do not understand why the Christian cause 
 cannot keep its representative institutions up-to-date. This is a point we 
 feel very keenly, especially as there is really no answer to it." 
 
 From the Keport of 1921 : 
 
Growth and Expansion 77 
 
 Dr. W. H. Sprunt, Jr., wrote from Kiangyin January 23, 1921: "I have 
 never met anyone who impressed me as much as Dr. Worth does. It is no 
 wonder that the Chinese class him with their great men. * * * * * He has 
 the capacity to put himself in the other fellow's place better than anyone 
 I've ever known. At present he is the only man on his feet at the Kiangyin 
 station, and has all the worries and responsibilities of the whole place. If 
 he never said a word hisi life would have more influence than the preaching 
 of half a dozen ordinary men. ***** i don't know just how well informed 
 you, and the others who support Kiangyin, are about, the equipment, but the 
 two things that impressed me were the absence of an X-Ray outfit and water- 
 works. ***** The Chinese know that good hospitals have X-Ray equip- 
 ment, and many go to Shanghai to get the benefit of it. Dr. Worth is 
 awfully handicapped in this respect and it does not look fair to me to make 
 a man run a hospital without it." 
 
 This shows the situation vividly as it appears to an outside observer. 
 
 Our Hospital has lost its registry in the Nurses' Association of China 
 because so long a time has elapsed since there has been a foreign nurse at 
 the head, and this in spite of the Worths staying on a year and a half over 
 time in the hope of averting this disaster. 
 
 Dr. and Mrs. Worth are to come home this summer, leaving the hospital 
 in the care of Dr. Nyi, a Chinese physician, and Miss Corriher of the 
 Kashing Hospital, lent to us for a year. 
 
 The Presbyterial has already decided that the hospital support shall 
 henceforth be called "Kiangyin Hospital Fund," precluding further con- 
 fusion. 
 
 Dr. aiid Mrs. Worth spent the year beginning in the summer of 
 1921 to 1922 in this country on furlough and interest was revived 
 to such an extent that our Presbyterial is undertaking to give this 
 year $1,600.00 to the support of the hospital and $2,00.0.00 for 
 permanent improvements. This will be spent in the erection of a 
 home for our two Chinese physicians and their families. 
 
 The following report given by Mrs. Worth at the 1922 Presby- 
 terial Convention brings the history of our special to date: 
 
 THE KIANGYIN HOSPITAL 
 (By Mrs. George C. Worth.) 
 
 After an absence of nine years it was a great pleasure to Dr. Worth 
 and to me to attend a meeting of the Presbyerial. To us there is manifest 
 a very great improvement along all lines; an increased attendance, a more 
 business-like and expeditious manner of conducting the meetings, well 
 prepared and encouraging reports, and much more general information and 
 interest among the delegates in all kinds of work. 
 
 It was a great joy to us to see the loving interest which all manifest in 
 the work of the Kiangyin Hospital, which has been the especial charge of 
 this Presbyterial since 1904. The two large wards, one for male patients 
 and one for women, as well as the outbuildings, which are used as isolation 
 
78 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 wards, kitchen, laundry, bathrooms, storerooms, nurses' quarters, etc., 
 were all built by the women and children of Wilmington Presbyterial. "We 
 have another ward, which will accommodate about fifteen patients which 
 was built and furnished by the well-to-do Chinese of our city. The same 
 friends are now giving an X-Ray plant to the institution. 
 
 We are supposed to have ninety beds; but as we have insufficient room 
 for our nurses and no home for the Chinese doctors and their families, 
 they are now occupying some of the private rooms. We are most happy that 
 the Presbyterial at this meeting promised to raise during this year the 
 $2,000 which is needed to build a double house for homes for our two 
 Chinese physicians and their families, in addition to the $1,600 which is 
 our annual appropriation to cover our deficit. The fees and contributions 
 from the Chinese now cover seventy-five per cent, of the expense and the 
 Presbyterial supplies the other twenty-five per cent. 
 
 Last year the hospital reported one American physician, no American 
 trained nurse, three Chinese physicians, fourteen student nurses, five 
 graduate nurses, eight hundred and eight in-patients, eighty-nine major 
 operations, 6,516 individuals treated, and an income of $10,707.18. (Chinese 
 currency.) 
 
 There was an epidemic of cerebro-spinal meningitis during the winter, 
 and one of cholera in the summer. The hospital was much in demand and 
 many lives were saved. We are grateful to report that none of our staff 
 died, though a number of them had cholera. 
 
 Miss Nesbit has divided her time the past year between Soochow and 
 Kiangyin. She is a trained accountant, and has relieved all those in charge 
 of our institutions of the burden of accounts and bookkeeping. 
 
 Dr. Worth was in a very run down physical condition when we returned 
 to the United States last August, but a visit to the Mayo Hospital in 
 Rochester, Minn., and a stay in St. Luke's Hospital in Richmond, Va., 
 have worked wonders, and he is now well and strong and eager to return 
 to China. 
 
 All our friends will rejoice with us that our son, Charles W. Worth, Jr., 
 is to be ordained as a minister of the Gospel in May, and expects to return 
 to China as a missionary during the summer, taking as his bride Miss 
 Grace McAlpine, who was born in Japan, and who is a third generation 
 missionary (or whose parents and grandparents were missionaries to that 
 land). 
 
 We know that your prayers will go with us, and we trust that the doctors 
 and nurses who are so much needed in all our mission hospitals will soon 
 be found and sent out. 
 
18884922 
 " OTitjat ?|atf) (goo Wtouqftl " 
 
 In 1888 our Presbyterial Auxiliary embraced eight ladies' and 
 three children's societies — eleven in all. The membership was 288 
 and gifts for the year were $273.00. There were eight officers and 
 we worked and studied for one cause, viz : Foreign Missions. 
 
 In 1922 we have thirty-four Women's Auxiliaries with a mem- 
 bership of 1,271, contributing in 1921, our high-water mark, 
 $22,125.00 and in 1922, $18,079.00; we have thirty-six Young- 
 People's Auxiliaries with a membership of 977, contributing in 
 1921, $1,088.00 and in 1922, $1,108.00. In all seventy Auxiliaries, 
 with a combined membership of 2,271, contributing in 1921, 
 $23,213.00; in 1922, $19,187.00. We have thirty officers repre- 
 senting nine causes of church work. Instead of one annual meeting 
 we have in addition six district meetings in the fall and four 
 Young People's meetings in the summer — eleven in all. Instead 
 of the modest four-page Minutes of 1901, it took forty pages to 
 present all phases of the year's activities in 1922. Instead of one 
 lone sister Presbyterial Union in Virginia we now exchange greet- 
 ings and measure accomplishments with eighty-one other Presby- 
 terials of the Woman's Auxiliary of the Southern Presbyterian 
 Church and with six in our own State. Truly we can say, as did 
 Jacob to God at Mahanaim, "With my staff I passed over this 
 Jordan, and now I am become two bands." ~Not two, but many 
 bands ! 
 
 "Afterward he brought me again unto the door of the house; 
 behold, waters issued out from under the threshold of the house 
 eastward, at the south side of the altar. . . . And when the man 
 that had the line in his hand went forth eastward, he measured a 
 thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters ; the waters 
 were to the ankles. Again he measured a thousand — the waters 
 were to the knees. Again he measured a thousand; — the waters 
 were to the loins. Afterwards he measured a thousand ; and it was 
 a river that I could not pass over : for the waters were risen, waters 
 
 79] 
 
80 The Wilmington Peesbytekial Auxiliary 
 
 to swim in, a river that could not be passed over. . . . At the 
 hank of the river were very many trees. Then he said unto me, 
 These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into 
 the desert, and go into the sea ; which being brought forth into 
 the sea, the waters shall be healed. . . . By the river upon the 
 bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for 
 meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be 
 consumed; it shall bring forth new fruits according to its months, 
 because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit 
 thereof shall be for meat and the leaf thereof for medicine." 
 
 Thirty-four years of vigorous life and growth ! Wilmington 
 Presbyterial Auxiliary, we hail thee! We honor thy founders and 
 Godly leaders, thy generous, self-denying supporters. They hand 
 to us a glorious heritage. Your historian has sought to catch, to 
 hold and to pass on to you that subtle, indefinable but glorious and 
 vital something that always abides in the history, ideals and tradi- 
 tions of any worth-while organization. May we by looking backward 
 not lose the race, but rather inspired by what has been accomplished 
 and strengthened by examples of earnest and Godly women, may 
 we "thank God and take courage" for the accomplishment of larger 
 things in the future. To those of you who now walk in the strength 
 and gladness and vigor of youth, we pass on this royal banner of 
 united service for the Master. Honor and cherish your Presby- 
 terial Auxiliary; foster its ideals, enlarge its usefulness and in- 
 terests, pass it on to the next generation stronger than you found 
 it, for the promise is to you and to your children. "Continue thou 
 in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, 
 knowing of whom thou hast learned them." And as decade succeeds 
 decade, and the tribes come up to your annual meetings — "to the 
 testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord" — 
 review your history and add a worthy chapter to that already re- 
 corded. Tea, "Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the 
 towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces, 
 that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is 
 our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death." 
 
PRESBYTERIAL OFFICERS. 
 
 "Not even a Homer can make a list of names interesting, even 
 though they be the names of heroes." 
 
 Presidents. 
 
 Mes. B. F. Hall . . 
 Mrs. Jackson Johnson 
 Mrs. A. J. Howell . 
 Mrs. J. A. Brown . 
 Mrs. H. M. Baker . 
 Miss Jane Hall . 
 
 1888 to 1900 
 1900 to 1913 
 
 1913 to 1914 
 
 1914 to 1917 
 1917 to 1920 
 1920 to 1923 
 
 Vice-Presidents. 
 
 Mrs. T. B. Peirce 1901 to 1902 
 
 Misses Eliza Murphy and J. D. Wood .... 1902 to 1906 
 Misses Eliza Murphy and Margaret Peirce . . 1904 to 1906 
 Mrs. J. A. Brown and Miss Margaret Peirce . 1906 to 1908 
 Mrs. A. D. McCluee and Mrs. Annie Witherington 1908 to 1910 
 
 In 1910 the plan of a Vice-President for each county was inaugu- 
 rated, these being : 
 
 First Vice-President, Mes. A. D. McCluee . . . 1910 to 1913 
 
 Second Vice-President, Miss Blanch Paesley . . 1910 to 1911 
 
 Second Vice-President, Mes. A. 0. Osborne . . . 1910 to 1911 
 
 Second Vice-President, Miss R. E. L. Brown . . 1912 to 1913 
 
 County Vice-Presidents — 1910 to 1913. 
 
 Columbus County . 
 Bladen County . 
 Brunswick County 
 Onslow County . 
 Sampson County . 
 
 Mrs. J. A. Brown . 
 Mrs. James Thomas . 
 Mrs. A. W. Southerland 
 Mrs. A. H. Witherington 
 
 . Mrs. J. A. Brown 
 
 Mrs. Gr. L. Clark 
 
 Miss Lena Heminway 
 
 Mrs. Edward Ward 
 
 Miss Mary Sloan 
 
 . . . 1913 to 1914 
 1914 to 1917 
 1917 to 1922 
 1922 to 1923 
 
 [81] 
 
82 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 Recording Secretary and Treasurer 
 
 Miss Mary Anderson 1881 to 1891 
 
 Mrs. W. J. Smith, Mrs. H. A. Grady 1891 to 1894 
 
 Office vacant from 1894 to 1898 
 
 Mrs. E. J. Fennell 1898 to 1900 
 
 Miss Katherine Cromartie . . . 1900 to 1904 
 
 Miss Mary Devane 1904 to 1906 
 
 Miss Miriam McFadyen .... 1906 to 1911 
 
 Miss Mary Sloan 1911 to 1913 
 
 Mrs. L. D. Latta 1913 to 1918 
 
 Mrs. J. O. Carr 1918 to 1921 
 
 Mrs. W. M. Boice 1921 to 1922 
 
 Recording Secretary. 
 Mrs. A. J. Howell . 1922 to date 
 
 Treasurer. 
 Mrs. J. R. Maxwell . 1922 to date 
 
 Secretary of Young People's Work. 
 Mrs. J. C. Stewart . . . 1902 to 1913 
 
 Mrs. E. W. Taylor . 
 Miss Mary Sloan . 
 Miss J. C. Stewart . 
 Miss Alice Behrends 
 Mrs. J. M. Harvey . 
 
 1913 to 1916 
 
 1916 to 1917 
 
 1917 to 1919 
 1919 to 1921 
 1921 to date 
 
 Secretary Foreign Missions. 
 
 Miss Eliza Murphy . . . 1904 to 1913 
 
 Mrs. W. P. M. Currie . . 1913 to 1918 
 
 Mrs. J. R. Phipps . . . 1918 to 1921 
 
 Mrs. J. O. Carr .... 1921 to date 
 
 Secretary of Assembly's Home Missions. 
 
 Miss Mary Sloan . . . 1913 to 1916 
 
 Mr's. J. R. Bannerman . . 1916 to 1919 
 
 Mrs. W. O. Singletary . . 1919 to 1922 
 
 Mrs. George Oldham . . 1922 to date 
 
Growth and Expansion 83 
 
 Secretary Synodical, Presbyterial and Congregational Home 
 
 Missions. 
 
 Mrs. E. E. L. Brown . 1913 to 1914 
 Mrs. D. B. Herring . 1914 to 1920 
 Mrs. H. A. Grady . . 1920 to date 
 
 District Chairmen — 1919 to 1922. 
 
 Mrs. L. D. Latta Mrs. R. C. Carson 
 
 Mrs. O. L. Clark Mrs. Eugene Philyaw 
 
 Mrs. H. A. Creagh Mrs. J. N. Sotjtherland 
 
 Mrs. A. H. Witherington Mrs. J. W. Stark 
 
 Corresponding Secretary. 
 
 Miss Pearl Murphy 1901 to 1902 
 
 Miss Annie Paddison 1902 to 1903 
 
 Miss Mary Henry 1903 to 1904 
 
 Miss Annie Moore 1904 to 1908 
 
 Mrs. W. T. Bannerman 1908 to 1916 
 
 Office merged with that of Recording Secretary 1916 to 1922 
 From 1922 to date, office of Vice-President and Corresponding 
 
 Secretary combined, and Mrs. A. H. Witherington elected to fill 
 
 same. 
 
 Secretary Christian Education and Ministerial Relief. 
 
 Mrs. B. F. Hall .... 1904 to 1908 
 
 Miss Maria Loftin . . . 1908 to 1909 
 
 Miss Mary Colvin . . . 1909 to 1912 
 
 Miss Katherine Newton . 1912 to 1913 
 
 Miss Margaret Peirce . . 1913 to 1917 
 
 Mrs. Robert King . . . 1917 to 1918 
 
 Mrs. A. O. Trust . . . 1918 to 1921 
 
 Miss Sallie Hill .... 1921 to date 
 
 Secretary of Literature. 
 
 Mrs. R. H. Bradford . . 1914 to 1916 
 
 Mrs. J. W. Purcell . . 1916 to 1917 
 
 Mrs. G. A. P. Bowman . . 1917 to 1919 
 
 Mrs. D. T. Caldwell . . 1919 to 1920 
 
84 The Wilmington Presbyterial Auxiliary 
 
 Secretary James Sprunt Institute (Now Grove Institute) 
 
 Miss Marietta Behrends . 1915 to 1917 
 Mrs. M. S. Willard . . 1917 to 1920 
 Miss Winifred Faison . . 1920 to date 
 
 Secretary of Orphanage Work. 
 
 Mrs. J. T. French . . . 1916 to 1920 
 
 Mrs. E. C. Carson . . . 1920 to 1922 
 
 Mrs. J. T. French . . . 1921 to 1922 
 
 Mrs. E. C. Carson . . . 1922 to date 
 
 Historian. 
 
 
 Mrs. B. F. Hall . . 
 
 1912 to 1914 
 
 Mrs. J. A. Brown . 
 
 1918 to date 
 

 Date Due 
 
 
 #R 1 5 35 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Demco 38-297