*5 A*. ■ • V/tt-iV- »■■ fc'.-aJik ■£>;■>".-. v/j,.^.') 'i/.- /v.••.;«■••[.. ' «*.•» ». ' ^ -'i; ." V ■-■ ■■ • •■.•{. •*. -*.•*••;.-f , • * }' jt‘ (.? • ■ w* y :>J,> .' .'Ak ,! \ J - Jf. ■ vj#v :i*J^ . '’v ■ ’ ‘ . "tiv ?$■ • ''LZmfiffi, H||j 5 IS 1 V *4 i^Sf, {i5< JO'S ■ •-'■■>’' .■. ■. ■ ,•. cWIwkSj 1 m •. v n m SU^-V, 14 m m% . -? -' 4 sjx. Sfe •tr.3 : -'.s i;-.;- ^ *\’<^r > v >i rr/\tiw^t '~''w* ■ ■ .- ' -'- ■ -•.. -‘ ~ '•i£‘ ^ yC v/J LffrX<- m m to.- vl* Ms 4>: $3$ «ra - 111111 ■ 1 I i ■ RVRHR 11 m l, Hi I if ^ ; Revised and Enlarged May 1900 by , 5 *>t ■'>/:■ i>t% , f t '’; ‘i 1 IJiL^'w’" . ' ill' •' m v-fe $%: 11 1 V C& II * £Vi' < - v , ■ s :.;4. 1 --————— -- V '- 1 -^' ■ " )AM' •■ :'-X ^ •, ~. ^ :. :.......ii .:;: ■• ; ,. *r*i*frf ’T' «»«» v: ' ■•■' Compiled In 1897 by Pi, .‘l w* Helen E. Moses ■;;• mm ss . v • • ' ■■ ; •■ ..:■- " ! V-. ' ,v '• ■ . . ' j. •; ,\V'"Irv tf^ ; ''«KS!•• ,C;-' *$<$$&& 4 V’v* : ;■.? iJyM'i v f'.>'--;-f^feV''-iH A ; tv h'-ti ctv-> A //t iJj: • ; : -%<*'y’;V/» » •Wv.v>\ v > r-iv.V^ «>;•**>v«Vk; -Jv- -u »i^ 7 ,; .•■. y ' : ' -‘I ■■.;■-§> PUBUSHED BY The Christian Woman’s Board mm $mk wws Indianapolis. Ind« ' ■ : - W 7 - . ■■:■■■T■:■■:■:. '■.r-etss--', -, • ‘: .t' ■ J' ±'.\l '7 5,[, ■■/,vi f’r '. s' 't .^ # v'- 1 * *>'V-<-■• ■ > ,'l 1 iX- - . O ’i • ‘i'’” V ; 1 y. * iVA i 1 ' :■ ' - 1 .-, i I ’ \ ( ! "C. ^ ! ■ ■ IViiFC-Viw’P'® ffif . WA'.^p: WRwm%~ -r* \'i.y. JvA: \H, ?P* ®4l jR^v-lf v r.ijAVJf', v rP-*/^.‘i-’l -V .$i ‘W^W '' J M : 4 m/rttMtv-i m ■/w < f: 7 iwiii KV,-tSiV “ V { m^wMm HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S HOARD OF MISSIONS Compiled in 1897 by Miss Elmira J. Dickinson Revised and Enlarged May 1905 by Mrs. Helen E. Moses PUBLISHED BY The Christian Woman’s Board of Missions 152 East Market Street Indianapolis, Ind. 1S74 1875 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 CONVENTION AND FINANCIAL RECORD. Cincinnati: Collections during first tion .. Louisville . Indianapolis St. Louis . . Cincinnati . Bloomington Louisville . Indianapolis Lexington . Cincinnati . St. Louis . . Cleveland . . Kansas City Indianapolis Springfield Louisville . Des Moines Allegheny . Nashville . . Chicago .. . Richmond . Dallas . Springfield Indianapolis Chattanooga Cincinnati . Kansas City Minneapolis Omaha .... Detroit .... St. Louis . . Conven- . $430.00 Receipts for Year Ending Sept. 30. . $770.35 . 1,749.00 . 2,033.77 . 2,919.42 . 3,551.24 . 5,050.96 . 7,483.50 . 9,319.60 . 10,364.55 . 14,418.55 . 16,620.09 . 18,283.63 . 26,226.01 . 27,665.26 . 36,279.17 . 42,116.81 . 40,973.87 . 48,222.68 . 51,232.06 . 59,277.04 . 58,611.83 . 57,622.20 . ..._ 62,600.81 . 68,185.87 . 101,343.54 . 106,722.76 . 135,441.58 . 139,034.00 . 147,089.85 . 167,084.73 $1,468,724.73 THE CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS. ANTECEDENTS. Woman’s missionary work, as a distinctive agency, is a prod¬ uct of the nineteenth century. The first organization for this purpose, in this country, of which we have any account, is the Female Missionary Society of the M. E. Church, in New York, which was organized in 1819, but ceased to exist in 1861. In 1834 women of various Churches in New York, learning of the deplor¬ able condition of their heathen sisters, formed a Society to work in their behalf, but this was soon abandoned at the urgent re¬ quest of the Church Boards. In 1860 Mrs. Fannie B. Mason, a missionary from Burmah, came to New York with the sad story of the wants and woes of heathen women. The result was the formation of the Woman’s Union Missionary Society, in 1861, which is still working vigorously. The various subsequent de¬ nominational Woman’s Missionary Society in the United States are outgrowths from this. ORIGIN. As early as October, 1869, Elder Thomas Munnell had urged the General Christian Missionary Convention, assembled at Louis¬ ville, Ky., to take steps for enlisting the sisters in systematic mis¬ sionary work, and though this was not done then, the seeds were sown beside the waters, and some of them grew years after. Early in the winter of 1874 Elder John C. Hay, then preach¬ ing for the congregation at Des Moines, Iowa, called the women of his congregation together and pointed out to them the good they might do were they organized for systematic missionary work. Under his influence they organized on the twenty-eighth day of February, 1874, a Woman’s Missionary Society, under the leadership of Mrs. C. E. Gaston. This was almost eight months before the organization of the National Society. In the Christian Oracle , of August 9, 1874, Mrs. Gaston said: “This was the first missionary organization among our sisters.” In the same year, without any concert of action, Mrs. Mary 4 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE A. Bryant, of Ashley, Pike County, Missouri, organized a Self- Denial Society, for the purpose of raising money for the preach¬ ing of the Gospel. About the first of August similar societies were organized in Eureka and Bloomington, Ill. The seed sown was springing up. The time had come for concert of action. The impulse needed was given by Mrs. C. N. Pearre, of Iowa City, Iowa. Replying to questions concerning her part in this awakening, she says in a letter written February 10, 1896: “On the 10th of April, 1874, about 10 o’colck in the morning, at the close of my private devo¬ tions, the thought came to me. I promptly conferred with Brother Munnell, who was then Corresponding Secretary of the General Christian Missionary Convention, to know if he thought it practicable. He responded at once: ‘This is a flame of the Lord’s kindling, and no man can extinguish it.’ I then began to write letters to our ladies, and soon received favorable answers from all but one. She did not reply.” These letters of Mrs. Pearre found hearty and ready response in the hearts of many, among them Mrs. O. A. Burgess, of In¬ diana; Mrs. Joseph King, of Pennsylvania; Mrs. M. M. B. Good¬ win and Mrs. R. R. Sloan, of Ohio; Miss E. J. Dickinson, of Illi¬ nois; Mrs. R. Milligan, of Kentucky, and Mrs. J. K. Rogers, of Missouri. The first active response to Mrs. Pearre’s letters was made by the women of the Central Church, Indianapolis, who met as an Aid Society in the parlors of Mrs. Governor Wallace in July, 1874. Upon the reading of the letter a constitution was prepared and adopted, seven or eight names enrolled and officers chosen. In May, 1874, Mrs. Pearre had organized a society in the Iowa City Church. The letters she received encouraged her to go forward in securing the interest and co-operation of her sisters in Christ’s service. About the same time a letter that she had written to Mrs. J. K. Rogers, of Missouri, was sent to J. H. Garrison, who pub¬ lished it in The Christian, with an editorial fervently commend¬ ing it to his readers. In June Isaac Errett visited Iowa City, talked the matter all over with Mrs. Pearre, was thoroughly in¬ terested, and then and there wrote a vigorous leader entitled, Help Those Women, and sent it off for the next issue of his paper, The Christian Standard, In this he proposed that the sisters hold CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 5 a Convention at the same time with the General Convention, at Cincinnati, in the following October, to organize a Woman’s Board. Through the columns of The Standard and The Chris¬ tian, this was kept before the people and arranged for. Already there were devout women here and there, who, in silence, were yearning for some active, responsible, yet womanly work for the Master, in place of the passive Church life they were living. The words of these faithful men strengthened and encouraged all such. ORGANIZATION. According to the suggestion made by Isaac Errett, in the Christian Standard, that the women me°t. in connection with the General Convention held that year (1874), in Cincinnati, Ohio, about seventy-five women gathered in the basement of the Rich¬ mond Street Church, in that city. Mrs. R. R. Sloan, of Ohio, was called to preside. Miss Alma White served as Secretary of the meeting. Mrs. Pearre explained fully the purpose of the meet¬ ing, and presented plans for future work. Prayerfully and fer¬ vently the matter was considered. The result was, the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions was organized October 22, 1874, on which date the constitution was adopted, headquarters placed at Indianapolis, and national officers chosen from that locality. The Committee on Nominations was composed of one member from each of the nine States represented in the organization, namely, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Oregon, West Virginia. The officers elected were: President, Mrs. Maria Jameson; Recording Secretary, Mrs. William Wal¬ lace; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. C. N. Pearre; Treasurer, Mrs. O. A. Burgess, all of Indianapolis, Mrs. Pearre having re¬ cently moved there. A Vice-President, a Secretary, and one or more Managers for each of the nine States were also elected, and these, all together, constituted the Executive Committee. The management of the work was given to those in and near In¬ dianapolis, though non-resident members were allowed a proxy vote on all matters of importance. When the organization was completed, the newly elected offi¬ cers were introduced to the General Convention, and were given a cordial greeting, the following resolution being adopted: “Re- 6 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE solved, That this Convention extend to the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions recognition and hearty approval, assured that it opens a legitimate field of activity and usefulness in which Christian women may be active co-operants of ours in the great work of sending the gospel into all the world. We pledge our¬ selves to ‘help these women who propose to labor with us in the Gospel.’ ” Under such favoring conditions, and with such earnest as¬ surances of help from our brethren, was the work inaugurated. CHOOSING OUR FIRST FIELD. In answer to the question, “Now, for what definite field shall we work?” the following were proposed: 1. A mission in our great West. 2. A mission among the Freedmen. 3. Revival of the Jamaica Mission. 4. Support of one or more teachers in connection with the Free Baptist Mission in India or China. All pledged themselves to abide by the decision of the majority. The merits of these several fields were fully stated and earnestly considered. The Convention had many friends scattered all through the West, many of them without Church privileges. Four million slaves, ignorant and needy, had recently been freed within our borders. The deplorable condition of women in India and China was touchingly portrayed by Dr. Graham, of the Free Baptist Mission, with an appeal in their behalf. Jamaica had been a mission of our American Christian Missionary Society for sev¬ eral years, in charge of J. O. Beardsley, and with encouraging success; but in 1864, in the midst of the Civil War, was abandoned for lack of funds. For ten years our seven or eight little con¬ gregations over there had been without a minister. Ignorant, weak, helpless, they kept piteously pleading, “Come over into Jamaica again and help us.” It was as the prophetic Ethiopia stretching out her hands unto God. The vote was twice retaken, and was almost unanimously for Jamaica. Thus it became our first field. OUR MISSIONS. JAMAICA. At the close of our first Convention, our collections amounted to $430. During 1875 our cause grew slowly and steadily, but it CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 7 was not till the beginning of 187G that our funds were sufficient for us to send out a missionary. Then Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Wil¬ liams, of Platte City, Mo., were sent. They sailed from New York January 29, and landed in Kingston Saturday, February 5. They were warmly welcomed. Mr. Williams began work the next day, by preaching to about thirty in the old, dark, leaky, unpainted chapel. His audiences steadily increased till the house could not hold the people. He found in Kingston about fifty disciples still faithful, all colored or black, poor, and many of them very poor. Most of the congregations in the country had ceased meet¬ ing, but a good many individual members remained faithful. From the first he taught them, among other things, the im¬ portant lesson of self-support, impressing upon them the duty and habit of systematic giving to the Lord’s cause. This they cheerfully accepted, and almost without exception each pledged a definite sum weekly for repairs and current expenses. His reg¬ ular work was Scripture study with the people, prayer meetings, Sunday Schools, teachers’ meetings, preachings in various parts of the city and surrounding country, and visiting from house to house. The result was gradual growth. In 1878 James Tilley took charge of several congregations in the mountains, northward from Kingston. He was in our employ until 1884, when he came to the United States to more thoroughly prepare himself for his work, but ere long he sickened and died. Mr. Tilley was an Englishman, a convert of Mr. Spurgeon, and a most thorough, consecrated Christian. The general lack of schools on the island, and consequent ignorance of the natives, soon made it evident that we must provide for at least primary education in connection with our mission stations. We tried to do this, but found it exceedingly difficult to get efficient teachers, also suitable books and other appliances for school work. We soon saw, too, the need of estab¬ lishing a training school in Kingston, and we sent three teach¬ ers, at different times, for this work—Miss Laughlin, Miss Per¬ kins and Miss McEwan—but the hindrances were such that it was not accomplished. Mr. and Mrs. Williams resigned the work in Jamaica in August, 1879. The next April Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Tomlinson suc¬ ceeded them in the mission, continuing till the close of 1881. At this date we had, beside the Kingston Church, four country 8 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE Churches and four out-stations, with about 700 members; also, several Sunday Schools and day schools. During all these years a native young man, named Darby, had been an efficient helper in Church and school work. When Mr. and Mrs. Tomlinson returned to the United States at the close of 1881, W. K. Azbill had been engaged to take the work there. He sailed February 3, 1882, and had charge of that field for about four years. During two years of this time W. S. Houchins and Miss Sallie McEwan were employed there. When Mr. Azbill left the Island, early in 1886, the work was placed in charge of C. E. Randall, an Englishman, who had been laboring as a Baptist missionary on the Island more than twenty years, but a year before had united with the Disciples. J. W. Jenkins and R. E. Swartz were sent out in 1886, the former to Provi¬ dence, remaining three years; the latter to Kingston, remaining two years. Early in 1887 Mrs. O. A. Burgess and Miss E. J. Dickinson went as a deputation to visit the Jamaica Mission, without ex¬ pense to the Board. Their work was “to observe, inspect and re¬ port on all phases of the work of the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions in Jamaica.” They sailed from New York January 19, and were gone three months. On their return they made a full report of their observations, which was published in the Mission¬ ary Tidings for July of that year. For several years the work in Jamaica made little progress. Changes in the Mission forces were all too frequent and hindered the development of the field. At the Dallas Convention, in 1895, the committee on that field recommended that a vigorous prosecu¬ tion of the work there be resumed at once; that other mission¬ aries be sent there as soon as possible, and that provision be made for the preparation of a native ministry. To speak this was one thing; to do it was quite another thing. It seemed impera¬ tive, to those having the matter hand, that they should possess a clearer knowledge of the Mission than could be obtained through correspondence. To visit Jamaica and secure the desired infor¬ mation C. C. Smith was chosen, because of his experience with and for the colored people of our own land, and because of his eminent fitness for it otherwise. He spent two months there early in 1896, accomplished the purpose of his going, made full report to the Board on his return. His addresses and his Christian woman’s board of missions 9 articles in the Tidings and other Church papers have given to our people generally a far better knowledge than they had before possessed concerning this Island Mission. The area occupied by our interests there is about twenty-nine miles long by sixteen miles wide, if measured in straight lines. This area is very irregular in shape, and is made up mostly of rocks and mountains broken into thousands of perilous steeps and precipices. Danger is imminent almost everywhere. Most of the traveling must be done on horseback along paths steep and nar¬ row, and so winding around chasms and over and around moun¬ tains that one must often ride thus, in slow walk, several miles to reach a point one mile direct from the starting place. Missionaries to Jamaica, 1874-1905. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Williams.1876 to 1879 Mr. and Mrs. James Tilley.1878 to 1884 Miss Jennie Laughlin.1879 to 1880 Mr. and Mrs. I. G. Tomlinson.1880 to 1882 Miss Marion Perkins.1880 to 1882 Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Azbill.1882 to 1886 Miss Sallie McEwan.1883 to 1885 W. S. Houchins.1883 to 1885 John Thompson (deceased).1884 to 1899 C. E. Randall.1885 to date Mrs. C. E. Randall.1885 to date Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Chamberlain.1885 to 1887 Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Swartz.1886 to 1888 J. W. Jenkins.1886 to 1889 J. H. Versey.1889 to 1894 William W. Rumsey.1889 to 1892 Claris Yeuell .1889 to 1890 W. H. Hayden (July to November).1888 to 1888 J. C. Smith.1891 to 1893 M. A. Collins.1891 to 1893 H. L. Gow.1891 to 1893 A. C. McHardy. 1892 to 1904 Mrs. A. C. McHardy.1892 to 1904 William W. Rumsey.1894 to 1896 Miss M. Isabel McHardy.1896 to date Neil MacLeod (deceased).1896 to 1902 Mrs. Neil MacLeod.1900 to 1902 P. M. Robinson.1888 to 1902 T. A. Meredith. 1897 to 1904 Mrs. T. A. Meredith.1897 to 1904 G. D. Purdy.1897 to date Mrs. G. D. Purdy.1897 to date :iO HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE Robert Bailey... .1899 to date Louis Thomas... .1900 to date Arnold Shirley.. 1900 to date Mrs. Arnold Shirley. 1903 to date J. Gordon Hay. . 1903 to date Henry Cotterell. 1903 to date Mr. J. J. Handsaker. .1905 to date Mrs. J. J. Handsaker.... .1905 to date John E. Randall M ission Stations in Jamaica. 1905 to date Day Sunday Churches. Members. Schools. Schools. Kingston . . 120 .... 154 Torrington ..... . 44 25 125 Mt. Olivet. . 86 70 56 Bloxburgh . . 91 59 73 Bushy Park. . ,79 • • • • Mt. Zion. . 40 • • • • King’s Gate. . 102 20 New Bethel. . 69 24 Carmel . . 45 30 Providence . . 94 24 Chesterfield .... . 153 84 83 Flint River. . 92 44 Mamby Vale. .. 64 25 Oberlin . . 174 75 Manning’s Hill. . . 97 135 100 Lucky Hill. . 67 65 40 Salisbury Plain.. • • • • 20 Bethel . . 90 • • • • 96 Airy Mount. . 34 • • • • 32 Fairy Hill. . 55 46 91 Berea . . 35 • • • • 40 Hazel Grove and Birch. . . 78 ... . 55 1709 484 1207 FRANCE. In 1880 our Board appropriated $750, salary for Miss Crease, assistant to Mrs. Delaunay, of the French Mission in charge of the Foreign Christian Missionary Society. In 1881 it appropriated $500 for this assistant, and $500 also for an assistant for Profes¬ sor Delaunay. JACKSON, MISS. In April, 1881, the Board employed Elder and Mrs. Faurot CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS ll to labor among the Freedmen at Jackson, Miss. At the end of thirteen months they resigned, being called to the work at the Southern Christian Institute, at Edwards, Miss. INDIA. In October, 1881, the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions and the Foreign Christian Missionary Society decided to co-oper¬ ate in establishing a mission in India. In September, 1882, the company sailed. We sent four young women, Ada Boyd, Mary Kingsbury, Mary Graybiel and Laura V. Kinsey. G. L. Wharton and L. Norton and their wives were sent by the Foreign Board. Mr. and Mrs. Wharton located in Hurda, Central Provinces. Mr. and Mrs. Norton soon withdrew from the work. Bilaspur. Station opened March, 1885. Sunday School organized, 1885. Church organized, 1887. Sunday work commenced, 1887. Orphanage opened, 1888. Medical work begun, 1889. Hospital opened, 1895. M. D. Adams and wife were sent out soon after the first com¬ pany of India missionaries. These, with Misses Kingsbury, Gray¬ biel and Boyd, went 200 miles east from Hurda and opened a sta¬ tion at Bilaspur, where the Foreign Board built a bungalow, or Mission home, for their workers, and we built one for ours. Later, we built a school-house and an orphanage, in 1894 a dor¬ mitory and a hospital, in 1898 a physician’s bungalow was erect¬ ed, in 1899 a second school-house was purchased, and in 1900 an¬ other orphanage dormitory was built. To these have been added school-houses, dispensaries and additions to the orphanage, as the growth of the work required. Bina. Station opened February 1, 1894. Sunday School organized February 7, 1894. Day school opened December 17, 1894. Church organized April 8, 1897. When three of our first missionaries to India went to Bilas¬ pur, Miss Kinsey remained at Hurda. In 1887 she married Ben 12 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE N. Mitchell, a missionary laboring in Bombay, under an English Methodist Board. From his own Bible study he was already in full sympathy with the principles of the Disciples. While on a visit to Bilaspur, previous to their coming to America, in 1889, he was immersed by Mr. Adams and identified himself with the Disciples of Christ. After spending four years in this country they returned to India in 1893, and with them Misses Ida Kin¬ sey, of Bortland, Ind., and Mattie W. Burgess, of St. Joseph, Mo. They opened a station at Bina for native, Eurasion and English work. The buildings here are a bungalow, Church, school-house and houses for native workers. Deoghur. Station opened December, 1886. Chapel work opened, 1890. Zenana work begun, 1886. School work begun, 1897. Orphanage opened—Boys’, 1897; Girls’, 1899. Evangelistic work begun, 1886. Sunday School work begun, 1897. Leper work. * Deoghur is 200 miles west from Calcutta. Mission work there was commenced by Miss Jane Wakefield Adam, a native of Scot¬ land. She had long been a Baptist, closely studied her Bible and yearned for Christian union. She prayed to be sent to the dark¬ est spot in India, was guided to Deoghur, and for about twenty years has given herself to its enlightenment. She went independ¬ ent of any Church or Board, and has faithfully sowed the good seed in and about Deoghur. In 1893 she heard of our workers and their work at Bilaspur, and visited them. The visit was a mutual joy. The result, she united with the little band of Disciples there. In 1894 she came into the employ of the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions, bringing her work with her. She was then 65 years old. She had a compound, but her buildings were meager. She lived in a little house on wheels nine years. She needed associate workers and a home. In 1895, our Board sent to her Misses M. Alice Spradlin and Bessie Farrar. In 1898 Dr. Olivia A. Baldwin, of Texas, and Miss Annie Agnes Lackey, of Arkansas, were sent to reinforce this station. CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 13 The buildings here are a Mission bungalow, orphanage, school chapel, dispensary, small hospital and houses for native helpers. Mahoba. Station opened March 1, 1895. Sunday School organized early in 1895. Orphanage opened July 26, 1895. School work begun December 1, 1895. Church organized April 2, 1896. Zenana work begun January 1, 1899. Kindergarten opened, 1899. Medical work opened, 1899. On returning to India in 1894 from her furlough in this country, Miss Graybiel was occompanied by Miss Adelaide Gail Frost. They opened a station at Mahoba, Hamirpur District, United Provinces, and were cordially received by the people. In 1895 Miss Elsie H. Gordon was added to this station, also a native evangelist, and his wife. In 1896 a physician, Dr. Rosa Lee Oxer, was sent out, but the demands upon Dr. Oxer’s time for the cam of famine orphans were so great she was not. able to formally open medical work. She became orphanage mother to the many girls rescued from the jaws of the famine in this station. Pedra Road. Station opened November, 1900. Evangelistic work commenced December, 1900. Sunday School opened, 1901. Training of orphan boys commenced, 1901. Schools opened, 1902 and 1903. Mr. N. Madsen and his wife, Bessie Farrar Madsen, opened this station, which is about sixty miles from Bilaspur, in the Central Provinces, going to Pendra Road soon after their mar¬ riage. Mr. Madsen came to our Mission in India, having heard the plea made by our missionaries for Christian union. This sta¬ tion is situated on the borders of one of the native kingdoms of Central India, and our missionaries are making great efforts to reach the people of this kingdom. This station is named for Miss Florence Briscoe, of Bethany, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Madsen are trying the experiment of founding 14 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE Christian villages, and the project is being studied with great in¬ terest. The buildings are a chapel, bungalow and houses for helpers. CALCUTTA. Work opened December 13, 1900. Bible lectures given by Mr. Forrest. Courses of Bible teaching offered. Upon reaching Calcutta in December, Mr. and Mrs. Forrest at once found more work than their hands could do. Mr. Forrest secured rooms for his Bible classes in the excellent building of the Young Men’s Christian Association, and immediately com¬ menced to give Bible lectures and to organize Bible classes. In making his first report, in 1901, he gave account of fifty-five meet¬ ings with an average attendance of 199. He had delivered ad¬ dresses in the lecture hall of the Young Men’s Christian Associa¬ tion and held open air meetings. He found men eager to re¬ ceive Bible teaching. The close of the second year found the prospects of this most important and far-reaching work we had yet undertaken in India increasingly bright, but on the 28th of March, 1903, Mr. and Mrs. Forrest were compelled to return to the home land. Almost from the beginning of her residence in India the cli¬ mate had made Mrs. Forrest Ill. She was compelled to remain in the Himalaya Mountains, a thousand miles away from her hus¬ band. Here Baby Robert was born, and here his little form was laid to rest. After the death of our beloved and honored President, May 12, 1902, it was decided to erect a Mission building in Calcutta as a memorial to her, it being thought no more fitting tribute could be paid her, in view of her profound interest in the Calcutta en¬ terprise. A little more than $20,000 was contributed for this pur¬ pose. It is now expected (May, 1905) that this autumn Mr. For¬ rest will go out to re-open the work, accompanied by one or more missionaries. Mr. Forrest will remain a year or longer, if neces¬ sary, to assist in the re-opening of the work and the erection of the Mission building. CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 15 RATH. Station opened November, 1902. Girls’ School opened January, 1903. Boys’ School opened February, 1903. Sunday School work opened January, 1903. Evangelistic work began November, 1902. Zenana work began December, 1902. Number of Christians, 12. The work in Rath, Hamirpur District, United Provinces, was commenced in November, 1902, by Mr. and Mrs. Walter G. Men- zies, of Kansas. This station is known as the Gerould Memorial Station, being named in honor of Dr. H. Gerould, of Cleveland, Ohio, for years a trusted friend of our organization. Dr. Gerould was called into the presence of the King in 1901. Later Mrs. Gerould visited India, selected the site of the station, purchased the ground, and furnished the money for the erection of the bungalow. She also provides Mr. Menzies’ salary. In July, 1903, Mr. Menzies wrote: “We entered Rath the mid¬ dle of November last year, the building of the bungalow claiming our attention. The plot of ground, situated a quarter of a mile from town, covers fully three acres. The bungalow, facing the west, is in the center of the plot. It has a frontage of 82 feet, the width being 42 feet, including verandas. It consists of a sitting room, dining room and two bedrooms, all of equal size. “The inclosure of the land consists of a wall on the east and west, a wire fence on the south and a hedge fence on the north. “We began building the bungalow November 19, and it was ready for occupancy May 20, so that, with the exception of the veranda roof, all the above work was completed in six months.” In 1904-5 Mrs. Gerould again visited India and secured an ad¬ ditional three acres of most desirable orchard land adjoining the first purchase. This plot contains a living well and has also a fine site for a Mission chapel, which is to be immediately erected. It is planned, also, that a Women’s and Babies’ Home shall be opened in Rath. Maudha. Work opened November 1, 1903. Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Davis opened the work in Maudha, Ham¬ irpur District, United Provinces, the first of November, 1903. This station is known as the Ohio Mission, the workers of that 16 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE State having raised the money to send out Mr. and Mrs. Davis and to erect the Mission bungalow. In July, 1904, Mr. and Mrs. Davis wrote: “The first season’s work of the Ohio Mission extended from November 1, 1903, to the following July. The remaining months we spent in Mahoba, substituting for regular workers there, and in study at the hills. Early in November, 1903, we pitched our tent on the site of the Ohio Mission. The first audience soon gathered, to which we spoke as best we could of our purpose in coming and of the love of our Savior. At this time bazaar preaching was begun twice a week, with Yahub Ali as chief speaker. In this manner, and one year from the date of the ar¬ rival of your missionaries on the field, the work of the Mission began on land owned by our National Board. The deed of sale was obtained in July, 1903. “We rented a good house in the bazaar, with rooms and an open court. Our object was to have a meeting place for preach¬ ing on Sundays, which would be more quiet than the bazaar and where interested people might come for conversation. Our Sun¬ day afternoon meetings in the open court were quite well at¬ tended until the hot weather drove us outside under some large trees, where we continued to meet at sunset each Lord’s day. “The people of Maiulha are chiefly Mohammedans; in the sur¬ rounding villages Hindus predominate. We have sold several copies of the Urdu New Testament, and have given away hun¬ dreds of tracts in both Urdu and Hindi.” The Mission bungalow was completed in the spring of 1905. Both evangelistic and school work are conducted. Missionaries to India, 1882-1905. Mary Graybiel. Ada Boyd. Laura V. Kinsey. Mary Kingsbury. Dr. Olivia A. Baldwin.. Dr. Arabella Merrill.... Kate D. Lawrence. Bertha F. Lohr. Ben N. Mitchell. Mrs. Laura V. Mitchell Mattie W. Burgess. Ida Kinsey. .1882 to date 1882 to date .1882 to 1887 .1882 to date 1888 to 1894 1888 to 1894 1890 to 1891 .1893 to date 1893 to 1901 1893 to 1901 1893 to date 1893 to 1900 CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 17 Jane Wakefield Adam.1894 to date Mary Graybiel....1894 to date Adelaide Gail Frost.1894 to date Elsie H. Gordon.1895 to date Bessie Farrar ..1895 to date M. Alice Spradlin.1895 to 1899 Dr. E. C. L. Miller.1895 to 1900 Dr. Lillian B. Miller.1895 to 1900 Dr. Rosa Lee Oxer.1891 to date Ella M. Maddock...1897 to date Dr. Ada McNeil.1897 to date Olivia A. Baldwin.1898 to 1901 Anna A. Lackey.1898 to date C. G. Elsam.1898 to date Mrs. C. G. Elsam...1898 to date Mary M. Longdon...1899 to date Susie L. Rawson.1899 to 1904 N. Madsen.1900 to date Mr. W. M. Forrest.1900 to 1903 Mrs. W. M. Forrest.1900 to 1903 W. G. Menzies.1901 to date Mrs. Hattie Menzies.1901 to date Miss Florence Mills.1902 to date Edwin C. Davis.1902 to date Mrs. Isabella M. Davis.1902 to date Miss Zonetta Vance.1902 to date Dr. Martha Smith.1903 to date Wilmer Monroe.1904 to date Mrs. Wilmer Monroe...1904 to date Miss Ora Haight.1904 to date Dr. Jenny Crozier .1905 to date E. W. Gordon, appointed to sail September, 1905. Miss Daisy Drake, appointed to sail September, 1905. Miss Caroline Pope, appointed to sail September, 1905. MEXICO. Station opened in Juarez December, 1895. Station opened in Monterrey June, 1897. Sunday School opened, 1897. Day school opened, 1897. Auxiliary to Christian Woman’s Board of Missions organized, 1899. Junior Christian Endeavor Society organized, 1899. Night school opened, 1900. Mexican school opened, 1901. Out-stations, Union Calzado, Saltillo, Alameda Street and Santa Caterina. Y. P. S. C. E. organized, 1903. Church organized September 14, 1901. 18 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE Gospel Gall (later changed to La Via de Paz ) published July, 1901. Work opened in Saltillo, 1903. Work opened in Fuente, 1905. Juarez. In the Missionary Tidings for December, 1895, Mrs. O. A. Burgess wrote: “A recommendation was passed (in the National Convention at Dallas, Texas) in favor of starting a school in Mexico. Our sisters in Texas, as well as many others, were anxious this should be done. The school if begun this year could not be delayed, so we immediately set about securing the build¬ ing and opening the school. Juarez, just across the river from El Paso, is the point selected. Brother M. L. Hoblit, who has had experience in school work among the Mexicans, is to be the teacher. This is no more than a small beginning of a work that ought to grow into a power for good.” In February, 1896, Mr. Hoblet enlarged the work by the publication of a fortnightly paper, El Evangelista. In Septem¬ ber, 1896, Miss Bertha C. Mason, of Texas, went to Juarez to aid in the development of the work. On the 20th of June, 1897, the work was transferred to Mon¬ terrey, this being deemed a more strategic point and also more healthful. In August, 1899, Mr. Hoblet resigned the work. In January, 1900, he was succeeded by Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Omer. Mrs. Omer’s health necessitated their resignation in April, 1901. In June, the same year, Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Alderman were ap¬ pointed to succeed them. Mr. Alderman found our Mission situated almost beneath the shadow of one of the oldest and strongest Roman Churches of the city. After studying the possibilities of Monterrey until he under¬ stood its tendency in growth, he located in a newer part of the city, where the mission had a large and open field. He found our school with about thirty pupils; he left it with an enrollment of five hundred. He organized the Church in Monterrey, opened new out-stations, enlisted the interest of the physicians of the city in the Mission, secured for it a free clinic, and commenced the publication of a weekly paper in Spanish and English. He had always definite plans, and did not lose sight of them, but moved toward their realization without noise, confusion or friction. He CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 19 passed to his reward September 23. 1903, falling a victim of yel¬ low fever. In July, 1902, Mr. Alderman recommended the purchase of a large building lot on the corner of Isaac Garza and Puebla streets. The Board was enabled to make this purchase by the generosity of the Texas workers, who gave $1,000 toward it. In 1903 and 1904 our fine Mission building, the best in the city, was erected. It was dedicated by President W. E. Garrison, of Butler College, Christmas week, 1904. In October, 1904, lots adjoining the Mission property were purchased, to allow the enlargement of the school grounds and as a site for the erection of Mission homes. Missionaries to Mexico, 1895-1905. M. L. Hoblet..1895 to 1899 Miss Bertha C. Mason.1895 to 1902 Mr. and Mrs. L. M. Omer-.1900 to 1901 Miss Clara L. Case.1900 to date A. G. Alderman (deceased).1901 to 1903 Mrs. Cora E. Alderman.1901 to date Miss Lucile Eubank.1901 to 1904 Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Westrup.1902 to date Miss Bertha Westrup..1903 to date Miss Aida Westrup.1902 to date Mr. and Mrs. E. T. Westrup.1903 to date Mr. and Mrs. J. E. McDaniel.1904 to 1905 Jasper T. Moses.1904 to date Miss Elma C. Irelan appointed April, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Inman appointed May, 1905. Miss Mary Robertson appointed June, 1905. PORTO RICO. In February, 1900, Judge J. A. Erwin, then a missionary un¬ der the American Christian Missionary Society, located in San Juan, was tendered the Municipal building of Bayamon, a suburb of San Juan, for the establishment of an orphanage. The Amer¬ ican Society, not engaging in orphanage work, offered the oppor¬ tunity to the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions. The build¬ ing had been seriously damaged by a storm and needed exten¬ sive repairs, but by the first of August, 1900, it had been put in good condition and was opened as a girls’ orphanage. It was the first orphanage to be established in Porto Rico by a Protestant Church. Mrs. A. M. Fulien, a sister of Judge Erwin, was placed 20 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE in charge of the work at its beginning. The agreement with the Bayamon local authorities was that we should provide for twenty- five children in the orphanage. This number was soon increased to fifty, and has been kept near to that mark. Orphanage School. In September, 1901, Miss Nora Collins, of Medina, Ohio, was sent to Bayamon to have charge of the Orphanage School. In the full Board meeting, held in St. Louis, in connection with the National Convention of 1904, it was decided to enlarge this de¬ partment of our work and to erect a school building in Bayamon. At this time (May, 1905) a suitable building site has not been secured, though the missionaries are working faithfully to make the necessary purchase. Boys’ Industrial School. In 1902 the authorities of the Bayamon District made our organization an offer of three hundred dollars a year if we would undertake to establish a Boys’ Orphanage and Industrial School in or near Bayamon. In June, 1902, A. G. Alderman, of Monter¬ rey, Mexico, was sent to Porto Rico to act as our agent in the pur¬ chase of a farm for the opening of this work. A tract of 114 acres was purchased about a mile and a half from Bayamon. In the autumn of 1903 Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson, of Nebraska, were sent out to have charge of this work. Much was done by them in developing the farm and preparing it for the future, but the long and severe sickness of Mr. Wilkinson compelled the return of the family to the United States in the spring of 1905. At this time the work was placed in the hands of Dr. and Mrs. W. A. Alton, also of Nebraska. In May, 1905, plans for the erection of the orphanage building were adopted. In April, 1905, after conference with the Secretary of the American Christian Missionary Society, arrangements were made for the gradual taking on by our organization of the work done by the American Society in Porto Rico. It being thought better for the stations to be under one management. Missionaries in Porto Rico from 1900 to 1905. Mrs. A. M. Fullen.1900 to 1902 Miss Nora Collins.1901 to date CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 21 Mrs. M. R. Ford.1902 to date Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Wilkinson.1903 to 1905 Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Alton.1905 to date Miss Nora E. Siler appointed May, 1905. SOUTH AMERICA. In the annual Board meeting, held in St. Louis, Mo., in con¬ nection with the National Convention of 1904, it was decided we should, during the missionary year of 1904-5, if possible, open work in the Argentine Republic, South America. In February, 1905, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Burner, of Illinois, were appointed to open this work. In May, 1905, it was decided they should be asked to go as soon as they could prepare for the journey. They are expected to start in July, 1905. THE UNITED STATES. Forms of Work: Evangelistic, Pastoral, University Bible, School, Industrial and Organizing. Number of workers in 1905, 176. First Work. The first missionary enterprise of the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions in the United States was undertaken for the negroes in Jackson, Miss. In 1881 Mr. and Mrs. R. Faurot were sent to give them the same kind of help we were giving to the people of Jamaica. After thirteen months Mr. and Mrs. Faurot assumed charge of the Southern Christian Institute at Edwards, Miss., and the work at Jackson was discontinued. Western Work. In 1881 Miss M. Lou Payne, of Missouri, recommended co¬ operation with the American Christian Missionary Society in its work for the West. A circular was issued, calling for special offerings for the West, but the response was not encouraging. In August, 1882, J. W. Mountjoy, of Missouri, visited Montana, meet¬ ing the Montana Association in Helena. It was decided to pro¬ pose to our Board to appropriate $1,000 to work in Montana, pro¬ vided the Association would raise another $1,000. This plan was executed in 1883. The American Christian Missionary Society left this field for our Board, and it has attended to it since. In 1881 there were no Church buildings in Montana, and but two 22 HISTORICAL SKETCH OP THE congregations, those at Helena and Deer Lodge. In 1904 there were seventeen Church buildings and twenty congregations. Extension in the Home Field. Following the openings in the home field other opportunities for service were accepted, until the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions has done evangelist or pastoral work in the following named States: Montana, Colorado, Utah, California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Indian Terri¬ tory, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, Illinois, In¬ diana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, District of Colum¬ bia, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maine and Connecticut. Educational Work. Mountain Schools. The Mountain Mission School at Hazel Green, Ky., was for¬ mally adopted by the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions in the National Convention of 1886, the Kentucky members of the Na¬ tional Board were appointed to initiate the work. This school has grown until, in 1905, it has an enrollment of 226. The build¬ ings are Pearre Hall, a large brick school and dormitory build¬ ing, worth $10,000; the Sarah K. Yancey Home for Girls, worth $6,000; the students’ cottage and Swango cottage. In March, 1900, during the Congress of Disciples, held in In¬ dianapolis, Ind., President J. W. McGarvey, of the College of the Bible, Lexington, Ky., spoke with members of our Executive Committee concerning the transfer to our organization of the Mountain Mission school at Morehead, Ky. This school was then controlled by the State Missionary Board of Kentucky. Fol¬ lowing this conversation full conference was had with our work¬ ers. The State officers of Kentucky were asked to act as an ad¬ visory committee and to report to the National Board. In ac¬ cordance with the wishes of the members of this committee, Mrs. Atkinson, Mrs. Moses and Mrs. Darnall met with them and visited Morehead. The committee, after this visit and conference, recommended the acceptance of the offer of the Kentucky Mis- CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 23 sionary Board. The work was placed in charge of Prof. F. C. Button, who, in connection with his mother, Mrs. Plioehe But¬ ton, had opened the school thirteen years before, when the Rowan County feud made it a menace to life to enter More- head. Since taking on this school, which at that time was valued at $8,000, Burgess Hall has been erected and other im¬ provements made, until the school plant now is worth $30,000. The enrollment is 406. Adjunct schools are conducted at Rod- bourn and Soldier, adjacent towns. University Bible Work. In 1886 the Michigan State Board of Missions named Ann Arbor as a most important point for the Disciples to plant a Church when the way should open for it. At once the Christian Woman’s Missionary Society of Michigan and the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions began planning to accomplish this work. At that time Mrs. Sarah Hawley Scott was a member of the Central Church of Christ in Detroit, and of the Auxiliary in that Church. In February, 1887, she rested from her labors. She bequeathed most of her estate to her Auxiliary, the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions, the Michigan State Board and the American Christian Missionary Society. These four parties soon agreed among themselves that all the bequests, amounting to $12,590.33, should be used in the erection of a Church building in Ann Arbor, with the understanding that the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions take charge of the work and foster a mission there. A lot was purchased by the Disciples of Michigan, and the foundation for the building laid in 1888. Delays in settling the Scott estate and in securing additional funds so retarded the work that it was not completed till 1891. The entire cost, includ¬ ing lot, heating, furniture, etc., was about $17,000. C. A. Young began work as pastor August 15, 1891. The dedicatory services were held October 11, B. B. Tyler, of New York, preaching the sermon. The Church was organized October 25, with twenty-nine members, most of them students in the University. At the State Convention of Michigan, August 27, 1892, “a committee was appointed to make arrangements for the endow¬ ment of an English Bible Chair, at Ann Arbor, Mich., in connec¬ tion with the University.” This committee earnestly appealed 24 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE to the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions to undertake this work. It was carefully, prayerfully considered by the Executive Committee and approved. At the Nashville Convention, in Octo¬ ber following, the President, Mrs. Burgess, in her annual ad¬ dress, recommended it. This was a new departure. No such thing existed, the world over. She said: “The way is open, if we have the courage to undertake it, for the establishment of an Eng¬ lish Bible Chair, at the seat of the University of Michigan. The great University is already established there, and the courtesies of the institution are offered to us. The demand for Bible study can be met by endowing a chair and putting a competent teacher in charge.” It was a heroic step, but she had studied the matter, she had faith, and she went forward. The recommendation was freely discussed and indorsed by many representative brothers and sisters in the Convention, and then referred to a committee, which reported recommending that the Executive Committee be instructed to select some one to travel, to encourage and advance this enterprise as much as possible during the coming year, “with the distinct understanding that the treasury of the Christian Woman's Board of Missions is not to be drawn upon for this purpose." This was unanimously adopted by the Convention and warmly approved by J. W. McGarvey, J. H. Garrison, B. B. Tyler and others. The Executive Committee followed the instructions given it. C. A. Young was sent into the field and H. L. Willett called to the Ann Arbor pulpit during his absence. The work of the Bible Chairs began October 1, 1893, with H. L. Willett, in¬ structor, and Clinton Lockhart, assistant. Clinton Lockhart re¬ signed at the end of the first year. Then the work was carried on by Messrs. Willett and Young till February, 1895, when Mr. Willett having taken work in Chicago University, G. P. Coler was secured for the Bible Chair work. Under his direction it has grown steadily in service to the students of the University. One thousand five hundred students have been enrolled in its classes. These are now in almost every State in the Union, and in China, India, Africa, Japan, Persia, Turkey and Mexico. In all these lands they are giving a clear note of testimony to the truth of God’s Word, as they go forward joyfully in His service. In July, 1903, through the generosity of two friends, a good home for the work was purchased. CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 25 In 1897 it was decided to make the effort to increase the en¬ dowment fund of the English Bible Chair to $25,000. There was $8,000 in the fund at that time. Mrs. Helen E. Moses was called in July, 1898, to serve as Secretary of this work and to raise the endowment. It was completed in the autumn of 1899. At the annual meeting of the National Board held in connec¬ tion with the National Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., in 1897, Col. John B. Cary, of Richmond, Va., presented the need of Bible teaching at the University of Virginia, and urged the Board to un¬ dertake it. Prof. H. L. Willett was sent to the University of Virginia that winter to give a course of Bible lectures, which were well received. The following season Prof. C. A. Young was sent to the University and placed in charge of the work. In 1898 Colonel Cary died. His family, knowing his great desire for permanent Bible teaching at the University of Virginia, his alma mater, gave $10,000 to establish the John B. Cary Bible Lecture¬ ship in connection with the University of Virginia. This gift was announced at the National Convention of 1898. An endow¬ ment of $25,000 was completed in 1901, our silver anniversary year. The Virginia friends gave most liberally, and twenty other States contributed to it. No building is owned for the conduct of this work. Lectures are delivered and classes held in rooms furnished by the University authorities. Prof. W. M. Forrest was placed in charge of this work in 1903, and still directs it. The Auxiliaries of Kansas had been interested in University Bible work from its inception in 1892, and earnestly desired such work might be established for the benefit of the students of the State University at Lawrence. The need of such work was ear¬ nestly presented to the Executive Committee of the Board at vari¬ ous times. In February, 1900, Prof. G. P. Coler, of the Ann Arbor, Mich., Bible Chair, was sent to Lawrence, Kans., to offer a series of lectures and to give his judgment as to the wisdom of inaugu¬ rating the work. His lectures were heartily received, and he con¬ sidered the opportunity a fine one for the establishment of a Bible Chair. In April, 1901, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Payne were placed in charge of this work and remain with it. Their efforts have been crowned with abundant success. Early in 1902 we were en¬ abled to purchase a home for the Bible work through the generous gifts of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Beurgan, of Moline, Kans. In March, 1905, Mrs. Mary Myers, of Philadelphia, Pa., gave 26 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE $5,000 toward the erection of a Bible Chair Hall adjoining the home, pledging another $5,000 toward it, to be paid in September, 1905. Kansas friends have added gifts to this of Mrs. Myers, and the work of building begins in June, 1905. There is no special endowment fund for the Kansas University Bible work; it is sup¬ ported from the General Fund. The friends in Texas watched the growth of the University Bible work with deep interest, feeling the wisdom and need of such an enterprise in behalf of the students of their own State University at Austin. Among those who were vitally interested was Mrs. M. M. Blanks, of Lockhart. In 1903 a pledge was made the State officers and Mrs. Blanks that an experienced man would be sent to Austin to study the field and give his judgment as to the wisdom of establishing Bible work for the University stu¬ dents. In February, 1904, Prof. W. C. Payne, of the Kansas Uni¬ versity Bible Chair, was sent to Texas to spend a month in study¬ ing the field and its needs. He was convinced that the opening was a fine one, and recommended the beginning of the work. On account of the condition of the General Fund the workers in Texas pledged themselves to meet the expenses of the enterprise as one of the special objects of the State. Mrs. Blanks gave her notes for $9,000, paying generous interest on the same, also gave lots adjoining the University campus valued at $1,000. In Au¬ gust, 1904, the State officers wrote, asking the purchase of an ex¬ cellent property facing the University campus, to be used as a home for the Bible classes. The action of the Texas workers was approved and the purchase made. In May, 1905, F. L. Jewett, of Columbus, Kans., was placed in charge of the enterprise. The Chinese Mission. The Chinese Mission in Portland, Ore., was opened in Jan¬ uary, 1891, by the First Church of Portland, while it was one of the mission points of our Board, under the pastoral care of David Wetzell. At the National Convention of that year, held in Nash¬ ville, Tenn., October 17-19, our Board pledged $300 toward the support of the Chinese Mission School, the Church supplying a like amount. On account of a lack of teachers the work was tem¬ porarily suspended in June, 1892. In November of that year Jeu Hawk, a Christian Chinese, a graduate of Drake University, was CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 27 selected by our Board and placed in charge of the mission, re¬ maining with it until 1900, when he returned to his native land. At this time Louie Hugh and wife, also Christian Chinese, were placed in charge and still remain in faithful servce to it. Night and Sunday School, street preaching and house-to-house visiting are regularly carried forward. Since the organization a few more than one hundred Chinese have become Christians. Several have returned to their native land as ministers of the Word of God. The mission supports one of these workers, and contributes to the funds of our organization each month. Negro Work. During the National Convention of 1900 it was decided that the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions should become responsible for the work of negro education and evangelization among our people, relieving the American Christian Missionary Society. At that time the Board of Negro Education and Evangelization was supporting the Southern Christian Institute at Edwards, Miss., the Lum Graded School at Lum, Ala., and the Louisville Bible School at Louisville, Ky., beside evangelistic work in several States. The Southern Christian Institute. This is an industrial training school for negroes. It is located one and one-half miles from Edwards, Miss. The original plantation contains 800 acres. In 1904, 500 acres more were pur¬ chased. The school has literary, biblical, musical and industrial departments. For these lines of work there are buildings, as named: College building, girls’ and boys’ dormitories, the old mansion house, factory, printing office, laundry, barn and cotton sheds. The value of the property is $65,000. This school was opened in 1874. There are in the school one hundred pupils. The Louisville Bible School. This school was opened in the autumn of 1893, and during the years that have passed since then it has been in the care of Prof. A. J. Thomson. The property on Duncan street, in which it has its home, was purchased in 1900. Its value is $4,000. It was a gift from the Kentucky Churches. The purpose of the school is to train men for the ministry of the Word. It is for negro young 28 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE men who are willing to work their way through the school, which gives them a real home and genuine ministerial training. There are conveniences for them to do their cooking and laundering. Good dormitory accommodations are also provided. From twenty- five to thirty-five young men are in attendance. The Lum, Ala., Graded School. This school is located at Lum, Lowndes County, Alabama, thirty-five miles southwest of Montgomery, in the blackest part of the Black Belt. The school was opened in 1894 by two negro men who had attended the Southern Christian Institute and longed for educational advantages for their own and their neighbors’ children. A small piece of land was given by a white woman upon which to erect the school building. The two men made the plans for the house and mortgaged their crops to secure the lum¬ ber. About this time C. C. Smith visited Lum and saw the heroic struggles of these negroes for educational advantages. He re¬ turned to Ohio and told the story to Daniel Mercer, who gave him one hundred dollars to lift the mortgage from the little school- house. There is now on the campus a school building with four classrooms and a chapel, a neat Church, a dormitory, a sewing room, home for the principal, a blacksmith shop and a barn. The industrial department is steadily growing. There are about one hundred and fifty pupils in attendance. The Martinsville, Va., Christian Institute. This school was opened in 1900 for the negroes of Virginia and North Carolina. Jas. H. Thomas is the principal. The school property was purchased in February, 1901. The efficiency of the school has steadily increased. A dormitory is much needed. The enrollment for 1904 was fifty. OFFICERS SINCE 1874, Mrs. Maria Jameson was President from October, 1874, to October, 1880; Mrs. O. A. Burgess from October, 1880, to March, 1881, when she resigned on removing to Chicago. Then Mrs. Jameson was again called to this position and served till October, 1890. From that date until June, 1902, when she was called from CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OP MISSIONS 29 labor to reward, Mrs. Burgess served as President. She was suc¬ ceeded by Mrs. Nancy E. Atkinson, who had long been associated with her as Vice President. Mrs. Atkinson still serves. Mrs. C. N. Pearre was Corresponding Secretary from October, 1874, to October, 1875; Mrs. Sarah Wallace till October, 1880; Mrs. Jameson to March, 1881; Mrs. Sarah E. Shortridge, March, 1881, to April 1, 1890, when she fell asleep in Christ; Miss Lois A. White from April, 1890, to October, 1899; Mrs. Helen E. Moses from October, 1899, to present time. Mrs. Sarah Wallace was Recording Secretary from 1874 to 1876; Miss Marie Cole from 1876 to 1878; Mrs. Naomi Tomlinson, 1878 to 1880; Mrs. Lizzie A. Moore, 1880 to 1887; Mrs. Sarah Wal¬ lace, 1887 to 1889; Mrs. Annie B. Morrison, 1889 to present time. In 1894 she married Col. S. F. Gray. Mrs. O. A. Burgess was Treasurer from 1874 to 1878; Mrs. R. T. Brown, 1878 to 1880; Mrs. Mary C. Cole, 1880 to 1890; Mrs. J. R. Ryan, 1890 to 1892; Miss Mary J. Judson, 1892 to present date. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. This committee, as described under “Organization,” soon be¬ came cumbrous. In 1886 the Constitution was so amended as to omit the State Managers. Also, instead of having a Vice Presi¬ dent in each State, that there should be State Presidents only, and a National Vice President was provided for. Mrs. O. A. Bur¬ gess thus served the Board from 1887 to 1890; Mrs. Mary Arm¬ strong, 1890 to 1892; Mrs. Nancy E. Atkinson from 1892 until 1902, when she was succeeded by Mrs. Effie Cunningham, who served until October, 1904, when she was succeeded by Mrs. Anna R. Atwater, who is now in office. The State Presidents and Secre¬ taries were continued members of the committee, having each a proxy vote on important matters. The Executive Committee meets regularly the first and third Wednesdays of each month in all-day sessions, at the office in Indianapolis, in the interest of the work. These ought to be to all members of the organization everywhere days of effectual, fervent prayer, that wisdom from above in large measure may be given to these women as they con¬ sider the important and often very complicated and perplexing problems that come to them for solution. r historical sketch op the So The terms Executive Committee, National Board, Local Com¬ mittee and Local Board have been used very indiscriminately. Even in the General Constitution distinctions were not clearly drawn. To obviate this difficulty a committee was appointed in 1904 to examine the General, or National, Constitution and make clear the distinction between the National Board and the Execu¬ tive Committee of that Board. The changes recommended by the committee were voted upon by the members of the National Board and the vote read in the executive meeting of April 5, 1905. The vote sustained the changes recommended. The National Board consists of the six National officers, Pres¬ ident, Vice President, Corresponding and Recording Secretaries, Treasurer and Superintendent of Children’s Work; the five resi¬ dent members and the State President and Corresponding Secre¬ tary of each State co-operating in the work. The Executive Com¬ mittee of this Board is composed of the National officers and resi¬ dent members. The National Board meets annually in connec¬ tion with the National Convention. The Executive Committee meets the first and third Wednesdays of each month. MEMBERSHIP IN THE GENERAL ORGANIZATION. Until 1890 the payment of one dollar made one an Annual Member of the general organization of the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions, just as the payment of one dollar and twenty cents made one a member of any one of its local Auxiliaries. At that time (1890) the terms of Annual Membership were advanced to five dollars. Life Memberships in the general organization may be secured by the payment of twenty-five dollars. This amount may be paid in full or paid within two years in not more than two installments, which need not be equal. This was the plan from the beginning of the work. In the missionary year 1899-1900 the article of our Constitution relating to Annual and Life Memberships was changed to read: “Any person may be¬ come a member of this Association by contributing a sum of not less than $5 a year to its funds, and by the payment of $25 in two years in not more than two installments, or by taking five consecutive Annual Memberships, any person may become a Life Member.” Christian woman’s board or missions Si STATE DEVELOPMENT. At the close of the State meeting at Eureka, Ill., September, 1874, Miss E. J. Dickinson called together the sisters in attend¬ ance, and explained to them the work to which Mrs. Pearre was calling all our sisterhood. This was six weeks before the Chris¬ tian Woman’s Board of Missions was organized. She had already formed a Woman’s Missionary Society in her home Church at Eureka, and insisted that those present do the same thing in their home Churches. Several brethren attended this meeting, among them the late Ira J. Chase, then pastor of the Church at Peoria. He was much interested, urged and induced the meeting to form a State organization and to send one of their number out among the Churches in the State to form local missionary societies. Later other States sent out organizers as they could arrange for them. In 1890 Mrs.. Persis L. Christian, of Arkansas, was ap¬ pointed National Organizer. She supplemented the work of the State Organizers, assisting and often directing them. She visited States not able to sustain an Organizer regularly, and strength¬ ened them, organizing new Auxiliaries and encouraging those already formed. In the National Convention held in Nashville in 1892, Miss E. J. Dickinson, of Illinois, offered a resolution favor¬ ing the creation of a State Fund for the work of organizing and strengthening Auxiliaries by the payment of fifty cents a year from each Auxiliary member for this purpose, ten per cent, of this amount to go to the National treasury to be used for organ¬ izing Auxiliaries in undeveloped States. Mrs. Christian spoke in favor of this plan. Miss Dickinson’s resolution was favorably voted upon by the Convention. The plan of paying five cents a month for the work of State development by each Auxiliary mem¬ ber was adopted by many Societies. A number of the organized States felt the time had not yet come to take this step, hence pay¬ ment to the State Development Fund was not made obligatory until the National Convention of 1904, held in St. Louis, Mo., when Article IIP of the Auxiliary Constitution was revised to read: “Any person may become a member of this Society by sub¬ scribing to this Constitution, promising to aid in furthering the objects herein named, and to contribute monthly a definite sum, not less than ten cents, to the National treasury for the General 32 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE Fund, and five cents to the State treasury for the State Develop¬ ment Fund.” THE CHILDREN’S WORK. Organizing and training the children systematically for mis¬ sion work was begun by our Board in 1884, and placed in care of a National Superintendent, Mrs. Joseph King. A few Mission Bands had been formed before that time, but they were working independently. In 1885 Mrs. King reported the department well started and growing, but the children wanted some definite ob¬ ject to work for as their own special business. While the Board was casting about for some suitable work for them, the sad news came from Japan that Mrs. Josephine Smith had fallen asleep in that far-away land. Then came the thought of erecting a chapel to her memory in Akita, where she lived and labored and died. With one mind the children took hold of it. In 1886 Mrs. King reported that the needed amount, $1,700, was in the treasury. Building was made their special work, and they have been build¬ ing homes, chapels, school, orphanages, hospitals and dispensaries almost constantly since that time. The work of supporting the children in our orphanages has also been assigned them, and they have toiled bravely at that Christly task. In 1893 Mrs. Ida C. Black, of Indiana, succeeded Mrs. King as Superintendent of Chil¬ dren’s Work. In 1896 she was succeeded by Miss Mattie Pounds, of Ohio, who is still in charge. About 1892, and later, when enthusiasm was greatest in the Christian Endeavor movement, many of our Mission Bands changed to Junior Endeavor Societies, and whatever money they raised was applied to local demands or given indiscriminately. Some of them raised none. Thus they were lost to us, and they lost the missionary training that they had been receiving in the Bands. It was a serious question how to correct this, but they were gradually educated back to giving for missions, in part, and then the officers of the United Society of Christian Endeavor greatly aided by publishing the following statement: ‘‘In order to encour¬ age the giving of money through the denominational Missionary Boards, we have made it a rule that only Societies whose contri¬ butions were sent in that way should be enrolled upon the Roll of Honor.” In 1895 the missionary training of the Juniors and Intermediates was placed in the hands of the Christian Woman’s CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 32 Board of Missions by the National Convention, and it was stated that the missionary offerings of these organizations should be made to the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions, just as the offerings of the Sunday Schools for Children’s Day were given to the Foreign Christian Missionary Society. This rule has obtained since that time. Beginning with Junior Endeavor Anniversary Day, March the twenty-seventh, the Juniors observe a period of self-denial, closing it with an Easter entertainment and offering for the mission building work entrusted to them by our Board. In 1890 Missouri appointed a State Superintendent of Chil¬ dren’s Work. The plan proved so helpful that other States soon followed her example, until it soon became a regular and recog¬ nized office in State work. MISSION CIRCLES. From the early years of our organization an effort has been made to interest young women in the work, and Mission Circle Constitutions were prepared for their special use. Until 1902 there was no special department in the Missionary Tidings de¬ voted to the work of the Mission Circles, nor was careful atten¬ tion given to the preparation of literature for their use. The Circles have responded generously to the efforts made to reach their needs. The Circles rank with the Auxiliaries, not with the Mission Bands and Junior and Intermediate Societies. They re¬ port to National and State Secretaries. The Circle offerings are for the same general and special funds as are those of the Auxil¬ iaries. For their special and distinct work the support of schools and native helpers in foreign lands and of scholarships in the mountain schools in the home field have been assigned them. LITERATURE. Until 1883 we had no literature of our own, either permanent or current. True, the editors of our Church papers from the first gave us freest use of their columns for the promotion of our work, and these favors were gratefully accepted, but a paper wholly devoted to our mission interests had been greatly needed all the time. Lack of means prevented our starting it until in May of this year, the first number of the Missionary Tidings was issued, edited by Mrs. M. M. B. Goodwin. It was a small, four-page 34 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE monthly paper. Mrs. Goodwin’s health so failed during the sum¬ mer that she resigned in September following, and a Publication Committee, Mrs. L. A. Moore and Mrs. S. E. Shortridge, had charge of it till 1888. Since then it has been edited by the Corre¬ sponding Secretary, until in 1904-5, when, because of the growth of the work, it was thought best to relieve the Corresponding Sec¬ retary of this responsibility. Mrs. Anna R. Atwater was selected by the Executive Committee to edit the Tidings, and commenced her work the first of April, 1905. At this time (May, 1905) the Missionary Tidings is a thirty-two-page paper, with cover, and the regular issue is 19,500. In 1885 w T e started a Leaflet and Supply Fund. We publish leaflets, pictures of missionaries and mission buildings, maps of our mission fields, booklets, an annual Prayer Calendar, Treas¬ urer’s books, Auxiliary and C. W. B. M. Day offering envelopes, etc. Each year several millions of pages -of missionary literature beside the regular missionary periodicals are mailed from our mission rooms. Our collection of missionary leaflets and sup¬ plies won favorable notice at the Student Volunteer Convention in Toronto in 1902, and has won an honored place in other union missionary exhibits. About four hundred publications are cata¬ logued. SPECIAL SEASONS. In July, 1887, Joseph King earnestly appealed to our Execu¬ tive Committee “to fix upon and name a day and hour in each week for prayer, when all whose hearts move them to pray may retire to their closets and make united supplication for the cause of missions, for missionaries and for the Churches. * * * What an inspiration to our missionaries to know that on a cer¬ tain hour in every week thousands pray for them! And, above all, it would make glad the heart of Christ.” This was brought before the National Convention in October and warmly approved. Five o’clock, Lord’s day evening, is the appointed time. It is a sweet, a holy hour. God’s benediction rests upon it. Its general observance would enrich our work beyond our power to express. At the State Convention of the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions of Illinois, August, 1889, the President, Mrs. Persis L. Christian, recommended that “we establish a day in this State CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 35 for the purpose of making our work known throughout the Churches, and also for soliciting money.” This was adopted, and the last Sunday in November was the day appointed. At the Louisville Convention, in October following, it was decided to have a National C. W. B. M. Day, and the first Sunday in July was chosen for this. It was first observed in 1890. Educational Day was inaugurated at the National Convention of 1892. Its object was stated to be: “1. To emphasize the im¬ portance of saving our educated young people from skepticism and of training them for Christian service; and, 2d, to secure offerings to maintain the work and aid in raising a permanent en¬ dowment of $50,000 to be controlled by the Christian Woman’s Board of Missions.” It was then arranged that the Auxiliaries hold midweek service on the regular prayer meeting night the sec¬ ond week in February, 1893, in the interest of our State colleges and the proposed Bible Chair at Ann Arbor, Mich.; that a collec¬ tion be taken and one-half of it go to the Bible Chair, the other half to the college in the State where the meeting was held. In States where we had no college, the whole amount to go to the Bible Chair. A goodly number of Auxiliaries observed it, and the first year of its observance it brought $1,664 to our treasury. But the date seemed not quite opportune, coming, as it did, just before the regular collection by the Churches for foreign missions, the first Sunday in March. In 1894 it was held in January, in the interest of the Bible Chair only. But this date was not satisfac¬ tory. In 1895 it was changed to the first week in December, at which time it was observed that year and in 1896 and 1897. The Indianapolis Convention, in 1897, decided that in 1898, and there¬ after, our two special days, C. W. B. M. and Educational, should be combined and observed together in December, thus presenting to the Churches all our interests in one day. In 1895 the National President, Mrs. Burgess, wrote in the Missionary Tidings, recommending special thank offerings on the part of Auxiliary members and those interested in our work. Out of her suggestion has grown our Auxiliary Week of Prayer and Easter thank offering. The observance of C. W. B. M. Day places the work of our organization before the Church and gives all Church members an opportunity to know of the progress of the work and to contribute for its advancement. The observance of the Auxiliary Week of Prayer brings the workers apart with the 36 HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE Master for counsel with Him. It gives a quiet time in which to prayerfully plan for the future, while we give thanks for the past, and it opens all hearts to a glad affirmative answer to the Master’s question, “Lovest thou me?” The Auxiliary Week of Prayer and its accompanying thank offering have become very sacred to all who havo partaken of their blessings. THE FUNDS. The General Fund is for the regular expenses of the work. Into it go the regular Auxiliary offerings, the Annual Member¬ ship fees and all Life Membership fees, unless otherwise ordered by the donors. The Endowment Fund is permanent. The interest only can be used, and used only for India missions. At first all Life Mem¬ berships and bequests not otherwise ordered by the donors were placed in this fund. This was changed in the National Conven¬ tion of 1891. This fund is loaned on first mortgage real estate secuiity. It was at first kept in charge of a trustee under bond for twice its amount; but in February, 1880, the Christian Wom¬ an’s Board of Missions took out articles of incorporation, thus ac¬ quiring recognition in law, and the fund was then placed in the hands of the Treasurer. The Memorial Fund is composed of gifts in memory of de¬ ceased friends. It is permanent, kept loaned on good security, and the interest used in the work in the United States. There are three funds devoted to Bible work: the English Bible Chair Endowment Fund, the Endowment Fund of the Uni¬ versity of Virginia Bible Lectureship, and the Mrs. M. M. Blanks Fund for the support of Bible work for the University of Texas. The beginning of the first fund was made by the offerings on Ed- ucational Day. The second fund was opened by the gift of $10,000 from the family of Col. J. B. Cary, of Richmond, Va. The third fund was the gift of Mrs. M. M. Blanks, of Lockhart, Tex. These funds are permanent, and kept loaned, well secured. The Organizers’ Fund is for organizing Auxiliaries, Circles and Bands in weak or unorganized States. It was formerly com¬ posed of voluntary personal offerings and from gifts from well- organized States. The adoption of the plan for the payment of CHRISTIAN WOMAN’S BOARD OF MISSIONS 37 five cents per month by the Auxiliary members for the State De¬ velopment Fund has made a permanent fund for the organizing and fostering of Auxiliaries, and the payment of ten per cent, of this fund into the National treasury makes a fund always avail¬ able for the help of needy States and Territories. The Leaflet Fund is composed of voluntary contributions and payments for leaflets, and is used in preparing, purchasing and distributing these aids to the work. The Bilaspur, Mahoba and Deoghur, India, and Bayamon, Porto Rico, Orphanage Funds are made a part of the receipts of the Young People’s Department. Into these funds go all offerings made for the support of the children in the various orphanages. In 1899 a Special Object Fund for the Young People’s Department was opened. Into it go the special gifts from the children’s organizations. The Annuity Fund contains sums given to our Board on con¬ dition that a fixed rate of interest be paid the donors during their lifetime. CONCLUSION. The foregoing sets forth some of the work of our Board, but the best can not be told. No words can reveal the largeness of heart, richness of faith, sweetness of hope, blessedness of life that have come, not only to those receiving the ministries of these women, but much more to the women themselves. All have been lifted into a higher, holier life, nearer to God, in this service. The Savior’s words have been abundantly verified: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”