Beginnings 
 
 (. ADAPTED FROM “ TWENTY YEARS' HISTORY”) 
 
 H T the close of the Civil War, four 
 millions of freemen were 
 thrown upon their own re- 
 sources, and citizenship, for which 
 they were entirely unprepared, was 
 thrust upon them. A “Freedman’s 
 Bureau” was established by the United 
 States Government, and during the 
 first ten years after the close of the 
 war it spent three million dollars in 
 providing schools and teachers. 
 
 After a time, denominational “Freed- 
 men’s Aid Societies” were organized, 
 replacing other forms of service in this 
 field, and the whole responsibility fell 
 upon the churches. 
 
 The Freedmen’s Aid Society of the 
 Methodist Episcopal Church was or- 
 
 
ganized in 1866. At the end of its 
 fourth year, ten thousand pupils were 
 enrolled in its schools. Among its 
 teachers were accomplished young 
 women from the North, of whom a dis- 
 tinguished minister of the Methodist 
 Episcopal Church, South, said, “Of all 
 who go out under the Master’s com- 
 mission, no one takes up a heavier 
 cross than the woman who, leaving a 
 Northern home, goes into the South- 
 land, there to sit down by her de- 
 graded colored sister, to point her to 
 Jesus.” 
 
 After a time it became apparent that 
 not only were schools of a higher 
 grade needed, but a system must be 
 introduced which should aim more di- 
 rectly at the redemption of the home. 
 While the women of the church in the 
 North were being prepared for this in 
 various ways, faithful ones in the 
 South were unconsciously paving the 
 way by doing the work without or- 
 ganization. Of these, Mrs. Jennie C. 
 Hartzell (wife of the present Bishop 
 for Africa) was the pioneer. Mrs. 
 Hartzell became deeply interested in 
 the colored people while her husband 
 was pastor in New Orleans. In close 
 
association with her were Mrs. R. S. 
 Rust, and others. Each year the calls 
 became more imperative, and at last 
 the Woman’s Home Missionary Soci- 
 ety of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
 was organized, in Trinity Church, Cin- 
 cinnati, Ohio, July 6, 1880. 
 
 Upon Mrs. Rust, as Corresponding 
 Secretary of the new society, developed 
 the duty of creating interest, fostering 
 sentiment and promoting organization. 
 When, eighteen years later, she came 
 to the end of her earthly life, the So- 
 ciety could give voice to no truer senti- 
 ment than this, “Always in the lead, 
 always a step ahead of the rank and 
 file.” 
 
 At the time of the first annual meet- 
 ing, in October, 1882, the Society had 
 been formally approved by forty-three 
 Annual Conferences. Its first local 
 auxiliary was organized in St. Paul’s 
 Church, Delaware, Ohio, July 27, 1880, 
 and its first Conference organization 
 was effected in the Erie Conference, 
 September 25 of the same year. 
 
 Its first mission work (in New Or- 
 leans, La. , Orangeburg, S. C., and At- 
 lanta, Ga.) developed, a little later, 
 into Peck, Simpson and Thayer 
 
Homes. The disbursements of its first 
 year were $4400, and a debt of $910 
 had been incurred. The deficit was 
 met, with a large increase in receipts, 
 the second year. By the end of its 
 fourth year the Society was recognized 
 by the General Conference as a part 
 of the machinery of the church. Its 
 growth was steady and strong, and 
 included the formation of “Bureaus,” 
 the publication of a paper, the develop- 
 ment of a Supply Department, the 
 appointment of a General Organizer, 
 the movement for a training-school 
 and the organization of Mothers’ 
 Jewels. 
 
 This story of “Beginnings” must, as 
 a matter of course, be incomplete. 
 Only eternity can tell results. But 
 enough has been shown, even here, to 
 make the women of Methodism thank 
 God with full hearts for the privilege 
 of being co-workers with Him. 
 
 ^oman’g Dome SPissionaqa ©ocictp 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church 
 150 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK CITY 
 
 6 cents per hundred, postpaid