I A REVIEW —OF THK— First Ten Years’ History —OF THE— OF THE WEST. Prepared for its Dhcenniai, Anniversarv and Read in 'ihk <• First Baptist Church, Chicago, ■ April 14th, 1881. By Mrs. C. F. Tolman. CIITCAGO : Woman’s Baptist Missionary Society of the West, 18S1. Ji 1 OUR PLEDGE. Given May 2ist, 1871. “ Here and now, forming an alliance for Christ and Christ’s work, with a Christlj self-denial and sacrifice, we would pledge ourselves to give for Christ, to do service for Christ, to live for Christ, and in this work perform, as far as we shall be able, all that is implied in woman’s work for woman in heathen lands.” A REVIEW OF OUR FIRST DECADE. Glancing back a score of years we find the ])egin- ning of organized work for heathen women in con¬ nection with the churches of our land. Here, as everywhere in Christian history, we see that God often uses small and weak instruments to accomplish great and lasting results; and those whom He thus honors are often unconscious of the magnitude of the service they are performing. Neither Mrs. Mason, as she related to Christian women in New York the story of the degradation and needs of their sisters in India, nor Mrs. Doremus, as she, in response, crys- talized her thoughts of Christian love and helpfulness in the Women’s Union Society, probably realized the magnitude which this enterprise would assume. Its example and success aroused the women in various denominations to take up this work in connection with their respective Boards; and ten years ago our Baptist women enlisted in this service. PRE-niSTORlC PERIOD. To every enterprise there belongs a 'prc-historic period. In tracing the history of our own Society we find that for more than a year prior to its organ¬ ization, a thought of it rested in the hearts of a few women in Chicago. Personal knowledge of the degradation and needs of heathen women, kept fresh and alive by frequent correspondence with the over¬ worked missionaries abroad, laid a heavy burden on their hearts. The success of other Women’s Soci¬ eties raised the question, ‘‘if they can use this agency 2 with such efficiency why not we?'*"’ The query was quietly passed from one to another of those interested in the advance of Christ’s kingdom, and the circle of , those ready to enlist in this service gradually wid¬ ened. Correspondence revealed the fact that else¬ where other hearts were carrying the same burden. The missionaries were needing such help as efficient Christian women could supply; and the churches at home needed the inspiration of such a movement. At length the officers of the Missionary Union sanc¬ tioned the proposed society, and opened the way for its organization. This was embraced at once by our sisters in the East. They sent us an appeal for co¬ operation, seconded by Dr. Murdock in the words, “ Be ready to move in Chicago as soon as we can mature the general plan.” The Executive Com¬ mittee laid down a basis of co-operation in a “ Min¬ ute,” issued by them in March, 1871, the object of which was to resfulate the work and secure harmonv and efficiency on the Foreign Field. Before, how¬ ever, the “general plan,” proposed in Boston, for a National Woman’s Society was matured, Chicago was ready, and a call was issued b}^ Mrs. C. F. Tolman, for a meeting to convene at the First Bap¬ tist Church, Chicago, for the purpose of considering the question of organizing a Society. The fact that the unwritten history of our Society is as truly a part of your record as any after-history, is my apology for alluding to it on this occasion. Its cjuestionings, trials, and discouragements; its patient waiting, prayers and quiet efforts, are all written in II eaveu. God was then sowing the seed which has resulted in this vigorous tree, stretching wide its branches, and yielding its fruits for the healing of the nations. The soil of Christian hearts was prepared by Heavenly showers to send forth the various rills and rivulets of woman’s Iienevolencc and self-sacri- 3 fice. The thirsty deserts of heathenism had before been watered by them, but henceforth, flowing into one channel, as well as springing forth in other hearts, the stream has widened and deepened, till it is a broad river, gently and quietly flowing into the great sea of. redemption, which is to refresh every portion of humanity’s sin-stricken shores. FORMATION OF THE SOCIETY. This epoch of preparation and operation of quiet but potent influences culminated in the organization of a Society in Chicago, May 9th, 1871. It would be interesting if we could reproduce that meeting, held in the former edifice of this Church, on Wabash avenue. We may pause a moment to remember that the Missionary Union was represented by its District Secretary C. F. Tolman, who called the meet¬ ing to order with words of encouragement and cheer; that the Presiding Officer then chosen, was our pres¬ ent Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Bacon; that Mrs. Lyman Bridges was its Secretary; that the sainted Knowlton told us of the needs of Chinese women, and bade us God-speed; that Mrs. Barker seconded, in her most effective manner, the appeal by the Sec¬ retary of the Committee, in which the great necessity of such a Society was presented, and the plans for its organization and work unfolded. The audience was representative, embracing members from nearly every church in the city, and some from outside. So im¬ pressive were the exercises that some then and there gave themselves to the work of missions with a re¬ newed consecration, while others received as a new revelation the knowledge that in this field of Chris¬ tian work there was room for them. The Officers were elected and the vSociety was ready for work, its field of operations at home being all the states and territories 4 west of and including the states of Ohio and Mich¬ igan. The Society was especially favored in its early leaders. Mrs. Robert Harris filled her position of President with growing ability and favor for eight years. The first Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Tolnian, and the first Treasurer, Mrs. S. M. Osgood, retained their position for four years. Mrs. A. M. Bacon succeeded Mrs. Jesse B. Thomas as Recording Secretary, and served one year, and was then associ¬ ated in the work of correspondence and editing the Helping Hand for two years. Since the fourth year she has filled her present position with eminent ability and acceptance. Mrs. J. O. Brayman was chosen Recording Secretary the second year, and still fulfills the duties of that office. The first Joint Meeting of the two Societies, East and West, in connection with the National anniver- versaries, was also held in the First Baptist Church, Chicago, in May, 1871. An interesting feature of those anniversaries was the presenting of the two Woman’s vSocieties to the Missionary Union. The pledge given on that occasion stands to-day as the exponent of our object and plans. Assuming these relations, we were accepted as auxilliaries to that ven¬ erable body. PERP'ECTING ORGANIZATION. Passing from the period of inception, we come to that of more thorough organization and develop¬ ment. 'I'he first two years were pre-eminently form¬ ative. Plans were unfolded and tested; forces in hand were classified and organized. The practica¬ bility and efficiency of any proposed plan was the measure of its success, and on this success during its first year was to depend its continuance as a distinct organization in the west. This question was finally 5 settled, not by the Committee of Thirteen appointed at the Joint Meeting of 1871, to watch the workings of tlie two Societies, hut hy the Board of this Soci¬ ety, who, in so doing, carried out the emphatically expressed wish of the Society at its first Annual Meeting. The work of the officers of the Executive Board was heavy and responsible, although much help was rendered by kind and wise advisers whom God raised up for them, and the Society was composed of a pains-taking and judicious membership, who rendered their service a free-will offering unto the Lord. One of its first acts was to appoint a Publication Com¬ mittee to prepare and publish missionary intelligence. The Helping Hand was first published in 1S71, in connection with the Missionary Magazine. Every mode of awakening interest and spreading informa¬ tion through the printed pages of our journals or by holding quarterly and mass meetings was utilized. By personal effort and written communication, those fitted for leadership and to wield influence were en¬ listed in this service. The plan, then as now, embraced “ a Circle in every church, and eveiy woman a member of the Circle.” How to secure this, was then, as now, the problem, and numerous objections and prejudices had to be overcome. The detailed events of these first two years need not be given. The lurid glare and wild horrors of the fire of 1871. have not faded from our memories, nor have the anxieties, which, under those circum¬ stances, attended the prosecution of this work, and the sending out of owxfirst missionary Miss A. L. Stevens. Our funds, though small, had steadily in¬ creased during the first quarter Miss Stevens had been accepted, and her face was turned towards Burma. After the fire it was first feared she could 6 not be sent, but with the lielp of our sister Society she was equipped for the journey, and our plans were carried out. The second quarter, Miss Lavinia Pea- ])ody • applied, was accepted, and sailed in January, and at the third quarterly meeting the support of Mrs. A. K. Scott, in Assam, was assumed. Three schools were aided and two Bible Women supported. The amount of money contril)uted the first year was $4,244.69. The appointment of State Secretaries was recom¬ mended by the Board and sanctioned by the Society, vSeptemher, 1872. Mrs. Clement Leach, of Illinois, was the first to accept this office, and continued in the work six years. The second year they were more generally appointed, and were directed to choose Associational Secretaries, and the work was more thoroughly systematized and divided. A greater number of ladies of wealth and influence identified themselves with the Societv. At the close of the second year the Circles numbered 225, and the re¬ ceipts were $6,390.88. Misses Eastman and Ran¬ kin were sent to Toungoo and Gowhati, and Miss Bronson’s support assumed, making in all six mis¬ sionaries under our charge, five schools aided, besides specific funds sent to other missionaries. GROWTH. The Jo 7 'mative period was followed by one of steady a 7 id rapid groivth. The plans of work and principles of action adopted during those years proved to be wise and reliable. The foundations were well and firmly laid; vexing questions of pol¬ icy were settled; prejudices were largely overcome, and the Society had secured a recognized among the missionary agencies of our land. During the last eight years, bereavements, changes in leadership, and dark providences, have cast deep / sliadows; new perplexities have been met and un¬ ravelled; clear heads and cool judgments have been needed in emergencies, but the God of Missions has so guarded and blessed, so over-ruled even mistakes and errors of judgment, that through all can be seen a steady advancement. The sudden death of Miss Maria Bronson was an¬ nounced at the Third Annual Meeting, held with the Second Baptist Church, Chicago, and was an afflict¬ ive providence in which we all were bereaved, and which touched many hearts hitherto callous to the interest of missions. Much interest at this time centered around Miss Peabody’s school in Ramapatam. She had collected her pupils, and wrote home with characteristic en- ergy, “ I shall begin my school, if I have to gather my pupils under a banyan tree.” Zenana work among the high-class Hindi! women was opening with encouragement before our missionaries in India. During the third year Miss Baldwin and Miss Watson were sent to Burma, The sending of the latter was contingent on the raising of funds for her outfit and traveling expenses, the treasury being empty at the time of her applica¬ tion. Then Michigan, which gave us the missionary, first showed us how royally she could endow her daughters, and what grand results she could achieve by energetic and simultaneous effort and self-denial. In a short time the needed funds were raised and Miss Watson on her way. In the home field the social element was being- made a power in the Circles. Interesting incidents showed tangible fruits of faithful, harmonious effort. One church in Illinois is mentioned, who, the year before the formation of a “ Mission Circle ” in its midst, had contributed only $2.00 to foreign mis¬ sions. The first year their church sent $37.00 for the 8 37 women in their cliiirch, and including the offering of tlie church to the Union, had given that year $73.00 to foreign missions. Another Circle is the first reported as ;i “ perfect Circle,” sending this year $17.00 for the 17 women in their church, with a good, live interest in the great work as a whole. Our first legacy, of $150.00, from Mrs. L. L. Lansing, of Iowa, was received the fourth year, the vSociet}^ having become previously incorporated, and ahle legally to receive such gifts. Our missionary re-inforcement for this year was Miss Mary A. Wood, who was sent to the Telugus. Plans were laid for supplying Miss Bronson’s vacant place, but failed. '' Appropriations to the school work were greatly increased, and $500.00 appropriated to the Missionary Union for Miss Field’s support. The Annual Report of the Board for 1873 gives enlarged views of the work abroad. “ It must he,” say they, for the perishing for whom. Christ died; for any poor heathen, man or woman, boy or girl.” We also find this statement: “Our plans may, by God’s providence, be changed, enlarged and widened before the close of our first decade.” It closes with an earnest appeal, not only for laborers for the whit¬ ening field, but for consecration of heart and soul purse and possession, to this service. At the close of the fourth year the Corresponding- Secretary and Treasurer retired from their ofiices, held since the organization of the Society. They were succeeded by Mrs. A. M. Bacon and Mrs. C. R. Blackall. The total receipts for 1875 were $10,- 277.34, being an advance in two years of $3,836.46. The number of the Circles were 500 against 255 in '^ 73 - The Fifth Anniversary, held with the Fourth Church of this city, was favored with the presence 9 of Dr. Murdock. In his forcible and eloquent ad¬ dress he confessed that at its inception he was not in favor of a separate AVoman’s organization for the West, but that now his feelings had undergone a complete revolution. He testified that the Woman’s Society had done more than merely furnish money. “ It had given form, shape, and efficiency to the mis¬ sionary spirit in the churches.” At this meeting: were held the farewell exercises preparatory to the return of Miss Higby to Burma. During the fifth year the receipts were increased by building fund of $3,000, raised by a committee in whose charge it was placed at the fourth anniversaiw. Five hundred dollars of this was raised at the semi¬ annual meeting at Detroit, Mich., and was mostly contributed by friends in that state. This was ap¬ plied to school buildings in Gowhati, Ramapatam, jp.nd Hentheda, where our educational work needed enlargement and large outlays. Miss Wood was ex¬ pected to move to Ongole, to take charge of the girls’ normal school, and with this in view appropri¬ ations of $1,200 were voted for purchasing a school building in Ongole, and $1,000 for pupils. Assam was finally re-enforced by Misses Keeler and Sweet, and Miss Watson removed to Zeegong to engage in direct evangelical labor. Two legacies were received at this j^oint in our history, one of $500 from Mrs. Mulford, of Evan¬ ston, Ill., and $1,000 from Mrs. Hillman, of Minne¬ sota. These gifts, coming in successive years, were timely and encouraging to the Board, who had made these large appropriations in humble faith that God would incline the hearts of the people to supply the needed means. The steady increase of funds enabled the Board to make an advance movement, and China appears for lO tlie first time in our list of missions. Miss Thomp¬ son arri\'e(l at Swatow, December 14th, i8y6. Miss Iligbj' had been warmly welcomed by her pupils at Maulmain, who had begun the school two months before, in anticipation of her arrival. Miss Baldwin’s health failing at Bassein, she removed to Toungoo, where, as Mrs. Cross, she has charge of a large school of Baku Karens. In Southern India the approaching famine alreadv cast its dark shadow. Miss Peabody’s sojourn in Madras, for recuperation of health and medical study, left the school at Ramapatam in Miss Wood’s charge. Mrs. Clough continued the care of the school and preparations for the work at Ongole, till forced to stop by the famine. The next year greater changes came upon the mis¬ sion by Miss Peabody’s retirement from the station after six years faithful service, and the death of Mrs. Mary Wood Newhall. Ramapatam was stricken, and left without a teacher, and the whole country fainted under the terrible scourge depopulating the land. The schools and mission interests there and at Ongole were, however, carefully superintended by the missionaries at the stations. Generous appropriations have been made from that time to the present, to meet the pressing needs of the thousands of newly converted Telugus. Grand investments have these proved for the Society of the West. The first great ingathering in the On¬ gole district is stated to be largely owing, under God, to the direct efforts of Mrs. Clough’s pupils in the normal school. The seventh year, on the home field, we are told in the Annual Report, may be considered a revival year. “ Not so much a period of fruit-bearing as of reconstruction and preparation for future harvests.” Abroad there was much of interest. In Toungoo, Miss Eastman was left alone with heavy burdens. The dej^arture of the resident missionaries had left the charge of the station and the superintendence of its important interests among the Karens devolving upon her. Miss Watson had returned to Henthada as Mrs. Hancock, and was continuing evangelistic work as a missionary of this Society. Miss Miller had been sent to assist Mrs. Packer in the Rangoon college, and the support of Mrs. J. P. Pinney assumed. Our China mission was strengthened by sending Miss Norwood to Swatow, who accompanied Dr. and Mrs. Ashmore in ’78, and she has, in company w'ith Miss Thompson, made several very interesting trips into the interior of her district and has recently liad the great joy of receiving the answer to her prayer that every girl in her school might be con¬ verted. We also find growth apparent on the home field. The Helping Iland^ wdiich, up to this time, had been an item ef expense to the Society, in ’78 added a small sum to the treasury. In ’77 it was transfer¬ red to the Woman’s Societies, Mrs. Train, of Haver¬ hill, being editor-in-chief, and Miss Stevens corre¬ sponding editor in the west for one year. vShe w^as succeeded by Mrs. J. O. Brayman, who still holds the position. The paper has increased steadily in inter¬ est and popularity, and has each year brought a larger amount into the treasury. The amount reported this year being $367.16. During the last three years the publication com¬ mittee has largely increased the missionary literature of the Society. For this there w^as a great necessity, the earlier publications being almost entirely ex¬ hausted. The educational series on India, Nos. i to 6, by Mrs. Robert, was prepared with a special view 12 to assist the Circles in a systematic study of missions. Mrs. Mitchell’s First Fruits showed us the work accomplished during the first seven years of our his¬ tory; while Miss Fielde’s graphic pen-pictures intro¬ duced to us our dear sisters in China, Silver Flower and Sister Long, whose names soon became house¬ hold words. These have been followed bv others, the latest arrival being Sister Poke, published by the Michigan ladies and presented to the Society. Two numbers of a biographical series have been published, being sketches of Mrs. Wade and Mrs. Newhall. A third, a memorial of Miss Bronson, is prepared and in the hands of the committee. No portion of the home work is more important, and its vigorous pros¬ ecution is a matter of congratulation. Another means of awakening interest in our workers is by placing their photographs within reach of all at small cost. This has been accomplished by the untiring efforts of Mrs. Hanmond, of Highland Park. The opening of a medical mission in Swatow, China, was an interesting fact of the eighth year. For some years medical missions had been a subject of consideration, but none were established until 1879, when Miss Carrie H. Daniells, of Michigan, was appointed to Swatow. Such an enterprise re¬ quires considerable outlay, and here again Michigan liberally responded by providing nearly all of the re¬ quired amount for building a hospital. Mrs. Harris, retiring from the presidency at the close of the eighth year, Mrs. H. M. Robert, of Mil¬ waukee, was chosen to this office. Mrs. Black- all, after four years of faithful service as treasurer, was succeeded by Mrs. F. A. Smith. There were also changes in the Executive Board, owing to the removal of several members who had served from its organization. Though these, our dear and tried friends, are widely scattered, they will ever be remembered by their co-laborers in this ser¬ vice. Turning to the mission field we find changes there as well as at home. Miss Keeler had left Gowahati in charge of Mrs. Bronson, and joined Miss Sweet at Nowgong after the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Neighbor. Failure of health soon forced Miss Sweet to leave the mission, and Miss Keeler had entire charge, aided by the native pastor and assistants, un¬ til the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Moore, in January, 1880. Miss Eastman had been similarly situated, and her burden was made peculiarly trying by an out- •break of. cholera in the school. Miss Ambrose was sent to her assistance and was warmly welcomed, and the two have much to say of encouragement in the work, and the joy of labouring together for Christ. At the semi-annual meeting in Alton, Misses Lightfoot and Inveen were set apart for missionary service, and soon sailed for Ningpo, China, where bright prospects for usefulness are opening before them in the school established by Dr. Lord. The history of the tenth year is familliarto all, and needs but a hasty review. Mrs. A. J. Howe was chosen president at Detroit, and with this exception, there have been but few changes on the home held. The year has been marked with a revival of intelli¬ gent interest; more study and inquiry about the work, and increased facilities for this study. A marked feature has been the dividing of the work by the board into departments placed in charge of com¬ mittees who report their progress at its monthly meet¬ ings. Ladies of ability outside the board have been in¬ duced to assist in this committee work. The “Bureau of Intelligence ” has done a grand work, and has a grand future before it. So of the other branches iut