FOC/iVG PEOPLE'S WORK ,4 HOME MISSION PREPAREDNESS CAMP WOMAN'S BOARD o/HOME MISSIONS of the PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, U. S. A. 156 FIFTH AVENUE NEW YORK CITY fee do] A Home Mission Preparedness Camp (Topic used in Home Mission Monthly, August, 1916) The missionary work for and with the young people of the Presbyterian Church is a great national PREPAREDNESS CAMP for world- wide service, with its numerous departments and divisions. The main headquarters for the De- partment of Home Missions is at 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City (Room 630), and is in command of the secretary for young people's work. Why preparedness? The need cannot be questioned. This call of our country is for loyal, willing, christian volunteers, and the aim of this PREPAREDNESS CAMP is to direct recruits into definite, purposeful service at home and to secure reinforcements for the field. In our home missionary camp there are now enlisted about 9,000 organizations. (See annual report.) Each group of societies is officered by a "picked" leader in synodical and presbyterial societies or one who is promoted because of effi- ciency in local work. She is known as secretary for young people's work, secretary for children's work or Westminster Guild secretary. Instruc- tion must be largely through correspondence courses and suggests the two general lines of action : For work at home For work on the field All training includes recommendations for a wise and profitable use of time and talents, and each course leads up to something else. Text-books and all equipment for the prescribed courses of instruction are suggested in the publications sent out from headquarters. For latest text-books note especially the revised "Home Mission Lad- der." For Work at Home Our "target practice" suggests such subjects as (1) finding and developing leaders for chil- 2 dren's organizations; (2) arousing chairmen of missionary committees; (3) insisting on better business methods; (4) providing more interest- ing programs; (5) "scouting" for new recruits; (6) inspiring to more definite prayer. For Work on the Field There must be added to the above courses some "First Aid" lessons, also information as to the physical, mental, moral and spiritual condition of a vast number of neglected people, etc. Review Questions Include such subjects as these: Our relation to the women's societies Our relation to C. E. and other "Unions" How may these bonds be strengthened? Most successful methods with children Reports on mission study and meetings How shall we interest the boys? Methods for giving, "objects" preferred, etc. What, when and how shall missionary literature be used? How shall it be paid for? How shall we use the "Standard of Excellence?" Training of this kind has resulted in the send- ing of over thirty men and women to home mis- sion fields, as teachers, doctors and nurses, in the support of hospital beds, the pledging of scholar- ships, and many shares in the general "budgets" for mission schools and hospitals. (For specific assignments see leaflet.) All field officers report to the secretary in com- mand at headquarters, either directly or indirectly, and results from this special training are pub- lished from month to month in the Home Mission Monthly. A few successful methods are as fol- lows : From the Division of Infantry (Sub-divisions are Little Light Bearers, Light Bearers, Bands and Junior C. E.) A Junior letter from the Presbyterian Hospital, San Juan, Porto Rico, has been utilized by a clever Minnesota leader and adapted as a playlet, "The Days of the Week." Seven children repre- sented the days, and told the duties of each as given by Dr. Hildreth. A recipe for increasing gifts : Two large charts, with outline of an apple tree on each. Two sets of Juniors — the reds and the blues each with 3 bags of salt for sale at five cents each. For each nickel a red or blue "apple" on the tree. The "Reds" won. Result : Increase in nickels for the children's ward at the Presbyterian Hospital, and a brilliant poster for the presbyterial exhibit. A young woman takes care of the kiddies under six years of age while their mothers attend the missionary meeting in an adjoining room. These are "Little Light Bearers" and one group has already been graduated as Light Bearers. A successful Light Bearers is in two divisions — Juniors (under 12 years) and Seniors (over 12 years). The Juniors used Over Sea and Land for the first year alternating with Bible lessons. The Seniors studied countries and people — the boys preferring "All Along the Trail" as the foundation. Another leader divided her Light Bearers after the opening exercises and the younger ones go to a room by themselves. Their leader, with a globe of the world, modeling clay and a fund of inter- esting stories, fills their minds with valuable facts. In another group hymns and Bible verses are taught, and they have drills in finding and memo- rizing. They also have contests with questions on missionary countries, stations and people, and "make use of everything from Africa to the last mission field in the alphabet." A Michigan leader also uses Over Sea and Land for her littlest people, with the Junior text- book for the next age. These children gave an "Alaskan Bazaar" last year. Older people sup- plemented the articles they had made for sale, contributed candy, jelly, etc., and from these things, pop corn and ice cream the thirty children cleared_$34. "We sent $16 for Alaska and $16 for China, and try to do good here at home by visiting the shut-ins," so the secretary writes. A series of tableaux illustrating their special work was given by some Juniors for their wom- an's missionary society. "It was informing as well as entertaining," writes the leader. "God seems to have put this work into my hands in such a way that I dare not refuse, but I feel so unfit for such a responsibility." One correspondent has "solved the problem" for her rural church as follows: "In order that the boys and girls may all attend our Light Bear- 4 ers' class we hold our meetings after Sunday school at the church. Our pastor preaches in the morning every other Sunday, and on the Sunday he is not with us the time is used for a prayer meeting. The missionary ladies suggested that I take our Light Bearers outside the church during the prayer service and hold our meeting. That is what we have done during the summer months. The children live far apart and many have no way of going, especially during the busy harvest time, so that it seems best to meet at the church. Perhaps later we may be able to meet sometimes in the different homes. The boys and girls are greatly interested and always anxious for a meet- ing. They desire to enter the contest for the presbyterial banner, so we shall use a Junior book this fall. The Sunday school superintendent has asked us to give a missionary program, so you see we are helping the whole Sunday school." "Two from our woman's society assist the lead- ers of our Light Bearers with every program." Here is a good plan from Texas. Over Sea and Land was illustrated at the synodical meeting by twelve boys and girls costumed to represent the topic for the twelve months. Each child gave a short message from the copy of the little magazine for the month he represented. Sub- scriptions were solicited. (25 cents per year.) A Junior society made their missionaries and mission stations very real by impersonations be- hind a large draped frame. Various costumes represented the people they are working for. Some of the figures were full length, others only head and shoulders. Given in a darkened room, with lights thrown on the figure in the frame, this can be made most effective. The pocket flashlight could be utilized. Some one should describe each "picture," and bring a message from the people represented or tell what the society is doing for them. In plans for the March, April or September meetings, prominence should be given to promo- tion exercises. Make these of serious impor- tance to the children who have reached the age for promotion to the next grade in missionary organizations. Have a well-prepared, well-ad- vertised program — a home mission commence- ment exercise which the parents will wish to attend. (Send for program "Making Progress.") 5 The Division of Cavalry (Sub-divisions, C. E., Y. P. S., Missionary Clubs, etc.) What are you planning for the boys? Are they in a mission band or a Junior society ? Could there be a better time than now for teaching them lessons in home missions — Christian patriotism? Some of the new books may be used to splen- did advantage in capturing the interest of the boys. The thrilling biographical sketches of our Presbyterian pioneers will not fail of their mark in the hands of a willing, enthusiastic leader. But give the boys a chance at the program mak- ing, advertising of the meetings, and in every possible way help them to realize it is their "job" to make the "other fellows" interested in the Presbyterian work for these United States and in those who have gone to "the front." (See new books.) A hint from Phoenix, Ariz. : "A few boys came regularly to our band meetings and we gave them an 'understanding' sort of girl leader, and have now organized them as a 'Boys' Con- gress of Missions.' " (See H. M. M., August, 1913.) They are very enthusiastic. "The Study of Comrades in Service has re- sulted in a Boys' Missionary Club, more mission- ary books read from our Sunday school library and the best Christian Endeavor meetings ever." "A children's study class was suggested, the idea being that we should have both boys and girls, but upon talking with some of the boys of my little son's age, one said : 'Why can't we have a class just for boys? We kids don't have any- thing.' Therefore we started our Boys' Study Club. The boys came to me Friday evenings regularly for ten weeks — ten lively boys from ten to fourteen years of age. We organized in correct form, the officers all boys. They them- selves conducted the meetings, carried out the program, the devotional exercises, review ques- tions and matters of business. The new lesson was under my direction. We studied 'Good Bird, the Indian,' and each boy had a text-book, note- book and pencil, and received credits for attend- ance, deportment, class work above ninety per cent., at least a penny contributed, a kind deed done. After the study a half-hour of recreation followed. At the end of ten weeks a written 6 examination covered the whole text-book, and there was a party. The boy receiving- the largest number of credits won the prize, the one handing in the best examination paper another small gift, and to each boy present at every meeting was given a subscription to Over Sea and Land. Cred- its were kept in the note-books and a correspond- ing number of beads (macaroni, colored -with their paints) were awarded and strung as a souvenir. The wigwams, travois, mud-houses, bull-boats and some of the rude farming imple- ments of the text-books were reproduced by the boys of the class. "It may not seem a great honor to have a group of boys name their baseball team for a mission study leader, but I confess to a warming of my heart when I heard our boys' team had called themselves 'Mrs. Brown's Study Club Team.' I can offer no better comment on the work of last year than to say that when we discussed whether or not to reorganize a boys' study class, every boy voted for it, and a number of new boys applied for membership. Our second book was 'All Along the Trail.' " Here's a young people's society with three di- visions : the "A's" — the older girls or young la- dies; the "B's" — girls from 7 to 15, when they graduate into the A division; the "B. C. C.'s" — the boys, fifty of them. They name themselves the "Boys' Christian Crowd." They occasionally have a union meeting of boys and girls, but usu- ally prefer to meet separately. The yell is : "B. C. C. Who are we? We're the missionary B. C. C. And just watch the things we do, And you'll want to join the B. C.'s too." A Unique Plan "We expect to get our reports in early, and shall have lantern slides made of them giving the number of churches in the presbytery, number of young people's societies, amount apportioned, amount paid, names of new organizations, new officers, etc. These slides will be shown at the presbyterial meetings wherever reports are ready in season." Institutes, conferences, district meetings, con- ventions, schools of methods, summer schools for missions! All these and other gatherings 7 for young people and still no perceptible growth in giving nor in a systematic study of missions. What is the trouble? The Christian Endeavor Societies have before them the incentive of the appeal and pledge for the "Campaign for Mill- ions." Shall we feel the result in gifts for home missions? Is some similar rousement needed to stimulate our other organizations of young peo- ple? Who will suggest it, and who will help "promote" it? Something Doing in Texas At a recent meeting of presbytery we enter- tained the men with a progressive missionary party before supper was served. There were four tables : I. A blackboard and charts on or- ganization methods, tracing the sequence from General Assembly to local societies. II. A table of literature with catalogues, leaflets, etc., on the work assigned the women and young people. III. Women with their knitting, and each told a missionary story or joke. IV. Young people's work, with a Junior boy who told a story from Over Sea and Land, and a girl who gave a mes- sage on the band work. The annual Christian Endeavor banquet of the Grand Junction, Colo., society is an event worth recording. After an appetizing menu the follow- ing "toasts" were listed: Common Earmarks, Cheerful Excuses, Comical Experiences, Creat- ing Enthusiasm, Consecrated Energy. The following comes from Tidoute, Pa. : "I persuaded each Sunday school class to take one chapter of Tn Red Man's Land' to be given at the Christian Endeavor meeting. This was in the nature of a contest, three points necessary : (1) most interesting, (2) most instructive pro- grams, (3) the largest number present. The first class doubled, the second trebled the attendance. We have had to lengthen our session to one hour. A class of boys about twelve years of age had charge of the fourth program and it was intensely interesting." "Our scrap-book of events is invaluable. We have kept every poster, special program and mis- sionary letter, also the record of the various en- terprises in which the committees have engaged." Mobilization can only be by sections. For this purpose summer conferences have been estab- 8 lished. A report from St. Louis demonstrates the interest of women's societies in the prepared- ness camp. As an incentive to attendance a prize was offered for the best missionary poster. The subjects were India and the Indians (the fields assigned the young people for their gifts) and the posters were judged on the following points : I. The appeal to the eye II. The evidence of the condition of Missions in each field up to date The rules were: I. Each organization to be limited to one poster on each topic II. Posters to be uniform in size — 22x28 inches III. Competing societies must register with the Y. P.'s secretary before January 1, 1916 IV. All posters ready for the Presbyterial Society by March 15th V. The society presenting the winning posters to elect a delegate to the young people's con- ference at Hollister in August at the ex- pense of the Presbyterial Society All Presbyterian C. E. societies were eligible. The society of the First Church won the prize. The ideas represented were formulated by sev- eral members of the society. The one who did the actual designing and work of the poster was elected the delegate of the conference. The Division of Artillery (Sub-divisions Young Women's Societies, West- minster Guild Chapters and Circles) Speaking of the unusual, note the various names under which our young women are or- ganized for missionary work. First of all, there is the reliable, well-established, good old-fash- ioned Young Woman's Missionary Society. Everyone knows exactly, what it stands for. We also know for what the Westminster Guild Chap- ters and Circles stand, but it takes more than a few seconds to index the "Wednesday Evening Society," "Happy Harvesters," "Royal Daugh- ters," "Inasmuch Guild," "Heart and Hand Guild," "Order of 'V's'," "Heart's Ease Club," "Sunshine Circle," "Glad Game Club," "Phila- thea Clubs," etc. In a local woman's missionary society the offi- cers meet at one of the homes to fill out the blanks for annual reports. The secretary of each young people's organization is invited and a social time is enjoyed after the work is done. In this 9 way each knows what is being reported, and the Woman's Missionary Society knows that every organization is accounted for. "Our Woman's Missionary Society gave a luncheon a few days ago for the young women of our church, and while together they organized a Westminster Guild chapter, with twenty mem- bers. They are so interested in us !" One woman's society is the "Auxiliary" with three sub-divisions : the Little Helpers, the Junior Department, and the Young Women's Auxiliary. The advisory board is made up of officers from each division. Another has the usual children's societies, and a Young People's Association formed of graduates from these societies, who in turn graduate into the adult organizations. "For two years our Woman's Missionary So- ciety has paid for the two hundred programs used by our Westminster Guild Chapter." A Westminster Guild recipe : Membership 100. Three departments of the Chapter — Bible, Mis- sion, Social Service. Intensive study of each subject. Responsible groups for each branch of church work. Charge of a Sunday morning nur- sery, the supply closet for the city nurse, etc. Special prayer groups. In short, "a wholesome, altruistic spirit of Christian fellowship — a striv- ing to maintain the highest standard for work at home and abroad." The Westminster Guild Bulletin Do you see it ? Do you read it ? Did you ever see elsewhere more information crowded into twenty-four pages? Three times a year, and fifteen cents subscription! No Westminster Guild girl can afford to be without it if she would keep up with the newest methods and latest news from her foreign missionaries and her home mis- sion stations. Young Women's societies support the training class for native nurses at the Presbyterian Hospi- tal, San Juan, Porto Rico, as a "general object." Here are other suggestions : The "very latest" is to adopt boys or girls and give them a chance in life. Here are some choice ones with bright black eyes and black hair, with- out kinks ! All are short now but will grow taller. All are quite young and must be taught everything from bodily cleanliness to the care of 10 a family. Some are neglected little shepherds out on the lonely hills and plains of Arizona. The amount needed for any one of them is seventy-five dollars — the price of a scholarship at the Ganado school. Which will you have — Chee, Dade, Ebah or Tous-bah, Bah-he or Elthbah-he, Tasbah or Yashie, Nadebah or Nagebah, Glimpah or Ombah, Kee Lincoln, Kee Gunner or Kee Yashie? Any group or groups of young people, or any individual may apply. But first, pay the pledges on which we depend. Let this be an advance. Some Good Ammunition Contests for increased membership, advanced gifts, best programs, largest attendance, organiz- ing children's societies, finding leaders, increasing subscriptions to Over Sea and Land or the Home Mission Monthly. These are suggestive for in- creasing efficiency in missionary societies. A children's society brought to the treasury $16 as a result of going without candy, sugar, movies, etc., for one month. Try the little play "A Tale of Three Boxes"—- the candy box, flower box and mite box. Try using the boxes for "Happiness" gifts, or for "Thank You" boxes. Try a mid-summer "Christmas tree" with at- tractive picnic program, and gifts for your mis- sionaries or stations. An "Egg Hunt" given for the Light Bearers by a young woman's society in a country church, resulted in a closer acquaintance, fun for the children, larger interest in the assigned work (missionary stories were told by the older girls) and extra dollars for the work at Sitka, Alaska. Home Mission Week Plan early for a special service and thank- offering during this week in November. Special program, envelopes or mite boxes provided for the asking — plus postage! The Unit "How is it with me? King Jesus says to me, 'Jowett, I want you to be a well-equipped unit in my army. Give thyself to discipline and drill and make thyself fit for the field.' Am I doing it? Am I keep- ing my body under and making my body an efficient 11 servant for my Lord? Am I training my mind in clear and pure thought, in vigilant understanding and in swift and correct moral judgment? Am I drilling myself in the mighty exercise of prayer? Am I engaged in the even more exhilarating discipline of praise?" — Rev. J. H. Jowett, D.D. The Commissary Department For the Infantry Little Light Bearer's pin, .10 Little Light Bearer's certificates, .05 Little Light Bearer's Birthday card, 2 for .05 Promotion Exercises, .02 Letters from Ganado, Porto Rico and Alaska "What the Dimes and Dollars will do for Home Missions" For the Cavalry "Wireless Messages" C. E. Missionary Programs For the Artillery Letters for young women's societies The Westminster Guild Bulletin (.15 per year) Home Mission Stations — Numbers I and II (.05 each) The Westminster Guild pin (.25 and postage) Announcement folders For all Divisions Report of young people's work The "Home Mission Ladder" . The "Book of Samples" Announcement folders Text-books for study and "Helps" Plays, Impersonations and Pageants (see catalogue) Mite boxes, offering envelopes, pledge cards, etc., etc. Standard of Excellence (Wall Chart, .25) (See catalogue for full lists of prices) 12 Palmer & Oliver, N. Y.