Vvq ^ 5 o A Backward Look. * M rs. C. E. Bamford. * A^, /?, A review of the annual reports of the Woman’s Baptist Foreign Mission¬ ary Society oi; California for the last quarter of a <;entury, leaves the im¬ pression upon the mind that not all of the hard mission work has been done by our missionaries on the foreign field; some of it, at least, has been done by our faithful mission workers at home. This unbroken history gives us a glimpse of the labor, the faith, and self-denial of the pioneer women who organized this Society. They not only organized, but they carried the Society forward until it gained the confidence of tne churches, of the mis¬ sionaries, and of the Missionary Union. The formation of this Society was due, largely, to the efforts of Rev. and Mrs. Gates, of San Diego, and of Mrs. Thorndike Jameson, of Boston. The Society was organized on Octo¬ ber 14, 1874, at the First Baptist church, San Francisco. Mrs. T. Jame- son was elected president, but as she declined to accept the office, Mrs. B. S. MacLafferty became the first presi¬ dent. Mrs. F. M. Conro was elected corresponding secretary, Mrs. D. K. Woodbridge recording secretary, and Mrs. M. E. Wattson treasurer. Nine ladies were placed on the executive board, Mrs. J. C. Ayers, Mrs. I. S. Kal- loch. Mrs. C. I'. Davis, Mrs. C. P. Garthwaite, Mrs. A. R. Cogswell, Mrs. Heath, Mrs. E. B. Hulbert, Mrs. C. T. L. Dam and Mrs. S. Hilton. The founders of the society desired that all of the Pacific Coast churches should unite in this work, therefore an effort was made to secure the co-operation of the ladies of Oregon, Washington Ter¬ ritory and Nevada, as well as all la¬ dies in California who were not al¬ ready represented in the Society. Before the close of the first year, Washington Territory allied itself with the organization, Nevada sent an individual contribution, and the new Society was officially recognized as an auxiliary of the Missionary Union. The first annual report shows the work accomplished in foreign lands was the support of one Bible woman in Ningpo, China, and assistance in the erection of a building for the school under the care of Mrs. Arthur .and Miss Kidder in Tokio, Japan. The second year, Oregon joined the oganization and materially aided in in¬ creasing the receipts of the treasury. But some did not understand the aims of the new mission society. It is re¬ corded that a Baptist sister in Oregon had repeatedly stated that the mission circles were political gatherings, but after attending one of the Associations of the State, and finding that the cir¬ cles were working to save the heathen, this sister came forward with tears in her eyes, and said, “I want to do some- thing for that cause.” Then she made her offering, and gave her name for membership in a circle. For the first eight years of the So¬ ciety the principal work accomplished was in supporting native children and Bible women at various stations, also aiding mission schools in foreign lands and forming Bands and Circles upon the Pacific Coast. At length Oregon and Washington Territory withdrew from the organiza¬ tion, and in 1883 the California Society stood alone, a.s it had done the first year. It had long been the earnest desire of the Society to support a par¬ ticular missionary, who should repre¬ sent it upon the foreign field. On en¬ tering into correspondence with the East upon this subject, the Mission¬ ary Union requested the Society to as¬ sume the support of Miss Skakle, a lady already stationed on the Congo river, Africa. At this time, of the 107 churches of California, there were hut 20 churches identified with this For¬ eign Mission work, but a hoy was be¬ ing supported in China, a girl in Rev. Bunker’s school in Burma, a Bible woman at Swatow, China, and the So¬ ciety made itself responsible for Miss Skakle’s salary, at $500 per year. It required faith and also work to main¬ tain this first missionary. But for four years Miss Skakle was supported as the Society’s representative in Africa. Miss Skakle’s interesting letters were read in the circles and in other mission¬ ary meetings, and to help in keeping up an ardent zeal in regard to that far¬ away land. Miss Skakle at one time in 1889 sent the Society a box of African curiosities. Much interest was taken by the Circles in these mementos of “darkest Africa.” Especially were the ladies amazed when they saw the heavy brass rings worn as ornaments by the Congo women. One brass ank¬ let weighed two pounds, and a brass neck ring was nine pounds in weight Miss Skakle found four or five forsak¬ en black children that she mothered, and tried to Christianize, and kept from starvation. She proved herself to be a most faithful Christian mis¬ sionary. During the fourth year that she represented the Society, Miss Ska¬ kle married Rev. Mr. Billington, an English misionary on the same field. Soon after this ±t was deemed wise that the Society should sever its con¬ nection with Mrs. Billington, and send out a lady from this coast, to a coun¬ try nearer home, as China or Japan. It was with sincere regret that Mrs. Billington was given up, for all had become deeply interesteu in her work on the Congo. As Mrs. Billington died the next year, doubtless God’s hand was in this change of missionaries. Rev. J. S. Norvell and wife, soon af¬ ter this, offered themselves as mission¬ aries to China. After due considera¬ tion and much prayer these well- known and well-equipped missionar¬ ies were accepted, and in January 1889, Mr. and Mrs. Norvell sailed for China under appointment by the Mis¬ sionary Union, our Society pledging their support. A few months later, Miss L. Adele Phillips, of Los Angeles, desired to go as missionary to Japan. Miss Phillips was an earnest worker, and after taking a special course of study, she was sent to Senaai. Japan. In 1890, Miss M. K. Scott, daughter of Mrs. Dr. Scott, desired to join her mother in Swatow. Through the gen¬ erosity of our lamented Mrs. E. H. Gray, of Oakland, the Society assumed Miss Scott’s support, Mrs. Graj con¬ tributing the salary. Thus in less than two years, four missionaries were sent to the foreign field, and it was with gratitude that the ladies reviewed the prosperity of the Society. But disappointment awaited them, for in June, 1891, Mr. and Mrs. Norvell were obliged, on ac¬ count of Mr. Norvell’s failing health, to lay down their work in China and return to California. The return of these faithful missionaries necessitat¬ ed the making of new appointments. Through Rev. J. Sunderland, Rev. J, H. Scott and wife, of Washington, were secured as our next missionaries. The appointment by the Union was made in 1892, and they sailed for Jap an with the understanding that the California Society should meet the ex¬ penses so far as possible. For a time Mr. and Mrs. Scott were assisted in Osaka by Miss Phillips, who had be¬ come by this time somewhat familiar with the Japanese language Tne next year Miss Phillips became by marriage Mrs. Neitz, and tendered her resigna¬ tion. Miss Mattie Walton, of Washing¬ ton, was soon, in 1893, sent out to Os¬ aka to take the place of Miss Phillips. Miss Walton proved to be a most faithful missionary, a true helper of our other missionaries in Osaka and she was permitted to remain with them for several years. It was with the deepest regret that, at length on account of declining health, Miss Wal¬ ton was obliged to return to the Pa¬ cific coast. For seven or eight years the efforts of our Society have been concentrated, upon the Osaka field. Osaka is one of the most impo tant cities in Japan, and the reports of our missionaries promise as good results in the future, as in the past. It is be¬ lieved, however, that if the present work is to be maintained in that city as it is at present, a lady helper should soon be sent to assist our missionaries in their ardous duties. A review of the records of this So¬ ciety for the last twenty-five years shows that between $33,000 and $34,000 have been raised for missions during this time. The Society nas been in¬ terested at various times in from fif¬ teen to twenty different foreign sta¬ tions. It has contributed toward the excellent Home for missionaries’ chil¬ dren at Vashon Island. Tnrough the Bands and Young People’s Societies three Christian Japanese girls are be¬ ing educated and trained as future workers among their own people. One of these girls, however, graduated the past year, and is now assisting Mrs. Scott in Osaka. In 1885 the Bureau of Intelligence was established, Mrs. Cogswell, superintendent. In 1886 the Society was incorporated under Cal¬ ifornia laws. In 1875 there were but eight Circles reported, while in 1899 there were eighty-six Circles reported in the minutes, besides the reports of Bands, Intermediate Societies and Juniors. During these twenty-five years 162 laides have been made “life mem¬ bers” of the Society, fine Society has had eleven different presidents. Their names are as follows: Mrs. B. S. Mac- Lafferty, Mrs. S. B. Morse, Mrs. J. P. Cogswell, Mrs. C. S. Capp, Mrs. H. Huntsman, Mrs. P. W. Dorsey, Mrs. A. W. Runyan, Mrs. B. Spencer, Mrs. C. M. Hill, Mrs. R. E. Beach, Mrs. J. Sunderland. Two of these presidents have served for two terms each, name¬ ly: Mrs. MacLafferty and our present able president, Mrs. Sunderland. All of these presidents but one, Mrs. Capp, still survive. Other officers have been loyal and true, some serving the So¬ ciety for a long term of years; as Miss Clara Hull, who was recording secretary for seven years; Mrs. C. F. Davis and Mrs. Beach for three years each; Mrs. C. Thompson for six years; also Mrs. William Fraser and Mrs. Es- terly for a shorter period. The ar¬ duous office of corresponding secretary was also held by Mrs. G. S. ADhott for eight long years. Mrs. Conro held this office for four years, Mrs. L. P. Hunts¬ man and Miss Mary E. Bamford for three years each, and our present effi¬ cient corresponding secretary, Mrs. Bridges, for nearly four years. The responsible office of treasurer was held in a meritorious manner for thirteen continuous years by Mrs. B. C. Wright, who saw the funds increase from less than $500 the first year, to $3,814.96 the thirteenth year of her labors. This sum is the largest amount collected in any one year since the organization of the Society. The names of our three faithful treasurers since Mrs. Wright resigned, and Mrs. Resseguie, Mrs. J. J. Warner and our present worthy treasurer, Mrs. G. W. Fraser. Fraser. And what shall we say more? for time would fail us to tell of work done by the Associational and District Sec¬ retaries of the state; of the labors of Miss Lillian Berger, Miss Vickroy. Miss Minnie Ham, and Mrs. Malliet, among the Bands and Juniors, or of Mrs. Sa.wtelle’s, Mrs, Hill’s. Miss Ber¬ ger’s, or Mrs. Featherstone’s and Mrs. Coulson’s work as state solicitors for the Helping Hand. Then there is a long list of worthy helpers, whose names would fill pages, who have labored faithfully and have obtained a good report, some of whom are no longer with us, but are among the crowned ones, gone before to their re¬ ward. It is impossible to report all that has been accomplished by this Society, because much work done cannot be re¬ corded. The Society has had its days of prosperity and its days of adversity. What patient, faithful, prayerful hours the various hoards of directors have spent in planning, devising, letter writing, speech making and otherwise directing the work of this Society so successfully is only known by our Heavenly Father and by those in close contact with these ladies for many years. Time will not permit us to speau of the arduous labors of our recording and corresponding secretaries, of the numerous letters written, and long an¬ nual reports made out; or to tell of the treasurer’s headaching battles with figures, or to report the receptions given by our reception committees, Mrs. Gear, Miss Mary A. Ham, Miss Florence Ford, and others to our mis¬ sionaries or rue heartfelt prayers of¬ fered to our Heavenly Fatner during the existence of this Society. Yet twenty-five years is but a youthful period, a commencement. God grant that the annals of this Society at the mature age of fifty years may show much greater progress, and may the rays of the Gospel light have then penetrated into every dark corner of this earthly globe. Let us enter the next quarter of a century with a firmer trust in God as our helper and leader. For encourage¬ ment let us claim this promise as our own. “In due season we shall reap if we faint not.” Doubtless the workers of this Society will sometime rejoice with joy unspeakable, when in that heavenly land, they shall meet heathen souls washed in the blood of the Lamb, and saved through the in¬ strumentality 01 the Woman’s Baptist Foreign Missionary Society of Cali¬ fornia. 621 East Fifteenth Street, East Oak¬ land, Cal.