sA\<2 V\ > ^ 333 , The Woman’s National Foreign Missionary Jubilee BY MRS. J. H. KNOWLES It is a wonderful story. From the far Judean hills we hear in it the echo of the Master's voice, "() woman, threat is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt." In 1S34 the Rev. David ,\beel, a missionary returned from China, first suggested in the home of Mrs. T. C. Doremus, of New York, that Christian women should unite to help the depressed women of the Orient. Mrs. Dore- mus's heart caught fire at once and a few eager spirits joined her in the attempt. But after the fashion then prevalent in China of destroying girl infants, this new-born creature was put to death by the "Parent” society, the American Board of Foreign Missions, because "the women were stepping outside of their legitimate province.” Nevertheless several in- dependent societies of women were engaged in this purpose, and twenty-six years later in Mrs. Doremus's home, in ISGO. the Woman's Union Missionary Society was organized, in- cluding all denominations. Hence this year of our Lord 1910 is the jubilee year for all woman’s foreign missionary societies. The work and opportunity assumed such magnitude that independent societies in the denominations were formed later, that of the Methodist Epis- copal Church being organized in Boston in 1869. Since their organization the Methodist women have sent over ten million dollars to the foreign field. The light has risen in America as well as in China upon "women’s legitimate province.” Following the ecumenical confer- ence of missions held in Carnegie Hall, New I'ork. in 1900, came the central committee on united stud.v. an advance movement that has done more, perhaps, to create intelligent interest in foreign missions than any other human agency. It is from this central committee, of which Mrs. Henry W. Peabody is chairman, that the call came early in the summer to the women of all the chiii’ches from the Atlantic MRS. HELEN BARRETT MONTGOMERY to the Pacific to unite in a jubilee of meetings, beginning October, 1910, closing at floodtide in Xew York in March, 1911. Some have said, “Can we possibly do this great thing in so short a time?” But having been faithful through the years in that which is least, they were fully equal to the great thing when it arrived. They did not need the months of preparation required by the Laymen’s INIove- ment. The completeness of the women’s or- sanization provided the ouly medium needed. The success of this jubilee proves that we can work together — Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists, Lutherans, Congrega- tionalists, Christians — every creed forgetting its differences and massing forces at the call of Jesus Christ to meet the need of His world. We must work together to prove our essential unity in Christ, to show to the uninterested women the power of our cause, which is greater than creed, and to lift up all together beaten and bruised womanhood and childhood of nonchristian lands. And this is the story of the triumphant march from sea to sea to the music of the herald angel, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” THE METHOD The essential features of the plan thus far have been a strong local committee of women in each place where a meeting is to be held ; subcommittees to attend to every detail of preparation, especial emphasis put upon the forming of prayer circles, with subjects for prayer outlined, recognizing that “everything vital in the missionary enterprise hinges upon prayer”; enlisting the coiiperation of the pul- pit, press and society leaders ; a luncheon, where the feast of food is simple and the flow of soul strong and impelling; preliminary gatherings in private houses ; denominational rallies and a great evening mass meeting: everything thrilling with the electric current of thought and action of this progressive age. THE DYNAMO The moving force of this extraodinary move- ment, humanly speaking, is Mrs. Helen Barrett Montgomery, and the missionaries and other speakers traveling from place to place with her. Mrs. Montgomery is the daughter of a Baptist minister, a graduate of Wellesley Col- lege, author of Western \Vomen in Eastern Lands and other books, a member of the board of education in Rochester, her city of residence. a brilliant lecturer on topics of social reform, a strong spiritual teacher and leader, a de- voted lover and servant of the kingdom of peace and righteousness. EESULTS THUS FAR The first meeting, in Oakland, Cal., placed the seal of success upon the enterprise. In San Francisco and Portland there were crowded houses, high enthusiasm and generous pledges of inonej'. In Seattle two thousand attended the even- ing meeting and fifteen hundred the luncheon and the spiritual impression dominated all. Denver, Omaha, Kansas Citj' and Saint Louis responded hej-ond all expectation. In Denver the local committee included the wife of the Governor, the sister of Bishop Brent, of the Philippines, the wife of a Methodist and the daughter of an Episcopal Bishop, a member of the hoard of education, officers of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and Young AVomen’s Christian Association, a vice- president of the AA’oman's Club and the ex- president of the National Federation. This shows the representative character of the com- mittees enlisted. The November itinerary in- cluded Saint I’aul, Minneapolis. Milwaukee, Chicago, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Detroit and Chicago. The olTerings in money thus far re- ported amount to .$400,000, divided among the various boards, according to the wish of the donors. The meeting in Detroit seems to have stirred the city to its heart. Cleveland had 2.2.40 at luncheon. AVashington, D. C.. 0 |)ened with a consecration service; 2.000 |)resent. followed by parlor meetings, children's meet- ings. a meeting of 400 nurses from the hos- pitals, a meeting of the Congressional AA’oman’s Club and a reception at the AA’hite House, the I’resident with Airs. Taft, re- ceiving. The expectation is one million dol- lars before this glorious campai,gn ends, al- though the money is second to the si)iritual influence in the purpose of the jubilee. COJIIXG EVENTS The dates of meetings to come are as fol- lows : Harrisburg. February 9, 10 : 1‘hila- clelphia, February 13. 11 ; Pittsburg. February 10. 17 : Buffalo, February 23. 24 ; Syracuse, February 27. 2S : Albany and Troy. March 1, 2 : Springfield. March 3. 4 ; New Haven. March 6, 7 ; Providence, March S, 9 : Boston. March 14, 15 ; Portland, !Me., March 16, 17 : New York, iMarch 27-30. PEEP.VBATION FOE NEW YOEK Mrs. Peabody met on Fridaj% November 11, a few representatives of various churches at the Murray Hill Hotel and gave the outline of what was needed to prepare for the grand cu'mination of the national campaign in the metropolitan center. December 2 a committee of women from all the denominations met at the Bible House to form a general committee of arrangement. Mrs. Broadwell, president of the Woman's Union Missionarj’ Society, was elected chairman ; Mrs. De Witt Knox, of the Reformed Church, secretary. A long list of committees was arranged, the presidents of the various boards and chairmen of committees forming an executive committee for general ad- ministration. Each denomination was in- structed to form its own “Group.’’ At subse- quent meetings of the groups subcommittees were formed and measures at once taken to put the .Jubilee, with all its good, bard work, its buoyant prospects, its grand and satisfying rewards, before the • women of New York and vicinity. Information, literature, prayer cards, tickets to be had at denominational headquarters. Herewith, then, comes the call. Awake, daughter of Zion, shake thyself from the dust of too many social engagements, too many un- necessary self-imposed duties, and secure your part in the coming festival. “For I looked, and behold, a white cloud and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown and in his haucl a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud. Thrust in thy sickle and reap, for the time is come for thee to i‘oap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth and the earth was reaped.” O, happy they who in the harvest time be- hold the ripened grain their hands have sown ! PROGRAM OUTLINE March 27, a. m. Quiet day. Central com- mittee, New York Executive, speakers. Chair- men of jubilee meetings, to spend the day at Murray Hill Hotel in prayer and consulta- tion. p. M. Pageant and young people's meeting. Metropolitan Opera House. March 2S, a. m. I‘raise and prayer, with definite objects. Calvary Baptist Church. Fifty-seventh Street, New York. p. M. To meet the pioneers. Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, Fifty-fifth Street. Evening. \Yilh the authors of the study books. Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Fifty-fifth Street. March 2f>, a. m. Conference of workers. Calvary Baptist Church. Drawing-room meet- ings. 1 p. M. Luncheon and addresses, at Hotel Astoi-. Evening. Missionary prayer meetings in all churches. March 30, a. m. Denominational Rallies. Places to be announced, p. m. Reports from all meetings and outline of future advance. Evening. .Jubilee climax, Carnegie Hall. Tickets for “A Pageant of Missions," to be held at the Metro- politan Opera House, on Monday afternoon. March 27th (Boxea $18.00 and $15.00, Orchestra Reserved Seats $1.00, Dress Circle and Balcony Reserved 50 cents. Upper Galleries 25 cents), and for the Missionary Luncheon at the Hotel Astor, on March 29th ($1 .75),*may be obtained, when application is accompanied by check, from Mrs. C. F. Hoffman, 620 Fifth Avenue, or through your own Vice-Chairman. The tickets for the Mass Meeting to be held in Carnegie Hall, on Thursday evening, March 30th, which are free (excepting the boxes, $1 2.00 and $1 5.00), are to be obtained from headquarters of Publicity Committee, Room 818, 156'Fifth Avenue.