MI8C, I The History of the Woman's Auxiliary Given at the SECOND ANNUAL MEETING of the Woman’s Council of the Presbyterian Church, U. S. Kansas City, Mo., May 21-27,1914 By MISS JENNIE HANNA Published by Request of the Council been a tower of str£l*§j^N, iiQl^er department. Miss McGowan, of Kentucky, was made Se^fctarryT^and Mrs. D. A. McMillan Treasurer. The new financial plan of a somewhat inadequate budget apportioned among the synodicals and presbyterials, still required every bit of the skilled and faithful labor with which it was handled. This Assembly (1914) brings us to the end of our two provisional years. We are rejoiced that our probationary days are ended, and that we are to be accepted as an agency of the church “in good and regular standing,” and our maintenance provided, as are those of other departments, leaving our officers free to use their time and strength in the work of education and inspiration. Certain it is the Executive Secretaries have spoken with no uncertain sound as to the value of the Auxiliary to every one of their offices. Their sym¬ pathy and co-operation have been invaluable, practical and un¬ failing, a most happy illustration of the unity where there is “neither male nor female in Christ Jesus,” but the common labor of those who are “heirs together of the grace of life,” “striving together for the faith of the gospel.” This sketch is incomplete if it does not include any of the splendid results of the short life of the Auxiliary, but the time will not allow more. The Annual Reports of the Superintendent for both years, printed and distributed, give in barest outline the wonderful development of the eighteen months of its exist¬ ence, a progress in unity, efficiency and power to make glad the heart of every missionary woman and every lover of the Kingdom. Only those in close touch with the work can realize what the advance means, what a joyful promise it is of increas¬ ing fruitfulness in world-wide evangelization The results of these few months show to a marked degree the power of the Holy Spirit, without which neither administrative ability nor perfected organization would have availed anything. The out¬ look is a call to renewed faithfulness. The Woman’s Auxiliary will come far short of its high calling if it forgets it must be more than an organization. It must be an organism indwelt by life, the Life which is life indeed. We are part of .Hi's body and apart from Him we can do nothing. Our passion, likejaur Master’s, must be for souls, not forms nor machmeryn J3nly 25 /f- FOREWORD More than thirty years ago, when the women of the South¬ ern Presbyterian Church first began to realize the great need of better organization in their missionary work, a small group of women, scattered throughout the church, undertook to bring order out of chaos and began by correspondence the agita¬ tion which, finally led to the organization of the first Mis¬ sionary Union (Presbyterial) in the Southern Assembly. The moving spirit of this courageous band of pioneer women was Miss Jennie Hanna, a young girl still in her teens, with the divine optimism of youth inspiring her service. Though blest with wealth, social position and a wide circle of devoted friends, she was attracted not at all by the life of social pleas¬ ure which might have been hers, but was busy about her “Master’s business.” Every resource at her command was consecrated to the advancement of the loved cause of Missions. The story of those days and years will never be fully writ¬ ten. The hopes and disappointments, the joys and sorrows, the criticisms and misunderstandings make up a story of deep in¬ terest to those of us who are reaping, in our well-organized work of today, the harvest of that long ago sowing, so often done in tears. Miss Hanna was always frail in body, at best, and a physical collapse came in the midst of that early endeavor of years ago. The invaluable assistance which she has rendered the organized work of later years has often been given from a bed of illness and pain. Her Kentucky and Virginia ancestors united with her Hugue¬ not forebears in bequeathing to her a love of the South and a loyalty to the Presbyterian church that nothing could dimin¬ ish, while her keen intelligence and kindly tact have often won her a hearing from conservative ones who would not have heeded one less gifted. Fully realizing what Miss Hanna’s lifework has meant to the women of our church, it was a joy to the members of the Woman’s Council, at their Second Annual Meeting in Kansas City, to hear from her own lips the following interesting story which is published in response to their unanimous request. Between the lines the discerning will read something of that untiring personal service and unfailing prophetic vision of which the writer makes no mention, but which left its impress on the work of the Church forever. The History of the Woman’s Auxiliary It is a blessed privilege to see fulfilled the desire of a life¬ time. As she sees the Woman’s Council today representing the Woman’s Auxiliary, a systematized, efficient agency of the church, one woman in this church could almost say “Now let- test Thou Thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation.” About thirty years ago, after some experience in the missionary work of other churches having general organi¬ zation under intelligent leadership, the advantage and vast possibilities of such union among our own women came to her with an insistent voice that would not be denied. Mrs. Josiah Sibley, of Augusta, Ga., had the same conviction of our need and duty and in some way the Lord put these two, already in full sympathy, into personal communication. In 1886 or 1887, hoping to organize the woman’s missionary work of the church on an ieffective basis, the young woman and the older set out together upon an untried pathway, “not dis¬ obedient to the heavenly vision.” Very soon we learned that many other loyal women had caught the vision and were only waiting the word of advance. Soon, too, we discovered there were lions in the way, lions who could roar very loudly, and who did not always seem to be chained! But to falter or turn back did not enter our minds. Dr. Van Dyke says well “Cour¬ age is a virtue that the young cannot spare. It is better to make a thousand mistakes and suffer a thousand reverses than to run away from the battle.” Doubtless we made mistakes galore; certainly we did not run away! And we “hitched our wagon to a star.” Our faith was large enough to ask for nothing less than complete organization along the approved lines of Presbyterial and Synodical unions, a form of organiza¬ tion whose completeness and strength have been attested by years of glorious history. Did we gain our object? In a movement to bring the stores of unused ability, consecration, 5 service and money of our women to the work of the world’s redemption, were we gladly welcomed and generously assisted by the ecclesiastical powers to whom we gave allegiance? Not altogether! This is not the story of those early days, though it is well worth the telling. Some helped the movement nobly. Some regarded it as unscriptural, un-Presbyterian, unwomanly, adjectives not entirely unfamiliar in the church papers two years ago. Some church courts even overtured the General Assembly against it. Numerous records of such action may be found in the Assembly’s minutes of twenty or twenty-five years past, but in spite of adverse criticism there was a widespread co-operation, and. by the grace of God, the foundation was laid without which the superstructure of today, the Woman’s Aux¬ iliary, could hardly have been erected. We began at the bot¬ tom to form Presbyterial organizations. The Auxiliary move¬ ment found the Presbyterials ready and started at the top, ask¬ ing for a leader, an administrative officer. Mrs. Sibley, who died in 1898, lived to see Presbyterial Unions in half of our Synods, twenty being formed the first year, 1888. The apos¬ tolic work of Mrs. Elizabeth McRae, of Fayetteville Presbytery, stands out pre-eminently. Mrs. M. D. Irvine, of Danville, Ky., was another of our faithful pioneer workers. These were only two of the many who labored with tireless zeal in the same cause. The year 1910 found us with seventy-eight out of eighty- four Presbyteries and five out of fourteen Synods organized, but apparently no nearer than before to any general organi¬ zation. The thought had not been forgotten however. When the Presbyterial Union of Upper Missouri met in Kansas City in 1909, and the formation of a Synodical Union was urged, the logical union of all Synodicals into one body was given as a reason for hastening state organization, but so weak was the faith of some of us that we advised no mention of a general body be made publicly, if we wished to succeed. All over the South there were women of practical ability and faith who recognized the waste of power and opportunity because we were only scattered units, not utilizing one particle of the strength and inspiration of concentration of the forces. When the wave of enthusiasm swept over the country, as the Jubi- 6 lee was celebrated from the Pacific to the Atlantic in 1910 and 1911, when Women’s Boards of all denominations shared the conferences of experienced workers, exchanging invaluable plans for larger efficiency and realized the blessed fellowship, which is the bond of Christian unity, the Southern Presbyte¬ rian church was the only evangelical denomination in this whole country which had no central organization of its women, no comprehensive records, no accurate reports of their splen¬ did work. With a Woman’s Missionary society founded in 1828, a Young Ladies’ Society in Fayetteville in 1824, with only seven societies in the United States having a longer existence, with women of zeal and consecration who had labored grand¬ ly for missions, we had not one word of history or achieve¬ ment in proper shape to add to the glorious Jubilee records 1 Only the most vigorous search made it possible for the Mis¬ souri committee on organization to gather statistics as to our Jubilee offerings, so that Mrs. Peabody was able at the last moment to add to the record our gifts of $10,305. Certainly the time was fully ripe for wiser conduct of our work, and God had prepared his leader, as He always does when we are ready to march into the promised land. The granddaughter of one of our ablest pioneer home missionaries, with personal experience in founding missions among Slavs and Italians, Mrs. W. C. Winsborough, of Kansas City, grasped the full significance of the situation. All the spring and early summer of 1911 the ne¬ cessity of uniform organization under the leadership of one efficient woman became more impressed upon her heart. Final¬ ly one hot June morning, this busy housewife and mother, when the children were all off to school, dropped the break¬ fast dishes and wrote out “Some Reasons Why a Woman Sec¬ retary Is Needed,” which afterwards became tbe first docu¬ ment in the campaign. Some Reasons Why a General Secretary of Woman’s Mission¬ ary Work Is Needed in the Presbyterian Church, U. S. 1. That our women may be more thoroughly organized and along uniform lines : Every church should have its societies for old and young. Every Presbytery should have its Woman’s Presbyterial Union co-operating with it in its Missionary work. Every 7 Synod should have its Synodical Union, guiding, and build¬ ing up the woman’s missionary work of the state. In these meetings the plan of conduct should be the same and the dates of meeting consecutive, in order that the best speak¬ ers may be heard with, minimum expense. To be effective this must be carried on from a head office by some one who is devoting her entire time to the work, and who has a grasp of the whole field in its entirety. 2. That all records of what the missionary societies are do¬ ing and giving may be kept separate from other church rec¬ ords. This will enable its societies : (a) To plan intelligently an advance in gifts each year by asking an increased per cent from each society. (b) To know where we, as a body, are giving money and whether we are failing to give a just proportion to any one cause. (c) To compare the work of our societies with that of other denominations, and know whether we are keeping up with the work of other churches. (d) To make an accurate, not approximate, report at inter¬ denominational meetings. At the recent Jubilee Meetings throughout the country, the women of the Presbyterian Church U. S. were the only ones unable to give accurate re¬ ports on what they were doing in missions. 3. That subjects of general interest, such as the Woman’s Department, at Montreat Conference, may be placed readily and systematically before the Missionary Organizations and co-operation secured. 4. A Secretary of Women’s Work will afford a channel through which all the missionary organizations of the Church can be readily and systematically reached with the literature, study helps, and general missionary information, which inter¬ denominational bodies are sending out and which we are fail¬ ing to secure, through lack of organization. The request for the organization of the Woman’s Work in the Southern Presbyterian Church, comes not from the slight¬ est feeling of dissatisfaction with the ordering and conduct of the Missionary work, as now carried on. by the Committees, but from a profound conviction that the efficiency of the Wom¬ an’s Department can be increased many fold by more system¬ atic conduct of its affairs. Shall we believe that to her any less than Jeremiah came the Voice “Write all the words that I have spoken unto thee?’’ Without changing a single word, she sent the paper to Mrs. D. A. McMillan, president of the Missouri Synodical. Mrs. McMillan took it up promptly and energetically. She sub- 8 mitted it to her own executive committee, then to the Syn¬ odical presidents of Virginia* Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky, these, with Missouri, being the only Synodicals then organized, and received their unanimous approval. She also sent it to some of the officers of the Committee of Systematic Beneficence, thus bringing it to the notice of some of the men best able to advise and encourage us. Virginia, the first in Presbyterial Union (East Hanover, 1888, under Mrs. Sarah Price), the first in Synodical Union (April, 1905, under Mrs. J. Calvin Stewart), was the first again to fall into line. Mrs. Stewart threw her splendid energies and trained powers into the work. She wrote many letters both to pastors and to women and circulated typewritten copies of “Reasons Why,” helping to bring us in touch with some of the strongest work¬ ers in Georgia, Alabama and Texas. Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Dullnig and Mrs. Johnson are with us today. Many representative men and women had the subject put before them before any official step was taken. Mrs. Irvine again worked untiringly to enlist Kentucky, in spite of great physical handicaps. The Executive Committee of Missouri Synodical directed Mrs. McMillan, with Mrs. Winsborough and Miss Hanna, to present the “Reasons Why” to the Synod of Missouri. Synod met in Kansas City at our very doors, one of the special prov¬ idences which smoothed our way, and each of the Assembly’s Executive Committees was represented there. Mrs. McMillan was detained by illness, and she herself called that another special providence, as she said, had she been there she would not have consented to have any paper presented but the orig¬ inal “Reasons Why,” which would not have been accepted in that form, as we learned later. November 1st, 1911, saw two eager women with high hopes and courage, but absolutely without experience, attending every session of the august body. It was just as easy to reach the “men and brethren” as if we had had an ecclesiastical standing and the privilege of the floor; perhaps easier, for those busy men with weighty business before them, with committee meetings filling every moment between sessions, gave us with generous courtesy not only time, but practical advice. We met them individually at 9 any spare moment. They also arranged conferences at lunch time and listened to our arguments, presented with all the persuasiveness of a strong cause. Dr. W. R. Dobyns, who had already agreed to present the matter to Synod, told us it must come in the form of an overture—lesson number one, in proceedure. On the street cars on the way home Mrs. Winsborough drafted the overture, which was worked over the next day into the shape since so familiar : OVERTURE. The Women’s Synodical Union of Missouri. Recognizing with a deep sense of gratitude the work God has permitted our women to do in the cause of Missions at home and abroad, and earnestly desiring to increase their ef¬ ficiency in this cause, wish to call attention to the following facts: 1. Women constitute fully three-fifths of the membership of the Church. 2. A large proportion of the mission money of our Church comes from Women’s Societies. 3. The Woman’s Missionary Society is a very active agent in the education of the Church in missions and in arousing en¬ thusiasm and planning work. 4. Women, as mothers and teachers, are exerting the great¬ est influence on the younger generation. 5. The Presbyterian Church U. S. is the only orthodox de¬ nomination in America which has not its Woman’s Work uni¬ formly organized. 6. While the affairs of our Church at large are being con¬ ducted along lines of modern methods, the work of the women has been allowed to drag, greatly hampered by inefficient or¬ ganization, or none at all. Twenty-five years ago the first Presbyterian Union was formed. In this quarter of a century since, only five Synods have taken the next step and formed Synodical organizations, yet the efficiency of the State organi¬ zation is shown in the fact that the women of Virginia in¬ creased their offerings $3,000 in one year as the result of or¬ ganization. In view of these facts, and believing that our Church has failed to develop the possibilities in this part of her member¬ ship, we, the Woman’s Synodical Union of Missouri, ask that this Synod approve our intention to unite with other Synodical 10 Unions in an appeal to the General Assembly to appoint a woman General Secretary of Women’s Work in the Presbyte¬ rian Church U. S. The duties of this Secretary may be as follows : 1. To co-ordinate Woman’s Missionary work as now con¬ ducted in Synodical and Presbyterial Unions, Woman’s Socie¬ ties, Young People’s Societies, Junior Missionary Bands and Missions in the Sunday School. 2. To stimulate interest by personal visitation, and by dis¬ seminating information, and to increase gifts through the reg¬ ular channels of the Church, bringing to us modern methods that have been tested by use. 3. To organize the women into local societies and into Pres¬ byterial and Synodical Unions, under Sessional. Presbyterial and Synodical control, and to keep records and statistics of all women’s work for the purpose of comparison and publicity. Supervision. We desire this Secretary to work under whatever efficient supervision the General Assembly may direct, through its Ex¬ ecutive Committees. We earnestly hope this Synod will set its seal of approval upon this attempt of its women to increase their efficiency in the great cause of carrying the gospel to the world. Signed: The Executive Committee of the Woman’s Synod¬ ical Union of Missouri, Mrs. D. A. McMillan, President. Unanimously approved by Synod of Missouri, Nov. 2, 1911. Woman’s Synodical Union of Virginia, Nov. 3, 1911. All afternoon, November 2d, we waited for it to be present¬ ed—lesson number two, in patience. The Woman’s Synodical Union of Virginia was in session at the same time. We were most anxious to have the overture acted upon in time to reach them that night, so that they might endorse it and present it to their own Synod. The hours slipped away and it looked as if we should have no hearing that day. Finally Miss Hanna slipped around to a side door, called Dr. Dobyns out and ex¬ plained the urgency of the situation, and he by special privilege presented the overture, which was approved unanimously. It was almost time for adjournment, but the brethren were not too hurried to express some very cordial endorsement. With what joyful hearts we rushed to the Western Union office 11 and wired the whole document, Overture and Reasons, to Mrs. Stewart! We had no funds as yet, having paid for the necessary postage and typewriting ourselves, and that tele¬ gram cost $6, but we charged it to personal account! The Vir¬ ginia Synodical added its unanimous approval, but was much less fortunate than Missouri in getting the sanction of its own Synod. If an appeal was to be made to the Assembly there was no time to lose. Mrs. McMillan appointed Mrs. Wins- borough and Miss Hanna as official committee on organization and the campaign was on. It was called afterward by a well known minister, fair minded though disapproving, “masterly, comprehensive and systematic.” The Overture was definite as to the end desired; the wonderful working out of best methods to attain the end came step by step as God showed the way. All the initiative in forming plans came from Mrs. Wins- borough. Her broad grasp and quick comprehension of stra¬ tegic points were equalled only by her courage and untiring energy. Miss Hanna shared the consultations, carried the business end and divided the labor of writing the hundreds of letters, circulars and newspaper articles. Perhaps no two women ever worked together in more complete sympathy or with characteristics more supplementary of each other—anoth¬ er special providence. Behind all the hard work and problems was the constant proof of Divine guidance, marvelous and un¬ mistakable, a strength that never failed. The Missouri com¬ mittee little dreamed of doing more than starting the work. If they had known the way it would lead and the responsibili¬ ties that it would involve, they might have shrunk in dismay from the task, but the heirs of the King may well adopt the royal motto, “I serve,” for strength comes with service. Of course, a first necessity was money. Such a big task could not be handled In a small way. We had to use printers’ ink, postage, telegraph and long distance telephone liberally. To condense a long story, the preliminary work of organization up to the Atlanta meeting, February 9, 1912, cost $276.96. After that the treasurer, Mrs. Howison, took charge of the finances. The total to the lirst meeting of the Woman’s Council, August, 1912, was $504.22 Of this Missouri contributed $294.97, show¬ ing how heartily the women’s societies, especially of upper Mis- 12 souri Presbytery and Kansas City stood behind their own rep¬ resentatives. It was all raised through presentation of the movement to individuals, women’s societies, and Presbyterial Unions, never by public appeal. No debt was ever incurred. Sometimes we got down to the last penny, but we turned to our Stronghold and renewed prayer and effort brought in more money. We called up the pastor of a church in a neighboring city one morning to ask if he could not raise some money for us. He said, “Why, Miss Hanna, my women do not meet for two weeks yet, and besides their pledges are all made.” When the answer came, “But, Dr. Blank, we are asking for personal subscriptions, not society funds,” He replied instant¬ ly, “Put me down for $10!” This part of the business took much time, for the contributions were ordinarily in small sums. Only at first did we ask for large amounts. One wealthy bachelor elder was invited to give us $50, but in reply he said he “could not deprive so many others of the privilege of assisting in so worthy a cause, and so would only send us $5.00.” Another elder in the same church sent $10 with the heart-warming mes¬ sage, “I have never given to any cause more gladly than I do to this, and would love to make it ten times as much.” In the Overture we had stated our intention “To unite with other Synodical Unions in an appeal to the General Assembly,” and we already had the endorsement of every Synodical presi¬ dent. To enlist the whole body of women by Presbyteries and societies it was necessary to spread thorough information as to aim and plans, because women in masses are conservative and slow to adopt new ideas. Through letters we reached a few of the leaders, trained, broad-minded women, who gave unstinted service in writing to others, so our circle of the per¬ sonally enlisted grew rapidly. From Miss Lambdin, who had more complete knowledge of the societies than any other woman, we obtained a list of Synodical and Presbyterial offi¬ cers, so far as reported. Within ten days after the Overture was approved we had put it into circulation, with the “Reasons Why” and the “Nots” included. One of tlu irst things we learned was that we must guard carefully against misappre¬ hension, tell what we did not want as well as what we did.. 13 Independent existence and authority were no part of our plan at any time, so we stated in large capitals— We are NOT asking more AUTHORITY. We are NOT asking the HANDLING OF FUNDS. We are NOT ASKING the CREATION OF ANY NEW AGENCY. We ARE asking MORE EFFICIENCY through BETTER ORGANIZATION AND CLOSER UNION OF OUR FORCES. To many officials of the church we submitted this first docu¬ ment asking their endorsement. Each Executive Committee encouraged the movement by cordial official approval. To those Secretaries, to some members of the Foreign Missions Committee and officers of the Systematic Beneficence Commit¬ tee and some other prominent ministers, our plans were sub¬ mitted in frequent consultation. Never at any time did we work independently of the constituted authorities. Throughout the entire movement their sympathetic and wise counsel, always at our command, was practical and invaluable. By the middle of December, 1911, we had our first circular letter ready for the women’s societies. In it we told the steps leading up to the Overture, including “Reasons Why” and “NOTS,” outlined plans for further proceedings and asked co-operation. Through Synodical and Presbyterial Presidents we tried to send a copy to every one of our 2,600 societies. The list of officers was very incomplete—a proof of the need of general organization. No one knew which were the two unorganized Presbyterials—an¬ other proof! Some officers not in sympathy with us declined to distribute the letters, and those who did were asked to pay for printing and postage, yet twenty-one hundred of these letters were sent out! We realized it was a slow way to in¬ spire conviction and action and lacked the force of personal appeal. Early in November Mrs. Stewart suggested a confer¬ ence of leaders somewhere in the South. The Systematic Be¬ neficence Committee was to hold its annual meeting in Atlanta February, 1912. This was a God-given opportunity for our cause. Not knowing the machinery of the church we needed expert help. The Systematic Beneficence Committee had the 14 oversight of all the bene.ficences of the church. We were work¬ ing for a well balanced department of woman's work to in¬ clude all lines of benevolent effort. To go to any one Execu¬ tive Committee alone would give a one-sided support, but to meet them all together, with the Systematic Beneficience Com¬ mittee, would bring our work to the consideration of the entire executive force of the church, as represented by its com¬ mittees. We hoped Dr. J. W. Bachman, as chairman of the System¬ atic Beneficence Committee, could present the Overture to the Assembly, if approved at this conference. In the circular letters just mentioned, we urged our women to send to Dr. Bachman a flood of endorsements of the Overture so as to present a strong front to the Assembly. The women took hold splendidly of this new and difficult work, with an enthusiasm which showed how ready they were for the step. It was a delight to receive among our answers letters from many who had helped in the first movement twenty-five years before, Mrs. B. F. Hall, of Wilmington; Mrs. B. F. Brown, of Augusta; Mrs. C. A. Row¬ land, of Georgia; Mrs. M. D. Irvine, of Kentucky; Mrs. Sy- denstricker, now Synodical President of Mississippi, and others. Although the S. B. Committee agreed most cordially to our meeting them in Atlanta, the obstacles were many in the way of getting the women together. Domestic duties were pressing, the time was short—only eight weeks—the trip was long and expensive, the conference itself was in the eyes of others a daring innovation. The refusal of the Synod of Virginia to ap¬ prove the Overture made the position trying for the Virginia representatives, loyal Presbyterians as they were and always obedient to authority, but they saw their way clear to come. Every step was taken in prayer, wide-spread, united, contin¬ uous. The week of January 21st a volume of petitions went up from the women of the whole church. The faithful God who keepeth covenant answered mightily. Why should we ever “weak or heartless be, Anxious or troubled, when with us is prayer, And joy and strength and courage are with Thee?” The conference was held Feb. 9th and 10th, 1912, in the church 15 house of the North Avenue Presbyterian Church, the ladies of that church throwing open their homes with bountiful hospi¬ tality. Miss Hanna was kept at home by illness. Mrs. Irvine and the Tennessee representative were called home during the journey for the same reason, leaving seven Synods instead of nine on the roll call. They were represented by the following: Alabama, Mrs. J. B. Knox, Mrs. J. G. Snedecor; Georgia, Mrs. E. H. Phillips, Mrs. Archibald Davis, Mrs. J. S. Thompson, Mrs. C. A. Rowland, Mrs. W. M. Everett; Missouri, Mrs. W .C. Winsborough, Mrs. D. A. McMillan; North Carolina, Miss Mar¬ garet Rankin; South Carolina, Mrs. W. W. Simpson, Miss Leona Blake; Texas, Mrs. Chris G. Dullnig; Virginia, Mrs. J. Calvin Stewart, Mrs. A. M. Howison. These fifteen women of brains, consecration and culture, just the material for leaders of a great forward movement, repre¬ sented different localities and experiences, some much more radical than others; but the whole meeting was characterized by a wonderful spirit of prayer and harmony. Many of the delegates had attended the Laymen’s Missionary Convention in Chattanooga, and went from that to their own Conference, inspired by its Pentecostal power. Mrs. Wins¬ borough explained the history of the movement and its devel¬ opment step by step. Each Synodical gave its formal approval to the Overture and the resolution was passed unanimously “That the General Assembly be asked to give us this Secre¬ tary for womens’ work.” Realizing if the secretary were ap¬ pointed the Assembly’s Committee would desire the opinion of the leading women, the conference discussed many impor¬ tant points. Again the influence of the Spirit was shown in the clearness and concentration of thought, the grasp of de¬ tails to be worked out, making possible the accomplishment of more real business than would ordinarily have resulted from a month of discussion. It was decided that the expense neces¬ sary to the appointment and maintenance of the General Secre¬ tary be assumed by the women’s missionary societies for two years, and that not less than one dollar per year be asked from each society. We imagined fondly that every society would give, and that we could finance the office on $2,500, which 16 showed our ignorance in more respects than one I Mrs. A. M. Howison was made chairman of the Committee on Finance. Regarding the method of presenting the Overture to the As¬ sembly it was decided again to appeal for aid to the System¬ atic Beneficence Committee, since our women were working already under all four departments of mission work. A perma¬ nent committee to serve for two years, called the Advisory Committee, was formed of the synodical presidents in order of their organization, with the addition of Mrs. Howison, Treas¬ urer, and the Missouri Committee on Organization, Mrs. Wins- borough and Miss Hanna, Mrs. Winsborough being made chair¬ man. Realizing the need of diffusing very general informa¬ tion, the Missouri Committee was requested to carry on an educational campaign till the meeting of the Assembly in May, the Advisory Committee pledging themselves to meet the expenses. Mrs. Winsborough, accompanied by the seven ac¬ credited delegates, presented the request to the Systematic Be¬ neficence Committee. They were cordially received. We copy the results from the Minutes : Copy from Minutes of S. B. Committee, Atlanta, Ga. February 10, 1912, 9:00 a. m. At 10:00 o’clock the Committee heard the representatives of the women’s organizations. Their plan of proceedure was heartily and unanimously approved, and their requests referred to the Committee on Publicity to be reported upon at the meeting of the Committee in May. Copy from Second Annual Report—Bristol, Va.-Tenn., May, 1912. Under “Miscellaneous Recommendations” to the Assembly. (5) A committee of ladies representing women’s organiza¬ tions appeared before the Committee at its meeting in Atlanta in February and asked consideration of plans regarding a sec¬ retary of women’s work. The members of the Systematic Be¬ neficence Committee heartily approved of their plans, but un¬ derstanding that an overture is coming direct to the Assembly, we make no recommendations. In the three months remaining the Missouri Committee push¬ ed the work with all the energy in their power. With the old hymn writer they longed to “triumph well, to be a more than 17 conqueror.’’ Dean Stanley’s advice to these trying to work for God. “Never be dispirited, Never say, ‘It is too late,’ Never lose heart under opposition,” was timely for their emergencies, but the slogan of the whole campaign in every time of doubt, difficulty or discouragement was “The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth.” If it were His work it must succeed. If it were not, no one wanted success. As one secretary wrote, “No modern movement had ever spread so like wildfire through the church,” and the question of the woman secretary loomed very large above the horizon. The church papers were generous in allowing large use of their columns. Likewise they allowed the same liberty to those holding opposite opinions. There was never at any time or under any circumstances what might be called smooth sailing. Women as well as men, expressed vigorous dissent more than once; notwithstanding the Overture found many strong .cham¬ pions. It was an intelligent response to the declaration of the General Assembly of 1909, “The Assembly looks confidently to the women of the church for greater perfection of organization of their work;” it provided for all possible supervision, ses¬ sional, presbyterial and synodical, as well as for an Assembly’s Supervisory Committee; it was the logical development of women’s Presbyterial and Synodical Unions; it followed nat¬ urally the Assembly’s new plan of Systematic Beneficience; nev¬ ertheless, against it great theological guns “volleyed and thun¬ dered.” With Paul we could say, “A great door and effectual is opened,” and “there are many adversaries.” Following his example we tarried right there at Ephesus ! Of course any new movement is sure to encounter unfavora¬ ble criticism and severe judgment. Much of it came from mis¬ apprehension and partial information, but no matter how conservative the man, no matter how annihilating his disap¬ proval, he was almost without exception courteous. Indeed, we found many who were past masters in the art of being charmingly courteous while conceding absolutely nothing 1 Fortunately for the workers in the strenuous campaign, there 18 were occasional humorous incidents to relieve the strain. The titles of “limited pope” or “woman bishop” even yet are some¬ times heard, while it was astonishing how many far-sighted eyes could catch a glimpse of the cloven hoof of “woman’s suffrage.” The name of “militant ecclesiastical suffragettes” stuck for a long time to the Missouri women, but never was used again by any one who once met Mrs. Winsborough or Mrs. McMillan in their essential and gracious womanliness. Much literature was necessary to cover the various phases of the campaign. To remove misapprehensions of all sorts the leaflet. “Questions and Answers,” taking up many essential points, was issued. Another circular letter, giving results of the Atlanta conference, was printed and as the approvals came pouring in a leaflet list of them was issued showing the rapidly strengthening support of the Overture. Altogether the Com¬ mittee on Organization circulated 13,000 leaflets. Words of ap¬ proval from scores of ministers and laymen showed how widely the church was awakened to the need of an advance step. The close bond of fellowship among the body of able women to whom contact and oneness of purpose gave a new inspiration, education and courage was in itself worth all it cost. As the time drew near it seemed wisest to present the Overture di¬ rectly to the Assembly instead of through the Systematic Be¬ neficence Committee. It had been so widely read in its original form that it was not changed. From the Minutes of the As¬ sembly we learned the constitution of committees and names of officials. In conversation one day with one of our valued advisers, an eminent D. D., he remarked, “Now, it we oniy had a copy of the Minutes of the Assembly we could settle that question.” Instantly we handed him the Minutes from the ta¬ ble and his “Well, you women !” was eloquent. We had fairly lived with those Minutes for months. We sent the Overture to the retiring moderator, Dr. Rus¬ sell Cecil, who would be chairman of committee on bills and overtures, asking him to refer it to an unbiased committee. Also to Dr. T. H. Law, stated clerk of the Assembly. It is said that the way to learn geography is to travel. Certainly the way to learn church machinery is to try to become a work- 19 ing part of its organization. It is a liberal ecclesiastical edu¬ cation! We had hoped not to find it necessary to send Mrs. Winsborough to the Assembly, but some of our ablest counsel¬ lors advised it. It proved sound wisdom. There was anxiety in many quarters lest there be even the appearance of “lobby¬ ing,” but that dread spectre never lifted its head. There was instead a modest, cultured woman, asking no hearing, but ready to answer questions and able to correct misunderstandings. The Overture was referred to the Committee on Church Societies, of which Dr. J. M. Grier, that wise, gentle, thoughtful gentle¬ man, was chairman. He requested Mrs. Winsborough to ap¬ pear before the committee and, to violate no proprieties, Miss Sala Evans, one of our missionaries from Japan, kept her com¬ pany while she explained fully and clearly the whole scope and purpose of the women’s appeal. The great and needy field of women’s work, the promise of larger fruitfulness through uni¬ ty and system, proved its own best argument. The committee recommended unanimously that the Secretary be appointed. The official report is as follows : “In answer to Overtures Nos. 23 and 25, from the Presbyteries of East Hanover and Roanoke, asking that an ad-interim com¬ mittee be appointed to consider the whole subject of woman’s work in the church, we recommend that the Assembly decline to appoint such a committee and refer the petitioners to the report of the ad-interim committee appointed by the Assembly in 1910, which was adopted by the Assembly of 1911. (See Min¬ utes, p. 67.) “In answer to Overtures Nos. 18, 19 and 24 from the Presbyte¬ ries of Lexington, Winchester and Mississippi^ asking that a Secretary for Woman’s Work be not appointed and Nos. 16, 17, 20, 21 and 23 from the Synodical Unions of Missouri and Vir¬ ginia and four other Synodical and forty-one Presbyterial un¬ ions endorsed' by the Synod of Missouri and from the Pres¬ byteries of Columbia, Atlanta, Knoxville and Sewanee, asking that such Secertary be appointed, we recommend the following: “That the four Executive Committees be directed to select a woman possessing suitable gifts, who, under their direction, shall give her whole time to the work of organizing our women into Synodical and Presbyterial unions and local societies un¬ der control of Synods, Presbyteries and Sessions, respectively; c ">-ordinating Woman’s and Young People’s Societies now or¬ ganized; stimulating interest by gathering and disseminating 20 needed information in order that this mighty auxiliary in our Church’s life and growth may become even more fruitful of good than in the past.” J. M. GRIER, for Committee. (Assembly’s Min., 1912, p. 23.) We had gone up to the Assembly with the endorsement of the Synod of Missouri, all six Synodical and forty-one Presby- terial Unions, besides Overtures from four Presbyteries. Against us were three Presbyteries directly, two indirectly. We were prepared for a contest between the staunch and elo- qunt men lined up for and against the woman secretary, but in¬ stead, on May 20, 1912, without one word of argument, the Over¬ ture was unanimously adopted! It was a day of great rejoicing and praise to the mighty God who said “Before they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear.” The Bristol Assembly opened wide the door of opportunity and the door of responsibility as well. The work was really but just begun. Organization was yet to be effected. From the be¬ ginning of the educational campaign prayer and diligent search was made for the woman equipped with the necessary require¬ ments for the new office. Many names of able and consecrated workers were suggested, but one difficulty or another was in the way with every one. With the entire constituency to be edu¬ cated along lines of new and untried union, with more than half of the Synods yet unorganized, the work in both field and office seemed too big for any one woman without experience to assume. Mrs. Winsborough in her nine months of effort had acquired a more intimate acquaintance with the conditions, the problems and the working force, both in societies and churches, than any other one woman in the South. In the first critical months of organization, with the whole policy to be outlined and put into execution, it was evident her experience and abil¬ ity would be indispensable to the new officer. Miss Hanna wrote in June to the four-executive secretaries and to the Ad¬ visory Committee suggesting the field work in the early stages be turned over to Mrs. Winsborough, without salary, so that she might continue her service till the woman’s secretary could handle the entire organization. This was open to the serious objection of making two heads, one for office and one for field work, which was not at all advisable. Just at this crisis, Dr. 21 Chas. R. Nisbet, who had been a valued counsellor all the time, came to our assistance and cut the Gordian knot with mascu¬ line directness. He urged us to nominate Mrs. Winsborough herself for the office, when our plans were submitted to the Supervisory Committee and organization was completed. Not only that, he wired the suggestion to the Executive Secretaries and to every member of the Advisory Committee, and paid for the telegrams himself ! The request for her had come in before re¬ peatedly from a large number of ministers and women, but nothing was farther from her thoughts. With her family duties, it seemed impossible to carry on more work. To keep the office in Kansas City seemed an insuperable obstacle. But as Dr. Nisbit said, no one else could do what she could, she would of necessity have to outline and direct the work during the first months, and finally it was not right for her to carry the re¬ sponsibility in fact and not in name. For nearly three hours that scorching June day Dr. Nisbit argued the wisdom of the step and finally won a reluctant consent from Mrs. Winsbor¬ ough to let her name be proposed, a result which was joyfully approved by the Advisory Committee. As the Supervisory Committee wished to know the desires and plans of the Woman’s Committee before completing formal or¬ ganization, a meeting was called at Montreat, August 9th and 10th. Mrs. Winsborough had already studied out a definite and detailed outline of the essential points which the able women of the committee took up in two days of earnest consideration. First of all, of course, Mrs. Winsborough was nominated to fill the office created by the General Assembly. As the title of Secretary had never been satisfactory, at Mrs. McMillan’s sug¬ gestion it was changed to Superintendent. The name Aux¬ iliary was agreed upon, a constitution, a financial plan, and many other perplexing and important questions considered carefully. Next day the whole matter was submitted to the secretaries of the four executive committees in conference, ap¬ proved by them, and the Department of Woman’s Work, known officially as the “Woman’s Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church, U. S.,” was thus formally organized August 10th, 1912. The much criticised “Woman Secretary” disappeared forever. So did the disputed titles of “Union” and “Conference.” At the 22 suggestion of the Supervisory Committee the Advisory Com¬ mittee became the Woman’s Council, whom we honor here today. The following is taken from the Misionary Survey of Sep¬ tember, 1912: “On August 10, 1912, at Montreat, N. C., in accordance with instructions of the General Assembly, the Secretaries of the four Executive Committees, met to organize a Department of Woman’s Work. “Their action is embodied in the following signed report: “After conference with official representatives of the Synod¬ ical organizations of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, South Car¬ olina, North Carolina, Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, and Vir¬ ginia and workers from the other Synods, the Supervisory Committee took the following action : “(a) The official designation of the department of woman’s work shall be the Woman’s Auxiliary of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. “(b) The title of the salaried official shall be Superintendent, and her salary shall be $1,200 per year. “(c) There shall be an advisory committee of women known as the Woman’s Council, to be constituted as follows: “One representative from each Synod who shall be the Pres¬ ident of the Synodical Organization where such organizations exist. Where there is no Synodical Organization, the presidents of the Presbyterial organizations shall select the representative for the Synod. “(d) Temporary headquarters of the Woman’s Auxiliary shall be in Kansas City, Mo., and Mrs. W. C. Winsborough, of Missouri, is hereby elected superintendent for the Church year. “(Note: Mrs. Winsborough, by reason of her knowledge of the work to be done, was the unanimous choice of the Synodical representatives, and at a great personal sacrifice has consented to undertake the duties of Su¬ perintendent during the initial stages of the work.) “(e) Mrs. A. M. Howison, of Staunton, Va., is hereby elected Treasurer of the Woman’s Auxiliary and is authorized to col¬ lect all outstanding subscriptions and all necessary funds for the current expenses of the work. “No funds for the benevolent causes of the Church shall be sent to the Treasurer of the Woman’s Auxiliary. All such funds should be sent through the treasurer of the local church 23 direct to the treasurer of the Executive Agency for whom the offering is intended. “The following resolutions were adopted by the Supervisory Committee: “1. The Women’s Organizations of the Church are requested to make a study of the activities and needs of all the benevolent agencies of the Assembly and to make offerings for the support of each cause, the funds to be divided on the basis suggested by the Assembly, viz.: Foreign Missions, sixty per cent.; Assem¬ bly’s Home Missions, twenty-one per cent.; Christian Educa¬ tion and Ministerial Relief, fourteen per cent.; Sabbath School Extension and Publication, five per cent. “2. The members of the Women’s organizations of the Church are urged to co-operate in the effort to enlist every member of every Church in the support of the benevolent work of the Assembly through the “Every Member Canvass,” as rec¬ ommended by the General Assembly, and their co-operation is asked in the effort to arouse a deeper interest in evangelistic work throughout the Church. “E. W. Smith, S. L. Morris, H. H. Sweets, R. E. Magill, As¬ sembly’s Supervisory Committee.” Mrs. Winsborough was made chairman of the Council, Mrs. W. C. Fritter secretary, Mrs. Howison treasurer. To carry out successfully the high aims of the Council demanded wisdom to plan and strength to execute, as well as enlarged vision, and a new standard of consecration. Especially arduous was the work of the treasurer. To finance the auxiliary for two years, as promised to the Bristol Assembly, was a most difficult task, and one to which Mrs. Howison gave freely ability and service of the highest order. Not quite 800 societies responded the first year, and only her untiring efforts and the assistance of the Supervisory Committee made it possible to support the Auxiliary in the most economical manner, the administration costing three-fifths of 1 per cent. When the Council met in At¬ lanta, May, 1913, for its first annual meeting, there was only seven months’ work to report, the trying work incident to the establishment of a new department, but full of splendid prom¬ ise and encouragement. For the second year Mrs. Archibald H. Davis was made chair¬ man, relieving Mrs. Winsborough of her double duty. She has 24 been a tower of strength in her department. Miss McGowan, of Kentucky, was made Secretary, and Mrs. D. A. McMillan Treasurer. The new financial plan of a somewhat inadequate budget apportioned among the synodicals and presbyterials, still required every bit of the skilled and faithful labor with which it was handled. This Assembly (1914) brings us to the end of our two provisional years. We are rejoiced that our probationary days are ended, and that we are to be accepted as an agency of the church “in good and regular standing,” and our maintenance provided, as are those of other departments, leaving our officers free to use their time and strength in the work of education and inspiration. Certain it is the Executive Secretaries have spoken with no uncertain sound as to the value of the Auxiliary to every one of their offices. Their sym¬ pathy and co-operation have been invaluable, practical and un¬ failing, a most happy illustration of the unity where there is “neither male nor female in Christ Jesus,” but the common labor of those who are “heirs together of the grace of life,” “striving together for the faith of the gospel.” This sketch is incomplete if it does not include any of the splendid results of the short life of the Auxiliary, but the time will not allow more. The Annual Reports of the Superintendent for both years, printed and distributed, give in barest outline the wonderful development of the eighteen months of its exist¬ ence, a progress in unity, efficiency and power to make glad the heart of every missionary woman and every lover of the Kingdom. Only those in close touch with the work can realize what the advance means, what a joyful promise it is of increas¬ ing fruitfulness in world-wide evangelization The results of these few months show to a marked degree the power of the Holy Spirit, without which neither administrative ability nor perfected organization would have availed anything. The out¬ look is a call to renewed faithfulness. The Woman’s Auxiliary will come far short of its high calling if it forgets it must be more than an organization. It must be an organism indwelt by life, the Life which is life indeed. We are part of His body and apart from Him we can do nothing. Our passion, like our Master’s, must be for souls, not forms nor machinery. Only so can we exalt Him who said, “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me.” “He hath sounded forth the trumpet which shall never call retreat, Oh, be swift my soul to answer Him, be jubilant my feet 1” 26