f^ oreign j^issionary ^OQiety Op the QJbsip. 1671 1691. •V- '•^/Av. ^ TiJ^^iit^ Years' 41i8ton^ 4 —OF THE— Woman's baptist fToreign AAissionary Soeiety DF THE WEST. BY ffll^S. fl. ffl. BA60N, 09. IS. p. M. S. 09. Organized 1871, Incorporated 1873. ^63 <& , d>Oe 7 7>^-9fj y eops. I. "What thou seest, write in a book." It would be gnitit'ying to denominiitional pride if this brief rec- ord of twenty years could justly claim a priority for the Bai)tist sisterhood, as a general organized society for the uplifting of women in heathen lands. But such distinction does not belong to us. All honor to Mrs. Mason and Mrs. Doremus, who led in organizing the ^'^ Woman's Union Missionary Society," — the mother of us all. All honor to the three denominational societies which were doing a noble and successful work before us, and are now vieing with us in carrying the gospel to the w^omen of the East. Emerson tells us that *' the creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.; that Egypt, Greece, Rome, Gaul, Britain, America, lay folded in the first man.*^ So all the Woman's Missionary Societies, w^tli their wondrous possibilities for good, lay folded in the Union Society, until God had so shaped and molded events, so opened doors and broken down barriers abroad, and so stirred the hearts of Christians at home, that from this germ many kindred societies have been develojied. But if there were no cause bevond the desire to do as others had done, no one would justify the step we have taken. There seem to be potent reasons in the very nature of things. Women in all heathen lands are supposed to be incapable of receiving such instruction as men, they are not permitted to join in the public as- semblies; besides this, wdiere Bralinianism and Mohammedanism prevail, there are Zenanas and harems, which are the life-long prison houses for the w^omen, within whose vailed portals no man. save the master of the establishment or some favored friend, is al- lowed to enter. Woman must bear the gospel to those secluded in- mates or they will never hear its words of promise and of hope. Woman must visit the paddy field, and finding there a tawny, filthy woman, who would run from a male missionary as from a tiger, take her by the hand and tell her of Jesus and His love. She must tame the wild woman of the hills, and show her the Christ who died for her. Everywhere there seemed not only to be a place for woman^s holy ministries, but a positive need of them — an open- ing for women which men could not enter. The Baptist workers in the field saw it and sent back the call, send us single women, teachers. Zenana visitors, evangelists. But the call had come from above to many hearts which were in- quiring how they could best serve the Master, and He had given them ^'^ marching orders.^"* A few pioneers headed by Sarah Cum- mings, Eleanor Macomber and Ehoda Bronson had already shown how woman can '^ dare, and do, and die,^"* in the service of her King. But there were many others asking to be sent, and many more who would have asked, could they have found a listening ear. The women of the churches needed to be brought into touch with their sinning, suffering sisters in other lands, and to feel a broader sympathy and a deeper personal obligation to sacrifice time and money and children, to give up luxuries and to bear burdens, in order to carry the good news faster to the women and children be- yond the seas. But who should move in such an enterprise? Who could feel the need like one who had seen the dark picture and helped to give it some light touches? Mrs. C. F. Tolman, after some years of service in Assam, came home for rest, but her heart could not rest when she thought of the work to be done everywhere in idolatrous countries. Other hearts were burdened also; parlor conferences were held, plans laid, and approval received from the Executive Commit- tee of the American Baptist Missionary Union as follows: " We hail this movement as the realization of a ho^DC we have long cherished. The organization should contemplate the conversion of heathen women and the enlightenment and advancement of those converted, by instruction in schools and otherwise, as they have opportunity, thus providing female assistants in the missions. Be ready to move in Chicago as soon as we can mature the general plan." With this en- couragement other preparatory work was done. Co-operating with Mrs. Tolman, Mrs. R. E. Pattison and Mrs. E. C. Mitchell, of blessed memory, moved by the command of our divine Lord, who centuries ago had said, ''Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," were the first to give form and impulse to the thought of a Woman's Baptist Foreign Missionary Society. A call was is- sued to the women of the Northwest, a call born of prayer, of faith, of zeal, and of love for the hopelessly lost and utterly unlovely. An appeal was first made to take the matter into prayerful consid- eration, followed by an invitation to meet May 9, 1871, for ORGAXIZATION. This meeting was appropriately held in the First Baptist Church, Chicago, Avas called to order by Dr. Tolman, the District Secretary of the Union, was addressed by Mr. Knowlton, of China, Mrs. Bar- ker and Mrs. Tolman, of Assam, and was duly organized by the adoption of a constitution and the election of officers, and the work of sending forth from our homes and supporting single women, called of God, was accepted as a sacred trust. But we were soon confronted with the question of joining hands with the Eastern Society, organized a month earlier, thus forming a National Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. This suggestion met with little favor in the West, and vet it was treated with due consideration and de- liberation, and after a vear and a half the decision was reached to maintain a separate organization, believing that this field, which then embraced Ohio and Michigan on the East, and extended to the Pacific coast on the West, could thereby be better developed. But it was no easy problem how all this extended district should be reached. The ideal plan was tersely put in the first Annual Re- port, '' Until every church has its circle, and this circle embraces every woman in the church, the plan will not be thoroughly carried 6 out nor its full advantage gained/^ It soon appeared that the agencies could not all be concentrated in Chicago, so the office of State Secretary was created, and at the second annual meeting fif- teen chosen women were doing the work of interesting, instruct- ing, stimulating and organizing auxiliaries in as many States. This was believed to have partially answered the question, " how can we reach every woman in all the Baptist churches of the North- west?" In the third year another wheel was made within a wheel, and Associational Secretaries were appointed. Following these ap- pointments, there grew up a thought that each State might be brought into closer bonds by the organization of State Societies, auxiliary to the general Society. Wisconsin, under the leader- ship of Mrs. Major Robert, was the first to carry into successful operation this plan and was thoroughly organized in 1877, adopting as a marked feature the two ideas of advancing by direct effort the work of the Missionary Union, and of meeting all the state ex- penses by a special fund. Michigan and Iowa soon followed, and Ohio still later. Associational Societies and city Quarterlies have been added and proved useful agencies. In 1875 the territory of the Society was diminished by the with- drawal of the regions beyond the Rocky Mountains which consti- tuted the Pacific Coast Society. This has, however, been subdi- vided, and after several changes, Washington was restored to its former auxiliaryship to the Society of the West, which it now maintains. Idaho and British Columbia have also joined this Society. CIRCLES, BAiq"DS, GUILDS. It was felt that every church, however small, and every individ- ual, however humble, should have a share in this work, and that there should be some simple organization auxiliary to the general Society in every Baptist church in the Northw^est, doing a united and harmonious work for the communication of Christ's gospel to the women of heathendom. A constitution for auxiliaries was pre- pared and the name ''Circle" proposed for such auxiliaries. The First Church, Chicago, led; city, suburban, and country churches followed, and at the first year's close, we find organizations in ten States. It is worthy of note that of the one hundred and thirty- one Circles then reported there ^vas one each in the Indian Terri- tory and Washington Territory. At the close of the second year, the number of Circles was nearly doubled and fourteen States were enlisted. It was said that nothing had ever so stirred the hearts of the women, and men too, as this new organization. The Circle meetings were full of rich and blessed experiences. The hearts tliat extended their sympathy and sent their offerings to the Ori- ent, by no means forgot the Occident, but were quickened in every department of service for their King. In many places the Circle was the life of the church, but of some we were obliged to say ^*ye did run well." As the years went by they became weary in well- doing or dif^heartened by loss of leaders, so that in the sixth year we find that two hundred and seventy-five of the Circles previously or. ganized failed to contribute. Notwithstanding such falling off there has always been a net gain in numbers each year; meetings for prayer and study of missions have been held monthly, bi- monthly or quarterly in most places, and have greatly developed the latent talent as well as the activity and spirituality of the women of our churches. If the influence reached no farther than the church, it would be a benediction, but when we consider the souls that have been saved and the lives that have been blessed in pagan lands by these Circles, we can but pray that they may be greatly strengthened and multiplied. BANDS. At the first quarterly meeting of this Society, in the summer of 1871, the Secretary recommended that girls in the Sunday-scliools, either in classes or as a wliole, organize Bands with a membership fee of twenty-five cents. As Sunday-schools were composed of both sexes, it was thought advisable to admit both boys and girls into the Bands and divide the funds between the Woman's Societv and the Missionary Union. So far as we can learn the Cheerful Workers of Springfield, Missouri, organized in 1872, was the first departure from 8 the plan of working in the Sunday-school. In 1875 and "76, the separate organizations began to multiply and the contributions from the Sunday-schools^ as from the churches, were by common consent considered as belonging to the Union, unless otherwise ordered by the school. Those Bands which have made a careful study of mis- sions as a marked feature have been the most successful and the best sustained. In the seventh annual report the Corresponding Secretary says there is no more hopeful feature of our mission work than that the freshness and strength of the children is so largely engaged in carrying it forward. There is in it both potency and promise. To-day we find graduates from the Bands in our Young Ladies' Societies and in our Circles, doing good service, while the younger ones have been trained to fill their places. The Children's Bands have contributed to the Ongole Grirls' School, and very many of them have paid the expenses, year after year, of pupils in other mis- sion schools. They are increasingly helpful and often interest their parents in what so deeply interests themselves. We have now three hundred and seventy-one of these bands for the little folks. YOUNG ladies' work. In August, 1873, at a regular quarterly meeting a question pro- posed for discussion was: '' How shall we interest our young ladies in mission work?" The matrons and the children had been enlisted to some extent, but the young women — both married and single — had failed to see in this new movement any call for their services. It was not long however before we found them joining the Circles or forming separate Societies; the earliest date furnished is that at Kal- amazoo, Michigan. In 1880, a committee was appointed by the Board to open correspondence Avith young ladies, and many were the sweet and stirring letters written by the chairman, Mrs. E. W. Brayman, which awakened a widespread interest. To concentrate this interest, the support of the Ongole Girls' School was committed to the young ladies, a separate department was given them in the Helping Hand, and in 1884 they participated in the exercises of the Annual Meeting for the first time. This public recognition did much to increase the interest, and Young Ladies' Bands were rapidly multiplied. But there was a lack of unity, detiniteness and inspiration. As Mrs. Brayman has it, *^ something was needed to awaken a more intelligent interest, to inspire a nobler enthusiasm and secure a heartier co-operation, something in which Christian girls could invest themselves.'' This something seemed to be a permanent organization auxiliary to the Woman's Society, embrac- ing all the young peoj^le's societies. This was effected at the fif- teenth Annual Meeting in 1886, and has proved an inspiration and a power. Each year since that date the Temple Builders have had one session during the Annual Meeting, have prepared an annual report and maintained their organization in a way worthy of the Daughters of a King. II. AUXILIARYSHIP. As has been already stated, two Societies were organized with the hearty approval of the Missionary Union to which they were auxiliary. Their public recognition by that body occurred May 22, 1871, in Farwell Hall, Chicago, during the session of the National Anniversaries. Mrs. Gardner Colby, President of the Eastern Society, and Mrs. Robert Harris, President of the Western, repre- sented the two Societies, and Dr. E. C. Mitchell made a brief ad- dress in their behalf, which closed Avith these words of deep solem- nity: ^^ Here and now, forming an alliance for Christ and Christ's work, with a Christly self-denial and sacrifice, we would pledge our- selves to give for Christ, to do service for Christ, to live for Christ and in this work perform, as far as we shall be able, all that is im- plied in woman's work for women in heathen lands." Dr. M. B. Anderson, the Union's President, gracefully accepted these helpers in the Lord, and we were declared auxiliaries to that venerable body. It may be well here to state the conditions of this relation, as 10 stij^ulated by the Executive Committee of the Union. The ap- pointment and distribution of laborers, fixing their salaries, the ap- propriation of funds for their support, and the direction of their work in foreign fields should be the duty of the committee, while ours was the task of awakening, by suitable means, a missionary spirit in the women of our churches, and inducing them to con- tribute regularly to the treasury for the support of female (and other) laborers in the foreign fields, who seek especially the relig- ious, the mental and the social elevation of woman. The consti- tution then adopted declares that the object shall be the elevation and Christianization of women in foreign lands, which shall be ac- complished by seeking out and recommending to the Executive Committee of the Union suitable women for missionaries; to raise money for their support and for native teachers and Bible AVomen, which shall be paid through the treasury of the Union. Much was said in those early days to guard against this Society becoming the exclusive channel for women's contributions to foreign missions, to so direct the development of this new work, that however earnestly woman should plead for woman, she should not forget that humanity is broader than womanhood, that the work of this Society is only a part of the foreign missionary Avork, and that the claims of the new Society should be met '^'^not by diminishing other gifts, but by saving the amount from ordinary and useless expenses. ''' Nor were these instructions and exhortations confined to the earlier days. At the ninth Annual Meeting the President and the Cor- responding Secretary emphasized the importance not only of keep- ing step with the Union but of being in truth what Dr. Murdock named them — " Helping Hands, members of one body, organically one, though having a separate management.'' In 1887, at the re- quest of the Executive Committee to advocate weekly giving, this Society promised to co-operate with the committee in bringing about a much needed reform in methods of giving, and to encour- age all Circles while canvassing for their own specific work to can- vas at the same time for the Union among the church members at large, siihject to the approval of the pastors. Whether the pastors 11 or the women are responsible for the indifferent success of this ef- fort to help, we are unable to state authoritatively. In the year 1889, a still farther declaration of fealty was made in a proposition to send all the requests for filling vacancies in the foreign field to the committee at one time, to make vigorous efforts to increase the giving, both to our own treasury and to the Union, and to pay over to the Union, undesignated, any balance above $200 that we may have in our treasury from year to year. THE ADVANTAGES OF AUXILIARYSHIP. The aims of the Woman^s Society are in line with those of the Missionary Union, the fields are the same, and the end — the evangel- ization of the heathen and the glory of God — are the same. The prosperous plant, and the necessary agencies of the older Society made it possible to enter upon the work; in short, >ve entered upon a peculiar iiilieritance embracing not merely the facilities for mission- ary work, but a share in the past history, in the successes and tri- umphs which had been achieved. Once on the field, our mission- aries find the work already established; they often find homes in the families of missionaries and such helps as their inexperience de- mands — in oversight of the work, help in building school houses, dwellings, boats, and a readiness to bear the heavier burdens. On the other hand our workers have proved efficient allies and have not only carried forward their own work, but have nobly stood in the breach and borne the responsibilities of the mission when they have been left alone at a station. This relation, then, secures unity and economy in administra- tion, a due proportion in the various branches of work abroad, har- mony in planning and efficiency in executing. It secures for the Missionary Union a measure of moral and pecuniary support which could be obtained by no other agency, while it lifts the weightier burdens from the AVoman's Society, and gives it prestige and power. A work so remote — with half the globe's circumference between us and our field — could not be conducted by an independent Woman's Society. After twenty years' experience the wisdom of this metliod becomes more and more apparent. 12 III. HOME AVORKERS. The Lord giveth the Word; The womeu that publish the tidings are a great host. — Psa. 68:11. It may not be amiss to summon before us in this twenty YEAKS^ HISTORY the host of womeu who during these years have labored and prayed and sacrificed that they might help carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. The organization of this Society was an ins2:)iration to the dormant possibilities and unused ener- gies of Christian women^ and many hearts were stirred to the very depths; many gifts came from deepest penury as well as from homes of plenty. The first oifering outside of Chicago came from an In- dian woman; the Swedish women have given many remarkable in- stances of self-denial; the Germans have joined with true Christly devotion in the work, and the colored sisters have exhibited their wonted zeal in sending the gosjoel to the Dark Continent. Many a woman whose deeds are recorded on high has worn a *^ faded gown" that she might send the living gospel to Burma; has dispensed with a cook that she might support a Bible Woman in China; has brought the fruit of her needle an oifering unto the Lord; has sent the product of her toil-hardened hand, or her weary brain, to preach Christ crucified in the Orient. These, all unnamed here, will be star- crowned yonder. OFEICERS. • It is worthy of record here that of those who took the initia- tive in this work — Mrs. Robert Harris, the first President, Mrs. C. F. Tolman, first Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. A. M. Bacon, first Recording Secretary, Mrs. S. M. Osgood, first Treasurer, and Miss A. L. Stevens, first missionary, are, at the close of the second decade, all heartily interested and earnestly and actively engaged in the work of missions. Mrs. Harris acted as President with rare tact and energy for eight years, giving time and money and influ- ence unsparingly; Mrs. H. M. Robert succeeded, giving one year of 13 * faithful service, and onr present devoted President, Mrs. A. J. Howe, has held the ofHce eleven years, faithfully discharging the duties of that oftice and presiding at the monthly Board meetings, in which she has been ably assisted by the first Vice-President, Mrs. L. Everingham. Mrs. E. W. Brayman was appointed Recording Secretary in 1872, which office she has filled with marked faithfulness and abil- ity for nineteen years. She was a member of the first Publication Committee, and has continued a member of it for twenty years, and has been the western editor of the Helping Hand fifteen years. Mrs. C. F. Tolman, the first Corresponding Secretary, served four years in the formative state of the Society. Her pen-strokes touched many hearts and won them^ to the work, and her words of enthusiasm stirred the most indifferent. Her watchword was ENLARGEMENT, licr aim to enlist every Baptist woman at home, and enter every open door abroad. Mrs. A. M. Bacon presided at the meeting for organization, was then appointed Recording Secretary, which office she held only six months, she was the corresponding editor of the Helping Hand for four years, and at the same time Associate Corresponding Sec- retary. Mrs. Tolman declined re-election at the close of the fourth year (1875) when Mrs. Bacon assumed the entire duties of the office. In 1883, Miss A. L. Stevens, with health partially restored, was transferred from the foreign to the home department and appointed Assistant Secretary. She took charge of the Society's literature, visited churches and corresponded with Circles. For eight years she has received guests at our headquarters and done all in her power to make it attractive and helpful to our constituency. Dr. C. H. Daniells having had experience as State Secretary in Michigan and as missionary in China, was appointed Home Corres- ponding Secretary in the fall of 1888. To this work she brought her best thought and strength for nearly two years. In August, 1890, she was succeeded by Mrs. S. C. Wliite, who is now associa- ted with Mrs. Bacon in the aim, still unfulfilled, to kindle in every heart from Ohio to Washington, from Minnesota to Missouri, the 14 fire of enthusiasm for the work authorized by the Great Commis- sion, and to win trophies for the King of kings in the ends of the earth. Five able Treasurers have counted down the twenty years, di- viding the time, with an eye to mathematical exactness, almost equally between them. Mesdames Osgood, Blackall and Smith, and Misses Haigh and Eanney have patiently toiled with long col- umns of figures and reported receipts and disbursements with strict exactness. The Executive Board, consisting first of thirteen, now of nine- teen members, have met monthly or semi-monthly for the transac- tion of business. They have borne heavy responsibilities and met grave emergencies, seeking always wisdom and guidance from Him who giveth liberally and upbraideth not. There are others who have stood in the forefront of the battle and met unnumbered obstacles face to face, who have organized the work, seen it undone and organized it again, who have shunned not to present the claims of the millions of lost souls to the women of this generation, and have pressed home personal responsibility upon the women of our churches — these are our faithful State Sec- retaries, Vice-Presidents and Associational Secretaries. Among those who have served this Society longest we may without invidi- ous coanparison mention the ever vigilant Mrs. Randall, who has for fifteen years served as Vice-President in Minnesota. Mrs. Swegies, fruitful in expedients, for over fourteen years State Secre- tary in Michigan; Miss Craven, the untiring worker, for nearly fourteen years a State Secretary in Indiana and Ohio; Mrs. Lan- sing, wise in planning and prompt in executing, eleven years in Wisconsin. The pains-taking Mrs. Hance and earnest Mrs. Camp- bell have filled up the scripture number for completeness — seven years in faithful sowing and glad reaping in Minnesota and Iowa. Miss Ella E. King has completed her sixteen years as Secretary of Clinton Association, Ohio, which is the longest time of service in that capacity on record. Others, with fewer years behind them, and we trust with many more before them, are serving with equal fidelity and equal success in the Home Department. 15 IV. EDUCATION. Dr. Dean, in writing for one or more single ladies for Bankok, said: "Will you speak to the churches and speak to God in our behalf?" Our constitution provides for the diffusion of missionary intelligejice among the women of the churches, and this may be said to have been a marked feature of our work. At the very first Board meeting a Publication Committee was appointed and in- structed to prepare circulars and articles for the press, and from that time to the present it has been speaking to the churches not only for Dr. Dean, but for all who have asked for our help in evan- gelizing the heathen. Articles setting forth the purpose of the Soci- ety appeared in The Standard and soon in our other Baptist papers. The Helping Hand, first as an annex to the Missionary Magazine, then as half of the Macedonian, and finally the whole of it, was commenced March, 1872. Following that, the Little Helpers and the King's Messengers for the young appeared. Leaflets, instruct- ive, hortative, poetical, i)ractical, amusing, descriptive and bio- graphical have been added as the work demanded them. Mrs. H. M. Robert, aiming at a systematic missionary education for the en- tire church, prepared a series of leaflets on India, with directions for their study. Then followed our ^'Studies in Baptist Missions,'' the pains-taking work of Mrs. J. A. Smith and Miss N. 0. Pat- rick, which cover all the mission fields down to the date of their preparation. These are followed by a series of band lessons just issued. Among the educational agencies we must not fail to mention the addresses of missionaries who have attended public meetings, visited churches, and in every possible way made present and vivid the hel2)less, hopeless condition of the heathen, and the transforming power of divine grace in their hearts and lives. The Society first held its meetings quarterly and always in Chicago. But other cities and towns needed this educating influence and in 1873 invitations were accepted and meetings held outside of the birth 16 place; in 1877, the annual meeting was first held in another city. Missionary mass meetings were held in many places, associations and conventions accorded a place to woman^s work in missions, and thus the work of education went on. Quarterly meetings were dis- continued in 1879, and more general attendance at other meetings provided for. V. THE TREASURY. "When we go in unto the King and he says, ' what is thy petition, and what is thy request?' we ought to know on what errand we have come, to order our cause before Him and to open our mouths with arguments." The word of God is very full and very explicit in its teachings regarding giving. The offerings to the Lord should be the first fruits; they should be the best, that is, without blemish; they should be given cheerfully, freely, systematically and proportionately, and when so given we have the promise, give and it shall be given unto you, so has the giver laid up treasure in heaven. With this thought the treasury is not merely a motive power in missions, but a meas- ure of the spiritual life of the church and a test of loyalty to Christ. The membership fee of this Society was fixed at two cents a week, recognizing the apostolic plan of weekly giving, and thereby putting it within the power of every woman to become a member. Twenty-five dollars constitutes a life member. Mrs. R. E. Patti- son, in a paper read before the Society soon after its organization, said: ^^ At this early period of our organization, methods of rais- ing money have not been matured and tested. The two cents a week contribution commends itself, as it enables all to give some- thing. Besides the annual and life memberships and individual free-will offerings, we hope many a Society will assume the support of a missionary or a native assistant, each organization devising plans agreeable to itself for raising the requisite funds. ^' Plans since developed have been various; collecting by means of 17 solicitors who present the subject to every woman in the church, envelopes for monthly giving, lay-by envelopes for weekly giving, mite boxes, thank-offering boxes, gift services and an-extra-cent-a- day offerings are among the "methods devised and prosecuted with varying success. At the close of the first year the receipts were $4,244.09, and a balance of $977.10 carried over to the new account. The second year the receipts advanced to $0,390.88. There was a steady gain each year until the sixth, when we note a slight falling off. Each succeeding year up to the tenth there was a commendable gain. Here we, for the first time, closed the year with a deficit, $773.04. A committee was immediately appointed to devise a plan by which this unaccustomed burden could be lifted and before the annual meeting closed all obligations were happily cancelled. During the last decade, the receipts increased up to the eigh- teenth year, when there was quite a marked falling off. In 1884, a de- ficit was reported which was covered during the annual meeting or soon after. In 1885 a like disaster was saved by a special divine inter- position. On the first of March we needed $11,800 to cover the sched- ule of approj^riations. This was alarge amount to raise in one month. In our extremity we appointed a day of special prayer for the treiis- ury, closed the rooms and all gave themselves to asking of the Lord a gracious deliverance. The day following this meeting $1,500 were entered on the books, and each succeeding day lightened the burden, until March 31, when the schedule was covered, all de- mands met, and prayer an^swered to the glory of God. After this blessed experience could we ever again ^Hrust in chariots be- cause they are many, and in horsemen because they are very strong?" In 1880 there was a small deficit, in the two years following a large balance to our credit. In 1889 again a deficit, and in 1890, the largest we had known and one that was depressing in its influence during the year. Special effort was made to raise it. A letter was sent to the Cir- cles asking them to observe a week of conscientious self-denial. This plan was quite generally adopted and resulted in raising $3,208.78, and in quickening the zeal of very many, but the debt was not wholly cancelled. As ten missionaries were added to our working 18 force abroad the expenditures were correspondingly increased, and many calls for help were laid over. In onr distress we called upon the Lord and cried unto our God, and He delivered us. He sent to our treasury during the month of March $14,787.54, which left us with a comparatively small deficit. SPECIAL FUI^DS. In 1875, the Society ordered the raising of a special building fund of $2,000 for the purpose of erecting school houses in Gou- hati, Henzada and Ramapatam, which was secured during the year. Michigan planned and raised a hospital fund for use in Swatow which has reached nearly two thousand five hundred dollars. This has all been contributed in small sums and given largely by Sunday-school children. Another special fund of $2,000 was ordered by the Society in 1885 to be raised, invested, and the interest used for the education of such candidates as had in view the medical profession. By the use of this interest and other moneys contributed for that purpose, six medical students have been assisted. With the exception of the sixth, eighteenth and nineteenth years, there has been an advance in receipts. We have had a deficit five years, and at no time have we been able to respond to all the calls that have come from abroad. A dollar from every Baptist woman would relieve the stress and burden and enable us to enlarge the place of our tent, besides receiving a soul enriching in all our hearts. The moral power of $60,000 from sixty thousand donors is infinitely greater than if given by half that number. Each giver feels that this is her work; her sympathies, her prayers reach out to the remote corners of ChrisVs vineyard, and the success of the missionaries becomes a matter of personal interest. But until this ideal is rea^ihed we shall need the tens and hundreds from all who can bestow them. We make grateful mention of the larger gifts which have from time to time helped the treasury over hard places; of the bequests which have carried on the work begun while living, and of the sal- aries furnished during the last year by our two sister societies — the California Society furnishing for one missionary and the Oregon for two. 19 VI. MISSIONARIES AND CANDIDATES. "Where was your father when my father was alive, that he never came to tell my father how to be saved?" said a Brazilian on receiving a copy of the New Testament. Mrs. Mitchell in her history of the first four years of this soci- ety, happily represents the missionaries who have offered themselves to the Lord and to this Board to go to the front, as writing their autographs in our album. Borrowing this convenient metaphor, we find that in less than two months after the unsullied pages were opened six names were inscribed therein. Alvira L. Stevens was the first. Over her autograph is written •* I go with joy, knowing that the path of duty is the path of safety,'^ and so putting her hand in the hand of the Master she went to her chosen, her long-desired work, not knowing that one short year would terminate her service ivith the dear girls in Bassein though not for them. Another month and other names appeared upon the pages. Lavinia Pea- body, Yirden, Illinois, among them. She wrote "1 have waited twelve years for this auspicious day.'^ She was appointed and went alone in mid-winter to the Telugus. She has labored in different parts of India, as a teacher, while a single lady, then a wife, and now a widow, having had but one return home in over nineteen years. The next name is that of Mrs. Anna K. Scott, already in Assam. Mr. Scott was not, for the Lord took him, and the brave woman who stood by his side remained to carry out his plans. Her support was furnished by this Board. Four more names are written on the pages of our Album before the first year's close, and who can say they were not God-sent? Miss Harriet N. Eastman and Miss Mary D. Rankin, of Illinois, left for Burma and Assam respectively in October of the second year, and Miss Maria Bronson, who had gone to Assam with her father, was com- mitted to our charge. Two years with six missionaries was a hope- 20 ful outlook, but a shadow fell. Miss Stevens wrote: ^' I must un- clasp my hands from the work to which I have given myself and retrace my steps." But God had another waiting to enter the open door in the person of Clara L. Baldwin, of Wisconsin, who wrote: "The mistakes of my hfe are many, The sins of my heart are more, And I scarce can see for weeping, But still I will knock at the door." The knocking was heard, the candidate was appointed. Misses Stevens and Baldwin met in Rockford, Illinois, where the invalid welcomed and bade God-speed to the one who was to fill the place she so lately left vacant. The farewell services Avere peculiarly tender and impressive, and another went on her way to carry the gospel light to those who sit in darkness. Miss Helen E. AVatson next inscribed her name, with the words '^here am I, send me."^ Though the treasury was overdrawn Mich-, igan was stirred with the hope of sending one of her own daughters and contributed for this obje(5t 11,500 and Miss Watson was sent to Henzada, Burma, sailing January 17, 1874. Before the year closed Mrs. Scott was obliged to turn her face homeward, and Miss Bron- son, after ministering by the bedside of her dying mother, on her way from Calcutta to Nowgong, lay down to rest on board the steamer and woke in glory. At the annual meeting at which Mrs. Bacon announced this sad news and said " who will fill this vacancy?" Miss Mary A. Woods's heart was deeply moved and she then and there gave herself with a complete consecration to the work of mis- sions. Miss Ella Gaylord, receiving appointment at the same time, was designated to fill the vacancy in Assam, but was married at Calcutta and never entered upon the work. Miss A¥ood's destina- tion was Nellore, India. It would be pleasant to trace minutely the circumstances at- tending the outgoing of all who during these twenty years have been counted among our missionaries, and have gone to represent us among the heathen, for each had an experience peculiarly her own, and each a call which she dared not gainsay or resist. Year 21 by year new names were written and liearts consecrated to give themselves, tender farewells were spoken, and stammering tongues were essaying to use a strange language and teach a strange people the way of life. During these twenty years, forty-eight missionaries have been sent abroad and the support and care of thirteen as- sumed, who were providentially on the field; five of them — the en- thusiastic Maria Bronson, after four and a half years in Assam; the richly endowed ^lary AVood Newhall, Avho gave three years to the Telugus; Mrs. Juliette P. Binney, at once the courtly lady and the meek and unassuming Christian worker, forty years in Burnui and six of these fruitful vears ourmissionarv; Orrell Keeler Mason, the consciencious, ardent-souled missioiuiry to the Assamese, to whom she gave with unstinted devotion thirteen of the best years of her life; Flora Lightfoot Lord, the sunny-faced and the sunny- hearted, eight years a teacher and a mother and an evangel to the Chinese girls in the Ningpo boarding school; these all are now " Beyond the smiling and the weeping, Beyond the waking and the sleeping, Beyond the sowing and the reaping." in the unveiled presence of Him whom they served. Of these for- ty-eight, sixteen have gone to brighten the homes of others, but in doing so, with two exceptions, they continued their missionary work; seven are at home seeking such renewal of strength as will fit them for further service, and thirty are now toiling under tropical suns looking to us for the support which our gifts can fur- nish and the uplifting which comes in answer to our prayers. But there are names, far outnumbering these, scattered all through the pages of our album, written with as firm a hand, with equal sincerity, consecration and oneness of pur2)0se, which have never appeared in our annual re2)orts but which form a part of our history. Where are the hundred and fifty who did not go? Did God see that there were too many to go against the Midianites and send back those who were fearful and afraid and those who bowed down to drink? Did he ask of them a willing heart to make any 22 sacrifice and then provide himself an offering as He did in the case of Abraham? Some of them struggled for years to acquire the requisite education^ until discouraged or worn out they gave up the task; some thought the requirements beyond their ability to meet, and ceased knocking; some accepted the adverse decisions of the Board with keenest disappointment, but have since done abund- ant labors in the home field which they came to believe was the work of God^s own choosing; some have been deterred by the op- position of parents; some have been detained by ill-health; a few have been transferred to the kingdom above, and not a few are wait- ing still. Nearly every State connected with this Society has some names in our album, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Minnesota each having had above twenty applicants. Iowa, Michigan and Ohio have each sent five missionaries abroad; Illinois and Minnesota, each seven. S.CHOOLS, BIBLE WOMEIy", MEDICAL WOKK. The work of our missionaries has been conducted by means of schools, by evangelistic or field work and medical work — a division not altogether correct, for the teacher and the doctor may be as truly evangelists as she who goes from house to house and from village to village with the message of salvation. No one has given herself ex- clusively to school work. Misses Eastman, Ambrose and Anderson at Toungoo have spent many hours in teaching sciences and in- dustries, and they have seen the fruit not only in a well established school, but in the development of Christian women who are making the desert blossom as the rose. In the same town Mrs. Cross, Miss Palmer and Miss Simons are developing the Paku Karen girls as effi- cient teachers in the jungle; the Maulmein district has been blessed by the faithful teachings of Misses Garton and Taylor. Miss Higby and Miss Tschirch, and more recently Miss Black, are widening their influence by training workers for the Pwos, and Miss Harris for the Sgaus in Bassein and its outlying, uncultivated fields; Misses Miller and Johnson did excellent work in Tavoy; Mrs. Hardin- Carson is doing an efficient work among the young at Thayetmyo 23 and Miss Wepf in Ilenzada. In India ^liss Peabody and Miss Wood established a boarding school at ]\aniapatani and Miss Kelly has managed a well ordered and well graded boarding school of Christian girls at Ongole for ten years, whose influence has been felt in homes where God is honored and in schools where His pre- cepts are taught. May we not believe that these girls have had a share in the human instrumentality which has so lately brought thousands of Telugus to the foot of the cross? School work in Assam has been jirosecuted with vigor by Misses Bronson, Keeler, Brandt, the Purssell sisters and Miss Amy at Nowgong, and by Mrs. Scott, Miss Kankin and Miss Sweet at Gauhati. All our missionary teachers in Burma and India, without ex- ception, have spent the dry season, as far as strength would allow, in company with their more advanced pupils or with Bible women in visiting from house to house and touring in the jungles. Among the Karens we had very few who could be termed Bible women, but the girls from the schools are free to do this sort of work. As the Karen schools are mixed, they prepare the boys as well as the girls for workers, lit them for college and theological seminaries, and so are raising up a native ministry as well as teachers, wives and mothers for the homes. In Ningpo, China, we have a most successful boarding school which Miss Lightfoot found already established when she wen^; out in 1879. To this she gave largely her strength until her death eight years later, when Miss Inveen assumed charge, and now Misses Corbin and Parker are at the head. It has been the birth-place of souls, the training place for converted w^omanhood and a base of supplies for teachers and for wives to the converted Chinamen. In Japan, where our work is new, we are just opening a school at Chofu, near Sliimonoseki, under Miss Blunt, which will be mak- ing history for decades to come. In Liberia, Africa, Mrs. Hill for nine years conducted schools for boys and girls with some fruitage. Misses Fleming and Gor- don have established two very promising schools on the Congo, where souls have been born into the kingdom. 24 There has been no subject in the conduct of missions upon which so diverse opinions have been held and diverse theories ad- vocated as this school question. Some hold that missionaries should not give their time to secular education and that missionary money should not be expended for the instruction of the natives, and others hold to the education of Christians only in the vernacular. Those holding opposite views pertinently ask where they shall get native helpers suited to the work and capable of teaching and in- fluencing others if they are not trained in mission schools, and further whether it is safe to leave young converts to the heathen or infidel training which they are sure to receive in a government school. These adduce in proof of their position the fact that many souls are saved by means of the school. As a Society Ave have not escaped the discussion. As early as 1874, these two resolutions were adopted: '^^In view of the need of teachers for heathen women and girls. Resolved, ^rs^. That we seek out and encourage young women in special preparation for this work. Second. That we seek to establish and maintain, as far as prac- ticable, primary and training schools for girls in connection with each mission. ^^ In 1875 some extra appropriations were made for the schools con- ducted by our workers. But two years later there seemed to be grave apprehensions that this department of work was receiving too much attention, and the Board declared that " the direct object of every missionary should be the Christianization and elevation of women in heathen lands, that the word of God was our reliance in evan- gelizing, that our missionaries be instructed to travel among the vil- lages calling together the women and girls to listen to the Word and receive instruction regarding the worship of the living God, that during the hot season, when traveling is impracticable, they form a training class of women and girls in which they may become qualified for Bible readers, teachers and helpers in the missionary work, that the gospel be carried into the homes and the Zenanas, and that our missionaries be instructed that their great work is teaching the gos- pel to heathen women." 25 Notwithstanding a repressing hand liad been hiid upon this department of our work, calls continued to come for more teachers; for increased appropriations for schools, as so many applicants were constantly turned away from this open door to a Christian education into the blank ignorance of heathenism; for school buildings and school appliances, books, charts, slates and maps, all accompanied with such potent reasons for the request that withholding them seemed to be crippling the work and tying tlie hands of the workers. The memorable discussion of self-support in schools brought this subject again to the front. The questions raised were whether the school should precede or follow the preaching of the gospel, whether schools for secula/ learning should be established by missionary soci- eties and supported by missionary money, and if so, whether children from heathen families should be admitted. The religious press gave much space to able articles for and against the existing school system, and a decided move was made in 188G toward the advocacy of a plan by which the parents should at least share in the support of their children, and that a larger per cent, of our appropriations should be used in direct personal work with the help of native assistants. The practicability of this plan is now being tested. Progress in self-support has been made and we expect still greater progress. Our Bible Woman's work, distinctively, has been largely in China and India. Misses Fielde, Thompson, Norwood, Buzzell and Hess in Swatow trained a class of women — mostly widows, who were unlearned and, humanly speaking, unpromising — to teach the Word and tell the story to other dying ones; God wrought through these women and enabled them to endure much trial and cruel mocking for his sake. Two new missionaries. Miss Mary Dunwiddie and Miss Mary K. Scott have gone to the work. In Ningpo Misses Inveen and Stewart are working along the same lines and are mak- ing direct efforts to secure voluntary service, and so to make ''every converted woman a Bible woman." These women receive instruc- tion in the Bible school which is fitting them for usefulness wher- ever they may be. Miss Elia Campbell will work among the Hak ka women when she has sufficient command of the language. 26 Miss Browne^ Mrs. Sliarland in Shimonoseki, Japan, and Misses Fife and Mead in Sendai, are developing a kindred work by women for women. In India, Miss Rauschenbnscli gathered, trained and directed a large class of women at Ongole who proved most efficient helpers and are still very serviceable in the villages about Ongole, though she is no longer there to direct them. The Misses Menke gave themselves largely to house to house visiting with a view to employ Telugu women in the work, and Mrs. Ellen Kelly who has so recently entered the work will visit in the schools and in the homes every- where, carrying the gospel message. Mrs. Hancock who has been stationed in Henzada, Zeegone and now in Mandalay, has engaged mainly in training Burmese women as helpers in evangelistic work for women and children and Miss Ulery has been sent as her associate. She has however been engaged in school work to some extent. OuK Medical Work was inaugurated in 1878 by sending Miss C. H. Daniells, M. D., of Michigan to Swatow, China. Here she did foundation work, erected two comfortable Hospital buildings, re- ceived and treated the native women, cared for the missionaries, made country tours with the gospel of healing for body and soul, all the while studying, as best she could, the Chinese language. When patients were many and the work well established, failing health compelled her to turn aside from her chosen work which she did with trust that He who had guided her thus far was still at the helm and knew how she could best serve him and the Chinese. She turned her face homeward in 1884 and left the Hospital without a head. In 1889, Dr. Anna K. Scott, having a successful medical practice at home, left all behind to enter the Swatow Medical Department which had long been calling in vain for help. The Hospital is repaired and the work, now fairly reopened, gives a strong right hand to the mission. Dr. Marie M. Cote wassentto theBassein Hospital in the fall of 1888, but before entering upon the work, she received a call to the Dufferin Hospital at Eangoon, and removed there. Though employed by the Hospital she visited the missionaries professionally. 27 attended tlie sick in the schools and is retained upon onr list as a self-supporting missionary. Mary C. Fowler, M.I), is now undjer api)ointment to the Bassein Hospital. STATIONS. We begun our work in. Bassein, Burma, and have since occupied seven stations with twenty-one missionaries in that country. Assam next claimed our attention and two stations have had the Christian ministration of nine of our representatives. Four stations among the Telugus have been blessed witli the faithful services of seven workers under this Board. Three in China have received the bread of life from the hands of thirteen missionaries; two in Japan have heard the Gospel from five who are still there to spend and ])e spent if thereby they may win souls; and in darkest Africa, three chosen ones have said "Whosoever will, let him come."' VII. « RESULTS. In a work whose results extend to the ends of the earth, into future centuries, into eternity, it is vain to take a fraction here and there and sav with anv claim to iustice that the Woman's Mis- %. a •o :i ,: fcc or 09 MX XX ^^ ■• ■* -• -• ■* •* (<*; s s s ^ 09 ; ; ; ; _• ; w >. "Z ^ - ■i* <• cS !A 3 29 }1 39 fcC S • C ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ •5 D 2 o d o l-H S 2 HH £ £ s ' ' " is' " ' ^ ' s s s < :: .■;;;;; -r :.■ ." ^ t~ • ci o — ?i M 2£ »-~ -^ I- 00 sn g ^^ t-t-0Ct^O0X0O(»2^O0«XX oo A CC CO t- X « X XI « -' X X « 00 X 00 00 c*^ -i' >o i-H^-(OC^*"-"i— '^^^^ •''■" ,— ,— ^ ■« ^H t-H f-H K t'. £- F. ••^^ ». ^ »- •- •'''^ »■•■•- »- •* V' fv i c4 00 00 00 ^fM --C'l irT -f t^ :r. '^-c Lt — Ci CO t^ » fc r-t 1-^ rH i-H^^"^ — f— i'thC'I^^^'-^'^^-^^ 4 1-H 1-H 1-1 00 1-H » t^ 00 t> rJ'^'-cT-t'ro-^oo^^u'f-t ooo i> ^ 1-H ^ ^-4 ^H CO ^^ ^^ ^"^ ^1 ^*^ '^ *^ ^^ ^1 ^ a M^ »— * ^H cs t* » ^^Cl^ __ — _1 ^ — . P-' __ ^^ >> T >» > ._ .^ ^•— -r; •— '7^ '72 'r; "r; "r; 'r; r . M ;^ *r^ :3 -a . : < Oi o 4^ 5 ■t-3 cu :3 5 > < •S^i. : >^ : Pi-u i1 ^xi s In > o c iiitli B io, Fir s, Iiul, cond ( •li., La rst Ch ^ z^ t3 £ 02 i - ^ s cli % S'c &--'§:= 5 = c"^ 3c^' ^ ,ii a 08 ^'T»-*Cr*.— ^^"^i^c^"^ : j> 5 u - > c 0. •SutjaaK rH C^ c^ t* «c «c I- 1 1- •mot- 00 < IM f-» ^H w^ S H CO a H &^ O >^ H Q O cc o cc o H l-H H Pi <5 O O CC W o I— I CC O H oc 30 c3 O 02 &C Ph fl'-T 3 - 3 !C r^ 1^ S o'^ s c S5 cc • o i-3 S CO ;-'3 O P ^ C oocc • O ^5 5=-^ttc5' C 'C '?=*^ w c« 3 a: ai rS 5 'J, t- - . - ' . '^ 55 o V/1 o p. cc oj o) © . a> o 3^ -^ 2i 2i > oi Pi P^ r^ 1-^ "^ S- 'H r-^ ^^ CC «) U 8-S oj a •:= o +^ is r ^- co-r oo ^ < ■S > t3 TO — O TO G TO 55 ^ . 05 r^ 0} 5 — -^ ^ '^ .2 ^ .Si .2 cc c« u n ^ cc :,' '-'^ .2 o '^^ .2 ^ .2 .2 o d ^ r,_5 ^.2.2 00 W) or; »-( -w >» OJ > t-* a X p W g ^^ , !/: > oj p^ S a ~ ^ f-> *mj ^^ -^ _^ C (U (L' Oi'w '— s s a '^ <0 iC i£ M'P ^ 0^ QJ 0)^ h:;p5P^P?S 00 05 00 00 _j 00 00 cci o 00 CO cc oc cc '-2 C cc cc y—i 7^ ^, ^^. r^ r^ rr^ r^ ^^ ^f. .-r^, rr^ rfi rTi rf'. CC CC CO cc X X X 5?; O ; .^ r^ •^^ *A . , CJ K Z^ ^^ 7Z ^ -y? - v d .w X - cc 3 :: -* — c; ,-» ^ ii - V r „ y •— y X - */- X.- cc ^ r "^ '■ - ~ ~ z ^ •^ 7 *^ V r^ .2 : K-r:^ZHC;HSZ^;z;^p;SHcc^P^H-x^;zHS;^g^CPPr-p:"S-::p^^ Ol' jV M M iJ < <^ X -/: X X o o a: as j5^ < :- - <^' -^ — '* -y s; i; ^ •; -< •, ^H •-« — ^ ■■ <<< ^ a X X X X X X X X X X : :o : e^ >^ c^ £ — — ' C >-5 t» I-' W lJ ■0}f^Hg J K ^ .2 -^l S ^ "> X iZ ^ ^ r» - _: e S K ^ < « ; X X ; X X ■^ -?- '^ _: X X X X X X X X ^ ^P^ ^ o * 2 ^ ££ O '-C <^ . •§* ?PK O -^ ^ K . > -" -/■ T ~ 'lj '^ :^ X X X X X X X X X [/ X X X X ^ '^- •« : : o • . X • •. ^3 : H C '^ lis pp ^^ < 1; ;S X X X X XXX X X X X X X X X X ^ . J Q K < id^ppS o ci « ^ >- r; M XXX XXX ^g § ^^SSSSSSS^SSSS^S^S^S^^SSSSS^gSSSS 31 a H O {^ H » O O o I— I oo o I— ( o H H o O CO O CO o y: OS 00 o a> « .2 C in «^^ o P. CO o = ■(-» 1- oowooooocxoo " t- 1^ x v: r. cc C5 o; o c c c o o o c oc oc v: X v: X oc X c; C". c; c; aj C". c: C-. Q — — ?. C5 C-. XXXXXXOO [1 wxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 00 cc o ce;:! rt5s v: ~ — H "" :S U' X — — 9 ? C:-C— r = ^ = i; rt^xr-S^;^;: K E'* 5 3 S <: -t; '< - r: - r;^ W^ - HH -^ ^*" r^-l ^ t 7- ':^ -^ '■■.■'' ^** r X T. -r. T. rr. •!. XT. K rr. r. X X X X x x « X X X X X X X X X X r /T -^ -: 5h < - XX X X X X X X X X V ^ -r '''^ ^- i ''^ ^- X X X X X X X X is X X; X X S ^ "^ <1j ^^^^>s;(^^ »« ^^r=if!=;*^r-i<;^^^^^^<;«*i