Smyrna times., 1869-02-03
IFOr the smyrna Times.
WOmam's Work in the Church.

Every one will remember the earnest labor
OF the women of America as associated with
the Sanitary and Christian Commissions dur
ing the war. The energy then developed can
not be again hushcd to the inactivity Of form
er years, but now in the quiet of peace, our
women of the Methodist Episcopal Church
particularly, than whom none were more zeal
Gus in the above organizations have been in
quiring for other fields in which to expcnd
their aroused powers. From the sacred impulse
to do something that may bless others has
arisen the Ladies and Pastors Christian
Uuion of the NJ. f. Church with its Parent
Society in Philadc pha.
1t has ever been the glory of our Method
ism that she has been active in all Christian
charities and above all remcmle ering that her
Lord had declared " the poor yc have always
| with you" that ary acts of Christian kindness
| performed toward the needy has ever been ac-
cepted as done unto Jesus. I" Inasmuch as ye
have done it unto one of the least of these,
ye have done it unto me.
AS a wide spread interest has been awaken
ed on the subject of woman work in the Church
calling for information in regard to its charac-
ter, objects, &C., the following circular has
been prepared:
! 1t may not be uninteresting to state here,
that the General Conference at its late session,
favorably considered this society and com
|
Bishops, at a recent meeting, after carefully
considering its plans, passed cOmmendatory
resolutions encouraging its work.
! OBJECT.
The object of this association is to engage
as extensively as possible, the women of the
church in home missionary and benevolent
work, in cooperation with the regular pastor
ate.
More than two-thlrds of the members of our
! Il l.l. e.
ted for the work proposed.
They can go among the masses unreached
by the preached word, and tell the story of the
cross to thousands who will never hear the gos
pei, unless it is carried to their houses.
There are multitudeS of women III the church
who are ready and willing to engage in work
if the way is opened up before them, and but
very few who could not give little time tC
the Master s service.
If every woman in the church would give
two or three hours each week, to direct per
sOnal efforts, under well devised plan, every
family in all this broad land would soon bt
reached by gospel influences.
THE PLAN.
A society is formed in connection with each
church, of which the pastor is the president
The parish is subdvided into smaller district,
and two or more women appointed to each
whose duty it is to visit from house to hous
ascertain if possible, the spiritual condition
of every flmily and individual in the dis rict
urge the Indifferent to seriousness warn tn,
careless of danger and ruin; point the peni
} tent to Jesus; invite the stranger to the hous
: of God urge the backSlider to return; cOnsOl
the sick and seek out the tOrSaken; offer III
prayer where it will be useful and acceptable
gather the children of the irreligiOus into tn
S Sabbath-school, and make special efforts fo
g their conversion; where it is possible cloth
the naked and feed the hungry distribute ap
: prOpriate tracts with personal religious con
t verSatlOn; keep an account OF their work an
all special cases OF interest, and at the month
s ly meeting report the same to the society Sue
s statements of the work are not only interest
j., ing, but stimulating, and lead to increased e1
It forts, while the pastor gains much valuabl
# information and is enabled to give such cour
It sci as the exigencies of the work demand.
!, These visits and repeated appeals, made i
y love, rarely fail to work conviction of truth
q and penitence toward God, and desire fc
It salvation, in honest minds.
e In those districts where cases of this kin
n are found, prayer meetings are held and spC
e clal efforts made to lead inquirlug souls
Il Jesus
v This association therefore, presents sin
e pie and practical plan of organization, whic
N holds every woman in the church to specf
N work according to the time and ability she ha
|. and presses 1t upon her conscience as pcrSol
Ir al responsibility, while it brings all into con
i. mon compact and affords the stimulus of a.
at grcgated results.
k This plan has been pursued by the socict
r in Philadelphia and vicinity, for the last tC
n months with great success.
as That women can do a great work for sou
u and the Master, needs no proof in the Meth
o. dist Church.
III Our clergymen are doing a great and glor
ve Gus work, both directly and indirectly, bl
i'll they can not, and it was never designed th
al they should do all. They must have the i
os dividual cooperation of the whole churC
membership.
81 The entire system of religious activity in Il