The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-01-19
For THE CENTRAL PREsBYTERIAE.
Female Benevolent Society of 2nd Presbytt
rian Church, Petersburg, Va.
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT.

In period OF great pecunlary straltness In OUT
Church just year ago, the Female Benevolent
Society was organised with inexperienced officers
and an UNEMPLOYED region for its operations.
We began without money, and with no reliable
plan for getting it, except the usual one of month
ly tax upon the members of twenty-five cents, and
such contributions in clothing and other articles
they or any outside friends were willing and able
to make.
Our main object was to provide those children
in the neutral ground in which our mission chapel
stands who were willing yet unable to come to our
Sunday schools there for lack of suitable clothes,
with the garments they needed for that purpose.
We desired to become, in quiet, unobtrusive way,
the auxiaries of our brethren in their missionary
enterprise. We did not, however, limit ourselves
to this one object; but securing that primarily, We
were to add to it such general benevolence as was
called for, and as our means permitted.
These were the views with which our Society
entered upon its labors; and as its first year has
closed we gather up its results with surprise and
gratitude Our record shows monied existence
eminently independent. We have never, in any
exigency, attacked the Deacons fund nor ap-
pealed to the session for aida reserve we feel
compmented by observing they have not practised
towards us. Nor have we ever asked from the
pulpit contributions from previously advertised
congregation. We have resorted to no noisy
measures whatever for money; but with such small
gifts as our quietly, but scantily supplied treasury
furnished, have with the utmost thrift and pains
taking, executed our plans.
We have had from the report of our treasurer,
besides liberal donations in clothing, and single
web of cotton cloth, only eghtyfour dollars 1884
in money for all our operations extending through
the whole year And of this amount, we have no
inconsiderabe sum to bequeath to our successors
in Office And yet, out of these supplies and this
mere handful of dollars, we have kept at the chapel
schools 46 children, besides furnishing substantial
help to others too young to go to school; and to
grown people in suffering condition. Nor is this
all that our Society has done. By our system of
visiting and united Christian effort, we have start
ed trains of moral influence of the most salutary
kind. An extended knowledge of, and interest in
the poor of our people is of these; and another
and very happy one is, that some old ladies among
us, set aside by age and in6rmity from active do
nestle duty, have found occupation and pleasure
in forwarding our schemes. So that the whole re
view, whilst it engenders no PRIDE gives us album
dant reason to 'thank God and take courage"
1t is proper to raenton just here, that under the
impulse of a call last spring from DIR. Leighton
Wilson, Secretary of our Board of Sustentation,
to the "Women of the Presbyterian Church in
the South" for assistance in maintaining our
Domestic Missions, we met again and again in
earnest consultation on the subject. We we're un-
willing to divert our funds and labor from cur own
weldeined and partially developed schemes OF
usefulness, and merge them wholly into this deep
er and larger channel; and yet sympathised so
heartily in DR.. Wilson's anxieties as to be DESTROYS
of participating in the struggle of the people at
large, for the success of the general plan After
careful consideration however of our affairs at
| home, it was decided that we would not abandon
what we had undertaken but would SO far respond
to Dr. Wilson's call as to take better care of our
own missionary field. That is to say that we would
not only look up the children and outfit them for
the Sunday schools at chapel, but that we would
endeavor to lift the lesser end of the burden OF
debt upon the building itself. Hence we have en-
grated this new purpose upon our young efforts
and we think it is to our credit to state, that al
though the branch has not fourished as in our en-
thusiasm at the beginning we hoped it would do
still it has maintained very respectable existence,
and the parent society has not in the least suffered
from its presence Thatit has any life at ALL is to be
wondered at when we remember that it was the
turning of the money-scre upon us once again,
after we had believed it already tightly fastened.
But it does live; and we hope when it celebrates
its anniversary as are doing, it will surprise us
with larger ingathering than we have had
We thank our patrons for their help, and hope
that the exhibit of thrift which we have made in
the management of our one talent heretofore, will
not lead them to regard that as sufficient for our
necessities hereafter but will induce them to con-
fde larger sums to the society, and enable it to ex
tend more and more the sphere of its benefcence
You have kindly aided US to send the child where
it may learn lessons of eternal truth will you not
enable us to drop into the hands Of the overtasked
wearied mother, and wretched, outcast father left
behind, the printed page which may be as light
sprung up to them who sit in the region and
shadow of death?"
The President desires, in the most emphatic
way, to express her obligation to her efficient corps
of charlottesville officers of the society," in reach
ing the measure of success she has described her
peculiar satisfaction in the harmonious spirit that
has characterised their meetings; and congratu.