Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-10
THE BIBIE-WOMAN.
AYear's Mission Work In Nashville and
Edgefeld.
Pictures Of Poverty and Misery that
Our Streets Present.

meeting OF the MOman'S Bible Mission
Of McKendree Church, on the 9Th inst.
Mrs. PresidentaRd Ladies ofthe WOman's
Bible Mission: In concluding my yearly
report for this society, proceed TO give you
an account Of the progress Of the work
since our last meeting.
The quarter just closing has been more
successful than any preceding il. The
work has extended over considerably more
territory. The charge at first given to the
bible-WOman, embraced only the bounds Of
MeKendree Church; it now extends over
both Nashville and lEdgefeld. Yet, not
Withstanding this increase Of labor, BY the
advantage Of wearing to the work-learn-
ing by practice, how TO appropriate and
economic time, and dispose of details,
recognizing at every step "Our Father's''
special aid, there seems to be no apprecia-
bic difference in the advancement Of any
particular department. Though l cannot do
the same amount Of prOmiscuOus visiting, vet
the organization audthe Bible-WOman being
more generally known, It is not so neces-
sary now, as at first, that should seek out
the subjects Of our mission work. They
have learned to come OF send to me. The
work has grown in the favor Of both the
world and the church. Many are the
cheering words received by the way, some
times from lips unused to blessing. Our
pastors who are said to have opposed our
movement at hrst, now give our home de-
partment their hearty sanction, aud even
point out work for us in their several
charges. Our Bishop, to whose judgment
both the world and the church bow in rev
erential obeisance, bonors it with his high
approval, while ministers Of sister churches
commend it publicly.
We have equally strong evidence Of the
favor and approval Of God. No Bible
meeting has yet passed that has not been
crowned with the manifest presence and
blessing Of the Lord. There are poor, loue-
ly, heart-StIicken women within few min
utes' walk Of our homes, who have not seen
inside a church for years, who now sitting
at the feet Of Jesus fairly count the hours
between these meetings. Go see them for
yourselves, and let their thrilling rehearsals
and grateful tears tell, as my tongue can
not, the benefit they have experienced
through this instrumentality.
AS TO the places Of holding these meet
ings, can only designate the neighbor-
hoods, since we usually occupy alternately
different private residences. One is held
on South Front street, nearly opposite the
Medical College, the average attendance, L
should think, being from fifteen to twenty.
Another is held near the Cotton Factory,
and another in Edge6eld; attendance about
the same as the first mentioned, perhaps a
trifle more. Another, held for some months
on Grundy street, was to have been re-
moved to West Broad, on account of parties
in the location, the matter was referred TO the
pastOrof West End. Another, held for several
months on Fort Negley, was suspended at
first on account of severe illness in several
of the families, and finally combined with
the South Front class, which was formed in
the meantime. Besides these l have con-
Quoted a smaller class on South College
street, and assisted the young men at
Crawford Street Mission. Many names are
before the classes for prayers. l beg they
may be remembered ferverently by each
member Of our body before the mercy seat.
Our conversions so far as known, number
for the quarter, nine; Sunday-schOOl pupils
fifteen; Bibles distributed, five; ac-
CessiOns TO the church, seven.
There is a great deal Of suffering now
among the pOOr-more than | ever knew
before. Many Of them are almost without
food, clothing or fuel. A miserable mother
came to consult me a few days ago as to
the possibility Of her getting to heaven in
case she drowned herself, in order that her
children might be taken care of. She said
she knew she could not bear to be sep
arated from them while living, and would
rather die than stay and see them suffer as
they then were suffering from hunger and
cold. She is a lgidOJC, a cripple, and a
member Of the Methodist Church. We
hasten to meet her and her class at the SOL
emn bar of God.
The aged poor should be more carefully
looked after and more tenderly cherished.
Not long since, as / went up town with a
friend, We met most pitiable spectacle
a woman, said to be one hundred and nine
yea1s old. She walked nearly half bent
leaning on a crutch. There was very little
flesh upon her skeleton. could lift her in
my arms. Her dress was thin calico with
1 small kerchief around her neck. looked
I'D her sleeve to see if she had flannel un-
ieneath, but found only another ply of
hin calico. Her whole frame shivered in
he chill air, while every one else in sight
vas protected in heavy wrsppings. Her
lips and finger nails were blue as a corpse,
and her flesh was as cold as the worlds
stone-hedrt. We wrapped a shawl about
her and she gave us a blessing worth all
the shawls on earth.
The work at the penitentiary was never
in more prosperous condition than at pres
ent. l report merely my own class and
hospital wOrk-haye not room for details,
thrilling as they are. They must be re
served for the final report Of the Angel Of
when he comes to surrender his
and join in the grand harvest
song.
Thus has the pleasure "a the Lord pros
pered. My office was committed to me in
he beginning, without any restrictions or
specifications, embracing all manner of
work. l have endeayOTed, &C
,Ording to my ability, TO develop it in all
It's bearings. In this endeavor the enter
prise Of the Mission Home originated. Al
though this has now become separate in
5titutiOn it still earnestly SOlicits and II eds
he aid Of your Bible-wOman, while our
need Of the asylum it OffeF-1Or the out |
casts Of our mission, makes il very expedi- |
snt that the two organizations should CO
operate with and aid each other.
Ladies of the WOman's Bible Mission, |
cannot close this article without mention |
ing that on the 18th December 1 received !
a notice, bearing the names of our Presi- |
dent and three other members of the Exec |
1tive Committee, informing me that the |
Committee itself had determined |
10 discontinue the services of the Bible
woman during the winter; yet the larger
part Of the Executive COmmittee"-the
Vice Presidents and Managers required by
the constitution from all the churches rep
resented in the Society to constitute the Ex-
scutive COmmittee-seem to have been
spared the trouble Of even knowing anything
about this matter. According to my under
standing Of the proceedings, the resolution
to employ 4 Bible-Woman in the home
work was passed at a general meeting Of
the Society, and my appointment was then
and there conferred, unanimously, by the
same authority. At the next meeting Of
the Society, it was proposed to dispense
with the service of the Bible-wOman in
the home work, in order to forward the
mission, but the proposition was
not for moment entertained, and the
member at first proposing it expressed her
self gratified at its prompt rejection.
More privately, however, have been re-
peatedly desired to resign by the same in
but having no intimatiOn from
the Association that your body desired
nv resignation, but, on the contra