Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-04-03

Yesterdays Interesting Session Of the
Women,s Foreign Mission.

"Omen'o EOreISn nIsstOns
The seventh annual meeting Of the Wo-
mems Foreign Missionary Society began
yesterday afternoon at the First Presby-
terrain Church, with perhaps the largest at
tendance of any similar meeting ever held
in this city. The officers Of the meeting
were: President, Mrs D A. Cunningham;
Vice Presidents, Mrs. Greer, Mrs. DR..
speer, Mrs. Orr, Mrs. Hupp, Mrs. White
side; Secretaries, Miss Grayson, Mrs. W. q.
Lester; Treasur Miss J. Bird.
After by INN had been sung, Mrs. White
sides read an appropriate selection from
the Scriptures Mrs. Brownson then led
the meeting in prayer, and after the read
ing of another hymn and short prayers by
Mrs. DIR. Cunningham, Mrs. Stone ana Mro
John Graham, the minutes OF the last
meeting we're read BY Mrs Lester.
In the absence of Mrs. Lyle, her address
OF welcome was read. by Miss Rosenberg
Nrs. Prof. Lyon, of Washington, responded
to tbs address. Next in order came the re-
pC IT Of the Presbyterial Secretary, Miss
Martha Grayson.
This report, while deeply interesting to
the Society, as showing marked increase
OF missionary effort and the good results
Lherefrom, is too lengthy to be entered
in o in this notice. One of the most utter
sting features of the exercises was the
singing OF Lord, What Wilt Thou Have
Me 10 Do?" and "Give, Oh, Give" by one
of the Children's Bands connected with the
Church. Miss J. w. Baird read the annual
report which showed o. very hourishing
hnsncial condition. Mrs. BArakaat ("Lly
yah") was then introduced, and in q most
pleasing. little talk held the attention OF
the children as she described her own sad
childhood in Syria. After the reading OF
another paper, beautiful poem, "The
Missionary Bridge" was read, and after
notices had been given and the Doxol0gy
sung, the audience adjourned to meet at
o'clock in the evening.
EVENING SESSION.
Long before eight o'clock the church
was comfortably filled. After the report
of the Foreign Corresponding Secretary was
read, Rev. DR.. Cunningham introduced Mr..
BsraksSt, q native missionary OF Syria.
This gentleman delivered q shnrt Adares1,
DWELLING rastioula4Iy IN the great WORK
done and yet to be accomplished by the
missionaries in Syria and Egypt He was
followed by his wife, Mrs. Lsyyah Bara'
kaat. She is a native OF Syria and Is an in.
telligent looking, middle aged lady OF pre-
Possessing appearance. Her broken Eng
fish and evident earnestness in her subject
made her address, or rather talk, exceeding.
ly interesting, IN fact she was followed
throughout over an bour's talk with the
closest attention by everybody IN the
building.
She introduced herself by saying she was
the daughter of Syrian parents, who were
bitterly opposed TO the Christian religion.
She gave very graphic description OF her
first visit to a missionary house in her ma.
tive home, and upon a promise from the
missionary's wife of pair OF shoes she
agreed to visit the Christian Sunday school.
When the children at the Sabbath school
commenced singing she laughed at them,
but when the missionary's wife arose and
told the oft told tale OF the love of Jesus,
then she commenced learning to love
Christianity. This Sabbath school she at.
tended frequently, without the knowl
edge OF her people, until she
~ss fully converted to the
Christian religion. Her description OF the
brutal conduct of her brothers aud rela-
tives in trying to keep her from praying
aid attending the Mission school was
really grand. Her parents finally decided
She n ust be married Immediately to save
her from, what they termed, infidels Sue
vas shut up in room, but hnally escaped
ard found refuge in the Missionary's
house. She at this time was but II years
old. She was eduCated-at the exp1nse OF
Presbyterian Sabbath School OF Philadel-
phia-in Syria, She remained in the Mis-
slon school, after having mastered the
language, as a teacher for several years
ard was married then to her pres
ent husband, and they were sent as
missionaries to Alexandria. Then they
lsbored in conjunction with the English
mission until the revolution OF the nations
and the Massacre of the English inhabi-
tants. Her description of the Massacre and
OF their escape to Malta, was something
grand, as was also her description OF the
wsy women were treated in Egypt. She
said: Women were compelled to be mar
ried at the age of from to 10 years: if q
girl reached the age Of Is years she was
considered too old to marry; the women
never were allowed to eat with their hus-
bands, but ate was was left after their legal
lord WIS through; the mems apartments in
the houses, we're kept nice and tidy,
while the women's were almost unit
for the brutes TO live in. She lsbored in
that for four years, escaping from Alexan-
drIa on the 18th of June, 1883, and landed
in Philadelphia on the Tth OF August Of
that year without money or friends. She
thought of a minister who resided in the
town, aid, after wondering around all day,
booted and followed by the street boys,
who called them gipsies, they finally found
shelter in the minister's house. Since then
she has been lecturing under the auspices
OF the Women's Mission Society. 1t is the
intention of herself Gnd husband to return
TO Egypt again at an early date and recon-
mence their duties as missionaries.
The meeting at the close of the address
adjourned to meet at o'clock this morn
ing.