The Portland daily press., 1889-03-29
AT CHESTNUT STREET cHuRcH.
Woman's Work In Foreign MIssIo ms
Discussed.

The Auxiliary Society Of the ladies of the
Methodist Episcopal church Of Portland and
vicinity, having in charge the more extended
work of the Women's Foreign Missionary
Society, had two very interesting meetings
yesterday. The exercises In the afternoon
were presided over by Mrs. Helen Hum
phrey, with grace and dignity. They were
opened with reading OF the Scriptures and
prayer by Mrs. DR.. Charles ]. Clark.
The goodly audience present. despite the
unfavorable weather, united in singing 80
for Thousand Tongues to Sing" Mrs.
Gosse presiding at the organ. An interest
Ing essay was read by Mrs. G. NJ. Robinson.
OF Woodfords, illustrating the proyidential
organization of the various women's mis-
sM,onary My societies OF the United States. The
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society Of the
Methodist Episcopal church was organized
March % 1869. Today it has I27, I7S mem
bers. Since its organization, the society has
raised and expended In foreign missionary
work Sl,SS6,OOO. 1t has sent 140 missiona-
ries, among them 25 educated TO the profess
sion OF medicine, for labor In India, China,
Japan, Corea, Mexico and Bulgaria
"A duet was given most acceptably by Mrs
Henry Turner and Mrs. G. II. Day.
Mrs. Y. Butler Of Newton. Mass, made an
interesting address concerning the Character
and work Of Miss DeSwaine In India. Mrs.
Henry Turner read "The Preachers" In a
way that was impressive of the beautiful re-
ngious thought OF our poet Whittier The
same lady also read an appeal later In be-
hall OF the Girls College In Lucknow, India.
Mrs. 5. Whitaker, wife of Rev. DIR. Whita-
ker, read in admirable style highly inter
esting and excellent paper on China, | Is in
naDitants. productiveness, industry, general
intelligence and peculiar characteristics.
Inat ancient country had system Of free
schools before the Christian era, but women
mad been degraded for ages In that country,
and the opening for the WOman's Foreign
missionary Society had been providential.
They had elevated and ehristianized In
women OF China in wonderful degree, and
the good work was steadily progressing.
MIS-. Whitaker's paper evidenced considera-
BILE research, and highly intelligent appre-
citation Of the situation In China, especially
in the region of Foo Chow. The afternoon
session closed with singing the Doxology, and
The Chestnut street M. L. church was
quite well filed for the evening exercises.
The pastor, Rev. DIR. Whitaker, presided,
opening the meeting with few happy re-
marks. Prayer was offered by l.. III. Bean
of South Portland.
Rev. j. M. Frost, Of the Congress street
church, then made an address on medical
work in pagan countries. He sketched the
sanitary conditions of those countries as
contrasted with those of Christian lands,
and the work of Protestant missionaries In
improving their condition.
America sent the first medical missionary
to pagan countries, sand the Woman's For
eign Missionary Society Of them. Z. church
the first female medical missionary. There
are three hundred medical missionaries in
foreign lands today. The unscientifc char
acter and inefficiency of native physicians in
the East were graphically described. India
has but one native doctor to 5000 natives,
and Japan hut one to 10000; while in this
country there is one to every 1900 of the
population.
A solo, with organ accompaniment. was
sung by Mrs. DIR. Charles 0. Files.
A highly interesting address.followed, by
Miss G. Butler, descriptive of social aud re-
ligious life in India and Mexico, where she
has resided and labored in missionary work
she being the daughter Of the eminent mis-
sionary, Rev. DR.. Butler The good work
accomplished by medical women In mission
airy work on behalf Of their own sex was
described, and the remarks Of Hindu wom-
an, You are like your own Christ; YOU heal
both the body and the mind"
The Doxology was sung, and the exercises
closed with the benediction by Rev. Dr.
Whitaker.
A large number of the audience, before
leaving, went upon the platform and in
spected large number of curiosties gather
ed by Miss Butler in India, Mexico and other
countries.