The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-04-17
Secretary's Report.
HOME DEPARTMENT,

HOME DEPARTMENT..
We walt this morning upon the threshold of
another year of service to take one backward
glance upon the grouping of scenes ana figures
ere we close the door behind us and step out into
st your board OF executive officers,
OF whom Mrs. S. A. Shannon of CT ass 2 re, ighed
IN January, much to the sorrow of her associates,
and In February Miss Ida Zimmerman was elected
to the vacancy, Miss Zimmerman receives warm
welcome to hef duties. and will be link, we
trust, 10 binding together the younger and the
Oluer sisters OF our Society.
In October Miss s. A. Curtis felt compelled to
resign her very acceptable work as Stale Secre-
her. Mrs. Butler, Secretary for Eastern Maine,
has given very cordial and effective help among
the churches left without leader.
Twelve regular meetings and six extra sessions
have been held, marked by earnest discussion
and harmonious action upon the grave and oft
times perperplexing questions which have con-
fronted u.s. The untirIng presence and devotion
at these meetings of our beloved President, who
mas so long and lovingly made this work her
dany M care ana prayer, VIII linger as sweet MEM
will it be known how her life has been wrought
into all the service that has blessed the first nine
teen years OF this Soclety's growth aud work, and
though she now lay down some OF the burdens of
public service, her presence and counsel will
guide and inspire us still.
Yes, we now have "Rooms'-two large and
airy apartments in fremont Temple where our
friends find cordial welcome. Last April No. 3 Il.
adjoining the one where we have so long lived
and worked and crowded, was secured and at
the same rental as Room 33, (25 monthly and a
cost Of $3.50 for repairs and furnishing. The
secretaries have convenient and pleasant quar-
by its own convictions and counsel of State and
Association Secretaries, had sought a woman
suited to share the growing work of the Secre
taryShip. In early summer conference was
opened with Mrs. N. NJ. Waterbury, woman
whom we had greatly esteemed and learned to
mission at Madras, india In August "a IT, she came came
to us bringing her rare qualifications Of ability,
culture ana conservation. Herself young and in
churches, she has QUICKLY found way to its
heart and we accept her as Gods best gift OF the
year to the home department OF the Society, aud
a partial answer to our oft-repeated inquiry,
Chow shall we win the cooperation of our young
women?"
During the year eight of our workers have re-
turned from the foreign field on furlough for rest
or because of Illness. Miss Day from Madras,
India, Miss Watson from Bassein and Mrs. Thom-
as from sandoway, Burmah, after terms OF twelve,
thirteen and fifteen years respectively, arrived IN
early summer. Miss Whitman from Tokyo came
at midsummer, and Miss Eaton In early winter
from Yokohama, Japan. Mrs. Mix from ToungoC
and Miss Stark from Bhamo, Burma, arrived in
early autumn, and Dr. Douglass, whom we still
love to count one with us, though selfsupporting
eight months desperate fight with fever and
attendant weakness In Africa, and Miss Hamilton
after her first allotted term OF three yearsin that
unfriendly climate, reached New York April 10
by steamer Maiesti" ct me home to tell us the
difficulties anu the need in the Dark Continent
Nine missionaries, OF whom two % were ere returning
us since our last annual meeting. Mrs. Elwel
sailed from New York for the Pwo Karen work
cisco, i June, 1 for Tokyo Japan; Misses Fay ant
Edmands 10 Mandalay, Upper Burmah, and Mrs
Bailey to the Eurasian school, Rangoon, left Bos
ton Sept. 27 Miss Stewart TO Prone, and Miss
Slater to the Eurasan Home, Moulmein, from
New York Oct II, and Miss Converse to the
girls'Ischool IN Yokohama, left San Francisco fCl
japan in company with Miss Kidder January IL
Miss Wilson, after a long struggle with Illness
| left Burma in october to return 10 America, bu
finding her health much improved before reaching
Japan she has tarred in the Sunrise Kingdom
and been transferred to the work In Yokohama
Miss Barrows after supplying the vacancy in th'
Earasan school, az kaRga a lOs s
Mrs, Jennie b. Kelley of the Shan and Burmat
| work at Thatone, Burma, after protracted suffer
at Newton Centre has been the scene of change,
| and enlargement. The increasing number o
| applicants made enlargements necessary, Il w
| measure and an order from the city Board o
Health made changes for SANITARY safety impera
| tive. All this has been accomplished TO IN,
Cost of S4, ,474.43. OF this S1657.16 has been re
| ceived in contributions from various sources
SSoS i snSgs Sew EY York i'Gm and fSs
| mainder comes from Mrs. Colby, who has from TN
Inception of the undertaking ten years ago, gYel
| 10 it her loving support and gu lrdianship. Th
| Home will now provide comfortably for twenty
| five children. Mrs. Mekinlay'S loving Oversight
still makes i what u Is, ana none VINO KNOW ne
| least has found and IS fulfilling her mission. Tn
| return to Burma of DR.. and Mrs. Packer brough
| ihe daughters Bessie and Eva to us again in Sep
| tember MIR. and Mrs. n. o.. Stevens LETT thel
| Willie in October. Hugh and Melvin Jameson
went to their parents at Alton, ILL.,, ia early win
| ter Others will soon leave to join their parent
+, already here or on their way TO America, an
| other parents with burning tears and achin
| hearts are passing their olive plants into ou
| hands TO be watched o'ei md trained for thi
| world and the next. The Home has a claim upo
| the sympathy and prayers OF every mother VIII
| has her family around her in daily life. and
| claim upon gifts from the children Of these IN
| year from each sabbath School where we have
| circle or band in the church will provide for tn
current expenses for which this BOald is resDons
| BILE. The parents pay for food clothing and a
| personal expenses Of their children; we proyld
| the house. matron, and household service for IN
| family.
Win our periodicals and leaflets, the marxt
has been active during the year. Reprints ~