The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-11-13
Basket Meeting at Manchester Centre.
EDITOR OF THE SITTER,

Basket Meeting at Manchester Centre.
EDITOR OF THE SITTER,
Dear Sir Some of your
masculine readers would limit woman to
the sphere of home duties and home in
fuence. That is not, by any means, a
narrow sphere, and surely none more i'm
portant can be found, Or could be desired
by any sincerely, earnest, Christian wo-
man. But on Tuesday, the 4th inst,
some of US, who without neglecting the
responsibilities of home, can yet find time
for little outside work, participated in a
public gathering which am sure more
of ''the brethren might have attended
with pleasure and profit. The occasion
was the annual missionary "basket meet
ing" of the ladies connected with the
Shaftsbury Association of Churches,
which meeting took place at the Baptist
church at Manchester Centre The morn
ing exercises, conducted by Mrs. j. p.
Blackmer, were as follows: Singing
reading of Scripture by Mrs. Rust of
Rutland; prayer by Miss Miller of LIVE
Oak, Florida; address of welcome by
Mrs. Probert, read, in her absence, by
Pastor Probert, and supplemented by a
few earnest words of his own; response
by Miss Brigham of Bennington reports
from Mission Circles and Bands, the best
work reported being that of the young
ladies' at North Bennington, Rutland and
Bennington. After discussion as to the
best manner of conducting Mission
Bands, Mrs. Rust spoke of Miss Sarah
Converse, missionary at Provost, Utah
and gave little history of the mission al
that place. Miss Brigham followed witt
short biography of James Madison Has
well, prepared by Mrs. Clement of Bran
don. Mrs. Blackmer read dream ii
which the women of different heather
nation appeared in all their degradation
calling for the Light of Life. Then W,
adjourned for dinner. At 80 the after
noon session opened by reading of scrip
ture by Miss Brigham, and prayer b,
Mrs. Haley. A poem by C. NJ. Rcynold,
was followed by letter from Annie Bat
tis who is teaching at Emerson Institute
Mobile, Ala, giving an account of worl
done in that school, and general outlool
upon the needs of the colored peopl,
there. Mrs. Haley of Sunderland, who
was for several years 4 teacher at Nash
| vile, Tenn. t.'en gave most ilstructiv,
address upon the col0rej schools of tn,
South, locating them by aid of map, de
| scribiug the work done in them, and ira
ciug some of the good iuiluences of tha
| work upon the ra,e in this country, anC
also upon their kindred in Africa, closin.
with our relation to The work aS Churche:
and as individuals. Work In si,Xico wa.
presented by Mrs. Rust. Very beautiful
recitatiuns were given by Miss Marsl
and Miss Dyer of Manchester Centrr, an,
Miss Gilbert CT No. Bennington. Tie g
Were proceeded and followed BY singin:
by the choir. Then Miss Miller, a color
ed lady, addressed us. She is a gradual,
of Hartshorn Memorial College, and
teacher at Florida Institute, Live Oak
Fla. She-spoke very earnestly of her de
light in meeting with northern Friends
who have done So much for her own peo
pie. Speaking of the schools, she said
| 'YOu cannot realize what these schools
mean to the colnred people. They meal
redemption from immortality and impurit,
to higher and better life. Tn,