The Portland daily press., 1891-05-30
sAco RIVER BAPTIST WOMEN
Met at Free Street Baptist churcn
Yesterday for Church Work.

The ladies belonging to the,Baptist church.
es in the Saco River Association met at the
Free street Baptist church yesterday. The
morning was devoted chiefly to hearing re-
ports from the churches which were general
ly satisfactory.
In the afternoon, Miss A. s. Russell. pre-
sided. An hour was devoted to the Young
Women Of the Baptist Association. The
services began with the hymn, ,"We are walt
ing, We are watching" Mrs. Turner OF
Buxton offered prayer. The committee on
organization was then appointed, consisting
Of Mrs. Salsman and Mrs. Moores from the
Free street church. Mrs. II. B. Kicker and
Mrs. Beals Of the First Baptist church, and
Mrs. Turner Of Buxton.
very interesting paper. prepared by Miss
Nellie S. Brakeman Of Chelsea, Mass, "Why
should young women be interested In home
missi0ns?" was read by Miss Mary S. Bains.
There are many reasons. she said, which
might be given. but will try to tell you of
four Of the reasons. The first two are rea-
sons why young women should be interested
and the last two why we should be interest
ed In home missions. First. because we are
''chosen." ""God hath chosen the weak things
of this world to confound the things which
are mighty" says Paul. Are we not weak?
Then God had chosen us. Are not sin and
superstition mighty? Then He will enable
US to conf0und them. We are, indeed, a
chosen generation. IL you seek sign, look
at our educational advantages. The inhu-
upon other young women was never SO great
as In our generation. The Christian young
woman Of today, who Is thoughtful, active
axd dr.1a anf ~ koa l..
grasp upon the minds Of those she meets
which Is irresistible. In our Lords parable
OF the leaven, did it ever occur to you how
the whole lump was leayened? 1t seems to
me that 1t was by the influence of one mole
Guile or particle upon its next neigh
Dor. Who can say that we. the young
women OF this generation, are not handful
OF leaven. put here by the almighty hand Of
God, to work" 10, and around and through
the godlessness Of this world?
The third reason Is because Of the "open
door" Listen to the voice of God. "Be-
hold, have set before thee an open door"
do not propose to contrast home and for
eign missions, or to say that we should be In
shall simply speak Of the open door In our
own country. One Of the greatest dangers
Is immigration. Sisters, ought we not TO re-
member Castle Garden daily In our prayers?
One OF the dangers intimately connected
rooted and grounded In trickery aud decep-
tion. A danger similar and more widespread
Is R0manism, which believes that Ignorance
Is the mother Of devotion"
The open door which God has set before
us In the condition OF many who live In our
land. is one that is literally open much wild
or to women than to men,. 1t has been said
that tact, tenderness and sympathy are the
exclusive endowment Of Christian woman
hood" Whether young women help the
cause In their homes or on the field, there Is
the same door open before them. Oh, young
women, who feel keenly the pleasures of In
tellectual work and honor, the delights of
society, who rejoice In merely living In this
beautiful world. but In whose heart the
cause Of home missions has never touched
responsive chord-choose ye this day.
A thoughtful paper, prepared by Miss
Fletcher Of Colby University, was read by
Miss Martha Russell, on the sway to work
most effectively for the Master" Aggres-
sive work is needed In the Sunday schools,
In the mission bands. and for the children.
The field Is broad, the ways are wide open,
waiting for the messages to go fortunes
sages which mean light instead Of darkness
love instead Of terror. There are many
lines Of work for Christ, aud we must choose
which line we shall take.
Take Ny Win, and Make 1t Thine" was
sung by Miss Spear
Mrs. Clark read an original mIssio nary
story. which closed the hour set apart for
the young women.
Mrs. Perkins gave an interesting account
of her work in the Indian Territory for the
past three years as teacher. There are 1l5
pupils In the school and the pupils are col
ored people, but many Of them with Indian
blood in them. The negro pupils are more
easily controlled than the Indians. But the
Indians learn more easily, especially in
mathematics. The negro pupils cannot rea-
son. but they adapt themselves to their sur
roundings and are eager to learn. Seventy
barrels Of clothing have been sent out by the
Baptist Association. and distributed under
the supervision Of Mrs. Perkins during the
past three years. There are 5000 colored
people In the territories who were slaves Of
the Indians when slavery existed in the
South. Indians and negroes both practice
polygamy. Mrs. Perkins made a strong plea
for more helpers. "The harvest Is white
and the laborers are few."
Miss Faulkener, lately a missionary to
Africa, gave brief account Of her work In
the Lacoonga region, $50 miles from the
mouth Of the Congo. When she, with others,
went there four years ago, there was no
church and only q small school Of fifteen or
twenty. Now there are eleven schools, and
there are zoe communicates. When once
the light Of the gospel has entered their
hearts, they are eager to learn.
The committee on resolutions presented
the following which we're accepted;
Resolved, That we do all In our power TO sustain
missionary concerts or prayer meetings In all
churches In our association; also that we indiyIdu.
ally do all IN ourpower to assist feeble churches
IN holding them.
Resolved That 1t is better to have several col
lections, and tnat the collections for the home
and foreign work be taken at separate times
and before the last OF the fiscal YEAR
whereas there are many in the Sunday
schools VINO are not reached by Mission
bands or circles,
Resolved, That we will seek to devise means to
secure the contributions Of ali.
yhesotved, mat we extend our thanks 70 ns tns
Portland and Rochester railroad for rednesde sdl
rates ana TO the ladies OF this church IoL tnS
cordial greeting and kindness In Profiui's
refreshments.
The meeting then adjourned TIL evening; :
In the evening the services were unuer the
| auspices Of the Y. p. @. Il. Society. MI.
| Whitney, president of the local union' nav
ing charge. .,, h,,. ,,.o-o..oa
| andience with her to the region OF the Congo,
| where they spent one day, visiting the diff
feTent schools and ending with a prayer
| meetIog at the home Of one Of the boys.
| Mrs. Perkins spoke again Of her labors
| among the colored people in the Indian ter
| ritory.
Miss Faulkener and Miss ROYAL sang
song In the language Of the Congo, and
prayer offered by Mr.. Noyes ended the meet
Ing.