Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-04-19
A NOTABLE GATHERING.
The Woman's Board of Missions of the
Southern Methodist Church to Hold
Its Annual Meeting In Fort Worth.

The Woman's Board of Missions of the
Southern Methodist Church to Hold
Its Annual Meeting in Fort Worth.
There is to be a notable gathering of
women and gathering Of notable women,
IN Fort Worth this year The Woman S
board OF missions of the Methodist EpiScO-
pal church (Southy is TO hold its
annual meeting in this city, beginning
June and lasting about a week. The
Womaus board OF missions is an important
arm Of the missionary operations OF the
Southern Methodist church; for while the
women manage their own affairs, raise the
money by their own methods and send mis-
sionarics 10 such fields rs they see proper,
they vet work in perfect harmony with the
parent board of missions for the church.
They are authorized to act by the general
conference and are an integral part of the
church and OF the missionary operations OF
the church. Their success has been mar
velous, fully demonstrating thelt capacity
to manage the affairs Of the society.
It IS only about thirteen years since
they begun, yet in that short
time they have raised half a
millions of dollars and have sent mission
aries almost to the four quarters of the
globe. At their annual meeting last year,
held in the city of St. Louis. they reported
that the board was represented IN the for
eiu field by thirty-one missionaries,
teachers, ten boarding schools, thirty
ore day schools, l2+S pupils, one
hospital one medical missionary,
one foreign assistant and nine native hos
Vl.tl assistants. Their work is i'll China,
Brazil, Mexican border ana the Indian Ter
r.,ory, and they have property III these
various places valued at nearly $500 OGO.
A: the close Of the twelfth annual report
one year ago, they had raised just a little
less than S5O0,0OO since their or
ganization. which amount has been
largely increased by the collections of this
fiscal year. Such record challenges the
admiration of every noble spirit. When
the movement first begun it was frowned
upon by many men, and not few women
watched with suspicious eye the new
departure. But il had its origin
in the heart of true womau-
hood, filled with love for Christ
and souls. and being sustained by
such an inspiration, it rose above all Criti-
cigln and went forward with such mod
eSty devotion and wisdom that opposition
melted away, the croakers We're silenced,
and criticism turned to appreciation and en-
enlargement. To-day the total number Of
aUXiiiarys ocieties in the churches, inClUd-
ing Juvenile societies. is about three thou
sand. having a total membership OF about
seventY-tive thousand. SUCH an army of
Christian workers cannot fail to arouse the
conscience of the church at home, and to
make a tremendous impression on the
heather world
Fort Worth is greatly honored in having
the annual meeting of this Woman's board
In her midst 1t is the first time it has
ever beer held outside of the large cities,
and ii is a compliment 10 the pluck and en-
tcrprise of Fort Worth that the invitation
10 come here was accepted. There viii be
in attendance not less than one hundred of
the leading women of the Methodist church
from all parts of the South so that the
gathering will be quite an advertisement
for our city. The meetings will be
held in the First Methodist church,
the session lasting about week
They have invited DR. B. B. Chappcll
Of Austin. Tex. 10 preach the annual ser
mon before the board on Sunday, June Z,
and Rev W +. Lloyd has been requested
10 preach for them at night. II is probable
that one or more of the bishops, and at
least one Of the missionary secretaries of
the church Will be present during the meet
ing. Other distinguished clergymen will
also likely attend. The entertainment of
the ladies will of course fall largely to the
NiethodiSts, but il is hoped that our citizens
generally, without regard 10 church lines,
will unite in rendering the stay of these la
dies in Fort Worth 4 pleasant memory.