Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-10
THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
Of the Woman's Missionary Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. South.
ORGANIZED 1S.S-Mrs. ID. II. Nc
Gavock, Foreign Secretary.


Il am the vine, ye. are the branches. ?"
| These words of Christ show the close rela-
| ton that should exist between Him and His
| followers. If they are ''rooted and grounded
| IN Him. the same life that abides in the
vine abides in the branches, and thus CO.
| operating with him, they bring forth flower
| and fruit TO His glory.
The members of the Woman's Missionary
society are peculiarly set apart TO work
together with Cod and results have
shown that cooperation with Him is the
only source of success in bringing benighted
minds to the light of Christ. DR.. Cuyler
says: s'The great demand of the times is
for men and women who live near to God"
and also, that ''The lifting power OF the
church increases directly in the ratio of its
connection with the source of ali light and
love, and strength, and holiness"
If we would have ''Inen and women who
live near to Cod we must train the chill
dren of the church, and prepare them to
fill the places their elders Will soon leave
vacant. Statistics show that the largest
increase in numbers TO the society comes
from young peoples and juvenile organiza-
tons. The writer quoted above also says
most aptly: THE church that has no
young blood in its veins, is a whitening fig
tree
There is no better way of cultivating the
vines and Young growth in our part of the
Lords vineyard chan to distribute the liter
allure that is provided by the Woman's
board of missions.
knowledge is the force that governs the
world and in missionary work it is the
lever resting on the Observation-Disclosures
shall remove the mountains of heathendom
into the sea of Gods love.
AS chairman of publishing committee, l
call attention to the Womans Missionary
Advocate and to the leaflets published for
the Woman's missionary society.
At the last annual meeting it was decided
to enlarge the Woman's Missionary Advo.
cate, and in the month of July it was
changed from siXteen-page paper to
thirty-two-page magazine, beautiful in ap
pearance, and much more desirable for
reference and for binding
1t publishes official reports from the
foreign fields, delightful letters from the
missionaries, interesting correspondence
from the home workers and miscellaneous
missionary reading from all parts of the
world.
The circulation has increased to $500 and
the finances are in sound condition. 1t is
ably edited by Mrs. +. A. Butler and pub
lished monthly at so cents year.
Leaflets were issued quarterly for the
use of the societies, as ordered by the
board. One million four hundred thous and
pages have been published the last year,
and have been most helpful in the monthly
meetings.
MISSIONARIES.
The Woman's board has twenty-nine
representatives in foreign fields; three are
at home on leave. Sickness and removal
from the employment of the board have re-
duced the number of the missionaries, but
ten young ladies were accepted the past
year. Some of these have gone TO their APP
pointed fields, some are in training schools
at home, one has withdrawn, and others
will be appointed. Miss Lucy Harper of
Texas went to Laredo seminary, Miss
Helen Richardson and Miss Mary Littleton
Smithey sailed for China last September,
Miss Matte Dorsey, Miss Mary Turner and
Miss Kate F'annin went to Mexico.
Early in the year Miss Yarrell returned
from Brazil on account of i'll health, Miss
Lou Philips came from China, and towards
the close of the year, permission was given
to Miss Matte Jones to come home to re-
cuperate.
FOREIGN WORK.
All reports from the foreign fields are full
of encouragement; schools are prospecting,
seeds Of truth bearing fruit, and the oppor-
tunities for opening new work ever increas-
ing. The oft-repeated cry for more workers
comes from every field; the over-burdened
already organized, seeing the necessities on
every side, and feeling their helplessness
to meet them, are enduring a great strain
and eXclaining, out of the fullness of their
hearts: "What are we among SO manyf'
China-This was the first field occupied
by the WomaD's board. The work has
grown Notwithstanding the great diminu-
ton of forces from sickness and other
causes. Shanghai, the largest center of
work in the field, has suffered most from
these changes. The schools are f1ovrishing,
but it is at the cost of health to the noble
women who are keeping them up-one at
tempting the work of two or three
,4.s
been closed. The day schools, under faith
full care, are accomplishing good.
The work at Kading is growing in inter-
est. In Soochow the boarding, day schools
and medical work more than fill the hands
of the faithful few who have all in charge.
The work in this capital city of the province
only needs to be fully equipped to develop
it grard possibilities.
MEXICAN WORK.
One can scarcely get correct idea of the
growth and promise of this work without
carefully reading the reports fresh from
the field. While the ravages of smallpox
temporarily affected the schools and work
among the women, the health OF the mis-,
sionaries has been exceptionally good, and
their hands and hearts have been fully &C.
cupied.
Laredo Seminary is the Pharos of the
border, rejecting its light on both sides of
the Rio Grande, and sending out an infu-
ence Tor good that only eternity Will unVell.
Saltillo is meeting the need in that city
and vicinity. The missionaries have not
been free from the prosecutions Of the
fanatical officials, who have sought to him
der their work, but through frmness, pa
tience and faith, have triumphed over the
difficulties.
The work in Durango is growing in i'm
portance, and will be enlarged to suit the |
demands of that rich and beautiful city.
AT Chihuahua the board has come into
possession Of fine property, and school |
was opened there.
Work was reopened last summer at San
Luis Potosi with every prospect of bright |
future. Property has been purchased in an
eligible locality, and boarding and day
schools have been opened.
Brazil. The college at Piracicaba has
had an uninterrupted and successful year,
and maintains its hold on the confidence OF
the people.
At Rio de Janiro, the college on the
Heights" is recovering from the effects of |
the epidemic that passed over the city |
nearly two years ago, and has opened again |
with fair success. |
The strenuous call there for reinforce |
ments is repeated in every letter; without |
these the work cannot be sustained.
INDIAN TERRITORY.
Anadarko-ThiS school among the wild /
tribes was turned over to the woman's |
board of missions by the general board last |
May, partly in exchange for the Harrell in |
stitute property. 1t is accomplishing much |
for the SuperStitiouS, helpless Indians in |