St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-23
w. F.. NJ. SOCIETY.
Twenty-Fourth Meeting OF the Nj.
f. Executive Board.

1WenUy-fOurtn Meeting or the M.
f. Executive Board.
The twenty-fourth annual meeting of
the general executive committee of the
Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of
the Methodist Episcopal Church will
convene in the Central Park church
Wednesday morning. The eleven
branches-New England, New York,
Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cincinnati,
Northwestern, Des Moines, Minneapo-
lis, Topeka. Pacific and Columbia River
will be represented by the eleven cor
responding secretaries and twenty-five
delegates, constituting the general ex-
ecutive committee. This committee has
supervision of the entire work of the
society, and at this annual meeting has
little leisure from the routine labor of
assessing the different branches and
app0rtioning the money to be raised
among the different foreign fields. AL
though they have gone over this work
annually for many years, even those
oldest IN the service find it both re-
sponsible and laborious task.
There are nearly $50 missionaries,
with several hundred native helpers, in
charge of schools, 0rphanages and zena-
ma work. and the amount to be eX-
pended during the coming year ap-
prOacheS $500, GOO. Last year the dis
bursements were 1865, 342 15 the largest
amount raised in any one year up to
that time. The total amount disbursed
since organization has been. in round
numbers, S3,S00000. This was scarcely
anticipated by the few women who, on
stormy night in March, 1869, met in
fremont Street church, Boston. and
organized the Woman'S Foreign Mis-
sonary Society of the Methodist Church.
In sending out their first missionary
Miss Isabella ThOOUrn. of OhiO--it had
been necessary TO borrow some money.
and the total expenditure for the first
year of work was considerably less than
5000.
The work was started through the
urgent letters Of regular missionaries
in India. In that country hundreds
and thousands of women were sick and
helpless. and none could minister unto
them. When physician was called ne
had to prescribe without seeing his pa
tent and being able to learn her all
ment. 1t was impossible to teach them,
save as the wives of the missionaries
were able to do little work. The need
was great, and appeals for help were
frequent, until this society was formed
aud sent out Miss Isabella Thoburn to
teach, and Miss Clara Swain, NJ. D.. to
heal the ignorant and helpless women
of India.
1t must have seemed small start for
two women to go into that densely pop
ulous country, but from it great things
have come. Mission schools were plant
ed at once and the women and girls
reached and helped. Instead of the few
SHINY attended schools some predicted
there are now crowded schools in In
dia, China, Japan. Africa, Mexico, South
America, Italy, Bulgaria and the Malay
peninsula. IL has been wonderful
growth of great work, and the fact
that among the school girls in these
heather lands there are i'll successful
operation auxiliary missionary societies
shows how the work has been appre-
ciated by those whom it has already
helped.
At the end of the first year it became
necessary to lncrcs - the appropriations
to $4,000, although but "a, $40. ST had
been expended the first year. When the
second year ended the society had
grown from 100 auXiiiaries to GA, with
5000 members. and there was balance
of $4,000 en- hand, after paying the $50,
600 previously appropriated. Each year
brought increased demands for money
for new fields, but each year also
brought new auXiliarieS and thousands
OF new members, so that, while extreme
care has been needed 10 make the most
and best use of the money on hand, the
work has gone on and its expenses have
been paid regularly and promptly.
Much of this has undoubtedly been due
10 the efforts of the cOnsecrated women
who have given almost their undivided
attention - without compensation - to
the work of the society at home, in or
der that it might do the better work in
foreign fields.
AT the end of the first decade there
were IS missionaries, 200 Bible women
and native teachers. 6 hospitals and
dispenSarIes, 10 boarding schools, with
COG pupils: lis day schools, with nearly
1900 pupils; 3 orphanages, with 347
pupils, and two homes for friendleSS
women, the annual appropriation for
the work having increased to $1,000.
Homes for missionaries and school
buildings gave permanency 10 every
branch Of the work.
When the second decade haG passed
there were 81 regular ard 10 medical
Bible readers and native assistants, PIG
lay schools and 40 orphans in orphan
ages. Since then the work has con-
tinued TO grow, showing nearly as much
increase in the past four years as In the
second decade of the Soclety'S history.
There will be number of mlSSlona-
ries present during thisIannual meeting,
who will be heard from regarding the
work in their respective felds,a and from
them can be obtained the best idea OF
the work of the society. No history or
meager newspaper article could give
even few of the many incidents show
ing how varied is their work, and ID
how many ways it is productive OF
good. The general public will learn
much of this from the open meetings.
of which full reports will appear in the
GLOBE, and daily programme Will
appear each morning.
Although the thlrty-three members OF
the general executive committee are
here for work, many others will come
for their own benefit, hoping to learn
more about mission fields and how to
work in them. Minnesota will be
well represented, for members of the
society will drop in for days
session and then go home to wake up
the auxiliary society to the work. Mrs.
q. S. Winchell, of Minneapolis, is cor
responding secretary of the Minneapo-
lis branch, of which Mrs. Stoves is
president and Miss Lillian QuiDby is
treasurer. This was part of the
Western branch until 1855. when that
was divided into the Topeka, Des
Moines and Minneapolis branches: The
most recently organized branch is the
Columbia River, of which Mrs. Wire, of
Portland, Or, is secretary. Mrs. Wire
is already in the city, as also are Mrs.
B. R. COwen, of Cincinnati; Mrs.
Stevens, of Baltimore, and Mrs. Alder
man, of Boston. The other secretaries
are expected this morning.
Bishop Joyce. Of Chattanooga, is quite
i'll, and his wife, who is delegate from
the Cincinnati branch, may be unable to
be present.
Mrs. Mary G. Ninde, first secretary,
Mrs. Emily Huntington Miller, first
president, of the Minneapolis branch,
and Miss Abrams, it's first missionary,
will probably all be present during tn e
meeting, and will receive hearty wei :
come