The Newtown bee., 1893-12-22
Religious Topics.
A MISSIONARY GATHERING.

A MISSIONARY GATHERING.
 The following report of the semi-an- nual convention of the Western branch l of the woman's foreign missionary soci- l ety, which convened at Bridgeport late ! in October, is printed by request. All though late it will interest many. The l business of the day opened at l0.3Oa. m., with devotional exercises, followed by l the reading of the minutes of the last .neeting, by Miss Richards of Birming- ham. Then came reports from the aux diaries. Mrs Thompson said there were 40 auxiIiaries. A very large majority were unrepresented, either by secretary, delegate or letter. At least there was DO response. l think l am not under stating when l say there were not more than dozen responses to the call tor re- ports. e
 DO NOT UNDERSTAND
 how any society can afford to miss the enthusiasm and refreshment which would come to them from the conven- tion, through the unreadiness of the del- egates. Some of the auxiliaries are do- ing good work. Mrs Thompson thought Birmingham might be called the banner society. They have 126 members, raised $250 last year. They have young ladies auxiliary, and as I heard about them it seemed to me it might be desir- able for us to have one. l have in mind Mrs Edwards nice class of young ladies. The '. l.. A. fee is $l, |. l.. S., soc, Light banner society for children 25c. little l.. B., for babies 25c, Some re- l ported small attendance at monthly | meetings. (Perhaps they are not as ! happy in their choice of president as we are.) In Cheshire one woman holds ] every office, that is, represents the society, l because it seems to be impossible to get 1 the ladies out to meeting. Some spoke | highly of the use of mite boxes. Never had less than Sl, generally more. The | Meriden society decided to raise no
 | MONEY BY SALES OR SUFFERS,
 but 3S members resolved to try and earn | $l each by individual effort and augment their account in that way. The Pearl street church in New Haven also give no public entertainments, and had not raised as much on that account. Trinity ! church in New Haven also give no teas, but are doing well. They raised $250, and have about 100 members. Mrs
 Thompson told us that Essex was the
 first place where she organized society, and the first place she was in the pulpit. l Then followed Mrs Thompson's report, l as district society of Western country. She had had fears from the small amount
 reported that they might fall behind last years, but there had been much work done, and an advance of $47, over last year. There had been $70 raised from mite boxes. Mrs Thompson suggested fNF ascSp hxyh hael lsy1 up to our view some blocks of white
 muslin stamped with star shaped de- sign, having center piece to be worked
 and all about were to be placed the NAMES OF ANY WHO
 would pay 10 cents for the privilege.
 A society could have as many or as few as they choose, the ladies to vote to
 dispose of it as they saw fit, when
 finished. The blocks can be obta ined of
 Mrs keeler of 97S North avenue, Bridge
 port. Mrs keeler presented to us very
 beautifully, her ideas upon this subject.
 Our interest is in the line of our invest
 ments, applying it to the missionary
 phase of the subject. Whenever we are l intending to make investments for world ly gain, we are led to inquire if the men
 who represent the business are men
 of integrity, of sound judgement and to be relied upon in every way. And as
 we are so interested in worldly matters
 so should we be in this work of the Master, and as we inquire we shall find
 it all that could be desired, and that the flower of our youth have ever been de-
 voted to this cause, and not unworthily,
 for Our Lord and Master was himself the pioneer missionary, coming from l ALL THE GLORY OF HEAVEN
 to this sin cursed world to endure shame
 and death that we might have life. Mrs
 Bissell then read a paper ''Echoes from
 the branch annual meeting" The after
 noon exercises opened with a prayer
 service. Mrs Thompson then introduced
 Miss Carr, who had been much in Asia l and had helped the missionaries, be- 1 ing there at time when they needed help. Her home is in Warren, K. 1. She opened her address with a quotation from Ecclesiastes, ''So I returned and
 considered all the expressions that are 1 done under the sun, and behold the tears of such as were oppressed, and they had
 no comforter, and on the side of their oppressors there was power, but they had no comforter" Had the writer writ l ten this just after a journey
 THROUGH FOREIGN LANDS
 ! old. It would be better never to have
 been born than born to such an inheri- tance of oppression. One half has never been told. There is wall going up all l over the land from the women and child ren, who are ever crying out. The lot of the women of Japan is less burdensome | than other nations, because she can go out from home more and call on her l friends, but she has no protection under the statutes of her country. Her posi- l tion is one of abject servility. A girl l who had been to the school, sent for
 them to come to her. They found her l bruised on one cheek and arm by step
 brother beating her. They complained
 to the authorities. They said go to the police. What would we do? Suggest milder treatment. They could go any length in their punishment, only not to I kill her. and if they did. they would be
 arrested. The position of wife is that I of an upper servant
 l IN THE HOUSEHOLD,
 and she can be divorced at pleasure l The girls seen in tea houses are sold to
 a life of sin by their fathers, that he may have the money for some luxury, or per- l haps to buy portion of land. The girls l are first sent to school where they are l taught to conduct themselves gracefully l The condition of the Korean woman is l much more grievous. Their life is spent in one or two dismal rooms in the rear
 of her house, her lot is to wash and make her husbands s clothes and to preIare his food. In speaking of China the speaker referred to the custom of foot binding.
 It is only about 250 years old. One Wo- x Aa- .5a \ txM