The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-08

Members of the Convention and
Convention, an organization of Chris
tan Women, the basis of whose religious
convictions is the Fatherhood of God the
brotherhood of man, and the ultimate
salvation of all souls from sin. or the
supremacy of the law of love.
We are representative of Church
which believes in the great universals
as fundamental to a true religion. Hum
bly, rejoicing in these essentials of Chris
tian faith and resting in the sweet as.
surance which it gives, to be consistent,
we should earnestly desire to extend
these views to those of the world not SO
privileged. In word, the Woman's Ma
tional Missionary Society Of the Univer-
salist Church believes that the women
of the church ought to hear and obey
the Masters command, go preach my
Gospel to every creature" Gospel
of love and reconciliation which we pro-
viduals. In obedience to this belief and
recognizing the responsibility accom-
panying such possession, few faithful,
consecrated women Of the church organ
lied the Women's Centenary Association
twenty six years ago. During this more
than quarter of century, much true
mission work has been accomplished
through the exercise of great deal of
self-sacrifce and deep devotion. While
the results have not been equal to the
highest expectations of the loyal work
ers yet we are grateful for all that has
been done.
New occasions demand new methods.
The universal desire among us to keep
our place with other Women's Mission.
airy Organizations of the day, to be
equipped for the best and most effective
service as we understan missions, de-
manded a revision of the constitution.
This was accomplished one year ago
when we met in Auburn, N. Y, holding
our annual session for the first time in
dependent of the General Convention.
Inasmuch as this annual Convention
was held before either of the State Con-
ventions met, no State Societies had
been organized as our constitution now
calls for; therefore the annual meeting
in Auburn was not proper delegate
body, as is the present session, yet it was
an enthusiastic, profitable occasion, be-
ginning Tuesday evening and continuing
until Thursday afternoon. Important
measures were adopted and resolutions
passed leading to the present perfecting
of State organization and the Mission
Circles in each State. am happy in the
belief that the work accomplished the
past year marks an advance over any
previous year of the existence of the
Association.
An advance, not in amounts of money
received from States or individuals, but
in that the States of Maine, New Hamp.
shire. Vermont, Connecticut. Pennsyl-
vania. New York, New Jersey, Michigan,
Washington and District of Columbia,
have organized State Missionary Soci-
cites auxiliary to the National Society,
with active Executive Boards, made up
of some of the most able and consecrated
women of our church, who have already
done excellent work in organizing Mis-
sion Circles in the parishes during the
few months that have elapsed since their
respective conventions. 1t was my priv
ilege and pleasure to be commissioned
by the Association to attend each State
Convention from June to October, trav-
cling hundreds Of miles. will not an
ticipate the report with which the State
Presidents will favor us later on in the
session. 1t is sufficient to my purE ose
to record the fact here that the results
of the new policy of the past two years
have proved all that we claim for it,
Many women heretofore Indifferent to
any mission work have been awakened
to the Importance Of an active service in
behalf of missions at home and abroad.
A gratifying advance is manifest all
along the line wherever the idea of
closer touch with each State Society
with the National Organization has been
fully understood and welcomed. 1t is to
be regretted that some parishes and pas.
tors even have not grasped the oppor-
tunity offered when the advantages of
organizing Mission Circles have been
presented. The reply has often been
made to the suggestion to organize a
Mission Circle. 1--WE have all the organ
izations we need" 1t requires much
zeal and the exercise of all the graces of
the Christian missionary to go to a city
church with all its modern appointments
its salaried pastor and goodly congrega-
ton of worthy men and women profess
ing faith they are proud to character
ize the best extant. and force ones self
upon them and plead with them to do
their duty, to extend this same glorious
faith by joining in the missionary enter
prise of the church. 1t is always true
that the spirit of missions is the life of
the church. The blessing of God rests
on its members in proportion as they
geek to give to others. What il the dis