Evening star., 1896-06-11
AT HOME AND ABROAD
Good Women Discuss the Needs of
Methodist Missions.
APPROPRIATIONS FOR THEIR SUPPORT
Other Business Transacted at the
Annual Meeting.
EXT YEA RS DIRK

The annual meeting of tho woman's board
| of home and foreign missions of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South, which began
Saturday last at Mount Vernon Place
Church. closed at noon today. and adjourn
ed to meet in Birmingham Ala, in June
1897.
The proceedings Of the final session were
very interesting. At the suggestion of Miss
M. L. Gibson. Of Kansas City, and indorsed
by Miss Belle L. Bennett Of Kentucky, the
members Of the board enthusiastically
pledged themselves to secure 100000 men,
bers for the missionary society, and to
raise 500 600 for the missionary cause dur
ing the year.
Bishop Hurst Of the M. f. Church was
introduced to the board, and he made an
address, expressing his regret that the
board had not been able to arrange for a
visit to the site Of the American University,
and urged the members of the board TO
project great things for God.
Shortly after Bishop Hurst closed his ad
dress he was presented by Mrs. Wightman
with an autograph letter written by John
Wesley in 17S9, one year before his death.
The bishop accepted the valuable gift, and
assured Mrs. Wightman that he would de-
posit the letter in the archives Of the
American University.
Mrs. Trueheart made an address. in which
she stated that her feelings were wounded
when last evening Mrs. Swindell made her
speech in advocacy Of the separation Of
the offices Of secretary for home and for
eign affairs respectively.
Mrs. SWindell rose TO question of per-
sonal privilege, and said that she meant
| nothing personal to Mrs. Trueheart in her
| remarks. but that In carrying on the work
of the church, the woman was nothing and
the church everything. Rev. Dr. Swindel
made few remarks and after singing all
appropriate selection ana the pronouncing
of the benediction, President Wightman
declared the annual meeting at an end.
The most strenuous efforts were made on
the part Of many of the members to COM
p!ete the business which called them to-,
some of whom live in the far south, are
anxious to reach their homes before Sun
day, but it was found impossible to do so.
Despite the hurry of business last night
the board found time to adopt, by a unani
nous vote. a letter to Bishop Hurst of the
NJ. E. Church. which read as follows:
1t would afford the womans board of
missions profound qualification to visit.
under your conduct. the site for the Ameri-
can University, and. while standing upon
that sacred sward, to unite in singing
of Nations that our beloved land may ever
| be the synonym Of faith, freedom and fed
ere Ion.
1--WE would be glad to identify the spot
where the college for scientific temperance
instruction will rear it's pure front; we covet
to gather where the college for missionaries
Is to be builded, and from that mount of
vision behold the trained and Well-euuipped
army Issuing thence to the peaceful con-
quest Of the world.
Through the pressure Of business we
must forego the great pleasure, but assure
you of our JOY that this magnificent ideal
Is already crystallfzing in beautiful reality,
and We pray that in fulfilling the weighty
responsibility resting upon you, you will
Gospel and its Divine Author. and be en-
dued with amplitude Of blessing by the Holy
Spirit"
Appropriations for Missions.
The devotional services of the evening
were conducted by Rev. DR.. I. w. Canter,
pastor of Mt. Vernon Place Church, and
after the transaction of some routine busi-
ness Mrs. 8. c. Trueheart read the report
of the missionary committee. The appro-
priations, as finally agreed upon, were;
China. s27. $50; Mexico, $37, $50; Brazil, s14,-
25O; Indian territory, $6.15O: contingent ex-
penses, 5000; to assist in paying the saa-
ries of three ladies in Japan, 81 800; total,
$93, 800.
Mrs. Wightman urged the delegates to
use their best endeavors to raise a special
fund Of $26,OOO to be used in the extension
OF the work in the foreign field. and pledges
for the greater part of that amount were
made by those present.
When the report of a special committee
appointed to consider the official relations
of Mrs. 8. G. Trueheart, the acting secre-
was found to contain a recommendation
that Mrs. Trueheart. who was elected Sec
retary for home affairs at the last meeting
OF the general conference. be empower
to act also as secretary for foreign affairs
until the quadrennial election in 1898.
An Objection Raised.
Mrs Swindell of the North Carolina con-
ference raised quite a breeze by asserting
that the action of the committee was un-
constitutional, and that 1t was the duty of
the board to elect q secretary for foreign
affairs to succeed Mrs McGavock, who died
since the last annual meeting of the board
and whose place has since been filled by
Mrs. Trueheart. Mrs swindell said further
that she had consulted Bishop Wilson who
wrote the constitution for the government
of the mission board. and also an eminent
judge, and both declared that the board
must elect secretary to succeed Mrs. Nc
Gavock at this meeting.
Miss Gibson, principal Of the Scarritt
Bible and Training School, Kansas CITY,
said she consulted Bishop Hendrix on the
subject before she came to the meeting of
the board. and he informed her that it was
clearly within the province of the board to
empower Mrs. Trueheart to continue to act
as foreign secretary while holding the Of
flee Of secretary for home affairs.
By this time 1t was quite evident that the
board intended to adopt the report Of the
committee, and, foreseeing this, Mrs Swim
dell again took the floor and said: II want
the recording secretary to put it down in
big letters that there Is one member CT the
woman's board who has the courage of her
convictions and who will not see the con-
stttution of her missionary society violated
without entering her protest" No one else
showing Il desire to speak on the subject.
the chair called for vote on the report.
and 1t was adopted with but one dissenting
vote-that Of Mrs. Swindell.
Missionary Work In Japan
During the discussion of the report #
was developed that the woman's board had
long desired TO take up the missionary
work in Japan. and that 1t was the wish
of the general board, which is composed of
the board Of bishops and some of the lead
Ing general officers Of the church, tina.
they should do so. but in view of the fact
that the appropriations for the ensuing
missionary year were largely in excess Of
the sum appropriated for any one year for a
long time and far in advance of what the
receipts have been during any preceding
twelve months, 1t was considered out of
the power Of the woman's board to comply
with the request Of the general board at
this time.
committee. consisting mainly of the
executive officers Of the womar's board.
was. however, appointed to CONFER with
the general board previous to the next an
nual meeting Of the former, and see II the
matter can be arranged so as to take ef-
feet Immediately, subsequent to the meet
Ing OF the wOmanS board at Rirminohoy,o