St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-10-09

in China, and made strong appeal to
the Vermont Branch to aid in the en-
larecment OF the work at Foochow,
stating that the expenses for twenty
girls would be $500, or only SIS each, to
help TO make Christian woman.
Mrs. Bendict said we are rich
in missionaries today and intro
duced Mrs. PedIey OF Japan, who
will be best remembered in Vermont
as Miss Martha Clark OF Peacham. She
said in substance; Nine years ago this
month first met the Vermont Branch.
| am sometimes asked, what do you love
best in Japan? have no hesitation in
saying, japanese girls. She spoke briefly
OF the five years spent at Kumumoto
and the school there. She is sometimes
asked if missionaries are needed in Japan,
which is answered by the tact that only
$4,000 Christians are there against
many millions that are not.
Miss Kent of Kobe, Japan, spoke of the
importance of the work at this end OF
the line. At the noon hour a bountilul
collation. was served in the church par
lors by our gracious hostesses.
AFTERNOON.
At the opening of the afternoon session
thereports Of the several committees we're
given, that upon messages to the mis-
sionaries and teachers from the Branch
and the c. E. societies. The committee
on place OF next meeting, which is the
twenty-hfth anniversary of the Vermont
Branch, accepted cordial invitation to
Rutland. There will also be held a dis
trict meeting at Bellows Falls some time
next spring. The committee on resolu-
tions recommended that the matter of
raising an extra sum for Foochow to
meet the appeal OF Miss Child be left to
the executive board, the amount being left
to their judgment and discretion and to
bereported at the mectingo the Woman's
Board to be held in Manchester, n H., in
November. They also expressed the full
appreciation of the ladies of the Branch
for the generous hospitality of the ladies
of Woodstock, their kindness and atten
ton, making this one of the most enjoy
able gatherings ever held. Also to the
several railroads for reduction of fares.
The election of officers followed, and
with the exception of the filling of one or
two vacancies, the old board were
elected, After prayer by Mrs. Leeds,
Miss Ely of Bitis, Turkey, was intro
duced The most intense interest has
been felt by the Branch in the Ely sisters,
who have been our CO laborers for more
than 26 years. They have in part paid
their own expenses, and now after this
long period Of hard service have returned
to their native land for rest. Miss Mary
Ely quite unexpectedly was able to be
at Woodstock, and all she had to say
was Of great interest She gave a
description of Mt Holyoke seminary at
Bitlis, the day and boarding scholars,
where five Of the graduates are now
employed as teachers. Four months of
the year are devoted to work in the out
lying districts where the influence of
Bible readers is widely felt. She says the
standard of education has greatly
advanced, Notwithstanding all the suf-
ferng in Turkey. She paid tender
tribute to the worth of the late Mr..
Knapp.
solo, beautifully given by Mrs. P. F.
Hazen of St, Johnsbury, ooh, for closer
walk with God, y was greatly enjoyed.
Mrs. Smith of India gave a brief his
tory of Ahmednagar, where she was
sent in 1879. This is an old missionary
station, is place of some So 900 or
10000 inhabitants. She gave vivid
glimpse of the women there and their
abject condition, pitiful in the extreme,
Mrs. Smith spoke in the place assigned
for Miss Nugent, who was peesent but
not able to make an address.
The report of Mrs. Hazen. secretary
for Junior work in the state, was model
for conciseness. t combined excellent
suggestions for the carrying on of the
work in the Junior auxiliares with a
record of what had been done and how
much more might be. 1t was given
clearly and distinctly and must have
impaired some Of the enthusiasm of the
secretary to her hearers. To illustrate
how the very little people were growing
into the work, she spoke of a little tot
nine years old who presided at Junior
Christian Endeavor meeting and at the
proper time said: ave will now have
business"
A quartette of four young ladies Of
Woodstock gave Zone sweetly solemn
thought" very sweetly; and the closing
number upon the programme was an
address by Miss Ellen Pierce of Aintab,
Turkey. Miss Pierce went to Turkey %
years ago. She returned little later for
short period and then went back where
for the past 81 years she has been in con-
tinuous service. She gave a history of
the strong native churches, many of