The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-06-12

Yesterday was devoted to foreign mis-
sions. The sessions were presided over by
Mrs. NJ. l.. Lowell, of Flint, and Mrs.
N. NJ. Osborne acted as secretary. Mrs.
Lowell conducted the devotional exercises
at the morning session. Greetings were re-
ceved from the M. f. church. through
Mrs. A. Sherman, from the Baptist church.
through Mrs. Watkins and from the Church
Of Christ through Rev. l.. w. Spayd.
Mrs. K. ID. Perkins gave an interesting
account of the state meeting, held at Port
Huron, last March, reporting that the Gene
see association had contributed S305.33 for
the cause of missions last year.
Mrs. Gould, of Flint, explained that the
contingent fund, to which each lady of the
Congregational church was asked to give
ten cents, was to pay necessary expenses
of postage, stationery, printing, etc., at
the state headquarters. Mrs Hamblin made
some very apt remarks on the same topic,
after Mrs. King, of Highland, had opened
the discussion with paper full of practical
hints on the collection of this fund.
Mrs. A. j. Baldwin, read paper written
by Mrs. Goodrich, a returned missionary
upon the sbject. "China for Christ"
Christ included China in his salvation of
the world. China is a very difficult field;
the people are superstitious and not religi-
Gus. They have always despised foreign
ers, whom they suspect of being mercenary.
They are self-satisfed race, and conse-
Quently difficult to teach. They have an
excellent knowledge of morals, but their
morals are of the head, not the heart. The
field is so difficult that missionaries almost
lose their faith. Five million of bibles have
been distributed in China, and the royal
palace is now supplied with copies.
The health of the missionaries should be
maintained and needless sacrifice ayerted.
The death of the materaism, prevalent
there, will only come through prayer and
fasting. There are $4,000 native Christians
there now, and their sacrifices certainly ex-
empt them from the charge of insincerity.
After a hymn entitled, "Christ for the
World" was sung, Miss Abby X. Tilletson
gave an excellent reading entitled, Patch
work." The session was closed with prayer
and the delegates adjourned to the church
parlOrs, where dinner was served.
The afternoon session was quite largely
attended and very interesting throughout.
Mrs. j. G. Cromer conducted the devotional
exercises.
A welcome address was then given by
Mrs. Louisa A. Gould, who was the first
president of the Genesee association, found
ed at OwossO church in 1875.
The following officers of the foreign de-
partment Of the mission work were elected
for the ensuing year: President, Mrs. M.
L. Lowell, Of Flint; Mrs. E. D. Perkins, of
OwOssO, vice president; Miss G. A. Shaver,
of st. Johns, secretary. The next meeting
will be held at Flint.
Pertinent readings were given by Miss
Lowell, of Flint and Miss Margaret Olcott.
Mrs. Albert Todd read strong.paper on
Japan. She showed how rapidly Japan is
changing and how the new treaty is In
many respects far superior to the old and
grievous ones previously existing. The
missionaries now have rights of residence
and property holding, and can 20 through
the land with liberty
Mrs. Todd spoke of the state of ferment
existing in religious matters. Shintoism,
Buddhism and Christianity all exist, side by
side in the same empire. The christians
are wide awake and inclined to freedom of
thought. A strong feeling has recently
come to the surface, and together with other
differences between the native christians
and the missionaries, caused the American
board to send deputation to japan to ad-
just matters. The outlook is now bright
for missions in Japan.
Miss Abby Tillotson read some 'Pen and
Ink Sketches" of various missionaries;
among them Mrs. Marden and Miss Hess
were spoken of. The reading was listened
to with interest by all.
Mrs. Eta Hill Gould sang very sweetly
song, I'm the Secret of His Presence" COM
posed by native of India.
Mrs. A. j. Baldwin presented series of
resolutions, which were adopted, thanking
the OwossO ladies for their kind entertain
ment and congratulated them upon the sus-
cess of the meeting, which adjourned, after
the children's meeting at four o'clock. The
children were addressed by Miss Wilcox,
Mrs. Lowell and Mrs. Baldwin.
With the blood full Of humors, the heated
term Is all the more oppressive. Give the
system thorough cleansing with Ayers