The Portland daily press., 1896-06-13
woMsN's FOREIGN MISSIONS.
Annual Meeting of Maine Branch ab
Watcryille.

The beautiful city of Waterville with
its hospitable homes opened wide its
doors to the women of the Maine Branch,
Thursday, June 18th, on the occasion of
the annual meeting of the Branch, the
first one held undsr the changed constitu-
ton. 1t will be remern bered that this
meeting has always been held in connec-
ton with the state conference. Under
the change it will hereafter be held in
dependently during the early part of
June.
The women were given most pleasant
welcome by Mrs. Oscar Holway Of Au-
gusta, who spoke for Kennebeo confer
ence, and Mrs. Henry Hanson, represent
ing Waterville church. Following these,
and the response by Mrs. Fcnn, came the
presidents address. We give an abstract;
We feel gratitude to God for His good
ness in caring for our missionaries amid
so many dangers. Miss Grace Kimball
of Turkey, is showing what can be done
with Christ at her side. The sweet sup
plemen5ing of one another's gifts and
graces is shown in the blending of two
lives like those of Miss Morrill, and Miss
Gould as they labor together in China.
In the sympathy of doing for the
suffering Armenians there has been a
tendency to overlook the pledged work to
which we are engaged. We must not
forget to let our Judgment and heart act
together, that while with one hand We
relieve immediate distress, with the other
we do our legitimate work.
Miss Ella H. Hayes, home secretary,
compared the work of the Maine Branch
with it's various tributaries to steady
overlooking river. The subjects for study
among the auxiliaries have comprised
many papers on the Turkish situation
and Armenian sufferings systematic and
proportionate giving with many kindred
topics. The visits of Mrs. Capin. Misses
Kyle and Root throughout the state have
been helpful in arousing new interest in
the work.
The foreign secretary, Mrs. J. w. d.
Garter, gave verbal report of the work
in substance as follows A great awaken
ing in the Marshall islands has taken
place, four hundred people united with
the church; 5000 have been raised during
the past year by the natives. In one of
the largest lagoons in the islands there
are 1000 Christians and Ills scholars in
the Christian schools. Christianity is
getting hold of the higher classes in
India. China is slowly, though steadily
awakening to the purifying influences of
the gospel. Japan is losing it's conceited
feeling that followed it's first flush Of
victory, and is again looking to the
missionaries for knowledge and advice.
Africa is most hopeful, SO our mis-
sionaries feel. The women ara anxious
to get Christian ideas. The schools are
beginning to assume self support. Poor
bruised, bleeding Armenians in Turkey
would give up the struggle altogether,
but for the care and help our mission
aries are giving them.
Mrs. @. G.. Chapman, treasurer of the
Branch. was pleased to announce that
the receipts for the year were larger,
with one exception than ever before. be-
ing near five Thousand dollars. She ex-
pressed the wish that all moneys from
Maine be sent through its treasurer,
rather than direct to the rooms in
Boston, for this presented complications
most embarrassing some times.
Mrs. FL. G. Mank of New Gloucester,
presented most practical paper on
GLOW to Advance the Work in County
Churches which WAS followed by an
animated discussion which proved of in
tsrest and profit.
She said that she and the home
secretary have prepared programmes to
be used in Missionary meetings which
they would be glad to send to any desir-
ing them. The noon time hour of prayer
closed thu forenoon meeting.
The afternoon service opened with
prayer. followed by paper from Mrs.
T. 8. Williamson of Augusta on Mi ssion
Literature" She advocated the CONSOLE
dation of various missionary magazines
to obtain best results. She thought mis-
sionary literature in these busy days not
concise enough. The trend of the age is
toward concentration in every thing. Ami
mated discussion followed on the question
of mission literature in Sunday schools.
Many said that books of missionary in
terast were used in the various Sunday
schools, and were read with deep interest
The third and last paper of the day was
s'The Necessity for Junior Work in
Maine" by Mr.. l.. Thompson of Port
land. To organize and sustain junior
work in Maine there is need of
thorough, systematic organization. The
parent society has adopted it, from the
cradle roll of the baby, through the
juvenile circles Of the young girl to the
bonds Of young ladies associates. This
is the time to interest. Ignorance is
criminal. All kinds of knowledge Is
studiously sought. Maine has not trained
the young girls to missions. 1t is so
large that the methods of SO doing have
not yet been understood. These points
Of tie paper were discussed most in
terestedly by many, the only regretable
thing about the discussion being lack of
sufficient time to prolong it as was
wished. Question box conducted by Mrs
rt1 In fol