The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-07
WoMEN's FOREIGN MISSIONS.
Annual Meeting Held at Chestnut st.
Church.

The annual meeting Of the Portland
district OF the Women's Foreign Missions
was held yesterday at Chestnut street
church. About fifty or sixty ladies were
present in the morning but no list of
delegates was handed to the secretary,
since the different auxiliaries were rep
resented by those who felt able to oome
The meeting was held in the ladies'
parlor of the church owing to the num-
Der who were in attendance.
At ten o'clock a devotional service
was led by Mrs. Phelan. At eleven
o'clock Mrs. Parsons, wife of the pastor
OF Chestnut street, extended cordial
greeting to the society to which Mrs
Eastman, the president, responded.
Mrs. Howard strout, the secretary,
read her minutes of the last meeting.
held in May, which were published at
the time. Her report, as treasurer,
showed small balance in the treasury.
Mrs. Canham. the district secretary,
made this report:
MRS. CANHAM's REPORT.
"We find great reason to thank God
and take courage for the battles fought
and the victories won. Immediately fol-
lowing our last district meeting our
dearly. loved, loyal, earnest and self-for
getful Clara Cushman, with her Usual
zeal and earnestness responded to calls
from Kennebunkport, Gorham, Vest
brook and York village. Auxfliaries
were organized at Kennebunkport and
Anvh ,irh aim rtn
members. the latter with fourteen. Cor
ham, with her membership OF IA, as
sumed the support of an active teacher,
and for the last six months have, by the
payment of $50, been teaching by proxy,
whole sohool.in Nankin. EOhina.
Though VIC may not see throughout
the district the toll and sacrifice thar has
entere. into the work, OF the indifference
and cal elessness of some, yet He who
knoweth all hearts. sees 1t all. One
auxiliary has persisted in dying In spite
of all efforts to the contrary, yet we hope
for at least one dormant spark In some
Christian heart, that may be famed into
a fame. A mite box circle recently
formed at Alfred, is hoped to be but an
entering wedge to prosperous auxiliary.
Pubic meetings have been held during
the year at South Portland, West End,
Pleasnntdale, Old Orchard and Saco, the
latter with Mrs. Asa Durrell for presi
dent taking the lead. A penny colleo-
ton taken more than provides for the
contingent..fund of the CENTRE member.
ship. They paid the salary of native
preacher in India. South Portland,
Chestnut and Pine street report valuable
donations. Woodfords enjoyed "a rich
treat during the summer in an inspiring
address by Miss Eugenia Gibson. We
have only little more than held our own
In mem bership during the year, there
being sos against 465 of last year.
The mission band, under the super
vision of Mrs. Sadie Strous has recently
developed into young ladies' Missionary
society having very promising corps of
officers sand members. Chestnut street
band reports membership Of 30 realiz-
ing SIS, and later 500 at sociable; the
Congress street band, % members, and
one at Berwick with Is, are both -four
ishing. At the branch meeting in Water
town great stress WAS placed upon young
women g societies. Mission bands and
Little Light Bearers circles. This has
been called the Peoples Age. If this be
true ought we MOTTO strive more earnest
ly to make missions conspicuously
PROMINENT"
Mrs. I. Luce read asreport of the pro-
ceilings Of the New England branch held
at Watertown, Mass. in October last 1t
had been intended to have paper read
by Mrs. Kimball. of Woodfords on 'Prao.
tical Hints, but owing to the hour, it
was postponed.
These committees were appointed:
Nomination-Mrs. Palmer of Saco, Mrs
Cobb OF Gorham. Mrs. Luce Of Old
Orchard.
Resolutions-Mrs. Reynalds of Pleasant
dale, Mrs. Tuckwell of Congress street.
MONDAY prayer was offered by
Mrs. Atkinson said her pupils, girls, were
very bright, anxious to learn and ao-
quired their studies quickly. She told a
story of one young girl in one of her
classes, the daughter of member of the
Jaranese parliament who was sent TO her
to learn the English language. The girl
was an apt scholar, became deeply inter-
ested in Christianity, and convert. Her
father WAS at first very angry but later
became reconciled.
A basket lunch was enjoyed in the
vestry
The afternoon session was held in the
vestry and commenced at 2 O'Clock.
Prayer was offered by Rev. G. W. Pal
sons.
A duet by members Of the Mission
Band was then rendered.
The report of the nominating commit
tee WAS received and by vote adopted and
by their report the following officers
were declared elected:
PresIdent-Mrs. J. B. Donnell, Port
land.
Secretary Treasury-Mrs. S. I. Strout,
Woodfords.
Corresponding Secretary-Mrs. Canaan
Old Orchard.
Vice-p president are from each sociepy.
The committee Oh resolutions then off,
cred appropriate resolutions, among the
number being a vote of thanks to the
mem ers of the Chestnut street society
for their hospitality in entertaining the
convention.
The report of the conference treasurer
was then read as follows, showing the
receipts from each district: Augusta dis
trict, 50. 700; Lewiston, about s617.60. and
Portland about $3.50. The contingent
fund shows ssh 16 on hand The reCei pts