The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-23
PORTLAND DISTRICT MISSIONS.
semi-Annual Meeting of Methodist wom-
ems Society.


ems Society.
The semi-annual meeting of the Port
land District Methodist, Woman's Foreign
Missionary society was held yesterday
with the auxiliary society connected with
the Peaks Island church. The officers
and delegates to the meeting left Portland
at and 10. 80 q. M, on the steamers of
the Casco Bay line. A devotional service
was held beginning at ten O'Clock, pre-.
sided over by Mrs. W. F. Holmes of
South Portland.
The regular meeting was called to order
at eleven o'clock A very pretty address
of welcome to the members and delegates
was delivered on behalf OF the local
church by Mrs. E. A. Jones.
The president of the district association
then called on Rev. Mrs. Israel Luce of
South Berwick, who responded to the ad-
dress of welcome.
Mrs. j. B. Donnell the district presi-
dent then spoke OF the work accomplished
in the mission fields during the past year
daa C2AhOl pOtl tiiO LiClApCfc odliAS INV
coming year to use greater efforts in pro-
noting the interests of missions.
In the absence of Mrs. S. I. Strout, the
district recording secretary, Mrs. Ella G..
Turner of Portland was appointed secre-
tary pro tenn.
The report of the treasurer was sub
mitted, showing that the expenses of the
year had been paid and that small
balance remained on hand.
The report of the district field secre-
tary, Mrs. Walter Canhana of Old Or
chard, was submitted. Mrs. Canham
spoke of the work that had been accom-
plished during the year. and paid glow
ing tribute to the work done in York
county by Miss Atkinson, a returned
missionary from Japan. Mrs. Canham
referred to the necessity of organization
among the young ladies of the church in
mission work and suggested that much
good could be accomplished if each
church would organize young ladies'
mission band and that the society SO or
ganized be under the general care and in
struction of superintendent. The report
further cited that all of the auxiliaries of
the Foreign Missionary society were in
flour ishing condition. The aux iliaries at
Biddeford, Pleasantdale, West End, Port
land, Gorham and Old Orchard are pro-
viding scholarships in some one of the
mission fields. During the year the dis
trict association has received bequest of
$500 from the estate of Miss Mary Ann
Darby Of Alfred to be used in the work
of extending the cause of foreign missions.
Mrs. Canham concluded her report by
suggesting that one of the best ways to
assist and encourage the work of foreign
missions was to subscribe for and read
the several journals published in the in
terests of the work.
AS matter of unfinished business Miss
Luce on behalf of the nominating COM
mittee, presented their report and the
following were elected officers for the en-.
suing term: President, Mrs. j. B. Dom
nell, Portland; recording secretary and
treasurer, Mrs Ella c. Turner, Portland.
Mrs. Donnell has been very successful
as president of the society for several
terms, and her reelection was the occa-
sion for the congratulations of her friends.
Upon suggestion Of the president the
president, Woo president and secretary of
the Congress street church, Portland, and
the Saco auxiliary were designated pro-
gramme committee to assist the president
in arranging for the next semi-annual
meeting.
The invitations of the Congress street
and the Biddeford societies were accepted
as the places for holding the next two
semi-annual meetings. The thanks of
the society were extended to Mrs. Strout,
the retiring secretary and treasurer.
The noon hour having arrived brief
season of prayer was lead by Mrs. Wheat
ley of the Peaks Island auxiliary.
A question box was then opened and
conducted for fifteen minutes by Mrs.
Canham. The delegates then upon invita-
tion of Mrs. E. A. Jones adjourned to
the Union house, where basket dinner
was enjoyed.
The services were resumed at two
o'clock, with scripture reading by Walter
Canham, and prayer by Rev. E. C.Strout.
Mrs. F. B. Clark then read very in
teresting story on the life of missionary,
founded upon the experiences of one of
the missionaries of the church, Mrs.
Sheldon, who is laboring in India.
A collection was then taken after which
Mrs. Ridgway of Evanston, ILL.,, was in
troduced and in an interesting way told
Of many things that she had seen in the
lives of missionaries in various parts Of
the world where she has visited, particu-
larly in India and China.
She gave much of interest concerning
the har1ships and self sacrifice that mis-
sionaries are called upon to make and
suggested that more missionaries are