The Portland daily press., 1898-06-17
WoMEN'S BOARD OF MISSIONS.

WOMEN'S BOARD OF MISSIONS
Twenty-fifth Annual Meeting With State
Street Church.
The morning meeting Of the Maine
Branch of the Women's Board of Foreign
Missions was held in the vestry of State
street church Thursday, and opened very
promptly at half past ten, the president,
Mrs. W. II. Fem. After the Scripture
reading and the prayer, Mrs. J. L.
Jenkyns gave very cordial address of
welcome to the ladies present, congratu-
lating them upon the completion Of the
twenty fifth anniversary of their work,
and more especially for having had the
same efficient president, expressing from
the ladies of the State street church the
pleasure it gave to receive the members of
the mission society. Mrs. Fem said it
gave her great pleas Ire to have the meet
ing at the State street ch urch, for the
women there had always been most
hospitable in opening their doors to the
Womens Board, this being the fourth
time the annual meeting had been held
in that church. Mrs. Fem also spoke Of
the bond of union between the two
parishes of State and High street, the
State street being q daughter church of
the High street parish, and therefore the
reciprocal affection was especially strong.
After the singing Of a hymn, Mrs. Fenn,
as president, gave most interesting ad-
dress, in which she told something of the
history of this Maine Branch OF Foreign
Missions, telling Of the first meeting of
three women at High street church, Mrs.
Lord, Miss Spofford and Miss Gould,
now Mrs. Rowland, who organized the
society. Special mention was made OF
Miss Clara Hamlen. Miss Agnes Lord.
Miss Kimball and Miss Gould, Miss Bliss
and Miss Ladd, the missionaries who
have been sent out by the Maine Branch
of the W. B. NJ, and who have all done
such excellent, conscientious work in the
countries where they have been sent.
Mrs Fem also had pleasant word to
say for the women who had held Offices in
the past, and If those who were no longer
working in this world. She also stated
that in these twenty five years 500, 900
had been contributed, fifteen thousand
of which had been given by legacies. This
address was given in Mrs. Fenn's usual
graceful and charming manner, and her
presence must ever have given inspiration
to the past twenty-five annual meetings
to which she has always been present.
Miss Hayes's report as home secretary
was read by Mrs. ]. B. Thompson, which
stated the satisfactory condition of the
various auxiliaries through the state. and
but little change as to members. Special
mention was made of the interest revived
by the personal visits of Miss Mary Nor
rill to almost every auxiliary in the state.
| Reports from the vice presidents from
Franklin, Oxford, Waldo, Cumberland,
Kennebec, who were present were listened
to with great interest.
Mrs j. ". D. Carter's report Of the
work in Foreign Mission was given with
great earnestness. Mrs. Carter said she
had "a keen pang of regret that we
could not do little more," though the
work had been satisfactory. Twenty live
years ago, said Mrs. Carter, there was no
medical women missionary, but now the
work done by women in this field was
wonderful In results. Mrs. Carter spoke
very enthus astically of the results accom-
plished in China, Japan, Turkey and
Africa. and advised every woman present
to take "Life and Light"
Mrs. J. 3. Thompson as secretary of
the Junior Branch of the work, reported
a year full of hopeful signs. Mrs. Thomp.
son said she sent a card containing several
questions in regard to the interest of mis-.
sionary matters TO the one hundred and
ninety Congregational churches in our
state. Most of the responses from these
churches showed that the Christian En-.
deavor societies were taking the time
previously devoted to the mission work.
| There are already seventeen junior
auxiliaries formed, and there are prospects
of more. Both Mrs. Thompson and Mrs.
Cole, who spoke for the juvenile societies
felt that the lasting results of missionary
work, must be brought about through in
teresting the children and young people
OF the churches.
The following officers were elected,
after which the women adjourned for
luncheon in the rooms below the vestry:
President-Mrs. VI. H. Fem.
Vice Presidsnts-Mrs Moses Burpee
Houlton; Miss 4 1bie Martin, Brunswick;
| Miss Katharine d. 1Iteonab, Pennington
Miss Hannah T. Buck, OtIand Mrs.
Oscar HoIway, Augusta; Mics NJ. M.
Fiske, Bath; Mrs. h. S. Chandler,
Bethel; Miss Sarah 4. Curtis. Garland, !,
Mrs. Frank Dinsnofe, M&disoa; Ars. G.
B Barrows. Fryeburg; Ars. Edward
Libby, Belfast; Mrs. Goo. 81. Eaton,
Calais, Mrs. J. q. Bur2e1gh, South Eer-
wick.
Corresponding Secretaries, Honorary
Miss Sophia Spoford, Koeklaadi Mrs. j.
W. D. Garter, Portland.
Home Secretary j. y. Thompson,
Portland.
Secretary for Junior Work-Mrs. j. r.
Thompson.
Assistant Secretary for Junior Work
A xxf-a