The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-14
SPOKE TO THE WOMEN
MRS. CHARLOTTE 0. VAN CLEyE
POINTS OUT THEIR WORK
Tells Them They Should Take an Ac-
tive Interest in the DOings of the
Church--Refers to the Good Influ-
ence of Foreign Missionary Work
-Recites Personal Experiences.

The pulpit Of the First Presbyterian
church was last evening supplied by a
dear old lady with silvery hair whose
sweet face and kindly words are
known wherever there is a mission or
church organization all over the state.
Mrs. Charlotte o. Van Cleve, who IS
closely identified with the work Of the
missions of the state, spoke in First
Presbyterian church before a large au-
dience. She spoke particularly of the
good influence of foreign missionary
work in the church, and closed with q
few stories of her experience among
the Indians in years gone by. She said
among other things:
You will know, of course, that during
the last twenty-five years the women of our
church have taken a very active interest in
missionary work. l am afraid sometimes
that the women do so much of the work
the men are leaving it all for them to do.
The work began in New York city years
ago, and has since spread to every state in
the Union.
There are several boards and, 1 am
speaking of our own church. they are all
working together just like trained soldiers.
Tonight l. shall speak in the most part
to the women. and hope they will wake up
to the Importance Of the work have no
ticed that in the churches where there is
active wotnan's society, that church is
successful 1 remember little school house
way out in the prairies, where I went to
attend meeting once. and as l stood In
saw the people coming from here and there
in their wagons my heart was full. They
came and filled UP the church. They gave
literally and seemed delighted to be en-
abled to come and hear the gospel.
''Since the gospel has been taught to the
Indians they have put us to shame by their
liberality. There is church in the Dakota
presbytery where the self-sacrifce and lib
crafty is perfectly astonishing Every single
woman of the church is a member of the
missionary society and they frequently have
to sit up nights doing work to support them
selves and to- bring money to give to the
church.
''They give one-half of all they earn for
the spread Of the gospel: Why do they do
than anything elese in the world. hope
If there is not an active society in this
church there will soon be one formed.
know the pastor desires it. When 1 was in
ting in the church just before the meeting
began, when old man came and laid
silver dollar in my hand What is that
for?' asked. I want to give it to the home
but the money came from his heart. took
that Identical dollar and gave it to our
president of the home society. and she said
she should make that dollar yield good
many dollars. by telling. the story which
went with it. 1 want the women of the
church to take hold Of the work and their
sons ana huSDanQS Will become uIeTeSteu
and encourage it.
'Out in the villages in the prairies where
it is cold 1 often think the missionary So
cieties are better than stoves to keep the
hearts warm
Mrs. Van Cleve made short prayer, and.
after the choir was heard, she gave few
experiences of her life in the state in the
early part of the work. She told of the
first Sunday school in Fort Smelling opened
by Mrs. Smelling and Mrs. Van. Cleve's
mother. and of the first school. where the
teacher was a smart man when he was
sober, but was so given to drink that he
was turned away from the fort at last.
When, telling Of the first Sunday school;
she SAID The sab6ath scdooi was s ha1iId
ing now standing. We began at the begin
ming of the Bible and studied 1t right
through. remember the life Of Moses very
much interested, all of us, and my brother
and myself used to talk 1T over at night
When we came to his death we were greatly
affected Moses was dead, and we We felt IT
Capt. Hunter the next day. He looked
very grave. What is the matter; any bad
news?' she asked. No. he said, only isn't
it too bad Moses is dead?'
Il thoroughly believe that the Indians
may be trusted so long as they are treated
right. They never forget an injury. and
was alone in our cabin. My husband was
in the town some miles distant, and would
remain all night. saw Indians coming up
the road. l was never afraid of the In
dians, SO 1 went to the door and asked them
what they wanted. They wanted place to
stay all night l showed them room |
kept for those who wished to remain till
morning. The door opened directly into my
room. When they passed into the room
each one handed me his gun. And the
guns were stacked up In my room all night.
In the morning 1 gave them each their
guns and they went away. After that I
used to receive game. etc. often from these
men to show they were grateful.
Another time I was rocking my baby
to sleep when a great foot was thrust into
my lap. and there was an Indian who had
taken this way to tell me something was
wrong with his foot. 1t was frozen. So 1
bathed it lit needed it, and bandaged it,
and he came several times after to have it
treated