The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-10-03
CLOSING SESSIONS

The meeting al the Womsn's Board OF
Missions Wednesday afternoon brought out
a large attendance. Auch of the time was
taken up by reading reports from the
auxiliary societies in several counties of
the State, all of which showed gratifying
progress in their respective fields.
Mrs. p +. Hazen gave an interesting re-
view Of the work accomplished during the
past year among the Junior societies. She
stated that Caledonia was the banner
county in contributions to missions. Mrs.
l.. H. Elliot presented the report OF the re-
cording secretary, Supplementary it by the
aid Of maps upon which she had Ingenious
ly compiled statistics relating to Vermont
churches. Among the many facts and fig
ures she gave were these: 5000 had been
contributed by Vermonters since last Jam
uary to the destitute in famine stricken To-
dia. Fourteen churches in Vermont have
made no contribution to missions within the
past five years.
Miss Jane Chaplin of the Woman's Board
of Chicago, who has been teacher in the
Bridgman boarding school for girls in Pc
kin. China, since 1871 and only leaving there
some two months ago, spoke upon the pro-
gress OF the school and expressed the be-
lief that mission work in China would re-
ceive stimulus rather than a set back as a
result OF the present war;
Miss Lamson, representing the Bureau OF
Exchange, W. b. M. in Boston, addressed
the convention and stated that the past
summer had been particularly hard for the
Board owing to the doubt and uncertainty
regarding the safety of loved ones in China.
She said that the return Of peace In Asia
and Africa would bring additional oppor-
tunities and responsibilities which must be
dutifully met and made an urgent appeal
for increased funds to carry on the work.
DR.. Henry o. Dwight Of Constsntinople
was the last speaker and discussed the con.
dition OF womankind in Turkey. "In every
Nhwta 4
degraded, which acts as an aggressive anti
Christian force" Hence women must un-
dertake the work Of missions because they
can get access where men cannot. The key
to the evangelizstion OF the world is held
by the Woman's Board OF Missions, and the
outlook for missions would be hopeless,
were they TO be manned by men alone.
The annual election OF officers resulted in
reelection OF the entire board OF the past
year.
The closing meeting of the convention
was held in the evening TO which the public
was Invited. Rev. DIR. Norman Seaver pre-
sided. Mrs, Ballanlins gave historical
address on India. She traced the steady
progress thai Christianity has made. She
reviewed the social status OF women,
dwelling a. consideT able length upon the
indigniLies and prosecutions TO which they
have long been subjected. III address
closed with vivid portrayal of the terrible
conditions pi evail ny in the famine stricken
districts, emphasizing the need of imme-
diate relief.
The tiAal address was delivered by Row.
DIR. G. t. Smart Of Manchester on 1.-The
Condition and Criticism of Nj ssions in
Oh ma" Dr.. Slnart took the press severely
to task for its criticism Of missionaries,
which he veh' mently denounced as supst-
hcial, unjust and untrue. He exOnersted
them from being guilty of npsetting stabl
conditions or stirri up sediiion in China
Chinese character is idiomatic, Illogical
and incomprehsnsibe. China has always
resisted Western civilization but through
the vital forces OF intellectualism, com
mercislism and religion has bsen COM
PEELED 10 absorb some Of IL. -