The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-11-04

or those faithful ones who, in lovine
 courage entered upon this new Chris
 tan service of ministering to the neces
 sltles or our home missionaries, nearly
 all nave already heard the welcome
 well done!Y 'Inasmuch as ye have
 dohe It unto one of the least of these
 my brethren, ye have done it unto me. .'
 ot the little company who gathered for
 that first meeting so long ago, three re-
 main with us; one of these was one of
 the first board of managers and her
 honored name is still on our list al-
 though she has not been able to meet i With us for several years, her unfail- ! Ing interest in our work has been | evinced by constant and generous gifts.
 Another is still in active service, aid ! Ing week by week in the work which | she has taken under her special care, a 1 comfortable task, and in many other | ways helping to carry the burden; the
 third, who, as child, was present at ! that gathering, was for some years an
 efficient officer of the society and is still among our managers. We find in l, the reports many loving tributes of grateful appreciation of the services of
 efficiency and lf-sacrificing officers of
 the society, whose names were as
 household words in the families of
 many missionary on the frontier, and
 whose memory is still lovingly cherish
 ed. Especially is this true of Mrs.
 Lathrop, for so many years the first
 directress. She had an unusual equip
 ment for the position; having been her
 self the wife of a home missionary
 she knew the needs, and devoted her
 self with a full consecration to what
 ever ministries of love in behalf of mis-
 sionaries came within the range of her
 possibilities" Succeeding Mrs. Whit
 ney and Mrs. Leonard Bacon, names
 honored in our history, Mrs. Lathrop held the position of first directress for
 ten years. She was followed by Mrs, Truman French, whose term of office was longer than that of any other president-thirteen years. Mrs, French
 was very successful in developing the home side of the society and creating an
 atmosphere of sociahiity at the meet ings. Many of us remember the friend ly invitation which she extended to us, as strangers, to join the society and her kindly efforts to promote our &C.,
 quaintance among the members. Miss Mary Shipman succeeded her. She was one of the first managers of the society and it's interests were ever very near her heart. Her tender sympathy for everyone in need, her interest in the Masters cause everywhere, her enthusi- astic love for our own church and de- sire for it's upbuildng found ample scope in the two-fold object of this so ciety. Miss Shipman held the office but two years and was succeeded by Miss Julia Twining, who served the society for nine years as it's president. Miss Twining brought to the office rare executive ability and business methods, l and as one has said, 'her influence steadily tended to put our work upon broader and truer basis, to deepen our sense of responsibility, and to energlze both our faith and our efforts"
 As we turn to the list of vice pres- dents our eyes at once catch familiar names. Mrs, George H. Townsend was chosen a vice president in 1871, and four years later, Mrs. Gilbert became her associate. Together they shared with the president the responsibility and la bor of the society always giving to it their best in interest and activity. In 1884 Mrs Townsend felt obliged to give up the office, although by no means her active assistance and cooperation. Mrs. Robert Bradley who had long been among the active managers was elected to the position and most faith fully has she filled it. For few years Mrs Ritter was added to the number of vice presidents and rendered efficient aid and for three years past we have had the interested and valuable assist ance of Mrs. Dr. Nicoll in that position. Our senior vice president has held of- flee in the society for a longer term of years than any other officer, and is tru | Iy it's polished cornerstone.
 The carefully prepared statistics of the society, the interesting reports which have been characteristic of it from it's formation, bear testimony to the efficiency and marked qualifications for the position which each secretary has possessed Of Miss Eliza North, the first secretary, her successor writes n 1871, With what rare business ca oacity she was endowed, with what a vide-reach of thought and facility of anguage for giving thought, expression, all well know who have been her close associates in this work, or who have been familiar with the annual reports which for sixteen years were the prod lct of her fertile and vigorous pen" Miss Tucker, gifted and beloved; Mrs. Atwater, faithful and consecrated and ,ur own Miss Bennett have successive y filled the position. Miss Bennett vas secretary for eighteen years. En- lowed with unusual intellectual gifts, |, with a heart full of loving sympathy with a deep interest in the progress of he Masters kingdom, she was singu- arly fitted for the office which she fill d with so much grace. It was de- fight at our annual meetings to listen while with master hand she brought u before us a pen picture of the years tory Tn different experiences, she ound the threads with which she wove ogether the fragments of this com- ,osite picture. But whether she caught Ter inspiration from the shells by the eashore, or the note of partnership I unning through the missionary letters, ( IF from the shade of John Davenport, | he grouped the bits of color with such ( are skill that she presented them to ! IS as a, perfect work of art In 1890 it seemed advisable to divide I he work of the secretary and Mrs. a