The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-05-15
MRS. sHELDoN's PAPER.

The report Of Mrs. T. HI. Sheldon OF
the Years Work at Home" was a!
follows:
blessed be the tie that binds oul
hearts in Christian love"
Over and over again these words
have sung themselves in my mind
and / have read the story Of the year
in the auxliaries Of the branch. Love
for the cause Of foreign missions, sym
pathy for the sufferings of Christ's lit
tie ones across the sea, and loyalty to
the woman's board form the three-fold
cord which binds together so many of
the women in the four counties Of our
territory. Then as are noted more
closely those other lines of the old
hymn flash across ones thought, the
words of encouragement or of disap-
pointment:
"Our fears. our hopes, our aims are
one:
Our comforts and our cares"
Several societies rejoice over increas-
ed membership and contributions. One
has more than doubled its membership
(thanks to one lady who took her horse
and devoted two days to getting new
members and contributions In
another report we read: "Our auxiliary
is growing in numbers and interest.
Many are invited to our meetings, and
become members, on hearing Of the
wonderful work OF our foreign mission
aries. But we are aiming at higher
impulses for the upbuilding of the
kingdom, and must show larger results
for we love the grand and glorious
cause"
Contributions have been increased in
one society by the use Of pledge cards,
distributed early in the year, which
read as follows: II promise to pay be-
fore - the sum of $ to the
Woman's Foreign Missionary society
of the First Congregational church,
for the cause of foreign missions, this
to constitute me member
of the society" In another, little silk
mite bags are given to every woman
in any way connected with the church
with gratifying results. From one So
ciety we hear: "Our yearly offering Is
larger than ever before. We have used
the thank offering and Lenten envel-
opes issued by the w. B. NJ, and in
that way reach many of the women of
the church who do not attend the meet
ings, and are not members of the aux
iliary."
Here and there we read of diminish
ed membership with usually the ac-
of lessened gifts, but
listen to this exception: For the past
three or four years we have gradually
our contributions, although
-, I, s., - e.,
nerly several having moved away,
and some been called away by DEATH"
In the majority of the societies the
year has been marked by an abiding
interest and faithful continuance, rath-
II than the unusual increase or loss.
we live in hill country" writes one
secretary, "but we like to be connected
With the outside world, and can be
in no better way than
through missions And again we read:
Another little hill town; people scat
cred and meetings irregular; still they
;eem TO have an invincible courage,
md are living in hope of better things,
md faint, yet pursuing, are full of de-
sire to do more.'
Increase of interest has resulted in
iuent meetings. In one or two cases
welve have been held during the year.
There is universal testimony to the
lelpfulness of printed programmes
prepared for the year. different ladies
aking charge Of each meeting.
The topics as presented in L. and L.
re followed in many societies. 9th
RS have made special study of one
r more n1ission-field still others have
aiken up the work of some of our own
,ranch missionaries
A few extracts with reference to
ONE Of these meetings may be helpful.
Our years work, a study of India, |
las been most profitable 1t has not |
My been interesting, but very in |
tructive, and the attendance has in |
reased percettibly." 1--WE always
ave something read with regard to !
he regular subject for the month, but |
We never confine ourselves to that. |
he most interesting items we can find |
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