The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-04-03
LADIES DAY.
Woman's Home Missionary
Society Reports to the
M. E. Conference
at Elizabeth.
PRESIDING ELDER WRIGHT'S REPORT
Year One of Progress With
No Disasters to
Record.
pATERSON'S FIRE And FLOOD
Forecast of Probable Changes
In Jersey City Churches
Conference Photo
graphed.
pATERSON's FIRE AND FLOOD
[speeIal to ..The Jersey eity Sew. y

Especial to ''The Jersey City News."l
ELIZABETH, April g. 19o2.-Ask
woman connected in any way with the
Conference which is the most important,
the most interesting of its sessions, ard
she will promptly reply, with a surprised
stare at the questioner:-
why. the anniversary of the Woman
Home Missionary Society, of course
Such things as bishops, presiding elders,
appointments, are all very well in their
way, but the thing of the Methodist
Episcopal Church is that part exclusively
managed by women, and you had better
not make any mistake about that when
you are. talking to sister
Bearing this fact carefully in mind, yes
terday afternoons anniversary of the So
ciety was the all important feature OF the
Conference. The meeting was down Tor
half-past two o'clock, a statistical session
preceding it; but, bless you, the pastors
hadn't even the barest show to get in
their reports to Secretary Gutteridge.
There were women TO the right, to the
left before and behind the preachers,
chattering and tittering. All were talking
at once and enjoying themselves in a truly
feminine way.
1t was utterly ridiculous for DR.. Henry
A. Buttz, who presided, to rap for order
The ladies' didn't care a rap and paid no
attention to the oft repeated cry of
s'order" Women with stunning hats and
fetching gowns jostled the pastors out OF
the pews. and before long the scene
changed from a sombre black to a daz-
zling Kaleidoscope effect made up of the
latest creations of Easter millinery.
!rt 49,, TrrS< 1cf
distinguished prelate was permitted to sit.
at the communion table at the foot OF the
platform. on which he usually sits. He
meekly took his seat, smiled benignly
and whispered something about somebody
sitting at somebody else's feet.
Mrs. May Leonard Woodruff presided
and at her side was the secretary of the
society, who had on her lap huge roll
of paper. That was the report. The
secrets of that document were zealously
guarded, and when presumptuous news
paper man asked one lady if it could be
inspected for the purpose of making some
notes from 1t, he was met with a stony
look and az
1T will be printed in the Conference
minutes and you can copy it them
when will they be ready?"
"Perhaps in month" was the crushing
reply.
The women officers of the society were
about to reve1 IN addresses, reports and
collections, when Bishop Joyce rose and
made sign to three young women sitting
in the seats directly facing the COM
munion table These ladies were dressed
in plain black gowns. A small black bon
net was worn with white silk ribbons.
Around the neck and at the wrists each
wore bands of white lawn. They were
candidates for the ordination of deacon
esses and their names were Miss Ida
Mills, who Is attached to Trinity Church,
Jersey City: Miss Ada Mills. of Steuben
street mission, Jersey City. and Miss
Capitola Leohmer, of Montgomery
Church, Newark
Obedient to a whispered order the three
women stepped forward to the communion
rail, where stood the Bishop. Opening
the book of discipline Bishop Joyce asked
several questions to which each replied
in low tone. A hymn was sung, a
prayer offered and at its close the Bishop,
taking hold in turn of each candidates
right hand. said impressively:-
Il admit thee to the office of deaconess
of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the
name of the Father. Son and Holy
Ghost"
That ended the ceremony, the Bishop
left the church. and the newly ordained
deaconesses were at once surrounded by
their friends and duly hugged and kissed.
Bishop Joyce out of the way, the mis-
slonary anniversary was resumed by Mrs.
G. E. Hill reading the secretary's report.
The meat of it was the matter Of finances
and the amounts subscribed were as fol-
lows:-Jersey City, s46S.s9; Newark,
s2.997.95; Paterson, s84225 and Elizabeth.
Ssof95 OF the total amount over s3.S0
has gone for rent to frontier preachers
and to the homes of the society. Over
s3e0 worth of supplies had been sent TO
Boylan Home for the relief of sufferers
from fire at Jacksonville, Fla There
was increased interest in the Deaconess
work, said Mrs. Hill. over IA churches
had contributed over 600 for the table
supplies of the two Deaconess Homes in
Jersey City and Newark. The total re-
receipts this year were s5.S29.2s an in
crease of $709.74 over the total Of last
year. So, taking it all in all, concluded
Mrs Hill, the society was very well
thank you, and to emphasize 1t the presi-
dent at once ordered the ladies to take
up a collection. Many of the pastors, al
this juncture, suddenly remembered they
had important committee meetings tc
look after and they left the church.
I. Mrs Woodruff gave a long account OF
Ar trip to Havana and thrilled ner hear
eA with a Vivid picture Of the cos
tuiA4s Of the Cubans. She was especially
sevts& on the Roman Catholics at whose
doors >she laid every defect, bad roads
swampr. malaria and other things TO be
found an the island. Mrs. Woodruff is 9
clever. attractive taker and although but
short time in Havana evidently had
used her eyes to good purpose. She did
not read her speech, but spoke in q