Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-22
BOARD OF MISSIONS
THIRTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEET
ING TO BE HELD HERE.
Organized Work in Which Women of
the Congregational Church
Are Interested.

Arrangements have been made for the
thirty-fifth annual meeting Of the woman's
board of missions, to be held in Washing
ton, Wednesday and Thursday, November
5 and 6. in the First Congregational Church
This board is one of three which congrega-
tional women maintain in the United States
with headquarters in Boston, Chicago and
San Francisco, respectively, working strict
ly In cooperation with the American board
Their special province is to develop inter
est among the women of the United States
In behalf of the women in foreign lands
who have not received the gospel; and they
also seek, through societies for the young,
to train the children in the knowledge and
love of missionary work.
The Woman's board of missions, Boston,
was organized the first Tuesday in January,
1865 when about forty ladies, representing
the congregational churches of Boston and
vicinity, met in the old South Chapel, Free
man place, to consider the subject of organi-
Ia alton in come ction with the American
board. Before the close of January the So
ciety was in active operation. 1t was day
of beginnings-not one missionary in the
field. not an auxiliary society to rest upon.
BY February 3 over $500 had been raised in
the Boston churches, and on that day the
first missionary was adopted-Mrs. Mary X.
Edwards, already under appointment by the
American board to the Zulu mission.
First Annual Meeting.
The society held it's first annual meeting
In Mt. Vernon Church, Boston, January 8,
1869 1t was a stormy day and the streets
well-nigh impossible, but more than COO
ladies had come, not only from suburban
towns, but from other states. An income of
$5,033.13 was reported by the treasurer;
seven missionaries were in the field and
eleven Bible readers were adopted. One
hundred and twenty nine life members were
enrolled on the books.
In March, 1869. the woman's board Of
missions was incorporated by the legisla-
ture of Massachusetts, with the right to
hold property to the amount of $3.50, 600.
The need of convenient centers early sug-
gested the idea of uniting local societies
into branches each branch to comprise not
less than twenty auxiliaries and mission
circles.
The Philadelphia branch was the first one
organized in 1871. Others followed, and
there are now twenty-four branches-two in
Maine and four state branches, New Hamp-
shire, Vermont, Rhode Island and New
York; one composed of the societies in the
Congregational churches Of the New Jersey
association, which includes eastern Penn
sylvania, Baltimore, Washington and a lit
tie corner Of Virginia. three in Connecticut
and fourteen in Massachusetts,.
The Systematic Work.
This complete OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES with
In wheels-has been regarded as Of inesti-
mable value in the work. Systematic study,
with the use Of topics already prepared,
meets with ever-increasing favor. Mission
airy news from different quarters of the
globe Is sought and given.
Within the twenty-four branches there
are embraced 1 100 auxiliaries, with an estf-
mated membership of $4,000, and 542 Junior
auxiliaries and mission circles; over 200
cradle rolls" and large number of other
contributing societies. 1t maintains 1873
missionaries and assistant missionaries
nine of whom are engaged in medical work;
Do or more Bible women, and large force
of native teachers; thirty-four boarding
schools, including one college, nearly 300
village and day schools, three training
schools for Bible women, three hospitals
and three dispensares.
The largest amount received in any year.
not including receipts for periodicals and
other literature, was S161, 1888, in the year
ending October IS. 1901. The average year
ly income for the first ten years was about
$4,000 for the second decade, $1O9, 97S; for
the third S125, ga. 70; total amount for the
thirtyfour years, S3,375, 26O53.