St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-10-07
Woman's Board of Missions,


The thirty-6rst annual meeting of the
Vermont Branch was held in Bellows
Falls. Wednesday, Sept 80. The dele
gates meeting was held on the afternoon
preceding. All day Tuesday the hospit.
able ladies OF Bellows Falls were welcom.
ing their visitors and at 3 p. m. (the
time Of the delegates meeting), sixty
seven officers and delegates had registered.
This afternoon meeting was true to its
name-a ways and means" conference,
and the interest was unfagging to the
close. Some of the topics discussed were
"How to form and keep alive mission
airy society in ruralcommunity; :" How
to interest our members to remember the
work of the Branch by legacies;" What
is the best method for gathering offer
ings, whether by pledge cards, envelopes
or solicitors" THE study of missions as
an educating influence" This last sub
ject was opened by the reading of paper
that had been prepared for a monthly
missionary meeting in one OF our larger
auxiiaries.
An enjoyable reception was held in the
evening at the pleasant home of Mrs.
Charles Chase, and large number avaled
themselves of the opportunity to greet
old friends and make new acquaintance.
Wednesday morning came with cloud
less skies and a cool, bracing air. A large
number were in their places for the half
hour devotional service led by Mrs. Bene-
dict. The keynote of this meeting was
the thought, abide in Me-"
Promptly at hali-past nine the public
meeting was called to order by the presi-
dent, Mrs. Henry Fairbanks. After the
opening hymn and scripture reading we
were led in prayer by Mrs. c. M. Stone.
Our president, in few solemn words,
gave as the under-current the underlying
subject of the day, Responsibility"
what owest thou my Lord"
Following this came an address of well
come from the Bellows Falls ladies, voiced
by Mrs. Vaughn, and responded to by
our president. Greetings from the
Woman's Home Missionary Union were
given by Mrs Bryant of Ludlow. Also
a few words of greeting were given by
Mrs. Gallagher of the Iowa Branch.
Then came the report of the treasurer,
Mrs. T. M. Howard, showing that the
: receipts tor the year were $5,6S3.69.
Later 1T was stated that though this sum
was seemingly an advance of 20 per cent,
as asked TOR, still, owing to the fact that
legacies and specials could not be counted
E as contributions, it lacked something
=. over 5000 of being the amount asked
for. Since the books were closed more
than 500 had come in and an earnest
:, appeal was made to those societies who
+ had money IN the treasury to send the
o amounts in before October IA,
!. The reports of the secretaries will be
: printed soon and sent out, so no report
of them will be made.
r Following these Mrs. A. w. Wild led il
h lervent prayer, and then Miss KYLE
n spoke, bringing greetings from the
h Woman's Board and then speaking al
e length on THE personal element in oul
lie pledges" We should pledge of our in
lie terest, our time, our money, and mos
4. important OF all, our prayers. And shoulc
r do this for the reflex influence on our
S. selves, tor the great need and tor the iov
Of tul reward. The last speaker of the morn
Iy ing was Mrs. Tracy OF Marsovan, Turkey
as who, while speaking of other ASSOCIATED
~ missionaries, paid high tribute to Mis-
tie Closson, who is soon to come back t
I'd her native state for rest.
he Mrs. Tracy spoke of the fine characte
m OF the Greeks among whom they laboret
and invited us all to come and see fo
ourselves the work that was being don
lor she knew we should never again lac
interest IN the WORK. After Mrs. Trac
in had finished speaking we adjourned t
in two p. m. During this recess a bountifr
n luncheon was served in the vestrv an
re there was social hour. At two o'cloc
ry after prayer by Mrs. MacGregor of New
he port, DR.. Rose Bower of the West Ce,
&c trail African mission took her audient
We over the long journey to her home i
Vn Sakinllmba. She invited any of them t
Mt visit her there, but asked they let he
w know OF the intended visit one yea
Ter beforehand. She told of the dificultie
ms encountered in establishing schools in
land where the spirit of the people is "W
NO did not send for you, and do not wan
air you, II you do not like us you can 90.
il She told OF beginnings in the medicf
nd work, when the bottle OF drugs prescribe
ed often came back with the words 1T qav
as us tear In our hearts to think of putin
vs.. 1t down our throats," and said that h.
I'D glnnings in schools and medical wor
~ always led to the formation of q Lt+
10 church. One result of % years of mi
,rr slonary work, which might seem insi
ed nlhcant is church in every one of ii
-eu villages of the station.
ns Mrs. c. H. Daniels of Boston snol
4. upon THE large and the small in th
u' Spiritual contest" She said that il ar
-; call sounds out louder than another i
m the thought of today, it is that of e
~ largement. 1t comes from the turmC
r among the nations, from the successes
10 missions, from the social conditions
~ our own country.
~ One clear call comes to women to cor
out from the mists OF the low lands
% they have in any degree caught the spi,
mas OF Christ, on to the Upands called
10 Paul the heavenly places" which he sa
Is as the privilege of every Christian. S
!, is said III spirituality is not practical, it
nas false; the application of its principI
ing makes spiritual women in the comm,
airy sense way" And she showed how +
avs foreign missionary work affords the be
ap scope for spiritual enlargement, by
nat iording opportunity of slipping her lit