Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-19
is FIRST ANNUAL
Home Missionary Societies Of
Rock Island District Hold
Convention Here.
SPENCER MEMORIAL CHURCH
Principal Address Made by Mrs. Mabel
Hiibish - Mrs. Margaret
Holt Again President.

The Rock Island district convention
OF the Home Missionary society of the
Methodist church, which began its SEES
sion yesterday afternoon at Spencer
Memorial church. adjourned this noon.
after electing the following officers:
| President-Mrs. Margaret Holt, Mo
| line treelected).
Recording Secretary - Mrs. Louie
Baxter. Aledo (reelected).
Corresponding Secretary-Mrs. Mary
| Haney Ioder. Milan.
Treasurer-Nrs. Jennie Taylor. Rock
Island.
Mite Box Secretary-Miss Julia E.
Murray. Galva.
Secretary Young Peoples Work -
Miss Alice Dunmire. Kewanee.
Secretary of Children's Work Mrs
Sue Bridgeford. Millersburg.
This mornings session was devoted
to reports of committees. and discus
sion of questions following along the
line OF the addresses of yesterday af-
teTnoOn and evening.
In the evening the audience filled the
church auditorium. Devotional service
lead by Mrs. q. L. Boomer. of Rock
Island opened the session. The choir
of the church rendered a beautiful an
them.
The address of the evening was
made by Mrs. Mabel Hilbish. of Sher-
Idan, an organizer of the national So
ciety. Mrs. Hilbish has visited nearly
all parts of the country covered by the
society's workers and descriptions of
tho work in" Uar MI
spersed throughout the address. She
first mentioned the fact that the so
ciety in America is % years old and
described the extent of the work in
that time. She mentioned the various
offers that have come to the society.
of land and other property. which il
has been necessary to refuse because
Of not being able TO meet the condi-
tons of the offers
Mrs. Hilbish has great dramatic
powers. and her description of Incl
dents of her work among the children
of Chicago brought tears to the eyes
of many of the members of the aud
fence. The Methodist church takes
care of 900 children a year, but this
number was contrasted with the 10000
which in one city alone. were given To
charitable institutions in one year.
Teachers in south.
Her description of the work in the
south was very instructive. 1t was
stated that the teachers in the south
are practically ostracized by the south
ern white people. One teacher said
that she could not enter the homes of
white people. could not belong to he
church attended by white people, but
had to be a member of the African
church. Incidents of the earnestnesS
of the colored people were given. and
interesting anecdotes of southern con
ferences told. There are 1000, 900
colored people i'm the United States.
any they are the lowest type of Afri-
can. How can We expect great ad-
vancement in so short timer" Mrs.
Hilbish concluded her address by a
short sketch of work in the mountain
districts. and of an incident illustrat- |
ing the need of an increase i'll the
barrel supply department.
A vocal solo by Mrs. J. F. Witter, |
with violin accompaniment by Robert |
Wiley. followed. A large silver offer |
ing was taken before the close of the |
meeting The session closed with a
benediction by Rev. J. b. Rutter, pas
tor of the Spencer Memorial church. |
Afternoon Session.
The convention opened yesterday af-
tenoon at 2:30 o'clock at the Spencer |
Memorial Methodist church, Mrs. Mar
garet Holt, of Moline, the president,
presiding. The 80 charges of the dis
trict were not all represented, many of
these churches not having organized |
the Home Missionary societies. There
were nearly 100 ladies in attendance
at the opening session. The devotion