The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-10

100 diamonds for missions in that neld
and with these gems of great Value ialu
the foundation of Cloptoh sSnoVi -
Shanghai China, which bore ulie iii"lN'S''
name of Mrs. MeGaVocKs hio'iiei'
Not Approved by Men.
The idea of southern women OF the
Methodist church uniting to work uliuet
their own board of missions dld not uleel
with the approval and support Oh t,ie
Powers that be- cine men o. &c
church) as was evidenced by tne late ol
a memorial presented by Mrs NC
C.a,roclr TO the general conference AT
f,ouisville, Ky. in e74. The spirit OF
those courageous women was not uauhl-
ed They had received the divine com
mand to go forward They had received
at once the sanction of the poaru ol
missions of the church and the college
of bishops. At the general conference IN
Atlanta, Ca, In 1873 the work or the
faithful women of the church, soutp' our-
ing the ouadrennium past had proven 10
he worthy of note-the spiritual fire that
burnt In their breasts was SHOWN lorth
in works. The thought of sending young
women to China to be supported by the
foreign missionary societies at nome hau
taken a definite shape.
The women of the church had become
peculiarly aroused and from every sec
ton. the spirit of foreign missions had
received an impetus. The women had
determined to make another enort 10
gain approval and cooperation OF the
church. at the general conference in At
lanta in 1878 The women desired legal
authority to equip and send women mis-
sionaries to foreign fields which were al
ready occupied by the parent or gen.
eral board.
Some Endorsed the Work.
While some of the bishops, preachers
and laymen endorsed this work, many
were violently opposed to it; as in all
other great movements those deeply in
terested, and prime movers of the cause,
had strong opposition to fight. With dill
gence and with faith these women per-
severed. The expectant day of the OPEN
ing of the general conference at Atlanta
came, and such indomitable women as
Mrs. Juliana Hayes of Baltimore and Mrs.
H. ID. McGavock were there to break
down prejudice with convincing argument;
to memorabilia the conference to form the
women into a separate chartered organiza-
ton, subservient to the high authority of
the church. for the purpose OF sending
missionaries to foreign fields. and to there
build schools and support Bible women.
Their efforts were rewarded; the Woman
the Womans Foreign Missionary society
and a constitution given them by that
conference. Later a charter was obtained
at Nashville which was signed by Mrs.
Willie ID. McGavock, Mrs. Amelia Nc
Tyeire, Mrs. Martha Whitworth, Mrs.
Ella Lupton and Mrs. S. Manner. Mrs
Juliana Hayes of Baltimore was made
president and Mrs. II. ID. McGavock of
Nashville corresponding secretary.
First Missionary Sails.
Miss Locke Rankin of Tennessee con-
ference had responded to a call for vol
enteers and she had been accepted by the
board. During the summer of 1873 Miss
Rankin prepared for the work and sailed
in October for China as the first mission
airy of the woman's board of foreign mis-
sions to assist Mrs. ]. w. Lambuth in
the Clopton school. Thus at last launched
the Woman's Foreign Missionary society
of the NJ f. church, south, had marvel-
GUS growth and show of success during
the first year of its existence, 1S7S-79 The
number of auxiliary societies formed dur
ing the first year numbered two hundred
and eighteen: the amount of money raised.
$4Ol4.27 Was not this phenomenal sue
cess, when it is considered that 1T was
raised by membership fee OF ten cents
per month, mite boxes, etc.?
At the end of the first quadrennium the
w. r. NJ. S. had opened work in China.
Brazil Mexico, Central Mexico, and the
Indian Territory, with five missionaries In
the field and five more ready to sail IN
the fall of 1882. The Scarritt Bible ana
Training school at Kansas City was soon
established for the purpose OF preparing