Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-07
WOMEN GATHER
IN CONVENTION
HOME MISSION DELEGATES AT
FIRST METHODIST CHURCH
WELCOMED TO LOS ANGELES BY
MAYOR GEORGE ALEXANDER
Mrs. George o. Robinson of Detroit,
President of National Society,
Delivers the Opening
Address

vas tttSAANQ AbA AAAC III lilAlG WNat VI
the Rocky mountains yesterday morn
ing at the First Methodist church
Sixth and Hill streets.
Mrs. George Q. Robinson of Detroit
Mich, the president OF the society
opened the session at $3.50 o'clock, as
| sisted by Mrs. f. A. Aiken, the re-
eording secretary. Rev. George f.
Bovard, president Of the University
of Southern California, offered the in
| vocation.
Mrs. Robinson welcomed the dele
gates and visitors coming from far and
near to the convention in a pleasing
address.
Mrs Robinson gave high praise for
| the treatment received at the hands
of the railroad companies and the
| cities which were visited. She said in
part:
First Convention on Coast
II count it a rare privilege to stand
before you on the opening day of our
twenty eighth annual convention, the
first ever held west of the Rocky
mountains.
I'VE have had an educational jour
ney that has helped us to better ap-
| preciate wonderful California, and now
we are here in the beautiful City of
the Angels to begin our review of the
work of the past year and to make
comprehensive plans to meet the op-
| portunities of the coming year.
Il count it privilege to stand be-
! fore you as one of others whom you
have commissioned to march as the
vanguard Of the great army of 10000
members.
DO you women realize your respon-
sibility? May you rise to the height
of your great privileges Do not let
sightseeing, social pleasures, and do
not let anything interfere with your
presence at all business sessions.
Founders Had Faith
1--WE are nearing our thirtieth year
of the founding of the Womans Home
Missionary society three decades since
without q dollar or missionary. Our
founders had the faith to start this
noble society. 1 recommend that this
board of managers vote for special
services to be held in camp meetings,
conventions, etc, bearing on the thir-
tteth birthday of the society in July,
1910
How can we cultivate the home
field? How can we train young wom-
en- to fill the responsible positions, are
momentous questions.
I'VE should encourage our Norwe-
gian, Danish, Swedish, Italian and
German churches to form auxiliaries
of our society.
Much work has been done the past
year among the college secretaries for
the young women. Further steps are
recommended for work among the col
leges of Methodism.
"The board of home missions of
church extension and many other re-
ligious bodies have done much for our
society"
Routine Work Accomplished
Following the address the time was
occupied during the morning and aft
ernoon sessions with routine work of
the convention. Statistics showing
great prosperity in the various de-
partments of the society were given.
At the evening session Rev. A. W.
Atkinson led the devotional exercises.
An address of welcome to the city of
Los Angeles was given by Mayor
George Alexander Rev. Charles Ed
ward Locke made an address in be-
half of the First Methodist church, of
which he is the pastor. Mrs. p. H.
Bodkin spoke in behalf of the South
ern California conference Home Mis-
sionary society. Mrs. c. w. Buckley
made an address of response to the
welcomes. Mrs. Della Lathrop Will
liams, the corresponding secretary of
the society, read the annual report.
Following is the address of welcome
in behalf of the city by Mayor Alex
ander:
Welcomed by Mayor
LOS Angeles is sometimes called
city of conventions on account f-the
large number of such gatherings held
here; but we feel especially honored in
entertaining this convention.
your aim Is to lift up the ignorant
and distressed, and your success
means not so much of greatness for
you as 1t does of blessings to others,
"Yet your very unselfshness has
caused you to grow and prosper till
our land is dotted with your industrial
schools, your deaconess homes and
your hospitals, and you are rich in
possessions as we'll as in helpful deeds.
1--WE feel that in entertaining you we
are in some way expressing our es-
TEEN for the hundreds and thousands
of women in our land who are carry
ing forward this great work-the
women who sacrifice and labor to do
the little things, which added make
the greater ones.
1--WE believe that your coming to-
gether and the meetings you will hold
will benefit us by increasing our zeal
and inspiring us to do our part
toward making our country in reality
a Christian nation and our city a city
of the agels, as it's name implies.
Christian missionaries and teachers
are the greatest power for good in our
nation today.
"You will find our city much like
the gathering here tonight-made up
of people from every part of our
country, and as you meet and greet
the old friends we trust that you may
feel at home among us.
"In behalf of the citizens of Los
Angeles l bid you a cordial welcome
our hearts and our homes are open to
you. We hope your meeting will be
the best in your history and that each
delegate will enjoy her stay among
us so much that she will visit us
again.
Schedule for Today
At S:45 o'clock this morning the
session will open with a conference of
the department of young peoples
work. The general session will open
at $3.50 a. m. At IL o'clock Mrs w.
A. Goodman of Cincinnati will lead a