Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-19

Miss C. L. Tshabalala, a native Zuiu woman, gave vivid description of her she was converted to the church and of the work she is trying to accom- plish in. that far away and dark con tinent pefore large alldisnce af the on Sunday. Yesterday was Missionary
 day at the A. M E. Zion church;
 A. the morning service Mrs R. F. Peters. g. u1issaonary worker in Africa, George Riddle, the pastor. delivered an interesting sermon on The Befin- hing of Methoaisan in the West Indies
 In part he spoke as follows
 Tn I75s John Wesley, iabcrinx for souls in the West Indies. met Nathan- isl Gilbert, a rich planter, who was also speaker of the house of assembly In Antigua Mir. Gilbert was accom- PaI.isd by two Female slsYes, .nslr r, and all three were converted. He bap- tized the two slaves, Femafking that they were the first regenerated Afr
 Shall not His saving health be known to all nations ?y a prophecy which his act Of that day was to tend nightly to fuifal1. Gilbert returned with his mission for weekly religious services and founded a society of nearly 2eo members After years of successful but solitary labor he died, leaving the infant church without pastor Two picus negro women kept it alive by holding prayer meetings every even ing. Thus it was ordered that mem Fl bers Of eur race were the hrst or founders of Methodism in the West Indies. Such records of our race are more enduring and more honorable monulaents> than have been placed in any hall of fame or abbey of the noted departed the world over
 It is notable that women have very Iu 1aH fra nj of the church. especially the Methodist church Think or the women last at the cross and the first at the sePulchre" on ResurTeetion morn; think of Bar bara Heck calling local Preacher Era- bury to task for allowing card play ing; think of the two female slaves in the West Indies; think of the work of our own women who since the organ ization of our church have by personal sacrifice contributed untold thousands for the spread of the church.
 In Stevens inconparable History Of Methodism he relates the following in preaching in Stratfield, Corr; After the sermon he conducted kind of class meeting. It was the first class meeting held on the circuit and led to the formation the next day Of the nrst class. composed of three women, who, he says. appeared willing to bear the cross and have their names cast out as evil for the Lords sake. Let it ever be remembered that the first organic forms of Methodisrn in New England, under the laborg of Lee. consisted ex- clusively of devoted women.
 All honor to oour noble women, from the days of Cartwright to the present time. We have had self sacrificing women in Africa. suffering and toiling for the Master. Now we have out- cultured. noble. self sacrificing Hen rietta Peters doing the work on a par with the noble white women who have suffered and died on the East, West and South African coasts for the say most crazed with enthusiasm to help her and her noble husband and our other workers in Africa. May God bless The Seer in stirring up the peo- pie to help.
 At the Sunday school service the Woman's Relief corps presented an America. flag Mrs. J. A. George, patriotic instructor, made a very elo- quent address. The pastor, Rev. E. George Riddle. called on Miss Bessie vote of thanks was given for the flag. Mrs. Peters and Miss Tshabala1a ad- dressed the school.
 Afternoon Service. : Tn the afternoon at 3.58 o'clock there WAS a large and enthusiastic meeting in the church. Mrs. E.. George Riddle, a life member of the International Mis- sienary society, presided at the meet ing, assisted by Mrs Fora Hall. presi- dent of the local society. The singing was excellent and was led by the un- ion choir. Rev. B. W. Williams offered prayer. after which Mrs. Fora Hall in-I trodueed Mrs Peters, who made an African missionary work, Mrs. Peters urged the young people of the race to prepare for the many opportunities now opening to help Africa.