WOMAN’S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION.
BY MISS M. K. LUNT, SELMA.
The Alabama Branch of the Woman’s Missionary Association held its annual meeting in the Normal room of Talladega College, March 27. The attendance was good, and the reports from the local societies very encouraging. The officers, with but two exceptions, were re-elected to serve for the coming year. After devotional exercises, Mrs. De Forest gave an address of welcome, in which she reminded us of the important work God had put in our hands to carry on, and that our part is to be doers, leaving results to Him. The local societies have given considerable time to industrial work, disposing of clothing, quilts, and fancy articles, aggregating the sum of $175, disbursing for Foreign Missions and home interests $116.85, leaving a balance for further distribution. Mothers’ meetings, children’s meetings, and sewing classes have received their share of attention. At the public meeting in March, in Selma, Mrs. McDougal, correspondent of the New York Weekly Witness, was present, and all enjoyed her fresh, practical and inspiring words.
Several papers were listened to with interest, the first read by Miss Jillson, on “Our Duty to Foreign Missions and the means by which an interest may be Promoted.” Miss Plimpton and Mrs. A. W. Curtis followed in discussion on the subject. Mrs. Curtis spoke of the joy her husband’s mother felt in giving three sons to the missionary fields; how this love had been awakened in her children by reading to them from the Missionary Herald. Mrs. Andrews read letters of greeting from the President and Secretary of the Boston Association. Miss Chafin sent a paper, on “Do we owe a Tenth to the Lord?”
A poem was read by Miss Partridge, “So Much to do at Home.” In this an African Chief is begging for some Christian teachers to go with him to lead his people to the Saviour, but is denied because there is so much at home to be done. Mrs. Fay gave a talk on “How to organize Missionary Societies,” urging the members of those churches who have no such organization to form one at once.
Miss Mickle presented another paper on “Hath She Done what She Could?” Mrs. Steele of Chattanooga, Tenn., was present and offered the closing prayer. Singing was interspersed, and we felt that the hours had brought to us an encouragement and strength which will make us more hopeful for the future.