MISSION HOMES.
MISS D. E. EMERSON.
“What is the Mission Home?” The question has often been asked by friends contributing to our work, as well as by those about to engage in it, and from the latter we have had some rather striking descriptions of what they supposed the home to be, and of their pleasant surprise upon reaching it. It is not a boarding hall for students, as many have thought. Such halls are in connection with boarding schools and accommodate both teachers and students.
The Mission Home, of which we give a specimen in the accompanying cut, is at stations where we have churches and day schools, and is the home of the pastor and teachers. In some of the larger cities, as Wilmington, N.C., Savannah, Ga., Mobile, Ala., we have graded schools requiring a teaching force of from six to ten persons. Then there are the pastor and family and the lady missionary, and the home accommodates all. As each has a special line of duty occupying the full time, a matron is appointed to take charge of household affairs and secure by her good management a pleasant and happy home for the family. Sometimes the wife of the pastor or principal acts as matron, sometimes the duties of matron and missionary are combined. It is no insignificant position to have charge of such a home, and our matrons are as truly missionaries as any in our field; besides the direct opportunities of usefulness among the people, they may add to the efficiency of every member of the family by the cheerful, genial, restful spirit of the home, which it is largely in their power to maintain.
This plan of Mission Homes has its advantages to the work. It gives opportunity to teach by example varied lessons in home life, of neatness, economy and thrift. The family altar is set up, and often some members of school or church join in the morning or evening song of praise. Social parlor-gatherings are had, when the people are cordially invited and are engaged in pleasant conversation and games, which, while interesting them, tend to their improvement. Here are often held the mothers meetings and the sewing class, and daily the people come singly or by twos or threes for special help and advice, knowing that they are welcome, and that they will find in some members of the family the wise counsellor and friend.
We can scarcely overestimate the educative influence of these Mission Homes upon the people. Even where there are but few workers employed, we cannot wisely dispense with them. Within a year we have built a small house in a country district where two ladies are employed as missionary teachers. It is plain, two stories, contains five rooms, is simply furnished, and cost about $900. There the ladies keep house, and they testify, as also do other missionaries from the city station near, that this little “Home” has already done more for the people as an “object lesson” in home life than all previous effort in that direction.
In other articles in this department, our friends will learn how they may share with us in this method of usefulness.