At the recent State Conference of Vermont, a special meeting of the ladies was called to hear the claims of the A. M. A. missions presented by Miss D. E. Emerson, and a good degree of interest was manifested, resulting in the appointment of a committee of three, Mrs. A. W. Wilde, of Charlotte, Mrs. Henry Fairbanks, of St. Johnsbury, and Mrs. Bowman, of Newport, to secure co-operation among the ladies of the Congregational churches of Vermont in support of a missionary in the South.
At the meeting of the Woman’s Aid to the A. M. A., in connection with the Maine State Conference, there was a large and appreciative audience to listen to the reports of their two missionaries, Misses Lunt and Farrington.
It was evident that the frequent correspondence with these missionaries, and the knowledge thus gained of the field, had quickened the sympathies of those contributing to their support, and there is every reason to believe that the collections will increase so that a third missionary will in good time be adopted, either in the South or in the Indian Mission. Miss D. E. Emerson addressed the ladies on the general work of the A. M. A. in the South. In order to vary the means of raising funds and to awaken more interest in the churches, a system of rotation of committees is followed, and a new State Committee was therefore appointed: Mrs. Hubbard, of Hiram; Miss L. C. Vose, of Dennysville, and Miss S. Waldron, of Augusta. It was gratifying to learn that the Committee of the past year, of which Miss Smith was chairman, laid aside with regret the duties which, though involving considerable care, had proved more a pleasure than a burden.
The ladies of Illinois have adopted the same plan of aid to the A. M. A. as the ladies of Maine, and have appointed as a State Committee Mrs. E. F. Williams, of Chicago; Mrs. H. L. Boltwood, of Ottawa, and Mrs. Charles Perry, of Geneva. Already the conferences have been districted to the State Committee, and the sub-collectors appointed. They will continue the support of a missionary at Mobile, Ala., and have adopted also Miss Rose M. Kinney to represent them at Little Rock, Ark.
One of the ladies appointed at the Illinois Meeting has written an encouraging letter which indicates the heartiness with which the work is entered upon in that State. She says: “Last month we heard the sound of the new departure from Maine. When we are sure it is the Master calling, the sound flies quickly, and we are thankful it has so soon reached Illinois. We already, from the new consecration it arouses in us, are buckling on the armor. I assure you that from the ladies of this State will come no uncertain sound. We must do the work.”
[That our friends may know the spirit that pervades our missionary teachers, enabling them to rise above the discouragements and trials of the field in the joy of Christian service, we give a few gleanings from recent correspondence not written for publication.—D. E. E.]