BUREAU OF WOMAN’S WORK.
MISS D. E. EMERSON, SECRETARY.
We call special attention to the fact that in connection with our Annual Meetings we always have a distinct presentation of our Woman’s Work by lady missionaries from the field. We take the liberty of suggesting that the various Ladies’ Missionary Societies that contribute to our work should make an effort to be represented at the approaching Annual Meeting in Portland. Conference collectors and church collectors for woman’s aid to the A. M. A. will find this meeting to be of special help in furnishing them with a wide and inspiring view of our great work. Let the ladies of Maine and the adjoining States have a large representation at the Portland meeting.
The following, from a colored woman, shows what can be accomplished by a single missionary; also the great need of faithful Christian workers. Speaking of one of our missionaries, this colored woman says: “Miss —— was with us last Sabbath. If we could have her here for a while we could soon build up a work, and some of these poor erring children who are being led astray by the world and the other churches, which are no better than the world, would be reclaimed and put into the right way. I have been with her studying for six weeks, and have seen what a great work she is doing, and I long to have her saintly influence at this place. There are in this place about fifty or more young colored girls just coming to womanhood, and out of all you will not find three respectable ones. Drunkenness, gambling and licentiousness are so common that they are not looked upon as sin. The church and the world are hand in hand. The whites look on and smile. It is just as they wish it. They say the Negro cannot rise above these things; but I do know that this is false. I know that my people are as capable of leading pure and holy lives as the whites are, but we need pure-minded leaders—those who will put their whole heart and soul into the work, as this dear friend has done. The colored people have no truer friend than she.”
FROM A TEACHER.
Dear Friends: I would like to give you some facts which show the need of the continued work of the A. M. A.
Let us visit a school-house where a large congregation is gathered in and around the house. A dark man is preaching. Judging by the loudness of voice and furious gesticulations, and the groaning and fervent “Amens” of his hearers, he must be saying something very important. But hark! He declares that Jesus cursed. His text, as he read it and repeats it to prove his assertion, is: “I do curse to-day and to-morrow,” etc.—Luke xiii, 32.
Another time we find the same man giving the history of the ten commandments, saying that God gave Moses one set of commandments and Moses went down and read them to the people. They said they were too hard, so Moses broke the stones and went back and told the Lord that his commands were too hard, so God gave him some easier ones.
Again, this minister is proving that Jesus was baptized by “mersion.” He says that when Jesus came up out of the water, he ran so fast to the wilderness that no one could keep up with him, but they tracked him by the water that dripped from his clothes. They tracked him in this way forty days before they found him.