White Shield and White Cross Societies are sustained in the interests of purity. Missionary societies are formed and the young people are taught how to manage them. Through these societies the sympathy and interest of colored and Indian women have been so moved as to lead to self-denial that would put us to shame, so eager are they to give to others the light they have received. Temperance work has a prominent place in all our missions. As illustrative of the influence exerted in this direction we note one instance. The principal of our colored school in Jonesboro, Tenn., organized her temperance society ten years ago, and for years it was the only one in the place. Thus the colored people were organized and ready for action long before the white ladies. Our Northern missionary bought materials for colors, sat up nights and lettered the banners, and at the late election in Tennessee took her school to the polls, nearly every child carrying a suggestive motto, such as “Protect Our Homes,” “Lead us not into Temptation.” Through her persistence and energy the white ladies of the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union joined in the movement. It is true, the amendment was lost in the State, but in Jonesboro every colored man except two voted for prohibition. Noble efforts may sometimes fail—noble lives, never.
But even could our woman’s work in the field be written in minute detail it would give but an imperfect review of what is undertaken. You hear of overflowing schools, of many forms of Christian work, of the numbers added to our churches from ranks in day and Sunday-schools, but the wrestling prayers of earnest women, the watchful admonitions, the unremitting toil which has entered into what we call success, who shall record? Over two hundred such missionaries the American Missionary Association has upon its rolls, and it is for these, and that we may add to the number, that we ask your united support.
We have much to encourage us in the results of the past year. There has been an earnest reaching out by ladies’ societies, Sunday-schools and mission bands, for some special work which would tell for good in direct influence toward the enlightenment of those in darkness and need, and contributions have been so applied as to be at once helpful to our treasury and yet assigned to some specific object interesting to contributors. Christian Endeavor Societies have begun to come forward with their help. These societies, which include lads and misses, find a most useful and attractive work in our Indian Missions. It has been quite a problem how to win and hold the interest of boys in missions, but we have found the magic word—Indian—and that if our boys’ thoughts are given proper direction in the study of Indian history and missions, they will not fail to be on the right side in their convictions and eager to help educate an Indian youth, the longer and more unpronounceable his name the more eager.
Sewing societies have been encouraged to contribute their service in a way that is valuable to us. Our item of house furnishing alone is a large one, for in connection with our eighty-nine schools are about thirty mission homes and boarding halls to be kept supplied with bedding, table linen, etc., for families of from fifteen to two hundred and fifty. These needs are indicated in a sewing leaflet which is sent to those who will assist us to set an example of good housekeeping where we plant our missions.
The most important help, however, being money contributions from all these societies, we have sought by our system of missionary letters to encourage the ladies and young people to annual contributions. The amounts thus received have varied from $10 to $100, according to the ability of the church, but every society thus contributing to the A. M. A. may work for some definite object and receive the field letters.
To the Woman’s State organizations we offer specific work on a larger scale. Of such we name the following as co-operating directly with us: Maine and Vermont each by a “Woman’s Aid to the A. M. A.” Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota, each by a Woman’s Home Missionary Union, and Minnesota and Kansas by their Woman’s Home Missionary Societies.
The State organizations have some of them undertaken the support of a single school, and others of missionaries selected from different departments of our work. In every State the appeal of the A. M. A. is made through its Woman’s Bureau to the ladies of all the churches and to all the ladies of the churches, and the contributions are in part through the State organizations and in part direct, all working to the same end.
Other States also, not yet organized, are assisting us in definite lines, as Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Any society of old or young people, whether Missionary, Ladies’ Aid, Benevolent Society, Sewing Circle or Christian Endeavor—whatever involves combined interests and united work—we cordially welcome to share with us in the grand opportunities of our field.
In this way the ladies of the Congregational churches are helping in the support of seventeen of the established missions of the American Missionary Association—among the colored people, poor whites, Indians and Chinese, according to their choice.