But the highest qualification any local officer can possess, is the ability to transfer members from the passive to the active list. Some practical hints toward this result maybe gathered from the following suggestions:
Aim at unity of effect for each meeting. Make some one of the six benevolences the subject, and center everything—Scripture, hymn, prayer, letter, paper, leaflet, about the single topic. Suppose it be "Missions on our Western frontier." Ask some lady to prepare a fifteen minutes' paper. Give out in addition six back numbers of the Home Missionary to as many ladies, asking each to select a paragraph or short article bearing directly on the subject and which she thinks will, or ought to, interest the meeting. Let several of these ladies be chosen from the passive list—the diffident or even the indifferent.In making their selections, they will perhaps have made their first acquaintance with missionary magazines and will have learned something about the heroism of our home missionaries. Moreover, they will have participated in the exercises. This, repeated with variations, will give them courage to speak, and intelligent thoughts to express. They are on the way to active participation. Crown the exercises with a collection. The leader must know how to kindle enthusiasm and put it to the tangible proof.
The subject for the next meeting may be some branch of the work of the American Missionary Association, as "Indian Missions in Dakota." Assign to some one a paper, an historical sketch. She will need books from the missionary library. "Ten years among the Dakotas," and "Mary and I; or, Life among the Sioux," (to which she would never think of going for help unless informed that the Dakotas and Sioux are one.) She may also send to Miss Emerson for further helps. Then, in addition, give out back numbers of the American Missionary to two or three passive ladies, asking them to make short selections concerning Indian missions—or let one read Prof. G.F. Wright's leaflet—"Indian Missions as seen upon the ground"—and another some missionary's letter. Call out expressions of interest in the work—proofs of its success—etc., and ask if we ought not to do something for its support. Give to everyone present a small envelope with the request that it be brought to the next meeting with a free will offering for Indian missions.
The next meeting may be devoted to "Christian work among the Mormons," using the "New West Reports," "The Gleaner," newspaper extracts, missionary letters and, if possible, have the experience of some one who has visited the schools and the homes of sin-cursed Utah. Having awakened deep interest, the proposition to procure a lecture or a musical entertainment and devote the proceeds to the New West Commission will probably find favor and be carried on to success.
For the next meeting, choose another object, as "Parsonage Building." Distribute copies of the Church Building Quarterly and again the indispensable back numbers of The Home Missionary, and have extracts read which show the discomfort, and even distress, which come to the family of the home missionary. Propose aid in the form of a birthday offering, in which every member brings in an envelope as many cents as she is years old. The result may be surprising.
For other objects other plans, but in every case the way should be prepared for intelligent giving.
It has sometimes resulted favorably to secure, at the beginning of the year, pledges for some definite, well understood object, as a teacher's or missionary's salary, or a share in one, which should apparently but not really exhaust the resources of the society, and have the payments made as early in the year as practicable. Then pursue intelligent study of the other fields until the time is ripe for proposing generous aid to the one which appeals most strongly to the combined judgment and sympathy. And so on through the year, in which time the six benevolences can all be reached. This somewhat irregular method of procedure has perhaps no better defence than that it has been known to produce good results. A society the intelligence and consecration of whose members could be relied upon would doubtless find the plan of monthly pledges, to be divided according to some accepted schedule, much easier. No special labor would have to be expended to make the need apparent, or to awaken sympathy for the object, or to choose the best means of attaining it. Gifts would be systematic and uniform throughout the year and could be counted upon.
The machinery, well oiled at the start, would run smoothly and quietly, and woman's work would not be made unpleasantly prominent. But it seems doubtful whether as many gifts would flow into the treasury and whether the gifts would be accompanied by as much interest, sympathy and prayer.
The hints concerning management thus far presuppose a Home Missionary Society organized on the modern basis of a programme of devotional exercises and various mission studies, and do not apply to those cases in which such exercises have been engrafted upon a sewing society with a long line of Dorcases as Presidents, and antecedents too respectable to be ruthlessly set aside. How shall a sewing society be so modified as to best subserve the present home missionary needs? Do not create friction by attempting a sudden and complete revolution. Propose that the brief devotional exercises with which such gatherings sometimes close be placed a little earlier than usual, that there may be time for some interesting missionary letter or some inspiring leaflet, or other selection, or better still, an original paper on some live topic. When about the usual season for beginning the missionary box arrives, prepare a symposium on the subject of boxes. Select and distribute brief paragraphs from the magazines concerning missionary debts, from missionary letters concerning unpaid salaries, and lead gradually up to the question whether if we were missionaries we would rather receive a box or a check for an unpaid salary. Which would best enable a minister to look his creditors, who are also his parishioners, in the face—the new pulpit suit or cash to pay off accumulated bills? In trying to decide between box and salary, the society may decide for both, and a point is gained. When box preparations begin, assign them a proper place in the meeting. Do not permit papers and addresses to be sandwiched between rolling quilt frames and turning down refractory hems, or punctuated by requests or signals for scissors, thread, and bits of gingham; and do not spoil garments by working with divided attention. Give each its hour or its day. Best of all, when a box is in preparation, sew early, late, and often, till it is despatched. Then resume the studies, being especially careful to have their first resumption provided with an attractive programme. In all cases when studies have been grafted upon sewing, encourage the graft. It ought to yield better fruit than the original stock.
It should be the constant aim of those in charge of local societies to inspire in the membership intelligent interest in the six branches of our work—to cultivate a spirit of liberality toward them all—to create in every member a desire to aid them all. Only with such an aim can the local society achieve its highest usefulness.