Bureau Of Woman's Work
Miss D.E. Emerson, Secretary.
Notice Of Meeting Of State Unions
An all-day meeting of the Woman's State Home Missionary Organizations will be held in the Congregational Church at Saratoga, Tuesday, June 3. The morning session will open at 9:45. This session is for State officers only. It will be devoted to the transaction of business and the discussion of methods of work. The committee appointed at the meeting last June to consider the question of a National Advisory Committee will present their report and the subject will be fully discussed.
A cordial invitation is extended to all women interested in Homeland Work to attend the afternoon session, which will open at two o'clock. Papers upon subjects of vital importance to the work will be presented by women from different States. The session will close with a consecration service. It is hoped to make this meeting helpful and inspiring, as all the others have been.
A YOUNG COLORED GIRL sought admission into one of our boarding schools, bringing commendations as to her character. She was received, and an appropriation was made from the Hand Fund to assist her in [pg 161] her effort to secure an education. The letter below will explain itself. It gives an insight of the kindliness of many noble people South toward the Negro. It also reveals an attitude of mind toward our work in the South which quite disproves the idea that good people of the South are not in sympathy with our work. The cases are exceptional where the schools and the churches of the American Missionary Association have not won both confidence and gratitude from the intelligent and good among the white people. This letter is but one expression among many, of the good will that comes to us as unsolicited testimony to our work. The position and character of the lady who sent the letter to one of our teachers makes this graphic and pleasing testimony more valuable.
DEAR MADAME:—I have seen several letters from your pupil A—— B——, in which she speaks in the highest terms of you, of your generous kindness and uniform courtesy to her. I am glad A—— has met with such a wise lady, for she is in every way deserving of your good will. She lived with me for seven years, and I never saw any person more competent, more honest and upright. In all that time I never found fault with any work she did for me, and she was as neat in her dress as she was morally particular. Her family is in every way respected here by white as well as black, and A—— has always been a favorite with all classes of people. I am a Southern woman, and before the war my father was a planter who owned six hundred slaves and enormous tracts of land. I merely mention this to explain to you what follows. None of us have ever had any prejudice against colored people, and we try to help them with purse and pen, and have always met with gratitude and respect in return. Of course these people are all freed now, but my sister and I still own a great deal of real estate, and upon it will be found many families of colored people who were our slaves. You will see from this insight into my affairs that I am glad to know of the success of colored people, and I wish it was so they could all go to school and be educated, for as a rule, where they have been educated, they have done well. Wishing you great success, and with personal regards and thanks for your kindness to A——.
Very truly yours, A.C.H.