History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ by Daniel Berger

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History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ

by Daniel Berger

CHAPTER IV

THE WOMAN'S MISSIONARY ASSOCIATION¹

I. ORGANIZATION

^p.459 It may be assumed that the body of learned gentlemen who gave us the recent revision of the Holy Scriptures were chosen with reference to a safe conservatism, as well as for their eminent philological skill. We may note therefore an interesting significance in the fact that the familiar passage in Psalms, " The Lord gave the word; great was the company of those that published it," was rendered by these scholars, " The Lord giveth the word : the women that publish the tidings are a great host."² No one will suspect that these learned divines leaned unduly toward bringing women into the foreground as the evangels of a new evolution in the work of spreading the gospel. We are rather to see in this ancient scripture a prophecy whose true meaning lay through the ages undiscovered, but which now is realizing a magnificent fulfillment. Even the plain wording of the passage was not understood by the older scholars, much less its spirit apprehended. In this new translation we have a beautiful expression of the literal sense, as well as of the fact which it so strikingly sets forth. The present time is in a most emphatic degree the era of woman's work, and in no department of thought or work has there been a greater earnestness or activity than in the religious field. In the ^p.460 Sunday school, in the work of missions, in those reforms into which religion and morality enter as a chief element, the women of the present are at the front as a great host of interested and successful workers. The divine writer with the eye of prophecy looks down through the ages. He sees the Lord Jehovah giving out messages, and the hosts of the women, a great and obedient army, quickly taking up the words and publishing them abroad.

Twenty-one and a half years ago the Woman's Missionary Association of the United Brethren in Christ was organized. But such movements never take form until somebody has been troubled in spirit, until some one has wrestled in prayer and has received a special divine baptism. When God is pleased to speak, somebody's heart must first be prepared to receive the word. In this instance the burden was laid upon the heart of an unassuming young woman, Miss Elizabeth Hoffman, residing a few miles from the city of Dayton. She communicated her thought to Rev. John Kemp, who was for so many years treasurer of the parent Missionary Board. Mr. Kemp sympathized with her wishes, and began talking about the subject to some of the people of the Summit Street and First United Brethren churches of the city. A meeting was soon after called for the purpose of organizing a woman's missionary society for the Miami Conference. This meeting was held in the Summit Street Church, on May 9, 1872, anticipating by three and a half years the forming of the larger or general association. A day and an evening were spent in consultation, and as a result an organization was effected and a constitution adopted.

The next step, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution, was to organize auxiliary societies on the various charges of the conference. A number of local ^p.461 organizations were formed, and collections of funds began to be made. Three years afterward a call was issued to the women of the Church generally for the assembling of a woman's missionary convention. As it was proposed that the assembly should be of the nature of a mass convention, and not a convention of delegates, any who were so disposed could attend it without first receiving authority as delegates. The conference was held on October 21 and 22, 1875, in the First United Brethren Church, at Dayton. Nine conferences were represented, namely, Miami, Scioto, Sandusky, Michigan, Indiana, Western Reserve, Lower Wabash, Virginia, and Allegheny. In several other conferences delegates were appointed, from whom letters of encouragement were received. A proposed constitution, which had been previously published, was considered and, with some amendments, adopted. The name of the organization as agreed upon and placed in the constitution is the Woman's Missionary Association of the United Brethren in Christ. The following officers and board of management were then elected: President, Mrs. T. N. Sowers; vice-presidents, Mrs. Z. A. Colestock, Mrs. M. H. Bridgeman, Mrs. S. Haywood ; corresponding secretary, Mrs. L. R. Keister; recording secretary, Mrs. D. L. Rike ; treasurer, Mrs. W. J. Shuey. The Miami Conference society then reorganized, and paid the moneys which had been collected into the treasury of the new and larger association. It was agreed that the annual meetings should be held in the spring of the year, and the month of May, 1876, was designated as the time for the first anniversary, the meeting to be held in Dayton.

The general plan of organization includes a board of managers, a board of trustees, annual-conference branch societies, local societies, young ladies' bands, and children's bands. The board of managers consists of the ^p.462 trustees, as provided by the constitution, three delegates elected annually by each conference branch, life patrons, and life directors. The board of trustees is elected by the board of managers, and the officers are chosen from the trustees. By the provisions of the constitution the association, while it elects its own board of managers and executive officers, is under the direction of the General Conference, and submits quadrennial reports to that body. Thus organized and equipped, the association was now ready for larger work. No particular field or plan of work was, however, determined upon at this initial meeting, the choice of a mission field being left to be settled upon further consideration, and when a nucleus of funds should be secured to support an actual work.

II. THE MISSION IN AFRICA.

The first anniversary, held as had been agreed, proved to be a meeting of great importance as determining, in great degree, the future policy and operations of the association. Mrs. J. K. Billheimer, who had then returned from West Africa, was present at this meeting, and made a strong plea for the women and children of that benighted land. Upon full consideration it was agreed to use the funds which had been gathered to support a school in Africa. It was also proposed that the school be under the control of the missionaries of the general board, at or near Shaingay. The officers of the general board counseled against this, and suggested that the Woman's Association organize a separate and independent mission. This suggestion prevailed, and it was decided to open work in the thickly populated region up the Bompeh River, about sixty miles distant from Shaingay, and about fifty miles east of Freetown. Mr. Gomer, then the efficient superintendent of the missions under the care of ^p.463 the general board, rendered valuable assistance, by repeated visits, in locating the proposed mission at Rotufunk, in the territory which had been determined upon. The choice of location proved a most excellent one, as has been abundantly demonstrated by long experience. Miss Emily Beeken, who was first under appointment by the general board, was transferred to the service of the woman's board, and arrived at Rotufunk in the fall of 1877, and thus the actual work of the Woman's Association in the foreign field was now to begin.

Miss Beeken began her work under peculiar difficulties. The station chosen for her was remote from any other mission or place inhabited by white people. All the people about her were black, and all were heathen. The pall of the deepest intellectual and spiritual darkness had rested for ages upon the ancestry of these people, and work among them must begin at the beginning. But while they were utterly heathen, they were not savages. Miss Beeken was received with the utmost kindness. The headman, or chief, of the place gave her welcome and protection, and erected for her a barra, or place for public worship. On an elevated place near the town was erected, at the expense of the association, a mud house for a home for Miss Beeken. Thus provided, she established within a short time two schools, and in addition to her public religious teaching in the barra she visited surrounding towns to hold religious services. She began and carried forward a large work, too much for the strength of one person in that malarious and debilitating climate, and it is not surprising that after a little more than a year and a half of toil her strength gave way, and she was obliged to relinquish her work. During her stay a fine large bell, the gift of Mr. John Dodds, of Dayton, Ohio, was sent to the station, and its rich tones, the first ever heard by ^p.464 the people, called them to the barra to hear the gospel of Jesus.
Miss Beeken was succeeded by Mrs. M. M. Mair, of Glasgow, Scotland, a lady who had an experience of twenty-six years of mission work on the west coast of Africa. Thoroughly acclimated and acquainted with the requirements of the work, she was able at once to render efficient service. She reached Rotufunk in November, 1879. The board of managers had arranged at the meeting in May of the previous spring to build a home for the missionaries, and the sum of two thousand dollars had been easily secured for this purpose. The materials were sent from America, and Mrs. Mair superintended the work of construction. She possessed splendid qualities for missionary service, and gained almost unlimited influence with the people. The head-men or chiefs of the tribes respected every wish she expressed. She established two additional schools, and secured better native helpers for the work of instruction. The chief of Rotufunk, Pa Sourie, compelled his people to keep the Sabbath, and himself gave up the use of strong drink and tobacco as a wholesome example for them. In all the surrounding towns the Sabbath came to be thoroughly regarded within the three years and a half of her residence in the mission. A great achievement was made in breaking up the slave-trade in that section, Rotufunk itself having been a traders' station. She also received deeds duly executed for one hundred and fifty acres of land at Rotufunk and Palli each, a portion of which was under cultivation.

It was cause for sincere sorrow when this good woman's strength began to wane, by reason of incessant labors, as well as by advancing years, and a final rest from so exacting toil became necessary. But the Lord was preparing ^p.465 other laborers for the field. At Union. Biblical Seminary, in Dayton, Ohio, there were two young students whose hearts God touched—Rev. R. N. West and Miss Lida Miller. Both were inspired with a common purpose, that of bearing the gospel to the heathen, and, uniting their hands and hearts in marriage, they left their homes and country, under appointment of the woman's board, and arrived at Freetown in December of 1882. Mrs. Mair remained with them for a few months to introduce them to their work, and then set sail for America. Her presence at the meeting of the board in the following May, at Westerville, Ohio, previous to returning to her home in Scotland, was the inspiration of enlarged confidence and hope.

To this meeting came a letter from Mr. West saying that the attendance at the services at the barra in Rotufunk had become so large that many in rainy weather were obliged to stand without in the beating rains, and asking that arrangements be made for the erection of a chapel. The board concurred, the money was soon secured, and the chapel built at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars. Eleven hundred of the amount was pledged before the board adjourned. The building was sufficiently large to accommodate three hundred persons, and was provided with a primary room for the smaller children in the Sunday school. Mr. Gomer, superintendent of the Shaingay Mission, whose name will long be held in loving veneration, dedicated this chapel with appropriate services on February 24, 1884. After the sermon the people were invited to make a free-will offering, and among the contributions were one hundred and sixty acres of land at Palli, five binkeys of rice (between fifty and one hundred bushels), one cow, one country-cloth, and thirty-seven dollars and fourteen cents in money. There was much ^p.466 rejoicing among the people and the missionaries over the completion of this house.

The work meanwhile had been greatly enlarging. Fifty-four regular preaching places had now been established, a large increase within the year. More than twenty-five hundred people now statedly heard the divine message, fully one thousand every Sabbath at different stations connected with the mission.

But now a trial of the utmost severity, coming as a twofold calamity, was to test the faith and endurance of the missionaries. Two weeks after the dedication of the chapel one of those devastating wars which are of so frequent occurrence in Africa broke out and swept with fury over the region where Rotufunk is situated. At the same time came also the added scourge of smallpox, brought there by a Mohammedan priest. Very quickly the people were scattered. The chapel services were almost deserted. In nearly all the towns preaching was suspended. About fifty died of smallpox. Mr. West was prostrated by the dread disease, but the Lord preserved his life. But in all this great trial the gospel seemed to acquire a stronger hold upon the people than it had before.

At the suggestion of the board of trustees, who feared the effects of the long-continued strain upon the strength of Mr. and Mrs. West, they returned to America early in 1886, leaving the work under the care of their native helpers, with the promise of occasional visits of Mr. Gomer, of the Shaingay Mission. In September of the same year they returned to the charge which they had come to love with the strongest affection. The report for the year 1896, a little over ten years from the founding of the mission, shows the work to have been in a most promising condition.

In 1887 decided progress was made in strengthening the ^p.467 mission. Two additional laborers, Rev. and Mrs. W. S. Sage, were sent out, both graduates of Union Biblical Seminary, and both having previous experience in the mission at Shaingay, thus adding much to the efficiency of the work. A second step was the establishing of a girls' home. The object of this was to provide a legal asylum from which parents could not sell their little girls as wives to anybody who would buy. The holding of women and girls as chattels was according to the law of the country, and nothing could be done to protect the children when the fathers wanted to sell them. A home, however, provided a legal shelter, and such a home was built. It was named "The Mary Sowers Home for Girls," in honor of Mrs. Sowers, the first president of the association. Two thousand dollars were expended in its erection. In 1889 a house costing a similar sum was erected as a home for boys. It is a good frame structure, with modern conveniences.

In November, 1889, two more missionaries joined the company on the field. They were Miss Frances Williams and Miss Ellen Groenendyke, both finely fitted for the requirements of the work. In 1890 the school at Bompeh was placed in charge of Mrs. Thompson, a daughter of Bishop Crowther, of the Niger Mission. Mrs. Thompson made an important advance in insisting that the parents must clothe their children, instead of looking to the mission for this. A good deal of murmuring arose, but she was resolute, and the good end she sought, better alike for the parents and the mission, was accomplished.

On account of impaired health, Mr. and Mrs. Sage, late in 1890, returned to America. Their places were soon filled by Rev. and Mrs. Jacob Miller, students in Union Biblical Seminary, who reached Rotufunk on December 31, 1890. The need of a medical missionary had long ^p.468 been felt, and for this service the board appointed Miss Marietta Hatfield, M.D., of Potsdam, Ohio, in 1891. Accompanying Dr. Hatfield were Miss Elma Bittle, of Lewisburg, Ohio, and Miss Ella Schenck, of Lockington, Ohio. Both were accomplished teachers, as well as most devout Christians. Miss Bittle entered upon her work with a heart of devoted love, but her career was soon to close. She was overtaken with fatal illness in 1892, and her sweet spirit passed out in great triumph into the presence of the Master to whom she gave her life. Less than three weeks before, Miss Frances Williams had succumbed to the dreaded African fever, also giving her life in truest martyrdom for the cause she loved. And thus, so near together, these two were taken away by death, the first since the beginning of the United Brethren work in Africa thirty-seven years before, so singularly had the lives of our missionaries hitherto been preserved. To these names of the departed has since been added that of the Rev. B. N. West, also of the Bompeh Mission, who died September 22, 1894, and whose remains rest in the field to which he gave himself as a willing offering. In this year Bishop Kephart made an episcopal visit to the missions in Africa, and presided at the annual session of the African conference, held that year at Rotufunk.

The missionaries in the Bompeh field at the present writing are Rev. L. A. McGrew, Mrs. Clara McGrew, Miss Mary Archer, M.D., Miss Florence Cronise, and Miss Minnie Eaton. Others in the service of the board are in America for rest.

The home of rest for missionaries on Mount Leicester, near Freetown, in the construction of which the woman's board is cooperating with the general board, has been spoken of in the account of the missions of the latter board.

^p.469 III. A MISSION IN GERMANY.

At the annual meeting of the woman's board of May, 1880, held at Fostoria, Ohio, the formation of a second mission was decided upon. The Rev. C. Bischoff, superintendent of the mission of the general board in Germany, was present, and spoke with pressing earnestness of the need of true evangelical work in Germany. Others acquainted with the religious condition of the Fatherland supported Mr. Bischoff's address. The mission in Africa being now fairly launched, and the Church responding generously to the calls of the women for funds for their work, the board, after full deliberation, decided to begin work in the city of Coburg, Germany, a place of fourteen thousand inhabitants, and the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated for making a beginning. Rev. G. Noetzold was appointed to the charge. He commenced work in due time, and in March, 1881, organized a church. Encouraging success, and many persecutions, attended his work. The hall at first obtained soon proved too small, and a larger place was hired. The late Rev. William Mittendorf, so long editor of our German periodicals, visited the place not long after, and was greatly cheered by what had been accomplished. But hardly anywhere is true evangelical work more difficult or more persistently opposed than among a godless people professing Christianity, all of them duly connected with the church, but knowing nothing of religion beyond its outer forms. So Otterbein found it in America in some of the places where he preached, and so the missionaries of our Church in Germany have found it.

In the spring of 1886 Rev. H. Barkemeyer was appointed by the conference in Germany to the Coburg Mission, the woman's board still furnishing money for its support. Two years later the board decided to raise ^p.470 a fund of three thousand dollars for building a chapel for the Coburg congregation, and two thousand three hundred dollars were secured within the next year toward this object. Various obstacles having arisen to prevent satisfactory progress, the board, at its meeting of 1889, decided to give back the Coburg Mission to the general board. It was also proposed to open a mission in Berlin, but a suitable person for undertaking the work not being found, it was decided to hold the funds collected to be used for the erection of a chapel in Germany at such time and place as Providence might direct. At the meeting of 1892, the way being still not open for commencing work in Berlin, on account of inability to secure the services of a suitable missionary, the board decided to offer the funds on hand to the parent board for the erection of a chapel at Weimar. The offer was accepted, and the amount of $2,703.08 was paid over to the treasurer of the general board. This church was recently completed and dedicated. It is a substantial and attractive structure, and will serve well the uses of the congregation which regularly gathers in it. The more spiritual worship of these people will prove a blessing to their less spiritual neighbors in this old city. The woman's board does not now operate any mission in Germany.

IV. THE CHINESE MISSIONS.

1. The Mission in Portland, Oregon,

The spiritual destitution of the Chinese on the Pacific Coast early enlisted the interest of the woman's board. This interest was especially quickened by the letters of Bishop Castle when residing in Oregon. At the annual meeting of 1881, held at Western, Iowa, the first steps were taken looking toward the commencement of work among these people from the Celestial Empire, and the ^p.471 bishop was requested to furnish such information as he could respecting a favorable location for opening a work.

Bishop Castle, after looking over the ground in San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, reported favorably for the latter city. Here a Christian Chinaman, Moy Ling, had for six years conducted an evening school for his fellow-countrymen, at his own expense, with such voluntary assistance of teachers as he was able to secure. The work was becoming too large for him, and he was anxious to have some church take it and carry it forward. Here was a providential opening, a school already organized and under good management, and on the recommendation of Bishop Castle the board entered into arrangements to take the school. In November, 1882, Mrs. Ellen Sickafoose, of Buchanan, Michigan, was appointed to take charge of the mission, Moy Ling continuing at its head until her arrival in July, 1883.

Mrs. Sickafoose entered upon her work with twenty pupils. This number increased so rapidly that at the end of the third quarter there were one hundred and fifty-seven enrolled. The pupils were greatly interested, and contributed during this time over four hundred dollars toward the expenses of the school. But the most precious fruit of the school was that a large proportion cast away their idolatrous joss worship, and espoused the Christian faith.

The work growing thus rapidly, the board, for the second year, appointed Rev. George Sickafoose, who had been under engagement with the parent board in a mission in East Portland, to assist his wife in the Chinese mission. Arrangements were also made soon after for the purchase of a building for the school, and for religious services. A well-located house was bought for eight thousand dollars, and the mission had now a home, with a residence for the missionaries on the same lot.

^p.472 Many of those who have attended this school have returned to their old homes in China, and those who became Christians, it may be believed, have done something in bearing the seed of gospel truth to their own people in their native land. The Chinese are firm in their religious convictions, and few could be induced to abandon the Christian religion even under stress of bitter persecution. Moy Ling, who possesses such sterling personal qualities, as shown by his work in establishing and conducting the school for about seven years, still remains connected with the mission. The school sessions are held regularly every week-day evening, except Saturday. In July, 1891, Mr. Sickafoose resigned his connection with the school to reenter the active ministry. Mrs. Sickafoose continued in the mission for something over two years longer, when failing health necessitated her resignation, after giving it faithful and successful service for a period of ten years. In 1893 Mrs. Mary E. Henkle, of Philomath, Oregon, was appointed to fill the vacancy, with Moy Ling continuing as interpreter and assistant.

2. The Mission in China.

In 1888 the board decided, upon the earnest recommendation of Mrs. Sickafoose, and after mature consideration, to open a mission work in China, and in 1889 Mr. Sickafoose and Moy Ling, who had received regular authority as a minister, were deputed to visit China and locate a mission. Miss Australia Patterson, a graduate of Western College, and Miss Lillie R. Shaffner, a student in Lebanon Valley College, both possessing fine accomplishments, were appointed for work in the mission when it should be located. The company reached Hong Kong on October 31, 1889, and after careful investigation decided to locate the mission in Canton, the metropolis of southern ^p.473 China. This part of the work being accomplished, Mr. Sickafoose returned to Portland, Moy Ling remaining with the other missionaries for over a year. Miss Shaffner at the end of a year returned to America on account of failing health. A few months later Moy Ling returned, and Miss Patterson was now alone. With a heart full of true courage, and trusting in the Master whom she sought to honor, she addressed herself earnestly to her work. Her first important business was to learn the Chinese language, always a difficult undertaking. Meanwhile, she superintended a Sunday school for the children of English and American residents in the city. After acquiring sufficient knowledge of the language she began the work of house-to-house visitation, with the assistance of a Bible-woman as interpreter. In the fall of 1891 Miss S. Lovina Halverson, M.D., a former student in Western College, Iowa, was appointed as medical missionary, and arrived in Canton soon after. In 1892 Miss Regina Bigler, M.D., was appointed for the same work. She reached Canton in December of that year. A medical dispensary was established for the purpose of prescribing for the sick. These dispensaries afford very special opportunities for religious work, since with the medical prescriptions the word of life is also dispensed to the women who come for treatment. It is a return to the method of the Great Teacher, who gave healing alike to the bodies and the souls of men. Large numbers of women visit the dispensaries, and many of them gladly hear the word of life.

In the spring of 1893 the Rev. and Mrs. E. E. Fix, graduates of Western College and Union Biblical Seminary, were appointed by the board to the mission in Canton. They reached that city in November of that year. They were making encouraging progress, when, ^p.474 unfortunately, on account of the failing health of Mrs. Fix, in 1895, it was thought best that they should return to America.
In June, 1894, Drs. Halverson and Bigler had the rough experience of being mobbed in the streets of Canton, Miss Halverson very nearly losing her life. She had given assistance to a sick Chinaman, and started with him to send him to a hospital. Proceeding a short distance, a frenzied mob attacked her, with threats to kill her. She was pursued, struck down, dragged through the streets, and stoned, when a custom-house officer, seeing the tumult, came to her rescue. Miss Bigler, learning what had occurred, started to bring her home, when she was assailed by the same mob, but, fortunately, was not struck by the stones that were thrown. A body of soldiers rescued her, and the two ladies were afterward sent home under an escort. Miss Halverson's experience was much like that of Paul at Lystra, and, happily, did not result as her assailants intended. The attack was a part of the general outbreak against foreigners about that time. The intense hatred was due to the prevalence of the plague, for which many of the superstitious Chinese thought the foreigners were in some way responsible. This malady, then so fatal in many of the Chinese cities, was the bubonic plague, which prevails now with so great fatality in India.

V. THE WOMAN'S EVANGEL.

The publication of this journal, in sixteen-page form, monthly, was begun in January, 1882, with Mrs. L. R. Keister, corresponding secretary, as editor. The paper was well edited from the start, and was destined to be popular. In 1893, on Mrs. Keister's resignation, the editorial work was transferred to the cultured pen of Mrs. L. K. Miller. ^p.475 It has proved very helpful in the work, has attained a circulation of five thousand copies, and from the beginning has paid all expenses of publication.

VI. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

The Woman's Association has been fortunate in the selection of its executive officers. The first president was Mrs. Mary Ann Sowers, a lady widely known for her efficiency and Christian zeal. She was chosen in 1875. She resigned in 1879, on account of failing health, and died November 17, 1880. In May, 1879, Mrs. Sylvia Haywood, of Westerville, Ohio, a lady of most estimable personal qualities, was elected president. At the meeting in May, 1887, succeeding Mrs. Haywood's death, Mrs. L. K. Miller was chosen to this office. She has given to its service ten years of diligent attention. Mrs. Keister, who was corresponding secretary from the beginning, resigned in 1893, and was succeeded by Mrs. B. F. Witt, of Indianapolis. The office force at the present writing consists of Mrs. Witt as general secretary, and Mrs. Miller as president and editor of the Evangel.

VII. SUMMARY.

From a summarized statement in the corresponding secretary's report for 1896 it is seen that the Chinese mission in Portland is progressing hopefully. In addition to this there is an American mission in that city under the care of the board. This church, and the Sunday school and young people's society connected with it, are in a prosperous condition. The church property, valued at nine thousand dollars, added to that of the school originally purchased, makes a total of property in Portland valued at seventeen thousand dollars. Rev. and Mrs. E. E. Fix have recently taken charge of this mission church.

^p.476 In Canton there are three American missionaries, two of the number medical; one native pastor, one chapel-keeper, several Bible-women, one organized church, and six day schools. The medical dispensary, open one or two days in the week, has within a year supplied treatment to over thirteen thousand patients. Many of these are in the city away from the dispensary, and at smaller places adjacent to Canton. The prescriptions up to the present time are, with few exceptions, made without charge.

In the Bompeh Mission, Africa, there were, in May, 1896, American missionaries, seven ; in America for rest, four, making eleven under appointment of the board. There were 122 preaching places; organized churches, three, with 120 communicants. In addition to these were 65 inquirers' or seekers' classes, with an enrollment of 1,286. Four Sunday schools were reported, with 289 pupils ; eight day schools, with 254 pupils. There were four ordained and eight unordained itinerants; three chapels and six mission-houses. The mission-houses were valued at $8,200, the school-houses at $4,000, the chapels at $2,400, industrial building at $800, boat-house and other buildings at $1,000, making a total of $16,400.

The total amount of moneys collected and expended by the Woman's Missionary Association from its organization, in 1875, to May, 1896, was $215,766.44.

¹The materials for this sketch are derived chiefly from a pamphlet, "History of the Woman's Missionary Association of the United Brethren in Christ," prepared by the publishing committee of the association.

²Ps. 68:11.



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