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22 THE
WOMAh S CONFERENCE AT MONTREAT,
N. C.
During the Missionary Conference at
Montreat, N. C.t two days, August 17 and
18, were given up to the discussion of
Women's Work for Missions, the 17th
being devoted to the Home phase of
the work and the 18th to the Foreign.
Miss Angie Wing, of Macon, Georgia,
was chairman of the committee ap
pointed last year, and the success of
these two days was largely due to her
untiring efforts.
Mrs. C. M. Gibbon, President of the
Asheville Presbyterial Union, presided
on the day for Home Missions^ the
.meeting being opened by a devotional
service led by Mrs. John H. Reid, President
of the Concord Presbyterial Union.
The program on this day was divided
into three general parts, under the heads
of "The Cause," our source of power;
"The Means," or the workers; and ' The
Effect," or the work and its needs. Under
the first head, "The Cause," the close
and vital relation of prayer and mis
sionary work was emphasized. Under
the second head, "The Means," three
talks, of ten minutes each, were given,
on "The Work of One Church," "Activity
in Florida," and "At Work with the
Children." This section was closed with
a "Workers' Conference," led by Miss
Patty Watkins of Red Springs, N. C.,
during which many of the problems
which we face were discussed. Under
the third head, "The EfTect," talks were
given on many phases of the work in our
own land, including that among the
Mountaineers, the Negroes, the Mexicans
and the Foreigners.
This program was arranged by Miss
Barbara E. Lambdin of the Home Missions
Committee, who also spoke of
"Home Missions from a Woman's Point
of View." Miss Lambdin is peculiarly
fitted for this as she has worked with
both the Foreign and Home Missions
Committees. She spoke of the two as
being so dependent the one upon the
other that one could not prosper without
the other, comparing them to the two
wings of a bird, which could not fly if
either wing were crippled.
We wish there were time or space to
tell of the great work which is being
done among the mountain boys and
?irl8,?Miss Hawkins of Asheville Presbytery,
among many other instances,
spoke of one case where a complete
ronofnrmQt Inn haH hoon wrnncht in thp
entire community as a result of the
work done at the Robinsville Apademy.
(In this connection, the writer of this
article had the pleasure of meeting four
of the young men from the Plumtree
Academy, and they certainly would have
been a credit to any institution. We
understand that from among the pupils
of this academy sixteen are to enter the
ministry.)
We have all heard many times of the
work among the negroes, and how little
is being done for them by our Church;
wo liotro qIua hnor<1 i vin ufAvlr f hoi la
***5 "? ? v ujov7 uvaiu vi vuc nui n (.not id
being done "Among the Mexicans in
Texas," and how responsive they are to
the gospel; and about "Work among the
r *
PRESBYTERIAN OF THE SOUT
Indians," it having been stated that Indians
are born Presbyterians. Each
one of the speakers on this subject
claimed that the children they had
worked with were the brightest of any
and the most responsive. The two
phases of the work of which we have
heard very little, however, because it is
comparatively new in the South, is the
work among the foreigners. The Italian
Mission, in Birmingham, Ala., was started
with one teacher,?the first morning
100 children were present. They now
have twelve teachers, only three of them
receiving any salary. A special appeal
was made for a kindergarten teacher
for this mission, and also for money with
which to buy lantern slides, so that the
"Life of Christ" can be pictured to these
Italians.
The work among the Cubans in Tampa
is also new, a missionary having recently
been sent there by the Assembly's
Home Missions Committee.
Mrs. C. E. Graham, of Greenville, S.
C., presided on the day for Foreign Mis
sions, the devotional service being led
by Mrs. Allen, of Nashville Presbytery.
One of the interesting features of the
day was the fact that the lady missionaries
present at Montreat, nine in number,
and the volunteers, fourteen in
number, were introduced by name to the
audience by Mrs. Graybill, of the Mexican
Mission, the audience .standing and giving
the Chautauqua salute as each name
was mentioned. Mrs. Sykes, of China,
then gave a fifteen minute talk on her
work in China, after which the audience
broke up into sectional conferences, dividing
into groups according to the offices
held in local or Presbyterial
work.
The report from the Synodical and
Presbyterial Unions was to the effect
that delegates to the Unions should follow
the instructions of the local societies.
It was also stated that information
from the office in Nashville had been received
to the effect that it was not wise
for Unions to be pledged for certain
amounts for specific objects, but that
each Union should recommend certain,
specific work to the local societies.
The section of the Presidents of Local
Soeieties discussed many topics,
such as "How to persuade members to
lead in prayer," "How to have interesting
programs," "Membership and attendance,"
etc.
Miss Wiley, who has worked very successfully
as Secretary of Literature in
St. Johns Presbytery in Florida, stated
that the best way to make a success of
this work was for the Secretary to study *
the books and pamphlets so thoroughly
that she would be able to recommend
the proper pamphlet to any who might
need It,?to make yourself heard at all
times,?In other words to be a "Drum
mer."
The Young Peoples' Societies reported
special emphasis had been placed on
developing the prayer life in children,
and giving, it being stated that children
are natural givers. Also Mission Study
Classes among Young Peoples' Societies
H. September i, 1909.
were discussed, one lady stating that she
had had one class of boys from twelve
to sixteen years of age, meet with her
once a week for eight weeks to study
missions.
After the sections tfere called together
in the morning, and before the talks
which were given by several of our missionaries.
Mrs RHinhoth Rlalro ?
husband, Professor J. N. Blake, of Davidson,
N. C., gave the Elizabeth Blake
Hospital, was introduced and was
greeted with a rising salute. There was
scarcely a dry eye in the audience as
they greeted this sweet-faced, venerable
woman, whose consecrated gift will
live forever in its influence and power
for good to the Chinese.
Mrs. Baird, of Brazil, then spoke of
the great need of the field in Catholic
countries; Miss Craig, of Cuba, gave
many instances showing why we should
send the gospel to Catholic countries,
and Mrs. Graybill, of Mexico, told of one
instance of the ,joy that Christianity
brings, especially to the old people.
Mrs. and Miss Tate both spoke of the
.VUU..BW1C icauiia ui me worK in norea
in comparison with the few workers and
the small equipment. Miss Houston, of
Japan, told of the work which is being
done at the girls' school in Nagoya,?
where, she said, 97 per cent of the girls
become Christians. Mrs. Cummings, of
Japan, spoke of the evangelistic work in
the interior of Japan. Mrs. Venable,
of Kashing, told of hospital work in that
place, and Mrs. Wilkinson, of Soochow,
spoke of the great work which is being
done at the Elizabeth Blake hospital.
In closing this talk the question was
asked, "What is the greatest thing in
the world"? It is neither education, nor
foreign missions, nor home missions,?it
is love. Love is the keynote of the work
in China, the keynote of the work at
home, the keynote of all our work, for
"Love is the fulfilling of the law."
At me ciose or tnese two very full
days the thought left upon the mind was
how closely Intertwined were the two
great works of missions at home and
abroad. If we neglect to preach the
gospel In our own country, especially to
the foreigners who are coming In so rapidly,
the Church at home will become
visionary. If we are faithful, however,
we will have many of these foreigners as
they return to their own countries, carrying
the gospel with them. If we fail
to send the gospel to foreign lands we
will soon have our land over-run by nonChristian
people. The message brought
by all these friends was, "The harvest
indeed is great, but the laborers are
few." We are daughters of the King,
and "The King's business requireth
haste." Everywhere the call was for
more workers, for better equipment, for
"The field is white unto harvest" and
the time is short.
* *
The committee appointed to have
charge of this work next year is, Miss
Wing, of Macon, Ga., Chairman, with
Mro P. II 1 '" - - * ~ -
....... i nucn, ui ueuiKiH, ana Miss Kutberford,
of Virginia.
Kate C. Roberta.