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WOMAN'S WORK
Conducted by Miss Carrie I/ee Campbell.
PKAYKlt.
"Waiting to pray until wo are in
peril is trying to take out an insur
ance policy after the house has
caught fire."
HKPOItT OF WOMAN'S AUXILIARY
OF T11K NOKFOIjK PKFSIJYTKHY.
((?ivfii for an "Ensaiuple")
Itrad and Preserve.
Impressions: From the first devo
tional exercises ami the splendid
words of welcome by our president,
Mrs. Westbrook, to the pronouncing
of the Mizpali benediction at the close
of the young people's meeting, the
twentieth annual meeting of the Wo
man's Auxiliary of Norfolk Presby
tery held in the First Presbyterian
church, Norfolk, April 13-15, in
clusive, was a wonderful success.
The efficiency of the various com
mittees in charge of preparations be
fore and during the convention was
very evident, and the cause of favor
able comment on all sides. The ar
tistic decorations; the orderly appear
ance of all parts of the building; the
cordiality with which the guests were
met; the hospitality of those who en
tertained delegates in their homes;
the thoughtfulness and consideration
of the ushers; the generosity of those
who provided automobiles and the un
tiring efforts of the ladies who had
charge of the very necessary and very
important lunches, to each and every
one should be given her full share ot
praise.
Right in this connection it wouldn't
be fair to leave out the faithful janitor,
Henry. He was ever present ? always
willing, ever ready and most helpful
in every respect. He, too, received
many expressions of appreciation from
the guests.
During these days of the Presb/
terial, every woman did her part so
well that everything passed off
smoothly and most harmoniously.
There wasn't a hitch to mar or hin
der the progress of the meeting.
Quiet It is simply impossible for
a delegate or representative of any
society or organization to incorporate
in her report the most essential part
of such a meeting. The dignity of the
officers; or quiet reverence of the de
votional hours, the atmosphere of
genuine sincerity, that was delightful
to experience; or the enthusiasm of
the speakers which aroused an ambi
tion to achieve greater things in our
work for the Master.
Sessions: There were seven ses
sions in all. Three on Thursday, two
on Friday and two on Saturday. Both
sessions on Saturday were given over
entirely to the work of the young
people. The morning sessions began
ai 10 o'clock, afternoon at two, and
night at eight with an hour's inter
mission each day when the ladies of
this church served a most satisfying
and delicious lunch.
Attendance: The attendance was
the largest in the history of the Pres
byterial. There were 304 delegates
and many visitors. Over one hundred
young people registered on the day de
voted to their work.
The President: Much business and
routine work incident to such a meet
ing was transacted, all well handled
by the very capable president of the
Presbyterlnl, Mrs, Schmelz, and the
competent secretary. Miss Hilda
White, with such ease and dispatch
that the interest never lagged.
("harts: Miss White had prepared
a number of charts that added inter
est and furnished valuable informa
tion in regard to membership, sub
scribers to the church papers and
magazines, pledges and other statis
tics. Norfolk First church should be
proud of her offspring. Armstrong
Memorial, as that church appeared at
the head of the list in so many in
stances. Let us strivo to have Nor
folk First improve her own record
before the next annual meeting.
The Sacrament: As a fitting prepa
ration for the series of addresses ind
business of the Presbvterial, the sac
rament of the Lord's Supper was ad
ministered the first morning of the
Presbyterial. L)r. Venable presided
and four elders from this church as
sisted him in this very impressive and
beautiful service.
The llihlc: Each meeting should
open with a Bible lesson. Miss Grace
Hamilton, who is a graduate of Dr.
White's Bible school in New York,
and a teacher in the Community Bible
classes of Baltimore, presented the
lessons in a most comprehensive man
ner. She 8a id the tendency is to
study the New Testament in prefer
ence to the Old, but showed that the
Old Testament must be studied iirst
in order to understand the New. She
gave five lessons during the three
days. (Here follows a succinct digest
of the five lessons, omitted here for
lack of space). These talks were
among the most helpful features of
the entire session.
Foretell Missions: Our foreign
wck was presented most ably and
forcefully by Rev. W. H. Hudson, D.
D., of China. His principal address
was delivered Thursday night when
he stressed conditions as they exist
today in China and some of the needs
of the mission stations there.
He spoke again Saturday afternoon
to the young people when he pre
sented very simply and graphically so
that even the youngest child present
could understand, many incidents in
the life of the Chinese at the present
time. He explained many of the hea
then customs and how only Christian
ity could wipe the stain off the coun
try. He presented many contrasts in
the life of the heathen and that of the
Christian and brought out how Chris
tianity and education go hand in
hand. He made a strong appeal to
the young people to get all the edu
cation possible and to live in a way
that will make their lives count.
Mrs. Thompson, of this city, who
lias spent some time in China, spoke
briefly one afternoon of some of her
impressions while there. She spoke
very kindly of Dr. Frank Brown and
of his work in that field. The domi
nant thought presented was the great
need of consecrated prayer for both
the workers and the natives In that
vast country.
Home Mission!*: The Mountain
work was brought to us most vividly
by Mrs. Seldon Turner of Cnnoe, Ky.,
and Miss Lapsley of Crossnore, N. C.
Inspiring and touching the hearts of
the audience. Mrs. Turner presented
her cause on three different occasions,
picturing very vividly her work in the
school room and life of the commu
nity at Cenoe. Though not Intending
it. she left no doubt in the minds of
those who heard her that she is a
power in that little hamlet in the
mountafns. And she made it perfectly
clear that anything would be accept
able ? books, magazines, pictures, post
cards, anything that would brighten
the rooms; old clothing which could
he sold, Hie proceeds to help pay for
the school building which was recently
burned.
The attention of the ladies was
called to the fact that Mrs. Turner's
eyes wore in a very bad condition and
needed the attention of a specialist
and without hesitation $50 from the
I resbyterial treasury was voted for
that purpose.
NoRroos: Then the work among
the negroes. Thic branch of the work
of the Church was brought before the
Presbyterial by Mrs. H. L. Schmelz
of Hampton, the Presbyterial presi
dent. Thursday night she gave a
strong talk using for her subject "The
Inter-Racial Commission." She is
eminently well qualified to discuss the
subject, having lived in Virginia all
er life, has made a thorough study
of the negro and their characteris
tics and is deeply interested in their
welfare. She emphasized the fact that
we are so dependent upon them and
how much they need our help and
sympathy. She has compiled a creed
n which she very vividly brings out
her attitude toward the question.
It was a strange coincidence that
while she was talking so feelingly on
the subject, the fire in Berkley was
raging and to prove how strongly in
sympathy the members of the Presby
terial were with her and to prove that
they were willing to act as well as
talk, the following day they voted to
Kive $200 from the Presbyterial treas
ury to help bring relief to the suffer
ers in this sad calamity. A collection
^as taken for the same purpose, which
amounted to $40.75. This was added
to the above donation.
ChristiansburR Conference; Last
year the Presbyterial Auxiliary sent
Mary Jennings, a colored woman from
Portsmouth, to the Conference for
cSi W?me" whlch "e'l at
Ohrlstlansburg. Friday afternoon this
woman gave her report which was
most creditable. She told how they
were taught practical nursing, care of
children, gardening, care of play
grounds, household tasks, etc. She
expressed much gratitude for the on
portunity which had been given her to
attend the Conference and said she
had been greatly helped by the ex
perience. It was decided to send an
other representative this summer.
A Memorial. Mrs. D. N. McLauch
Hn of Norfolk Second church con
ducted a very beautiful service in
memory of a formor member of the
Presbyterial and whose death oc
curred recently. Mrs. W. J. A Cum
n.inE. o, Hampton, Va. She paM a"
very wonderful tribute to this Chris
ian woman who was her co-worker
A?vnf 7 dayS ?f the Woman's
Auxiliary of the Norfolk Presbytery
MIsh Dowtf's School: Mrs. deJar
nette made a strong plea for Miss
Howd's School in Japan and suggested
-hot every AnxHIary
celebrate the tenth birthday anniver
sary of the Woman's Auxiliary, which
had proved such a wonderful success
and power in the Church, and in con
nection with this celebration have an
offering taken for this wonderful
Bchool. The suggestion was received
with approval.
tr2rCttl A few faots gleaned
AZ,Znpon" """
The secretary, Miss White was
most emphatic in what she wanted
included in her reports and made a
number of resuests:
1. Please answer all letters re
ceived.
2. Fill in all blanks.
3. Have a secrotary for every
C&U86.
4. Report all changos in officers
5. Invite PreBbyterial secretary of
causes to your Auxiliary.
6. Send all Synodical funds to Rev.
J. E. Booker, Hampdon Sydney, Va.
7. Send all Presbyterian funds
(for Norfolk Presbytery) to Mrs. Paul
Iluber.
8. Send all Assembly's Home Mis
sion funds to Mr. A. N. Sharp, Hurt
Building, Atlanta, Ga.
Statistics: She reported HI Aux
iliaries with a total membership of
2,281, this church having reported a
membership of 452. about 20 percent
of total. The treasurer, Mrs. J. H.
Winslow, reported for the year end
ing March. 1922. $26,441. Of this
amount, this church gave $5,105,
nearly 20 per cent of the total. This
church was listed as giving $n per
person while SufTolk, which stood
first, gave $34 per person.
(By "this church" the writer means
her own home church to which she is
reporting) .
Reports and Commit toes: The sec
retary Tor Christian Education and
Ministerial Relief reported five can
didates for the ministry and 13 vol
unteers for Christian service.
Committees on resolutions, Mrs.
Welford. Miss Stringer, Mrs. Royster.
Nominations for 1923 were ap
pointed: Mrs. Perkins, Mrs. Phel
liower, Mrs. Hamilton.
The nominating committee pre
sented the following names to fill the
places of those whose term of office
automatically expired at this meeting.
Treasurer, Mrs. L. J. Kellam, Belle
Haven.
Chairman Eastern Shore District,
Mrs. J. L. de Cormis, Accomac.
S. P. C. Missions, Mrs. P. S. Has
8ell, Norfolk, Va.
Chairman Educational and Minis
terial Relief, Mrs. W. P. McDowell
Norfolk, Va.
Norfolk First church now has three
representatives on the Executive
Board of the Presbyterial. Mrs. Has
aell, Mrs. McDowell and Mrs. King,
whose term of office did not expire this
year.
Installation; Dr. D. N. McLauchlin
conducted a very impressive installa
tion service for new officers.
Motions: it was voted that the
SI. 200 on hand be turned over to the
Tlome Mission Committee to be used
In strengthening stations already
started in Presbytery.
Local Auxiliary presidents are ex
pected to attend the meeting of the
Executive Committee of the Presby
terial.
Lunch Problem Solved: The visit
ing delegates being impressed with the
?enormity of the task to serve lunch
to such a crowd of women, and since
so many of the ladi?s of the home
church were deprived the privilege of
attending the meetings, It was decided
that hereafter each person pay 25
cents for each lunch and that the en
tertainment be provided by a sister
church or some charitable institution,
, the hostess church to make up any de.
licit.
Some Synodical Recommendations:
1. That we determinedly set aside
all Personal opinions and preferences
for the good of the common whole;
giving cordial co-operation to such In
st ructions as come to us from the Ex
ecutive Committee of our Church
from our superintendent, Mrs. Wins
borough, and from our Auxiliary of
ficers.
2. That the local auxiliaries brlqg
"before their committees the value of
the training to be had at the Chris
t my burg conferences and that they
co-operate with desirablo delegates to
the end of making their attendance
possible,
3. That the Synodtcal budget in
clude ,fi50 for the Chrtfltiansburs