The American Missionary. Volume 43, No. 04, April, 1889

Chairman of Committee, Mrs. C.A. Woodbury, Woodfords, Me.

VT.—Woman's Aid to A.M.A.

Chairman of Committee, Mrs. Henry Fairbanks, St. Johnsbury, Vt.

VT.—Woman's Home Miss. Union

Secretary, Mrs. Ellen Osgood, Montpelier, Vt.

CONN.—Woman's Home Miss. Union

Secretary, Mrs. S.M. Hotchkiss, 171 Capitol Ave., Hartford, Conn.

N.Y.—Woman's Home Miss. Union,

Secretary, Mrs. William Spalding, Salmon Block, Syracuse, N.Y.

ALA.—Woman's Missionary Association

Secretary, Mrs. G.W. Andrews, Talladega, Ala.

OHIO.—Woman's Home Miss. Union

Secretary, Mrs. Flora K. Regal, Oberlin, Ohio.

IND.—Woman's Home Miss. Union

Secretary, Mrs. W.E. Mossman, Fort Wayne, Ind.

ILL.—Woman's Home Miss. Union

Secretary, Mrs. C.H. Taintor, 151 Washington St., Chicago, Ill.

MINN.—Woman's Home Miss. Society

Secretary, Miss Katharine Plant, 2651 Portland Avenue, Minneapolis, Minn.

IOWA.—Woman's Home Miss. Union

Secretary, Miss Ella B. Marsh, Grinnell, Iowa.

KANSAS.—Woman's Home Miss. Society

Secretary, Mrs. G.L. Epps. Topeka, Kan.

MICH.—Woman's Home Miss. Union

Secretary, Mrs. Mary B. Warren, Lansing, Mich.

WIS.—Woman's Home Miss. Union

Secretary, Mrs. C. Matter, Brodhead, Wis.

NEB.—Woman's Home Miss. Union

Secretary, Mrs. L.F. Berry, 724 N Broad St., Fremont, Neb.

COLORADO.—Woman's Home Miss. Union

Secretary, Mrs. S.M. Packard, Pueblo, Colo.

DAKOTA,—Woman's Home Miss. Union

President, Mrs. T.M. Hills, Sioux Falls;

Secretary, Mrs. W.R. Dawes, Redfield;

Treasurer, Mrs. S.E. Fifield, Lake Preston.

We would suggest to all ladies connected with the auxiliaries of State Missionary Unions, that funds for the American Missionary Association be sent to us through the treasurers of the Union, Care, however, should be taken to designate the money as for the American Missionary Association, since undesignated funds will not reach us.

NOTICE OF A CONFERENCE OF OFFICERS OF THE WOMAN'S STATE HOME MISSIONARY ORGANIZATIONS

The Woman's State Home Missionary Organizations will hold an all-day meeting in the Congregational Church, Saratoga, Tuesday June 4, 1889, the day before the Annual Meeting of the American Home Missionary Society.

All State Organizations working through one or more of our six National Societies for Home-land Evangelization are cordially invited to participate in this meeting. It is hoped that there will be a large and able representation from each organization.

There will be two sessions. The morning session will begin promptly at 10:30, the afternoon at 2 o'clock. The morning session is to be a private business conference of State officers only. Questions of the greatest importance are to be freely and thoroughly discussed. State officers of every rank will be admitted to it.

To the afternoon session, all ladies interested in home-land work are most cordially invited. A rich, spirited and helpful programme is to be presented. Further information can be obtained by addressing

    MRS. J.A. BIDDLE,
    South Norwalk, Conn.

TEMPERANCE WORK IN TENNESSEE

I have been working in this State for three years, giving mothers new ideas, making them think in their log cabins, and causing many to say, "You have done me good." I am now on the Cumberland Plateau with my husband, who is in the employ of the American Missionary Association. A few weeks ago, I went with him to a mining town to assist him and Brother Pope in a series of meetings. There were early indications of popular interest, the crowd was easily gathered and the good work began much sooner than the most sanguine anticipated. The first week passed. Sinners had risen for prayers, strong men bowed their heads, confessing their sins, and conversions were daily reported. Then came a momentary lull, such as is often observed in revival seasons. Mr. Pope's experienced eye was quick to divine the cause. He knew that crowd of eager listeners—that there were many among them, old and young, who stood on the verge of the Kingdom with the fatal cup in their hands. Said he to me, "The time has come for a temperance talk—that is what they need!" and designated that very evening for me to present the subject.

At this I confess I was not a little embarrassed, for although accustomed to short, informal temperance talks in public, I had no idea, woman that I was, of taking his place at such a critical moment. What added to my embarrassment was the disheartening fact to all of us that Mr. Pope was just then unexpectedly called away to another part of his extensive field and was gone two days. So there was no help for it. I looked over my old notes—nothing would do. Then I inquired of the Lord, and He said "Fear not." Here let me remark, that I have hitherto encountered in this needy part of the country an obstinate prejudice against this "Woman's Temperance Work" by the women themselves, the most interested party in it. But here, thanks be to God, I met a most favorable reception. How the people looked, how earnestly they listened also, yes, and wept, as I told them of the world-wide Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and warned them of that fatal sin which was keeping many women out of the Kingdom of Heaven, and they knew it. I talked in my simple way of human love in its various phases, and then turned to the incomparable love of Christ, who would save them if they would only let him. In conclusion I asked—"Is there any one here, man, woman or child, in this congregation, who is willing to forswear the intoxicating cup henceforth and forever? If there is, let him come forward and take me by the hand." With scarcely a pause, the main body of the audience in the rear (you know what that means) rose from their seats and literally precipitated themselves upon the speaker's stand. For the next half hour I had nothing to do but to shake hands and pin the white ribbon. I never witnessed a more exciting scene. The tearful joy of suffering wives over their sobered husbands, and anxious parents over their wandering boys will not be forgotten.

The happy result of this first meeting of the kind created a demand for its repetition on two other occasions, as the revival went on with equal enthusiasm and success. In the course of our visitation from house to house, a Northern lady who had come down here to winter with her brother on account of her health, informed me of the disgusting revels of a certain man and his wife with their half-dozen drunken boarders, which she was compelled to witness in the other end of the house weekly, or as often as pay-day came around. "I can't bear it," said she. "Are you then praying," said I; "Where is your faith?" A few day's later, at the mother's meeting, another woman said, with much feeling, "Won't you present the temperance cause again tonight? My husband and several others wish to join your organization." I did. And who were the first to present themselves as candidates for the white ribbon but that same woman and her husband? Twenty-three others in the congregation followed suit, and all again stood forth hand in hand—token of unbroken friendship—a spectacle to angels and mortal man. By this time, to our great joy, Brother Pope had returned, and he assigned me to my proper place after one of his own rousing appeals.

To give you a general idea of the power of this work, which continued with unflagging interest to the last, allow me to cite two or three instances of conversion. One, a man who had shot and killed three notorious burglars, was tried for legal informality and acquitted on the ground of the public weal. This was two years ago, and the people who knew and understood him well, said that he had enjoyed no peace of mind since. Notwithstanding all, he was, and is, a man of power and commanding influence, and has entered heartily into the work and interests of the A.M.A., as Brother Pope can assure you. Another, a younger man, likewise implicated in a murder last Fourth of July, and committed to jail for a time, the particulars of whose case I am unacquainted with, cried out in open congregation, "Pray for me, I am the vilest sinner that ever lived," and dropped upon his knees in sore agony of body and soul to join in prayer with the Christians present. As the latter arose and began singing, "Come, humble sinner," he stepped right forward exclaiming, "By the grace of God I will, I will," and at that moment the great change might be read in the heavenly expression of his changed countenance. Yet another young man, a boon companion in sin, cried out in the same way and came forward kneeling for some time, and then rising said, "I have found God; he is good; come, my friends, and find him, O come," repeating these words as he passed through the wondering congregation till he came to me, when grasping my hand, he exclaimed, "Praise the Lord that ever he sent you to this place." He was asked to pray. "Yes, yes," was his instant reply, "that is just what I want to do;" and such a prayer as he offered up is seldom heard. A well-known skeptic arose and openly renounced his infidelity.

As my husband and Brother Pope had both their special appointments elsewhere to fill, it fell to my lot, much against my predilections, to close the whole series of meetings by my third and last temperance lecture. This appeal on the temperance question was also responded to, at first mostly by young boys and girls, followed by a venerable gentleman and his two sons, and then the full complement of men and women. So all discouragements of the past are forgotten in these glorious results.

FOR THE CHILDREN

CHRISTMAS AT THE S'KOKOMISH RESERVATION