USA > Pennsylvania > Huntingdon County > Huntingdon > The Historical memorial of the centennial anniversary of the Presbytery of Huntingdon : held in Huntingdon, Pa., April 9, 1895 : 1795-1895 > Part 32
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This is a young and vigorous school. Samuel M. Dunlap was chosen at its organization, and is still its superintendent. It is located in a mining region. It has a membership of fifteen officers and teachers and one hundred and thirty scholars. J. L. Sommerville has been an active promoter of this school. Mrs. J. L. Sommerville has charge of the pri- mary class. It contributed twenty dollars last year to the church boards and fifty-two dollars towards self-support.
The Kerrmoor Presbyterian Sabbath-school was an outgrowth of the Fruit Hill Church and of the United Presbyterian Church at Lumber City. Members of these two churches organized this school. It antedates the organization of the church in 1888. J. S. McCreary was the first super- intendent, and is now. It reported in 1889 a membership of ninety. Its present membership is eighty-four, with an average attendance of sixty- five. Mrs. Blair Stevens and Mrs. T. P. Stevens have charge of the pri- mary class. Last year it contributed sixteen dollars to Sabbath-school mission and twenty dollars for self-support.
The Sabbath-school of the Coalport Presbyterian Church was organ- ized about 1888, for in that year it reported a Sabbath-school membership of eighty, which in 1892 was increased to one hundred and thirty-three. It at present reports a membership of seventy-one, and an average attend-
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ance of forty-six. W. J. Caldwell has probably been superintendent since its organization. Miss Ada Lydick has been in charge of the pri- mary class, and still cares for it, and is assisted by Miss Kate Caldwell.
The churches of Woodland and Hyndman have never had any Sab- bath-school. The Bethel Sabbath-school has been on the decline ever since the organization of the Petersburg school in 1877; until within the last year or two it has reported no school. Glenhope and Waterside report no school. Glenhope, while a point in connection with the Fruit Hill Church during the pastorate of Rev. D. H. Campbell, had a flour- ishing Sabbath-school for several years. Yellow Creek, Hublersburg, Mann's Choice, and Saxton Churches have no schools. These have had flourishing schools, but they have gone down. In many instances their strength has been carried into other schools and churches. It is not lost. Oftentimes the centre of spiritual life and light changes from one place to another.
In looking at the history and progress of the Sabbath-schools of the Presbytery, we recognize the fact that this Presbytery has been alert to its duty in looking after the Sabbath-school interests within its bounds. The first year in which the Presbytery seems to have called for Sabbath- school statistics seems to have been in the year 1855 ; for in the Assem- bly's Minutes for 1856 we find a column set apart for the number of " children in Sabbath-school" in each church. In that year the following churches reported,-viz., Moshannon and Snow Shoe, seventy; Lower Tuscarora, six hundred; Williamsburg, one hundred and ten; Altoona,, ninety, and Waynesburg and Newton Hamilton, eighty ; or six churches reported nine hundred and fifty children in Sabbath-school. Almost two-thirds of these came from the pastoral charge of Rev. Dr. G. W. Thompson. In 1857 twenty-one churches reported two thousand six hundred and twenty-six children in Sabbath-school. In 1860 twenty- one churches, out of forty-four in all, reported three thousand two hundred and fifty-three children in Sabbath-school. In 1870 forty-two churches out of fifty-five reported a Sabbath-school membership of six thousand one hundred and fifty-one. At first they were asked to report just chil- dren. In 1867-69 they were asked to report the number of persons in the Sabbath-school. Since then it has been the Sabbath-school membership.
It was not until in the Assembly of 1882 that it was recommended that a standing committee on Sabbath-schools be appointed in each Presbytery and Synod for the purpose of holding Sabbath-school insti- tutes, stimulating normal classes, guarding against the intrusion of
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outside Lesson Helps, and to obtain statistics for the use of the secretary of this department. And yet years before this the Presbytery of Hunt- ingdon had a standing committee on Sabbath-schools. This committee in 1874 was composed of Revs. S. T. Wylie, chairman, S. T. Wilson, D.D., W. J. Chichester, T. J. Sherrard, and H. S. Butler. In 1876-78 this committee was Revs. H. S. Butler, chairman, W. O. Wright, W. J. Chichester, and T. J. Sherrard, and elders A. S. Landis and D. W. Woods. In 1879 it was the same, with the addition of Rev. Dr. S. T. Wilson, who was made chairman. In 1880 Rev. H. S. Butler became chairman again, and remained as such until his removal from the Presbytery in February, 1884. After this the committee was again reorganized, and was constituted as follows: Revs. D. Conway, chairman, D. K. Free- man, D.D., A. H. Jolly, and elders T. A. Appleby and Jonathan Ham- ilton. Upon the removal of Rev. D. Conway from the Presbytery, and other changes, the committee was reorganized in 1889, with Rev. D. H. Campbell chairman. The other members at present on this committee are Revs. W. G. Finney, H. F. Means, H. C. Baskerville, William H. Decker, and elders T. A. Appleby and S. S. Blair. The Presbytery has ever given prominence to this work. Years ago annual conventions were held, and were successful. But on account of so many conventions they were for a while omitted. It has been customary to have a popular meeting in the interest of Sabbath-schools at the fall meeting of Presby- tery. In the year 1893, by action of Presbytery, the Presbytery was divided into two districts,-the eastern, comprising the counties of Hunt- ingdon, Bedford, Mifflin, and Juniata, and the western, comprising the counties of Blair, Centre, and Clearfield. This was done that we might more conveniently have Sabbath-school institutes or conventions annu- ally. The eastern district has had two interesting institutes,-one at Petersburg in 1893, and the other in Mifflintown in June, 1894. The western district had one in Tyrone in the fall of 1893.
In 1880 the membership was eight thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, as reported by fifty-nine churches out of sixty-seven, which shows a growth of two thousand six hundred and thirty-four in ten years. At the present time there are eighty-nine Sabbath-schools in sixty-eight churches, having twelve hundred and ninety-two officers and teachers and nine thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine scholars, making a total of eleven thousand one hundred and seventy-one; which makes a net gain in membership of two thousand three hundred and eighty-six in fifteen years, or a gain of five thousand and twenty in
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twenty-five years, or since the reunion in 1870. The average attendance is seven thousand and sixty-eight.
In closing this article we would recognize the great goodness of God to us in this branch of the Lord's work, and praise him for the degree of prosperity with which he has seen fit to so richly bless it.
THE WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
MISS CATHERINE W. STEWART.
THE year 1834 will ever be memorable in the history of heathen women. In that year the Rev. Dr. Abeel, returning to England from his mission in China, presented their claims on the gifts, labors, and prayers of Christian mothers and wives, with such such power and ten- derness that eyes were opened and hearts stirred with a deep sense of personal responsibility. The result was the forming of the "Society for promoting Female Education in the East." The great work and influ- ence of that society is an enduring monument to Dr. Abeel.
The same year, before congregations in New York, this earnest ad- vocate for the elevation of heathen women pictured their debased, en- slaved condition, secluded and veiled by their cruel customs, for which no remedy had yet been suggested. As he told of the millions im- prisoned in harems and high-walled zenanas, which seemed as if they never could be scaled, it was indeed a revelation to his hearers.
Among the many fired with enthusiasm to do something for these oppressed ones was Mrs. T. C. Doremus, of New York. But an inde- pendent movement at that time was not deemed wise and prudent by leaders of the mission boards. Twenty-six years later, however, this movement was made.
Very early in this century women's foreign missionary societies existed in this country, and many churches in this State and Presbytery had such associations. But "women's work for women"-viz., the sending forth of female missionaries to labor among the secluded women of the Orient-was not undertaken until 1860. Then the Woman's Union Missionary Society sprang into existence, with Mrs. T. C. Dore- mus as its president. Zenana work among the women of India was the
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marked feature of this new society,-which became the pioneer of " women's work for women" in its present form of organization.
Similar organizations soon followed in the different evangelical de- nominations. "The soil seemed wonderfully prepared for this novel and untried mission. It grew apace, and soon sent out its branches, till now more than fifty such associations have sprung up the world over."
A few " elect ladies" in Philadelphia, whose hearts God had touched, so that they could no longer be deaf to this cry for help which had reached America's shores, felt that an organized effort must be made by Presbyterian women for this specific work in the foreign field. After several meetings for prayer and consultation, the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society was formally organized October 4, 1870. The ap- proval of the Board of Foreign Missions was then secured. The General Assembly in May, 1871, gave its hearty sanction to the work undertaken by this society, recognizing the hand of God and the spirit of prayer and consecration in the whole movement.
The society then sent to the entire church an appeal, asking "the earnest and systematic co-operation of Christian women and children in sending and supporting female missionaries and native teachers and Bible-readers to the women in heathen lands, through the agency of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian Church." The response was speedy and cordial from far and near, and at the first annual meeting, April, 1871, thirty-seven auxiliaries, twenty-five bands, and fifteen mis- sionaries were reported as under the care of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society. Had not the Good Shepherd gone before and moved hearts with his own compassion, so that they were ready to follow him in his search for these lost ones ?
So a quarter of a century ago this little mission vessel was launched, and, touching at the ports of India, China, Japan, Corea, Siam, Laos, Persia, Syria, Africa, South America, and Mexico, it has left precious freight from which the people have obtained untold blessings. It is now one of the seven Woman's Foreign Mission Boards of the Presby- terian Church, each one having its own mission and missionaries, and separate head-quarters in New York, Albany, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, San Francisco, and Portland. Its helpers, in auxiliaries, bands, and individuals, are found in Ohio, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, and the District of Columbia. Under its care are one hundred and fifty-six missionaries, and one hundred and eighty-three schools, hospitals, and dispensaries.
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In 1881 a fund was established to aid students in preparing for medical mission work, and twenty-two female physicians are now in the field and five in college. No part of "women's work for women" is more full of promise and interest than this. The power of relieving suffering has unlocked many a fast-closed door,-and how easy then to follow with the greater blessings of the gospel !
In March, 1872, the plan was adopted of having Presbyterial organi- zations. The call to thus unite our forces and deepen and widen our influence was sent forth by the society in Philadelphia.
There was no response to this call from individuals and auxiliaries in Huntingdon Presbytery until November II, 1875, when a meeting was called and held in Lewistown, and eight societies, previously formed in the different congregations, were represented. Then and there the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of Huntingdon Presbytery was regularly organized and took its name and place, entering with the great company of women the " open door set before them."
The first annual meeting of this Presbyterial Society was held in Hollidaysburg, March 31, 1876. Fourteen auxiliaries were there repre- sented, and eight hundred and twelve dollars and twenty cents reported as cast into the treasury. At the twentieth annual.meeting in March, 1895, the treasurer reported eighty-eight contributing organizations, in- cluding some Sabbath-schools and Christian Endeavor Societies, and three thousand four hundred and thirty-eight dollars and forty-four cents as the offering for 1894, the total amount given in these twenty years being sixty thousand three hundred and eighty-four dollars and sixty- four cents.
As we contrast the report with the day of small things, as at the beginning, we must see that our united effort has had the divine favor and increase.
Auxiliaries and bands in the churches compose the Presbyterial Society, and its growth, power, and influence are just in proportion as these are kept in spiritual health, growing in zeal and missionary knowl- edge, and overflowing with tithes and offerings. Helpful to this end are the monthly meetings held for prayer and praise, the study of the missions, and the bringing of willing offerings. And the publications of the society -viz., Woman's Work for Woman, and Over Sea and Land, with the many leaflets-are full of the information needed to keep the heart aglow with zeal and interest in the advancing kingdom of Christ.
Four missionaries are assigned to the care of this Presbyterial Society.
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In Japan, India, Persia, and South America they are holding forth the word of life. Between them and the society a pleasant and profitable correspondence is carried on. Their support comes first from the amount given each year. The remainder is used for scholarships in mission schools and for the general work of the Board.
The Huntingdon Presbyterial Society is one of fifty-four composing the parent society in Philadelphia. In all its great and increasing work and responsibility, we by our pledges and promises are co-workers, part- ners, and helpers in Christ Jesus. Each year the call comes for an added sum for special work. There has always been a willing response, so that we have now solid investments in hospitals, in school buildings, and in comfortable homes for the laborers in the vineyard. Streams of blessing are flowing from them, on and on forever,-only another proof .that " It is more blessed to give than to receive."
God has and is calling his redeemed daughters to rescue and save these millions of wives, mothers, and children, and through them the great heathen world. He has given to them this special work to do for him, for no other human agency can do it, seeing that these secluded, impris- oned ones cannot share in the public means of grace.
These women are " the oppressed ones, who have no comforter; on the side of the oppressor is power, but they have no comforter." " He that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key," has opened, in this his own good time, these fast-closed doors and hearts, that privileged women may enter and tell of him, "sent to heal the broken-hearted and preach deliverance to the captives," and of the Holy Spirit waiting to give them a name and a place among the children of "the God and Father of us all."
THE WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY OF HUNTINGDON PRESBYTERY.
MRS. N. D. ORBISON.
THE annual meeting at Altoona, March 6 and 7, 1895, of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society in the Presbytery of Huntingdon, closed two decades of work.
The first movement to form such a society was at the suggestion of Mrs. J. W. White, of Milroy, and Miss Harshberger, afterwards Mrs.
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Butler, in September, 1875. Mrs. White says, " At that time there was special interest centring in Miss Harshberger, who was preparing to go to China; and it occurred to me that it might be utilized towards the desired end (a Presbyterial organization). So we wrote to several in- terested friends on the subject, Mrs. D. H. Barron and Mrs. David Wilson, of Port Royal, being among the number. The replies being encouraging, we forthwith issued a call for a meeting, to be held in con- nection with the public farewell to Miss Harshberger, in our church, in- viting all to come who were interested in either object of the meeting, and sending the circulars to local societies and other congregations through the pastor or personal friends, at least aiming in this way to reach every congregation in the Presbytery. A goodly number responded to the call, but we soon found that things were not ripe for action. At the suggestion of the Lewistown ladies, we agreed to hold a meeting later in the fall at that place. Prior to that meeting, two of the Lewistown ladies, Mrs. Elder and Mrs. Russell, came out to talk the matter over with me."
On November 16, 1876, a few women met in the lecture-room of the Presbyterian Church in Lewistown, to consult as to the desirability of forming a Presbyterial organization. Societies had been formed auxiliary to the Woman's Board in Philadelphia, and delegates from eight societies appeared at this meeting. Huntingdon, Hollidaysburg, Milroy, Lewis- town, Birmingham, Port Royal, Arch Spring, Williamsburg, Bellefonte, and Tyrone were represented. Mrs. Cunningham, an officer of the Woman's Board in Philadelphia, was present to direct and encourage. The report for 1878 says, " A few changes were made in the constitution to suit the circumstances ; chiefly one by which the duties of the presi- dent were modified, as it was evident that in so large a district she could not be expected to visit the congregations for the purpose of assisting to establish societies. It was decided that this duty should devolve as much as possible on the officers of societies already formed."
Miss Stewart, reviewing the past in her annual letter read at the twentieth anniversary, says, "We tremblingly undertook this Presby- terial work, for we were not trained soldiers in this kind of public war- fare,-not a bit brave were we, and not at all accomplished in parliamentary rules. Not all of us were ready to stand up for Jesus, in prayer and speaking, and to say from our hearts,-
" Oh, use me, Lord, use even me,
Just as thou wilt, and when, and where."
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The names of the first officers may be of interest : Mrs. White, of Milroy, was chosen president ; treasurer, Mrs. William Russell, of Lewis- town, since entered upon her heavenly home; recording secretary, Mrs. M. H. Wilson, of Bellefonte; corresponding secretary, Miss Annie Ir- vine, of Hollidaysburg ; and seven vice-presidents.
The first annual meeting of the society was held in Hollidaysburg, March 31, 1877. Delegates from twenty-five auxiliaries and six bands showed that we were not going to stand still. Miss Annie Irvine sent her resignation, and for the present the offices of recording and corre- sponding secretaries were combined, Mrs. M. H. Wilson bearing the burden and honor. Since then the meetings have been held in the fol- lowing places and order : Mifflin, 1878; Huntingdon, 1879; Altoona, Second Presbyterian Church, 1880; Tyrone, 1881; Lewistown, 1882; Port Royal, 1883; Clearfield, 1884; Altoona, First Presbyterian Church 1885 ; Hollidaysburg, 1886; Bellefonte, 1887; Mifflin, 1888; Altoona, Second Presbyterian Church, 1889; Huntingdon, 1890; Tyrone, 1891; Lewistown, 1892; Philipsburg, 1893; Bedford, 1894; now, for the third time, in Altoona, Second Presbyterian Church, 1895.
At the fourth annual meeting, in Huntingdon, the time of meeting was changed from the last week to the first week in March. Miss C. W. Stewart was then elected corresponding secretary.
In 1883, at Port Royal, Mrs. Russell resigned as treasurer, and Mrs. William Dorris was chosen to fill her place.
In 1888, at Mifflin, Mrs. Wilson, as recording secretary, gave, for the first time, a condensed report of auxiliaries and bands, which all regarded as a great improvement upon the old way.
Our last annual meeting was held in the pleasant, pretty town of Bedford, June 7 and 8, 1894. Mrs. Orbison, our president since 1876, then sent her resignation, and Miss S. R. Lowrie was chosen in her place. Mrs. Dorris, our treasurer since 1883, resigned, and Miss S. D. Morrow, of Tyrone, was chosen to fill the office. Miss Sommerville was elected secretary of literature in place of Miss S. R. Lowrie.
At these different meetings we have had the inspiring presence and words of missionaries from India, China, Japan, Persia, and Laos. Dr. Ellinwood, Dr. Irving, Dr. Gillespie, Mr. R. E. Speer, and Dr. Mitchell (since rested from his labors), all connected with our Foreign Board, have been present and helped and cheered us greatly. Likewise pastors of some of our churches have addressed our meetings and helped us onward,-viz., Dr. Hollifield, Dr. Barron, Dr. Duffield, Rev.
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Hays, and Dr. Wilson. The three latter have since " fallen asleep in Jesus."
These meetings have been fruitful in many blessings. We have been brought to know intimately and appreciate many "Daughters of the King" in all our churches, to whom we were once perfect strangers, and to be helpful to each other in "the King's business." We have been brought into deeper sympathy with the far-distant laborers and their work, as at almost every meeting we have met so many face to face, and have heard them plead tenderly for the spot where they lift up the stand- ard of the cross. Sacred, pleasant memories are now connected with those places of meeting, and we have learned to pray for all our churches as we never did before.
The amount given in these years, including regular monthly pledges, thank-offerings for special objects, and some legacies, has been fifty-six thousand nine hundred and forty-seven dollars and fifteen cents. The treasurer reports for the past year (including the silver offering of five hundred and fifty-eight dollars and eighty-three cents) three thousand four hundred and thirty-eight dollars and forty-nine cents, which makes the sum total, at this our twentieth annual meeting, sixty thousand three hundred and eighty-five dollars and sixty-four cents. Not to boast do we make this record, but to call forth praise to our Father in heaven, who gave us the power and willingness to consecrate this money to his service, and to move us to earnest prayer that the divine increase may follow on and on forever, thus giving glory to our Redeemer and joy to his heart in souls saved "out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation."
But when we go back to search for the very beginning of this society, we find that God had been working in the hearts of Christian women in quiet places, and stirring them up to thought and prayer. One of the most devoted friends of missions, Miss Susan Campbell, of Arch Spring, had been an invalid for many years, unable to leave her couch. But from her quiet chamber went up prayers day and night for missions and missionaries. Making herself acquainted with the names of all our workers in heathen lands, she brought them in prayer constantly to God. It was to her that the thought came, " Would that the women of our whole Presbytery might band together to work and pray for mis- sions."
She herself relates, in reply to a letter asking for information, " I do not know that I had any direct influence in forming our Woman's Presby-
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terial Foreign Missionary Society. Memory runs back to the '70's and '60's, when I lay, an almost helpless invalid, on a cot in a corner of the room in which I now write. How the infinite Redeemer upheld with his everlasting arms, and drew out my inmost soul in stated pleadings that he might, throughout this wide, wide world, 'see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied,' was set forth in two articles from my cot, ' My Missionary Day,' and ' How I Became Interested in Foreign Missions,' which were published by the mother society of Philadelphia, copied into missionary magazines, and widely circulated. These articles, I believe, impressed many, who long since have forgotten how their first drawings were induced.
" Fully one year prior to the formation of our Presbyterial society in 1875, I addressed a few lines on the subject to the societies of Hunting- don, Bellefonte, and Lewistown. What influence these letters may have had in forming the society I do not now recall. Most likely God moved the hearts of several ladies in the Presbytery simultaneously, and so the society was organized. I recall my thrill of joy when, in the autumn of 1875, an item in the Presbyterian told of the ladies of Philadelphia moving in world-wide evangelization, taking women of dark heathen lands for their special work. How eagerly I watched for the issue of the first copy of Woman's Work for Woman! Have read it prayerfully from cover to cover ever since. Its issue of my article, ' My Missionary Day,' suggested, so the late Mrs. Haines wrote me, the Sabbath evening con- cert of prayer."
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