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The Woman’s Home Missionary Association, which has its office in the Congregational House in Boston, held its semi-annual meeting in Providence, April 3d, the first since it has come into co-operation with the American Missionary Association in its administration and with the other national benevolent societies. Rev. G.A. Hood represented the Congregational Union, Rev. Joshua Coit, the American Home Missionary Society, Rev. J.A. Hamilton, D.D., the College and Education Society, Rev. C.J. Ryder, the American Missionary Association, and the Rev. G.M. Boynton, D.D., the Congregational Sunday-school and Publishing Society. These all expressed their sympathy with the closer alliance of the Woman’s Association with the national societies through which they have elected to work, and to which they have committed the administration of their benevolence in their respective fields. We cordially welcome the Woman’s Home Missionary Association as the representative of the States of Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the sisterhood of co-operative societies.
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At the meeting of the Woman’s Missionary Association of Alabama, held in connection with the Congregational Conference at Mobile, April 1st, the Constitution was amended, enlarging the sphere of work to cover both home and foreign missions, and thus we have the “Woman’s Missionary Union of the State of Alabama.” The actual working of this woman’s organization had already been varied. It was most interesting at their meeting to hear the reports of the auxiliaries. All reported aid to their respective churches and relief to the destitute in their parishes, and then their contributions took other directions—to the American Missionary Association for its Indian work; to the American Board for a girl in Smyrna; for a Hindoo girl; for work in South Africa; to the Home Missionary Society for work in the West. Thus these churches in the South are being trained to a world-wide interest in missions.
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THREE NEW ORGANIZATIONS IN THE SOUTH.
A Woman’s Missionary Union for the State of Louisiana was organized in connection with the Congregational Association of the State. The meeting of ladies was well attended, and the interest was manifested in their hearty response in favor of joining the sisterhood of State Unions. The officers of the Union were selected from both the white and colored churches, the church at Hammond being thus represented.
At the annual meeting of the General Association of Congregational churches of Mississippi, which met at Tougaloo, March 28th, a Woman’s Missionary Union was organized. Mrs. A.V. Whiting was chosen President, Miss Julia Sauntry, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Miss S.J. Humphrey, Secretary. Although it is but a small beginning, we hope the day is not far distant when Mississippi will take her place with other States in missionary work.