But the highest qualification any local officer can possess, is the ability to transfer members from the passive to the active list.  Some practical hints toward this result maybe gathered from the following suggestions: 

Aim at unity of effect for each meeting.  Make some one of the six benevolences the subject, and center everything—­Scripture, hymn, prayer, letter, paper, leaflet, about the single topic.  Suppose it be “Missions on our Western frontier.”  Ask some lady to prepare a fifteen minutes’ paper.  Give out in addition six back numbers of the Home Missionary to as many ladies, asking each to select a paragraph or short article bearing directly on the subject and which she thinks will, or ought to, interest the meeting.  Let several of these ladies be chosen from the passive list—­the diffident or even the indifferent.  In making their selections, they will perhaps have made their first acquaintance with missionary magazines and will have learned something about the heroism of our home missionaries.  Moreover, they will have participated in the exercises.  This, repeated with variations, will give them courage to speak, and intelligent thoughts to express. They are on the way to active participation. Crown the exercises with a collection.  The leader must know how to kindle enthusiasm and put it to the tangible proof.

The subject for the next meeting may be some branch of the work of the American Missionary Association, as “Indian Missions in Dakota.”  Assign to some one a paper, an historical sketch.  She will need books from the missionary library.  “Ten years among the Dakotas,” and “Mary and I; or, Life among the Sioux,” (to which she would never think of going for help unless informed that the Dakotas and Sioux are one.) She may also send to Miss Emerson for further helps.  Then, in addition, give out back numbers of the American Missionary to two or three passive ladies, asking them to make short selections concerning Indian missions—­or let one read Prof.  G.F.  Wright’s leaflet—­“Indian Missions as seen upon the ground”—­and another some missionary’s letter.  Call out expressions of interest in the work—­proofs of its success—­etc., and ask if we ought not to do something for its support.  Give to everyone present a small envelope with the request that it be brought to the next meeting with a free will offering for Indian missions.

The next meeting may be devoted to “Christian work among the Mormons,” using the “New West Reports,” “The Gleaner,” newspaper extracts, missionary letters and, if possible, have the experience of some one who has visited the schools and the homes of sin-cursed Utah.  Having awakened deep interest, the proposition to procure a lecture or a musical entertainment and devote the proceeds to the New West Commission will probably find favor and be carried on to success.

For the next meeting, choose another object, as “Parsonage Building.”  Distribute copies of the Church Building Quarterly and again the indispensable back numbers of The Home Missionary, and have extracts read which show the discomfort, and even distress, which come to the family of the home missionary.  Propose aid in the form of a birthday offering, in which every member brings in an envelope as many cents as she is years old.  The result may be surprising.