VOW
Presbyterian Women in Mission --
Let's Do It Again
by
Judy Theriault
(used with permission)
"No fiction was ever half so incredible as the story of what God can do with plain, ordinary women when they let Him have His way in their lives." So wrote Hallie Winsborough, First Secretary of Woman's Work in the Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS), and she was right!
Donaldina Cameron's story was told in the periodical, Famous Detective Cases. She received repeated commendations from the San Francisco Police Department for her heroic leadership in raids on Chinese Brothels, raids which played a major role in halting the "yellow slave trade" in the United States. A Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) missionary, she was known as "White Devil" in the Chinese underworld. But to the thousands of girls in San Francisco's Chinatown who, from 1895 to 1939, found new life through her love, nurture and protection, Donaldina Cameron was "Lo Mo" (mother).
"Did you leave Mrs. McFarland up there alone, in the cold, on the edge of winter?" "Yes," Dr. Sheldon Jackson replied, "I did, and she has neither books, nor schoolhouse, nor helpers, nor money, nor friends." Amanda McFarland had already served as a pioneer missionary, first in Santa Fe and then in Idaho among the Nez Perce Indians. She buried her husband and her only child along the way. Yet in 1877, she responded to Jackson's description of need and was stationed at Fort Wrangel. Teacher and advocate, sometimes preacher, lawmaker, rescuer and comforter, Mrs. McFarland gave twenty years to lift the lot of Native Americans in Alaska.
The Founding Vision
The Women's Movement in the Presbyterian Church, as well as in other Protestant denominations, began as women banded together in obedience to Christ's command to "make disciples of all nations." William Carey, a British cobbler, had opened the era of modern missions in 1792, when he suggested the use of "means," or organized efforts, to evangelize the world. His personal motto was "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God." By the mid 1800's, mission societies had taken root among U.S. Christians, including Presbyterians. The Second Great Awakening, which began in the early part of the nineteenth century, added holy fire to the mission enterprise as the revival spread across the globe. Stirred by this outpouring of God's Spirit, women in the various branches of the Presbyterian church began meeting together in response to Christ's command. They expected to see God work through them, and He did!
On her knees, Mrs. Winsborough led southern women to the ends of the earth as she stressed "prayer as a method of work in the Kingdom of God." Donaldina Cameron's burning desire was to bring Chinese girls to faith in Jesus Christ and to send them out into the world to introduce others to the Savior. Near the end of her life Amanda McFarland asked a friend to pray that she would "yet be able to do something more for the dear Master." These women didn't seek power or recognition. Their desire was to bring glory to God. Their stories, and those of others like them, fueled the imaginations, prayers and sacrificial giving of several generations of Presbyterian women.
Following the Civil War, women who had engaged in strategic and meaningful work outside the home in conjunction with the war effort turned their newfound skills to the mission task. They saw themselves as uniquely suited for the job. Reports from the mission field told of places where women were kept at home, never to be seen by male missionaries. In some cultures a man would rather let his wife die than allow a male doctor to treat her. Female doctors, not accepted in U.S. society, were needed on the mission field. Teachers and nurses were crucial too. Only women cold penetrate the homes and harems of societies whose female members remained hidden from public view. Only women could teach other women about the love of Jesus, and these new believers could then reach their own children.
The Women's General Missionary Society of the United Presbyterian Church of North America (UPCNA) included in its stated policy, "When all the women and children of the world are brought under the transforming power of the Gospel, our work and the work of all instrumentalities will be done, for this world will be won for Christ."
Thus motivated, many women went to the mission field. Thousands more stayed home and joined together to pray for and give financial support to those on the front lines. All streams of the Presbyterian church had local mission societies. Most had regional and eventually national organizations as well. Each one had its own publication to inspire, inform, and instruct its members.
Patterned after early "cent societies," the women realized that if they pooled their limited resources they could make a sizable contribution to the kingdom. Women tithed first to their local churches and then went a "second mile" by giving to their mission societies. Family funds were controlled by men, but women made personal sacrifices to divert what they could from household budgets. They also found creative ways to make even more money for the cause.
Women gave sacrificially of their time as well. The early women's mission boards were run entirely by volunteers and were as spectacularly efficient as they were successful.
In 1920, the regional women's foreign mission boards of the PCUSA held a fifty year celebration. In that year alone, they reported:
new societies 2,000 new societies
new study groups 3,365 new study groups.
3. Gold - $500,000 3. $608,014
4. Life - 100 new missionaries 4. 198 new missionaries
The seven woman's regional boards for foreign missions of the PCUSA were all auxiliary to the General Assembly mission boards, as was the Women's Board of Home Missions until its incorporation in 1915. These groups raised interest and money and recruited missionaries whom they then recommended for appointment. Each local society kept in touch with those it supported and diligently kept their members up to date on activities and needs on the field. Society members invested their prayers, their energies, their money and their love in the missionaries and those reached by the mission.
The Women's General Missionary Society (UPCNA) was actually an independent mission board. "Indeed, the Society was without equal in the history of American churches." It's women recruited, trained, sent and supported female missionaries and reported directly to the General Assembly. They built schools and hospitals overseas and managed them. "The General Assembly of 1889 agreed to transfer the support of all medical work abroad to the Women's General Missionary Society." The Society also "assumed support of all unmarried women in the foreign fields - a responsibility that it continued to carry throughout its history."
Presbyterian women attempted and achieved great things for God. Motivated by the realization that theirs was a high calling, women took their service seriously. They were part of God's plan to redeem His lost creation. Each woman knew that her efforts, which alone might appear insignificant, were actually part of a massive and strategic effort to usher in the Kingdom of God on earth. Every member was a valuable part of the team.
Mrs. F.E.H. Haines, the first corresponding secretary of the Woman's Board of Home Missions of the PCUSA, acknowledged every contribution, answered every letter, encouraged those in mission service, and promoted the work.
Mrs. Browne presided over the Occidental Board in San Francisco, one of the regional women's foreign mission boards of the PCUSA. She was a mission manager, mobilizer and motivator. She challenged Donaldina Cameron, her daughter's friend, to join the rescue work in Chinatown. Then for many years Mrs. Browne led the board as it supported and supervised that effort.
The movement was fortified by ordinary women like Agnes A. Reed, who recorded each month why she went to her local mission society gathering:
May -- House-cleaning time! If you were a woman, dear Journal, you would know what that means. But if Christ has gone to prepare a mansion for me, a mansion that will abide forever, I ought to be willing to at least try to help some other soul to reach a mansion, too. So I will go to-day because of the joy which the possibilities of that thought gives me.
September -- (Desiring to stay home on her daughter's 16th birthday, she writes of her children's efforts to persuade her to go)... Rob chimes in with: "You know, mamma, we are trying to save this world for Christ. Won't it be splendid, when it all done, that we had a hand in it?" So, with two pairs of arms around my neck ... that question was settled finally. I will go to-day for the sake of the children.
For the sake of the children, their own and other's around the world, Presbyterian women formed Children's Mission Bands similar to their own societies. Children of the "McFarland Mission Circle", of the First Presbyterian Church of Fairmont, West Virginia, supported Mrs. McFarland's work in Alaska. "Children's Work for Children" was one of several monthly magazines published to train children up in the way they should go. And as they grew older they went!
Presbyterian youth were prominent among the 20,000 who joined in the momentum of the Student Volunteer Movement and went to the mission field. From 1886 through the 1930's, the interdenominational effort focused on college campuses with the watchword "The Evangelization of the World in this Generation." The goal was not merely to recruit missionaries but to mobilize a generation of young people committed to the mission enterprise. Nearly 20,000 went and an additional 80,000 stayed home to provide prayer and financial support for those on the filed. It kept the Presbyterian mission force growing, and our women were involved. Surely it would not be presumptuous to claim that the extraordinary response among America's youth during the Student Volunteer Movement could in part be traced to the homes where Presbyterian women kept the mission fires burning.
Mary Louise Blatchley was one who issued the challenge. She served from 1897-1910 as Secretary for Youth People's Work for the Presbytery of Chester's branch of the Woman's Foreign Mission Society. She spoke frequently before women's and children's groups. Her words exemplify her love of the Lord and the rhetoric of the day:
To all is given the blessed invitation "Come to me," and to those who have come and accepted Christ for themselves he gives the command "Go tell others of the blessed Savior you have found, spread the glad tidings of salvation to every creature." This is the work which God himself has given us; the most glorious work in which any mortal can engage. Called to be co-laborers with Jesus Christ in the salvation of the world.
If every Christian does his part the world can be evangelized in this generation. If we can do it, we ought to do it and by the grace of God we will do it.
Power at the Center
Presbyterian women did their part. God multiplied their efforts and the evidence is spread throughout the globe. Churches, schools, hospitals, now belonging to our national church partners, confirm the effectiveness of the women's passionate commitment to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But best of all, millions of vibrant, devoted disciples trace their life in Christ to seeds planted long ago by female missionaries and the societies that backed them.
Presbyterian women first organized themselves both locally and nationally around the center of the Church, around the person of Jesus Christ and His unchanging command to "Go and make disciples of all nations." They attempted great things for God, and through their efforts God produced more than they asked or even imagined.
Christ's command still stands because the job isn't finished. Oh, for a movement of Presbyterian women who, like Hallie Winsborough, Donaldina Cameron, and Amanda McFarland, would once again reclaim the center and lead the church to evangelize the world in our day!
Presbyterian Women, the current women's organization of the PC (USA) evolved from the women's mission societies of the various denominations that have combined to form our current church. In looking at its history it is necessary to refer to activities in several denominations. The major streams that have joined together will be referred to as:
UPCNA, United Presbyterian Church of North America which joined with the PCUSA in 1958 to form the UPC(USA), the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America;
PCUS, the Presbyterian Church in the United States, the southern church which broke from the old PCUSA during the Civil War and reunited with the United Presbyterian Church in 1983 to form our current PC(USA), Presbyterian Church (USA).
*note the difference between PCUSA and PC(USA)
"The Evangelization of the World In This Generation" was the watchword and motivating slogan of the Student Volunteer Movement (1886-1930's). An inter-denominational effort focusing on college campuses, it launched nearly 20,000 people into mission service, and inspired another 80,000 who adjusted their lifestyles so as to provide prayer and financial support for those who went. Presbyterians were at the center with PCUSA Board of Foreign Mission Secretary, Robert E. Speer, speaking at every SVM annual conference and at hundreds of regional and campus meetings.
"A Church for Every People and the Gospel for
Every Person by the Year 2000" is the goal of what may now be the
largest ecumenical movement in the world today. "AD 2000 and Beyond" is
a network composed predominantly of non-western churches and mission agencies,
and the PC(USA) is officially involved! The idea for the church-wide call
to prayer that was held prior to the 1994 General Assembly came through
the Worldwide Ministries Division staff members who attended an "AD 2000
and Beyond" conference. On June 25, 1994, inspired by "AD 2000," the "Day
to Change the World" witnessed the largest concerted effort of prayer for
world evangelization in history. "Praying Through the Window II" took place
in October, 1995, and focused on pivotal cities. The Worldwide Ministries
Division and the Presbyterian Center for Mission Studies facilitated Presbyterian
involvement in these momentous prayer undertakings.
A set of 6 pamphlets, written by Judy Theriault, may be purchased from"
The Presbyterian Center for Mission Studies
1605 E. Elizabeth Street
Pasadena, CA 91104
The entire set costs $9.00; individual copies are $2.00 each. (Shipping
and handling is $2.00 up to a $10.00 order) Revenues from these pamphlets
are given to the Presbyterian Center for Mission Studies.
- The Titles are:
- Presbyterian Women in Mission -- Let's Do It Again!
The "I Can Do Anything" Woman
There Is A Sacred Cow in the Sanctuary and Some Housecleaning Is In Order
Evangelical Feminism We've Come a Long Way -- But Where Are We?
Presbyterian Women -- Coffee, Tea, Advocacy or Something More?
Women, Racial Ethnics and the Gay Lobby: An Unholy Alliance