Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church (WFMS of the MEC) was one of three Methodist organizations in the United States focused on women's foreign missionary services; the two others were the WFMS of the Free Methodist Church of North America and the WFMS of the Methodist Protestant Church.[1]
The WFMS of the MEC was founded in the Tremont Street Methodist Episcopal Church, in Boston, Massachusetts, March 1869, and incorporated under the laws of the State of New York in 1884. Its fields of operation included: Europe (Bulgaria, Italy, France); Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay); Asia (Malaysia, China, Korea, India, Japan, The Philippines); and Africa (Algeria, Angola, Portuguese East Africa, Rhodesia, Tunis).[1]
History
WMFS was organized in March 1869 at the Tremont Street Methodist Episcopal Church in Boston, by eight women who responded to a call sent to thirty churches.[2] The eight founders were, Mrs. Lewis Flanders; Mrs. Thomas Kingsbury; Mrs. William B. Merrill; Lois Lee Parker; Mrs. Thomas A. Rich; Mrs. H.J. Stoddard; Mrs. William Butler (Clementina Rowe Butler); and Mrs. P.T. Taylor.[3] A window in the Tremont Street Church commemorates the event and preserves their names.[2]
The first public meeting of the society was held in the Bromfield Street MEC, May 26, 1869. The discussion was quickly followed by decisive action. At a business meeting held by the women at the close of the public occasion, it was voted to raise money to send as a missionary to India, Isabella Thoburn, sister of Bishop James Mills Thoburn. An appeal for a medical woman soon followed. As a result of prompt and efficient measures to procure funds, the services of Isabella Thoburn and of Clara Swain, M.D., were secured.
These two women sailed from New York City for India, via England, on November 3, 1869, reaching their destination early in January, 1870. They were cordially received, and soon entered upon their work, Thoburn organizing schools and superintending the work of Bible readers, and Swain's medical ability gaining for her admission to many places that were closed to others. This society sent to India, China, Korea, and Japan the first woman medical missionary ever received in those countries.[4]
By 1903, its 34th year, it had 265 missionaries carrying on its work in India, China, Japan, Korea, Africa, Bulgaria, Italy, South America, Mexico, and the Philippines, by means of women's colleges, high schools, seminaries, hospitals, dispensaries, day schools, and "settlement work".[4]
Its receipts during the first year were US$4,546.86, and in the year 1903, US$491,091.75, with a total from the beginning of US$6,850,853. Six branches were organized the first year. By 1903, there were eleven, the first being the New England, and the eleventh being the Columbia River Branch.[4]
The first number of the society's first periodical, The Heathen Woman's Friend, appeared in June, 1869, with Harriet Merrick Warren as its editor for 24 years.[4] Other publications were established later on.
WFMS of other Methodist denominations
Other Methodist denominations developed their own women's foreign missionary organizations.
The WFMS of the Methodist Protestant Church was established in 1879. Its office was in Catonsville, Maryland. Its focused on Asia, especially China and Japan. It issued the periodical, The Woman's Missionary Record. Notable people included Mrs. E. C. Chandler, Mrs. Henry Hupfield, Mrs. D. S. Stephens, Mrs. L. K. East, and Mrs. J. F. McCulloch.[1]
The WFMS of the Free Methodist Church of North America was established in 1882. Its office was in Oneida, New York. It issued the periodical, Missionary Tidings. Notable people included Mary L. Coleman, Mrs. C. T. Bolles, and Lillian C. Jensen.[1]
^ abcdForeign Missions Conference of North America Committee of Reference and Counsel (1919). Foreign Missions Year Book of North America ... Committee of Reference and Counsel of the Foreign Missions Conference of North America, Incorporated. pp. 103–05, 156. Retrieved 30 May 2022. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Howe, Julia Ward; Graves, Mary Hannah (1904). Representative Women of New England (Public domain ed.). New England Historical Publishing Company. p. 97.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church (1886). Annual Report (Public domain ed.). Charles A. Coffin. pp. 4–.
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