MINUTES                       13


  What of the work? I must, as in other years, be ap-
prised of the true condition of the work through your re-
ports. I am also constrained to believe that the financial
reports alone will not show the true condition of our work.
How much have we caught the spirit of Christ as we have
labored?
  I think it is Gypsy Smith, the great evangelist, who re-
marks in one of his sermons that we may lose Christ at a
prayer meeting. Sisters, I ask you now, have we found
Christ at the monthly missionary meeting?
  One excuse offered for not having missionary meetings
is that only three or four will come out. Why three or
four with Christ is the majority. Three or four with Christ
could transform a church, a whole community. Dozens
without Christ can do nothing. One with Christ is more
than legions.
  I delight to think how the servant of Elisha was enabled
to see the mountain full of horses, chariots and fire pro-
tecting his master, the Prophet Elisha, from the King of
Syria, although they were in a strange country. But Elisha
prayed ere the young man saw.
  Friends, we may be marked for special humiliating dis-
criminations, we may be buffeted about, and like Elisha's
servant we cry out in despair, "Alas, my master, how shall
we do?"  Like Elisha answered his servant we may all
safely believe. "Fear not, for they that are with us are
more than they who are with them."
  I wish my voice could reach every discouraged child of
God in this hour of trial. I would speak out, Fear not, the
mountain of difficulty is full of horses and chariots and
fires to make secure very servant of the living God. Pray
that God may open our eyes that we may see.
  I do not solely refer to race discriminations as the only
mountain of difficulty. We, as missionary workers, find
much that is perplexing. We would like greater freedom
to work, a larger field of usefulness.  We desire a greater
missionary activity on the part of our general church.  In
fact, we yearn to do more.  We note, with mingled feel-
ings of joy and sorrow, the greater scope for service af-
forded by other denominations to their women.  Again, in
the words just quoted, we cry: "Alas, how shall we do?"
  "And Elijah prayed and said, Jehovah I pray thee, open
his eyes that he may see, and Jehovah opened the eyes of
the young man and he saw."




			

OHS Archives/Library Serial Collection

Proceedings of the Twenty-First Annual Convention of the Ohio Conference Branch Woman's Mite Missionary Society Held in Brown's Chapel, A.M.E. Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, June 26th to July 2, 1917

Date:  07/02/1917