The Blessings of Missionary Society Meetings
"ONE of the greatest pleasures I have enjoyed outside of home has been our missionary society, and I am sure all who have attended regularly would say the same. Our members are nearly all too far away to walk to the meetings, and cannot always be accommodated with a horse, so it has happened two or three times that only five were present; but it was very good to those five. At first, the idea prevailed that no one could be called on to pray except the minister's wife; indeed, I believe she was the only one who had ever attempted such a thing. There has been growth in this line of Christian experience, for now the president would not hesitate to call on any of the regular attendants. Once a lady did excuse herself but repented, and after another had prayed she followed in an earnest prayer that touched all our hearts. Our meetings have seemed to draw us nearer than we have ever been before, and some friendships that had been broken for years have been renewed since we have met in this way. I wish we could be inspired to study missions more; but we poor farmer's wives do lead such a busy life. Every day seems too short for the work it brings, and when one is too tired to work there is not much strength left for study; yet when one's heart is set on anything the way seems to open in spite of obstacles."—From a letter in Woman's Work.