These missionary letters have proved an effective agency in imparting information and increasing interest, as many have testified, and one letter per month serves as report to the Association and also to contributors. Is it not reasonable that the excess of letter-writing by teachers should be thus relieved, since their time is so valuable to the needy people about them? Referring to her large correspondence, one of our faithful missionaries writes: “If for all the help we receive in our work so much is required, we shall have but little time for anything else.” Let us reduce all this writing to one letter per month and use each such letter for its full worth, by free circulation.
Desiring to interest children and youth, that they may become familiar with the American Missionary Association and its work, and contribute habitually to its support, we have selected a “Children’s Missionary” to write especially for little children in mission bands and Sunday-schools, and one who will write also for the young people, both boys and girls, that they may early imbibe a missionary spirit, in consecration of money and of personal service. A collecting card, called “The A. M. A. ‘True Blue’ Card,” has been prepared as an aid in raising money, and this card will be furnished to all who wish the missionary letters.
During the year the Woman’s Bureau has been given direct representation by its Secretary at the meetings of the ladies in their State Unions, and in connection with State Conferences East and West, thereby establishing an acquaintance and confidence of exceeding value, while giving more full intelligence of this great mission field.
This has helped to develop the plan for the ladies of any one church or association of churches to take some definite part in aiding the American Missionary Association to carry forward its work. The suggestion has been cordially acted upon, and with good results. Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin now have each their special schools or missionaries under the American Missionary Association, with whom they have communication through the Bureau of Woman’s Work. Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Michigan are beginning to respond to this call, and we are led to hope that we shall have from each of these States also the help found in concentration and union, thus making twelve States in which this work is hopefully begun.