CORRESPONDING SECRETARY, MISS CAROLINE H. HOWLAND, 1221 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis. TREASURER, MRS. S. E. PERKINS, 1011 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis. COMMITTEE. MRS. GEORGE BANNON, 904 Dougherty Street, Indianapolis. MRS. MEREDITH NICHOLSON, 2027 Capitol Avenue North, Indianapolis MRS. CHARLES VIELE, Evansville. LIST OF PARISHES OUTSIDE OF INDIANAPOLIS REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF WOMEN. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. Since our last annual meeting it has been my privilege to attend three large gatherings of women--two in London, England, and one of our own Woman's Auxiliary in connection with the Missionary Council in Milwaukee last October. The two meetings in London were in the interest of woman's work in general, our auxiliary being represented by women from twenty of our Diocesan branches. The gatherings of the women of the Auxiliary in connection with the Missionary Council are always full of inspiration and encouragement, and those of last autumn were not exceptions to this rule. I sincerely trust that the time is not far distant when the Indiana branch may feel that it is able, and in duty bound, to send at least one delegate to these great meetings During last October this Diocese had the honor and the great benefit of a visit from the beloved Secretary of the Woman's Auxiliary, Miss Julia C. Emery. She spoke in halí a dozen towns in the State, and all who had the pleasure of meeting and hearing her, returned to their work, I am sure, with renewed zeal and courage. On my return from the Missionary Council Miss Emery and I attended an enthusiastic meeting of the Laporte branch, at which there were several ladies present from Michigan City and two from South Bend. The 11th of October 1 had the pleasure of being present at the meeting of the Auxiliary heid in connection with the autumn meeting of the convocation of the Central Deanery at Richmond. It was largely attended, and al: present showed great interest in the mission work of the Church. The 19th day of January I count as one of the red letter days of the Auxiliary in Indiana. Upon that day was held the semi-annual meeting of the Auxiliary in St. Stephen's parish, Terre Haute. In every particular it was a great success. Eighteen ladies were present from parishes outside of Terre Haute, and I feel sure that every branch represented reaped great benefit from the meeting. I sincerely hope and pray that this may be the beginning of increased interest in the semi-annual meeting, so that it may become a source of strength and inspiration. Coming as it does in the middle of our year's work, it might, properly used, be to us all like a well of fresh water on our march. Here it is fitting to pause a moment to pay tribute to one who gave her ability to the Auxiliary and added much to the success of the semi-annual meeting of last January. Mrs. S. E. Taylor, of St. Stephen's, Terre Haute, was always interested in missionary work, and did cheerfully and lovingly her Master's will. In the name of the Auxiliary of the Diocese I extend sympathy to the St. Stephen's branch and we heartily pray God to raise up many, endued with the spirit of her who is gone, to follow faithfully in her footsteps. January 29th I had the pleasure of visiting for the first time, Peru, and meeting with the Church women of Trinity parish. Truly it did me great good, and gave me much encouragement to find fifty women interested, in this thriving parish, in the work and aims of the Auxiliary. The meeting was a most interesting one, enlivened by a delightfully spicy paper by Mrs. Coolbaugh, the wife of the rector of Trinity, Logansport. Shortly after the meeting, I am happy to say, the rector was able to organize a branch of the Auxiliary in Trinity, Peru, which is now actively at work. In May I accepted a cordial invitation from the Muncie branch to be present at their meeting. It was not only very pleasant, but I was much impressed with their method of carrying on their monthly meetings. The plan is unique, and I would advise any one anxious to increase interest in such meetings to write to Mrs. C. J. McCullouch, Muncie, for the details and give the method a trial. There are several matters of great importance to our Auxiliary, as a whole, to be discussed before you this afternoon. On one of these I, as your President, must say a few earnest words. As you all know, on the first of next October, in the city of Washington, will be held the triennial meeting of the Woman's Auxiliary of the United States. To this meeting I want every woman who possibly can to go. It will do our work the greatest possible good, more, I believe, than any other human help, to have a large number of women from Indiana take part in the sessions of this great convention, where there are thousands of women interested in and enthusiastic for the success of our common care, the missionary work of the Church. At the opening service of this triennial meeting the united offering which the women of the Church have been gathering for three years is laid upon the altar. What part shall we have in that? A larger one than ever before? I trust and pray so, for I feel, and hope that you share the feeling, that our work together during the last three years has been greatly blessed and that as a body it is fitting that we should show our gratitude by our gifts. Many mite boxes for this offering have been distributed throughout the Diocese, and have, I hope, been diligently used. If any of you have been careless in this matter, I beg you to begin now to "lay by in store," that when the Treasurer collects the contents of ail our boxes there may be a sum somewhat in proportion to the blessings we have received both individually and as an organization and a sum of which our delegates may not be ashamed. One encouraging aspect of our work this year has been the efforts made by the loyal Church women in the smaller parishes and missions to organize branches of the Auxiliary, or to do in some way some missionary work. I think this is due, in a large measure, to the sense of gratitude for the splendid work done by our General Missionary. The reports from the different branches published monthly in the Church Worker have also aided greatly in encouraging these endeavors. Before closing my review of our year's work together, I wish to express my personal appreciation of and gratitude for the kind, loyal and untiring services of the women of the Executive Board, and also particularly to record my high regard for the efficient work done by Mrs. Meredith Nicholson in the matter of the Diocesan paper. The Auxiliary is also indebted to Mrs. Nettie Ransford for her kind courtesy in doing much printing, and I take pleasure in acknowledging this debt of gratitude. And now I wish you every one God speed in her particular work, praying God to bless you and to bless the endeavors of us all, and to increase the missionary zeal in our Diocese where it is so much needed. |