Vision
and Valor: Women and Mission |
Woman's
Foreign Missionary Society |
Denomination |
Methodist
Episcopal Church |
Organized |
1869 |
Founders |
![](ME%20Founders.jpg)
Clementina
Butler, Lois Stiles, Mrs. Lewis Flanders, Mrs. Thomas A. Rich,
Mrs. Thomas Kingsbury, Mrs. William B. Merrill, Mrs. H. J. Stoddard,
and Mrs. O. T. Taylor |
First
Missionaries |
|
|
![](ME%20Swain.jpg) |
Isabella
Thoburn |
|
Clara
Swain |
|
Dr.
William Butler, former missionary to India, delivered a sermon about
his missionary experiences on March 14, 1869 at his church, Saint
John's Methodist Episcopal Church, Boston. Mrs. Lewis Flanders heard
the sermon and was deeply moved by the account of the plight of
women in India. Following the service Mrs. Flanders called at the
parsonage to discuss the issue of women's status in India with Mrs.
Butler. Mrs. Lois Parker, the wife of another former missionary
in India was visiting Mrs. Butler at the time, and the stories they
shared from their experiences as missionary wives in India convinced
Mrs. Flanders the women of the Methodist Episcopal Church could
be doing more to reach out to the women of India. Mrs. Butler asked
for her assistance in organizing a women's missionary society in
the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Flanders agreed to bring
the matter up at the next Ladies Benevolent Society at her church.
In spite of a lukewarm response from the members of that organization
Mrs. Flanders persevered and called a general meeting for all the
Methodist Episcopal women in the city of Boston. Because of inclement
weather the meeting was poorly attended but out of that meeting
grew the organization that would become the Woman's Foreign Missionary
Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. - Laura Bartels Felleman |