Although this Board was formed in 1882, it was not incorporated until June 19, 1885. Its corporate name at the first was the "General Missionary Board of the Free Methodist Church." On March 15, 1895, an amendment was made to its Charter which changed the corporate name to the "General Missionary Board of the Free Methodist Church of North America." At the same time two other amendments were made, the one of which enlarged the powers of the Board, and the other provided that the management of the business should be vested in a Board of five Directors, instead of five Trustees as formerly. On the 18th of April, 1908, the Charter was further amended so as to provide for seven instead of five Directors.

During the time that elapsed from the first appointment of a Missionary board until that Board became incorporated, Thomas B. Arnold performed the duties that are usually performed by a Missionary Secretary. Mr. Ebey was elected Secretary of the Board at the beginning, and was nominally the Missionary Secretary; but his duties were chiefly those of Recording Secretary. By general agreement it was left to Mr. Arnold, the Treasurer, to correspond with candidates, to examine them, to assist them in procuring outfit, transportation, etc., a ad to accompany them to New York when leaving for the field. At the General Conference of 1890, the Rev. W. W. Kelley was elected Missionary Secretary. He held this office until about April 1, 1S93, and then resigned. He was a man of ability and sterling worth, a forcible and pungent preacher of the truth, a wise and faithful administrator of Discipline, and deeply devoted to the cause of missions. His resignation was occasioned by failing health. He finally went to California, where, after a few years spent in comparative quiet, he died in great peace. The Executive Committee accepted his resignation, and elected J. G. Terrill to serve out the unexpired portion of his term. At the General Conference of 1894, B. Winget was elected to succeed him on the first ballot, but at once resigned, whereupon Mr. Terrill was regularly elected to the office, which he held until his death, in the spring of 1895. In July following B. Winget was elected by the Executive Committee to succeed him.

The Discipline at present provides that the "General Missionary Board shall be composed of the Bishops, the President of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, and three other members of the Society, elected by the General Society at its quadrennial meeting; one traveling Elder and one Layman from each of the Missionary Districts and the Missionary Secretary, to be elected by ballot by the General Conference," making twenty-one members in all. This Board is authorized

1. To collect, receive, hold, expend, pay out or dispose of any property, real or personal, or of whatever nature and wherever situate as allowed by law, that may be given, obtained or held in aid of the general missionary work of the Free Methodist Church.
2. To acquire by purchase, gifts or devise, real estate or personal property in the United States of North America, or in foreign lands, and to hold or sell or convey the same as in its judgment may be necessary in the prosecution of its missionary work.

 

For quadrennium closing 1886	$3,805.96
For quadrennium closing 1890	$4,971.04
For quadrennium closing 1894	$12,919.18
For quadrennium closing 1898	$17,065.93
For quadrennium closing 1902	$16,510.92
For quadrennium closing 1906	$31,731.79
For quadrennium closing 1910	$45,196.62
For quadrennium closing 1914	$56,643.41
Total	$188,844.85

Mrs. Ellen Lois Roberts, widow of the late General Superintendent B. T. Roberts, was elected first President of the General Society, and remained in office until the latter part of 1902, when, because of age, she retired. The other officers were as follows: Mrs. M. B. Hart, Miss Emma Freeland, Mrs. Emma S. Roberts, Mrs. G. W. Coleman, Vice-Presidents; Mrs. E. L. MacGeary, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. M. L. Coleman, Recording Secretary; Mrs. F. H. Ashcraft, Treasurer.

Mrs. E. L. Roberts died, 'January 28, 1908. With her passing away there disappeared from the Church militant a woman of very unusual type. It has been well said that she

Belonged to no race or time, but was of that band of choice spirits who from age to age have been recognized as a blessing to the earth. She would have been at home with Mary and Martha; for she, with Mary, surely loved to sit at Jesus' feet; and with Martha also, for she, too, knew what it was to bear many cares. With the illustrious group of Romans sixteen-Phoebe, Priscilla, Mary, Tryphena, Tryphosa, and the beloved Persis-with the whole group of Apostolic laborers in the Gospel, she had a fellow-feeling and in a measure kindred experiences. Certainly she knew what It was to "endure hardness is a good soldier of Jesus Christ." She knew what it was to "endure as seeing him who is invisible," when the seen things of earth-popular esteem, honor and property-were vanishing to the disappearing point.[1]

At the resignation of Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Mary L. Coleman, wife of Professor J. E. Coleman, was elected as her successor in the presidency of the General Woman's Foreign Missionary Society, an office which she still fills with much credit to herself and the organization. From its original inception until the present time the Society has grown each year territorially, numerically, and in its efficiency, until it has become one of the greatest and most important factors in the work and development of the Church. The following financial showing of the Society will indicate to some extent the measure of its importance as an auxiliary to the general work of the Free Methodist Church:

Funds received quadrennially by the Treasury of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society and disbursed by the General Missionary Board from October 1, 1894, to October 1, 1914, are as follows:
 

The foregoing statistics clearly show that the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society since its organization has been a highly important factor in this branch of the Church's work.

They labored first at Burhanpur, Central Province, where they erected a mission house, which they finally sold to Bishop William Taylor for his South India Mission. Then they located at Ellichpur, in the same Province, where they continued to labor for several years. Their labors here were among the Korkus. Some success attended their work, and Mr. Ward was privileged to baptize a number of converts from heathenism. Mr. Ward also made a written language for the Korkus. The Rev. A. Norton says, "Had that been all he did, it would have been one man's work for a life time."

Later, however, they decided upon another change, concluding that they could accomplish more by settling farther South, where the languages were less mixed. They still continued to labor in the Central Province, however, the same as formerly, and saw much to encourage them in their work.

Although not sent out by the Missionary Board, still they were regarded by friends at home as missionaries of the Free Methodist Church, and many in the Church contributed quite generously and systematically toward the maintenance of their work. They were true and loyal representatives of the principles of Free Methodism, and were devoted and earnest workers in all that constitutes true missionary work. From the time that the General Missionary Board was organized, however, they considered it as an advisory body in the work they were doing. Finally, in 1896, after having been associated with the Board missionaries of the Church in the work for about two years, they offered themselves to the General Missionary Board of the Free Methodist Church, and were accepted. Their subsequent labors were very acceptable to the Board.

They returned home for the first time in 1892, having been on the foreign field about eleven years. After about a year in the home land they returned to the India field, where they remained until the early summer of 1910. Then, because of Mrs. Ward's weak condition, resulting from a severe illness, and because Mr. Ward also needed the benefit of recuperation in a more favorable climate, they again returned home. Upon arrival at New York they proceeded at once to Seattle, Washington, where their three daughters were attending school, arriving in time to witness the graduation of their eldest daughter, Ethel, from Seattle Seminary. After this they engaged in missionary meetings, camp-meeting services, and attended other gatherings in the interest of the work, as they were able, very nearly up to September 1, 1910, on which date, after a brief illness, Mrs. Ward passed to her home in heaven. They returned home but twice in nearly thirty years.

In the fall of 1911, accompanied by his daughter Ethel, Mr. Ward returned to the mission field, where they have both given themselves with unreserved devotion to the work in the Yeotmal district, Berar, Central Province. On January 17, 1914, Mr. Ward was again married, taking as his bride Mrs. Elizabeth Tucker, a woman who had spent a number of years in the India field under the Pentecost Bands.

The labors of the Wards opened the way for the missionary operations of the Free Methodist Church in India, and hence it has seemed fitting that the preceding items should appear in this place, even though they deal considerably with their work while not in the technical sense Free Methodist missionaries.

It was in November, 1885, that the Executive Commit-tee of the General Missionary Board accepted Misses Ranf and Zimmerman as missionaries, and sent them to India to assist Mr. and Mrs. Ward. These young women sailed from New York, December 17, 1885. Miss Zimmerman did not long remain in the employ of the Board, but left it June 12, 1886, to engage in zenana work under other auspices. Later she was discontinued.

Miss Ranf continued to labor with Mr. and Mrs. Ward, however, in Burhanpur and at Ellichpur, and proved her-self a most devoted and faithful missionary, until her tragic death on November 6, 1890. This was caused by the explosion of a kerosene oil wall lamp where she was attending a religious service in the Church of England. On rising from prayers the lamp was overturned, and her clothing caught fire. She fled outside; and, as there were no available means for quenching the flames, her clothing was almost entirely consumed before they could be extinguished. After being removed to her home she suffered indescribable agony for five and a half hours, when death came to her relief. In writing of her death Mr. Ward describes her as "devoted, patient, and self-sacrificing to a fault;" and also adds, "She died as she had lived, greatly beloved by the natives, both Hindus and Mohammedans. Multitudes gathered in to take a last look at her mortal remains." "We committed her distorted but precious body to the dust in a beautiful spot by the side of her loved Preethee, in the English cemetery. She had once made the remark that it would be nice to be buried in that very place."

The next missionary sent to India by the Free Methodist Missionary Board was Miss Celia J. Ferries, who left Chicago for the foreign field in February, 1891. She remained in the foreign field about five and one-half years before returning to this country, and during most of this time she filled the position of Superintendent of the Free Methodist work in India. She selected and procured the station at Yeotmal, which has for many years been the center of the Church's operations in that country. Her assistants in the work were Misses Anna Jones, of Western Pennsylvania, and Mattie J. Miller, of Western Iowa.

Miss Ferries sailed from Bombay on a furlough home, August 21, 1896. She remained in the home land a little over a year, and then, on October 23, 1897, sailed again from New York for the foreign field, to which she was ardently devoted.

The next accession to the list of missionaries in India was Miss Anna Jones, who was sent out by the Missionary Board in August, 1892. She remained about four and a half years, but much of the time in poor health. She returned to America in the spring of 1897. Her health having been such as to incapacitate her much of the time for the labors of the foreign work, the Board decided it would not be advisable for her to return.

Miss Emma Appling went to India, December 13, 1893, under the auspices of the Pentecost Bands, but in September, 1895, she was received on trial by the Free Methodist Missionary Board, and about a year later was received into full relation. On account of failing health she returned to this country late in the fall of 1900. In 1903, with improved health, she was again sent out to the foreign field, where she remained and labored effectively until her health again failed, and she returned home in June, 1907. In view of her physical condition it was thought best that she should not attempt the strain of the foreign work again. She finally recovered comparatively fair health, but was never fully restored. On February 4, l~0, she was married to Thomas Herbert Gilpatrick, of Seattle, Washington, where she continued to reside until her death, which occurred June 14, 1913.

Miss Mattie J. Miller was sent to the India field in 1894, where she remained about six years, during which time she was associated with Misses Ferries and Jones in the Yeotmal work. She returned to the home land in 1900. After remaining at home for some time, she made arrangements to return under other auspices, and tendered her resignation to the Board, which was accepted in October, 1901.

At the same time that Miss Ferries returned to the field, October 23, 1897, the Rev. and Mrs. H. L. Crockett, and also V. G. McMurray, the first two having been accepted by the Directors of the Board, and the last by the Board at its annual meeting, accompanied her. Before they left provision was made by the Board for Mr. McMurray to be ordained by a Methodist Episcopal Missionary Bishop in India. He was accordingly ordained after getting to the field. During the early part of the summer of 1898 Mr. McMurray and Miss Ferries were married. At its annual meeting in 1901 the Board also appointed Mr. McMurray as Superintendent of the Yeotmal mission. The following year he was reappointed, with the understanding that the appointment should hold only until the time of the General Conference, in June, 1903. At the meeting of the Board held at the General Conference it was decided to allow Mr. and Mrs. McMurray to return home as soon as, in the judgment of the Missionary Secretary, it should be deemed advisable. They returned the latter part of the same year, and for some time devoted themselves to traveling and holding meetings in the interest of the foreign work. At the annual meeting of the Board in 1904, having sent their resignations to that body and having arranged to return to India under other auspices, their resignations were accepted.

The Crocketts were unable long to remain in India be cause of Mrs. Crockett's complete nervous collapse. Accordingly they returned home in 1900. Not considering it prudent, because of Mrs. Crockett's health, to return to the field, they tendered their resignations to the Board, which were accepted.

On January 19, 1901, Rev. and Mrs. J. T. Taylor sailed from New York for India, being accompanied by Misses Rose Cox and Effie Southworth; and in September of the same year Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Clarke, of the State of Washington, followed them. Miss Mary E. Chynoweth sailed for the same field, January 4, 1902. Because of nervous break-down Miss Cox found it necessary to return home on a furlough in 1905. She recovered her health, and again went to the field, where she labored some years, when she again broke down and had to quit the field. On account of Mrs. Taylor's health the Taylors had to return on a furlough in 1906. After some time at home her health was sufficiently improved to admit of their return, since which time they have labored very effectively. In 1914, however, Mrs. Taylor found it necessary to return once more on account of her health, he still remaining on the foreign field. Mr. Taylor was secretary of the mission in India in 1901-1902, and in 1903 he was appointed Superintendent of the India work by the General Missionary Board. He was also reappointed to the office annually until his return to America in 1906. After their return to India in 1908 he was again appointed Superintendent of the work and Treasurer of the mission, in both of which offices he has rendered very effective service.

Miss Southworth has abundantly proved her adaptability to missionary work in various ways. She has been in charge of the Girls' Orphanage from the beginning. She cared for famine cases and learned the language as she could - because it was a necessity. "She brought system and order out of confusion" and has generally proved equal to all occasions.

In the early part of 1908 Miss Chynoweth contracted a virulent case of small - pox. Miss Cox and Miss Southworth cared very tenderly for her, and all that medical aid could do for her was done, but without avail. Her to the Free Methodist Board, and was accepted. At present she is in the home land for her health, where she has undergone a critical surgical operation, but hopes to regain her accustomed health and return to the field.

Miss Mata D. Allee was accepted by the Board and appointed to India in the autumn of 1907, but as the climate of the country tested her health very severely, it was necessary for her to make the term of her labors in India brief. She was otherwise well qualified for the foreign work, and her enforced return was a decided disappointment to her and a great loss to the work.

During the years 1907-1910 six missionaries were accepted for the India field. These were as follows: Edith M. Santee, who sailed, November 2, 1907; Mr. and Mrs. Herbert M. Damon, who sailed from New York, November 5, 1909; Miss Louise D. Calkins, who accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Damon; Fred G. Mynett, an ex-soldier of the British army in India, who was accepted by the Board on trial, October 20, 1909; and Abraham Lind, who was sent to India as a British soldier in 1903, was graciously converted and baptized with the Holy Ghost while in the army, and after his term of service had expired offered himself to the Free Methodist mission work, and was accepted October 19, 1910.

Mr. and Mrs. Damon had taught two years under the United States Government in the Philippine Islands, just prior to going out as missionaries; and Mr. Lind was a converted Jew, a graduate from a Hebrew Institute of Jewish Theology, and considerable of a linguist, as appears from the fact of his having acquired the English, German, Latin, Greek, and five Semitic and seven Indian languages. After being with the Free Methodist Board for a time, however, he became discontented, withdrew, and gave himself to independent mission work in India.

Since 1910 five more missionaries have been sent to the India field - Misses Ella Becker, of Indianapolis, Indiana; Elizabeth Moreland, of Brooklyn, New York; Lorena Marston, of Seattle, Washington; and Mr. and Mrs. Clyde C. Foreman, of Warren, Pennsylvania. These were all accepted by the General Missionary Board at its annual meeting in October, 1913, and sailed from New York, December the 9th, following. On account of the failure of Mrs. Foreman's health they had to return in the Fall of 1914. The latest accession to the list of India missionaries was Miss Effie G. Cowherd, received from the Pentecost Bands in the fall of 1914. She was already on the field, having been engaged in missionary work under the Bands.

Inhambane proved to be a very unhealthful region, and the effect of the climate was such upon the Rev. and Mrs. Kelley that within a year they had to return to America, or die on the field. Accordingly they returned, leaving Mr. Agnew, then a young man of but twenty-one years, alone. He remained there four years before returning to the home land. During this time he endured severe tests and great hardships, having very primitive accommodations for living, and being without the fellowship and help of any who were of his own Church.

He first returned home in January, 1889. In July, 1890, he went again to the foreign field. He returned to America again in September, 1894, and attended the General Conference in October of that year, at Greenville, Illinois. He remained in this country but a few months, and then went back to Africa. About three weeks after his return to Africa he was married to Miss Susie Sherman, who was laboring under other auspices, at Fair View Mission Station, in Natal. Soon after their marriage they went to the Inhambane work. Their married life was brief, however, Mrs. Agnew dying of African fever the 17th of the following December.

On April 30, 1888, something over nine months before Mr. Agnew's first return to America, the Rev. and Mrs. J. D. Bennett, Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Lincoln, Miss F. Grace Allen, and Miss Ida Heffner arrived in Africa, having been sent out by the Board as reinforcements.

What had formerly been a French trading house at a place called Malahisi, about sixteen miles from Komeni (both places were mission stations in the Inhambane country), was now purchased, and the Bennett family and Misses Allen and Heffner moved In and took possession at once, while Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln and their child stayed with Mr. Agnew, at Komeni.

This was a delightful change for Mr. Agnew-"an oasis in a desert," as he expressed it. For a time all passed pleasantly, and Mr. Agnew, after so long a time of lone bachelor life, regarded the privileges of Christian conference he now enjoyed as 'almost too good to be true." He found Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln agreeable companions and fellow workers, and records the pleasure they found in relating and comparing experiences. He particularly states that Mrs. Lincoln was "a true soldier, who never complained, and who loved pioneer work."[2]

None of them left the Church of their choice, but, owing to a misunderstanding, funds from the Board at home failed to arrive, and ah parties concerned thought it best that they should accept an opening which seemed providential. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett and Miss Heffner went to a station at Makodweni, while Miss Allen stayed for a time with Mr. and Mrs. Richards, at Mongwe, both stations being north of Inhambane.

For about two and a half years during the British - Boer war he found it necessary to suspend operations at Johannesburg. During this time he went to Natal, and assisted in the work there. He proved especially helpful in opening up a new station at Ebenezer, which work is still maintained, at a place called Itemba, two and a half miles from Ebenezer. At the close of the war he returned to Johannesburg, where he found the mission property still intact, and where he continued to supervise the Johannesburg work, and that at Inhambane. In all his eighteen years in Africa, he returned home but twice. He had planned, however, to return home with his family in time to attend the General Conference of 1903, intending also to stay long enough to publish a small book giving an account of his missionary pioneering in South Africa; but almost on the eve of their departure for America he was taken down with what proved to be hematuria fever, and March 9, 1903, he died, leaving besides his wife, two children-Susie and Harry. His wife and children came to America, but she finally returned to Africa, where she has devoted herself to missionary work, and has succeeded in giving her children a good education. According to the Missionary Secretary, "The greatest revival on any station in Africa was given in connection with Mrs. Agnew's labors at Fair View."

Miss Heffuer, one of the band sent to reinforce Mr. Agnew in 1888, after the return of the Kelleys and the death of the Lincolns, together with Miss Allen, engaged herself to the American Board, and continued in their employ so long as she remained in Africa. She labored under the auspices of the Free Methodist Church until the band was scattered by sickness and death, a period of about seven months. She continued to labor under the American Board nearly four and one-half years, after which she returned to America to stay, and her relation to the Free Methodist Missionary Board was discontinued.

Miss Allen labored three months with the Free Methodist missionaries at Inhambane, after which she taught a Boys' and Girls' school for the American Board for one year, making her stay in Inhambane about fifteen months. In 1889 she went to Natal, but as the Free Methodist Missionary Board had there no mission where she could stay, she again took up school work under the American Board, at Inanda, where she taught in a Seminary for native girls for two years. In 1891 she went to Fair View Mission Station, where she has since faithfully and heroically labored under the General Missionary Board of the Free Methodist Church. For a time she had charge of the Station School, but in 1897 she organized the Girls' School at Fair View, of which she has since had charge, and whose students in 1914 numbered 360. "Of all our missionaries in Africa Miss Allen has been longest on the field, and her self-denying labors and faithful services are highly appreciated both there and in the home land."[3]

Rev. and Mrs. Bennett labored about two years under the Free Methodist Missionary Board before going to the American Board, with which they remained about one year and eight months. Then they returned to America. This was in the autumn of 1893. They continued their relation to the Board until March, 1899, when their resignation, which had been previously handed in, was accepted. He finally returned to pastoral work in the East Michigan Conference, where he died quite suddenly of paralysis while engaged in conducting a revival meeting. His oft-repeated prayer that he might die in the harness was granted.

The Rev. and Mrs. A. D. Noyes were sent out accompanied by Miss Mary E. Carpenter, to Liberia, West Africa, in September, 1885. Miss Carpenter was not permitted to labor long in the mission field. The missionary party arrived in Africa on Thanksgiving Day. On the following Christmas she was taken ill with the African fever, and on Sunday, January 3, 1886, she passed to her reward in heaven. She was a woman of most estimable character, greatly beloved by those who knew hen Why she should have been taken so soon from the field of labor to which she had consecrated all her abilities must remain among the unsolved mysteries.

Mr. and Mrs. Noyes returned to America in the early part of 1886, and were then sent out by the Board, to labor in Natal, in November, 1887. They worked under the Board for ten weeks only, and during that time were with Mr. Shemeld at Bethany Mission Station, instead of at Natal. As the Board failed to send the needed means for their support, they engaged to labor under the American Board, and continued in its employ for three years. They resumed work, however, under the Free Methodist Board, December 1, 1890, and continued in its employ until the autumn of 1898. He was home, however, for a short time in the autumn of 1895, to attend the annual meeting of the General Missionary Board. At this meeting an agreement was reached between him and the Board for the transfer of the Fair View Mission property to the Board. His arrival in America was on October 7, and he started back to Africa on the 9th of the following November.

Mr. and Mrs. Noyes remained at Fair View until August 31, 1898. Then they returned to America, and ceased to labor under the General Missionary Board. While in Africa their services were of much value to the Church, particularly in that they secured 2,300 acres of very valuable land at Fair View, which was turned over by him to the General Missionary Board, and is now the general headquarters of the Free Methodist work in Africa.

In 1892 the Board accepted and sent to Africa four more missionaries. They were the Rev. J. J. Haviland, Mr. Frank L. Desh, and the Misses Emma Hillmon and Rose Myers. This band sailed from New York, and arrived in May, 1892. In October of the same year J. J. Haviland and Emma Hillmon were married, at Estcourt, Natal. After their marriage they remained at Bethany Mission, Estcourt, until the property there was sold. Then they went to Inhambane, June 13, 1895, where they remained until Mr. Haviland's death, March 18, 1897, just as they were making ready to return to America. Within a few days after his death Mrs. Haviland, with her two children, sailed for the home land. While in Africa the Havilands were diligent and faithful missionaries, and his sudden death was a severe blow to the work in which he was so ardently engaged. It was an especially bewildering and crushing blow to Mrs. Haviland. After her return to America she labored as her health and family cares would permit in traveling and speaking on missions in the interest of the foreign work under the direction of the Board. She continued her relation to the Board until the annual meeting in October, 1900.

Frank L. Desh and Rose Myers were married in the chapel at Fair View, July 4, 1892. On November 7, of the same year, they left there for the Inhambane field. Their stay at Inhambane was of brief duration, however, and then they returned to Natal. They engaged in rescue mission work contrary to the direction of the Board, which resulted in their being discontinued by that body.

In accordance with a previous action of the Missionary Board requesting him to do so, the Missionary Secretary visited Africa in the spring of 1898 to look after the interests of the work, remaining about six months. This was the first time any member of the Board had visited any of the foreign mission fields. The Board later expressed much satisfaction with the results of this visit. The Johannesburg work was opened up largely as a result of his visit there. The next band sent out to Africa consisted of Rev. and Mrs. J. P. Brodhead and Miss Lucy A. Hartman.

They left New York, April 6, 1898, and reached Durban the 15th of May following. Mr. Brodhead had been a member of the Central Illinois Conference, and Mrs. Brodhead teacher of art in Greenville College. Later, however, he transferred his membership to the Pittsburgh Conference, where he continued to labor until he was accepted as a missionary to Africa. On arriving in Africa Mr. Brodhead was given the Superintendency of the work in Natal, which position he continued to fill until the organization of the South Africa Mission Conference. During the first year following the formation of the Conference he was District Elder over the entire work. He labored indefatigably for the enlargement of the work and with excellent results. In the prosecution of his numerous duties he was subject to such trials and hard-ships as affected his health, on which account he and Mrs. Brodhead were granted a furlough.

When they went to Africa they had two little daughters whom they decided to leave with Mrs. Brodhead's mother and sister. They were cared for by these friends two years. Then the mother, seventy-seven years of age, and the sister, Miss Hattie Sanford, went to Africa and took the children to their parents. They also remained in Africa until Mr. and Mrs. Brodhead returned on their furlough in the spring of 1907. "Mother Sanford" passed her eighty-fourth birthday on the homeward journey, the next day after the vessel passed the equator. During her seven years in Africa she had excellent health, and both she and her daughter did much valuable service in the interest of the missionary work.

When the Brodheads returned they brought with them a native girl, Elizabeth Nombango Zelemu, who remained in America and attended school for some time, and then returned to Africa, where she has since been engaged as teacher in the Girls' School at Fair View.

Mr. and Mrs. Brodhead returned to Africa near the end of 1909. On his return he opened a new station in Pondoland, and one in East Griqualand. Later he also opened the work at Critchiow Mission Station, in Pondoland, and is still in charge of the same. He has also acted as District Elder of the Coast District, and is at present serving in the same relation on the Pondoland District. One of his chief qualifications for his work in Africa has been that of a natural adaptation to managing the natives. His wife has been a true and loyal supporter of the work.

Miss Hartman continued eleven years in Africa before returning home on furlough. Then she remained in the home land less than a year and a half, when she again returned to the field, accompanied by her friend, Miss Maud Cretors, of the Mennonite Church. Miss Hartman's work in Africa has been mostly evangelistic, and confined chiefly to Ebenezer and Itemba Mission Stations, though she has spent some time in teaching. She was the first woman to be admitted to ordination on a foreign field. With native aid she built a chapel with no expense to the Board. The field of her present labors is Itemba. God has blessed her work and made it very fruitful.

Another band was sent out in the spring of 1902, consisting of Nathanael B. Smith and wife, Carroll Smith, J. W. Haley, and Misses Margaret A. Nickel and Rosa D. Hunter. Nathanael B. Smith and wife labored on the field about three years, when, because of failing health on his part, it became necessary for them to return, soon after which they resigned their relations to the Board. He has since died.

Carroll Smith and Miss Hunter were married, March 25, 1903. Very soon after their marriage they went to Johannesburg to fill the vacancies occasioned there by the death of Harry Agnew and the furlough of his widow. Later they spent several years at Greenville Mission Station, Pondoland, where they carried on successful school work in connection with the other work of the station. Still later they were sent again to Inhambane, where severe attacks of fever made it necessary for them to return to America. They arrived in the home land in June, 1910, having devoted eight years to the Africa mission work. They returned to the foreign field, February 3, 1912, and the Conference appointed him District Elder of the Inhambane District, and preacher in charge of Roberts Memorial Mission, with his wife as associate.

A. E. Haley, Nellie Reed and Jennie Hamilton arrived in Africa early in 1905.

J. W. Haley and Jennie Hamilton were married by Rev. J. P. Brodhead, March 15, 1905. They made a strong pair for missionary work. he always stood high among the missionaries, and was among the most successful of them. She has proved especially courageous, at one time making an inland trip of 200 miles with her husband and baby girl, traversing a region of country in which a white woman had never been seen. Their years of labor, mostly in the unhealthful Inhambane country, so impaired Mr. Haley's health as to necessitate their return to the United States in the spring of 1909. They are now in America, but expect to return to the field.

Dr. W. A. Backenstoe was sent out as a medical missionary in November, 1903. His wife accompanied him, though not accepted by the Board as a missionary until after getting on the field. While thoroughly qualified for the practice of medicine in this country, he found that English law, which prevailed in South Africa, would not allow graduates from the medical schools of America to practice without having obtained diplomas directly from some accredited English medical school. He could and did render much gratuitous medical service, and evinced a readiness in adapting himself to the various circumstances and conditions connected with the foreign work. His wife proved to be an efficient helper in the missionary work, and they ingratiated themselves into the good will of both missionaries and the native population. They returned home in 1911, and in the autumn of 1913 they went to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he has since been pursuing a course of study with a view of qualifying to practice medicine under English law when they return to the field.

In 1903 Jules Ryff and wife were sent out. They left New York that fall. He has once been Secretary and several times President of the South Africa Mission Conference, since its organization, and has also served in the office of District Elder. They have made valuable missionaries, and their labors are highly appreciated by the other missionaries, and by those who have no connection with the missionary work.

Miss Reed sailed for the foreign field in January, 1905. The most of her time since she reached Africa has been spent in teaching in the Girls' School and Home at Fair View, in association with Miss Allen. The Junior Missionary work originated in connection with the going of Miss Reed, and she was the first missionary supported by funds which the Juniors had raised. She is at present in America, but expects to return to Africa soon.

In December, 1905, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Woods were sent to Africa with a view of having them look after the large tract of land connected with the Fair View Mission Station. They offered themselves to the Board in response to a call for such help published in the Free Methodist. They proved to be just the persons needed to look after the temporalities of the work there, besides being of much help to the spiritual part of the work.

In 1905 Bishop W. A. Sellew was sent to visit and inspect the missionary work in Africa, India, China and Japan, and was instructed by the Executive Committee to organize the Africa work into a Missionary Conference, if in his judgment it should seem to be ripe for such a move. Accordingly the South Africa Mission Conference was organized at Fair View Mission Station, Natal, October 11, 1905. The preachers in full connection were J. P. Brodhead, J. W. Haley, Jules Ryff, Carroll Smith and A. E. Haley. The lay delegates were F. Grace Allen, Lucy A. Hartman, and Margaret A. Nickel. Jules Ryff was chosen Secretary.

The work was grouped into the Coast, the Inland, the Johannesburg, and the Inhambane Districts, and J. P. Brodhead was placed in the District Eldership of the four. There were ten appointments, besides fourteen stations on the Inhambane District which were supplied by native evangelists. There were thirteen native evangelists reported as connected with the other appointments. Dr. W. A. Backenstoe was received into the Conference on trial.

The Bishop spent nearly fifteen months on these respective fields, the larger amount of it in Africa, about three months in India, and the remainder in China and Japan. The results of this tour were regarded as very favorable by the Board.

Since the formation of the South Africa Conference the work in that country has been chiefly under Conference control, and its management has been quite different from what it was formerly. We give below part of the statistics of the Africa work for 1907 and for 1914, from which the gains and losses for seven years under Conference administration may be seen:
 

From the foregoing it will he seen that while there has been very perceptible gain in a number of directions under the seven years of Conference administration there have also been some quite material losses, or apparent losses. On the whole, however, there has been more of a steady gain than appears as in several instances the apparent decline, as indicated by the figures, is due to changes on the field that do not necessarily signify decline, but rather economy in administration. Changes in Portuguese laws have caused a decline in Sunday-schools.

Since the conference was organized eleven more missionaries have been sent to the field. Miss Maggie LaBarr left New York for Africa in December, 1906, in company with G. D. Schlosser and Miss Matilda Deyo. She was principally occupied as teacher in the Girls' School at Fair View, and in the Boys' School at Edwaleni. She also did some evangelistic work. She returned to America in September, 1913, where she still remains.

The Rev. Newton Baxter Ghormley and wife went out in November, 1907. Since their arrival they have had charge of the Training School at Edwaleni, Natal, in which they have labored diligently and efficiently, and a good part of the time under very discouraging circumstances. The particular work of the institution over which they preside is that of training native young men for evangelistic work. More recently there has been added a Manual Training department, the Government having made a grant for aiding in that work. They were straitened for a suitable helper in this department of the work until the Board sent out James S. Rice, and his wife, who is a nurse, in November, 1913. Mr. Rice was well qualified for teacher of Manual Training, being a graduate of Mechanics Institute, Rochester, New York. The work has since gone harmoniously and successfully.

Miss Ethel A. Cook was accepted by the Directors of the General Missionary Board in March, 1907, and went to the field the following fall. She labored part of the time she remained on the field in Natal, then spent some time in Pondoland, after which she was stationed at Inhambane, where she continued to labor until, in 1909, because of a complete nervous break-down, she was compelled to return home. She was a faithful missionary, was greatly appreciated by her co-workers on the field, and was much afflicted at having to return to America. Her impaired condition of health continued so long that she sent in her resignation, which was accepted October 13, 1913.

Rev. and Mrs. G. G. Kessel were accepted by the Missionary Board June 18, 1907. They were expected to go out in company with Rev. and Mrs. Ghormley. Mr. Kessel had been pastor and District Elder for some years in the West Kansas and California Conferences before he offered himself to the Board, and both were well educated, and otherwise qualified for the foreign field. Miss Luella Newton and their two children, John and Edward, accompanied them to Africa. They were providentially hindered from going with the Ghormleys, and so did not leave this country until May, 1908. Mr. Kessel has been pastor part of the time he has been in the foreign field, and some of the time has served as District Elder. Considering his age when be went out, he succeeded admirably in mastering the native language, and has been a model of aggressiveness for many of the younger men. His wife has also been a valuable helpmeet to him in the work. Miss Newton entered the missionary ranks in 1910.

In June, 1907, the Rev. and Mrs. August M. Anderson were accepted for the Africa field, and they and the Kessels went out together. Mrs. Anderson is a daughter of the late Rev. C. M. Damon. They were appointed to Greenville Mission Station, Pondoland, where their labors were very acceptable. They are still in charge of that work. They have been zealous and courageous, and have braved many severe tests.

The missionary force for Africa was further augmented in 1910 by the sending out of Mr. and Mrs. Elbert E. Wells. They were sent to Inhambane, as their field of labor. On reaching Africa, they went first to Fair View, where they spent several weeks with the missionaries at that place. Later they went to Modderfontein, Transvaal, where they remained several months for the study of the language before proceeding to Inhambane. After reaching their final destination they proved themselves faithful to the charge assigned them, but were unable to remain there continuously, and so their labors were divided between Inhambane and Germiston, Transvaal. At last accounts Mrs. Wells health had so failed that it seemed probable that they would soon return to America.

On the 25th of January, 1913, Miss Ida B. Rice left New York for Africa, going out alone. She reached Durban, March 7th. The South Africa Conference appointed her to Inhambane, on the East Coast, where she has since labored acceptably.

The Free Methodist work in Africa has been very successful, all things considered.

[1] Article on "My Mother." by Benson Howard Roberts, A. M., in the "Free Methodist" of March 17, 1908.
[2] "G. Herry Agnew, A Pioneer Missionary,: pp. 121, 122
[3] Winget's "Missions and Missionaries," p. 20.