Page:The Souvenir of Western Women.djvu/109

Rh Fort Hall Reservation. It is part of our woman's work to help these Indians to a knowledge of Jesus .Christ. The Rev. St. Michael Fackler came from Oregon in 1864 and established the first church, which is still standing at Boise City. He formed the first Woman's Guild, the forerunner of our auxiliaries. Strange to say, some of its most important members are still our most active workers in promoting the good cause among Indians and whites, and also in forming and encouraging like societies all over the inter-mountain region."

The Woman's Auxiliary reaches out its hands to the ends of the earth, helping remote mission stations. Gift boxes, that find room for dolls and toys, are sent to Alaskan missions, visited by steamboats but once or twice a year. As is natural to its proximity, Western Washington shows great interest in this. The auxiliaries of Seattle and Tacoma sew with deft fingers for the mission boxes, containing, besides other things, drugs and books. New mining camps, such as Tanana, etc., are not forgotten.

Oregon sends useful reading matter to the soldiers at Manila; to the seamen on the broad ocean; to small reading rooms, as an antidote to the saloon; and to lonely ranch men, starving for mental food. The Grace Church Auxiliary of Astoria supports a Bible woman in China, who goes amongst the women where no one else could have access. The Sisters of St. Helen's Hall aid the Chinese Mission of Portland, and many help with their presence and talents at the Seamen's Institute. Oregon supports a scholarship in the Beaufort (colored) School of North Carolina and in St. Mary's Hall, Shanghai, where 120 native girls are educated. Eastern Washington supports two in the latter place.

The women of Boise City have been very active in work for the St. Luke's Hospital of their city, and have made much pioneer effort throughout their sparsely settled diocese.

Besides all the local and individual activity, the auxiliaries of the four dioceses subscribe about $800 annually for the general mission fund of the church. They never forget either to put by for the "united offering" that is laid on the altar at each triennial convention. This offering amounted this year in Boston to the sum of $150,000, of which our four dioceses bore their own noble part. No wonder the following resolution was passed with unanimous warmth:

"Resolved, That we heartily approve the suggestion made by one of the delegates at yesterday's missionary meeting (October 20) that, in view of the magnificent work of church women, including the raising of $150,000 by the Woman's Auxiliary, the Episcopal Church work should be hereafter carried on by men and women working together and not in separate divisions."