[The Ladies] have been mainly devoted to the work of providing for the soldiers in the field

The services have been generally well attended by our own congregation and those who have sought refuge with us from the enemy on our coast. May God in good time hear our prayers for peace and deliverance from our enemies! The Ladies still continue their exertions among the poor, though they have during this year been mainly devoted to the work of providing for the soldiers in the field.

(Source: The Rev. Joseph C. Huske, Parochial Report, St. John’s Church, Fayetteville, 1862 Journal of Convention, p. 46)

During the past year the Church Aid Society has opened a Hospital

During the past year the Church Aid Society has opened a Hospital, and has thus far been blessed in its efforts in the branch of Christian work. This Society, and one formed of the children of the Church, give high promise of usefulness. Soon, the Rector hopes, that a Hospital on permanent foundation, and a school for boys, will become agents for doing our Lord’s work, and will be the precursors of a school for girls.

(Source: The Rev. Benjamin S. Bronson, Parochial Report, St. Peter’s, Charlotte, 1876 Journal of Convention, p. 93)

NOTE: The Church Aid Society was led by the women of the church.

Small? Useless? No, a holy band are we

The Ladies’ Sewing Society, organized in 1878, was responsible for the purchase of a lot, the acquisition of a building moved to the site, and its renovation and furnishing as a rectory. In an article written for the local paper, presumably in 1928, celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the society, Miss Lena Smith, daughter of the organizer and herself president at that time, said it was often called the “Crochetted (sic) Rectory” because of the quantities of crocheted articles made and sold to procure it. In the same article she said, “Since the Society was organized we have lost two churches by fire and are working on the third”. Reporting that their hopes of doing something worthy for their fiftieth anniversary had been thwarted by unfortunate circumstances, making their number even fewer than usual, she concluded the article with lines of poetry (unattributed and possibly her own):

A little band of women met for Thee

Each with her days too short for all her work

Of household tasks and children to o’er see;

Each anxious that she should not seem to shirk

Her monthly stint of sewing for the Church.

So few in number and so much to do,

So great the effort for results so small,

Each meeting brings discouragement anew,

Why should we try to have a guild at all,

When larger churches could do this and more?

Oh, God, forgive our sacrilege – our shame,

Small? Useless? No, a holy band are we,

For reassurance comes, through years the same,

That in our midst forever we have Thee

When three or four are gathered in Thy Name.

(Source: Martha H. Holloman, “Trinity Church,” 1987, pp 2-3. Sketch in Trinity Church, Scotland Neck, Parish File, Diocesan Archives)

Much credit is due two Communicants of the Church, Miss Kate Harrison and Mrs. R. S. Goelet

Grace Church, Plymouth, is in much better condition than I expected to find it, the enemy having put in it plain windows and pews. The only injury the church building sustained during the attack on Plymouth was from three shells, one passing through the spire, one through the roof, and the third destroying the casing of a window. Much credit is due two Communicants of the church, Miss Kate Harrison and Mrs. R. S. Goelet, for having kept together and instructed the Catechumens of the Parish. I have felt greatly for those of the Parish who have for nearly two years been deprived of the services of the Church.

(Source: The Rev. T. B. Haughton, Report of Chaplain 50th Regt N. C. T., 1864 Journal of Convention, p. 42)

the congregation is indebted to the untiring labors of this little band

The Ladies Working Society is not yet ‘weary of well doing;’ and the Rector here acknowledges that the congregation is indebted to the untiring labors of this little band, for much of its present prosperity. If similar associations were formed in all our parishes, and made to embrace the whole female population of the Church, the bonds of Christian affection would be drawn closer and closer, unity of purpose and action would prevail among all our members, and the obligation to do good would not only be acknowledged, but followed out in the holding up of our Zion as the praise of the whole earth.

(Source: The Rev. William M. Green, Parochial Report, St. Matthew’s, Hillsborough, 1833 Journal of Convention, p. 23)

these few and feeble and widely scattered bands of women...

It is the old story of the “little drops of water, little grains of sand.” The amount that each one can do alone seems hopelessly and discouragingly little and useless, and still the union of these weak and insignificant labors – of these few and feeble and widely scattered bands of women – gave to our Church Missions last year, in money and boxes, the sum of $251,7702.90.

(Source: Jane Renwick Wilkes (Mrs. John), Secretary’s Address, 1888 Woman’s Auxiliary Annual Report, 3)

What limits dare we put upon our thankfulnesss!

The United Thank Offering depends very little upon wealth or poverty, but rather it is a measure of our thankfulness. It comes mainly in small offerings from a large number of women. During the year 1931 offerings were sent to me through eighty-one branches of the Woman’s Auxiliary [in NC]. These together with similar offerings from women all over the country made the grand sum total of $1,059,575.27 – presented at General Convention in Denver on the morning of September 17, 1931. This amount is to be used for the support of retired U.T.O. workers, for buildings, for salaries, for training, travel, medical and dental outfits, rents, etcetera. We are helping 224 women in the foreign field and at home to carry on the work of the Church – a work made possible by women for women. What limits dare we put upon our thankfulness!

(Source: Mrs. Alfred S. Lawrence, United Thank Offering treasurer, 1932 Woman’s Auxiliary Annual Report, p.32)

We must not confine our Christian thoughts, labors and sympathy to ourselves, our own Parishes

I am glad to mention that there has been a revival of interest in the Ladies’ Benevolent Society, and that they have resolved to work more zealously for Parochial objects; and also, to unite, without change of organization, with the Woman’s Auxiliary Society of the General Church. Though the material result of this may not be very considerable, perhaps, yet the moral result will be good. What we most need in our Church, I think, is active parochial work in connection with the recognized institutions of the General Church. We must not confine our Christian thoughts, labors and sympathy to ourselves, our own Parishes.

(Source: The Rev. Joseph C. Huske, Parochial Report, St. John’s, Fayetteville, 1882 Journal of Convention, p. 134)

simply persons ... who do great deeds out of mixed motives

1974, January 6 

“We are simply persons: frail, feeble, funny creatures who do great deeds out of mixed motives. In this world great happenings come out of the most incredible and unfitting circumstances. Should we be less than thankful for them?”

[Source: Rose Flannigan (Mrs. Eric G Flannigan, Jr.), ECW President, in a letter to the “Ladies” of the Diocese of North Carolina.]

... to lend their aid to supply the wants of the Church

Resolved, That the Convention do heartily recommend to the different congregations of our Church, and particularly to the female members of the same, to lend their aid to supply the wants of the Church, by the formation of similar societies (such as Cent Societies, to which Society members contribute a small sum weekly).”

(Source: Resolution at 1822 Diocesan Convention, 1822 Journal of Convention, p. 24)