THE Christian Woman's Missionary Society of Cynthiana, Kentucky, was organized in September, 1883, with a membership of twenty-four, and the following officers: MRS. ARTIE ASHBROOK, President; MRS. ELIZA FRAZER, First Vice-President; MRS. SUE ASHBROOK, Second Vice-President; MRS. CHARLES T. WILSON, Secretary; MRS. M. E. LYDICK, Treasurer. (p. 88) Its object is "to cultivate a missionary spirit, to encourage missionary effort, to disseminate missionary intelligence, and to secure systematic contributions for missionary purposes." Its members agree "to aid in furthering these objects," and to contribute not less than ten cents monthly; these "dues," however, constitute a small part of the total contributions. A noteworthy feature of the work of the National Society, to which we are auxiliary, and one that distinguishes it from the older societies of the brotherhood is, that it is not limited to any one department of missions, but embraces Foreign, American, and State work. The Society has always been auxiliary to the (p. 89) Christian Woman's Board of Missions, which has its headquarters at Indianapolis, and a strict construction of its relations to that Board would, perhaps, require that all its activity be conducted through the national officers. But it has always allowed itself some latitude in this particular, especially in earlier years, when it frequently lent assistance to some point in Kentucky, or in the South and West, where a weak Church, or a handful of Christians, struggling to establish a Church, appealed strongly to its sympathies. The Society meets the first Sunday in the month. The two red-letter days in its calendar are Easter Sunday and Educational-day, December the first. Acting upon a suggestion of the national president, the members of this auxiliary, in common with others, have agreed to observe the week preceding Easter as a season of self-denial, that they may make a special Easter offering. Educational-day emphasizes the necessity and importance of the work undertaken by the board in educational centers-the establishment and maintenance of the English Bible chairs at Ann Arbor and the University of Virginia, and of lecture courses in various places. In observance of this day, ail open session is held, and a program of special interest rendered by the members, or ail address delivered by some one Invited for that purpose. (p. 90) It would be impossible to present anything like a complete record of the Society's work during the seventeen years of' its existence; only the most important can be mentioned. Various points in the mountain districts of our own State have received substantial aid from it. The school at Hazel Green, in Wolf County, was, for years, an object of special interest. Contributions to its support began in 1886, and continued to be made at intervals till 1893. Then its place in the affections of the Society was filled by the Bible chair at Ann Arbor, to which enterprise this auxiliary was one of the first to give encouragement and support. In addition to these contributions, the Society has given largely to the regular State Fund for missionary effort, and it has paid into the national treasury about $2,300; the total raised for missionary purposes being something over $5,000. In their methods of work, the active members of the auxiliary have displayed prudence and judgment equaled only by their courage and determination to do everything possible to accomplish the work for which they organized. Among its officers have been women of great executive ability and consecrated purpose, and the Society has shown its appreciation of their services by entrusting its affairs to them again and again. Among those serving repeatedly as president (p. 91) are Mrs. Artie Ashbrook, Mrs. K. W. Williams, Mrs. Anna S. Givens, Mrs. M. E. Walden, and Mrs. D. B. Shawhan. It also owes much to the wise counsel and untiring energy of Mrs. G. W. Yancey, who, during the four years of her husband's pastorate in Cynthiana, devoted herself to its upbuilding with entire consecration of purpose. Much of its financial success is undoubtedly due to the efficiency and faithfulness of its first treasurer, Mrs. M. E. Lydick, who, with an intermission of two years, has served in that capacity since its organization. >From the summary of its contributions to various missionary enterprises, one may form some idea of the amount and value of the Society's work for others. It is less easy to measure and record its influence upon the women engaged in it. They have developed mentally and spiritually; some have discovered unsuspected talents, others have realized the possibility of entire consecration of heart and life; to all it has proved a help and an inspiration to a higher ideal of Christian womanhood. With some experiences peculiar to itself, the Cynthiana Society has, on the whole, shared the common lot of such organizations. It has made mistakes, it has failed to recognize a golden opportunity, it has had its seasons of depression; but through it all it has gone steadily forward, and it ranks, in membership and in its contributions to (p. 92) missions, among the first in the State. It has now a membership of ninety, and the following board of officers: MRS. D. B. SHAWHAN, President; MRS. J. W. MUSSELMAN, First Vice-President; MRS. LENA AMMERMAN, Second Vice-President; MISS BETTIE CROMWELL, Recording- Secretary, MRS. FELIX ASHBROOK, Cor. Secretary; MRS. M. E. LYDICK, Treasurer. -- Bob Francis 1920A Butner St. Ft. Eustis, VA 23604 My Homepage is: http://www.shawhan.com Ruddell's Fort Page: http://www.shawhan.com/ruddlesfort.html Early Bourbon County Families Page: http://www.shawhan.com/bourbonfamilies.html