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Show Interior, asking us to join forces with them. We had grown to ten auxiliaries at that time. So it was decided to suspend further discussion until "we receive more wisdom and light on the subject." The first definite work was the support of a Mrs. W. Watkins who had a school in Guadalajara, Mexico, that had been under the Board of the Interior. Five hundred dollars was set aside for Mrs. Watkins. In March, 1874, Dr. Clark of the American Board extended to us the right hand of fellowship-the record states '' a cordial but somewhat tardy welcome." An effort was made to interest the women of Oregon to join with us and a form.al petition sent them. The first year had almost rolled around. Our relationship with the American Board was still undecided. The Society felt hampered in the matter of special gifts being sent to special missionaries and several auxiliaries wished to send them to Miss Rappleye and Mrs. Gulick of North China. Judge Jas. M. Haven was busy with articles of incorporation, but could not complete them until our status was defined. The minutes refer, many times, to his so freely given services. The members felt sure that Dr. Clark's very objection, our great distance from the missionary centers, was our great reason for being an independent Board. Added to this was the fact "that we are the natural gateway to Japan, China, the myriad islands of the seas and the infant missions of Mexico." Eight hundred dollars were the receipts of the first year and Mrs. J. W. Hough was sent as delegate to the Woman's Board of the Interior, meeting at St. Louis. ^ Oakland First entertained our first annual meeting. There "was the pleasure of seeing faces of sisters from other parts of the State." While there, a cordial letter from Dr. Clark was received, "con^ taining words of cheer and encouragement very grateful to our ears." It was decided to await Mrs. Hough's return from the East before completing allegiance with any board. The election returns show fully this year: President, Mrs. A. L. Stone; Vice-President, Mrs. E. P. Baker; Vice-President, Mrs. S. V. Blakeslie; Corresponding Secretary (home), Mrs. Geo. Mooar; Corresponding Secretary (foreign), Mrs. T. B. Bigelow; Treasurer, Mrs. R. E. Cole. [ 12 ] |