The Christian Woman's Board of Missions (CWBM) was a

missionary A missionary is a member of a Religious denomination, religious group which is sent into an area in order to promote its faith or provide services to people, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care, and economic development.Tho ...

organization associated with the

Restoration Movement The Restoration Movement (also known as the American Restoration Movement or the Stone–Campbell Movement, and pejoratively as Campbellism) is a Christian movement that began on the United States frontier during the Second Great Awakening (17 ...

.Douglas Allen Foster and Anthony L. Dunnavant, ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, , , 854 pages, entry on ''Christian Woman's Board of Missions'', pages 200-2002 Established in 1874, it was the first such group managed entirely by women. It hired both men and women, and supported both domestic and foreign missions.

History

The Christian Woman's Board of Missions was created by the American Christian Missionary Society on October 21, 1874. It was a grassroots organization intended to serve women and children worldwide. While many members also supported other 19th century causes such as

temperance Temperance may refer to: Moderation *Temperance movement, movement to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed *Temperance (virtue), habitual moderation in the indulgence of a natural appetite or passion Culture * Temperance (group), Canadian dan ...

and

suffrage Suffrage, political franchise, or simply franchise, is the right to vote in public, political elections and referendums (although the term is sometimes used for any right to vote). In some languages, and occasionally in English, the right to v ...

, "CWBM was the 'grand passion' in the lives of many nineteenth- and twentieth-century Christian Church women." The CWBM's first mission was in Jamaica, where Dr. and Mrs. W.H. Williams were sent in 1876. The first missionary who was a single woman, Jennie Laughlin, was sent in 1876. India became the major focus of the CWBM's overseas efforts, which included evangelistic efforts focusing on women and children, as well as building a variety of social service facilities such as schools, hospitals and orphanages. The organization was particularly effective, both at home and abroad, in reaching women and children in settings where it would be difficult or impossible for men to go. For an example of the work being done, see the full program of the Kentucky C.W.B.M. Convention, September 21-22, 1903, published in ''The Bourbon (Paris, Ky.) News''. The CWBM merged with several other organizations in 1919 to form the United Christian Missionary Society.Douglas Allen Foster, Paul Blowers, Anthony L. Dunnavant, and D. Newell Williams ''The Encyclopedia of the Stone-Campbell Movement: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Christian Churches/Churches of Christ, Churches of Christ'', Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2004, , , 854 pages, entry on ''United Christian Missionary Society'', pages 750-753

Notable people

* Sarah Bostick (1868–1948), co-organized the first African-American Christian Woman's Board of Missions auxiliary in 1892 * Selina Huntington Bakewell Campbell (1802-1897), an important woman in the Restoration Movement * Eunice Caldwell Cowles (1811-1903), educator *

Clara H. Hazelrigg Clara H. Hazelrigg (, Espy; pen name, C. H. H.; November 23, 1859 – 1937) was an American author, educator and reformer. She began teaching school at a young age, and after marriage and removing to Kansas, she taught school and served as principa ...

(1859–1937), author, educator, reformer * Luella St. Clair Moss (1865-1947), educator, suffragist * Caroline Neville Pearre (1834–1910), founder of the Christian Woman's Board of Missions *

Jessie Trout Jessie M. Trout (July 26, 1895 – 1990) was a Canadian missionary to Japan for nearly 20 years until she left Japan during World War II. She was a leader in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), including being the first woman to serve as ...

(1895–1990), missionary

References

{{Restoration Movement Christian missionary societies Restoration Movement Women's organizations based in the United States Christian women's organizations

History

Notable people

See also

References