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that are required of us women who are willing to sacrifice time and labor, that we might help Him who said: "And if I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto Me."
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RESPONSE TO WELCOME

By Mrs. Clara E. Harris

Madam President, Pastors, Officers, Members and Co-Workers of the W. M. M. Convention of the Baltimore Annual Conference:

We have listened to your hearty welcome with the deepest gratitude, yea with increasing pleasure and confidence. The fervor of your enthusiasm has reached us, the responsiveness of your love has inspired us.

Historic Frederick with its sun-kissed mountains and verdant plains, the city that holds the mortal remains of the undaunted Barbara Fritchie and those of Francis Scott Key, made immortal by his Star Spangled Banner, the place and on this very spot during the Civil War and the Union soldiers after going forth to battle with a prayer on their lips that God would save the Union, and give us, the sons and daughters of Ham, the tillers of the soil, brought from their native land, Africa, their freedonm, would go forth and bare their breasts to the enemy, and be brought back to this very spot which was used as a hospital for wounded and dead, and then the faces of these honored citizens, the loyal and faithful members of this church and the untiring efforts of your beloved pastor and wife all bid us welcome.

It is said of the old that when Peter saw the Transfiguration of Christ, as the light shown all around him, and everything was dazzling, he cried with a loud voice. "It is good to be here let us build three Tabernacles," we may exclaim partly as he did, it is good to be here, let us build one Tabernacle for all, it shall be love.

We have come from various parts of the State with one aim, to do service for God, to devise plans and offer suggestions that we may better lift the fallen, encourage and stimulate our own feeble efforts to a higher state in His saving grace.

We have long ago realized the burdens we daily have to bear, and to night we appreciate this relaxation. When we begin to recount our struggles and review the hardships over which we have triumphed, we will think of the inspiring words given here tonight they will help heal the wounds the thorns have made in the rugged path of life along which our Missionary efforts of work and labor lead us. We as Missionary women have come to you alive to the interest of the meeting, to be refresred, invigorated and to better prepare ourselves for the great work of God and for our labors in behalf of humanity, and are actuated by no less a motive than our every act may be sanctified by God. God made this beautiful World, then made man king over it--in this instance we bow in acknowledgement that the late James A. Handy was the king in this our Missionary efforts; he said let us create the W. M. M. Society of the Balitmore Annual Conference. As our companion, as our helpmate, as our Ruth in our struggle in spreading the Gospel, and it was done. We meet here around our common altar as Christians, and we trust our meeting here may be an inspiration to the Missionary women and this community.