78 A Bridge To The Past

WOMEN’S WORK IN THE CHURCH

In the 1860’s Rev. Richard Smith, Minister of the Bedeque circuit of the Methodist Church, with an eye to the comfort of the minister’s family, appointed a Ladies Aid Society to take charge of the mission house fur- niture. This group was called “a committee of female friends” and represented the whole circuit. The member from Wilmot Valley was Mrs. Charles Doull who has already been mentioned as showing hospitality to the minister in his travels.

UNITED BAPTIST WOMEN’S MISSIONARY SOCIETY

Today there are several women’s organizations affiliated with churches in Bedeque, Summerside and Kensington. One such group is the Wilmot Valley United Baptist Women’s Missionary Society. This group is made up of members of the United Baptist Church in Summerside who have always supported the mission work of the Church.

In the 1920’s along with other Baptist women in the Maritime Pro- vinces, they accepted the responsibility of sending missionaries to evangelize the Telugu people of India. In 1925 these women decided to form a group in their own community and the four charter members were: Mrs. Reuben Large, Mrs. Harry Curtis, Mrs. John Waugh and Mrs. Harry Waugh. Although these women have all passed away, it is interesting to note that

WILMOT VALLEY UNITED BAPTIST WOMEN'S MISSIONARYSOCIETY.

Back row, L. to R. Georgie Simmons, Florence Huestis, Audrey Waugh, Henrietta Waugh, Elizabeth Day, Jane! Large, Marjorie Waugh, Beth Hogg, Barbara Waugh.

Front row, Dorothy Waugh, Effie Huestis. Lily Waugh, Rusie Waugh, Kay Barrass, Fern Huestis.