| | Abstract: | The Presbyterial Missionary Society was organized in 1881in Cleveland, Ohio, as the Woman's Presbyterial Home Missionary Society in the Presbytery of Cleveland, it was soon renamed the Woman's Home Missionary Society. Its purpose was "to stimulate, systematize and unite" home missionary efforts, and to organize societies in member churches and raise money for relief efforts to families and schools. It cooperated with the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church headquartered in New York City. It was operated by a board of managers composed of officers from each local society, and an executive committee consisting of the officers of the society together with women appointed by the Synod of Ohio. It became increasingly involved in foreign missionary work after it merged in 1914 with the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Presbytery of Cleveland, when its name was changed to the Woman's Missionary Society of Cleveland Presbytery. By 1926, it again changed its name to the Presbyterial Missionary Society of Cleveland Presbytery. The collection consists primarily of minutes of annual meetings and executive committee meetings, 1882-1938, including constitutions, bylaws, annual reports, and lists of officers and local member churches. Also includes financial reports, 1883-1884, 1893-1912, and correspondence with the Board of National Missions and the Board of Home Missions of the national Presbyterian Church. The minutes and correspondence is primarily in the hand of long-time recording secretary, Carrie B. Smith. | |
