17.

One Faith-Many Works

This chapter is a record of important activities, institutions, and programs of the Ohio and Eastern Mennonite Conference. It is an account of how the conference churches and organizations have worked together to witness and serve as opportunities arose and conviction impelled.

Women's Sewing Circle and Missionary Work

As the church's charitable and missionary work grew, an important source of its support was found in the women' sewing circles and later missionary organizations. ' As early as 1898 the Orphans' Home at West Liberty received clothing and food from women of the Mahoning County churches. The following year saw a sewing circle organized by the women in the Allen County churches. In 1902 Smithville women and the New Stark congregation organized, as did also the women in Fulton County. South Union and Walnut Grove organized in 1906. Others to follow were the Sugarcreek Church in 1910, Elida in 1911, and Martin's Creek in 1911.

The occasion for these sewing circles is illustrated in the Oak Grove congregation in Wayne County. A member of this congregation, Anna V. Yoder, was a worker in the Canton Mission and was influential in starting the Oak Grove Sewing Circle in 1905 in order to furnish garments for needy persons in the city. This sewing circle also met at least once a year at the Old People's Home at Rittman and sewed for the inmates.

The South Union Sewing Circle at West Liberty was organized in January of 1906 at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. Y. Hartzler and from the beginning was active in behalf of the orphanage in that community.

An important role of leadership in this movement was filled 253