Episcopal Church Women: The First Hundred Years part 4

From 1902–1912, the Auxiliary seems to have relaxed the emphasis on meetings, although it still actively supported its own regularly scheduled get-togethers and such groups as the interdenominational School of Missions at Mound. Missionary work continued without letup, but there was a new focus on the development of Babies’ Branches and Junior Auxiliaries.

The number of Babies Branches (children under eight) and Junior Auxiliaries (eight to sixteen) increased satisfactorily. In 1902, there were thirty-two Babies Branches; in 1941, forty-two. Their monetary gifts, a symbol of youthful concern for missions, were relatively large and bought not only beds for children’s hospitals and furnishings for kindergartens but also baptismal fonts—thirteen—for missions. As for Junior Auxiliaries, there were twenty in 1902; in 1912, thirty. In the last year of this period alone, they sent money and Boxes valued at $1,217.38.

CPC reports at this time were generally repetitive. However, when Miss Frances Densmore of Red Wing took over, there were notable changes. For instance, the number of local CPC chapters jumped to eleven and CPC, instead of solely providing books and magazines for missionaries, began to send reading matter to lumber camps, prisons, mining locations, and ranches. Upon her resignation, however, CPC returned to its narrow definition of purpose.

The Auxiliary, now numbering thirty-seven local groups, enlarged its cadre of officers. In 1902, there had been two; in 1912, there were sixteen.