I would like to receive some history about the Ministers Spouses Alliance of the A.M.E. Church.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

Answers

browse to http://www.amemswwpk.org

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002

While the above listed site gives and overview of the present structure of the AME Minister Spouses, Wives and Widows Organization and PK. The parent organization, as well of that of the Missionary Society, dates back to the time of Sarah Allen who assisted her husband by helping ministers with clothing and other essentials which made them presentable to their congregations and the public at large. As the Connection grew, subsequent Episcopal Supervisors- following Sarah's example--organized more formal organizations to effectively meet their needs.

In the Sixth Episcopal District, these bodies came to fruition in the Atlanta Georgia Conference in 1904 under the leadership of Mrs. Laura Pearle Lemon Turner--last wife of Bishop Henry McNeal Turner.

My own paternal grandmother, Mrs. Anna L. Matthews, was among the charter members of each of these organizations--having served as the first secretary of the Ministers Wives Alliance (now called M-SWAWO) and the first president of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society (now called WMS).

Officers of the Atlanta Georgia/Sixth District Minister's Wives were Mrs. J. H. Hadley, President, Mrs. Anna L. Matthews , Secretary, Mrs. H. E. Fountain, Assistant Secretary, and Mrs. Laura E. Adams, Treasurer. Other Sixth District charter members included Mrs. J. R. Fleming, Mrs. T. J. Linton, Mrs. J. T. Wilkinson and Mrs. Elizabeth Baldwin. Mrs. Turner served as Ex-officio President.

Initial officers of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Society begun by Mrs. Turner in Atlanta/Sixth District were Mrs. R. T. Matthews, Sr. (Anna L.), President, Mrs. Mattie A. Ford, Secretary, and Mrs. David T. Howard, Treasurer.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2002