Purpose Statement and A Brief History

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Purpose & a Brief History of USFWI

The purpose of the United Society of Friends Women International, as shown below, was taken directly from the Handbook United Society of Friends Women International. p. 2:

"The purposes of the United Society of Friends Women International are the following:

to enlist and unite all Friends women in Christian fellowship and service.
to work cooperatively with constituent Yearly Meetings, Associations and members-at-large.
to share in the mission of the church everywhere.
to stimulate spiritual development.
to cultivate Christian stewardship.
to nurture education for mission among Friends, including youth and children."

In the late 1800s while living in Western Yearly Meeting, Eliza (Clark) Armstrong Cox (1850-1935) caught a clear vision of the part Quaker women should contribute to the Master's great plan of world evangelization. Through her untiring efforts she initiated the movement which developed into the Woman's Missionary Union of Friends in America which is known today as the United Society of Friends Women International (USFWI).

The first Woman's Missionary Society formed in 1881. In 1888 women from 10 yearly meetings attended the first assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana. This paved the way for the Glens Falls Conference of 1890, which officially inaugurated the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of Friends in America, with Phoebe S. Aydelott of New England Yearly Meeting as president.

Triennial Conferences have continued to be held at various locations to the present. Known in 1917 as the Woman's Missionary Union, the name and focus changed in 1948 to reflect the united witness of American Friends Women.

"International" was added in 1974 to recognize its global scope.

The Friends Missionary Advocate, the official periodical, began in 1885 and continues publication now as The Advocate.

Blueprints, an annual publication of program outlines, has been produced since 1944. Ecumenical ties are maintained through Church Women United. Financial support is budgeted to projects of Friends United Meeting and other Quaker and Christian organizations. USFWI societies exist in most yearly meetings outside Europe and Asia.

The Eliza Armstrong Cox Fellowship was set up in (date?). Information from the Handbook United Society of Friends Women International, page 10 includes the following:

"Anyone may be made a member of the Eliza Armstrong Cox Fellowship of the United Society of Friends Women International by payment of $25.00 (For United Societies outside the United States the amount will be determined by the Executive Committee of the United Society of Friends Women International after consultation with the United Society of Friends Women Executive Committee of that Yearly Meeting.) The established amount shall be divided equally between the Yearly Meeting United Society of Friends Women and the General Fund of the United Society of Friends Women International. Members-at-Large shall pay the full $25.00 to the United Society of Friends Women International General Fund."