Julia Chester Emery (September 24, 1852 – January 9, 1922) was the National Secretary of the Women's Auxiliary of the Board of Missions for forty years, from 1876 to 1916. The Episcopal Church calendar honors her with a feast on January 9.[1]
Julia was the daughter of Captain Charles Emery, a sea captain and devout Episcopalian. He and his wife Susan had eleven children, the majority of whom distinguished themselves in religious service. Two sons became priests. His daughter Mary preceded Julia as National Secretary of the Auxiliary and served from 1872 to 1876. Three other daughters (Susan, Margaret and Helen) also supported Episcopal missions at home and abroad, including making their home on 24th Street available to foreign missionaries visiting the United States. [2]
Careeredit
During her four decades as National Secretary, a position she first held at age 24, Julia visited every diocese in the United States, coordinating and encouraging work in support of missions. Invited by the Bishop of New York, Emery traveled to London as a delegate to the Pan-Anglican Congress and the Lambeth Conference in 1908. She traveled to Japan, China, Hong Kong and the Philippines to advance missionary work there, and to be able to report on it to the Episcopal women in the United States.[3] Through her self-effacing work, women received canonical status as deaconesses and the Women's Auxiliary received an important role in the General Convention.[4]
Emery founded the United Thank Offering (UTO). This worked by giving each woman a small box with a slit in the top and encouraging her to drop a small contribution into it whenever she felt thankful for something. Once a year, the women of the parish presented these at a Sunday service. The money was sent to national headquarters to be used for missions.
Death and legacyedit
"Miss Julia" died in New York City, and was buried at the cemetery of St. James the Less,[5]Scarsdale, New York.
The United Thank Offering continues to this day, and collects and gives away over $1 million annually.[6]
In 1988, the General Convention of The Episcopal Church authorized the commemoration of Julia Chester Emery on January 9 on a trial basis.[7] Her commemoration was met with final approval and entered into the Book of Common Prayer calendar in 1997.[8]
^"Acts of Convention: Resolution # 1988-A096". www.episcopalarchives.org. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
^"Acts of Convention: Resolution # 1997-A080". www.episcopalarchives.org. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
Sourcesedit
Brightest and Best: A Companion to the Lesser Feasts and Fasts by Sam Portaro (Cowley, 2001).
The Proper for the Lesser Feast and Fasts: 2006. New York, NY: Church Publishing. 2006.
Don S. Armentrout; Robert Boak Slocum (1984). Documents of Witness: A History of the Episcopal Church 1782–1985. New York, NY: Church Publishing. pp. 429–433. ISBN0-89869-237-7.
External linksedit
United Thank Offering website
Julia Chester Emery on The Lectionary Calendar
January 01, 1970
julia, chester, emery, september, 1852, january, 1922, national, secretary, women, auxiliary, board, missions, forty, years, from, 1876, 1916, episcopal, church, calendar, honors, with, feast, january, founder, united, thank, offeringlay, leader, missionarybor. Julia Chester Emery September 24 1852 January 9 1922 was the National Secretary of the Women s Auxiliary of the Board of Missions for forty years from 1876 to 1916 The Episcopal Church calendar honors her with a feast on January 9 1 Julia Chester EmeryFounder of the United Thank OfferingLay Leader and MissionaryBorn 1852 09 24 September 24 1852Dorchester Massachusetts USDiedJanuary 9 1922 1922 01 09 aged 69 New York City USHonored inEpiscopal ChurchFeastJanuary 9 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Death and legacy 4 References 5 Sources 6 External linksEarly life editJulia was the daughter of Captain Charles Emery a sea captain and devout Episcopalian He and his wife Susan had eleven children the majority of whom distinguished themselves in religious service Two sons became priests His daughter Mary preceded Julia as National Secretary of the Auxiliary and served from 1872 to 1876 Three other daughters Susan Margaret and Helen also supported Episcopal missions at home and abroad including making their home on 24th Street available to foreign missionaries visiting the United States 2 Career editDuring her four decades as National Secretary a position she first held at age 24 Julia visited every diocese in the United States coordinating and encouraging work in support of missions Invited by the Bishop of New York Emery traveled to London as a delegate to the Pan Anglican Congress and the Lambeth Conference in 1908 She traveled to Japan China Hong Kong and the Philippines to advance missionary work there and to be able to report on it to the Episcopal women in the United States 3 Through her self effacing work women received canonical status as deaconesses and the Women s Auxiliary received an important role in the General Convention 4 Emery founded the United Thank Offering UTO This worked by giving each woman a small box with a slit in the top and encouraging her to drop a small contribution into it whenever she felt thankful for something Once a year the women of the parish presented these at a Sunday service The money was sent to national headquarters to be used for missions Death and legacy edit Miss Julia died in New York City and was buried at the cemetery of St James the Less 5 Scarsdale New York The United Thank Offering continues to this day and collects and gives away over 1 million annually 6 In 1988 the General Convention of The Episcopal Church authorized the commemoration of Julia Chester Emery on January 9 on a trial basis 7 Her commemoration was met with final approval and entered into the Book of Common Prayer calendar in 1997 8 References edit nbsp Christianity portal nbsp Saints portal Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2018 PDF To the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement The Episcopal Church September 5 2017 Retrieved July 19 2022 Brightest and Best A Companion to the Lesser Feasts and Fasts by Sam Portaro Cowley 2001 The Calendar History St James the Less Church Archived from the original on January 5 2015 Retrieved January 5 2015 United Thank Offering March 11 2024 Acts of Convention Resolution 1988 A096 www episcopalarchives org Retrieved July 19 2022 Acts of Convention Resolution 1997 A080 www episcopalarchives org Retrieved July 19 2022 Sources editBrightest and Best A Companion to the Lesser Feasts and Fasts by Sam Portaro Cowley 2001 The Proper for the Lesser Feast and Fasts 2006 New York NY Church Publishing 2006 Don S Armentrout Robert Boak Slocum 1984 Documents of Witness A History of the Episcopal Church 1782 1985 New York NY Church Publishing pp 429 433 ISBN 0 89869 237 7 External links editUnited Thank Offering website Julia Chester Emery on The Lectionary Calendar Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Julia Chester Emery amp oldid 1215619119, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
