Missionaries - Doriss, Anna S.

Cable Address “Inculcate, New York'

Telephone Algonquin 5-5000

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

IN

Ecumenical Mission

BOARD OF FOREIGN MISSIONS

156 FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK 10, N.Y.

Miss ilnna S, Doriss
Memorial Minute

Adopted by the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions
September 2$, 1956

56-1075 - The Board made record of the death on September 1, 1956 at Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania, of Miss Anna Shinn Doriss, retired from the Korea Mission,
at the age of 80.

Anna Shinn Doriss was born at Mt. Airy, Philadelphia, on February 1876,
She was educated in Germantown and at the Drexel Institute in Philadelphia and had
courses at Columbia University Summer School and at the Union Missionary Training
Institute in Nev; York City, N.Y. She was appointed as a missionary of the Board in
April, 1908 and sailed for Korea in October of that year.

She spent her first year in Chungju Station and was the first woman evange-
listic itinerator for the district. Later she was assigned to Pusan and, after her
first furlough in the United States, she was assigned to Pyongyang where she was to
continue until the time of her retirement.

Miss Doriss was especially skillful in visiting women in the country
districts, in gathering them together into classes, and in the handling of those
classes, even when they reached the size of one thousand. One of the things that she
will always be remembered for was the large class of country women that came to
I^engyang for ten days each spring. Miss Doriss planned evening lectures, concerts,
sightseeing expeditions and other entertainment for them in addition to the regular
classes of Bible study through the day.

Miss Doriss became principal of the Lulu Wells School for widows and deserted
wives. She helped them to seek labor in which they could make their own living and
led many of them to Christ and to dedication in the service of the Church. This
school continued for many years and served the needs of the area in which Pyengyang
is situated. In addition to the widows, the wives of the college and seminary students
were also taught, so that they might secure an education and be able to assist their
husbands.

Hiss Doriss returned to the United States in I9U0 and was retired by the
Board on February 19i4l. She took up residence in Philadelphia and at the time of
her death was in the Presbyterian Home in that city.

The Board gives thanks for the effectual and devoted service that Miss
Doriss has rendered to the Church of Jesus Christ in Korea and rests in the sure hope
of the new life into which she has entered.

INTO ALL THE WORLD TOGETHER in Evangelism, Education, Theological and Lay Training, Medical Service, Student Work, Litera-
ture and Ltteracy, Broadcasting and Films, Community Services, Interchurch Aid, Relief and Rehabilitation, Interchange of

Missionaries and Fraternal Workers.

Missionaries of Young Women’s Societies

MISS ANNA SHINN DOKISS

CHONG JU, KOHKA

WHAT more delightful privilege and opportunity for service
could we offer our Young Women’s Societies than the
support of our enthusiastic young missionary to Korea,
Miss Doriss? All the girls need is an introduction to her.

Anna Shinn Doriss was born in Germantown, Philadelphia, on
February 5th, 1876, and was educated in Mrs. Head’s School. In
igoo she was graduated from Drexel Institute, Philadelphia, and
in 1005 was a student at Columbia University Summer School.
She taught in Winthrop Normal and Industrial College, S. C.,
iQoo-igoi, and in the New Jersey Training School, 1902-1905.
In June, 1908, .she completed the course of study of the Union
Missionary Training School, of Brooklyn. She sailed from San
Francisco for Korea on October 27th, igo8, and is stationed at
Chong Ju, about fifty miles south of Seoul, where she is attacking
the difficult language with characteristic energy. Rut this outline
will not do for Anna Doriss; you must see her more clearly. She
is tall, of attractive personality, of a strong character, with a
keen sense of honor, capable of doing well homely and practical
things and ever radiating cheer and joy. Among friends and
classmates she was a great favorite. In her mother she had a
wise and spiritual guide and counsellor. But she was just a
genuine, natural, pleasure-loving girl, a usual Christian, interested

in Churcli and Sabbath School and Mission Society, until one
day a vision opened before her eyes of what a consecrated lite
might be. That afternoon she was in a place ot amusement, and
looking down upon the waved heads and dainty gowns of the
laughing girls, she said, “How frivolous, how pleasure-seeking!
And Anna Doriss, are you any different from them?’’ She

^ • 'in

HOME OF MISSIONARIES. CHONG JU

realized that her own life had no overruling passion for usefulness;
and in that hour she settled the matter with God, pledging herself
to devotion to the service of Christ in soul-winning. She went
home a new girl, and from that day in a straight course prepared
herself for the missionary life which now she has begun in Korea.

^ ^ n .

She is a sensible girl and knows that phvsical lelaxatlon will
make her tongue the easier twist around those Korean words,
hence the little picture “Off for a Skate,” with the Korean hills
in the background.

The brick house is the Milier home; the cut shows Mr. and
Mrs. Miller starting for America, leaving their snug little home a
legacy to the voung missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. Cook and Miss
Doriss.

The third picture shows the tine Korean teacher who is patiently
struggling with these three young Americans in dailv language
lessons. That window belongs to Miss Doriss’ study. When
converted last summer this man gave up drinking and smoking,
and he has moved into Chong Ju that his wife and mother ma\
be near the Church and under constant Christian intluences.

Anna Doriss is a happy girl; she writes in January: “These six
weeks in Chong Ju have been the happiest ot my life.” She
has a generous and sympathetic nature, and has alwavs been
deeply interested in uplifting those in need. And she is a busv
girl; while waiting to talk to the Koreans she can do loving deeds
to help them and the Doctor at the Hospital. In the waiting-
room she sets a tub in the midst and scrubs the dirty little babies
before they are passed in to the doctor, giving thus a good object
lesson to the waiting and wondering mothers. Again, she has
gathered in the little girls to teach them to sew, for smiles and
motions and sample stitches answer here too instead of words.
She says: “Do please pray just a little harder tor us. (jod dues
answer prayer.” She will find new courage in the assurance
that now she is to represent Young Women’s Societies, who will
never forget to pray for their own missionary.

Your Society is asked to assume as many 15.00 shares as
possible in Miss Doriss’ salarv, which is $625.00. and which is to

S, C,

L'e entirely supplied liy our young women. Promptly inform
your Presbyterial Young People’s Secretary what pledge your
Society will make, and you will receive from her once or twice
yearly copies of a letter from Miss Doriss. She will be pleased
to have letters from your Society, and from the girls separately.

KOREAN TEACHER

hut she is too busy to make individual reply. When wanting an
extra letter from your missionary for some especial occasion,
write to The Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society, 501 Wither-
spoon Building, Philadelphia.

Missionaries Supported by Young Women's Societies

MISS MATILDA H. LONDON
Tokyo, Japan

Presbyteries of Philadelphia North and Huntingdon

MISS SALLY ALEXANDER
Osaka, Japan

Synods of Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi

MISS ANNA SHINN DORISS
Chong Ju, Korea

The Womao's Foreign Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church

501

IRSPOON BUILDING. PHIIAOELPHI