Anna K. Weaver
A contemporary account of the photogenic drawings of Anna K. Weaver is included in Woman's Work for Woman, Vol. V, October, 1875, No.8, p.270-271.
"FERN LEAF MOTTOES."
It gives us great pleasure to call the attention of our readers to the beautiful mottoes designed by Mrs. Anna K. Weaver, who is now laboring under the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society in Bogota, South America. About two years ago, Mrs. Weaver conceived the idea of these mottoes, and proceeded to execute it. Finding herself successful, she opened an establishment for the manufacture of them in Salem, Ohio. Having previously consecrated herself to the work of foreign missions, she found this business a providential means of obtaining the necessary outfit for her chosen life work, and was also enabled to provide herself with a fine cabinet organ, sewing machine, books, and other needful aids to successful effort in Bogota. Bright financial prospects were before her had she remained at home, but turning not aside from her chosen labor, she sailed with her husband, Rev. Willis Weaver, for South America on Nov. 13, 1874. She left her business entirely in the charge of her sister, Miss Ettie R. Kuhn, who manufactures these mottoes at Salem, Ohio. Mrs. J. R. Nicholas, an aunt of Mrs. Weaver, is her general agent for the sale of them.
The proceeds of this business are still used by Mrs. Weaver in the prosecution of her work.
The mottoes are exquisitely beautiful, are made of green fern leaves, and then photographed. The background is dark, and the motto stands forth as though carved in marble, each vein and thread of the tiny leaves being clearly depicted.
Mrs. Weaver desires for the present to sell these only through agencies. She allows forty per cent, to individual agents and the same to missionary societies. In many cases within the past year, agents have made from $3 to $6 a day selling them. We would "now propose that our auxiliary societies should add this source of revenue to their receipts for the coming year. An "agent's outfit" will cost a society $10 20. By combined effort among members in many churches, hundreds of dollars worth may be sold, and thus largely swell the receipts of auxiliary societies. Some of the mottoes are, "God bless our Home," three styles; "Home, Sweet Home"; "I know that my Redeemer liveth"; "The Lord is my Shepherd" ; " The Lord will provide" ; "Cast thy anchor in Heaven" ; "Welcome," &c., &c. In all, there are some twenty different kinds. Some are especially appropriate and beautiful for the decoration of Sabbath-school rooms.
A prominent minister speaking of them, says, "The ministry of the fern leaf motto is most chaste and beautiful. Missionaries themselves, they may contribute largely to those in distant lands. I like the fellowship. Children of pure nature and children of grace, workers together with God."
The work is one we heartily commend to our readers, with the hope that they will inaugurate it in every auxiliary society. The Lord needs all the funds we can raise for carrying forward and extending missionary work. All communications in regard to these mottoes, agencies, &c., should be addressed to Mrs. J. R. Nicholas, No. 908 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
