What most people do not know is that Miss Emiline Dryer was the driving force behind the founding of that school in the late 1800's. Fewer still know that Emma Dryer founded a ministry that reached poor people on the West Side of Chicago including substance abusers and prostitutes. I'd say that nobody knows she was on the Board of Directors of The Chicago Bible Society, which eventually took over that work upon Dryer's retirement. The following is an interesting insight about her committment to Bible work found online:
Dryer quickly rose to a place of high position in Chicago. She became superintendent of the YWCA in November, 1871. She worked with the Chicago Evangelization society, which eventually became Moody Bible Institute. Emma was also on the board of the Chicago Bible Society, as the only woman among twenty-eight other men. She worked very closely with Moody, R.A. Torrey, Dr. Moorehead, and the other bosses who were doing evangelistic work in Chicago during the late 1800s.
Dryer also “corresponded with groups and individuals all over the country.” She was very involved in fundraising, and often wrote personal thank you notes to her supporters. Many of these letters were long and contained a clear outline of the Gospel. Emma wanted to take every chance she had to share the Gospel with everyone she encountered. Even writing thank you notes was an opportunity for ministry for her. At the top of her stationary were both a Bible verse and a short quote. The verse was from Philippians, “Holding forth the Word of Life.” The quote was “Unlike all other books, the Bible is it’s own interpreter.” Dryer wanted everything in her life to flow out of the Bible. Her goal was to share the Bible with as many as she could.
Chicago Bible Society New Media Director Allan Winters plans to produce a video (DVD and online) documenting the long term (she lived to be nearly 90 years old) Ministry of Emma Dryer in Chicago.
