Lizzie M. Guthrie

Lizzie M. Guthrie (1838 – May 15, 1880) was a 19th-century American Christian missionary. Initially affiliated with the Woman's Union Missionary Society of New York, she began providing services in India and Japan in 1868. While on furlough back in the U.S., in 1879, she helped establish the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Protestant Church. Selected by the new organization to be its first foreign missionary, Guthrie died in 1880 en route to her assignment in Japan.

Early life and education Elizabeth (nickname, "Lizzie") a village about north of Pittsburgh. Her father, the Rev. Joseph Guthrie, D. D., was a minister in the Reformed Presbyterian Church, and cousin of the celebrated Dr. Thomas Guthrie, of Scotland. Her mother died when she was but two days old. She was then placed in the charge of her grandfather, Joseph Coskey, who cared for and educated her.

In 1861, she was adopted by an aunt, Mrs. McClurg, and removed to Philadelphia, where she enjoyed every comfort and even luxury, and became a fashionable young lady.

The first anniversary meeting of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Protestant Church was held in the First Church, Pittsburgh, February 19, 1880. Neither the Board of Missions nor the Woman's Society were financially prepared alone to send out a missionary. But they discussed the propriety of the two organizations uniting for the time being in sending out and supporting a missionary, until they should be able to engage separately in the work. After being sanctioned by the Board of Mission, Guthrie was appointed the organization's first missionary to a foreign land, to represent the General Board of Missions, and also the Woman's Society. The Woman's Society agreed to pay Guthrie's salary, and the Board agreed to meet her other expenses. As soon as convenient, the necessary arrangements were made, and April 23, 1880, was fixed upon as the time of Guthrie's departure.

Death and legacy Guthrie left Pittsburgh on April 23, 1880, and traveled cross-country on a train to San Francisco, California. She intended taking the steamer that sailed from San Francisco to Japan, on May 10, but not having entirely completed her arrangements, she decided to wait for the steamer which was to sail on May 22.

In the meantime, Guthrie became ill. When she found she was about to die, Guthrie hurriedly made a will, and left her money and effects, including her library in Japan, to the Woman's Society of the Methodist Protestant Church.

Lizzie M. White died at the home of a relative in San Francisco on May 15, 1880. Her body was brought back to Pennsylvania and buried at Allegheny Cemetery.

Guthrie's will was found after her death to be informal, and not legally binding; but her brother, Dr. Hugh L. Guthrie, of Sparta, Illinois, carried out his sister's wishes, and saw that her effects were disposed of according to her will.