Julia Emery is a recent addition to the Episcopal kalendar, and my chief
source of information about her is the booklet Saints Galore,
published by the Forward Movement. I reproduce that information below,
reworded just enough so that I think I can beat the rap if they sue me
for plagiarism.
Her father was a New England sea captain. Two of her brothers became priests. One sister, Helen, cared for another sister who was ill, and made a project of providing hospitality in her New York City home for missionaries on leave. Another sister, Mary, was National Secretary of the Episcopal Women's Auxiliary for four years, from 1872 to 1876. At this point, Julia took over, and was National Secretary of the Episcopal Women's Auxiliary for forty years, from 1876 to 1916.
It was Julia who invented the United Thank Offering (Uto). This works (or used to work -- my political instincts tell me that not everyone today would be comfortable with the original arrangement) by giving each woman a small box with a slit in the top (a cardboard piggy bank), and encouraging her to drop a small contribution into it whenever she feels thankful about something. Once a year, the women of the parish present these at the Sunday service, and the money is sent to national headquarters to be used for missions.
O Almighty God, who hast compassed us about with so great a Cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of thy servant Julia, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at length, through thy mercy, we may with her attain to thine eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
O Almighty God, who have surrounded us with a great cloud of Witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant Julia, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with her attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.