The Portland daily press., 1877-05-04
president Croly, Reported in Baltimore Americana
SOrOsis.


Sorosis to its members is Sorosis We duly
realize the singular impressions that prevail 10
regard to it by occasionally hearing some ex.
preston of them which seems too absurd for
contradiction. Sorosis has been charged first
and last with being the head quarters of all
sorts OF agitations; yet there never has been a
time when professional agitator could have
obtained admittance to its ranks. IndiyduaI
members sympathize with this and that form
OF advanced opinion, bus no person whose
name stands as the representative Of subversiye
ideas ever has or can claim membership with
Sorosis, unless the relationship should be formed
before character was developed.
Its nine years ago the first Monday In March
since i've women met in parlor in 14th street
and planted the seed of Sorosis They were
Miss Kate Field, Mrs. Charlotte B. Wilbour
and Mrs. j; Cunningham Croly. "A brief can,
signed by these ive brought together Ia wo-
men on the following Monday, II of whom or
gained the first woman's club of this city and
country under the name of 'Sorosis." This first
regular meeting was held at Delmonico' 3, cor
ner OF 14th street and 9th venue, on the Mon
day succeeding, and that day, the third Monday
10 March, has ever since been kept as an ann.
versary. Eight social and eight business meet
inss are held during the year, the annual cleo
tion and anniversary occupying the place of one
OF each OF these in the month of March, and
three months recess taking place during the
summer. That women are not afraid of 'sthird
terms IS evident from the fact that onlv two
persons have ever been elected to the office of
president in Sorosis-Mrs. Croly, Mrs. Wilbour
and Mrs. Croly again. Alice Cary was appoint
ed, but resigned on account Of ill-health; Mrs.
Phoebe A. Hanaford was acting president for a
year by virtue of her position as first vice-pres-
dent at q time when the chief was absent in
Europe, but was never elected to the office.
Mr.. Delmonico will testify to the good behav-
ior OF Sororis (for the club has always met un-
der his roof excepting, perhaps, on, election
days Then we scatter slips of paper about,
tlibuster little, aud in a mild way do inst
as men do, except that we require no return
ing boards. But we talk good deal about
the "one-woman power" and about people
being putty" in her hands. We also make
motions on election day, sometimes three
or four at one time, and then the president
is accused of putting" the one she likes best,
instead of the one which was made first, and
she annihilates the speaker by producing Cush-
ing, aud requesting the unfortunate member
(who hasn't got one) to give her authority;
aud then the great parliamentary quo of the
opposition annihilates the president by moving
the previous question:" there having been SO
many of them that the president never can re-
member which 1t was. But the election fairly
over, Sorosis subsidies into its usual sweetness
and amiability. The members exchange con-
gratulatOns, shake hands all round and 90 to
work with will, the majority even of the mi
nority giving in their adhesion to the existing
order and working loyalty until the approach Of
another election collects together and puts into
some sort of shape the floating discomfort of all
organizations
What does Sorosis do? Well, it considers it,
work chiefly social and educational. 1t demol.
isnes caste at one blow. Its members represent
all classes, from those who earn their daily
bread by teaching, writing or cutting in wood,
to the wives and daughters of millionaires and
1t soon becomes wholly a matter of personal
character as to how they are estimated By the
society, and as rule the workers have the best
of it, Tor they are trained to methods. Mem
bership is divided into 10 standing committees
Literature, art, education, work aud home,
and the like, representative of the active inter-
ests In which most women are engaged, and
one or more OF these committees give papers.
reports of new facts in their departments, at
each social meeting, thus furnishing more or
less OF a record of work done by women as
well as Keeping the club Informed of the pro-
gress OF events. The principal difficulties
about womau's club are, first, that the mem
bers all want to work without exactly knowing
what they want to do. Secondly, that they are
not content with abstract performances; they
would like to found orphan asylams, build
homes, establish industrial schools, when all
such society really can do is to acquaint itself
with methods, enlarge the boundaries of its
thought, and stimulate the activities elsewhere
IN which as individuals each one can unite
The moment energies are concentrated In one
direction, that moment society becomes rep.
resentatiye of one idea, not of many.
Why does not Sorosis have club house?
Because Delmonico takes such good care of us.
Because we know what the troubles and ex-
penses OF housekeeping are. Because We
should not then be independent and able to re-
strict our membership, but be bound by the ne
cessity of paying expenses, and obliged to take
in those who were willing to pay, without ref
erence to personal character. Sorosis is now
able to invite its gentlemen friends to evening
entertainments at its own cost, and st i'll close
its year with $1,000 in its treasury, The poor
est member is also able to maintain her pecu-
mary independence toward the club, and when
office is in question Is as good as the richest.