Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-09-26
THE OPTIMIST CLUB.


1 THE ORTlMAST R.
An Association Attached to the Uni.
| versaIist Church.
| IT'S PROSPEROUS EXISTENCE OF ELEVEN
| YEARS AND soME OF THE ATTRACTIVE FEA-
| TUREs OF ITS MEETINGs-RoSTER OF ITS
OFFICERS DURING THAT PERIOD.
Among the literary organizations which have
been formed in the District is one that has fur.
nished a great deal Of pleasure to its members
and their friends, though it has not made much
of stir publicly, called the Optimist club
This association was originated by the congre.
CATION of the Universalist church and was
started as an adjunct to the church society for
| the purpose of interesting the young peo-
pie and binding them together by ties
of social friendship. Among those most active
Rev " M Fay and his family, Messrs. p' ". b
shaw, r: N: McKee, IS Mr., and Mrs; E; i. sher.
Whiting, Henrietta Noyes, Hortens ss TreVi Sa
Edna Msof A Mbi Matte MAJ and SepnIe Man
Mrs. H. w. Hamilton.
Though there had been previously several
On 1872 Of the
bylaws were adopted. and tie following ofiicers
president, R NJ. Mckee; secretary. Mrs e. L.
Sherwood; treasurer, Miss Lottie Fay: librarian
Chas. Pushaw. Meetings were decided to be
formal order Of exercises for these occasions
was determined upon.
INTERESTING EXERCISES,
At first the programs were not elaborate. but
were highly interesting, and the members Sc
lected to contribute to the entertainment of the
that they could have sufficient time for prepa-
ration. Vocal and instrumental musical selec-
lions were given, and readings and Rotations
Then essays were read BY various members
upon popular or historical subjects, and
some Of n1 these papers were prepared
evidence Of decided literary ability on the BART
Of the authors. Among those who have con-
tributed essays which have been highly inter
esttng and have received warm commendation
and Mrs: c; P. Culver, 4: W: arigsby, Rev ":
NJ t. wSs e ana a ssles 81 shs
tremely interesting talks upon his trin to the
Pacific coast and visits t2 the various mines in
times enlivened the meetings of the club by
descriptions of humorous incidents occurring
during his travels.
After the club had been in existence for some
time 1t was decided to start paper called the
Optin.tst, which should be read at every meet
ing, the editor to be appointed at the previous
to the lot OF nearly all the members at different
times, and the enterprise has been the source Of
gTeas th ana nenent to the CLUB Some
and crisp criticisms upon popular topics and at
others ponderous and heavy discussions Of alb
strlse problems ;I have filled its pages weighty
tractive. 1t may be said, however, that the
h weights. In e literary sense, have not
been numerous, and the paper has generally
been bright and sparkling.
NOVEL ATTRACTION.
Several public entertainments for the benefit
OF the church have been given by the club all of
which have been successful both from O financial
as we'll as from a literary and musical point of
view: During the early years Of the clubs his
tory spelling matches furnished no small amuse-
ment, as did also Old Folks concerts and festi-
walls, and the Optimists can certainly boast an
no other or9anizat po1aoiy oeen presented by
interesting ceremony took place during a ses-
sion OF the club at the residence Of Mrs. Dim
TIED by Rev. Alex. Kent in the presence of a
large number of the club and the friends The
minutes OF that meeting state that the young
people most interested in the ceremony evi.
IDENTIFY realized the importance of the occasion:
and behaved themselves with becoming pro.
priety.
tence the meetings have been held at the house
Of different members, except for c brief period
when SWedenborgian hall was rented OF
from year to year. but number of the original
members still remain, and their interest is as
lively and sincere as when the club was first
sumed and continued until far into the spring.
The interest," advice and assistance that was
manifested by the Rev. Mr.. Fay, at the COM
mencement of the clubs history, has been con-
tinued by his successor Rev. Alex. Kent and
the growth and advancement of the Universal
list society here has been supplemented by the
increase and improvement of the Optimist
club.
WHO HAVE HELD OFFICE,
At the commencement of the second season
in October. 1875, the original officers were sue.
ceeded as follows: President, Mr.. W. j. Drum
mond; vice president, Mr.. 8. E. Faunce; secre-
tary, Miss G: E. Cove; treasurer, Miss Hattie
Manning; Librarian, Mr.: G. P. Pushaw. The
dent; vice president, Rev. q. H. Fay; secre t
Miss Helen Holmes: treasurer, Mr.. G. A. Wight;
Mr.. Drummond, again reelected to the presi-
dency; vice president, w. G. Cove: secretary,
Miss Ida L: Morgan; treasurer, Mrs. c. p Culver;
fcers were unanimously reelected; for 1s79-sO.
Mr.. Geo. A. Wight, PRESIDENT; Mr. w. III.
Grigsby, vice president; Miss Cecilia Culver,
Hamilton, librarian. For 1ssO.s1, Mr. wight
was reelected PRESIDENT Mr.. J. w. Webb, vice
president; Miss Ida Morgan, secretary, and the
other officers reelected. For 1SS1-S2, Mr.. w. j.
w. Dean vice president; Miss Rate s. Curry,
secretary, and the other officers reelected For
iSs2-S3, president, Mr.. G. A. Bates; vice presi-
treasurer, Mr.. Fred. Culver, and Mrs Hamilton
still remained as librarian. For 1SS3-S4 presi-
dent Mr.. Geo: Wight; vice president, MI s. E.
urer, Mr.. ]. 7. culver; Librarian. Mr. H iasas,
Hamilton.
In a very short time the members of the
Optimist club will be called together for the
coming winter season, and 1t may be anticipa-
ted that their meetings this year will be fully
as interesting and instructive as those which
nave taken place In previous years.