The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-25
THE KINGS DAUGHTERS.
What They Are Doing In Portland
and Elsewhere.
Rapid Increase OF a Benevolent
Organization.

OF the many benevolent organizations In
the city few are doing more laudable work
in more effective or less ostentatious man.
ner than the various circles of Kings Daugh-
ters The first circle of Kings Daughters
was organized about two years ago in New
York city by Mrs, Bottome, Miss Georgiana
Libby, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. f. O Lib
by, Of tnis city, and others, and since that
time circles have sprang into existence
througout our own and In many other coun-
tries. The number of circles has increased
marVellously. and to-day they may be found
In all the larger cities of the United States.
As originally organized each circle consisted
of ten girls, who called themselves Kings
Daughters. They unite in all charitable
work, visiting and giving to the poor, wcf,S-
ing for invalids. caring for motherless CHI
dren, reading to the blind. singing and pray
ing in almshouses, homes for aged people and
prisons; they work where love and kindness
and liberality does untold good, where
song or prayer is needed more than gold
Then they ply with busy hands making
clothes for the thinly clad. aud nourishing
food for the sick poor These and other
things they do, which make the word benev-
olent in its highest sense fitting epithet for
the little circles engaged 10 this humane
work.
Or the 23rd day of last May, Mrs Stephen
Brown, a member and Sunday schoo,
teacher of Chestnut street church, who had
been reading of the good done by the circle
of Kings Daughters in New York. called the
members of her Sunday school class together
and organized from their number, assisted by
Miss Libby, secretary of the central circle at
New York. the first circle of Kings Daugh-
tiers that ever existed in Portland. These
young ladies constituted the circle: Lillian
Rush, Florence Callahan, Lille Hail. Nancy
Griffin. Daisy Ogilvie, Mable Sawyer, Mabel
Hanson, Nellie Snyder, Lizzie Jencks and
Alice Norwood. Mrs. Brown, Mrs.
Baker, Mrs. Mary Ann Cobb and Mrs. Ed
ward Hall were admitted into the
circle as older members to act in a
measure as directors. The different circles
| of Kings Daughters choose different fields of
work. Some toll in behalf of the mission
aries in the South, and others engage in diff
ferent branches OF home missionary work.
Mrs. Browns circle chose to labor for
motherless and poor children. They have
found two blind people. in whose behalf
they do many kind acts. They appoint one
Of their number to spend certain portion
of the day in reading to these unfortunate
ones who have not eyes to see. They also
assist them in their work.
AT about the time Mrs. Brown formed
her circle, Miss Alberta Thompson organized
one. and instead of limiting the membership
to the usual number of ten, some twenty or
more girls were admitted. They engage in
all kinds of home missionary work and hold
regular monthly meetings. at which they
discuss their work and plan for future ac-
ton. They call themselves THE .'Inasmuch
Circle of Kings Daughters" and all the
members take deep interest in the work.
Mrs. Browns circle holds very interesting
weekly meetings. just before THANKSGIVING
| Mrs. s. +. Parsons Sabbath school class
met one night at her house ON Wilmot street.
and formed circle Of ten. Mrs. ST.. Pear
son was elected president of the circle.
Miss Lila Burns vice president, and
Miss Laura Files, secretary and treasurer
Then circle was formed at Williston church
and another up town named the Grant and
High street circle. There are now some half
dozen circles In the city and new ones are
being formed. A circle known as the Kings
Sons, has been organized in New York city,
for similar work, but none has vet been
| formed here. Certainly the Kings Sons and
Daughters are doing much good, and too
many circles cannot be formed.