Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-01-22
The First Women's Club
JOINT STANDING COMMITTEES.

OF Els worth was organized Jan. 9Th inst,
for the purpose Of mutual help and improve
men: in practical and social affairs with
special reference 10 topics relating to the
house and home-better courses OF study
for girls preparatory for assuming respous-
bic positions now waiting for qualified
women to Ill, temperance in foods, drinks
and society usages. and other topics close
ly allied to the health, happiness and eleya
ton of women, young and Old. Free dis
cusslon is invited, excluding only differ
ence> Of opinion on political and theologi-
cal subjects.
schools and their needed reforms was
the theme for the second session Of the
club holden last Saturday afternoon, where
twenty-one ladies assembled in spite Of
the snow storm. TO listen to an entertain
ing and Instructive paper by the principt
of the grammar school. Miss Elizabeth
True, followed by interesting discussions
by principals of other schools Miss Abbi-
JOY and Mrs. Backus. with appropriate
teaching, among whom were Miss Mary
Ann Greedy. recently of Wellesley College
and Miss Stock5ridge of our own High
school
Mrs. Julia j. Redman contributed a
choice vocal selection, which was greatly
appreciated, adding to the successful open
ing of this young club.
The mother of women's clubs in Amer
lea. starting from sorosis in New York
city, organized in 1868 now reaching from
''India's coral strand" to Names icy
mountains. is Mrs. J. c. Croly, Jennie
June the gifted and well-known auth
Dress, whose able pen and voice have been
educating women the last twenty five
years, from her wealth of brain power
brought to the editorial chairs Of maya
zines and newspapers, both in this country
and Europe.
From Mrs. Croly's hand came an auto
graph letter to the first Womens club of
Ellsworth, which is SO proudly and thor
oughly appreciated, | copy it below:
NEW YORK, Jan. 8, 1891.
Ab6y ~ Fulton, " D.:
Ny DEAR FRIEND Il am always glad to
hear of another woman's club having been
formed. because | consider women's clubs
the most enlargiug and helpful influence
that has been brought into the lives of
women, and it may truly be said into hu-
man life, in these latter days.
When we began we had little idea of
what would grow out of them, for the end
is not yet, and the federation of women's
clubs will, | doubt not, lead all Others IN
the weight of its moral influence, at no dis
tant date. But we established few broad
principles, one of which was unity ire
spective of difference in circumstance, con-
dtion, opinion, endowment or degree.
Another was equality under the same law,
and third, the acquisition Of knowledge
and cultivation of interest in all the rest
of the human race.
The tendency of society based on these
general principles is to enlarge its horizon,
get rid of prejudices, cultivate sympathies,
and establish an eternal bond of fellow
ship. There is no tie outside of the fami-
" that is so strong as the club tie. there
is no influence so tender, so broad and yet
SO binding. l believe the womans club
was born in heaven before it appeared on
earth, and those who traduce or work
against it, are working against the minis
try of God.
But it is only worthy of being this min
istry by recognizing as a cardinal prnci-
Pile, the kinship of the whole human race,
stopping all judgment of others. and cul-
tivating love, knowledge and helpfulness.
Every member is enriched by this posses
sion, for all share in the knowledge, the
gifts, the graces, the activities of each
one; and the aggregate wealth grows with
the exercise of power, its distribution and
recognition by the community. Do your
best. Be loyal. Allow no fault-fnding,
for there is nothing we condemn worse
than the spirit of condemnation itself.
Accept this cordial hand-clasp from the
one who was SO fortunate as to call the
first womans club into existence.
Sincerely yours.
J. C. CRoLY.
(Jennie June
At the next meeting, at my residence,
Saturday afternoon, Jan. ~, at 80 clock
(standard), the subject for discussion
will be Business Women" opened by Mrs.
Ann F. Greedy. topic none can better mir
ror to the club in the truest and most prac-
tical sense than this most successful lead
er of business of her own, for more