The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-06-17
SOMETHING ABOUT soRos1s.
The Pioneer Woman's Club and the
REFORMS It Has Instituted.
From worthington's Magazine.

From Worthtngton's Magazine.
Sorosis, the first woman's club, was
founded in 1863 as protest against the
righteousness of other clubs toward
womankind In March, 1885, the Press
Club of New York gave a dinner to
Charles Dickens, and Jennie June Mrs.
Croly), whose husband was then pro-
prietOr of the New York World, applied
for a ticket as an active member of the
press, but was refused. Alice and Phoebe
Cary at that time had established the
first approach to a salon in New York,
and here the matter was talked over, q
woman's club proposed and Sorosis or
ganized
1t was a secular society of women of
diverse tastes and Vocations, especially of
those engaged in literary and artistic pur-
suits, its object being to promote agree
able and useful relations, Alice Cary
was made president, Jennie June vice
president, Kate Field secretary, and Mrs
Wilbour treasurer; there were twelve
members. Sorosis is from the Greek, and
signifies fruit formed by the aggrega-
tion of many flowers, such as the pine
apple The first constitution of the club
contains this explanation Of its object; it
was independent of sectionalism and
partisanship, and aimed to establish n
kind of freemasonry among women of
similar pursuits, to render them helpful
to each other, and to bridge over the bar
rier which custom and etiquette place in
the way of friendly intercourse"
Such men as Horace Greeley described
the innovation as terribly dangerous "
The first meeting of the club was held
at DeImonico's, April 20, 1858. Soon aft
erward the Press Club gave banquet to
Sorosis, at which the ladies were silent
guests. Then Sorosis invited the Press
4. a. -, LA 4 ,.y.I
tho addresses. A dinner of the two clubs
followed, members of both clubs doing the
talking. Alice Cary read poem. Dur
ing the year Sorosis grew to seventy mem
bers In December, 1868, it obtained a
charter Miss Cary's i'll health led to
her resigne ton, when Jennie June became
president. She arranged the first two
mans council" In 1870 the first election
by ballot was held, and Mrs Wilbur was
of lectures by women physicians on
physical development; the movement
was instituted which afterward
forced merchants to provide seats for
shop girls; philanthropy assumed the
practical form of furnishing beds for hos
pitfalls, and the midwinter receptions were
begun Mrs. Wilbur issued the call for a
woman's congress, which met in October
1873. and founded the Association for the
Advancement of Women, which holds its
session every year, and of which Mrs.
Julia Ward Howe is president. In 1874
Mrs. Wilbour sailed for France, and in
1875 Jennie June was elected president.
She held the office until 1886, and since
then has been made honorary president
for life.
Sorosis always assembled twice each
month at Delmonico's until 1890, when it
regretfully perceived that it had out
grown its delightful parlors, and since
that time Sherrys has proved home for
the gathering of the clan, At high noon,
the first Monday of the month, the club
holds a meeting, with a reception and
luncheon.
There are eight standing committees
on literature, art, the drama, philan-
thropy, science, education, house and
home, and business women. During the
year, fifty or sixty essays are read, and
poems, music and recitations enlighten
the meetings, Distinguished visitors are
always present, except at business meet
ings, which are limited to members.
In 1885 Jennie June retired from the
presidency, and was succeeded by Mrs.
NJ, Louise Thomas. Mrs. Thomas carried