The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-16
soRosIs AGAIN AZ WORK.
a Brilliant Reunion In New York After
the Summer Vacation.

Brilliant Reunion In New York After
the Summer Vacation.
The first meeting of Sorosis since the
organization adjourned for its summer
vacation IN June was held on the 1st
inst. at Sherry's, on Fifth avenue,
New York. The reunion was a brilliant
one, and the attendance was unusually
large, including fully 200 members and
a number of distinguished guests.
The ladies came arras- d in handsome
gowns, becoming bonnets and happy
smiles. a half hour was spent in the
exchange Of rapturous greetings. Then
the members and guests gathered around
a festive board and ate luncheon from
tables decorated with flowers.
Mrs. William Todd Helmuth pre-
sided After roll call Mrs. Helmuth re-
quested all present who had been mem
bers Of the club for more than 20 years
to rise Twenty two in the audience re
sponded.
Mrs. Hellnuth said that of the seven
presidents which the club has had dur
ing its 27 years of existence six were
living and present at the meeting. These
were Mrs. Charlotte B. Wilbur, Mrs. J.
Q. Croly, Mrs. NJ E. Thomas, Mrs.
Ella Dietz Clymer, Mrs Jennie Lozier
and the present ruler, Mrs. William
Todd Helmuth The deceased president
j. Miss Alice Cary In her brief open
ing address Mrs. Helmuth said:
This is xvoman's century, and it be-
hooves us so to act as to be among the
first in the onward march of progress y
The club, she said, hoped to enlarge
its sphere Of usefulness during the win
ter. There would be more meetings than
heretofore, and more topics, beneficial
and progressive, would be considered by
the club. Considering the character
and mission Of our club, r said she, lit
is fitting that we should begin our work
with the consideration of benefit to 9TH
ers; therefore this afternoon has been
given to the discussion of philanthropy. z
In the absence of the regular chair
man of the committee on philanthropy,
the Rev. Phebe A. Hanaford presented
the question.
sSorosis is the embodiment of phi
lanthrQpy, = said she, for there is not
one of the members but what has begun
to do good. Gcod viii to mankind re-
CURED the birth of Sorosis; philanthropy
ic thought woke her into being. =
Any active participants in philan-
thropy, said Mrs. Hanaford, had right
to membership in Sorosis, even though
they had never written brilliant articles,
sang songs or edited periodicals and
were not shining intellectual lights.
Mrs Hanaford said that the question
was not the supposition that philan-
thropy was not practical, but which had
the preponderance, the theoretical or
practical side
Where, ? said she, lis the evidence
that theory has reached practice, or that
practice has fulfilled theory? The phi
lanthropy Of the present day is incom-
p1ete. The goal is not yet reached. The
The poor man may be more philan-
thropical than the rich man. The bright
smile, the kind word, are true philan
thropy. The philanthropy of everyday
life would be a good theme for some
one.
Mrs. Hanaford condemned the present
tendency in the education of children.
Making them early rlsers, as she termed
it, in classes was productive Of making
them conceited all the forenoon of life
and sleepy all the afternoon, the energy
which should have been stored to meet
the trials OF later years being all dissi-
pated III their youthful days
The present conception OF philanthropy
is to help people to help themselves,
she said. Sorosis, in its love for woman
hood, deserves to take a commanding
place in the crusade at present being
made for moral purity
Mrs. Hanaford expressed the hope
that in the future women would have
the ballot, which meant protection and
education, was the synonym for power
and would aid materially in making
philanthropy more practical
Others who expressed their opinions
ON the question presented were Mrs
Hoffman, Mrs Morse, Mrs. Foote, Mrs
Sc0held, Mrs Croly, Mrs NJ I Thomas,
Mrs G. II. Cushing, ex-president Of the
Kansas Social Science federation; Mrs
Laura NJ. Palmer, Mrs Elizabeth
Akers Allen, Miss Elizabeth 3. Sheldon