The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-30
THE TEN-TIMES-TEN IDEA.
THE WORK or HUMANITY LINKED
WITH ALLEGIANCE TO GOD.
Organization and Sketch Of the Kings
Daughters--1be Badge at tue Order
Is Little silver Cross.

In drawing-room in New York city
January 10. 1856 ten women gathered TO
perfect some plan by which to gain by
union greater results than were formerly
obtained from their ceaseless efforts for
others. Touched by the universal spirit
of to-day, one might say the trend Of
the age, which teaches that in union
there is strength. before parting they
had decided TO organize themselyes into
an order or sisterhood of service, adopt
irg the ten-times-ten idea and hoping ~
THIS closer union Of grateful women 10
increase their usefulness, many umcs
tenfold, being bound only by tile triple
chord Of Faith, Hope, and Love. MIS-
Rcttome was chosen president, ana the
name suggested by Mrs. Irving was
most favorably received as linking the
idea of work for humanity with that OF
allegiance to God" The new order was
therefore. called, THE Kings Daughters.
The gathering dispersed with the con-
sc.Ousness that one more seed Tor soou
had been sown, hut with little conception
OF its far-feachng fruition. The absence
of binding obligation and vows. the free
dom OF choice Of work, in snort tme
the liberty to form the circle oi any NUM-
Der, small or great, as seemed advisable,
dlscaiding the original idea Of the ten
|
Name" tire absolute ignoring of all de-
nomiuational feeling, the only requisite or
r,.mhs rsnip beiag the acknoWled 1mcnt
rf cur Saviour, Jesus Christ, seemed 10
all long-felt ncSI. and these noble
women found willing hands and hearts
in every d.rection ready to grasp their
idea Of making every thought, every
action OF our daily lives an Offering to
the Father in His Sons name.
The little badge of the order, silver
Maltese cross. hears On one side the
Initials, II. II. ~" on the other. 1876,
the date Of the foundation of the order.
THIS badge gives often an unspoken word
~ welcome and as often spoken ones.
We hear frequently of numberless acts
that the weareIs OF this emblem OF the
S&viour's love have felt emboldened IN
its strength 10 do, but from which othcr-
wise, they might have been deferred by
some restraint OF cOnventiOnality. HOW
often on the train. on the street car, nave
useful ideas been exchanged between
wearers Of the Cross. hitherto strangers
to one another? How often too Is me
cup Of cold water more readily given
when the friendly giimmer of this bit OF
silver is recognizedy
In lSsS the order Of Kings Daughters
became a legally incorporated body. Win
the additional title OF King 5 Sons. The
growth OF the order is inc0ncelvabie,
numbering to-day thousands In all quar-
tors Of the globe. Is it not interesting 20
know that during the war between emma
and Japan the Kings Daughters OF Japan
were distributing Bibles throughout the
front ranks Of their army? Is II not IN
sDfrfng to read Of circles in Australia,
I'm South America. In Palestine every
where. actnated by the same motive.
working on the same lines, held together
by the same sustaining love. as the CIR
cles lust around us2 The total absence OF
any sectarian feeling IS a great factor IN
the wonderful influence and work or the
order. Being a Kings Daughter lessons
not your interest in, your love Tor your
own church. Il but widens your syuipa-
thies. You think not of church distlnc-
lions n differences in the statement OF
beliefs. YOU realize only the brotherhood
of man. the fathcrhood of God. ahu
that for Him is your work. Many people
serve under the banner OF MING
Daughters who would find no congenial
work IN their church, or for some per-
sonal reason DO not care to join IN ANY.
ON the other hand, people in enlisting as
Kings Daughters become interested III
working for others and are thus lea 10
take an active part In their churSH'
MANY circles I'm Virginia are their rec
work of their respective parishes. 1t IS
most striking sometimes TO observe the
effective work that is thus done In some
general undertaking by persons VINO
otherwise would never be aroused. Inc
orFer Is divided into circles, who take
notices signifying their work. In large
places the many circles form chapters.
The silver Cross" magazine, published
monthly by the Central Council IN New
York. tells Of the vast and varied WORK
done by the order throughout the world
The order seems TO have rlled up chlhhs'
strengthened lettering buildings. built
new edhces. Nothing is too small, notn-
ing too great for the members 10 90 IN
His Namd." The work in this State Is
from the lowliest to the most ambitious,
from smoothing the pillow OF some GRIP
PIE on the mountain side to starting
cquipping. and running hospital III
many places where no city mission exists
the circles do that work. in sparseiy SET
tied country districts the Door around the
homes OF the m mbers are ever receiF-
ing a helping hand. In Alexandra the
"Infirmary," a most eXcellently oIdeiei
hospital Is the fruit OF the love ana worh
of the Kings Daughters Of that town.
New pews i'm the church here, new ROOF
there. a church i'm Shenandoah, church
at Bessemer, a Woman's Exchange ior
work. and a sewing school at Charlot'cs'
Vile. meeting rooms at Culpeper poor
slckly ones from the heat Of Norfolk en-
loving the delights of the Sanitarlum AT
Virginia Beach. testifying to the care OF
the Kings Daughters at home-an these
go TO prove the many ways 10 work. ana
the many ready hearts 70 do II. our own
city OF Richmond bears this out most
forcibly Here one circle mas taken OH
the city Missions hands the entire
charge Of the sewing school Tor the chill
dren Of Fulton and Rockets. supports
an Oseaga orphan In Japan. In the past
year this sewing school has furnished
fcrty-two scholars with sixty-eight gar
ments. AS in all Virginia, so here In
Richmond, poor families are supported
and work found for those who need H.
To aid. 10 help. 10 alleviate suffering
wherever Il is found seems the great pCr-
pose of the Kings Daughters. Look az
the weary mothers whose burden through
their working days Is made lighter by
the knowledge that their litIe ones are
we'll cared for al "The Kindergarten ana
Day Nursery" another loving work oil
the Kings Daughters Of Richmond.
There a patient young teacher instructs
the children, who are old enough 10
learn while others are we'll cared for IN
the bright play-room, and all the ht'le
ones may find q welcome in the dOrmi;Ory
ard the dining-room. The mothers leav-
ing their children there in the morning
feel assured that they will have during
the whole day the wisest care. IL shows
the range OF sympathy OF the King $
daughters 10 look from this tending or
The verv Young TO the Home for In
curahles" recently started here through
the efforts Of one noble Kings Daughter