The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-11-23
ROAST SOROSIS.
Federation of WOmen's Clubs
Talk Harshly
About the Famous New York
Organization.
SAYS IT'S STUCK UP.
Want to Label 1t an Egotistical
Association.
President Helmuth and Mrs.
Clymer Defend 1t.

NEW YORK, Nov. 23..-Sorosis, the
pioneer women's society, came in for
some hard knocks at the first session of
the Federation of Women's Clubs of the
state of New York. The delegates, rep
resenting ninety women's associations of
The state, met in Brooklyn, at the Young
Women's Christian Association building.
There are 10000 women in the clubs rep
resented by the federation, and a good
proportion of them were present
tod4y-motherly women, intelligent
women, advanced women. new"
women, "home bodies" and plain, every
day girls The principal event of the
day was the address of Mrs. Frances
Goodale. Mrs. Goodale is prominent
member of the federation, and she
knows a thing or two about female intel
lectuslity- In her report she referred to
Sorosis as an ~egotistical society" She
said that Sorosis was more provincial
than the people of New York. Mrs
GoodaIe rested her case on that state
ment, which, she said, left nothing to
be said.
Mrs. Ella Clymer was on her feet in
less time than it took the secretary of
Sorosis to read the minutes. Mrs. ely
mer is "new woman" She is also
bible reformer. The new E'Woman's
Bible" is in part her work. Mrs. Clymer
is member of Sorosis. She objected
strenuously to the characterization of
that society by Mrs Goodale. She said
Mrs. Goodale must have meant an sal
lruistic society,"" Mrs. Goodale explained
that she meant nothing of the kind. She
SAID the secretary of Sorosis had sent her
merely the fact of the annual meeting of
that society.
Il was compelled" added Mrs. Good
ale, ito think that the mem bers imagined
that knew all about their work. As a
matter of fact, there are many ladies in
the United States who never heard of
Sorosis, and who do not know whether
it is woman's club or a clam bake syn
dictate"
This made Mrs. Clymer very mad. She
moved that Sorosis be classed rs phil
anthropic society on the records instead
of an egotistical society This motion
was carried on the promise of Mrs. ely
mer that she would uss her influence to
have the name Of the organization
changed to the Altruistic society.
The excitement occasioned by this COL
loquy had scarcely died down when Mrs.
HeImuth, president of Soresis, rose to
protest against the exclusion of ladies be-
longing to her society from the nomiuat-
ing committee appointed to arrange a
slate fer the federation, Mrs. Helmuth
thought that Sorosis, as mother of the
federation, should have at least one
representative on the committee An
other Sorosis delegate suggested that one
member of the committee withdraw in
| favor of member of Sorosis. This raised
a storm. however, and Mrs. Jennie G.
Croly Jennie Junel the president of the
| Federation, said the thing was impossi-
| bic, as the committee had already been
made.
The formal addresses were then read
in which it was related how womankind
had raised the standard of morality
throughout the world. aud when it was
all over some of the ladies present gath
cred in corner and expressed their real
sentiments. The "Woman's Bible" by
! Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and her
| fellow suffrsgists, was discussed at
length. The consensus of opinion was
expressed by Mrs. Russell Sage. who
said that Mrs Stanton had made the mis-
| take of her life in calling her common
tarles on the Scriptures "Woman's
Bible"
81 do not believe" said Mrs. Sage, in
| discussing the Stanton commentaries,
that Christian women can improve on
the bible. Mrs. Stanton came to me with
the manuscripts of her work, but l
could not conscientiously indorse the
sentiments expressed by her. Mrs. Stan
| ton is a very admirable woman, but |
| think she has gone too far this time"