Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-10-07
VERMONT WOMAN'S CLUBS
State Federation Meeting

Held I'm BratIeboro wednesday and
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Address by Miss
Anna Thompson Last Evening---SoIos
by Mrs. Pratt.
The Vermont State federation of
Woman's clubs held its third annual meet
ing Wednesday and Thursday of the cur
tent week, in the Unitarian church, kind
ly opened for the purpose by its officers.
The church was decorated with autumn
foliage, ferns and running vine, no flowers
being used
The exercises opened at J.. NJ on We'd
nesday and despite the pouring rain over
80 ladies were present when the gathering
was called TO order by the state president,
Mrs. l.. d. Temple.
After few opening words Of welcome
and of PRAYER by Mrs. Temple, the state
secretary, Mrs. Bodgett of Lyndonvlle,
read the minutes Of the previous meeting.
This was followed by a roll call of the
clubs, showing a representation from Is of
the II federated clubs Of Vermont, besides
members from several clubs outside of the
state.
Owing TO the serious illness of friend,
Miss Helen Winslow, editor Of "The Club
Woman" who was expected from Boston
to represent the club Daughters of Yer
mont, -" was not able to be present at that
time. and the welcome TO the Daughters
was therefore postponed till Thursday
Mrs Temple made a short address, in
! which she congratulated the federation on
! having their state meeting at this most
glorious time of the whole year in all this
| Northland, the time of the falling of the
! leaves She outlined some needs OF the
state which might be helped by the Won
ans clubs; explained the duties Of the fed
Grafton directors: urged the necessity of
taking some good Wolnan's club periodi-
cal and spoke farewell words in view
of her near departure from the state.
At this point a congratulatory telegram
was read from Mrs. Rebecca ID. Lowe of
| Atlanta. Ga. the president of the general
federation of Woman's clubs
The address of welcome TO the federation
! was given by Miss 5. Z. Clark Of West
! Brattle0oro, president Of the Brattleboro
Woman club, who said in substance:
Miss ClArk's Address.
The women of today had learned not to
mind outside elements when they had a
! duty to perform. When We first invited
| the federation. we were almost frightened
at our own temerty: our club was then
| but an infant. now IL had grown to be a
/ lusty child. We welcome the ladies to our
j historic town Of Brattleboro. We are citi-
/ zens OF no mean city. Witness our paint
! ers, VIM NJ Hunt, K. @. Hardie: our
| architect, Richard NJ. Hunt; our sculptor,
| Larkin q. Mead; our representatives IN
! the literary world, Mary wilkins and many
! others. Did We think of sweet singers,
none could exceed our beloved Mary Howe
! LAWN and Harriet Brasor Pratt, the lat
| ter of whom We were later 10 have the
! great pleasure of hearing-the best treat
we could offer our visiting friends. We
welcome our friends to our beautiful au-
tumnal scenery, yelled from their eyes to-
| day. We hope it may be seen tomorrow.
! Also to our homes, where they will find the
most cordial hospitality.
Mrs. Braley OF Barre, who was to re-
| spond to this address, being absent, her re-
| Spouse was read by Mrs. Morse OF the
same town. At this point pleasant sur
! prise was given TO the federation. Mrs.
! Temple called Mrs. c. B. Lamson to the
| platform, who in a few well chosen words,
presented to the federation a gavel, which
| she had caused 10 be made, having heard
| Mrs. Temple say that she wished the fed
| Grafton owned one
Three kinds Of historic wood appear in
! the head of the gavel. The centre is of
white pine from Fort Drummer. On one
side of the head is piece of apple-tree
wood, from the stump OF an old tree which
| grew n the fort. while on the other side is
| piece of oak wood from the Westminster
| court house.
On behalf of the federation Mrs. Tenn
! pie responded with thanks for this gift,
and on motion of one of the delegates,
| thanks were also expressed by a rising
vote. The treasurer's report followed,
and after some explanations and discus
sion, it was adopted. The meeting then
! adjourned.
Presidents Reception.
From ; to 2. NJ Miss 5. E. Clark,
| president of the Brattleboro club, gave a re-
| ception at her West Brattleboro home. A
musical program was rendered, consisting
of a piano solo by Miss Pauline JENNIE, a
song By Miss Lenna Thomas, piano solo
| by the accompanist, Miss Ethel Bruce,
| duet by Miss Thomas and Frank Brasor,
and a solo by Mr.. Brasor, the program
being closed by Longfellow's beautiful
song, 1.-The Day is Done" charmingly rem
derei by Mrs Hazen of ST. Johns5ury.
Refreshments were served. and the ladies
htpdIltu, ItlOlCAuE III a oballg SAS1 anu
promise of bright day for the morrow.
Thursday Morning.
The federation resumed its work Thurs
day morning with a roll call of clubs TO as
! certain its total membership. This was
found to be 937, or nearly 1000 women
belonging to the Is Woman's clubs al
ready included in the Vermont Federation.
When to this we add the fact, developed
later, that there are several clubs not yet
included in the organization, it is evident
that the work of womans clubs is well es-
tablshed in our state.
After some time spent in revising the
constitution, reciprocity bureau was de-
cided upon, the thought being that the
best papers of the different clubs should
form kind of circulating library, so that
| other clubs may have the benefit of them.
Mrs. jackson of Barre was put in charge
of this bureau, Under the head of press
reports it was noted that many women in
their homes are watching with interest the