The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1898-02-26

oSreeU tnat an lnvltatlOn SnOulu DC Sou
out to few women who it was though
would be interested, and the SECOND
meeting was appointed at the same plac,
one week from the date OF the first
Between the two Mondays. however
some serious happenings took place
Mrs. Field withdrew from the project OF
the ground Of an early and indefinite
trip abroad, and Mrs. Botta also retired
because her husband opposed her con
nection with the scheme. Miss FielG
had heen summoned to Boston, and only
Mrs. Wilbour and Mrs. Croly were left
At Mrs. Wiibour's residence the Sun
day afternoon preceding the seconC
meeting these two ladies prepared plat
form and brief constitution to offer such
ladies as might appear the next day. Al
refutation OF one OF the bitter,st OBJ
stacles with which Sorosis in its early
days had to contend-the idea that il
was pledged to woman suffrage-a part
OF its first constitution is worth quoting
1.-THE object OF this association is to pro.
mote agreeable and useful relations
among women of literary and artistic
tastes. 1t is entirely Independent Of
sectionalism or craftsmanship. 1t recog
nizes women Of thought, culture and
humanity everywhere, particularly when
these qualities have found expression in
outward life and work. 1t aims to
establish kind of freemasonry among
women of similar pursuits, to render
them helpful to each other. and bridge
over the barrier which custom and social
etiquette place in the way Of friendly in.
tercourse. 1t affords an opportunity for
the discussion among women OF new
facts and principles, the results of which
premise to exert an important influence
on the future of women and the welfare
OF society"
At the meeting the next day the So
ciety was organized. under the name Of
Sorosis, with Twelve members. Miss
Alice Cary, to whom was offered the
presidency OF the new society, at first de-
clined it, but was finally induced to &C
cept it. The first list of officers of
Sorosis is an interesting one: President,
Alice Cary; vice president, Jennie G.
Croly; corresponding secretary, Kate
Field; committee, Phoebe Cary, Ella
Clymer, Celia II. Burleigh, Josephine
Pollard, Lucy Gibbons and Ellen Louise
Demorest; Charlotte b. Wilbour, record
ing secretary and treasurer. The first
meeting Of the club, as club. took place
at Delmonicois, then at Fourteenth
street and Fifth Avenue, on Monday,
April 90, 1865. The routine OF proceed.
ings, as it exists today, was there begun.
A luncheon at one o'clock preceded the
other exercises. No papers were pre-
sented at the first meeting, but a lively
discussion was had over the choice of a
name. Sorosis had already been sug-
gested and accepted unofficially at the
preliminary meetings, but it was now as
sailed, and the decision OF the ballot was
in favor of the other name proposed, that
Of the "Woman's League" During the
month intervening before the next
meeting, in May, number of those who
had voted for the name chosen, decided
that they had been hasty, and one, Mrs.
Clymer, brought into the May meeting a
resolution OF reconsideration. This gave
an opportunity for a second ballot, and
Sorosis was restored by large majority
vote. 1t is interesting, as showing how
tentative the whole proiecG was, that
this action cost the cluh the 90 opora