The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-10-26

IN LANTIc CITY
State Federation Of Woman's
Clubs in Session
Today.
MRS. WILLIAHSOES ADDRESS
President Gives Club Women
Advice and Encourage
ment-Jersey City
Women Present.
Ispeclal to ..The Jersey clty News.'l

gowned. 1t is the first day of the New
Jersey State Federation of Womens
Clubs which opened this morning, pc
tween ten and eleven o'clock in tn'
Brighton Casino with Federation coiors
flying and floral decorations in tasfefu
evidence.
The ladies began to arrive last night
about four hundred strong. The State
Board of oficers left Jersey City yester-
dav afternoon about half-past two py
special train. and this morning Mrs. john
3. scudder Mrs. G.. W. Clerihew and
Mrs. a. ]. Newbury of this city started
on early trains. Miss Mary PhiiorooK'
wbo represents the College Women's
Club: DR.. M. F. De Hart and Miss Ada
Fuller. of the Woman's Club, ielt VIII
the State Board yesterday
The Federation includes a mempersnlp
of nearly 10000, and there was a gooaly
representative of this number IN the Ca
sine this morning. After usual lnvoca7
tion by the Rev. Antionette Brown Back
well, Mrs. Allen Endicott. President OF
the Atlantic City Club, gave a orief al
dress of welcome, to which Mrs. p. F.
Williamson, as President of the Federa-
tion responded. Then came the report
of Mrs. C. w. Butler, Secretary, upon the
Federation meetings of last spring in
Elizabeth, which being duly accepted, was
followed by a number of other reports
from treasurer, and chairman OF various
committees. Mrs. Margaret T. Yardiey
gave a brief address and Miss Mary Nc
Keen. Of Camden, made a report on the
New Jersey Legal Aid Society, which on
cludes the Mornings programme.
The feature of the afternoon was, OF
course. ths presidents address, which
came Just after a harp solo. by Miss
Helen Reed. Mrs. Williamson, presided,
was welcomed with applause. Her adj
dress was well rendered and gave the
club women food for thought with some
very good advice and not a little con-
graduation.
..Woman's influence" said she, zone Of
the catch words of the day. And yet
like many of its kind, it takes its form
from one of the strongest impulses OF
the century. The organization Of women
is the natural outcome of the march OF
civilization and the progress OF bought.
1.-THE wife, the companion of him who
treads the millwheel of life, is 1t not tit
fling that she should be able to sympa-
thize with all that enters into their lives
which must be passed together in the
closest companionship? The home is the
sanctuary wher the best should be given.
Have you ever thought as you tread the
streets of your city or town, of the bless
ed influences exerted in the homes that
surround you a nation Of homes-woman
the heipmate. Let us not lose sight of
this.
THE club movement throughout the
whole United States has gone steadily
on until we have a continuous chain Of
woman's clubs from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. Its influence is felt alike in all
parts of the land. 1t stands for SO much
for high purpose, purity of thought, cul-
tivation of mind, higher and better educa-
tion, a knowledge of all the conditions
Of life.
w of the East nave problems to solve
that are unknown in the West. and they
have conditions that would try US. Mu-
tual interchange of thought and ideas
would benefit both. Club life helps to
stimulate thisi~ interchange. But We must
keep in sight the dangers that threaten
us. The rush-the turmoil-the dizzy
heights to which we seem to be climbing.
Let us halt and look up and back before
we lose the ~self-poise that IS so neees-
sary to good work. We must not forget
our limitations. There is danger IN the
ever increasing demands made upon us.
Just one year ago you babe me welcome
as your president and the honor you then
conferred upon me has brought with it so
much that IS delightful in the intercourse
that I have had with you all, tina I find it
hard to express my hanks in adequate
language. It has been a year filed with
good results all along the lines Of work
marked out by you. The committee on
education reports things accomplished
which will bear fruit during the coming
year. The foundations are well laid. The
kindergarten has come to stay, slow
though its progress"
are fast losing the conventional at
our club meetings. I remember that
when I first belonged to a club, I thought
] should AVE to resign, because, before
the meeting was called to order, each
woman took her seat in such a solemn
manner; there was a general air of ex-
pectancy, as If some great event was to
occur which prevented friendly inter-
course. How different in a mans club,
where the president raps for order many
times before they begin. A general feel
ing Of good fellowship prevails with the
hub-bub of conversation which necessar-
dly follows. This, l am glad to say, is
becoming the way with our club meet
1ngs. But we may still learn from our
brothers.
Il have been honored with invitations
to visit nearly all the clubs in our Fed
Grafton. and 1t has been a real trial to
me to be Obliged to decline many Of them.
You VIII realize how impossible it is to
attend eight club meetings on one day. ]
felt very much like the little boy who
was invited to go fishing and to the cir
of thought, he decided to go to school be-
cause he could not make a choice. So II
has been with me. ] have stayed at nv
desk because l could not choose. Ask me
again. Let me come on some club day
and enjoy your regular programme.
programmes. They show a desire to intel.
1igently master the subjects chosen. / am
glad to notice a tendency to cut down
the number of papers, SO that more time
can be given to discussion. And / re-
5oice over the increase of departments In
our hubs"
Great events have happened since W.
met in Elizabeth last year.
Our possessions have been extended
far beyond the seas. This has brought
with It an added responsibility for US
There are women in those colonies wht
are our sisters. Let us not forget oul
duty to them, and as clubwomen let us
do our part.
And let us support the administration
-recesnlzsng that talthough we deplort
qsaT9f ! s2 sas honor re- Ct our country must ;,
Wave ovar thezfreei
In gathering up the threads of the veal
mat has passed we must recognize tht
INSPIRATION ana power that comes to us