The oasis., 1899-07-22
Practical Aitruisn.

were consulted regarding club for women that should extend all over the country, and have for it's purpose the study and discussion of topics of gen eral interest, aud tle practice of the underlying principles of altruism. Nine out of every ten persons consult ed unhesitatingly declared that such a club could not be organized. But the idea seemed too much in line with the spirit of nineteenth century pro- gress to be crushed by adverse prophe- cies, and it was decided to give it a chance. Its Optimistic leader de- declared that, at the end of the first year, this new club would have at least ten circles, representing one hundred women and half a dozen States. In June, "The Progressive Women of America" finished it's first year of work. It numbers nineteen circles, representing Iowa, South Da- kota, Alabama, Massachusetts,, Penn sylyania, Kansas, Louisiana, Indiana, California, Missouri, Michigan, New Jersey and Colorado and has nearly three hundred members. July and August are vacation months, but many of the circles will hold regular meetings, regardless of that fact, be- lleving that they will thus be in bet ter trim for the work of the new year, which begins in September.
 In an article of this length it is diff fcult to give fair outline of the work of this club. The club consists of cir cles organized wherever seven or more women happen to become interested in it. These circles are 0flicered as other clubs are, and, in so far as that is possible, are under home rule. There are to be fifty charter circles, and these are not obliged to pay a mem- bership fee nor do they pay for the handsomely engraved charter which is sent every circle formed. These preliminary expenses are all borne by outside parties who are interested in the work of the club. All circles are under the supervision of one officer, who is known as the club director, and whose term extends over period of two years. It is the. business of this officer to assign the circle num- bers, fill out the charters, outline the topics for discussion, condense the monthly reports sent by the various circles into one document known as The Directors Message and see that copy of this document reaches every circle before it's next monthly meeting. These Messages enable each circle to form a fair idea of the majority opinion on the club topic of the pre- vious month reached by every other circle, making an exchange of ideas between many women in widely sep arated localities, instead of mere discussion among few women of very similar tastes, as is the case in local clubs organized for study.
 But the discussion of the club topic forms only small part of the real reason why this organization deserves recognition. The spirit of altruism, which prompts hundreds of kindly acts and which leads to the unseltish love that is the working principle Of true Christianity, is it's strongest re- commendation. The circles keep up d steady correspondence, all letters be- ing read aloud as part of the regular program of each meeting, and thus a close bond of union is formed between women whose experiences and sur roundings are entirely different,- "a condition which in itself has n most