The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-24

Estes, Leila Coe.
THE LADIES' GUILD"
An imposing Manse OF two stories
and a basement finished in hard wood
fashioned after the latest texturaI cot
tage style stands in this city as a mon
ument to the faithful and persistent Ia
bors Of the Ladies' Guild of the Pres
byterian church
zation is best told in a paper read be-
fore the society by Mrs. s A. Breese,
one Of the pioneers of the movement,
and from which the information is
culIed-
The Guild was organized Decem-
Der ?, 1886, by seven women members
of the Presbyterian church for the pur-
pose of assisting in its spiritual and
temporal welfare
The ladies who so bravely started in
this work were: President, Mrs. w A
Morgan; vice president Mrs. s. A
Breese; secretary, Mrs E F. Holmes;
treasurer. Mrs E J. Turner; Mrs J. NJ
Tuttle; Mrs. J. NJ Kerr Mrs. J. K
Crawford
The immediate purpose which led up
to the organization Of the Guild was
a feeling that they might render aid in
raising funds to provide a new church
building which was then being planned
Their first effort was an oyster sup
per at which $50 was cleared and every
dish had a bakers dozen of the bi-
valves.
The ladies then began to solicit mon
EE DE letter lLlGlluS dDEOGu anu
one of the early donations was a 800
check from Senator Plumb and $40 from
Major Hood
At the end of six months the church
was completed and the Ladies' Guild
had raised 1865 and the edihce was
dedicated free of debt
One of the most successful entertain
ments was given in December, 1889. It
was an art bazaar and netted S125-
When church funds ran extra low the
members took turns in doing janitor
work
The next inspiration which came to
the society was to secure funds for the
building of a Manse on some lots owned
by the church, and it was decided to in
corporate and a charter was secured IN
February, 1892
A Manse fund was at once establish
ed and the building now practically
completed speaks volumes for their in
dustry.
It is a model home for their pastor
and Rev. Sankey, the resident minister
feels that his lines are indeed cast in
pleasant places.
They have in a quiet way done much
benevolent work outside the pale OF the
church besides contributing to the En-
poria Presbyterian college fund The
Ladies Guild have made the Cotton
wood Falls charge a desirable one for
Presbyterian ministers.
THE BENEVOLENT SOCIETY"
The Benevolent society was organized
February II, 1891, and its work is pure
" a charitable one and hundreds of the
sick and needy of Chase county can and
do testify daily to its worth.
The association is a member of the
State Federation OF clubs and holds its
annual celebration on February IL Of
each year.
They meet every Thursday afternoon
and do sewing for the poor and in event
of having no work of this class they
do work for private families and charge
for it, placing the proceeds in the gen
eral fund.
Each member pays five cents dues at
every meeting and outside persons are
invited. who also contribute five cents
They make it a specially to hunt up
the needy and deserving poor and sick
and minister to their wants, the night
is never too dark nor the day too cold
for such visits.
In the past year the society has paid
out $120 in cash, besides the food and
clothing contributed.
This band of mercy is indeed a
ministering angel to the poor and they
are more appreciated because of the
modest and sympathetic manner of
their movements.
Following are the officers and mem
bers: President, Mrs. H S. Fritz; vice
president, Mrs. John Bell; secretary,
Mrs Chas. Winters; treasurer, Mrs E.
I T. Shirk- Purchasing committee Mrs.
| John McCalIun; Mrs. VIM. HiIlert- Re
! lief committee: Mrs L W. Heck, and
! Mrs. John Bell Other members:
| Mesdames W. H. Ho1singer, J. NJ Rose,
". W lockwood. Charles Wellesley, J.
| J. Jones, F. A. Nickel F. V. Afford, S.
J. Evans, w G. Hayden.
"SHAKESPEARE CLUB"
Not even in the cultured city of Law
| renee, the Athens of Kansas" where
! the very air is surcharged with literary
| ozone does there exist a club devoted
l to the study of authors, poets and
| statesmen, that takes precedent over
| the Shakesperian club of Cottonwood
Falls.
Every member is a devoted worshiper
I of the brainy author and capable of
interpreting his works in a manner that
would bring a smile of cOntentment
and satisfaction upon the countenance
I of the dear departed could he but wit
/ ness the rendition of his masterpieces
/ by this aggregation Of tragedy's devo-
/ tes.
| The club is one of the oldest in the
| state and one of the first in the or
| ganizatiOn of the Federated Clubs
| THE Tempest was selected as the
I first review for the winters work and
! following this will be "As You Like It, %
/ which will be given as a play by the
! members during the holidays at the
/ home of Miss Nellie Howard.
| The Forest of Arden" and ROSalind
/ will doubtless be happily portrayed and
! the invited guests viii be given an Op-
/ portunity to witness dramatization
| that viii be novel and interesting.
The club is now in its thirteenth year
| and while some of its original members
I have moved away or succumbed to the
1 wiIes of cupid. yet do they remain
| faithful to their first love. None have
| ever voluntarily resigned nor failed to
/ keep up their dues
| This is the splendid history of the
/ thirteen years of the clubs existence.
/ The ladies composing this organiza-
/ ti0n are: Mrs. 7. H Grisham. presi-
! dent; Miss Nellie B. Howard, vice pres
/ ident; Mrs. Charles TrOwbridge, secre-
/ tary and treasurer; Mrs J. 3. Smith,
/ Miss Minnie Ellis, Mrs. J. H. DoOlittle
! Mrs. c. l. COnaWay, Mrs. E. D Pepl-
! Ogle, Mrs. J. B. Sanders, Mrs. Z. F.
| Holmes. Mrs L NJ. Swope, Miss Bessie
/ Howard.
! THE WHIST CLUB.