The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-25
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s poings Of the Uomen's 5 Clubs. 5



Let us make this prophetic utterance
the touchstone by which shall be tried
every emprise and every aspiration OF
our federation. Only as we measure up
TO the ideals IL proclaims. shall we with
all our progress be found worthy of our
pure beginnings.
And now, what shall we say of the
future OF this organization which has
grown 10 such majestic proportions and
such inspiring possibilities under our
fostering care. and upon whose con-
tinued usefulness and power our hearts
are so inalienably fixed? This question
none may answer. We must prove our
selves as gradually as the flower un-
folds. The tendency OF the years be-
hind us promises WELL we owe our past
no srudge. II is ours to see that the fu-
ture follows worthily on.
There liz a talisman which we NAV
hide In our hearts and trust 10 for guild
ance, II is that old word-seryice. This
ideal has brought us thus far, no other
can carry us on. There are those to-
day who are eager to convince us that
individual development. not service
FOR others. is the object OF life. Thus.
grasping after half truth, they miss
the most essential part.
M
large? What is the most definite step
has taken; what thought most salt
entiy expresses its latest purpose and
fullest ideal? There can be little doubt
that they stand there unadjusted to
that the most significant feature OF
the two years Just past IL the growing
interest OF the women of the federation
In the women and children who are
wage-earners I'm America. This inter-
est marks, perhaps. the most signih-
cant step in the history OF our organ
ization: by means OF IL we seem to say
our work heretofore has been for 9TH
ers; now We propose. in the broadest
sense, to work with others. The great
service which We shall render in this
industrial problem in a suggestive one.
Whatever else We may do for the wage
earning woman, We shall do most when
we bring TO her this message Of or
sanization. which shall help her TO help
herself. The irruption of women into
the professional and industrial world
has been so suddenly accomplished
that they stand there unadjusted TO
their environment. They have had no
time TO reason out their own position
In the world OF wage-earners, nor have
economic specialists thrown any light
on the subject. Women earning wages
outside OF the home is a phenomenon
which has just swum within the ken
gapes at the spectacle forbearing to
readjust his calculations 10 take her
In. With more than 4.000, 900 wage-earn-
ing women in America We must grant
the existence OF the wage-earning
woman, and strive TO find a rational
adjustment of IL. IL women are TO work
for wages they must be enabled 10 do
so without treading on each others
toes. or unduly jostling men. Organi-
zation alone will bring order out OF
chaos for them in this problem: 1t is
the Excalibur with which they may
sever the Gordian knot OF their indus
trial conditions. Can the federation per-
form a greater service for the wage
earning woman than 10 place in her
hands this weapon with which she may
win her way to life. liberty and the
possession Of happiness? And for the
children; what shall we say OF the IT
tie child who is a wage-earner? The
work here should be by the process OF
elimination, for the wage-earning
child. as class must be abolished.
The expansion Of the human spirit
is the object OF existence. but this end
can never be attained by living in and
for ones self. The law OF life Is action
and reaction. Only as We serve shall
We deserve for through service alone
can the individual. the God in us, grow
to it's full stature and become perfect
even as God is perfect And so. through
all our service the matter does bark
back to the question of the individual.
The club. like the world. Is made up
of all the people in IL. Upon the
growth and developments Of the wom-
en- who compose IL depends, then, the
future of this federation. We must
fight the good fight without ceasing.,,
forgetting self I'm the thought for oth-
ers, and thus most truly hndng self
again; thus shall We achieve perfection
ment of the parts, and make OF this