St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-11-26
THE SEVENTY CLUB,
An Interesting Story of a Unique
Organization.


Mrs. c. N. Higgins contribu cs to {
recent number OF the Boston Journal tn,
following letter which will be of specia
interest to our readers:
EDITOR OF THE BosTON JOURNAL:
My attention has been called to clip
ping from the Boston Journal of recent
date telling of The most curious social
organization in existence" called The
Sixty Club of Laramie"
have thought it possible some might
| be interested to know of a similar New
England club, formed several years ago.
The Club OF Seventy" or Seventy
Club, as it is more often called was
organized in St. ,Johnsbury, VT, in 1891
A few ladies had bten in the habit OF call
ing on one another on their birthdays
with simple remembrances. At length
someone proposed that they form a club,
which was soon done. 1t has its regular
officers, constitution and bylaws. ANY
woman who has reached the age of 70
is eligible for membership. The club
meets on the birthdays gifts members at
their respective homes. They are not
necessarily college bred nor advanced
new women, but are intelligent, well
informed and up-to-date on questions oil
the day. Several are in the eighties, one,
at least, being SO.
Each one is expected to contribute
something for the general entertain
ment; perhaps a passage of scripture, a
selection from some poet or an original
article on some assigned topic. They
are III crested in all that concerns the
worlds progress. Such subjects have
been discussed as Cuba and the Spanish
war, the Venezuelan Boundary Question,
Woman Suffrage, and noted men and
women in sacred and secular history.
According to the bylaws each hostess
may provide simple refreshments, being
limited to two kinds, but occasionally |
1t has happened that daughter of the |
member who is to entertain the club or |
someone who is near of kin, has furnished |
luncheon where the dainty menu and |
pretty serving have made a very attract. |
We eature OF the meeting.
there have been 81 names enrolled |
out III the II years since the club was
organized % have passed cover the
Mrs. Laurette Bingham, a former
president and now vice president. is the
only charter member living She is SO
7ears OF age and is still as active and
rigorous as many a woman 10 years
younger. She saws: "Our club meetings
eaIy bring much of brightness INTO our
unset DAYS"
Mrs. Bowman, president for the last
hree years, now i'll her S0th year, is the
My one OF the club who has a husband
wing; so 1t came about that ht-Maior
|. 7. Bowman-Was made an honorary
lember. Their birthdays are both in
be month OF August, hence they unite
! celebrating August 16th-the anniyer-
lry OF the battle of Bennington. This
ear they entertained THE Seventy
Tub" and their friends in Grand ARMY
lall. In his address to the guests Mai.
owman spoke as follows:
Some may think because Of their age {
ne Seventy hub are sober and sedate |
18th gloomy faces, and unsocial, but no {
reater mistake could be made. They /
re on the sunshlny side OF life, and S
hen they meet are as happy as bevv
l6'yeear'old school girls. They wei |
'me old age as a blessing which has S
nee tlements-a happy retrospect, t
,aceiul present and an inspiring future. '
hey look upon death as the open gate. r
ay to higher, holier and happier lie" +
He further added il
Sometimes when recall my Yearly boy Il
ood days | can sympathize somewhat O
lIh Dr. Holmes when he wrote a
. for one hour of youthful joy! "
GIVE back my twentieth spring:
I'd rather laugh a bright.haired bov
Ihan reign a gray beard king. I
But DR., Holmes never belonged to a
.venty Club" S
Such is a brief outline of club which n
ay well claim pre-emiuence as one OF u
lie most unique in this country. Il