The Tupelo journal., 1902-10-10

The ancient classics tell of mag
who planted dragons teeth am theS
sprang up an army equipped tbr WIZ
and breathing forth an4themfs
against his enemies. An antifhesisto
this was Mrs. Alden's idea of uniHr-
sal love, that has brought an ]inteha-
tional harvest of the divinest prhci-
pies, and set each to serving and low
ing his brother and all others.
The chance thought, that because Of
her W overwhelming pleasures she
wanted to pass on" to others les for
tunate, has struck a sympathetic chord
on one hundred thousand hearts. and
they all responsibility say"Teacl us to
do something for somebody-luick."
That unique text was suggested by a
tiny boy in California, when he was
Intercepted in regard to the Sunshine
work, and his crisp, terse explanation
has become a watchword and inspira-
ton to the countless thousands. 1t is
a most unique Society in his, that
it requires no money from members,
but asks constant service for others.
No one is too poor to give kindness
in some way-often the poorest may
help one of the richest in ways beyond
mere financial computing.k And the
rich can give much beside Hucre. Self
sacrifice and loving attention and
courtesy will often carry to the sad
ones more good than dollars could do.
So the society represents an inter-
change of personal kinfness, and a
scattering of good cheer( and the mar
velous results show thstt it is a mag
ical crop, sown and harvested in the
light of the glorious SUN OF righteous
ness.
1t is as if Mrs. Alden had arranged
a magical system of refiectors that
throw the sunbeams from one to the
other, till the darkest recesses are il
luminated; so one Sunshiner passes
on the brightness till all society smiles
in sympathy. Sunshine work is no
new work-it is simple Christian liv-
ing. One can do much or little. The
rich as we'll as the poor welcome it,
and often need it most. Sunshine
work can be like the early dawn, or
strong as the monday un-on can
carry brightness along ones daily
path, or go into the hospitals and
slums, and the dark and gloomy
places, and by the power of sunshine
conquer the effects of shadow and dis
ease.
The name was a most fortunate one.
1t suggests brightness, life, growth
and joy, and the simplicity of it's creed
makes it so easy to catch hold of and
live up to. And while it requires lit
tie of each enc, yet those small efforts
joined together produce marvels.
Great works have sprung almost full
fiedged from the united efforts of the
earnest ones. Homes have been es-
tablished, hospital wards furnished,
club rooms started. cheap lunch rooms
provided. hospitals visited, sewing and
music and other classes operated. and
beyond }u is the constant tiny daily
SUNSHINE dues paid by many in little
deeds lf kindness, little words of
love, THAT make this world an Eden,
like THE Heaven above.
1t Was in 1896 that the Sunshine
Society, as it now stands, was incor-
poratfd in the city of New York, with
a charter that is international, and
"GooE cheer" and Good will' as it's
chief aim. 1t is not, in the usually
accepted sense, a charity. All persons
do not need charity, but all need good
cheer in some way or some time. The
following verse expresses the basic
Thought:
fHave you had a kindness shown,
pass it on,
Twas not meant for you alone, pass
it on.
Let it wipe another's tears,
Let it travel down the years
Till in Heaven the deed appears,
i Pass it on"
OFFICERS INTERNATIONAL SUNSHINE
SOCIETY.
President, Mrs. Cynthia Westover
Alden; First Vice-President, Mrs. The
odore F. Seward; Second Vice-Presi-
dent, Mrs. Charles H. Denison; Secre-
tary, Mrs. Hans S. Battle; Treasurer,
Mrs. Edwin Knowles.
Board of Directors-Mrs. Joseph F.
Knapp, Mrs. nj. M. Painter, DR.. Sara
Vanderbeek, Miss f. A. Watson, Mrs.
Esther Herman.
International Headquarters-NO. So
Fifth Avenue. New York.
1t would seem, in looking at this
list, that only women are eligible to
Office in this organization, but though
they predominant almost exclusively
in the published list, yet hundreds of
grand, good men are active workers
and branch managers, and the older
the Society grows the more the men
appreciate an opportunity to work at
real philanthropy, and yet retain their
personal independence. 1t is SO sell
dom they can do good work without
joining some church, and many with
the love of God and man in their
hearts, are yet not willing to become
church members, and the Sunshine
platform gives all such a chance to
stand on an equal footing with the
devout churchman, and labor together
with him for the betterment of man
kind. The original seventeen mem
bers were,a half Of them, men, but
with their accustomed modesty they
took back seats, and let the Sunshine
Sisters face the world, and announce
The new creed that Would hiring the