Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-13
THE LOVE OF FLOWERS
CULTIVATION OF INTEREST By A
LOCAL GUILD.
Meeting Held Yesterday Afternoon
Addresses by Prominent Members
and Visitors.

| course of a meeting of the local branch OF
the organization, held In the banquet hall
| Of the Shoreham, yesterday afternoon, at
| o'clock. The founder Of the guild, Mrs.
| John Wood Stewart of New York; the local
| secretary. Mrs. G. 8. Rafter; the Secretary
/ of Agriculture. Rev. Teunis 8. Hamlin, ID.
D., Mr.. Charles F. Weller. general secre-
tary Of the Associated Charities, and Prof
Beverly T.. Galloway, chief Of the bureau
| Of plant industry of the Department OF
| Agriculture. made addresses, showing what
had been done in the comparatively short
| time the guild has been in existence. The
outline given Of its work by those who
| spoke yesterday evidenced the purpose Of
| the National Plant, Flower and Fruit
Guild is to develop the latent love for flow
ers which. 1t is contended. lies In the heart
| of the average human being. Its inten-
| tons are to bring every man. woman ana
| child Of whatever station In close touch
| with flowers. and its direct business Is to
send into the homes that would be with
out flowers and plants such growing Specl-
! mems or bouquets of beautiful blossoms as
| are available for the purpose. Its work
| has been directed along such lines as to
| bring into every institution where sick or
destitute human beings are cared FOR some
| touch of color such as nature gives to her
own creations. and to invade the homes or
| the poor and lowly with these welcome
gifts From such objects at Its founda-
| ton the guild has branched farther ana
| farther into Its chosen field, and from taxi
| ing plants and flowers to the homes. 1t has
| begun system Of education In horticulture
| on a small scale. and has sent seeds and
plants to thousands of homes. with fnstruc-
| lions as to their proper cultivation. and
| has supplemented this by personal visits
and instructions as to the proper methods
| of building up garden. 1t has reclaimed
tracts Of waste ground in the District and
has organized bands of children for the
cultivation Of these places, and has so en-
couraged the growth Of flowers and Veget-
ables by giving prizes and entertainments
to the children, that some Of the pupils
have been enabled to provide vegetables
enough to supply their families from their
little garden patches.
Dr.. Hamlin's Opening Address.
These were the things spoken of at the
meeting yesterday afternoon. each person
bearing part in the work Of telling how
his or her section had performed its labors.
with general Introduction by one who has
had opportunity to observe all the work.
Rev. DR.. Hamlin was the person selected TO,
open the meeting and to tell Of the general
nature of the work and its spiritual effect.
DR.. Hamlin spoke for fifteen or twenty
minutes on the great good that Is done by
the distribution Of flowers to the sick and
of the excellent work done by the local
Mrs. John Wood Stewart was the next
speaker. Mrs. Stewart told of the incep-
ton of the guild ten years ago in New
York and Of its progress since then. She
spoke of the great good that might be done
in every section Of the country and of the
growth Of the guild. Mrs. Stewart detailed
the immense amount of good done in the
schools by the distribution Of growing
plants and of the lessons in horticulture
given the children. She also spoke of the
beautifying of vacant lots and of the gar
den patches grown by the children.
Mrs G. S. Rafter, secretary Of the local
branch of the guild. next spoke, making a
brief statement of what had been done by
the guild. Every person can become a
member. she said. There are three classes
of embership-honorary. associate and
active. The honorary membership costs the
member just s. per year, and entails 40
work. The associate member pays 81 per
year. and Is supposed to lend what aid he
can to the work. The active member pays
nothing, but pledges to do everything pos
sble for the good of the guild, and to be
on hand whenever wanted. The guild does
not depend upon it's members for it's sup
plies. 1t will receive any flowers or books
or fruits. or jellies from any source. Just
now it is endeayoring to get the flowers
used as decorations at all the weddings
dinners. receptions and public banquets
given in the city. 1t has succeeded In some
cases. but not In ALL 1t wants all the flow
ers it can get, any kind of flowers being
acceptable. 1t wants to get all the maya
zines. old and new old books. anything that
may be read by sick person. and which
will help them forget for few minutes the
pain and trouble they suffer- Fruits and
jelles are called for also.
Includes Everybody.
The guild Is not connected with any re-
ligious or secular organization. 1t includes
within its ranks people Of every religion and
social condition. all working to common
end. and each earnest as his fellow.
This was part of what Mrs. Stewart
land Mrs. Rafter told the audience at the
Shoreham yesterday. Mrs. Rafter supple
mented this with an account of the work
done in the District. The local guild dis
tributed more than 1900 bouquets during
the year. Thursday Is flower day at the
various institutions throughout the city.
me guild endeavors to visit these instftu-
tons once in three weeks and endeavors to
visit eight each week. Thursday the men,
bers and their friends send their contribu-
tons to the headquarters Of the organiza-
ton, Sill G street northwest.
Mrs. Rafter stated that the guild has
never been close about receiving contribu-
tions Of flowers. 1t will take them from
anyone. and II the donors do not desire to
be known In the transaction they can send
their contributions anonymously Last
year the work Of cultivating the taste for
growing flowers was begun and with seeds
| obtained from the Department of Agri-
culture about 100 small gardens were
started This year more than 500 gardens
| were grown and five community gardens
were established in different sections Of the
| city where boys and girls were invited to
attend and grow flowers or vegetables for
| their homes. These communities worked
| for prizes given by the guild and celebra-
lions were held on the days when the prizes
| were distributed refreshments being served
| by the guild.
Secretary Wilson Endorses Guild.
| Secretary Wilson Of the Department of
Agriculture was next introduced. Mr.. VIII
son spoke entirely from the standpoint of
\ the farmer. and heartily Endorsed the work
of the flower guild. He said 1t was I'M
| natural to attempt to raise children in the
| city. He could not see how they could
grow. He spoke of the work that is being
done at the department in raising flowers
| and took the chrysanthemum as an exam
| pie of what careful cultivation had done for
! flower. He said the department is work
| ing every day to create new flowers
| flowers that were never seen beforehand to
| all these and those already grown that
were well known the ladies and members
of the Flower Guild were welcome.
| Mr.. Weller. general secretary of the AS
ISOLATED Charities. told of the effect of the
Flower Guild on the work of the organiza-
| tion he represents. Prof Galloway was the
| last speaker. His address was devoted to