The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-24

1narkablee decrease in infant mortality Of
the iast%few years. This was credited in
large part to the educational and philan-'.
thropie: influence Of women's clubs
isn't that an interesting bit of evidence
forN the defendant in the case made by
the attack of Rev William B. Leach on
WomeH:s1* clubs as 1destroyers of the
home ?"s Miranda inquired %s"I thought the
two coming together made a fine bit OF
irony. Did YOU see the reports that the
reverend genteman's s. folly had caused his
church to ask for his resignation? I
really feel sorry for him. 1t has seemed
to- me all thru the furry caused by his
ridiculous charges that they were SO
childish and displayed such monumental
ignorance thas it belittled the really seri-
gus, earnest purpose of clubs to assume
t11at they needed any defense. in such a
cause. Nobody: should attempt to deny
and few are injudicious enough to do it,
that some women neglect other duties and
more important ones for club interests,
put, like Mrs. Jellaby, they are excep-
tlonal.~ In Minneapolis at least it is real
~ difficult to find women to accent club
efflces involving any considerable respon-
sib1lity, and think that the reason why
large enterprises like a department club,
a civil league and a wonlan's club house
anguish is that we have practically no
influential women free from home ties and
responsibilities, and the women with hus-
oands and children are: wise enough NOT
70 undertake duties, that would inevitably
encroach on the home A fine powerful
dignified woman's club that should be the
center OF social and civic life for women
IS one Of my hobbies, but have too much
consideration for the sacredness Of home
dut1es TO wish to see it established as 2,
rival interest. Sometime we shall find $.
woman to take up this great project wit..-
OUT sllghtlng any greater interest, and
Wnen we do that will be our chance to
rally un1tedly to its support and we need
no longer be club women in sympathy
only, for II we ever have a big wouan's
club, think it will be on a broad basis
tnat viii appeal to us ALL The women
! VINO are cherishing the project in their
heafs Will want and appreciate the 11eIp
q women OF affairs as the large clubs in
the greater cities do
:: Another of my recent records .,i,,,a.
the only true cause Of grievance that the
clergy have against women's climbs - Ga ia
Nl11e1Va,j AND 1t is very interesting. Thev
/ nave grievance, but the question Of who
IS TO blame is different matter. The
! w py!ll.i ~ PEougnt out In an article in the
World To-day by Mrs. Ellen M. Henrotin
president Of the Chicago Woman'g club
/ and former President of the: General Fed
e5at1on of Women's clubs She admits
mat CLUB. work has withdrawn a. large
n li<tl f1!5 Of capable women from active
Pt1tMMtpsstl1OH IN Clurcl work. But. she
explains! and justifies this by saying that lI;,
] women ", have: advanced to the point where
!: their: work, which the church is slow and
reluctant in granting, all: the positions OF
4 trust. stiA being retained by men, while in
| the clubs there are fnany prominent and
useful positlon IS ,'twhieh filed by, just
/ the sort OF women most useful in church
4 work. In the clubs women are not obliged
/ to work SO hard to raise money to support
! the organization as they must in the
| churches, for in the former, each member
| pays her, share The CLUB work is also on
non seetariap and non political lines, ana,
!. While. women often become greatly at
taaLchede to, an Institution, they rarely care
f6g Greed, per, Sc. or a, political convic-
4 t1oll. Thus the younger women, especially,
!; are deserving the work of the churches for
i that Of the clubs -..
! MRS. Hehrotin .intimates in a. diplo-
; matte way: that this. real and under
I, standiple cause Of certain may underlie
!; some Of the recent criticisms but there
1 ought to. be a; fairer and more effective
means Of correcting a tendency that Is
unfortunate even II it is quite natural and
i inevitable:''z '@@.: :, i'.@-.. -. "~>