Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-02-23


among the many thousands of verses
received the following poem sent in by
Mrs. w. H. Chase of Brooklyn was
selected:
Good Cheer.
Have you had a kindness shown?
Pass it on.
Twas not given for you alone
Pass it on.
Let it travel down the years,
Let it wipe another's tears,
Till in heaven the deed appears
Pass it on.
At the time the verse was selected
no one knew the author and it was
not for several years after the Society
had adopted the motto that the writer
was discovered to be Rev. Henry Bur-
ton, ID. d., of Lytham, England. Mr.
Burton wrote the poem twenty-five
years ago and had almost forgotten it
until the Sunshine Society brought it
into prominence. Mr.. Burton is rec
tor of the Lytham Episcopal Church
and has become so interested in the
Society that now everybody in his
church and Sunday school has become
a Smshiner.
Mr.. Burton's parishioners are build
ing beautiful new church and Sun
sinners the world over are planning
to raise funds for a handsome memo
rial window bearing the poem which
has inspired SO many to acts OF kind
ness and thoughtfulness.
The Dues.
One of the unique features of the
Society is the payment of membership
fees which consists merely of some
kind act which will bring sunshine"
to some one. 1t may be only an ex-
change of books, pictures or flowers, or
1t may bring more material benefit. In
one State a well known woman has
paid her dues by educating some boy
as long as she lives instead of placing
a costly monument over her sons
grave. In nearly every State in the
Union the Society owns a wheel chair
given in memory of some dear one
These are passed around to crippled
and helpless ones and are constantly
in use.
Though the Society has never solic-
tied funds it is estimated that 100000
has been given to carry on its work.
From the International headquarters,
Sc Fifth Avenue, New York City,
nearly 100000 has been expended in
the past five years to make others
happy.
Newspaper Aid.
The newspapers must be given
credit in a large degree for the growth
of the Society. Originating in news
paper Office it has everywhere received
the endorsement of the press until to-
day over 200 papers are regularly car
rying Sunshine departments.
The Society has publication of its
own called the Sunshine Bulletin, of
which Mrs. Alden, the founder and
president-general, is editor.
Features of Sunshine Work.
Each State division of the Sunshine
Society endeayors to have some estab
lished feature besides the individual
sunshine each member strives to scat
ter. This work takes the form Of day
nurseries, homes for crippled children
and aged ones, maintaining beds in
hospital wards, fresh air and outing
cottages, Sunshine libraries, lunch
rooms for working girls, etc. etc.
The greatest evil the Society has to
contend with is the fake sunshine so
cieties grafters organize to defraud
the public. The popularity of the So
ciety and the ready response that
every appeal of Sunshine receives has
made it possible for these grafters to
reap a rich harvest. Readers should
remember that the only authentic
Sunshine Society has Mrs. Cynthia
Westsvsr Alden as its president-gen'
eral and is called the international
Sunshine Society.