The L'Anse sentinel., 1907-05-18
(copyright BY J. . Bowlss.)

(Mrs Adlai Stevenson is known the
country over as the wife of the former
vice. president of the United States; Dur
ing her four years In Washington she was
Q distinct social success. She has served
as president general Of the Daughters Of
the American Revolution and as a prom
tons)
Through the medium of the clubs,
and by their own volition, women have
turned upon themselves the search.
light of close scrutiny. The result is
that many of the defects Of character
which were overlooked and pardoned
because of the feminine source now
stand before the court of their own
choosing.
The crucial test is, What have the
clubs done to demand perpetuation
and the gratitude Of credulous pub.
lie?
1t was not sporadic but a most in
fectious disease, this almost spontane-
GUS uprising among women into a
higher and nobler valuation of their
capabilities and dormant powers.
Perhaps the credit of introducing
club methods to the American women
should be given to the missionary So
cieties. The first movement for or
ganized, Independent work by the
American women In behalf of heath
en- women was inaugurated in New
York, April 1860, by Mrs. T. G. Dore-
mus.
In 1884 the Rev. David Abeel re-
turned from his mission In China and
plead ed In New York the cause Of the
zenana women. This germ Of "wo'
mans mission to woman" took root In
the heart of Mrs. Doremus. Twenty-six
years later, when she heard the STIR
ring words of a missionary from Bur-
ma, Mrs. Doremus resolved that this
appeal should find response in the
hearts of American women II 1t could
be accomplished. In 1860 her fondest
hopes were realized, and an independ-
emit, undenominational society was or
ganized to send out single women to
the east The organization took the
title of the "Woman's Union Mission
ary Society of America for Heather
Lands" This was the first organized
effort of woman to conduct labors OF
magnitude and Importance.
Kindred societies. or clubs, sprang
up all over the country. What these
societies have done for the church at
large its records will tell.
And let 1t be borne in mind that all
this wan the result Of organized club
| work. a
Has 1t been q benefit to woman?
Who will say nor"
Quickly followed clubs galore-the
Margaret Fuller, the Shakespeare. the
Longfellow. the Browning. and other
clubs. Later came the patriotic or
| ganizations. First and foremost oi
| these stands the national society oi
the Daughters of the American Rev
olution. The work Of the national so
ciety during the war with Spain alone
would give 1t deserved renown.
Other patriotic organizations are
| the Colonial Danes, the Daughters OF
the Confederacy. the Daughters of the
Cincinnati, the Woman's Relief Corps
and many more.
| All JneS6 CLUBS tlor SUCH tucy dTcJ
have had undoubted influence upon
the patriotism Of our country.
To your honest judgment we leave
It to decide whether or not these
clubs have been of benefit to the
American women.
Undou btedly the greatest factor II
the development of women are the
distinctive woman's clubs. They have
passed beyond the experimental peri
cd and arc an assured fact.
The corner stone upon which these
clubs were founded was and II edu
| cation, in its broadest, highest sense
| Through them every : avenue o.
thought and endeavor has beer
| opened. These clubs were organizet
| not for the benefit Of women alone
but for the uplifting and bettermen
Of mankind.
The history Of the General Fedora
tion OF Woman's Clubs Il too vel
known to need . word Of introductioI
or defense. After . trial Of Is year
the General Federation Of Womanl
Clubs has proved ittslf potent IN y
sscsiAG many municipal reforms. AM