The Washington herald., 1907-04-17
THE KINGS DAUGHTERS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIM.

In every city, in almost every town, in
many villages and hamiets, and in re-
mote country districts throughout the
United States. bands OF women are daily
going about doing every known kind of
helpful. charitable work They proceed
quietly and without ostentauon. There
is no uniform 10 distinguish them from
other people who come and go. but If
you look closely you will md IN the lace
al the throat. or on a chain. a tiny silver
cross OF Maltese design. bearing the let
ters II II N" Sometimes a knot Of
purple ribbon IS worn with It. Purple is
the color OF royalty. and for that reason
belongs 10 these kindly women who are
called The Kings Daughters Their every
deed Is done under the inspiration Of
divine charity ''in His name"
The society was organized about twenty
years ago by Mrs. Margaret BOtt0me,
wife OF a clergyman. who was the only
president Of the general order until her
death last fall Only ten or twelve
women were present at the first meeting.
which she called in her New York home,
but from that simple. reveTential service
has grown movement that is not only
national. but worldwide IN its scope
The objects of the order are THE de-
velopment of spiritual life and the stimu-
lation of Christian activities" For the
purpose OF making the work more effec-
tive. the local organizations, known as
circles. are gathered into county or city
unions, and these into State and national
organizations. Biennial meetings are held,
and eight Canadian provinces affiliate
with the United States organizations at
this time The last meeting was at Wheel
ing. ". Va. in May, 1906 this being the
eighth one. No service is too small or
insignificant for the women of this order
10 undertake. No work Of benevOlence IS
considered beneath them, no matter how
sinful and uuatuactive the beneficiary.
Every field of effort is covered in their
daily duties. Hospitals. creches. indus
trial schools, churches homes for the
blind. the aged. and the incurable: mis-
sions, Sunday schools, sewing circles, and
countless other helpful things spring up
in the path where the feet Of these good
women tread, marking their way Ike the
flowers Of spring The question Of re-
ligious denominations does not enter into
the matter al all. While many circles are
formed I'm church for church work
alone and many include members OF only
certain sects. Il is because that is the
work that happens TO lie nearest, and not
because the general society belongs 10 any
particular religious cult
Notice the names chosen. and the spirit
Of willingness and earnestness viii be
sFs1.
Willing Hands, the Earnest Workers. the
Ever Ready the Inasmuch. the Low
ing Service, the Willing Hearts. the
Friends of the Needy. the Friends Of the
Lonely and the Friends of the Poor
Some times the names of good men or
women are given to memorial circles In
New York q great work is being done in
the siums. At the Frank Bottome Ne
mortal. on the East Side, there is a free
kindergarten, a Sunday school, a penny
prOVident fund. a mothers club, all es-
tabnshed in memory Of Mrs. Bottome S
SON. a physician who gave his life Ia low
ing service 10 the poor. This same band Of
workers has given vacation trips TO 2Uu0
women and children in the hot summer
DAYS and a bowl of bread and milk IS
served each morning 10 eighty little chill
dren This big city has its flower mission
circles. who distribute plants among the
children Of the tenements, who take the
wan little ones out for a day OF two in the
country, and who support floating hospi-
tails for ailing babies in summer time.
A circle Of blind girls in California re-
Gently made many gay pin cushions for a
hospital, and filled tiny bottles with per
fume to be sent TO the patients Another
circle Of blind girls In Tennessee, lodged
in a home built for them by the King S
Daughters, have achieved most interest
Ing things in basketry. lace-making, and
knitted work. 4 general work In the New
England States has been to ind sale for
things made by "shut-ins"-invalids who
cannot leave their beds or chairs. From
large firms the Daughters have taken or
ders for mops, washrags. dishcloths, &c,
and the shut-ins are enabled TO earn liv-
ing by making these articles. Each con-
signment bears the affidavit of the various
circles 10 the effect that the shut-in has
no contagious disease.
In Mississippi a visiting officer OF the
order was approached by a young negro
girl. who said she was a member Of a
circle of the Kings Daughters. composed
Of other negro girls Of her age. What is
the name Of your circle?" the visitor
asked. we call it the We Sing Them tC
Cod Circle the girl replied. What az
unusual name" the visitor said kindly
will you tell me about it?" why. its
this way. she girl replied. when any
of our friends are dying We gather IN the
room and sing softly the hymns they Ike
best. until they have passed away" II 1:
possibly the only circle Of its kind, but
knowing the negroes love for music. anC
the melody Of their voices, the singing %
old-time hymns must be comfort to the
dying.
II was a Mississippi woman who proved
a martyr to her little cross and its mean
ing. Mrs. Mary Thompson Howe. daugh-
ter of the late Episcopal bishop of that
state. was spending the summer in tht
mountains Of North Carolina, when she
found a little postmistress there who could
not leave her post 10 60 TO the bed Of a
dying relative. Mrs. Howe had herself
sworn in as assistant. and took charge o
the work. She contracted typhoid fever
while at her post. and died from doing a
kind service for a stranger
At Norwich Conn. The Kings Daugh-
ters have recently founded home fol
worthy Protestant women. The Oppor-
tunity Circle in a Michigan town employs
a visiting nurse for the poor who other
wise could not afford 10 have one. A
g.af.l-.,- LT.v-aff circle aF ~ tf.rs e.i-l-