The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1908-10-14

SCOTT s. BOVINE. 4O9 Pearl Street. New yorL
Inc enthusiasm to strive for excel
renee, and the energy to push on,
pauslng only when the victory is
won. Who can measure the value of
an idea. Starting as the bud of an
acorn it becomes at last a forest of
mighty oaks. Ideas are as essential
10 progress as hub to wheel. for
they form the center around which
ail things revolve. Ideas begin great
enterprises, and the workers of all
lands do their bidding. Ideas govern
'Ee governors, rule the rulers, man
age the managers. Ideas are the keys
which open the store house of pos
slbll1ties. We have seen something of
what the idea of the original ten,
starting almost twenty-three years
ago, had done. If the order is to MS
what We say it is, how can we sit idly
by and not try to win others for the
King?
Believe me, dear daughters, If we
have the heartiest cooperation if we
had the true missionary spirit, God
would grant Iowa glorious future.
But there must be knowledge of one
another; of what is doing. How are
you going ID get it? We will have
discussion tomorrow On the literature
of the order, we have an official organ
that the past year has had something
about Iowa in all but two issues. Do
you read it? | was much pleased at
an invitation | received this spring.
The writer said: I'VE can't all come
to conventions, but We do want all to
know our state secretary. so will you
come to u.s." feel now that every
one of those thirty-five members are
personal friends, and | believe they
are interested in everything that is
done in Iowa and in the order. You
ought all to know your state officers.
1t would be mutually beneficial. The
bishop of London, lecturing on his i'm
preston of America gave this as his
viewpoints as keynotes of a happy
life: /. Think and believe life is
worth living. 2. Believe in God. 3.
Direct your effort to the service of
other people. In America your rich
men and women of ability must learn
more of stewardship of ownership.
Clerical Work.
And now as to the clerical part of
the work. In the past year have
sent out almost two thousand letters
there have been two circular ones.
| have sent greetings to the national
conference, to twelve state conven-
tions, a letter of coincidence to Mass
achusetts, Joined in the card shower
to Miss Libby on her recovery. Have
answered and referred to local circles
communications from Massachusetts,
Illinois and Rhode Island, relative to
ing help or sympathy.
Ten new circles have been organ
lied this year-four in our city; one in
st. Anthony, Idaho, two in Buffalo,
two in Davenport and one in Oasis
One that has been on the books. but
paid no dues for several years, wrote
me last month that after a sound
sleep of more than two years, they
had revived. She ascribed it to too
much prosperity.-O circle. the Beth
lchem of Davenport, has disbanded
The revived circle has not yet paid it's
dues. While | cannot give you the ex-
act figures, | am confident there has
been an increase in the number of
Silver Crosses taken, and if we hope
to do much in the state there must
be a far greater increase.
| have reports from nearly all the
circles, but so many failed to state
the amount raised for work, of the
twenty who did, the aggregate is ST.
7262S.
All but five circles in the state
have grown in membership Of these
four have held their own and two have
decreased.
We have forty-four circles with a
total membership of 9S4; cant we
make it thousand before the week is
over?
1t has been my great pleasure to
meet the Scott county union twice,
once on the anniversary of the order
when | was their guest, again in May
at the time of the board meeting; the
visit to Electa circle of Iowa in May,
and to the Silver Cross circle of In
dependence in June are bright spots
in the year to me. In my home town
have been the guest Of Mizpah,
Isabella Davis and I. H. N. circles.
We have been in encouraging com
munication with Waterloo, Cedar Rap
ids, Palo, Columbus Junction, FIT.
Madison, Pennington, Mt. Pleasant
and Ottumwa. and hope to have cir
cles in some of these places soon.
The year has been an exceedingly
full one, full Of service and of pleas
ure, and l thank you for your uniform
kindness and consideration.
IDA WEBER MANSFIELD,
State Secretary.