The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1908-03-27
KINGS DAUGHTERS WORK
IN GREENV|LLE, MISS.
Interesting Account Written by Mrs. Lucy
Green Yerqer, a Charter Member
of Circle No. 2.
PUBLISHED BY REQUEST OF GREENWOOD CIRCLE.

A young girl started Kings Daughter
work in Greenville away back in 1885
She brought into our county the frs
little silver cross with the letters |. H
N. engraved upon it. This badge of tn,
order she endeavored and succeeded il
establishing here was tiny silver eros
Of Maltese design, bearing these three
letters |. H. N. meaning this-that
every deed done by the one meaning il
is done under the inspiration Of Divine
charty-"In His Name" Only ten be
lieve were present at the first business
meeting she called together to elect Of
fcers preparatory to going earnestly
and prayerfully to work as Servants
in the Masters Vineyard" She, this
young girl, was by unanimous voice
made the President of this first Circle
The town of Greenville then was very
small, its population not large, and few,
very few people stood in need of help
Indeed this was so small field for local
charity work Circle No. found other
objects for "the development of Spirit
ual life and the stimulation of Christian
activities the avowed purpose OF the
order Of Kings Daughters. Circle No.
/ still lives countless deeds of charity
and benevolence mark the path OF its
members. To visit the fatherless and
widows in their tribulations, has become
to them religion pure and undefiled.
The young girl who first told to them
the wondrous work that could be done
by those wearing "the silver cross in
His name," has long since heard pro-
nounced upon her the sweet-"well
DONE" The good she began on earth,
the seeds of charity and benevolence
she sowed in the few tleeting years she
was allowed to stay has, we know by
His blessed words, yielded fruit Divine
in heaven. Has He not said, "Inas-
much as ye have done it unto the best
of these, ye have done it unto Me?"
After while there came to Green
vile, indeed it came to the whole county
Of Washington. greatand painful need
of local charity work. Then when the
cry was heard Circle No. was formed
and took up the work first intended to
be the work of Circle No. 1. There was
no place in all the county where the
needy could go-sick or well. We had
only ten or twelve women present at
our first meeting. We determined to
procure "Home" for those destitute
ones In our midst. A very small house
was secured at six dollars per month
rent. This house we kept for several
years. Our only means Of keeping 1t up
was by membership dues, and money we
would make by giving entertainments,
teas, bazaars, etc. ETC., getting popular
lecturers. Ex.Gov. Of Tennessee, now
Senator Bob Taylor, came at our bidding
twice. We kept no servants at the
"Home," had no trained nurse for years
after we began; different ladies' Of our
Circle acted as nurses for given num-
ber of days, while other members were
appointed to have the cooking done
from their kitchens. All the sewing
would be done by members. Our Circle
was being increased all this time. Our
work was hard and constant, yet there
was joy and fascination in it for us and
in the wonderful results that followed,
that instead of fatigue that would
naturally result from such efforts it was
usually tonic. The poor we had with
us so much we began to love them and
they began to see fully our gifts were
made to shine with our love. They then
loved us, not our gifts. They then gave
love for love, it seemed to be the lever to
lift them into better life we realized In
our work-"I.H.N." We we're receiving,
rather than extending blessing,
we knew then
"There doth not live
ANY so poor but he may give;
ANY SO rich but must receive"
This earnest work of ours began to at
tract a great deal OF notice from the
public. Voluntary contributions in
money, clothing, food, etc, etc, began to
come to us. The Mayor and City Coun-
Gil offered monthly allowance to us, be-
ginning with 10 dollars month, then
increasing it to $500, then to fifty.
Now we are getting one hundred dollars
a month. Shortly our Board of Super
visors voluntarily resolved to aid us.
We we're notified an allowance Of fifty
dollars per month would be allowed our
Circle with voluntary assertion that
IL should be increased to as much more
whenever we felt the need OF 1t. Up to
now we have never felt the need to call
for more. OF course our Circle would
never have received this valuable aid
from our Mayor and Council and from
our Board Of Supervisors except both
saw and felt the great need OF place
where the destitute sick could be cared
for. Up to the time this little band Of