The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-02-18
The International Sunshine Society
Golden Rod Branch of that ordsf Doing
Work that Should Interest Every
One Methods Of Cooperating With
Than

Them
Doubtless most Of the residents Of
skowhegan and vicinity know that
we have a society known as Golden
Rod Branch, l. s =, which Is very
useful IN charitable work but the
extent II their activities can hardly
be realized It Is probable also that
there are many who would be glad L.
60 operate with them In their effort
o bring AID aud comfort TO those
most ii need Of II. II their method Of
doing 50 was better understood. Il Is
with TINS latter object inmind that the
following account Of the Sunshine
Society il prepared f8f the readers Of
the RRroHrER.
It's origin
The first Sunshine Society vas
founded IN New York City by Mrs.
Cynthia v Alden, then editor of
the New York Recorder, in 1so6.
Eighteen people were az FIRST en-
rolled and the idea which banded
them together In pbllanthropio work,
"to do something for somebody
quickly has ever since prevailed
The simplicity OF the motto and the
fact that ali unnecessary red tape ia
dispensed with has given the organi-
cation a unique place among the
philsuthropic societies OF the time.
The name Itself was a happy thought
and its motto and purposes soon
Interested the kindly disposed people
the length and breadth OF the land
There are now over 800, 900 members
and branches have been formed in
every state In the union and in al
most every country OF the world
The Maine Branch was formed III
Auburn in 1899 with Mrs. f. W.
Quimhy as state President. Three
years later Mrs. j S. Head of Port
land became president. At the
present time Maine has nineteen
Branches with the reputation of being
the best organized state in the union
in Sunshine work. A children's
hospital was opened in Portland in
December last, through the efforts
and under the auspices OF the Maine
State Branch. DR.. f. G.. Abbott,
himself an enthusiastic Sunshiner, is
surgeon in chief and patients have
been sent from all parts OF the state
so that every bed in the institution is
occupied
The Local Society,
Skowhegan's international Sum
shine Society is known as Golden
Rod Branch" and was organized July
7, 1905, with Mrs. Parmelia Jewett as
president OF the first meeting it is
said that there were eleven members
and at the close there of
every lady present found herself in
Office. The motto OF the local Branch
is Good Cheer and there are now
100 members, who are giving
generously OF their time and means
to make these words known in homes
and with individuals to whom they
would otherwise come rarely one. If
you ask member of Golden Rod
Branch what they do, they will tell
you anything helpful to mankind"
In addition TO material assistance
they cultivate in themselves and i'll
others the habit OF kind words and
thong and often a letter
with message of cheer il made use
of, especially when the case appears
to be one where more direct and
open attention might make the
-. f. l,nf hA oh
jects of charity. The Free Bed fund
and the Children's hospital above re-
ferred to have been aided by Golden
Rod Branch to the extent Of S2l0 in
the past four years. In 1908 the
sent to the State Branch for
these purposes was $50, the largest
made by any Branch in
Maine. Since last October S75 has
been sent to the State Branch and it
is planned to send S25 more between
now and July LIST. Since its formation,
the treasury of Golden Rod Branch
mas received in all about $500, 1926 of
which has been used on purely local
work. Since last October % families
have been aided, several children
fitted with cloJhing to attend school,
is invalids have been remembered
with flowers and 100 sick or de-
pendent people with Christmas gifts.
One child was clothed and sent to the
Portland hospital. Golden Rod
Branch owns a wheel chair and cot
bed which they are glad to furnish
to any one in need, VINO has use for
them.
OF course the society is always
ready to welcome new members and
any one in sympathy with their
philanthropic purposes may join,
paying membership fee of ten cents
and there after paying annual dues OF
25 cents. Those who join with en-
thusiasm for the work carried on are
most welcome but the aid and
sympathy of those who wish to en-
roll, even though they do not become
active in the society's affairs is OF
great value. The officers at the
present time are Mrs. Emma Thomp-
son, president; Mrs. George Moody,
Mrs. Blanche Moore, vice presidents;
Mrs. Ada Abbey, treasurer; Mrs
Belle Gates, secretary; Mrs. Chris
tianna Ordway, Chaplain. Applica-
ton for membership may be made to
any of the above. Meetings are held
on Thursdays, every two weeks, il
Christian Science Hall.
Those having clothing, reading
matter of any kind, or anything else
they wish to contribute, may send
them to Mrs. Ben Flagg, 80 East
Front street and they will be dis
bursed through the proper commit.
tees. The members of Golden Rod
Branch are very grateful for aid they
have already received and for the