The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-16

set the machinery into motion Nor was
she lacking in bright comprehensive
IDEAS OF what the club should be. To-
gether we worked at the beginning of
an organization, that without our help
later came to be much that we had
hoped for it. 1t would be selfish, unr
just and dishonest for me to claim an
honor that is not due to me- and /
gladly pay this little tribute to the eff
fectlve work of my friend Mrs. Sara
Roby. Very sincerely,
MARGARET HILL MCARTER.
Last week we gave the history of the
beginning of the woman's club move
ment which made it's start from the
organization of few women in New
ork City into the society which call
ed itself Sorosis. From the time of
the organization of the first woman,s
clubs until 1SS9-21 years-clubs were
local institutions only 1t had taken
many years and the growth of a new
pubic opinion to educate the country
to the idea of the woman's club. The
second stage in the life and growth
of this idea of the alliance of women
into the breadth and grandeur of a
national movement began with a call
for a convention of clubs issued by
Sorosis to celebrate its 21st birthday.
invitations were addressed to ninety
seven clubs-all that could be heard
of at that time. and sixty-one respond
ed by sending delegates and others by
letter. Kansas sent two delegates
MRS. Mary c. Todd, of Wichita. repre-
senting the Hypatia Club, and Mrs.
McCintock, OF Topeka, representing
cussed at that first meeting were as
follows as
L. Enunciation of the Woman,s Climb
Idea and Its Point of Departure
from the Society,"
z Data on Which to Canoe Tho
tent to which in 21 Years CIub
Lie Has Grown Among Women.
o. IN what 1t Consists and How IT
Differs from the Club Life of Men
Inc Methods Employed and Their
5. Results Obtained ana o,,.,
the Future o-
rIe influence Exerted Upon the
communities in Which They Ex-
list. AHe' Elk
Inc gathering Of these women. their
teII;S personalities and active in
eeHisence, was the revelation Of q 49,
Iorce IN progressive womanhoodN TO-
OF the housekeeping, bome-m.I-;ra
woman The club woman penaraii
Mas round TO be wife and mother
az " means OF culture. interested in
on means OF progress and eager to
selZe and multiply opportunities For ~
~ ,VIuudl ana collective advancement
Ihere was nothing aggressive IN AZ
work and no effort at propaganda. IT
y, ~, q .ie most wonderful of expert
mental gatherings 1t has been re-
peated many times since. but nroha hiv
never with the same thrilling effect
Ihen the idea of permanent ,,r;o,,
sprang uD in the minds of MAJ ~
enose present, and a special meeting
to organize permanent feGera 80 e
women cubs. The catherine u,os
large ana representative and cor,
lui..ee was appointed to draft a con-
sIeu.ion ana present plans of oreani-
zauon. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe 60, 2 go
member of that committee ST.
clubs united with the Federated, ~
TINS Ilrst meeting. The first real meet
ing OF the general federation was held
IN IN 1851 the constitution that had
OBJECT of the federation 10 he .Sro
pring INTO communication with each
otner the various women,s o11,hs
throughout the world in order tbot
they may compare methods of work
anu become mutually helpful One of
the delegates, Mrs Clymer, in her adj
dress used a phrase that afterwarGs
became the motto of the general Tod.
Grafton. Her closing words were. ss1ve
look for unity, but unity in diversitv
we nope mat you will enrich us by
your varied experiences and LET ne
pledge ourselves to work for co-,
mon cause.-the cause of wor,anhoo5
throughout the world That nbrase
unity IN diversity" took root in the
minds Of the audience who adonted If
unanimously as the most fittine ax~
preston of the bond of union in love
and sympathy and agreement in great
essentials with its underlying and
fundamental purpose of the good of
Womankind, coming into being
through varying natures and MANY
personalities. without the sacrifice of
individuality to a system or the sub
vertfng of personal opinion and free
thought
The first president was Mrs. Char
lotte Emerson Brown. of New York. a
member of Sorosis
The first biennial was held in Chica-
go in 1892. and at that meeting the
club work was divided into six de-
partments, namely: home. philan-
thropy, reform, education art and lit
erature, science and philosophy Com
pared with the departments of the fed
GRAFTON reporting in Cincinnati in May
of this year. that division of interests
and labor seem meag gre. indeed. but it
covered the ground of woman's field
of activity very well at that time The
roll call showed the number of clubs
to be 189 as compared with so at the
first meeting. At the third biennial
in Louisville. Ky. Mrs. Henrotin was
chosen president. and with her admin
istration came the idea of state and
city declarations. which went on stead