Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-02

/ The nineteenth century marked the De-
i ginning of the movement for organization
| among women. In years before women
as individuals had occasionally held ad-
| vanced ideas or advocated some reform
| or philanthropy, but until their strength
| was unified by organization their efforts
did not have any important influence
| 1t is claimed thatethe first organization
of women was the Female Society of
Philadelphia, still in existence. which was
organized in 1902. Its object was to give
secret aid to women who had been
| brought up in luxury and who in their
old age found themselves in poverty
The society had a number of unique pro-
| visions in its constitution. one of them
was that the Office of treasurer must al
ways be filled by an unmarried woman.
because the laws of Pennsylvania at the
| beginning of the last century DID not give
a married woman any right 10 nold
| money in her own name. Inc niue oi-
ganiZatiOn never numbered more imam
twenty-seven members in It's strongest
days. and during the last quarter OF
century has been reduced 20 less than
dozen. Several of the members ere OF
extreme age and most Of them are OF
Quaker faith, although the society was
not in any way UNCONVENTIONAL The re-
ports of the treasurer al me complexion
Of its first century indicate that the So
ciety had dispensed considerably over
hundred thousand dollars In its quiet
philanthropy. Most of this money was
paid by dues and contributions or mem
bers. although the organization used TO
do needle work at the meetings. ms
was sold, and the proceeds added to the
treasury. In comparison with the records
Of more modern organizations this re
male Society seems rather narrow IN It's
scope. but its members fondiy cite tne
hoe hon al D.
ance that brought it into public notice,
and the benefit of its charity Is indisput-
able.
The early organizations of women were
usually religious In their scope. The
Piqua Female Bible Society was founded
in Ohio in 1918. and It's first membership
included nine women. One of its presi-
dents, Mrs, Eliza Petit held her ONCE
from 1910 until 1881, period of forty-one
years. which surely is record In
off1ceholding for any organization. Or
nearly 100 years it held record for Its
meetings upon the first Monday In each
month. At the seventy-fifth anniversary,
to which were invited all the daughters
and granddaughters of the original found
ers. 1t was announced that the organiza-
ton had sent in over $4,000 to the Amer
lean Bible Society in New York
Next to the woman suffrage organiza-
| tions, the first of which was organized in
1S4S, the
Organization Extends most i'm
/ Throughout the Country. ~ pb = ear r.
lier women's organizations is the Won-
ans Christian Temperance Union. which
had It's origin in Cleveland in 1874. This
organization now extends throughout the
entire country. having branches in every
| state and Hawaii. 1t has about 1900 20
cal organizations and a membership APP
proXimating a million. Some of the local
| unions have become broadly progressive
and have entered into many of the activ-
tiles of the more modern women's clubs.
Others adhere closely TO the direct b.
jects of the organizations which are 10
abolish the liquor traffic and to elevate
the home. The Woman's Christian Tenn
perance Union has been most influential
in securing laws providing for the study
of scientific temperance in the public
schools. for prohibiting the sale Of to
baccO to minors, and also in forwarding
efforts for the protection of wayw.,rd
girls and the lessening of the social evil.
The broadcast of all the Women's or
CARNATIONS Is the great General Fedora
ton of Women's Clubs, organized III 1890.
as an Outgrowth of the work OF the New
York Sorosis. AID extending now 10 every
Der OF foreign countries. The general
federation is made up of the state fedora
tons and of few individual clubs which
came i'll early in the organization and
thus hold Individual membership. The
STATE declarations are made up of the diff
ferent women's clubs of the state and
there is no limit as to object or scope of
work. the efforts of the general fed
Grafton are broadly constructive. and in
clude every movement for reform. socia:
betterment or educational progress which
has been brought forward The motto.
Unity I'm diversity expresses the spirit
of the organization. While the clubs
unite for mutual aid, they Weld each
member absolute liberty of thought and
action. Al one of the first conventions 1t
was decided that while clubs of every
kind We're to he welcomed, the federation
must preserve harmony by prohibiting
the discussion of subjects likely to pro-
mote discord at the convention meetings.
Among the taboo subjects We're womans
suffrage and anti-vivisection Within the
past five years. however. the great in
crease in suffrage sentiment has become
SO strong that at the federation biennial
convention held last summer in San
Francisco an effort was made 10 include
suffrage as one of the objects of the fed
Grafton. This motion was lost. but che
feeling in its favor was strongly evil
denced that the presentation of suffrage
addresses from federation platform is
now rather encouraged than otherwise.
\: ).