The Washington times., 1914-10-05
Eighteen Years of Effort in
Washington Have Brought
Notable Accomplishments
Through Social Service.

The Monday Evening Club Of
Washington is forum for the dis.
cussion of philanthropic, correc.
tional, and city betterment topics,
and a clearing house for ideas on
social service and community pel-
fare.
For eighteen years this club has
been a factor in philanthropic and
social movements in the city. Fol
several years it has brought to.
gether nearly all the prominent
workers in charitable and correc-
tional fields, as well as representa-
tipes of parious organizations deal
ing NTH these subjects.
The club not only has discussed
these topics, but its recent accom-
plishments in supporting the loan
shark legislation and the measure
for the elimination of alley houses
still are fresh in the minds of
Washington folk.
BY ]. R. HILDEBRAND.
For eighteen years. the Monday
Evening Club of Washington has
been a forum for discussion of social
service problems, and it has furnish
ed the incentive for legislative cor
rection of various evils.
From thirty-five members at the
end of its first year the club has
grown until it includes practically all
the social service workers in the city.
and representatives of all the agen-
cies working toward social reform.
So large Is the present enrolment
that at the first meeting this fall. on
October 70, the question of restrict
ing membership to actual workers In
the social service field, and to
maximum of 400 In all, will be con-
sidered.
Among the recent movements In
which the club has played a con-
spicuous part was the legislation to
remedy the loan shark evil. and the
bill to abolish inhabited alleys In the
District. The club backed the orr
Ginal bill for the prohibition OF ex-
Cessive rates of interest on short
passed. establishing per cent
rate. 1t was found that this amount
was too small to allow loan agents
to do business. So the club took
steps to have this amount increased
to ~ per cent The bill containing
that provision still is under considera-
ton by the District Committee
Its Organization.
Mrs Sarah Fuller. then an Asso-
cIated Charities official. was re-
sponsible for the gathering in Oc-
tober, 1896. out OF which grew the
present influential organization. Mrs.
Fuliers object was to unite workers
in charitable and correctional
agencies in a common movement to-
ward the Improvement of certain
conditions. Mrs. Louise Skinner told
this first meeting of the Monday
Evening Club, of Boston and its
work George s. Wilson submitted
the resolution which resulted in the
formation of the present body. The
first officers of the Washington club
we're Herbert w. Lewis. president:
Mrs. Louise Skinner. vice president:
Mrs Sarah Fuller. secretary. and
Miss b NJ. Wilson. treasurer.
The club worked quietly until 1893,
when IL became more active and that
year also marked the first annual
hanuuet, given at the Y. NJ. G. A.
dining rooms. The club was invited
to hold it's meetings at the Y. NJ. &.
A., and tho association continued to
he the regular meeting place until
the increasing membership made II
necessary to assemble in the Public
library For the season OF 1914
Frederick l.. Siddons. now Commits
sioner. was president and under his
leadership the club further extended
Its activities. Upon his appointment
as commissioner. he resigned. and
charles F. Nesbit took his place, and
when Mr.. Ncsbit was forced to re-
sign because of his appointment as
SUPERINTENDENT Of the District In
sursnce Department. Ernest f. Bick-
ncII assumed the presidency.
Among the topics considered during
tho first ten years of the clubs eX-
istorre were Public and Private
harIties work OF the Emergency
IJospitaI " "Disp nsary Work of the
Roard of Chldrens Guardians"
..Soci,I work of the Salvation ARMY -
employment and Employment Agen-
clos Of the District" ''Conditions of
,he Workhouse." "Hospitals Of the
Dist-iCt." attitude of the General
Government Toward the Charities %:
mo District" and The District
Charity Budget
Program of Social Service.
With delegate members from va
rious organizations in the city. the
club became even more representa-
tive. A. early ~ 1895, the con-