The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-06-27
MINNEAPOLIS NEWS
THE SETON GUILD.

THE SETON GUILD.
The Seton Guild was organized
August 7th. 1912. at meeting held
in the parlors of the Andrews Hotel.
The object of the organization was
to establish a Catholic social center
in the downtown district of Mime
apolis for working girls and women.
The name "Seton" was selected
in honor of Mother Seton. who was
social worker of very marked
achievements, who founded a COM
munity of sisters in New York al
most one hundred years ago. The
canonization Of Mother Seton is now
pending.
In order to carry the work of q
social center without too great q
drain on its members it was decid-
ed that cafeteria should be opened
to defray the running expense of the
place. This proved a splendid medi-
um for social intercourse. The
young women came day after day to
lunch, getting acquainted with each
other and making strangers feel at
home. From the very beginning the
prices were held as low as possible.
The bare running expenses were fig
ured on and the girls knew that
there was a decided advantage in
eating at the Guild instead of going
to an ordinary restaurant. The
soups, salads, desserts and vegeta-
bles were served at three cents q
dish and meat at five cents. The
meals were prepared at the Guild by
good cooks and many of the girls
said it was just like eating at home.
The first location was at 219 South
Fifth street, in a space secured at
$50 per month. The first day there
were only twelve girls served. Some
of those girls are still regular
patrons Of the cafeteria.
August 30th of the same year Mr..
Chauncey Olcott and Father Cleary
appeared in benefit for the guild
which Melted $500. This enabled
the guild to move to its present To-
cation at 206 South Fourth street.
into space which is now enlarged
upon and costs $165 per month.
The cafeteria was simply means
to an end. The work was not merely
to carry on lunch room where bust
ness girls could get acquainted. but
to maintain place where girls who
desired to improve themselves might
take up any line of profitable work
they chose. Several classes were es-
tablished. China painting. English
literature, French, English gram
mar, dancing. sewing. Italian. Choir
al club and an orchestra. In each OF
these classes real class feeling was
established. The girls became we'll
acquainted, were helpful to each 9th
er where they could be and expressed
their satisfaction time and again
upon being able to accomplish some
thing for themselves outside Of the
regular working hours.
Through this association many
splendid friendships have grown. In
one case young girl. a convert to
the Church, was practically .
stranger. having lost her old friends
after her conversion. She knew
very few among her new church peo-
pie. The guild became almost q
home to her. She found friends that
interested her; she converted to the
faith the young man whom she mar
ried and they moved to another
state. Her farewell party was held
at Seton Guild and she has always
kept up the liveliest interest in the
work.
A library reading and rest room
has been provided for those who
have few spare moments at noon.
It is comfortably furnished with
tasteful furniture and few choice
religious pictures. Through a person
al interview Mrs. ]. T. Litchffeld Sc
cured the Papal blessing for all the
members Of Seton Guild. The bless
ing is written on an autographed
photograph of the Pope which Is
framed and hung in the guild
rooms. The privilege of taking
magazines and papers to read has
been afforded.
The guild will be two years old
August 7th, 1914. There is daily
attendance at lunch Of about $50.
There are 40 people enrolled in
classes. This year on May 5th, the
annual banquet for the classes was
served and 100 attended. Each
class gave an exhibition Of its line
Of work and the occasion was dne
opportunity to show the work of the
guild.
Four outdoor clubs have been or
ganized for this summer. A rowing
club, tennis, walking and horseback
riding.