Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-07-27
THE SILVER MILESTONE.
Paper Read by Miss Alice A. Brown
of Whatsoever Circle.

of whatsoever OtTGtos
At the twenty fifth Sanniversary Of
Whatsoever circle of the Kings
Daughters, the following historical
sketch was read, by Miss Alice A.
| Brown:
A journey is usually a delightful
event We may take pleasure In the
| journey itself or we may enjoy the
| thought that we are nearing some de-
sired place. If the latter be the case,
how eagerly we look for the whitepost3
which indicate each mile or our way,
and try to catch the number which
shall tell US how near We are TO our
journeys end.
The journey need not be by rail-
but may be on that much more de-
| lightful thoroughfare, the country road.
Occasionally on some old turnpike, we
glimpse a weather-worn slab of lime
pause to examine 1t, wondering what
hands placed It there, how long ago,
and what tales 1t might tell of the
post: Of the young men an dmaidens,
old men and children who have pass
ed this way What did the milestone
mean to these of a by-gone day? En-
couragement that they had safely
travelled so far-hope for the miles
yet to go.
Tonight our circle has reached its
have just so much farther to go. but
we can look backward and say THUS
| far, and in this way we travelled"
OF the 7S daughters and four sons
who have advanced with us, only six
began the journey. OF these six our
beloved leader is the only one pres
emit tonight Three, Mrs. Grace Nc
Kinney Boyle, MRS. e. c. Starbuck.
| and Mrs. Laura Phinney Willett are
at their homes; For two. Mrs. Sarah
F. Cheney and Miss Maggie Ffsken,
God has seen fit to shorten the journ-
ney Out of these 81 members Of our
party, only three daughters have. left
/ the circle for any reason except re-
| moval from town, an indication OF
the harmony that has prevailed; 80
are on our register now, our largest
membership except in 1908 when we
| numbered one more. A large member
ship list has never been the policy of
| the circle.
| largely upon the personality Of the
| conductor. Our first officials were
leader, Mrs. Phinney; secretary, Alice
D. Phillips; treasurer, Mrs. Cheney.
Mrs. Phinney was reelected. In 1892
Alice Phillips became leader. In 1893
Maggie Fisken; and in 1894 Mrs. Will
son began her long and valued leader
ship of 10 years. She was followed
by Alice Phillips, now Mrs. Prior to
| 1909. Miss Mary M Brown served a
/ year MISS RUBY InOTnIOn was 10dO-
er during 1910 and 1913. In 1914 Mrs.
4 Prior took the reins for the third
! time. AS rumors Of her efficiency
| spread abroad, she was honored by,
/ and honors three counties as president
When we reached our twenty-first
milestone, we took advantage Of a
stop-over privilege, and over the
chicken pie and tomatoes, listened to
a fine resume Of our work by one of
the early members. For this reason,
need not go into detail tonight.' New
ertheleSS travellers must pay careful
heed to their finances, and a word in
regard to them might be in order here.
For the first two years I have not the
| figures, but since September, 1892, If
I have correctly reckoned from the
varied bookkeeping of our treasurers,
we have put into circulation $1.271.40,
an average of $55.27 per year, or $1.06
/ per week. This money has not been
i spent on ourselves.
| If our journey had been by coach
or automobile, we should have sound
ed the horn all along the way, but
| blowing ones horn, albeit a silver one,
| is wearisome to listeners. 1t is our
aim to follow out the injunction to
| do whatsoever thy hand flndeth to do,
but-don't tell the other hand agout it.
| The nature of our work Is well known
although 1t has changed from playing
nursemaid to sewing patchwork.
Not the least delightful experiences
| Of long journey are the friendships
made on the way. These associations
add richness and sweetness to the life
of the Kings Daughter also. Our band
| is called a circle" that which has no
| end, the emblem of eternity. May our
peculiar love for each other be like
this emblem.
Upon THIS silver milestone we find
engraved cross, the Maltese cross.
What is it's origin? 1t was the badge
of the Knights of Malta, and was
formed by connecting the points of
four arrow heads The eight points
thus formed are said to signify the
eight beatitudes. The Knights of
! Malta were an order Of hospitallers for
the relief of the poor, the strangers,
| and the sick. This order built d hos
pital in Jerusalem in 1042 and after
| ward removed to Malta Because Of
it's origin, the cross should mean much
to us. To the Christian the cross is
a reminder of burdens to be borne
and sacrifices to be made. And yet
because of the letters on that cross, no
burden should be too heavy or sacri-
flee too great All who render service
in His Name on this journey of life
are blessed as were the knights of
old. AS the vision reminded Sir
! Launfal,
Who giveth himself with his aims
feeds three
Himself, his hungering neighbor, and
me.
Few of us Will be here when the
golden milestone is reached, but may
it find the circle faithfully carrying on
the work of service for the King.