Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-05-24
Home Service League Rally.

Following a conference OF the officers
OF the Home Service League and Sur
vey Commission, held May 10 at Hotel
ST. Mary's, Ia which IL was decided to
call for organization meetings during
the present month in all the districts
OF the county, the ladies' OF the Third
District held a rally for educational
and organization purposes last Satur-
day afternoon in the Court House,
Leonardtown. With the taste and fore
sight alwaps shown by the ladies, the
room was becomingly decorated with
the Stars and Stripes, and the meet
ing so advertised as TO bring a large
number from distant points as we'll as
from Leonardtown and vicinity. The
committee In charge, headed BY Miss
Nellie Fenwick, was very fortunate Ia
securing the attendance OF Professor
Patterson, president of the State Agri-
cultural College, and Mrs. Patterson,
who has been the soul OF preparedness
work and organization In Prince
Georges county.
AS the principal object Of the meet.
ing was to learn what work had been
selected and what methods pursued by
the ladies In our sister county, Mrs.
Patterson made the first address which
was certainly of the most practical
and educational character. IL was
soon evident that In domestic work
and gardening as part Of prepared
ness, the women OF Prince Georges
had been pioneers--that they were cas-
lily In the lead of the rest Oft State,
hardly excluding Baltimore City. OF
course, they have had the advantage
OF st. Mary's, both by being closer 20
the experts Of the State College, and
by already having better organixa-
ton OF the women In various societies
and community clubs. However, IL
was also evident from some Of her
rather eomical experiences that with
fewer societies OF women ~ work as
units, 81. Mary's would be free from
a certain amount Of friction that might
impede the work where so many so
cietics were anxious 70 do big things
for the cause, as 10 Prince Georges.
Mrs. Patterson dwelt az some length
on Red Cross work; Der final word OF
advice was not TO attempt separate
organization. but 20 have all the
ladies who wish 10 make medical or
surgical bandaRos or supplies do this
work undcr Red Cross direction.
Possibly classes In auxiliary nursing
would be formed In certain centers,
with Red Cross nurses from hcadquaf,i-
10 conduct the instruction and drilling.
Professor Patterson gave very
practical address on the advantages
and duties Of Southern Maryland
farmers az this crisis In our history.
IIe showed that their duty whs frst 20
supply and feed themselves and even
contribute largely 10 the provisioning
oi the rest OF tho Nation and the Allies.
He showed how very much more could
be done than our farmers arc now
content with doing. He ridIeulcd The
idea Of raising dogs instead Of Sheep.
Ia Allegheny, until good las vas
sheep. Now the fgures are being ~
yersed. What He want, be said, waa
more acres planted aud mora brains
and methods used on those acres, aud
more stock Tor food and dairy par
poses
Brief addresses were also made bY
Father Kelly and Mrs. Bodgdon, aud
an outline ~ the work now 10 be done
by tbs Home Service League was an
nounced by the President, Mrs. J.. II
Hancock, The meeting rs The Court
House was presided over by Mrs DIR.
Johnson, Of the Survey Commission,
who gracefully introduced the various
speakers.
There win be mecting of the officers,
tho committee and the district executive
committees on Saturday, jane 2, AZ 2
p. 70. In the Court House