The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1918-03-07
Yearly Reports Were Read This
Morning at Session Held at
Home of Mrs. q. A.
Collier.
YEAR WORK REVIEWED
Officers Were Reelected for Coming
Year and Mrs. D. A. Collier
VIII Servo as
President.

sSAS - "oS
the home of the president, Mrs. u.
A. Collier, with q large ada
The reports were most gratifying
and show that the affairs OF the
Benevolent Union home haye been
administered in a YER business-l1ke
and efficient manne The reports
which are printed herewith give the
details of the work done.
Presidents Report.
Mrs. D. A. Collier, the president
gave the following report:
To the Officers. Directors and Mem
bers of the Benevolent Union:
1 beg leave to forego my usual
annual report. The facts and figures
of what has been accomplished dur
ing our 1917 year milestone. are all
duly recorded in the various o
which will follow. My heart is fun
Of Gods blessing, which has sustain
ed and attended all our efforts and
made some things possible which u
widest dream hardly justified.
want to thank every member OF the
Benevolent Union, those who are old
and tried in the work, and those to
whom the work is new, but with
ability and enthusiasm added a zest
and success to our united efforts.
We are maintaining a large house.
hold and l thank each individual
member Of this household for their
share in producing harmony and
happiness, when discord might SO
easily prevail
We are Justly proud that Keokuk
SO generously supports such an 1nsti-
tuition. It Is in line with many OF
the big broad undertakings recorded
to Keokuk's credit
filled the Office Of treasurer for
eight years, being elected In 1905,
and have served you as president for
the past three years. In that length
Of time, we sold the building on
Fourth street. left to he union by
Mr.. Augustus Kellogg. to John De
Jong for eighteen hundred and fifty
dollars. We received from Mrs. Birge
a Iced to the property known as the
Birge home, and left by Mr.. Birge
to the Benevolent Union, SO long as
used for that purpose. We built and
paid for a thirteen room addition.
and have succeeded in creating a
small endowment fund which we hope
to see thrive and multiply-"great
oaks from little acorns grow"
These years Of service ave been
| given gladly, and ably supported al
ways by the loyal women, who con-
stitute the personnel of the Benevo.
lent Union.
l hope that from the reports we
hear today, we may all draw new
inspiration for the coming year and
that we may feel that none of the
effort given to this cause has been
in vain.
at is a very busy world wherein we
mortals meet,
There are so many weary hands, so
many tired feet;
So many many tasks are born, with
every mornings sun,
And though we labor with a will,
the work seems never done.
And yet for every moments task, ,
there m a moments time, i
The burden and he strength to bear
are like a perfect rhyme.
The heart makes strong the honest
hand, the will seeks out the
way, /
Nor must we do tomorrow's work,
nor yesterdays today"
SUSIE SMYTHE COLLIER.
The Secretary's Report.
Mrs. J. N. D.. Dickinson, recording
secretary, submitted the following
report:
To the President and Directors of
the Benevolent Union:
Secretary's annual report for the
year ending March 1, 1918:
In reviewing the records Of the
work accomplished by our %organiza-
ton during the past veal we may all
feel a%bundantly repaid for the efforts
which we have put forth both indi-
yidually and collectively. In the
midst of times filed with events Of
momentous Importance It seems par
ticularly fitting that a comparatively
small unit such as The B. U. should
be unusually concentrated upon the
objects of this organization. The
present condition Of this institution
indicates this to be the case.
While the secretary's report should
probably be a historical review of the
years record, the directors in receiv-
ing the detailed reports of the vari-
Gus chairmen of committees, will per-
nit the secretary to make but a gen
eral and brief mention of routine pro-
ceedings. +
The twelve monthly meetings have
beer each well attended.
Raising of funds has beer accom-
plished principally by means of a
market held in June, Block day in
October, the annual charity ball at
Thanksgiving time and the customary
annual solicitation among the bust
ness men Of the city. and / think we
should go on record in expressing
to our public spirited
community for the support given
through this means.
To those not actively engaged in
the work. but who are interested in
the organization, it can be said that
the history of the Benevolent Union
and its vitality today show that 1t
fills a need In human affairs and that