The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1922-05-12
Members of Guild
Hear Mrs. Backus

Hear Mrs. Backus
Mrs. Eliza j. Backus, of Cleveland,
acting pesident of the Guild of the
Epriscopal church in Cleveland, was
the very interesting speaker before
the members of the Women's Guild
of st. PauPs Episcopal church at a
meeting Wednesday afternoon in the
parish house.
Mrs. Backus spoke on the subject
of the United Thank Offering Move
ment She also discussed the noun
.taineers of Kentucky and Tennessee
whom she called the appalachian
Americans"
A short business session was held
prior to Mrs. Backus' address. Mrs.
Henry c. Devin, president of the
Guild, opened the meeting and re-
quested the rector, Rev. Donald Won
ders, to preside. Mr.. Wonders spoke
briefly, expressing his pleasure at
the large attendance present. He stat
ed that he hoped soon to organize a
branch of 'Little Helpers" among
the junior Guilders and that Mrs. Dun
ham would be chairman of that organ
ization.
Among the interesting reports read
by the various officials was a report
by the secretary, Mrs. Hugo Peterson,
report on Vestments, by Mrs. Will
lard Armstrong, and financial report
by Miss Lavinia Elder.
Mrs. Backus, who, incidentally re-
minded her hearers that she had been
at one time a pupil of the late Miss
Mary Seymour at the old Female Sem
mary in Cleveland, in very easy
and informal manner, told of the or
ganization of the Guild in 1871. The
Mt. Vernon Guild was organized short
ly after it's inception, and was among
the first in Ohio Bishop and Mrs. Be-
dell were at the head of it, During
its fiftf years of work, it has raised
$14,0O0,00O Every three years the
United Thank Offerings of countless
women all over the country are laid
upon the silver and gold Offering plate.
At the last Tri-ennial convention in
1919 the United Thank Offering
amounted to $4GS, Al. The next
convention will be held in September
| OF this year and the goal is a million
dollars. Among the things which have
been done with the money thus raised
| Mrs. Backus mentioned the establish.
ments of churches and hospitals and
| schools at such widely separated
! points as Alaska, Japan, China, Flori-
da, and New Mexico. For the last %
years the salary of the Bishop of
Alaska has been paid out of such
funds, and at present 204 women
workers are being supported and will
be cared for when their working days
are over.
Most interesting was Mrs. Backus'
talk on the mountaineers of the Ap-
palachian region, including Kentucky,
the Carolinas and Tennessee. Mrs.
Buckus' remarks on these primitive
people We're exceedingly eloquent.
They come of the best English and
Scotch stock, and their ancestors were
men of letters. In many of their
homes today are fine old classics,
which the present generation cannot
read. They have been left behind by
civilization, until in this generation
they are absolutely ignorant of the
outstanding facts of an enlightened
Christian civilization. "They use, still
she said, many quaint old English
words. Light and hitch your beastie,
they will invite the stranger. Their
chief business appears to be the rails
ing of families and making of moon
shine whisky, and their only artistic
output is the weaving of beautiful
quilts. II is the aim of the guild to
reach these people educate and help
them.
At the conclusion of Mrs. Backus'
address, tea was served. Mrs. Thorn
as Clark was chairman of the commit
tee on refreshments, and was assisted
by the following ladies' Mrs. Clinton
N, Williams who poured tea, Mrs Ar
thur Thompson, Mrs. Robert Brown,
Mrs. Frank Moore, Mrs John II. Clay
pool, and Mrs. Harry Mitchell. The
tea table was beautifully adorned with
palest fe fleur de lis in jade vases and
silver appointments.
o
Attend Convention
In Newark
| Mrs. w. w. Pennell, Miss Lulu Ash
and Mrs, David Tuttlo delegates from
the local chapter Of the Kings Daugh.
ters, are attending the district con.
vention of the Kings Daughters. be-
ing held in Newark Tuesday. Wednes-