Evening star., 1936-10-04
Business Women's Council Here
Linked With HOnOred Name
Miss Ethel BagIey, Presi-
dent, Sister of Span
ish Var Hero.
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

q Bagley. From Revolutionary
i times to the present, members OF
the family have served their country
with valor. Only few weeks ago
Miss Belle Worth Bagley Of this city,
sister of our Spanish-American War
hero, Worth Bagley, journeyed to Nor
folk to christen the third destroyer
to successively bear the name of
Bagley. This tribue has been paid its
patriotic son by the United States
Navy because Ensign Worth Bagley,
as the executive oficer in charge OF
the s. s. Wilslow was sent to attack
the Spanish batteries at Cardenas.
Cuba, and bravely forfeited his life
in this line Of duty. Nor, has the
distaff side of the Bagley family been
less loyal to its traditions Of service
for others.
In our time, Mrs. Josephus Daniels,
sister of Ensign Worth Bagley has
served her country too. as the wife OF
President wilson's wartime Secretary
of Navy and President Franklin d.
Roosevelt's peace-time Ambassador to
Mexico.
Right here in our city's midst, a
third sister, Miss Ethel Bagley. has
for l8 years served others and the
city's civic needs as president OF the
Business Women's Council of Wash
ington, D. c.
When I asked Miss Bagley how
many times she thought she had been
absent from meetings during this rec
ord-holding term as a club president,
she modestly replied, well, not very
many" What I had to learn from
others IS, that since its inception
the club has rotated its other officers,
but by unanimous consent refused
even to consider any one else as the
chief motivator of its destinies in the
office of president.
The councils other officers are Miss
Emily Day, first vice president; Miss
Ethel Martin. second vice president;
Miss Minnie Haddaway, corresponding
secretary; Miss Florence Hendershott,
and treasurer, Mrs. Hattie G. Rup-
part.
Started by Revival.
The Business Womens Council
came into being as a direct outgrowth
of Billy Sundays Revival Services
here in the Nations Capital.
One of several such Nation wide
groups organized in the cities where
he preached his gospel messages that
the spirit of his teachings might be
kept alive after he had left the scene
of his endeavors, it is believed that
it is the only one of them still in
existence.
Not only has it maintained an estab-
lished membership of 800, but it has
continued to grow in usefulness until
it constitutes one of Washington S
most purposeful organizations, with
its ignoring of selfish aims that others
less fortunate may be served.
As its name would indicate, it is
an association of business and profess
sional women. 1t might really be
called the "Unselfish Association" for
its slogan is, Others" No truer
exemplification exists of the old truism,
IF you wish something accomplished.
60 to the busiest person you know, ="
than is apparent in the amazing rec
ord of its membership, who in the
main have only their precious mo-
ments of leisure in which to motivate
and execute their achievements for
their fellow humans.
Its purpose. as stated in the unos-
tentatious little monthly bulletin
which it issues. is, ITO promote the
spirit of helpfulness, friendliness and
responsibility for others among all
in personal loyalty to Jesus Christ" !"
Among its charter organizing men,
bers, who are sometimes affectionately
referred to as the councils founding
mothers" were the Misses Fanny,
Helen and Mary Childs; Mrs. John
Hervey Young and Mrs. Charles w.
Richardson. The Misses Fanny and
Mary Childs continued their interest
unabated until their deaths, and with
their remaining sister, Miss Helen
Childs, held a record for attendance
equal to Miss Bagley's. Miss Helen
ChildS continues her deep, abiding in
terest and Is today one of the pillars
of the council, as well as veritable
gold mine of information about its
activities and personnel. Mrs. Young
has been away from Washington sew
eral years, but her interest Is continu-
ing unabated from her present home
at Ardmore, Pa. Mrs. Richardson de-
clares she Is "the grandmother" of
the council and yearly renews her
invitation of many years standing for
the group to have its Spring garden
fete at her country place.
While the council meets every Tues
day evening Of the year, except dur
ing the month Of August, at the
Church of the Covenant, it Is strictly
tional in character. In
cluded among its membership are
those Of every church denomination or
of none at all. Nor is it possible to find
a more shining example OF feminine
democracy, for this same membership
AAno SAiiOiiCO WOulCll IIOIu CNCIy OCCu-
patton in WaShington's industrial and
professional groups.
New members are always warmly
welcomed, the dues being limited to
so cents per person a year. The good
accomplished with this sum, plus the
supplementations added to it by va
rious money-raising projects within
the councils midst is beyond belief
and a notable example of feminine
budgeteering as well as of internal
management. The council has never
had nor asked for any financial assist
ance from sources beyond its own
midst.
Artificial Cake Only Sham.
In referring to one of its own pet,
sure-fire money-raising stunts, the
rallying around its monthly make
believe birthday cake, Miss Bagley
laughingly but proudly said: THAT
artificial cake, is the only sham con-
nected with our organization. When
some Of us haven't had a birthday,
so that We are eligible to make our
modest contributions to the councils
birthday fund, we have been known