Evening star., 1938-07-10

WHICH lIlC AcucIdIl WAS cSJdUlL
vicinity Of New York were invited to
send delegates to the organization
meeting. In 1910 more than 14.600
clubs in the United States will take
part in its observance. and more than
two million women will follow the pro-
ceedings with interest.
Clubs of many types are included in
the federation. Its motto, Unity in
Diversity is emphasized in its scheme
of organization. Nine departments
covering a broad field, carry on its
principal objectives, while individual
clubs are given wide latitude in pro-
gram planning and devote much of
their attention to local affairs. Sup
port Of federation policies is as much
part Of the member clubs interest
as their own immediate problems.
= Constitution Adopted in 1890.
The first constitution adopted in
1890 provided that any club seeking
membership should have in its plan
of work no sectarian or political
tests: that its purpose should not be
primarily philanthropic or technical;
and that its chief object should be
literary or scientific culture. though
the more broadly human movements
might be recognized" Years later
Mrs. Thomas Winter, then president
.of the federation. said, in reply to a
question as to what the federation
was. 1T Is group of organized women
In every community who can be de-
pended upon to promote all movements
looking toward the betterment of
life"
The woman's club movement is
more than a hundred years old The
first club of which there is any record
in the federation headquarters is the
Female Social Society. established in
1925. in New Harmony, Ind. 1t was
organized by a believer in woman's
rights by the name of Frances Wright.
The Ladies Education Society of
Jacksonville. ILL.,, established in 1888,
is still functioning as is the Ladies
Library Association of Port Huron,
Mich, founded in 1865, and the
Friends in Council of Quincy, Ill.,,
founded in 1866.
In the early days it took courage to
be a clubwoman At first the mem
bers could not bear to have their
names listed in the official registers
. They feared both the censure of be-
longing to a club and the "indelicacy
OF seeing their names in print" Julia
Ward Howe, who was one Of the lead
ore In tho movement ic n,otod oe hoy
ing said that the club was the larger
home and must not be invaded by the
public or by its attorney, the reporter"
Gains Momentum.
The movement gained momentum
after the Civil War and many clubs
were formed in the 7Os. After the
formation OF the federation they null
"tiplied as if by compound interest un-
til today their number is legion At
least three Washington clubs, the Cap
itol Hill History Club the Excelsior
Literary Club and the local branch of
the American Association of Uni
versity Women have all celebrated
their 50th anniversaries
Sorosis, the famous New York club,
was the one that sponsored the forma-
tion of the federation. Sorosis, which
. has recently celebrated its 10th an
niversary. observed its coming of age"
by sending out call for federation
of the womens clubs in the vicinity of
its own 2lst anniversary AS for the
founding of Sorosis itself, that story
has often been told, but it is one that
will always be of interest to club
women.
Mrs. Jane Cunningham Croly, whose
picture appears on this page, was the
moving spirit of the formation both of
Sorosis and of the federation Mrs.
Croly was a newspaper woman who
wrote under the name of Jennie June.
When Charles Dickens came to New
York in 1868, dinner was given in
his honor by the Press Association.
Mrs. Croly made application to attend,
but was refused. Both the refusal and
the manner in which 1t was made af-
fronted the spirited Mrs. Croly Real
izing the importance of united action
to get results, she called several of her
friends together and plans for
womans club were made Alice Cary,
the poet, was the first president OF the
organization.
Men Invited to Lunch.
In union there was strength. The
Press Association recognized the ex-
istence of the new club and invited the
members to tea. The women were In
clined to be triumphant until they
realized that they were only to be fed
and talked to- but otherwise ignored.
In response Sorosis invited the men
to q lunch. where they gave their
quests similar treatment. The climax
OF the struggle came when a dinner
was given, attended by both men and
women. with each individual paying
his own way, and members of both
sexes making speeches.
It is quite understandable that this
group, intent on bettering the status
of women would sponsor the forma-
ton of a still larger group when the
opportunity arose.
The first meeting of the General
federation of Womens Clubs was held
In Scottish Rite Hall in New York,
in April of 1890 and Mrs. Charlotte
Emerson Brown was elected president.
The first biennial convention was held
In Chicago May IL to 13, 1892, and
soon after that the present pattern
of procedure took form. In 1901 the
federation was granted a perpetual
charter for educational, industrial,
philanthropic, literary and scientific
culture. Since the organization there
has been a steady growth Of mem
beship. and at the last convention,
held In Kansas City, Mo-, in May Of
this year, $4,000 new clubs were re-
ported as having afnliated within the
past three years.
House Bought for $7o,eee.
after many years Of maintaining
headquarters In ONCE buildings. the
federation In 1922 bought the house
at a1734 N street NV. for 1000.
A. h..:fA