Evening star., 1940-01-07

interesting bits of the clubs history
Mrs. Jones explained that recent
ly"-some 20 years or so ago-a
treasurer was added and standing
committees appointed to keep the
club membership up to its limited
quota of "a, to arrange monthly
meeting places, should anything in
terfere with the normal rotation
among the members, and to take
charge of business connected with
the associations library work in be-
half of the school.
1t is through its programs, how
ever, that the association prooaoiy
differs most from other women S
organizations of the day.
In an age of RECOMMENDATION TINS
group retains sort of rugged lnol-
yiduality-adhering still to Its orig
inal conception of program hour
for every member present to make
some contribution-on Whatever
subject she might wish to discuss.
Quaker Style Furnishes
Model in Part.
The association in the beginning
was a Quaker group, Mrs. Jones ex-
planned. and it's sessions modelled IN
part after the Quaker meeting style.
The past hostess is always the
presiding officer. After minutes nave
been read and few necessary reports
given the hostess of the day gives
a sentiment" This may be any
helpful thought which she thinks Will
inspire the membership.
Mrs. Jones. who was a recent host
ess, offered this quotation as her SEN
timent: BE strong. We are not
here to play, to dream, to DRIFT. we
have hard work to do and loads 10
lift. Shun not the struggle, face II.
IT'S Gods gift"
After the sentiment come the con-
tributions of members and guests
and variety of topics they cover, TOO.
Some elect to give recipes or gar
dening hints, perhaps. Others 10
read passages from literature. Cc-
casionally a member even tells a
Joke. It is a standing rule that in
teresting vacations always are re-
ported.
For while" Mrs. Jones said,
"practically all they talked about
was grandchildren. I brought 1t out
in the minutes she added. "and 1
haven't heard anything about grand
children since
The pattern of the program is
given in one section of the asSo-
ciation's bylaws, which states:
"That we shall offer for the benefit
of the association such information
as we may have obtained, by ex-
perience or otherwise, in any way
calculated to elevate the minds, in
crease the happiness, tighten the
labor or add to the comfort of one
another, our families or our neigh
bors."
Soap Making and Worry
Sure Fire Subjects.
Fortunately the minutes have re-
corded topics brought up at meet
ings through the years and were the
basis for fascinating article writ
ten by a former secretary OF the
club, Mary Bentley Thomas, when
the club became so years of age.
Reviewing program material OF the
last century. Mrs. Thomas disclosed
that two subjects had received great
prominence - Soap Making and
1.-THE Sin and Uselessness of Worry.
Simple ways of keeping lamp
chimneys clean also were offered
and, in 1860, one of the topics was
"The Decline of Female Conversa-
ton" In 1862, according to Mrs.
Thomas review, "politeneSs was SAID
to be a good thing, but should never
conflict with the truth"
The "sorrowful sixties" found the
members busy making garments for
sick and wounded soldiers. and IN
1871 the group lodged its first pro-
test against child labor.
Other evidence of concern over So
cial conditions was recorded by MRS
Thomas. who declared the assocla-
tion "at one time became so much
1nCereSteU III SdeliCiAAl6 Wy oAN ~
ing to Baltimore homes children OF
manifestly unsuitable parents that
one man said he intended to call his
(children) in whenever he saw a
particular member driving toward
Union Station"
Founder of the association was
Mary L. Roberts, who, incidentally
was the first member to be lost oy
death-in 1888. The home OF MRS
Roberts and her husband, Benjamin
Rush Roberts, was the scene OF the
organization meeting. Then calico
Sherwood, the home later was known
as Clovery when the 18th annlver'
sary was observed. During the iattel
event Cloverly was the home OF MIS-
John c. Bentley.
The date of the first meeting was
May /, 1857.
Auto Lights Obviate
Dependence on Moon.
Like other old organizations IN
Sandy Spring. the association, IN lts
early days, chose its meeting date
according to the moon, Mrs. Jones
said. With the coming of the day
of automobile lights, this custom was
abandoned, and meetings now are
held the first Thursday OF each
month the year round. AS its active
membership is limited to "a, each
member is hostess about once every