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Belmont 10-8-1914

On 10-8-1914 The Association met at Belmont,
the pleasant and homelike home of Edward
P. and Mary Bentley Thomas, where the hearty welcome
that experience had taught us to expect was
supplemented by that of a beautiful hearth-fire that
cheered both body and mind. The guests were
Ellen Stabler, Mrs. Wilson, Annabelle Page, Mary G.
Colt, Mariana S. and Rebecca T. Miller, Florence
Hooper, Kate D., Marnie M., Elsie, Ethel and Miriam
Thomas, and the three sons of the house were
also present in the dining-room where they helped
to dispense the many good things at luncheon.

Neither our host nor hostess showed any recognition
of the fact, but we who enjoyed the delicious
viands and beautiful fruits, felt they had just cause
for pride in the products of farm and garden.

When the mtg. was called to order, Alice Tyson
handed to the Sec'y a receipt for 3.00 payment for
membership in the State Federation of Women's Clubs during
the coming year from the Treas., Rosalie G. Small.

Being hostess, Mary B. Thomas asked to be excused
from taking the minutes, so Eliz. C. Davis was
called upon to act as Sec'y for the rest of the mtg.

The sentiment for the day was an unusually
fine and strong one from Chas. Dickens, - "Father
Time is not always a hard parent, and though he
tarries for none of his children, often lays his hand
lightly upon those who have used him well; making
them old men and women inexorably enough, but
leaving their hearts and spirits young and full of
vigor. With such people the gray head is but
the impression of the old fellow's hand in giving
them his blessing, and every wrinkle but a note
in the calendar of a well-spent life."

Mary B. Thomas rather hesitated about making
any further contribution, but the Asso. was
urgent in its demands upon her, so she gave
us an original and exhaustive paper upon the
Peace Question in which she proved conclusively
not only the immorality of war, but its terrible
extravagance in wanton destruction, loss of life
and long-drawn-out after effects. The article
included some interesting and instructive