Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1923

Oak Grove February 1, 1923. 795 th Meeting. Despite the unusually inclement weather and much illness in the Neighborhood, about twenty were present at the Oak Grove meeting of the Association on the first day of February.

A delicious luncheon, served with rare old linen, china and silver linked the past and the present of this organization in a very enjoyable way.

India Downey presided and Margaret Jones acted as Secretary in place of Julia A. Hallowell.

The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved and the minutes of the last meeting at Oak Grove were read for information.

The Director of the County Federation being absent, Margaret Jones gave a short report of the last Executive Board Meeting at Dawsonville on the sixteenth of January.

Mary Tilton's report of a recent meeting of the Social Services League was read.

India Downey reported that the chicken house at the Hospital is completed and each one is asked to give a chicken of some variety.

Helen Shoemaker invited the association to hold its March meeting at Myrtlebank, the invitation being accepted with thanks.

The sentiment of the Hostess: - "His heart was as great as the world, but there was no room in it for a wrong. Emerson

Hallie Bentley read Emily Massey's selection from verses by Edgar A. Guest telling us to have courage-in homely things-facing life--trying for a splendid goal and smiling at failure.

Hallie Bentley's own selection was also from Edgar A. Guest telling how much good is done by "The Cookie Lady." She then touched our heart strings with Eugene Field's "Little Boy Blue".

Florence Hallowell had no contribution, and when asked about her incubator, she said it was a great deal of trouble so she did not use it any more.

Mary Gilpin read of the multitudinous duties of the present day American Consul.

Cousin Ellen Farquhart read of "Story-tell Lib", a little lame girl who told stories out of her own head-not too preachy-simple tales, in dialect; each one taught a lesson. The Closed Gentian-"The Shot Up Posy" was a little gem.

Rebecca Miller's "A Day with Billy" tended to make us appreciate our everyday blessings. She also read a few jokes. The questioin about the care of ferns brought forth many suggestions for fertilizing such as tea, glue, chicken manure. Lacy and maiden hair ferns should be cut off now.

Helen Moore read from "Lines from Ladyville" by John Eberhart, a business man with lots of fun during leisure hours.

Mary Hutton's article "In China Too" gave us to understand that the up-to-date girl in China is just like the ones we have here at home.

Amy Hutton read "What kind of snob are you?" from the Atlantic Monthly.

Sallie Janney read "The Last Cry."

Pattie Farquhar inquired where she could borrow a bow and arrow, and then read an Editorial from the Washington Herald on the Ku Klux Klan.

Margaret Jones read of Dr. Hall's book "The Compensations of Old Age."

The meeting adjouorned to Myrtlebank.

Margaret Elgar Sherman Jones, Secretary pro tem

The March 1923 was omitted to respect the memory of our valued member and Secretary of many years, Mary Bentley Thomas.

Myrtlebank April 5, 1923 796th Meeting.

After a very delicious lunch we held our first meeting at Helen Shoemaker's, which proved to be a very interesting meeting, most members being present and a few guests among them Helen's daughter and charming little granddaugter.

Hallie Bentley was appointed Chairman. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The March meeting was omitted to respect the memory of our valued member and Secretary of many years, Mary Bentley Thomas. The invitation for next meeting was to Mary B. Hutton's to lunch, May 3.

Estelle T. Moore read a very interesting report from the County Federation of Women's Clubs, which was approved.

New business.

A letter to Mrs. Downey from Mrs. Phil Robison was read describing a wonderful school at Crossmon, North Carolina carried on by Mrs. Mary Martin Sloop and asking us for old clothes and any old things that we cannot use. "Old clothes have done it all, save for a few gifts of money which helped with the school buildings and the farm." The appeal was met with a great deal of interest.

Hallie Bentley was appointed to write an obituary of Cousin Mary Bentley Thomas. Sentiment - "Religion is the best armor a man can have, but it is in the worst cloak."

The Secretary was asked to write a note of sympathy to Cousin Ellen Farquhar because of her fall.

Helen Shoemaker read a poem "Be Hopeful."

Mrs. Davis - an account of the Red Sea from the Living Age.

Mary Tilton read a little piece of poetry about the weather, "Safety First." She also read extracts from an article in Living Age about Pasteur, so interesting we wished we could have heard the whole article. At his tomb are written his own words - "Happy is he who carries a God within him, an ideal of beauty to which he is obedient, an ideal of art, an ideal of science, an ideal of the fatherland, an ideal of the virtues of the Gospel."

Sallie Adams read a funny little poem called "New-laid Eggs."

Madge Jones - an article on divorce, much food in it for thought and action if we know what to do and how to do it. South Carolina has no divorce law. Question - (Margaret E.S. Jones) What does the Association think of selling the farm of the County Home? Disapproval generally expressed.

Pattie Farquhar gave a receipt to keep water pipes from freezing - paint them with equal parts of glycerine and paraffin. She also an article about the wonderful X-ray doctor, Charles Vaillant, who had thirteen operations and finally lost both arms, also read of the Hundredth Anniversary of John Howard Payne, author of "Home, Sweet Home."

Rebecca Miller - an article about educating the youth for war, and a lovely little poem called "Black Bird."

Rebecca Stabler - some funny jokes and some lovely verses, "Living and Giving."

Elise Hutton read about harmless gossip.

Sadie M. Adams gave a description of the 3,000 Japanese cherry trees in bloom in Washington.

Elizabeth T. Stabler - an article on Rapid Transit on a moving belt.

Mary B. Hutton -- a rhyme about an electric advertising sign.

Estelle T. Moore suggested delegates to go to the County Federation. Sadie M. Adams Elise Hutton Rebecca M. Stabler Alternates Fannie B. Snowden Mary Gilpin Pattie T. Farquhar

Mary Gilpin - an article about the negroes of this country from the Christian Herald.

Mrs. Nichols read "Little by Little" from Current Opinion, about the consolidation of all good in the world.

It was moved and seconded that we apply to the State Federation of Women Clubs for membership.

Julia A. Hallowell, Secretary.

Clermont May 3, 1923 797th Meeting.

On May 3 the Association met at the home of Mary B. Hutton.

After a delicious lunch the meeting was called to order.

Minutes of the last meeting were read, corrected and approved. Minutes of the last meeting at this place were read.

Mary M. Tilton read a report from the Social Service, showing much work for one month and very interesting and full.

The next meeting to be at Amy and Elise Hutton's at 3 o'clock.

Sentiment. "Build a little fence of trust around to-day, Fill the space with loving work, and therein stay; Look not through the sheltering bars upon tomorrow, God will help thee bear what comes, Of joy or sorrow." Mary Frances Butts.

Sallie R. Janney read a very interesting article from The Mentor, an Ohio magazine, entitled "The Stone of Scone" - pronounced skoon - by Dr. J.J. Walsh.

Mrs. Scott's piece was most curious and interesting, "A Living Tree Tower" from The American Forestry.

Margaret C. Bancroft read, "Why the drift from the farm to the city continues." In 1920 there were in the United States for the first time in its history, more city than country people. Last year two million left the country to go to the crowded places.

Mariana S. Miller sent a report from the Home and School Association. Each point in question was discussed and then referred back to the Committee.

Margaret E.S. Jones read "The Greatest Issue in the World" by Frank Crane.

Elise Hutton gave us a very funny account of Bachelor's Wives by Laura Spencer Porter.

Estelle T. Moore read a sweet little old fashioned poem by the Bentztown Bard.

Mrs. Downey told us why Carnegie founded Libraries. He had received such untold benefit himself when young, so he wanted to help all young people.

Cousin Ellen Farquhar read a little story, "The Child George" by M.L. Davies, and a very touching little poem by Amelia Barr, "From Day to Day."

Mary Gilpin read a very helpful little piece entitled "Sunshine and Shadow" - telling us to look upward.

Pattie T. Farquhar's contribution was "The Influence of the Radio".

Margaret G.T. Moore told of the one thousand and one wonders of our Nation-