Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1927

Mount Welcome March 3rd 1927 837th Meeting

After a lapse of two months the Mutual Improvement Association held its 837th meeting at Mt. Welcome the home of our Howard County member Sallie Adams. A delicious luncheon such as only the Janney girls know how to prepare was served after which the meeting was called to order by Mary Hutton our past hostess.

The minutes of the last meeting at this place were read for information and the minutes of the December meeting were read and approved. The Secretary was quite hoarse so Elizabeth T. Stabler was good enough to do this reading.

A very beautiful tribute to our dear member Cousin Ellen was prepared and read by Rebecca Miller and several other members testified to the worth of one who helped us all so much. Margaret Jones moved that this tribute be spread on the minutes and a copy sent to Helen Farquhar, motion seconded and carried.

Margaret Jones reported that flowers had been sent and read a beautiful note from Helen Farquhar.

It was reported by the treasurer Mary Tilton that after paying the dues to the Montgomery County Federation of Women's Clubs there is $6.90 on hand; the dues of the Maryland Federation of Women's clubs-- $5.00 3/4 being due.

The Chairman of Education Mary Nichols asked the Association to contribute to Sherwood High School Library. Helen Hallowell moved that if the Association has any funds this year for Educational purposes it shall be used for the Sherwood Library. Motion duly seconded and carried.

Chairman of the American Home Helen Hallowell had attended a meeting of the County Committee, Mrs. Humphrey Chairman, ---but the Association did not take action on any of the suggestions from the meeting.

Miss Ellen Farquhar Highly Esteemed Woman Dies at Ninety Years

Miss Ellen Farquhar, 90 years old, died January 17 at her home near Sandy Spring. She was a daughter of the late William Henry Farquhar, and was a lifelong resident of the county. Surviving her are many relatives in this county and elsewhere. Funeral services were held Wednesday from the home, burial in the Friends' Cemetery. Miss Farquhar was a sister of the late Arthur B. Farquhar millionaire manufacturer of York Pa. and Allan Farquhar of this county.

In the death of Miss Ellen Farquhar, Montgomery County has lost one of her oldest and most highly esteemed citizens. Born August 25, 1836, in the same community where she died, near Sanday Spring, she has held a place in the hearts of her neighbors and friends which cannot be filled.

Although gentle of voice and of quiet demeanor, she had strong convictions and logical reasons to sustain her belief. She had a most unusual memory and her mind was clear and bright to the end. She read a great deal and kept in close touch with what was going on in the world. She read the Baltimore Sun every day without glasses. Slight of build, she ws however of strong constitution. After her 90th birthday she could be seen daily, as was her custom, in her fine vegetable garden or among her flowers, which were the admiration of all who saw them, and which she lovingly tended. She was a botanist as well as a grower of flowers. Before there were trained nurses she was ever ready to respond to the need of a sick friend or neighbor. She taught school for 19 years but gave up teaching to care for her father and mother in their declining years.

Her father was a man of fine attainments and a prominent teacher. He was of sturdy Scotch ancestry his forefathers coming to this country early in the 18th Century. They belonged to the Society of Friends. Her mother was a direct descendent of Robert Brooke who came over with Lord Calvert and settled at DelaBrooke in Calvert County, Maryland.

COUSIN ELLEN IN MEMORIAL ELLEN FARQUHAR

August 25, 1836,January 17, 1927

To all of whose privilege it was to know Cousin Ellen the world is a less homelike place since she is in it no longer; we of the Association who were close to her through our lifetime can hardly realize that never again will her welcoming smile, her cordial greeting give its accustomed flavor to our meetings.

Among the many and varied and true tributes paid to Cousin Ellen when we gathered for our final farewell to our friend, one brief sentence quoted from her own lips, explained in large part her wide and potent influence; within a year she had said to a pupil of "lang syne": - "I probably shall not be here long, but I still find life interesting"! Her interest, her sympathetic, friendly interest in all the multitude of girls who came under her care gave her a hold on them, made her a power for good in their lives long after the relation of pupil to teacher had been outgrown. Genuine friendship grew up to take the place of that relation, and all of us who called her "Cousin Ellen" knew that her loyalty to her friends was unchanging.

In a very real sense she was an educator, though what she gave us came to us very largely outside of the school room and the school curriculum. Long before nature study became an integral part of every child's instruction she was training her girls, during walks in the glamorous autumn days, or among the dainty flowers of spring, in the woods and fields and in our garden beds to love all growing plants, to know something of their relation to each other.

By reading us good books, and by the telling of stories, at which she was an adept, she fostered our taste for worth while literature, and made much of it familiar to us. With unfailing patience she taught our awkward fingers the way of handiwork; by her example showing us the beauty of putting the good and the happiness of others before our own. She was interested in us and we knew it.

As pupil, as fellow-teacher, as traveling companion, as hostess as guest, as close friend, I have perhaps, known as many phases of her character as any other person, and in every relation it was a pleasure and a benefit to feel that it was my right to call her friend.

She had a genius for friendship, and she won to herself the best that her friends had to give in answer to what she gave to them, -herself.

Social Service, Mary Tilton read extracts from the Social Director's report.

Resolutions--no report

Margaret Jones, chairman of Legislation, told of the attempt to strenghthen the dog law--and brought several other legislative matters before the meeting with the result that the legislation: 1. Licensing and supervising all child-caring institutions in the State, 2 State-wide Juvenile Court Law, 3 Better support of illigitimate children, all were endorsed.

There were no special committees to report--and no unfinished business.

Marianna Miller, Director in the County Federation told of letters received from Miss Annie Wilson, chairman of Art, and Mrs. Chas. Kirk, chairman of Literature, -- no action taken.

State Federation, Margaret Jones, brought the legislature for state help for retired School Teachers, the principle of which was endorsed. A letter from Mrs. Sherman, President of the General Federation, in which she thanked the Association for the history of the club, was read.

New Business, Upon motion seconded and unanimously carried, Helen Farquhar's name was placed on the waiting list. There being a vacancy the Secretary was asked to notify Helen of her election and urge her to accept.

Rebecca Stabler, Rose Gilpin, and Mrs. Weld were also placed on the waiting list.

Next place of meeting--Brooke Meadow with Sallie R. Janney at the regular time.

Sentiment of the hostess: "Truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Sallie Adams then read of newspaper accounts of weddings which never are truthful.

Marianna Miller read from the second volume of minutes of the meetings at Alloway, Plainfield, and Lea's Mills in 1867.

Huldah Janney contributed a joke about a man who came home late.

Estelle T. Moore told of the work of a Joint Committee on work for Delinquents, urging that time and thought should be used to form public opinion for good reforms--and illustrated with the story of the "Bobbed-haired- Bandit." She was advised to plough her garden at the first opportunity.

Rebecca Miller told of the excellent work being done at Miss Reinhardt's School for Deaf Children at Kensington. Question--Why is sausage sometimes very good and at other times hard? It was suggested t that the quality of the meat might make the difference.

Alice Farquhar gave an amusing character sketch from her own experience.

Mary Reading Nichols told of a home for the blind in Georgetown.

Margaret Bancroft told of "Stark Loa" a movie made in the Kentucky Mountains.

Rebecca Stabler's article "If Youth But Knew" which suggested that "No" can be changed to "Yes", but "yes" once said is final.

Hallie Bentley's selection pictured the joys of a work-worn wife who was in a hospital where she could have everything she needed without any effort on her own part.

Fanny Iddings read part of a letter of her Grandmother's telling of a trip to this country in 1817.

Helen Shoemaker wanted to know if anyone has a hot water heater that is satisfactory--Huldah Janney and Katherine Adams both have very satisfactory ones.

Ethel Adams told of a novel way of planting potatoes--plant very shallow and cover with leaves or straw--and do not work at all.

Helen Hallowell told of the plan for a colored High School in the County with accomodations for about fifty boarding students.

Mary Titlon suggested that Sallie Adams have a "Chauffeur"