Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1927

A letter relating to the Social Service Drive was read--the result of which was a pledge of $50.00 for the Association.

The Director in the Montgomery County Federation read the four resolutions sent--All were approved. The Director also reported that Stella Moore will act as president of the County Federation for the remainder of Mrs. Merrill's term of office.

The Association is asked to send in the names of 3 outstanding members. This was deferred until the next meeting.

A vote on the National Flower resulted in the chioce of the Golden Rod.

Whether or not the Association will have a Booth at the Rockville Fair was deferred.

Health Centers would like contributions.

Delegates to the Annual Meetings: Estelle T. Moore, Emily T. Massey, Margaret G. T. Moore. Alternates: Margaret Bancroft, Mary Tilton, Elizabeth Stabler.

A plea from Stella Moore, acting President, for contributions to the Red Cross was read. It was recommended that the Treasurer sent $10.00 if the state of the treasury warrents it--. To be sent through the County Federation.

State Federation. Margaret Jones gave a short report on the Annual Meeting held in Baltimore April 26, 27, 28.

No new Business.

The Secretary was instructed to send letters of sympathy and love to Pattie Farquhar, Helen Hallowell, Julia Hallowell, and Nora McKay Dean.

The meeting adjourned until the first 5th Day in June.

A delicious supper was served, exemplifying the hospitality of which "Avalon" is well known to all. Some of the silver, china, and mapery were the same which was used at the meeting held at this place nearly seventy years ago.

Margaret Elgar Sherman Jones, Secretary.

SHARON COTTAGE June 28th, 1927 At 3:30 P.M., 6th mo. 28th, 1927 Margaret Bancroft called the 840th meeting to order at Sharon Cottage, the home of Mary Robison, daughter of our hostess Hallie Bentley.

The minutes of the last meeting at this place were read and the minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

Next meeting place "Plainfield" at the regular time - the first fifth day in the eight month.

Sentiment of the Hostess:

"The inner side of every cloud Is bright and shining, I therefore turn my clouds about And always wear them inside out To show the lining."

Hallie Bentley's contribution was from "Sketches from Cotton Lands" - the naming of the twine resulting in the selection of the names of "Neuralgy" and "Homicide". Question. Was the first ice-cream really made in Sandy Spring seventy-five years ago? No. The Fussell Ice Cream was the first known Commercial Ice Cream.

Helen Hallowell quoted "Andy Gump" who preferred the old fashioned novels, comparing the modern ones to a Glue Factory.

Mrs. Edsel read fro Alice Tyson of the old Friends Meeting House at Ellicott City, which is now being re-modeled and made into a dwelling house.

Mariana Miller read from the old minutes of meetings held at "Bloomfield", "The Cedars", and "Avalon," in 1868.

Estelle Moore gave a very old poem "Be not the first" to criticise or condemn. Let us speak well of our brother or speak not of him at all." Question. Must I put lightning-rods on my house? Most have none.

Rachel Thom read for Emily Massey - The Aims of Club Women being quoted from Mary Sherman, President of the General Federation of

[newspaper clipping] The Aims of Club Women A DEFINITE statement of the aims of club women to educate themselves, to serve their communities, and to support their Government has been made by Mrs. John Dickinson Sherman, president of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, at the biennial council meeting in Grand Rapids.

Mrs. Sherman began by referring to the courage, perseverance and vision of the pioneers in women's organizations, who joined clubs despite the wholesale criticism of their times, to work for that which they believed to be right. Incidentally, she settled a long-standing controversy between women's clubs as to which has the right to the title of "oldest by giving that honor to the "Ladies' Education Society" of Jacksonville, Ill., organized in 1833, and followed in 1838 by the "Maternal Association," formed by "all of the white women in the Northwest," in what was then Oregon and is now Washington. The Alphadelphian of Alfred, N.Y., was started in 1846 with a membership of 125, a large number for those days, and then came the "Ladies' Physiological Society" of Boston and vicinity in 1848, presided over for two years by Professor Bronson of Harvard University, such was the opposition to a woman in that position.

Sorosis of New York City, previously regarded by many as one of the oldest clubs, was placed in 1867 by Mrs. Sherman, but to that club belongs the additonal honor of being known as the "mother of clubs" because it was the inspiration for so many other groups and was instrumental in forming both the General and the New York State Federations.

The same aims for self-improvement and public welfare which animated these groups characterize women's organizations today, she pointed out, refuting recent attacks in which they have been called "hotbeds of Communism," "directed from Russia." and "designed to tear down American government."

"It is not the club women who want to tear down government, but our opponents, "asserted Mrs. Sherman: "those who fear our support of the prohibition amendment as a part of the United States Constitution, and those who never have become reconciled to the Nineteenth Amendment conferring the right of suffrage upon women."

Coupled with her defense of the club movement, Mrs. Sherman called upon the 2,500,000 members of the General Federation to support the Constitution as a whole, to co-operate with government agencies, to combat Communistic propaganda in their communities, and to present a united front against atheistic activities which she declared "constitute a far more widely extended conflict than the war itself" and are a challenge to God-loving womanhood.

Woman's Clubs. Several very old clubs were mentioned in the article - some older than our Association. The Secretary was authorized to write to Mrs. Sherman in reference to these old clubs.

Helen Moore read some interesting scraps and several jokes.

Mary Reading Nichols read a poem depicting the pleasures of a good old hickory fire.

Elizabeth Stabler suggested that the regulations of The Association should be read once a year. She read them.

Margaret Moore "This Hour" Now is the time that counts.

Fanny Iddings contributed the letter written by her Mother in 1917 - most interesting. She also brought a message from her Mother, Sophia Pierce, one of the Charter Members, now an Honorary Member and at the age of one hundred two, undoubtedly the oldest Club woman in point of years and membership. She sent her love to all and said she would like to come to a meeting.

Elise Hutton. All strong for eductation. Is it a zest for learning or merely a desire not to be found out? Also a poem. "Evening Mists. Question. Can asparagus roots be moved in the fall? Yes, in August.

Amy Hutton. "A child's Choice" and a poem "In the Forest"

Clara Moore, "Creation of Woman" a Hindu Legend. She is made of everything both good and bad - but proved unstisfactory to man. She also read a poem from the Alexandria Gazette.

"Blessings on thee, little dame, bare of neck and knees the same; With thy rolled down, silken hose, and thy thin, transparent close; With thy pretty made-up face, and thy bobbed hair's jaunty grace; With thy red lips reddened more with thy lipstick from the store, With all my heart I give thee joy, Thank the Lord I was born a boy." (Apologies to Whittier.)

Annie Miller read for Emily Massesy about the mesh bag that was made for Col. Lindburg's Mother.

Mary Nichols read an article on happiness, each one having his own idea of what it it.

[a clipping in right hand margin] Mrs. Sophie Pierce, who helped to found a woman's club at Sandy Spring, Md., in 1857, and still attended its monthly meetings, is believed to be the oldest clubwoman in the United States.

Annie Miller's own selection was a poem "A Christmas Present" written by her friend.

Other members present but without contributions were:- Hallie Lea, Mary Scott, Rebecca Miller, Sadie Adams. Guests- Mrs. Seers, Mrs. Lea, Mrs. Richard Bentley, Rebecca Stabler.

The Treasurer, Mary Tilton reported-- Paid Red Cross for Flood Relief, $10.00 Social Service League Drive 27.00

The Social Service Committee, Mary Tilton, chairman, reported on the work done by the Social Service Director of the League during the past year.

No other committee reports.

Unfinished Business. The selection of three outstanding members was not made as the secretary had written to the County Federation that all members are outstanding.

Rebecca Miller moved that the Association give up the idea of having a booth at the Rockville Fair this year. Motion duly seconded and carried.

There being a vacancy Rebecca Stabler was declared a member.

County Federation. Emily Massey, one of the Delegates to the Annual Meeting reported that she had attended the meeting at Glen Echo Park enjoyed it very much and was proud of Stella Moore who conducted the meeting. Stella was made president of the Montgomery County Federation of Women's Clubs at this meeting, Mrs. Merrill being forced to resign on account of illness. Bishop Freeman's address was particularly good.

State Federation. Margaret Jones brought up the matter of endorsing Kindergartens. The principle was endorsed but the problem of transportation enters in very decidedly in this part of the State. A motion was made seconded and carried, that if practicable the Association will help to have Kindergartens established here.

Mary Nichols asked that a new chairman of education be appointed.--Her resignation was accepted with regret but no new appointment