Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1946

January-1946 - meeting

Francis Lattie Inn, (Fulford meeting) 12/27/1945

1037 meeting.

Louise Hough welcomed the members of the Association the Francis Lattie Inn for luncheon at 12-30 on the 27th December instead of the regular day a week later.

Cousin Helen Hallowell called the meeting to order little before two, and the acting Secretary, Mary Reading Miller read a Memorable to our beloved member Mary Magruder, who has passed on since our last meeting. After a short silance it was moved, "that a copy be spread on the minutes, and one sent her sister, Emma Magruder who lives in Califronia. Also that a notice of this meeting and a copy of the memorial be sent to the County paper." This was duly seconded and passed.

The rules and regulations of the Association were then read, this being an order of business for the January meeting. Election of Officers being the next on the list, retiring Secretary, Margaret Jones moved, "That we accept the report of the Nominating Committee as made at the Dec. meeting, and cast a vote for the candidate named". This was passed, and as the minutes of the December meeting reported the name of Mary Reading Miller as the choice of the nom. com. and as Margaret Jones had already settled her cloak upon this member there seemed nothing for the few members present to do but accept the inevitable, and, if not like it, at least make the best of it for the coming year. As for the new Secretary, she feels flattered, and humble, and though gray haired, and not so very young, asks pardon now if a few "cousins, and Mrs.". creep into the minutes in place of the traditional first names.

Margaret Bancroft was re-elected Treasurer. The minutes of the last meeting with Louise Hough wereread, and the last meeting at the Cedars were read and adopted.

The Treasurer was not with us, but had sent a report to the hostess, who at the time said that the letter had been sent Frances Miller for cousin Mary Magruder. She also reported only one dollar in the treasury, but as there were no bills, the treasurer prefered that no dues be collected at this meeting.

The place of meeting have become a bit confused, and we will skip ahead to meet next time at the Briars, with Margaret Jones, and the March meeting could not be decided at this time, but will be worked out by the next meeting.

For her sentiment the hostess quoted from Mark Twain, "I'm an old man, but most of my worries have never happened. She also read a little story of a garden. There were several suggestisons in answers to her question as to where she can get potatoes.

Margaret Jones gave a quotation beginning, "A new occassion makes new duties", and asked about the butcher bird, but no one knew much about it.

Betty Grey read a humorous tale of "The woman's Way". and asked if she should leave fresh manure in piles, spreading it just before plowing, or should she spread it over

the garden now. She was advised to leave it.

Cousin Sarah Adams had nothing, but promised to bring some samples of poems by Mrs. Riggs, some other time.

Mother Miller brought more of Benjamin Bannaker, and the history of the settling of the country around Ellicot City, and of the Ellicott family, especially George Ellicott, who surveyed for the present Frederick Pike, and was a warm friend of this wonderful American.

Elizabeth Stabler told, or read of how "The night before Christmas" came to be written.

Ether Thomas read a lovely litter poem on Peace Good Will to Men.

Esther Stabler read a beautiful sentiment from a christmas card, and told of the expert chair caining Peter Grey does.

Katherine Adams read of the interrior of the Vanderbilt home, which has been bought almost entirely for movie sets.

Helen Moore read "The Farmer takes a Wife," a most human story from the Readers Digest. She also told of starting an African Violet from a leaf.

Rose Gilpin read from a christmas card.

Helen Hallowell read from a letter from Floyd Nesbit telling of a trip he and Martha took up into the Sierra Nevada mountains, and seeing drifts of painted lady butterflies go by for days.

At the short business meeting which followed the reading of articles a letter of appreciation for our support of the Community Fair was read from Mrs. Lawler.

Helen Moore gave a report of the Hospital Board meeting, very new dealish and modren, talking in large numbers when she spoke of the benefits derived from the Thrift Shop, and the amount made on the pamphlet. If supplies can be gotten, especially hams the Hospital Supper will probably rise from the dead next summer, "Tis true, 'Tis pitty, and pity 'tis 'tis true."

Rose Gilpin reported over 1,000. qts of home canned vegetables and fruits, brought in for Donation Day, with many cans on commerical packs, and a drop of only about 100 glasses of jelly, which was surprising for this yeas so scarce of both fruit and sugar.

A letter of love and sympathy was ordered written Anna Bussler for the loss of her sister, Elsie Snowen.

The meeting then adjourned to meet at The Briars Feb. 7th, at 12-30.

Mary Reading Miller

Secretary.

Mary E. Gilpin was born in Brookeville. Md. her Father having a store there at that time. Alban Gilpin, and they lived there about four years and then moved to Avalon at Sandy Spring having built a brick house in the mean time and he and Richard J. Bentley had the store there until they retired from business in 1885. Her mother Rachel Gilpin passed away March 10th 1892 having spent most of her long life in our neighborhood. She and her devoted daughter Mary were interested members of the Horticultural Society and of the Womens Mutual Inmprovement Association and her declining years were passed in that comfort and freedom of care so grateful to the old.

Cousin Mary lived on at Avalon until May 1941 when she went to a Rest Home in Cononville and lived with a Mrs Lacher for nearly five years failing gradually but was contented there and well cared for.

She was always most generous and helpful to the sick and afflicted whenever they needed assistance.

She passed away on January 9th 1946 and was laid to rest beside her parents, at Woodside Cemetery on the 12th.

Elsie Hutton, a member of the Association for a number of years was born at Brookeville, Md, in 1857 the daughter of Arlando & Sidney Hutton the youngest of 8 children. She was educated in the private school conducted by her father to educate his daughters as he elect they should be. And they later helped him as teachers Elsie taught in other private schools, & later had one in her home for her neices & nephews & the children of neighbors. She also taught Music and Art, having pupils in all parts of Montg.Co. driving as far Rockville, and to the homes of pupils at a great distance.

She was a regular & faithful