Stearns County, Minnesota - Chapter 44: Women's Organizations, 1915

Chapter 44: Women's Organizations

St. Cloud Reading Room Society - Organization - History of the Library - Civic Work - Parks Beautified - Betterment of the Schools - Sanitation - Social and Literary Aspects - Officers - Sunshine Society - Delphian Society - Sorosis - Its Work, Officers and Ideals.

St. Cloud is the birthplace of a type of woman's club, which differs in character and method from all other clubs in the state. The St. Cloud Reading Room Society was organized on a plan broad enough to combine literary, philanthropic, educational, reformatory, and recreative qualities. This organization is one of the oldest and most influential women's clubs in Minnesota.

In 1865, eight women of St. Cloud started a library called the Library Association. Men were admitted to membership and very soon the association numbered sixty. A literary program and supper added to the delight of the meetings. In this literary association, the Reading Room Society had its origin. Later in May, 1883, when a city library was organized, these public spirited citizens presented the city with about three thousand volumes, which formed the nucleus of the City Library, but there was no reading room.

Thirty-four year ago, on February 12, 1880, through the energy of Mrs. H. C. Waite, forty-four prominent women met at the home of Mrs. Helen Moore to discuss the needs of a free reading room for the city. At this meeting these energetic pioneer leaders in the library movement effected the unique organization of the St. Cloud Reading Room Society, which as stated in its constitution should have for its purpose, the establishment and maintenance of a free reading room in the city of St. Cloud and also the promotion of literary and social culture. A constitution was read and adopted and the following officers elected: President, Mrs. H, C. Waite; vice-president, Mrs. W. B. Mitchell; secretary, Mrs. L. W. Collins; treasurer, Mrs. P. Tenney. Of this first set of officers only one, Mrs. W. B. Mitchell, is a member of the society today. Mrs. Mitchell is a prominent member, not only in the local, but also in the State Federation work.

The following forty-four women were members the first year of the society's existence: The Mesdames H. C. Waite, W. B. Mitchell, P. Tenney, D. B. Searle, H. P. Bennett, D. S. Hayward, J. G. Smith, E. D. Moore, Lewis Clark, M. J. Whitman, L. H. Morse, L. A. Marlatt; the Misses Isabel Lawrence, C. Lawrence, Inez Moore, J. Owen, A. B. Crommett, M. L. Upham; the Mesdames S. E. Wing, M. B. S, Barnes, Helen M. Moore, S. E. Tolman, P. L. Gregory, C. L. Schulten, L. W. Collins, N. P. Clarke, M. S. Hayward, L. A. Evans, William Barrett, W. W. Wright, J. Cooper, E. A. Parks, W. L. Beebe, C. C. McClure, C. A. Oilman, C. H. Hines, C. S. Benson, J. E. West, C. F. Davis, D. H. Freeman, J. F. Stevenson, D. M. G. Murphy, G. H. Davis, John Coates. On the present membership list there are nine charter members: The Mesdames W. B. Mitchell, W. L. Beebe, N. P. Clarke, John Coates, D. H* Freeman, J. F. Stevenson, Martha J. Whitman, D. B. Searle and Miss Isabel Ijawrence.

It has been customary during all these thirty-four years, that the society should be entertained once in two weeks, on Thursday afternoon, at the homes of the different members. The hours of entertainment are from 4 to 7. The membership is limited to sixty, which is always full with a large waiting list. The first part of the meeting is devoted to business, when various lines of activity for civic improvement are discussed and committees report. There are seven standing committees : Finance, Program, Entertainment, Improvement or Park, Civic, Pure Food and Health and Hygiene. After the business session follows an intellectual program, and after that an appetizing supper is served at six o'clock by the hostess and jollity and good cheer prevail.

The annual dues are ten dollars. Each member is expected to entertain the Society at least once in two years, dates for which are prepared at the commencement of the year. For failure to so entertain an additional fine of five dollars is added to the ten dollar annual dues. The admission fee is three dollars. The yearly revenue from fines and dues is about four hundred and twenty-five dollars. This Society's receipts aggregating into thousands of dollars has always been expended for the library and other civic work.

The charter members of this organization were excellent financiers. At the end of the first year the total amount from dues $164.40 was immediately placed in the Bank of St. Cloud. March 2, 1882, Articles of Incorporation were adopted and duly registered. In 1884 and 1885 the Society desired to invest their funds in a free reading room and in April, 1885, a committee was appointed to consult with the Directors of the City Library. The project was deemed by the City Fathers inexpedient, therefore the Society decided to place the fund of $1,100 at ten per cent interest as a permanent fund for the reading room of the future. With this investment the standing finance committee was created, with Mrs. L. W. Collins, chairman. Later the funds were invested in shares in the St. Cloud Building & Loan Association.

After much agitation, in July, 1886, the free reading room was opened on the second floor of the old Edelbrock Building, the Society voting to give annually three hundred dollars towards the maintenance of such a room. The women gave carpets, tables, pictures, a clock, books, periodicals, shelves, electric lights, wood box, illuminated signs, water cooler, a Bible, etc. The society advertised this room in the daily papers. Advertisements were also placed in hotels, boarding houses, stations, saloons, barber shops and stores. In 1896, when the reading room was ten years old and the library with its ^,430 volumes was comfortably domiciled in the West Hotel, the yearly payment to the Library Board was $200. Finally the Society in 1900 conceived the idea of enlisting Andrew Carnegie's interest for a Public Library building to cost $25,000, and at the supreme moment, when a site was needed, in May, 1901, it presented one, the syndicate corner, owned by Mesdames John Coates, C. P. McClure, E. H. Holden, corner Fifth avenue and Second street south, costing $4,315.60.

That year the Reading Room Society celebrated its twenty-first anniversary, February 12, 1901, by enjoying a Progressive Tea in the Unity Church Parlors, to which the husbands were invited. The story of the society's past endeavors for a better library, and the hopeful dream of the handsome new Carnegie building inspired all members to make of this treasure house a worthy monument. Again when the society was twenty-five years old it celebrated the occasion by making a Silver Anniversary gift of $285 to its pet protege. A Library committee of the following charter members, Mrs. W. B. Mitchell, Mrs. C. A. Grilman, and Miss Isabel Lawrence, was appointed to expend the anniversary funds in appropriate gifts for the Library, and many beautiful pictures were purchased and several donated.

This Carnegie building, with its beautiful grounds, its four inner polished granite columns, its handsome mission furniture, the rare art treasures on its walls, the hundreds of volumes on its shelves is a noble monument to the generosity of the Reading Room Society. The library has about 12,300 well selected volumes. The Society pledged as usual $300 for books this year. During the past twenty-eight years this club has contributed $13,465 to the Public Library. The Society is recognized in the management of the Library by the following five members : Mrs. W. B. Mitchell, Mrs. Mary Stewart, Mrs. Martin Molitor, Mrs. E. Everett Clark and Mrs. E. F. Moore. The treasury of the society has always been in a good condition, proving that women are good financiers, for though always giving, they always have a good bank account, because the policy has ever been to keep the principal intact. Twentyfive hundred dollars constitutes its present assets invested in first class mortgage loans.

With the passing of the years the scope of the society has broadened and other civic work has received its aid. A beautiful park system for St. Cloud became one of its chief interests. The club has been of assistance in acquiring the lots desired for our parks. The Improvement Committee formed in April, 1900, for the beautifying Central and Empire Park and the Library grounds has in the fourteen years expended about four hundred dollars in shrubbery, hedges, vines, bulbs, flowers, etc. The public school children have been encouraged in flower and vegetable gardens. Several hundred packages of seeds have been distributed and prizes offered for best gardens, also 800 apple trees were planted Arbor Day of 1908, by the city, normal and parochial school children. Through the efforts of this club St. Cloud has had two big clean-up days in the spring of 1898, and also in 1913, when all the streets, alleys and vacant lots were cleaned. Many waste paper cans were purchased for street use. The parks were never more beautiful find the general interest in this work is abroad in our city. With the opening 01 the beautiful Scenic driveway, a grand opportunity for making a pathv/ay of the magnificent stretch along the river is offered. The general interest in this subject abroad in our city is due largely to this society.

The betterment of our public school system has enlisted the efforts of our Reading Room Society. When to curtail expenses, music and sloyd were to be eliminated from the school curriculum, the Board of Education heeded the earnest petition of the club, asking the retention of these two subjects. In 1892 the Society advocated teaching domestic science in the public schools, and again in 1901. the matter was agitated, but in February, 1904, the project was actively pushed. It was not until six years later, when the gymnasium building was opened in 1910, that girls were taught cooking and sewing, A summer domestic science course was established in 1911 through the efforts of this society and fifty dollars is given annually to the school's support. In 1907 the Reading Room conducted a vacation manual training school for boys in the Union School sloyd room, engaging Mr. Knutson as director. Since that year $430 has been contributed to that work.

In January, 1907, the Society opened a game room in the library basement for boys, with a custodian in charge, and organized evening classes in the library auditorium three nights in the week. The erection of a-Y. M. C. A. building was a splendid project to which November 22, 1906, the society voted six hundred dollars. It failed of realization.

The value of play and play grounds in providing health and joy to children is known to all. Play ground activities, folk dancing, pageants, games, athletics and the wider use of the school building in community recreation meets with popular support. One of the former members of this club, Josephine Brower, of St. Cloud, has introduced the English Morris Folk dances into this country and has written the first book on this art. In recognition of her ability. Miss Brower has been made an honorary member of the Woman's club of Minneapolis,

Large contributions have been made to the Lydia Phillips Williams and I'rof. Maria L. Sanford scholarship loan funds. In 1908 the society placed three hundred dollars with the St. Cloud State Normal Faculty to be loaned to deserving students. This is known as the Reading Room Loan Fund. In the interest of obtaining a new high school building for the city, the members of the club made an active campaign this spring at the polls.

The passage of the bill for the separation of the girls industrial school was a measure the women urgently endorsed in 1905. The present work of the State Industrial Home for girls at Sauk Centre, as conducted by Mrs, Fannie I'rench Morse, meets with encouragement and approval. Governor Johnson, in August, 1907, honored the society by appointing Mrs, George W. Stewart on the Board of Women Visitors for the State Industrial School for Girls.

A protest against establishing a woman's department at the State Reformatory was entered February 9, 1911, by the Reading Room Society and their action was approved and commended by the State Federation.

Our sphere of influence for civic betterment has included many phases lof the city beautiful and city healthful. The systematic collection of the city's garbage was urged seventeen years ago. When the Pure Food and Civics committees were organized in 1907, an active campaign was made for meat and milk inspection, protection of raw food offered for sale, pure water, smoke nuisance and collection of garbage. Mrs. Caroline Bartlett Crane of Michigan, the municipal expert, under the auspices of this Society, made a tour of inspection in St. Cloud, October 1910. She praised and condemned. As a result of her visit our Pure Food Committee are visiting all places where food supplies are kept and report once a month. The chairman of this committee, Mrs. E. F. Moore, was appointed by Mayor Seberger, November, 1913, as City Pure Food Inspector. The sanitary score card system was adopted and records of inspection are kept in the city hall and on the files of the society. There has been a steady improvement in bakeries, groceries, meat stores, and the committee is faithfully working for more stringent enforcement of dairy and meat inspection.

Appreciating the splendid spirit and achievements of the Commercial Club, our society in January, 1913, joined the live city boosters by affiliating in membership and in purpose.

With the sale of anti-tuberculosis stamps and red cross buttons in January, 1910, a Health and Hygiene Committee was formed. A tuberculosis exhibit was held in the city September, 1910, anti-tuberculosis literature was distributed and many patients have been assisted financially. Through the club leading medical men have given lectures on vital health subjects. With the assistance of Mrs. Perry Starkweather, the Assistant Labor Commissioner, a school census was taken, a health survey made, and a visiting nurse secured. A medical inspector for the St. Cloud public school is urged by the society. A county sanatorium for Stearns is a principle to which it stands pledged and would be glad actively to promote.

The society joined the State Federation as charter member October, 1895, and the General Federation January, 1906, and has generously contributed to both the State and National Endowment Funds. As a charter member the Reading Room joined the Sixth District Federation when it was organized in Sauk Centre April 15, 1902, with Mrs. E. J. Lewis as vice-president. St. Cloud entertained the District Convention May 21, 1903, and also May 17, 1911, and for the last three years Mrs. Martin Molitor of St. Cloud has been the efficient presiding officer of the Sixth District.

The literary entertainments of the club have been of great interest. For the first seven years these consisted of only readings on all subjects from dress reform to Woman's Suffrage. After 1887 many original papers were given by representative men and women of St. Cloud. In 1897 the first program committee was appointed and a course of study on Sociology was outlined. The study courses have included Sociology, the English Novel, Italian Art, Writers of Today, Nature Study, Great Industries of Our Age, Famous Women, Literary Pilgrimage Through the British Isles, Minnesota, Study of Magazine Articles, Drama and Opera.

Lecture courses, concert recitals, art exhibits have always been encouraged by this organization and very many given under its auspices. The first annual exhibition of the Minnesota State Art Commission was held at the Library building in St. Cloud, April 4, to 16, 1904, under the society's patronage. Works of famous Minnesota and New York artists were on exhibtion, and famous paintings from the galleries of T. B. Walker of Minneapolis and James J. Hill of St. Paul. A beautiful handicraft art exhibit was held in the library building April, 1912,

During the past thirty-four years 248 ladies have joined the Reading Room Society. The membership has never dropped below 26 and since 1901 it has kept the maximum limit, 60, with an average attendance of about 38 members.

The Reading Room Society attracts its members for its sociability, good comradeship and opportunities for self-culture, yet it would not have grown and flourished these thirty-four years had not the spirit of social service animated its life. It has ever been active in everything that makes for the betterment of the community. Its members are aUve to all interests that bring individual improvement and its influence has always been sought by those prominent in reform measures. The Library Board, the Commercial Club, the Board of Education, the City Commissioners and Press all unite in furthering every effort of this Society. A common purpose pervades and animates all to make St. Cloud the ideal home city of Minnesota.

The following are the officers for 1913-1914: President, Mrs. Frederick Schilplin ; vice-president, Mrs. R. L. Gale ; secretary, Mrs. Alois Tschumperlin; corresponding secretary, Mrs. D. I. Russell; treasurer, Mrs. A. L. Riley; auditor, Mrs. George R. Clark.

Since this paper was prepared the annual election of officers has taken place for 1914-15, with the following result : President, Mrs. A. J. Tschumperlin ; vice-president, Mrs. W. W. Smith ; secretary, Mrs. J. H. Beaty ; corresponding secretary. Miss Marianne Clarke ; treasurer, Mrs. D. I. Russell ; Auditor, Mrs. William Fisher.

Sunshine Society

The Good Cheer Branch of the International Sunshine Society was organized in St. Cloud in December, 1908, with the following officers: Mrs. A. H. Eeinhard, president; Mrs. W. B. Mitchell, vice-president; Mrs. Martin Molitor, secretary and treasurer.

There are at present 173 members. The society paid the salary of a visiting nurse for two years, and is contributing to the same purpose a third year; has paid the hospital bills for the sick poor, helped in the anti-tuberculosis campaign, visited the ''shut in," cared for neglected children, an4 similar lines of work.

Delphian Society

The St. Cloud Chapter of the Delphian Society was organized October 6, 1913, with Edna and Marguerite Bunnell, Gladys Riley, Frances Ervin, Adelaide Dunn, Eleanor and Ruth Mitchell, and Edith Clark as charter members. The object of the society is that of study, a general review for college students of subjects classified under Art, Drama, Literature, Music, Architecture, Philosophy and History. Each member has a set of ten volumes, containing articles by leading university professors, curriculum of study, and references for collateral reading. The National Society's Consulting Bureau in Chicago is at their disposal, and through the editorial staff, it is possible to gain access to original manuscripts and private libraries. The young women meet every Monday afternoon at the different homes, the hostess leading the discussion of the day. Additional members since the founding of the Chapter are Mrs. Harry C. Ervin, Mrs. Henry Halvorson, Helen Hill, and Mrs. J. B. Fisher.

Sorosis

The St. Cloud Sorosis was organized February 1, 1892. On that date a little group of eight women met with Mrs. W. T. Stone, the originator of the movement, and associated themselves in a club which they called Sorosis, or Sisterhood. Thus, this club bears the name of the first Woman's club in America, Sorosis of New York City. Sorosis is a study club organized and continued for the mutual improvement of its members along intellectual lines.

The eight charter members who founded the club were : Mrs. C. L. Atwood, Mrs. L. B. Avery, Mrs. George Churchill, Mrs. E. S. Hill, Mrs. C. W. G. Hyde, Mrs. J. C. Palmer, Mrs. W. T. Stone and Mrs. A. T. Whitman. Of these, Mrs. Hill has continued her membership from 1892 to the present time.

The charter members drew up a constitution limiting the number of members to twelve and providing for the offices of president and leader. Mrs. W. T. Stone was the first president and C. W. G. Hyde of the Normal School faculty directed the club in its first year's work, "The History of Great Britain." In 1893 the office of secretary was created and when in 1898 the members of Sorosis voted annual dues of twenty-five cents each, a treasurer was found necessary. In 1899 the club began to have printed programs of the J ear's work and the dues were increased to fifty cents and again in 1902 to one dollar. These dues merely cover the necessary expenses of the club, such as federation dues, printing bills, book rent, etc. Sorosis has small resources from which to contribute to the many worthy causes continually seeking aid, but this little club has ever given its moral support to every beneficent movement. In 1898 a vice-president was also added to the official staff.

months from November to April inclusive, with special business meetings as the occasion requires. The club meets weekly on Monday afternoon from three to five o'clock and two or three members participate in giving the lesson at each meeting.

In accordance with the expressed purpose of the founders of the club, Sorosis has devoted itself to the study of geography, history, literature and art of various countries. In the early years of the club, a few minutes of each meeting were given to the study of parliamentary law and current events but this practice has been discontinued. A printed program arranged by a program committee is carried out during the working year. These are distributed some months before the weekly sessions begin. In the year 1892-93 Sorosis studied the history of Great Britain with Prof. C. W. 6. Hyde as leader, and following the history Rev. Charles J. Staples, who had just returned from a visit to Europe, led the club in a travel course through the British Isles. In 1894-95 German history and geography were the subjects of study with an outline of German history prepared by Prof. Van Liew of the normal school. In like manner Holland, France, Spain, Italy, Russia, Japan, China, India, Egypt and Greece have been the subject of programs of one or two years length. Farrar's Travel Class was used as a basis of work in the travel courses. Supplementing their own study the members of Sorosis enjoyed a lecture on "The Women of India" by Mrs. Lodor; the Rev. Dr. Wright of St. Paul gave the club an instructive and interesting parlor talk on "Growing Impressions of Egypt;" Mrs. Mary C. Burbank lectured before Sorosis on Spanish Art ; and Dr. Smith of St. Paul gave a scholarly lecture on Russia. During the years 1909-11 Sorosis gave itself to the study of Italian art and literature exclusively. American Literature was the subject of the programs of 1911-13 and now of 1913-14, Sorosis has entered upon a two year's course in French Literature. As in other lines of human activity the tendency of club work is toward specialization. In the younger and more ambitious days of Sorosis we find the women meeting during the summer months at nine o'clock in the morning to read the literature of countries studied during the year.

An annual Sorosis banquet and picnic were formerly social events of the year. At present the retiring president entertains the club at a five o'clock luncheon after the annual meeting. Occasional social meetings of an informal nature are held during the year.

Sorosis joined the State Federation of Women's Clubs, January 10, 1898, and became a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs, October, 1913. In April, 1902, delegates from Sorosis met with representatives from other clubs of the Sixth Congressional District and organized the Sixth District Federation of Women's Clubs and Sorosis has twice, in 1902 and 1912, joined with the other St. Cloud Clubs in entertaining the Sixth District Convention. In 1908 Sorosis and the Reading Room Society were "at home" to the state convention of the Women's Clubs of Minnesota.

The colors of Sorosis are green and white. Although the club is twentyone years old it has not yet committed itself on the rampant subject of suffrage.

Any woman inclined to study and qualified to do the work may be elected to Sorosis, her name being proposed by some member of the club. The number of members limited to twelve by the constitution was afterwards increased to fifteen. The present membership list is as follows: Ida M. Barnes, Charlotte Elizabeth Clarke, Marianne Clarke, Inez Hill, Marion Jenks, Marjorie Macdonald, Marie Molitor, Caroline Foster Munro, Genevieve B. Olsen, Zelda G. Porter, Maude Comfort Schilplin, Mary Lavina Schwab, Mary Louise Stewart, Elizabeth Tschumperlin, Alice Wheelock Whitney. Mrs. Stone, Mother of Sorosis, and Mrs. Barto are honorary members.

"With an ever-changing membership the character and purpose of the club have been constant. Sorosis is a study club purely. Through such a society the woman, busy with the manifold duties of home, finds inspiration and guidance for study. Through the study club she extends her horizon beyond the confines of home and native town and rises above the commonplaces of daily existence. While she performs faithfully the work in life vchich is hers to do, she avoids the rut stretching along life's pathway for those who do not make the effort necessary for growth of mind and spirit which should go on throughout this earthly life. - (By Mrs. A. J. Tschumperlin.)