Club Minutes: Mutual Improvement Association, 1883-1889

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Rosedale 11-29-1888

Eighteen members and ten guests assembled here today, with bright cheerful faces and hearts full of thanksgiving for the many blessings bestowed upon us. A Thanksgiving day indeed, to some of us who have been deprived of the pleasure of meeting with our sister members for some months.

After enjoying the bountiful dinner prepared by our hostess, we came to order soon after two o'clock. The Sec. being absent - Anna F. Gilpin was requested to take her place.

After the minutes had been disposed of, Jane S. Porter read part of a sermon preached by the Rev. William P. Evans on What All the People should be Thankful for." After comparing the present time, with that two hundred years ago - he says, "A glance at the contrast between that day and the present; and the numberless new conveniences and luxuries that have been brought within the peach of the people since that time. Should fill the hearts of the people so full of thanksgiving and praise, that they would run over in deeds of charity, and pious devotion to Him whose providence has led them into this golden age."

R. M. Thomas had selected pretty lines "Sins of Omission" and "Signs of New Life" from Friends Int. A good article worthy of being carefully read.

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Jane Schofield read a story called the Deacon's Week by Rose Terry Cooke - showing how much easier it is for a person to attend prayer meeting and say, amen! than it is to carry out the command of "Love thy neighbor as thyself," during the daily avocations of the week.

E. Holland -

Ellen Stabler, "Harvest Treasures"

E. D. Bentley, selected a New Preacher" by the Rev A S Isaacs, contained a good moral A man may become so interested in his own work, although they may be good works as to forget that which is due his fellow creatures.

R. E. Gilpin read "Love is Supreme" by Prof Henry Drummond. "There is no happiness in getting and gaining, but in giving.

It is better not to live, than not to love Goethe said "Talent develops itself, in solitude, Character in the stream of life."

Ellen Hough gave us a short article on the "courtesies in society".

Sarah Kirk read lines, "We Lead two Lives", and Ellen Farquhar, the opinion of the Emperor of Germany in regards to Woman. She is more patient, can endure more than men.

M. W. Kirk read a strong article on the Power of Sulkiness, a most disagreeable sense, when exercised in the home. Also a pathetic little story of prairie life.

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Sallie Bond gave an incident - "The Bells of Justice."

M. S. Hallowell asked for advice about carpet mark.

E. G. Thomas read a portion of the "Harvest Secret" one of four sermons by W. G. Gannett, It is the every days that count. They must be made to tell or the years have failed. Either by doing or bearing, we must act: in order to harvest anything. Action is to thought and feeling, what the leaf is to the crude sap: then of action, habit is the blossom; and of habit, Character is the fruit." "Character is the concentrated result of life, its organized deposit, its harvest in us, and the seed time of after life.

Kate Stabler read verses "The Little Grave" and "Tired".

Sarah H. Stone -

M Farquhar's article referred to Time, which passeth away, and men are forgotten in the life of three oaks.

Sarah E. Stabler "Count your Blessings excellent. Sarah E. Ellicott read a sentiment from a boy nine years old. "Give God the Praise"

A. E. Hartshorne and L. G. Thomas nothing.

Sarah T. Miller, from Christian Union, an able paper in favor of Women Suffrage."

Sentiment "A sunny cheerful view of life, resting on truth and fact with practical aspiration ever to make things, men and self, better than they are - is the true

healthful poetry of existence."

Having enjoyed the day - all pronouncing this Association a success, we adjourned to meet at "Charley Forest" on 12th mo 27 to dinner

Anna F. Gilpin Sec P. T.

Charlie Forest - 12-27-1888 -

The last meeting of the year assembled here to enjoy the hospitality of our lately reinstated member Jane Schofield

All the members, present except three A. E. Hartshorne, Sallie E. Ellicott, and H J. Moore, who sent in writing "a regret that she could not mingle with us today" also "her unabated interest and affection", accompanying this sentiment: For the lips, truth; for the voice, prayer; for the eyes, pity: for the hands, charity; for the figure, uprightness, and for the heart, love. Her message met with a warm response, and A. F. Gilpin was appointed a Com. of one to write her the united thanks of the association, for her kindness and consideration.

There were an unusual No. of guests acceptable present - Those who had never met with us, were Friend Elizabeth Comstock & daughter; Mrs. Haviland and Bell W. Harmon.

The rules were suspended, and the meeting called to order before dinner by the reading of the minutes of the last meeting held at this place, dated 10.22.1863, by Margaret Farquhar Sec. the oldest member of the association now living. These minutes of a quarter of a century brought back many pleasant reminiscences. After the reading of the minutes of last meeting Jane Schofield, gave this text. "Thanks be to

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God for his unspeakable gift: 11 Cor. 9:15. with the sentiment "No life can be pure in its purpose and strong in its strife, And all life not be purer and stronger thereby."

J. T. Porter, gave no contribution

E. D. Bentley Somebody's Mother", and "What one devoted woman accomplished in N. Y. and an extract from a working womans meeting.

Sarah E. Stabler. A Tale of the Maidens, or the remarkable coincidence of the loves of Garfield and Hayes. And a short account of John Howard of Harvard College, it appears there is very little known of this benevolent man. Also a sketch of Rosa Bonheur the Painter

R. M. Thomas, The Efficacy of Prayer" urging the necessity of prayer, not to change Gods laws on purpose, but on the contrary, to bring ourselves into harmony and communion with his spirit in accordance with his laws.

M. Farquhar "A Womans Conclusions", by Phebe Cary. a beautiful poem of thought and feeling.

Belle Hannun a visitor. Open Secrets by Lucy A. Bennet: text: "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him."

Annie O. Stabler a visitor, He careth" text: "Casting all your care upon Him, for he careth for you 1 Pet 5:7

At this time dinner was announced. After the intermission caused by this very interesting feature of the occasion, and an unusual amount of agreeable conversation, with Friend Elizabeth Comstock the central figure, we resumed business with the reading of Sarah S. Miller's article, The Open Letter of Charles Dudley Warner in Dec No of Harper.

Caroline O. Warren, sang a song of the Ramabai, and read a short article entitled, "A Funeral and a Wedding."