of
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume I, 1911, pages 441-442
YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. The Young Women's Christian Association was organized June 6, 1905, at a meeting held in the lecture room of the First Baptist church. Miss Abbie McElroy, the state organizer, was present and explained the purposes and objects that should be sought by the members of the new society. This organizing meeting was the result of strenous and persistent efforts on the part of Mrs. Ella L. Jayne, who was especially interested, as she has always been, in the welfare and uplift of womankind.
The first officers of the association, having the title of board of managers, were: Mrs. J. N. Elliott, Mrs. F. S. Penter, Mrs. Laura Musser-McColm, Mrs. P. W. Francis, Mrs. Ella L. Jayne, Miss Winifred Giesler, Miss Mary C. Dean, Mrs. J. S. Kulp, Mrs. Celia Brigham, Mrs. Mary Hoopes, Mrs. Ida Brooks, Mrs. N. Rosenberger, Miss May Brown and Mrs. W. F. Bishop. The presiding officer of the meeting was Mrs. Ella L. Jayne; secretary, Miss Sue Browning.
This newly formed society affiliated with the Rest Room Society and held its meetings at the headquarters of the latter, then located on Iowa avenue, these rest rooms being under the direction of the Association of Women's Clubs. Under the new order of things Miss Elizabeth Hoopes was placed in charge of the rest rooms. At a meeting held July 18, 1905 at the home of Mrs. Ella L. Jayne, the membership of the board of directors was completed by the addition of Mrs. J. W. Potter, Mrs. S. G. Stein, Mrs. Lilly Brown, Mrs. J. Risley Reuling, Mrs. M. W. Stirlen. Miss Winifred Giesler was made chairman of the membership committee, Miss Lilly Brown chairman of the rest rooms, and Mrs. Ella L. Jayne chairman of the finance committee.
Miss Clara L. Darst of Chicago became general secretary and remained in that office one year, when she was succeeded by Miss Bertha Hoover. In October, 1905, the rest rooms were abandoned and the association and rest rooms moved to the Stein building, where there are various departments for the growing association. They are not large enough, however, and the next public movement in Muscatine will probably be that of building a permanent home for this worthy institution.
The present officers of the association are as follows: President, Mrs. M. W. Stirlen; first vice president, Mrs. J. S. Kulp; second vice president, Mrs. A. K. Raff; third vice president, Mrs. H. S. Clark; fourth vice president, Mrs. Robert L. Thompson; recording secretary, Miss Mary C. Dean; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Emerson G. Hoopes; treasurer, Mrs. F. H. Little; general secretary, Miss Bertha Hoover. The board of directors are: Mrs. M. W. Stirlen, Mrs. Robert L. Thompson, Mrs. F. H. Little, Mrs. A. K. Lilly, Mrs. Ella L. Jayne, Mrs. William Stark, Mrs. H. S. Clark, Mrs. A. K. Raff, Miss Frances E. Hawley, Mrs. Laura Musser-McColm, Mrs. Cynthia Millar, Mrs. J. S. Kulp, Miss Winifred Giesler, Mrs. J. A. Stephens, Mrs. J. B. Hunt, Mrs. Emerson G. Hoopes and Miss Mary C. Dean.
The one ultimate aim of the Young Women's Christian Association is the bringing of young women to realize the possibilities of the Christian life. All the departments of the association tend to the realization of this aim and toward higher Christian womanhood. The three distinct agencies toward this development are the Bible classes, mission study classes and Sunday vesper services. All these agencies bring the women and girls of the different churches as well as the women and girls of no church together and tends to bring other members. When it is realized how many women and girls are brought in contact with religion through the Young Women's Christian Association, often those who could not be induced to attend a church and many times those who are waiting to be invited to a church home, it seems that a new building in which this important work would not be hampered, should be forthcoming.
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