'The early half of the century was marked,' writes Mrs. Croly, one of the founders of Sorosis, in her 'History of the Woman's Club Movement,' "by a crusade for the cause of the better education of women. Simultaneous with this were two other movements— the ants slavery agitation, inspired by the new enthu siasm for human rights and carried on largely by Quakers of both sexes, and the Woman's Rights Movement. The Woman's Rights Move ment was the natural outgrowth of the indi vidual sovereignty idea which the German phil osophers bad planted and of which Mary stonecraft was the first great woman exponent. The keynote of the educational advance was struck by Emma Willard in 1821.
'The woman's club was not an echo, it was not the mere handing together for social and economic purpose like the clubs of men. It became at once, without deliberate intention or concerted action, a light-giving and seed-sowing centre of purely altruistic and democratic ac tivity. It had no leaders. It brought together qualities rather than personages; and, by a rep resemation of all interests, moral, intellectual and social. created an ideal basis of organisa tion, where every one has an equal right to whatever comes to the common centre' Sorosis was founded in 1868. In 1867 the Press Club of New York gave a dinner to Charles Dickens. A number of women who were either actively engaged in literary work. or connected with it in some manner, asked if they could be present at the dinner. It was ruled that they could not, although eventually a compromise was arranged and a few women attended the dinner-- in some irregular way, probably as spectators in the gallery. The rot lowing year these same women met at the resi dence of Mrs. Charlotte Wilbour. All ex pressed their indignation regarding the Dickens Dinner incident, and the question —"Why can not we have a club of our own?* came up and led to an organization formed by women, to which the name Sorosis was given.
The first meeting took place in March 1868 at the residence of Mrs. Croly. Alice Cary was made president; Mrs. Jennie C. Croly, vice-president ; Kate Field, corresponding secre tary; and Mrs. Charlotte B. Wilbour, recording secretary and treasurer.
Simultaneously with Sorosis the New Eng land Woman's Club was organized in Boston by Mrs. Caroline M. Severance, and the first public meeting took place 30 May 1868 at Chick ering Hall. Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, Mrs. Ednah D. Cheney, John Weiss, 0. B. Frothing
ham, James Freeman Clarke and Ralph Waldo Emerson were present, for this dub had the co-operation of men.
The Woman's Club of Brooklyn was founded in 1869-70 by Mrs. Celia Burleigh, wbo was made president. The Fortnightly of Chicago was founded in 1873, mainly through the efforts of Mrs. Kate Newell Doggett. Jane Addams and Mrs. Ellen M. Henrotin were members of this club. In 1876 the Chicago Woman's Club was founded by Mrs. Caroline M. Brown. In 1893 the Civic Club of Philadelphia was or ganized, the first of its kind. As early as 1853 the Laurel Hill Village Improvement Associa tion was founded by Miss Mary G. Hopkins (Mrs. Goodrich) and Miss Sarah Yorke to im prove Stockbridge, Mass. In 1886 the Woman's Health Protective Association of New York was organized.
Sorosis sent in 1873 'a little messenger' to prominent women throughout the whole world, calling together a "congres1 of women.' This act received the commendation of thousands of women, including nearly all the reigning queens. This congress was held in New `fork at the Union Square Theatre, and formed an °Asso ciation for the Advancement of Women,' which held congresses annually in various parts of the country, until it was superseded by the General Federation of Women's Clubs.
General Federation of Women's Clubs.— This organization was formed at a meeting called by Sorosis in New York, March 1809 On that date Sorosis reached its majority and celebrated its 21st birthday. The Federation was designed to bring in closer touch clubs from all over the country.
Soon after the formation of the General Federation, the different States began to agitate the question of State federations. The first State to organize was Maine, 4 Sept. lea The other States rapidly fell into line.
The board of directors of the General Fed eration of Women's Clubs consists of forty-nine worr.en The committees represent art, civics, civil service reform, consersation, education, home economics, industrial and social condi tions legislation, literature and library exten sion, music, public health and National Educa Lion Association school patrons' department The New Fn and section• Maine, 157 clubs, membership. 6,1 ; New Hamp-hire. 116 clubs membership, 9,340; Vermont, 60 chubs, member ship, 5.539; Massachusetts, 301 clubs, member ship, 110577; Rhode Idand,.42 'clubs, member ship. 6,0'88; Connecticut, 87 clubs, membership, 5,1:.:.