THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
The only Jewish publication in the State of Michigan
Devoted to the interests of the Jewish people
$ 1.5 0
DETROIT, MICH., AIAY 1'2, 1916
Vol. I. No. 11
per Year
Sing'e Copies 5 Cents
Three, Years of Service
The Story of Three Years of Successful Work of the Jewish Woman's Club
From t he Address of \Irs. Charles C. Simons, Retiring President
When three years ago you honored me
tt ith the presidency of the Jewish Woman's
Club, I had a deep sense of the responsibili-
ties that the high office involved. I am be-
fore you today for the last time as your
presiding officer to render an account Of the
great trust you then placed in my charge.
Three Years ago I found the club with
many activities that • ought to he carried
forward on lines already laid out. I had the
hope, too, which I then expressed, that we
might be able to broaden the scope of the
club's tvork to the end that the social and
cultural aims of the club might be further
promoted. \\'c arc justified in feeling that
in a large measure this hope has been re-
alized. The Jewish Woman's Club, both
in its own field of effort and as a member
of the Det Mit Federation of Women's
Clubs, of the Michigan State Federation of
Women's Clubs and Of the Drama League
of America, ill which it took out an associate
membership two years ago—has done its
duty and lived up to its best tradition and
ideals.
Our own chosen wort: has been earnestly
done and, through our representatives on
the committees and in the departments of
the City Federation, WC have contributed
even more than in the past to the philan-
thropic, civic and social endeavors of the
club WOMC11 of Detroit.
The early success of the Penny Lunch
has been more than repeated. The work
last year was extended to include the Clin-
ton School in the heart of the crime district,
a nd this year we have been serving lunches
at the Bishop School annex on High Street.
as well as at the Bishop School proper. This
splendid venture of the Jewish Woman's
Club has contributed much to the physical
ind, consequently, the mental welfare of
hundreds of growing hogs and girls. It is
not our intention, however, to keep in-
definitely multiplying penny lunches. But
it is our hope to prove to the school authori-
ties that these lunches are self-supporting
and that they should he taken over and
f'stablished in other schools where they are
needed.
The interesting and gratifying report of
the chairman in charge of the Ida E. Gins-
burg Scholarship Fund speaks for itself. And
it is indicative of the breadth of view taken
by our club that two years ago the useful-
ness of the fund was increased by permitting
it to be applied to the help of deserving boys
as well as girls. In the last three years we
have helped twenty-five girls and three boys.
The first name was placed in our books in
P)02. Since then fifty-nine others have been
added.
The new activity of the administration
has been the NIonday Reading Circle, which
has developed into an important department.
It has contributed much to the cultural side
of our club life and has brought many of our
members into closer personal contact under
conditions both pleasing and uplifting. The
marked success of the Monday afternoons
encouraged us to introduce an Evening
Reading Circle, which has also been uni-
formly successful.
The Domestic Science Class, established
several years ago, has now become a perma-
nent feature of our club work. A year ago
last winter for one month we ran three' dif-
ferent classes.
Three Words of Strength
Written for The Jewish Chronicle
by Beatrice Newman
There are three lessons I •ould Nvritc,
Three words, as with a burning pen,
In tiacings of eternal light,
[poll the hearts of men.
11.
I lave I lope. Though clouds environ round,
And gladness hides her face in scorn,
Put off the shadow from thy brow:
No night but bath is morn.
III.
•
Have Faith. Where'er thy bark is driven;—
The calm's disport, the tempest's mirth,—
Know this: God rules the hosts of heaven,
And the inhabitants of earth.
IV.
Hate Love. Not love alone for one,
But man, as man, thy brother call;
And scatter, like a circling sun,
Thy charities on all.
Owing to the war conditions in Europe,
immigration has been necessarily limited, so
that the General Aid to the Charities and
the Immigrant Aid Committees have in the
last two seasons had but few cases to in-
vestigate.
During this three years' period a number
of unusual social affairs were given, notably
the performance of the "Kleptomaniac,"
which filled the Temple gymnasium to
capacity, and the "Mothers of All Nations"
entertainments which over four hundred per-
sons attended. But two banquets were
given. In 1913, to more fittingly express the
deep love and affection with which we cher-
ished the memory . of our dearly beloved
past-president, Miss Bella Goldman, your
board felt it best to sacrifice the banquet and
to donate the money usually expended for
the purpose to the United Jewish Charities
as a memorial. ThrOugh this and other gifts
the Superintendent's rooms at the Jewish in-
stitute is now known as the Vella Goldman
Room. The P)14 banquet, followed by a
splendid entertainment, is still pleasantly re-
membered, while the overwhelming success
of our "Twenty-fifth Birthday Celebration"
is still fresh in the memory of each of us.
In the last three j'ears we admitted three
hundred and nineteen members and accepted
with much regret the resignations of twenty-
three. But death has exacted a heavy toll
from the Jewish Woman's Club. From the
ranks of our members, Providence has re-
moved nine noble women, whose loss is
deeply and keenly felt by. all of us : Mrs.
Bernard Frank, \Irs. Samuel Rosenthal,
Mrs. Simon Lewis, Mrs. Emanuel Tabor,
Miss Bella Goldman, Miss Agnes Brown.
Mrs. A. B. Kaufman, Mrs. Moses Schott,
and this year Mrs. Harvey Schiller and Mrs.
E. I I. Rosenberg.
The special committee appointed from our
club to assist the Detroit Committee for the
relief of Jewish War Sufferers undertook to
collect money from women only. Over
$4,000 was raised by us for this worthy
cause. The Chairman, \Irs. Flora Goodman,
deserves special mention for the very effi-
cient way in which she handled the work.
And now the time has come when to other
hands will be given over the guidance of the
Jewish Woman's Club. To those who so
faithfully stood by me in the early days of
the administration, I voice my everlasting
gratitude. Nothing I can say can quite ex-
press my appreciation of the loyalty and co-
operation of Mrs. Jos. II. Ehrlich and Mrs.
Sidney S. Wittman. Equally grateful an I to
all of those who, in response to the year's
call for help, came from all sides to carry
on the work and uphold the traditions of the
club. I could not have wished for a better
or a more promising time in which to de-
liver up to you the charge which three years
ago you placed in my care. Our member-
ship is the largest in the club's history and
the spirit of service runs high. \\Te are on a
sound financial basis, and earnest women
have come forward with keen interest in the
club's purpose and with dreams of new
worlds to conquer. With such splendid tra-
dition behind us, with the firm ground of
numbers, financial stability and splendid or-
ganization beneath us, and with the far-
reaching vision toward the bright and glori-
ous ideals before us, who shall set a limit to
the future of the Jewish Woman's Club in
service or achievement?