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?