FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 603 



gone. That is. by the women of the different churches meeting logether 

 and discussing plans of helping those less efficient, their broader sym- 

 pathies and more generous feelings are drawn out. But we have church 

 cliques and •"sets." Presbyterians meet by themselves, Methohdisls by 

 themselves. But in such an organization as a women's institute, we 

 meet on the broad platform of the home and home interests. Women 

 of all denominations meet to discuss anything that is of interest to 

 the home — women's first interest and greatest responsibility. From 

 what I have heard of the way in which the women of all denominations 

 have been brought together through this organization, I believe that 

 it has done a work that no other women's organization has been able 

 to accomplish. 



By broadening the minds of the mothers— by showing them that their 

 plans are not always the best — by doing away with that spirit of unkind 

 criticism of the plans and ideas of their neighbors, the effect is that little 

 girls, ever quick to catch the spirit of the mother, are unconsciously 

 removed from that atmosphere of gossip and jealousy that has always 

 been so unfairly considered woman's prerogative. 



HELPING THE GIRLS THROUGH THE MOTHERS. 



Another indirect benefit: If the mothers by meeting together be- 

 come better housekeepers, are shown the necessity for pure air, plenty 

 of sunlight in the home, the necessity of well-cooked, nourishing food, 

 adapted to the requirements of the family, to the seasons of the year, and 

 the occupations of the different members of the family; if at the same 

 time they can be shown that much of the food with which the tables 

 in the country so often groan is unnecessary, neither helpful nor con- 

 ducive to the higher refinement of civilized life; and if we can induce 

 our women to take a part of the time spent in the kitchen in baking pies 

 and cakes and give that time to rest, entire rest, or self-improvement, 

 so that they may be better fitted to take their rightful place, that of 

 instructors, directors, counselors, companions of the members of the 

 household; if our young girls, brought up from early childhood in this 

 v/ay, were taught these new views and ideas of the methods of house- 

 keeping, I think the old scheme of housekeeping work would be revolu- 

 tionized before another generation of housekeepers has passed away. 



However, we must not be content to vieAv this subject merely from 

 an indirect standpoint. I think the object of this convention is to dis- 

 cuss plans for the purpose of bringing men and women into personal 

 touch with institute work. Hence we must consider how we can induce 

 the girls to join and take part in the meetings. 



Miss Smith is to explain the plan of organization, and I had better 

 leave that matter to her, simply saying that we have district officers for 

 the riding, with local presidents and secretaries for the branches. 



INSTITUTE WORK FOB GIRLS. 



This point Miss Smith will make clear. We pimply have the one set 

 of district officers for the riding, and then as many branches as may be 

 necessary to entirely cover the riding, so that if ladies can not travel 



