The Ladies' Auxiliary of the 

 Metropolitan Driving Club 



SIX years ago a ladies' auxiliary to a 

 gentlemen's driving club was un- 

 known, but G. Pray Smith had long 

 fostered the thought that some day 

 there might be such an organization 

 connected with the Metropolitan Driving Club 

 of Boston. 



The subject was discussed with the members 

 of the club until in January, 1009, when, at an 

 entertainment held in the clubhouse. Air. 

 Smith was requested to appoint a committee 

 whose duties would be to organize a Ladies' 

 Auxiliary to the Metropolitan Club, and the 

 following ladies were placed on the commit- 

 tee: Mrs. W. J. McDonald, Mrs. A. J. Fur- 

 bush, Mrs. Fred C. Gannon, Mrs. Wilbur L. 

 Duntley and Mrs. G. Pray Smith. 



Owing to the numerous social engagements 

 of the ladies it was not until the latter part of 

 February that a meeting, called by Mrs. W. J. 

 McDonald, was held. Mrs. G. Pray Smith 

 was elected chairlady, and then was born an 

 organization, unique in its name and its ob- 

 ject. 



( )ne week later, on March 5, the first regu- 

 lar meeting was held; the work of the com- 

 mittees was ratified, by-laws adopted and offi- 

 cers elected. No precedent guided this young 

 organization. They were obliged, as it were, 

 to blaze the way through unoccupied ground, 

 but from the very first business principles 

 were strictly adhered to, with the result that 

 the auxiliary have always been a thoroughlv 

 organized working power, with this object in 

 view: "To cement the bonds of friendship 

 and advance the social interests of the Metro- 

 politan Driving Club." 



The membership consisted of the mothers, 

 wives, sisters and daughters of the members 

 of the Metropolitan Club. The dues were 

 placed at $3 per year, which entitled the mem- 

 bers to many social advantages. The auxil- 

 iary colors adopted were blue, which, set in a 

 gold bonier, made a very pretty pin for the 

 members. The following are the first officers 

 of the auxiliary : 



I 'resident. Mrs. G. Pray Smith; first vice- 

 president, Mrs. C. H. Belledeu; second vice- 

 president. Mrs. W. L. Duntley; secretary, 

 Mrs. Nellie Dorey; treasurer, Mrs. A. J. Fur- 

 bush. Executive board — Mrs. F. C. Gannon, 

 chairla.lv; Mrs. II. 11. Cook, Mrs. Jesse Eddv. 

 Mrs. W. J. McDonald and Mrs. G.~D. Merrill. 

 Entertainment committee — Mrs. W. J. McDon- 

 ald, chairlady; Mrs. A. J. Furbush and Mrs. 

 B. \\ Carpenter. Hospitality committee — 

 Mrs. I!. \V. (love, chairlady; Mrs. A. J. Fur- 

 bush. Mrs. 11. E. Prescott, Mrs. C. F. Austin, 

 Mrs. J. T. Bailey and .Mrs. |. Brieham. 



In 10,10 the only change in the list of offi- 

 cers was Mrs. F. C. Gannon being elected 

 secretary in place of Mrs. Nellie Dorey. The 

 following year, Mrs. H. E. Prescott took the 

 position of secretary. In 191 2 the officers 

 were the same, with the exception of Mrs. 

 G. D. Merrill becoming second vice-president. 

 In 1913 Mrs. G. D. Merrill was first vice-presi- 

 dent, and the second vice-president was Mrs. 

 J. D. Thompson, the other officials being re- 

 elected. 



After four years existence the members, 

 feeling that there was a call for their activities 

 outside of social duties, entered the realm of 

 charity, and in the Spring of 1913 raised, 

 through the generosity of their friends, and 

 especially the members of the Metropolitan 

 Club, a fund for the Floating Hospital ; out 

 of this fund, in June, 1913, they paid $250 to 

 the Floating Hospital for a permanent bed for 

 five years, to be known as the Ladies' Auxil- 

 iary and Metropolitan Driving Club Bed, and 

 thus showed to the general public that the, 

 members of the auxiliary and of the M. D. C. 

 were not devoted entirely to pleasure, but that 

 they wished to assist the unfortunate. A small 

 balance was left in the fund, which is still held 

 sacred for the use of the Floating Hospital. 



At the annual election in 1914 the result was 

 as follows: President, Mrs. G. Pray Smith; 

 first vice-president. Mrs. G. D. Merrill ; second 

 vice-president, Mrs. J. D. Thompson; secre- 

 tary, Mrs. 11. E. Prescott; treasurer, Mrs. 

 A. J. Furbush. Executive board — Mrs. W. J. 

 McDonald, chairlady; Mrs. F. C. Gannon, 

 Mrs. A. C. Furbush, Mrs. B. \Y. Gove and 

 Mrs. A. I. Nelson. Entertainment committee 

 —Mrs. F. C. Garmon, chairlady; Mrs. R. E. 

 Thompson and Airs. J. O. Reay. Hospitality 

 committee — Airs. H. E. Prescott, chairlady; 

 Mrs. A. C. Furbush, Airs. ). Brigham, Airs. 

 C. B. Holden, Airs. J. N. MacLeod, Mrs. E. C. 

 Smith and Airs. D. AlacNevin. House com- 

 mittee — Mrs. Jesse Eddy, chairlady; Airs. I'.. 

 W. Gove. Flower committee — Mrs. J. D. 

 Thompson, chairlady; Airs. D. MacNevin and 

 Airs. A. I. Nelson. 



Airs. Smith has held the position of presi- 

 dent throughout the entire history of the 

 Ladies' Auxiliary, and, to her earnest en- 

 deavors the big success of the auxiliary was 

 largely due. She has excellent executive abil- 

 ity that has enabled her to enroll about her a 

 sincere body of workers. It is well known to 

 the members of the Metropolitan Club that any 

 affair taken in charge by the Ladies' Auxiliary 

 will be taken well care of and brought to a 

 most successful finish. 



