USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio, Volume I > Part 53
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The Mozart Club was among the very earliest of our clubs to come into existence.
Dayton has always had a strong musical element, which has continuously up- held the highest and best in the art. The advantage and pleasure of a club or- ganization along this line was readily seen and an organization speedily and enthusi- astically effected in the spring of 1888 with Mrs. Victoria C. Wood as president. For many years it centered musical talent and exerted a wide influence toward mu- sical improvement. It was not only an abounding source of refined pleasure but a spur to excellence in both amateur and professional circles.
After a suspension for some years it has resumed activity and is doing fine service by making itself felt among the young, coming in touch with the high school pupils through special program work and in other ways encouraging music in the schools.
The Woman's Literary Club is justly styled "the mother of our clubs" being organized in 1889 and federated in 1890. There had been for some time quiet groups of women in different parts of the city, who had gathered for study of both art and literature. Prominent among these forerunners. was the informal Shakes- peare Club, where more than once the remark was made by Miss Carrie Brown, prominent among club circles, "The time has come when our club should be en- larged. Others should be asked to share in the benefits we are enjoying."
The new club impulse then stirring women all over the country was being felt in Dayton.
At the time of the meeting of the already flourishing Mozart Club, Mrs. Jane B. Marley remarked to Mrs. Stillwell, "Would it not be a good thing to have a club for the study of literature as well as one for the study of music?" During the next few days several conversations were held by the two upon the subject. These resulted in the meeting with a few friends on March 30, 1889, in the Cooper hotel on Second street. The following ladies were present : Miss Carrie Brown, Mrs. Stillwell, Mrs. A. D. Wilt, Mrs. Harry Lytle, Mrs. Frank Conover, Mrs. James Robert and Miss Electra Doren. With Mrs. Marley as chairman and Miss Doren as secretary of the meeting, a resolution to form a Woman's Literary Club in Dayton was adopted and a rough draft of a constitution submitted by Mrs. Marley. At a meeting the following week the names of Mrs. J. B. Thresher and Miss Anna Rogers were added and a constitution was adopted.
It was agreed to bring a notice of the clubs thus formed before the women of the city through the daily press and a paper for signatures was left at the Wo- man's Christian Association. At the meeting on April 9, an enrollment of mem- bers was made. One hundred and twenty-five enrolled as charter members.
The Woman's Literary Club held its first four meetings in the parlors of the Young Men's Christian Association, which were then used conjointly with the Woman's Christian Association. Afterwards they were held in the Garfield Club
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rooms on Main street until February 4, 1892, when they began to occupy their present quarters in the Woman's Christian Association.
The news of the new organization brought many congratulatory letters from similar organizations in other cities as well as inquiries as to plans of work and letters desiring help in various undertakings. The extension committee of the club has been useful in organizing clubs in other cities as well as in Dayton. Many have left the mother club to join other organizations in other parts of the city.
A name the club will ever honor and revere is that of Miss Mary D. Steele. Her wise council and sympathetic interests were of invaluable service to its founders. As a member of the board of the general federation she gave the Woman's Literary Club of Dayton, Ohio, a prestige that has been very gratifying to all the delegates that have attended from time to time the great national club conventions.
The following is a list of the presidents since the formation of the club: Jane B. Marley, Agnes J. Roberts, Salome K. Rike, Charlotte Reeve Conover, Sarah B. Thresher, Mary M. Parrott, Mary Reeve Dexter, Mary M. Kumler, Mabel S. Withoft, Marie J. Kumler and Elizabeth Peirce.
For a score of years the club has maintained a continuous, vigorous and steady progressive existence.
The clubs of Dayton can now be numbered by the socre. We have them in the churches, in the schools, in business establishments, among the teachers, the kindergartens and the mothers. Those that are distinctly literary and issue yearly program calendars have banded together in a city federation known as the Day- ton Federation of Literary Clubs, with Mrs. Charles Kumler as president. The word "Literary" instead of "Women's" has been employed in the name so that clubs which include men may also become members of the city federation. At present the Teachers' Club is the only club in the federation which enrolls men as well as women. The object of this is to conserve force, concentrate energy and at- tain more quickly, directly and intelligently any desired end. As the club spirit tends to break down the barriers of sectarianism and social cliques and draws wo- men together on the broad basis of a large common purpose so it is claimed, the city, state and national federations do the same in principle for the individual clubs composing them.
The federation has already found a common interest which has led to hearty cooperation in the establishment of a scholarship fund. By the payment of the paltry sum of one cent per week each, a sufficient amount was raised in 1908-9 to send a young factory gi1, ambitious and capable, to Glendale College. The same beneficiary has been returned to Glendale for 1909-10 after which the presi- dent of the college has generously offered to assume the education of the federation protege.
This fund will in all probability become a permanent one and the Federation of Literary Clubs by means of it will be able to assist many young women and men to secure higher education, as weil as to aid widowe } mothers in keeping their children in the grade schools instead of sending them out to work so young and ill prepared.
The following are the clubs constituting the Dayton Federation and their presidents for 1909-10:
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DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY. COUNTY
Advance Club-Mrs. John G. Quinius.
Book Club-Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson.
College Woman's Club-Miss Alta Becker.
Dayton Teachers' Club-Mr. William Pritz.
Emerson Club-Mrs. Elwood Allen.
Friday Afternoon Club-Mrs. A. H. Reeder.
Harriet Stevens Club-Mrs. Nelson Emmons, Sr.
H. H. Club-Miss Mary Alice Hunter. High Standard Club-Miss Maude Holmes.
Kindergarten Club-Miss Ethel Rice. Home Culture Club-Mrs. Edward W. Ulen.
New Book Club-Mrs. J. M. Deam.
Outlook Club-Mrs. George S. Bailey.
Research Club-Mrs. J. E. Welliver.
Riverdale Woman's Club-Miss Lillian Amend.
Woman's Literary Club-Miss Elizabeth Peirce.
Some of the best features of our municipal life in Dayton have received their impetus or obtained their realization only through the emphasis of sentinment or the actual effort of the club women.
A series of cooperative entertainments was given in 1900 for the benefit of Dayton women. Each club in turn according to its age provided the program, the Mozart Club assisting.
In 1892, the Woman's Literary Club petitioned the Board of City Affairs to improve the river bank near the engine house "not only because it is an eyesore but because it is an historic place, being the landing place of the pioneer settlers of Dayton." The same year the appointment of a police matron was agitated with the result that the following year a law was passed providing for such an officer and a separate room in the police station for women and children.
Wherever the interests of the children are involved the women's clubs are ranged side by side for their defense. They have been deeply interested in the juvenile court, the house of detention, the playgrounds, the vacation schools and the child labor bill, the bill board nuisance and the sanitary condition of the side walks and public places.
The presidents of three of the clubs after most earnest appeals secured action regarding the detailed description of crimes in the daily papers.
Through the action of club members educational pictures have been placed in the rooms of the public schools. Through a gift of fifty dollars from the Woman's Literary Club stereopticons have been provided with pictures to assist children in their studies. The College Woman's Club has rendered a service to the boys and girls of Dayton by preparing a college exhibit and placing it in the public lib- rary for inspection. It gives a descripton of fifty colleges and classified informa- tion concerning them. A large number of photographs accompany the exhibit and catalogues are supplied on request.
It is evidently true as one close observer has said, that "The club movement has passed the emotional stage, it is in the sober, sound thought of mature delib- eration. Club women are cutting deeper channels and making wider roads. The
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good results are seen in every missionary society, church organization and chari- table enterprise. Women have learned what should be done and how to do it."
Nothing shows this more distinctly that the latest club study calendars. These courses of club study no longer indicate the miscellaneous basis. This condition has been outgrown and the principle which controls the most mature clubs is on subjects fully analyzed and thoroughly treated during the year. This is believed to be of far more educational value and yielding far more satisfaction and pleas- ure than the skimming over of a dozen unrelated topics.
In the Teachers' Clubs, the Kindergarten Mothers' Clubs and the High School Literary Societies we have presented to us the school phase of the club idea. Al- most every school district has a Mothers' Kindergarten Club, which is a valuable adjunct to the cause. Through them there has been generated a strong spirit of cooperation that is most helpful to the schools. The study and research made by the literary societies of the high schools are most commendable. Their interest, eagerness, intelligence and application evince their earnestness in club work. Many of them are encouraged by mothers and sisters who have been made more capable because of club connections.
The Factory Club is a recent feature of the industrial circles of Dayton. These are under the auspices of the Woman's Christian Association and the Young Wo- men's League.
The organization of woman's clubs has done much for Dayton. "It has made possible between women the 'comaraderie' that has always existed among men. Through it they have learned to know each other and it has become a means of unity in good work and uplifting service. It brings this change in the home life, that it draws women nearer their husbands, sons and brothers. It is the hope of the woman's clubs that the good, wise and sensible women may become the peers of the good, wise, sensible men, walking upright beside them through life."
THE DAYTON CLUB.
The Dayton Club was organized in the early spring of 1889 for the purpose of forming a social center for members of the club and their families and friends. An association of wealthy and prominent citizens was formed and the Peter P. Lowe homestead was rented for the use of the club. On the evening of May 28, 1889, the house was opened with a reception to members and their families. The following day the club rooms were regularly opened for business.
September 28, 1893, the lot at the southwest corner of Second and Main streets was acquired and soon thereafter the stately and commodious building was erected which has since served the purposes of the club. In addition to being a center for the membership of the club, distinguished visitors are frequently here entertained.
Mr. Walter Worman is the present president of the club.
THE PRESENT DAY CLUB.
The Present Day Club was formed in January, 1895, and with some fluctua- tions of interest has been maintained to the present time. It has served as a sort of clearing-house for opinions on the questions of the day both local and general.
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Its influence in forming, stimulating and directing, while not obtrusive, has been a real factor in the life of the city. Social, literary, educational, religious, econo- mic and other problems have been freely discussed.
SOCIETIES.
In the earliest period social organizations and especially secret societies were not much in favor and were regarded with apprehension and at times strongly op- posed. Later as they came to be better understood and as their very number made it impossible for any one society to be a controlling factor, they began to take their own course unopposed. Robert W. Steele in his History of Dayton, gives the fol- lowing explanation of the claims and uses of the many social organizations that have sprung into existence. "They supply means of social life, in which the re- straints inseparable from religious meeting are not felt, and which are free from the unpleasantness and dangers which are too often associated with the public ball and promiscuous gatherings. Many of these societies and associations, too, are beneficiary in their nature, furnishing insurance easily carried, and extremely ac- ceptable to the beneficiary in case of misfortune or death of the principal. They are one of the many concomitants of an advancing civilization, the evidence of which is always pleasant and profitable to contemplate."
MASONIC SOCIETIES-The Masonic order was the first to have a society or lodge in the Dayton community. Harmony Lodge No. 9 was composed of members in Dayton, Springfield, Urbana, Piqua and other places. Meetings were held now in one place and now in another. Afterward this lodge was divided and St. John's Lodge became the first lodge with Dayton as its center. Masons from some other places held their membership in this lodge. Some of the meetings were for a time held at Troy. Saint John's Lodge No. 12 was chartered January 10, 1812, with the following members : Samuel Shoup, George Grove, Aaron Gosard, Jerome Holt, Hugh McCullum, George F. Tennery, Henry Marquart, Alexander Ewing, W. M. Calhoun, William Smith, John Cox and David Steele.
In 1909 the membership numbered four hundred and forty-three. Saint John's Lodge is already arranging for a fitting centennial celebration in 1912.
Unity Chapter No. 16 was organized January 7, 1829, with a membership of thirteen. The present membership is six hundred and sixty-two.
Dayton Lodge No. 147 received its charter August 21, 1847. The present membership is four hundred and fifty-four.
Mystic Lodge No. 405 was granted a charter October 21, 1868. The pres- ent membership is five hundred and ninety.
Reese Council No. 9 received its charter October 14, 1843. The present mem- bership is five hundred and thirty-seven.
Reed Comandery No. 6 received its charter June 1, 1846. The present mem- bership is four hundred and eighty-three.
The Free Masons Mutual Benefit Association was organized in 1871.
Of the ancient accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry there are three lodges instituted March 8, 1880, namely, Gabriel Lodge of Perfection, Miami Council, Princes of Jerusalem and Dayton Chapter of Rose-Croix. There is also Dayton Consistory, S. P. R. S. to which a charter was granted September 18, 1907.
THE MASONIC TEMPLE
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Until recently the various Masonic lodges occupied rented quarters. Looking to securing a home of their own, they united in purchasing in 1906 the large and substantial building on south Main street until then used by the First Lutheran church as a house of worship.
The church was a fine specimen of English-Gothic architecture and its massive, lofty tower had been for years one of the most conspicuous landmarks in Dayton. In all of the changes that were made in adapting the building to its new uses the architect was careful to conform to the original style of architecture. The temple today stands a dignified structure of which Dayton Masonry may well be proud. On the ground floor of the building are the secretary's office, the Egyptian parlors, the Turkish room, the billiard and reading rooms and also in the extreme rear, in the new building, the Blue Lodge room and Chapter room. On the second floor, reached by a broad, easy stairway is the large and imposing auditorium which is used by the Commandery and Scottish Rite bodies and for all other large meet- ings. A commodious and comfortable gallery surrounds three sides of the room and gives full view to both floor and stage. The banquet hall is situated on the third floor and with its balconies and smaller or ordinary banquet halls which open into it will comfortably seat a thousand persons or will afford a good floor for Commandery drills.
The real estate cost one hundred and twenty-seven thousand dollars and the improvements over one hundred thousand dollars more, making a total invest- ment of nearly a quarter of a million dollars. The temple was dedicated in November, 1907.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS-The Knights of Pythias hold a large and influential place in the city of Dayton, especially so for an organization of recent establish- ment, the order of Knights of Pythias having been founded at Washington, D. C., February 19, 1864.
Miami Lodge No. 32, was instituted March 31, 1871, with a charter member- ship of twenty-three. This lodge now has a membership of four hundred and eighty-two.
Humboldt Lodge No. 58 was organized September 23, 1873. The lodge has now a membership including non-residents of three hundred and sixty-two.
Iola Lodge No. 83 was instituted March 24, 1875, with a charter list of twenty- one members. The present number of members is seven hundred and fifty. One of the chief requisites for admission to membership pledged the appli- cant to purchase a uniform, a sword and a helmet. A drill corps of picked men with skilled officers and a competent drill master was formed. It soon succeeded in capturing prizes in many noted Pythian contests. Later several of the mem- bers of Iola Drill Corps were enrolled in the famous Pythian Division No. I of Dayton. Prizes were won in many drill contests conducted in important cities in various parts of the country. Those having a skilled knowledge of such con- tests have been loud in their praise of the Iola team.
Hope Lodge No. 277 was instituted March 2, 1888, with one hundred and six- teen charter members. The membership at the present time is two hundred and twenty-six.
Oregon Lodge No. 35I was instituted May 8, 1889, with thirty charter mem-
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bers. The present membership is over five hundred. This lodge also has a team which has won honor in many contests.
Linden Lodge No. 412 was instituted April 9, 1890, with one hundred and thirty-six charter members. The present membership is two hundred and twenty- one.
Echo Lodge No. 707 was organized April 27, 1898, with thirty charter mem- bers. Its present membership is about two hundred and thirty.
ODD FELLOW LODGES-The first lodge of Odd Fellows was formed in Day- ton in 1833. The following table will indicate the chief features in the history and character of Odd Fellowship in Dayton :
Subordinate Lodges
Montgomery Lodge
No. 5
May 3, 1833
187
Expenditure for relief, 1908 $1,276.00
Wayne Lodge
No. 10
July 7, 1840
2II
1,124.00
Buckeye Lodge
No. 47
August 30, 1845
155
301.25
Schiller Lodge
No. 206
February 15, 1853
167
1,181.29
Dayton Lodge
No. 273
April 20, 1855
368 1,560.56
Steuben Lodge
No. 273
May 24, 1872
I28
870.57
Dayton Encampment
No. 2
September 29, 1838
185
1,169.00
Gem City Encampment No. 116
May 21, 1869
96
871.00
Gem City Lodge
No. 795
July 16, 1891
334
1,770.50
Fraternal Lodge
No. 510
June 10, 1872
266
1,395.00
Anderton Lodge
No. 829
June 16, 1897
190
467.12
Fraternal Encampment
No. 253
June 24, 1890
63
238.00
Canton Earl
No. 16
January 12, 1886
50 (Dec. 31, 1907)
Sisters' Total
Riverdale Lodge
No. 853
July 9, 1902
I3I
588.00
Wildey (Rebekah)
No. 24
January 7, 1870
119
I54
144.00
Ardale (Rebekah)
No. 647
July 23, 1907
25
47
Temple (Rebekah)
No. 80
May 15, 1872
178
182
72.00
Isaac and Rebekah
No. 187
June II, 1886
70
I18
230.57
Daytonia (Rebekah)
No. 342
June 15, 1892
128
192
Gallilee (Rebekah)
No. 397
June 20, 1894
II6
177
24.00
Glenn (Rebekah)
No. 488
August 13, 1898
69
105
10.75
Membership December 31, 1908
The Odd Fellows Temple, a fine sandstone structure, corner of Third and Jef- ferson streets was erected in 1870. The occasion of the laying of the corner stone on June 14, 1870, was attended with elaborate and extensive public ceremonies. The Temple at this time was owned by Montgomery Lodge No. 5, Wayne Lodge No. 10, Buckeye Lodge No. 47, Schiller Lodge No. 206 and Dayton Encampment No. 2. Buckeye Lodge later disposed of its interest- to the remaining owners. It is now the property of Montgomery Lodge No. 5, Schiller Lodge No. 206, Wayne Lodge No. 10 and Dayton Encampment No. 2. The other lodges hold their meetings in other localities in the city either owned or rented by other lodges.
The contribution of the lodges to charity and helpfulness has not been con- fined to the membership as records and history are in evidence of liberality and timely contribution to the poor and needy without its household.
Steuben Lodge owns its building and lodge room on east Fifth street.
IOLA GUARDS
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DAYTON AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Other societies of almost every character and purpose exist in bountiful pro- fusion. The mere naming of the same would fill many pages in this volume. The larger the city grows and the more complex its conditions and activities be- come, the more various will be the forms of social organization.
DAYTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The Dayton Historical Society was organized April 10, 1897. The log cabin committee having conducted the arrangements by which the log cabin was pre- served and transferred to its present location made other arrangements for its preservation. Afterwards it tendered to the Historical Society all of the property and interests of which it had charge. The Dayton Historical Society accepted the same.
Many interesting relics of early history have from time to time been added to the splendid collection secured by the log cabin committee. The log cabin with its contents is an object of great interest to the citizens and visitors from other places.
In the earlier history of the society regular meetings were held and regular pro- grams were carried out. Later the meetings became less frequent and the support- ing members fewer. The citizens of Dayton will surely not allow a movement that touches the interest and honor of the city to fall below its proper possibilities.
The officers of the society are: Rev. W. J. Shuey, president ; Albert Kern, sec- retary ; George Harshman, treasurer ; Jacob Kunz, Sr., custodian.
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
In 1890 the general organization of Daughters of the American Revolution was formed in Washington under an act of congress. February 5, 1896, the Jona- than Dayton Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution was organized. The object of the society has been declared to be "to cherish, maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of coun- try, and to aid in securing for all mankind all the blessings of liberty."
The local chapter has fostered interest in the events of the Revolution by offer- ing yearly a prize to the junior high school pupil writing the best essay on some subject assigned by the society.
Like every other chapter the local organization takes up a yearly collection to help in maintaining the splendid building constituting the national headquarters at Washington.
The Jonathan Dayton chapter is composed of fifty-five members, twelve hav- ing died since the organization. Of the sixty-seven, three were real daughters of Revolutionary soldiers.
Meetings are held bi-monthly from March to January. The present officers are as follows : Miss Mary Brady, regent; Mrs. Martha O. Hawes, vice-regent ; Miss Minnie Ada Smith, secretary ; Mrs. Glenna Crosly Wilcox, treasurer; Miss Rebekah H. Strickle, registrar ; Mrs. Sarah Jerome Patrick, historian; Mrs. Mary Matison Wilber, chaplain.
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SUNSHINE SOCIETIES.
Early in the history of the International Sunshine Society a branch was estab- lished in Dayton. The Loving Service Circle was organized through the efforts of women in the Grace Methodist Episcopal church about the year 1899. This band now numbers twenty-five members. In 1900 Mrs. Clara M. Quinius, who has been Ohio president of the International Sunshine Society for four years, or- ganized the Wheresoever Circle, which now enrolls thirty-five members. Both of the organizations hold monthly meetings. The motto of the International Society "If you have a kindness shown you, pass it on" has been the watchword of the local organizations. They are not affiliated with any charity organizations but where they learn of need supply Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners, coal, clothing, toys, and other articles. Students have been given an opportunity to attend school. Through the payment of dues the two Dayton organizations help to support the institutions maintained by the International Society.
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