anuary 6, 1872, at the residence of Dr. Asher Goslin. Temporary
officers were elected, and a committee appointed to prepare
by-laws for the government of the club. Six ladies[389] were
present. The succeeding meetings grew in interest, and took
strong hold upon the minds of all classes, from the fact that
hitherto no outlet had been found for the energies of our women
outside the circle of home and church. During the first two years
of its existence, the Woman's Union had to bear in a small way,
many of the sneers and taunts attending more pretentious
organizations, but luckily, when the novelty wore off, we were
allowed to pursue the quiet tenor of our way, with an occasional
slur at the "strong-minded" tendency of the organization. During
nearly fourteen years we have held regular meetings in a hall
rented for the purpose, and paid for by earnings of the society.
An excellent organ is owned by the club; they have a library of
several hundred volumes, book-cases, carpet, curtains, pictures,
tables, chairs, stove, etc., and the members take great pride in
their cosy headquarters. At this writing, interesting meetings
are held on each Wednesday evening at the homes of the different
members of the society.[390] In the course of so long a time,
this organization has had many changes. Members have removed to
all parts of the United States, and many similar clubs elsewhere
trace their origin to our society.

Several years ago an open letter from here to "Woman's Kingdom,"
in the Chicago _Inter-Ocean_ called attention to our plan of work
for small towns; as a result fifteen similar Unions were
organized, some of them still flourishing. In northwest Missouri
the same kind of clubs were formed in Maryville, Nodaway county,
and Savannah, Andrew county, but neither of them became
permanent. In the course of twelve years many of the best
speakers on the American platform have addressed Oregon
audiences, brought here by the determined efforts of a few women.
To-day, public opinion in this part of Missouri is in advance of
other sections on all questions relating to the great interests
of humanity. In March, 1879, a call signed by prominent
citizens[391] brought together a large assembly of men and women
in the court-house. An address in favor of woman suf