Lögberg-Heimskringla - 28.02.1986, Blaðsíða 3

WINNIp'Ég! FÖSTUDAGLJR 28. fÉbRUAR 1986-3
The Women's Association
of the First Lutheran Church
by Aurora Thordarson (in 1953)
The late Mrs. B. B. Jonsson called
a meeting of a few women at her
home on Victor Street in the middle
of January 1931, and said she had
something important to discuss with
the younger married women in our
Church. When we arrived at her
home Mrs. Jonsson explained at
length the need for a younger
women's Ladies' Aid in the Church
as there were so many women that
did not understand the lcelandic
Language and it was used entirely at
the Ladies' Aid meetings, so that it
would be to our advantage to have an
English speaking one also. Before
that afternoon was over we had
drawn up a constitution with the
kind help of the late Dr. B. B. Jonsson
the Pastor at that time, and we had
a slate of officers ready for our very
first meeting which was held in the
Church Parlours on Tuesday after-
noon January 27th, 1931. There were
21 members present. At that first
meeting we elected our reverend
founder and constant helper the late
Mrs. B. B. Jonsson, our Honorary
President, which position she held
until she passed away. Even íhough
there were only 21 ladies that sign-
ed the membership book at that first
meeting our Womeii’s Association
has grown to a membership of about
80. We changed the name from
Junior Ladies' Aid to Women's
Association just last year, as so many
of us have become Grandmothers
that we decided to drop the Junior
name.
Through the years we have lost
several wonderful Christian workers,
not only by death, some have had to
move away to other cities and towns,
whose gain is our loss.
Each year in January, we have a
Birthday Meeting with birthday cake
and all the trimmings, and usually a
good program. On our seventh and
17 birthdays I read a poem, written
for the Ladies Aid, that tells the story
of our work, so I will include them
here as follows:
“We Are Seven''
I chanced upon a lady of some wit.
And in her hand a cake with candles
lit,
The reason asked she rolled her eyes
to heaven,
And like the maid of yore quoth "We
are seven''
This story then proceeded to unfold,
I pass it on, and nought shall I
withhoid.
''Twas ín the year of 1931
When people did not seem to have
much fun.
The weary world was in a dreadful
state,
Depression seemed to have a lasting
date.
And church affairs, I'm sorry to
confess,
Front Row — from left to right: Mrs. H. Taylor, Mrs. E. Helgason, Mrs. J. D. Turner, Mrs. G. W. Finnsson,
Mrs. C. Sigmar, Mrs. G. Johannesson, Mrs. V. J. Eylands, Mrs. G. P. Goodman, Mrs. P. Sigurdson, Mrs.
V. Jonasson, Mrs. O. B. Olsen, Mrs. E. S. Felsted, Mrs. H. Olsen.
Second Row from left to right: Mrs. O. Anderson, Mrs. J. Beck, Mrs. T. H. Gudmundson, Mrs. L. G. Johnson,
Mrs. W. S. Jonasson, Mrs. J. B. Johnson, Mrs. M. Magnusson, Mrs. W. Hawcroft, Mrs. F. Thordarson,
Mrs. J. Davidson, Mrs. R. Armstrong, Mrs. J. Thordarson, Mrs. A. Blondal, Mrs. J. G. Snidal, Mrs. O. V.
Olafson, Mrs. I. Swainson, Mrs. W. H. Olson.
Third Row — from left to right: Mrs. K. G. Finnson, Mrs. H. Benson, Mrs. T. J. Sivertson, Mrs. J. G. Johnson,
Mrs. B. Guttormson, Mrs. J. Anderson, Mrs. A. Eggertson, Mrs. G. Finnbogason, Mrs. B. H. Olson, Mrs.
G. K. Stephenson, Mrs. J. Ingimundson, Mrs. E. H. Isford, Mrs. F. Ruppel.
Back Row — from left to right: Mrs. R. Frederickson, Mrs. W. Crowe, Mrs. B. C. McAlpine, Mrs. J. Bergman.
Most everywhere, were in a frightful
mess.
As always when the plagues a coun-
try strike,
They know no law and lay low all
alike.
And though on Victor stood in splen-
dour rare,
The Pride of Iceland's sons and
daughters fair,
It felt the steps of poverty advance,
And knew the winds of adverse
circumstance.
With fervid Viking zeal the people
worked,
And spared not self and saw that no
one shirked,
The pastor's cheque grew yearly
somewhat slimmer,
The organist though thin, grew daily
thinner,
The choir-leader his stipend cut
anew,
And sought himself another job or
two.
The men dug deep and digging sigh-
ed "Ah me"
(It wasn't yet the fashion to pour tea)
O'er miles of rullu-pilsa the ladies
toiled,
And sometimes wished they'd never
seen it boiled,
Alas; — they dug and toiled and
boiled in vain.
The budget would not balance —
t'was quite plain.
Now mongst those folk dwelt
matrons young and fair,
Whose mode of life filled hearts with
dark despair,
For like the lilies in that oft sung soil,
Continued on Page 6.
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