Árdís - 01.01.1956, Side 36

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ÁRDÍS
Junior Ladies Aid—Women's Association
1931-1956
By GUDLAUG JOHANNESSON
Madame President, Fellow Members:
I shall greet you informally but appropriately by wishing every
one a happy birthday! A happy anniversary and all good wishes
for the years to come. To most of us 25 years does not seem such a
long time, but as I glanced through the secretary’s books, and read
the records of the society, I found that much had been done.
I would now like to turn back the pages and reminisce awhile.
Many of you will no doubt remember that first meeting of the
Junior Ladies Aid of the First Lutheran Church held on January
27, 1931. It was the late Mrs. B. B. Jonsson who suggested the need
for an organization of younger women who did not fully under-
stand or speak the Icelandic language, and who could therefor not
join the Ladies Aid, which used only the mother tongue at their
meetings. Mrs. Jonsson invited a few women to her home, and
discussed this with them—and found her idea favorably received.
A constitution was then drawn up, and a meeting was called. The
society was given the name “Junior Ladies Aid of the First Luth-
eran Church”.
Many years later, when the bloom of youth had faded from
the cheeks of those first members, and their hair was streaked with
grey, and little toddlers called the “amma” this name was no longer
considered appropriate—nothing very junior about us anymore,
and so we became the Women’s Association. I note that at those
first meetings, there was no scripture reading or hymn singing.
It was not until 1937 that meetings were opened with the singing
of a hymn. And in 1940 Mrs. V. J. Eylands made a motion that
Scripture reading precede each meeting, which custom has since
been observed. But at these first meetings there was a program
committee, who prepared a short program of vocal solos, readings,
etc., and this took place at the close of the business meeting, and
was enjoyed by members. And who do you think it was who sang
the solos then, and who still sings them for us? None other than
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