Bradford Academy - Chimes Yearbook (Haverhill, MA)

Page 33 text:

NINETEEN THREE 37 Christian Union' OFFICERS LILLIAN BROWNE . . . E . P!'E5Z-fffllf HELEN Goubn Bizown . Vice Presz'n'c11z' ELLA Som-im Eififuzns . . 71l'6'lZA'lN'Kl' ANNE rMAcoM1:ER . Sefreiazj' N a school with the missionary traditions of Bradford, it would be strange and unfortunate if there were no active religious life to be found today, Such is not the case. If the expression of that life has changed, still the life itself is here. It was to perpetuate the missionary traditions of Bradford, to create a healthful religious atmosphere in the school, and to enable us, by banding together, better to help those less fortunate than ourselves, that the Christian Union was reorganized in the Fall of 1902. As far as possible we have sought to aid those causes to which a large amount of personal work might be given. This personal work has been found most fascinating by the members of the Union. Instead of ordering provisions sent from stores, the girls preferred to carry the baskets to the homes of poor families on Thanksgiving day. From time to time the girls have visited the Old Ladies' Home, and have sung, read, or played on their mandolins, and in many ways have cheered the lives of these women. Several times they have taken them on long delight- ful drives in the country. And the children of the Orphans' Home! Who of us can forget their happy faces as they seated themselves on the floor in our gymnasium, gazing at the Christmas tree and waiting for Santa Claus? The Boys' Club in Haverhill has also had our assistance. Though this personal home-work is, perhaps, most important and most interesting, the Christian Union has not stopped here. For two years we have paid the expenses of a student at Tuskegee. We cooperated this year with the ladies of the Bradford Church in helping raise a Fisk University scholarship.

Page 32 text:

36 THE CI-IIMES live together in one building is a problem in itself. One hundred and thirty girls living in such close Contact are apt to overlook their neighbors' rights unless careful and tactful watchtulness is exerted. It is the duty of the self- government committee to exert this watchfulness and thus protect the girls from one another. Our society is so young that it cannot justly be expected that we have been able to attend to many details which we hope some day can be managed by the Association. We believe, however, that we have done something toward creating a wholesome atmosphere and a loyal school spirit. We think it would be difficult to find a school where there is heartier cooperation and kindlier friendliness than exists between our faculty and students. We consider it our greatest privilege to maintain the honor of the school. Our committee meets once a week, talks over the week's happenings, mentions anything which has been going wrong, discusses any grievance the girls may have had presented to them, suggests remedies, and makes recom- mendations to the faculty, etc. A mass meeting of the Association Qof which every girl in school is a memberj is sometimes held. In this meeting any girl may express her mind on the subject brought forward. We hope the day is not far distant when every rule in Bradford Academy shall be made and enforced by the student body. Though we have not been able to accomplish this for the school, yet we are not discouraged when we remember that the society is still very young. Indeed, believing that the hardest and most discouraging period has been passed, we feel that we can hope for great things from the Association in the future.

Page 34 text:

38 THE CHIMES Last year our society became a sub-chapter of the Denison College Settlement House in Boston. Our sub-chapter was represented so well at the reception this Spring, and many of the girls manifested such interest in the work, that we have organized at committee to keep in closer touch with Denison House. All that has been accomplished is clue entirely to the ready responsiveness of the members of the Christian Union. Without their generosity, nothing could have been done. No case has been presented to them to which they have not been willing and eager to give their aid.