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RECIPROCITY FOUNDERS' DAY PROGRAM
2002
Note: Please contact the State Recording Secretary for the sheet music that is part of this program.
Pianist: "Gonna Take a Sentimental Journey"
Gonna take a sentimental joumey
Gonna set my heart at ease,
Gonna make a sentimental journey
To renew old memories
Narrator: Today in honor of our Founding Sisters, we're going to renew old memories. Along with thoughts of the seven, we’re also going to stroll down the musical lane of old familiar songs.
MARY ALICE BIRD was born in May, 1850 and died in 1926 at the age of 76. She was a brilliant student who went on to teach Latin, Greek and elocution. She married an Iowa Wesleyan graduate in 1873 and had 4 children. Her surviving daughter Alice, was a graduate of NorthwesternUniversity. Mary Alice loved P.E.O. and her children. A few musical notes highlight more about Mary Alice.
Pianist: (Bye Bye Blackbird)
Who was their first president?
Who was wise and confident?
That’s our Alice.
She it was who wrote their Constitution
She was also skilled in elocution.
Who was intellectual, always so effectual?
Our Alice Bird.
Narrator:
ALICE COFFIN, another founding sister, devoted her life to teaching. She was deeply conscious of the individual needs of her students. She lent encouragement and supported her students scholastically, physically, emotionally, and, at times, financially. Onestudent wrote of her, “She was the kind of teacher that the girls copy and the boys silently worship.” She taught in Newton, Iowa until the last year of her life. Alice Coffin died on July 28,1888. More about Alice may strike a chord!
Pianist: (School Days)
Alice Coffin, dedicated teacher,
Gave of her talents for twenty years.
Loved by her students and by her peers.
So many children she has blessed,
Such charm and beauty she possessed.
She chose the pin, our shining star,
That lights us wherever we are.
Narrator:
SUELA PEARSON PENFIELD was a star among our sisters. She captivated all who knew her with her charm, grace, and devotion. A friend described her campus days: "This star was the planet with a ring of boys around it." She married and had two children. Devoted to her family, she helped them through adverse financial times and survived the deaths of her father,brother, and son. For many years, she and her daughter Rose, cared for her invalid mother. Here is a crescendo of Suela'ssparkle.
Pianist: (You Are My Sunshine)
She was their sunshine, Suela Pearson,
She was the fairest of the fair.
The girls all loved her gay laughing manner
And she had more beaux than her share.
She entertained them with hersinging
All in her own delightful way.
And when she married and moved to Cleveland,
She took some of their sunshine away.
Narrator:
It was HATTIE BRIGGS who said, "Let's start an order of our own," and gathered together the seven girls who laid the foundation for our P.E.O. Hattie was only 28 when she died, but, oh, how she lived for those 28 years. She was so manythings: a model P.E.O., a devoted wife, and a perfectly castmother. The Briggs home on the corner of the campus attracted a stream of young people; members of the Brigg's family were important elements in the life of the town and university. A musical phrase completes our tribute to Hattie.
Pianist: (When You and Were Young, Maggie)
We're thinking today of that gate, Hattie,
Where you told Franc your plan,
To form your own secret so-ci-ety,
That's where P.E.O. first began.
In music and art you excelled, Hattie,
So cheerful,bright, and gay,
Your time on this earth was too short, Hattie,
We honor your name on this day.
Narrator:
ELLA LORINA STEWART was born on May 8,1848. She took over the family duties at 16 when her father died and her mother was about to give' birth to their 6th child. Home duties kept her from graduating from college, but her home was always free for social events and she was a splendid hostess. Her devotion to people extended beyond her P.E.O. sisters and her family. She taught at the IowaIndustrialSchool for Wayward Boys in Eldora for 8 years. Ella Stewart was small, with curly hair and deep blue eyes. She was disciplined and even though she grew up quickly because of family responsibilities, she was described as "bright, cheerful, industrious, considerate,and courageous." Waltz along through a few more thoughts of Ella.
Pianist: (Just a Song at Twilight or Love's Old Sweet Song)
Ella gave her life to
Teaching wayward boys.
Music and service (mu-oo sic)
Were this founder's joys.
Through a troubled life she
Kept her spirit bright.
She picked out our colors—yellow and white
For purity and light.
Narrator:
MARY ALLEN STAFFORD is our sixth founding sister. Her husband, Charles Lewis, was President of Iowa Wesleyan College from 1891-1899. He was accorded most of the honors that his church and college could give and always referred to his beloved Mary as the inspiration of his success. Mary Allen seemed the disciplinarian of the founding group. She stressed the importance of proper procedure in conducting business meetings and the necessity for good order. She was adored by family and friends and respected by all who knew her. She relished dance and was a
leader at the "Sidereal Soiree."
Pianist: Set the metronome for a verse about Mary
(Mary, Mary)
Then there was Mary Allen
Gracious girl with lots of poise.
Her hospitality, vitality
Were constant joys.
She was a lovely lady
Home and children were her fame.
She led a long full life; this loving wife
Earned her grand old name.
Narrator:
Finally we come to FRANCES ROADS ELLIOTT. FrancesElizabeth graduated in three years. By some people’s estimation she was a genius. She practiced art as a profession and taught in the public school in Salt Lake City, Utah and Aurora, IL. Improving the lives of women was her lifelong challenge. She worked for eighteen years to secure the right to vote in the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. True to the form of this tenacious, bright founder, her mission was finally realized. She took life seriously and succeeded in founding a sisterhood that has survived over 100 years. Major keys only for Franc!
Pianist:(I Want a Girl)
Franc was a girl, a striking girl, of vision
and strong will
She was a dear, quite a lovely girl
An artist of great skill.
Franc was serious and quiet, too,
Fought for women’s rights her whole life through
If here today, we’re sure she’d be
A woman true and free.
Narrator:
Each of these sisters had a common dream, that through the P.E.O. Sisterhood women would seek growth in charity toward others, live the qualities of faith, love, purity, justice, and truth. That P.E.Os would learn from nature, art, books and share that knowledge with their sisters and with the world.
Please join us in singing our closing tribute.
Pianist:Founder's Song
(Far Away Places)
In a faraway place, in a time long ago,
With a vision young girls seldom show.
Seven girls met in secret and a sisterhood formed
And they called it P.E.O.
They had lofty ideals, high objectives and aims,
For their emblem they chose a bright star
Even they never dreamed their belov'd P.E.O.
Would go on to spread near and far.
Now this star sheds it radiance allover this land,
It's weathered storm and strife.
It's more than a club, with its objects and aims
It's almost a whole way of life.
Now we honor these founders each year at this time,
And we know that wherever we go,
We will never be strangers, we will always findfriends
Among sisters in P.E.O.
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