"THE PHILOLECTIAN SOCIETY

                             "Lovers of Learning"

                Club Goal: To unite for the promotion of our common interests in

                     education, philanthropy, public welfare, moral values, civics and

                    the fine arts.

                                                 By Mrs. George H. Wyman

                                "History of Anoka County - 1905"

            During the fall of 1899 several prominent ladies of Anoka met at the home of 

    Mrs. G.S. Pease for the purpose of organizing a club to be known as the Ladies' Social Club of

   Anoka.  A simple plan of organization was  agreed upon, the idea being to make the club almost

    wholly social in its character.  The number of members was first limited to fifteen, but was

    afterwards changed to twenty-five, only married ladies being eligible to membership.

The club met at the homes of its members once in two weeks from three to five o'clock on Friday afternoon.

The only officer was a secretary, the hostess always acting as chairman, and the only committee an executive

committee, whose chief duty was to arrange for a place of meeting.  The ladies brought their work, and chatted or 

listened to the reading of some interesting article.

            In the spring of 1890 a few of the members commenced agitating a more organization, with a more definite

object and an increased membership.  A committee was finally appointed on constitution and bylaws, their report

being read and adopted at a meeting held at the residence of Mrs. C.H. Tasker, June 20, 1890.  Only a few of the

rules and regulations, governing The Ladies' Social Club remained unchanged.  The membership was increased

to thirty-five; the name changed to The Philolectian Society; the object, the social and mental improvement of its

members, and an admission fee of fifty cents and dues of twenty-five cents quarterly were charged.  New members were

elected by ballot, three votes against excluding.  The following officers were elected for one year, their term of office

to date from the first Friday in June:  President, Mrs. Flora L.S. Aldrich, M.D.; first vice pres., Mrs. Cassimer Cutter;

second vice pres., Mrs. Edward L. Reed; third vice pres., Mrs. W.W. Freeman; sec., Mrs. George H. Wyman; treas.,

Mrs. William Giddings.  There were twenty-six charter members, Mesdames E.O. McGlauflin, Aldrich, Bruns,

McFarlan, Featherstone, C.P. Cutter, Geddes, Hammons, Bond, Eldridge, Reed, Hilliard, Gilkes, Wyman, Lenfest,

G.D. Goodrich, Stone, Plummer, Brown, Gillespie, Chamberlain, Wm. Giddings, Freeman, Macomber, Berry and White.

Only eight of these are members at the present time.  Two have died, three withdrawn, and the others have homes

elsewhere.

            The executive committee planned programs for each meeting, and interest in the literary work of the

society rapidly increased.  Articles on given subjects were read, papers written and discussed, debates were held,

and some attention given to parliamentary law.  The society subscribed for one or more standard magazines, but

felt the need of books, especially those of reference.

            In the spring of 1892, the Anoka Union published an article advocating the establishment of a free public

library in the city.  Almost simultaneously with this publication, Mrs. J.H. Niles, who had been visiting a fine 

library in Menominee, Wis., very enthusiastically proposed that the Philolectians undertake the establishment

of a library in Anoka.  Her enthusiasm was so contagious that the society decided to increase its membership to

fifty, to incorporate this object in its constitution, and to proceed to take the necessary steps for the accomplishment

of this object.  In accordance with certain provisions of the statutes of the state, a petition was circulated by them,

presented to the city council, and unanimously granted. A tax of one mill was levied, and a library board of nine

directors appointed by the mayor.  The society canvassed the city for books, periodicals, furniture, anything that

would be useful or ornamental in such an institution, and met with a very liberal response.  In January, 1894

the free public library of Anoka formally opened to the public.  Having pledged financial support, the society now

entered upon a series of sociables, concerts and entertainments of various kinds, and have succeeded in 

contributing from one hundred to two hundred dollars annually to the library fund, besides giving books, at one

time one hundred dollars' worth, and rendering other  needed assistance.  In 1898 and 1899 the library committee

of the Philolectian Society succeeded in having one of the four rooms recently occupied by the library, set apart

for a juvenile department.  Money was raised by the committee for books, tables and chairs for the children.  They 

also organized a Library League, and meetings were held every Saturday afternoon, at which one or more ladies

from the committee or the society, instructed and entertained the children.  The meetings of the League have been

discontinued, but the children's reading room is still maintained, under the supervision of the librarian.  

Further particulars in regard to the library are given in subsequent pages of this volume.

            The membership of the society at the present time is limited to sixty, not including minister's wives, who

may become members by signing the constitution and paying the admission fee.  There are the following standing

committees:  executive, entertainment, music, membership, club courtesy and reciprocity bureau.  Elaborate

printed programs of a literary and miscellaneous character are made out each year, by the executive and music 

committees, for the regular meetings, while and occasional social evening event is arranged, to which the

husbands and friends of the members are invited.  The society joined the State Federation of Women's Clubs in

1895, and has usually been represented at its annual meetings.  

            The colors of the society are brown and cream; the flower, the red carnation. The officers for the present club year of 1904-5are:  President, Mrs. D.S. Gow; vice president, Mrs. H.C. Johnson; secretary, Mrs. J.B. Berry;

treasurer, Mrs. C.P. McLean.

            The Philolectian Society is one of the oldest, largest and has the reputation of being one of the best working

clubs in the state.  Beside its public work and helpful influence in the town, it has done much toward stimulating

and broadening the minds of its members, as well as bringing them in closer touch with each other along lines of

mutual interest and benefit.