a number of them out shopping with their parents. The boys admired the
mechanical toys, but the little girls went straight to the other shop
window where there were oh, such a lot of dolls! China dolls and wax
dolls; dolls from Germany and dolls from France; dolls that could say
"Mamma," "Papa," and others that could even sing a little song and say
"Now I lay me." The finest doll was a young lady who had just arrived
from Paris. Mademoiselle Fifine had brought with her a trunk of fine
costumes and some of these were spread out beside her in the window, to
the great admiration of the other dolls. There were pink silk frocks and
blue satin ones; hats and bonnets trimmed with real lace and ostrich
feathers, and, in fact, all sorts of nice clothes for evening wear and
morning wear, and all occasions.
Away down in a corner of the big window were two little dolls that
nobody noticed at all, and this was strange, for they were really very
pretty; but I suppose they were unnoticed in such a crowd of fashionable
dolls. One of these two was a little lady straight from Japan, and the
other was a New York District Messenger Boy. The Japanese doll was
dressed in a lovely gown of purple silk all covered with yellow
butterflies. Her hair was done up in a shining black coil on the back of
her head and was all stuck through with tiny jewelled pins. In her tiny
hand she carried a paper fan. The little messenger boy stood very
proudly beside her. He wore a suit of dark blue clothes and on his head
was a little cap such as the New York boys wear; he carried a black book
in his hand and looked very alert, as though he were just about to
deliver a telegram to you.
These two from the corner of the window all day had watched the people
passing up and down the busy street. That is, the Japanese doll had
watched the passers by, but the Messenger Boy had watched her more than
anything else. He thought she was the oddest and prettiest little lady
he had ever seen; her eyes were so black and shiny, her cheeks so rosy
and her tiny mouth just like a round red cherry. And then she sat up so
gracefully and held her fan with such an air! "She isn't a bit stiff,"
thought the Messenger Boy, "I believe I will try to make friends with
her." So he cleared his throat and said "ahem!" The Japanese Lady gave a
tiny jump. You see, she was so surprised! Then she gave a shy look at
the Messenger Boy and twirled her little fan. She saw that the Messenger
Boy was about to speak to her and this pleased her very much, for the
other dolls in the window had treated her with contempt and snubbed her
because she was a foreigner. Even the French Doll had refused to be
friendly, and this was rather odd, because she was also a foreigner. But
she said the Japanese Doll was outlandish and had no style about her.
The Japanese Lady was too polite to make any rude remarks in answer, so
she had just remained silent.
She now began talking to the Messenger Boy and they soon became fast
friends. So satisfied were they with each other's society that they
quite forgot the rude dolls.
It began to grow late in the afternoon and now very few children passed
by. But there were more big people than before; they passed into the
shop and soon the dolls began to go from the window. Mademoiselle Fifine
went and most of the pretty dolls followed. Nobody seemed to want the
Japanese Lady or the Messenger Boy, but they did not mind that at all,
for they were quite content to be together. The Japanese Lady had
described to the Boy all the beautiful things she had seen in far away
Japan, while the Boy had told her in return of some of the wonderful
sights to be seen in the big city. They grew very confidential, and at
length their affection became so firm that they vowed to remain true
friends as long as they were dolls, which was another way of saying as
long as they lived.
I have said that almost all the children had gone home because it was
getting late, and now the electric lamps were lighted, but there were
still four little girls who were looking in the gay window on
Twenty-third Street. Two of them were nicely dressed and their bright
faces peeped out from warm furs. They looked so full of joy that it made
your own face beam in return. Their nurse was with them and they were
out doing their Christmas shopping.
"We've bought most all the presents we mean to give to-morrow, and now
we can each spend our very own two dollars," said Bessie.
"Yes," answered her sister Alice, "Wasn't it nice in Uncle Frank to give
us each two dollars to spend. It's much nicer to buy your own present, I
think."
They were looking in the window of the toy shop as they spoke and both
little girls at once spied our two friends in the comer of the window.
"I am going to buy that dear little Japanese doll," said Bessie.
"And I want that cute little Messenger Boy," said Alice.
The Japanese Lady and the Messenger Boy looked very happy at this, for
they thought it would be very nice to go to live with two such dear
little sisters. So they smiled and nodded at Bessie and Alice, but the
little girls never saw it. This was not strange, for they had never
heard that all the dolls come to life on Christmas Eve.
Now all the time the two small sisters had been admiring the dolls,
there were two other children who were looking at them just as eagerly,
but who were very different in appearance from Bessie and Alice. For
these children were very poor indeed and did not expect to have any doll
at all on Christmas morning. They lived away down in East Fourteenth
Street with their big sister. Their mother and father were dead and the
only one they had to take care of them was this good big sister who
loved her two little sisters very dearly and did all she could for them.
They all lived together in two little rooms, and Maggie, who was ten,
did all the housekeeping, while Annie, who was eight, helped her as much
as she could. They had just been to the great department store where the
big sister worked and had left some supper for her, because this night
she would have to work until half-past eleven.
They were now on their way home, but although they were very cold and
shivered through the thin garments they wore, they had to stop to see
the beautiful dolls.
"Oh, jest look at this little doll in the purple dress, ain't she grand!
See the little yeller butterflies all over her! I wisht I could have her
for Chrissmus," said Maggie.
"I'd ruther have the little boy in the blue suit," answered Annie. "He
looks jest like a fair messenger boy. Ain't he cute?"
And the two children pressed their faces against the window in profound
admiration of the wonderful dolls. After a while they moved away.
In the meanwhile Bessie and Alice with their nurse had entered the toy
shop. After admiring the various things each purchased the doll she
liked best. These were carefully done up by the salesman and the two
children started for home.
They were at the corner of Broadway and about to cross for a cable car
when Bessie caught sight of our two little Fourteenth Street children.
"Oh, nursie, do let us see those two poor little girls. They don't look
as though they were going to have any Christmas at all!"
"Never mind them, Miss Bessie, it's time you were home."
But Bessie would not be persuaded and Alice seconded her. "Mother likes
to have us kind to our poor little brothers and sisters," said she,
"please nurse, let us speak to those little girls." So the nurse rather
reluctantly consented and the two children hurried and soon caught up
with Annie and Maggie.
"How do you do," said Bessie, all out of breath. "Please, wouldn't you
like to have a Christmas present? We are going to have a whole lot of
presents to-morrow and we bought these with our very own money. Please
take mine," and she thrust her package into surprised little Maggie's
arms.
"And please do take my present," said Alice, going to Annie. "Indeed, I
will have a lot more," and she handed her package to the astonished
little girl.
"We wish you a happy Christmas," said the little girls in one voice, and
before Maggie and Annie could speak, they had both hurried away.
To say that our children were astonished, hardly expresses it. They
hugged their bundles and stood on the sidewalk staring after the two
little girls as though bewildered. Maggie was the first to recover.
"Oh, aint it too good to be true, we'll have a real Chrissmus, now,
won't we?" What kind little girls them was, wasn't they? They wasn't a
bit stuck up!"
"No, indeed!" answered Annie. "I'm so s'prised I don't know what to do."
But it was growing cold and the two children were forced to hurry along.
They did not say much as they hastened through the crowded streets but
their hearts were dancing with joy. When they at last reached home they
rushed up the long tenement stairs and stopped in the hall before their
door. "Let's go to bed right now without opening our bundles," said
Maggie, "and then to-morrow morning we can wake up and have a s'prise
jest like we wuz rich children!" Annie agreed to this and the two
children were soon fast asleep in their small bed in the cold dark room.
* * * * *
On Christmas morning two children in a beautiful home on Madison Avenue
were dancing around their nursery full of happiness over the lovely
presents that had been made ready for them during the night. They had so
many gifts that they never missed the two presents they had given to the
poor little sisters the night previous, until suddenly Bessie clasped
Mademoiselle Fifine in her arms and said:
"Oh, you dear French dollie, you are very beautiful, but I do not think
you are nicer than the sweet little Japanese doll I saw in the shop
window last night!" How Mademoiselle Fifine would have liked to turn up
her tiny aristocratic nose at this, but she couldn't.
And Alice said, "Do you know, sister, it seems to me that this is the
loveliest Christmas we have ever had."
"I think it must be because we know that somewhere in this city there
are two little girls who are having a Christmas treat because of us."
"It is quite true what mother taught us, that 'It is more blessed to
give than to receive.'"
Down in East Fourteenth Street two little sisters had slept all night
cuddled close together for warmth. Bright and early they waked up on
Christmas morning and Maggie's first words were:
"Annie, do you know I dremt that the little Japanese doll we saw in the
toy store wus in my bundle."
"That's queer, for I dremt that the messenger boy was in my package!"
Then Maggie got her package and sat up in bed, carefully undoing the
wrappings of paper, until, at last, smiling before her lay the little
Japanese Lady!
And Alice opened her parcel, and, when the last paper had carefully been
removed, there was the Messenger Boy all ready to say "How do you do!"
How very happy our two little girls were! They got out of bed very
softly, so as not to disturb big sister, who was very tired from her
night's work, and they danced around the cold room, hugging their
dollies and kissing each other and the dollies indiscriminately.
"This is the very bestest Chrissmus I ever had," said Maggie, at last.
"I only hope the two little rich girls have as nice a one," added Annie.
"I'm very glad we came here, aren't you?" softly called out the
Messenger Boy to the Japanese Lady.
"Yes, indeed," replied she. "I'm sure these dear little girls will love
us very much."
"And we are not separated," said the Messenger Boy.
The Japanese Lady did not reply to this, but she smiled very sweetly and
twirled her little fan.
BROTHERHOOD ACTIVITIES.
UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD ORGANIZATION.
"Slowly the Bible of the race is writ,
Each age, each kindred adds a verse to it."
[Illustration]
Universal Brotherhood or the Brotherhood of Humanity is an organization
established for the benefit of the people of the earth and all creatures.
This organization declares that Brotherhood is a fact in nature.
The principal purpose of this organization is to teach Brotherhood,
demonstrate that it is a fact in nature and make it a living power in
the life of humanity.
The subsidiary purpose of this organization is to study ancient and
modern religion, science, philosophy and art; to investigate the laws of
nature and the divine powers in man.
This Brotherhood is a part of a great and universal movement which has
been active in all ages.
Every member has the right to believe or disbelieve in any religious
system or philosophy, each being required to show that tolerance for the
opinions of others which he expects for his own.
The Theosophical Society in America is the Literary Department of
Universal Brotherhood.
The International Brotherhood League is the department of the
Brotherhood for practical humanitarian work.
The Central Office of the Universal Brotherhood Organization is at 144
Madison Avenue, New York City.[4]
THE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD
LEAGUE.[5]
(_Unsectarian._)
"Helping and sharing is what Brotherhood means."
[Illustration: I.B.L.]
This organization affirms and declares that Brotherhood is a fact in
Nature, and its objects are:
1. To help men and women to realize the nobility of their calling and
their true position in life.
2. To educate children of all nations on the broadest lines of Universal
Brotherhood and to prepare destitute and homeless children to become
workers for humanity.
3. To ameliorate the condition of unfortunate women, and assist them to
a higher life.
4. To assist those who are, or have been, in prison, to establish
themselves in honorable positions in life.
5. To endeavor to abolish capital punishment.
6. To bring about a better understanding between so-called savage and
civilized races, by promoting a closer and more sympathetic relationship
between them.
7. To relieve human suffering resulting from flood, famine, war, and
other calamities; and generally to extend aid, help, and comfort to
suffering humanity throughout the world.
It should be noted that the officers and workers of the International
Brotherhood League are unsalaried and receive no remuneration, and this,
as one of the most binding rules of the organization, _effectually
excludes those who would otherwise enter from motives of self-interest_.
None of the officers hold any political office, the League is not
connected with any political party or organization, nor has it any
political character, it is wholly humanitarian and unsectarian.
The alterations referred to in last issue of UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD as
about to be made in Headquarters are now nearly completed. The offices
of the different departments have all been renovated presenting a very
bright and cheerful appearance.
The rooms formerly used by the Theosophical Publishing Company have been
fitted up for the private office of our Leader and for the Reference
Library and Reading Room and for the office of the Literary Department
of the Universal Brotherhood Organization.
The Theosophical Publishing Company has moved downstairs to the front
basement and to the front office on the main floor (in the front part of
Aryan Hall) which hitherto was used by our Leader for her private office.
In every way the new arrangements will greatly facilitate the work of
the various departments.
We are all delighted to have with us now as Mother of the household,
Mrs. L. E. Kramer, who with her husband, J. O. K. Kramer, and her son
Ernest Kramer have brought such a home feeling into Headquarters that we
are like a happy, united family.
On December 15, 16, 17, the H. P. B. Lodge, U. B. No. 10, held a bazaar
in Aryan Hall. It was throughout very successful and the entertainments
on Thursday and Saturday evenings were much enjoyed. The members of
Aryan Lodge united with the H. P. B. members in helping with the
preparations and during the Bazaar. A large hamper of goods was sent
from Meriden, Conn., which had been contributed by members in Meriden,
Hartford and New Britain; a contribution of articles was also sent from
Buffalo; these were very much appreciated.
The H. P. B. Lodge is now entirely free from debt and enters upon the
New Year with fine prospects of success. Lately several new members have
joined the Lodge; these are active young workers and are enthusiastic to
help the Cause.
Several of the small articles left over from the Bazaar were sent down
to the East Side Mission where a Christmas Tree is to be given to the
children. Mrs. Kramer, Mrs. Deen Hunt, and Bros. Leonard and Hecht are
busy making preparations for this, and it is being looked for to with
great expectations by the children.
A Bazaar was also held December 15 and 16 by the U. B. Lodges in Boston
in one of the largest and best halls, centrally located on Tremont
Street, the main business street of the city. It was one of the most
successful events of the kind held this year in Boston and has brought
excellent financial results.
In accordance with suggestions made some months ago by our Leader in
this magazine, the Sioux City Lodge of U. B. held a Bazaar with
excellent results. Part of the proceeds were taken for local work and
part sent to the Central Office for the general work of the
organization. If all Lodges would carry out work of this kind, how they
could build up their local work and also help the Centre! Some of the
other Lodges have reported work in this direction, but we have not yet
received details.
A concert was recently given in Providence, R. I., for the benefit of
the War Relief Fund of the I. B. L. It was well attended and successful.
Frank C. Berridge of Victoria Lodge, B. C., writes Dec. 13th:
"We are having a Brotherhood concert here to-night and think it will be
a great success. We have started a Lotus Circle here at last and have
ten children already. We are to give them a Christmas Tree on New Year's
Day. The Sunday evening public lectures are well attended and we are
getting along nicely in Victoria."
Lodge 70, U. B. (Chicago), held an entertainment Dec. 14th and realized
a good sum for the War Relief Fund. Bro. A. M. Smith writes: "Everything
moves along well here. Our members are very united and have fullest
confidence in and sympathy with the Leader. Our meetings are very well
attended."
Letters from Dr. J. A. Anderson and Bros. Griffiths and Johnson give
favorable accounts of Lodge work in San Francisco, and of both the U. B.
and the I. B. L. meetings. Several new members have recently joined. The
whole coast is looking forward to the U. B. Congress at Point Loma.
Bro. Beckett sends good news from Toronto. All the members are active
and desire to still further aid the work and add to the success and
solidarity of the movement.
The members of Universal Brotherhood will remember that soon after the
last Convention of February 18th some of the members of the Narada
Branch of the Theosophical Society in America, Tacoma, Wash., who did
not accept the Universal Brotherhood Constitution brought suit against
the Tacoma U. B. Lodge to obtain possession of the property of the
Lodge. The case was non-suited and dismissed. They then carried the case
to the Supreme Court of Washington, and we have just received copy of
the judgment as follows:
Virginia Herman _et al_, Appellants,
_vs._
Fred G. Plummer _et al_, Respondents.
PER CURIAM:—
"The parties to this action were all, prior to March 3, 1898, members of
the Narada Theosophical Society of Tacoma, a branch of a national
organization known as the Theosophical Society in America. This local
branch was an independent body, controlling its own property and
governing itself subject to the right of appeal to the executive
committee of the national body upon any disputed questions arising
between the members. The object of the present suit was to recover
possession of certain property of the local society, the appointment of
a receiver and other relief, the action being mainly based upon an
alleged interference with the property rights of the plaintiffs as
members of that Branch, and their rights as members in various respects.
At the close of plaintiffs' case, on the evidence, a judgment of
non-suit and dismissal was granted and the present appeal is from that
order and judgment.
We think the order was properly made. Section 18 of the By-Laws of the
National Society is as follows: "The Executive Committee shall be the
Court of final appeal in disputed questions arising between members or
in and _between branches_." It is not pretended that any effort was made
by the plaintiffs to have the questions involved in the present dispute
determined by the committee mentioned in that section, and it is a
well-established principle applicable to controversies like the present
that until the members have exhausted their remedy within the society
the Courts will not assume jurisdiction of the controversy.
Oliver v. Hopkins, 10 N. E., 776;
Lafond v. Deems, 81 N. Y., 507;
Chamberlain v. Lincoln, 129 Mass., 70;
Watson v. Jones, 13 Wall, 679.
Appellants seek to justify their failure to resort to the committee
contemplated by section 18, supra, upon the ground that that section was
in effect abolished by the action of the national convention at a
meeting in Chicago in February, 1898, which practically adopted a new
constitution. We think the argument advanced does not meet the
objection. Plaintiffs are contending that the action of the national
convention was invalid, and if they are right in that respect the
constitution and by-laws of the old body are still in force. They have
no standing if such is not the fact, and if it is, then the remedy
provided by section 18 would appear to be ample. But it does not appear
that any effort has been made to obtain within the Society a
determination of the grievances, and even were it admitted that the
effect of the action of the national convention was to abolish the old
constitution, it in nowise follows that the by-laws theretofore adopted
would also become ineffectual. Section 18, supra, having been adopted
for the government of the national body and its branches, must be given
effect until it is repealed either expressly or by necessary
implication. So that we think the learned trial judge was right in
concluding that the Court should not take jurisdiction of the case.
We think that we are right, too, in concluding that plaintiffs' evidence
was insufficient to establish any interference with their rights as
members to the enjoyment of the property, books, records, etc., of the
local branch. In other words, plaintiffs failed to show that their
rights as members had been invaded. There was evidence by the officers
of the local branch tending to show that a conclusion had been reached
by them not to enforce the obnoxious resolutions previously passed, and
that they construed them to be invalid. For these reasons we must
conclude that the judgment was right and we do not deem it proper to
attempt at this time to determine whether the action of the national
convention was in effect an amendment of the old constitution and
invalid because adopted without previous notice to the local branches,
or the adoption of a new constitution which retained the spirit and
essence of the old and included no new provisions inconsistent with it
and therefore within the right of the convention. At present an opinion
upon that important question would be at most mere dictum."
On December 23d we were very glad to welcome back to America Brother
A. E. S. Smythe, of Toronto. Brother Smythe has been for some time in
Ireland and brings excellent and most encouraging reports of the work
there and in England. Arrangements have been made for him to take a
lecturing tour and visit the Universal Brotherhood Lodges, reaching
Point Loma at the time of the annual Universal Brotherhood Congress. He
will be in New York about January 1st and will stay at Headquarters for
a week or so and then start on his tour. Brother Smythe is so well known
throughout the country as Editor of the _Lamp_ and by his work in
Toronto that he needs no introduction to the members. Many have already
heard him lecture and will remember him at the annual conventions. Those
Lodges who desire him to visit them should write at once to the central
office, so that the route can be laid out and all arrangements made.
It was originally intended and hoped that Bro. D. N. Dunlop would have
made a lecture tour, but as he would not be able to start until later,
other arrangements had to be made.
Letters from Liverpool report a very large Bazaar being held there by
the members. It is confidently expected that it will meet with much
success and much interest has been aroused in it. Bro. Herbert Crooke
has been indefatigable in pushing forward the preparations and Mrs. A. L.
Cleather and Bro. Basil Crump who have just completed their Home
Crusade visit to Dublin will be there to help. A very beautiful and
attractive programme has been arranged.