Women 's Institute Blanche MacBeath ( Mrs. Henry Boswell ) Mrs. Herb Prowse Mrs. Peter Stewart Helena Ferguson ( Mrs. Heber Crosby ) At the end of that year (1913) the membership had increased to twenty. On December 16, 1948, forty-one people, including members, charter members, spouses and guests attended the 35th Anniversary Banquet of Women 's Institute at the Queen Hotel in Charlottetown . The cost for the evening meal was $1.35 per plate plus ginger ale and tips for a total of $60.75. [In those days an hour's wage might only be about $0.38.] The following is the response to a toast proposed to the charter members during that same evening. Although we do not have her name, we can safely assume that it was one of the charter members present, possibly Mrs. L.H.D. Foster , the first president, as she so well recalled the first 35 years of the group. Madam president, ladies and gentlemen, in replying to the toast to the charter members of the Marshfield Women 's Institute, which was the first Institute organized under the Department of Agriculture in April 1913, 35 years ago last April, may I say, that we have very few of our original members with us. But, we still have a few others with us tonight who formed part of that small gathering in the school so many years ago. Was it vision that prompted us to start such a movement on the Island? Maybe like the poet says, "We looked into the future, far as human eye could see, saw a vision of the world, and all the wonders that could be." Anyway, today, there are hundreds of active Women 's Institutes at work all over the Island, each striving for Home and Country. Country claimed our first task, for in 1914, the first great war broke out, and we were face to face with the most tremendous issue that the world had ever known. And we, with the other women of Canada , put our hands to the plough. We were organized, and that is a fact that is becoming more and more recognized today, that organization can achieve and carry out work more successfully than any haphazard attempt. I might mention a few of our activities during the four years of the War. A vast amount of sewing and knitting was accomplished by the members, all the material for which was provided by the Institute out of funds raised by teas, socials, suppers, etc. And we had the satisfaction of knowing that we had at least a small share in the victory that came in 1918. After the war, for a time, we turned our atten¬ tion to "home," and our meetings were interested mostly in cooking, homemaking, and community, etc. The interest shown in our work by the members and gentlemen friends was a wonderful aid and in¬ spiration in achievement. In 1921, a movement in our Institute to have the school medically inspected was carried out in June of that year. In 1926, the Institute held a Birthday Party, being organized for 13 years. This proved a very enjoyable function, and in 1927, the Anniversary was again celebrated with a sail up the West River . Thus passed a few swift years of Home and Country, but once again War disturbed our peace, and in 1939 the Second World War broke out, with all the misery and deprivation that only war can bring to a civilized world. This war lasted longer that the first, but victory came to our forces, and although we haven't quite won the peace that our hearts hoped for, we still hope today that a better understanding between Nations will soon end the jealousy and greed that leads to strife. And so today, our Institute that started out in such a small way, by a band of willing workers, has the largest membership on its record. We find the Institute also is a great aid in this busy world, to help members become better acquainted with all newcomers in the district. Like the man who was proposing, when she said, "They couldn't be married because they hard-ly knew each other." He replied, "Do you know of a better way to get acquainted? " And so, Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you very much for the toast just proposed in honour of the charter members of the Marshfield Women 's Institute. At the October meeting in 1916, Mrs. Charles Robertson , President, gave the following report of work, boxed and shipped to the soldiers at the War Front : 112 hospital shirts 12 day shirts 140 pairs socks 22 pneumonia jackets 7 dozen handkerchiefs