A few months ago I was invited by both Pat Sexsmith and Lorraine Grant to attend a meeting of the "Quest Club". I had never heard of this particular club but knowing both of these ladies I knew it had to be something good if the group had captured their time and attention. I just want to start out by saying that the Quest Club meeting was the most interesting and refreshing meeting that I have ever attended. The Quest Club is celebrating its 90th birthday today.
This story will certainly take many of you back in time: A time when etiquette included the proper manner of addressing people by Mrs. or Miss as the case may be; a time when women wore gloves, hats and dresses and tea was served in dainty tea cups.
The year is 1924: On October 14, 1924 a group of six local ladies - Mrs. Skinner, Mrs. Pitman, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Lyon, Mrs. Laurence and Miss Fry - all with a quest for knowledge - gathered together and founded the small club. Within the year another six ladies - Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Ewert, Mrs. Dixon, Mrs. Deykin, Mrs. Galt and Mrs. Smith all joined the club.
Note: I read the very interesting ten page history of the Quest Club and I could not find the given names for any of these ladies. Throughout the years they have always adhered to the proper manner of addressing one another. And not only that - all the minutes have and still are handwritten in a ledger.
Here are the details and a short summary of the history of the Quest Club as explained in a document written by Mrs. (Yvonne) Rowe and Mrs. (Pat) Sexsmith for this column.
Today, October 14th, 2014 ten ladies are celebrating the 90th birthday of the Quest club, a uniquely Prince Georgian club, founded on Oct. 14 in the year of 1924 by a group of local ladies.
The Quest club is unlike any other as it has no connection with any political, religious, social or service group. It is strictly an independent body, with a Quest for knowledge as its mandate.
The club has a constitution, a set of by-laws, a slate of officers and designated meeting days, namely every second Tuesday of the month, beginning in October. The Quest club was originated by six ladies who quested for more information in the fields of the arts, sciences, music, literature, world events, and public personages. Article 2 of our Constitution states: "The object of this club shall be the broadening of our acquaintance with the Arts, Science and General Information."
Of course, in 1924 the internet, television and electronic inventions were unheard of, and even the radio was not in many homes. There were no daily newspapers although the Edmonton Journal arrived weekly. The local library was very small, and there were very few books for sale at the Panama News stand. One of the ladies, Mrs. Pitman, had an extensive collection of books which she shared with other members.
The annual Quest membership fee was 25 cents, and then in 1927 it was raised to $1.00. The annual membership fee today is set at $5.00.
The general format for meetings begins with a tea, discussion of a current event, followed by a business meeting and finally "The Paper". Article 3.2 of our constitution reads: "During tea, there will be current events and discussion unless otherwise stipulated". Article 3.3: sets out the order of business to follow the tea, and suggests the program be about one-half hour.
Section 5 of the bylaws states that: "Each member shall be expected to present a paper at one meeting and to also be responsible for one current events meeting.
Supposing the club meets an average of ten times a year for 90 years; there would be 900 different papers presented.
There is a strong bond of friendship within the group. Although they may cross paths in their daily lives, the sense of history, of something uniquely Prince George and a common interest in the world around us links the group in a fellowship unmatched in any other social club.
In Memoriam: It would be impossible to list all the members who have passed away but I would like to mention a few who will be remembered today as we celebrate our 90th birthday. We were honoured to have had Joan Grainger, Shirley Jaron, Margaret Moffat, Barbara Ullstrom and Jill Wall as members.
The club's motto is "Work'st Thou Well Today for Worthwhile Things".
If you are interested there is a ten-page history of the Quest Club covering events and topics of discussion from 1924 to 1999 that can be accessed.
