New-Yorker -Staats-Zeitung, March 27, 1895, p. 9

German Frauenverein.

The Golden Anniversary of the German Samaritans. - Festival performance at Carnegie Hall for benefit the funds.- Carl Schurz gives the festival speech and Richard Weinacht composed the festival prologues. – Musical and dramatic performance in celebration. –

To celebrate its Golden Anniversary the German Frauen-Verein for the support of needy widows, orphans and the sick had invited fellow German citizens of this metropolis to Carnie Hall. Though the hall was not overcrowded as it would have been desirable, and the German sense of charity should have filled, many hundreds of people had arrived nonetheless to honor this Verein.

It was a dignified and beautiful celebration which all those who participated should remember for a long time, which also shoed much greatness and artistically interesting elements. Mr. William Steinway had made all of the arrangement supported by the Verein's Ladies Committee. A lucky star hung over the event, since no important artist was absent and no one was disappointed and since they had donated their services, they all deserve thanks from the Verein.

The evening started with an organ solo, Rheinberger's Phantasie Sonata, op. 65 played masterfully by Dr. J. L. Bonn. The lively applause was followed by the appearance of Mr. Carl Schurz [image] who gave the following speech, which was a rhetorical masterpiece, in which he correctly assessed and honored the services and noble ambitions of the Frauenverein and for which he received frequent and warm applause:

"Honored Ladies and honored Gentlemen!

The program tonight is so extensive that I know I am doing you a favor by keeping my opening remarks short.

We are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of a club here which in the truest sense of the word belong to one of the most noble institutions of this city – for its age, since it is almost half as old as the US Constitution – but more for its character, its purpose and its effectiveness for it is the manifestation of love for mankind in its most beautiful and loyal form.

There are many types of charity. There is one kind that boasts its work in public market squares in order to garner world applause. There is another who gives at times generously to the needs of others and then carelessly turns away from the street beggar by throwing him a dime to be rid of him. And then there is another still who visits the suffering, inquires about their illnesses and needs and gives to them with the hand of friendship whatever it can. They stand at the beside of the sick surrounded by the coldness of poverty and accompanies each act with the hopeful words which raise in the souls of the sufferers the feeling they are not forgotten and deserted in this noisy world.

It was this truest of all thoughts of charity which brought together a few German ladies fifty years ago in the Matthew Church lead by Dr. C. F. Stohlmann. They formed a club with the purpose of visiting widows and orphans to minimize their bitter lot in life. They had little money – much too little. Their gifts consisted mainly of food and clothing. Quietly these angels of hope and sympathy walked from one place of suffering to the next, where ever it could minimize hunger, pain and tears – without enjoying applause from the public – expecting no more compensation than their own heartfelt satisfaction of being able to help and the awareness of fulfilled human obligation.

This has remained all these fifty years the soul of the German Frauenverein. The ladies still walk silently with hope and help, even with increased membership, and the expansion of their charity work. This heartfelt healing work of charity touched the generosity of voluntary giving by those more privileged. For many years the Verein had managed to do a lot with its meager resources when the warmhearted Mrs. Marie Magdalena Guenther decided generosity of heart is a better dress than gold and silk to save from her seamstress earnings and donated to the capital fund for the Verein's creation. And surely she was more pleased about this than the dress she didn't have. This example inspired her husband and later her son who in total gave ten times more.

This was the start for the Verein to be the benefactor of many gifts and legacies. The Verein repots have a long list of volunteers who followed this initial example. Among the names many are deceased but their graves are decorated with the gratitude of the poor and suffering; and among the living many generous hands without being recognized by us; names of the rich who gave 4 or 5-digit sums and names of those not rich but who gave what was possible – all are entitled to the same thank you for their good heart and honor to them.

And yet I think the Verein will agree if I single out one who in the name of the women deserves a special thank you. That is Mr. William Steinway.

Not only did he provide free space in Steinway Hall, not only was his purse always open to the needs of the Verein but also never hesitated to interrupt his heavy business obligations to arrange concerts and entertainments from which the Verein for many years received its income. And so this evening would not be what it is without this helpful hand being active. The only reward he receives is a warm thank you from the ladies of the Verein and recognition from his fellow citizens who have a heart for those who suffer.

But what should I say about the generous ladies who always disregard time and effort, only listening to their hearts, have devoted themselves to the good purpose of the Verein, in that they are either officers leading the work or women who wander from one place of need and suffering to the next? I can't name them all for there are too many of them. I can't name them individually without neglecting many for each one deserves the same award. They will find the best satisfaction in the blessings wished on them by the unfortunate to whom they were heavenly missionaries of help and hope."

The speaker then described the activities from its organization and came to the conclusion that the Verein in no way had the monetary means to expand its rewarding activities.

"The German Frauenverein of New York only has 335 regularly paying members. Shouldn't it have the same number as the German population in their thousands has? It has to be the pride of these German women to achieve these thousands.

They could not devote their favors to a more needy work. Among all the poor and helpless the neglected widows and orphans are the poorest and most helpless. And of all the widows and orphans those on foreign shores are the most widowed and orphaned. And if they are German then their need appeals twice as strongly to the German heart. And so this activity is in the truest sense of the word in a German activity. All the good German characteristics, in which we Germans like to pride ourselves, are incorporated in this quiet noble work. We like to speak of German nobleness, honesty and German loyalty. Is there anything more noble, honest and loyal that this work in manner and execution?

In the midst of our worries and ambitions in our daily life we should never forget: What we do from our hearts for others we do in the noblest sense for ourselves. Human life is a constant search for luck. And he who recognizes it correctly and values it does not search in vain, but finds it. There was never a truer phrase than this: "Shared sorrow is half sorrow; shared happiness is double happiness." I have encountered a lot and have met many people. I have never known a person who only took care of himself and was happy in that. And I have never known a person who found his happiness in making others happy and who was unhappy doing it, no matter what his own fate. And he who in his hardened selfishness only thinks of himself is lonely and deserted – no matter how many thousand hypocrites and envious people surround him. This type of desertion is the deepest, greatest and most hopeless of all human suffering. The only true and most enduring pleasures of life are those which reach us from the glowing eyes of others. Wht is power and what is wealth? Ownership is nothing; its use is everything. It may sound like a sentimental public place but it is eternally true: The one who is facing the end of his life values the dried tears he remembers much more than the ownership of untold millions.

And so I admonish the German ladies of New York as the beautiful example by Maria Magdalena Guenther has shown that where a woman's heart exercises its power the men will follow. Luck and blessings to those who will continue the work of the Frauenverein in the second half of the century and so it becomes richer in its generous work than the first! "

After the loud applause had subsided presentations by pianist Miss Carrie Hirschman who played the "Loreley Mountain" by Raff and Liszt's Polonaise with fine understanding and great sensitivity. Mr. Emil Senger recited the prayer from Halvey's "Jewess" to rousing applause. Mrs. Emma Wellman-Juch sang two songs by Schubert: "Gretchen at the Spinning wheel" and Schumann' "You my soul, you my heart" in the most charming manner and all the advantages of her sympathetic voice were well noticed in these German soulful songs. The active members of the Liederkranz beautified the celebration with several items directed by Heinrich Zoellner. The composition "Swabian folktune" arranged by the conductor was presented with admirable elegance and earned the singers a da capo.

Mr. Richard Weinacht had composed the following poem which was read in a well trained voice by Miss Ida Haar, earning her many an appearance afterwards.

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