World War I, St. Louis Women, and BRO

When we at St. Mark think about BRO, we think of the women like Shirley Boeker and Louise Grothe and all the others who for decades have helped collect, sort, and distribute toys to children in need across our area. The organization’s origin and history though, does not start with spreading holiday cheer to children.

Years ago, I stumbled upon a reference to The Board of Religious Organizations of St. Louis while working at the Old Courthouse downtown. I knew that many organizations used space in the former courthouse during the 1930s but was still surprised to learn that BRO occupied two different rooms for their toy storage and workshop. I didn’t know the organization was that old and so did some further research on when and why they began.

During World War I women from religious organizations (Protestant, Jewish, and Catholic) formed a woman’s committee of the Missouri Council of National Defense to combine their efforts and help in winning the war. They organized a war savings campaign and sold approximately 1 million dollars in war saving stamps. Most of these were sold from the “Little White House” they set up near the main post office downtown. The women established Red Cross units in many houses of worship. They also raised funds for French and Belgian orphans and participated in the “sewing of the comforts committee”.

After the armistice was signed, the women wondered what would become of their active and successful organization. At a preliminary meeting to discuss their future, more than 500 women gathered. Eleven religious bodies, Protestant, Jewish, and also the Ethical Society, were included. The Board of Religious Organizations was created and their purpose as a social service organization was outlined in their constitution.

“The aim of this association shall be to stimulate the activities of the various religious organizations and their members, to coordinate their work and to unify their efforts in behalf of a better city and the community welfare. The association shall stand solely for the spirit of service and cooperation. Creed and doctrine shall play no part in its management or its work.”

They organized themselves into denominational units that were represented in different departments of work. In the early years after the war their focus was on Americanization, child welfare, community service, family welfare, institutions, protection and delinquency, publication, social hygiene, and social legislation.

“Americanization” was a term that became popular after the war. The women of the Board of Religious Organizations enrolled in training courses so they could teach English in their own homes to immigrant women and help them in other capacities. It is interesting to note that even in 1924 their efforts were acknowledged in a social services journal that stated, “The contacts that have been made have proved helpful not only to the foreign women and their families, but to the many benighted Americans who had no idea of the problems which our immigrants face or the conditions under which they are living.”

These women recognized that millions of dollars were invested in church and religious buildings that were used just a few times a week. They advocated for greater use of these buildings for various social service programs. The Board was aware that their efforts might conflict with the pastor or other “leading members of a church” but they told their members to continue working to secure use of church buildings, for their programs were essential. During the early years of the Board of Religious Organization, the women realized that some of their programs needed to be more active than others and so they prioritized their work. One of their most important early committees dealt with social legislation. They had great success in working on behalf of child welfare measures and the public schools of St. Louis.

In 1924 the Board of Religious Organization acknowledged the importance of a trained and paid staff in enlisting and training volunteers for social service. They knew they had much work to accomplish before their organization’s programs were fully successful, but they had confidence that they would continue to strengthen their efforts to do all possible for the betterment of the St. Louis community.

References:

Mangold, George B. “The Board of Religious Organizations of St. Louis: A Co-operative Venture of Women’s Groups in Social Service” in The Journal of Social Forces, Vol. 2., No. 3 (Mar., 1924), pp.422-424

Stevens, Walter Barlow. Centennial History of Missouri, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, Chicago, 1921.

“Thirty-Fifth Anniversary Celebration of the St. Louis Ethical Society” The Standard, volume 8, number 3, 1921, pages 85-86.

Written and Prepared by Julie Northrip in recognition of BRO's many years of service. Click here for some of the ways St. Mark Presbyterian has contributed to BRO.