Mutual Improvement Societies

Today’s post is taken from the pages of the Reston Recorder’s November 11, 1909 edition.  A group of citizens are attempting to reinvigorate the Reston Mutual Improvement Society that had become inactive in the village.  The front page article penned by "A Well Wisher", relates the history of the society going back to 1886.  Trails Along the Pipestone (1981) had photos of 4 of these men as they were former Reeves.     

Looking north up Fourth (Main) Street Reston in 1908

Mr. Editor – With your kind permission I would like to draw attention to the notice of the annual meeting of the R.M.I.S to be held tomorrow evening.

The original society was organized by the early settlers in the Pipestone district away back in 1886 when there were comparatively few settlers except those living along the Pipestone Creek. Those early settlers got together to discuss the benefits to be derived from social gatherings and a library whereby they might pass many long winter evenings and keep in touch with the outside world and also keep their minds from rusting.

On 14 February, 1886 about 30 of the pioneers gathered at the old log shanty on Hawarden farm, the home of William Lothian, (NE 20-7-26) and organized the society then known as the Pipestone Mutual Improvement Society with Wm Lothian president, R. Forke vice president, J. McKinnon secretary treasurer. Committee, A. McKinnon, Percy Roberts, John Ready, Thomas Forke and James Rattray. Librarian James Lothian of Pipestone PO - Whitefield farm (NW 20-7-26).

The initiation fee was $.50 and $.50 per annual membership which some years later was raised to a dollar. As all the proceeds were expended on new books to replenish the library so no one thought to neglect to put in their dollar. Monthly meetings were arranged for the first debate being led by Mr. Willoughby “Resolved that the California Headers would be advantageous to Manitoba” which provided a very pleasant evening’s topic for the first entertainment. Their first order for books was sent direct to Newcastle-on-Tyne, England and the number was about 60 books- quite a credible showing for the small land of pilgrims. As the district got more thickly populated and a new post office opened at Mr. William Bulloch’s, known as the Reston post office, it was thought advisable to divide the books and the even numbered books were kept at Pipestone the odd numbered being sent to the Reston P.O. Once a year the books were recalled and those that had been kept in Pipestone or taken to Reston and vice versa. This kept the new books inside all the time and each district got their share of them. 

The monthly meeting often held often in the Reston School now known as Lanark but occasionally in the farm houses of McKinnon, Forke etc. and took the form of debates, impromptu speeches, papers on various subjects, mixed programs etc. and all looked forward to the meetings. In after years when the railway came in the village of Pipestone and Reston sprung into existence people lost interest in the old society and it was decided to split up and make two separate societies, one in each town. Then, as the towns grew, so many entertainments came, that the regular meetings of the society became a thing of the past and the library has only been very meagerly replenished through the undying efforts of those who recall the benefits derived from the society in years gone by. Many of our prominent men in this country were helped and led to a higher plane in life through just such societies as these. Where are our men of the future? What are we doing for the rising generations? These two questions appear to rise out of the experience of the past of this society. Are we doing our duty? Are we supplying the reading matter that will have a tendency to lead them to higher words, thoughts and actions, even if it seems impossible to hold the regular meetings? Is it anything less our duty to keep a good life library where those who have time may secure the reading that suits them? If the pioneers of this district, if you would wonder, could start with 60 books and replenish regularly by means of regular fees etc., surely we with better facilities could have one of the most up-to-date library in the country. If every one in this district would spend one dollar per year towards keeping up the silent educator it would mean not only 60 books but in a short time and untold number and we would hear no more answers to the question - Are you a member of the Reston MIS? No, I have read every book in the library why don’t you get more new books? The reason for sometime past is because there are no funds available.

   

Tomorrow evening is the annual meeting of the society, election of officers a plan to be worked out whereby new books may be bought. Would you attend and give this old and deserving society a boost? Signed, A Well Wisher

Nov 18, 1909
The annual meeting of the Reston Mutual Improvement Society was held on Friday evening but unfortunately the attendance was very poor. It is lamentable that more interest is not taken in this worthy institution, for, with proper support, its possibilities in developing the intellectual life of the community are great. The officers for the ensuing year are:

President EJ Wilkins

Vice president Dr E Bracken

Librarian EH Berry

Library Committee Rev JG Stevens, Rev AJ Tafts, AJ Manning, EH Berry

A previous post tells that the Pipestone and Albert Municipalities received a provincial grant in 1975 to start a public library and in 1992, our new building was constructed on the site of the first Reston School.  It continues to be a place of learning and sharing in the community for all ages and genders.