1932 Book; The Smith Family, Its work and story 1932

This of course differs from some accounts, where the men's the trip takes place on 24 Dec 1922. In the account in this book, it is days prior and the men organise and later six visit the "Home for mentally deficient boys at Carlingford" on 24 Dec 1922 giving a charming account of their visit with the Jovial Man as Santa wondering how he got himself into a very uncomfortable situation until the joy brought to the children becomes apparent.

"Like most of those kindhearted people who do good in this world, they were painfully shy and self-conscious, and the spectacle of these forty small, stolid boys, washed and brushed, and sitting open-mouthed, with a cynical look of unbelief on their faces, was not reassuring"

It later gives a the usual account of the Matron questioning who the men are and the final response of "We're the Smith Family - that's who we are!"

The critical reader may say this book, published in the tenth year after the business trip, is an advertisement of the work of The Smith Family, noting it concludes with a call to action; "And now - your part!" It certainly explains the goal and methods of the Family and it's value on anonymous and personal benevolence.

While the book does not specifically claim to be authorised by the Smith Family, the Preface describes the author in the Third Person and is presumably written by a Smith. The body copy is likewise written in the Third Person. As noted above, the Preface records how the author "was supplied with scrapbooks, annual reports, and documents for the purpose. He has, of course, ended up a Smith" indicating the Smith Family's support for the book and their indirect unofficial endorsement of the same. However there is nothing official within the book to confirm the Smith Family's involvement or endorsement of the book.

The Preface is followed by five chapters and a call to action at the end.

The Contents on page 4 show 5 chapters;

THE BEGINNING OF IT (CHAPTER 1)

ON THE ART OF SMITHING (CHAPTER 2)

SHORT STORIES OF THE SMITHS (CHAPTER 3)

ALL SORTS OF GOOD WORK (CHAPTER 4)

WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE - WORK FOR THE MALNOURISHED CHILDREN (CHAPTER 5)

Chapter 1 runs pages 5-10

Chapter 2 runs pages 11-18

Chapter 3 runs pages 19-25

Chapter 4 runs pages 26-36

Chapter 5 runs pages 37-42

"And now - your part" is one page (page 43) while the Preface is one page (page 3)

The book has two pictures, page 1 and page 44 being the first and last page.

"And how - your part" has records the name as THE SMITH FAMILY JOYSPREADERS UNLIMITED at 81 Pitt Street, Sydney, Box 328-F G.P.O. and phone B3948

Chapter 3 & 4 contain subheadings which are

SHORT STORIES OF THE SMITHS (CHAPTER 3)

• • The Pensioner's Party

  • The Last Present

  • Tommy Tuckwell's Monument

  • The Musical Roller

  • A Party with an Admiral

  • The Hardness of Life

ALL SORTS OF GOOD WORK (CHAPTER 4)

• • The Smith Gatherings

  • Wireless for the Sick

  • For Hungry Girls

  • Boots ! Boots ! Boots !

  • The Ladies - Bless Them !

As mentioned earlier, there is no mention of Freemasonry in the book. Nor are there any conclusive hints of Freemasonry.

The book also mentions very few names. It does record that "Governor Generals, Governors, Railway Commissions, cobblers, politicians, journalists, musicians, broadcasting announcers .... every walk of life has its Smiths..." however there is nothing to say that "Smith" is been used as an adjective rather than denoting members of the organisation.

Central to "Smithing" is anonymity, however over the books 44 pages, we are given a few names, but scant detail. The name Tommy Tuckwell might be a Smith, but is probably rather given as an example of Smithing. Interesting he is described as an "Oriental" but may have been long dead by 1932.

In "A Party with an Admiral" pages 23-4 records a party on MAS Canberra "where 500 kiddies were entertained by the captain, officer, and crew, and shook hands with that doughy adventurer and writer of adventurers' books, Admiral E R G R Evans, the in command of the Fleet " but while Evans' presence is noted, he is not overtly claimed as a member of the Smith Family. Evans does not appear to have been a Freemason.

Sir Dudley de Chair is mentioned. He was Governor of New South Wales 1923-1930

Page 31 describes a large radio installation completed at "the big Coast Hospital... its turnover of 10,000 patients a year" where " ...a speedy installation of the radio equipment enabled Sir Dudley de Chair to declare the last section open on April 1,1930, before he left for England. Sir Dudley does not appear to have been a Freemason.

Page 44 records the books is "Wholly set up and Printed in Australia, by D S Ford. 44-50 Reservoir Street Sydney" but does not claim DS Ford as a Smith or the DS Ford donated the work, the business could simply could have been a contractor. DS Ford did publish some Masonic Works, but this hardly allows us to conclude he was a Freemason.

None of the names given in the book are known Freemasons.

So, from a Masonic perspective, the book is a step in elimination rather than confirmation of any Masonic origins for the Smith Family. Still, that perhaps is progress towards "The Truth"...

Reading the book was of great interest and certainly added to my view on the Smith's operations and history. It also revealed much about the thinking of the organization. I am now even more keen to read the earlier publication The Smith Family : bringers of cheer, makers of mirth, purveyors of joy. Sydney : Smith Family, [1924?]. Being an earlier publication, it is more likely to be closer to the founders than The Smith Family, Its work and story of 1932

For a moment, let's consider the hypothesis that the Smith Family was founded by Freemasons. If that was the case, then is it clear that the author of this book did not want the Smith Family to be seen as a Masonic Group. (And not forgetting there was a NSW Masonic Benevolence Society). It is also clear that other contemporary accounts examined so far do not link the Smith Family with any specific Masonic Lodge or group, but there are Freemasons who are working hard as Smiths - according to newspaper reports, one as a Founder..

It is clear the Smith Family's history tells that it was founded by men. This book clearly states that the discussion between .."five business men in their motor car.." returning "a little tired of their trip" gave birth to the Smith Family. I also note it does not say "business trip", does include a visit to the Woolpack pub (with early closing times back them, so afternoon at the latest, arrival at the pub also cut the discussion short) and they make an investigation over several days, and later visit the Home for Boys. This means the trip was not taken on 24 Dec as later sources report. The visit to the pub also to "wash away the dust of Baulkham Hills" does not mean that is where they conclusively came from, but certainly indicates they had been to or traveled through Baulkham HIlls."

In Chapter four in "Ladies - Bless Them!" P 33 & 34 we have an account of how females became involved in the operations of the Smith Family. Here it is retyped in full

Finally, it is, perhaps, necessary to say something about Mrs. Smith and Miss Smith. Do not imagine for one moment that the male Smiths went down on their knees and pleaded to these ladies to join them in their work. Rather it was their policy to keep what they were doing to their self-conscious selves.

But - have you ever tried to keep a secret from your Mrs. Smith ?

"James, where are you going to-night ?... "Darling, I am going to the Stadium"... "James, you know quite well that this is Thursday, and there is a no fight on Thursday ... and last week you went to the Capitol and came home with an enthusiastic description of a picture called "She Loves Me Not," which was being shown EXCLUSIVELY at the Prince Edward. ... Now, James, exactly - wh're - ARE - you going ?"

The real difference between the bad and the good husbands is that no good husband ever risks having to face a conversation like this, even in a worthy cause, so the wise Smiths told their wives confidentially what there were doing; and most wives, being good-hearted, decided to take a had in the game.

You can bet it was not very long under those circumstances before the Ladies' Auxiliary and the Younger Smith Set were in existence.

On page 24, there is mention of the "Girl Smith organizers" and an account of their good work.

Many organizations like Rotary were closed to women at the time, and it is interesting to note woman are very involved in the Smith Family from the early days...

The book reports that on 18 September 1923 the Smith Family came into formal existence with about sixty members. Quoting from page 12;

"On September 18,1923, the Smith Family came into formal existence with sixty members, and sub-title to its name to explain itself : -

"JOYSPREADERS UNLIMITED"

Its objects were set out clearly:

"To maintain throughout the whole year the spirit of true charity, letting not the right hand know what the left hand doeth.

"To maintain a continuous campaign of good cheer and goodwill, to brighten the lives of the afflicted, distressed, sick and needy, and to restore confidence in those whom misfortune hath dealt with.

"To develop a centre of service so that the spirit of the Family shall radiate throughout the length and breadth of the country.

"To develop a definite interest in the other fellow."

This are the same goals (with one missing) in the copy of the Constitution I have, which you can read here. However he Constitution stored at that link has an additional clause omitted from the above which appears in the subject book. This reads

"To develop a definite interest in the welfare of, and to help in all ways possible, children who thorough misfortune are in need of the advice, help and care of a friend.

The above is inserted between the third and fourth clause in the above recorded in The Smith Family; its work and story of 1932.

For clarity, here is page