History of the Collect

2008 Gala & Awards

History of the Collect

Mary Stewart wrote the Collect in 1904 as a member of the Fortnightly Club, the forerunner of the Longmont, CO, BPW organization. The Collect was written as a prayer to instill a sense of unity among women working together with wide interests and important goals. Stewart worked for women’s suffrage nationally and was elected as the National Federation’s first corresponding secretary. She remained involved in BPW until her death in 1943. The Collect is recited by members at the opening of each meeting.

Keep us, O God, from pettiness;
let us be large in thought, in word, in deed.
Let us be done with fault-finding and
leave off self-seeking.

May we put away all pretense and meet each
other face to face—without self-pity
and without prejudice.

May we never be hasty in judgment and
always generous.

Let us take time for all things;
make us to grow calm, serene, gentle.

Teach us to put into action our better impulses,
straightforward and unafraid.

Grant that we may realize it is the little
things that create differences,
that in the big things of life we are at one.

And may we strive to touch and to know the great,
common human heart of us all, and
O Lord God, let us forget not to be kind!

--Mary Stewart