The first I heard of the Bond Men’s Club of Detroit was from Charles B. Hull, who was with me at the First National Bank, Bond Department. I have no doubt that he talked to others about it for it became a subject of conversation with men like Kirk Bumpus, McPherson Browning, Frank Nicol, Fred Ford, Sidney Small, Jerome Keane, Canton Higbie, and others who were active at that time.

The first meeting was held at the Detroit Athletic Club, March 17, 1916, and was called by Charles Hull. At that meet­ing there were—Frank Gordon, William Woodgnift, McPherson Brownlngft ~Sidnei Small, Carlton Higbie, L. E. Allington, Charles B. Hull, Ernest 0. Bendix, and the writer.

In order to get things under way, Mr. Hull, as Chairman of the meeting, appointed a committee consisting of Frank Gordon, McPherson Browning and myself to set up by-laws to be pre­sented at a meeting called for permanent organization and election of directors.

This further meeting was held in April of 1916 and the pro­posed by-laws, which were taken almost literally from the by­laws of the Chicago Bond Men’s Club were adopted. The following officers were elected:

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            William G. Lerchen       President

            Frank Gordon                Vice-President

            Charles B. Hull              Secretary

            Ernest O. Bendix          Treasurer

As I remember, the first luncheon was attended by about sixteen men, and Edgar Guest, then as popular as he is now, was our first speaker.

One thing stands out very distinctly, looking back over the years, and that is that the idea originated and was developed in Charles Hull’s mind. Naturally you will ask why he was not the first President of the Club and my answer is, that it was a matter of his own choice-like Mr. Coolidge, “He did not choose to run.”