The XXI Club's bylaws require 21 members. That's because most homes that hosted meetings were only big enough for 21 people when the club was founded in 1892.
The Abilene club's president, Betsy Clark, says the aging members have died or become too ill to participate. Some of the four active members say young people aren't joining because they don't want to give a 30-minute book report or do other formal activities.
The Abilene Reporter-News reports that the XXI Club and two other women's groups formed the City Federation of Women's Clubs. In 1899 the federation established Abilene's first public library.
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