The New York herald., 1873-10-16
The Ballot for Woman Not Alluded to
Only by Accident.
The First Female Social Science
Association.
Babies, Sewerage, Marriage. and Materia
Medisa Discussed, but No More Free Love.


evening In session, and it is actually fact that
but one woman in it has spoken Of or alluded TO
she want Of the ballot for woman and the horrid,
naughty man has been allowed TO go almost scot
Tree OF feminine abuse The woman movement
has taken new and surprising departure and the
breach which has been growing wider and WIDER
between the moderate party and the extremists
was deepened yesterday by greater chasm than
ever.
soRosIs AND rAMhANY.
The public may not be thoroughly conversant
with the fact that for some time past the more vo-
lent womans rights people, headed by Victoria O.
Woodruff, Susan B. Anthony and others OF the
same stripe, have been diverging so widely in their
theories rom the accepted conventionaties OF
society as to compel a certain number OF lady
agitators who have membership in the Sorosis
Club OF this city to organize new
movement Of women which was to be directed and
maneuvred by the leaders OF the soros!s, TO the
utter destruction of the free love party.
slate was made out OF officers and a
constitution was framed, and these were sub
mitted to small but select party Of ladies
Mt the house Of Mrs. Rider in West Twenty
third street, on Tuesday evening last. 1t was re-
solved to call the new organization by name
which would free 1t from the reproach which has
hitherto attached to the more violent shriekers for
the privilege OF the ballot and the primary and
SO 1t was settled that the new birth should
De called "Ihe ASSOCIATION Ior the Advancement OF
WOmen.O Now this Is an euigmatical title, and
may mean anything or nothing and leaves the
members ree to iohow any new idea or ism that
may occur to their restless and lnquiring minds,
and yet the title commits these ladies to nothing.
They have also gained some ideas from the late
Evangelical Alliance held In this city, and
to prepare papers on the subjects 10 be discussed
beforehand, and read them in the sessions held by
the association. Woman, being naturally impul-
sive and prone-even the wisest OF them-to jump
to a conclusion, the preparation and reading OF
papers was decided upon as most necessary
mas mi of nj yyn a
to have first a temporary organization. and TO
have Mrs. Mary A. Livermorc, OF Chicago,
nant Voice. and considerable knowledge Of
s'Cushing's Manual parliamentary OF Law as Chair
TO be President of the .'Association for the Ad-
vancemcn, OF Women" which was 20 be evolved
THE CHARACTER THE CONGRESS.
OF one fact there can be no doubt whatever, and
that IS apparent on entering the Union League
Theatre IN which the association is now in session:
IL Is ny all means rhe most select. the most cul-
.tured and best ordered convention OF women ever
held in this country TO discuss the topics SO dear
to every woman's heart. over dozen papers
were read yesterday by these ladies', and not one
OF them was carelessly written or careiessly read
and many OF them gave evidence OF deep reading
and wide Information The theatre is quite
. little bDou OF an interior, and yesterday morn
filed by concourse OF ladies' who all had that cast
OF features peculiar to the educated women OF
New England stock and Puritan blood. There was
table for reporters in the orchestra, and on the
stage were several tables for the ladies who were
TO manage the Convention. The proceedings were
opened by prayer from the Rev. Phoebe Hama
ford, female Clergyman, and the call OF the asso-
citation was read. Letters were read from Emily
Faithful and other English ladies' in regard TO
social questions The reverend lady introduced
Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, OF Chicago, large and
masculine lady, dressed in black SIX, as the Chair
woman OF the Association for the Advancement
OF Women" the name by which it is hereafter TO
be known.
THE CONSTITUTION AND OFFICERS.
A constitution was read and submitted BY Miss
Alice c. Fletcher, the principal secretary Of the
Association, charming, energetic and handsome
young lady of brunette complexion, and it was
noticeable for its brevity, having only six short
articles. The second article states that the object
Of the Association shall be Ito receive and present
practical methods for securing to woman higher
intellectual, moral and physical conditions and
thereby TO improve all domestic and social rea-
tionsn
Annual congresses are to be held for the reading
initiation fee shall be So, and the dues s6a be 81
yearly payable at the beginning OF each congress.
Strict parliamentary forms are to be observed in
ali sessions OF the body. Mrs. Mary A. Liyermore
was elected president, together with long list Of
vice presidents, secretaries and an executive COM
nittee.
IN THE THRoEs OF DEBATE
Mrs. LEvERMoRE stated that ladies should not
move about or disturb the meeting. strict at
tention to the reading OF the paper was necessary
She was always nervous, she said, II people were
sraing ,,r apovt anu sne sapposea al women were
Ward Howe, whom she observed in the body OF
abe audience, to read paper.
mrs. HOWE, pale, Studlous looking lady, with a
bonnet covered with autumnal tints rose and
said, in very distinct and clear voice, that she
In thiSbody whose officers had been CHOSEN ana
whose constitution had been framed at a prellm-
inary meeting. she had a paper and would read
II or not read II, as she thought Ii would be
Vceable.
Mrs. LIvERxoRE rose TO explain in sturdy
manner, and there was some prospect OF a slight
row for q moment. The organization, she said.
only needed slight string to hold it together for
not present at the preliminary meeting should not
complain, for 1t rad been advertised IN all the
morning papers She knew that Mrs. Howe had
the good OF woman at heart and she knew that
ahe meeting was ready and anxious to hear her.
Mrs. ISABELLA BEEcHER HOOKER, a lady with gray
Curls and having shawl about her shoulders,
advised concession and concation. she SUBJ
scrlped 10 the call and would submit.
shirt 'front.' and ha u ady %
ing spectacles, sympathized with Mrs. Howe, but
Aoped tnat she would read her paper.
Mrs CHARLOTTE WILBoUR tail and graceful
1ady IN Diack SILK, rose and stated how all the
trouble came from the fact that ladies had not
carefully read the call OF the association.
Mrs. ELIZABETH CADY STANTON rose and solved
che question Ia moment. She said that the thing
1abors. whether the women here assembled shall
nave brains enough to CALI themselves In con.
gresa and not to know who should set on the
platform or record the proceedings. (Applausea
Mrs. JULIA WARD HOWE thought that il was not
20 prove that woman had brains that the Congress
mad been called. That question had been settled
1ong ago. Organization and association were very
serious things II the method was to be considered
Association was as solemn marriage. She was
willing to sit as a member OF the Congress-, but not
ns member OF any permanent association when
nhe did not understand It's aims.
MRS. ISABELLA BEEcHER HOOKER read the call
as an xplanation.
Mrs WILBUR stated that 10 obviate delay, the
Borosis had constituted itself q local committee.
Mrs. LTvERMoRg stated that no lady present had
. right to vote until she had paid her initiation
Zee was necessary to look out for the dimes, she
fhought. Applause.
MIS- BURLBTGH desired to Know how members
were TO pay their fees 2
Mrs. LIvERxoRE replied that the Treasurer, Mrs.
george Holman 10 prepossessng blonde LADY,
funds.
Mrs. HOWE then read a dry paper on the ques-
Hlon OF improvement in woInan's condition, and In
towns ano villages. She spoke OF the needless ex-
HravaRance OF the female sex, and declared that
me woman VINO had TOO much on her back was
paoie TO have nothing in her pocket and less In
1ed heart. In the formation OF w0men's clubs
6englous and personal worth and not scocial ran
oS wealth should be considered Mrs. Howe