The Portland daily press., 1882-10-14

| The American Association for the Advance
ment of Women closed its tenth Congress il
this city last evening. The sessions hav,
been highly profitable; the papers have beef
| worthy of their notable authors, AMI the dis
cussions have been broad and comprehensive
1t has been good thing for Portland that the
Congress has been held here; and to DR.. Sarah
w. Devoll-Vice President for Maine-whc
has been untiring in her exertious is its sue,
cess largely due.
Morning Executive Session.
The last executive session of the Congress
was called to order at 10 q. m. by Miss Abbie
W. May, in absence Of the President, who was
called away by sudden family affection.
Reports were read from Massachusetts by
Miss May, and Nebraska by Mrs. Colby. The
latter spoke of the Suffrage campaign now in
progress in that State.
The report from Massach usetts by Miss May,
relating to the condition of the annex, ras
mentioned, and certain changes in law favora-
BILE to women we're enumerated: Such as that
only half Of her personal property shall go to
her husband, and the other half shall be inner
tied by her children and other descendants, in
the same manner as they would ha ye taken the
whole had the husband been dead; admission
of women to the bar; aud an obligation to
provide seats for female employees.
Statistics In RECORD to criminals were also
given. In all prisons in the State, July /,
1882, there were 5000 male and TAI female
prisoners. Fifteen per cent Of commitments of
males were for crimes against the person, and
only six per cent. Of women were com Fitted
for those offenses. Twenty per cent. of men
were committed r crimes against property,
and thirteen per cent. of women; sixly-five per
cent of mon and eighty-ons per cent of women
for crimes against public order and decency
The report on education by Miss Mary East
man, was admirable, giving data of chairs of
psdsgogics, OF scholarship, offs ummer schools,
and of voluntary intellectual organize tions
The admirable report, for Maine, was pre-
sented by the Vice President, DIR. Sarah w.
Devoll of Portland, The report showed the
high rank Maine held in charitable and educa-
tional reforms. She enumerated the various
institutions throughout the State for such pur-
poser. Tho scholarship of large number of
Individuals ranks equally with that of the best
In tho land. An art association has been form
cd in Portland with large membership, which
has had = fine exhibition of the works of lead
ing masters. Bates and Colby Colleges adj
matt women, also the Agricultural College,
though there ID q limited attendance at these
colleges. Bowdoin College does not receive
women. DR.. Dsyoll also spoke Of the import
ance Of the Temporary Home for Women and
Children. and of the Old Ladies Home.
The nominating ballots were then collected
and the following officers were elected for the
coming year:
Nal President julia Ward Howe, Rhode Island.
Vice Presidents-Abby W. May, Mass; Prof.
sris Mitchcli, N. Y; Elizabeth b. Chace, R. l.;
i, Emily e. Reed. Vt; Rev. Antoinette Brown
Blackwell, N. j.; Charlotte L. Pierce, Penn; Ellen
N. O'connor, ID. g.; Finette S. Seelye, Ohio Juli4
Laura Clay, KY; Rebecca N. Hazard Mo-; Nj. K. B.
Lynde, Wis; JuiiA NJ. Hunting. Iowa; Aida C.
Avery, NJ. D., Col; Ellen Clarke Sargent Susan
Jarvis Cheney, Conn; Lucinda H. Stone, Mich;
Clara B. Colby, Nes.; Virginia e. Merwin, La
Clary Conway, Tenn; Sarah R. Stearns, MIMI.
Elizabeth W. botume. S. g; e. W. arnun, Fla.
Secretsry-Kate Gannett Wells, Mass.
Treasurer-Henrietta L. T. Wolcott Mass
Auditors-Emily D. Leonard, Conn; Amanda NJ.
Lsugee, Mass.
Directors-Soph'a C. Hoffman, N. Y; Mary E.
Bagg N. T.; Harriet A. Townsend, N. Y; Alice c.
Fletcher, N. Y; Phoebe NJ. Kendall, Mas: Mary
= Stafford d. Msss Mary Lvermore
Conn: Henrietta W. johnson, N. j.; L. D. Doug
lass, Penn. NJ 81. Cohen Penn. Ellen Mitchell,
CAL; Emma M. McRae, Ind; Mary
Wright Sewall, Ind; L. G. Hufford, Ind Clara M.
Holmes iowa; M 4. Woodbridge, Ohio; Evelyn
L. Mason, WIS., S. c. Little, Wis; Mary G. Peck
ham, Ruth c. Denison, D. G.
Afternoon Session.
witl 1t,,nv hos
an increased attendance at the afternoon Sos
sion, which did not begin till three O'Clock,
owing to the length OF the morning meeting
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe having been uravoida-
bly, called away, Miss Abbie May of Boston.
presided in her place.
Rev Antoinnette Brown Blackwell was in
troduced, and read paper entitled "Needs OF
the Religious Nature" written by Louise "
Boyd of Somsrvills, Mass, of which is given
the following abstract:
MRS. BoYD's PAPER.
It was frat asked that with the essayist it be
admitted that in a brief essay it would be i'm
possible even to touch upon the various points
embodied in the given subject. the needs of
the religious nature, therefore in this half-hour
we must be content to look straight in the face
of this nature, in the light of the Christian civ
ilization Of the nineteenth century, leaving 10
the scholastic linguist and scientific philoso-
phsr, the reflections caught from the side
lights Of other civilizations and other peoples.
Our spiritual enthusiasm is fostered by the
contemplation Of the history given ia the
Bible of the development of mans religious
nature and the positive record of how from
time to time the demand of the aspirations Of
those who walked the grander heights of spir-
itaality were mst-ths visions coming to the
dreamer and perceptions to the prophet.
Humanity walked then as now bufdened with
the weight Of its destiny, and the deeper mys-
teriss of revelation never quite removed the
memory with Gods chosen people Of the will
derness that stretched its forty years of weari-
ness between their fathers and the Promised
Land. But they were sustained by the cove
nant and the law, their matches history and
prophetic premises, the soul-iftng Psalms of
David, and the wisdom of Solomon, whose
utterances were guide alike in the affa airs of
the State and of the family. That the teach
ing of these leaders and prophets supplied
need of the religious nature is abundanty evil
denced by the fact that the student still drinks
deeply from the living, unfailing fountain of
Solomon's wisdom, the earnest soul goes to
David for expression, and the mourner turns
to the Book OF Job. The Jew subject to vari-
GUS conquests, was sustained in a sublime
patience, when his nation was but a name, by
the Divine assurance of the coming of Deliv-
erer. Oh, glorious law of life, that truth can
never die. Even In Israel's dsrkest day. while
the Pharisee ostentatiously prayed and the
Sadducee doubted and denied, Simeon and
Anra were still faithful, Elizabeth reioiced and
Joseph was espoused ito Marry, most blessed
among women. By an inevitable natural law
day follows night, and by an equally certain
snd most harmonious spiritual law light fol-
lows darkness. And when John came, crying
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand, multitudes obeyed the call recognizing
repentance to be the first great step to be TAX
en- by those who having knowledge of God,
have wondered and desired to return to Him.
Jesus came to the world when the world need
ed Him, not in the dazzling guise of mighty
monarch, but as friend and brother. HIS
words and works were not alone for the Jews
Their need to know He was divine was estab-
lished by repeated miracles. To after ages
these we'll authenticated miricles are the same
as if ever Transporting, and mankind will still
see the Saviour rise just in proportion to their
own spiritual rising. That He came to His
own and His own knew Him not, only evil
dences how perverted man may lose sight Of
his needs. When the church began her mis-
sion, repentiRg and believing men and women
found not rest and comfort alone, hut perfect
freedom for it comprehended progress as an
endless consequences The church when true
to herself adds to her faith, virtue; to virtue,