The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-18

TIE INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN.
The first exclusively woman's convention
in the United States was held at Seneca
Falls, N Y, July 10 and 20, 184s. The call
was issued by Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady
| Stanton, Mary Ann McClintock and Martha
/ e. Wright, sister of Mrs. Mott. 1t was
published in the Seneca County Courier,
semi-weekly journal, but not one of the ladies
dared to sign her name, and it was issued
without signatures. The call was written at
a Quaker tea-table, for "a convention to dis
cuss the social civil and religious condition,
and rights of women" but when they under
took to formulate platform, they were en-
tirely at sea. They knew perfectly what they
wanted to say, but did not understand the
proper form for public convention. They
finally decided to adopt the Constitution of
the United States, substituting ''all men" for
''King George"
When they reached the Wesleyan Chapel
they found the door locked and barred. The
| ubiquitous small boy, however, climbed in a
window and opened. the door. This boy
lege, but the door of that institution has
not yet been unbarred to women.
The ladies were somewhat taken aback at see
ing a number of men in the crowd they
had decided not to admit any of the opposite
sex, but after short consultation around the
altar they concluded that this was an occasion
when men might be very useful, as they
themselves had very little idea of how to
manage convention. Thereupon the digni-
fed Quaker, James Mott, was made chairman.
Resolutions were adopted declaring that
women were entitled to equal rights in the
universities, in the trades and professions; to
share in political Offices honors and emolu-
! ments; to complete equality in marriage, to
personal freedom, property, wages, children;
to make contracts; to sue and be sued; to tes-
tify in the courts of justice; to vote All the
resolutions except the latter were unani-
mously adopted, but the members of the con-
yention feared that this demand would defeat
all the others and make the whole movement
ridiculous. Through the persistent advocacy
of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Frederick
Douglass it was finally carried by small ma
jority. At this time the common law was in
force, and the condition of married woman
was not much better than that of slave.
It will be observed that this first convention
of women ever held demanded ali that the
most radical advocate OF woman's rights
have at any time since claimed, and that,
with the sirgle exception of the franchise,
al of these claims have practically been al
lowed. The educational field and the indus
trial arena are open alike to both men and
women. The common law as regards women
is rapidly giving way to statutes recognizing
the equal rights of the two sexes. Innumera-
bic minor offices as filed by women. Even
the right to vote has been conceded in various
parts of the country.
The Seneca Falls convention was followed
by woman's rights conventions in many diff
ferent States and from 1s4S till the breaking
out of the civil war these conventions were of
in Indiana was in October. 1851, held at Dub
lin, Ind, Hannah Hiatt president, Amanda
Way yice-president. In every instance all
over the country these conventions were met
with storm of ridicule and opposition, led by
press and pulpit. A pastoral letter was is
sued by the General Association of Orthodox
Churches in Massachusetts, to all the churches
under their care. Throughout this letter
women were referred to only as females"
and the most horrible results were pict-
ured when women were allowed
to speak and work in public. Ministers
declared in their pulpits that those who at