Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-23
THE wOMAN's NATIONAL COUNCIL.
Religious Exercises ut AlbauShS Opsra
House Yesterday Afternooh.


DREss-Uss HuLrrN's KLoouESr SERMON
! MussKs SHAW, GORDON AND OTHERS sPHAx.
When Miss Frances E. Willard stepped for
ward on the stage of Albaugh's Opera House
yesterday afternoon to open the religious exer-
cises Of the woman's National Council she
faced an audience that filed every available
foot Of space. Long before 8 o'clock every
seat was taken, but still the people kept stream
ing in tn q solid line until they filed the aisles
and all the spaces back Of the seats and even
the top gallery was packed clear to the back
wall Not another person could have got in
possibly, and before the hour for commencing
the doors were closed to keep any more from
trying to enter. Even then the crowd lined
up outside under the impression that the doors
had not yet been opened. The boxes were all
filed to overhowing. and there was q crowd Of
spectators on the stage watching proceedings
from the flies. 1t was indeed an suspicious
beginning for a meeting of women.
DISTINGUISHED DELEGATES ON THE STAGE.
The stage was set as drawing room, with
palms and plants scattered around and read
ing desk was placed down by the footlights.
On the stage were seated the delegates to the
council and in the front seats were Miss Will
lard, president of the council; Miss Susan B.
Anthony. Rev. Caroline I. Bartlett, Rev. Anna
W n.
G. 1Iultin and Mrs. Margaret Bottome, prcsi-
dent of the King Daughters.
few minutes after 3 Miss Willard an
nounced that the hour for opening the re-
ligious services had arrived and that the OPEN
ing hymn would be read by Rev. Miss SPENCER.
Miss Spencer then read Coronation and the
immense congregation Joined in singing that
favorite old hymn. The invocation was pro-
nounced by Rev. Caroline ]. Bartlett of Kala-
mazoo, Mich, who said:
xl~k L.
hope for and strive for. be with us now. We
know that II our work and counsel be not of
Thee 1t must fail. o Thou who broodest over
humanity furthering our faithful work, repair
ing our errors when we know it not, wilt Thou
keep us in Thy blessed service now and forever
more"
A FLAsHLIaHr PICTURE.
In the absence of Rev. Olympia Brown, who
was to have read the Scripture. there was no
Bible present and Miss Willard called upon one
of the unordained, faithful little woman, Miss
Anna A. Gordon. to repeat the first Psalm.
While Miss Gordon was in the midst of this
| there came a sudden, unexpected flash OF light
and puff Of smoke from the top gallery. and
before the audience knew what had happened
the faces OF the group Of prominent women
who were seated on the stage had impressed
their images upon sensitive plate in a big
camera. 20 be handed down to future genera
tions as a memorial OF the first session Of the
first triennial meeting of the Womans National
Council Of 1891.
After the conclusion of the recitation Miss
NJ Elizabeth johnson sang most delightfully."- a
sacred solo.
Dear friends, we rejoice in this audience, "
eaid Miss Willard. coming to the front, ''but the
French have phrase about the embarrassment
OF riches and we have an example of that now
Rev. Ida Hultin. who to have preached the
sermon, has been unable to get through the
crowd to the stage. and we will be obliged to
lnrert our order of exercises and Mrs. Bottome,
who is president of the King Daughters, with
a membership Of go. 900, will make the exhorta-
ton before the Sermon"
MRS. EorroME's EVAPORATION.
Mrs. Bottome. who has masculine style Of
speaking and INDUCES in eloquent oratory to
an extent unusual with women, began by say
ing: Il was down to exhort, see. When was
girl there used to be an order in the Metho-
dist church known as exhorters, but that class
has died out. l was surprised to hear that
was to exhort, though have often been spoken
OF as a woman who is willing to talk. But
am in the habit of exhorting myself on certain
lines, and tell myself that it is not so much
what the work is that is done as 1t Is the spirit
in which ii is done. l remember picture
saw in Europe last summer and studied it until
took it in. 1t was the Convent Kitchen and
oil the figures we're those of angels engaged in
mental tasks. But looked upon the silver
cross l wore as the emblem Of the organization
l represent, 1. H. N, In His Name, and under
stood it all. 1t in His name. 1t was the
spirit in which il was done. Whatever you miss
do not miss the spirit.
"On another line. too, exhort myself: When
l saw the Cathedral of Cologne, how it thrilled
me; and l thought of the working man who was
present a. the opening of the cathedral. and
losing himself in the mngniicence O. the cathe-
dral he said: Did We ever think we would
make such beautiful placer When silenced
and asked what he had had to do with il he an
swered that he had mixed mortar for years for
the building. So We are all parts Of one greas
ing Of mortar, but the day may come
| when it will be that the ono thing that
could not be done without us was thu mixing Of
mortar. There is room for all and work for all
LOVE ONE ANOTHER
1.-THE exhortation for US women engaged in
womans work is Love one another saw it
stated in a paper recently that women are very
eager for principles for the elevation OF the sex
and Of the race but that they do not love one an
other. l do not believe it is SO. fCries Of no,
mol And, what is more. know it is not true.
The need for women isspirituality. We must
have spirituality, the spirit of the little child"
MISS sHAws APPEAL.
Rev. Miss Shaw then came forward to make
an appeal. ''Mrs. Bottome has made her APP
peal to you for conservation to Christ in your
WoTh the NOiiu MISS SHAW, ana i
come to you to ask that you consecrate your
purses to the Woman's National Council. am
asked to do this not because of my ability in
that line. but because of my denomination and
| its recognized ability in reaching out for the
purses Of men. So ask you for good old
| fashioned Methodist collection. Mrs. Bottome
has told you sweetly of the need of mortar
in building, 30 will speak Of the need Of money
in this work.
"Oh. am reminded of my story. have one
story that always tell. but I have forgotten
| to tell it until now. 1t is my only story
And she told Of minister who was noted for
his power in drawing money forth from his
| congregation. A small boy, who lived next
door, swallowed dollar by accident. The ply
stefan was called and did all he could but failed
and told the weeping mother to prepare her
son for the sad end She asked If she should
send for minister and when she mentioned
this particular man the doctor said: do by
all means, for if he can't draw that dollar ont
there il no skill that can avail with your son."
The remainder of Miss Shaw's remarks which
were an appeal to the church g of the land for
the frecr admission OF women as, minister's
were perforated by the jingling Of silver drop
ping into the plates.
Miss Willard read q telegram from Miss
Louise B. Baker 1.-THE Congregational minister Of
the island Of Nantucket, announcing the death
of her brother and her consequent inability to
be present at the council.
MISS HULrIN APPEARS
BY this time Miss Hultin had made her ADJ
pearance and explained that she had been do
tanned, not by woman's failure to keep her
appointment, but by the stupidity of man, q