The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-02-27
woMAN's NATIONAL COUNCIL.
First Triennial Meeting in Session 1T
Washington.

&
First Triennial Meeting in Session 1t
Washington.
WASHINGTON, Feb. A.-The fnt tri-
ennial meeting of the Woman's NaionaI
Council of the United States was held
at Albaugh's opera house. The dscora-
lions which were used Sunday night, on
the occasion of the memorial services of
the Military Order Of Washington were
left untouched, and the body It the
theatre was crowded with INTELLECTUAL
women, with fair sprinkling OF men,
while on the stage were seated the dele
gates, many of whom were the most
conspicuous figures in the woman world.
The meeting was opened with PRAYER by
the Rev. Mary Fl. B. Hit, after which
the delegates were introduced by Presi-
dent Francis E. Willard, who then de-
ivered long and most interesting ad-
dress, which was freely interrupted by
storms of applause. In opening her ad-
dress Miss Willard said she held with
the president of the previous cornell.
that IA difference of opinion on one
question must not prevent us from work.
ing unitedly for those on which We can
agree. To lift woman up
From sexhood Into womanhooi
and to do this for humanity's sake il our
problem. But it has taken women of
brains and purpose more than forty
years to find out this simple fact-to
learn that they must agree to disagree
on many things in order that the great
est numbers greatest good might be at
tanned. She distinctly disavowed any
banding together of women as mslcon-
tents or hostiles toward the Corrdat
other half of the human race. She said
she believed that this council should or
ganize miniature council in everytown
and city, confederating these in every
state and instructing the state council
to send delegates to the national council.
Were there such a council of womsn in
town and city, state and nation, we
should have our representatives con-
stantly at the state and national CAPT
tails, and should
Ask United1y for Advantages
that have heretofore been asked for,
only by separate societies. Miss Willard
said: 1--WE have long met to read essays,
make speeches and prepare petitions.
Let us hereafter meet in this great
council to legislate for womanhood. for
childhood and the home. Men have told
us solemnly, have told us often and in
good faith, no doubt, that they would
grant whatever the women of the nation
asked Our time to ask unitedly has
waited long, but it is here at last. "
Miss Willard paid compliment to
Gen. Spinner, who, she said, just thirty
years ago, proposed the admission of
women to employment in the United
States Treasury department.
She criticised the present style of dress
worn by society women, maintaining
that it prevented physical development.
She criticised ex-President Cleveland
for the use of the word female" by him
in recent speech, as being obnoxious to
women, who she said were women, and
wished to be spoken of as such.
The Evening Session.
The evening was well attended and
several interesting addresses were deliv-
cred. Mrs. Belgarney, Of London, the
delegate of the Woman's council of
Great Britain, made few remarks and
was followed by Rev. Milo Francis Tup-
per on "Woman's Status in the Church
To-Day" The following also read
papers: Mrs. Frances Elliott and Mrs.
E. B. Grannis, editor of The Church
Union on "The Christian League.