The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1893-05-24
WORLDS CONGRESSES.


Hhey Arc Formally Opened at Chicago by
President Bonney-Representa wo-
men From All Parts OF tho World Par
ticlpate In the Opening OF tho women's
Congress.
CHICAGO, May 16. = Over twelve
months of infinite labor, involving cor
respondence with every portion of tho
civilized globe eliminated yesterday in
one OF the most truly representative
and brilliant gatherings of women that
has ever assembled. The scene was the
Hall of Columbus in the new art insti-
tute on the lake front, now occupied
for the first time, and the event the
opening of the worlds woman's con.
gress, the first of the series of worlds
fair congresses that will constantly
succeed each other week after week un-
til the end of October. Nearly seventy
organizations, composed exclusively Of
women, together with many hundreds
of societies and associations, are repre-
sented in the congress, and the roll of
those that will participate contains
over 5000 names.
There will be as many as twenty-five
congresses each day in addition to mass
meetings In the halls of Columbus and
Washington, which have seating ca
pacity of 5000 each, and every subject
Of interest to the sex, from religion TO
marriage prospects, is to be elaborately
discussed. The delegates were prompt
in getting to the art palace and prior
to the opening of the proceedings
proper they indulged in an impromptu
reception which was delightful for its
lack Of tormality. Women from Russia
were introduced to women from Canada,
South Americans fraternized with their
French sisters and leaders Of the two
rival womens' Christian temperance
unions exchanged compliments.
Prior to the opening of the congress
proper there were brief performances
under the auspices of the congress aux
iliary. The congress proper was called
to order in the hall of Columbus short
ly after II o'clock, with an address OF
welcome by Mrs. Charles Henrotin,
vice president of the woman's branch
of the congress auxiliary. She faced
an audience that filed the hall to over
flowing.
Mrs. Henrotin's hearty and cordial
address of welcome was followed by an
address to the worlds congress Of rep.
resentative women by Mrs. May Wright
Sewell, Of Indianapolis, who outlined
the objects of the congress and alluded
to the subjects that will be presented
In the various convention halls.
An address of extreme length was
delivered by President Charles C. Bon
ney, of the worlds congress auxiliary.
He paid tribute to the late Secretary
Blaine for the earnest and untiring CO.
operation which he had given both
and through the state de-
partment to the movement; also eulo-
giEed Cardinal Manning, Lord Tsnny.
son and John @. Whittier, all Of whom
had promised their cooperation but
had passed away before their promise
could be fulflled.
The congress, he said, meant the
dawn If new age, with peace as It's
leader, and II proclaimed the universal
fraternity Of learning and virtue as
the best means by which ignorance,
misunderstanding, prejudice and ami
mostly could be renewed, and intelli.
gence, charity, productive industry and
happiness be promoted. What had
seemed a splendid but impossible drea.
to-day became present reality.