Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-05-16
WOMAN TOTHE FORE
The Words Brightest Women
Begin Their Congress.
FAMOUS LEADERS OF THOUGHT
NJ GreAt WAa the Crowd That Over
no~ Meetings Mere Held In
Washington Hall.

AH1sAsp. May lo.-ln the noll U
Columbus IL the beautiful new Memor
lsl Art institute the noble series 10
worlds congresses designed 10 round oat
tho Columbian exposition by an exhibit
NJ great minds. trained iniellects, the
highest products ~ thought and the
last and best ideas 81 the a.,e was IN
augurated at 10 o'clock today in The
presence IL several hundred thousand
women and few men.
On the pages u the history ~ the
human race there IL written nothing re
sembling the record that will bee made
Of the congcrics u conventions that
began today. From all parts 81 the
world has been garnered material Tor
this harvest of thought. Men and
women whose names are famous
wherever civilization has made thought
and things ~ mind worthy the attention
of humankind. men and women who by
their mental height above their fellows
have gained distinction and honor in
the many sided affairs of life will give
tn the world during these congresses the
ripest fruitsge of the tree of their
knowledge.
Comprehensive i'm Scope.
The scope of the congresses is most
comprehensive. Religion. education.
art. science. philanthrophy. politics and
every kindred line Of thought will be
discussed during the progress ~ the
congresses. To assemble men and
women of the rank and file in art.
science and literature in Joint discussion
IT the worlds problems was a bold un-
deftaking. Stupendous as il Was il has
been successfully carried out and each
succeeding congress will prove how
thoroughly the field of human thought
has been covered in the plan Of the
worlds fair auxiliary congresses.
Credit for the successful elimination
Of the plan of the convention is due To
the special committee appointed Ia pre-
pare for the congresses and to secure
the presence at them II distinguished
people. This committee. which took
for its motto Not things. but men: not
matter. but mind.' consists ~ Charles
G. Benney. president; Thomas Il. Bryan.
vice president: Lyman j. Gage. treas
urcr; benjamin Butterworth and Clar-
ence r.. Young secretaries Mrs Potter
president and VICE president respectively
gresses.
The Congress Opened.
Although the opening ceremonies we're
set Tor 10 clock. II WIS near III when
President BonDey arose nn the platform.
called the session TO order and said:
The opening ceremonies al the worlds
auxiliary congresses are now about 10
begin. The divine invocation will be
offered 10y the Rev. David Swing"
So crowded had the hall become when
Mr.. Bonncy began his discourse that
several women climbed upon the plat
form and sat upon the edge. with their
feet dangling. as do the small boys at
athletic entertainments. With the con
clusion Of President Bonncy's address
the ceremonies marking the inception of
series of congresses were at an end.
They were brief and simple. yet impress
sive. 1t had been the intention 10 de.
vote special day IL the exercises. but
time would not permit
The auxiliary was now i'm session.
The first congress remained only Ia be
called. IL was conference II the
worlds representative women. and il
will be in session until May ~.
Mrs. Palmcr's Welcome.
The woman's branch of the auxiliary
has Mrs Palmer for its president aud
Mrs. Henrotin for its vice president.
The committee in Chicago ~ tho present
conference consists ~ May Wright
Sewell. chairman. Rachel Foster Avery,
secretary. and Sarah Stevenson. Julia
Holmes Smith. Mrs. John q. Coonley.
Frances r. Willard. Elizabeth Boynton
HARRIET and Mrs William Thaycr Brown
In introducing Mrs Palmer as president
IL the congress. Mr.. Bonney said IL was
fitting that the women should inaugu-
rate these conferences ~ progress In
replying. Mrs. Palmer extended vel
come on behalf 81 Chicago and n
worlds fair To the delegates. She was
sure the conference would result in
benefit 10 mankind and would form n
ccntury's crowning achievement for the
acN.
She retired and introduced Mrs
Charles Hcnrutin. vice president ~ the
woman's department who made the in
aucural address. tho theme - which
was that what stands in the va, ~ not
women but ~ the world today is woman $
ignorance ~ practical affairs and the
fatal conservatism - the leisure clas-ee.
May Wright Seeell was the next
speaker. who hoped tho discussions and
speeches would be widely published.
Then the countess ~ Aberdeen vas
INTRODUCED Organization. she said. had
accomplished much and perhaps the
greatest danger t'-iay was in over or.
ganizatIOn.
roiygo' Grcetipgs.
Mrs Albert Barker - England reci'e'i
tlns Dean Prpctors ode Columbia .
Emblem" and IN the cheering that foi
lowci Mira Palmer announced an al
ipurnmcnt until the evening ses~ion.
While the ihrong IN Columbus hall Was
listening to elaborate eterCis-s. an over
aoving audience filled Washington hall.
Mrs Palmer calicl the overflow NEE;
ing 'o order and then gave way g. Mrs
iIenroiin. who repeated her sbtrfss-
Nicotsck Never declared that The
women - Denmark and America we're
rurking for . CON MON "fJeci- Mare
Stromtrrg - Russia and innetfr
HsHsinck Scheyal - Germany followed
Finland vas newt repress h,s~i by Men
Top,r.lius ard Ehla Sor,ioyoi kripgh
Anne Simpson - rres'su presented TIE
csTnt tAiaents - fhe -~ssnu ~ the Ser
fr.rs-.xa o~sA 4ta ss~srftms rrns.tErse