The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-01-04

the National President and Council and
acting upon the National Presidents recon-
mendation, they repealed the legislation of the
Eleventh National Convention, and voted to
enter the Council.
Having been officially reported by National
President Mink, and the triennial fee paid,
the Woman's Relief Corps is now part of the
National Council of Women of the United
States On behalf of the National Council oil
Women Mrs. Sewall has expressed to Mrs.
Mink the honor conferred upon the Council OF
receiving into membership so large and in
fuential and patriotic body as the Woman's
Relief Corps.
CHARACTER OF THE COUNCIL.
Mrs. Sewall, President of the Woman's Ma
tional Council, in an admirable summary OF
the history, aims, aud objects of the Council,
says:
The line of organization pursued in forming
the National Council is analogous to that pur-
sued in forming that Federal Union of States
which has resulted in the United States OF
America. The analogy between the National
Council and The Federal Union is not perfect
in every detail. but is broadly suggestive. 1t is
not perfect for each State in the Union is SUBJ
ject TO the National Government, or subordi-
nate to il; while each organization within the
Council is absolutely independent Of the COun-
cIl which neither claims nor exerts control
over the units which compose it. The units
which combine to form another higher unit
are in the National Council without geographic
cal limit. Each of these units is all idea
an idea of culture, of reform, of moral and
social progress. of religious emdeavor, or of
some her distinct spiritual character. AS the
autonomy of no State is destroyed by entering
the United States, but rather each State
finds its own complete development, and the
broadcast field for the exercise of its own III
fiuence by entering the United States, so no one
of the ideas about which is crystallized a
National organization of women, will be i'm
paired by entering the National Council; but
rather will experience show that each of these
separate ideas will find its complete evolution,
and the widest arena for IT'S public service, in
the National Council whose motive is to
achieve what may be termed a spiritual re-
public. an
The motives and the methods of the National
Council are in such perfect harmony with the
institutions and the Government of the Re-
public that we believe that il must commend
itself ultimately to all organized bodies of
American women. o.
Before the National Council was formed,
National organization for specific object was
the highest exhibition of woDian's organizing
grouping OF National organizations into one
organized body, for no selfish specific object of
that body but for the purpose Of clothing with
multiplied moral force any interest so large
aud general that it conmcnds itself to all
women, regardless of the specific objects for
which they are organized. that Is the climax
III the organization of the moral forces of
society by women.
CONSTITUTION OF woMAN's COUNCIL.
PREAMBLE
We women of the United States, sincerely
believing that the best good of our homes and
Nation will be advanced by our own greater
unity OF thought, sympathy, and purpose, and
that an organized movement OF women will
best conserve the highest good Of the family
and the state do hereby band ourselves to-
gether in a confederation of workers committed
to the overthrow of all forms of ignorance aud
injustice, aud to tho application of the golden
rule TO society, custom, and law.
That we may more successfully prosecute
the work, we adopt the following
CONSTITUTION
Ariicte Name.
This federation shall be called the National
Council of Women of the United States.
article H--Gcnerat Policy
This Council is organized in the interest of
no one propaganda. and has no power over the
of suggestion and sympathy; therefore no So
cieiy voting to enter this Council shall thereby
render itself liable TO be interfered with in
respect to its complete organic unity, independ-
ence or methods of work, or DO committee to
any principle or method of any otter society,
or to any act or utteraDce of the Council itself
beyond compliance with the terms of this Con-
stitutiOn.
article HL-ONcers
The officers shall be President Vice resi.
deDt-at- Lrrge, Corresponding Secretary, Rec
ording Secretary, and Treasurer. Each Presi-
dent of society belonging TO the Council shall
be ex-ofcio Vice President of the National
Council, and the President of the National
Council shall be ex-oicio Vice. President of
the International Council.
The five general officers. with the ex-oficio
Vice Presidents, shall! constitute an Executive
Committee. of which seven members shall
make a quorum. to control and provide for the
general interests of the Council.
article IV-NeD,bers.
Section l. Any society of women the nature
of whose work is satisfactory to the Executive
Committee, either rs TO its undoubtedly Ma
ti0Dal character or National value, may br come
a member of this Council by it's own vote aud
by the payment of 500 into the treasury of
the National Council, not later than three
months prior to its triennal meetings.
Section 2. THE women of any National Or
ganlZation composed OF both men and women,
may associate themselves together within said
National organizations, and may connect them
selves with the Council by eiecting a woman
to represent them Oh the Official Board of the
Council. and by the payment Of the regular
triennial fee into its treasury"
Article V--Heetings.
The National Conncii shall hold triennial
meetings. The Committee of Arrangements
shall be composed of the Executive Committee
and one delegate chosen us its representative
by each society belonging to the Council.
article VI-AmendDlents.
This constitution may be altered or amended
by majority vote of the Council at any trien-
NAL meeting, printed notice thereof having
been sent to each member of the Executive
Committee at least three months prior to such
meeting.
SOCIETIES IN NATIONAL COUNCIL.
The motto of the National Council of Women
is Lead Kindly Light" Fifteen societies are
now represented, as follows. and others coming
in: National american Woman Suffrage Asso-
citation, Woman's Centenary Association OF the
Unversalist Church. National Woman's Christ
ian Temperance Union, National Free Baptist