Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-19
National Council of the Women of
 the United States,
REPRESENTING ALL GLASSES,
Now Holding Their Second Triennial Session at the
 National Capital.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-The second tri. ennial meeting of the National Council of the Women of the United States, to give the full title, began this morning, and for two weeks will divide with congress inter- est in Washington affairs. It is sale to say that never before was there such an enthu- siastic assembage of women as that as Metzerott Music hall at 10 o'clock, when the formal opening occurred.
 When Mrs. Mary Wright Sewell of ln- 6ianapolis, president ofthe National Coun- cil, rapped for order from the stage at one end of the hall she looked down upon representative gathering of women from every section of the country and few from other countries, while the galleries above were crowded with an appreciative audi ence-male and female-apparently thor oughly in sympathy with the objects of the meeting. The gathering was not only representative from geographical standpoint, but from those of appearance and sphere. Dress reformers and women in gowns of the modest style sat side by side, while here and there could be seen the quaint bonnet of quakeress. Ac- knowledged leaders in society, noble women in the meaning of the term, and several noted for wealth in their ow right or that of their husbands, were there on an equal footing with delegates from the ranks of those who work for their daily bread. All ages were likewise in evidence, varying from the more than three score and ten of Miss Susan B. Anthony, presi- dent of the National Woman's Suffrage associatIon, to the 19 years of MISS Au- eusta Howard, president of the Georgia auxiliary of Miss Anthony's organization. It was truly national council ol women.
 Conspicuous in the gathering by. reason of their prominence in woman'e Work were: The Countess of Aberdeen, presi. dent of the International Council of Women, and best known in America through her Irish exhibit at the Worlds fair; Lady Henry Somerset; Miss Francls Willard of Illinois, president of the National Woman's Christian Temperance union; Mrs. Russell Sage of New York; Mrs. Elizabeth B. Grannis of New York, president of the National Christian League for the Protection of Social Purity, who recently attained some prominence in the metropolis through following in the foot steps of Dr. Parkhurst Mrs. J. Ellen Eos ter of Washington, D. o., president Of the Woman's Republican Association of the United States; Mrs. H. Slocum of Illinois, president of the National Council of Jewish Women; Mrs. Annie Jenness Miller, the dress reformer; Mrs. Mary French Shell don Of Massachus the African explorer; 1; Dr. Jennie DeLam Lozier of New York {; Mrs. Lillie Devereaux Blake of New York 1, Rev. Annie Ford Eastman of Elmira, N. Y. Rev. Caroline J. Bartlett of KaIa-
 
 gospel: Mrs. Laura Curtis Bullard of Brooklyn, who shares with Mrs. Hetty Green the distinction of being female millionaire.
 Anumber of fraternal organizations not in the council were also represented. These societies numbered twenty and included the Women of the First Den tai Association of the United States the Woman's Na- tional Indian association, the National Woman s Auxiliary KeeIy league, the Ma tiOnaI Ieapua of ColOred Women. the L6. zion of Loyal Women, the Working Wom- ans society and the International Order of King's Daughters and Sons.
 The opening session was merely formal. Itbegan with prayer, and this was fol- lowed by the introduction of presidents and delegates of organizations forming tho national council. The presentation of tel egrams from the National Council oi Women from Canada and the greetings by fraternal delegates from organizations not in the order came next on the programme, and the session concluded with the trien- nial address of President Mary Wright