Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-16

To The Star reporter Mrs. Sewall talked
freely of the council, of it's past achieve
ments, in which she has evidently no lit
tie pride; of its present status, regarding
which she is complacent: and of its future,
in which she evidently has unbounded
faith.
In response to the question, "Has the
council grown as rapidly as its projectors
and founders anticipated" Mrs. SeWall
showed two programs which she held in
her hand, one. that of the first triennial.
held In 1891: the other, that of the second
trienpial. which is to open on the 1Ith
instant.
Mrs. Sewau said: Compare these pro-
grams. From them you may estimate the
growth of the council during the last four
years. At the first tricnn;al three days,
February %. II and %. sufticed though the
formal sessions of the council then. as
now. were preceded by Sunday service.
The second triennial instead of three days,
lasts fourteen days. The first triennial
comprised eight sessions: the second will
comprise thirty-two sessions.
when the council convened in 1891 1t
was composed of nine national organiz1-
tiOns. 1t is now composed of seventeen
organizations In 1891 local councils We're
not formed; in 1895 there strong local
councils in Minneapolis, Mimi; Indian
apolis, Ind; Providence. r. L.; Port
land. Me-; Memphis. Tenn; Marysville,
Tenn: Quincy, ILL.,, and in many smaller
cities; while in larger cities the initiative
In the organization Of local councils has
already been taken. Recently a strong
state council has been organized In Texas.
Patrons of the Council.
''The national council anticipates ulti-
Icately Including as affiliated members both
local and state councils. Up to 1892 there
was no provision for enabling individuals
Interested in the council to become mem
bers. 1t was at the business meeting of
the council held in Chicago in 1899 that
ha nun tfdn of ha of ind
vidUals becoming members of the council
was introduced, and then provision was
made for patrons Of the council 1t was
ordered that any person whose name was
could. by the payment of 800 into the
treasury. become patron for life. At this
date the council has sixty-three patrons.
The patron list includes the names of many
celebrities, and there IS no name on the
list that does not stand for a serious in
tereSt In one or more or all of the ques-
tions grouped under the phrase modern
progress.
The machinery of the national council
has most of 1t been devised and set to
running since 1891, though the original
outlines of the shape which 1T has now
sumel We're indicated in the address of
Its first president. Frances L. Willard"
who are some of the patrons Of the
rational council?"
Professor Erasmus 3. Anderson, ex-
minister to Copenhagen; DR.. Jenny de Ia
NJ. Lozicr. eX-preSdent of Sorosis: Wm
Dudley FOEiKe OF INDIANA, especially con-
spcuous for his devotion to civil service
reform and his interest in proportional
represcn tation: Lady Henry Somerset of
England. Susan B. Anthony Of New York
Frances Il. Willard. Lucinda II. Stone Of
Michigan. who has probably organized
more women's clubs than any other woman
in the United States. Mary II. Wilmarth Of
Illinois. who was the chairman of the
We mans department of the educa tional
congress held In Chicago In 1898: VI. Louise
Thomas of New York. ex-president of So
rosiS: Ellen L. Thompson of California,
mistress of Roby Hall at the Leland Stan
ford. jr.. University; May French Sheldon,
the celebrated African explorer: NJ Olivia
Sage of New York, president OF the Emma
Willard Association. which is composed of
portance OF Mrs. Sages support may per-
haps be emphasized in some minds If the
name OF her husband is given. Mr. Russell
Sage. one of the magnates of the business
world. Fanny j. Helmuth, present pres-
dent Of Soross; Fhebe A. Hearst, widow
of Senator Hearst Of California-welI,' -
added Mrs. SewalI. lit is not easy
to pick out conspicuous names from this
list. where all names are conspicuous"
The Council Idea.
'In these days of altruism one may as
wisely rejoice In the growth outside Of
ones self which one has inspired as in
ones own growth; and the growth OF the
national council can hardly be computed
without taking into account the spread of
what has come TO be known as the 'coun-
ell idea throughout the world. National
councils of large membership and COM
mandiEg influence exist in Canada.
France. Switzerland. Finland. Belgium and
Germany. and the Initiative has been taken
In the organization of national councils
IN other European countries. notably In
Great Britain. Italy and Greece. In as