The San Francisco call., 1896-05-09
Henry Krebs Jr. her theme at the opening
of the afternoon session. She said:

VI bAS ditcTDOOn session.. GAc SdiO.
The women Of the Scriptures have filed many
piaces OF honor, trust and authority.
First among women of the Old Testament stands
Deborah, the.prophetess When thisiremarkable
woman was raised up to be their Judge and de-
IlVerer the Israelites in miserable, fororn
,on nnG aegfaded condition. being under the snoiec-
ties Deborah commissioned Barak 10 take 10000
men ana go against sisers and his hosts
Alarmed at the idea of enc0untering so great
army with so small force, Barak refused to go
unless she accompanied him. she replied 10 him
tnat she had offered him the command and with
IL the honor; that she would go with him. but the
glory OF the victory should be given TO a woman.
peal and battle cry that they rushed upon the
enemy and, with God on their side, the immense
thrown.
For wisdom. patriotism and valor ''she was un-
surpassed by any ruler Of Israel from Moses to
her higher qualities as prophecies and prestess
are indicated in "her glorious song Of triumph
which for poetry, sublnity and historic Interest
has seldom been exceeded"
She arrogated 10 herself other title than that
OF mother" showing that 1t was love for her
country and people that stirred her whole spirit to
assume the responsibilities OF government when
the wisdom and sag, city of man proved unequal
to the task.
The Scripturai commentators have remarked
that Deborah alone OF all the rulers OF Israel went
pnreproved by The prophets and inspired
historians" "The land under her rule had rest
for forty years" and the "hand OF the children OF
Israel prospered."
How brave the spirit that took Judith to the
camp of Holofernes in performance of an act thar
should save the besieged city OF Bethulia.
What fidelity TO kindred and friends was dis,
played oy Esther, the beautiful Jewish maiden
who when raised to the proud position of tie
Queen of Persia forgot not her people, and at the
risk OF life itself saved them from snnihilation
we have in this new land many women whose
heroic acts and patriotic deeds render them worthy
of our highest reverence and administration
VI those dlstlngui shed for herolsm and fortituQe
In philanthropy we name entitled to high re-
nown such illustrious women as Dorothea I. Dix
Wollstonecraft Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Mar
Livermors, Dr. Grace KimbaIi and Susan b. An.
tnony; our champion and our chief, who has the
rare dlstncton OF having given her life and labor
unremlttingiy for fifty years to the uplifting OF
her sex.
Through the dark night of discouragements, dis
appointments, scorn and derision, with dauntless
courage strong in her conviction of right, this
grand woman has increasingly toiled.
But the dawn has come and the full noontide
glory is not far distant when her labors shall have
their full fruition.
And as she is the noblest Of living matrons so
may may she yet wear the civic crown Of American
citizenship IN the land which shall have received
Its new birth of freedom"
Mrs. J. F. Swift opened the discussion
by referring to the many noble women of
all times whose names are not chronicled
on the pages OF human history.
Mrs. Cooper referred to the biblical
character so well known as the unknown
WIDOW who contributed her mite to the
treasury, and she characterized her as one
OF the unknown heroines of history.
At this juncture a lady's chair slipped
from beneath her and she slid some dis
tance on the wa1ed floor, knocking down
other chairs in her wild career, to every
body's CONSERVATION.
Since this congress opened" observed
Miss Shaw, "at least fifty women have
fallen, frontways, sideways and every way.
and yet not one OF them has let out a
scream 1t looks as though women were
learning self-control."
When the Native Daughters have
hall, commented Mrs. Swift, well have