Omaha daily bee., 1898-10-07
P. E. 0. CONGRESS- NOW OPEN
Days Program is Devoted Entirely to the
sisterhoods Affairs.
SEVERAL INTERESTING ADDRESSES MADE
Part of the Afternoon IL Given over 10
n Reception of Out-of-Town Mem
bers and the Meeting Makes
an AuspiciOus start.

an AuspiciOus Start.
The p. e. o. congress was held yesterday
at the First Congregational church at Nine
teenth and Davenport streets.
Preceding the morning meeting OF the
sisterhood there was an informal reception
for out-of-town members. Members from
far and near renewed their old friendships
and formed new ones.
The meeting was called to order by the
supreme president Mrs. Flora C. Herring,
who introduced the executive committee,
Mesdames Herring, West. Campbell, Barnes
and Bryant. Mrs. Herring spoke of the
honor accorded the sisterhood in opening
the women's congress and expressed the
ssterhood's appreciation.
At her request the audience rose and
sang the sisterhood's ode. Then Mrs. Berta
c. Fox OF Nelson, Neb., offered prayer
invoking peace and comfort on the sister,
hood and womankind. In conclusion she red
the estimate Of woman in the bible.
BY special request Mrs. Belle Hacker OF
Hampton, Ia, sang the Holy CITY," after
which Mrs. F. B. Bryant delivered the ad-
dress OF welcome, saying.
1T is an old saying that a woman can
not keep a secret. Now who started this
report. which has come to be a proverb ?
1t must have been a man. But in this
twentieth century woman can look with
scorn on this imputation. II you don't be.
lieve 1t ask some Of our members what p.
e. o. means.
Omaha Is proud to greet you and offers
you the freedom of the city. But please
observe Mayor Moores' modest request that
you leave the new station, for it's the only
one we have. Though IL you come next
year you will find another.
Few people realize the vast resources OF
our state and Of the west, but I am sure
you will rejoice with us at their display in
the exposition"
Woman's Work ExempIifed.
Mrs. Kittie Loughridge Dutton of Hast
ings delivered the greeting from the Bureau
OF Education of the Transmississippi Expo
sitlon. She traced woman's work from the
birth OF Christ "In the life of the mother of
our Savior we see unceasing love and mercy
for the poor and unfortunate. Woman has
taken Christ's saying The poor ye have
always with ye,' to heart To whom do peo-
pie go for sympathy and consolation in time
OF trouble? To women. Look at the glor-
Gus work OF Florence Nightingale during the
Crimean war, which opened the way for the
work Of our American women on the Poto-
mac and in the south, and of which the Red
Cross is the capstone.
You hear more concerning the hero than
the heroine in times OF war, but unjusty |
think. What mother, sister or sweetheart
hesitated when her dear ones were sum
moned in our last war? Did any OF them
ainch? No! They said Go! and God bless
you! All honor to the heroes-and to those
who bore the heroes.
steadily has woman marched upward.
More gates are open to her and we feel a
just pride at the sight. Women, realizing
that they should occupy the crowning place
in country, church and home, evolved a
plan and success will be theirs in the end.
The P. E. o. is doing grand work toward
this end and We extend greeting to ALL"
In responding to the welcome and greet
ing, President Herring said: I'VE should
be proud and pleased at Omaha's greetings.
We organized in 1869 at Mt. Pleasant, Ia
Since then reunions have cemented old
friendships and been the cause of new and
undying vows. Throughout our existence
z has been our magic motto. Seven
women formed the sisterhood; seven mem
bers are required to start a chapter, and
the members must be admitted in multiples
Of seven. Seven chapters form state chap
ter and seven presidents OF state chapters
form the supreme council. Our object is to
live on broad plane, For we shall be
judged not by what we have DONE but by
what we might have done. In the name of
the sisterhood, thank the chapter and citi-
zens OF Nebraska for their hospitality"
Aims of the Order.
The president OF the Chicago chapter Mrs
e. NJ Pratt, was then introduced She
spoke on the objects and aims of p. E. o.
AS the Star Of the East 1900 years ago
shone on Him who brought peace on earth
good Will to men, so our star has the
same sweet thought. Love bears
to spiritual fife the same relation that elec-
tricity does to physical. Love is the cpl
tome of life and makes it one long, sweet
song. We appeal not only for an intellectual
but for sweet, pure home life. For life
is an education, not a holiday. 1t is the
smiles and sympathy that women know SO
we'll how to bestow that count. Truth
should be our highest aim. We should try
to be hefp to others. Sef-sacriflce Is
woman's noblest privilege. 1t is not to the
intellectual woman that men go for love and
help, but to the warm-hearted and loving
The world is at our feet. Woman as an aid
and counsellor of man, fighting side by side
with him, can purify the world.
Gods idea Of woman was as a helpmate
to man. But we have fallen far short.
Look at the family of the new woman
Oftentimes the husband must be nurse and
comforter Of his children.
THE glory of a home is the mother. Il
believe in the Trinity of the Father, Mother
and child. That will create trust and truth
at home. Let our aim be for the future what
it has been in the past, Love and being
loved"
Mrs. Herring then introduced Mrs. Walter
Campbell, president of the grand chapter of
Iowa, who read the pathetic story of tom
Connell an Irishman." It was a dialect
story and Mrs. Campbell read 1t in de-
lightful Irish brogue.
The morning exercises closed with a clever
monologue, THE Obstruction Hat" which
Miss E. NJ. Crawford, the principal Of the
Nebraska School of oratory, recited. Miss
Crawford has a charming voice. So de-
lighted was her audience that 1t insisted
on an encore, to which she responded with
so Was l." the story OF timid schoolboy.
Music Sets Them Right.
Miss May Cobb OF York, Neb, opened
the afternoon session by an apprecative
rendering OF polonaise by MignOn. So
much did the audience enjoy her playInR