The Portland daily press., 1898-12-08


Street Church Last Evening-Favors
Abolition of Reservation system and
Giving Indians Ballot.
There was an excellent attendance at
the first meeting of tbs convention of the
Women's National Indian Association,
which took place at the State Street
church chapel. at half past ten Wednesday
morning.
The able and beloved president, Mrs.
Amelia S. Quinton, was In the chair, the
presidential large, Mrs. Walter r.
brooks of New Jersey was with her on
the platform, as well as the Correspond
ing Secretary, Miss Eliza W. Jones OF
New Jersey and the Treasurer, Miss
Helen r. Foote. The meeting was called
to order by Mrs. Quinton, and the con.
vention was opened by Scriptural reading
and prayer.
Mrs. Florence Knight Palmer sang
with much feeling, 20 Come unto Him,
We that labor and are heavy laden" Miss
Philbrook accompanying, with her usual
taste.
Mrs. Myra Frye. as Names president,
give the word Of hearty greeting to the
visitors, and TO all those who were banded
together for that special work. Mrs. Frye
said that the members of the Milne
society were entirely in sympathy with
the work Of the National Association, and
she felt that much had been accomplished
in the work of fighting Paganism among
the Indians.
She expressed regret that Portland was
not wearing it's most beautiful garb, but
felt there was a most cordial welcome in
the hearts of all towards the visiting dele.
gates.
Miss Dewey of Boston spoke for Mrs.
M. e. Cobb of Philadelphia, who was
to have responded to the address Of well
come-and she alluded very gracefully to
the charming hospitality which they had
received. She expressed for all, the pleas
ure of being in the beautiful city of Port
land, SO full Of poetic memories; but just
now SO shrouded in a grief for which all
felt such sincere sympathy
NuTS. NJullbUA AL uCL GILL udA 6b0ASoc,
felt that the record Of the past year {
work was full of encouragement
The speaker made a telling point in her
address as to the work undertaken by our
Government this summer in the cause OF
humanity, and as it had not been deaf to
that appeal, it must listen now to the
appeal for the American born sufferers.
A capital resume of the hundred days
war was given by Mrs. Quinton, ending
with asplea to the women. to make a def
mite movement to bring about for the
aboriginal, home born American, what
had been SO freely given to the foreign
millions.
The following practical suggestions
were given in the address;
First by the continuous service OF
well selected officials. Secondly, by plac-
ing the care of the Indian schools under
the several States and Territories IN
which they are located. Third. by abol.
ishing the reservations as fast as Indians
have their lands in severaiity, and one
third of the sixty reservations agencies
could and sbould--and we are told by
those most competent to judge-thus be
abolished, now, and the other two thirds
could easil be similarly closed. Thus,
the so.called Indian problem, and the
great difficulties of the Indian situation,
could forever disappear.
Mrs. Frye then made the motion that
the excsIlent address of the president be
printed and circulated.
The report of the Treasurer, Miss Belen
4. Foote, Pennsy lvania was then given.
This is the substance:
Receipts for the year, $l5. 100. 60
Spent for mission work, SO, 744.6 1868
General and other work, $3.50. 95
Balance in treasury, 1880. SO
---
SIS, 100. 90
Miss Eliza Williams Jones of New Jer-
sew. the corresponding secretary, felt that
patience had teen the watchword of the
work among the workers Of this organiza-
ton through the year. There was an in.
teresting statement of various new organ
iations formed in California and other
states. In spite of the war, in many of the
auxiliaries the amount of money pledged
for this work has actually been ON the
increase, only one showing decrease In
the yearly offering, Each state has kept
along in practically the same line of work
and special sums have been given to par
ticular missions.
Miss Jones closed her interesting report
begging that the energy showed by our
people for the oppressed in foreign lands,
should tie turned to those in our own
At the close of this report, Mrs. Quinton
smoke a word for the increass in the
subscription list, for the Indian &
Frjend.'' Word was spoken by Mrs. Tag
cart of New York and Miss Gilman OF
Jamaica Plain, in regard to this matter.
Miss Spsrhawk of Massachusetts, suggest.
al getting subscriptions to send the paper
- some of the Indian Schools, in order
- keen the members there in touch with
tho work.
Miss Storms of Springfield, spoke of
- ...a, II, yettfrer The small Ct, bscr;,,