Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-13
National Organization to Hold Trien-
NAL Meeting in This City.
SCOPE And OBJECT OF ASSOCIATION
The Topics Scheduled for Discus.
sion at the Sessions.
THE INTERNATIONAL BODY

Every prospect points to the largest
meeting of the National Council OF Women
in the ten years of its history The presi-
dent, Mrs. May Wright SewaH and the
corresponding secretary. Mrs. Louise Bar
mum Robbins. are at the Arlington. the
Headquarters of the council, where they
are being visited by large delegations of
women already in the city to attend the
sessions of the council, which opened for
mally this morning at the UniversaIist
Church, corner of 18th and l. streets
Very often the question is asked, What
is the National Council of Women and what
good purpose does il serve?" In general
talk with the president. Mrs. May Wright
Sewai, the purpose of the organization
which has a membership of over 100000
women, was fully set forth.
1t Is an organization composed of ma
tohai associations, state councils and local
councils, Mrs. Sewal explained. Its OBJ
Iects are manifold First to make better
known TO the general public the magnitude
ana variety of wcmans work for humanity
to the end that public sympathy with the
same may be increased and a more generous
pubDc support secured; to avoid the multi
phcatlon of organizations. each with spe-
Ciai OBJECT and thus to sc cure results at less
eXtraVagant expenditure of time money
ana force: to bring together women OF all
iineS of work, to the end that each may be
more intelligent respecting all the others
and consequently more sympathetic with
all others: to give the united influence of all
these women TO such general lines OF work
as all can heartily agree upon.
Membership Eligibility.
The eligibility to membership is wide
for it takes in all organizations of women
which are national in either scope or value
Many of the national organizations are
composed of both men and women. They
are all acceptable. but no man can speak
IN the council deliberat atoms. secret or open.
seventeen national organizations, two state
councils and SIX local councils, now COM
prise the membership in the national organ
lZation. These represent something over
ioo,oW women, and they in turn. represent
religious, educational and social reform
moral reform and civic reform organiza-
tons. The national council was not formed
to promote either of these causes or any
other one cause, nor can it possibly be
made to do so. Each organization enrolled
has two votes. no matter how large or how
small its individual membership. The coun-
ell can no more be committed 10 temper
ance or woman suffrage than it can be
committed to the tenets of the Free Baptist
Church, or to those of the republican party
though the Weman's Foreign Missionary
Society of the Free Baptist Church and the
" oman 5 Republican Association of the
United States are members of the council.
An organization is benefited by entering
the council chiefly through bringing its
work before much larger audiences than it
can if it works on alone. The public meet
ings of each organization attract the at
tention only of those interested in its oh
jects, while the triennial meetings of the
council bring together audiences composed
of most intelligent and devoted women
working along all lines 1t is true, however
that the national council of women has Of
fcially expressed itself upon several sab
jectS. They have passed resolutions in
favor of equal educational advantages for
men and women. including the admission
of women to all existing institutions of
learning, the provision of equal opportuni-
ties for Industrial training for boys and
girls and the admission of women to equal
ity with men in the work of the church Of
whatever denomination.
Suggestions and Sympathy.
THE national council never interferes
with the special lines of work of the organ
ization which constitute ii. beyond that of
suggestion and sympathy. so that no So
ciety voting to enter this council thereby
renders itself liable to be interfered with in
respect TO its complete organic unity, in
dependence. or method of work.
ITO sum Ii all up" said Mrs. Sewall. in
conclusion, the advantages of the coun-
Gil idea to womanhood and humanity, are:
Greater unity of thought. sympathy, and
purpose, among women who find inSpira-
tion breadth and release from limitations
through the respect they learn to feel for
work differing radically from their own,
yet like ii in its purpose for the better
ment of the evil conditions under which
humanity suffers today. 1t brings simplicity
ganlzed effort to any work that may be I'M
dertaken; a conservatism of strength and
time and an economy of expenditure. 1t
has an advantage by the means il provides
for awaiting itself of the help of men, which
will lead to the ultimate union of men and
women in all organized endeavors for the
Improvement of human conditions. / am
firmly of the opinion that the council idea
in its state, national and international
application, is the climax in the organiza-
ton of the moral forces of society by
women
Consists of Two Houses.
The constitution of the national council
provides that its triennial meetings shall
consist of two houses The president of
each affiliated state council is a member of
the upper council Tor house,, in which orig
mate all measures relating to national
work. The one delegate allowed to each
state council sits in the lower council Tor
house,, in which originate all measures re-
AUCTION SALES.