The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-06-05
woMEN's COUNCIL.
The Approashiss aforementioned sia'i,-
stin. IN hs' don

A dlrir sci te rat, OF Won riI
ieave the Uuit 4 Sia ~ nv lnfia err
IA dane, to at ind tie Iaielna.icna
Council Of Noren TO be Tell IN London
from June 2Uth to July attn Most noted
among them will be susRn b. ANTHONY,
y her soth year, making her second trip
abroad, Mrs. May Wright EswAlI, cx.
presidents Of the National council of
Women and one Of the LEADING educators
81 The day the kof. Anna Shaw, vice.
president OF the National Suffrage Asso-
citation and well known lecturer and
accompanied By her private secretary for
ten years, Miss Lucy 70. Anthony; and
dent National Council Of Women. Be-
sides these there will be large number
Of women eminent In the literature, the
reforms and the philanthropies OF our
country. representing over one million
women. This will undoubtedly be the
most Important ccnvocation OF women
ever held. not excepting that wonderful
exposition. 1t will assemble in th largest
city on the globe; prominent women from
every civilized country will take part
In its proceedinss ana Its programme
will include every branch of the great
work OF the world with which women are
atfcotuf couueuu> Iuo lutefudtloual
council u probably the largest non-politi-
cal organization in the world, yet It has
no creed except the golden rule; no pro-
paganda except the general advancement
OF women in all directions, and, SO far,
no squabbles worth mentioning. SO 1t
Is pretty good standing argument that
women have more ability for organization
than has been admitted by some Of the
scientists. The suffragists may be par
doned for certain amount Of pride In
the fact that this International Council
was formed In the United States through
their efforts. In 1883, wheI Elizabeth
Cady Stanton and Susan b. Anthony
were In England, they agreed with the
very progressive women Of that country
70 hold an International Woman Suffrage
Convention In 1883 in Washington city,
to celebrate the Fortieth anniversary OF
the first woman's Rights convention,
which was held in 1848 In Seneca Falls,
N. Y. Before the preparations scarcely
were well under way It was deemed adj.
visabie to tiroaden the scope Of this pro-
posed nesting SO as to include oil organ.
cations Of women, whether or not thcy
stood for suffrage, and 10 give IL the com
prehensiye name Of International Wom-
ans Council. This proved TO be SO great
o success and women were present from
so many different countries, that the idea
broached by Mrs. Sewall, to make 1t a
permanent organization, was eagerly ac-
cepted. The brst officers were President
Mrs. Miilicent Garrett Fawcett, England:
vice-president. Clara Barton; secretary,
Mrs. Foster Avery, United States. The
financial responsibility of this Immense
gathering was assumed by Susan b. An
thony, May Wright Sswall and Rachel
Foster Avery; all Of which was secured
by personal letters of appeal, admission
fees, etc.
The first quinquennial meeting was to
have been held In London in 1898, but
the la1ies Of England waived their rights
D favor Ct Chicago on account of the
Worlds Fair. the International council
became a part of the great Woman's
Congress of that year and so nationalities
were represented. The Woman's council
Of the United States, May Wright Sewall
PRESIDENT made itself responsible for the
entertainment Of all the representatives
from foreign countries. AS result of
the enthusiasm created at this time
number Of these returned home and or
ganized national councils among their
own people, which became auxiliary to
the International. The officers elected in
Chicago were the Countess of Aberdeen,
Scotland, president; Mrs Sewail, United
states. vice-president; Baroness sGrinen-
heIg, Finland. treasurer; Miss Theresa
Wilson, London, corresponding secretary
Mime. Maria Martin, France, recording
secretary. Upon these women has de-
volyed the immense task of arranging for
the approaching council in June. The
American women feel that the next presi-
dency should come to the United States.
The programme is divided into five sec.
tions-educational, professional, legisla-
tive and industrial, political and social,
and these are extensively sub.divided in
order hat the various branches may be
presented by specialists. There will be
two public mRss-mestings In Queens
Hall, st. Martins, and the Convocation
hall Of Church House, Westm mister.
An interesting feature of the council
will be the social entertainments. Among.
these may be mentioned reception at
Stafford House rendered by the Duke and
Duchess Of Sutherland; one at surrey
House, by Lord and Lady Batterssa; a
garden party at fulham palace, by the
Bishop Of London and his wife, Mrs.
Creighton, and party by Lady and Mrs.
Leopold de Rothschild. at Gunnersbury
PARK. 1t would be difficult to Imagine
ten days more replete with historical, in
tellectual and social enjoyment.
LLNORA NJ. BABCOCK