The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1900-05-05

"oeedScs VI CousTdtuiotioue WoIo 10
ceived from two former presidents. Mrs.
Hartford and Mrs. Ford, who were in
New York attending the ecumenical con-
ference. Mrs. Ella w. Peattie was the
only ex-president not present or heard
from, and the club voted that greetings
be sent tn her in her Chicago home.
The club was favored in having for its
guest Mrs. Belle Stoutenborough OF
Plattsmouth, who was for two terms the
able president OF the state federation.
Mrs. Smith then addressed the club in
few graceful, well chosen words and
introduced the gentlemen who were to
speak to the club, and suggested how it.
as an organization, might best serve the
community. The church, the schools
and the city were represented by Rev.
Mann, Mr.. Pearse. superintendent OF the
city schools, and Mr.. Brogan Of the
Commercial club. Mr.. Mann was the
first speaker; after a few genial remarks.
in which he said he regretted that.
owing to circumstances over which he
had no control, he was not qualified for
membership in the Omaha Woman's
club, he entered upon the subject Of his
discussion, which was couched in his
most serious vein and appealed to the
highest intelligence OF his audience.
He spoke of the duties We owed to one
another as social beings, and Of the old
natural law OF every man for himself
having been superseded by the greater
obligation of unselfshness. "Noblesse
oblige" was the keynote of his address
and he eaid the old question, "W here is
Abel, thy brother?" cannot now be dis
missed with the answer, "Am 1 my
brothers keeper?"
Mr.. Pearse was the next speaker.
He said there had been some discussion
as to how the speakers should address
the club, and they decided that "fellow
citizens of the Woman's club" was the
correct thing. The applause that greeted
his remarks showed that the right chord
had been struck. He began far back in
the past and traced the growth of the
idea of association; first they banded
themselves for protection; then they be-
gan to think less Of their bodies and
more Of their souls, and the religious
association was formed. Then came the
intellectual association, and, lastly, the
social. He spoke strongly on the in
huence OF Women's clubs upon the
community and said that few agencies
could accomplish as much in the way Of
self culture.
The last speaker Of the afternoon was
Mr.. Brogan, who spoke on behalf Of the
Commercial club. They were too buly
or too bashful to speak to five hundred
women, but thought that he, being
lawyer, though he might some times be
busy, would never be bashful. He said
he had made speeches on eighteenth
birthdays. but this was his first attempt
on seventh birthday, and he hoped
those birthdays would not-like some
other birthdays he had heard of-cease
altogether. His plea to the women was
for loyalty to Omaha and it's interests,
and for patronage Of home industries.
He said that Omaha was already great
con. mercial city, it's banks were filed
with the rich red blood Of commerce and
its factories felt the influence of coming
prosperity. II the Woman's club would
90 hand in hand with the Com
mercial club, Omaha might soon have
an Auditorium, in which would be a
boma for the woman's club