The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-04-04
MRS. EMMY c. EvALD.
A Minister'S Wife Prominent ms a
Woman SuRragist.


Woman Suffragist.
Mrs Emmy c. Evald, q daughter Of
Rev. DR.. Erland Carlson. who is pi-
oneer Lutheran clergyman in America,
ard the wife Of Rev. DR.. Carl A. Evald,
pastor Of Emmanuel Swedish Lutheran
church of Chicago, was one of the
prominent figures in the recent con-
gress of woman suffragists at Washing
ton, and there attracted the attention Of
President Roosevelt. She and her hus-
band are we'll known in this part of the
country, as they have visited here often
in connection with the conventions of
the Augustana Swedish Lutheran sy-
nod and other events. DR.. Evald. as a
matter Of fact, was for some years q
resident of Minnesota, having served
the Augustana Lutheran church of
Minneapolis as pastor. But that was
thirty years ago, and very few now in
the city remember him.
Mrs. Evald's interest in female suf-
frage grew out of her church work. and
her husband is in full sympathy with
her. Each woman, as we'll as each
man In the church, is expected to pay
an annual fixed fee. Upon the shout
ders of the women also falls much of
the burden Of church work. and yet
they are not permitted to vote in the
church organization.
Though native of America, Mrs.
Evald was sent to Sweden to be edu-
Gated. She was admitted to famous
girls school. open only to the daugh-
tiers Of ministers ard noble families,
and the popularity of the American
horn girl is indicated by painting of
the school. sent to ner afterward. and
now hanging in her home at 218 Sedg-
wick street, Chicago. Miss Carlson i'm
bibed many Swedish ideas, some of
them unconsciously; but when. &C 3
young woman Of eighteen, she returned
home, some of them were forcibly i'm
pressed upon har by the contrast with
American customs.
One of these was the difference in the
status of woman in the two countries.
In Sweden she noted that women who
paid taxes enjoyed the right to vote:
but what appealed to iler most strongly
was the fact that female members of
the church in Sweden were permitted to
vote in church affairs. The American
system seemed to De less fair, because
of the great demand upon the women
Ill SAoASi WI hiAG ia A'NSSASiA ILL
women have a comparatively easy time
in church matters.
When it was proposed to send an in
ternational committee of women to APP
pear before congressional committees
and urge the adoption of Il woman SUI
frage amendment to the constitution.
Mrs. Evald was asked by the F'redrika
Bremen association of Sweden to rep"e-
sent that organization, which stands
for suffrage aad other benefits for the
fair sex in King Oscars kingdom. This;
request is delicate compliment to Mrs.
Eyald's position in the Swedish world
and high honor to her personality, for
the association includes many members
of the nobility and many Of the most
learned men and women OF Sweden.
DR.. Hildebrand, the royal antiquarian.
for example, was it's president for
years, and the Baroness S. Safe Alders-
pare has long been one Of its leaders.
Mrs. Evald told the congressman that
she had the proud distinction of being
the only delegate that represented men
as we'll as women. She also astonished
them by asserting that women in Swe-
den had voting privileges as early as
the seventeenth century, Ions; before
there was any such thing as an Ameri-
can citizenship. and she referred to a
decree of 1876 confirming those rights.