The Washington times., 1902-02-20
Mrs. L. VI. N. Stevens Makes
Strong Plea for Pro-
hibitiOn.
MUTUAL BENEFIT ASSOCIATIONS
Rathbone Sister Points Out
Advantages Derived.
THE PLATFORM NEEDED
Mrs May Wright ScsNnN. president
of international Council, Reviews
in General Way History of In
ternatiouaI AsSn-iations.

Prominent in the councils of the Ma
tional Council of Women is the huoyaht
personality of Mrs. May Wright SeWah'
whose silver-gray hair. silver-gray cos
fumes. and serene smile are radiant OF
peace ana comfort Her tact and resource
fulncss are equal to NEST problems oil
administration, and when she rises to
speak. whether the topic be ancient his
tory or a knotty point in the proceedings
the atmosphere always clears.
The evening session attracted an audi
ence that filled the hall and listened with
interest 10 the various papers
strong Plea for Prohibition.
The opening address was made by Mrs.
/. NJ. n Stevens, the successor of iran
ces Willard as president of the W. Z. l.
L and vice president-at-large TO the
worlds W c T. L. Mrs. Stevens was
born and educated in Maine, and her home
Is still there. Since the organization OF
the National W. c. T L. in 1874, she has
been connected with it, and has been
president since 1898. She made strong
plea for prohibition. and told something
of the work of the organization.
Mrs. Ida Weaver, a delegate represent
ing the Rathbone Sisters. spoke earnest
" Of the good done by mutual benefit as
sociations. adding that their advantages
were two-fold-material and spiritual
They afford good business training,
continued Miss Weaver, and much praeti-
cal benefit in that they lead women into
a larger life and teach them to depend
on one another and on themselves.
check. as it were, on the growing selfish
ness Of our times. thereby affording
larger social opportunities.
Jewish Delegates Address.
The next address was given by Miss
Sadie American. of the Council of Jewish
Women. She said in part:
Formerly men and women were sup
posed to live by principles. Today we
find a different point Of view. Principles
are for the benefit of humanity, not
humanity for principles. The institution
must not be allowed TO crystalline into
pard, Interchangeable thing, but must re-
main an atmosphere of emotion and as
pirstion.
Men and women have learned to re-
spect instead of to tolerate the opinions
of others federation is separation; re-
spect tends to join. Organized effort
among women has done much to bring
this about.
Il want TO call your attention 10 an
association called the League of Re-
ligious Fellowship, whose object was to
remove the great taboo. that is. to dis
cuss the subject which is avoided by
other associations. We would have on our
programme a Friend. 4 Jewess, Catho-
lie. a Presbyterian, an Ethical Culturist,
ard a Methodist and after the programme
was finished they found that they were
all striving after much the same ideal.
Organized effort keeps us cool. steady.
constant. moving ever onward. ever up
ward
Mrs Fenwick Miller's paper. which was
to have been given last evening, was omit
ted on account of her Illness.
Kind of Platform Needed.
The address of Mrs. May Wright Sewall,
the last on the programme, was in part
as follows:
1t is a good object. the abatement Of
international Arrogance. We need to
know not only the strength of others, but
our own weakness.
1t has been the good fortune of some
OF US to see the birth of new Interna
tlonal Association Of Women, in favor of
woman suffrage. ! sometimes wonder how
many more international councils of wo
men it viii be found necessary to form.
The strength Of the international council
lies in the fact that the end for which
all are working is no more Russian than
German no more American than Russian,
no more Anglo-American than Spanish
American. The platform Will remain in
complete until all shall be represented
here