New-York tribune., 1905-04-10
WOMAN'S PROGRESS.
Opening of the National Council
IN W0shingtOn.
IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BuREAU.l ]


IFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.l
washington April 9.-The National Council OF
Women OF the United States opened fits fifth trien-
MAJ meeting this afternoon at the First Congrega-
uonel Church. Mrs. Mary Wood Swift, president
or the National Council. presided. and the open
ing address was made by Mrs. J. Ellen Foster, as
follows:
b1 an the far away East, 1000 years ago. woman
on on the head OF the Worlds RedeemeE Those
w VINO saw the offering and to whom the fragrance
gave OF her treasure. Some OF them objected at
sold for 300 pence and given to the poor. But
Ia L,eF alone She hath wrought good work upon
0L S fne purpose Of the National Council Of Women
AZ aIVeI at the pouring of the precious Oint-
dHS ThiSh the women OF this generation anoint the
the SationaI humanity and we answer The purpose Of
women is to teach through woman's many activt-
and most OF all through the gloTies Of the universal
mnotherhood-the solidarity of all human interests.
This is the council idea, sometimes unseen but al
ways dominant in the legislation Of the society, In
WORK 1SS administrative policy and in its educational
=, The movement which now includes the Interna-
the years between and 1855 The great agitator
and constructive statesman of the early years was
Mrs, May Wright Sewall. The first president OF
the national council Miss Frances E. Willard.
than she knows Miss Willard has passed on to the
other life. In her personality was blended the
gent!eness Of the saint, the vision OF the mystic
and the courage of the warrior The legend. Lead,
fell very sweetly from her lips This universal
prayer which is our cloud by day and our fire by
night still breathes from her marble lips the
Capitol yonder, where among the men whom the
RESSg0 Essg honor she stands now no more mute than
In the womans Council are found the advocates
that men and women have no essentially antag-
nb sent + Us Go9olu0ns @ I ana % interests negesI
conventonalties of distorted vision and local linn
distortions of the divine plan. We have found out
that the race dwells the plains of the present
r6 IN fha haifyb DP tha f1fu in
a solid mass. We cannot select from the mass one
section of the social organism and strengthen and
develop 1t much beyond the average vigor OF the
whole body Of humanity.
We believe in progress. We believe in the light
WhlGh fi leads The light which does not lead IS not
good of m aea g we TeTfr9 e the gTeaI d ana a eae
10 apply their precepts to the problems Of to-day;
ligion We worship only truth: the truth of Nature
If # e b f,J eJh 20 Oh Noq , we Deeve Oh run lVae @
| seek TO lit up the truths of human progress as
the ives he worlds w Sfs
,, Ihe light which we follow is a kindly light
brought nearer to the worlds womanhood not
toms, OF speech and dress and outward seemings
put women now know women in the realm of
out OF the intellect and the soul grow the issues
BY this. conscious sisterhood has come a great
Alnoness between women such as the world never
hard on women The light which we folloW reveals
| the depths of woman'S nature. the breadth OF her
| sympathies and the heights of her powers. With
this vision every woman is ennobed: she comes to
scope of the Womans Council sweeps the broad
| horizop p OF human progress. This is not all. The
| magnifes the minute forms of woman's daily rou-
W0Shop % T appear PEI o % % Wa s eaS Pe m ana na fn
ture world. and each woman in it world power -
Small women may be cruel: large women are kind.
leads 1t is the light OF Christian civilization.
| The national and tho international councils OF
they include in their kindly leadings the women OF
/ it nj he
| nag. In no non-Christan country could such an
tioRa ali other civ1iizations are limited by ell
| mate or race. The Founder Of Christian civilization
| uttered 10 the startled of the world "All We
are brethren" and Paul. the great logtcian. cried
I'm Christ is neither male nor female" In these
twin truths lie the kernels Of popular government
Popular government as the world has yet known
violates est the spirit Of human bTotherhood in many
| OF OF g0Eernmene which the world knows. So also
arrogance perhaps unconscious but none the less
actual, lays its nterdict the fullest religious
religion Of Jesus is the best friend which woman
oy iRe MeR opns SS on out hS 84a 9 5S
| the liberty OF body and brain and heart which
| with holy holiness we stand to-day in the capital
| city OF the worlds most potent nation and look
| out on the twentieth century with the prayer still
light Ii ' ups anu - -l'-' -S-1' ->l'-0'
! Other speakers OF the afternoon were Mrs Mary
| Church Terrell. Of this city; Mrs. Kate Waller
Barrett. Of Alexandria. Va. and Mrs. H ]. Solo
mon, Of Chicago The meeting closed with the
| singing OF the council hymn, Lead. Kindly Light.
| A reception will be given tomorrow afternoon
| complimentary to the officers delegates and visit
ors of the council, and the weeks session will open
| formally for business Tuesday morning, at the
! Pythian Temple. On Tuesday evening the speakers
| viii include Edwin Markham. who has selected foI
| his subject, Woman and the Future Social Con-
science and who will also, by request, read his
| own poem, THE Man with the Hoe" On that even
Ing also greetings to the council will be extended
| by Susan B. Anthony, president OF the 1nterna-
| tionaI Suffrage Association; by Mrs. May Wright
| Sewall honorary president Of the international
| Council of Women, and by Mrs Robert Thompson
| president Of the Canadian Council of Women.
| Owing to the absence OF the President and Mrs
| Roosevelt the council cannot be received at the
| White House but all delegates who wish will be
| shown through the rooms not usually open to the
public
n u p EINlNCES