Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-07
CHILD WIVES OF INDIA
Terrible Conditions Resulting
From Early Marriages.
EFFORT TO STOP CUSTOM
Evils Described at Meeting Of WON.
ems Restoration League.
WHY ENGLAND Is P0WERLESS
Her Rule of India Conditioned on
Her Agreement Not to Interfere
With Native Religion.
EFFORT TO STOP CUSTOM
WHY ENGLAND IS P0WERLESS

With the object Of creating a senti-
nent among the better class Of Hindus
themselves as well as in the world at
| large against what they believe to be the
| Ubiquitous practice of child marriage in
India. a meeting Of the Washington Cir
Gle of the Restoration League Of America,
which was organized last December, with
Mrs. James H. McGill as president. was
| Fetra, in the Mount Pleasant apartment
house. Wednesday evening.
Some of the ladies actively identified
with the movement In this city are Mrs.
James H. McGill, president of the united
circles of the league in the District; Mrs.
Samuel Kookogey, secretary Mrs. L. A.
William. assistant secretary and treas
urer: Mrs. Sarah d. La Fetra. Mrs. Clin-
ton Smith, Mrs. Wilbur F. Crafts. Mrs,
A. A. Birney. Mrs. Margaret Dye Ellis,
Mrs. J. H. Dripps. Mrs. NJ. G: Copeland
Mrs. j. A. Doney. Mrs. ]. w. Powell,
Mrs. l.. d. Kleindienst, Mrs. Carney,
Mrs j. l.. Hastings. Mrs. l.. G. Pass
more. Mrs. Charles l.. Gummel. Mrs. j.
II. Mccarthy and others:
the special aim OF the league rs 10 nave
the Indian government raise the mar
riageable age of girl children to sixteen
years. The movement is not denomina-
tional, and its supporters are not con-
tined to any creed or nationality. 1t is
claimed that under custom that Is I'M
memorial in India and rests upon degen-
crate religious beliefs and the misinterpre-
tation OF religious books ii is impossible
for a girl to remain unmarried until she
reaches the age of ten years. In add
ton to the horrible cruelties which are
lnseparabe from such a condition of at
fairs 1t is contended the practice is de-
moralizing, degrading and works de-
terioration of the race as we'll as being
an incentive to polygamy.
Movement Started in 1900.
The movement was started in 1900 by
Miss ]. NJ. Holmes and Mrs. c. P. Wal
lace. who were then travelling abroad.
While making a trip through Europe
these ladies met on board a steamer three
East Indian gentlemen and from them
learned something of the subject Of child
marriage in India. They decided to con-
tinue on to India and carefully investi-
gate conditions for themselves. They
and wise discernment. Their visits to
Benares Calcutta, Delhi, Bombay and
other large cities furnished them rare in
stances Of brutality, degradation and the
slavery Of womanhood, 1t is said. So
shocked and aroused by the things they
saw and learned they resolved upon their
return to America to tell the sad story
of the girl children of India to the world.
The foundation of the Woman's Restora-
ton League, with. headquarters at 1911
Temple street, Los Angeles, Cal. and the
extension of its work to other cities
quickly followed.
In answer to the inquiry, ''Why does not
England. the ruling power. which knows
the facts, abolish the custom?' The an
swer. 1t Is said. Is because of q pledge
made when England in India was but the
East India Trading Company, not to in
terfere with the religion or customs of the
natives. This pledge has been sacredly
kept, ii is claimed, and any movement
for the ameliOration of the horrible con-
ditions that exist must come from the
natives themselves, aided by intelligent
agitation and information.