The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-07-13

en-. National Florence Crittenden
Mission, National Association OF
Colored Women. Ladies of the
Grand Army OF the Republic. Grand
Circle Of Woodccaft and National
Woodmen's circle.
Started In Boston.
The courtesy and fellowship en-
tended to the Negro women by this
council brings to mind the dramatic
incidents attending the reputation
OF the Era Club Of Boston by the
General Federation Of WomenS
Clubs at the biennial Of 1902 at
Los Angeles, Cal. The Boston Era
Club, which Is composed OF both
white and cofored women, with tn.
latter predominating. had Joined the
Massachusetts State Federation OF
Women,S Clubs and on It's recon-
mendation applied for membership
IN the General Federation shortly
before the biennial in milwaukee II,
1900. The dues Of the Era Club we're
accepted and a letter Of congratula-
ton sent by the president of the
General Federation, Mrs. Rebecca
Douglass Lowe. AS its delegate to
the Milwaukee biennial the Era Club
sent it's president, Mrs. Josephine St.
T. Rufin, wife Of Judge Ruffln.
When Mrs. Love-, who is a South
ern woman, and other Southern
women, as we'll as some Of those of
the North, saw that Mrs. Rutfin was
first time that the Era Club was
composed mainly OF Negro women,
there was great to-do and the man.
ayers refused to allow Mrs. Ruft,n
to take her seat as delegate. Mrs.
kuhn is also member Of the Bos-
ton Press Club. being the only col
ored woman in the club. She WAC
told that she might take her seat
as a representative of that club, but
that she could not represent club
of Negro women. This she refused
to do. saying that she could only
represent the club from which she
had been sent as delegate. The
dues Of the Era Club were returned
to her.
The Massachusetts State Fedora
ton, Of, which Mrs. May Alden Ward
was then president, was greatly
stirred up over the incident and
plan of reorganization
of the General Federation. which
would compel it to receive all dele
gates from clubs belonging to the
State Federations. Mrs. M. Estelie
Merrill visited many of the clubs of
the state in the interest of this plan
Of reorganization, and through her
influence the Waltham Woman,
Club sent Mrs Kate Leyson Brown,
the we'll known writer and club
woman, as delegate to the next BIZ
nnnial. with instructions to help all
she could in the .righting what the
Federation had de-
clared an injustice 20 one of ITS
'lubs. But shortly before the bien-
Nal which was held at Los Angeles,
he Massachusetts, Federation had 4
Ihanse of heart, or at least of policy,
IN regard to the matter, and on the
way to Los Angeles Mrs. Brown
earned Of this change of front, and
nat she would likely be the only ad-
iocate of the cOlored women at the
Instructions were eiyan
N the Grain to the delegates of the
massachusetts, Federation not 70
)rlng up the subject of re-Organiza-
ion, as it was found not to be prac-
lcable. Mrs. Brown, who is of ia
nous old Welsh fighting stock. re-
used to lay down her colors and de-
Jared she would obey the instruc-
ions Of the Waltham Woman's
club, which she represented. r.
urned out that with the exception
II one. other woman who spoke ear
IN the convention, she was the on
Y champion OF the colored women
turing the whole biennial.
Drowned Her Down.
Twice Mrs. Brown attempted I.
peak once on an entirely differ
INT subject, but she was refused a
rearing, as she had by her out
'poken determination, become
fnoWn as the woman who was to-
'rlng up the subject of admitting
ne clubs Of Negro. women.
At her first attempt to speak she
vas pulled down by frightened mem
'ers OF the Massachusetts delega-
ion, although she rose to speak on
topic which had nothing to dol
With the tabooed subject; and dur
ng a bull at the close Of the last
session having been promised per-
AlSslon to speak by Mrs. Lowe, she
rose and attempted to get hear
ng as there was no business at that
ime before the Federation Mrs.
Lowe hesitated, rs If not knowing
what to do, and Mrs. Brown remind
I'd her Of her promise that she