Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1912-11-16
WOMAN SUFFRAGE
CONVENTION
Forty-fourth Annual Ses-
SION to Be Held
Nov. 2f-26.

tn HE announcement that the forty
fourth annual convention Of the
n National Woman Suffrage asso-
citation Will be held in phila-
delphia Nov. 2i-o6. inclusive, brings
with it the recollection that Phila-
delphla woman, Lucretia Mott. was
one of the four women who called the
first equal rights convention ever held
in the world The place chosen for
the unique gathering was Seneca
Falls. n. y. the home of Elizabeth
Cady Stanton, the. time was July,
1918, sixty-four years ago
The cause of woman suffrage in the
United States took definite shape when
the anti-slayery agitation was at its
height. In 1928 the Grimke sisters.
daughters Of distinguished judge of
the supreme court Of South Carolina,
becoming imbued with the spirit of
freedom, emancipated their slaves,
came north and by their impassioned
speeches succeeded in arousing public
sentiment IN behalf of abolition. Gar
rison soon entered the contest. and the
American Anti-slavery society was
formed
From the beginning women were
prominently identified with the move
ment, and the names OF Lucretia Mott
and many others soon became widely
known. The whole question of hui
man rights was thoroughly canvass
ed, and women soon began to take
part in the business meetings and
public debates, which aroused violent
opposition, and in 1889 the society was
rent in twain The half that sustain
J ed the rights of the women comprised
Garrison. Phillips, Pierpont, Pillsbury,
Thompson, Foster, Stanton, Gerrit
/ Smith--nearly all those who carried
4 the abolition TO success.
The question of women's right to
/ take public part in the movement was
carried to the worlds anti-slayery
/ convention in London IN 1910, which
refused to recognize the women dele
/ gates from the United States, who In
/ cluded Lucretia Mott and Mrs. Wen
dell Phillips. 1t was at this time that
I Mrs Mott and Mrs Elizabeth Cady
i Stanton, il bride, decided that on their
/ return to the United States they would
4 organize Il movement especially for
I the rights of women,
/ Soon there began TO be signs OF an
/ awakening on the part of women i1
various sections Of the Union. Mar
I garet Fuller one of coterie of think
! ers In Boston. in her writings and semi
4 public addresses in 1910 demanded po-
4 litica rights for women. In 1915 Rev.
Samuel ]. May, a leader of thought in
/ New York state. preached sermon in
his church in Syracuse declaring that
I the wrongs of women could not be
redressed until they had political pow
er. In 1917 Lucy Stone, just gradual
ed from Oberlin college, began speak
! ing on woinan's rights. Soon after
ward Lucretia Mott published dis
course on Woman" in answer to lee
/ ture which Richard II. Dana was Civ
! ing in many cities ridiculing the idea
of political equality for women. In
many parts of the country women be.
gan TO give lectures Cor the purpose OF
promoting the rights of women.
+, 1t was not until 1913, however, that
the resolution made by Bucreta Mott
and Elizabeth Cady Stanton in London
was put into effect. In the summer of
that year they met at the home of Mrs.
Motifs sister. Mrs. Martha c. Wright,
In Auburn. n. Il. and decided to carry
out the long cherished idea.
The following notice was circulated:
WoMAN's RIGHTS CONVENTION.
A convention 10 discuss the social. civil
and religious condition and rights of wo-
! men will be held 10 tie Wesleyan chapel.
Seneca Falls. N. Y, on Wednesday and
Thursday. the 18th and 10Th of July, cur
rent. commencing at 10 O'clock a. m. Dur
ing the first day the meeting will be ex-
clusively for women, who are earnestly
( invited to attend The public generally
is invited 10 attend on the second day,
/, when Lucretia Mott u Philadelphia and
other ladies' and gentlemen will address
the convention,
Philadslphian Presides.