The Washington herald., 1915-12-30
PUEBLO WOMEN
BUILT MISSIONS
Americanists Hear Suffrage
Argument from New Mexi-
can History Of 1926.
SNEERED AT WORKERS
Association Guests at Georgetown.
Rev. A. J. Donovan Describes
Early Work of Missionaries.

Suffragists discovered a new argument
yesterday in the meeting of Americanists
at Georgetown University. The greatest
historic ruins in the United States. walls
six feet In thickness and fifty feet high.
were built entirely by women. This was
the statement of former Gov. Bradford
Prince. Of New Mexico. in his paper on
Early Pueblo Missions in New Mexico"
The ruins are Of the first Spa anish missions
In the United States, 70 those who see
In 1t votes-for-women argument put
II another way. 1. e.. the first Christian
churches In this country were built by
women alone.
No mans hand had any part in the
construction Of these colossal walls"
declared the speaker. Those at Gran
ouivera. New Mexico. are the most
massive and impressive ruins In the
United States. The walls are six feet
in thickness and for nearly go years have
stood. silent and deserted. monuments
TO the industry. skill and devotion of the
builders. Though exposed to ceaseless
disintergration. yet by their massiveness
alone. they almost defy the agents of
destruction. They are built Of thin
tablets of sandstone. The vasteness of
their number almost defies calculation"
As proof OF his statement that none but
women did the building. he quotes from
Mr.. Benavides. head Of the Fanrciscans
In New Mexico from 1625 to 1880. In the
monks report to the King of Spain. which
has been preserved. he describes the
wonderful change from p8ganism to
Christianity. the great love of the people
for the friars. and then says. ''as Is amply
shown by all the churches and monas-
teries which they have built all of the
work having been done solely by the
women. and the boys and girls For
among these natives 1t is a custom for the
women to make all the walls and II we
oblise any man to build a wall the wom-
en- laugh at him."
Early History Of G~orEetown.
The delegates were guests of the fac
papers, enjoyed a reception. lunch and
smoker. Rev. A. J. Donovan, president
OF the Georgetown University, presided
at the session. and Father A. G. Morice.
who for thirty years has been working
among the Indians at st. Boniface, Mani
toba. Canada. acted as secretary.
President Donlon. traced the history Of
the schools and collgese which later
went to make UP the present GEORGETOWN
University. They in their time were In
dian missions and the missionaries did
for that period, he said. what the Ameri-
canist Congress is doing. in a scientific
way. today in studying the peoples.
DR.. A. e. Simeons de Silva. of Brazil
presented to the Smithsonian Institution
piece of Jade he secured in western
Brazil 1t represents an entirely now
find. so far as modern times are con-
cerned practically overthrows the theory
concerning the Peruvian. Mexican and
Central American jade ornaments The
only jade known In America before DR..
Silva's announcement was that in Mani
toba. Canada. and Alaska.
Senior Julio Tello. OF Peru, spoke on
"The Wanton Destruction of ANTIQUITIES
in Peru" giving a strong argument for
the resolutions to be discussed Friday
concerning national legislation to pro-
tect relics.
Other speakers were: F. w Hodge, Sec
retary \. Hrdlicka. DR.. G. r. Davenport.
Father 4. G. Morice. c. Alphonzo smith
OF the University OF Virginia. J.. n. 3
Hewitt. and James Mooney.
In the evening the Congress was en-
tertained at a reception by the regents,
and secretary of the Smithsonian In.ti-
tuition.