Evening star., 1925-04-12
COUNCIL OF WOMEN
COMING BACK HOME
Session of international
Body Here Next Month Con-
Sidered Great Honor.

The international Council of
Women is coming home. Its seventh
ouinquennial. which is to be held in
this city from MAY to IA. viii take
on in the minds of those who have
been longest connected with the or
ganization something of the nature
of an "old home week for the In
ternational Council was born in TINS
city just 81 years ago this Spring.
II comes back in the full hush OF
early maturity, laden with honors, as
A famous daughter might return 10
share her triumphS with the nome
town that had known her in her IN
fancy.
The International Council comes to
this country at the earnest invita-
ton. twice extended, of the Oldest OF
its affiliated councils, that of the
women of the United States.
This invitation was extended IN
1920 at the sixth quinquennial' Whlch
convened at ChriStiania, NORWAY, III
September OF that year. Invitations
were received also from the councils
of Great Britain and Ireland, Den
mark and Jugoslavia. Because OF
the unsettled condition of the world
ar that time the council deferred ac
tion on any of the invitations until
the executive meeting of l922-
Invited to United States.
This meeting was held at The Hague
(Netherlands) from May IA TO -, l9Z-'
and there Mrs. Pisko representative
of the National Council OF women Oh
the United States on the executive COM
nittee repeated the invitation to the IN
ternational council to hold ITS next
ouinquennial in Washington, d. {. On
behalf of the French council Nine. AVrll
nj inter-
national council from 1920 TO 1920 also
presented an invitation for the quln-
ouennial meeting TO be held in France
in 1925.
The acceptance of the invitation from
the National Council of Women OF the
United States is considered d great
honor by that body, and its officers ana
members have now been working for
many months to complete arrangements
for the entertainment of their notable
guests from all over the world.
Reception In Norway.
No better proof of the distinguished
position occupied by the International
Council of Women could be found than
is given in a survey of the reception ac-
corded to the last quinquennial in Nor
way.
Said Mrs Ogilvie Gordon of Eng
land, first vice president OF the IN
ternatfonal Council. in her report on
the gathering at Christiania: From
all sides the court, the ministers of
state, the mayor and council of
Christiania, the private hosts and
hostesses who gave open handed h s.
pitality, the hotels, and, not least,
from the man in the street and the
shop people, a welcome was extended
of no ordinary quality. The
memorable days in Christiana were
lifted at once into the rare atmos-
phere of happenings that transcend
all ordinary experience of human par
leyings."
In order that the National Council
of Women of Norway ght be aided
financially in their extensive prepa-
rations for the quinquennial of 1920
the Storting, or Norwegian Parlia-
ment, voted a sum of $4,000 kronen
approximately $4,000 in American
money! for the use of the council and
also offered the Parliament buildings
for the meeting place should the date
Of the quinquennial coincide with
the parliamentary recess.
Held in Parliament.
The meetings did so coincide and
the sessions were held in the stately
parlia mentary halls. One amusing
feature of the session was that, lin
obedience to a strict rule of the
Storting, the ladies were not allowe
to enter until they had removed their
hats"
Although this distinguished body of
women is accustomed to the highest
honors at all its sessions, the extent
and warmth of their reception in
Norway moved them all deeply A
golden thread of emotion runs through
all their reports
Those were the difficult days closely
Following the war. For six years,
due 10 the war, all regular inter
course between the International
Council Office and the affiliated Ma
ttonal councils had been interrupted; :;
women of the countries represented
at the QuinquenniaI had suffered
much from the loss or injury of their
loved ones in the conflict; hearts were
sore and sensitive. Yet so complete had
been the preparations made by the
National Council of Women of Nor
way and so carr did the leaders
of the Quinque steer their course
at the sessions. so complete was the
harmony desired and attained, that,
rs one delegate expressed it, mot
even a crumpled rose leaf" marred
the perfection of the gathering.
The King and Queen of Norway
were outstanding figures in the well
come extended, and honored the in
ternational guests by olding an after
noon reception for them in the Palace.
This was a most delightful affair.
given on Tuesday, September IA, 1920,
during the second week of the
Quinquennial. The description of
this event is interesting, THE King
and Queen received the guests, num-
bering up to 500, and all passed
through a suite of reception rooms
TO one of the large halls of the
Palace. Tea was served at d num-
of round tables and on either side of
the chief entrance were two tables,
at one of which the King presided
and at the other the Queen. They
poured out tea for the honored
guests at their own tables aud car
ried on bright and animated con
versation about the meetings and
interests of the Council"
The King and Queen again hon
ored the Council by attending the
special concert given for the Quin-
quennial the following evening.
Norwegian women have had the
right to vote since 1907, and work
side by side with the men of their
country in every field of political
activity. This remarkable good TEL
1owship and Camaraderie was evil
denced- most strikingly at the ban
quet given by the National Council
of Women of Norway, when side by
side with the women delegates sat
the representatives of the court, the
prime minister and other chief min
listers of state.
One wonders at the amount of busi-
ness transacted at the Quinquennial
when there was such a round of teas
luncheonS and dinners as are record