Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1888 — WOMEN IN COUNCIL. [ARTICLE]

WOMEN IN COUNCIL.

The flr>*t International Gathering at Washington.-Distinguished Women Present irum nil Part* of the World. “The most distinguished assemblage that ever gathered under one roof in this or any other country” describes the International Council of Women that convened in Washington on the 26 s h. The venerable Elizabeth Cady Stanton presided. Every branch, every feature of woman’s work for the advancement of her sex and the welfare of the commnnity at large—temperance, snffrage, education, philanthropy, social pnrity, prison reform, trades unionism, the pnlpit. law, journalism—all and more were represented by women who through their life work have made their names known and honored throughout the world. Right at the end of the second row from the stage, her eyes fixed upon the presiding officer, sat Pundita Ramabai, who for years has labored in the cause of her sex in India, and seated next to her was Mme. Isabelle Bogelot, delegate from France, and chief of the council for the aid of the female criminals of * Paris. White-haired, calm and sedate, she looked like a nun of the earlier ages. Across the aisle was a distinguished group, of which Mrs. Ashton Dilke, delegate from the Manchester Liberal League, and one of the moat noted woman of England, was the central fi jure. Next to her sat Helen Taylor, stepdaughter of the late T ohn Stuart Mill, and herself an ardent exponent of the teachings of the great politico-economist. Near by wdre Mrs. Armiston, of Edinburgh, chief of the social parity movement, and Mrs. Alice Scatchered, of Leeds, who, thirteen years ago, took an active part in promoting the success of the National Union of Working Women, the first trades union oi women that ever existed in the world, and which was brought into existence by Henry M. Hunt, now a resident of Chicago. Away back in the rear was the Baroness Gujpenberg, and Mrs. Alii Trygg, representing the Women’s Societies, of Finland; Mrs. Ada Frederikson, of Chicago, who, at the request of the Crown Princess of Denmark, represents the Danish Women’s Suffrage Association; Mrs. Groth, representative of the Norwegian Suffrage Association, and Mrs. Muller, the first lady member of the London School Board. The American representatives sat, for the most part, to the right of the stage. Suffrage was represented by Susan B. Anthony, Rachel Foster and Lucy Stone, among othere; the pnlpit, by Revs. tPncebe Hannaford, Olympia Brown Willis, Ada C. Bowles, Antoinette Brown Blackwell, Louise S. Baker, Annie H. Shaw, Amanda Devo and Florence Kolloch-. education, by Rena A. Michaels, of the Northwestern University; temperance, by Frances Willard; kindergartens, fay Mrs. Sarah Cooper, of San Francisco, cousin of R. Ingersoll; philanthropy, by Jen aie Fowler Willing; the Red Cross, by Clara Barton; the National Granges, by Anna M. Warden, Worthy Master of Vineland Grange, No. 11; journalism, by Mrs. Frank Leslie; medicine, by Sarah Hackett Stevenson; law, by Lillie Devereaux Blake; and sq on throughout an almost endless list. All the principle cities in the country are represented. Mrs. Stanton made an address of welcome and Susan B Anthony stated the object of the council. A committee on permanent organization was appointed, and at night papers were read as follows: S swell, “Higher Education;” Pundita Ramabai, “Women of India;” Sarah B. Cooper, “Kindergartens.”