motives or influences, but rather from a lack of training and organization, the leaders of the club movement are confident that these difficulties may be overcome. Knowing how young the organization is and looking at the really great results of its short existence, the thoughtful women of the federation take heart anew even in the face of discouragement. And discouragements arise even with so stalwart and hopeful an organization. Probably the greatest obstacle in the work of the General Federation at present is the lack of funds, the dues being kept at the minimum owing to the fact that it is of the utmost importance that all women may belong equally, that the wife of the farmer and the wife of the millionaire may each contribute her quota without distinction of class. But in the face of this, which seems at times an almost unsurmountable obstacle to the full measure of their aspirations, the leaders of the General Federation of Women's Clubs rest secure in the hope that the near future will open up a way by which this too may be overcome. There can be no question of the future of a band of workers, either great or small, whose sole ambition is to serve their fellowmen. Two thousand years ago there was a promise made to those who should serve humanity unselfishly. With a sure knowledge that the fundamental principle of the Women's Club movement is Service, the leaders work on in the unshaken conviction that the time will come when each and every individual member will have at heart the real meaning of the movement, when trained leadership may be provided and the forces of the General Federation of Women's Clubs may become, as prophesied by Mrs. Decker "a mighty factor in the civilization of the century, if wielded as a whole,-an army of builders ready, alert, systematic and scientific, not only a potent force in this generation but transmitting to the next a vigor and strength which has never been given by any race of women to their inheritors."

of Women

We, women of all Nations, sincerely believing that the best good of humanity will be advanced by greater unity of thought, sympathy, and purpose, and that an organized movement of women will best conserve the highest good of the family and of the State, do hereby band ourselves in a confederation of workers to further the application of the Golden Rule to society, and law.

THE GOLDEN RULE-Do unto others as ye would that they should do unto you.

Such is the preamble to the constitution of the International Council of Women, organized at Washington, D. C., in 1888, whose objects are:

(a) To provide a means of communication between women's organizations in all countries.

(b) To provide opportunities for women to meet together from all parts of the world to confer upon questions relating to the welfare of the commonwealth and the family.

The definition of general policy says:

This International Council is organized in the interests. of no one propaganda, and has no power over its members beyond that of suggestion and sympathy; therefore, no National Council voting to become a member of the International Council, shall render itself liable to be interfered with in respect to its complete organic unity, independence, or methods of work, or shall be committed to any principle or method of any other Council, or to any utterance or act of this International Council, beyond compliance with the terms of this Constitution.

Meetings of delegated representatives are held every five years, conduct of affairs in the capacity of international advisers being vested in an executive committee. National Councils of twenty-two countries with an aggregate membership of 7,000,000 women are now said to be affiliated with the Council. The list with dates of federation includes the United States, 1893; Canada and Germany, 1897; Sweden, Great Britain and Ireland, 1898; Denmark, Netherlands, Tasmania, New South Wales, 1899; Italy, 1900; France, Argentina, 1901; Victoria, South Australia, Switzerland, Austria, 1903;

Hungary, Norway, 1904; Queensland, Belgium, 1906; Greece, Bulgaria, 1908.

The roll of General Officers is interesting personally and geographically as indicating one of the increasingly numerous bonds of internationalism in our day: President, H. E. The Countess of Aberdeen, Dublin, Ireland; Vice-Presidents: first, Miss Ogilvie Gordon, D. Sc., Ph. D., F. L. S., 'Aberdeen, Scotland; second, Contessa Spalletti Rasponi, Roma, Italy; third, Frau Marianne Hainisch, Wien, Austria; Corresponding Secretary, Dr. Phil. Alice Salomon, Berlin, Germany; Recording Secretary, Dr. Alexandra Skoglund, Stockholm, Sweden; Treasurer, Mrs. W. E. Sanford, Hamilton, Ont., Canada.

Honorary Officers: Hon. President, Mrs. May Wright Sewall; Hon. Vice-Presidents, H. E. Mme. Anna de Philosophoff, St. Petersburg; Baroness Alexandra Gripenberg, Helsingfors, Finland; Mrs. Sheppard, Christchurch, New Zealand; Miss Selma Hanum, Constantinople, Turkey.

The scope of activities is shown by the list of "Conveners of Committees:" Finance, Mrs. Willoughby Cummings, Toronto, Ont., Canada; Press, Mejuffrouw Johanna Naber, Amsterdam, Netherlands; Peace and Arbitration, Mrs. May Wright Sewall, Cambridge, Mass, U. S. A.; Laws concerning the Legal Position of Women, Mme. d'Abbadie d'Arrast, Paris; Suffrage and Rights of Citizenship, Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, Moylan, Pa., U. S. A.; Equal Moral Standard and Traffic in Women, Mme. Avril de Ste. Croix, Paris; Public Health, H. E. The Countess of Aberdeen, Dublin, Ireland; Education, Mrs. Ogilvie Gordon, D. Sc., Ph. D., F. L. S., Aberdeen, Scotland; Emigration and Immigration, Contessa Danieli Camozzi, Roma.

Numerous official publications are issued in three official languages, French, German and English. "The Health of Nations" comprising reports on public health sent in at one time or another from affiliated National Councils was an important publication. Special magazines are published by the National Councils of Germany, Austria, Great Britain

and Ireland, Argentina, Belgium, France, and the Annual Reports of the United States, Canada, Italy, and several other Councils are full and eleborate productions. May Wright Sewall, now Honorary President, is the editor of a two-volume history of the International Council of Women, recording its influence in the development of the sense of solidarity in international association for human progress. The International Council was organized under the auspices of the National Woman's Suffrage Association at Washington in 1888.

NATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES

For "all nations" substitute "the United States" in the preamble and constitution of the International Council and you have the basic document of the National Council of Women of the United States. This is more than a coincidence. In the year 1882, Mrs. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, conceived the idea of an International Council of Women, and pressed its consideration on the leading reformers in England and France, where she was at that time visiting, in the interest of equal educational, political, professional and industrial rights for women.

A few accepted the idea, and when Miss Susan B. Anthony arrived in England, some months later, they discussed the question fully with each other; and, seeing that such a convention was both advisable and practicable, they resolved to call it in the near future. Upon their return to America, and upon consultation with friends, it was decided to celebrate the fortieth anniversary of the first organized demand for Equal Rights for women by convening an International Council of Women. The task of making the necessary arrangements fell chiefly upon Miss Anthony, Miss Rachel G. Foster, and Mrs. May Wright Sewall. The National Council of Women of the United States was organized at this time with Miss Frances E. Willard, as President, Miss Susan B. Anthony, Vice-President-at-large, Mrs. May Wright Sewall, Corresponding Secretary, M. Louise Thomas, Treasurer, and Mrs. F. East

man, Recording Secretary, and has the proud honor of being the first National Council organized, having been organized in 1888, contemporaneous with the International Council.

The National Council of Women of the United States is composed of sixteen national organizations, representing as many phases of national thought and activity, and nine local councils, consisting of over two hundred federated societies; in all, representing over three millions of women. The National Societies affiliated include: National Woman's Suffrage Association, National Woman's Relief Society, Young Ladies' National Mutual Improvement Association, National Christian League for the Promotion of Social Purity, Universal Peace Union, National Association of Loyal Women of American Liberty, National Woman's Relief Corps, The Council of Jewish Women, The Florence Crittenton Mission, Ladies of the Maccabees of the World, Pythian Sisters, Ladies of the Modern Maccabees, National Council of Colored Women, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, Grand Circle of Woodcraft, Woodmen's Circle.

The National Council represents organized effort along the lines of education, industry, and philanthropy, as well as moral and government reform. With all their diversified work, they are united upon many of the vital questions touching the home, humanity and government. There are committees on Peace and Arbitration, Education, Children, Equal Standard of Morals, Political Equality, Home, Immigration, Divorce, Illiteracy, Art and Literature, Philanthropics and Charities, Domestic Relations, Legal Status of Women and Children, Health, Foreign Correspondence, etc.

The Sixth triennial session was held last year in connection with the Alaska-Yukon Exposition at Seattle. The President is Mrs. Lillian M. Hollister of Detroit, Michigan, and the Honorary Presidents are Mrs. May Wright Sewall, Mrs. Mary Lowe Dickinson, Mrs. Fannie Humphreys Gaffney, Mrs. Mary Wood Swift.