NAWSA GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE Beecher, Henry Ward HENRY WARD BEECHER Sir: The cause of equal rights for women owes a large debt of gratitude to Henry Ward Beecher. Attempts to disparage his record on woman suffrage are really without warrant. Mr. Hibben says the "History of Woman Suffrage" characterizes Mr. Beecher's attitude towards woman's rights in 1876 as "Somewhat problematical, at least in the respect tendered to women" (Vol. 3, pages 52_53). The History was quoting an editorial published in 1876 by Mrs. Sarah Langdon Williams in her paper "The Ballot Box," complaining that almost all the centennial orators forgot the women. She mentions only two exceptions, Col. W. M. Ferry and Mr. Beecher. She says: "Henry Ward Beecher, in his oration at Peekskill, is reported to have said: 'And now there is but one step more. We permit the lame, the halt and the blind to go to the ballot box; we permit the foreigner and the black man, the slave and the free man, to partake of the suffrage; there is but one thing left out, and that is the mother that taught us, and the wife that is thought worthy to walk side by side with us. It is woman that is put lower than the slave, lower than the ignorant foreigner. She is put among the paupers whom the law won't allow to vote; among the insane whom the law won't allow to vote. But the days are numbered in which this can take place, and she, too, will vote.' " Then Mrs. Williams adds: "But these words are followed by others somewhat problematical, at least in the respect rendered to women: 'As in 100 years suffrage had extended its bounds till it now includes the whole population, in another 100 years everything will vote, unless it be the power of the loom, and the locomotive, and the watch, and I sometimes think, looking at these machines and their performances, that they, too, ought to vote.' " Mrs. Williams disliked Mr. Beecher, and was inclined to be hypercritical of him. But no one, reading without prejudice the two passages she quotes from his address, can regard his tribute to the loom and the locomotive as implying any disrespect to women. The plain fact is that he spoke out for woman suffrage when almost all the centennial orators ignored it. Mr. Hibben's book has been criticized on the ground that, while it seems to be strongly documented, the references, when looked up, often fail to bear out what they are supposed to prove. This is a case in point. Mr. Hibben says Mr. Beecher "Deserted that wing of the suffrage movement to which Susan B. Anthony and his sister Bella belonged for 2. the more conservative group of Julia Ward Howe." Up to 1869, the organized suffragists of the country were united in the American Equal Rights Association. Lucy Stone was the chairman of its executive committee. It worked for equal rights for women, and also for equal rights for the colored people. Its annual meeting in the spring of 1869 was stormy. The chief bone of contention was the alliance that Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony had formed with George Francis Train, and their opposition to the Fifteenth Amendment. Mr. Train was a man of wealth, but so erratic that for a time he was shut up in a lunatic asylum as actually insane. He was a man of immense egotism, and had announced himself as a candidate for President of the United States. His vanity and his eccentricities made him an object of general ridicule. In addition, he was a bitter anti-Negro Democrat. William Lloyd Garrison [, in a letter] wrote to Miss Anthony [dated Jan,4, 1868, said] : "The colored people and their advocates have not a more abusive assailant than this same Train." [He further declared: "I cannot refrain from expressing my regret and astonishment that you and Mrs. Stanton should have taken such leave of good sense as to be travelling companions and associate lecturers with that crackbrained harlequin and semi-lunatic. You may, if you choose, denounce Henry Ward Beecher and Wendell Phillips (the two ablest advocates on this side the Atlantic), of woman's rights on this side the Atlantic), and swap them off for the nondescript Train, but in thus doing, you will only subject yourselves to merited ridicule."] Mr. Train had been invited by Miss Anthony to take part in the campaign carried on by the American E. R. A. in Kansas, where two amendments to the State constitution were pending, one to give votes to women, the other to give votes to the colored people. Afterwards she and Mrs. Stanton held a series of public meetings with him through the country, at which he advocated woman suffrage and Mr. Train advocated his own election as President of the United States. He [largely helped to] financed Miss Anthony's paper, The Revolution, and in its columns excellent and brilliant editorials on woman suffrage by Mrs. Stanton came out side by side with absurd articles by Mr. Train, urging his election to the presidency, and advocating various erratic ideas. There was much dissatisfaction about this. Mr. Garrison expressed the general feeling in a letter which he wrote to Miss Anthony as a private remonstrance, but which she published in The Revolution. He said, in part: "I cannot refrain from expressing my regret and astonishment that you and Mrs. Stanton should have taken such leave of good sense as to be travelling companions and associate lecturers with the crackbrained harlequin and semilunatic, George Francis Train. You may, if you choose, denounce Henry Ward Beecher and Wendell Phillips (the two ablest advocates of woman's rights on this side of the Atlantic), and swap them off for the nondescript Train, but, in thus doing, you will only subject yourselves to merited ridicule." At the annual meeting of the American Equal Rights Association held in New York in May, 1969, the matter was threshed out, and the pro-Train faction was defeated by a large majority. On the evening of the following day, the leaders of the minority party, who had been defeated in the convention, organized the "National Woman Suffrage Association," at a reception in the house where The Revolution had its office. No public notice had been given that a Suffrage Association was to be formed on this occasion, and no public invitation issued for the suffragists to come together to form one. The Association thus formed proceeded to hold weekly meetings in New York City, though no Association really National could meet every week in one place. At these meetings, resolutions on the subjects about which the difference of opinion among the suffragists ran highest were passed, including a resolution against the Fifteenth Amendment expressing views directly contrary to those of the majority and these resolutions were sent out far and wide as those of the "National Woman Suffrage Association." It became imperative to have a Suffrage Association that should be really national, and should represent the view-point of the majority. After ample public notice, and in response to a bill signed by 89 prominent suffragists, of 22 States, the American Woman Suffrage Association was organized at Cleveland, O., in November 1869, with Henry Ward Beecher as its first president. His acceptance of that office was not a "desertion" of the pro-Train wing, for he had never belonged to it. No more had Garrison and Phillips, Lucy Stone and Julia Ward Howe, Col. T. W. Higgin son and the mass of the suffragists, who sided with the American W. S. A. During the next two years, thirteen State Suffrage Associations became Auxiliary to the American, while only who became auxiliary to the National, and one of those severed its connetion almost immediately.* Mr. Hibben mentions that, in the Beecher Tilton matter, Mrs. Stanton and Miss Anthony believed Mr. Beecher guilty. They had taken up Victoria C. Woodhull with enthusiasm, a course which greatly widened the breach between the American and the National wings. Later they saw the necessity of dropping her; but for a time they were much under her influence. It was natural that they should believe her accusations against Mr Beecher. It would have been surprising if the suffragists had not been divided on the question, when the whole community was so deeply divided. But, at the trail, after hearing all the evidence, three fourths of the jury stood for aquittal...a fact which Mr. Hibben does not mention in his book, and which he certainly should have mentioned, to be fair. Alice Stone Blackwell Dorchester, Mass. *Footnote: An account of the division between the two societies, written by William Lloyd Garrison, and signed by himself, Julia Ward Howe, Henry B. Blackwell and Mary A. Livermore, was published in the Woman's Journal on April 9, 1870; and a fuller account, by Henry B. Blackwell, in the Woman's Journal of March 11, 1899. Brooklyn July 29th, 74 My Dear Mrs Stone, Will you do me the great kindness to send me immediately the date of Susan Anthony's "National Woman's Suffarage Assn"— (its first inauguration) —the date of your "Woman's Suffarage Assn" and the date when Mr. Beecher was elected President. By so doing you will great oblige Yours, full of hope & courage Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher Be over-estimated. Where shall we find his successor? He,B,B Mar. 12 - 1887 Page 84 In Memoriam In the death of Henry Ward Beecher a landmark of the past half-century is removed. He was an early and influential advocate of woman suffrage, and was the first president of the American Woman Suffrage Association, in 1869-70. His long public career began in 1837. It seems but yesterday that I heard him spoken of by the students and professors of Lane Seminary on Walnut Hills, near Cincinnati, as a young preacher of original genius and rare promise. His successive pastorates at Laurenceburg, Indianapolis, and Brooklyn marked the budding, blossoming, and frutage of his wonderfully prolific and fertile mind. His life was dominated by a religious and humanitarian enthusiasm, which inspired an impulsive and sympathetic temperament. His early espousal of the anti- slavery cause, his ringing appeals for bleeding Kansas, his steadfast adherence to the cause of the Union, his successful missions to Great Britain during the War, were crowned with his subsequent pronounced advocacy of equal rights for women. When a conspiracy sought by a scandalous acusation to destroy his fame and put an end to his usefulness, Mr. Beecher faced his foes with characteristic steadfastness, obtained his acquittal, and lived down the calumny. It is pleasant to recall that the Woman’s Journal stood by him in those dark days, as he had stood by women in their struggle for enfranchisement. His last public utterance for woman suffrage was at the Academy of Music a few years ago. In looking back over the varied vista of half a century, he stands pre-eminent as the representative of liberal evangelical religion. His position has enabled multitudes to hold in a modified form the faith of their fathers. The value of his life can scarcily June 16th Mon. Arith instead of alg. [Rode on ] Papa came out on my train. June 17th - Tues. Called on Mrs. Hinkley. Got no time to eat lunch. Wed Holiday, - Bunker. Rainy. Swept my floor. Thur. Got 1st vol. U. Nether. School. Fri. Holiday. Harvard. Rainy. Sat. Dentist, & out to Alice Chapin's. Sun. Wrote my composition with a species of toothache, wedge. Mon. Unexpected History. Tues. Very hot. [I think that it was ] Wed. Eheu Wilhelmus- I think Thur. Tooth better. History. Fri. Clare Mansfield’s. Sat. Deep tooth filled. Ugh! New dev. of B. T. scandal. Sun. Drove to Squantum. Mon. Hot - very. Tues. Wrote thunderbolt to K. Hist. ex. Wed. Letter from K. Answered it. Thur. No Hist. ex. Shakespeare reading. Fri. Last day. Fight with Hall. Sat. Drew chicken & felt wretched. Abby Smith & soeur came. Sun. Stormy. Smith ss & Hinkleys came up. Mon. Meeting at our house. Changed books. [Bucksitt?] girls. [Master] Miss Blackwell No. 79 LESSONS. - The highest mark, and given only for extraordinary merit, is 7; the lowest, 0. 4 denotes that the exercise is merely passable. DEPORTMENT - The marks are similar to those for lessons. ATTENDANCE. - 6 denotes the pupil's presence through the day's session; 5, dismissal before the expiration of the regular hours; 4, tardiness excused; 3, tardiness without excuse. A pupil commencing a quarter, is responsible for the whole of it; and no claim for allowance on account of absence is admitted, except by agreement before the beginning of the quarter. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Reading Spelling Writing Grammar Geography History Composition French Spanish German Latin Greek Military Drill Music Arithmetic Geometry Algebra Chemistry Geology Physiology Botany Nat. History Nat. Philos. Drawing Defining Declamation Book-keeping Deportment Attendance - 0 0 0 0 0 E. K. P. Parents are respectfully requested to examine this report carefully, sign it on the line below, and return it on the day after its receipt. A uniform signature is very desirable. Daily home study is absolutely necessary for every pupil. CHAUNCY-HALL SCHOOL, Lucy Stone FRIDAY, Apr. 10, 1874. CUSHINGS & LADD. The results of Examinations are written in red ink; maximum, 100. CONSTITUTION OF THE AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION AND THE HISTORY OF ITS FORMATION. WITH THE TIMES AND PLACES IN WHICH THE ASSOCIATION HAS HELD MEETINGS UP TO 1880. BOSTON: PRESS OF GEORGE H. ELLIS, 141 FRANKLIN STREET. 1881. CONSTITUTION PREAMBLE: The undersigned friends of Woman Suffrage assembled in delegate convention, in Cleveland, Ohio, November 24 and 25, 1869, in response to a call widely signed and after public notice duly given, believing that a truly representative national organization is needed for the orderly and efficient prosecution of the Woman Suffrage movement in America, which shall embody the deliberate action of the State and local organizations, and shall carry with it their united weight, do hereby form the American Woman Suffrage Association. ARTICLE I. --NAME The Association shall be known as the American Woman Suffrage Association. ARTICLE II. --OBJECT Its object shall be to concentrate the efforts of all the advocates of Woman Suffrage in the United States. SECTION 1. To form auxiliary State Associations in every State where none such now exist, and to co-operate with those already existing which shall declare themselves auxiliary before the first day of March next, the authority of the auxiliary societies being recognized in their respective localities, and their plans being promoted by every means in our power. SECT. 2 To hold an annual meeting of delegates for the transaction of business and the election of officers for the ensuing year; also, one or more national conventions for the advocacy of Woman Suffrage. SECT. 3 To publish tracts, documents, and other printed matter for the supply of State and local societies and individuals at actual cost. SECT. 4 To prepare and circulate petitions to State and Territorial Legislatures, to Congress, or to Constitutional Conventions in behalf of the legal and political equality of women; to employ lecturers and agents; and to take any measures the Executive Committee may think fit to forward the objects of the Association. 4 ARTICLE III. - ORGANIZATION. SECTION 1. The officers of this Association shall be a President, eight Vice-Presidents at large, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Foreign Corresponding Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, two Recording Secretaries and a Treasurer, all of whom shall be ex officio members of the Executive Committee; also one Vice-President and one member of the Executive Committee from each State and Territory and from the District of Columbia, as afterward provided. SECT. 2. Every President of an auxiliary State or Territorial Society shall be ex officio a Vice-President of this Association. SECT. 3. Every Chairman of the Executive Committee of an auxiliary State Society shall be ex officio a member of the Executive Committee of this Association. SECT. 4. In cases where no auxiliary State Association exists, a suitable person may be selected by the annual meeting or by the Executive Committee, as Vice-President or member of the Executive Committee from said State, to serve only until the organization of said State Association. SECT. 5. The Executive Committee may fill all vacancies that may occur prior to the next annual meeting. SECT. 6. All officers shall be elected annually at an annual meeting of delegates, on the basis of the Congressional representation of the respective States and Territories, except as above provided. SECT. 7. No distinction on account of sex shall ever be made in the membership or in the selection of officers of this Society. SECT. 8. No money shall be paid by the Treasurer except under such restrictions as the Executive Committee may provide. SECT. 9. Five members of the Executive Committee, when convened by the Chairman, after fifteen days' written notice previously mailed to each of its members, shall constitute a quorum. But no action thus taken shall be final, until such proceedings shall have been ratified in writing by at least fifteen members of the Committee. SEC. 10. The Chairman shall convene a meeting whenever requested to do so by five members of the Executive Committee. ARTICLE IV. The Association shall have a branch office in every State and Territory, in connection with the office of the auxiliary State Society therein, and shall have a central office at such place as the Executive Committee may determine. ARTICLE V. This Constitution may be amended at any annual meeting by a vote of three-fifths of the delegates present therein. 5 ADDITIONAL CLAUSES. Any person may become a member of the American Woman Suffrage Association by signing the Constitution and paying the sum of $1.00 annually, or a life member by paying the sum of $10, which shall entitle such person to attend the business meetings of delegates and participate in their deliberations. Honorary members may be appointed by the annual meeting, or by the Executive Committee, in consideration of services rendered. OFFICERS. President. HENRY WARD BEECHER. Vice-Presidents at Large. T. W. HIGGINSON, R.I. WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON, MASS. MRS. W. T. HAZARD, MO. CELIA BURLEIGH, N.Y. MARY A. LIVERMORE, ILL. GEORGE W. JULIAN, IND. MARGARET V. LONGLEY, OHIO. GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, N.Y. Chairman Executive Committee. LUCY STONE, N.J. Foreign Corresponding Secretary. JULIA WARD HOWE, MASS. Corresponding Secretary. MYRA BRADWELL, ILL. Recording Secretaries. HENRY B. BLACKWELL, N.J. AMANDA WAY, IND. Treasurer. FRANK B. SANBORN, MASS. Vice-Presidents. Rev, AMORY BATTLES, Me. Rev. H. EDDY, Wis. ARMENIA S. WHITE, N.H. MOSES COIT TYLER, Mich. Hon C. W. WILLARD, Vt. Mrs. A. KNIGHT, Minn. CAROLINE M. SEVERANCE, Mass. A. K. P. SAFFORD, Ari. ROWLAND G. HAZARD, R. I. CHARLES ROBINSON, Kan. SETH ROGERS, Conn. AMELIA BLOOMER, Ia. OLIVER JOHNSON, N. Y. ISAAC H. STURGEON, Mo. ANTOINETTE B. BLACKWELL, N. J. Hon. GUY W. WINES, Tenn. ROBERT PURVIS, Penn. ALFRED PURDIE, Fla. Mrs. HANSON ROBINSON, Del. Mrs. Gen. RUFUS SAXTON, Ore. Mrs. TRACY CUTLER, Ohio. Rev. CHARLES G. AMES, Cal. LIZZIE M. BOYNTON, Ind. Hon. J. C. UNDERWOOD, Va. Hon. C. B. WAITE, Ill. Hon. RUFUS LEIGHTON, Washington Ter. 6 Executive Committee. Mrs. OLIVER DENNETT, Me. Hon. NATHANIEL WHITE, N.H. Mrs. JAMES HUTCHINSON, Jr., Vt. Rev. ROWLAND CONNOR, Mass. ELIZABETH B. CHACE, R.I. Rev. OLYMPIA BROWN, Conn. ANNA C. FIELD, N.Y. MARY F. DAVIS, N.J. MARY GREW, Penn. Dr. JOHN CAMERON, Del. A. J. BOYER, Ohio. Rev. CHARLES MARSHALL, Ind. Hon. J. B. BRADWELL, Ill LILY PECKHAM, Wis. LUCINDA H. STONE, Mich. ABBY J. SPAULDING, Minn. Mrs. C. I. H. NICHOLS, Kan. BELLE MANSFIELD, Ia. Rev. CHARLES J. WOODBURY, Tenn. Mrs. Dr. HAWKES, Fla MARY E. AMES, Cal. Hon. A.M. FRETZ, Va. GRACE GREENWOOD, D.C. The movement for the formation of THE AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION originated in the following circular: - BOSTON, Aug. 5, 1869 DEAR Many friends of the cause of Woman Suffrage desire that its interests may be promoted by the assembling and action of a Convention, devised on a truly national and representative basis, for the organization of an AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION. Without depreciating the value of Associations already existing, it is yet deemed that an organization at once more comprehensive and more widely representative than any of these is urgently called for. In this view, the Executive Committee of the New England Woman Suffrage Association has appointed the undersigned a Committee of Correspondence to confer, by letter, with the friends of Woman Suffrage throughout the country, on the subject of the proposed Convention. We ask to hear from you, in reply, at your earliest convenience. Our present plan is that the authority of the Convention shall be vested in delegates, to be chosen and accredited by the Woman Suffrage Associations existing, or about to be formed, in the several States of the Union. The number of delegates to be sent by each Association, and the precise time of the meeting of the Convention, can be determined as soon as we shall have received such answer to our present application as shall assure us of an active and generous co-operation in the measure proposed, on the part of those addressed. LUCY STONE. CAROLINE M. SEVERANCE. JULIA WARD HOWE. T. W. HIGGINSON. GEORGE H. VIBBERT. In response to the above circular, and by the express authority of the signers, was issued the following WOMAN SUFFRAGE CALL. The undersigned, being convinced of the necessity of an AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION, which shall embody the deliberate action of the State organizations, and shall carry with it 7 their united weight, do hereby respectfully invite such organizations to be represented in a Delegate Convention to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 24 and 25, A.D. 1869. The proposed basis of this Convention is as follows:— The delegates appointed by existing State organizations shall be admitted, provided their number does not exceed, in each case, that of the Congressional delegation of the State. Should it fall short of that number, additional delegates may be admitted from local organizations, or from no organization whatever, provided the applicants be actual residents of the States they claim to represent. But no votes shall be counted in the convention except of those actually admitted as delegates. JOHN NEAL...Me. NATHANIEL WHITE...N. H. ARMENIA S. WHITE... " WILLIAM T. SAVAGE... " JAMES HUTCHINSON, Jr...Vt. C. W. WILLARD....................." WM. LLOYD GARRISON...Mass. LYDIA MARIA CHILD............ " DAVID LEE CHILD................... " GEORGE F. HOAR.................. " JULIA WARD HOWE.............. " GILBERT HAVEN..................... " CAROLINE M. SEVERANCE... " JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE... " ABBY KELLY FOSTER................." STEPHEN S FOSTER................." FRANK B. SANBORN................" PHEBE A. HANAFORD.............." ELIZABETH B. CHACE....R. I. T. W. HIGGINSON............ " ROWLAND G. HAZARD.... " H. M. ROGERS.................Conn. SETH ROGERS...................." MARIANNA STANTON........" GEORGE WM. CURTIS.....N. Y. LYDIA MOTT.........................." HENRY WARD BEECHER...." FRANCES D. GAGE.............." SAMUEL J. MAY...................." CELIA BURLEIGH.................." WM. H. BURLEIGH.............." AARON M. POWELL............" ANNA C. FIELD......................" GERRIT SMITH......................." E. S. BUNKER.........................." LUCY STONE...............................N. J. HENRY B. BLACKWELL.................." JOHN GAGE...................................." PORTIA GAGE................................." ANTOINETTE B. BLACKWELL........." A. J. DAVIS........................................" MARY F. DAVIS................................ " MARY GREW..............Penn. ROBERT PURVIS............" THOMAS GARRETT...Del. FIELDER ISREAL............." HANNAH M. TRACY CUTLER........Ohio. A. J. BOYER........................................" MARY V. LONGLEY........................." J. J. BELLVILLE...................................." MIRIAM M. COLE............................." S. BOLTIN............................................." AMANDA WAY.....................Ind. GEORGE W. JULIAN................" LAURA GIDDINGS JULIAN..." LIZZIE M. BOYNTON.............." MARY A. LIVERMORE...........Ill. C. B. WAITE..........................." MYRA BRADWELL.............." JAMES B. BRADWELL........" SHARON TYNDALE............" J. P. WESTON......................." ROBERT COLLYER..............." JOSEPH HAVEN..................." MOSES COIT TYLER........Mich. JAMES A. B. STONE........." LUCINDA H. STONE........." AUGUSTA J. CHAPIN.......Wis. H. EDDY..............................." AMELIA BLOOMER...Iowa. 8 CHARLES ROBINSON................Kan. Mrs. C. I. H. NICHOLS................ " JOHN EKIN, D.D........................... " J.P. ROOT......................................... " Mrs. S. BURGER STEARNS.........Minn. Mrs. W.T. HAZZARD....................Mo. ISAAC H. STURGEON.................. " Mrs. BEVERYLY ALLEN................ " JAMES E. YEATMAN..................... " MARY E. BREEDY........................... " J. C. ORRICK.................................... " Mrs. GEORGE D. HALL................. " GUY W. WINES..............................Tenn. CHARLES J. WOODBURY............ " MARY ATKINS LYNCH.................La. GRACE GREENWOOD.................D. C. A. K. SAFFORD...............................Ari. J. A. BREWSTER.............................Cal. In addition to the above names, the following were received too late for publication : - EDNAH D. CHENY.........................Mass. SAMUEL MAY, Jr............................ " OLIVER JOHNSON........................N.Y. Wm. P. TOMLINSON.................... " FREDERICK DOUGLASS............... " Mrs. AUSTIN ADAMS................... Iowa EDNA T. SNELL................................ " MATTIE E. GRIFFITHS..................... " BELLE MANSFIELD.......................... " T.M. MILLS.......................................... " B.F. GUE............................................... " Hon. Mr. POMEROY........................ " Mrs. J. C. BURBANK.........................Minn. Mrs. SMITH........................................... " Rev. J. MARVIN.................................... " Capt. RUSSELL BLAKELY................... " Mrs. ELLIOTT......................................... " Mr. A. KNIGHT...................................... " Hon. G. C. JONES................................. Mich. Hon. Wm. S. FARMER......................... " Hon. T.W. FERRY................................... " Rev. J. STRAUB....................................... " S. H. BRIGHAM...................................... " In compliance with the above call, a large Convention of delegates and friends of Woman Suffrage from twenty-one States assembled in Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 24 and 25, 1869, adopted the preceding Constitution, elected officers, and organized THE AMERICAN WOMAN SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION. The first annual meeting of the Association was held in Cleveland, Ohio, November, 1870 : Mrs. H. M. Tracy Cutler was chosen President. The second was held in Philadelphia, November, 1871 : Lucy Stone was chosen President. The third was held in St Louis, November 1872 : Col. T. W. Higginson was chosen President. The fourth was held in Brooklyn, N.Y., Oct 14, 1873 : Julia Ward Howe was chosen President. The Association held a large meeting the preceding day in Cooper Institute, New York. The fifth was held in Detroit, Mich., October, 1874 : Bishop Gilbert Haven was chosen President. The sixth was held in Steinway Hall, New York City, November, 1875 : Mary A. Livermore was chosen President. The seventh was held in Philadelphia, October, 1876 : William Lloyd Garrison was chosen President. No annual meeting was held in 1877. All the effort of the Association was that year concentrated on Colorado where an amendment to the Constitution to secure suffrage to women was pending. The ninth meeting was held in Indianapolis, November 1878 : Rebecca N. Hazard was chosen President. The tenth meeting was held in Cincinnati, November, 1879 : Henry B. Blackwell was chosen President. 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