Schlesinger Library

[56] [1854] [April]

thus & so, -- It is astonishing to see how wholly bound to creed & Dogmas are they. I exposed a good many of my heresies to great surprise of all present Eliza J. said she would rather that I should be a Slave Holder or believe in Slave holding, than a disbeliever in the Plenary Inspiration of the Bible - thus is it belief not Christian Benevolence, that is made the Modern test of Christianity - When will the world wake from its stupor & look truth strait in the face.

This A.M. the ground was white with snow & frozen rain, & all the buds & stems on the trees were encased with ice - there is great reason to fear that fruit must be injured by this severe frost & cold --

29 Saturday - Cold rain

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Chataque Country

Woman's Rights Convention held Tuesday Dec. 26th 1854 at Mayville in the Court House.

Marrietta Richmond of Columbia County in com pany with self stopped at the house of Cyrus Underwood. The weather warm & rainy - Sleighing gone, & wagoning dangerous on account of the heavy snowdrifts --

Notwithstanding, the Towns of Chataque, Clymer, Ellicott Harmony Stackleton, Sherman & Hartfield were repre sented - whole number of towns in the county, [24??] --

Though the meeting was small, there seemed an earnest seeking after the new Truth -- By invita tion I went to Sherman a distance of 9 miles & spoke to a large audience Wednesday evening - never saw more en thusiasm on the subject, even the Orthodox Churches vied with each other, who should open their doors

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Cattaragus W. R. Convention held at Ellicotville Friday Dec. 29[th?]

Some 5 towns represented, being Ellicottville, Otto, Great Valley, Lttle Valley, & Gowanda --

Some 60 persons present, in the P.M. __ 300 in the evening - Mrs. Matilda G. Howe wife of Judge Howe served as President

The day very cold, snowy & blowy sleighing very poor - Mrs. S. Ann F. Allen of Otto, Waverly Post-Office was present - an intelligent woman served as Clerk --

Saturday went to Olean, could not get a Church, School House or Academy to speak in, The Landlord Mr. Comstock gave the use of his Dining Hall for Sunday evening - had the room filled - rather drew upon the Methodist Watch meeting - John Collins formerly of Rochester an Insurance man interested himself considerably - Miss Richmond spoke at Great Valley - stopped with James Phelps - had a good time -

Monday 1st Jan. Went on to Friendship - stopped at Mr. Kings Hotel - had a large meeting in Academy Hall - Miss R. went on to Angelica -

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Stopped Ellicottsville

Temperance House, & a misera ble cold time we had of it too - It is a shame for any man to keep a mean Temperance House.

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Allegany Co. W. R. Convention held at Angelica Tuesday Jan 2d 1855

The day was fine - Nine Counties represented - 200 present in P.M. Crowded house in the evening - Court House carpeted with sawdust - a young Methodist Minister by the home of Du Bois gave his name as a member of the Convention for which act one of his Methodist parishioners told him, he should with draw from the Church, unless he retracted

Stopped at the Charles House

Wednesday 3d went to Hornellsville & spoke stopped at Isaac D. Seeleys

Thursday 4th went to Corning intending to speak - found no notice given - Miss R. spoke at Belvidere

Wednesday the 3d Had a long & disagreeable talk with a Methodist Minis ter Mr. Lowers in Corning, his name was Nutting - he is an expediency man uses his reason to decide what truths he should utter - whether popular or unpopular, was a slippery fellow, could not fasten him to any point -

Met Mrs. Rose at Corning Depot - all went to Bath -

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Steuben Co. W. R. Convention held at Bath Friday Jan 5, 1855

Meeting in Court House

Did not succeed in getting the names of representatives from but 4 towns - House full in the P.M. & crowded in the evening, though an admission of 12 1/2 [?] was charged

Mrs. Rose spoke full two hours -

Every one we meet is ready to tell some fact under the cruel laws to woman --

A Mrs. Rose of Avoca acted as President - good attention & order -- Mrs President a woman of Dignity & intelligence - had on the short dress as did two other ladies, brave women, it does my soul good to see them --

Six women of Cohocton sent their names & reasons why they demanded the right of suffrage --

Mrs. Rose spoke on Saturday eve the 6th to a good audience, then all took cars for Corning at 9 1/2 Oclock Mrs. R. stopped at the Dickinson House Miss Richmond left at Mr. [Lower?] - had a meeting in Concert Hall Sunday evening - none of the ministers

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would give the notice of our meeting, which so incensed some of the men, that they went to the printing office, struck off handbills & had boys standing at the doors of the churches to give them to the [prayerful?] as they passed out - had some 150 or 200 present --

In the evening, I could but ask at whose day lay the sin of Sabbath breaking - at the Ministers, who refused to read the notice, or their Laymen, who set the type & struck of the Bills.

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Chemung County Woman's Rights Convention held in Ely. Hall, Elmira Monday Jan 8th 1855.

Mrs Gleason was elected President, A. Mr. Peebles Universalist Minister one of the Vice Pres. - he sat on the Platform, & in the eve ning made a few remarks -

The meeting was not large, but two or three towns represented

Thomas H. Beecher attended part of the time - took tea at Mrs. Holbrooks, Mr. Beecher in company -

His Theology as set forth that evening is a dark & hopeless one - sees no hope of the progress of the race - does not believe that education will enable man to improve his own specie - as it has that of the Animal races --

Spent the night at Dr. Glasons - Mrs. Rose remained & spoke on Tuesday evening - I returned to Corning Tuesday A.M. at 9 Oclock & spoke there to a small house again - a perfect apathy seems resting upon the people of Corning - The Clergy are responsible for it - returned? returned to

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Elmira, on the 10 Oclock evening train. Found Mrs. Welling just retired were up again at 4 Oclock A.M. to go to Pen Yan - Mrs. Rose' meeting was small again.

The Rev. Mr. Murdock, preaches in one of their most popular churches & his bigotry is enough to enslave the whole community --

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W. R. Con. held in Wesleyan Methodist Church at Pen Yan, Wednesday Jan 10th 1855 -

Arrived here from Elmira, about 8 Oclock A.M. - Miss Richmonds Cousin met her at Depot & took her to his home - A Mr. Brigham also met us & took Mrs. Rose & self to the house of Mr. Curtis - very fine family indeed - every thing in beautiful order -- & the cooking scientifically done - oh the murderous work that is perpetrated in the culinary department of nine tenths the establishments of the land -

The domestic sphere, considered the only appropriate one for woman & yet not one woman in ten taught the art of bread making even --

Here we came in collision with Elder Knapp, the great Baptist Revivalist - he had been at work three weeks - still, we had a full house, & great interest manifested.

In the evening - had a full house again, & an full vote, asking Mrs. Rose to remain & speak again Thursday night -- but we were too tired to think of it -- had been broken up our sleep so much for the week past --

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Ontario County - W. R. Con. held at Bemis Hall Canandaigua, Friday Jan. 12th 1855 -

Miss Richmond left us at Pen Yan to lecture by herself

Too expensive to pay fare for three - Mrs. R. & I took carriage to Mrs. Sands, who had written us to go directly to her house - when there, she took us into a little room not 11 feet square, containing bed, Cooking Stove, beauro, table & three or four chairs - on the stove was a pot boiling some kind of fresh meat - the floor was strewn with papers, chips & straws - gave evidence of not having felt the impress of a broom for weeks --

She & her husband have been in a quarrel for years about this property

Soon learned that he J.B. Sands had issued Bills, announcing that he would be at our meeting & give his experience in womans rights for the last five years - suffice it to say that he did not speak - though called out in the eve at close of Mrs. Rose speech - we declared the meeting

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adjourned - After learning the state of things I went out & hired a carriage to take us to the Candaigua Hotel - then took Carriage & went to every School, & gave the notice of the Meeting.

There was a great commotion about the Sand's affair -

The poor man & his chums seemed to think we had gone there for the purpose of settling individual quarrels, instead of advocating just for principles -

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Monroe County W. R. Meeting, held at Rochester, Corinthian Hall, Monday Jan. 18, 1855

Lucy Clapp of Egypt appointed Chairman

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Every discussion with negro suffrage men but demonstrates that it is but the legal form, not the spirit of Slavery that is abolished.

The physical struggle may be nearly over, but the moral battle for the recognition of the great, the underlying principle of Freedom - equality before the law of society, politics and religion - is but just begun. The regeneration of a nation like that of an individual is not the work of a day, but the slow learning to do justice step by step. Hence the work of the true abolitionist is but just begun.

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'Senex' of "The Lily" - was Anson Bingham - of Nassau - Rensaeler C. N. Y. _____

Had letter of introduction to Mary F. Lone - (Mrs. L. G. Lone) from Giles B. Stebbins - May 22d 1952 - saying I know you will take Susan by the hand & do all possible.

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