-Secretary Lee of
Wyoming, spoke briefly on various points suggested by the several
speakers.

The white-haired and venerable philosopher, A. Bronson Alcott,
was very cordially received, after being presented in
complimentary terms by the president. Mr. Alcott paid a glowing
tribute to the intellectual worth of woman, spoke of the divinity
of her character, and termed her the inspiration font from which
his own philosophical ideas had been drawn. Not until the women
of our nation have been granted every privilege would the liberty
of our republic be assured.[79] The well-known Francis W. Bird
of Walpole, who has long wielded in the politics of the Bay
State, the same power Thurlow Weed did for forty years in New
York, being invited to the platform, expressed his entire
sympathy with the demand for suffrage, notwithstanding the common
opinion held by the leading men of Massachusetts, that the women
themselves did not ask it. He recommended State rather than
national action.

Rev. Ada C. Bowles of Cambridge, and Rev. Olympia Brown, of
Racine, Wis., opened the various sessions with prayer--striking
evidence of the growing self-assertion of the sex, and the rapid
progress of events towards the full recognition of the fact that
woman's hour has come. Touching deeper and tenderer chords in the
human soul than words could reach, the inspiring strains of the
celebrated organist, Mr. Ryder, rose ever and anon, now soft and
plaintive, now full and commanding, mingled in stirring harmony
with prayer and speech. And as loving friends had covered the
platform with rare and fragrant flowers, the aesthetic taste of
the most fastidious artist might have found abundant
gratification in the grouping and whole effect of the assemblage
in that grand temple. Thus through six prolonged sessions the
interest was not only kept up but intensified from day to day.

The National Association was received right royally in Boston. On
arriving they found invitations waiting to visit Governor Long at
the State House, Mayor Prince at the City Hall, the great
establishment of Jordan, Marsh & Co., and the Reformatory Prison
for Women at Sherborn. Invitations to take part were extended to
woman suffrage speakers in many of the conventions of that
anniversary week.