have participated in its deliberations. " We
never drew a color line," said one of the mem-
bers. Mrs. Hannah C. Smith, former corre-
sponding secretary, states that its object is
educational rather than benevolent, but that
it has mdertaken a number of philanthrojjic
plans and carried them through successfully.
Several scholarships in colored educational in-
stitutions have been purchased, and in this
way many who would not have l)ad an educa-
tion otherwise have been provide<l for. At
the outset the club was divided into several
classes and each placed under the direction of
a leader. These classes discu.ssed civics, do-
mestic science, literature, public improve-
ments, and questions of importance to the col-
ored race! Circulars written by members of
the club uj)on important questions have been
issued, and numerous copi<^s circulated. Money
has been raised and expended, which has aided
in promoting the welfare of the colored race in
Boston and other cities. Assistance has also
been given to worthy charities.
In 1900 the club accepted an urgent invita- tion to join the General Federation, and their application was forwarded by the State secre- tary. Mrs. R. D. Lowe, president, promptly returned a certificate of membership, and offi- cially expressed her pleasure at the action of the club. It was then entitled to be repre- sented at the biennial convention of the Na- tional Federation at Milwaukee, Wis., in June, 1900. Mrs. Ruffin was chosen its delegate. She journeyed to Milwaukee as a representa- tive also from the New England Woman's Press Association and from the Massachusetts Federation of Women's Clubs. The progranune conmiittee of the National FediM'ation refused to allow Mrs. Ruffin to appear before the con- vention and extenil greetings. She was de- nietl recognition as a delegate, notwithstanding the elo(iuent pleadings of rej)resentatives from many States. Telegrams armouncing this de- cision were sent to all parts of th(> country, and hunilnnls of editorials were ]nil)lished by the press, conmientiiig on the subjcci, which had become one of national interest. Many protests were officially promulgated by local clubs, and some' have withdiawn from the Federation.
Throughout all this discussion Mrs. Ruffin has maintained an attitude of womanly dignity, and has the cordial sympathy and regard of thousands of friends.
In November, 1900, the Woman's Era Club issued an official statement of the whole mat- ter, addressed to the members of clubs of the Ceneral Federation, its conclusion being .summed up as follows. Could anything Ije clearer tljan the logic of their jjosition?
"The General Federation of Women's Clubs has no color line in its constitution. There is nothing in its constitution, in its oft-published statement of ideas and aims, in its supposed ad- vanced positifin upon humanitarian ([uestions, to lead any club, with like aims and views, to imagine itself ineligible for membership. The A'onian's P>a Club having been regularly ad- mitted, no legal or moral ground can possibly be found upon which it could be ruthlessly thrown out at the pleasure of a few individuals." The action taken by the General Federation at the biennial convention lield at I^os Angeles in May, 1902, was such as to render it practi- cally impossible for any coloretl club to .secure recognition. The reply of the Woman's Era Club to (juestions in regard to its status in 1903 is this:—
"It stands just as it stood before, and just as it would have stood had the reorganization plan been carrietl through successfully. As a part of the State Federation, it has member- ship in the general body; as an individual club, it has all the legally executed documents which eminent legal authority declare justifies our club in considering itself as much an individual member of the G. F. W. C. as any other cluli in that bodv" (Annual Report of the AVoinan's Era Club fo'r 1902-1903).
"June 1, 1903, the annual meeting was held, and for the first time in the history of the club there was a change in presidents.
"The retiring president, Mrs. Josephine St. P. Ruffin, foun(l(>r of the club, has for eleven con- tinuous and harmonious years occupied the l)osition of club president, with honoi' not only to herself and its members, but to the whole race. She positively decrmcil anf)ther re-elec- tion becau.se of the prej^siu'e of other work. In her retirement the club keenlv feels its loss;
