rose to speak to a motion she was informed by the presiding officer
that "the sisters were not invited there to speak but to listen and
learn." She and three or four other ladies at once left the hall. The
rest of the women had not the courage to follow, but called them "bold,
meddlesome disturbers," and remained to bask in the approving smiles of
the Sons. They sought advice of Lydia Mott, who said the proper thing
was to hold a meeting of their own; so they secured the lecture-room of
the Hudson street Presbyterian church, and then went to the office of
the Evening Journal, edited by Thurlow Weed, to talk the situation over
with him. He told them they had done exactly right, and in his paper
that evening he announced their meeting and related their treatment by
the men.
The night was cold and snowy. The little room was dark, the stove
smoked and the pipe fell down during the exercises, but the women were
sustained by their indignation and sense of justice and would not allow
themselves to be discouraged. Rev. Samuel J. May, who was in the city
attending the "Jerry Rescue" trials, seeing the notice of their
meeting, came to offer his assistance, accompanied by David Wright,
husband of Martha C. Wright and brother-in-law of Lucretia Mott. These
two, with a reporter, were the only men present at this little
assemblage of women who had decided that they could do something better
for the cause of temperance than being seen and not heard.
Mr. May opened the meeting with prayer, and then showed them how to
organize. Mary C. Vaughn, of Oswego, was made president; Miss Anthony,
secretary; Lydia Mott, chairman of the business committee. Mrs. Vaughn
gave an address. A letter had been received from Mrs. Stanton so
radical that most of the ladies objected to having it read, but Miss
Anthony took the responsibility. She read, also, letters from Clarina
Howard Nichols and Amelia Bloomer, which had been intended for the
Sons' meeting. Mrs. Lydia F. Fowler, who happened to be lecturing in
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