Women's Patriotic Association for Diminishing the Use of Imported Luxuries

11 then present would step into the anteroom, for conference, for a few moments, with tlie speakers. Mr. Peter Cooper proposed that the chair be taken by President King, of Columbia College, which was carried unanimously, and tlie Kev. S. II. Tyng'was appointed Secretary of the meeting. President King said he had had some experience in presiding Over masculine meetings, but never at such a meeting as” this, and in such a cause. The object of the meeting was, that the women of the land should aid in a great national cause, and by some acts of personal self-denial on a point that was supposed to be very dear to the female heart—the point of dress. They of the other gender always assumed that women dressed for them, and, therefore, when it was asked that during the continuance of this war they should abstain as far as possible from all indulgence in articles of luxury in dress, and adorn themselves with the fabrics that we ourselves produce, and present themselves to us as American women, he could assure them, in the name of the masculine gender, that they would be still more lovely and still more honored. [Applause.] They would not forget in inaugurating this movement, to implore the Divine blessing, and therefore he would call upon the Kev. Dr. Vinton to commence the proceedings with prayer. Prayer was then offered up by the reverend gentleman, after which the President called upon Mr. Peter Cooper to address the meeting. Mr. Cooper remarked that this meeting had for its object the formation of a Union that must commend itself to the heart of every patriotic lady. At this time, when our hopes of freedom for ourselves and our posterity were threatened by the vilest despotism that ever disgraced a civilized nation, all ought to contribute to strengthen tlie arm of the Government. Nothing could be more terrible than that such a cause and such institutions as the Kebel Confederacy should be allowed to flourish. . It would be a sign that the sun of American Freedom was fast setting in clouds and darkness. He was

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