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vener in the Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario, thus contributing to the development of the organiza- tion. The Women's Institute Motto: "For Home and Country", chosen in 1902 by the Stoney Creek Com- mittee, was the suggestion of Laura Rose. In 1903, Miss Laura Rose designed the Institute pin from a signet ring which she wore constantly. The origin of the Institute colours, as told by Laura Rose Stephen, is as follows:-- "Guelph, known as the Royal City, was named for Queen Victoria, the reigning monarch of the time, her family name being Guelph. At one of the early conventions held in this city the Royal Colours, blue and gold, were chosen as the Women's Institute colours--a very wise and appropriate choice." Mr. George A. Putnam, B.S.A., was Superintendent of the Women's Institutes of Ontario from 1904--1934, during which time there was a steady growth, not only in numbers but correspondingly in influence and power for good. V In due time the Women's Institute spread to every province of the Dominion and in 1915 Mrs. Alfred Watt, M.A., M.B.E., and Miss Emily Guest, M.A., carried the torch to Great Britain, where the move- ment met with outstanding success. Soon rural organ- izations, called by various names, but all having practically the same general aims and objectives as were set forth in the first constitution of the Stoney Creek Women's Institute, were formed in Belgium, Australia, South Africa, Rhodesia, Ceylon, India, New Zealand, Holland and many other countries. In 1929 rural women delegates from several coun- tries met in London under the auspices of the Inter- national Council of Women and a committee was appointed to take steps to unite Country Womens' Organizations in some uniform manner. This led to the formation of The Associated Country Women of the World in 1933 in Stockholm, Sweden. Mrs. Alfred Watt was the first president and Miss Elsie Zimmern the first secretary. Mrs. Vt/Cltt held this office until 1947 when she was succeeded by Mrs. Raymond Sayre of Arkworth, Iowa. The Association of Country Women of the World meets 'triennially and in 1953 Canada was hostess with the Province of Ontario as the seat of Convention. It is fitting that in tribute to the Women's Institute movement that these one thousand delegates from twenty-five countries should, while in Ontario, visit Stoney Creek. It is equally fitting that Stoney Creek the Mother Institute, should welcome the daughters and granddaughters of the W.I. on their first return home. In 1947 the fiftieth anniversary was celebrated February 19 at Stoney Creek. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth sent a message of congratulation. Eleven charter members were present and the Guest Speaker was Mrs. Gordon Conant, Oshawa, daughter of the first president, Mrs. E. D. Smith. For this occasion a huge pageant was presented the following June on the campus of Ontario Agricultural College, Guelph, where hundreds of W.I. members took part in por- traying the growth of the Women's Institute. The assembled spectators numbered twelve thousand women. The same year a book "Fifty years of Achievement", was written and published as the authentic history according to the early minute books and after lengthy research. Mrs. A. E. Walker is an outstanding life- member of Stoney Creek Women's Institute. She has held the office of President of the Local District, Pro- vincial and Dominion Federated Women's Institutes, and has been the recipient of medals from the King. Recently she was one of eleven Canadian women to receive Coronation recognition for outstanding service to Canada from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The message of Miss Anna P. Lewis, Director of the Women's Institute Branch and Home Economics Ser- vice, given to the Stoney Creek Institute on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee: "The finest tribute we could pay is our assurance that we shall go on, keeping our standards high, to build our great Women's Institute on the firm founda- tions already laid. The millions of Institute members, regardless of colour, creed or politics, who go about doing good the world over form a living memorial to the Women's Institute idea which originated at Stoney Creek." We face the future keeping ever before us our great motto: "For Home and Country" and the words of our Institute Ode--Each shall seek the common weal, the good of all mankind. 5