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The Women's institutes of Canada, numbering about four hundred thousand women, have been for years a great force m Social welfare. Made up largely of country women, they have a seriousness of purpose, and a courageous spirit in facing problems. They do not go to conven- l nous because of the social features. It is not a 1ress-piEad.e tor them, I though my memory of conventions is of a large hall, usually in a Fhurch, full of bright faces and pretty dresses, great bouquets ot Rollie: and roses; a long table where the officers sit, clear voices heard distinctly at the back of the hall, and meetings that begin and end on the minute. 1 The Women's institute has the advantage of being an international body, and here in Canada we have the joy ot knowing that it was a Canadian woman who took the idea across the sea-Mrs. Alfred Watt, of British Columbia. I had the pleasure of addressing an institute meeting to-day, and it awakened memories of many other such occasions. It has a flavour all its own, this society which has tor its motto "For Home and Country." Provision is made in the institutes for the two types at worker. There are in the institutes (as there are in the churches) the women who want to do their work at home. They will arrange for bazaars, and raise the money for a rest room, or a local library. They will see that the undernourished children in the schools are given a drink of milk at 10 o'eloek. They learn to weave; or make baskets, and will put on a fine home cooking sale. Then there is the other type who delight in the educational side at their work. They want to study the problems of the world, so they sponsor lectures, and essay contests, buy books and review them. Now the League of Nations is far away, and under a cloud at the moment, and doubts have naturally assailed even the Marys, as to the wisdom of cuntinuing to pay the ten-dollar sustaining fee to the League of Nations snriety. Ten dollars is a tidy sum when one considers the hard ways in which women's societies make their_money. "id-ti/sf/iam" i srpohe to this particular society, I hoped they would for this hour be all Marys, for I Wanted to lead them away from teas and needlepoint, and discuss with them the value of the League of Nations. This June meeting will be the last one for the season. and the mat- ter of finances is in their mind, for the conventions are not. int away. ' Some times a cont1iut arises between the two elements, the Marys and the Marthas. But it does not come to an open break, for the sound reason that the Marys and the Marthas overlap. On the extreme right, and extreme left, there will be the pure Martha and incorruptible Mary, but between these extremes there lies the solid membership-the knitting women, who read while they knit; the basket maker, who writes puetry; the best "pie-maker in the district, who also leads her society in the dis- cussion ot current events. The League of Nations, far from being dead, still stands as the greatest effort ever made by men to substitute co-operation for eonrliet, And we simply cannot desert it in its hour of need. The League at Na- tions society, to which the sustaining fee is paid, deserves much more. support than it is getting, because of the books it makes available at the cost of production-books which are authentic and unbiased. The head- quarters is in Ottawa, at 124 Wellington street, and there obliging sec- retaries willedvise any society or individual who wants to be informed on the inter ational situation. All nations were cannibals at first. One nuion's gain had t; be an- other's loss. But time has brought wisdom. One by one, nations have begun to see the fruit in the higher branches. The League of Nations was formed in the the that all would see it. But some of the nation, saw what they thought was a quicker way to get what they wanted, and so have reverted to cannibalism! _ .. The League of Nations may change its form, but the idea of collective security on which it was formed will not perish, for we cannot be safe any other way in tht piesehl condition of the wyid, _ - __ - No one need apologize for the league, even though it failed a: I peace maker. Let us look at just one department of its social work, and see what it has done for the health of the world. Disease is no respecter of national boundaries. Rats travel in ships, Foul conditions in one country menace the safety of other countries. The league, by its health organization, has sent doctors and experts to many parts of the world. I heard a delegate from Egypt tell of the health units along the Nile, and the improvements made in rural areas under league guidance. Ships are watched for contagious diseases, and many an epidemic has been prevented. Nutrition hoards have been set up in many countries. We have one now in Canada, Nutrition boards make recommendations re- garding tariffs, to the end that people may get the food they need at 1 reasonable price. Norman Angell in his book, The Great Illusion-Now, has an illus- tration concerning two cannibais, who met one day with grim intention. One said something like this to the other one: 'T must eat you, not that I have anything against you, but I am hungry. You are the only food I see. So it's lust too bad for you'. I hope you won't mind being eaten." It looked like a bad day for both, for naturally neither would consent to be eaten. But they suddenly noticed there was fruit above their heads in the trees, fruit which they could reach it one stood on the shoulders at the other one. So they did this 1r11.e/topeetiy1 began! But there are men and women even in these Countries, heart-sick of this endless circle of misery. They cannot do anything. They are pm. oners at cruel circumstance, but we, in Canada, can strengthen the forces of co-operation. We can support the League ot Nations society, in fact and in priaciple. We can inform ourselves a? to the work which is being done; we can, as individuals and as a soeiety, Show forth that spirit which makes Co-operation possible. We can build the new "Jerusalem in this green and i?ltyant land." . c, The King, when he spoke here in Victoria, elated with a vital sen- tence. He said: "Some day the nations of the world will live by co- operation, not conflict." So I began with that. That is the hope of the world. Now, even more important than these practical benefits, is the spirit of co-operation between the countries. International eo-operation to achieve common ends goes on quietly. It is the very principle on which the League of Nations stands. 7 A Message +0 the Women's Inshhdes By NELLIE L. McCLUNG. (copyright Itetmrved.) "Moved by Mrs. Melson and seconded by Mrs. E. Lee, that we organize a Wom- en's Department of Domestic Economy in affiliation with the Farmers' Institute.-- Carried. STONEY CREEK, Feb. 19, 1897 - One “It was decided to hold meetings once hundred and one women and one man, Evl- every fortnight, Thursday afternoon at and Lee, attended a meeting tonight at 2 o'eloek. Squire's Hall here. The following are the Pres., Mrs. E. D. Smith, minutes of the meeting: See., M. E. Nash." "Mr. Lee was chairman and an address waAgsisrey by Hrs. ngrg Hoodless. "It was decided that the name should be the "Women's Department of the Farmers' Institute of South Wentworth. THIS IS MW AND WHERE THE FIRST WOMEN’S INSTITUTE ORIGINATED "The following officers were elected: Honorary president, Mrs. John Headless; president, Mrs. E. D. Smith of Winona; vice-president, Mrs. J. J. Dean of Fruit- land; secretary, Miss M. Nash of Stoney Creek; treasurer, Mrs. J. H. McNeilly of Fruitland." "Moved by Mrs. Marcus Lee, seconded by Mrs. Dean, that Mrs. F. M. Carpenter be a director. - Carried. "Auditors were then appointed. "Moved by Mrs. Melson, seconded by Mrs. McNeilly, that Carlotta Orr be an auditor. - Carried. "The constitution and by-laws are pre- pared by the committee was submitted. After the constitution was read it was moved by Mrs. Dean, seconded by Mrs. Melson, that said constitution be adopted. - Carried. "Letter read by secretary from Hon. John Dryden, Ontario Minister of Agriculture, to See. Erland Lee in reply to a request for a grant. "Address by Miss Watson who gave an interesting paper on foods. "Directors were then appointed. "Moved by Mrs. Carpenter, seconded by Mrs. Petit, that Mrs. Erland Lee be a di- rector. _. Carried. "Moved by Mrs. McNeilly, seconded by Mrs. Maison, that Mrs. C. Dewitt of Tap- leytown be a director. .- Carried. "It was also moved and seconded that Mrs. (Dr.) Thompson be an auditor. - Carried. SQUIRE'8 HALL, Feb. 25, 1897 - The second meeting of the Women's Depart- ment of the Farmers' Institute of South Wentworth met here this evening. The following are the minutes: "Name of society discussed. "Moved by Mrs. F. M. Carpenter, sec- onded by Mrs. Maison, that the name be changed to 'The Women's Institute of Salt- fleet.' _. Carried. All my congratulations and best for your splendid work now and future. What a fine piece of work has been done by these Histories. You have recap. tured so much of the past that is valuable, and have presented it to Canada in the form of interesting and attractive books. In the world today past history has so much to teach us all. and I know how much the historians nowadays and tomorrow will value what you have done. I am thrilled by the news tl Fifth National Convention you a celebration of the Tweedsmui How well I remember the time other W.I. members started 1 means of recording so much th; idly passing away. Dear Fellow Members: MESSAGE FROM LADY TWEEDSMUIR members, étgréedh tiiiil'f, . JV- an: “dung the Tweedsmuir Historiei, ML“, IT .- - Susan wm w“ uncut, as a much that was rap- pews that It ygur Tweedsmuir best wishes and in the Ivheh iG'rrd' are having