In her day America, as now, was rocked with a great economic
problem--slavery--defended as entrenched greed always is defended.
America had its nation-shaking disputes over the Constitution, its
vigilantes, and a Supreme Court controversy that came to a climax
with the Dred Scott decision. America had its conservatives, reac-
tionaries, radicals, liberals and that inert mass of people who talk
up progress until suddenly they discover it cannot be accomplished
without ridicule and the sacrifice of social and business prestige, where-
upon they become suddenly very "sound" in their views and adhere
to old abuses.

No woman loved approbation more than Lucretia Mott, but pub-
lic persecution never swerved her from duty as she conceived it.

In this modern world torn with dissensions we may look back upon
Lucretia Mott as a steady light to make sure the path of progress.
We profit from the fact that she adhered to the highest ideals of
morality as a cure for the ills of society. She never succumbed to the
tempting sophistry that the ends justify the means. Violence as a
social solvent she abhorred.

Our Nation needs today the enlightened liberalism, the sanity,
and the sincerity of purpose of this great woman who did much to give
us, the women of America, the right to go upon the public forum to
discuss living issues of our century. Let us not fail as carriers of the
responsibility she entrusted to our hands.

As we hold aloft the burning torch let us bear in mind the senti-
ment Lucretia Mott loved so well, and repeated so often:

Truth for Authority, Not Authority for Truth.

ROBERTA CAMPBELL LAWSON,

President General Federation of Women's Clubs.

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