New York April 10th [1869]

Edward M Davis,

Will you give the
scriptures of the old and new
Testament an exhaustive reading
that you may speak on the
Biblical view of the great question
of Woman’s suffrage at the coming
anniversary? There may be prayers
or clerical remarks that you will
1feel it your duty to review, and
it would be well for you to
be prepared thoroughly, that you
need not (see Washington reports page
201, see 2nd) summon a janitor
and disturb the solemn stillness
by rustling the leaves of those early

books of Moses, in order to inform yourself
at the last moment whether or no
our first parents were a simultaneous
creation or whether truly Eve was
an afterthought. I merely suggest
this, of course, you will be permitted
to speak on the social or political
[phases?] of the great question, but I
think you have a genius for
Biblical criticism, and that is much
needed now. With kind regards
to the dear ones, one and all, who
discuss at your fireside (this excludes the cat) I remain as ever your friend (who
desires to be enfranchised before Hans
Yung, Tung, Patrick and Sambo)
Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

[Postscript]

P.S. Please have the call read in the Church of the Holy 5/20!!

[Postscript]

P. S. No. 2. Be sure and read the Protestant Bible

[The letter is written on a folded sheet that also includes a circular letter]

"Anniversary of the American Equal Rights Association."

THE AMERICAN EQUAL RIGHTS ASSOCIATION will hold its Anniversary in New York, STEINWAY HALL, Wednes-
day and Thursday, May 12th and 13th, and in Brooklyn, ACADEMY OF MUSIC, on Friday, the 14th.

After a century of discussion on the rights of citizens in a republic, and the gradual extension of Suffrage,
without property or educational qualifications, to all white men, the thought of the nation has turned for the last
thirty years to negroes and women.

And in the enfranchisement of black men by the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments to the Federal Con-
stitution, the Congress of the United States has now virtually established on this continent an aristocracy of
sex, an aristocracy hitherto unknown in the history of nations.

With every type of shade of manhood thus exalted above their heads, there never was a time when all
women, rich and poor, white and black, native and foreign, should be so wide awake to the degradation of their
position, and so persistent in their demands to be recognized in the government.

Woman's enfranchisement is now a practical question in England and the United States. With bills before
Parliament, Congress and all our State legislatures--with such able champions as John Stuart Mill and George
William Curtis, women need but speak the word to secure her political freedom to-day.

We sincerely hope that in the coming National Anniversary every State and Territory, east and west, north
and south, will be represented. We invited delegates, too, from all those countries in the Old World where
women are demanding their political rights.

Let there be a grand gathering in the metropolis of the nation, that Republicans and Democrats may alike
understand, that with the women of this country lies a political power in the future, that both parties would do
well to respect.

The following speakers from the several states are already pledged: Anna E. Dickinson, Frederick Douglass,
Mary A. Livermore, Madam Anneke, Lilie Peckham, Phebe Couzens, Mrs. M. H. Brinkerhoff.

LUCRETIA MOTT, President.

[Column 1]

Vice-Presidents.
ELIZABETH CADY STANTON, New York.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS, "
HENRY WARD BEECHER, "
MARTHA C. WRIGHT, "
FRANCES D. GAGE, "
OLYMPIA BROWN, Massachusetts,
ELIZABETH B. CHASE, Rhode Island,
cHARLES PRINCE, Connecticut,
ROBERT PURVIS, Pennsylvania,
ANTOINETTE B. BLACKWELL, New Jersey,
JOSEPHINE S. GRIFFING, Washington, D. C.,
THOMAS GARRETT, Delaware,
STEPHEN H. CAMP, Ohio,
EUPHEMIA COCHRANE, Michigan,
MARY A. LIVERMORE, Illinois,
MRS. I. H. STURGEON, Missouri,
AMELIA BLOOMER, Iowa,
MARY A. STARRET, Kansas,
VIRGINIA PENNY, Kentucky.

Corresponding Secretary.
MARY E. GAGE.

[Column 2]

Recording Secretaries.
HENRY B. BLACKWELL,
HARRIET PURVIS.

Treasurer.
JOHN J. MERRITT.

Executive Committee.
LUCY STONE,
EDWARD S. BUNKER,
ELIZABETH R. TILTON,
ERNESTINE L. ROSE,
ROBERT J. JOHNSTON,
EDWIN A. STUDWELL,
ANNA CROMWELL FIELD,
SUSAN B. ANTHONY,
THEODORE TILTON,
MARGARET E. WINCHESTER,
ABBY HUTCHINSON PATTON,
OLIVER JOHNSON,
MRS. HORACE GREELEY,
ABBY HOPPER GIBBONS,
ELIZABETH SMITH MILLER.

Communications and Contributions may be addressed to JOHN J. MERRITT, 131 William street, New York.
Newspapers friendly, please publish this call.