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ORIGIN OF THE WOMEN‘S INSTITUTE "Two peoppe are given credit for the beginning of= When almost 60 years had elapsed since that date, our organization, a mannandja woman." Erland Lee heard the WomenԤ Institute movement has spread to all parts Mrs.Adelaide Hoodless=spesk at Guelph on the subject, "The of the world. There are close to 80,000 members found _ Value and Needdof Domeskic and Sewing in our Public Schoâ€" in branches now in all provihees of Canada, and in Ontaâ€" ols!"â€"â€"late in 1896. rio there are over 40,000 members found in 1,500 branchâ€" es . c NMrs.Hoodless is credited with the real founding The work accomplished by this huge group of womâ€" of our organization because of the catastrophe in her hoâ€" en is tremendous and too farâ€"reaching to discuss in this me, through which her 18â€"monthâ€"old son diedobecause of article. Ontario Institutes have supported financially the use of impure milk in his dict. She felt she should needy people in all parts of the world as well as within have known more about baby care , and gave a great deal our own country. The rural women have become a highly of her remkining years toward the furthering of the lot educated, capable and versatile group of people through of women in our province. This probably accounted for their association with this "Country Woman‘s University." the enthusiasm with which she presenmted her addresssat Gaelph that day so many years ago. So today we have an adult organization handed dowa to us complete in its constitutibn to the most minâ€" Erland Keeewas a prominent young farmer in Saâ€" ute detail, as a result of the work of the members who ltfleettownship, Wentworth. At this time, in 1896, he have given to us the Women‘s Institute, We look to the was president of an organization knowr as the "Farmer‘s Britliant future, only because of the accomplishments of Experimental Union." He decided, after hearing Mrs.HOâ€" the past. x odless‘ address, to ask her to speak to this union. In the Womenks Institute we have an organization This she did. The meeting was held at Stoney Creek and that has been of particular benefit to rural women during # several women Attenged the meeting, an unprecedented evâ€" this past halfâ€"century. It has raised the standard of thâ€" ent. During the course of the talk, Mrs.Hooadess statâ€" ier social and economic activities and cultural opportuâ€" eddthat if an organization was good for farm men, there nities by eneburaging each member to keep in mind always should be one of equal value to farm womenm At the clâ€" that she is a link in the great chain of endeavour; not ose of her address, Mr.Lee asked how many women would only as a practical partner in the world‘s business, but be interested in attending a meeting the following Frâ€" as well, a spiritual force in human affailrs. ; iday, for the purpose of organizing a "Women‘s Institute? Now while we treasure accomplishments, let us loâ€" 4 Thirtyâ€"five people signified? theirrintention to attendd ok forward to a future fraught with endeavour. In the So it was that on Friday,February 19,1897, Mrs.Hoodless past halfâ€"century the past which has been rich in that we to her ammzemenk found on her arrival at HSquire‘s Hall] have become adult in our thinking. We take up the torch Stoney Creek, 101 women and one man. Needdessâ€"to say the: thrown by our builders of the past, and carry it on to & oneeman was Mr.Lee who acted as chairman for the evening, attain accomplishments in the future, so vast and so fine 5 when wassorganiked the first WomenԤs Institute in the that they are beyond our scope of vision ia this, the world. present. 3