LETTER: Autograph letter signed, to Edward M. Davis.
THE PENNSYLVANIA PEACE SOCIETY
[Pacifism] Grew, Mary. Autograph letter signed, to Edward M. Davis, December 21, 1866,
three pages.
Feminist, abolitionist, and peace advocate Mary Grew was, with other social activists such as
Alfred Love and Lucretia Coffin Mott, involved with the Pennsylvania Peace Society, which
formed in 1866 as a state branch of the Universal Peace Union. The society held peace fairs and
meetings that included musical programs featuring the “Peace Band,” as well as sponsoring
lectures on peace and internationalism. Like may social mid-nineteenth century social
movements, the Pennsylvania Peace Society also championed temperance and woman suffrage.
Herein she writes to Edward Morris Davis, a pacifist and abolitionist who married Maria Mott,
the daughter of James and Lucretia Coffin Mott. At the outset of the Civil War, he joined the
Union army but returned to peace activities after the war. He was a president of the Pennsylvania
Peace Society.
Grew’s letter reads in full:
I recd. this morning, a letter from A.M. Powell, from which I learn that any article for the
next Standard must be in N.Y. on Monday, because Tuesday is to be a holiday among the
printers. Therefore our Circular must be mailed tomorrow. (Saturday) I send it to you to
supply the blank left for the day of the month; if you can do so. If Mr Vincent’s lecture is
to be on the 16th, as was suggested; and no other evt. is fixed for our Festival, we must
leave the day to be announced hereafter. Also the place, if there is any doubt about our
obtaining National hall. In this case, you will please cor-<2>rect the Circular accordingly,
and mail it, with my letter to Mr. Powell, as soon as convenient. There is not time to send
it to Abby Kimber, also, or I would do so … I think Alfred Love should be consulted, on
account of the Peace Convention.
The hour of opening cannot be announced until I have visited the Hall, and ascertained,
to some extent, at least, what preparations it will be necessary to make there; & when
they can be made.
I prefer signing the names of a few persons on behalf of the Committee, to adding those
of several who have not been consulted; & appending the remark that they have not yet
been informed of their appointment. I shall write to such persons; and next week <3> I
intend to add the names of all who are willing to serve.
After writing Mrs. Mott’s name, I erased it, lest she might not be quite satisfied that it
should follow the announcement about Music. If she consents, we will append it next
week.
My idea is that this Circular shall remain in the Standard until the time of the Festival;
and that each week we shall publish any additional notice which we may think proper.
I do not think that Mr. Vincent’s lecture would interfere with our Festival so much as we
should interfere with him; but it would be a great pity that the two should be on the same
night.
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