This one came to me yesterday, so when I asked Sharon Pike ([email protected]) for her permission to forward it to the Bowles list, I also asked her if she could tell me anything about the Rev. Ada C. Bowles, who I'd never heard of before. Sharon scanned a copy of a newspaper column, which you see below. If anyone on our list is related to Rev. Bowles, perhaps they can tell us more about her and her family. Linne ===================================================================== Match: Bowles Source: [email protected] From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Subject: [MERIWETHER] Elizabeth Avery Meriwether addresses Woman Suffrage This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: SharonTMSI Surnames: Meriwether, Meriweather, Bowles, Anthony, Sewall, Sexton, Stanton Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.meriwether/1619/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The Worcester Daily Spy (Worcester, Massachusetts) May 28, 1881 The Boston Meeting Boston, May 27- The second day of the national woman suffrage convention opened with a prayer by Rev. Ada C. Bowles. Miss Anthony then presented a series of resolutions as a platform of the convention . . . The final deliberative sessions of the Woman's Suffrage Association was held this evening. Addresses were made by Mrs. Mary Wright Sewall, Mrs. Elizabeth Avery Meriweather of Memphis, Miss Elizabeth Sexton of New Orleans, with final remarks by President Stanton. Resolutions declaring that women should be allowed to vote on the woman suffrage amendments pending in Oregon, Nebraska and Indiana were adopted, and the convention adjourned for one year. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board. ===================================================================== REV. ADA C. BOWLES. An American Woman Who Has Dared to Preach [Special Correspondence] CHICAGO, Nov. 7.-The Rev. Ada C. Bowles comes from the sturdy stock of New England, which gave to the republic its educational system. She was born in Gloucester, Mass., in 1836. She grew up with a passionate fondness for the sea and is, as she has always been, equally at home either in or on the water. She is an expert swimmer, and her undaunted courage and rare presence of mind have enabled her upon different occasions to rescue persons from drowning. Nature gave her a sound mind in a sound body, and her early life among the rocks of Cape Ann gave her the well balanced physical development which resulted in a perfectly healthy womanhood. Acquiring rapidly and with ease all that was taught in the public schools of Gloucester she was yet wholly unsatisfied with her attainments and pushed forward with different studies by herself. At the age of 15 she began to teach in the public schools. She continued in this vocation until she was 22, employing, meanwhile, such leisure as she could command in study and in writing for the press. She then married a popular clergyman, Rev. B. F. Bowles, pastor of the Universalist church, at Melrose, Mass. Altbough by this marriage she became the stepmother of three children and later the mother of three more, she still fonnd time for a variety of church work, including teaching an adult Bible class. Her success with this class led her to deeper theological study, under the direction of her husband. Mr. Bowles is a man who recognizes in his wife a talented human being, possessed of ability if not identical, at least equal with his own. He desired that his wife should be in all things his companion, and after having given her a thorough course in theology, he encouraged her to preach the gospel, which she had long felt called to declare. She began in 1869 by supplying vacant pulpits in New England. In 1872 she was licensed to preach, and in a short time she was called to the Universalist church at Easton, Pa. While she was pastor or the church at Easton her husband had charge of the Church of the Restoration in Philadelphia. Mrs. Bowles was regularly ordained in 1874, and since has preached and lectured in most of the large cities of the United States. At present Mrs. Bowles is the non-resident pastor of the Universalist church at East Gloucester, Mass., while her husband has charge of the Universalist church at Abingdon, in the same state. In addition to her ministerial duties she lectures in various parts of the country under the auspices of the Women's Christian Temperance union, in which organization she has charge of the department of scientific temperance. She is also the national lecturer of the American Suffrage association. In addition to all these duties Mrs. Bowles still finds time to be a notable housekeeper, and is ever a cheery, affectionate wife and mother. One of her family asserts that her sense of humor and unfailing good spirits are a constant source of brightness in the household. Indeed, so well ordered is her home that among her friends and coworkers she is known as the "model housekeeper." One of her most popular lectures is "Strong Minded Housekeeping," which is an embodiment of her own experience. Mrs. Bowles is possessed of remarkable mechanical dexterity and handles a hammer and saw as cleverly as a rolling pin. She is small of stature, with a strong, magnetic face and soft curling iron gray hair. She is lithe and full of nervous energy, and in speaking is not only enthusiastic and eloquent, but is clear and logical, with an intense sincerity which appeals to the convictions. In listening to her one can but feel that the opinions she utters have been a light to her own steps. Mrs. Bowles is very popular, and is always sure of a crowded auditorium wherever she speaks. Indeed, the advice which John Wesley gave to a woman preacher in his day might fittingly be given her. The counsel of tho quaint old preacher was: "Do not speak at any place where a man is preaching; at the same time, lest you draw away his hearers." In all that she undertakes Mrs. Bowles is prompt and incisive, and in private life is as constant in good works as she is able in public, in inspiring others to all worthy endeavor.