In the autumn of 1896 Mr, Erland Lee, a prominent official of the Farmer's Institute, heard HRS, ADELAIDE HOODLBSS 6!’ Hamilton deliver a stirring address on the value and need of having Domestic Science and Sewing taught in the public schools, Soon thereafter he arranged to have her as guest speaker for a meeting in Squire's Hall, Stoney Creek, Ont, for Feb.19,189'7, One hundred and one ladies attended this meeting when the first Women's Institute in the world was organized, llrs,Koodless' interest in the subJect oi’ Dom- estic Science was occasioned by a sad eXpe'rience in losing her eldest son, a child of eighteen months who died after using impure milk, When her doctor told her that his death could have been prevented she felt that she herself was to blame for not knowing better, She therefore decided to do all in her power to bring more knowledge and help to others And so the real purpose or this new Imen's organisation is to raise the standard of home-making, This is sheen in the following statement recorded in the early minutes,"A. nation cannot rise above the level of its homes, therefore,†wo- men must work and stud; together to raise our homes to the highest possible level , There,in a nutshell, is the real purpose or object for which the Institute was organized, HRS, ADELAIDE HOODLESS Founder of the First Women's Institute 1n the World at Stoney Creek, Ont, ,February 19,1897, HIRIIARD INSTITUTE TWIR BOOK