Gradually the opposition to slavery, which she had been fostering, won adherents to its cause. The Garrison campaign began. Friends of freedom came out openly and spoke their views. In 1833 a national anti-slavery society was formed in Philadelphia. Of the sixty or seventy delegates, four were women, Lucretia Mott among them. They were present by invitation, as listeners only. But during the discussion of the proposed constitution, when one of the women briefly, modestly, suggested transposing certain sentences, to put first the reference to the Declaration of Independence, the men were so impressed that they made the change immediately. But more than this Mrs. Mott, a listener, accomplished. Her encouragement strengthened and confirmed their purpose at a critical moment when some overcautious souls urged a policy of delay. The following year the Female Anti-slavery Society was formed, the majority of its members Friends, and Lucretia Mott served as president during most of its existence. For women to have an association of their own was almost unheard of, in the eighteen thirties. They had no idea of the meaning of preambles, resolutions and voting; and later they confessed with amusement that they had to invite a colored man to preside at their first meeting, to get them started. In 1840 came a world’s anti-slavery convention in London, and Lucretia Mott was one of the delegates from the United States. Full of enthusiasm the first group arrived, only to find that women were not to be recognized. The doors were shut against them, because of the old, old prejudice--women should stay at home and be entertaining, public affairs would rob them of their sweetest charm. Wendell Phillips protested and moved that the ladies be admitted. The excited discussion lasted for several hours, but when the vote was taken the majority against the resolution was overwhelming. So in the gallery sat Lucretia Mott, with Harriet Martineau, Mrs. Wendell Phillips, and other women delegates, and their recruit, Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Arriving some days later, Garrison felt so outraged at this treatment of his co-workers that he refused to take his seat in the convention. With two other masculine members from the American Society he sat up-stairs with the ladies. The British were scandalized--what sort of world’s convention was this, with the founder of the greatest anti-slavery movement of the century debarred from taking his seat on the floor? They sent him a special invitation, but Garrison was firm. He remembered that Lucretia Mott had been the first to shake his hand when he came out of prison! But before the meetings were over a tea was given with more than four hundred guests; and there, much to the men’s consternation, Lucretia Mott spoke. With a dignity that carried great force, with real eloquence, she chose this way of addressing the convention. The delegates found themselves listening with pleasure and admiration, and broke into applause.