The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-22

There is great interest among the wo-
men OF Kansas in the mothers con-
gress which has just closed its sessions
in Washington. The press dispatches
devoted much space to it, but there are
many details and addresses that our
women readers would like to know more
about. For their information the Jour-
nal gives below more extended reports
of the doings and speeches at the con-
gress taken from the Washington pa
pers:
The following is the entire address of
Mrs. Theodore w. Birney. the president
of the congress:
Gentlemen and Ladies:
In coming before you as the president
of the First National Congress OF Moth-
ers, il is my pleasure and privilege to
extend to each and all of you a heart-
felt welcome, and to express the hope
that this large and gratifying audi
ence, this more than encouraging re-
spouse to our universal call, may prove
an earnest of the success destined TO
crown the work to which our best and
highest efforts are now consecrated.
And even while / welcome you, the
thought comes to mind of that great
mass of printed matter which has pre-
ceded u.s. refer to the detailed and
satisfactory accounts of this movement
and it's successive stages of growth,
which have been presented to the read
ing public during the past two months
through the medium of the daily press,
and despite the full and generous treat
ment we have received at it's hands,
and that mass of literature which has
been sent out from our office, we real
ize from the experience, even of the
past few days that the question may
still arise: What is the Mothers Con-
gress really for? What are it's princi-
pal aims and objects?" In a word, what
are We here for?
Doubtless each one present has some
idea more or less definite as to the gen
eraI objects of the congress, but still
the question recurs: How do we ex-
pect to accomplish these endS?"
To answer this and kindred questions
as briefly and clearly, and at the same
time impress you as fully as may be
with what we deem to be the import
ance of this work, shall be my first con-
sideration this morning.
First, then, as to our objects: The
age in which We live is (aS every one
knows) an age of ''movements''-a time
of specialized work, of organized. or at
least crystalliZed effort. Every con-
ceivable object, from the clothing of the
Hottentots to the study of occultism,
has been the subject of Investigations of
inquiry, and often of organization.
1t has therefore seemed to us good
and fitting that that highest and holt
est of all questions. that interest upon
which rests the entire superstructure of
human welfare, that element which
may indeed be designated the fOunda-
ton of the entire social fabric, should
and reverent inquiry.
1 refer to what may be called, in a
word, the child question-that broadcast,
deepest of questions, that theme most
worthy in all its variant phases of our
study and attention, because the funda-
mental one; that question known in the
special phraseology of the day as Child
Culture"
This is a time known pre-eminently
in the history of the world as "woman's
era" So much has been said and writ
ten in these latter days about the high
er educa tiOn-the extended Opportuni-
ties of woman-that we have failed to
hear the still small voice appealing to
us in behalf of childhood, and yet how,
/ ask, can we divorce the woman Ques-
ton from the child question? Is not
the one the natural, logical corollary of
the other? Let us then consider for
moment some of the needs of childhood.
Our plan of work is exceedingly SIM
pie and is clearly outlined in our pamph-
let, Suggestions for Mothers clubs, ."
which will be found in the literature
room, in the rear of the hall. We ask
all those who have not carefully read
this circular to do 50, if possible, before
the afternoon session.
There are many in this audience who