The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-16
A Congress of riothers.

In these days one must be prepared
to expect all sorts and conditions of
congresses, covering every avenue of
associated effort; but it is doubtful If
any pioneer movement of this kind
during the past decade has offered
richer promise in its prospectus than
is afforded in the literature put out
in behalf of the National congress OF
mothers, which is to assemble Feb. II
in Washington The very idea of ask
ing women into conference, not for the
purpose of gaining a foothold in poll
tics or in the breadwinning vocations,
but with a view to promoting the bene-
ficent and fundamental influences and
interests of motherhood is so novel,
amidst all the contemporary new Wo-
man" nonsense, that one has to steady
oneself in order to comprehend its full
import.
A national congress Of mothers, never
having been held before, will naturally
be somewhat tentative and expert
mental, but we learn from remarks
made by Mrs. Theodore w. Birney, of
Washington, who is foremost in ar
ranging for the forthcoming conVen-
ton, that the present movement ''is
not a reformative one; it is forma-
tive one" the aim being, in short, to
strengthen the agencies which make
for better and cleaner and more whole
some home life. 1T is proposed" says
Mrs. Birney, ''to have the congress
consider subjects bearing upon the bet
ter and broader moral and physical as
we'll as mental training of the young,
such as the value of kindergarten work
and the extension of its principles
to more advanced studies, a love of
humanity and of country, the physi-
cal and mental evils resulting from
some of the present evils of our schools,
and the advantages to follow from a
closer relation between the influence
of the home and that of institutions
of learning. OF special Importance will
be the subject of the means of develop
ing in children characteristics which
will elevate and ennoble them, and
thus assist in overcoming the condi-
tiOns which now prompt crime and
make necessary the maintenance of
jails, warehouses; and reformatories.
These matters will be presented to
the congress by men and women fore
most in such work, and whose names
are everywhere known and revered."
That Mrs. Rirney is in earnest needs
no further proof than this:
1t is the expectation to have such
gathering of representative workers fo
the benefit of the human race that tn,
divine fire of enthusiasm will warm IN,
hearts, not only of all mothers, but of al
mankind to am appreciation of the sacreC
obligations owed to the race through tn
children of today and the generations t
come. The average mother is but indif
ferently equipped with knowledge for tn
moral, mental, and physical training 0
childhood. And is it strange, whel
throughout the whole period of her edu
cation, there has been perhaps not slngl
hour in which the subject was presented
10 her as one most worthy of her atten
tion? What a satire upon our boaste
wisdom of today when dead language
and higher mas hematics take precedenc
over that knowledge which should stan
pre-eminent ia a woman's education
What deplorable ignorance do we not Sc
on all sides, ignorance not only of tn
varied temperaments of childhood, pu
ignorance Of their physical needs, wit
results too distressing to be dwelt upor
gardener does not treat all plants alike
He carefully considers the organism wit
which he has to deal, and fosters the cor
ditions favOra BILE to their highest deve
opment: but not so do we, in the chill
garden of the world. He gives study, pf
tient watchful ness, to his task, but wha
do we, in many instances, bring 10 ours
Some threadbhre maXims, some cru
generalitles, and an indifference whicl
considering the Importance of the subjec
is appalling,
The value of such a congress as tn
one under notice cannot be determine
in advance. Tive work of the congres
itself must be its own indorsemen
But it can be said at once that the pun
poses outlined by Mrs. Birney con
mand unqualified approval and ca