The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-15
CONGRESS OF MOTHERS
NATIONAL ASsEMBLAGE MEETS IN
WASHINGTON THIS MONTH.
Il Will Attract Leaders Among WOm-
en- from Every state and Ter
ritOry in the Union.

will be convened at the Arlington Hotel. in
this city. on Feb. Il next. From the warm
interest everywhere manifested ii now APP
pears that the attendance at the convention
viii greatly exceed the most liberal esti-
mates OF the enterprisng women foremost
in the movement. and when Mrs. Theodore
'" Birney. the temporary president. raps
| the congress to order in the large banquet
han OF the Arlington Hotel she will face
hundreds of women from all walks of life
and representing every State and Territory
in the Union. The congress is to remain in
session three days and at its adjournment
the National Association of Mothers will
be a permanent organization. having for
its objects the moral. mental and physical
training of the young and the rescue of
children from cruelty, crime and the evils
OF unholy influences.
The programme for the three days ses-
sion will be one of unusual interest The
congress will be called TO order by Mrs.
Birney at 10 o'clock in the morning. and she
will deliver the address of welcome. in the
course of which she will take occasion to
briefly outline the objects of the convention
and give the course pursued in carrying out
her noble theories. The response in behalf
of the visiting women will be made by Mrs.
Ellen Henrotin, national president of the
General Federation of Womens Clubs of
America, representing upward of 200 coo
women. Other papers and addresses will
follow. AT the close of the first session the
delegates will visit the White House. only
two blocks distant, where they will be re-
ceived by President and Mrs. Cleveland,
who have set apart this time for the re-
ception of the representatives of the con-
SreSS.
During the later sessions Nine Jenness
Miller, of New York, will speak upon
Mothers Relation to the Sound Physical
Development of Youth" Need for a Ma
tional Training School for Mothers is the
subject of the paper to be read by Mrs.
Robert Cotton, of Falkland. n. G. Miss
Amaie Hofer. editor of the Chicago Kin
dergarten Magazine, will discuss What
Kindergarten Does for Mothers" Mrs.
Margaret T.. Sangster, of Brooklyn, editor
of Harpers Bazaar who from the very in
ception of the movement has manifested a
deep interest in the realization of Mrs Bir-
neys ideas, will speak on Reading Courses
series and Mothers of the Submerged
Glasses" will be read by Mrs. Lucy S. Balm
bridge, who is known to all rescue workers
as the presiding officer of the woman's
department of city missions of New York.
Frank Hamilton Gushing, who is widely
known through her public labors. will read
Ii RsRer on Mother and Child In primitive
PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN
An open discussion the topic of Pun
ishments'' will be led by Miss Frances
Newton the superintendent of kindergarten
work at Chautauqua. Mrs. Alice Lee
Moque, of this city, will discuss Repro
ddction and Natural Law Natures Stud
les in the Home is the subject of the pa
per to be read by Miss Annie Schreyver,
formerly of the Teachers College of New
York and now at the Michigan State Nor
NAL School. Mrs. w. f. Crafts will discuss
Mothers and the Schools" Mrs. Stanton
Blatch, the daughter of Elizabeth Cady
stanton. will address the congress on
Four men of national fame will also lend
their presence to the sessions to express
their views on topics of interest to mothers
In the training of their offspring DR.. John
II. Vincent chancellor of Chautauqua will
discuss The Ideal Home" How to Guard
the Young Against Bad Literature will be
told by Anthony Comstock. Hamilton Ma
bic. editor of the New York Outlook will
speak or The Importance of Bringing tie
Young in Touch with Great Literature"
Some Practical Results of the New Study
of Childhood will be revealed by DR.. T..
Stanley Hall, of, Clark University, Worces-
ter, Mass.
One important feature of the congress
will be the special conferences held i'm the
handsomely fitted rooms adjoining the ban
quet hall. These are in addition to the reg
speakers have already been secured to as
sist in the sectional work. One room will
be used for discussions on subjects pertain
ing TO the proper training of children. Miss
Frances Newton having volunteered to di-
rect these conferences. Another room will
be converted into department of litera-
ture, which VIII contain many books and
pamphlets of especial value 10 mothers.
Mrs. Harriet Mcclellan. the chairman of
the literature committee, will conduct all
OF the conferences on books and matronly
helps. Other rooms will be devoted to the
many allied household duties which are
sential to a woman's knowledge. Some
time prior TO the adjournment of the con-
gress. probably on Friday morning the
National Association of Mothers will be
[ creasa tlxr IL
officers for the next year. 1t will also rest
with the congress 20 determine upon the
time and place for holding the convention
or 1893. Ii having been practically decided
to make the congress annual affair.
The idea of the congress originated with
Mrs. 7. w. Birney two years ago. She
has been actively encouraged in organiza-
ton throughout the country by Mrs.
Phoebe Hearst. widow of the late Senator
of her time and great wealth to advance
Mrs. Birney's purposes. Mrs. Brney said
of the movement. when interviewed re-
Gently by your correspondent:
MRS. BIRNEY'S INSPIRATION.
Two years ago, just before my little
daughter was born, when / was particu-
larry in the mood, / suppose to receive
such an idea, it came to me like an inspira-
ton TO suggest national congress Of
mothers. The movement is not a reforma-
tive one; ii is formative one Our aim
| is TO lead the mothers not 10 reforming
their children. but to forming them, NOR
| ally. physically and mentally Neither is IL
phiianthropic organization. Its province
| Is obviously as much in the interest of the
/ puny, neglected, over-fed, under-exercised
| children of the rich as in the same class
| OF children of the poor. Ii is proposed to
/ have the congress consider subjects bear
/ ing on the better and broader moral and
| physical as well as mental training of the
young. such as the value of kindergarten
work ana the extension of its principles TO
| more advanced studies. g love of human
| ity ard of country. the physical and mental
/ evils resulting from some of the present
methods OF our schools. and the advantages
/ 10 follow from a closer relation between
/ the influence of the home and that of inSti-
tutions OF learning
THE average mother is but indifferently
! equipped with knowledge OF the moral,
mental and physical training of childhood
! And is Ii strange, when throughout the
/ whole period of her education, there has
been perhaps not "a single hour i'm which
/ the subject was presented 10 her as the
/ one most worthy of her attention? What a
satire upon our boosted wisdom Of to-day
when dead languages and higher mathe-
/ MATES take precedence over thar knowI-
edge which should stand pre-eminent in a
| woman's education. What deplora BILE ig-
norance do we not see on all sides ig-
norance not only Of the varied tempera-
ments of children, but. ignorance OF their
/ physical needs with results too distressing
/ to be dwelt upon. Since the finer sensi-
| bilitieS of children are often ignored. il is
| small wonder that they are early blunted
| or perverted and that ere boyhood or girl
! hood are attained these priceless attributes
| have become atrophied through lack of
proper culture"
| Its present officers are: Mrs. Theodore
/ w Birney. president and chairman of the