The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-19
REMARKABLE INTEREST
MANIFESTED IN TINE N4TIoNAh
CONGRhSS OF MOTHER
The Attendance n. c~s,itates a KemodeiiipG
of Plans-Mapy Interesting Papefs
Read by Delegates.


Of delegates in attendance. the impor-
lance OF its discussion and the interest
manifested I'm lis proceedings. Some OF the
lady promoters Ct the Congress who re-
Gently estimated a probable attendance OF
two or three hundred ladies, were over
v,helmed by the presence of l.suO or more,
al the first session. with constant &C
ccssions. This neccssitated sudden ana
complete remodelling Of the plans FOR
housing the convention. ana conducting
| the exercises.
Pcsldcs the regular sessions OF the con
| grcss to-day several meetings were helu
this morniuc tefOTe the regular session.
/ at which different members OF The Con-
gross presided.
In The banquet hall Of the Arlington
| Hotel Mrs Henry J. Finley. chairman
Of the Press Committee, presided over
conference.
Or Ada J.. Thomas made short adj
dress entitled. Accidents: What 10 90
Before the Doctor Comes
At the conclusion of Or. Thoma. adj
dress. Mrs. Hornpenn. Mrs. Heyclsberger.
and Miss Alice Fletcher. of the Anthrop-
illogical Society. gave short and interest
ing talks on Fear: How to Overcome ii
in Children
At the First Baptist church, Miss New
ton. Of Chicago. presided over con-
ference at the same hour as that held
at tho Arlington Hotel
Miss jeanette Richards read paper
on the Necessity Of Schools for Trained
Nurses" which was followed by an adj
dress. on "Punishments," by Mrs. Put
nam.
THE ATTENDANCE.
Notwithstanding the early hour, at
which the conference was held
g A. NJ. both the Banquet
ana the First Baptist church were crowd
ed to their capacity. Long before the
time set for the opening Of the morning
| session. 1890 4. NJ. there was not an
available seat i'm the church. ana wheh
| Mrs Birnoy called the regular meeting
| TO order. Mrs. Maud Ballington Booth
| of New York city. made the devotional
address. The audience joined In sing
ing. Nearer My God TO Thee after
which Mrs Booth read few verses from
the Bible During the course Of her re
marks she said:
1t is the great comfort and great
strength to feel that we have the right
TO turn and claim the great strong hand
of God"
1T seems that those persons who stand
| to-day in the positions Of mothers should
feel grateful for the light and teachings
| which God has brought to our eyes.
In speaking Of mothers love Mrs.
Booth compared it to divine love. tho
strongest love imaginable. A true wo-
man. continued Mrs. Booth. should have
| this wonderful mother love
| whether or not she was
nother Speaking Of her expert
| encos in the different prisons. she
said that it made no difference how low
| criminal had fallen or what crime he
| had committed there were times durinS
/ his Incarceration when he still showed
| some traces Of his mothers training.
one Of the greatest errors ever commit
ted by any Legislature. continued Mrs.
/ Booth and one that is a very black spot
on the name Of New York State, was 10
deprive the convlcts Of Sing Sing OF work.
Referring 20 the advancement of wo-
men. she said that should woman en-
gage in the different meetings being held
| at the present time II was no excu-"
whatever for her to neglect her children
| 4 woman who neClcCts her babe for me
rut,llc will find in the near future the
! great mistake she has made and thar
| her work has been to no purpose.
OVERFLOW MEETING.
A. the conclusion OF Mrs Booths adj
dress Mrs. Birnev announced an overflow
meeting down stairs for the beneht OF 4
large number Of visitors who were unable
to gain admission.
Mrs Louise +. Hogan. Of Germantown
pa. next addressed the congress on
"Dietetics." in conclusion Mrs. HOGAN
said: -..-,.
"Few seem conscious that there IS such
a thing as physical morality. Men $
habitual words and acts imply that they
are AT liberty to treat their bodies as they
nloase. The fact is. all breaches OF the
law Of health are physical sins. When
this is generally seen. then. and perhaps
not tin then, will the physical training
OF the young receive all the attention IL
| deserves
Mrs Alice Lee Maque. of Washington
read q, paper on Reproduction and
Natural Law" She said 1t was the Old
theory that parents were Involuntary
responsible agents of God in the propags
tion of the specss Now II was consider
cd that careless parentage was little less
than a crime. The child deserved me
most serious and laboriOus study. Men
and women are often Influenced by TRIES
light as air in entering upon marriage
4 girl ought. before allowing herself 70
love TO consider the health. mental con-
stitution. position in life means OF sup
port. Of the man she may wed. Also she
must consider herself
| The first cOnSldtldllOn Is HtdllH. W ~
men ought first TO be emancipated from
the doctors. Mother love ought TO be-
exercised before maternity IS entered on
after which II is too late TO remedy many
ills. Right thinking and right living ought
| to complement each other in the man ano
woman who take upon themselves the
duty Of paternity"
WOMEN'S RESPONSIBILITY.
Mrs. Helen H. Gardner. OF Boston. read
a paper on "The Moral Responsibility Of
! Women I'm Heredity." She said:
"Self-abnegation. subserviency to man
whether he be father lover, or husband
is the most dangerous theory that car
be taught TO her whose character shall
mould the next generation. She has ne
right to transmit a nature and a charac
ter that is subseryient subject. inefficient
undevelopcd-in short, a savish charac
ter. which is either blindly ohedient oi
blindly rebellious, and IS. therefore, Il
either case. set, as IS a time-lOck, L
prey, or to be preyed upon by society ir
the future.
IF woman Is not brave enough e
demand and obtain personal liberty anC
entire control of her great and race-en
dowing function of maternity. she ha.
no right to dare TO stamp upon child
/ and to curse a race with the descendant
of such a service. a dwarfed, u time-and
master-serying character.
Subject mothers never will produce Z
race Of free, well-poised. justice-practicinl
children"
With her remarks the morning worl