The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1898-03-31
Mothers, Congresses

The various local congresses of moth
ers have begun preparations for their
annual meeting in Washington, which
will take place in May. At the first
meeting last year the attendance was SO
large that no auditorium at the capital
could be found large enough to contain
the delegates. The movement has grown
SO rapidly since that event that there
would be far greater trouble today if
even one-fifth of the members of the So
ciety should attend the meeting.
On this account the leaders have been
very energetic in establishing local con-
crosses, SO that the general meeting at
Washington may be confined as far as
possible to delegates from the separate
bodies, thus keeping the number of par
Elephants within reasonable limits
In order to satisfy the tastes of all the
members every effort has been made
during the past twelvemonth not only
to make the local meetings of deep in
terest and Importance, but also to have
them cover the subjects which are treat
ed by the national or central organiZa-
ton. This wise step will prevent any
feeling that the central body goes fur.
Their and engages in more beneficent work
than the local organizations. In carry.
ing out this plan the national officers
have appeared and spoken at as many
local meetings as they could and the
local officers have done their best to Sc
cure special talent for their discussions
and debates.
The national officials have issued no.
tees to the local organizations, asking
&HnR1 70 1,,f. 81, q
the names and addresses of the delegates
as rapidly as these are elected or ap-
pointed. At the coming congress there
will be an opportunity for the delegates
to examine and evaluate books, period
ieals and other things relating to the
soclety's work or purporting to follow
recommendations.
All of those which are approved as
being of benefit for mothers or for the
instruction of little folks, parental ref
erence or general information will be
listed and arrangements made with vari
GUS publishers SO that the respective
clubs may be able to secure quantities
at handsome discount.
Among the new measures suggested
are the establishment of a memorial
fund for the carrying out of the objects
of the congress, the formation and cir
culation of many small travelling libra
ries, which can be sent at an insignifi-
cant cost by mail or express to clubs OF
members, especially those in small
towns or sparsely settled districts,
where libraries are rare and book facil.
tiles small, and the formation of small
travelling mothers libraries. This Ia
to be undertaken in pursuance of a
request from several local congresses in
different parts Of the country In one
city. where there were several libraries,
1T was impossible to find any book bear
ing upon maternity, infancy, childhood
or Juvenile education, much less upon
household economics or the rearing of
children. As matter of fact the num-
Der of such works is not large anyhow,
and nearly all have appeared in the last
seven years. Even the more popular
among them have had a good but not
overlarge circulation. so that the supply
Is much less than the demand The ma
tional secretary believes that an efficient
mothers library, covering all necessary
points and questions, could be made for
about So and that thousand sets of Ii
braries would satisfy the demand for
the first year or so.-New York Mail
and Express.