The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-04-18
CONN. CONGRESS OF MOTHERS
Opening Address Tade by the President,
Frances Sheldon Bolton, Last Night at
United Church Chapel-President
Hadley, of Yale, Extended Address of
Welcome.

A movement which since 1896 has
spread rapidly all over the United
States and enlisted the support of the
best women in the country showed its
influence In this state last night at the
opening session of the first annual con-
vention of the Connecticut Congress of
Mothers, which was held in United
church chapel. A large and thorough
ly representative audience of New Ha
vens best society was present, and
listened with evident interest and en-
thusiasm to the addresses made by
President Frances Sheldon Bolton, OF
the New Haven Mothers club, Mrs.
Blrney of Philadelphia, Of the National
Congress of Mothers; Hon. Homer
Stille Cummings, mayor of Stamford.
and President Arthur T. Hadley, Of
Yale university. The programme for
the evening included instrumental mu-
sic by Miss Rorabel Freshour Lines and
vocal music by Miss Carolena Sperry
and Mrs. F. Howard Russell.
The opening address Of the conven-
ton was delivered by President Fran
ces Sheldon Bolton, who rapidly re-
viewed the history Of this remarkable
organization, which since the first Nat
tional Congress of Mothers held In
Washington, D. c., in 1896, has spread
from state to state throughout the
Union. Over 399 clubs were formed in
one year and In one state, Iowa, and
this experience is but a typical instance
of the way new organizations have
sprung up everywhere The object of
these associations Of mothers, said Mrs.
Bolton, is to arouse the desire to secure
for every child it's best and highest de-
velopment. For the need of this work
Mrs. Bolton instanced the declaration
of Rev. Dr. Parkhurst made recently
to the mothers of New York, that If for
one year all the churches should be
closed and all UNCONVENTIONAL and mis-
sionary work made to cease, in order to
institute a campaign of moral enlight-
eminent sufficient to show parents the
dangers with which their children are
confronted, 1t would be year spent
probably indeed
The theme of Mrs. Bolton, that Of the
need Of organization, was extended in
the address by Mrs. ,Birney, of Phila lei
phia, slster-in-law of the national pres
ident, Mrs. F., w. Birney, who on ac-
count of severe illness was unable to be
present Mrs Birney specially empha-
sized the fact that, to show the true
human spirit of motherhood and rise
above mere instinct mothers should
work not only for their own children,
but for the children of others who are
less fortunate.
Mayor Cummings, of Stamford, as
was his avowed object, filled the inter-
vening time until the arrival Of Press
dent Hadley most entertainingly, and
after some peculiarly humorous prelim-
mary remarks, contrary to his own pre-
dction, succeeded in delivering a re-
able address on THE Mission
of Childhood"
President Hadley, as the representa-
tive of Yale university, extended a well
come to this organiza ton, (which, like
Yale, is engaged in work distinctly edu- |
In fact" he continued, "its !
work lies deeper than ours, for it con-
sists in laying the foundation upon /
which we can only but1d the superstruc-
ture. / am glad, also, that this organi-
cation cannot degenerate into a mere
For 1t considers directly the
man or the woman, the boy or the girl,
and not formulas
The two final sessions will be held to-
lay, at 10 o'clock a. m. and o'clock p.
M, respectively