Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-13
Motherhood a Profession.
Interesting Paper Read by Mrs G. w, Palmer OF Farm
ington, Before the Congress OF Utah Mothers.


II Is hardly surprising even In this
age Of progress and professorship that
motherhood should be amongst the
last Of the phases and forces of life TO
receive scientific consideration, Man
! kind In all ages Of the world has sought
to reach that first which was farthest
away from him. In the primal days
Of Nimrod the people on the plains Of
Shnar sought to reach heaven by
| building tower instead Of a taber-
! ndCle. Astronomy was old before geol-
| ogy was born. Men would pluck asters
| from the "iniinte meadows of heaven
| while the flowers of the fields Of earth
| were trampled upon unnoticed.
! In studying government statesmen
| have found not only the virtues but the
| defects and have traced the cause Of
| these defects TO Inefficient means and
| imperfect system of education. The
/ school boy Of today Is the statesman Of
| tomorrow. so educators have striven
most diligently and persstently 10 bet.
ter the schools. They have noted the de.
| feet Of the system and have decided
only recently that the greatest obsta-
| cles TO overcome are those evils arising
in the home.
The root OF these evils Is parental
ignorance. In every phase Of life scien.
tfic investigation is vanqushing ignor-
ance.
This enlightenment In mechanical and
intellectual effort is due largely to
professorship. II the professor Of polu-
cal science has helped the government
and the professor Of pedagogy has i'm
proved the schools. cannot the profes.
sorship OF motherhood elevate the
home? Motherhood profession"-has
the time come when this phrase is to
be accepted? When the most import
ant everyday occupation In life Is TO be
scientifically considered? why Not?
Doctors, lawyers and teachers fit
themselves TO have charge Of human
lives, why should not mothers?
profession as we understand 1t
today is an occupation which under
takes to direct intelllgently the lives
and affairs Of others. Why should not
women who are TO have charge Of the
coming generations regard their duty
as one of the greatest trusts and fit
themselves for II properly? Why should
they not cast aside the false ethics
which has permitted poor thinking, and
lack of preparation. Any sort Of
ignorance has suiiiced in the past for
motherhood
Men in every sort OF profession are
now compelled to understand that there
must be systematic training and scrup-
ulous investigation of fact along COM
nonsense lines,if they are to be useful
Why should not the members OF that
m a tappffsr vol tnh lYanasr Ia
number of the human race be forced
TO recognize that in taking charge Of
human lives they must adapt them
selves by a study Of scientific princi-
pies affecting the requirements OF their
life-wOrk? Take for instance the pro-
fession Of nursing the sick Not many
years have elapsed since the best Of
nurses was goodnatured rather
ignorant sort Of person. almost entire
~ without training. Reasoning pow
ers were not regarded as especially es-
sential for her general acceptability. A
loving instructive sympathy was all
that was required If some one died
through her lack of training or through
her ignorant tuition took medicines
which made him an invalid for life, the
result was not held against her.
Finally there came day when some
one held up his hands and asked.
why should not a nurse to whom
Is committed so much pertaining
To life and death be trained FOR the
exercise Of her charger" That question
was put but a few years ago. Now
there are hundreds Of such training
schools A nurse must go through
careful studies covering several years,
until she understands thoroughly the
problems with which she has TO deal
She no longer acts blindly but reasons
from study and training regarding the
duties she Is called upon 10 perform.
So It must be regarding the vastly more
important duties Of motherhood. The
day Is near when II will be looked upon
in ITS true light There will be train
ing and preparation for her who is TO
assume the care OF children at home
There win be careful study into all the
physiological facts connected with
motherhood.
A woman will no longer dare TO as
sumo the responsibilities Of this noblest
of professions without adequate in
structions regarding the obligations
which she is TO undertake. In other
words, motherhood viii come to be
looked upon as truly a profession,
oh, the great and glorious task 81
parentagel IL seems to me that the
most responsible position In which man
and woman can be placed Is that Of
begetting and rearing a child; II re-
quires the most preparation. the high
est knowledge. the greatest self control
and the supremest patience. self-sacrl-
fee and love. She who permits herself
to become a mother without having
first demanded and obtained her own
freedom from sex domination and fair
and free conditions Of development Cor
herself and child commits a crime
against herself. against her child and
against mankind Offspring begotten
when any degree Of reluctance or want
Of preparation exists on the part Of the
mother, are robbed Of n portion Of their
birthright Every mentally. morally or
physically defective child has a right T.
demand Of Its mother how she dared
equip him so badly for the
life into which she has taken
the liberty 10 bring him.
To demand OF her how she dared equip
herself so lily for her self imposed task
as creator OF human soul. But child
wisely desired. intelliEently prepared
for, begotten in sweet mutual love.
properly cultured IN embryo and at
length joyfully welcomed TO LOVING
arms such a one is an object OF inter-
est and Joy 20 all humanity
At the advent OF such. even though
born in a stable and Graded IN a man
ger well may the angels sing, GLORY
70 God In the highest, on earth peace
and good will 10 men," For OF such
are the wise teachers. the noble ex-
ampes. the loving saviors OF mankind.
When mothers shall come 10 feel the
true dignity Of the Office OF maternity
az worthlly entered upon they may
know that all the powers Of good in the
universe are on their side. and ready