The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-23
Congress of Mothers to Open
Here on Tuesday.
ITS BROAD AIMS AND PURPOSES
Home. school, Church. and state
Concerned in the EierntinE Plans
Which the Mothers Seek to Foster
and Promotc-Thc Programme.

"A little child shall lead them" is thC
inscription on the advance programme o
The Sixth National Congress of Mothers
which will convene Tuesday morning al
10 O'Clock in the First Baptist Church
Sixteenth and o Streets northwest.
Lectures on Child Care.
With the opening of the congress
over one hundred Mothers from
all sections of the country will
arrive in Washington. The nvention
will last four days and will be
addressed by many prominent speak
ers and lecturers on child care. An elab-
crate programme has been arranged for
the delegates, including trips to points OF
interest in the vicinity of Washington.
visiting public buildings and sightseeing.
At 3 p m. Friday. Mrs. Roosevelt will
receive the National Congress of Mothers
at the White House.
Growth of the Congress.
The growth of the congress has been
phenomenal Started in Washington lit
tie over six years ago by Mrs Theodore
W Birney. it has established itself in
nearly every city in the United States,
and is spreading into foreign countries.
1t now has a membership of several
thousand women, many of whom ale the
wives and daughters of prominent men.
Mrs. Birncy and Her Mission.
Mrs Theodore w Birney. president and
founder of the organization has made
life study Of the child and home life. and
it has been her mission to impart her
knowledge TO others. She worked for
many years single handed. In 1885 she
established in Washington what had been
her ambition. society of mothers. The
society seemed to please the ladies' i'm
mensely and in a short time mem
bership it had enlarged its numbers TO
hundreds All women. married or single
may become active members OF the or
ganization.
Purposes of the Congress.
The aims and purposes of The National
Congress of Mothers is as follows:
To raise the standards of homelife. To
develop wiser, better trained parenthood
proper care and training of children. OPP
portunities to learn this. that they, may
better perform the duties of parenthood.
To bring into closer relations the home
and the school, that parent and teacher
may cooperate intelligently in the eda-
cation CT the child.
To surround the childhood of the whole
impressionabIe years of life that will de-
velop good citizens instead Of lawbreak-
ers and criminals.
To use systematic, earnest effort to this
end. through the formation of mothers
clubs in every public school, and else
where; the establishment of kindergar-
tens, and laws which will adequately care
for neglected and dependent children, in
the firm belief that united concerted work
for little children will pay better than
any other philanthropic work that can
be dcce.
Home, school. Church. and State.
To carry the mother-Iove and mother
childhood in home. school. church. State,
or legislation.
To interest men and women to cooper
ate in the work for purer. truer homes,
in the belief that to accomplish the best
results, men and women must work to-
gether.
To secure such legislation as will en-
sure that children of tender years may
not be tried in ordinary courts, but that
and special officers, whose business it
shall be to look out for that care which
will rescue instead of confirm the child
in evil ways.
To work for such probationary care in
individual homes rather than Institutions
To reuse the whole community TO a
sense Of its duty and responsibility to
the blameless, dependent and neglected
children, because there is 10 philanthropy
which will so speedily reduce our taxes,
reduce our prison expenses, reduce the
expense Of institutions for correction and
reform.
English Men ana Women Alike.
In speaking of the coming congress,
MIS- Theodore Birney, president of the
orEa riZation. said we want to inter
est both men and women to cooperate
il the work for purer. truer homes. in
the belief that TO accomplish the best re-
suits men and women must work to-
gether. For this reason We always have
upon our programmes some of the most
prominent educators as well as many of
the most prominent public men. To ac-
complish any great results we must have
the active interests of cur fathers, sons.
husbands, and brothers.
The work of the congress is civic In
it's broadcast and highest sense. ard to all
interested in the aims of the congress, a
cordial invitation is given to become
members. and aid in the organized effort
for a higher. nobler, national life, which
can only be attained through the indi-
.idual homes"
Cooperation Essential.
IN speaking of the home and school, Mr.
Walter l. Harvey. president of the
Teachers College, OF New York, recently
said.
1T is one Of the foundation articles in
my pedagogical creed that there must be
cooperation between school and home or
both will fail of highest efficiency. The
parents must understand what the schools
are doing for their children and what
help they require. The teachers must
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