The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-02
REPORT OF ALABAMA
 BRANCH OF NATIONAL


 CONGRESS OF MOTHERS. The first effort made in Alabama for work along the lines laid down by the National Congress of Mothers was in- stituted by the Mothers Union of Mont gomery. in May, 1900.
 An Alabama woman who was Tn Washington at the time of the first meeting of the National Congress. caught the enthusiasm of the great body assembled there to study the needs of the home and the child. and she returned to Alabama fired with much zeal to begin the work in her own State. Articles about the noble aims and purposes of the National Congress of Mothers were given to the press, numbers of private letters were written, and the literature of the con gress distributed; but 1t was quite three years later before the first con- certed effort was made to organize TOT ? the work in this State.
 In May 1900, six or eight women met in a private home in Montgomery ana formed Mothers Union. It continued under this name-"The Mothers Union of fMontgomery"-until last year. when, at the desire of a majority of its mem bers. the name was changed to Ihe Mothers Circle of Montgomery.
 The work began rather unsteadiiy. Bi-monthly meetings were held. ana at each meeting plans were made Tor the one following. Articles were se- lected and read to the Circle from the reports and papers sent out by the National Congress of Mothers. Articles on the home and the training Of chll- dren were selected from current perl odicals and a general discussion or these subjects followed. In those ear ly days there was a question box for those who were too timid to express themselves openly. The third year We had our years program prearranged and printed, the work properly assign ed to the different members, who had reached the number of twenty. Ine present membership is limited to hfty. The colors of our club are green and white, significant of growth and pur- ity.
 The year following its orean'zStlon. the Mothe CTS Union Gas IL then Was' joined the State -edsration of Clubs, and later 1t became a branch of the National Congress of Mothers. A dele9ate was sent to the convention of the National Congress held in Wash ington !n 1902, and one was sent last year to the International Congress AS wear followed year. the work of the Montgomery Club was naturally ex- tended: the schools in the city were often visited, and the attention or inc City Council called to their needs; these calls resulting in better yentlla- tion. sanitation, etc, the beginning of school imuroyement work in the State. If was the Mothers Circle also that began the work for juvenile courts In the larger cities Gf our State. under the auspices of this Circle, bill en- titled An Act to regulate the treat ment and control of dependent, neg lected and delinquent children was drawn up by one of Montgomery prominent lawyers. This bill received the unanimous endorsement of the Federated Clubs. It was not present. ed to the Legislature, however, as an other bill of similar nature preceded it and was enacted.
 Our Circle has allied itself with all the great movements for educational and philanthropic work in the State, and in more than one convention of the Federation has been declared the ban- ner club of the State. In the spring of 1907 we had the inspiration of visit from Mrs. Schoff the President of our national body. She came to us one day only on her way to the Congress that was to have been held at Los An geles. We had begun our work for Juvenile courts, but her talk on the subject gave us fresh ardor.
 We are happy to feel that the value of the work is gaining ground. Last wear two new circles were formed, one in Selma and one in Mobile. both earn est, faithful bands of women who see