The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-04-16
MOTHERS DAY
A Season for Tender
Memories ID. ~.
HOW OBSERVANCE ORIGINATED
A New Holiday that Should Appeal
to Every Son and Daughter in
the United States-AdOpt-
ed by Sons of Veter-
ans.

| ed by sons OF Neter-
| ans.
Responding to the call of that
mother-love which has it's sacred
shrine in every human breast and
that needed only the magic touch
of a gentle woman's fingers to
quicken it into active being, the
nation will, on May 8, the second
Sunday of that month, unite in
paying tribute to motherhood. In
churches of every creed and in homes
both humble and of high degree ex-
preston will be given to the noblest
form of human love. Everywhere
the white carnation, appropriately
selected as the symbol sof the day
and it's meaning, will be in evidence
and the millions who thus obey the
divine injunction of the fifth COM
mandment will pay involuntary
tribute to the woman whose love
for her mother was the inspiration
which gave birth to a movement
that has spread all over the land
and bids fair to go around the
world.
The movement was inaugurated
by Miss Anna Jarvis, of Philadel-
phia, who, alone and unaided, be-
gan year ago the work of setting
aside each year special day for
honoring the mother. She had no
thought then that the movement
would reach beyond the confines of
Philadelphia, but devoted her eff
forts to having the day observed in
that city. But she had unwittingly
touched a most responsive chord,
and it's music has now become a
swelling chorus.
In dozen cities last year the
day was set apart, and exercises
were held in many churches and
Sunday schools. This year the sec
ond anniversary will be commemor-
ated throughout the length and
breadth of the United States, and
: from far away Japan comes the
: message that the day will be OBJ
served there.
Miss Jarvis sees in the not dis
tant future worldwide celebration
of the day, and the indications are
y plans are expansive. She has la
bored untiringly, without funds and
: WITHOUT thought of any reward be.
e yond the satisfaction that comes
e from the performance of labor OF
e love, and the response to her plea
e has exceeded even her best expecta
|. tions. She has just received {
l. message from General Henry M
- Nevius, commander-in-chief of the
Grand Army of the Republic, which
brought a glow of satisfaction t.
g her heart. 1t was a copy of a gen
IL eral order which he has issued, anC
e which means that every Union vet
'e eran of the Civil War will wear 1
white carnation in his buttonhol,
on May 9th.
Not only the veterans, but tn,
sons of those brave soldiers of othe
l. days, will join in the observance o
. the day. Edgar Allen, Jr., com
% mander-in-chief of the Sons of Vet
- Grams, has issued a similar ordel
asking every member of the organi
zation to wear the white carnatior
s. on the second Sabbath in May. II
(, issuing this order he said:
'r "The movement will appeal tt
the entire civilized world"
le In line with the veterans, mel
,e whose ideals have been buried be
! meath the press of business, will re
o. spond to the call. In the large
towns and manufacturing centers
heads of hundreds of large corpora
~ tions will supply their employe
N with white carnations and ask tha
they wear them all through the day
N Many churches will hold exer
a, cises commemorative of the occa
ID sion, and this will be especial,
|. true of the city Sunday schools.
G Miss Jarvis claims that the car
- nation ought to be the nation
~ flower. France has her lily an,
" England the rose," she says, "bu
g. the white carnation surpasses then
D. both in symbolic meaning. TIL
gentle woman dislikes the promi
nence she has achieved, and strive
to hide herself from public atten
% ton. She insists that credit is du
n not to her but to the reverence TO
n motherhood which shows itself witt
= such spontaneity whenever tn
20 chance is afforded. Her dream i
that the day will come to be on
o. of national import. She believe
20 thoroughly in the movement, an,
is feels that it is destined to live an,
10 grow.
- We do not know as yet to wha
l. extent our town or county will joii
% in this sweet testimonial to moth
% erhood; but we do feel that n,
,e mound covering dear mothe
! heart should be neglected; no hom
N in which a loving mothers hand
a have ministered should fail to d,
y her sacred memory honor.
Le Gave No Warning.