The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-05-06
MorHER's DAY
Modern Woodmen viii Observe the
Day Next Sunday


The Modern Woodmen have insti-
tuted Mothers Day which they cele-
brate annually. For this year they
have appointed next Sunday. Their
Mothers Day proclamation is as fol-
lows:
Sunday. May 8, Is Mothers Day.
On this day every Woodman should
wear a white flower IN honor Of his
mother and write her a letter. 1t is
highly proper that this day should be
set apart in the Modern Woodmen
OF America for special service in
honor of the greatest single force in
the world-Mother II is most fitting
that our society, embodying. as it
docs, the very life and spirit of the
home and its blessed ties, should
commemorate this day No man,
however learned or renowned. how
ever famed or honored. should per
nit the spirit or environment of his
great achievements to dull his sense
Of increasing obligation to the one
who gave him birth. No man of
wealth or poverty, no man of bust
ness or profession, no man In any
station of life can allow either the de-
pressing iperplexities or the enticing
alluremehts of his career to lessen his
| just estimate Of the unsatisfied debt
he owes to his mother, or to weaken
| his desire for her love and benedic-
| ton. That there may not he a day
set apart in this country for other
members Of the family cannot, with
/ haIanpnI h., h. I'll 81
! Mothers Day" How glad will be
the multitudes to be privileged on
this second Sunday in May to lift toll
ing hands, anxious faces. and heavy
hearts from the trying tasks of life
and turn again to mother, whose
smile or nod of assent Is the foun-
tain Of inspiration and courage, the
anchorage Of hope and life, and for n
day live over again those hours when
communion with her shaped the
course and directed the career of the
boy who now is the man. How very
like the hanging of the fruitage to the
vine do the hopes and purposes, the
progress and Influences OF our life
cluster about that one person. Moth
err With her there was but one great
thought. reaching from the beginning
OF her boys life on to eternity, and
that thought was how best with her
love and tears she might make sure
and smooth his path through all the
way. No influence in the worlds
progress excels that OF the worlds
mothers. The great achievements Of
men in business, in craftsmanship. in
the professions, I'm literature. in poe
try, in song and art are traceable to
the controlling spirit and influence of
good mother. II was her life in an
other form glorined in the triumphs
Of her boy Her measurements point.
ed the way
Turn moment and look across the
years We have come. She caressed
the boy at her knee. she nourished
him until he had strength to stand
and prattle at her side; she watched
over aud protected him from harm
while under her care and when he
went out into the big world a man
her sustaining love followed and ever
ran ahead, she reioices in his sue
/. cess. His benefits are her delights
she weeps at his misfortunes; she
4 shares his trials and business depres
sions; she stand by him in adversely
and should he go wrong it is mothe
who cannot believe he has done evil
Friends may turn their backs. and &C
quaintances may condemn. but he
; love and faith surpasses all things 81
that no matter what others may think
say or do, she clipgs TO her boy will
, a devotion unmatched The recollec
4 ton Of such untold sympathy and sac
/ riflce is a great restraint to vice an,
a strong impulse TO virtue. Shl
brought the calm In the storms an,
tempests of our little lives: her toucl
was the healing balm for every hurt
her leadership is without parallel
In memory OF such an one. and il
the spirit Of our great work as a soc
| iety. ! hereby proclaim Sunday. thu
| eighth day OF May, 1910 to be Moth
ers Day in the Modern Woodmen o
/ America and request OF all members
its due and proper observance. Ma!
the reflection OF this day make us bic
ger and better men. May the home,
/ OF our vast membership be brighter
stronger and happier because Of thu
influences that this occasion shall
bring.
IL our mother is near by. or within
reasonable distance. let US make
/ special effort to call upon and visi
with her and show our growing appre
/ citation Of her influence on our lives
| II we are far from home let US writ
her n genuine letter, expressing som,
comforting message that shall In par
compensate for her great sacrifice II
our behalf. Those of US whose moth
er has passed to her rest, In he
sweet memory let us place the whit
flower upon her grave. or If so situa
ted that We cannot thus honor he
memory let us recall her virtues an,
beautiful life and thus receive a new
courage and increased faith.
On this day let the significant flow
er OF white and the pure love o
Motherhood fill our lives with a new
and stronger spirit of courtesy, patti
| ence Kindness and service foWar,