Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-05-12
CHURCHES OBSERVE
MOTHERS day
Several Societies Give Programs -
Sermons Appropriate
to the Day.

The sermons of most of the Webster
City pastors Sunday were along
the line of observance of Mothers
Day which is now national custom
and almost universally. celebrated by
the wearing of flowers and with ser
mons to commemorate the day for
mothers, both living and dead.
At the Baptist church the Sunday
school gave a short program of songs
and recitations and the mothers of
the cradle roll babies were escorted
to the platform where they received
the Chautauqua salute. Rev. Hugh
Moore gave also a short talk on
"My Favorite Flower" at this hour.
At the Christian church in the
evening the Y. P. S. c. E. gave a
well prepared program of readings,
solos and quotations along the line
of Mothers Day. The lecture room
was crowded during this program
and the sermon of the evening fol-
lowed on "The Uncrowned Queen
At the Universalist church in the
morning the pastor delivered an in
teresting sermon on "The American
Mother" in observance of the day.
At the morning service in the Meth
odist church, Rev. C. H. Kamphoef-l
ner preached an able sermon on
"The Glory of Motherhood. Moth
ers Day was observed in the even
ing at the Congregational church,
Rev. Arthur Metcalf preaching al
fine sermon on "The Home" Special
music was rendered in most of the
churches, making the occasion one
to be remembered.
Miss Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia
the movement for
Mothers Day in 1907. 1t occurred
to her while commemorating the
death of her mother on the second
Sunday of May that that day, falling
in a season of blue sky and bios
SONS, might well be set aside as an
annual festival upon which due trib-
ute of affection and remembrance
should be rendered to all mothers.
Miss Jarvis then began a cam
paign of personal appeal to men
prominent in public life, clergymen.
philanthropists, business and pro-
fessional men, asking them to fur
ther the movement. She pleaded
her case so eloquently that in 1910
the day was celebrated not only in
Philadelphia, but in many other
cities. :.
On May 10, 1912, resolution
passed the United States house of
representatives and the senate COM
mending Mothers day for observ-
ance by the two houses of congress,
the president and his cabinet and
other heads of government depart
ment. In that same year the legis-
lature of Nebraska made Mothers
day a state flag day, in honor of the
patriotism of Nebraskas true homes
and mothers. In May, 1918, the leg
islature of Pennsylvania made Moth
er's day state holiday.
The day is planned to be observed
by some distinct mark of kindness,
visit, letter, gift or tribute showing
remembrance Of the mother and
| father to whom affection is due.
Mothers day is equally a fathers
day and is designed to deepen and
perpetuate family ties. An interna-
tional association has been formed
to promote and protect the observ-
ance of the day in all countries and
to carry forward the work. Presi-
dent Wilson and our eX-presidents
are honorary officers Of the associa-
tion.
The white carnation has been Sc
lected as the emblem Of the day be-
cause, as explained by Miss Jarvis,
'it seemed the least perishable. was
not costly and could be worn by men
and women alike. Then. too, its
sweet. wholesome fragrance and
white purity make it stand out as
an appropriate symbol for mother
hood" A colored flower is to be
worn if in honor of mother still
living.
Father Passes Away.