The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-24

ested In securing the government and
legislation that will secure the results
desired? In other words, who, more
than the mothers Is more likely to
vote instinctively for those things
which will make home life better and
more tolerable to all, both rich and
poor.
I'm discussing birth and death reg
istration, we may say that this Is not
a modern institution, though 1t has
been greatly systematized in many
countries and States. Virginia. we are
pleased to say. standing well to the
front. Thousands of years ago, the
ancient Egyptians. Romans. Greeks
and Hebrews kept such records. The
third chapter of Luke gives the most
complete birth record possible. taking
the ancestry Of our Lord back to
Adam. In 1888, Cromwell in England
ordered baptism. marriages and buri-
ais recorded by the clergy on Sum
day. In 1870 it became compulsory
in England. In 1892 the Virginia As
sembly took the first action in this
country for securing VITAL statistics,
making ii necessary for ministers to
report. on June 1. the list of burials,
christenings and marriages. 1t is in
teresting now to know what has be-
come of those old records. Again,
about the middle of the last century,
the record of deaths and births be-
gan to be kept by the commissioners
of revenue. This law fell into dis
use about the time of the readjuster
regime. In the office of the clerk Of
the Hastings Court, in Richmond, are
records from 1853 to 1870, and have
been able to find recently the record
of birth Of Virginian who needs 1t
in ENGLAND N
citizenship The county records kept
during that period are now in charge
of the State auditor. who, for lack
of space, has stored them In the base
ment of the Library building They
contain much information of histori-
cal value. and it is the hope Of our
bureau that the Legislature will place
these records under our care, that
they may be available for use in an
swering the many inquiries we re-
ceive for information az to births.
In New York birth certificate
is demanded as proof of age. when
the child enters the public school.
, Many Virginians have found it diff
ficult TO prove ages. because we did
not begin to keep such records till
June IA, 1912. in a form which, we
believe. is to be permanent and for
should be able TO prove his age and
birthplace with ease through the
th-cards which we have sent to
the mother of every legitimate child
whose birth was properly reported by
the attending physician or midwife.
and the mailing address stated. In
the future, as in New York at pres
ent, birth certificates will be re-
quired generally to take civil service
examinations, for a child to engage
in labor. for securing marriage Ii
censes settling of estates and for
other purposes. They are now in de-
mand for securing passports to war
ring countries We have assisted sew
eral young men to secure release
from the English army by having pa
rents file certificates of birth with
us. when certified copies airing the
State seal were furnished. These
have been accepted without question
in Europe. 1t is likely that the birth
cards will be called for by the school
authorities by 1918. when children
born in Virginia since 1912 apply for
enrolment. Parents who do not re-
ceive these should write to the Bu-
reau OF Vital Statistics at Richmond
and take the matter up with the at
tending physician. Usually he has
failed to report the birth, has not
given the correct mailing address, or