The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-05-02
By ELMO SCOTT WATSON
the official ,obser

LTHOUGH the official 'ODServ-
ance of the second Sunday
AA in May as Mothers day is
NW regarded as modern GUS
- tom, it is in reality a re-
HH vival of one OF the oldest
f~MU feasts celebrated by man.
n& kind. For the gifts of flow
Nv ers, candy and the like
which we send on Moth
er's day correspond to the ancient
simuel cake, feature of "Mothering
day" of the early Britons. On Mother
ing day all young persons away from
home visited their parents, taking
along gifts of sweet CONNECTIONS of
honey in the form OF simnel cakes.
Still farther back in antiquity the
people of Asia Minor held feast
early in May to worship Rhea, "the
Great Mother OF the Gods" and this
feast later became the feast of Hi
Ilaria, AN annual event on the Ides Of
March in Greece and Rome.
Gust how much these ancient rites
contributed to the modern celebration
of Mothers day it. is impossible to
say, for there is some dispute as to
the origin of the idea which resulted
finally in setting aside the second
Sunday of May for honoring the moth
sers OF the nation. No less than four
cities in as many different states
claim that honor for one Of their citi-
'zens. Up in Albion, N. Y, they will
tell you that it originated there and
offer the following facts in support of
that statement:
George M. Pullman dedicated a
home son the st. Lawrence river to
Father and Mother" This was
opened for large family reunion in
August, 1888. In 1894 a church was
built by Mr.. Pullman in Albion. in
memory Of his parents. He put great
deal of thought, sentiment and time
into both buildings-the home and the
church.
These two things and the manner
in which the work was done made
such an impression upon the people
at Albion that at the first anniversary
OF the mothers passing on it was de-
cided to call the Sunday nearest that
date Mothers day." and they voted
that hereafter, in that church, it
should be an annual event.
No one at that time had any
thought Of how far-reaching this OBJ
servance would become, or that it
would SO appeal to all lovers of moth
'ers as the yearly celebration has now
shown.
Down in Henderson, KY, they claim
the honor for Mary Towles Sasseen
Wilson. Born and reared In this little
city, on the south bank of the Ohio
river, in the COS, she labored earnest
ly to have April 20, her mothers ma
tal day, observed in the schools in
the manner in which the day is now
celebrated.
In 1893 Miss Sasseen, then a school
teacher, published a book setting
forth her ideas, aims and objects, ded-
3cating the volume to her mother, with
q hope for national recognition.
She Travelled extensively and ad-
dressed various educational meetings
throughout the country in her effort
to have the day observed in the
schools. It was in the little Center
street school Of Henderson that the
first observance of Mothers day was
held by Miss Sasseen, and in 1894 she
succeeded in having it celebrated in
the public schools of Springfield. Ohio.
In 1899 she became a candidate for
superintendent of public instruction
OF Kentucky, and it was then general
" discussed over the state that she
had first conceived the plan OF cele-
brating Mothers day.
Mary Towles Sasseen married Judge
Marshall Wilson OF Florida, and gave
her life to the cause of motherhood
when her first child was born.
Still another claimant to the honor
is Indianapolis. Ind. which comes
forth with citizen who, 1t says, is
the father Of Mothers day." Recent
ly Representative Louis Ludlow of
Indiana in a speech on ''The Origin of
Mothers Day" put forward the Indi-
annapolis citizens claim to the honor.
His speech, as reported in the Con-
gressi0nal Record, follows:
Mr.. Speaker, one Of the most
blessed of all anniversaries is
Mothers day. The very name of
this anniversary makes a thou
sand bells to tinkle in our recol-
lection. 1t sends us back to first
principles and revives ali of the
hallowed memories Of childhood.
It brings before the vision of ev-
cry ons ss Us the sweetest face