The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-05-02
INTERNATIONAL. Rtoco

gan to realize the growing lack Of
tender consideration Of absent moth
ers on the part of children who had
left the home roof and strayed out
into the world, each with a different
interest.
Miss Jarvis talked the matter over
with friend, saying she would like
to have one day of the year set aside,
especially dedicated to the ''best lit
tie mother in the world" Through the
influence of this friend and others
who had become interested, the first
observance of the day was held May
10, 1908, in Philadelphia, with special
services in all the Sunday schools in
the city.
So popular was the idea with the
people that Miss Jarvis became even
more interested and began a wide
spread publicity Of the event. She
wrote letters or interviewed people In
all walks Of life for proper observ-
ance Of the day. BY the time another
anniversary had come around many
individuals and organizations observed
the second Sunday In May with appro-
pirate ceremonies Sin honor Of the
best mother who ever lived" AS a
result not only the entire nation, but
many foreign countries, observe this
day with appropriate ceremonies.
Robert S. Wesley. governor of South
Dakota from 1908 to 1912, was the
first chief executive of a state to is
sue Mothers day proclamation. In
1909 he received. as did all other gov
ernOrs, letter from Miss Jarvis, ap-
pealing for their official approval Of
the movement which she had started,
and he was the only governor that
sent favorable reply. More than that
he issued a proclamation which reads
as follows:
Recognizing the Importance Of the
home as the fountainhead Of society
and realizing that no craftsmanship or
legislation can save us if our homes
become abodes of degradation, l, r. S.
Vessey, governor of the state Of South
Dakota, hereby set apart and desig-
nate the second Sabbath Of May as
Mothers day in grateful and loving re-
membrance of the one who, in our
infancy, watched over us with tender
est care, in our youth gently guided
us to higher ideals, and who has been
the counselor of our maturer years."
Pennsylvania was the first to make
1t state holiday. This was in 1913.
In the same year the mayor of Bos-
ton set an example Of giving a free
picnic in park, when all mothers
and their children were given a big
dinner by the business men Of the
city. The object was ito give a day
of rest and recreation to mothers who
have not had a summer vacation
away from the city, and who get few
opportunities to do So"
On May 10, 1913, a resolution passed
by the senate and house of repre-
sentatives to make the second Sum
day in May national holiday, "dedi-
Gated to the memory of the best moth
er in the world, your mother" Presi-
dent Wilson was authorized and re-
quested to issue proclamation to
display United States flags on all gov
eminent buildings in celebration Of
the day. 1t is said that when PresI-
dent Wilson signed the proclamation,
he turned to William Jennings Bryan,
his secretary Of state, and said !:
Bryan, that's the finest thing this
congress has done. God bless the
mothers"
Each year the idea grew more and
more popular, until in a few years
there was scarcely small church
or an organization throughout the
land that did not make some observ-
ance of the day. And then came the
World war, and it was during this
time that the day was more univers-
ally observed than at any previous
time. Boys in France were requested
to write their mothers on that day,
and so great was the response that
shipload after shiplOad of letters
landed at the port Of New York to
be distributed all over the nation to
mothers whose sons had gone
across"
Although there are various tradi-
tons and legends of other countries
observing special day in honor of
the mothers, Miss Jarvis has been
the means of beginning an interna-
tional organization to further the OBJ
servance of special day all over the
world. England observed this day as
early as 1913. But the great thing is
that wherever 1t is observed it Is In
churches or organizations entirely ir-
respective of creed. Some countries
observe the previous Friday in the
public schools and the previous day
is often observed in business estab-
lishments. In many cases this OBJ
servance takes the form of "some dis
tinctive act of kindness, visit, letter,
gift or tribute to show remembrance
to the mother to whom general af-
lection is DUE"
At the beginning the slogan adopted
was, as it still is. ''In honor of the
best mother who ever lived" and the
badge was then the white carnation.
1t is said that this flower was chosen
because it was the favorite flower of
a President, famous for his devotion
to his mother-William Mckinley,
who habitually wore a white carna-
tion in her honor.