The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-05-02

much of its sorrow and leave 1t
only it's glory.
It is well to remember anniver-
saries, especially of imperishable
ideas. 1t is also well for Indianap-
oils to remember in pride that with
her other contributions to progress
and civilization it furnished the
birthplace for a great idea from
which has come better things for
ALL
The fourth city which claims the
honor of having given to the nation
this red-letter day on its calendar is
Philadelphia. The Quaker city points
out that the movement, which result
ed in congress passing joint resolu-
ton authorizing Mothers day and
in President Wilson issuing spe-
cial. proclamation designating Sun
day in May as the date, thus giving
the observance the official sanction of
the government OF the United States,
was started there in 1908 by one Of
its daughters, Miss Anna Jarvis.
Miss Jarvis mother, who died In
1907, had been active in the work of
the church and Sunday school Of a
small town in Virginia. On the ami
versary Of her death the pastor asked
the daughter to arrange for a spe-
cial service in the church where her
mother had been leading spirit. In
complying with the request she be-
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 ont
into the world, each with 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 'in 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.
Pennsylvania was the first to make
it state holiday. This was in 1918.
In the same year the mayor of Bos-
ton set an example of giving a free
picnic in a 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 summer vacation
away from the city, and who get few
opportunities to do so.''
On May 10, 1918, 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 i'm 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 i'm a few years
there was scarcely a 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 1t 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"
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
President, famous for his devotion
to his William, Mckinley.
who habitually wore q white carna.
ton in her honor.