The History of Mother's Day - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

ARTelevision · 05-10-2003, 03:23 PM

The History of Mother's Day

Although there are others who claim to have started Mother's Day. It was Frank E. Hering, a Past Grand Worthy President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, that made the first known public plea for a national day to honor our mothers. And it was Frank E. Hering who in 1925 was invited by the "Society of War Mothers" to participate in a special Mother's Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. There, at the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier", before a tremendous audience that included many congressmen and senators, Hering was introduced as "the Father of Mother's Day."

But that was over 21 years after Hering's first public plea, and 11 years after President Woodrow Wilson by Proclamation officially made Mother's Day the second Sunday in May. And many things happened during that span of time. A lot of hard work, a lot of other people trying to take the credit, and even an article by Hering himself titled......

"NOW WE FIGHT!"

That was the headline over the Mother's Day editorial in a decades-ago issue of Eagle Magazine.

The Mother's Day editorial? And what in the world could there have been to fight about on a national holiday dedicated to dear old Mom? It was the fact, grumbled the editorial, that "organizations and individuals are grasping at the honor that belongs to the F.O.E. for internationally sponsoring this memorial."

"A Past Grand Worthy President of our Order," continued the editorial, "made the first public plea of record for a national day of honor for mothers. For years and years we have conducted the only nationwide organized effort in behalf of the day. Shall we let others capitalize on our work?"

"Shall we let them wear the glory that is ours?"

"Shall we let them lead the public to believe that they first carried the movement through state after state from coast to coast?"

The answer, of course, was obvious, but the editorial's conclusion spelled it out anyway:

"Through the early years, we carried on alone. No other nationwide organization aided us. We nationally popularized the day. We can and will hold our distinction against the propaganda of those who want the glory without having done the work. In every community, our efforts must now be made to make known the truth of our pioneering work."

THE AUTHOR of those fighting words were Frank E. Hering. He knew whereof he spoke, because the Grand Worthy President who had made that "first public plea of record for a national day of honor for Mothers" was -- Frank E. Hering.

The idea had first come to him as a faculty member of the University of Notre Dame, in his hometown of South Bend Indiana. Walking into a classroom of a fellow instructor, Hering found his colleague distributing penny postcards to the students there. They addressed the cards and began to scribble messages on them.

"What are they writing?" inquired the bemused Hering of his faculty mate.

"Anything," replied the other, "Anything at all as long as it's to their mothers."

A light bulb went on in Frank Hering's head. And the idea for a SPECIAL DAY that would provide some sort of FORMAL RECOGNITION FOR MOTHERS continued to burn there. Hering was involving himself more and more in an organization that had begun just a few years before on the waterfront in Seattle and was catching on all over the country - the Fraternal Order of Eagles. By 1904, Hering was a past officer of the Aerie in South Bend.

On February 7th of that year, he was the Main speaker at a memorial sponsored by Indianapolis Aerie #211, at the English Opera House. It was there that he first verbalized publicly his idea of a "national day of honor for Mothers."

Shortly thereafter Hering became a national officer, eventually becoming Grand Worthy President in 1909 and again in 1911. All through these years in his travels across the country his plea for a national Mother's Day was a standard feature of his appearances at Eagle functions and occasions. In 1912, he submitted to the Grand Aerie, a recommendation that local Aeries be given an opportunity to hold Mother's Day exercises "on any Sunday during the year." Approval was swift, and individual Aeries throughout the land began to carry the torch for Mother's Day.

LEGISLATION was introduced in the U.S. congress by 1914, requesting a presidential proclamation making the second Sunday in May (a date urged by Anna Jarvis, another crusader for a memorial day for mothers) Mother's day throughout the country. President Woodrow Wilson went along with the idea, and May 10, 1914 became the first official Mother's Day.

That dream having come to fruition, the F.O.E. went on to spearhead other big national social efforts, including one for mothers' pensions. And huge Mother's Day membership classes became a staple of every Aerie each May. But as the years went by and the Mother's Day concept was embraced by more and more organizations, and won widespread acceptance all over the country and even elsewhere, several of these groups which had been late joining the Mother's Day parade suddenly tried to elbow their way to the front of it and take the credit for the whole idea.

Thus began the F.O.E.'s effort - launched with the fiery "NOW WE FIGHT" editorial - to set the record straight.

An Interested but dispassionate observer of the fray was the SOCIETY OF AMERICAN WAR MOTHERS, a national organization of women dedicated to the ideals exemplified by Mother's Day. Their curiosity aroused about the origins of the by-then popular and accepted national holiday, the War Mothers decided to conduct their own impartial investigation into the matter.

After sifting through the divergent claims and evidence, the group's findings were published in the February 1925 issue of it's national magazine, The American War Mother.

"We have been thoroughly convinced by documented evidence," it said in the two page article, "that the inspiration for the present Mother's Day came from a man - Frank E. Hering of South Bend, Indiana - and that the medium through which he carried his campaign over the number of years was the Fraternal Order of Eagles."

THE ARTICLE went on to trace back the F.O.E.'s efforts to Hering's first public talks on the subject in 1904 and 1905, and found that "Mr. Hering's activities and addresses in favor of Mother's Day antedated by three years, the first observance of Mother's Day in the city of Philadelphia, which was in May 1908."

"... In the fall of 1904 and again in the spring of 1905," noted the War Mothers, "when Capt. John F. Pelletier of the Kansas City Insurance Patrol was the national head of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, he summoned to a conference in Kansas City many of the men active in the Order at that time. Among them was Mr. Hering. Kansas City Eagles had recently moved into their commodious clubhouse and, as a compliment to their visitors, banquets were given in the clubhouse and also at the Baltimore Hotel. To these banquets prominent men of Kansas City, who were not members of the Order, were invited as guests. On both occasions, Mr. Hering was assigned a place on the speaking program. He developed this thought:

"The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an organization of men bound together very largely by sentimental ties. Now, the finest sentiments are those woven around the home. The keystone of the home is the Mother. The Eagles to meet their fullest obligation must do everything in their power to keep the family intact, and to aid mothers and children, especially in times of sickness and want.""

In an interview with the magazine, Hering explained further: "The observance of Mother's Day is only part of a logical and consistent social welfare philosophy that for a quarter of a century has been intelligently followed by the Eagles. The fundamental proposition is: "Protect the home." The mother is the keystone of the problem. Today this powerful Order has the assets of thirty-million dollars and 600,000 members. And the rallying cry is, "For Mother and Home.""

So ended the controversy, thanks to the National War Mothers. A few months after the appearance of their article, Frank Hering was invited by the group to participate in it's special Mother's Day program at Arlington national Cemetery. There, before a tremendous audience that included many congressmen and senators, Hering was introduced as " the Father of Mother's Day."
.......................................................................................................

I visit my mom with flowers in hand.
How 'bout you?
What's your plan for Mothers' Day?

sierra2774 · 05-10-2003, 04:24 PM

That is very interesting.

Unfortunately Mother's Day for me is not my favorite day of the year. My Mother was killed in car accident 10 years ago and my step-mother died suddenly January 2nd of this year at the age 48. She was like a Mother to me, so this year I am having a rougher time with it than ever.

I do however have two children that made me the most precious cards at school this week. They are too young to send me flowers or go to the store and buy me something but I will cherish these little construction paper cards forever.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers on TFP!

gibber71 · 05-10-2003, 09:39 PM

On Mother's Day my mother will be planting flowers in heaven and I'll be planting flowers on earth.

ARTelevision · 05-10-2003, 11:26 PM

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.

Honore de Balzac (1799-1850)
Writer

snowy · 05-10-2003, 11:40 PM

Art, thank you as always for the information! I will be sure to pass it on to my mother, so she realizes where it comes from...I know she will appreciate the history!

Halx · 05-10-2003, 11:41 PM

My plan is to run out and get flowers as soon as I wake up...

I really dont like holidays where other people get presents.

05-10-2003, 03:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	The History of Mother's Day The History of Mother's Day Although there are others who claim to have started Mother's Day. It was Frank E. Hering, a Past Grand Worthy President of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, that made the first known public plea for a national day to honor our mothers. And it was Frank E. Hering who in 1925 was invited by the "Society of War Mothers" to participate in a special Mother's Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. There, at the "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier", before a tremendous audience that included many congressmen and senators, Hering was introduced as "the Father of Mother's Day." But that was over 21 years after Hering's first public plea, and 11 years after President Woodrow Wilson by Proclamation officially made Mother's Day the second Sunday in May. And many things happened during that span of time. A lot of hard work, a lot of other people trying to take the credit, and even an article by Hering himself titled...... "NOW WE FIGHT!" That was the headline over the Mother's Day editorial in a decades-ago issue of Eagle Magazine. The Mother's Day editorial? And what in the world could there have been to fight about on a national holiday dedicated to dear old Mom? It was the fact, grumbled the editorial, that "organizations and individuals are grasping at the honor that belongs to the F.O.E. for internationally sponsoring this memorial." "A Past Grand Worthy President of our Order," continued the editorial, "made the first public plea of record for a national day of honor for mothers. For years and years we have conducted the only nationwide organized effort in behalf of the day. Shall we let others capitalize on our work?" "Shall we let them wear the glory that is ours?" "Shall we let them lead the public to believe that they first carried the movement through state after state from coast to coast?" The answer, of course, was obvious, but the editorial's conclusion spelled it out anyway: "Through the early years, we carried on alone. No other nationwide organization aided us. We nationally popularized the day. We can and will hold our distinction against the propaganda of those who want the glory without having done the work. In every community, our efforts must now be made to make known the truth of our pioneering work." THE AUTHOR of those fighting words were Frank E. Hering. He knew whereof he spoke, because the Grand Worthy President who had made that "first public plea of record for a national day of honor for Mothers" was -- Frank E. Hering. The idea had first come to him as a faculty member of the University of Notre Dame, in his hometown of South Bend Indiana. Walking into a classroom of a fellow instructor, Hering found his colleague distributing penny postcards to the students there. They addressed the cards and began to scribble messages on them. "What are they writing?" inquired the bemused Hering of his faculty mate. "Anything," replied the other, "Anything at all as long as it's to their mothers." A light bulb went on in Frank Hering's head. And the idea for a SPECIAL DAY that would provide some sort of FORMAL RECOGNITION FOR MOTHERS continued to burn there. Hering was involving himself more and more in an organization that had begun just a few years before on the waterfront in Seattle and was catching on all over the country - the Fraternal Order of Eagles. By 1904, Hering was a past officer of the Aerie in South Bend. On February 7th of that year, he was the Main speaker at a memorial sponsored by Indianapolis Aerie #211, at the English Opera House. It was there that he first verbalized publicly his idea of a "national day of honor for Mothers." Shortly thereafter Hering became a national officer, eventually becoming Grand Worthy President in 1909 and again in 1911. All through these years in his travels across the country his plea for a national Mother's Day was a standard feature of his appearances at Eagle functions and occasions. In 1912, he submitted to the Grand Aerie, a recommendation that local Aeries be given an opportunity to hold Mother's Day exercises "on any Sunday during the year." Approval was swift, and individual Aeries throughout the land began to carry the torch for Mother's Day. LEGISLATION was introduced in the U.S. congress by 1914, requesting a presidential proclamation making the second Sunday in May (a date urged by Anna Jarvis, another crusader for a memorial day for mothers) Mother's day throughout the country. President Woodrow Wilson went along with the idea, and May 10, 1914 became the first official Mother's Day. That dream having come to fruition, the F.O.E. went on to spearhead other big national social efforts, including one for mothers' pensions. And huge Mother's Day membership classes became a staple of every Aerie each May. But as the years went by and the Mother's Day concept was embraced by more and more organizations, and won widespread acceptance all over the country and even elsewhere, several of these groups which had been late joining the Mother's Day parade suddenly tried to elbow their way to the front of it and take the credit for the whole idea. Thus began the F.O.E.'s effort - launched with the fiery "NOW WE FIGHT" editorial - to set the record straight. An Interested but dispassionate observer of the fray was the SOCIETY OF AMERICAN WAR MOTHERS, a national organization of women dedicated to the ideals exemplified by Mother's Day. Their curiosity aroused about the origins of the by-then popular and accepted national holiday, the War Mothers decided to conduct their own impartial investigation into the matter. After sifting through the divergent claims and evidence, the group's findings were published in the February 1925 issue of it's national magazine, The American War Mother. "We have been thoroughly convinced by documented evidence," it said in the two page article, "that the inspiration for the present Mother's Day came from a man - Frank E. Hering of South Bend, Indiana - and that the medium through which he carried his campaign over the number of years was the Fraternal Order of Eagles." THE ARTICLE went on to trace back the F.O.E.'s efforts to Hering's first public talks on the subject in 1904 and 1905, and found that "Mr. Hering's activities and addresses in favor of Mother's Day antedated by three years, the first observance of Mother's Day in the city of Philadelphia, which was in May 1908." "... In the fall of 1904 and again in the spring of 1905," noted the War Mothers, "when Capt. John F. Pelletier of the Kansas City Insurance Patrol was the national head of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, he summoned to a conference in Kansas City many of the men active in the Order at that time. Among them was Mr. Hering. Kansas City Eagles had recently moved into their commodious clubhouse and, as a compliment to their visitors, banquets were given in the clubhouse and also at the Baltimore Hotel. To these banquets prominent men of Kansas City, who were not members of the Order, were invited as guests. On both occasions, Mr. Hering was assigned a place on the speaking program. He developed this thought: "The Fraternal Order of Eagles is an organization of men bound together very largely by sentimental ties. Now, the finest sentiments are those woven around the home. The keystone of the home is the Mother. The Eagles to meet their fullest obligation must do everything in their power to keep the family intact, and to aid mothers and children, especially in times of sickness and want."" In an interview with the magazine, Hering explained further: "The observance of Mother's Day is only part of a logical and consistent social welfare philosophy that for a quarter of a century has been intelligently followed by the Eagles. The fundamental proposition is: "Protect the home." The mother is the keystone of the problem. Today this powerful Order has the assets of thirty-million dollars and 600,000 members. And the rallying cry is, "For Mother and Home."" So ended the controversy, thanks to the National War Mothers. A few months after the appearance of their article, Frank Hering was invited by the group to participate in it's special Mother's Day program at Arlington national Cemetery. There, before a tremendous audience that included many congressmen and senators, Hering was introduced as " the Father of Mother's Day." ....................................................................................................... I visit my mom with flowers in hand. How 'bout you? What's your plan for Mothers' Day? __________________ create evolution

05-10-2003, 04:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
sierra2774 Addict Location: Northeast Ohio	That is very interesting. Unfortunately Mother's Day for me is not my favorite day of the year. My Mother was killed in car accident 10 years ago and my step-mother died suddenly January 2nd of this year at the age 48. She was like a Mother to me, so this year I am having a rougher time with it than ever. I do however have two children that made me the most precious cards at school this week. They are too young to send me flowers or go to the store and buy me something but I will cherish these little construction paper cards forever. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers on TFP! __________________ "Every tomorrow brings new opportunities, challenges we must address...A chance to affirm all our wishes and dreams, to seek beauty and true happiness."

05-10-2003, 11:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. Honore de Balzac (1799-1850) Writer __________________ create evolution

05-10-2003, 11:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
snowy Kick Ass Kunoichi Location: Oregon	Art, thank you as always for the information! I will be sure to pass it on to my mother, so she realizes where it comes from...I know she will appreciate the history! __________________ If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

05-10-2003, 11:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Halx Please touch this. Owner/Admin Location: Manhattan	My plan is to run out and get flowers as soon as I wake up... I really dont like holidays where other people get presents. __________________ You have found this post informative. -The Administrator [Don't Feed The Animals]

05-10-2003, 09:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
gibber71 Loser	On Mother's Day my mother will be planting flowers in heaven and I'll be planting flowers on earth.