Origin of Mothers Day

Today I honor the beautiful Marie Himley Sartori, my mother,

Marie Sartori this day, nearly 98

and give a special tribute to Julia Ward Howe, who in 1870 wrote the following original Mother’s Day Proclamation as a protest to the carnage of the Civil War:

“Arise, then, women of this day! Arise all women who have heart, whether our baptism be that of water or tears! Say firmly:

‘We will not have our great questions decided by irrelevant agencies. Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience. We women of one country will be too tender of those of another country to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.’

In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limits of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period considered with its objects to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, and the great and general interests of peace.”

For the love of all mothers’ sons and daughters, let us take Julia Ward Howe’s eloquent plea to heart. Let us look at our own lives, and search out where and how each of us can contribute peace. If you are so moved, please comment on how, in your own small or large way, you add peace to the world.(more on Julia Ward Howe)