Ukiah Daily Journal from Ukiah, California • Page 18

63rd anniversary of Mother's Day Tuesday, May 3,1983 Uklah Dally Journal, Uklah, mother of the Mother's Day. May 8, marks 63rd anniversary of a residential proclamation that le mothers of America are deserving of a plaudit. While Mother's pay may seem as American as frozen pizza, it's an event that traces its origin to the mythology of Greece in 250 B.C., even though Anna Jarvis played an tant role in its celebration In the U.S. In that Greek Era, yearly spring festivals were dedicated to Rhea, the mother of six. Her sons were the gods Jupiter, Pluto and Neptune.

Her daughters were the goddesses Vesta, Ceres and Juno. "Mothering Sunday" was celebrated during Lent in England in the 1600's. Servants and apprentices were" given a free Sunday to go "a- mothering" that is, to visit the homes of their mothers to whom they generally took gifts of cakes, candy or tea roses. Julia Ward Howe was among those seeking to honor mojthers in this country, according to the historical records of the National Association of Greeting Card Publishers. Howe, who wrote the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," suggested during the Civil War that July 4 be made a holiday devoted to peace by recognizing it as Mother's In tfe early 1900's, Mary Towles Sasseen, a teacher from Henderson, invited the parents of her students to a school party in their honor.

She called the first such celebration Mother's Day. The party was a success and the remained the future celebrations over a period of years. It was Anna B. Jarvis, born in Webster. W.Va., who scored the real "breakthrough" for Mbther's Day.

She was asked by a friend to arrange a memorial service on the death of the letter's mother in Grafton, W.Va., in 1908. The church service was well received and Jarvis, who later moved to Philadelphia, was encouraged by the clergy to espouse the concept of a Mother's Day for the living. Miss Jarvis carried her cause to the press, women's clubs and legislators. The governor of West Virginia proclaimed a Mother'? Day 'in that state in 1910. Largely through Jarvis' efforts.

President Wilson proclaimed the first national Mother's Day, May 9,1914. "The service the American mother is the greatest source of the country's strength and inspiration," me president declared. "The home," he intoned, "is the fountain head of the state." Birthplace of is 103-year-old church GRAFTON, W.Va. -A simple brass plaque by the door of the two-story brick chufch here marks the place where Mother's Day began in 1908. It was In this 103-year-old church that Anna Jarvis, who had cared for her aging mother until she died in 1905, Initiated her personal crusade to create Mother's Day by arranging a quiet church service to honor her own mother and motherhood in general.

It led in 1914 to a presidential proclamation setting aside the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day, "There were only six years between the church service and the proclamation," says Sally Hbpkins, researcher for Hallmark Cards. "But the period marked probably the most successful one-person letter writing campaign in history." In those six years. Miss Jarvis, a schoolteacher, wrote editors, businessmen, ministers, industrial leaders, congressmen, governors, mayors, clubs and organizations and anyone else who would listen. And listen they did. John D.

Wanamaker, the Philadelphia merchant, urged her to continue her compaign with renewed vigor. Wilbur Chapman, a well-known evangelist of the era, added the Mother's Day idea to his religious messages. "President Woodrow Wilson issued his proclamation making Mother's Day a national holiday on May 9, 1914," says Hallmark's Sally Hopkins. "But by then every state in the union had enacted its own version. Miss Jarvis was 100 percent cessful." Anna Jarvis was one of 11 children.

She was born May 1, 1864 in Webster, a small town near Grafton. A disastrous love affair left her disillusioned and she resolved never to marry. Instead, while still in her 20's, she moved to Philadelphia with her mother and blind sister. The mother died in 1905. Miss Jarvis felt a deep loss.

"While in mourning, she conceived a plan to establish the second Sunday in May the day her mother died as a memorial to her and to all mothers everywhere," Hopkins says. "In 1912, at her urging, the governor of West Virginia made Mother's Day a statewide holiday," says Hopkins. "Oklahoma, Washington and Pennsylvania followed suit and soon every state observed the holiday." By the early 1920's, Mother's Day cards appeared. One of the rarest in the Hallmark archives is a 1924 card with hand-colored flowers. Anna M.

Jarvis died penniless in 1948 at the age of 84. But she lived to see her idea universally accepted in the United States, Canada, Central and South America, Japan, Mexico, and in many European and African countries. And it all began in that simple red brick church still standing hi Grafton. The plaque by the front door reads: "Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church. Mother Church of Mother's Day.

First Service May 10,1908. Anna Jarvis, Somebody's Mother An example of sentimental verse from several getierations ago, expressed in simple and unaffected words or is it? THE woman was old and ragged and gray, And bent with the chill of the winter's day; The street was wet with a recent snow, And the woman's feet were aged and slow. She stood at the crossing, and waited long, Alone, uncared for, amid the throng Of human beings who passed her by, Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye. Down the street, with laughter and shout, Glad in the freedom of "school let out," Came the boys like a flock of sheep, Hailing the snow piled white and deep. Past the woman so old and gray Hastened the children on their way, Nor offered a helping hand to her So meek, so timid, afraid to stir Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet Should crowd her down in the slippery streets.

At last came one of the merry troop The gayest laddie of all the group; He paused beside her, and whispered low, "I'll help you across if you wish to go." Her aged hand on his strong young arm She placed, and so, without hurt or harm. He guided the trembling feet along. Proud that his own were firm and strong. Then back again to his friends he went. His young heart happy and well content.

"She's somebody's mother, boys, you know, For all she's aged and poor and slow; "And I hope some fellow will lend a hand To help my mother, you understand, "If ever she's poor and old and gray. When her own dear boy is far away." And "somebody's mother" bowed low her head In her home that night, and the prayer she said Was: "God, be kind to the noble boy. Who is somebody's son and pride and joy!" Mother's Kisses Tliis poem was written byLilla T. Elder "I'm writing to Mother," Alice said, "And I'm making some kisses big and round! She'll hold them close to her lips, like this, And make a sweet little kissing-sound." "Are kisses round?" little Mary asked, "I'm sure they never feel so to me. They feel like stars.

Mother's do, I know, And I'd draw them this way star-shaped -see!" "Like stars? Oh, Mary, how queer you are! What funny thoughts you get in your head!" "Alice, it's true! Don't you feel so, too. When night-time comes and we're tucked in bed? "And Mother comes softly in in the dark And we see a twinkle of something bright. When she kisses us then; don't you feel as if Her kisses were stars dropped out of the night?" RESTAURANT COCKTAIL LOUNGE MOTHER'S DAY BREAKFAST 7 a.m. -1 MOTHER'S DAY DINNER 2 p.m. -10 p.m.

Saute' is the specialty of the house. BANQUET FACILITiES GROUPS OF 10 to 20 COCKTAIL LOUNGE 462-7069 920 N. STATE UKIAH 462-2065 COMPACT WIDE ANGLE TAMRON ADAPTALL Fast Aperture Fits virtually all Lightweight and SLR's old cSmpart and new Minimum Distan((e 9.8" Minimum Apertufe Limited 6 Year Warranty Supplied with Hard Case amera 108 N. School Uklah 462-3163 silver cube. Our silversmiths' mark of eKcellencc.

Dollar More Sale! Purchase two place settings on sale and receive another matching place setting for $1.00 EschS-Plece Place Setting Includes: Salad Fork, Place Fork, Place Knife, Spoon, Teasffoon. STAINLESS BY ONE $34.55 Two 5-Piece Place Settings $49.95 Reg. $57.00 Additional Matching Place Setting $1.00 Reg. $28.50 SALE $50.95 Reg. $85.50 Also Save on Completer Hostess and Serve Sets! 4-Piece Hostess Set $25.95 Reg.

$35.75 Includes; Pierced Tablespoon, Serving Fork, Gravy Ladle, Dessert Server. 4-Piece Serving $20.95 Reg. $28.50 Includes: Butter Knife, Sugar Spoon, 2 Tablespoons. ONEIDA "PROFILE 5-Piece Place Settings $29.95 Reg $35.00 Additional Matching Place Setting $1.00 Reg. $17.50 SALE $30.95 Reg $52.50 tAvailable with Place oi Pislol Style Knives 'Warranty details available upon request.

The Full Liletime Warranted" American Made Tableware SALE STARTS MAY 3 WITH THIS COUPON (Equal Savings on ONEIDA "PROFILE) Coupon Expires AAay 15, 1983 AND BRIDAL REGISTRY 304 NORTH STATE STREET UKIAH. CALIFORNIA 1 ,707) 462-6793.