Christian Women Who Advanced Mother’s Day

The Mother’s Day Proclamation of 1870 was intended to be the start of a celebration of mothers by Julia Ward Howe. Julia Ward Howe was an abolitionist poet who was accomplished in many arenas and while she may be known for writing The Battle Hymn of the Republic, her efforts to begin a Mother’s Day failed to catch on.

Christian Ann Reeves Jarvis took up the baton and in another effort worked on a program called “Mother’s Work Days,” which succeeded her and was passed on to her daughter, Anna. Anna honored her mother and three years later, on Sunday May 10, 1908, was the next attempt to start a tradition and this time it stuck after a church service was held for mothers.

Both these Christian women were part of different movements that supported men during the Civil War in one way or another in a selfless Christian act. The Mother’s Work Day Clubs founded by Ann Reeves Jarvis supported both Union and Confederate soldiers while Julia Ward Howe penned The Battle Hymn of the Republic to help further the cause of the Union soldiers fighting against slavery.

It is a beautiful tribute that Mother’s Day has continued on till this day. I will take a few days to honor the sacred history of this day that we don’t hear much about any more.