Religious Education Update: May 13, 2007

Don’t Underestimate Mom

Julia Ward Howe, a Unitarian and author of the words of the Battle Hymn of the Republic, issued a Mother’s Day Proclamation in 1870. She had seen the injuries caused by the Civil War, and wished to unite all mothers against war. She wrote:

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."

Julia Ward Howe’s Mother’s Day for Peace lasted for thirty years. Mother’s Day as we know it today was begun by Anna Jarvis in 1907, and was officially proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1914.

Unitarian Universalist women have continued Howe’s tradition with their own efforts to protect the health and safety of their children. Today’s UU’s are active in groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, Code Pink, and the Million Mom March. Other UU’s work to save our environment and build safer communities.

I wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all our UUP moms for all you do for your families, for our community and for the planet. We love you all and would never underestimate your power to change the world.

Marlene Abel
Director of Religious Education