5 interesting facts about Mother's Day
4. A day of peace
Before it became an official holiday, an early version of the American observance was created by Julia Ward Howe, the author of the famous Christian song, "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
In 1870, Howe released a proclamation for a "Mother's Peace Day," which centered on all mothers to advance the cause of world peace.
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"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," read the proclamation in part.
"In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a general congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace."
