Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 179, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 August 1918 — ADDRESS MADE BY MRS. C. W. HANLEY [ARTICLE]

ADDRESS MADE BY MRS. C. W. HANLEY

A few words as to the purpose of the War Mothers organization, which is composed of mothers Only of boys in service. We are standing behind every patriotic movement to bring the war to a speedy close. “The War Mothers” was organized ■by an Indianapolis lady by the name ‘of Mrs. Alice M. French in August, j 1917, and in August, 1918, the 15th land 16th, the convention meets again in Indianapolis and the plans for a national organization will be perfected, Which will then be known as “The American War Mothers.” The county meetings are held the last Saturday of each month. We have township meetings whenever it best suits the sownship ladies and at these meetings, the mothers may tell of their own boys’ their pleasures and their sorrows, and have interested sympathetic listeners. Almost every city ot town of any size has a chib or clubs whereby they can give some comforts and pleasures to their local boys, this, has become the pleasure of the Jasper county war mothers. We have sent to all our boys in service that we have been able to locate a letter, telling them to come to. us with their troubles and worries, and if there is anything we can send them to make them comfortable and happy to ask us. We have had some very interesting letters in reply, and have so far granted every request, Some ask for sweaters, some for hand knit socks, some comfort kits, some literature, and a few requests for tobacco. The last few days a good many letters are being received from France. Now if there are any boys whose names we do not have, we desire to have his name and address, also his mothers’ name so we may consider the mother one of our working members, so please send them in. We have a great many motherless boys. Some friend or neighbor please send us his name, that he may receive some of the comforts also. The War Motehrs today are presenting a service flag to Jasper county. We have two mothers who are distinguished, one Mrs. Rose of Barkley township, whose son was the first to enlist in the Rainbow Division in April,' 1917, and Mrs. George Iliff, who has three sons in ,the sendee. One more family in Jasper county are represented by four boys, but the parents of these 'boys are not living. These are the Speak boys. We are pleased Ao have the mothers unfurl the flag the war mothers are presenting to Jasper county. We have today 522 blue stars and two gold stars representing Wm. Budd, of Gillam township, and Earl Caster, of Milroy. In planning for our services today, we were thinking of how we might please our boys as well as ourselves in delivering the address. We know they, while absent, are with us in spirit, and we thought it would give them pleasure to invite one who had lived and worked among them for ten years, and watched over them, loving and guiding them not only in the church and sabbath school, but ball, basket ball and on the base ball fields and was a companion as much as any one we know of, and if he should be called < into service as chaplain we would be greatly pleased to have any one or more of our boys under his care again the same as when they were little boys on the play ground in our little city, and we would be glad to know they were - again under his spiritual care and leadership. Rev. Parrett is nd stranger to Jasper county people.