272 Mlssoyri Agricultural Report. 



AN INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT FOR THE BETTERMENT 



OF RURAL HOMES. 



(Miss Maudo M. Griffith, Clinton. Mo.) 



Missouri home makers, it gives me great pleasure to come be- 

 fore you and make an attempt at presenting a "verbal snap shot" 

 of one of the greatest movements of the day — The International 

 Congress of Farm Women. 



Your president asked for a verbal snap shot — as I take it to 

 impress upon, me the fact that I must be instantaneous, but there 

 was so much about this great congress which made such a profound 

 impression upon me that I am at a loss to know what to say and 

 just how to say it in order that you in any way might get an idea 

 of the importance of this great movement and the still greater 

 momentum it has gained in the bounds of one short year. 



A nation cannot rise above its motherhood or above the influ- 

 ence of its home makers — hence how very important is any move- 

 ment for the betterment of the home and home life. 



This great meeting held at Lethbridge, in, the province of Al- 

 berta, Canada, in connection with the Dry Farming Congress, has 

 gone down as being the greatest agricultural movement or congress 

 on record. Miss Whedon of St. Paul is responsible for the idea that 

 it was "The meeting of the Ways," instead of "parting" of the 

 ways — for it was truly an International Congress. 



Women, and farm women, too, from the United States, Canada 

 and far off old England, met with one accord and one purpose. 

 Belgium sent greetings through a letter from the Baroness de Her- 

 tang, president of Belgian Congress of Farm Women. Delegates 

 to the Dry Farming Congress from Persia, Palestine, Australia, 

 India, China, Italy and Mexico, all brought greetings and good 

 wishes from the women of their respective countries for the growth 

 of this great movement. 



This international movement for the betterment of rural home 

 life was started in countries across the waters and now we fiind 

 organizations working in Africa, Australia and Europe. The or- 

 ganization in Belgium alone has an enrollment of over 15,000 mem- 

 bers. 



Though it is new, this movement has come so near reaching 

 the people and fulfilling the much felt needs of the time that the 

 fields open for work are astonishing, both in number and extent. 



