The Mother of Lebanon

On the occasion of international Mothers' Day, the American Mothers Association designated, for each of the member states of the United Nations organization, a Mother for the year 1950.

And since Lebanon is among these states, the Marquise de Freige was named Mother of Lebanon for 1950.

In the letter which the American Mothers Association addressed to the Marquise de Freige on this subject, it stated that the reasons for which the appointment was made are the renown of the Marquise de Freige as a mother and housewife — this besides her humanitarian works in society, and especially as president of the Lebanese Red Cross.

The American Mothers Association invited the Marquise de Freige to receive the medal at a breakfast party to be held in America on the morning of May 12 — Mothers' Day. Since it proved impossible to accept their invitation, the Marquise de Freige delegated her relative, Madame François Kettaneh, currently residing in New York, to take her place in reading the message of the "Mother of Lebanon," to receive the medal, and to send it in turn to the Marquise de Freige.

On this occasion the Lebanese Red Cross held a family gathering in honor of its president, the Marquise de Freige: first, to celebrate her designation as Mother of Lebanon; and second, to invest her with the decoration which His Holiness the Pope in Rome had bestowed upon her in recognition of her great services.

The Woman's Voice offers its congratulations to the Marquise de Freige on this confidence she has won from the mothers of America, and it is confident that woman in Lebanon, had she been given the chance to voice her opinion, would choose no mother better than her, or more worthy of this sacred title.

★ On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the "Cooperation Club for Young Christian Women" in Beirut, the club held a luncheon in honor of His Excellency the Prime Minister, Mr. Riad Bey al-Solh, and the club's hall was crowded with hundreds of ladies and men who look with favor upon this great humanitarian association.

The mistress of ceremonies was Mrs. Salma, wife of Professor Anis al-Makdisi, who welcomed His Excellency the Prime Minister and set forth the purpose of the invitation. She was followed by Miss Sawaya, who spoke of the association's wide-ranging works and their commendable results. Then Miss Kelly, one of the founders of this association, rose and spoke in English on the history of its beginnings and how it developed until it reached its present state.

The address of Dr. Jamal Karam Harfush was a fine one, turning on the importance of this association and what it does for the rising generation.

Finally His Excellency Riad al-Solh rose and praised the efforts this association exerts in the cause of cultural and humanitarian projects, and called for the unification of the efforts of the Lebanese woman in these fields, so that the national spirit may rise above the sectarian spirit... And, speaking for the government and the municipality, he donated the sum of five thousand Lebanese lira as assistance to this association, which renders woman the noblest of services.