Julia Ward Howe, ironically -- in view of what follows -- author of the militant Civil War anthem "Battle Hymn of the Republic," penned the following "Mothers' Day Proclamation" in 1870. Her idea was to generate support a day of women's activities promoting peace.

From the voice of a devastated Earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says: "Disarm! Disarm!
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor,
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace...

This original idea for a Mothers' Day didn't work out. Years later the greeting card companies latched on to the idea, dumbing it down, of course, to its current level of socially palatable shlock. . .