MOTHERS’ DAY

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 139, 12 May 1930, Page 2

MOTHERS’ DAY

Y.M.C. OBSERVATION. Mothers’ Day was honoured yesterday by various churches and the Y.M.C.A. At the special service for men and bovs, held in the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium, Rev. C. S. Matthews, of the Baptist Church, delivered an inspiring address to a largo and representative gathering. There were present members of the Board of Directors and officers of the Y.M.C.A., members of several Bible classes, and a number of the general public. Mr C. Woods, secretary of the Y.M.C.A., read the lesson, Ephesians, 6, I—l2. In commencing his address, Mr Matthews said that the commandment to “honour thv father and thy mother” was the first one with a promise. The service that afternoon was to stir up memories of mothers. The Scripture quoted bv the speaker was a message to children to esteem their parents, who, however, must make it easy for the children to do so. “The real symbol of mothers’ day is a white carnation, standing for the purity and beauty of mother love,” said the speaker. “There are mothers and mothers,” continued Mr Matthews. “There are good mothers, but there are also wicked mothers, the latter offering a challenge to Christian manhood. There should be a challenge offered bv Mothers’ Day—a challenge to protect womanhood. One writer has said that because I had a mother I honour all womanhood for her sake. No man truly respects a mother if he does not honour womanhood. A home with a mother as teacher is the best school on earth. Although all women may not be physically beautiful, all motherhood is beautiful. The essence of motherhood is love, and there is no force more potent than love, and none more forceful than mother love. “No nation can be greater than its mothers,” continued Mr Matthews, who traced the fall of Rome and Greece to the disappearance of estimable mothers. “The lasting quality of the carnation symbolises the patience and faithfulness of mothers,” he proceeded. “In the heart of the deepestdyed criminal has been aroused the desire to do right, by thinking of mother,” said the speaker who urged his hearers to “honour and obey” their parents, or make it possible for their own children to respect them. Prior to singing “Adestes Fideles” Mr White rendered “Home Sweet Home” as a vocal solo. Mr J. Grant, on behalf of the Y.M.C.A. Board of Directors, expressed thanks to those present for attending on such a fine day, and also thanked Mr Matthews and Mr White, the latter replying.

SERVICES AT CUBA STREET. The service at the Cuba Street Methodist Church yesterday morning was a special mothers’ day one, when the minister, Rev. J. D. McArthur, preached an appropriate sermon. Mr McArthur took as his text, “Beho:d thy mother.” The incident referred to in the Scriptures took place at tho crucifixion of Christ, when He was doubtless wondering what would become of his mother on His death, said the preacher. “We have lost much in thinking of God only as father and not as mother,” he proceeded. He is the perfect father and perfect mother as well. Our conception of God is surely lacking if we cannot think of Him as mother. Christ is in a ivav a comforter and a confidant, and in this way resembles a mother, but many people do not find these qualities in Him and so must turn aside to the mother of Jesus and find these qualities.” Miss Anna M. Jarvis, of Philadelphia, was the founder of Mothers’ Day which is almost universally abserved on the second Sunday in May, said Mr McArthur. The comradeship of Miss Jarvis and her mother was very real and did not vanish on death. At her mother’s funeral were a large number of white carnations, and Miss Jarvis thought it might be possible for everyone to wear a white flower in respect and in honour of his own mother. “There are times when we cannot keep up the bold, aggressive spirit against life, and when we want a little sympathy and understanding—in fact, a mothering. Most of us experience times like these, no matter what our age may be. We often go to church and find that there is something lacking. If this is 60, then we have forgottep that God is willing to comfort and to soothe, to give tenderness and sympathy. The mother of God calms the tumult in our hearts and stills our fears. There is always someone with whom wo can talk about our eorrows, and so obtain relief. We ought to consider more about the mother aspect of God,” concluded Mr McArthur.

NOBILITY OF PARENTHOOD. Speaking on the subject of how to train a child in self reverence and safeguard him from impure imaginations, Rev. G. T. Brown, M.A., at the Mothers’ Day observance in St. Andrew’s Church, emphasised the need for mutual confidence between parents and children and the manner of the young mind of the nobler issues of life. Sacredness of sex had to be imparted to the children, stated Mr Brown. Like all that God had ordained it was filled with glory, wonder and praise. The creative faculty made us more akin to God, the Creator, and bestower of life, who was pre-eminent-ly a Father. It had enriched the human life by making possible the Christian home, but it had to be disciplined, controlled and safeguarded from corruptive influences. An admonition against awakening in little children a false sense of shame was given by the speaker, who advised parents to establish confidence bet-ween themselves and their children at an eariy a"e by sharing secrets with them, lteveitnce should always be the association with the fundamental principles of life. Books which would greatly help the parents were “The Cradle Ship,” by Edith Howes; Vhat a Young Boy Should Know, by Dr. Stall; “What our Children should know and how we should tell them, by Dr. I. Flack. ....... Concluding, Mr Brown stated that the voyage of life could not be accomplished safely without the guidance of a pilot, and the vessel which was brave its storms must be stoutly built. Jesus Christ had promised to remain on the bridge and bring the vessel safely to the great Heaven of Eternal Rest.

HONOUR TO MOTHERS. Mothers’ Day was the modernisation of an ancient festival, stated Pastor C. G. Bycroft when speaking at a special service held in the Emanuel Congregational Church last evening. He stated .that the more modern mothers day dated back to 1908 and had grown out of the action ofMiss Anna Jarvis, of Philadelphia, who had placed a bunch of white carnations on the communion table of the church or which she was a member, on the anniversary of her mother’s death. Believing that others shared her feelings she had begun a nation-wide movement to have the day observed. She had struck a responsive chord in nearly every heart. WeU might we pause, to pay honour to her who after Jesus

Christ was God’s best gift to man, stated the preacher, who dwelt on the pure influence which radiated from the love of a true Christian mother. Into the mother’s hands God had entrusted a budding immortality and unto her' He had committed the sacred task of making the first impressions upon the unsullied tablets of the child Mother love was next to divine love than its women; they were makers of men and what the world wanted today was more Christian mothers. Lord Shaftesbury had well said “Give me a generation of Christian mothers, and I will undertake to change the face of society in twelve months.” Napoleon had 6aid of France that her chief need was good mothers. What was wanted in every land to-day, and not least in our own, was a hoiy race of mothers, to rear men of God, to raise and purify society and bring in God's Kingdom. The preaching of today could not do this; universities and education could not do this, books could not do it, but holy mothers could. Mother love was next to devine love and gave a glimpse of God’s love. Every true mother had concern for the welfare of her children. She walked the safe paths and eet the right example for her offspring, concluded the speaker. BROAD STREET METHODIST CHURCH. Similar honour was done to mothers at the Broad Street Methodist Church, last evening, when reference was made to the understanding and comradeship of motherhood. THE BAPTIST SERVICE. “The Supreme Offering to Christ” was the subject for Rev. C. S. Matthews’ address at the Baptist Church yesterday morning. In the evening the subject, “Christ and the Sinful Woman,” was taken from the Bth chapter of John’s Gospel, verses I—ll.1 — 11. At the close of the address, Mr W. Lowe, of Dunedin, rendered a solo. “Christ died for the whole world and the whoie world ought to know it,” said the speaker at the morning service. “They can know it if individuals will play their part. It was good when men of position and leaderi hip offered themselves as Amarish had, bringing us to the most serious matter of our personal influence. Notwithstanding our boasted civilisation the strange woman still infested our streets, 6aid the preacher in the evening. She was the temptress of the individual, the menace of the home, a blot on society and an enemy of the country. Jesus had suggested equal codes for the sexes and He had pronounced absolution for her sin. To be saved from sin was a great work. To be empowered to “sin no more .showed the expectation of Christ. Men need not be afraid of holding out —“His grace is sufficient.”