"MOTHER."

Waikato Argus, Volume II, Issue 103, 6 March 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

"MOTHER."

The following sermon was delivered by the Rev. L. Hudson, at Cambridge, on the'2lst ult. The text was taken from the Ist book of Kings, 22nd chapter, 52nd verse : " And he walked in the way of his mother." Of the three most glorious words in the English language —■ Mother, Home and Heaven, the most sacred is Mother. There is a marvellous beauty about the word " home," but after all " what >s home without a mother ?" It has been truly said " the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world." In my opinion there is no higher vocation than that of the mother's. We may honour the woman of learning who devotes her life to acquiring knowledge, but after all, more to be honoured is Ibe mother who is successful by Coil's help in training her children in the way they should go. On one occasion some mothers were debating in an Eastern city as to when a child's education should begin. One mother said when six years of age ; another stated at five years ; another at four years ; and yet another at three ysars. By and by a mother said in her opinion the child's education began twenty years before it was born with the mother, for if the mother were right they need not worry about tho education ot the child. It seems to iric the influence of the mother in the home is more potent than that of the father. We admit his influence is (treat, but the mother's is the greater of the two. The home is her throne : that is her kingdom. Her ministry begins long before that of the pulpit, and impressions have been made by the mother long before tho pulpit has a chance. " She it is who stamps the coin of character and makes him a Christian man." Nothing more beautiful has ever been written about a woman than the epitaph upon a c rt.ain grave, " She always made home happy." Napoleon showed bis sagacity when asked what France needed most, and he replied •'Mothers.'" The biography of many might be summed up in the. words, he or she walked in the ways of his or her mother. This was the experience of Ahaziah. He name from the house of Jezebel and no wonder he was a bad man. Samuel came from the house of Hannah who consecrated his life early to the Lord. Carlyle was probably saved from infidelity by the character of his Scotch mother. Nero's mother was a murderess and he walked in the ways of his mother. Mothers are chiefly responsible for the moral and spiritual influence of their household. The best part of education, it has been said, is atmospheric and the atmosphere of the home depends upon the mother. If she is a worldly woman you cannot wonder if her children are like her in character, but if she is a christian woman and presents religion in an attractive form, it is almost certain lief children will follow her footsteps. Richard Cecil of London said he tried hard when a boy to become an infidel, but was saved by the influence of his mother. In the British Weekly there was reseutly pub'ished an address given by Mr Moody in connection with the funeral of his mother. Very tender is the testimony which this great evangelist bears to the influence exercised upon him and everyone of the household by his mother. Mrs Moody presents a striking illustration of the self-sacrifice of woman. Moody says that for twelve months after his father died his mother wept herself to sleep. She would not allow her children to see her grief and always appeared cheerful in their presence. A man with no love for his mother, who laughs and sneers at her, is about ready for hell. The worst of men you will find reverence the name of mother. On one occasion a young fellow, not more than IS years of age, stood in the prisoner's dock. He was proved guilty, and when asked his name he hesitated and asked if it was absolutely necessary he should give it. He then asked, "Can it be kept from my mother? Must she know '!" Tho thought in his heart was, What will mother think ? Dr Stables tells a touching story of a young fellow in Scotland who had grieved his mother because he wanted to marry a certain lady whom she objected to. The wild youth left her and said he would never return. No sooner had he gone than she repented, but he enlisted and went abroad. Years afterwards he returned to Scotland, and hearing that his mother was dying he determined to see her if possible. He got to the home too late. "My mither ! my mither !" he said ; " don't tell mo she is dead !" The next night his sister missed him, and, fearing something had happened, she and some neighbours struggled through the snow to the grave in the churchyard, and there they found him on the grave—a frozen corpse The love of mother is almost universal, and finds a large place in almost every heart. And why ? Because none is so nearly Codlike, so divine, as the love a mother bears towards her offspring. Who has not heard of the outcast woman, who, eaught in a snowstorm, took off her thin shawl and dress, wrapped them round the child, and then lay down in the snow to die: Of the mother ou the foundering ship in mid-ocean, who implored the sailors to save her child from the sinking vessel, content herself to remain and drown. You will find that most Christian men have been blessed with Christian mothers. There is no doubt the mother of Jesus Christ had a marvellous influence upon the life of her son. We read that at 12 years of age he was subject to his parents. Have you tried to picture that scene in His life, when in the agony of body on the cross, when His heart was crushed with the burden of the sins of the world, He saw His mother and spoke to her, and how He asked John, the beloved disciple, to bo a son to her. He must have loved His mother. One cannot help thinking how Byron's life would have been altered if he had been blest with a good mother. Alas ! like too many of our blessings, we don't prize them until they are taken from us. Thousands would give a gootl deal to look once more iuto the eyes of their mother and listen to her voice. There are some who would give their right hand if only they had the chance to beg forgiveness for unkind words spoken to her. Ob ! let me ask you, in the name of Cod, to prize this blessing while you have it. There is no more awful curse than to be cursed with a bad mother. I have heard of mothers in London who have taught their children the most filthy language and have taken them round to public-houses or to dissolute women for paltry gain. The saddest sight out of Heaven is the sight, of a drunken mother, and that mother who communicates to her child with the nourishment she gives the appetite for strong drink. As every road in England is said to lead to London, so every subject should lead to Cod. The most tender relationships in which God is spoken of in the. Bible is that of a mother. "As one whom his mother comforteth so will I comfort you, saith the Lord." I thought, when I read this, of an incident which took place in connection with the American War. A soldier lay dying in a hospital from wounds received. His mother came from a distance ; when she arrived he was sleeping and the doctor dill not wish her to sec him. Eventually permission was granted. In spite of the doctor's warning that a sudden shock might be fatal it was impossible for her to resist wiping the death sweat from his brow, when the son was heard to whisper, " that is mother's hand, that is mother's hand !" " A mother may forget her child, but God will never forget those who put their trust in him." This is the Cod we want you to serve. This is the Cod who seeks your love, the pitiful Cod ! Will you not bring your life iuto harmony