Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-01-15
RELIGIOUS.
Maternal ASSOCIATIONS.
rFpm the Bossoa Recorder. ]

Maternal ASSOCIATIONS.
.lFp~ tie Bossoa Rec~der.l "
The first Maternal Association which we re-
collect to have heard of, was composed OF
members Of Rev. DR.. PArsoN'ss Church IN
Portland, upwards Of ten years ago. Soon
afterthis, a similar institution was formed in
this city, by ladies' belonging to the Old South
and Park-street Churches. Of which the late
lamented Mrs HrNTISsToN was a very active
member, and which has continued its meet
ings untilthe present time. 'sMaternd Asso'
cation of Union Church." (who have pub
lished the following Address,) is recently
formed, partly by members Of the old insttu-
ton.
we are informed it is contemplated to form
= distinct institution in each Of the other
Churchea which win exhibit the interesting
spectacle Of those, who formerly as children
were favored with the prayers and Instructions
Of this institution, now assembling as Mothers
60 bestow similar blessings on their children.
We hope This example win be followed in all
our Churches. ss,s A.
ApDREss To MOTHERS.
In the vicinity of Philadelphia, there
was pious mother, who had the hap
piness Of seeing her children in very
early life, brought to the knowledge Of
the truth; walking in, fear Of the
Lord and ornaments in the Christian
Church. A clergyman who was ira
yelling, heard the circumstance re-
speeding this mother, and wished very
much to see her, thinking that there
might be something peculiar in her mode
of giving religious instruction which
rendered it so effectual.a He according
" visited her, and inquired respecting
the manner in which, she discharged
the duties ola mother in educating her
chiliren. The woman replied that she
did not know that she had been more
faithful than any Christian mother
would be, in the religious instruction Of
her children. After little converse
ton, she said, "While nv children
were infants on my lap, as 'f.washed
them, raised my heart to God, that he
would wash them in that 'blood which
cleanseth from all sin, -as / clothed
them in the morning, asked my hea-
venly Father to clothe them with the
robe Of Christ's righteousness;-as
provided them food, I prayed that God
would feed their souls with the bread
Of heaven; and give them to drink the
water Of Life. When have prepared
them for the house of god, have plead
thattheir bodies might be fit temples
for the Holy Ghost to dwell in,-when
they left me for the weekday school, |
followed their infant footsteps with a
prayer, their path through life might
be like that Of the just, which shineth
more and more unto the perfect day;
and as committed them to the rest Of
the night, the silent breathing of my
soul has been, that their heavenly Faith
er would take them to his embrace, and
fold them in his paternal arms"
Here is the influence of the silent, un-
seen exertions of mother; an influence
which will be felt, when those external
accomplishments, and fieeting enjoy
ments, which many labour to give their
children, shall be forgotten or remem-
bered only as the means Of smoothing
"a rapid descent to the world of sorrow.
In this little story, two things strike
our attention; that these Efforts were
made early, and with a reliance on the
dicine blessing. This mother felt that
she received her children from God,
and was accountable to Him for the
manner in which she trained them up.
She knew that her labors would be in
vain, unless God should in mercy grant
her the aid Of His Spirit to sanctify and
save the soul; therefore. through all
the duties ofthe day, and all the inter-
esting period of childhood, she looked
up to God who is ever near to those
who viii callupon Him, and who will
listen to their cries. How happy must
be that household whose God is the
Lord; what heavenly Joy beams from
every countenance, and with what glo-
rious hope do they look beyond the
grave, to that mansion provided for
them in their fathers house; and thrice
happy must be that mother, who in the
fear of God. and in reference to eterni-
ty has thus performed her duty.
There are feelings in mothers bo-
som, which are known only by a mo-
ther-the tie which binds them to their,
offspring,is one, compared with which
all other ties are feeble. 1t is to these
feelings, that the fact just stated, will
speak language which must be under
stood; and it must strike note on this
chord that will vibrate through every
fibre of the soul. While appeals are
often made to him who has lived long
in sin, that fall like the sound Of the
empty wind upon his ear; and the voice
Of warning thunders its truths to hearts
of adamant; the appeal, now made, is
to an ear which is not deaf, to heart
which can feel.
The noise and tumult of the active
A