The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-04-18
For the Union.
me .1,hrana .nateraaI .s..oe'aston.

Tbe .1shiGBd Maternal .4ssocfatt0H.
This Society was organized in April, 1858
and record of its meetings kept until the
close of 1854. For a considerable time subse'
quent no meetings were held: when they were
resumed they took the form of circles for pray
er, and have been continued several years un
der the name of the "Mother's Prayer Meet
ingtn At one of these, held on the afternoon
of Friday, March 10Th, 1850, it was resolved
to restore the original name and arrange the
the exercises according to the provisions of
the Constitution adopted at the organization
of che Association. 1
Upon the pages of the Society's book were
recorded the names of twenty-five mothers and
ninety-three children. OF these, three families
have since changed their place of residence.
During the two and a half years Immediately
succeeding the formation of the Society, its first
Vice President and her two eldest children,
themselves parents, were called from the duties
of earth to higher service, as it is our priv
Lego Ito believe, in Heaven. Also a little
granddaughter of our venerated friend had
passed from the embrace of loving parents to
that of her Heavenly Father. And yet anoth-
er from the same family group below-one
amiable and beloved, qualified both in mind
and heart for usefulness here, has gone to join
the circle above, where partings are unknown.
She had been preceded to her HON Ia the
skies, by a youthful acquaintance, who also
had prepared herself to exert an influence
which might benefit others; but who had left
the acquisition of knowledge here, to make
far greater attainments under the immediate
teaching of Him who :espake as never man
spake.' An infant niece and namesake of our
young friend, was for awhile permitted to give
joy to its parents, and then transferred from a
world of sin and sorrow, to one of unvarying
and unending felicity.
Still fresh is our memory of the joyous
hearted, la~ughing-eyed little girl, who for a
few brief years gladdened tile home of her pa
rents, and was then added to the countless
number of little ones in the angelic throng.-
Them a gentle, winning little boy, the young
est darling of the household band, was called
away to continue in Heaven the existence but
recently begun upon earth. 0
Lately We have mourned with a twice-strick-
en- group-oncea as they laid in his last earthly
resting place the beloved form of one in early
manhood; and again as they bent over the in
animate clay-all that remained to them of
the afectionate daughter, sister, wife, and
youthful mother. In the brief interval which
separated this brother and sister, we mingled
our tears with another household, bowed in
grief over the removal of their frst-born-the
much loved daughter and sister-remoxed ere
the cup of eafthly sorrows had been more than
tasted, ard when life's joys seemed surest.
Mothers of this praying circle You can tes-
tify from your own blessed experience that
God hears and answers prayer. Of the dear
ones removed from your earthly sight, all have
left you a comfortable hope of their enjoyment
an that world where you can anticipate a re
union with them, together to spend an eternity
in. the presence of Him who bought you and
yours with his own blood. OF those who re-
main, in each family where any of your off.
spring have passed the state of childhood, you
have been permitted to rejoice over one, OF
more, gathered into "the visible fold of Christ
on earth. y You need not be reminded that
"His arm is not shortened that it cannot save
neither his ear. heavy that it cannot hear" mol
vet of the promise, "Open thy mouth wide
and / will fill it" .1
sag ao5 SATURDAY, April 7th, 1860.
An article in the Constitution of the Mater
nal Association requires, that, once in three
months, the children shall be present at the
meeting of the Society, for the purpose of being
questioned and instructed by the pastor. In
compliance with this arrangement, twenty-one
mothers and more than fifty children assem-.
bled in the church this observation-disclosures ev-
cry. child had committed to memory a text of
Scripture upon the subject of Faith. AS these
were repeated, Mr.. Robinson put such ques-
lions and gave such explanations and ~illustra-
tons as rendered the exercises interesting and
profitable. We hope the time is not far dist
ant when a greatly increased attendance on
these Quarterly meetings will make manifest
the deep interest which Christian parents feel
In the spiritual welLbeing of their children.
SECRETARY'S REPORT