The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-14
VIRCINIAN'S WEEKLY SERMON
By Rev. E. T. McFaden, D. D.
Pastor Of the First Presbyterian church. Richmond

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David said he Was ..the son OF thine
housemaid," /. e.. he meant to her
must be the glory and praise OF his
life. Or those born OF women. none
was greater than John the BAPTIST
But do not forget that Elizabeth, his
mother. was "biameless In all the or
dinances of the law" Look around
to-day. Whence the great sacrament
tai hosts? They come mostly from
families where mothers are religious:
where the nursery for the family Is
the nursery for the church. The
mother bends the twig. She Is the
home stayer---the companion. She is
the teacher---ths children are her pu-
pills; the home il the school house.
1t was this to which Napoleon Doubt
less had reference when he said the
need OF France is mothers'--that
made the Roman crater say: The
empire IL st the firesfde." Mohanlmed
went so far as to say that Paradise
Is at the feet of mothers Tho old
Scotch clergy were wise when they
said: Announce Of mother IL worth
more than a pound of clergy"
The same need is facing our land
to-day. and Ichabad may as we'll be
written when the women fail 10 real
ixe these facts. Let IL be said 10 their
praise that, as a rule. no class ellis
its position 30 wall as the mothers.
None il SO self-sacrtficing. Jochebed
and Hannah could give TIP their sons,
though their own pleasure. they sac
rificed. No class IL 10 patient, Fool
ishness Ia bound up in the heart of a
child. Children are exacting. selfish.
often not intentionally SO. They re-
qusre line upon line. precept upon
precept. They sometimes become in
temperate. bring shame and disgrace.
But who SO patient as mother.
No class is 10 tender. Children are
often sensitive plants. They require
attention and affection. All honor to
the Red Cross Society and the noble
nurses OF our land. But whose touch
is so gracious, whose care so tender.
whose caress 20 loving. whose correc-
ton so gentle an a mothers? No one
shows such omnipofent love rs
mother. That love stands all strains.
You have seen the huge crane lift an
engine as toy and not strain Is
perceptible. Greater power has the
mothers love. She can plead in court
for a hayward son. even though he
has disowned and beaten her. though
no may have left tho home with cars
ing upon his lips, expecting never to
return. But that love awaits patient
ly and freely forgives. ann graciousiy
receives the prodigal home.
rs It ary--~-onter- that there is eve
vision that never fades. il matters not
how long or how far we may have
wandered! Is It any mystery that
she is enshrtned In the hearts and
memories OF men.
Would II not be d wonder II the
armchair had not a sacred halo about
II:
"You love II. you love II. and who
shall dare
To chide You for loving that old arm
chair!
You've treasured 1t long as a sainted
prize,
You've bedewed It with tears and en-
baimed Il with signs:
It's hound by a thousand bands to
your heart.
Not a tie will break nor link will
start
would you leave the spellc A mother
sat there.
And sacred thing II that old arm
chair.
For some reason We love to own
and read the mothers nibIe. The
marked passages are the inspiraficn
of her life. the comfort In her SORROW.
the secret OF her power, tho source
Of her influence and strength. There
is no legacy 80 precious.
What we owe themr Everything.
We can never do too much for our
mothers. One thing We can 90: Ii she
has passed over the river. lot her
God be your God, her Bible your