The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-04-11


the pastor, Rev. d. L. Reid, the occa-
sion being Mothers Day" services,
the outcome Of the birthday of Mrs.
William Ashby, which was celebrated
on the 23rd of February, when she pass
| ed her eighty-eighth milestone:
q call to remembrance the unfein-
ed faith that is in thee, which dwelt
first in thy grandmother Louis, and thy
Mother Eunice; and | am persuaded that
in thee Also" 2 Tim. IS.
In an eastern city the mothers met to
discuss the interests of children and the
home. They talked of the best time to
begin to train children. One mother got
up and said: Il commence with my child
rem at six years of age" Another said:
q begin with mine at five" Another
said: 1--WE ought to begin when our
children are only four years old. p"
Another said: 81 think we should be-
gin at three" An old gray-headed
mother got up and said: 81 will tell
you when you should begin-twenty
years before the birth of the child, on
its mother, and then you need not worry
about its training. Gods greatest and
best gift to a little child is a good
mother. She unconsciously impresses
her character upon the lives of her
children" God has imprinted on her
very features, "The Divinity of In
| fancy" and impart to her voice a sweet
ness and pathos that makes her almost
omnipotent for good. From the time
she first takes her little one into her
arms and clasps him to her bosom, to
the day when he becomes Independent
of her guidance, or, it may be, like
Washington, directs the destiny of
millions, her smile, her word her wish,
is an inspiring force. The remembrance
of praying mothers hand, LAID on the
head of her child, has power in after
years to hold him back from sin and
lead him to Christ.
Some one has said: THAT a Mother
is both the Morning and Evening Star
of life. The light of her eyes is always
first to rise, and often the last to set
upon man s day of trial" Nothing can
take the place of mothers love.
The is no influence so potent IN the
formation of character as that of
the christian mother. Some one has
said: eff l could mother the world.
could save the world. The hand that
rocks the cradle, is the hand that rules
the world.
blessing on the hand of woman,
Angels guard her strength and grace,
In the cottage, palace, hovel,
No matter where the place
Would that never storms assaulted it,
KainboWs ever gently curled;
For the hand that rocks the cradle,
Is the hand that rules the world"
In all the christian world none can
deny the influence which the mother
exerts over the lives and destinies of
her children, whether in the quiet sur
roundings of her influence in childhood
and youth, or when the boy has gone
from home and is a restless wanderer
tossed by the oceans waves, or scorches
| his feet in the desert sands, or is alone
in the mountain wilderness, or has lost
his way on the planes of the west; ever
in his loneliness and sorrow there comes
to his mind that maternal love that
watched over his helpless infancy. The
earnest warnings of the spirit, the
weary, aching void of the heart, the
restless, unsatisfed affections, ever
seeking one object of true material love,
made sacred in ones innermost lOngings,
by the hallowed emotions of our hearts,
as the vision Of the grass-grown mound
in the quiet grave yard inspires rever-
ence and love, which Is akin to idolatry,
as our thoughts go upward to the glori-
fled spirit among the redeemed of
Heaven, and the soul cries out in its
yearnings, There is no love like a
Mother's.' Its endearing tenderness
transcends all other affections of earth.
Not only will she glory in the success of
her children and increasing fame; but
when troubles and misfortunes come.
they are dearer to her heart than ever.
When sin, shame and disgl ace causes
their friends to turn against them and
the whole world to cast them aside, she
will, with God like affection, love them
to the end! The reckless sinner, even
in his hardened career, remembers the
songs and prayers of a devoted mother,
and through the purity of her love and
| by the influence of her holy life, will
find his way back to Life and upward to
Heaven 1t has been truly said: Her
love glows in her sympathies and reigns
in her thoughts and deeds. 1t never
coOls, never tires, never breads, never
sleeps. but ever glows and burns with
increasing ardor, and with sweet and
holy incense upon the altar of home de-
votiOn. And even when she is gone to
her last rest, the sainted mother in
uooHron n