Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-13
FUTURE OF NATIONRESTS
WITH AMERICAN MOTHER
Striking Sermon Most Noble Career for Woman Is De-
lvered by South Richmond Pastor in Decatur
Street Methodist Church.

y Mothers Day" sermon was de-
hFered yesterday morning by Rev.
Samuel l.. Dumville. pastor OF the De-
catur Street Methodist Church. South
Richmond from the text, Proverbs XXI.
~: a worthy woman who can find?
| For her price is far above rubies"
The pastor said in part: The word
woman. especially when the word
mother Is associated, conveys the most
sacred thoughts. good worthy
L virtuous woman is next to God Him
| self. You show me n mans mother,
and / can come very near telling you
! what kind of a man he is. A woman
can be an example for the highest good
or lowest evil. An angel or devil.
! or lowest evil-an angel or a devil
| higher plane morally than men. ] hope
| the time will soon come when society
! will demand the same standard of NOR
| ais for the man rs for the woman.
Our homes are on the level with our
women. What they are, our homes
! will be. What our homes are will de-
| termine what our towns. cities, States
! and nation will be. Women and es-
! pccially mothers, hold the destiny Of
the nation in their hands. Many a
man is handicapped for life because OF
! the woman he selected for his wife.
/ just as many woman has made hell
| for herself by marrying the wrong
! man: but wrose that either of these
! is the child that has the wrong kind OF
mother thrust upon him. Many young
| men has been given the wrong idea Of
F! Christianity because of the inconsistent
/ living of his parents, his mother or
! father. On the other hand, man owes
! all his success in life to his mother.
! Sometimes we wonder at such charac
! tcrs as Wesley. Mckinley and others:
| but when we remember what mothers
| such men had the reason for their
! being is explained. Every man who
| has true woman for wife or mother
! can testify that at times when he was
| about to give up, the encouragement
| of such woman became spur, an an
;idote to his tagging spirits. 1t Is
| indeed the hand that rocks the cradle
| that rules the world. AS some one has
| said: You talk about the man behind
| the gun, what about the woman be-
! hind the man behind the gun?
WRITE CHEERFUL LETTERS
TO BOYS IN FRANCE
Just word to mothers. wives.
| sweethearts and sisters. in fact to all
| of you who have loved ones over
| there OF loved ones who are going
| soon. Cheer them up. No matter how
| much you may suffer, never let them see
| you weep. Tell that good-by with a
| smile, even if the smile covers an al
! most breaking heart. Write them
| cheerful letters. Keep your home trou-
| bles and worries to yourselves. Moth
| ing will keep the morale Of the men up
| better than to know that the women OF
their hearts are proud OF them and are
backing them with all they have.
"A word OF warning to young women.
as we'll as to their mothers. You can
set the moral tone of the young man
hood of this city. a man very seldom
If ever, approaches a woman in an in
sulting manner unless the woman
either consciously or upconsciously in
vites such an approach. Extremes In
modern dress. low cut at the top and
high cut at the bottom, with loud.
hashy hosiery are invitations, no mat
ter what the intentions OF the wearcr
may be A harmless Irritation $50
callcd) with a stranger. or ciandcs
tine meeting may be pleasant. but
such is always mixed with danger.
There should be 10 letting down OF
social standards in these perilous
times. The great responsibility is
upon the parents, and the mothers in
particular. Oh! let me beg of you
Know at all times where your children
are, and especially your daughters.
Know the company they keep But
some one says: I can trust my daugh-
ter Maybe you can. but can you trust
the man whom she may meet as A
chance acquaintance or even in a reg
ular way? Some girls think il is a
disgrace not to have a beau. want
10 tell you. not to make you smile
but in all seriousness. 1t is disgrace
TO allow some men to keep company
with you Young ladies. don't permit
young man to go with you. just for
the sake of having beau, whom you
would not be willing to consider as
! eligible for matrimony. Don't marry
man to reform him. Don't fall all
over yourself to marry the first man
| VINO asks YOU. There are some things
worse than being old maids.
GREATEST PRIVILEGE is
TO BE 4 MOTHER
This is Mothers Day. however, and
we must devote most of our time and
thought TO the subject OF the hour.
Ever since the Bethlehem Babe was
| held in His mothers arms. there has
oeen new day for woman She has
pech coming into her rightful heritage.
! some one has said: God made woman
from mans choicest rib, not from his
mead 10 rule over him. not from his
rect 10 be his slave. but from his side
20 ne ms equal, his coDartner." Though
believe in woman's rights and sur
the so-called new woman ha,i.va
me greatest privilege God has given
10 mankind is in woman's possession.
mat is, the right to he mother. The
future Of the nation depends upon tho
way woman accepts or shirks this re-
Sponsiblity.
Talk about careers for women. tho
greatest career is that of wife and
mother. There are homes in which tho
ADVENT OF child is considered a curse
rather than = blessing There are mar
ried women who shrink from matern-
ity. not because of the pain involved
not because OF i'll health. but simn,v
because they love ease fine garments
ana the ability to fit like a butterfly
AZ some social function. A woman who
Is not willing to become mother has
no right 10 marry. 1t makes me sick
10 sec them nursing . poodle dog when
II could and ought to be a baby Ginsv
smith said such ought to be denorte d
10 Germany. Just to think Of it, nurs-
ing poodle. when children arc parent
in 1N-D,