LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 29, 16 May 1947, Page 5

LEAGUE OF MOTHERS

• MOTHERS’ DAY SERVICE GOOD ATTENDANCE Members of the League of Mothers attended in good numbers the morn-, ing service at the Knox Presbyterian Church on Mothers’ Day. The Rev. H. M. Bell was the preacher. Appropriate Scripture readings were given by two of the ladies, the Old Testament lesson from the Book of Proverbs, Chapter 31, verses 10 to 31, and the New Testament lesson from Ephasians, Chapter 6, verses 1 to 9.

The hymn “My Mother’s Prayer” was sung by Mrs. K.. Schofield.

Rev. Bell took as his theme “The Child in the Midst,” and mentioned the important part schools and Sunday schools play, despite restricted time in the training of the child. One hour per week out of 168 hours is all that the Sunday school has, and hence if the home is not the ally of the Sunday school the work done in Sunday School is almost useless. Reference was also made to the importance of the home influence, which was largely waning today, and Rev. Bell stressed the need for this to be restored. Home is the most profoundly important element in the life of any nation, and the responsibility rests on to liye before the child as a worthy and good example. It is useless blaming the Church if the home is not her ally, but instead her enemy. Christianty would never be safe nor the Church strong in this land, until Christian worship, teaching, and living, become as much an essential part of the home as they are an essential part .of the Church. The fact is that no nation can rise above the level of its home life. Not the law, not the school, not even the Church can save from ruin, the land in which the home life is corrupt and Godless. Therefore it behoves parents to do all they can to uphold and safeguard the home life. Christ’s strong words against those who teach children to sin were qoted: “But whosoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a millstone hanged around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Rev. Bell concluded his address by saying what a transformation could be wrought, if parents, like Joshua of old, would declare in word and action, “as for me and my house, we iwill serve the Lord.”