Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 January 1915 — WORE CARNATIONS AT MOTHERS’ MEETING [ARTICLE]

WORE CARNATIONS AT MOTHERS’ MEETING

Immense Throng Heard Sermon Devoted to Mothers at Christian Church Last Night* The evangelistic service Tuesday night in the Christian church was one of the greatest ever experienced in the city of Rensselaer. JPhe large building was crowded to its utmost capacity and it was hardly possible to accommodate any more. It was a very beautiful sight to witness hundreds of white .carnations pinned on those present in honor of Mother and her sweet memory. Not only was it a pronounced success as far as the attendance was concerned, but the music and spirit of the meeting will live for a long time in the hearts and minds of the people of this city. The great audience took hold of the old songs Mother used to sing, and fairly made the house ring with the sweet strains of these old songs. Mrs. Curnick rendered her own composition on my “Mother” in a most creditable manner and it left a wonderful impression on the vast audience. Prof. Altheide had his chorus working in fine fettle, and his solo was the best yet. The music is getting better all the time. The sermon of the evening was on ‘Mother,” and the speaker said in part: Were 1 gifted with the tongues of angels and had the wisdom of Solomon, or could I speak like Paul, I could not pay the fullest tribute to the holy, faithful and sainted motherhood of our land. It may be a great thing to wear a sparkling crown, or to sit in the president’s chair; it may be a mighty thing to lead armies unto victory, but it is a mighty thing to be a good mother. In this day we are learning so much about armies and navies, suffrage, tariffs and a host of other things, but the crying need and the greatest need of this land of the free and brave is* for holy, righteous and sublime motherhood. Napoleon was right, when aslked what France most needed, when he replied: “France needs good mothers.” God knew that it was best for them to leave the training of the child and the noblest tasks to the divine touch of a mother's influence. In centem plating this mighty thefne there are a few outstanding thoughts that come to us all. One is motherV’love. Who can ever measure it, for there is neither heighth, depth, length or breadth to its boundaries. It begins before we are born, for every mother must go inrto the shadow of death for her own. In the days of helpless infancy it watches over us even throughout the sombre shadows of the night, her hand hovers above it. In the days of wandering, even though others may see little in our lives, she never loses faith in her child. What is there that a mother’s 16ve will* not do for the child of her ©are? I know a woman who spent twenty-five years in a state prison 1 in the place of her boy to shield hiip from the clutch of the law. The sweetest and holiest thing in the world outside of the love of Jesus Christ is the love of a Godly mother.

Who can fully know the measure of a mother’s sacrifice When the names of the illustrious in the Kingdom of God are read in the great judgment morning, the names that will stand at the top of the page will be the names of these good women, God has given us as our mothers. Garfield was not the Only man Who "should have kissed his mother on the day of his triumph, for out of a mother’s sacrifice, love and holy affection every man’s greatness and achievement must grow. The service tonight will be one of the best and the theme will be on the “Eternal Issue.”