A Letter to Parents by Mary H. Moore

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 7, 1910

A Letter to Parents

By Mary H. Moore

DEAR PARENTS: Every one who considers at all what it means to be a parent, must at times feel burdened with the responsibility resting upon those who have entrusted to them the training and welfare of the young. We all tremble at the thought of making mistakes in these things. We all realize that eternal interests are involved, and most earnestly long for help, for guidance, for wisdom from above, and gladly welcome any light upon the problems which daily confront us in rearing our children.

One means of gaining such help as we need is parents' meetings, in which may be discussed the true principles of child-training, and the duties of the different members of the household.

But since the rush of modern business life is so exacting that in many cases the whole burden of home making and family discipline falls upon the mother, these meetings naturally are left to mothers, and become mothers' meetings. In attempting to meet the need which mothers feel for help, newspapers and magazines abound in “Women's Pages,” “Mothers' Departments,” and “Hints and Helps for Housekeepers;” yet the subject is not exhausted nor overdone. Among such helps the mothers' meeting takes a front rank, and is especially suited to the needs of Seventh-day Adventist mothers, who need to draw from every source of strength and wisdom if their households are to be brought up in the faith.

These meetings are a means of help, affording a regular time and place where mothers may find sympathy and enjoy a free interchange of ideas and experiences, and unitedly petition the throne of grace for the salvation of their children. These meetings ought to be held in all places where there are Adventist families. At our camp-meetings there are usually parents' or mothers' meetings held, which are of great benefit. But would it not be well to begin the good work beforehand by organizing at home; and so prepare ourselves to gather up, retain, and apply all the good instructions we may hear at camp-meeting?

There need not be much machinery of organization, a leader, a secretary, and a regular place and time of meeting being the most important elements. Other needs can be met as they arise.

We have such an association in College View, Neb., which has been in successful operation for nearly two years. It has done great good, and has found a field of usefulness as wide as it could ask. Those who have enjoyed its benefits have been knit together in Christian fellowship, and many have been helped, encouraged, uplifted, and given higher ideals and enlightenment concerning the daily recurring problems of life.

Among the many helpful papers read and discussed at these meetings, five have been selected as especially deserving of circulation, and have been published in leaflet form for distribution, as we have felt a desire to pass on to others the light given us. These leaflets are as follows: “Domestic Methods of Queen Victoria,” “Co-operation of Parents in the Training of Their Children,” “Social Purity,” “Co-operation of Teachers and Parents,” and “Heredity.” Others will be added to the list in the near future.

Sisters, take hold of this work. Meet and organize and study these subjects on which we need so much to be informed. Study the Bible and the Testimonies and see what rich treasures are there awaiting your search. Pray together, and God will certainly give his blessing and help you to order your households in his fear and to his glory.

Yours for the salvation of the children.

MARY H. MOORE,

Temperance Secretary of the S. D. A. Church, College View, Neb.