Annual Report of the Maternal Association.
[CONNECTED with the church in Battle Creek, there is a Maternal Association, the object and workings of which are set forth in the following annual report for the year ending in May last, which was presented before the church a few weeks since.] We feel thankful, at the close of another year, that our unassuming Society is still in existence; and although it may not have accomplished all we had hoped or desired, it has been conducted with a good degree of efficiency, and we feel we have great cause for gratitude to God that he has condescended many times to meet with us, to gladden our hearts, encourage our hopes, and answer our prayers. The meetings have been regularly held, the attendance tolerably good, a slight increase over the past year, but not what we feel it ought to have been in a place like this, where mothers are so numerous and so enlightened as to the great and awful responsibilities resting upon them, fearfully augmented by the conviction that the coming of the Lord is nigh at hand, and what is done for the salvation of our loved ones must be done quickly. We cannot reasonably hope, as some may have done in years that are past, that with the growth of the intellect and maturity of judgment would come decision of character and a yielding to the claims of religion; for our little ones may never become adults, and yet they are in an unsafe, unsaved condition. It will not do to linger. Oh! what a flocking together there ought to be to besiege the throne of grace in their, and our own, behalf, that in their young and tender years they may become the recipients of divine grace, and so be guided safely through the perils of these last days and prepared for a home in God's glorious kingdom at last. We feel that during the past year God in his providence has greatly increased our duties and responsibilities by bringing into our midst, and into several of our families, many young persons to attend our school. We can well understand the parental solicitude, and anxious, prayerful interest that follows them to this place. Most cordially do we open our hearts and our homes to receive them and at our weekly gatherings unite in earnest supplication to God that the fondest wishes of these praying parents may be realized, and with heartfelt gratitude do we acknowledge that prayer has in some instances been answered, and a great and good work commenced in some souls. Sixteen have been added to our number the past year. We have now on our books the names of seventy-five mothers with their two hundred and sixty-two children. Some of these7have removed to a distance, yet still have a warm place in our hearts. Three or four sweet little ones have been taken from the evil to come. Three dear sisters have been torn from our midst by the cruel hand of death. One was in the decline of life, the other two were young mothers. With these bereaved families, we deeply sympathize, and earnestly pray that those upon whom devolve the care and responsibility of training the motherless little ones may be graciously sustained and guided, and their labor of love be abundantly rewarded by the filial affection, cheerful obedience, and consistent, godly lives (if spared) of these dear children. Some of our number have, during the year, been visited with deep affliction, trouble, and anguish of mind. Sickness and bereavement have entered their dwellings, and we have felt indeed that there was truth in those words of Paul, “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.” Often have earnest, agonizing petitions arisen in their behalf; and as we have witnessed the return of courage, good feeling, health, and resignation, correspondingly great has been our gratitude and joy. We desire to correct any false impression that may be resting on some minds with regard to this Society. Because this is called the Maternal Association, and we meet alone, some may think we are desirous of carrying out our own views and plans irrespective of the wishes and feelings of the other parents. Most assuredly this is not the case; for we feel that God has, by connecting both in the penalty of the neglect, shown that the duties and responsibilities are equally divided, and that each alike will have to give an account at the great tribunal of the way in which they have been discharged. And on no subject do we feel it to be more important that there should be unity of purpose and concert of action. Dear brethren, we feel that we need your countenance and co-operation in this most important work, and gladly would we listen to any words of counsel, admonition, or encouragement, you may feel disposed to offer. At this very time we are perplexed, and would gratefully receive any suggestion you may make with regard to providing good and proper reading for our children. And what should be our course of action on the great Temperance Movement as it is being advocated at the present time? To such as may still be unacquainted with the object of our Association, we would say, Its principal aim is to bring together persons of different ages and temperaments to pray with and for each other. We think there are few among us, whatever our age, privileges, or piety, but would be better for uniting in earnest prayer, reading the productions of others, and free conversation from our own personal experience and observation, so that our views of the maternal character, its influences, duties, and responsibilities, may be corrected and enlarged, and our souls awakened to a more deep and earnest solicitude, with corresponding effort for the present and everlasting well-being of those committed to our care. We would cordially invite any who have not yet become members to unite with us, and fervently do we hope that ere long every church connected with our people will have a flourishing society of its own. Battle Creek, Mich., May 6, 1874.