CHAPTER VII.

THE MOTHER AND THE CHRIST-CHILD

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord.”

It is suggested that at some convenient time during the Christmas season a mass meeting be held for the mothers of the community. Special efforts should be made to gather _all_ mothers, as far as possible; carriages might be sent for the old mothers, for special love and deference is due to them; and arrangements should be made for care of babies, so that young mothers may be free to attend.

If so desired, the program may include selections of stories and quotations from the foregoing chapters, and some of the prayers may be used. Let all Christian mothers gather to pray and plan for the children of the world, in the Name of the little Child of Bethlehem.

BIBLE READING

Luke 1:26-35, 38, 46-55 & 2:19, 51.

The angel addressed the holy mother as “highly favored,” “the Lord with thee.” God’s presence in her life was a reason why she could be trusted with the greatest responsibility ever given to a woman, to bring up, to teach and guard the most wonderful child ever born. Contrast how royal princesses are seldom entrusted with the care and training of future kings and emperors.

Vs. 46-55. Mary’s appreciation of what God had done for her personally,--her wider vision of what her experience was to mean to the world. She accepted the trust and believed the amazing promise, (v. 38) but realized that the present and future generations were to share in the blessing (vs. 48, 54, 55.)

Ch. 2:19, 51. Mary kept in her heart all the strange, wonderful occurrences, pondering them, trying to understand God’s dealings, and to bring herself and her actions into line with them. She realized that hers was an unusual task, and set herself to watch and understand its meaning.

PRAYER

Oh Lord, our Heavenly Father, we pray for Thy rich blessing upon this gathering of mothers, and upon the mothers of this community. Grant to each one of our children those blessings of body, mind, and soul which Thou seest they most need. Grant to each father and mother the wisdom, love, and courage, and, above all, the personal acquaintance with Thee that shall enable them to train their children for useful, happy, Christian manhood and womanhood, and to love and serve Thee for time and for eternity.

We beseech Thee, in the name of the Holy Child of Bethlehem, to remember our homes and the homes of the whole earth with Thy Fatherly blessing. Guard little children throughout the world from sin and sorrow and suffering, from cruel neglect and oppression, from growing up in vice and ignorance. Stir the hearts of Thy servants at this glad time of the Children’s Festival, to take the knowledge of the blessed Christ-Child to the remotest corners of the earth, that all children may learn to know Him, and may grow up into His likeness.

We ask it in the name of Thy Holy Child Jesus. Amen.

“Holy night! peaceful night! Through the darkness beams a light Yonder, where they sweet vigils keep O’er the Babe, who, in silent sleep, Rests in heavenly peace.

“Silent night! holiest night! Darkness flies and all is light! Shepherds hear the angels sing-- ‘Hallelujah! hail the King! Jesus Christ is here!’

“Silent night! holiest night! Wondrous Star! oh, lend thy light! With the angels let us sing, Hallelujah to our King! Jesus Christ is here!”

What a significant fact it is that, of all religions, Christianity is the only one which lays emphasis on the childhood of its Founder! Mohammedan tradition weaves the most marvelous and fantastic tales about the infancy and childhood of the man who founded it, though none of these are mentioned in the Koran. But how different are these extravagant and often disgusting stories, from the wonderful Gospel story of the Christ-Child.

No other child ever born into this world has had such honor done to the event of his birth, or has been able to inspire in millions of hearts through generation after generation the joy of remembering others, the delight of expressing love by gifts, the glory of “goodwill among men,” that mark the Christmas time.

Few of those who live in a Christian land can realize the effect of the mere observance of the Christmas festival on those who never heard of Christ. Christmas Day, although of course not celebrated by non-Christians, is nevertheless called in India “the _great_ day of the year,” by thousands of Hindus and Mohammedans. Dr. Badley of Lucknow, in commenting on the fact, says:--

“The heathen people of course do not celebrate Christmas; they know that Christians do, however, and this simple fact, so constantly observed, causes them to think about the power of Christianity. Many are led to ask, ‘Who was Christ? What did He do? Why do the Christians observe His birthday?’ These inquiries call forth various answers, discussion follows, and thus the whole nation with its many millions of people, is thinking and talking about the world’s Saviour.”

Would that every mother in America might have a vision today of a Christless home in a Christless land, and then of that home transformed, and taking its share in the festival of the Christ-Child! When once the spirit of the blessed Christ has touched a heart or a home or a community, there is a transformation. Is there any other anniversary that inspires the blessed joy of giving that belongs to the Christmas season? The _Missionary Link_ gives a sample of what Christmas has come to mean to some Japanese children in Kyoto, and the consequences of their celebration:--

“Last Christmas the children used the money they had collected in Sunday-School to buy charcoal for the poor. As they did not know to whom they should give it, they asked the policeman to give it to the poorest people he knew. They did not hear any more about it for some time, when one Sunday an old woman came to Sunday-School, and asked if this was the place where poor people were helped. She then thanked the children for the charcoal, telling them it had kept her warm most of the winter. She told them she lived in a tiny room with another old woman, and, although she worked very hard sewing, she could only earn about three cents a day. She had no money to buy charcoal to keep her warm, and about Christmas time thought she would throw herself into the river, as she was of no use to any one. Just at that time the children sent her the charcoal, so she felt that some one really cared for her. She helped in the heathen temple for a little while, but said the people were so unkind to her she could not stay. Now she is studying about Jesus, and goes every week to the Sunday-School.”

If such effects follow when little heathen children are taught the story of Christmas and its significance, why, oh why, should not we mothers send the beautiful message to every little child in the world?

MOTHERHOOD

I see them come crowding, crowding, Children of want and pain, Dark sorrow their eyes enshrouding, Where joy’s touch should have lain.

They stand in silence beseeching, Gaunt faces lifted up, And wan little hands outreaching For Love’s forbidden cup.

Their hearts are restless with yearning, The hearts of my own are stilled, Their lips are parched and burning, The cups of my own are filled!

I cry in love unsatisfied For these without the fold, My mother’s arms are open wide These weary ones to hold.

What though my arms are open wide, Only mine own lie near, Without still stand those long denied, Compassed in want and fear.

Bowed with the crown of Motherhood, I seek that Shepherd of old; “How can mine own receive the good With some left out of the fold?”

(Isabel Kimball Whiting in _The Survey_. By permission.)

Is it enough for us to plan that our own children and those near and dear to us shall be made happy by our Christmas tokens of love and remembrance? Truly it is such a busy, rushing time that even our regular church work must often be set aside that the Christmas obligations may be met. But a true mother heart is big enough to take in more, and ever more, and the blessing of growth is bestowed on each heart that opens to admit new objects of love.

“Recently,” says the _Outlook_, “a tender, gentle, refined woman who has identified herself with those movements which seek to improve the conditions of child life, said, ‘I have had a new thought come to me that has made me accept the loss of my little girl with patience, almost with resignation. God never meant that a woman should be the mother to just one little girl. He meant that every woman should be mother to every child in the world.’”

“How I wish I could give a Christmas present to Jesus!” said a loving little girl, her eyes dancing with Christmas joy as she surveyed the small gifts, so long planned and carefully prepared for her dear ones. For her the very essence of Christmas was its expression in visible tokens to those whom she loved. If we mothers long to “give a Christmas present to Jesus,” what could be more acceptable to Him, than the dedication of an hour of this busy, happy Christmas season to loving prayer and thought for the mothers and children in our own community and throughout the wide world? Thus shall we be drawn near to the heart of the great Father, and, if during this hour some angel messenger whispers to our hearts of a special task which He is willing to entrust to us, may we be ready to answer with Mary of old,--“Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word!”

What blessings shall we ask for the mothers of the world? What do we need for ourselves? Unselfish love, infinite patience, wisdom and insight, tact and sympathy, health to bear the daily strain, quiet nerves, a sense of humor that smooths rough places, a sweet, strong cheerfulness, a likeness to Christ that shall be reflected in the lives of all the members of the household. “According to the _riches_ of His grace,” He is waiting to bestow His blessings on the mother hearts waiting here, before Him, and through their intercession, on the mother hearts of the world.

What blessings shall we ask for the children of the world? The same that we ask for our own as we kneel at their bedside, and our eyes are dim with tears of yearning love, while we pray that our darlings may be kept from harm and accident, from all soul stains, that they may “grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man.” Is there any blessing you ask for your boy and girl that is not needed by the other children of the world?

“Prayer is cheap,” some say, “it costs nothing to say a prayer for missions.” _Real_ prayer is not cheap,--it costs the deepest, strongest thought one can expend; it costs time; it costs the willingness to help to answer one’s own prayers in terms of interest and gifts and service. In Christ’s name, then, let us pray, and let us not rest nor be satisfied until every mother in the world, clasping her child to her bosom, is truly a holy mother, and every little child is a holy child.

INDEX

Addams, Miss Jane, p. 92.

“Age of the Child,” p. 4.

American children at work, pp. 248, 251, 252.

Anti-foot-binding movement, p. 33.

Applied Christianity, p. 17.

Bathing, pp. 22, 23.

Bible, place of the child in, p. 197; the power of, pp. 207, 208.

Bible reading, pp. 41, 82, 128, 172, 216, 256, 261.

Bibliography, pp. 42, 84, 128, 173, 218, 257.

Blind children, pp. 118, 120.

Bunker, Alonzo, p. 6.

Burma, a home in, p. 55.

Burma, Christian children in, p. 242.

Burnett, Mrs. Frances Hodgson, p. 9.

Caste, India, p. 213.

Childbirth, China, p. 39; suffering during, pp. 13, 14.

Child labor, among Bedouins, p. 104; in Africa, p. 104; in Persia, pp. 105, 106; in many lands, p. 105; need of public sentiment concerning, p. 103.

Child marriage, India, pp. 68-72, 79.

Child slavery, pp. 107-110.

Child training, Persia, pp. 58, 59.

Child wives, Persia, p. 81; India, p. 10.

Child welfare agencies, p. 5.

Child at worship, Thibet, p. 180; India, pp. 180, 181; Moslem lands, pp. 181, 182; Africa, pp. 183, 184.

Children, of India, needs of, p. 3; of Persia, p. 4; of Syria, p. 3; importance of, p. 8.

Children’s pavilion, Beirut, p. 38.

China’s awakening, p. 227.

Chinese, mother ideal, p. 57; mothers, p. 10; mothers in council, p. 231.

Christ needs the children, p. 223.

Christianity, in the home, p. 78; place of child in, p. 263.

Christmas, in India, p. 264; in Japan, p. 265.

Clothing, p. 23-24.

Cochran, Mrs. James, p. 21.

Confucianism, attitude towards girls, p. 21; and Christianity, pp. 187, 188.

Conservation of human resources, p. 8.

Contagious diseases, pp. 34-37.

Curtis, Wm. E., p. 235.

Crowther, Bishop Samuel A., pp. 237-239.

Dale, Mrs. G. F., p. 38.

Deaf and Dumb children, pp. 118, 119.

Defective and dependent children, pp. 110-124.

Death of children, pp. 196, 197.

Discipline, lack of, p. 58.

Devine, Dr. E. T., pp. 6, 31, 52.

Dolls, in Central Africa, p. 126.

Dying child’s doll, pp. 101-103.

Education, Africa, pp. 170, 171; divergent views on, pp. 136-138; Japan, pp. 139, 140; China, p. 141; India, pp. 141, 142; Persia, pp. 142-144, 154, 234; Turkey, pp. 142-144; Siam, pp. 168, 169; extent of American Missionary, pp. 163, 164; among backward nations, pp. 151-153; of future mothers, p. 156.

Egypt, Lord Cromer on, p. 155.

Eugenics, pp. 9-11.

Evil Eye, pp. 15-16.

Evil spirits, p. 17.

Exner, Dr., p. 28.

Family life, foundations of, p. 65.

Famine waifs, pp. 116, 117.

Fathers, position of, pp. 61-64; Egyptian, p. 62; African, p. 62; transformed by Christianity, p. 63.

Feast day, Arabia, p. 124.

Feast of dolls, Japan, p. 93.

Feast of flags, p. 94.

Feeding, pp. 26-28.

Foerster, Dr. F. W. on education and Christianity, pp. 144, 145.

Foot-binding, pp. 32, 33.

Games, pp. 95-99.

Girls, mothers of, pp. 64, 65.

Giving to missions, pp. 243, 244, 251; systematic, p. 250.

Harrison, Elizabeth, p. 148.

Health, pp. 31-32.

Heathen baby, A, p. 213.

Heredity, pp. 9, 10.

Hindu Vedas, p. 186.

Holy Child, The, pp. 252, 253.

“Holy Night,” p. 263.

Home, the center of a nation’s life, pp. 52-54; a transformed, p. 79; a Mohammedan in Persia, p. 47; a heathen in Africa, p. 49; a Christian in Zululand, p. 51.

Homes, disorderly, p. 54; how to bring Christ to, pp. 72, 73.

Hygiene, pp. 28-29.

Hymns, p. 208.

Idol worship, pp. 190, 191.

India, infanticide in, pp. 19-21; work for children of, pp. 232, 233.

Industrial training, p. 163.

Infant mortality, pp. 24, 25.

Infanticide, pp. 18-21.

Influence of a picture card, p. 255.

Influences, moral and immoral, pp. 56-58.

Illiteracy, statistics, pp. 138, 139; Sir J. O. Rees on, p. 139.

Innocence, absence of, p. 55.

Japan, changes in, pp. 224-227.

Japan, Imperial University, p. 225.

Junior Endeavor, pp. 205-206.

Kashmir, the athletic method in, pp. 159, 160.

Kindergarten children grown up, p. 226.

Kindergartens, need of Christian, pp. 147-149.

Kindergartners, qualifications of, p. 150; a West African, pp. 150, 151; Union, Japan, pp. 145-147; China, p. 147.

Koran, p. 185.

Korea, praying children in, pp. 253, 254; Christian children in, p. 242.

Languages used in Presbyterian schools, p. 164.

Li Bi Cu, Dr., pp. 229-231.

Literature, need for good, pp. 161-163.

Lepers, pp. 120-124.

“London Bridge” in Africa, pp. 96-97.

Mary, the slave child, pp. 109, 110.

Marriage, early, a barrier to education, pp. 154, 155.

Medical practice in non-Christian lands, pp. 34-36, 39.

Milligan, Robt. H., p. 11.

Missionary children, p. 77; at work, pp. 246-248.

Missionary’s dream, A, p. 212.

Missionary education, reasons for continuing, p. 138; is it needed, pp. 135-136.

Missionary homes, pp. 74-77; wives, pp. 73, 74; mothers, pp. 29, 30.

Mothers, ignorant, pp. 26, 36.

Mothers’ meetings, p. 78.

Motherhood, protection of, p. 11; suffering of, p. 13; the burden of, pp. 64, 70, 71.

“Motherhood” (poem), p. 266.

Mpongwe, a dying tribe, pp. 12, 13.

Mohammedan girls, pp. 66, 67.

Mohammedan month of mourning, p. 190.

Montessori, Dr., p. 153.

Moslem lands, need of women doctors, p. 14.

Needs of childhood, pp. 3, 4.

Need of the world, the one great, p. 249.

Non-Christian religions, place of child in, pp. 185-188.

Obstacles, pp. 209, 210.

“Organized motherhood for the world,” pp. 5, 54.

Orphans, Armenian massacre, pp. 111-113; Mohammedan, p. 113.

Orphanages, India, pp. 114, 115.

Pacific Islands, pp. 240, 241; training children of, p. 255.

Persian girls, education of, p. 154.

Persian “Helen Keller,” pp. 117, 118.

Persian schoolboys, p. 234.

Physical training, pp. 157-160.

Play, teaching children to, p. 157; among the Lao, p. 125; importance of, pp. 90-93; stops early in non-Christian lands, pp. 99, 100.

Playground Movement, p. 90; America leading in, p. 95; in Japan, p. 94.

Prayer, pp. 41, 83, 128, 172, 216, 256, 262.

“Polishing Jade Establishment,” p. 114.

Questions, pp. 41, 83, 89, 172, 217, 257.

Rights of every child, p. 7; of every mother, p. 7.

Rite of the broken pot, p. 15.

Religious acts, results of, pp. 189-193.

Religious needs of children, p. 184.

Rescue homes, for slave children, pp. 108, 109.

Rescuing the servant of the gods, pp. 194, 195.

Saving a boy, China, p. 127.

Schools, the call for, pp. 133-135; missionary, pp. 165-168; Persia, pp. 169, 170; Kurdish Mountains, pp. 171, 172.

Sunday schools, statistics, p. 199; Japan, pp. 199-202; China, pp. 202, 215; India, pp. 202, 203; Africa, pp. 203-205.

Schoff, Mrs. Frederick, p. 8.

Selden, Dr. Chas. C., p. 10.

Sex instruction, pp. 60, 61.

Soldiers and babies, p. 40.

“Spirit of Play,” need of, pp. 100, 101.

Spirit worship, p. 214.

Starvation diet, pp. 30, 31.

St. John, Prof. E. P., pp. 59-60, 92.

Stuart, Dr. E. M., p. 14.

Superstitions regarding infants, pp. 15-18.

Sun Yat Sen, pp. 228, 229.

Syrian girls at work, p. 236.

Teachers, where to be trained, pp. 141, 143.

Teething, p. 16.

Temple girls, pp. 192, 193; legislation concerning, pp. 193, 194.

Training children for service, pp. 240, 241; Christian wives and mothers, pp. 66-68.

Twins, superstitions regarding, p. 18.

Underwood, Mrs. H. G., p. 27.

West Africa, boys of, pp. 166, 167.

“World’s Tragedies, The,” p. 237.

Yeung, Mrs., of China, pp. 245, 246.

* * * * *

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Obvious typographical errors repaired. Punctuation, spelling, hyphenation and stylistic presentation standardized when a predominant preference was found in this book. Otherwise left as printed.

Italicized text is denoted by _underscores_.

Where possible, illustrations have been moved next to the corresponding text, otherwise placed at section breaks.

In the original book, outlines of each chapter were printed on separate pages, preceded by chapter headings. These chapter headings were then repeated before the chapter text proper. In this electronic book the repeated chapter headings are not preserved.

Page 80, ‘Tyer’ changed to ‘Iyer’ (Mr. Justice Moothoswami Iyer).

Footnote 34, ‘Caffin’ changed to ‘Coffin’ (“On the Education of Backward Races,” E. W. Coffin).

Page 134, ‘plead’ changed to ‘pleaded’ (Earnestly he pleaded with the missionaries).

Page 147 (sidenote), ‘year’ changed to ‘years’ (Dr. Balliet on the early years of childhood).

Page 189 (sidenote), ‘religous’ changed to ‘religious’ (Result to the child of religious acts).

Page 192, ‘then’ changed to ‘than’ (Worse than all the results).

Page 194, ‘jewlery’ changed to ‘jewelry’ (some article of jewelry).

Page 272, ‘American’ changed to ‘Armenian’ (Orphans, Armenian massacre).

On page 231, there is an orphaned double quotation mark after ‘babyhood’. The opening mark should probably be before ‘Women spoke from the platform’ etc.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Child in the Midst, by Mary Schauffler Labaree