DISPUTED DOCTRINES -- Chapter Thirty-Two

QUESTION OF MOTHER'S DAY

The observance of Mother's Day is of recent origin. It had its inception in the mind of a woman, who, reflecting upon all that her mother had done for her, and meditating upon all that she was to her, conceived the idea of embracing all mothers in the category and of setting aside a special day for the commemoration of motherhood.

The idea took like wildfire, particularly in the Reformed Churches, where special festivals are frowned upon and all "Sabbaths" are placed on a dead level. It was an unconscious testimony to the need of festivals in these Churches. But, like many other things, the observance spread beyond the bounds of the Churches in which it originated; and the festival was taken up in many Lutheran Churches, where it is still observed. The question that arises is, Is it a festival that fits into the Church Year?

Now, it is quite true that the very thought and mention of mother carries with it a stirring appeal to all right-minded children; and many mothers are worthy of all the praise that is bestowed upon them in such celebrations as Mother's Day.

The writer would fall behind none in the esteem which he has for his aged mother, now well past the four score years of her age; and he never fails daily to thank God for her and for her blessed influence over him and for her deep love, which goes out to him still as her first-born child. For over thirty years he has never failed to write her a letter every week, and his affection for her knows no bounds. And yet he can never become reconciled to the substitution for the Gospel of the Church Year, which centers in the Lord Jesus Christ, the glorification of even so intimate a relation as motherhood.

The words of the Lord Jesus Christ and His action, when one told Him that His mother and His brethren stood without, desiring to speak to Him, always come to mind: "But He answered and said unto him that told Him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And He stretched forth His hand toward His disciples and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!"

Is it right, in view of the further words of the Lord, "He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me," to displace the Gospel of Jesus Christ by devoting the day to the praise of mother? This seems particularly out of place in the post-Easter season, which is devoted to the joyful praise of the Risen Lord. To supplant the glorious Gospel of the Day by a eulogy upon any earthly relation, even one so dear as that of mother, is, to say the least, jarring to one's spiritual sense of the fitness of things. It is almost as bad as the substituting of Father and Son Day for the First Sunday in Advent. And it certainly mars the harmony of the Church Year.

A dear old lady, now passed to her reward, once said to the writer, "There would be no need for Mother's Day if children always treated their mother as they ought." And she was undoubtedly right. The writer does not think that anything he may say will change the view of those Lutherans who have adopted Mother's Day and are zealous advocates of this institution; but he wishes to bear this testimony against the innovation.

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