THE MOTHERS' UNION. (To 'rug EDITOR Or TIM "SPECTATOR.") Sin,—In
answer to a letter addressed to the editor of the Spectator headed by the words, "Wanted, a New Woman's Party," I am thankful to say that there is already in strong existence a Society called "Time Mothers' Union," which has been working for some years in this country to raise a high standard in the homes of the Empire. It has put forth its objects under three heads :—(1) To uphold the sanctity of marriage; (2) to awaken in mothers a sense of their great responsibility as mothers in the training of their boys and girls (the future fathers and mothers of the Empire) ; and (3) to organise in every place a band of mothers who will unite in prayer, and seek by their own example to lead their families in purity and holiness of life. The leader and foundress of this "Mothers' Union" is Mrs. Sumner, wife of the Bishop of Guildford, and its success is proved by the fact that it numbers 275,812 members and associates, and that last year it was joined by 20,866 new members. The "thousands of good, quiet women" of whom the writer speaks would find that the motto of "Back to the home" expresses one great object of the Mothers' Union because it emphasises the fact that the influence of a wife and mother in her own borne is one of the strongest powers of the world. If rightly used, it lies at the root of national success and prosperity. If in every home the standard could be raised of faithful marriage—the careful training of children in habits of self- control, obedience to parents, and to the laws of God—and if parents could set forth by their own example the principles laid down by the One Divine Life of the world, the English race of the future would be well trained and safeguarded, and better days would dawn for old England. It is said that "every home is a mint for coining character." The husband and father is the head of the home, but the wife and mother is the centre of it, and her influence, whether for good or evil, is acknowledged to be one of the greatest powers in existence. There are women of all classes in this Union who are trying to carry out its aims and objects in obedience to the laws of God and the creed of the Christian. They are banded together in a solid body to try to re-create the homes of England. They believe firmly that the home, with its immeasurable, incomparable duties, its limitless opportunities, its responsibilities and influence, is the centre of moral and social reforms, and the home is mainly in the hands of women.
—I am, Sir, &c., A MEMBER OF THE MOTHERS' 'UNION.
[It is with great pleasure that we call our readers' attention to so excellent an Association. No social duty can be more important than the maintenance of the family. We have been obliged for reasons of space to curtail our correspondent's letter.—En. Spectator.]
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