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THE K I NG ' S BUS I NES S ing terms. His denunciation is none too strong. He truly says that the average show, both in theater and movie house, appeals to the grosser lusts of the flesh and strikes at those very ideals which in the past have made the home influence strong and young people clean and fbspectful to parents. The Pertness of Btodem Children Do we not see already on every side evidences of the evil fruitage from this wrong sewing? The pertness of' many children today, their sophistication— even when they are very young—and their flippant attitude toward tiheir parents and all grown people, is often shocking. The use of such expressions in connection -with the father *as “the Governor,” and in connection with mothers as “the old lady” are distress ing symptoms of wrong tendencies. Do we not, however, need to face the ques tion whether the parents are not really the ones who should h e . blamed for such unfortunate conditions wherever they exist? If parents do not bring up their children in the way they, should go, need they he surprised if, in the after years, those children are lacking in reverence, respect, and even love for them? When we look thoughtfully at the motherhood of today, how much of it can we say is really Christian? Cer tainly not that part of it in which wives and mothers seem to live for nothing except the vapid vanities of social life, with its selfish ambitions, its feverish haste and its disgusting and vulgar ef forts at display, where the hostess tries to outdo all the past performances of her rivals. The type of mother that turns over the care of the children to the tender mercies of hired nurses and spends her time gambling for cut glass punch bowls at bridge whist parties, or attending the theater in a half- dressed condition, can surely not be called, by even any stretch of charity, a
“Christian mother.” Such mothers may belong to all the forms of religion, but they know nothing of the real Christ, or of the meaning of His great Kingdom. Nor can they expect to com mand much real respect or reverence from their children. The Higher Motherhood And when we turn even to the higher type of mothers can we claim that in all cases they are truly Christian? When we remember what Christianity really is; that it is the revelation of a new life; the impartation of a new hope; the seeking after a new Kingdom higher than the kingdom of earth;— must not the conventional type of womanhood, even in its higher reaches, be said to fall below the mark? A woman who devotes herself to her home life, who is a faithful wife, affectionate parent, who comforts her husband, and looks carefully to the well-being of her children, even before any consideration of her own happiness; who is indus trious, loving, hospitable, given to good works; when we see such a type of woman today, must we not go further and ask in what manner does this woman differ from the good women of other nations and ages who are not and were not Christians? How is such a mother today superior to the pagan Roman matron* or better than the Greek mother who worshiped her gods and schooled her children in virtue? “Do not even the publicans the same?” asked Jesus concerning these ordinary duties, and then He adds, “Be ye there fore,” (instituting thus once more the sharp comparison between the pub licans, or the unregenerate, and those who are Christians), “Be ye. therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” Must not the truly Christian mother then be something higher and greater than the ordinary “good” mother? Such a, mother as this will dress mod estly and live discreetly. She will in-
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