First Congregational Church (Chicago, Ill.), North Mission, mothers' meetings minutes

  • Creator Names First Congregational Church (Chicago, Ill.). North Mission.
  • Title First Congregational Church (Chicago, Ill.), North Mission, mothers' meetings minutes [manuscript], 1863 Feb. 1-1883 Mar. 1.
  • Physical description 1 v.
  • Collection summary
    • Reports on mothers' meetings, recorded by Hannah Root Hubbard, who was a leader of the meetings. Mrs. Hubbard organized the mothers groups in Chicago and saw the attendance grow from four mothers at the first meeting to between ninety and one hundred in 1883. The meetings discussed the religious and moral improvement of children, the problems that may be encountered, and the strength that may be obtained from prayer and Biblical texts. Frequently the reports say that at least a few mothers were brought to tears by the emotion of the meeting. In 1868, Mrs. Hubbard writes: "a very precious meeting again today; while speaking of the duties of mothers and their great responsibilities, many are in tears. I spoke about our homes--how we should strive to make them pleasant, so that our children can grow in grace." In 1869, she talked very plainly to the mothers of the importance of their girls choosing good young men for their future companions in life: "I told them I believed it lay in their power with God's blessing to instruct their daughters--I feel there has been great neglect on the mother's part in this regard."
    • Mrs. Hubbard also referred to a mothers meeting held in Portland, Maine, in 1815. In the report of the meeting in Oct. 1879, she says: "I told the mothers how that 87 years ago the devoted wife of the Rev. Edward Payson, started the first mothers' meeting in Portland, Maine, and they had grown until now they were scattered all over the world to heathen lands and I urged the mothers to be constant in attendance for united prayers would bring blessings upon their children." The anniversary of this first meeting was held in Pittsburgh and Mrs. Hubbard reported on a very large gathering--over 500 mothers present at this celebration in 1860.
  • Finding Aids Note See manuscript handbook.
  • Acquisition information Gift of Mrs. Dorothy Clark in 1941.
  • Names
    • Hubbard, Hannah Root.
    • First Congregational Church (Chicago, Ill.). North Mission.
    • Hubbard, Hannah Root.
  • Subjects
    • Congregationalists Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Families Religious life Illinois Chicago 19th century.
    • Mothers Illinois Chicago Societies and clubs 19th century.
    • Women Illinois Chicago Societies and clubs 19th century.
  • Geographic coverage Chicago (Ill.) Religious life and customs 19th century.
  • Genre Minutes. aat
  • Geographic name United States Illinois Cook County Chicago.