pressed with a sense of our entire dependence upon the Holy Spirit to
aid us in training up our children in the way they should go, and hoping
to obtain the blessing of such as fear the Lord and speak often to one
another, we, the subscribers, do unitedly pledge ourselves to meet at
stated seasons for prayer and mutual counsel in reference to our
maternal duties and responsibilities. With a view to this object, we
adopt the following constitution:

"ARTICLE I. This circle shall be called the 'Maternal Association
of----Church;' any member of which, sustaining the maternal relation,
may become a member by subscribing this constitution. Other individuals,
sustaining the same relation, may be admitted to membership by a vote of
two thirds of the members present.

"ART. II. The monthly meetings of this Association shall be held on
the----of the month.

"ART. III. The quarterly meetings in January, April, July, and October,
shall be held on the last Wednesday of the month, when the members shall
be allowed to bring to the place of meeting such of their children as
may be under the age of twelve years, and they shall be considered
members of the Association. The exercises at these meetings shall be
such as shall seem best calculated to instruct the minds and interest
the feelings of the children who may be present.

"ART. IV. At each quarterly meeting there shall be a small contribution
by the children for benevolent purposes.

"ART. V. The time appropriated for each meeting shall not exceed one
hour and a half, and shall be exclusively devoted to the object of the
Association. Every monthly meeting shall be opened by prayer and reading
a portion of Scripture, which may be followed by reading such other
matter as relates to the interests of the Association, or by
conversation tending to promote maternal faithfulness and piety. These
exercises may be interspersed with singing the songs of Zion, and with
humble and importunate prayer, that God would glorify himself in the
early conversion of the children of the Association, that they may
become eminently useful in the church of Christ. It is desirable that
the last meeting in the year be spent in reading the Scriptures and in
prayer.

"ART. VI. Every member of the Association shall be considered as
sacredly bound to pray _for_ her children daily, and _with_ them as
often as circumstances will permit; and to give them from time to time
the best religious instruction of wh