A Little Parable for Mothers – The Mother’s Day Degree

(Queen should have bible closed before beginning degree. She should then ask marshals and guides to escort all the mothers west of the altar to the place BEHIND the Chaplain facing east. Girls who do not have a spoken part in the degree may be special escorts for their own mothers. Each guide is to take one mother by the arm when leading her around the room. ONE Marshal or Guide is to address the assembled group.)

Marshal/Guide: The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is the way long?" she asked. Her guide said, "Yes, the way is very hard and you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."

(M/G turn mothers around to face the Guardian.)

Guardian: Despite what the guide said, the young mother was happy and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years of her life. So, she played with her children, gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed with them in the clear streams; the sun shone on them and life was good. The young mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

(M/G guide mothers straight to the south, square their corners and then straight to the east. Squaring corners again, the group is addressed by the Sr. Lady).

Sr. Lady: Then night came, it was stormy and the path was dark. The children shook with fear from the cold and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle. The children said, "Oh mother, we are not afraid, for you are near and no harm can come." Then the mother said, "This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage."

(Proceed in a straight line to the Jr. Lady.)

Jr. Lady: The morning came and there was a hill ahead. The children climbed and grew weary, as was the mother. But at all times she told her children, "A little patience and we will be there." So the children continued to climb and when they reached the top they said, "We could not have done it without you mother." That night, when the mother looked up at the stars, she whispered, "This day is better than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardship. Yesterday I gave them courage and today I have given them strength."

(Line leads straight towards the west and square corners in to be addressed by the Chaplain. DO NOT block her view of the Altar.)

Chaplain: With the next day came strange clouds that darkened the earth. Clouds of war, hate and evil. The children groped and stumbled and the mother said, "Look up and lift your eyes to the light." The children looked and they saw above the clouds, an everlasting glory that guided them and brought them beyond the darkness. That night, the mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."

(Straight to the south again and then straight to the east to meet Beloved Queen for final address.)

Queen: The days went on and soon it turned to weeks, months and years until the mother grew old and she was little and bent. Her children were tall and strong and they walked with courage. When they way was hard, they helped their mother; when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill. Beyond the hill they could see a shining road with golden gates flung wide open. "I have reached the end of my journey," said the mother. "I know now that the end is better than the beginning for my children can walk alone as will their children after them." The children replied, "You will always walk with us mother, even when you have gone through the gates." They stood and watched her as she went in alone and the gates closed after her. They said, "We cannot see her but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory, she is a living presence."

(Mothers may be presented with flowers by their daughters or other items representing concepts in the degree – courage, strength, God, etc. Beloved Queen then instructs marshals to escort the mothers back to their seats.)

NOTES: Squared corners and a medium to slow pace should be stressed in this degree.