Catechisms Written for Mothers, Schoolmistresses and Children, 1575-1750: Essential Works for the Study of Early Modern Women: Series III, Part Three, Volume 2

by McQuade,Paula

• ISBN13: 9780754651659
• ISBN10: 0754651657
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-07-28
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This collection demonstrates that catechisms provide valuable insight into constructions of early modern maternity, and more broadly, into the degree of power and authority accorded to women in the early modern Protestant family. The volume includes nearly all of the extant catechisms the editor was able to locate which were designed expressly for mothers and published between 1550 and 1750. As works designed for mothers to instruct their children within the home, early modern mother-directed catechisms, like traditional catechisms, use the question-and-answer format to present the basic tenets of the Protestant faith. But such catechisms differ from traditional ones in how they represent the mother-child relationship. Because catechisms discuss fine questions of theology, and because they present a non-contentious image of maternal authority, many literary critics and cultural historians have failed to explore their cultural significance, focusing instead upon secular, dramatic representations of motherhood in early modern plays and pamphlet accounts of murderous mothers. This collection demonstrates that these catechisms provide valuable insight into constructions of early modern maternity, and more broadly, into the degree of power and authority accorded to women in the early modern Protestant family. It includes nearly all of the extant catechisms the editor was able to locate which were designed expressly for mothers and published between 1550 and 1750. Contents: Preface by the General Edtors; Introductory Note; Dorothy Burch, A Catechism of the Several Heads of Christian Religion, Gathered together in Question and Answer, it being intended only for private use, but now published for the good and benefit of others, by the importunity of some friends (1646); Mrs. J. C., The Mother's Catechism in an Explication of Some Questions of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism (1734); John Willison, The Mother's Catechism for the Young Child: or, a Prepatory Help for the Young and the Ignorant, in order to the more easy Understanding of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism (15th edition, 1735); Appendix A: D. M. [Dorcas Martin], trans., 'The Manner How To Examine' (232-4) and 'The True Summe of Christian Religion' (234-44) in An Instruction for Christians. Published in The Monument of Matrones. Ed. Thomas Bentley (1582); Appendix B: John Craig et al., The Mother and The Child. A Short Catechism or brief summe of religion, gathered out of Mr. Craigges Catechism, for the fitting of little Children for the public ministry (1611); Appendix C: Robert Abott, 'To His Much Honored Patroness, the Lady Honoria Norton', 'To his much honored friends, Mary Lady Bakere and Unton Lady Dering', 'A Catechism for Children, through the chief points of the Body of Divinity, to prepare them for the Lord's Supper', 'A Briefer Catechism, to be opened at first' in Milk for Babes, or, A Mother's Catechism for Her Children (1646); Appendix D: The First Book for Children; Or, the Compleat Schoolmistress (1705). About the Author: Paula McQuade is Assistant Professor of English at DePaul University, USA.

Table of Contents

Preface by the General Edtors

Introductory Note

Dorothy Burch

A Catechism of the Several Heads of Christian Religion

Gathered together in Question and Answer

it being intended only for private use

but now published for the good and benefit of others

by the importunity of some friends (1646)

Mrs. J. C

The Mother's Catechism in an Explication of Some Questions of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism (1734)

John Willison

The Mother's Catechism for the Young Child: or

a Prepatory Help for the Young and the Ignorant

in order to the more easy Understanding of the Assembly's Shorter Catechism (15th edition

1735)

D. M. [Dorcas Martin]

trans

'The Manner How To Examine' (232-4) and `The True Summe of Christian Religion' (234-44) in

An Instruction for Christians

Published in The Monument of Matrones

John Craig et al

The Mother and The Child. A Short Catechism or brief summe of religion

gathered out of Mr. Craigges Catechism

for the fitting of little Children for the public ministry (1611)

Robert Abott

'To His Much Honored Patroness

the Lady Honoria Norton'

'To his much honored friends

Mary Lady Bakere and Unton Lady Dering'

'A Catechism for Children

through the chief points of the Body of Divinity

to prepare them for the Lord's Supper'

'A Briefer Catechism

to be opened at first' in Milk for Babes

or

A Mother's Catechism for Her Children (1646)

The First Book for Children; Or

the Compleat Schoolmistress (1705)

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