C.E.M.S.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1106, 20 April 1911, Page 7

C.E.M.S.

1 ANNUAL CONFERENCE. SOCIAL.PURITY. I LIFE. ON IMMIGRANT STEAMERS. 1..■ ■ ' ' • ! . (By Telegraph-Press Aseociatlon.) i , , . Christchurcr, April 19. I A-conference of the Church of England ■ Men's Society opened to-day. In the af--1 ternoon a considerable amount of time was. Unvoted to discussion of tho question of-social purity. The subject was introduced by the Hev. Mr. Blackburne, of Kilbirnie (Wellington),-who moved: "That this conference, in view of the widespread evil of impurity which, il not , checked, will bring physical and spiritual ruin on the country, urges upon tho various branches of the society a systematic effort to raise the standard of social purity among the. men of the Dominion, and that a. committee bo> appointed to draw up subjects for a more vigorous campaign, with this object in vkw." Mr. Blackburn snid that the subject was one in regard to which the manhood of the Church had .failed to tako tho stand it should have taken, but now they had a body of men like their society, with 2001) nierobers, for bringing tho matter before the epuntry. This country was very prosporous outwardly, but people knew now that thero was a canker at the root, and the Hon. Dr. Findlay had done good service in placing the facts .before tho pubiici.facts which showed that a large percentage of the patients in hospitals were Buffering from sexual diseases, often not through; their own fault. That was not 'the-time or place to discuss Dr. Findlay's ~ plans for dealing with the evil, but the Church of England "Men's Socioty must F«t to work to see what could be done. . Tho society could do a tremendous amount ■; to raise the tobe among men in this country.' L ' Legislation would never go to the ■Toot of tho matter. Tho only way to ntebr the evil was by personal influence and example. The heads Mr. Blackburn outlined for work were as follows:—(1) Personal influence, setting a standard, not trc-uiing mtn as decent fellows unless they led decent lives, and insisting on the . fame sfahdard for moil as for women. (2) Setting their faces against suggestive conversation, songs, and stories, such as were sometimes heard at gatherings of ■men.' (3) Rescue work, in getting hold of inoii. and' showing them \vhat .sin they ' were committing, (t) Keeping a'watch on pojt-cards, photographs, posters, and plays that tended to drag ' down the public tone. ■"■■ • . . ,

■ A delegate, in seconding the motion, 'said he had been dealing with children fok thirty years, and he was sure that ■ririleis they' could speak with directness, and tell children what harm social impurity would do. they mi?bt as well talk to the,moon. He himself liad reminded parents that it -was their duty to place certain facts before their children at the critical, age. . ■ Mr. .Walton (Wellington) said that a well-known . doctor -had expressed the opinion that more harm than pood was done by certain lectures delivered to'boys of .the public schools of New Zealand by ' an .itinerant lecturer, and that more srood ' ivould be done by the friends of thn boys. 'He (Mr. Walton) felt sure the fathers were the persons who should deal with the subject. Mr. Walton said that ho . Md during the past year, as representative of the Church of Bneland. met all the boats arriving from the Old Country, and it was simply appalling to find how many fathers came to him and com- .. plained, of the state of'affairs on those liohts. One father told him ho had two daughters that he wished to bring out, but ..he did not know how to manage U in . view of v;hat was happening. 'Mr. Walton said that on more than half the boAts there was no chaplain. He urged fllso- that if they brought the matter before them the shipping companies might ]na.ke. some alteration in the accommodation on board'immigrant, steamers. Mr. Cnlveihouso said that he had lately

come.out from England as a third-class passenger. There were about v ,t\v;^ntj l - i jjirl imriiigrants on board, ami" there,,wasi up,matron to accompany them, with the result- that they, had too much liberty. He' could not,- however, say that he EaV anvthing,very"drea(lfui.. '.. „' , ;.....- Mr. J. C.' Adams.Yi'apanui),' although thoroughly in accordance .with the'idea of, .concerted action, thought-that- there was. a' danger' of .losing sight of their duty as iindividuals.. ' Individually they could dp. a good deal, nnd they should havo the cpurage'.to'.do it. - ,The Rev. Mr. Orbell (Woolston) said he ha.d.known of'.eases.where a girl who had fallen- had .front.' from bad to worse because no helping hand was held out to her. She had been afraid to come near her. old congregation for fear that the finger of scorn might be pointed at her. .Mr. G. Stcning (Christchurch) said that some public lectures on the subject referred, to, bad been productive of untold benefits. A, gentleman, lecturing in the Dominion had the recommendation of headmasters of schools. Young people 6hould bo taken in hand early and educated on the subject of the evils of impurity. He moved as an amendment:— "That the various branches arrange for a series of public meeting for talks to be delivered oil social purity." (Tomuka) was of opinion, that young people's minds were lowered by reading divorce reports published even by the best, papers. - .' A', delegate protested against this statement.; Hβ spoke in defence of newspapers, etating that th«y were most careful not to publish objectionable details.; Mr. Norris replied that the newspapers published accounts of famous English divorce cases. These were not put in a suggestive way, but the whole subject was suggestive. Mr. Stewart (Waimate) admitted that the tono of the New Zealand newspapers was above the average, but he pointed out.that in reports of a recent case of alleged poisoning there was objectionable matter published—matter of such a nature that he laid the papers aside so that his daughters should not read them. After further discussion the amendment was put and lost, and tho resolution was carried; The following comniittee were appointed in terms of tin motion: Ihe Revs. Canon Curzon-Sisjgers, and Messrs. W. Nash, J. C. Adamsfand Stewart. -,•• -