SOCIAL PURITY.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 92, 20 April 1911, Page 9

SOCIAL PURITY.

CHURCH OF ENGLAND MEN'S SOCIETY. CONFERENCE IN CHRISTCHU&CH. [BY TELBGSAPH— PHESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, 19th April. A conference of the Church of England Men' 8 Society opened to-day. In the afternoon a considerable amount of time was devoted to discussion of the question, of social purity. The subject was introduced by the Rev. Mr. Blackburn©, of Kilbirnie (Wellington), who' moved — "That this conference, in view of the widespread evil of social impurity which, if not checked, will bring physical and spiritual ruin on the country, urges upon the 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 view." Mr. Blackburn said that the subject was one in regard to which the manhood of the Church had failed to take the etand it should have taken, but now they had a body of mem like their society, with 2000 members, for bringing the matter before the country. This country was I very prosperous outwardly, but people knew now that there was a canker at i the root, and the Hon. Dr. Findlay had done good service in placing the facts before the public — facts which showed that a large percentage of the patients in hospitals were suffering from sexual diseases, often not through their own fault. That was not the time or place to discuss Dr. Findlay's plains for dealing with the evil, but the Church oi England Men's Society must set to' woik to see what could be done. The society could do a tremendous amount to raise the tone among men in this country. Legislation would never go to the root of the matter. The only way to stem 1 the evil was by personal influence and example. The heads- Mr. Blackburn outlined for work wore as follow : — (1) Personal influence, setting a standard, not treating men as decent fellows unless they led decent lives, and insisting on the same standard for men as for women; (2) setting their faces against suggestive conversation, songs, stories, such as were sometimes heard at gatherings of men; (3) rescue work, in getting hold of men, and showing them what Bin they w.&r« committing; (4) keeping a watch on post-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 for thirty years, and he was sure that unless they could speak with directness and tell children what harm social impurity would do, they might as well talk to the moon. He himself had 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 good was dome by certain lectures delivered to boys- of the public schools of New Zealand by an itinerant lecturer, ajidthat more good would be done by the friends of the boys. He (Mr. Walton) felt sure the fathers were the persons who should deal with the subject. Mr. Walton said that he had during the past yeaa*, asrepresentative of- the Church of England, met all the boats arriving from the Old Country, and it was simply appalling to find how maJiy fathers came to him and complained of the state of affairs on those boats. One father told him he had two daughters that he wished to bring out, but he did not know how to menage it in view of what wae happening. Mr. Walton said that on more than half ■ the boats there was no chaplain. He urged also that if they brought the matter before them the shipping companies might make some alteration in the accommodation on board immigrant steamers. Mr. Culverhouse said that he had lately come out from England as a,, thirdcla&s passenger. There were about twenty girl immigrants, on board, and there was no matron to accompany them, with the result that they had too much liberty. He could not, however, say that he saw anything very dreadful. Mr. J. C. Adams (Papanui), although thoroughly in accord with the idea of concerted action, thought that there was a danger of losing sight of their duty as individuals. Individually they could do a good deal, and 1 they should have the courage to do it. The Rev. Mr. Orbell (Wookton) said he had known of cases where a girl who had fallen had gone 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 th« finger of scorn might be pointed at her. Mr. G. Stening (Chirietchurcli.) said that some public lectures on the subject referred to had bean productive ol untold benefits. A gentleman lecturing in. the Dominion had the recommendation of headmasters of schools. Young people should be taken, in hand early and educated on the subject of the evils oi impurity. sHe moved as an amendment : "That the various branches arrange foi a series of public meetings for talks to be delivered on social purity." Mr. Norri© (Temuka) wae o! opinion that young people's minds were lowered by reading divorce reports published even by the best papeie. A delegate protested against this statement. He epoko in defence of newspapers, stating that they were most careful not to publish objectionable details. Mr. Norris replied that the newspapers published accounts of famous EnglisL divorce cases. These were not put in a suggestive way, but the whole subject wa6 suggestive. Mi*. Stewart (Waimate) admitted thai the tone of the New Zealand newspapers was above the average, but he pointed out that in reports of a recent case oi alleged poisoning there wae objectionable matter published — matter of such a nature that he laid the papers aside sc that his daughters- should not read them, After further discussion the amendment was put and lost, and the resolution was carried. The following committee were appointed in terms of the motion: The Revs. Canon Cuxzon-Sig-gers, and Messrs. W. Nash, J. C. Adams, and .Stewart.

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