A VITAL QUESTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13137, 27 May 1903, Page 9

A VITAL QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Dean Harper, -in his very thoughtfid sermon on Sunday morning alludc-d in fairly strong terms to the laxity of morals among the “fast” set in English society. Ho was comparing the tone of the “upper ten” at the present time with that under tho late Queen. And he did so in a manner that redounded little to the credit of present society people. It is nob my intention- to draw a parallel between the two periods. I can only hope that a second Hogarth will bo forthcoming, who will use the lash o! satire in exposing tho follies and vices of his time as did his great prototype. Thoughtful people, of course, will naturally look around them in order to see if everything at home is as it ought to be. They will not have far to seek before they discover a speptre that may well make them stand aghast. What deductions are wo to draw from those cases tli&t- liavo just been before the Supremo Court, and about which correspondents have recently written in your columns? These cases are so abhorrent that it almost unnerves one to write about them. It is not my intention to paint tho lily nor to add gall to wormwood, I do not know whether Sheard is innocent or guilty of the disgusting crime with which ho was charged. But this much I will say": —I have been told by a young friend of mine that the degrading vice is by no means a etvangcr to a largo percentage of the youth of this community. Young men may lay this unction to their soul that there is no- more degrading vice on God’s earth. It saps true manhood, it vitiates the vital functions, it leads* to lunacy 7, to suicide, to an early grave. In dealing with this mid cognate vices there is too much sickly namby-pamby sentimentalism from the clergy downwards. Its progress will not bo arrested, nor its withering influence blighted until direct steps are taken to purify this Augean stable. Fathers —those worthy of t-ho name—must nothesitate to instil into their sons tho horrors of this prevailing crime. I have often thought that if some humanitarian doctor would give a series of scientific lectures on man’s vital functions to the youth of our city what a benefit he would be bestowing on tho community. I have been engaged for upwards of a; quarter of century in this colony training boys and girls, an-d, therefore, claim to have some knowledge of youthful weaknesses and of the tendency of boys and girls to sow the seeds of ineffable mental misery, and it is with «n earnest desire to shield, protect and guard them from the -incurable cancer of a blighted conscience that I sound this note of warning. Let our boys be shown in all its horrid nakedness the penalty of violating the laws of Nature.—l am, etc., AN ADMIRER OH A MANLY BOY. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —The state of morals Sisqlosed before the Supreme Court, lately in session,' makes painful reading, but reveals nothing new to those who cast thoughtful eyes around. Now and again an unusually long or particularly hideous array of horrors, creates some stir among the moralists, but while tha interest is spasmodic tha underlying causes are active, constant and growing. Wo may, if we please, quoto tho law' of averages to show that wo are no ■worse than other people, but neither the law of averages nor any other law, will com-, pensate those who have become tire victims of their own or other people’s lust. In tho Supreme Court, tho other day, the Judgo touched on one point which I should like to emphasise, namely, tho duty of parents to instruct and train their children to understand and reverence their own bodies, and to warn them of the dire consequences to themselves and others that will follow upon certain courses. “ Self-knowledge, eelf-revcrence, edf-control, These three alone load lire ip sovereign power.” Since “Life is more than meat and the body than raiment” it follows that this instruction and moral training becomes the paramount duty and- special privilege of every father and mother in tha State, and yet how generally, how shamefully it is neglected. Either from want of appreciation of their importance or from an absurd squeamishness, or else from downright indifference, these questions, upon which depends bo largely tho health, happiness and good ordering of life are, as far as my experience and- observation reaches, rarely touched upon between parent and child. ‘ The majority of parents are anxious to do their duty by their children. They struggle to feed, clothe and oduoata them, bat by fond and foolish indulgence they often weaken the moral fibre and then turn them adrift agape with curiosity to pick up that most important of all knowledge, the knowledge of themselves, anywhere, anyhow, usually from vicious companions at school or in, tho street, accompanied by every horrible and prurient suggestion. V/hafc wonder is it that knowledge conveyed through such channels holds and pollutes tho young imagination, kindles the firry breath of desire, and becomes th-enco forward a shameful possession and a guilty secret? How different would be the effect if .parents were wise and courageous enough to seek to guide the strong instincts of their growing children with wordy of instruction, advice and warning, and so forestall and nullify those evil communications to which wo have alluded. Parents., take your children into your confidence, and by and by they will talcs you into theirs. Explain to them ea well as vou are able tbs sacred relation that binds them to yen, teach them the wonder of their own bodies, that they may leam

to regard them with high reverence, and not as something shameful and vita Let them understand"that you can enter into all their difficulties and temptations, and the very fact that these matters can bo fretny dls'cmsc-d between you will rob them of half the fascination that cling; l to the lorhiddeu, and will form a bond of sympathy between you that will not easily be broken. in-sii in those burning crises which may arise, when passion and opportunity meet, your teaching and warnings may be remembered, and you may save a soul alive. One of our greatest prose writers -says, in effect, that whenever a, man goes down in the battle of life, it is because some woman has failed to brace hi." armour properly. This is a grave indictment. Is ft true of us as mothers?—l am. etc., A MOTHER.