Correspondence.

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 231, 18 September 1914, Page 11

Correspondence.

(The Kditor is not responsible for opinions expressed by correspondents.) iTo the Kditor.) Madam, Some years ago 1 was stayin* in a fair-sized New Zealand tow n, practically a stranger there. An address was .m noun ted t«> be given to ladies by one of your workers. I asked a neighbour, the mother of two bright little girls, if >he would go. We went. The weather was pleasant. In the church a fine number of young girls were present. Youth, beauty, freshness, suggested itself. The address was earnest and practical, and who shall estimate the results of that afternoon's work. Instruction was given about life in connection with sex ; the power of influence that girlhave, warnings of the perils that may beset their feet, and pointing, I be lieve, to the Saviour, who would enable them to use their powers for good. I have thought, even from a financial point of view, the value to the town would be very great, for they who help the young women of their town to be pure, strong, and true are surely helping material prosperity. This could not fail to affect the voung men, for enlightened, virtunu- womanhood would make itsrlf f««1t in influence upon their brothers, as well aupon future husband- ; nd others, A prominent \ Z. physh inn. in strong and dear language, when speaking of the awful effects of tho-e deadly dis eases which are as-ot inted w ith impurity of life, stated: “Wo talk glibly about filling the cradle-, but what is the use of filling the < radles only to empty them again. Tenth -o that the cradles will be filled by healthv children. Better one t radle occupied bv a healthv child than six ( radles filled by diseased and dying children.” Dr. Browing states that 14 per cent, of the children who come to the out-patients’ department of the hospital are there through congenital svphilis, so we can safely sav that 14 per cent, of all unhealthy children art' unhealthy because their parents have contracted syphilis bef >re their birth. Dr. K.ilc Fraser and Dr. Watson * x- * amined cases of mental d fii iency and epilepsy jn youn«; pi <pie and svnhilis Infection was shown to be associated with 57 per < eat of these ca es. Then again, o 'er 50 per cent, of the children suffer from nervous troubles, and the-c are caused bv this dread disease. Syphilis affect- other organs besides the nervou- system.” Other important matters were touched upon, and in closing he spoke of the need of education of the young, “Bv proper education of the voung of both sexes as thev 1 merge from bnvhood and girlhood into voung adult life, many of the di-cases at present pro valent would soon be relit s of the past. Instead of spending millions in treat

ing the actual disease, only thousands would be needed for education. I p to the present we have been working on wrong lines. We have shirked out responsibilities, and left our young to wander in the mire, anti only when they have become hopelessly bogged have we grudgingly given to them the helping hand.” \ best* quotations prove that even from a finant ial point of view the thing was worth while. The mother of the two little girls enjoyed and appreciated the meeting, and we had a pleasant walk home. In dealing with some of these problems, an illustration tomes to mv mind that I t'tice list'd for a Bible (lass; “The sunlight fall- on tlark and unhealthy places, but is it contaminated?” So in moral walk the presente of the Sun of Righteousness preserves lli> people in the most difficult pi 1 is, whereas without this aid contaminating influent es might get to work, like milk plated in an impure atmosphere -et- up fermenta tion in itself. May I touch upon two aspects of the case in connection with the moral education of the young? riu one is where the Christian parent or teai her earnesth -eek> to win his or her t hildren for the Saviour, and s,“ ks their convulsion, but neglects to give instruction on this important question. I remember a mother, herself .1 Sunday school leather, when spoken to on this point, expressed this view, “(itt the thildien converted.” Now, as they get older, if not before, and go out into the world they will probably have to face all kinds of talk on this very avoided subject. I oul talk, unpuie suggestions, told that license is necessary for their health, anti this persistently, say at a navvies’ camp, or the bu-h whare, or the work shop or boarding-house wnere men gather. True, the grace oi (iod tan keep a person under any circumstances; but Cod's Word has been given as a light to show the way, as a t hart to direct, and what right have Christian parents and teat hers to withhold this teaching and pass it over as though it I ad not been given m the Book of Truth,? It is not safe to ignore the existence of these evils. 1 he ostrit h with its head in the sand does not see the danger, but that does not prot ure safety, but rather gives the hunter opportunity. No neglect gives depraved people the opportunity to corrupt the minds, and even initiate into vice. The young fellow in the camp may be told he does not know what lilt* is; he had bt tter go back anti be tied to his mother’s apron strings. Two young fellows were together, the one a voung Christian worker, though quite a lad, and the other one of the depraved (lass, and the latter was indulging in bad talk, when one older gave definite warning and instruction, probably from S< ripturc, science, and experience of sufferers. This same young man had given wise instruction in another plate, and on one occasion was told by a bright voung fellow: “I am

one of your boys. When I was a growing lad, anti ju-t at the parting of the ways, lead) to he influenced one way or the other, you influenced me 111 iht' right direction,” words to that effect. And I -houltl like to say here .1 word of encouragement to those who have so nobly worked in connection with the W.C I I. and others. Civing induction to those under their tare, or it may be the giving of a little book or paper, what beautiful harvest may even now be re suiting, and repiodtn ing itself. If you tan only help one, -ome mother’s heart may be left unbroken tor her son. One more instance from life. A young fellow going out into the hu-h country, meeting bad companions, and one gave him this advice: “You do not need to buy presents, etc., for girls, and waste money; just rum her, and she will be glad to marry you.” And, alas! the advice was followed, and his own and the lives of others so sadly hiighted. Moral education should MimiiiniH' v< 1 y young to be effective The other aspec t of the (ast* is, where moral instruction is given without the foundation of Christianity. An outward good life, and blameless. But if we want -afety for time and etornitv, we must built! upon the Rot k Christ Jesus. Our Saviour’s illustration applies. I.uk'* 6:48: “He is like a man whi<h built an house, and digged deep, anti laid the foundation on a rock; and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it; for it was founded upon a rtxk.’’ And the Holy Spirit is promised to those who ask. The Lord Jesus, who died to save us from sin and hell, who tame that we might have life, and have it more abundantly, is able to guard and guide all life’s journey through. “ |e-us Saviour, pilot me Over life’s tempost’ous sea, l nknown waves before me roll, Hiding rock and treat h’rmis shoal; ( hart and compass come from I’hee: Jesus Saviour pilot me!” I am, etc., FRKDRICA.