The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-04-24
knights Of the White Cross.
YOUNG MEN PLEpGING THEMSELVES TO
PERSONAL PURITY.

The mass meeting Of the Yonng Mems
Christian Association, in Association Hall
last evening, for the purpose Of organi-
zing the "White Gross Army" brought
out an attendance that completely filled
the auditorium and galleries. Only men
were admitted. and the majority were
yonng men. Upon the platform sat w.
w. Hoppin IT., the President of the as
sociation, and with him were the Rev.
DIR. B. +. DeCosta, Rev. DIR. Manning,
Edwin Clifford of London, William i.
Dodge, Rev. Henry NJ. Landers and II.
Fl. Webster. A choir of male voices oc-
cupied the rear of the platform and led
the singing.
3fr. Hoppin announced that the meet
ing was called in the interest of personal
purity. 1--WE have but to walk the streets
of the city at night" he said, ssto be as
sured that there is need of thorough
work in the interest of personal purity"
DIR. Marling read the seventh chapter of
Proverbs, concluding: s.Let not thine
heart decline to her ways, go not astray
i'm her paths. For she hath cast down
many wounded; yea, many strong men
have been slain by her. Her house is the
way to he'll, going down to the chambers
of DEATH" He prayed that the young
men who were gathered there might be
kept from temptatian. 'sWe bewaii' he
said, ..the sin and misery that has fol-
lowed unhallowed lust, and we pray that
Thou wilt lead us in our contention
against this deadly evil that is destroying
body aud soul, and running men and wo-
men, not only for this life, but for the
life that is to come.
DIR. DeCosta outlined the project of the
White Cross Army. Each member would
be obliged to sign the following pledge:
81 promise, by the help OF God, ts treat
all women with respect and endcavor to
|-protect them from wrong and degrada-
ton; to endeayor to put down all inde-
cent language and coarse jests; to MAIN
tain the law of purity rs equally binding
upon men and women; to endeavor to
spread these principles among my CON-
pauions, and to try and help my ounger
brothers; to use every possible means to
fulfil the command, Keep thyself pure. ~
DIR. DeCosta said that the army was a
revival OF the old knights Of chivslry, rs
some one had said sswithout the killing
business s.If y woman sim, - eaid tic
speaker, s.you know what becomes of her.
Is there any place for her except the
street? IL a man sins where does he find
his place? Does he not find it in the
highest society and the best and purest
homes, while the miserable victim of ais
lust is trodden under foot? What are you
going to do about that, young men? Are
you going to tolerate double standard?
Ifthere be manhood among You, l call
upon you to treat a woman as you would
be treated yourself. If a woman falls she
falls forever. Her own sex disown her
| and reduce her to despair. Though she
reform and rise to true and pure life
become as pure as Mary Magdelene, aye,
as chaste as the icicles ON the temple of
Diana-her own sex refuse to receive her
aud scarce allow her to come into their
kitchen to scrub the floor"
.sNow / say to you, young men, be pure
ON account of her. Whom do mean3
Mother? Sister! Yes, and another. Some
time there will be one whom yon viii re-
gard with the tenderest love and affec-
tion as the personifeation OF purity, beau
~ and truth. You may not have found
her yet, but you will find her. What do
you desire her to think of yon? II sae
loves you truly you know she will consid-
er you tine epitome Of goodness, honor
and truth. WIN you so live that when
the time comes you may go to her with q
clean and pure heart, SO that she may
know that you are all that her fancy paints
you? God forbid that you should go to
her and tell her lie under whose cloud
you must live for lifetin,e.''
Remarks were made by Mr.sefiford'
Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Dodge, and cards
coutaing the pledge was circulated, aud
several hundred young men enrolled II
the Arusy of the White Cross.-N. 1
1iRes, March 3Ist.
Governor McEnery has issued circulars