The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1886-09-04
THE WHITE CROSS IN ENGLAND

fury is destined to be an era of great
moral advancement, in which women
will be the leaders. The two most con-
spicuous reforms of the present day are
the Temperance work and the White
Cross movement. In this country the
latter work has become department of
the woman's temperance organization.
Women we're the pioneers in this re-
form in England, though they are now
working in harmony with the best men
in England and America, with no ques-
ton of precedence.
Miss Ellice Hopkins, the founder of
the White Cross Army in England, who
will soon come to this country by invi-
tation of Miss Frances Willard, was
engaged to a young physician, who died
many years since. Her work in pro-
noting social purity is said to be in
fulfillment of the dying request of her
betrothed-a sacred legacy. Miss Hop
kins is a native of Cambridge, the
daughter of former president of the
British Scientific Association.
Mrs. Josephine Butler, wife of Canon
Butler, of Winchester Cathedral, was
the first public champion of the social
purity movement. She lost her only
daughter, and since that bereavement,
as Miss Willard beautifully expresses
it, she ''dedicates her rare gifts of faith
and works of pen and voice to the lost
daughters of mothers still more sadly
stricken and bereft."
The crusade in favor of social purity
in England is upheld by people emil
nent by virtue of rank and scholar
ship. and it is impelled by the great
power of the State Church. The White
Cross Army is under the patronage of
the Bishop of Durham. The specific
object of the organization is to promote
purity of life among young men. The
formulated obligations are:
l. To treat all women with respect, and
endeavor to protect them from wrong and
degradation.
2. To endeavor to put down all indie
cent language and coarse jests.
3. To maintain the law of purity as
equally binding upon men and women.
4. To endeavor to spread these prin-
ciples among my companions, and try to
help my younger brothers.
5. To use all possible means to fulfill
the command, Keep thyself pure"
The necessity of instructing children
and young people in regard to the de-
mands of purity is now advocated in
addresses before public meetings, and
in the voluminous literature resulting
from this great awakening. This i'm
perative duty is urged upon parents
and all who have young people under
their care and instruction. The law of
purity is advocated as equeally binding
upon men as upon women. Hence the
necessity of protecting boys as well as
girls from contamination and tempta-
zion. Ignorance is no longer consid-
cred synonymous with innocence, and
the duty is apparent of securing intel
ligent and judiciOus instruction for the
young, rather than leaving their enlight-
eminent to chance when evil sugges-
lions will be identified with knowledge.
The difficulty of this teaching is fully
realized. Rev. j. p. Gladstone, an En-
glish clergyman, says that, "no father
worthy of the name, would send his
child on dark night along a road full
of danger, without warning him of the
evils lying in his way. He will yet send
him forth along the dangerous road of
life without one word of warning con-
corning the deep and dangerous pit of
impurity, where he knows that host
lie bruised and slain"
This writer pertinently inquiries
"What would you say How much
would you say2 When would you say
it l reply, that if parents would
study this as they do other matters
touching their children's welfare, they
will be sure to find the right word, and
the right time to say it,"
The Bishop of Manchester in an ad-
dress upon personal Purity" makes
this appeal to men Feel tenderly to-
ward every woman-the humblest and
plainest feel it unworthy of your man.
hood to abuse her divinely implanted
trust in you, and readiness to sacrifice
herself for you feel that it is as much
the action of a cur and BLACKBOARD to
wrong a woman as it would be to op-
press a child, and then your manhood
will grow, your courage, your self. con-
troll, your chivalrous gentle ess, and it
will be with more right than the proud
of old, that you will write
upon your shield tender and true"
Reformatory work for woman is an
factor of the plans for pro-
noting social purity. The obligations
for women are:
l. To uphold the law of purity as
equally binding upon men and women.
2. To be modest in language, behavior
and dress.
3. To avoid all conversation. reading,
art and amusements, which may put i'm
pure thoughts into my mind.
4 To gnard the pnritY OF nthers. eana.