Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-06
THE WHITE CROSS.

Society is constantly developing new
methods and new agencies for accomplish
ing good for mankind. A fair and unprs-
JUDGED review of social conditions and ae-
tivities viii convince any but confirmed
pessimists that the agencies for good have
not been outrun by the agencies Of evil.
On the contrary impartial judgment will
discern in the progress of the race intel
lectaally, parallel advancement by human
izing influences, and no cessation on the
part OF religion or pure philanthropy tore
sist evil.
The societies for the prevention CT cru
city to animals; for the prevention of cru
city to children the children's aid soci-
cites: the English day and night chart
ties the various associations operating
directly with and as adjuncts to religious
orders societies for intensifying charitable
efforts; for the relief and rescue of the
neglected poor; for the suppression of
vice; Tor prison reform for the main
tenance Of retreats for those Of the
criminal and abandoned classes disposed to
reform; the sanitary organizations; the
many associated efforts to mitigate the hor-
rors of war; and to relieve those wounded
in battle; the hundreds of associations
laboring for the good of special classes of
the needy and depraved; the eyangelizing
and missionary organizations all these and
some hundreds of others, including socie-
ties for town and village improvement, for
reforms of evils in personal habits, and
scores devoted wholly to intellectual and
popular educational advancement, together
with still greater number laboring to
qualify youth for life's service, such as
manual training schools, art schools, re-
formatories, refugees and shelters, and
scarcely lesser number devoted to the
aged, to providing homes for the feeble
minded, homes for veterans, homes for
sailors, asylums for treatment of alcohol
ism, etc, are products of the age in
which We I've, and are each and every one
fortified work in resistance of and assault
upon evil practices, habits, temptations,
and misfortunes aud criminal environment.
Among the later associations that have
come into public notice is the White Cross
organization. The purpose and aim Of the
society is 20 promote social purity. On this
pivotal point ell its labor' turn Believing
that purity in society must begin with the
purity of those who labor for that result
every member of the Order IS required to
sign plsdge, written beneath this text:
Ny strength is as the strength Of ten,
Because my heart Is pure.
The pledge reads:
-. promise by the help OF Cod
To treat al women with respect, aud endeavor
to protect them from wrong and degradation.
To endeavor o put down all indecent language
and coarse tests.
To maintain the law of purity as equally bind
ing upon men and women.
To endeavor 20 spread these principles among
my companions aud to try and help ny Younger
brothers
To Use every possible means to fulfill the com
mand, Keep IHYSElF pure.
VINO Is there that can point out objec
ton to this code, unless it be, perhaps
those extreme religionists who viii admit
virtue to reside in no effort outside of
church wor-and, unfortunately, there
are some such. The practical work of the
society-now scarcely three years old, but
numbering hundreds of thousands of mem
bers-in regard to young men, should
alone commend it to favor For it endeav-
ors to teach young men that health and
strength and happiness are blessings so
rich and rare as TO be treasured above all
price. Accordingly it cultivates the prac-
ticc OF eating plain food, wholesome,
plainly cooked, slowly eaten, and the re-
lection Of fmciful condiments the wash
ing of the body frequently, the brushing
of the teeth after.each meal, daily OPEN
air walk or ride or Indulgence in muscu-
lar games; the wearing of seasonable
clothing the remedying Of slight personal
illness by bathing and diet the abstinence
from & worry :" the subsection by the win
of nervous and irritable feelings the tax
ing of plenty of sleep; the cultivation of
moral aud mental strength to resist per-
sonal debasing vice that wrecks body and
soul; abstinence from tobacco and from
the inordinate use of stimulants.
What parent in the land would object
to his son being pledged to such code of
purity and the violation of which all
know results so largely from mere neglect,
laziness, oarelessness, lack of honest pride
and moral stability. The strength that
must come Of union OF young men TO sus-
tain each other in enforcing such code
Is undeniable. Some statistics are pre-
scented by The Order, 10 prove the need of
such organization. Such. for example as
those given by Quetelet, who proves that
on the average the life of males is safest at
il, and that II declines from that to p, !