Smyrna times., 1886-04-07
White Gross Army.
HUNDREDS OF YOUNG MEN HAVE
PLEDGED THEMSELVES TO PER-
SONAL PURITY.

Nearly 1000 young men filled all the
space in Association Hall in New York
last week at the anniversary of the
White Cross Army. The White Gross
movement was started in England
three years ago by the Bishop of Dur
ham. 1t has spread rapidly in this
country since the first public meeting
was held in Association Hall one yeal
ago.
1t has for its object the promotion ol
personal purity among men as well as
to protect women from wrong and deg.
radiation. Secretary William J. Yates
read the army's first annual report
He said that over 600 young men in
this city alone had joined the army,
A great many Columbia College stu.
dents were among the number, and the
work had been much helped forward
by the young men in many other col
leges in this country. Over 10000
pamphlets had been distributed.
Police Justice James Il. Kilbretb
read very interesting paper on the
criminal women of this CITY. In 1885
he said, there We're 75,042 arrests foI
misdemeanors in New York. and in
] -OfOS- NttoNo IAAC IA toOt4CI5 were women,
In nine cases out Of ten the women
were arrested for Oflenses affecting
their own persons. Judge KiIbreth
| blamed the tenement house system for
much of the spread of vice in this city
/ He said:
Poverty has too often driven honest
and well-meaning ones of both sexes to
offend against the civil and moral law.
The closely crowded tenements are bv
| reason of the intimate and indiscrimi-
nate associations which they necessa-
rlly impose, a source of much immOr-
allty and eventual criminality. Scenes
OF lmpropriety are witnessed there and
language heard which are more or less
demOralizing to the young. The great
majority of fallen women learn their
first lessons in those tenements, where
too little attention is accorded the dis
tinctiOns of the sex.
The number Of evil women in this
city cannot be even approximately as
certained, for of late years the ten
dency has been for these women to
avoid a residence among others of
their class in houses kept for that pur-
pose, and they have distributed them
selves in all quarters and directions.
renting furnised rooms in flats and ten
ements. Many of them live in retired
| places, and have other real or ostensi-
bic occupations which enable them to
lessen the chances of being detected.
This sequestratiOn exposes many young
girls to the danger of contact with
| these women.
The iniatial steps in a downward
course are usually taken through choice.
inspired by fondness for display in
dress and the desire to CRAFTY it. bv
laZlness, by unwillingness to submit to
home discipline, by desire for unre-
strlcted choice Of associates and times
and places of association"
Judge Kilbreth did not believe that
imprisonment did much to reform peO-
pie of criminal tendencies. Early ed
ucatlon was the best weapon against
crime, and he believed that the White
Cross Army was a great educator.
Mr.. w. H. Sage talked to the Young
men in very practical way, and told
them many reasons why they should
be pure. Lieutenant Irving Hale of
the United States Engineers Ttrampled
upon the dudism because it exerted a
positive influence toward wickedness.
One reason why women were not
treated with more respect, ne said, was
because many of them condoned i'm
morality in men which they would Wis
it with the sevtrest punishment on
their own sex.
Hundreds of White Cross pledges
were circulated among the audience,
and many of the young men signed
them before they went home.-Ne,y
York Star.