Evening journal., 1888-10-22
FOR SOCIAL PURITY.
Strong Pleas to Fathers and
Mothers for the Children.
SWEET WORDS FROM WOMEN

Sunday with tho women's Christian Tenn
perance Union Workers and Preachers
in the Metropolitan Opera House, New
York.
NEw YoRK, Oct. 22-The Metropolitan
Opera house was not 50 well filled yesterday
morning as on the former sessions Of the
Woman's Christian Temperance union. The
reason for this was that several Of the
reverend Indies preached in other churches
and their friends went to hear them.
The Rev Elizabeth Greenwood, Of Brook
lyn, delivered the sermon at the opera
house The first part Of it was ductrinal in
the extreme. In the course Of her disserta.
ton, however, she took up the much vexed
question OF marriage and divorce. She
claimed that easy divorce laws always pre-
ceded the fall OF a nation, and cite1 the case
Of the revolution in Paris, which occurred at
the close OF year during which over $1,000
divorces were granted in that city alone.
Ia the afternoon the house was filed,
larger number of men being present than at
any previous meeting
After the opening exercises DIR. Kate Bush
nell, superintendent of the "Socinl Purity De-
partment,n spoke. DR. Bushnell launched into
her subject at once. She believed, she said,
that men and women were created on the
same plan, and that men were every whit as
pure as women naturally; that it was the
nsages Of society which had established ths
social status DR.. Bushnell said that it was
an insult to her father and her brothers 10
say that they were created on a lower social
plane than herself
DR. Mary Allen, Of New York. Of the ssDe.
partment Of Health Of the union, next ad.
dressed the assemblage.
you fathres who have boys said DR..
Allen, .are very careful ID your words and
actions when in their presence, but don't you
kaow that your thoughts influence themi
Don't you know that years bsfors those eyes
saw the light or that little brain was called
into existence you had impaired to that child
a tangible record of your Iifes | charge you
in the name Of all that you hope for the fu-
ture Of your children to protect them by
your thoughts
Dr. Allen appealed to the young men who
thought that few years Of dissipation before
they settled down in life would do no harm,
to stop and think Of the result upon their
future SONS and daughters
The speaker made forcible address to the
girls, "the future mothers Of the race. .
Keep your every thought pure, she said
'The purity Of the girl Of to-day means purity
of the mother Of the future Oh, sacred mys-
terry Of motherhood when young woman
slips down into the darkness. alone with
God, and a human soul is given into her
keeping
'Do not jeopardize the possibilities Of your
future by marrying a reformed libertine
Do not mar the little coming life by harbor-
ing thoughts of murder in your heart
Mrs. c. H. Harris Hope Ledyardl, super.
intendent Of the Department Of Mothers
Meetings first spoke Of how mothers should
dress their children
If you put silk on girl Of seven years she
will not be satisfied with woolen at seven
teen.n She spoke Of the habit New York girls
had Of writing TO boys whom they had known
but two weeks
Don't you know it cheapens your girls,r
said the speaker. "What are you New York
mothers thinking about, anyway
The lady next took up the question Of boys
visiting girls in the parlors OF their homes
and being received by them alone She
thought the mother should be present and
help to entertain her daughters friends
Ny mother, said Mrs. Harris, fused to
insist that | should have piece OF work in
my hands when young men called upon me
/ l never knew her reason until Stree my own
children have grown up / know now that
it was done in order that my hands should
T be kept in their proper place. Then, too, a
bright light is needed if one has work to do y