Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-12
SOCIAL PURITY,
Miss Willard's Lecture In the smithfeld
Street M. E. Church-A Collection for
tbe White Cross I,PRiop

Street M. E. Church-A Collection for
the White Cross Legion.
| The audience room of the SmithfieId M f.
| Church was taxed to its full seating capacity
| and chairs were placed in the aisle to accom-
modate those who went to hear Miss Frances
Willard, the President of the National and
Worlds W. g. 7. u, deliver her lecture on
Social Purity last evening. A massive bou-
| quet of lovely roses placed on the table near
Miss Willard testified to the thougbtfuIness of
her own sex. The lady herself never appeared
to better advantage than she did last evening,
and as one looked at her commanding
figure arrayed in a neat. well-ftting dress of
black material, and her expressive countenance
framed with soft, wavy hair, reverence and
admiration was inspired even before word
was spoken. But when her clear, distinct and
powerful voice penetrated the corners OF
the rooms, carrying with it conclusive evidence
that by the aggrandizement of women state
of social purity would result that could never
be accomplished in any other way the silence
which reigned betokened the great interest
with which her remarks were received.
Miss Willard spoke of the vast amount Of
good that has already resulted from the efforts
of the organized societies for the elevation OF
womankind, but spoke more fully upon the
order of the white Cross" whose first pledge
is Il will maintain an equal standard of social
purity for men and women" OF the order
Mrs. Josephine Butler, the wife of an En-
glish clergyman, was the pioneer some 20
years ago. Robbed by death of an idolized
daughter. she devoted her time to the elevation
of women who are commonly called aban-
doned or outcasts. Miss Hopkins another En-
gl1sh woman, followed in her footsteps, and
william Stead was great power in the same
work which has become step-child OF the W.
c. Il. u.
IorI IT.
compliment for the assistance he had given
the W. c. T. U. in bringing the subject before
the Work1ngmen of the nation. She claimed
that with perfect homes the desired state of
social purity could be effected. Homes where
confidence between husband and wife and
parent and child would be safeguard for ALL
the opinion of Miss Willard. is to educate the
woman and give her equal rights and privileges
with man, thus making her companion with
whom he may discuss any and all subjects thus
see man or sitting with his paper up before
his face, buried in its contents. With
perfect confidence existing between husband
and wife and loyalty to each other,
strong foundation for the children to lean
upon and learn from would lessen much of the
crime and suffering that abounds at present.
Miss Willard advocated strongly intimate rela.
tions between mother and child. She referred
to the passage in ben Hur'' which says "God
could not be everywhere, so he made mothers"
The influence of the mother to assist child
youthful years. In her opinion, could not be
oVerestmated.
Virtue must be based upon knowledge" the
lady said, ''and is proof against any and all
temptations" Innocence is always the result
of ignorance, and more easily Influenced
Therefore, she argued, child should be taught
and counseled with regarding all forms of sin
that might present itself TO him. Forewarned
ID forearmed, SO the lecturer said. In speaking
of the typical home of today Miss Willard
said at the present time woman was forced
to marry, hedged into it by prejudces bntman
of his own free will selected that method of
living, though every profession and avenue
was open to him. From that she drew her con-
clusions that no matter how highly educated
and competent to make her own way in the
world woman might be in the future, she, too,
would listen to the voice of love and enter the
matrimonial, but able to be a better
wife and companion to the man
she honored with her hand and heart.
And when society has reached that state it
will be found more of . compliment to the man
when woman signifies her willingness to as
sumo the responsibilities of wifehood than at
the present time when she is forced so often to
enter the married state.
At the close of the meeting collection was
taken for the White Cross Legion.