The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-12
LEAGUED FOR PURITY.
AN ORGANIZATION THAT MAY DO
GOOD AMONG ALL CLASSES.

What IL Has Already Done-Somc Ideas
That IL Hopes to Sec Realized in the
Near Future.
Among the many charitable and
philanthropic societies Incorporated
and chartered during the past year
is 'one known as the Chris
tan League for the Promotion Of So
cial Purity" which recently came be-
fore the public by causing the exhuma
ton Of the body of Lille Holskamp, an
inmate of the Leake and Watts Or
phans' Home. and calling attention to
the serious and distressing condition OF
the inmates at White Plains Jail. This
organization was founded by Mrs. T..
B. Grannis, the editor and,publisher OF
the Christian Union, for the purpose of
elevating opinion respecting the nature
and claims to morality, to make its OBJ
legations and responsibilities equally
incumbent upon men as upon women,
and to organize the efforts OF iChristlans
in preventive. educational, reformatory,
and legislative work.
This is the only society in existence
whose special mission Includes oil these
various departments of endeavor, and
the work is one requiring the greatest
wisdom, delicacy. and sagacity' 10 It's
progenitors. Mrs. GRAMS has been
ooguiz.nt OF the necessity for such
movement for many years and pre-
pared for it's inauguration by inspection
aud examination of the various causes
that lead to the deplorable evils that
exist in refOrmatories, prisons. instltu-
tjons. and even in schools and colleges,
az we'll as the world at large. or these
evils it is impossible to speak In detail,
but their seriousness is such as to war
rant the earnest endeavor of Christian
people in their investigation and pre-
vention.
The society is at present comparative
lv small in numbers, for its the policy
prescribed by its founder never to ask
| person TO become member OF the
| League. to join in the work as duty or
as favor to any person or persons, or
for financial benefit to the organization.
Every Christian man or woman Is ell
gible for membership, AID may be
elected a member by contributing an
annual fee of 81, or $50 for life mem
bership, the funds thus supplied being
used 10 defray the necessary expenses
of the society, which are light. owing
| TO the kindness of Mrs. Grannis in max
| ing her house its headquarters. and
| after such expenses are satisfied the re-
J mainder is devoted to the assistance oil
needy girls and women.
Another principle of the League Is to
never ask for money to carry on the
work from individuals directly, or to
send collectors through any audience
for the purpose of receiving contribu-
tions. All offerings shall be strictly
voluntary. and will be expended in a
most iudicious manner. The officers of
the League are: President, Elizabeth
B. Grannis; Vice-Presidents, Frances
j. Barnes and NJ. p. Buchanan; Re-
cording Secretary, Miss Ii. Barcalow;
Corresponding Secretary. NJ. Louise
Thomas: Treasurer, Mrs. 7. +. Evans.
The Executive Committee are the Rev.
b. L. De Costa, ID. d.. the Rev. b. Is.
TYLER, DIR. Kate Bushnell, the Rev. a.
Lewis, ID. d., Caroline b. Bevell, Mary
a. Livermore. aud Mrs. T.. b. Grannis,
The headquarters of the League are at
80 east Twenty-second street. and its
meetings are held on the last Friday of
each month at . z. NJ.
| The practical work of the society Is
of such nature as precludes in many
cases its publication, but its aim Is pre-
ventive rather than reformatOry. Du-
ring the summer many pltiable cases,
whose circumstances may not be pub
licly explained, of girls and women S
need, have been relieved by the women
of the League. The lack of employ
ment, the starvation wages paid, the
| incapacity of women for practical self
support, all engage the attention of the
| League workers as serious impedimentt
in raising the standard OF womanly
purity.
Several members of the League have
interested themselves in the appoint
ment of police matroDs. Others have
Investigated and made known the im
moral practices carried on in the White
Plains iails, and informed Themselves
as to the deplorable habits frequently
prevailing in schools for girls and boys
Believing that the know ledge of evil l.
the only safe weapon of defence against
evil, the society has organized mothers
meetings for the instruction of the
women in conditions as they exist, and
in the duty they owe their children tc
prepare them for the temptations that
may assail them, by impartiDg informa'
ton and advice generally withheld.
The reticence of conservative mothers
toward their children, 10th boys and
girls, is deemed another of the great
mistakes and hindrances i'll the eleva
ton of the standard of purity.
Through the efforts of the League.
too. Senator McNaughton was induced
to recommit his bill, which had passed
the House and been favorably reported
in the Senate. reducing the age OF re-
| sponsibility from sixteen TO fourteen
years. Through the agitation of the
measure, Governor Beggs, of Delaware.
became interested in the subject and
investigated the law of his State, OF
which he admitted he had never known,
and found that the little child OF seven
years was held accountable, and could
legally barter her honor. which law has
received his intervention since that
time.
II is the present purpose of the society
to agitate the subject of social purity
TO investigate the causes. and deter
mine the remedies for immortality OF
all kinds: to interest the influential IN
carrying out needed reforms. and to
publish and circulate judicious matter
which shall elevate the standard OF
mans social purity to the level of that
maintained by woman. 1t is the future
purpose or ambition of the society to
seek through the Legislature to pass
laws making equal the moral oblixa
ton of men TO every family relation
that is obligatory on women; to compel
fathers of children born out Of wed
lock to give such children the name OF
the father, a share in his estate, to
adopt the child into his own family il
he is married, or to marry the mother
il he is single; to supply employment
l. =