The morning call., 1891-11-30
SOCIAL DEPRAVITY.
Rev. It. c. EastOn Handles the
Question Fearlessly.
he Says That the Church, as a Duty to So
eiety, Must Cope With This Monster
Iniquity of the Day.


Church last evening was made up almost
entirely OF strangers, many members of the
congregation remaining away presumably
on account of the announcement that DR..
Easton would talk on the Social Evil"
In introducing his subject the pastor ut
tered an indignant protest against this incli-
nation on the part Of certain church-goers
to shirk the solemn duty OF understanding
this important subject in all Its phases. If
the church, he continued, dare not study
the history, cause and cure of this crimson
crime, then how shall the evil be remedied?
1t does not belong to the State, for when
legislation attempts anything in this dlrec-
ton it makes legally right that which is
morally wrong.
GRAND JURY REPORT.
DR.. Easton read that portion of report
recently rendered by the Grand Jury Com
mittee on Dives and Social Evil" which
relates To and contains recommendation
for the adjustment of crime and degreda-
ton in various forms which came hinder
the observation of the committeeman. Con-
tinuing, he said: ''Ths report is not at all
exaggerated, and shows the depth of in
EQUITY in this city. The question arises In
my mind, Why do We fail to grasp the evil
by the throat and prevent the girls from
falling. There are churches and philan-
thropists without number who give money
OF fallen women, and that is noble and
Christianlike philanthropy, but to prevent
the downfall and ruin of our young girls
is vastly more Christian work. Is it pos
sibe.
Il firmly believe" he said, "that some
means could be enlisted, at present uu-
utilized, that would lessen to a large exte mt
this fearful tide of depravity in all our
large cities, otherwise | would not consider
this deep and dark shadow of life in a great
n n
fearful dangers to which the young girls are
exposed in great city in attempting 10
crafty their social instincts. There are
thousands OF these unmarried youths who
live in boardiag-houses In little rooms,
where pIoprie.y forbids their receiving
callers of the opposite Sex, and where
maidenly modesty makes it impossible to
receive them in the common parlor. II their
| abode is home, that home is often
too mean and low, oveTcrOwded with
disagreeable dodgers, whose curiosity and
taltle are insufferable barriers to that free
and genuine Interchange OF thought which
precedes love. These circumstances of
poverty and crowded tenementS close up
those avenues to spontaneous and natural
intercourse between the sexes, such as can
be seen III the homes o. the better classes in
our great cities, or even among the poor in
rural communities, where human beings are
not herded together like cattle. RecCgniZ-
ing then the fact that these sexual instincts
will not be repreSse0, teach these toiliDg
girls in their solution Of this problem how
TO enjoy these affuites between the sexes.
FORMING ACQUAINTANCEs.
They form their acquaintance largely
in shops, stores and factories, where they
are thrown promiscuously together. A close
| observer has but to stand for few mo-
nients in any large store or factory in this
city to answer the ques ton whether this is
likely TO be favorable place. He Will dis
cover, and with horror if lie is a pure
mir Enehqu1 fc n 10
worst type are thrown into intimate rela-
| tlons with innocent young girls and girls
premRtGrely old in vice, with young lads
whose purity is yet unStalred. These young
people, with the irrepressinle love for the
| opposite sex, are thrown tUg tier and jOstled
| into physical contact, Of which advantage is
too often taken. They interchange those
! significant glances which are the uDcon-
scious means of communicating interest
| which in early youth is scarcely understood.
| The results are just the inevitable, that long
before they are prepared for marriage their
! affections are engaged, and, if marriage is
| impossible, crime-the crimson crime Of our
| cItles-is the result.
TELEGRAPHIC SIGNALS.
I'm other cases where the sexes are
| divided in our shops, stores and factories,
| the medium of communication is through
| the windows on opposite sides OF the street,
| or walking IN pairs from the factory along
| the street He must be dull observer of
! passed through our tboroughfares these
first Geographic signals from young eyes
| which are soon &c De followed up by an i'm
| proper acquaintance in the street, the thea
| ter or the ballroom. These are the places,
| good people of San Francisco, are the
places where that acquaintance among our
| toilipg girls ripens into intimacy. Excluded
| from the hallowed influences OF home, be-
Death the dazzling light of the electric
| lamps, passing the doors Of playing theaters
| and saloons, benolding the gay crowds unon
whose faces freedom of libertiniSm is too
| plainly seen, their manners and their
| morals are corrupted.
| DRIFTING WITH THE CURRENT.
| Prom the streets they drift on a current
| which few of them are able TO stem to the
! theater, and there-Say what you will about
| the tendency of the higher forms of the
| drama to stimulate the intellect aud give re-
| lief from cares and sorrows-iu a place
! where fashion reigns. false views OF domes-
| tic life, improper relations of married people
too often complete those suggestions which
nave been prompted by their own minds or
| by their loose AID careless friends. One
| more step precedes the utter collapse of
| those modest and sacred views which they
| once cherished about the relation of the
| sexes. They enter the destinations of the
| ballroom, and there. amid the blandiSh-
ments of music, behoiding women reposing
| upon the breasts Of inen and wrapped in
| each others embrace, they lose forever
those ideas and those principles OF virtue
| which alone can make home innocent and
happy.
THE INEVITABLE.
| 1.-The tragedy is swift, and virtue once
| debased downfall and ruin are inevitable.
| Girls once pure and innocent have by the
| thousands fallen in that manner. Fallen
| OH the agonies wrapped up in that one
word. You may see them any day or night,
| physical nature wreck, hopes blasted, viz
| tue gone, souls lost
| tbe fate nf art1as
Sweet 6oweret OF the rural shade,
| By loves simplicity betrayed or gu'leless trust
TIL she, alas, all soied Is laid low IN the dust.
''These dangers have had their origin in
| the most universal, the deepest and almost
| the bOlieSt instinct the Creator has given us
| the love of the opposite sex. All crime
| and sin originate in the corruption of divine
| instincts. 1t Is not the instinct Of love for
| the opposite sex which has wrought all this
| ruin cODplal ned of by our Grand Jury; IL is
| its perversi0n. 1t has not had chance to
| develop itself under circumstances favora-
| Bile TO its growth.
| THE SAME INSTINCT.
| "These young people who exchange these
| glances who press each others hands, who
| kiss each others lips, are yielding to the
| very same instinct which a quarter of a
| century ago sweled into tumultuous emo
| tons when you first looked into the eyes
which for twenty-five years have reflected
| heaven upon your soul. 1t is the same in-
| stinct which burst into life in the heart of
Adam when lifting up his eyes he beheld
| our first mother.
| On she came,
| Led by her heavenly MAKER, tho unseen,
| And guided by Ills voice, uniformed
| Ofnuptial sanctity aud marriage rights,
| Grace was In all her steps, heaven in her eye
In every gesture dignity and love.
| 1T Is the same instinct which has been
the inspiration of all truest poetry and TO.
nance. it is the same instinct which laid
the foundation of that happy home where
your childhood was passed in a reality of
heaven, and which home you can scarce
distinguish from happy dream.
| 1T is UNIVERSAL.
"There are few thoughts concerning the
mystery Of existence more impressive than
nFsI.;- -