The sun., 1892-03-25
The Example Of DR.. Parkhurst.

The National Christian League for the
Promotion OF Social Purity has passed O res.
olution OF thanks to DR.. PARKHuRsT for his
services as detective in exposing vice.
| His detective efforts nre described as
" heroic" and rs especially commendable.
because they were expended In 1.-THE
seriously neglected department Of social
purity and morality in this metropolis"
This Is very remarkable language. The
praise OF DR.. PARKHuRsT implies and In
wolves censure OF the law and spirit OF Chris
tianity as interpreted from the beginning
until now. Commendation OF his methods Is
equivalent to denunciatton OF the methods
Of dealing with sin and sinners approved,
adopted, and pursued by tho other priests
| and ministers OF New York. II his is the
right and righteous way. II tits praiseworthy
| and heroic, the course OF the rest OF the
Christian pastors is culpnble and cowardly.
They are false to their duty. and are en-
couraging sin by not going into personal
investigation OF crime" and working as
detectives In 1.-THE seriously neglected de-
this metropolis"
If Dr. PARKHuRsT's course in visiting dis
reputable resorts. in the disguise OF a
wicked old reprobate seeking the gratiflca-
tion Of his vicious propensities. was neces-
sary and justiflable as q means OF spying
out ipiquity aud betraying it. the priests
and pastors OF the town generally should
follow his example. They should all be-
come detectives for tho personal investi-
cation Of crime." aud for its exposure and
punishment.
1t is reported that the evil places into
which he entered as detective are only
few out Of many existing in New York. II
because OF his efforts in that capacity he
shuts up those particular establishments.
he will have done little for the abatement
Of sin. Nay. he will have done nothing.
probably, for the vicious will fly to the
other resorts for their kind. He will not
have conquered the sin. but simply scat
tered a few Of tho sinners to pursue their
evil courses elsewhere.
II. then. his method is heroic. It furnishes
an example for every pastor. All Of them
should disguise themselves as detectives
and personally investigate every place
OF vice within the limits OF their parishes and
expose IT. for punishment. II oil the pas
tors Of the town would consent to go into
such a concerted detective enterprise. they
could visit. see for themselves. and expose
every vicious resort in New York. They
could reach the whole number. while DR..
PARKHURsT disturbed a few only, and les
sened not at all the amount Of vice in town.
If he performed q Christian obligation. the
others are false to their vows In not fol-
lowing him into 1.-The seriously neglected
department Of social purity and morality
In this metropolis" They are simply
preaching virtue instead OF going out as
detectives to enforce it against sinners by
the aid OF the civil law.
This Social Purity League goes even fur
ther. It urges "every Christian worker
and every moral citizen to cooperate with
DR.. PARKHURsT and his agents in letting
in the light on the dives and dens Of i'm
morality. from the lowest to the highest"
It therefore calls on all the good people OF
New York and not the clergy merley. to enter
into the detective business after DR.. PARK
HURsT's fashion. and. by personal investi-
gation." to bring the sinners to civil punish
ment. They must go to these wicked places
under cover Of the night and with the pre-
tence that they are wicked themselves. in
order that they may betray the sinful to
the law.
That is the example set by DR.. PARK
HURST. Are decent people ready to follow
it. or will they abhor itp Is 1t an example
which they wish to commend to their sons
and daughters. after the manner of the
resolution from which we have quoted7