The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-03-18


should plead for, and exert every lnfu-
ence TO cOunteract the sin and destruction
in our cities.
There are, ne said, 1900 unemployed
working women i'll san Francisco and
10 900 men out Of employment. When
unemployed is the time when they are
beset by temptation and peril. Poets
might sing OF the charms of loneliness
and solitude, but it has no charms for
women in cities. Men may get away
from the peril TO some extent, but 1t Is
not so of women out of employment IN
cities crowded with pleasures that poison
and beset by poverty and temptation.
He touched severely upon the lnllu-
ences OF American saloons in the cities,
and especially referred to the pernlclous
effects of those with side or family"
entrances.
These, he said, were largely peculiar to
the Pacific Coast, and were not often
found in Eastern cities. These are often
patrOniZed by women who lead in society
or have lair standing, which makes
them all the more devilish and destruc-
tive. such places were neither more ror
less than houses or places OF assl9natlon,
and women entering them were exposed
to vortex of temptations. Lager peer,
he said, was introduced in the country
as a temptation to boys and young men,
the saloon with its side entrance was to
tempt the girls and young women.
There are, he said, 300 to Loo women
in the dives Of san Francisco alone, and
it is in vain that the Anti-Dive AsSocla-
ton and the Salvation Army extend their
invitations to those Women-none OF
them are ever accepted. They have sunk
50 deep in iniquity that they will not ana
do not seek or care for the efforts put forth
in their behalf.
The cities, TOO, are feeding the people
with intellectual garbage. Foul, per-
nicious and rotten literature is dissem-
mated by tons from news depots in san
Francisco. To counteract its influence
something must be done, and it Will re-
quire united and earnest work.
There are men, said the speaker, who
live and thrive upon the wreckage of
women and girls, and they reach their
prey through catching advertisements Of
massage parlOrs and medical DISPENSE
ries using every means 10 eaten IN their
wiles any or every woman they can
reach. He knew of saloon men who
planned and made business of the ruin
alton of girls, but worse than these were
business men employing girls and young
women at starvation wages and then de-
manding of them that they forfeit their
virtue or their positions.
Many young women go the cities for
employment and seek to earn a liveli-
hood, and it does not take them long to
cold and Indifferent world. They feel a
lack OF regard and the chilling effect of
people of spectability-a Indifference.
In the churches they find a vast amount
Of irreligion and cherries Indifference
also, and they are everywhere beset with
temptation. In many cases 1t does not
take young woman so placed long to
realize that the chances are against her
and that in all probability she Will be
lost and go down to destruction.
PauPs appeal was to the Christians Of
Rome, and to-day the condition of these
young women is an appeal to the Chris
tian church, which is the light, the salt OF
the world. If the church does not save
humanity, and reach out and protect inn
periled women, in Gods name who will
do il?
If Christianity fails in this, said Mr..
Henry, it will 90 down to its destruction.
1t is comparatively easy to give aims,
counsel and advice, but what the world
needs is practical aid and feeling sym
pathy for the unfortunate and Imperfect
that was what Paul prayed for in his day.
II we do not seek those in peril we will
never save them. We are all our broth
er's and our sisters keeper and the re-
Sponsibility rests with all who are Chris
tians.
Socrates said he was not simply citi-
zen of Athens or Greece, but that he was
II
woman lives to himself or herself, but
we are all citizens and brothers and Sis
tiers of The universe. a man, like a rail-
road coupon, sis not good if detached"
Men must have society, pure or impure,
slnless or sinful. 1t is true that many
are ignorant and ignoble, low in quality
and birth, like the depraved in the dives
of San Francisco, but it is the duty of
Christians to get down beside them, lit
up and reclaim.
1t is possible for none but Christians to
do this. Christ was very democratic on
earth and dared put himself uuder the
ban of polite society and with the sinful,
He died to save them all.
Lyman Beecher said the greatest thing
man could do was not in philosophy or
discussion, but to save men-that is the
greatest thing in the world. 1t cannot be
done without effort and sacrifice.
The speaker dwelt at length upon the
women going to destruction in san Fran
cisco and elsewhere, and the necessity for
such work as was being done by the \ .
w. c. A. He pictured woman as the
corner stone as well as the beauty and
perfection of civilization, and that in her
was embodied the fullest grace, strength
and perfection of humanity.
There is no strength or security in the
home unless woman gives it, and she
must be clean of soul and character, She
and humanity. The hand that rocks the
cradle rules the world.
He thought all the great questions of
the times devolved upon personal and in
dividual righteousness, and women must
settle them. There is a universal call for
conservative work, and the churches are
not doing it. 1t is being done by such
organizations as this association.
Its mission should be not alone to save
but to guard and defend childhood and
young women.
Mr.. Henry closed with the following
lines. which he pronounced with elo-
quence and tervor:
Never a word is said,
But it trenbles in the air,
And the truauJ voice has sped
To Vibrate every where;
And perhaps lar OF in eternal years
The ecno may ring upon our ears.
Never are kind acts done
To wipe the weeping eyes,
But. like flashes OF the sun,
They signal to the Skies
And up ABOVE the angels read
How We have helped the sorer need.
Never q day is given,
But 1t tones the after years.
And il carries up 10 heaven
Its sunshine or its tears;
While the to-inorTows stand and wait,
The silent mutes by the outer gate.
There is no end to the sky.
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