The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-01-01
City Ministers Take Up the Problem
Of Training Our Boys
and Girls.
The Perlls Which Beset the Young
on the Strests OF
Helena.
Sermons by Rev n. r. webb, Rev. N. c.
Allen, Hsv. ,. n. crooheT, Rev. 7. v.
Moore aud Rev. ,. E. squireA

same subject that Of how 10 look after the
boys Of she city. Rev. Frederick T.. Webb,
rector OF 81 Peters took for his sabisct a.
morning servios The Training Of The
Street" lie said There 10 city oEdi-
nance fofbidding boys and girls under 10
years Of age 10 be on the streets after nine
o'clock al night. ID 10 proposed tetFy 70
secure q slight amendment OF this ordi-
nance and 20 Greats a sentiment favorable
20 ns enforcement. Our daily press has
already spoken wisely and urgently upon
this subject. The pulpit i to do to-day
what u eau 10 second this endeavor. The
street IL unquestionablS one of the most
powerful Of the worlds educational foi ces.
A ohild's character gets some OF ita beni
aud great deal of It's eolOring. inevitably,
from what II sees and hears during that
part Of it's life which Is spent. Of necessity.
upon the streets. The influence OF the
street 10 not wholly bad. The shop win
dows or their books aud pictures an 90
caaional show Of flowers, ths bright sky
overhead, the hurry of men, aud the lesson
il Is OF the need Of diligence In business
and Of the serious struggle which e4is,snce
means 20 maintain itself In comfort AMI
TssYeotability, are all adding steadily their
share so the process of shaping our chill
dren into the men aud women they are 10
be. The only outdoor exercise that 10 pos
sible for multitudss of children - what
thoy get upon the streets. There
the most Of their healthful Ramss
are played. IL she influence OF the
street is not all bad neither lie /, altogether
good. not believe that Helena. as q whole.
eompares otherwise than moot faVorAbly, In
tie strength OF its mo5hl sentiment with
the average American town. But as long
as licensed gambling saloons exist. and
other licensed vices remain, We must eI-
poet 20 be rated lower than We deserve. BY
the intelligent visitors who comes TO us.
Therefore, says jeremiah. our young men
and our young women fall In her streets,
speaking Of a great and beautiful, but very
corrupt city OF his own times. Would that
his words had no verihcAtion in our own
dEysl Would that there we're no fulfill
msnt of his prophecy. no visitation Of his
curse here in our midst. Therefore our
young men and our young women fall In
our streets! WHY IL ID fof any reason
save that the saloon. the gambling table
and ia devices to emit ap, and doors that
opeu mon a quicker and blaeker ruin are
permitted TO weave their entAnRlements
about the unwa'y with only too lil'le him
dyanceP
10 be added TO these peTils, said the
speaker, there was the mischief constantly
Rcoruing from the language OF the street.
"Children as wolf as adults" be aala. ARE
apt 20 talk of vices before they pFsoloe
them, Bad talk paves the way 10 bad desdA
To listen to descriptions OF wrong-doing In
terms that condone 10 or tfeat ~ lightly
soon removes that horror OF sin which IN
innocent minds is one Of the surest bars
AGAINST its commission. IL there ars bad
- srfrI "a 4
the streeta and especially after dark that
thew are certain TO be seen and beard
Now, the street is called the 'deVils sohoo.
Il is our duty 20 make 70 otherwise. la u
acting with a due regard 60 the relation OF
things 10 maze and scrupulously enforce
ordinances which forbid the accumulation
of niles Of rubbish or the existence on our
stroets Of any filth that may contHmina'e
the air, ma 10 set Official notices uron
houses WheTo there are contagious diseases,
and vet 20 leave about so much that Is
morally polluting and not only 20 tolerate
but 20 license these spots fiom which the
foulest infection is being spread.
'Our first rlain duty lies 10 making the
homo what ID should be, att actlvei y com
Portable. cheerful place where the entioe-
ments 20 linger outweigh the Inducements
OF the child To 90 upon the strests. home
training, covering the childs learning, his
instruction IN the principles OF religion;
his healtL, the medication OF every GOOD
habit IL the only absolute safeguard. Ca
IN the streets, meeting aud mingling Win
others Of Their own nge. child en- often md
a degree OF cordial sympathy with their Pc
culinr aims and thoughts and love OF child
ish plensuir. which Is most unwlsey denied
them az home. Give them such sympathy!
Do not kte above theml That boy says
laymHn who has spoken often With telling
truth u on this theme. mere are many
things DO does not know. Remember that
be is only boy. You we're once. Call 60
mind what You thought and how you felt
Give that boy chance. Keep near 10 lin
in sympathY. BE his ohum. DO not make
too many oast-iron laws. hule with vel
vet hand. Help him 20 have q good time.
Answer his foolish questions. " patient
with bis FRANKS. Laugh 10 his jokes.
sweat over his eonundrums. Lumber up
your dignity with a'Reme OF football OF
da,'s fishing, You can win his heart ut
terly aud hold him steady in the path that
leads higher up. That boy has soul and
a destiny reaching h Oh abovetho mountain
peak. lie ia worth million times ms
weight in gold
ave feel more solicitous for our boys.
but the same gene al principles, In fam
ilv are Iequifed In tho management OF tts
Girls. And let us not think Of this work of
child shaping ~ IL IL were the province Of
the mother alone. In the fathers neglect
20 take the time from his business or TO
give himself the necessary trouble has
often lain the fatal error. the fruit OF which
has often been a girls OF a boys ruin. Let
the fathers be as anxious as the motheTs 20
WELD their influences fright" The minis
Ter referred 20 the necessity of training
children IN the habit OF regular attendance
~ worship a duty devolving on the fathes
~ we'll as upon the mother.
ia IL In view Of the moral danger 20 be
met upon the street that the city ordinance
90 watch have referred has been passed.
As 10 now stands 10 10 made unlawful for ali
children under l6 yeas Of age to be found
upon the public streets or grounds alter
nine o'clock At night unless engaged Ia
some lawful business OF accompanied bF
some elder person. OF with the written per
init Of parent or guardian. The proposed
amendment fixes the time AZ seven O'Clock
IN winter for child en- under IA years of
ace and eight O'Clock for children between
- and i6; the hour for all children under
Is remaining the same As before. gRmely,
nine o'clock, from April 20 Oct l. A pc
tition 20 the council. signed By the officers
Of the CITY churches. will be presented
shortly. asking for this amendment and
praying for its vigorous enforcement. VIVA
- nov desired 90 second this movement -
the favorable sentiment Of the community. Z.