The evening times., 1895-09-21
TO TEACH The RACE PURITY
Unique 0rganlzaHil vhsss Ain Is hs
Care d Morals.
1t VIII Soon Meet In Baltimore and
Discuss Means to Attain
That End.

unique congress. II will deal with q most
delicate question, and from the energy of
IFS managers promises to delve into certain
problems with a thoroughness which will
cause endless discussion in all quarters of
the land, writes Mary n. HeaIy.
The congress will be that of the American
Purity Alliance. 1t will continue three
days, beginning on Monday, October 1 A, and
ending Wednesday, October I6. The presi-
dent of the society is Aaron NJ. Powell, a
New Y ork business man, who has givenmuch
study to all phases of social problems.
Many years ago he was the editor of the
Anti-siavery Standard, most energetic
organ of the AbOlitionists Speaking OF the
purposes of the Baltimore gathering, he
said:
"The congress Is invited because the time
seems fully 10 have arrived to give more
thoughtful, intelligent and general consid-
Grafton to the profound important social
problems involved.
"My first interest In this subject was
aroused in 1876" he said, when few of
US formed committee upon receiving a
warning communication from the Interna-
tion of State Regulation of Vice. of which
Mrs. Josephine E. Butler is the heroic leader.
She was the pioneer in that revolt gainst
infamous legislation which shamed our
statute books, but is now, happily, only
dismal memory.
ave were all shocked by the revelations
of Mr.. Stead. in London, in 1885. The
crimes against young girls were appalling.
Imagine the horror Of our own people, when
it was found out that although we protected
the property OF our girls until the legal age,
our care ended there. as the law of New
York and nearly all the other States made
a child 10 years old legally capable of
consenting to her own ruin. In Delaware
at the shockingly low period of years.
This subject will receive particular at
tention during the congress, for although
wonders have been accomplished, much is
yet to be done.
I'VE have worked quietly but effective
ly" continued Mr.. Powell, land IL, as
G ladstone, the Grand Old Man, sa Us,
The true function of government is to
make it easy to do right and difficult to
do wrong then we ought to have the
cooperation and encouragement Of ev-
cry one who has the future health and well
fare of the human race at heart"
Helen II. Gardner, witty, fearless and
handsome woman, who is going to read
a paper entitled ''Heredity and Ethics"
on the first day of the CONGRESS, is en-
thusiastic over the stimulus to whole
some sentiment which will be the nat
ural outcome of this first American Pur-
ity conference.
'You must not think we are intolerant
in our views" she said. "Our interests
are too broad and ennobling for that. We
will touch upon every phase of a sub
tect the proper understanding of which
is bound to clear the moral atmosphere.
Regarding State regulation, 1t goes
without saying that we are as a unit
and our efforts shall be unceasing to
raise the age of consent in the States
which still continue to submit to bar
barous legislation and allow their little
girls to be held responsible for their own
undoing."
The corresponding secretary of the al
lance. Mrs. Anna Rice Powell, is a
charming lady, whose kind heart has
brought her into close contact with frail
and erring women. She is deeply imbued
OF certain kind, worded dclicately, but
explicit enough tn warn them and make
them understand the temptations which
life has inevitably In store for them. that
the painful topics ON which the congress
has to dwell would be reduced TO q
minimum.
Children gain their ideas very early"
she said. II have come To have an especial
pity for neglected boys. How blessed are
those whose parents wisely teach both son
and daughte that they have equal respon-
siblities to God and society for pure life.
''Some people, who have led very shell
tered lives and have been spared all knowl-
edge of The saddening perversion of the most
sacred relations of life may not see the
of the convention, nor feel the
force of our views on this matter.
81 have been shocked to hear good peo- |
pie speak in a hopeless way about the at |
tempt to gain an equal standard of moral |
ity for both sexes. This lack of faith is
concession to evil and an influence that |
weakens the efforts Of many men who wish !
for a noble life.
"Men and women do not devote their |
lives to q cause without weighing and |
studying the subject in all its phases"
Although the official programme is not |
yet completed, it is probable that Car |
1inal Gibbons win deliver an address well |
coming the delegates to his beloved city.
Then follows a series of papers ard adj |
dresses by eminent and gifted men and !
" omen, including the Hon. Elbridge T. |
Gerry, Julia Ward Howe, Mary A. Liver
more, Anthony Comstock, and very prob