Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-06
ABOUT PROFANITY.

In Albany. New York an organized
movement was recently started for the
purpose Of suppresslng profanity The
prevalence Of that hobit-for 1t has be-
come habit with a great many people
lis said to be alarming, and the assist
ant rector OF ST. Johns cathedral In
that city has stated that profanity Is
as widespread, or nearly go as the Gus
tom which prevailed four hundred years
ago, when swearing was almost uniyer-
sal throughout Europe, and a Catholic
movement was inaugurated for the pur-
pose OF denouncIng 1t.
Profane swearing ought to be discour-
aged by all persons laying claim to re-
spectabillty. 1t is not only shocking to
the religious sense. but Is positively
vulgar We do not believe that profan-
ity Is anything ike as prevalent today
as II was some centuries ago, but 1t Is
frequent enough TO give cause for ener-
petic protest Out west, It Is perhaps
heard oftener than In the east. There
Is lack Of restraint in the compare
lively new states and Territories which
gives license to speech, and thus what
some people regard as strong Ian
guage" becomes habitual.
with the growth Of population and
the Increase OF church facilities the Gus
tom OF using profane words gradually
diminIshes. People with any apprecia-
ton Of refinement come to regard, more
and more, the feelings Of others who
are sensitive and devout. and so they
restrain their speech out Of respect for
what they may regard as the preiudices
OF their associates. This il true cour-
tesy and It should be valued and en-
couraged.
The habit OF protaning the name OF
Deity does not always indicate disbelief
In or disregard for the Supreme Being.
nor is II always to be considered in the
light OF cursing, 1t is a pernicious
manner OF using expletiyes that, often
INDUCED In. becomes kind Of second
nature. II is no real mark Of vigorous
mind, but is rather defect. 1t Is cur
able, however and can be overcome by
on effort on the part Of the person adj
dicted to It, and by the force of public
opinion. II Is ungentlemanly and should
be SO regarded. II should be viewed as
breach Of good manners and frowned
down by respectable men as much as
by ladies' before whom no true gentle
man would so far forget himself as to
indulge In Il.
We believe the habit can be more
readily and completely checked by the
influence Of social order. and the tacit
understanding that swearing Is obnox.
ious 20 good manners, than by any re-
lgious crusade against H. At the same
time all religious influences that can
be wisely brought to bear to oppose It
should be exercised
There used to be an ordinance in Utah
cities imposing a fine on any one con-
yicted Of profane swearing, II such a
provision were now enforced, we think
Il would bring considerable money into
the treasury Of this city. Still We do
not regard the evil as growing among
us; on the contrary. We believe that It
Is getting to be considered both i'm
prfper and unnecessary, and something
only TO be INDUCED In by the vulgar,
or pardonable in an ebullitlon OF anger
on some unusual provoeatlon When
anybody associated with religion, ex-
plodes in this way. II IS regarded as
reflection. not only upon his own sin
certify, but upon the power OF the re-
ligion which he processes, and It is
doubly to be condemned.
AS a man thinketh so is he" Is a
wise saying and as he thinks so will
he speak, Is equally true. The Chris
tian religion enioins circumspection in
speech as well as in act. and whether
people are believers or non-believers In
religion. elevated and intellectual soci-
ETY. demands that profanity shall be
banished from all It's circles.