The age-herald., 1902-03-03
Or, Dickinson Believes Open "SchOOI of Vice. Are Re-
 spOnsibIe for Crime
BETTER MORAL SENTIMENT
 SHOULD BE AROUSED
Rabbi NewfTeld Says There Is Too Little Regard for Human Life. North Birmingham Baby
 Butehery UnsoIved.

Clergy and laity are alike becoming aroused over the infanticide. the epidemic that has disgraced Birmingham for the past two months. The Age-Herald this morning presents interviews from four prominent ministers, representing the best thought of the city. condemning the outrages and urging an awakening of citizenship on moral lines.
 Two of the ministers see in the butch cry of infants decadence in our modern social system. Rabbi Newf1eld points out the seeming little regard for human life, taking as illustrations the numerous street duels and concludes that 1t is small wonder that helpless babes are murdered. The Rev. A. B. Curry and Dr. Newfield both agree that 1t Is the duty of the press to do it's part in arous- ing public sentiment against such hide ous practices.
 Officers Investigating the last and most revolting case of infanticide which has been brought to light are at d standstill They have been baffled at every point Not a clue has been obtained as to the inhuman parents who crushed the skull of their infant and placed it under log near the Country Club house at North Birmingham. Interviews obtained from ministers are printed below.
 RESULT OF SOCIAL DISEASE.
 The Rev. Dr. Dickinson, pastor of the First Baptist Church, said;
 Such an epidemic of infanticide Is a and ahOIld be stopped by the arrest of the guilty parties. Yet this outbreak of crime is after all but the symptom of a social disease which infests our life.
 "The law or those charged with It's execution in cities permit or tolerate what they call a necessary evil
 Though they try to confine it, yet 1t will send its inflammation beyond the circle assigned it. These sections become schools of incontinence to inhabitants and their dangerous graduates menace the homes of the pure. It is preposterous to say that vice is necessary to any man. It is to be utterly rooted out to be con- trolled at all. l suggest therefore, that the root of this disease is to be found in the toeration given to incontinence and it's remedy in closing all such schools of vice.
 Moral sanitation is effective only when all sections are freed from con- tagious vice"
 IS AS BAD ELSEWHERE.
 Dr. McFerrin, pastor of the First Meth- odist Church. said
 .;,,lr nf inf Ya- ticide show worse conditions here than anywhere else.
 All of our cities, as far as l know. are corrupt and such vices are common to them all I do not know of any way III the world to stop such things, save to get the people saved.
 "The desire for money and the love of pleasure lead men and women away from the moralities of life. The theatre, the dance, and such like amusements stir up the passions of people and sins are com mitted the disclosure of which would stamp them with shame. and to avoid this disclosure. these little ones who are brought Into the world in unholy we'd lock are destroyed.
 "These conditions obtain in other places and will continue as long as the old hu- man heart is sinful and depraved
 Laws against such practices will amount to but little. There is no remedy but in the blood of Jesus Christ.
 "These things should teach Christian people to be more active in their efforts to save people. I have but little faith ir anything but the gospel of Jesus Christ" :"
 HORRIBLE IN LAST DEGREE.
 The Rev. A. B. Curry, pastor of the First Presbyterian church said:
 "In common with all citizens of Birm- ingham I felt humiliated at the condi- ticns which prevail. 1t is horrible In the last degree. We commonly think of in fanticide as one of the crying sins Of China and other iheathern countries and we send missionaries to them to correct the evil. It seems to me we can well turn our attention nearer home.
 Tt is hard to say what is the cause of these unusual conditions in our midst All kinds of crimes, however, are some times epidemics and perhaps no class of society from the highest to the lowest is entirely exempt from blame in this mat ter.
 As painful as it may be to us to give publicity to the facts, 1t Is neverthe- less the only. way to remedy 1t. It is the duty of the press, pulpit and of our citi- zens generally to speak out against this