The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-10-13
TALK ON REFORM WORK.
O. S. PRESTON AT THE CHURCH
 OF THE REDEEMER.


 OF THE REDEEMER.
 Splendid Account of the Methods Pur-
 sued by Those Interested in the Work
 of Reformation of the Fallen and Degraded-Modern Methods.
 At the meeting of the adult class of the Church of the Redeemer Sunday noon S. o. Preston, superintendent of the Organized Charities of the city, made a most interesting address on the topic Reform Work by New Methods ! He spoke in part as follows: A man whose status may be deter mined by his statement that eventually he should join the church." as he had noticed most respectable people did" made proposition ito be good for good ness sake, not for the hope of reward, or from the fear of punishment .~.
 But the old arguments are not yet out of date. The MMaster, flor the joy set before Him, endured the cross. de-. | spising the shame" and His intimations of positive penalty are as strong as the promises of reward
 In the revulsion from Sinai's penal ties We. have perhaps put too much stress on Calvary's tenderness and love. l What are the results? Are children more respectful than of old2 Are na- tions more forgiving and tolerant? Are social conditions markedly better?
 Is Is not possible that we have swung to the other extreme of the pendulum. and made the difference between right I doing and wrong doing difficult of per- | ception? .< While we emphasize the spiritual and moral quality of man, yet we cannot es- cape the other fact that the animal is yet prime factor and that Hike to I like" is the argument most understand able, and where one method fails in ac- complishment the other may have a value. Y l Who om us that have had the hand ling of children. whom we have fondly believed were the embodiment of all that was mild, docile and obedient, have not been suddenly startled and ap palled by their transformation into lite- ral wild animals absolutely unapproach- able by prayer as persuasion, and only to be controlled by physical punishment. And are not men and women only "chil- dren of larger growth" and therefore amenable to the similar treatment? Certain it is that main strength" is necessary in many circumstances yet, and the only argument possible Take the man who makes practice, as some do, of meeting every difference of opin- ion with wife or child, with blow, and by reason of superior force making their lives miserable. Can. we reach such by persuasion of by such measure of punishment as places him in acom- fortable jail with regular meals and I light work, while his family are forced to live in practically starvation, or ap- I peal tp public or private arity?
 ,. We all shrink from imposition of physical pain upon any one, and yet it is interesting to recall the expressions l or clergy and missionaries, male and I female, as instances of abuse arise in their experience. S " ,fs, 3i } i 4 Recently a clergyman was advised of the beating of wife, whose condition was (by such beating and kicking) made so serious. that hasty call for the ambulance and transportation to nospi- l tai practically prevented loss of life, and the children were also hurried away to save them. It was said, "Dr., what should you think of man who gave that fellow two or three straight from the shoulder?" T should stand by and aprove," was the instant reply. Often this experience is duplicated; in fact, it is quite common for lady missionaries to say, "Oh! if I was only a man, I would give that fellow the thrashing he deserves" Of course, something must be allowed for temporary indignation, 1 but after all does not the universality of such opinions under such conditions indicate felt want" l Or take the case of the man whose ambition when "fulp' or partially so, Is to go about looking for a fight. Will moral suasion or comfortable incarcer- ation reach his deserts? And the list of kindred cases might be prolonged inde- finitely. & 5%E sH
 l The payment of fine and costs. which, with Imprisonment, is the court s only alternative, operates much more severely on the family than on, the man; he can go out to saloons and by buying a cheap dring, have an opportu- !, nifty of helping himself to a free lunch,' while the family, who should have had his wages which paid the fine, are in distress. l2 s '.4l's 7. s'-s
 But against many expressed opinions bay be put the swell-known opinions of Judge Baldwin, the following extract from letter from Dean Wayland (ror over quarter of century president of the Connecticut Prison Aid association, and an authority on all matters of pris- on management.) -a.. s>.. >z
 ''You are on the right track as to wife beaters. The objection that it tends to degrade the defendant is not pure and isimple, and belongs to the kindergarten or the retreat for the feeble minded. You cannot degrade wife beater; there I is no depth of degradation beyond that.''
 AS 8 matter of fact, many people en- gagged in seeking the best intrests of thir fellow beings are seriously consid- ering return to the practices indorsed by such old authorities as Moses, Solo, mon, &c., and in use until a compara- l ~1.. 5