The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-03-04
is RUIN0US TO YOUTHS
Gives Them Their First Lesson
in Human Depravity.
Eminent Catholic PFeIate, in sermon
Mt baltimore, scores Newspapers
That Print LicentfOus Scandals and
immoral Patent Medicine Adver-
Greater Mischief ia a Community.

Baltimore. March cardinal Gibbons,
in his sermon at the Cathedral to-day.
attacked the ''Unolean press"
He said:
"Rlgidly exclude from your household
al books and pamphlets which are ho--
tile to religion and good morals. Never
admit into your homes any newspapers or
periodicals which ventilate obscene news
and llcentious scandals.
There is one kind of literature III which
we all indulge. and OF which we partake
as regularly and with as much relish ds
our daily bread. without which life would
be dull and tedious-a literature which
has become almost s necessity Of our daily
life. ] refer TO the daily newspaper
Now. there are good and bad journals as
there are clean and unclean animals.
Sensational Papers Lure to Ruin.
NO kind Of literature works more mis-
chief in a community than salacious jour
nails. They contain not only news mai
ter, but also advertisements of most ON
jectionabie character.
They have sensational items which are
snare and a stumbling block to the in-
nocent and unwary. Many a youth Of
both sexes has learned from this impure
fountain their first lessons in the dark
mysteries Of human depravity On. how
easy IL is TO taint the pure fount of
youth! and who shall blotch the sulii5d
snow Of innCcencet
Immoral Advertisements.
Advertisements which paint in glow
inc color affr-rarfr-e f9qrr7rs- af
dangerous haunts Of amusements. Ad-
vertisements Of patent medicine and
other drugs whose object is to defeat the
inexorable laws Of nature and os ma
ture's Cod What q terrible responsibility
those publishers assume who admit into
their paper such insidiOus poison. For
every soul perverted they have a strict
account 10 render to God and TO society.
AS an Offset to these depraved journals
! ! have known the proprietor Of an upright
paper Of this State who refused an offer
/ of Sl0000 rather than admit into the col
umns Of his paper an advertisement sus-
I gestive of immodesty. though its indie
cency was thnly vesled by ambiguous
/ tphraseOIogy. Would 70 God that all news
paper owners had emulated this noble
example.
Highly Seasoned Novels.
you would not permit a vial OF poison
to remain on your mantelpiece. lest it
might inadvertently fan into the hands
Of some members of your household And
will you allow TO lie on your table an
unclean Journal which would instiI poison
into the s0ul2
You are careful t5 avoid any dish
which you know from experience would
nauseate your stomach, no matter how
tempting and paIatable it may be 10 the
taste Why. then, should you not dis
card those highly-seasoned novels which
may be agreeable TO morbid appetite, but
which defile the imagination and enfeebIe
the soul?
'"The Lacedemonians commanded ths
poems OF ArchilochUs to be banished from
their city, because. while his writings
were beautiful and attractive in point OF
style. they were immoral in their char
acter. and tended TO corrupt the minds
of youth.
Example of the Ephesians.
What an example do these ancient
pagans set TO degenerate modern Chris
tians who gTeedily devour literature
/ which undermines faith and morals. and
which has not even the merit OF an
agreeable, elevating style.
1T is related in the Acts Of the Apostles
that many Of those whom st. Paul had
converted at Ephesus possessed danger
Gus books. treating of magic and other
superstitions. These books they volun-
tarly collected together and burned. and
their value was estimated at 5000 pieces
Of silver Ny brethren, these books were
not as hurtfUl as those which attack
your faith. And If those early Chris
tians destroyed their superstitious works
regardless OF their price, how can We
retain in our possession books that utter
the most blasphemOUs calUmnies against
the Christian religion?
The same motives you have to elimi-
nate dangerous publications should
prompt you 10 exercise your zeaA in the
/ dffffrefora oF SoTfrd i7re--1 trrre