The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-19

and philanthropists our country has
seen in many months. The congress is
International as well as non-sectarian
in cvharacter. In view of the awakened
conscience of the American people on
the vital question of personal. social
and civic purity, the sreat Importance
OF this gathering could not be over
estimated.
The delegates, now arriving in large
numbers from every section of our
country, give Indication of being
made up of the proverbial long haired
men and short haired women that we
were wont to look for at reform gath
erings, but on the whole they are as
fine and earnest a body of men and
women, ard men are by no means a
scarce article here, as ever assembled
to grapple with real problems for the
uplift of humanity. Rev. Jenkin Lloyd
Jones of Chicago, some years ago when
preaching his famous sermon, No Sex
in Crime" which dealt entirely with
the problem of social purity, introduced
his subject with these words Long
nave l waited the coming of grey hairs
which would Justify plain speech in this
matter" But were Mr.. Jones here to-
day he might quickly see that grey
hairs are no longer considered necessary
for the fullest and plainest discussion
Of these great questions. In fact num-
ber of the leading speakers are still on
tie morning side Of the meridian of
life, and the president of the congress,
e young man of intense activity, has de-
voted every DAY of his time TO the
purity movement since he was "a years
OF age.
Purpose of the Congress.
No better idea could be had OF the
purpose of this convention than a
glance through the published program
gives. The problems which are to be
dea:t with are the same that every
boy and girl, has to meet in life with
temptation. vice and debauchery on
every side. 1t is the hope of these
workers that through proper training,
enforcement of good ard wholesome
laws, and the proper warnings for our
young, that temptations may be lessen
ed, vice suppressed and open debauch-
cry checked. The program covers every
phase of the purity movement, including
preventive, educational. law enforce
ment, rescue and sanitary lines of eff
fort, the white slave traffic. social dis
eases and good health topics.
The press of late has had much to
say about the white slave traffic.
which is the most shocking of evils
and much more widespread thar most
good Americans imagine. This is one
phase of the purity movement that
will be threShed out and on which
some drastic action will undoubtedly
be taken
White Slave Traffic
But the white slave traffic is only
one phase of the purity movement
other phases are of even greater i'm
portance because they involve an
Infinitely larger number of persons
the millions of boys and girls and
Young men and young women of
America. 1t is the belief of the mem
bers of this convention that every per
son has a right to know all there is
to know about themselves, and that
4bis k0owIedRe Droperlv given hv tho
three great moral agencies. the home
the school and the church. will fur
rish the best possible protection
against the ruination of our boys and
girls Especially is this true with
respect to sex, the birth of children.
marriage, etc. All the knowledge
which young people get relative to
these subjects now comes to them
either from impure sources or else in
the form of double meaning jokes;