The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-05-31
SCHOOL MORALS
ELOERKIN TOPIC
Pastor Condemns City for Con-
tributing to Immoral Ten
denotes of the Young.

"The Morals OF Our High School, was
the seoject Of pulpit editorial read at
the Congregational church last evening by
Rev. Noble Strong Elderkin. The edi-
torial is one that has been looked for
ward TO by the students and faculty Of
the high school as well as the citizens
OF Ogden since Mr. Elderkin stated last
Sunday evening that he would treat on
the morals Of the school in his next ser
mon.
The editorial is as follows:
Most of the young people I'm our high
school are doing the impossible They
are holding 10 lofty ideals and high prin-
clplss In the face Of the most discOursg-
ing circumstances. For the city which
encourages them 70 gain a higher educa-
ton also encourages every institution
which seeks TO undo the work Of the
high school.
THAT big. strong men with whiskers
should hang around pool rooms and sa-
looms and gambling houses and the scar
let precincts is a matter OF wonder and
regret. But that drunkenness and gamb-
ling and worse vices should prevail to
even the smallest extent among the pick
OF the clty's potential citizenship is a
matter OF vital concern. You may not
say wild oats and let il go. These
young men are to reap the whirlwind to
be sure. But so too, viii the city. And
the city which hopes to build an enduring
fabric upon the product Of the saloon and
gambling house needs a new vision of
social permanence.
Il do not condemn these young men
who think the institutions which the city
protects and encourages are fit places
for them when out of school, / pity
them. They arc the logical victims Of
hideous environment The wonder IS
not that they have succumbed. The
wonder Is that any Of our young life Is
free from pollution.
Il do not condemn the teachers Of our
HNh oh III
together group Of men and women with
higher moral ideals. And they are bend
ing every effort to give moral help 10
those under their influence.
Il wish Il were easier 10 condemn the
parents. But / know some whose boys
are in the wild oat business and l know
what they wish for their children. That
makes II hard TO condemn here. 1t is to
the door Of the parents that Chief Brown
ing marches in commendable boldness
and pauses to tell the blind and unthink-
ing among them that If they threw about
their boys and girls more wholesome
would vanish. That is all tremendously
true. But here the chief fingers l in
sist upon one further step.
Once upon time I had a garden. That
was before ] found an easier job
don't remember what grew. but it must
have been carrots. / found that when
1 left the weeds grow I didn't have
promising crop of carrots But l dis
~PT-t ~ N-Ate sAl1D tlioll NJ llElt gave TIE
carrots a show by pulling the weeds
away from their Threats, they fIourished
Now the Interpretation of my agricul-
tural experience IS here; A boy is worth
more than a carrot. But he too, needs
a decent environment You can produce
a shabby crop of carrots by providing a
shabby environment And YOU can pro
duce a shabby, crop Of boys by setting
them in a shabby environment
I do, then. condemn the city which
throws around its boys. who would much
rather be good than bad, an environment
which damns them to impotence. And
do condemn you-citizens of that city
who have never raised protesting voice.
Upon you the blame rests