The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-09-20
Social Purity

Social impurity has been from the
beginning. is now. and probably al
ways will be to the end of time the
most prevalent and destructive vice in
the world. Sacred and profane history
confirm this, in spite of the modest
reluctance to put on record these
dark and shameful works Of the
flesh
No other vice seems to be so utterly
corruptive and besotted with social
impurity. Greece and Rome in their
finest culture and prOudest civiliza-
tiOn We're no better. The vilest i'm
purity was even made a part OF re-
ligious worship. so Paul says it is "a
shame to speak of the things done of
them in secret"
This monarch vice still reigns and
| ravages in all out modern cities. Its
prevalence in Christ's time, even
among Gods confessed people, may be
inferred from the self-convicting re-
tirement of every man gathered
around the women taken in adultery
The civilized world is frequently
startled at the discovery of this vice
| in horrible forms. and in high places
as in London. This vice. which is the
| foul and incurable cancer of all mod
| ern cities, seems a times to be almost
universal among men. There are So
| 900 publicly abandoned women in Lon
don and perhaps about that proper
tion in other modern cities. Multiply
/ this by ten for the sum Of abandoned
men.
No other vice seems to be so utterly
corruptive and destructive to both soul
and body as this, and no other class
| OF sinners quite so hopeless Is these.
In view of these facts, let me pre-
sent some safeguards against that sin
OF social impurity:
Cultivate diligently and prayerfully
purity OF thought. Beware OF lawless
and impure imagination. Keep the
soul. body and spirit pure, and secure
| the beatitude of Christ upon those who
| ARE pure in heart" Be warned by the
Savior against even the lustful look
and let the young man cleanse his
way by taking heed of Gods word"
Shun most scrupulously all impure
literature. not only what is positively
obscene. but what is romantic and eX-
citing TO the passions. Parents should
! be the safeguards OF their children
here. Even the details Of vice given
| by reformed men" may be as gross
thony Comstock has revealed enough
to fill every judicious parent with
alarm.
Abstain at all times from all un-
chaste or indelicate conversation, and
| rebuke it in others.
Shun all vile company and the cor
ruption of their evil communicative
Stop at the beginning. Dalliance Is
damnation You may spurn danger
| like Hazael. as thy servant a dog,
| but your only safety against being ov-
ercome is in a prompt decided and
praverful mo" Walk in the spirit
and you can overcome the lusts Of the
| flesh.
Form modest and discreet habits Of
behavior. We should never overcome
the habit of blushing at the slightest
| indelicate liberty or personal act sug-
gesting unchastity. Immodesty. in
young girls is usually the prelude 10
ruin. 1t lets down those defensive
| barriers that are necessary 10 safety.
We should abstain from luxurious
living and cultivating idleness. and
make no provision for the flesh 20
fulfill the luSts thereof Wesley
charged his followers 10 shun need
less softness and self-indulgence-
| Sodom was ruined by pride. fullness
| of bread and abundance Of idleness-"
Turn away with condemnation from
| Indecent statuary. paintings and pic
| torialS The nude and lewd art or our
galleries. pictorials and street posters
| is foul shame on our civilization and
| a fertile source Of social vice.
stage plays lead directly and power
| fully TO the same end, as nearly all
moralistS. both in Pagan and Christian
countries agree. The Presbyterian
General Assembly enumerates las
civious dancing and stage plays" as
violations Of the seventh command
ment Many of our stage players are
| impure; the most popular plays are