The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-09-16
GIVES TRINITY
OF SAFEGUARDS

Preaching on the subject. lis the
Child Safe in Richmond" Rev. Henry
G. Pfeiffer. pastor OF Central Metho-
dist church. South Richmond yester-
day morning, spoke plainly and prac-
ucaliy of the reign OF Juvenile vice,
and laid down as his conclusions a
trinity OF safeguards that must be
thrown around the child, II the city's
moral conditions are to be improved
Summed up, these are better home in
fuence, proper entertainment and
amusement for the children to keep
them from roaming tfe streets and
better police protection.
DR.. Pfeirfer's text WAC taken from
Zech. SIS: And the city shall be full
Of boys and girls playing IN the streets
thereof" He drew beautiful picture
of the scene depicted by the prophet
but declared that, unfortunately, we
do not live in Jerusalem, but in Rich
mond, and 1t is the conditions here
that have TO be met
DR. Pfeiffer said In part:
The burning question of the hour
is. Is the child safe In our fair city {?
From the disclosures that have
come out in our city papers within
the last few days We have to shake
our heads with a, negative answer.
These disclosures are only parts of
a condition that beggars words
! wonder If we have thrown around
childhood all the protection that we
can. Is there a contributory negIi-
gence on our part that makes the
conditions unsafe and insecure for
childhood? There are three forces
that should arrest our attention as We
consider the safety of our bows and
giris--the home. the pleasures and
the law. AS we think about these
forces and find out their character
are we to give the answers to the
question, Is the child safe in Rich
mond7
Home.
The home influence Is mighty None
of us can get away from II. In what
condition is the child as he leaves
the home To walk on the streets?
cali your attention. to q few funda-
mental considerations,
l. Do our homes maintain the NJ.
credness of holy things
The influence of cartoons is tre-
mendous. One of thoughtfui mind
said TO me that the unsavory cartoons
in papers Of those In positions of au-
thority tend to cheaper those of au-
thoritv in the public mind. Mckinley
was shot Who can deny that the car
toons of the president tended to
cheaper his fife7 We have a great
many divorces I'm our day. Who can
say that the jokes about marriage
have not cheapened marriage in the
Yes of many There is a great deal
of profanity abroad. Who can say
that the taking Of Gods name irrever-
entity has not been fuel for this flame?
Have we, heen, careful .o, rnaintsin
in conversation and in deeds the holi-
ness Of sacred things, or have we
cheapened them by our jokes and
light references
2. Has double standard been
created
Have we created one code Of
ethics for the girl and another for
the hoy"
1t is done socially when society adj
mits the boy an dthe man and expels
the girl and the woman when they
have been companions in sin.
IL is done parentsliy when the boy
of impure lips and life Is admitted TO
cur homes and the girl of no worse
words and life is ostracised
What rs wrong for the girl is wrong
for the boy.
3. Has strict oversight of the
child been exercised,
DO you know where your child Is
going when he or she leaves your
homer Do you know with whom he
or she Ia going? 1t is-Het enough
q know that. your. girl Is with two
or three of her girl companions for
sometimes 1t happens that under those
conditions she will be prompted,
under the guise OF safety, to do some
thing that she would fear TO do
If alone.
II becomes you as parents to keep
company with your child and to do
this yosi.. MUST make yourself. com--
paHtonabie.
I. Has the home been made re-
ilEious7
Childhood 10 teachahle. There are
elements found at their best In the
days Of childhood Childhood II i'm