Norwich bulletin., 1912-04-13
SHOP TALK TOPIC
 WAS CLEAN MANHOOD
Urges the Abandonment of PronfanIty
 and Vile Stories.

Friday noon at the Norwich cutlery, Rev. P. c. Wright spoke on A Clean Manhood and the singing was by George A. Turner, accompanim be- ing played by Miss Grove.
 Rev. Mir. Wright said: Quality of manhood more than anything else de- termines a mans place in the world.
 For this reason we shall think for 8 few weeks about some things which make for a clean manhood. Such man. hood as will give one a good place among his fellows
 \ Today we shall speak of the lan- guage which A man uses. Language has intellectual and moral influences. Not only does the communication of ideas stimulate thinking, but 1t also Weakens or strengthens character, in- asmuch as what a man thinketh so is he. Moreover, the intellectual and moral influences of language are both direct and reflex. The one to whom we speak is affected, and also the speaker is affected by his utterances. Hence the language we use makes for some sort of manhood both in those to whom we speak and in ourselves.
 One fault in the language of men which Is exceedingly detrimental is
 
 well of the purpose of the Holy Name society, which is. as I understand ti, to cause men to cease from profaning the names of Deity. In the first place, men, the use of profane language adds nothing to the thought we utter In- stead 1t COlors it with the impure ir- reverenL spirit which gives utterance to itself in the oath. No man can have any real reverence for God or holy things, when he is constantly reviling those things. And the man who con stantly revlles the name of God, if there is any such thing as holiness, must have more and more the condem- nation Of God. Futrehrmore, if a man loses by this habit his sense of rev erence for Sod and holy things, what basis can anything good find in his life? Is not reverence for God basal to all other good qualities? A clean manhood is impossible if one is los ing or arrives at a place where he has lost his reverence for good and God. In the second place, what must the profane mans influence be upon his own family or others who hear his language. One of the terrible things which comes to our ears as we pass along the streets. is to hear little chiI- dren who do not know the meaning of their words cursing God and Jesus. No man can begin to judge the fear ful consequences of profanity in a child's life, killing reverence making impossible love for God. as it does.
 Men, when God said thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain," He knew what He was doing. It was not simply to satisfy the divine will, but it was to make clean man.
 There is another use of language which has dire results in the realm of manhood and that is the telling of vile stories. Wherever it occurs, it is blighting in it's influence. It will be impossible to dc more than to mention some elements of manhood which are affected by it. First, ones own purity. Every man should be pure in his own life. He owes it to himself. to the woman he loves, to the children God has given him, to society in which he shares in common blessings. Second. the respect which belongs to good Womanhood. How do you want your wife, mother. daughter respected 2