The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-07-30

The Owl. the Bat. the Moon and the
Sun.
To the Editor Of The Times:
The editorial page OF The Times
usually deserves 10 be rated as worth
the price of the paper" but II seems
10 me that the editorial concerning
"Debs. the Church and the Under
world" is very unjust and mislead-
ing. Surely the editor is aware that
the present-day sentiment against the
white slave traffic is but the direct
outcome OF religious effort along that
line. What institution but the chuth
has led the way IN rescue work, and,
best or all. preventive work?
II is useless TO say that these I'M
fortunate women are as capable OF
attaining the very acme OF idealism
in life as the most noble and refined
specimens OF society" There was n
time, away back in innocent girl
hood, when this might have been
! true, but now, while comparatively
few can respond TO the appeal OF
those who are stretching their hands
downward 10 lift up the fallen there
is much being undertaken IN the way
OF prevention.
To say, as one has written. that
tho church always follows. but never
leads is TO betray pitiful ignor-
ance OF familiar historical facts. II
the church We're a merely human in.
stitution, IL might have persisted
long ago; but from the days OF the
church in the Wilderness under the
leadership OF Moses, the foremost So
cial reformer down through the days
OF the Apostles, as they carried out
the great commission OF the Savior OF
the world, and then from the emer-
gence or the church from the formal
ism and superstition which nearly en-
quilted II during the dark ages, down
to our own times, We can trace the
steady advancenAnt of that kingdom
which is TO be established in the
earth, against which the gates Of hell
shall not prevail.
Where is an instance OF reform or
rescue work the promoters Of which
were not in any way influenced by the
Christian church? Let the world arise
and tell us about II. Where, but in
Christian lands, side by side with
those who are identified with the
church. do We find that GLASS who pre-.
| fer 10 stay outside, and do Just as
we'll"
Evidently, they were from Mis-
souri,, and have been shown" Their
efficiency In well-doing might be In
creased beyond measure, II they
would cease criticizing the divinely
appointed institution from which they
derived moral enlightenment and
should assist in the ironing out pro-
cess which is to result in the presen-
tation Of "a glorious church. not hav-
ing spot, or wrinkle, or any such
thing"
The church Is recognized in the
Scriptures as the Bride OF Christ.
Does a bridegroom count among his
warmest friends, those who defame
the character OF the bride?
To be sure. there is a careless, in
active element who never represent
the real living force OF Christianity;
but who shall say that this floating.
drifting class is not of more value TO
society in general. when in the wake
OF the church, than II left stranded
on the rocks OF doubt
The owl and the bat who rejoice
only In the moons pale beams, may
not admit their indebtedness to the
sun. from whose light they hide them
selves; but the sun keeps right on
shining all the time. and not only
foods half the earth with light, but
also supplies the moon IT'S borrowed
radiance with which the owl and the
bat are satisfied
SO the church will keep right on
instructing her children in the ways
of virtue. protesting against the legal.
izing Of vice. discountenancing eye-r
appearance OF impurity in question.
able plays. in magazine illustrations,
In popular fiction, and stll worse
popular songs, in immodest styles OF
dress. ana in the modern dance. de-
nounc!ng the saloon, the chief insti-
gator OF unnamable crimes, and
meanwhile, stretching out a hand TO
! LIT up the fallen.
The church also halls with delight
a clean newspaper like The Times
and We can not and will not believe