The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-11-09
The Enlightened and Broader View of
the Duty of the Clergy Which Is
Spreading Among All Denomi-
By the Very Rev w. T. SUMNER
Episcopal St Peter and Paul Chicago

passed similar resolutions Over fifty minister
lal associations, representing nearly all the re-
isious bodies in this country. from Maine to
California, including In their ranks approx
mately thirty FIVE hundred clergy. have agreed
to urge, IL not downright demand the presenta
ton Of health certificate before they will per.
form a marriage ceremony. Two national con-
venuons Of Jewish Rabbis have also made
similar agreement. score more Of social
service commissions of the church. in various
parts. of the country, have urged the clergy OF
the dioceses to take this stand. Several dioc
esan conventions have adopted the recon-
niendatlonS presented by their social service
commissions. Fifteen States have legislation
pending; five States have passed legislation
All this betokens the fact that the movement Is
now apace
But what Is OF more Importance knowledge
is taking the place of Ignorance; and fathers
and mothers are beginning to realize that II they
are TO maintain the integrity OF their family
they must have some assurance from the man
who comes to ask for the daughters hand that
he has neither an incurable communicable
disease. Mothers are learning that so per cent
is the lowest estimate of male adults in this
country between the ages Of eighteen and TWEEN
ty-nve who have or have had social evil dis
ease, and that II Is not confined to the poor, but
Is nearly as prevalent among the socalled re-
spectacle men OF the community.
Furthermore, young women who are coming
to the marriage state realizing that If they
are to be saved from wretchedness and misery
they must have some such assurance as q health
certificate furnishes. But best of all, we are
emphasizing as never before and the boy is
realizing as never before. that there Is a call
quite high and noble and holy as the cali to
motherhood, and that Is the call to fntherhood
HE CONVICTION is being borne down upon him
mat II he is to meet this call he must regu.
late his life in confluence, self-control and con.
secration. To repeat, knowledge is taking
the place Of ignorance, with the realiza
ton that conditions as they exist to-day are
threatening not only the integrity of the race
physically and morally, but they are leaving in
their wake sterility, insanity, paralysis locomo.
Tor ataxin the blinded eyes of little babies the
twisted limbs Of deformed children, physical
rot and mental decay, inhlcting misery not ONLY
upon the guilty one but the innocent wife and
Child In the home, with n sickening certainty .
In the face Of these facts, is the Church to
stand idly by and lift neither voice nor hand to
stem the tide? -
tention with social service effort Is the need of
IN some way rousing a social conscience against
immortality and degeneracy, stalking broadcast
throughout society to-day. To any social worker
az Well as minister OF the Gospel. 1t must be an.
parent that there is very distinct lowerjne ~
the social conscience
1t is popular thing. and always has been. IN
Derate the rich. point out their foibles and
tlnctions and class hatred. There is ALWAYS the
danger of injustice. There are unnunbered
men and women of wealth and Influence who
nre consecrating both to the service OF God
iney are IN all religious bodies throughout the
country. They are the first to recognize those
"nQ are unworthy in their own ranks-all
nonor to them and Gods blessing be with Them
put no one can deny that immortality and a
&c. .,ehaehcy 10 deSeneracy are altering down from
me top rather than rising from the bottom We
peWatl class distinction and class conscousness
put VINO are creating it-none SO much as those
OF wealth., by their extravaganza and their am
po5t OF immoral influences In dress, literature
indecent songs and degenerate stage
One of the snddest spectacles I'm con,.ot,o,
Win our social life today is the proclamation az
Soiuas' ny tue introduction OF sports Sunday