Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-30
THE DECLINE OF lIoDEsTY.

Rev. ". G. Clinton. a Methods
minister Of Kansas City, in a receu
sermon attacked one OF the presen
day tendencies in just fashion-th
tendency Of the press. the literatur'
the stage and even the pulpit 20 en-
phasize the evil men do. Here ar
some points from his discourse:
The situation has been strik-
ingly characterized by a woman
speaker who told Chicago club
women Literature in America has
struck sex o'clock" A majority
OF the popular novels OF the day
seem TO have been written in the
delusio1 that knowledge OF the
Ugliness OF sin is essential TO our
we'll being.
This tendency recently has
been carried 70 such an extreme
on the stage that the country has
been aroused. Again, We find it
reflected in speech. public and
private. Last Sunday afternoon
! listened TO an address TO an
audience OF young women by an
evangelist who apparently con-
sidered the salvation OF our girls
lay in spreading before them all
the naUseating horrors OF CONNER
cialized vice My soul was stir
red in opposition md ] feel il is
time for a concerted protest.
/ plead not fer ignorance on
the part OF our youth concerning
their bodies. These facts should
be made known TO them by the
parents ana not by the public
school teacher or the pastor.
Neither do wish 70 prevent our
youth from realizing the traps
that beset his path. / simply con-
tend with Robert r Spesr. that
r. Is enough 10 know that il is
without pry-inE into what II is
Alexander Pope spoke an eter-
nal truth when he said. Vice is a
monster OF so frightful mien. as
20 be mated needs but TO be seen:
yet seen TOO oft. familiar with
her face. we first endure. then
pity. then embrace" Familiarity
with evil breeds contempt for its
dangers.
The best safeguard OF our
youth is not a knowledge OF the
hideousness OF vice. but a deyel-
oped character and a sense of
God. The Almighty has inplant-
cd I'm all native shyness. an in
nate modesty which is an inner
guard over the sacred shrine.
Ignorantly and stupidity We are
instead OF shielding Il.
The best spiritual teacher and
leader OF youth OF this or any
other day Is one so drenched
with goodness that hts knowledge
OF evil is the smallest part OF his
equipment As a pastor ] repeat
with Paul. Il would have YOU
wise unto that which IS good and
ignorant unto that which is evil"
The truth OF what the pastor saw
viii impress thoughtful persons. Their,
re a lot OF blatant reformers who
hook all mOdesty by parRding before
hildren and youth subjects OF which
hey are scientifically ignorant and o
which they have no business to speaI
ven II they were well informed. 4
Whole lot OF discussion has found II.
way into the papers and even tn,
chOols and churches that belongs L
he realm OF parental authority anc
he family physician.
This illustrates one OF the tenden
les in this day TO neglect home lif,
nd 10 take 10 the correction OF al
wills through the press. or on the plat
orm. or by legislative enactment. Il
: an evidence of a perverted order
n effort 10 unload individual respon
Utility on the community a. large.
One OF the most beautiful things IN
he world IS the blush OF shame or
he cheek OF youth II IS put there by
he Creator and it makes no mistake
knows when TO come and go and {,
violence OF a mOdesty that is next tc
ivine. II does not need the lecture
hair in college or school. or the plat
Orm speaker. or the magazine OF
.ewspaper writer. In emphasizing al
'urity, chastity. virtue II IS no more
10 20 into the disgustlns
details than II Is necessary
or persons 10 go naked occasionally
o show the propriety OF wearing
lothes.
As the bloomington Paragraph has
Teu said in discussing the same sub
ect: Keep up a campaign for all that
: good and noble and condemn the
vi IN fitting terms and the human
earr can be trusted 10 exaIt one and
osrhA the other y-irhofr- hay+r- COW,
les OF The worst displayed in their
Inconsistencies before the gaze OF
hildren and youth