The Washington herald., 1913-12-28
by REV. JOHN WEBSTER MELODY,
Catholic University Of America-l

IN matters OF sex into the curriculum OF
public schools, though strongly advocated
as early as the eighteenth century by
the German educationist. Basedow, has
| only within very recent years become at
all general Such a step marks a long
advance from the simple plan originally
devised for our common educational in
stitutions, but is only another express
sion Of a prevailing purpose to estab-
Iish In the school the theater for the
discharge of duties and offices that ven-
cradle tradition has heretofore restricted
to the secluded precincts of the home.
That the manner and measure of i'm
parting this instruction present no lit
tie hifficulty is generally recognized. But
il Is not with any pedagogical problem
that we are here directly concerned.
Rather would we address ourselves to the
moral aspect of the movement-an aspect
involving cOnfessedly the most vital con-
sequences.
OF the havoc wrought by sexual i'm
morality there can be no question The
statistics that would give us an approx
mate estimate OF the physical evils due
to the vice enable us to gather but a
faint idea Of Its moral devastation. The
disease surely cries for a remedy. And
We are told that an effective remedy Is
at hand in the instruction which II is
proposed should be introduced into our
schools. regarding the nature and func-
tons of certain organs, their hygiene
and the terrible issues following upon
their abuse.
Mental EnliRhtenmcnt.
Leaving aside for the time the question
regarding the place for this instruction,
We do not hesitate, however, to affirm
that mental enlightenment, as such, is
altogether inadequate to afford the
moral check sought for by our hygienists.
And we are reminded at the very outset
Of the insufficiency Of instruction alone
to stay indulgence by the results OBJ
served following ordinarily upon the ef-
forts made to deter young boys from
contracting the habits Of tmoking or
drinking. A drop Of nicotine, these are
told, will kill a dog, while the havoc
wrought upon the human organs by al
cohol is strikingly set forth what small
measure of restraint is brought about
merely by such representations. And
this for the reason that such instruction,
as Cardinal Newman says OF faith, while
illuminative is not operative. II bestows
light-it does not impart power. And ii
is precisely an increase Of moral potency
rather than a greater measure Of in
tellectual enlightenment that is here es-
sentially called for.
am not unaware that many will ad-
duce as an excuse for their immortality
ignorance OF its consequences If they
had only known its bitter issues they will
tell US they would not have yielded to
the temptation. And such assertions
have mjsled not a few on the question of
the efficacy OF mere knowledge as a /
check to sexual passion. The error here
lies in confusing knowledge in the abb
stract with knowledge in the concrete |
The first OF these is unenforced by re-
Spouse from the emotional nature, the !
second is confirmed and vitalized by the |
action of this nature. Thus one may
read OF atrocities to which innocent way
farers have been subjected among savages |
and be informed from detailed descrip-
tions what must have been the torments /
endured: nevertheless he will be less |
moved than at sight of an assault offered ;
to a pedestrian by thug upon the |
street. In this latter instance he not
only knows, he is made to feel that vio-
Ience has been offered.
knowledge Not Sufficient.
And so one infected by certain diseases
realizes as he did not before the condi-
ton he has brought upon himself. Yet
II cannot be said that there was not
knowledge Of such impending cOnse-
quences- Except in rare cases there was
though it was important to
make the victim realize these conse-
luences until they became actual
The dramatic production by Brieux en-
titled Damaged Goods" which of late
has created quite a sensation in New
York and Washington, has been hailed
as showing in a most eloquent way the
and efficacy OF Intellectual en-
ightenment to stay the plague Of sexual
Yet the futility OF mere
as a moral deterrent could
hardly be more palpably set forth than
I is in this play. Ii
No. the remedy We would seek is to be
ound in the perfecting of another fac
lty. 1t is to be found in Strengthening
nd development of the will.
Now, like every other faculty, the will
an gain the qualities of firmness and
igor only by pursuit of what is its dis
inctive object and by adherence to this
bject once il is attained. The good be- | ,
lg the term of the willis action We recog-
iZe in what must consist the general
lanner and measure of this faculty's true
ducation. In the question We are consid- !
ring this training is secured by the real
.ation and acceptance of the morally
ood. But by moral good we would sig
ify something more than the hygienist l
rdinarily understands by the words We
ould take it in the sense of a conformity
, a form of action prescribed by a per- ,
onal God. This cannotes an idea of I
idea to which the apostle
sfers when he writes the Thessalonians: .
This is the will of God, your sanctifica-
on; that you should abstain from forni- {
alton, that every one of you should know
ow to possess his vessel in sanctificatioS
nd honor; not in the passion of lust, like =
le Gentiles that know not God
Thought of Sin. I
As correIative with the foregoing con-
.pt there necessarily occurs the thought
: sin. And 1t is precisely here that we =
,me upon a notion of which our frail n
outh stand eminently in need. Yes, our e
oys and girls require to be convinced of b
le nature, the enormity, the ravages of Il
n. In such a conviction will be found
otive and deterrent that all the con-
derations drawn from sociology, psy-
lology, physiology, and pathology are !
loroughly incapable Of supplying. These
tier have a place, OF course, but an
rior to them all must be the constrain-
g thought that neither fornicators,
or adulterers, nor the effeminate, nor =
ars with mankind . shall possess U
10 Kingdom of God
We have said that we are to look for c
le remedy against impurity in moral c
rength and consequently in the mas q
ry of the will over, the sensuous appe- Q