The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-22

s. P waddiu Robert Lecky, Rev, II, ID. &
Maclachan. D, D., Rev. George W. MeDahleit
y. D.--criminala
These four men are charged in indictments
returned by the Chesterfield county grand jury
with maintaining q common nuisance at Bon
Air These four men are indicted as violators
Of the law These four men are to he hailed into
court to answer TO charges made against them
by twenty-six citizens and regarded as OF sufll
Gent Importance and of sufficient weight as to
Justify a trial before the Circuit court judge
Yet many good people had regarded them as
1aborers for the good OF society. Some Of us
have had an idea that Mir, Lecky and Mr.. Wad-
dtlI and Or. Mcdaniel and Dr Maclachian
were men who were giving time and money for
the betterment Of social conditions; that they
were working for the physical upbutding OF the
physically weak, the mental improvement Of the
seesle-mindod, the spiritual development OF those
lacking in spirituality. The Bon Air Home fer
Girls has been looked upon by many OF us as
a worthy institution, We had thought that in
giving mental and moral wrecks home these
four men were putting into practice the doc
trines Of the Master all of lis profess to serve;
that they were working for the souls saliva
tion of the Maynard; that they we're doing ali
within their power to protect society from the
fallen and to protect the fallen from themselves
and from society
It was with such understanding that good
people subscribed for the home. 1t was with
snch understanding that the State appropriated
money for It's upkeep. 1t was with such under
sFxA-r- T4n5v7 has arr
held the hands Of the executive committee and
prayed earnestly for the advancement of Its
work That understanding we believe, Ia still
with the subscribers; still with the State. We
know II Is still with The Virgint1n and despite
the protests of neighbors of the home and de-
spite the action Of any grand Jury The Vargtndn
intends to continue to uphold the hands OF
the noble men who have sacrificed something
for the good Of the unfortunate.
The virpinian does not believe the Industrial
Home for Girls al Bon Air is common nuisance
or any other kind Of nuisance A legal nuisance
Is wrong unlawfully done a man In the on
aoyment OF HIS property or Of his common rights
The Yaro4mton does not believe anybody has been
wronged unlawfully by the four men named in
the indictment It does believe that II the
home be closed the unfortunate inmates Of tbs
home a. Bon Air will be done wrong, not
under the law probably but a wrong. neverthe
less, not TO be excused under any canon of the
Almighty and not TO be made to square with
any code Of mans duty to man.
The press is not blameless in this matter
A portion OF it has made sensations out OF
wild statements OF girls and young women
mentally feeble and morally deficient. por
ton of it has attacked the school when there
was nothing to attack in It's administration
On the whole good order has been maintained
at the home. and because at institution, de
signed for the salvation Of girls gone wrong
and as one means toward the betterment of so
eiety, there have been few instances OF trouble
four patriotic, weil-meaning Woodworking and
hnmanity.loyine men are indicted vioators
of the law
The yirgiHian urges these four men to fight
the case through the last court in the State Ii
urges them to hold fast not to weaken and not
to allow the injustice done them TO rankle. Let
them ignore the verbal attacks made upon them
and fight the tangible thing-the indictments
brought against them. 1t is hard 10 meet with
misunderstanding when seeking 10 perform
good. but what worker for the good Of the
humanity eyer had augbt else to contend WITH
II is hard to be brought iato court for estab
ushing and maintaining a charitable institution
bat It must be borne for the good Of Virginia
Fight those indictments and fight them t.
The end. II, later, It seems best TO move th'
home to another location whore greater mora
For the present fight IT out